Amyloid positron emission tomography in sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy: A systematic critical update.

PubMed

Farid, Karim; Charidimou, Andreas; Baron, Jean-Claude

2017-01-01

Sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a very common small vessel disease of the brain, showing preferential and progressive amyloid-βdeposition in the wall of small arterioles and capillaries of the leptomeninges and cerebral cortex. CAA now encompasses not only a specific cerebrovascular pathological trait, but also different clinical syndromes - including spontaneous lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), dementia and 'amyloid spells' - an expanding spectrum of brain parenchymal MRI lesions and a set of diagnostic criteria - the Boston criteria, which have resulted in increasingly detecting CAA during life. Although currently available validated diagnostic criteria perform well in multiple lobar ICH, a formal diagnosis is currently lacking unless a brain biopsy is performed. This is partly because in practice CAA MRI biomarkers provide only indirect evidence for the disease. An accurate diagnosis of CAA in different clinical settings would have substantial impact for ICH risk stratification and antithrombotic drug use in elderly people, but also for sample homogeneity in drug trials. It has recently been demonstrated that vascular (in addition to parenchymal) amyloid-βdeposition can be detected and quantified in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid tracers. This non-invasive approach has the potential to provide a molecular signature of CAA, and could in turn have major clinical impact. However, several issues around amyloid-PET in CAA remain unsettled and hence its diagnostic utility is limited. In this article we systematically review and critically appraise the published literature on amyloid-PET (PiB and other tracers) in sporadic CAA. We focus on two key areas: (a) the diagnostic utility of amyloid-PET in CAA and (b) the use of amyloid-PET as a window to understand pathophysiological mechanism of the disease. Key issues around amyloid-PET imaging in CAA, including relevant technical aspects are also covered in depth. A total of six small-scale studies have addressed (or reported data useful to address) the diagnostic utility of late-phase amyloid PET imaging in CAA, and one additional study dealt with early PiB images as a proxy of brain perfusion. Across these studies, amyloid PET imaging has definite diagnostic utility (currently tested only in probable CAA): it helps rule out CAA if negative, whether compared to healthy controls or to hypertensive deep ICH controls. If positive, however, differentiation from underlying incipient Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be challenging and so far, no approach (regional values, ratios, visual assessment) seems sufficient and specific enough, although early PiB data seem to hold promise. Based on the available evidence reviewed, we suggest a tentative diagnostic flow algorithm for amyloid-PET use in the clinical setting of suspected CAA, combining early- and late-phase PiB-PET images. We also identified ten mechanistic amyloid-PET studies providing early but promising proof-of-concept data on CAA pathophysiology and its various manifestations including key MRI lesions, cognitive impairment and large scale brain alterations. Key open questions that should be addressed in future studies of amyloid-PET imaging in CAA are identified and highlighted.

Small vessel disease burden in cerebral amyloid angiopathy without symptomatic hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Charidimou, Andreas; Jessel, Michael J.; Xiong, Li; Roongpiboonsopit, Duangnapa; Fotiadis, Panagiotis; Pasi, Marco; Ayres, Alison; Merrill, M. Emily; Schwab, Kristin M.; Rosand, Jonathan; Gurol, M. Edip; Greenberg, Steven M.; Viswanathan, Anand

2017-01-01

Objective: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common age-related small vessel disease (SVD). Patients without intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) typically present with transient focal neurologic episodes (TFNEs) or cognitive symptoms. We sought to determine if SVD lesion burden differed between patients with CAA first presenting with TFNEs vs cognitive symptoms. Methods: A total of 647 patients presenting either to a stroke department (n = 205) or an outpatient memory clinic (n = 442) were screened for eligibility. Patients meeting modified Boston criteria for probable CAA were included and markers of SVD were quantified, including cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), perivascular spaces, cortical superficial siderosis (cSS), and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Patients were classified according to presentation symptoms (TFNEs vs cognitive). Total CAA-SVD burden was assessed using a validated summary score. Individual neuroimaging markers and total SVD burden were compared between groups using univariable and multivariable models. Results: There were 261 patients with probable CAA included. After adjustment for confounders, patients first seen for TFNEs (n = 97) demonstrated a higher prevalence of cSS (p < 0.0001), higher WMH volumes (p = 0.03), and a trend toward higher CMB counts (p = 0.09). The total SVD summary score was higher in patients seen for TFNEs (adjusted odds ratio per additional score point 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.16–1.84, p = 0.013). Conclusions: Patients with probable CAA without ICH first evaluated for TFNEs bear a higher burden of structural MRI SVD-related damage compared to those first seen for cognitive symptoms. This study sheds light on neuroimaging profile differences across clinical phenotypes of patients with CAA without ICH. PMID:28130469

Career Adapt-Abilities Scale--China Form: Construction and Initial Validation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hou, Zhi-Jin; Leung, S. Alvin; Li, Xixi; Li, Xu; Xu, Hui

2012-01-01

The Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS)--China Form consists of four subscales, with six items each to measure Concern, Control, Curiosity, and Confidence as psychosocial resources for managing occupational transitions, developmental tasks, and work traumas. This study investigated the construction and validation of its Chinese Form. Results…

Classical problems in computational aero-acoustics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardin, Jay C.

1996-01-01

In relation to the expected problems in the development of computational aeroacoustics (CAA), the preliminary applications were to classical problems where the known analytical solutions could be used to validate the numerical results. Such comparisons were used to overcome the numerical problems inherent in these calculations. Comparisons were made between the various numerical approaches to the problems such as direct simulations, acoustic analogies and acoustic/viscous splitting techniques. The aim was to demonstrate the applicability of CAA as a tool in the same class as computational fluid dynamics. The scattering problems that occur are considered and simple sources are discussed.

A web service for service composition to aid geospatial modelers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bigagli, L.; Santoro, M.; Roncella, R.; Mazzetti, P.

2012-04-01

The identification of appropriate mechanisms for process reuse, chaining and composition is considered a key enabler for the effective uptake of a global Earth Observation infrastructure, currently pursued by the international geospatial research community. In the Earth and Space Sciences, such a facility could primarily enable integrated and interoperable modeling, for what several approaches have been proposed and developed, over the last years. In fact, GEOSS is specifically tasked with the development of the so-called "Model Web". At increasing levels of abstraction and generalization, the initial stove-pipe software tools have evolved to community-wide modeling frameworks, to Component-Based Architecture solution, and, more recently, started to embrace Service-Oriented Architectures technologies, such as the OGC WPS specification and the WS-* stack of W3C standards for service composition. However, so far, the level of abstraction seems too low for implementing the Model Web vision, and far too complex technological aspects must still be addressed by both providers and users, resulting in limited usability and, eventually, difficult uptake. As by the recent ICT trend of resource virtualization, it has been suggested that users in need of a particular processing capability, required by a given modeling workflow, may benefit from outsourcing the composition activities into an external first-class service, according to the Composition as a Service (CaaS) approach. A CaaS system provides the necessary interoperability service framework for adaptation, reuse and complementation of existing processing resources (including models and geospatial services in general) in the form of executable workflows. This work introduces the architecture of a CaaS system, as a distributed information system for creating, validating, editing, storing, publishing, and executing geospatial workflows. This way, the users can be freed from the need of a composition infrastructure and alleviated from the technicalities of workflow definitions (type matching, identification of external services endpoints, binding issues, etc.) and focus on their intended application. Moreover, the user may submit an incomplete workflow definition, and leverage CaaS recommendations (that may derive from an aggregated knowledge base of user feedback, underpinned by Web 2.0 technologies) to execute it. This is of particular interest for multidisciplinary scientific contexts, where different communities may benefit of each other knowledge through model chaining. Indeed, the CaaS approach is presented as an attempt to combine the recent advances in service-oriented computing with collaborative research principles, and social network information in general. Arguably, it may be considered a fundamental capability of the Model Web. The CaaS concept is being investigated in several application scenarios identified in the FP7 UncertWeb and EuroGEOSS projects. Key aspects of the described CaaS solution are: it provides a standard WPS interface for invoking Business Processes and allows on the fly recursive compositions of Business Processes into other Composite Processes; it is designed according to the extended SOA (broker-based) and the System-of-Systems approach, to support the reuse and integration of existing resources, in compliance with the GEOSS Model Web architecture. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement n° 248488.

Capillary cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease: association with allocortical/hippocampal microinfarcts and cognitive decline.

PubMed

Hecht, Moritz; Krämer, Lara Maria; von Arnim, Christine A F; Otto, Markus; Thal, Dietmar Rudolf

2018-05-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is caused by the deposition of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the wall of cerebral and leptomeningeal blood vessels and is related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Capillary Aβ deposition is observed in a subset of CAA cases and represents a distinct type of CAA named capillary CAA or CAA type 1. This type of CAA is strongly associated with the presence of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele. CAA type 1-associated AD cases often exhibit a more severe Aβ plaque pathology but less widespread neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology. The objective of this study was to analyze whether capillary CAA and its effects on cerebral blood flow have an impact on dementia. To address this objective, we performed neuropathological evaluation of 284 autopsy cases of demented and non-demented individuals. We assessed the presence of CAA and its subtypes as well as for that of hemorrhages and infarcts. Capillary CAA and CAA severity were associated with allocortical microinfarcts, comprising the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Allocortical microinfarcts, capillary CAA and CAA severity were, thereby, associated with cognitive decline. In conclusion, allocortical microinfarcts, CAA severity, and the capillary type of CAA were associated with one another and with the development of cognitive decline. Thus, AD cases with CAA type 1 (capillary CAA) appear to develop dementia symptoms not only due to AD-related Aβ plaque and NFT pathology but also due to hippocampal microinfarcts that are associated with CAA type 1 and CAA severity, and that damage a brain region important for memory function.

Hybrid CFD/CAA Modeling for Liftoff Acoustic Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strutzenberg, Louise L.; Liever, Peter A.

2011-01-01

This paper presents development efforts at the NASA Marshall Space flight Center to establish a hybrid Computational Fluid Dynamics and Computational Aero-Acoustics (CFD/CAA) simulation system for launch vehicle liftoff acoustics environment analysis. Acoustic prediction engineering tools based on empirical jet acoustic strength and directivity models or scaled historical measurements are of limited value in efforts to proactively design and optimize launch vehicles and launch facility configurations for liftoff acoustics. CFD based modeling approaches are now able to capture the important details of vehicle specific plume flow environment, identifY the noise generation sources, and allow assessment of the influence of launch pad geometric details and sound mitigation measures such as water injection. However, CFD methodologies are numerically too dissipative to accurately capture the propagation of the acoustic waves in the large CFD models. The hybrid CFD/CAA approach combines the high-fidelity CFD analysis capable of identifYing the acoustic sources with a fast and efficient Boundary Element Method (BEM) that accurately propagates the acoustic field from the source locations. The BEM approach was chosen for its ability to properly account for reflections and scattering of acoustic waves from launch pad structures. The paper will present an overview of the technology components of the CFD/CAA framework and discuss plans for demonstration and validation against test data.

The CAA repeat polymorphism in the ZFHX3 gene is associated with risk of coronary heart disease in a Chinese population.

PubMed

Sun, Shunchang; Zhang, Wenwu; Chen, Xi; Song, Huiwen

2015-04-01

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease resulting from the interaction between genetic variations and environmental factors. Zinc finger homeobox 3 (ZFHX3) is a transcription factor and contains a poly-glutamine tract in a compositionally biased region that is encoded by exon 9, containing a cluster of CAG and CAA triplets followed by the polymorphic CAA repeats: (CAG)2(CAA)2(CAG)3CAACAG(CAA)nGCA. Thus, nine successive glutamine residues precede the poly-glutamine tract, encoded by the polymorphic CAA repeats. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the CAA repeat polymorphism in exon 9 of the ZFHX3 gene with the risk of CHD in a Chinese population. The CAA repeat polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by DNA sequencing in 321 CHD patients. Genotype frequencies were compared using the non-parametric mood median test. Four alleles of CAG(CAA)10GCA, CAG(CAA)8GCA, CAG(CAA)9GCA, and CAG(CAA)11GCA were found in Chinese CHD patients in exon 9 of the ZFHX3 gene. The CAG(CAA)10GCA was a major allele (95.95%), and the CAG(CAA)8GCA was a minor allele (3.58%). The CAG(CAA)9GCA and CAG(CAA)11GCA were rare alleles (0.31% and 0.16%). The CAG(CAA)10GCA allele encodes a poly-glutamine tract of 19 residues. Importantly, the CHD patients homozygous for the CAG(CAA)10GCA allele had a higher risk of CHD, compared to the heterozygous patients carrying a CAG(CAA)8GCA allele. Moreover, the CAG(CAA)10GCA allele was significantly associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia (P < 0.05). Thus, the CAA repeat polymorphism in exon 9 of the ZFHX3 gene contributes to the CHD susceptibility in the Chinese population.

The Council on Aviation Accreditation. Part 2; Contemporary Issues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prather, C. Daniel

2007-01-01

The Council on Aviation Accreditation (CAA) was established in 1988 in response to the need for formal, specialized accreditation of aviation academic programs, as expressed by institutional members of the University Aviation Association (UAA). The first aviation programs were accredited by the CAA in 1992, and today, the CAA lists 60 accredited programs at 21 institutions nationwide. Although the number of accredited programs has steadily grown, there are currently only 20 percent of UAA member institutions with CAA accredited programs. In an effort to further understand this issue, a case study of the CAA was performed, which resulted in a two-part case study report. Part one addressed the historical foundation of the organization and the current environment in which the CAA functions. Part two focuses on the following questions: (a) what are some of the costs to a program seeking CAA accreditation (b) what are some fo the benefits of being CAA accredited; (c) why do programs seek CAA accreditation; (d) why do programs choose no to seek CAA accreditation; (e) what role is the CAA playing in the international aviation academic community; and (f) what are some possible strategies the CAA may adopt to enhance the benefits of CAA accreditation and increase the number of CAA accredited programs. This second part allows for a more thorough understanding of the contemporary issued faced by the organization, as well as alternative strategies for the CAA to consider in an effort to increase the number of CAA accredited programs and more fully fulfill the role of the CAA in the collegiate aviation community.

Pathological examination of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in patients who underwent removal of lobar hemorrhages.

PubMed

Lin, Chien-Min; Arishima, Hidetaka; Kikuta, Ken-Ichiro; Naiki, Hironobu; Kitai, Ryuhei; Kodera, Toshiaki; Matsuda, Ken; Hashimoto, Norichika; Isozaki, Makoto; Tsunetoshi, Kenzo; Neishi, Hiroyuki; Higashino, Yoshifumi; Akazawa, Ayumi; Arai, Hiroshi; Yamada, Shinsuke

2018-03-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a degenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the brain microvessels. CAA is also known to contribute not only to cortical microbleeds but also lobar hemorrhages. This retrospective study examined CAA pathologically in patients who underwent direct surgeries for lobar hemorrhage. Thirty-three patients with lobar hemorrhage underwent open surgery with biopsy from 2007 to 2016 in our hospital. Cortical tissues over hematomas obtained surgically were pathologically examined using hematoxylin, eosin stain, and anti-Aβ antibody to diagnose CAA. We also investigated the advanced degree of CAA and clinical features of each patient with lobar hemorrhage. In the 33 patients, 4 yielded specimens that were insufficient to evaluate CAA pathologically. Twenty-four of the remaining 29 patients (82.8%) were pathologically diagnosed with CAA. The majority of CAA-positive patients had moderate or severe CAA based on a grading scale to estimate the advanced degree of CAA. About half of the CAA-positive patients had hypertension, and four took anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents. In five patients who were not pathologically diagnosed with CAA, one had severe liver function disorder, three had uncontrollable hypertension, and one had no obvious risk factor. Our pathological findings suggest that severe CAA with vasculopathic change markedly contributes to lobar hemorrhage. The coexistence of severe CAA and risk factors such as hypertension, anticoagulants or antiplatelets may readily induce lobar hemorrhage.

Finite element analysis for transverse carpal ligament tensile strain and carpal arch area.

PubMed

Yao, Yifei; Erdemir, Ahmet; Li, Zong-Ming

2018-05-17

Mechanics of carpal tunnel soft tissue, such as fat, muscle and transverse carpal ligament (TCL), around the median nerve may render the median nerve vulnerable to compression neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to understand the roles of carpal tunnel soft tissue mechanical properties and intratunnel pressure on the TCL tensile strain and carpal arch area (CAA) using finite element analysis (FEA). Manual segmentation of the thenar muscles, skin, fat, TCL, hamate bone, and trapezium bone in the transverse plane at distal carpal tunnel were obtained from B-mode ultrasound images of one cadaveric hand. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the dependence of TCL tensile strain and CAA on TCL elastic modulus (0.125-10 MPa volar-dorsally; 1.375-110 MPa transversely), skin-fat and thenar muscle initial shear modulus (1.6-160 kPa for skin-fat; 0.425-42.5 kPa for muscle), and intratunnel pressure (60-480 mmHg). Predictions of TCL tensile strain under different intratunnel pressures were validated with the experimental data obtained on the same cadaveric hand. Results showed that skin, fat and muscles had little effect on the TCL tensile strain and CAA changes. However, TCL tensile strain and CAA increased with decreased elastic modulus of TCL and increased intratunnel pressure. The TCL tensile strain and CAA increased linearly with increased pressure while increased exponentially with decreased elastic modulus of TCL. Softening the TCL by decreasing the elastic modulus may be an alternative clinical approach to carpal tunnel expansion to accommodate elevated intratunnel pressure and alleviate median nerve compression neuropathy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aeroacoustic simulation of a linear cascade by a prefactored compact scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghillani, Pietro

This work documents the development of a three-dimensional high-order prefactored compact finite-difference solver for computational aeroacoustics (CAA) based on the inviscid Euler equations. This time explicit scheme is applied to representative problems of sound generation by flow interacting with solid boundaries. Four aeroacoustic problems are explored and the results validated against available reference analytical solution. Selected mesh convergence studies are conducted to determine the effective order of accuracy of the complete scheme. The first test case simulates the noise emitted by a still cylinder in an oscillating field. It provides a simple validation for the CAA-compatible solid wall condition used in the remainder of the work. The following test cases are increasingly complex versions of the turbomachinery rotor-stator interaction problem taken from NASA CAA workshops. In all the cases the results are compared against the available literature. The numerical method features some appreciable contributions to computational aeroacoustics. A reduced data exchange technique for parallel computations is implemented, which requires the exchange of just two values for each boundary node, independently of the size of the zone overlap. A modified version of the non-reflecting buffer layer by Chen is used to allow aerodynamic perturbations at the through flow boundaries. The Giles subsonic boundary conditions are extended to three-dimensional curvilinear coordinates. These advances have enabled to resolve the aerodynamic noise generation and near-field propagation on a representative cascade geometry with a time-marching scheme, with accuracy similar to spectral methods..

Hemorrhage recurrence risk factors in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: Comparative analysis of the overall small vessel disease severity score versus individual neuroimaging markers.

PubMed

Boulouis, Gregoire; Charidimou, Andreas; Pasi, Marco; Roongpiboonsopit, Duangnapa; Xiong, Li; Auriel, Eitan; van Etten, Ellis S; Martinez-Ramirez, Sergi; Ayres, Alison; Vashkevich, Anastasia; Schwab, Kristin M; Rosand, Jonathan; Goldstein, Joshua N; Gurol, M Edip; Greenberg, Steven M; Viswanathan, Anand

2017-09-15

An MRI-based score of total small vessel disease burden (CAA-SVD-Score) in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has been demonstrated to correlate with severity of pathologic changes. Evidence suggests that CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) recurrence risk is associated with specific disease imaging manifestations rather than overall severity. We compared the correlation between the CAA-SVD-Score with the risk of recurrent CAA-related lobar ICH versus the predictive role of each of its components. Consecutive patients with CAA-related ICH from a single-center prospective cohort were analyzed. Radiological markers of CAA related SVD damage were quantified and categorized according to the CAA-SVD-Score (0-6 points). Subjects were followed prospectively for recurrent symptomatic ICH. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate associations between the CAA-SVD-Score as well as each of the individual MRI signatures of CAA and the risk of recurrent ICH. In 229 CAA patients with ICH, a total of 56 recurrent ICH events occurred during a median follow-up of 2.8years [IQR 0.9-5.4years, 781 person-years). Higher CAA-SVD-Score (HR=1.26 per additional point, 95%CI [1.04-1.52], p=0.015) and older age were independently associated with higher ICH recurrence risk. Analysis of individual markers of CAA showed that CAA-SVD-Score findings were due to the independent effect of disseminated superficial siderosis (HR for disseminated cSS vs none: 2.89, 95%CI [1.47-5.5], p=0.002) and high degree of perivascular spaces enlargement (RR=3.50-95%CI [1.04-21], p=0.042). In lobar CAA-ICH patients, higher CAA-SVD-Score does predict recurrent ICH. Amongst individual elements of the score, superficial siderosis and dilated perivascular spaces are the only markers independently associated with ICH recurrence, contributing to the evidence for distinct CAA phenotypes singled out by neuro-imaging manifestations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microbiologic Analysis of Complicated and Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis.

PubMed

García-Marín, Andrés; Pérez-López, Mercedes; Martínez-Guerrero, Elena; Rodríguez-Cazalla, Lorena; Compañ-Rosique, Antonio

2018-01-01

Microbiologic studies suggest that complicated (CAA) and uncomplicated (UAA) acute appendicitis are different entities. Routine peritoneal fluid cultures continue to be controversially related to a low positive rate, found mainly in UAA; to isolation of typical micro-organisms with expected susceptibilities; and to a community-acquired intra-abdominal infection. The aim of this study was to describe microbiologic isolates in CAA and UAA and the usefulness of peritoneal fluid cultures to determine the susceptibilities to our antibiotic therapy guidelines. This study was a retrospective review of a prospective database collected at University San Juan Hospital (Spain) between June 2014 and June 2017. Complicated acute appendicitis was defined as gangrenous or perforated, whereas UAA was defined as phegmonous or suppurative. Our antibiotic recommendations are amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and in patients with β-lactam allergies, metronidazole plus aztreonam, and an aminoglycoside (gentamicin or tobramycin). Microbiologic cultures were performed in 264 patients, 157 with a CAA and 107 with a UAA. The positive culture rate was significantly higher in CAA (59%) than in UAA (24.3%). Gram-positive cocci (51.6% CAA; 23.1% UAA), including Streptococcus constellatus (29% CAA; 3.8% UAA), and anaerobes (67.7% CAA; 42.3% UAA) were significantly more common in CAA. The rates of antibiotic resistance were amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 14% (17.2% CAA; 3.8% UAA), gentamicin or tobramycin 8.4% (9.7% CAA; 3.8% UAA), ciprofloxacin 5.9% (6.5% CAA; 3.8% UAA), and ertapenem 10.9% (14% CAA; 0 UAA). The culture-positive rate was higher in CAA, with different isolates and susceptibilities than in UAA, identifying a higher frequency of gram-positive cocci (including S. constellatus) and anaerobes. We recommend obtaining peritoneal fluid cultures in CAA, which frequently will lead to a change in the antimicrobial drug therapy guidelines, creating specific recommendations in AA.

Giant aneurysms: A gender-specific complication of Kawasaki disease?

PubMed

Dietz, Sanne M; Kuipers, Irene M; Tacke, Carline E A; Koole, Jeffrey C D; Hutten, Barbara A; Kuijpers, Taco W

2017-10-01

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pediatric vasculitis of unknown origin. Its main complication is the development of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) with giant CAA at the end of the spectrum. In this cohort study, we evaluated the association between patient characteristics and the development of giant CAA based on z-scores. Multivariable, multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with giant CAA. A total of 301 KD patients, comprising 216 patients without enlargement, 45 with small-sized, 19 with medium-sized, and 21 with giant CAA with all echocardiographies at our center were retrospectively included. Remarkably, 95% of patients with giant CAA were boys. In addition to 'no/late intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment', 'male gender' (OR 16.23, 95% CI 1.88-140.13), 'age<1 year' (OR 7.49, 95% CI 2.29-24.46), and 'IVIG re-treatment (9.79, 95% CI 2.79-34.37)' were significantly associated with an increased risk of giant CAA, with patients without enlargement as reference. Compared to patients with medium-sized CAA, 'IVIG re-treatment' was significantly associated with giant CAA. The majority of giant CAA continued to increase in size during the first 40 days. We identified risk factors associated with an increased risk of giant CAA. The difference in variables between the giant CAA group and the other CAA subgroups suggests a separation between patients with the treatment-resistant giant CAA and the other IVIG-responsive patients, in which gender may be factored as a most relevant genetic trait. The increase in size during the first 2 months indicates the need for repeated echocardiography. Copyright © 2017 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The growing clinical spectrum of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

PubMed

Wermer, Marieke J H; Greenberg, Steven M

2018-02-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is diagnosed primarily as a cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) in elderly patients. With improving MRI techniques, however, the role of CAA in causing other symptoms has become clear. Recognizing the full clinical spectrum of CAA is important for diagnosis and treatment. In this review we summarize recent insights in clinical CAA features, MRI biomarkers, and management. The rate of ICH recurrence in CAA is among the highest of all stroke subtypes. Cortical superficial siderosis (cSS) and cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage (cSAH) are important imaging predictors for recurrent ICH. CAA also causes cognitive problems in multiple domains. In patients with nondemented CAA, the risk of developing dementia is high especially after ICH. CAA pathology probably starts years before the first clinical manifestations. The first signs in hereditary CAA are white matter lesions, cortical microinfarcts, and impaired occipital cerebral vasoreactivity. Visible centrum semiovale perivascular spaces, lobar located lacunes, and cortical atrophy are new nonhemorrhagic MRI markers. CAA should be in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients with lobar ICH but also in those with cognitive decline and episodic transient neurological symptoms. Physicians should be aware of the cognitive effects of CAA. In patients with a previous ICH, cSS, or cSAH, anticoagulation should be considered risky. The increasing number of MRI markers may help to discriminate CAA from other small vessel diseases and dementia subtypes.

The Council on Aviation Accreditation: Part One - Historical Foundation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prather, C. Daniel

2006-01-01

The Council on Aviation Accreditation (CAA) was established in 1988 in response to the need for formal, specialized accreditation of aviation academic programs, as expressed by institutional members of the University Aviation Association (UAA). The first aviation programs were accredited by the CAA in 1992, and today, the CAA lists 60 accredited programs at 21 institutions nationwide. Although the number of accredited programs has steadily grown, there are currently only 20 percent of UAA member institutions with CAA accredited programs. In an effort to further understand this issue, a case study of the CAA was performed, which resulted in a two-part case study report. Part one focuses on the following questions: (a) why was the CAA established and how has it evolved; (b) what is the purpose of the CAA; (c) how does a program become accredited by the CAA; and (d) what is the current environment in which the CAA operates. In answering these questions, various sources of data (such as CAA documents, magazine and journal articles, email inquiries, and an on-line survey) were utilized. Part one of this study resulted in a better understanding of the CAA, including its history, purpose, and the entire accreditation process. Part two will both examine the contemporary issues being faced by the CAA and provide recommendations to enhance the future growth of the organization.

Patterns of convexal subarachnoid haemorrhage: clinical, radiological and outcome differences between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and other causes.

PubMed

Calviere, Lionel; Raposo, Nicolas; Cuvinciuc, Victor; Cognard, Christophe; Bonneville, Fabrice; Viguier, Alain

2018-01-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common aetiology of convexal subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH) but little is known about its specific characteristics in comparison with cSAH from other causes. In this study we compared patients with CAA vs. non-CAA-related cSAH. Retrospective review of baseline and follow-up data of consecutive patients admitted with a symptomatic acute cSAH. Sixty-two patients were included (mean age 66.2 ± 14.1 years), of whom 31 with probable CAA. CAA patients presented more frequently with transient symptoms (83.9 vs. 19.3%; p < 0.001) usually without headache (19.0 vs. 58.1%; p = 0.002). In CAA, these were essentially positive sensory disturbance that met the criteria of transient focal neurological episodes (TFNE). CAA was more often associated with cortical superficial siderosis (cSS) (80.6 vs. 0%; p < 0.001) and lobar cerebral microbleeds (83.4 vs. 9%; p < 0.001). During a mean of 22 months of follow-up, recurrent symptomatic cSAH occurred in 4/27 (12.9%) CAA patients and in 0/27 non-CAA patients. Among 40 patients with MRI follow-up, cSAH recurrences were observed in 44% of CAA patients vs. 13.3% of other cases (p = 0.08) and extension of cSS was detected only in CAA (60%) (p < 0.001). Acute cSAH evolved to cSS in 96 and 73.3% of CAA and non-CAA patients, respectively (p = 0.06). CAA differs from other cSAH in having TFNE as a frequent clinical presentation, a high prevalence of cSS and an increased risk of recurrent subarachnoid bleeding. However, evolution from acute cSAH to focal cSS may not be specific to CAA.

Genome-wide linkage mapping of QTL for black point reaction in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

PubMed

Liu, Jindong; He, Zhonghu; Wu, Ling; Bai, Bin; Wen, Weie; Xie, Chaojie; Xia, Xianchun

2016-11-01

Nine QTL for black point resistance in wheat were identified using a RIL population derived from a Linmai 2/Zhong 892 cross and 90K SNP assay. Black point, discoloration of the embryo end of the grain, downgrades wheat grain quality leading to significant economic losses to the wheat industry. The availability of molecular markers will accelerate improvement of black point resistance in wheat breeding. The aims of this study were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for black point resistance and tightly linked molecular markers, and to search for candidate genes using a high-density genetic linkage map of wheat. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross Linmai 2/Zhong 892 was evaluated for black point reaction during the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 cropping seasons, providing data for seven environments. A high-density linkage map was constructed by genotyping the RILs with the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. Composite interval mapping detected nine QTL on chromosomes 2AL, 2BL, 3AL, 3BL, 5AS, 6A, 7AL (2) and 7BS, designated as QBp.caas-2AL, QBp.caas-2BL, QBp.caas-3AL, QBp.caas-3BL, QBp.caas-5AS, QBp.caas-6A, QBp.caas-7AL.1, QBp.caas-7AL.2 and QBp.caas-7BS, respectively. All resistance alleles, except for QBp.caas-7AL.1 from Linmai 2, were contributed by Zhong 892. QBp.caas-3BL, QBp.caas-5AS, QBp.caas-7AL.1, QBp.caas-7AL.2 and QBp.caas-7BS probably represent new loci for black point resistance. Sequences of tightly linked SNPs were used to survey wheat and related cereal genomes identifying three candidate genes for black point resistance. The tightly linked SNP markers can be used in marker-assisted breeding in combination with the kompetitive allele specific PCR technique to improve black point resistance.

APOE associations with severe CAA-associated vasculopathic changes: collaborative meta-analysis.

PubMed

Rannikmäe, Kristiina; Kalaria, Rajesh N; Greenberg, Steven M; Chui, Helena C; Schmitt, Frederick A; Samarasekera, Neshika; Al-Shahi Salman, Rustam; Sudlow, Cathie L M

2014-03-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is associated with lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). While only the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is associated with the presence of CAA, both APOE-ε4 and ε2 are associated with lobar ICH. The generally accepted explanation is that APOE-ε4 promotes vascular amyloid deposition, while APOE-ε2 promotes progression to severe CAA with associated vasculopathic changes that cause vessel rupture and ICH. We assessed the evidence for these allele-specific effects. We systematically identified published studies with data on APOE genotype and histopathological assessment of postmortem brains for CAA severity. We obtained unpublished data from these for meta-analyses of the effects of ε4-containing (ε4+) and ε2-containing (ε2+) genotypes on progression to severe CAA. Of six eligible studies (543 eligible participants), data were available from 5 (497 participants, 353 with CAA). Meta-analyses showed a possible association of ε4+ genotypes with severe CAA (ε4+ vs ε4-: severe vs mild/moderate CAA, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.5, p=0.002; severe vs moderate CAA, OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9 to 3.1, p=0.11). For ε2+ versus ε2- genotypes, there was no significant association, but the very small number of participants with ε2+ genotypes (22) precluded reliable estimates. We found a possible association of severe CAA with APOE-ε4 but not APOE-ε2. However, our findings do not exclude a biologically meaningful association between APOE-ε2 and severe CAA. Further work is needed to elucidate fully the allele-specific associations of APOE with CAA and their mechanisms.

Amyloid Angiopathy in Brain Hemorrhage: A Postmortem Neuropathological-Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

PubMed

Guidoux, Celine; Hauw, Jean-Jacques; Klein, Isabelle F; Labreuche, Julien; Berr, Claudine; Duyckaerts, Charles; Amarenco, Pierre

2018-01-01

Risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) include hypertension and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). The objective of this study was to determine the autopsy prevalence of CAA and the potential overlap with other risk factors among patients who died from ICH and also the correlation of CAA with cerebral microbleeds. We analyzed 81 consecutive autopsy brains from patients with ICH. Staining for CAA detection was performed. We used an age- and sex-matched control group of routine brain autopsies of nonneurological patients to determine the frequencies of CAA and hypertension. Postmortem 3D T2-weighted gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a 1.5-T magnet was performed in 11 brains with ICH (5 with CAA and 6 without) and histological correlation was performed when microbleeds were detected. Hypertension and CAA were found in 69.1 and 24.7% of cases respectively. Among patients with CAA, 65.0% also had hypertension. The prevalence of CAA was similar among non-hypertensive cases and controls (33.3 and 23.1%; p = 0.54), whereas a significant difference was found between hypertensive cases vs. controls (28.9% vs. 0; p = 0.01). MRI documented 48 microbleeds and all 5 brains with CAA had ≥1 microbleed, compared to 3/6 brains without CAA. Among 48 microbleeds on MRI, 45 corresponded histologically to microbleeds surrounding microvessels (23 <200 µm in diameter, 19 between 200 µm and 2 mm, 3 were hemosiderin granules). Both hypertension and CAA frequently coexist in patients with ICH. MRI-detected microbleeds, proven by histological analysis, were twice as common in patients with CAA as in those with hypertensive ICH. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Capillary CAA and perivascular Aβ-deposition: two distinct features of Alzheimer's disease pathology.

PubMed

Attems, Johannes; Yamaguchi, Haruyasu; Saido, Takaomi C; Thal, Dietmar Rudolf

2010-12-15

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is frequently seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases and represents one of its histopathological hallmarks. CAA is characterized by amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits within vessel walls. In addition to arteries and veins capillaries can also be affected. Aβ deposition into the capillary wall is, thereby, known as capillary CAA (capCAA) and strongly associated with the apolipoprotein E APOEε4 allele as a risk factor. Aβ deposits along the pericapillary glia limitans are described as pericapillary Aβ (pericapAβ: synonymous with pericapillary CAA in other studies). Here, we studied the relationship between pericapAβ and capCAA in 58 human autopsy cases. Although pericapAβ and capCAA were more frequently found in AD cases compared to controls and although they exhibited a correlation to one another, detailed analysis revealed that there is a significant number of cases with pericapAβ lacking capCAA and vice versa. Moreover, single capillaries show either both pathologies or pericapAβ or capCAA only. There was no local association between these pathologies when analyzing multiple capillaries in each given case. Moreover, pericapAβ predominantly exhibited Aβ(42) whereas capCAA contained both Aβ(42) and Aβ(40). These differences as well as differences in the related astroglial reaction indicate that pericapAβ and capCAA are not directly linked. PericapAβ appears to represent initial Aβ accumulation along the glia limitans that is involved in the perivascular drainage of apoE and Aβ regardless of the APOE genotype whereas capCAA could be explained by a limited transendothelial clearance of apoE4-Aβ complexes compared to apoE2/3-Aβ complexes. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Increased plasma levels of competing amino acids, rather than lowered plasma tryptophan levels, are associated with a non-response to treatment in major depression.

PubMed

Ormstad, Heidi; Dahl, Johan; Verkerk, Robert; Andreassen, Ole A; Maes, Michael

2016-08-01

Lowered plasma tryptophan (TRP) and TRP/competing amino acid (CAA) ratio may be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression (MDD). Increased cortisol and immune-inflammatory mediators in MDD may affect the availability of TRP to the brain. We investigated whether baseline or post-treatment TRP, CAAs and TRP/CAA ratio are associated with a treatment response in MDD and whether these effects may be mediated by cortisol or immune biomarkers. We included 50 medication-free MDD patients with a depressive episode (DSM diagnosis) and assessed symptom severity with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS) before and after treatment as usual for 12 weeks (endpoint). Plasma levels of TRP, CAAs, the ratio, cortisol, CRP and 6 selected cytokines were assayed. The primary outcome was a 50% reduction in the IDS, while the secondary was a remission of the depressive episode. In IDS non-responders, CAAs increased and the TRP/CAA ratio decreased, while in IDS responders CAAs decreased and the TRP/CAA ratio increased from baseline to endpoint. In patients who were still depressed at endpoint TRP and CAAs levels had increased from baseline, while in remitted patients no such effects were found. Increases in CAAs were inversely correlated with changes in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels. The results show that increased CAA levels from baseline to endpoint are associated with a non-response to treatment in MDD patients. This suggests that the mechanism underpinning the CAA-related treatment resistance may be related to changes in immune pathways. CAA levels and amino acid metabolism may be new drug targets in depression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 as a Predictor of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients Receiving Coronary Angiography.

PubMed

Mahler, Simon A; Register, Thomas C; Riley, Robert F; D'Agostino, Ralph B; Stopyra, Jason P; Miller, Chadwick D

2018-06-01

Animal studies suggest that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a promising biomarker for coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA), but human studies have been inconclusive. To determine potential relationships between plasma MCP-1 and CAA in patients with acute chest pain. A secondary analysis of 150 patients enrolled in emergency department chest pain risk stratification clinical investigations was conducted. Participants with stored blood and known coronary phenotypes (determined by coronary angiography) were selected using stratified randomization such that 50 patients were included into 3 groups: (1) no angiographic evidence of CAA, (2) nonobstructive CAA, and (3) obstructive CAA (stenosis ≥ 70%). Plasma MCP-1 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The association between MCP-1 and obstructive CAA or any CAA was modeled using logistic regression. Variables in the unreduced model included age, sex, race, prior diagnosis of CAA or acute coronary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and cardiac troponin I measurement. Among the 150 participants, 65.3% (98/150) had invasive coronary angiography and 34.7% (52/150) had coronary computed tomographic angiography. Myocardial infarction occurred in 27.3% (41/150) and coronary revascularization occurred in 26% (39/150) of the participants. Each 10 pg/mL increase in MCP-1 measurement was associated with an odds ratio of 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.19) for obstructive CAA. MCP-1 remained a significant predictor of obstructive CAA and any CAA after adjustment for age, sex, race, traditional cardiac risk factors, and cardiac troponin I. MCP-1 is independently associated with CAA among emergency department patients with chest pain.

Computational aero-acoustics for fan duct propagation and radiation. Current status and application to turbofan liner optimisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astley, R. J.; Sugimoto, R.; Mustafi, P.

2011-08-01

Novel techniques are presented to reduce noise from turbofan aircraft engines by optimising the acoustic treatment in engine ducts. The application of Computational Aero-Acoustics (CAA) to predict acoustic propagation and absorption in turbofan ducts is reviewed and a critical assessment of performance indicates that validated and accurate techniques are now available for realistic engine predictions. A procedure for integrating CAA methods with state of the art optimisation techniques is proposed in the remainder of the article. This is achieved by embedding advanced computational methods for noise prediction within automated and semi-automated optimisation schemes. Two different strategies are described and applied to realistic nacelle geometries and fan sources to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for industry scale problems.

NASA's Principal Center for Review of Clean Air Act Regulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark-Ingram, Marceia

2003-01-01

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was selected as the Principal Center for review of Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations. The CAA Principal Center is tasked to: 1) Provide centralized support to NASA/HDQ Code JE for the management and leadership of NASA's CAA regulation review process; 2) Identify potential impact from proposed CAA regulations to NASA program hardware and supporting facilities. The Shuttle Environmental Assurance Initiative, one of the responsibilities of the NASA CAA Working Group (WG), is described in part of this viewgraph presentation.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy increases susceptibility to infarction after focal cerebral ischemia in Tg2576 mice.

PubMed

Milner, Eric; Zhou, Meng-Liang; Johnson, Andrew W; Vellimana, Ananth K; Greenberg, Jacob K; Holtzman, David M; Han, Byung Hee; Zipfel, Gregory J

2014-10-01

We and others have shown that soluble amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) cause significant cerebrovascular dysfunction in mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) mice, and that these deficits are greater in aged APP mice having CAA compared with young APP mice lacking CAA. Amyloid β-peptide in young APP mice also increases infarction after focal cerebral ischemia, but the impact of CAA on ischemic brain injury is unknown. To determine this, we assessed cerebrovascular reactivity, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and extent of infarction and neurological deficits after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in aged APP mice having extensive CAA versus young APP mice lacking CAA (and aged-matched littermate controls). We found that aged APP mice have more severe cerebrovascular dysfunction that is CAA dependent, have greater CBF compromise during and immediately after middle cerebral artery occlusion, and develop larger infarctions after middle cerebral artery occlusion. These data indicate CAA induces a more severe form of cerebrovascular dysfunction than amyloid β-peptide alone, leading to intra- and postischemic CBF deficits that ultimately exacerbate cerebral infarction. Our results shed mechanistic light on human studies identifying CAA as an independent risk factor for ischemic brain injury. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

[Diagnostic of ascites due to portal hypertension: accuracy of the serum-ascites albumin gradient and protein analises in ascitic fluid].

PubMed

Rodríguez Vargas, Brainy Omar; Monge Salgado, Eduardo; Montes Teves, Pedro; Salazar Ventura, Sonia; Guzmán Calderón, Edson

2014-01-01

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Serum-Ascites Albumin Gradient (GASA), Protein Concentration in the Ascitic Fluid (PTLA), Albumin Concentration in the ascitic fluid (CAA) and the Protein Ascites/Serum Ratio (IPAS) for the diagnosis of ascites due to portal hypertension. it was an observational and retrospective study of validation of diagnostic tests. The study population was patients from a National Public Health Hospital Daniel Alcides Carrion of Callao, Peru, during the period January to December of 2012, patients over 15 years old with a diagnosis of ascites which samples were taken for study by paracentesis with an standard technique, it was analyzed total protein and albumin, as well as study of total protein and albumin in blood. We obtained the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the Serum-Ascites Albumin Gradient (GASA), Protein Concentration in the Ascitic Fluid (PTLA), Albumin Concentration in the ascitic fluid (CAA) and the Protein Ascites/Serum Ratio (IPAS) for the diagnosis of ascites due to portal hypertension. To determine ascites by HTP as diagnostic tests we took into account: GASA >= 1.1, PTLA <2.5, CAA <1.1 or IPAS< 0.5. There were 126 patients diagnosed with ascites, 10 patients was excluded for having incomplete data. Of the 116 patients, the average age was 53.03 +/- 15.73 years old, male 65 (56%) and female 51 (44%). 61 (52%) had ascites due to portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis, and 55 (48%) of ascites due to NO HTP. The sensitivity and specificity for GASA was 93% and 47% respectively, for PTLA was 80% and 89% respectively, for CAA was 85% and 87% respectively and for the IPAS was 83% and 80% respectively. The área under the ROC curve for GASA was 0.70, ATPL was 0.84, IPAS was 0.81 and CAA was 0.86, we found statistically significant differences between GASA compared to the other three parameters (p<0.01 ). The diagnostic accuracy of CAA, ATPL and IPAS is higher than the GASA to discriminate between ascites due to HTP or NO HTP, so that they could be used in clinical practice alone or together to achieve a diagnostic approach more successful.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy initially occurs in the meningeal vessels.

PubMed

Takeda, Shigeki; Yamazaki, Kazunori; Miyakawa, Teruo; Onda, Kiyoshi

2017-12-01

To clarify the frequency of CAA in the brain parenchyma and subarachnoid space (SAS), we counted sections of blood vessels showing positive staining for Aβ in the SAS, cerebral cortex (CC) and cerebral white matter (WM) using paraffin-embedded sections of the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes. The specimens had been taken for routine neuropathological examination from the brains of 105 Japanese patients (aged 40-95 years) selected from among 200 consecutive patients autopsied between 1989 and 2015 at our hospital. We examined the anatomical ratios of blood-vessel sections in the SAS relative to the CC in three selected CAA cases, and those of Aβ-positive blood-vessel sections in CAA cases. CAA was found in 53 of the 105 cases (50.5%), and the youngest patient affected was a 51-year-old man. The incidence of CAA increased with age. The anatomical ratio of blood vessel sections in the SAS relative to the CC was 1/3.70-1/4.37 (mean: 1/3.94). The ordinary CAA group, in which CAA was seen in both the SAS and CC, included 41 cases (77.4%). In 37 of these cases, the SAS/CC ratio of Aβ-positive blood vessels was 1/0.05-1/0.66 (mean: 1/0.26), and in the other four cases the ratio was 1/1-1/1.5. In the ordinary CAA group, the SAS/CC ratio of Aβ-positive blood vessels was smaller than the anatomical ratio. The meningeal CAA group, in which CAA was found only in the SAS, included 12 cases (22.6%). These patients ranged in age from their fifties to their nineties. There was no case in which CAA was limited only to the CC. We concluded that CAA initially develops in the meningeal blood vessels, and not in the cortical blood vessels. CAA in the WM was seen in 10 cases, not only in nine cases that were severe, but also in a mild case. © 2017 Japanese Society of Neuropathology.

The comorbidities and risk factors in children with congenital airway anomalies: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

PubMed

Lee, Yu-Sheng; Tsao, Pei-Chen; Jeng, Mei-Jy; Soong, Wen-Jue

2018-05-01

The comorbidities and risk factors associated with congenital airway anomalies (CAAs) in children are undecided. This study aimed to investigate the comorbidities commonly associated with CAA and to explore the prognosis and risk factors in CAA children.This nationwide, population-based cohort study was conducted between 2000 and 2011 with children aged 0 to 5 years assigned to either a CAA group (6341 patients) that diagnosed with CAA or an age- and gender-matched control group (25,159 patients) without CAA, using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Descriptive, logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression analyses were used for the investigation.Cleft lip/palate (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.49-9.59), chromosome (aOR, 6.85; 95% CI, 5.03-9.34), and congenital neurologic (aOR, 5.52; 95% CI, 4.45-6.87) anomalies were the comorbidities most highly associated with CAA. Of the 31,500 eligible study patients, 636 (399 in the CAA group and 237 in the control group) died during the follow-up period (6.3% vs 0.9%, P < .001). The mortality risk after adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities elevated significantly among CAA patients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.59; 95% CI, 3.85-5.48). The need for tracheostomy (aHR, 2.98; 95% CI, 2.15-4.15), comorbidity with congenital heart disease (CHD) (aHR, 2.52; 95% CI, 2.05-3.10), and chromosome anomaly (aHR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.70-3.23) were the independent risk factors most greatly related to CAA mortality.This study demonstrated that CAA was most highly associated with the comorbidities as cleft lip/palate, chromosome, and congenital neurologic anomalies. The CAA children had a significantly elevated mortality risk; the need for tracheostomy, CHD, and chromosome anomaly were the most related risk factors of mortality for CAA. Further studies are warranted to clarify the involved mechanisms.

Check-list for the assessment of functional impairment in children with congenital aural atresia.

PubMed

Montino, Silvia; Agostinelli, Anna; Trevisi, Patrizia; Martini, Alessandro; Ghiselli, Sara

2017-11-01

Congenital Aural Atresia (CAA) is a deformity of the external ear and it is commonly associated with malformations of middle and inner ear and, in some cases, with other facial deformities. Very few assessment measures exist for evaluating the functional impairment in children with CAA. Purpose of this study is to introduce and describe an assessment Checklist, (nominated FOS Checklist) that covers feeding abilities (F), oralmotor skills (O), communication/language development (S) in children with CAA. FOS wants to offer a range of assessment providing a profile of the child in comparison to hearing peers and it aims to make clinicians able to identify additional problems and areas of difficulties as well as specific abilities and skills. Secondary, we want to investigate the presence of correlations between disorders and side of CAA. a new Checklist (FOS Checklist) was administered to 68 children with CAA. Feeding abilities are age-adequate in 94,3% of all patients. 54,4% of all patients are in need for further assessment of their oral-motor skills; delays in language development were found in 44,1% of cases. Orofacial development delays have been observed in 57.2% of subjects among the bilateral CAA group, in 53.9% among the right CAA group and in 53.4% among the left CAA group. Patients referred for further language evaluation were 42,9% in the bilateral CAA group, 33.3% in the right CAA group and 33.3% in the left CAA group. According to the χ 2 analysis, referral for further assessment is independent from side of aural atresia. Subjects with bilateral CAA are more likely to be referred for further assessment, both for oral motor aspects and for speech perception and language development. However, there is not a significant statistical difference between the performances of children with bilateral or unilateral CAA. FOS Checklist is simple, reliable and time effective and can be used in everyday clinical practice. FOS enable clinicians to identify additional problems and areas of difficulties as well as specific abilities and skills; moreover, FOS allows to determine appropriate referrals and intervention strategies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Patterns and severity of vascular amyloid in Alzheimer's disease associated with duplications and missense mutations in APP gene, Down syndrome and sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Mann, David M A; Davidson, Yvonne S; Robinson, Andrew C; Allen, Nancy; Hashimoto, Tadafumi; Richardson, Anna; Jones, Matthew; Snowden, Julie S; Pendleton, Neil; Potier, Marie-Claude; Laquerrière, Annie; Prasher, Vee; Iwatsubo, Takeshi; Strydom, Andre

2018-05-16

In this study, we have compared the severity of amyloid plaque formation and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and the subtype pattern of CAA pathology itself, between APP genetic causes of AD (APPdup, APP mutations), older individuals with Down syndrome (DS) showing the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and individuals with sporadic (early and late onset) AD (sEOAD and sLOAD, respectively). The aim of this was to elucidate important group differences and to provide mechanistic insights related to clinical and neuropathological phenotypes. Since lipid and cholesterol metabolism is implicated in AD as well as vascular disease, we additionally aimed to explore the role of APOE genotype in CAA severity and subtypes. Plaque formation was greater in DS and missense APP mutations than in APPdup, sEOAD and sLOAD cases. Conversely, CAA was more severe in APPdup and missense APP mutations, and in DS, compared to sEOAD and sLOAD. When stratified by CAA subtype from 1 to 4, there were no differences in plaque scores between the groups, though in patients with APPdup, APP mutations and sEOAD, types 2 and 3 CAA were more common than type 1. Conversely, in DS, sLOAD and controls, type 1 CAA was more common than types 2 and 3. APOE ε4 allele frequency was greater in sEOAD and sLOAD compared to APPdup, missense APP mutations, DS and controls, and varied between each of the CAA phenotypes with APOE ε4 homozygosity being more commonly associated with type 3 CAA than types 1 and 2 CAA in sLOAD and sEOAD. The differing patterns in CAA within individuals of each group could be a reflection of variations in the efficiency of perivascular drainage, this being less effective in types 2 and 3 CAA leading to a greater burden of CAA in parenchymal arteries and capillaries. Alternatively, as suggested by immunostaining using carboxy-terminal specific antibodies, it may relate to the relative tissue burdens of the two major forms of Aβ, with higher levels of Aβ 40 promoting a more 'aggressive' form of CAA, and higher levels of Aβ 42(3) favouring a greater plaque burden. Possession of APOE ε4 allele, especially ε4 homozygosity, favours development of CAA generally, and as type 3 particularly, in sEOAD and sLOAD.

Design of cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base compounds based on the quantitative structure-activity relationship.

PubMed

Wang, Hui; Jiang, Mingyue; Li, Shujun; Hse, Chung-Yun; Jin, Chunde; Sun, Fangli; Li, Zhuo

2017-09-01

Cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base (CAAS) is a new class of safe, bioactive compounds which could be developed as potential antifungal agents for fungal infections. To design new cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base compounds with high bioactivity, the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for CAAS compounds against Aspergillus niger ( A. niger ) and Penicillium citrinum (P. citrinum) were analysed. The QSAR models ( R 2  = 0.9346 for A. niger , R 2  = 0.9590 for P. citrinum, ) were constructed and validated. The models indicated that the molecular polarity and the Max atomic orbital electronic population had a significant effect on antifungal activity. Based on the best QSAR models, two new compounds were designed and synthesized. Antifungal activity tests proved that both of them have great bioactivity against the selected fungi.

Design of cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base compounds based on the quantitative structure–activity relationship

PubMed Central

Wang, Hui; Jiang, Mingyue; Hse, Chung-Yun; Jin, Chunde; Sun, Fangli; Li, Zhuo

2017-01-01

Cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base (CAAS) is a new class of safe, bioactive compounds which could be developed as potential antifungal agents for fungal infections. To design new cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base compounds with high bioactivity, the quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs) for CAAS compounds against Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and Penicillium citrinum (P. citrinum) were analysed. The QSAR models (R2 = 0.9346 for A. niger, R2 = 0.9590 for P. citrinum,) were constructed and validated. The models indicated that the molecular polarity and the Max atomic orbital electronic population had a significant effect on antifungal activity. Based on the best QSAR models, two new compounds were designed and synthesized. Antifungal activity tests proved that both of them have great bioactivity against the selected fungi. PMID:28989758

Long-term treatment with chaethomellic acid A reduces glomerulosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis in a rat model of chronic kidney disease.

PubMed

Nogueira, António; Vala, Helena; Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, Carmen; Faustino-Rocha, Ana Isabel; Pires, Carlos André; Colaço, Aura; Oliveira, Paula Alexandra; Pires, Maria João

2017-12-01

The high prevalence of end-stage renal disease emphasizes the failure to provide therapies to effectively prevent and/or reverse renal fibrosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term treatment with chaethomellic acid A (CAA), which selectively blocks Ha-Ras farnesylation, on renal mass reduction-induced renal fibrosis. Male Wistar rats were sham-operated (SO) or subjected to 5/6 renal mass reduction (RMR). One week after surgery, rats were placed in four experimental groups: SO:SO rats without treatment (n=13); SO+CAA: SO rats treated with CAA (n=13); RMR:RMR rats without treatment (n=14); and RMR+CAA:RMR rats treated with CAA (n=13). CAA was intraperitoneally administered in a dose of 0.23μg/kg three times a week for six months. Renal fibrosis was evaluated by two-dimensional ultrasonography and histopathological analysis. The kidneys of the RMR animals treated with CAA showed a significantly decrease in the medullary echogenicity (p<0.05) compared with the RMR rats that received no treatment. Glomerulosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis scores were significantly lower (p<0.001) in the RMR+CAA group when compared with the RMR group. There were no significant differences in interstitial fibrosis, interstitial inflammation and tubular dilatation scores between the RMR+CAA and RMR groups. These data suggest that CAA can be a potential future drug to attenuate the progression of chronic kidney disease. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Can brain impermeable BACE1 inhibitors serve as anti-CAA medicine?

PubMed

Li, Jian-Ming; Huang, Li-Ling; Liu, Fei; Tang, Bei-Sha; Yan, Xiao-Xin

2017-08-25

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by the deposition of ß-amyloid peptides (Aß) in and surrounding the wall of microvasculature in the central nervous system, together with parenchymal amyloid plaques collectively referred to as cerebral amyloidosis, which occurs in the brain commonly among the elderly and more frequently in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). CAA is associated with vascular injury and may cause devastating neurological outcomes. No therapeutic approach is available for this lesion to date. ß-Secretase 1 (BACE1) is the enzyme initiating Aß production. Brain permeable BACE1 inhibitors targeting primarily at the parenchymal plaque pathology are currently evaluated in clinical trials. This article presents findings in support of a role of BACE1 elevation in the development of CAA, in addition to plaque pathogenesis. The rationale, feasibility, benefit and strategic issues for developing BACE1 inhibitors against CAA are discussed. Brain impermeable compounds are considered preferable as they might exhibit sufficient anti-CAA efficacy without causing significant neuronal/synaptic side effects. Early pharmacological intervention to the pathogenesis of CAA is expected to provide significant protection for cerebral vascular health and hence brain health. Brain impermeable BACE1 inhibitors should be optimized and tested as potential anti-CAA therapeutics.

[Behavioural problems and personality change related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy].

PubMed

Gahr, Maximilian; Connemann, Bernhard J; Schönfeldt-Lecuona, Carlos

2012-11-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) belongs to the group of amyloidoses that are characterized by the deposition of insoluble and tissue-damaging amyloid proteins. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is the common clinical presentation of CAA resulting from the degenerative effect of beta amyloid on the cerebral vascular system. Though CAA is rather a neurological disease psychiatric symptoms can occur and even dominate the clinical picture. A case report is presented in order to illustrate the association between CAA and psychiatric symptoms. We report the case of a 54-year-old female patient with radiologic references to a probable CAA and mild cognitive impairment who developed behavioural difficulties and personality change that necessitated a psychiatric treatment. Psychiatric symptoms were most likely due to CAA. CAA can be associated with psychiatric symptoms and hence should be considered in the treatment of elderly patients with behavioural problems or personality changes. Diagnostic neuroimaging and examination of cerebrospinal fluid is recommended. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Clinical predictors of severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy and influence of APOE genotype in persons with pathologically verified Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Ringman, John M; Sachs, Michael C; Zhou, Yan; Monsell, Sarah E; Saver, Jeffrey L; Vinters, Harry V

2014-07-01

Although cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has important clinical implications, our understanding of it and ability to diagnose it are limited. To determine pathological correlates and clinical factors identifiable during life that predict the presence of severe CAA in persons with pathologically confirmed Alzheimer disease (AD). We compared demographic and clinical variables at the earliest visit during life at which participants were found to have cognitive impairment and compared pathological variables between persons ultimately found to have no or severe CAA at autopsy using logistic regression. Analyses were repeated separately for carriers and noncarriers of the APOE ε4 allele. Data were obtained from the Uniform Data Set, which comprises longitudinal clinical assessments performed in the Alzheimer's Disease Centers funded by the National Institute on Aging. Participants included 193 persons with AD and severe CAA and 232 persons with AD and no CAA. All participants had cognitive impairment and met National Institute on Aging-Reagan Institute neuropathological criteria for AD. Prevalence of demographic characteristics and the APOE ε4 allele and odds ratios (ORs) of clinical variables for the prediction of severe CAA. Persons with severe CAA compared with those without CAA were more likely to carry an APOE ε4 allele (64.9% vs 42.8%, respectively; P < .001), to be Hispanic (6.8% vs 1.3%, respectively; P = .003), to have had a transient ischemic attack (12.5% vs 6.1%, respectively; OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.4), and to have lower degrees of diffuse amyloid plaque pathology (mean [SD] Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease score, 1.2 [0.5] vs 1.4 [0.8], respectively; P = .01). Those with CAA compared with those without CAA more commonly had intracerebral hemorrhage (9.3% vs 3.5%, respectively; P = .01), cortical microinfarcts (20.7% vs 12.9%, respectively; P = .03), and subcortical leukoencephalopathy (20.5% vs 12.1%, respectively; P = .02). Noncarriers of the APOE ε4 allele with severe CAA compared with those without CAA had a higher prevalence of stroke (11.1% vs 3.9%, respectively; OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.0-14.6) and hypercholesterolemia (50.0% vs 32.7%, respectively; OR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-4.7). Being Hispanic and having had a transient ischemic attack-like episode were predictors of CAA in persons with AD. Less diffuse parenchymal amyloid pathology in persons with severe CAA suggests a difference in β-amyloid trafficking.

Genome-Wide Linkage Mapping of QTL for Adult-Plant Resistance to Stripe Rust in a Chinese Wheat Population Linmai 2 × Zhong 892

PubMed Central

Liu, Jindong; He, Zhonghu; Wu, Ling; Bai, Bin; Wen, Weie; Xie, Chaojie; Xia, Xianchun

2015-01-01

Stripe rust is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. Adult-plant resistance (APR) is an efficient approach to provide long-term protection of wheat from the disease. The Chinese winter wheat cultivar Zhong 892 has a moderate level of APR to stripe rust in the field. To determine the inheritance of the APR resistance in this cultivar, 273 F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from a cross between Linmai 2 and Zhong 892. The RILs were evaluated for maximum disease severity (MDS) in two sites during the 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 cropping seasons, providing data for five environments. Illumina 90k SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) chips were used to genotype the RILs and their parents. Composite interval mapping (CIM) detected eight QTL, namely QYr.caas-2AL, QYr.caas-2BL.3, QYr.caas-3AS, QYr.caas-3BS, QYr.caas-5DL, QYr.caas-6AL, QYr.caas-7AL and QYr.caas-7DS.1, respectively. All except QYr.caas-2BL.3 resistance alleles were contributed by Zhong 892. QYr.caas-3AS and QYr.caas-3BS conferred stable resistance to stripe rust in all environments, explaining 6.2–17.4% and 5.0–11.5% of the phenotypic variances, respectively. The genome scan of SNP sequences tightly linked to QTL for APR against annotated proteins in wheat and related cereals genomes identified two candidate genes (autophagy-related gene and disease resistance gene RGA1), significantly associated with stripe rust resistance. These QTL and their closely linked SNP markers, in combination with kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) technology, are potentially useful for improving stripe rust resistances in wheat breeding. PMID:26714310

Extending LMS to Support IRT-Based Assessment Test Calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fotaris, Panagiotis; Mastoras, Theodoros; Mavridis, Ioannis; Manitsaris, Athanasios

Developing unambiguous and challenging assessment material for measuring educational attainment is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process. As a result Computer Aided Assessment (CAA) tools are becoming widely adopted in academic environments in an effort to improve the assessment quality and deliver reliable results of examinee performance. This paper introduces a methodological and architectural framework which embeds a CAA tool in a Learning Management System (LMS) so as to assist test developers in refining items to constitute assessment tests. An Item Response Theory (IRT) based analysis is applied to a dynamic assessment profile provided by the LMS. Test developers define a set of validity rules for the statistical indices given by the IRT analysis. By applying those rules, the LMS can detect items with various discrepancies which are then flagged for review of their content. Repeatedly executing the aforementioned procedure can improve the overall efficiency of the testing process.

CAA Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1992.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-11-01

But, in t• -. y’s era of rapid change, there has been a burgeoning demand for quick reaction analyses. Today, CAA increasingly applies the results of...years. The graph on the right illustrates the reorientation of CAA analytical focus to meet increasing sponsor demands for QRA and the apparent...meeting the most important analysis needs of the Army while maintaining quality and preparing CAA capabilities to meet demands that will be presented

Introduction to computational aero-acoustics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardin, Jay C.

1996-01-01

Computational aeroacoustics (CAA) is introduced, by presenting its definition, advantages, applications, and initial challenges. The effects of Mach number and Reynolds number on CAA are considered. The CAA method combines the methods of aeroacoustics and computational fluid dynamics.

[Effects of the adsorbent CAA for hemopurification on normal components of human plasma in removing methylene blue].

PubMed

Ma, Yu; Xia, Yun; Yang, Xiaolan; Yu, Ming'an

2003-06-01

Virus inactivation of plasma can be achieved by phototreatment with methylene blue (MB). Subsequently, elimination of MB may reduce the adverse effects of MB. This study examined the effects of adsorbing MB with the use of cross-linked agar bead entrapped attapulgite clay (CAA) on normal ingredients in MB-treated plasma units. The biomedical characteristics of CAA were assessed by determination of partial biochemical indexes, coagulation potency and some cationic concentration in a control sample and the MB-treated plasma eluted from CAA column. The biochemistry indexes or K+, Na+ in plasma were almost unaltered before and after CAA adsorption. In contrast, the concentrations of CA2+ and Mg2+ increased and the blood ammonium decreased obviously. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was prolonged from 42 s to 53 s, and prothrombin time (PT) from 13 s to 14 s. The result indicates that CAA as an adsorbent for hemopurification retains the most important characters of human plasma. CAA can be useful for the elimination of MB in MB-treated plasma and does not bring on harmful alteration in clinical significance.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: diagnosis and potential therapies.

PubMed

Weber, Stewart A; Patel, Ranish K; Lutsep, Helmi L

2018-06-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by the pathologic deposition of amyloid-beta within cortical and leptomeningeal arteries, arterioles, capillaries and, in rare cases, the venules of the brain. It is often associated with the development of lobar intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) but may cause other neurologic symptoms or be asymptomatic. Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, such as lobar microbleeds, support a diagnosis of CAA and assist with hemorrhage risk assessments. Immunosuppressants are used to treat rarer inflammatory forms of CAA. For the more common forms of CAA, the use of antihypertensive medications can prevent ICH recurrence while the use of antithrombotics may increase hemorrhage risk. Anti-amyloid approaches to treatment have not yet been investigated in phase 3 trials. Areas covered: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE on the topics of imaging, biomarkers, ICH prevention and treatment trials in CAA, focusing on its current diagnosis and management and opportunities for future therapeutic approaches. Expert commentary: There is likely a significant unrecognized burden of CAA in the elderly population. Continued research efforts to discover biomarkers that allow the early diagnosis of CAA will enhance the opportunity to develop treatment interventions.

Clinical Characterization of Canine Acanthomatous Ameloblastoma (CAA) in 263 dogs and the Influence of Postsurgical Histopathological Margin on Local Recurrence.

PubMed

Goldschmidt, Stephanie L; Bell, Cindy M; Hetzel, Scott; Soukup, Jason

2017-12-01

Canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA) has been reported to be the most common odontogenic tumor in dogs. This retrospective study evaluated 263 dogs with histopathologically confirmed CAA. Within this data set, CAA presents most commonly in the rostral mandible in adult large breed dogs, with golden retriever dogs being overrepresented. Patients with appropriate follow-up after curative intent surgery were evaluated to assess the effect of histopathological margin on local tumor recurrence. No local recurrence was noted in any patient. This study raises questions about what the recommended surgical margin should be for treatment of CAA. It also serves as a stimulus for discussion as to whether further treatment for CAA is required when inadequate surgical margins are obtained, or if medical surveillance would be an appropriate management recommendation. Prospective studies are necessary to answer these questions.

Cluster Active Archive: lessons learnt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laakso, H. E.; Perry, C. H.; Taylor, M. G.; Escoubet, C. P.; Masson, A.

2010-12-01

The ESA Cluster Active Archive (CAA) was opened to public in February 2006 after an initial three-year development phase. It provides access (both web GUI and command-line tool are available) to the calibrated full-resolution datasets of the four-satellite Cluster mission. The data archive is publicly accessible and suitable for science use and publication by the world-wide scientific community. There are more than 350 datasets from each spacecraft, including high-resolution magnetic and electric DC and AC fields as well as full 3-dimensional electron and ion distribution functions and moments from a few eV to hundreds of keV. The Cluster mission has been in operation since February 2001, and currently although the CAA can provide access to some recent observations, the ingestion of some other datasets can be delayed by a few years due to large and difficult calibration routines of aging detectors. The quality of the datasets is the central matter to the CAA. Having the same instrument on four spacecraft allows the cross-instrument comparisons and provide confidence on some of the instrumental calibration parameters. Furthermore it is highly important that many physical parameters are measured by more than one instrument which allow to perform extensive and continuous cross-calibration analyses. In addition some of the instruments can be regarded as absolute or reference measurements for other instruments. The CAA attempts to avoid as much as possible mission-specific acronyms and concepts and tends to use more generic terms in describing the datasets and their contents in order to ease the usage of the CAA data by “non-Cluster” scientists. Currently the CAA has more 1000 users and every month more than 150 different users log in the CAA for plotting and/or downloading observations. The users download about 1 TeraByte of data every month. The CAA has separated the graphical tool from the download tool because full-resolution datasets can be visualized in many ways and so there is no one-to-one correspondence between graphical products and full-resolution datasets. The CAA encourages users to contact the CAA team for all kind of issues whether it concerns the user interface, the content of the datasets, the quality of the observations or provision of new type of services. The CAA runs regular annual reviews on the data products and the user services in order to improve the quality and usability of the CAA system to the world-wide user community. The CAA is continuously being upgraded in terms of datasets and services.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy - The modified Boston criteria in clinical practice.

PubMed

Caetano, André; Ladeira, Filipa; Barbosa, Raquel; Calado, Sofia; Viana-Baptista, Miguel

2018-01-15

Early identification of patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is relevant considering the increased risk for cerebral hemorrhage. A new set of diagnostic criteria for CAA was recently proposed, which include the presence of superficial siderosis. We aimed to assess the impact of applying these criteria regarding use of antithrombotic therapy. Review of consecutive patients admitted to a Neurology Department from 2014 to 2016, with acute parenchymal or subarachnoid hemorrhage and/or atypical transient focal neurological episodes. Patients with a possible or probable CAA according to the original and modified Boston criteria were included. Information was collected regarding presentation, imaging findings and concomitant therapy. Among a total of 1436 admitted patients, 52 with acute hemorrhagic lesions or atypical TFNE were screened: 22 met criteria for CAA; 4 were deemed too young; 21 had other causes for hemorrhagic parenchymal lesions; and 5 had uncertain diagnosis. Using the modified Boston criteria, 8 patients fulfilled criteria for probable CAA and 14 for possible CAA. When we applied the original Boston criteria to the same patients, only 7 fulfilled criteria for probable CAA and 8 for possible CAA. Among the additional patients identified with the modified Boston criteria, 4 were using antithrombotic therapy. The use of the modified Boston criteria allowed for the identification of 7 additional patients, more than half of which were taking antithrombotic therapy. Systematic use of these criteria could have an important impact in clinical practice. Raising awareness on the different presentations of CAA among clinicians is of the utmost importance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sushi repeat-containing protein 1: a novel disease-associated molecule in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

PubMed

Inoue, Yasuteru; Ueda, Mitsuharu; Tasaki, Masayoshi; Takeshima, Akari; Nagatoshi, Akihito; Masuda, Teruaki; Misumi, Yohei; Kosaka, Takayuki; Nomura, Toshiya; Mizukami, Mayumi; Matsumoto, Sayaka; Yamashita, Taro; Takahashi, Hitoshi; Kakita, Akiyoshi; Ando, Yukio

2017-10-01

Sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by cerebrovascular amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits and causes cerebral hemorrhage and dementia. The exact molecules that co-accumulate with cerebrovascular Aβ deposits are still not fully known. In our study here, we performed proteomic analyses with microdissected leptomeningeal arteries and cerebral neocortical arterioles from 8 cases with severe CAA, 12 cases with mild CAA, and 10 control cases without CAA, and we determined the levels of highly expressed proteins in cerebral blood vessels in CAA. We focused on sushi repeat-containing protein 1 (SRPX1), which is specifically expressed in CAA-affected cerebral blood vessels. Because SRPX1, which is known as a tumor suppressor gene, reportedly induced apoptosis in tumor cells, we hypothesized that SRPX1 may play an important role in Aβ-induced apoptosis in CAA. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that SRPX1 co-accumulated with Aβ deposits in cerebral blood vessels of all autopsied cases with severe CAA. In contrast, no SRPX1 co-accumulated with Aβ deposits in senile plaques. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both Aβ40 and Aβ42 bound to SRPX1 in vitro and enhanced SRPX1 expression in primary cultures of cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. SRPX1 enhanced caspase activity induced by Aβ40. Knockdown of SRPX1, in contrast, reduced the formation of Aβ40 accumulations and the activity of caspase in cultured cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. SRPX1 may thus be a novel molecule that is up-regulated in cerebrovascular Aβ deposits and that may increase Aβ-induced cerebrovascular degeneration in CAA.

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)-Related Inflammation: Comparison of Inflammatory CAA and Amyloid-β-Related Angiitis.

PubMed

Chu, Shuguang; Xu, Feijia; Su, Ya; Chen, Hong; Cheng, Xin

2016-01-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) is a relatively rare syndrome of reversible encephalopathy and could be divided into two subtypes of inflammatory CAA (ICAA) and amyloid-β-related angiitis (ABRA) according to histopathology. We present a case of pathologically proved ABRA with partial seizures and headache, and a focal lesion in the right temporal lobes on magnetic resonance imaging. Summarized from previous 139 ABRA and ICAA cases, ABRA is preferred when the lesion is enhanced on MRI and requires combination drug therapy, while ICAA is highly suspected with ApoE genotype of ɛ4/ɛ4. More clinical markers for diagnosis of CAA-ri warrant further researches.

40 CFR 51.903 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? 51... date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? (a) In accordance with section 181(a)(1) of the CAA, each area subject to § 51.902(a) shall be classified by...

40 CFR 51.903 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? 51... date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? (a) In accordance with section 181(a)(1) of the CAA, each area subject to § 51.902(a) shall be classified by...

40 CFR 51.903 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? 51... date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? (a) In accordance with section 181(a)(1) of the CAA, each area subject to § 51.902(a) shall be classified by...

40 CFR 51.903 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? 51... date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? (a) In accordance with section 181(a)(1) of the CAA, each area subject to § 51.902(a) shall be classified by...

40 CFR 51.903 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? 51... date provisions in section 181 of subpart 2 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(a)? (a) In accordance with section 181(a)(1) of the CAA, each area subject to § 51.902(a) shall be classified by...

Longitudinal decrease in blood oxygenation level dependent response in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

PubMed

Switzer, Aaron R; McCreary, Cheryl; Batool, Saima; Stafford, Randall B; Frayne, Richard; Goodyear, Bradley G; Smith, Eric E

2016-01-01

Lower blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal changes in response to a visual stimulus in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have been observed in cross-sectional studies of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and are presumed to reflect impaired vascular reactivity. We used fMRI to detect a longitudinal change in BOLD responses to a visual stimulus in CAA, and to determine any correlations between these changes and other established biomarkers of CAA progression. Data were acquired from 22 patients diagnosed with probable CAA (using the Boston Criteria) and 16 healthy controls at baseline and one year. BOLD data were generated from the 200 most active voxels of the primary visual cortex during the fMRI visual stimulus (passively viewing an alternating checkerboard pattern). In general, BOLD amplitudes were lower at one year compared to baseline in patients with CAA (p = 0.01) but were unchanged in controls (p = 0.18). The longitudinal difference in BOLD amplitudes was significantly lower in CAA compared to controls (p < 0.001). White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes and number of cerebral microbleeds, both presumed to reflect CAA-mediated vascular injury, increased over time in CAA (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001, respectively). Longitudinal increases in WMH (rs = 0.04, p = 0.86) or cerebral microbleeds (rs = -0.18, p = 0.45) were not associated with the longitudinal decrease in BOLD amplitudes.

Imaging of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy with Bivalent 99mTc-Hydroxamamide Complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iikuni, Shimpei; Ono, Masahiro; Watanabe, Hiroyuki; Matsumura, Kenji; Yoshimura, Masashi; Kimura, Hiroyuki; Ishibashi-Ueda, Hatsue; Okamoto, Yoko; Ihara, Masafumi; Saji, Hideo

2016-05-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), characterized by the deposition of amyloid aggregates in the walls of cerebral vasculature, is a major factor in intracerebral hemorrhage and vascular cognitive impairment and is also associated closely with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We previously reported 99mTc-hydroxamamide (99mTc-Ham) complexes with a bivalent amyloid ligand showing high binding affinity for β-amyloid peptide (Aβ(1-42)) aggregates present frequently in the form in AD. In this article, we applied them to CAA-specific imaging probes, and evaluated their utility for CAA-specific imaging. In vitro inhibition assay using Aβ(1-40) aggregates deposited mainly in CAA and a brain uptake study were performed for 99mTc-Ham complexes, and all 99mTc-Ham complexes with an amyloid ligand showed binding affinity for Aβ(1-40) aggregates and very low brain uptake. In vitro autoradiography of human CAA brain sections and ex vivo autoradiography of Tg2576 mice were carried out for bivalent 99mTc-Ham complexes ([99mTc]SB2A and [99mTc]BT2B), and they displayed excellent labeling of Aβ depositions in human CAA brain sections and high affinity and selectivity to CAA in transgenic mice. These results may offer new possibilities for the development of clinically useful CAA-specific imaging probes based on the 99mTc-Ham complex.

Imaging of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy with Bivalent (99m)Tc-Hydroxamamide Complexes.

PubMed

Iikuni, Shimpei; Ono, Masahiro; Watanabe, Hiroyuki; Matsumura, Kenji; Yoshimura, Masashi; Kimura, Hiroyuki; Ishibashi-Ueda, Hatsue; Okamoto, Yoko; Ihara, Masafumi; Saji, Hideo

2016-05-16

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), characterized by the deposition of amyloid aggregates in the walls of cerebral vasculature, is a major factor in intracerebral hemorrhage and vascular cognitive impairment and is also associated closely with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously reported (99m)Tc-hydroxamamide ((99m)Tc-Ham) complexes with a bivalent amyloid ligand showing high binding affinity for β-amyloid peptide (Aβ(1-42)) aggregates present frequently in the form in AD. In this article, we applied them to CAA-specific imaging probes, and evaluated their utility for CAA-specific imaging. In vitro inhibition assay using Aβ(1-40) aggregates deposited mainly in CAA and a brain uptake study were performed for (99m)Tc-Ham complexes, and all (99m)Tc-Ham complexes with an amyloid ligand showed binding affinity for Aβ(1-40) aggregates and very low brain uptake. In vitro autoradiography of human CAA brain sections and ex vivo autoradiography of Tg2576 mice were carried out for bivalent (99m)Tc-Ham complexes ([(99m)Tc]SB2A and [(99m)Tc]BT2B), and they displayed excellent labeling of Aβ depositions in human CAA brain sections and high affinity and selectivity to CAA in transgenic mice. These results may offer new possibilities for the development of clinically useful CAA-specific imaging probes based on the (99m)Tc-Ham complex.

Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Closer Look at Hypertension and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

PubMed

Roh, David; Sun, Chung-Huan; Schmidt, J Michael; Gurol, Edip; Murthy, Santosh; Park, Soojin; Agarwal, Sachin; Connolly, E Sander; Claassen, Jan

2018-03-19

Primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) studies often use hematoma location rather than ICH etiologies when assessing outcome. Characterizing ICH using hematoma location is effective/reproducible, but may miss heterogeneity among these ICH locations, particularly lobar ICH where competing primary ICH etiologies are possible. We subsequently investigated baseline characteristics/outcome differences of spontaneous, primary ICH by their etiologies: cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and hypertension. Primary ICH clinical/outcomes data were prospectively collected between 2009 and 2015. Modified Boston criteria were used to identify "probable/definite" and "possible" CAA-ICH, which were evaluated separately. SMASH-U criteria were used to identify hypertension ICH. Medication and systemic disease coagulopathy ICH were excluded. Baseline characteristics/outcomes among "probable/definite" CAA-ICH, "possible" CAA-ICH, and hypertension ICH were compared using logistic regression. Mortality models using ICH etiologies compared to hematoma location as predictor variables were assessed. Two hundred and four hypertension ICHs, 55 "probable/definite" CAA-ICHs, and 46 "possible" CAA-ICHs were identified. Despite older age and larger ICH volumes, lower hospital mortality was seen in "probable/definite" CAA-ICH versus hypertension ICH (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.05-0.8; p = 0.02) after adjusting for female gender, components of ICH score, and EVD placement. There were no mortality differences between "possible" CAA-ICH and hypertension ICH. However, lower hospital mortality was seen in "probable/definite" versus "possible" CAA-ICH (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.04-0.7; p = 0.02). When using ICH etiology rather than hematoma location, hospital mortality models significantly improved (χ 2 : [df = 2, N = 305] = 6.2; p = 0.01). Further investigation is required to confirm the mortality heterogeneity seen within our primary ICH cohort. Hematoma location may play a role for these findings, but the mortality differences seen among lobar ICH using CAA-ICH subtypes and a failure to identify mortality differences between "possible" CAA-ICH and hypertension ICH suggest the limitations of accounting for hematoma location alone.

Amyloid-PET burden and regional distribution in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of biomarker performance.

PubMed

Charidimou, Andreas; Farid, Karim; Tsai, Hsin-Hsi; Tsai, Li-Kai; Yen, Rouh-Fang; Baron, Jean-Claude

2018-04-01

We performed a meta-analysis to synthesise current evidence on amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) burden and presumed preferential occipital distribution in sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In a PubMed systematic search, we identified case-control studies with extractable data on global and occipital-to-global amyloid-PET uptake in symptomatic patients with CAA (per Boston criteria) versus control groups (healthy participants or patients with non-CAA deep intracerebral haemorrhage) and patients with Alzheimer's disease. To circumvent PET studies' methodological variation, we generated and used 'fold change', that is, ratio of mean amyloid uptake (global and occipital-to-global) of CAA relative to comparison groups. Amyloid-PET uptake biomarker performance was then quantified by random-effects meta-analysis on the ratios of the means. A ratio >1 indicates that amyloid-PET uptake (global or occipital/global) is higher in CAA than comparison groups, and a ratio <1 indicates the reverse. Seven studies, including 106 patients with CAA (>90% with probable CAA) and 138 controls (96 healthy elderly, 42 deep intracerebral haemorrhage controls) and 72 patients with Alzheimer's disease, were included. Global amyloid-PET ratio between patients with CAA and controls was above 1, with an average effect size of 1.18 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.28; p<0.0001). Occipital-to-global amyloid-PET uptake ratio did not differ between patients with CAA versus patients with deep intracerebral haemorrhage or healthy controls. By contrast, occipital-to-global amyloid-PET uptake ratio was above 1 in patients with CAA versus those with Alzheimer's disease, with an average ratio of 1.10 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.19; p=0.009) and high statistical heterogeneity. Our analysis provides exploratory actionable data on the overall effect sizes and strength of amyloid-PET burden and distribution in patients with CAA, useful for future larger studies. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Core cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profile in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: A meta-analysis.

PubMed

Charidimou, Andreas; Friedrich, Jan O; Greenberg, Steven M; Viswanathan, Anand

2018-02-27

To perform a meta-analysis of 4 core CSF biomarkers (β-amyloid [Aβ]42, Aβ40, total tau [t-tau], and phosphorylated tau [p-tau]) to assess which of these are most altered in sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). We systematically searched PubMed for eligible studies reporting data on CSF biomarkers reflecting amyloid precursor protein metabolism (Aβ42, Aβ40), neurodegeneration (t-tau), and tangle pathology (p-tau) in symptomatic sporadic CAA cohorts vs controls and patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Biomarker performance was assessed in random-effects meta-analysis based on ratio of mean (RoM) biomarker concentrations: (1) in patients with CAA vs healthy controls and (2) in patients with CAA vs patients with AD. RoM >1 indicates higher biomarker concentration in patients with CAA vs comparison population and RoM <1 indicates higher concentration in comparison groups. Three studies met inclusion criteria. These comprised 5 CAA patient cohorts (n = 59 patients) vs healthy controls (n = 94 cases) and AD cohorts (n = 158). Three core biomarkers differentiated CAA from controls: CSF Aβ42 (RoM 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.64, p < 0.003), Aβ40 (RoM 0.70, 95% CI 0.63-0.78, p < 0.0001), and t-tau (RoM 1.54, 95% CI 1.15-2.07, p = 0.004); p-tau was marginal (RoM 1.24, 95% CI 0.99-1.54, p = 0.062). Differentiation between CAA and AD was strong for CSF Aβ40 (RoM 0.76, 95% CI 0.69-0.83, p < 0.0001), but not Aβ42 (RoM 1.00; 95% CI 0.81-1.23, p = 0.970). For t-tau and p-tau, average CSF ratios in patients with CAA vs patients with AD were 0.63 (95% CI 0.54-0.74, p < 0.0001) and 0.60 (95% CI 0.50-0.71, p < 0.0001), respectively. Specific CSF patterns of Aβ42, Aβ40, t-tau, and p-tau might serve as molecular biomarkers of CAA, but analyses in larger CAA cohorts are needed. © 2018 American Academy of Neurology.

Brain hemorrhage recurrence, small vessel disease type, and cerebral microbleeds

PubMed Central

Charidimou, Andreas; Imaizumi, Toshio; Moulin, Solene; Biffi, Alexandro; Samarasekera, Neshika; Yakushiji, Yusuke; Peeters, Andre; Vandermeeren, Yves; Laloux, Patrice; Baron, Jean-Claude; Hernandez-Guillamon, Mar; Montaner, Joan; Casolla, Barbara; Gregoire, Simone M.; Kang, Dong-Wha; Kim, Jong S.; Naka, H.; Smith, Eric E.; Viswanathan, Anand; Jäger, Hans R.; Al-Shahi Salman, Rustam; Greenberg, Steven M.; Cordonnier, Charlotte

2017-01-01

Objective: We evaluated recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) risk in ICH survivors, stratified by the presence, distribution, and number of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on MRI (i.e., the presumed causal underlying small vessel disease and its severity). Methods: This was a meta-analysis of prospective cohorts following ICH, with blood-sensitive brain MRI soon after ICH. We estimated annualized recurrent symptomatic ICH rates for each study and compared pooled odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent ICH by CMB presence/absence and presumed etiology based on CMB distribution (strictly lobar CMBs related to probable or possible cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA] vs non-CAA) and burden (1, 2–4, 5–10, and >10 CMBs), using random effects models. Results: We pooled data from 10 studies including 1,306 patients: 325 with CAA-related and 981 CAA-unrelated ICH. The annual recurrent ICH risk was higher in CAA-related ICH vs CAA-unrelated ICH (7.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.2–12.6 vs 1.1%, 95% CI 0.5–1.7 per year, respectively; p = 0.01). In CAA-related ICH, multiple baseline CMBs (versus none) were associated with ICH recurrence during follow-up (range 1–3 years): OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.4–6.8; p = 0.006), 4.3 (95% CI 1.8–10.3; p = 0.001), and 3.4 (95% CI 1.4–8.3; p = 0.007) for 2–4, 5–10, and >10 CMBs, respectively. In CAA-unrelated ICH, only >10 CMBs (versus none) were associated with recurrent ICH (OR 5.6, 95% CI 2.1–15; p = 0.001). The presence of 1 CMB (versus none) was not associated with recurrent ICH in CAA-related or CAA-unrelated cohorts. Conclusions: CMB burden and distribution on MRI identify subgroups of ICH survivors with higher ICH recurrence risk, which may help to predict ICH prognosis with relevance for clinical practice and treatment trials. PMID:28747441

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Down syndrome and sporadic and autosomal-dominant Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Carmona-Iragui, María; Balasa, Mircea; Benejam, Bessy; Alcolea, Daniel; Fernández, Susana; Videla, Laura; Sala, Isabel; Sánchez-Saudinós, María Belén; Morenas-Rodriguez, Estrella; Ribosa-Nogué, Roser; Illán-Gala, Ignacio; Gonzalez-Ortiz, Sofía; Clarimón, Jordi; Schmitt, Frederick; Powell, David K; Bosch, Beatriz; Lladó, Albert; Rafii, Michael S; Head, Elizabeth; Molinuevo, José Luis; Blesa, Rafael; Videla, Sebastián; Lleó, Alberto; Sánchez-Valle, Raquel; Fortea, Juan

2017-11-01

We aimed to investigate if cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is more frequent in genetically determined than in sporadic early-onset forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (early-onset AD [EOAD]). Neuroimaging features of CAA, apolipoprotein (APOE), and cerebrospinal fluid amyloid β (Aβ) 40 levels were studied in subjects with Down syndrome (DS, n = 117), autosomal-dominant AD (ADAD, n = 29), sporadic EOAD (n = 42), and healthy controls (n = 68). CAA was present in 31%, 38%, and 12% of cognitively impaired DS, symptomatic ADAD, and sporadic EOAD subjects and in 13% and 4% of cognitively unimpaired DS individuals and healthy controls, respectively. APOE ε4 genotype was borderline significantly associated with CAA in sporadic EOAD (P = .06) but not with DS or ADAD. There were no differences in Aβ040 levels between groups or between subjects with and without CAA. CAA is more frequently found in genetically determined AD than in sporadic EOAD. Cerebrospinal fluid Aβ40 levels are not a useful biomarker for CAA in AD. Copyright © 2017 the Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Caffeic acid ameliorates colitis in association with increased Akkermansia population in the gut microbiota of mice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhan; Wu, Xinyue; Cao, Shuyuan; Wang, Li; Wang, Di; Yang, Hui; Feng, Yiming; Wang, Shoulin; Li, Lei

2016-01-01

Emerging evidence shows that dietary agents and phytochemicals contribute to the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). We first reported the effects of dietary caffeic acid (CaA) on murine experimental colitis and on fecal microbiota. Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Mice were fed a control diet or diet with CaA (1 mM). Our results showed that dietary CaA exerted anti-inflammatory effects in DSS colitis mice. Moreover, CaA could significantly suppress the secretion of IL-6, TNFα, and IFNγ and the colonic infiltration of CD3+ T cells, CD177+ neutrophils and F4/80+ macrophages via inhibition of the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Analysis of fecal microbiota showed that CaA could restore the reduction of richness and inhibit the increase of the ratio of Firmicute to Bacteroidetes in DSS colitis mice. And CaA could dramatically increase the proportion of the mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia in DSS colitis mice. Thus, CaA could ameliorate colonic pathology and inflammation in DSS colitis mice, and it might be associated with a proportional increase in Akkermansia. PMID:27177331

Human Factors Assessment of the UH-60M Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) Crew Station During the Limited User Evaluation (LEUE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-12-01

weapon system evaluation as a high-level architecture and distributed interactive simulation 6 compliant, human-in-the-loop, virtual environment...Directorate to participate in the Limited Early User Evaluation (LEUE) of the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit. ARL conducted a human...CAAS, the UH-60M PO conducted a limited early user evaluation (LEUE) to evaluate the integration of the CAAS in the UH-60M crew station. The

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease and Factors Associated with Coronary Artery Abnormalities in East China: Nine Years Experience

PubMed Central

Tang, Yunjia; Gao, Xiang; Shen, Jie; Sun, Ling

2016-01-01

Background: Because of the different genetic backgrounds, living environments and economic conditions, the epidemiologic, clinical characteristics and risk factors for coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in the Chinese population may differ among different parts of China. Methods: We did a retrospective study to explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors for CAAs in east China between 2006 and 2014. Results: There were 1016 patients during the study period. Of the 1004 patients who completed echocardiographic studies, 23.9% had CAAs. Sex, serum albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) started after the 10th day of illness and IVIG non-responders were independent risk factors associated with CAA. Conclusions: East China has a lower incidence of CAAs compared with southwest and northeast China, while similar to north China. Male gender, serum albumin, ESR, MP infection, IVIG started after the 10th day of illness and IVIG non-responders were predictive of CAA. PMID:26884440

Diagnostic utility of amyloid PET in cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Baron, Jean-Claude; Farid, Karim; Dolan, Eamon; Turc, Guillaume; Marrapu, Siva T; O'Brien, Eoin; Aigbirhio, Franklin I; Fryer, Tim D; Menon, David K; Warburton, Elizabeth A; Hong, Young T

2014-01-01

By detecting β-amyloid (Aβ) in the wall of cortical arterioles, amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging might help diagnose cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in patients with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (l-ICH). No previous study has directly assessed the diagnostic value of 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET in probable CAA-related l-ICH against healthy controls (HCs). 11C-PiB-PET and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including T2* were obtained in 11 nondemented patients fulfilling the Boston criteria for probable CAA-related symptomatic l-ICH (sl-ICH) and 20 HCs without cognitive complaints or impairment. After optimal spatial normalization, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)-corrected PiB distribution volume ratios (DVRs) were obtained. There was no significant difference in whole cortex or regional DVRs between CAA patients and age-matched HCs. The whole cortex DVR was above the 95% confidence limit in 4/9 HCs and 10/11 CAA patients (sensitivity=91%, specificity=55%). Region/frontal or occipital ratios did not have better discriminative value. Similar but less accurate results were found using visual analysis. In patients with sl-ICH, 11C-PiB-PET has low specificity for CAA due to the frequent occurrence of high 11C-PiB uptake in the healthy elderly reflecting incipient Alzheimer's disease (AD), which might also be present in suspected CAA. However, a negative PiB scan rules out CAA with excellent sensitivity, which has clinical implications for prognostication and selection of candidates for drug trials. PMID:24619277

Second Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshop on Benchmark Problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tam, C. K. W. (Editor); Hardin, J. C. (Editor)

1997-01-01

The proceedings of the Second Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshop on Benchmark Problems held at Florida State University are the subject of this report. For this workshop, problems arising in typical industrial applications of CAA were chosen. Comparisons between numerical solutions and exact solutions are presented where possible.

Coronary artery aneurysms in acute coronary syndrome: case series, review, and proposed management strategy.

PubMed

Boyer, Nathan; Gupta, Rajesh; Schevchuck, Alex; Hindnavis, Vindhya; Maliske, Seth; Sheldon, Mark; Drachman, Douglas; Yeghiazarians, Yerem

2014-06-01

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is an uncommon clinical finding, with an incidence varying from 1.5%-4.9% in adults, and is usually considered a variant of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAA identified in the context of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a unique management challenge, particularly if the morphology of the CAA is suspected to have provoked the acute clinical syndrome. CAA is associated with thrombus formation due to abnormal laminar flow, as well as abnormal platelet and endothelial-derived pathophysiologic factors within the CAA. Once formed, mural thrombus may potentiate the deposition of additional thrombus within aneurysmal segments. Percutaneous revascularization of CAA has been associated with complications including distal embolization of thrombus, no-reflow phenomenon, stent malapposition, dissection, and rupture. Presently, there are no formal guidelines to direct the management of CAA in patients presenting with ACS; controversies exist whether conservative, surgical, or catheter-based management should be pursued. In this manuscript, we present an extensive review of the existing literature and associated clinical guidelines, and propose a management algorithm for patients with this complex clinical scenario. Armed with this perspective, therapeutic decisions may be tailored to synthesize patient factors and preferences, individualized clinical assessment, and existing American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines for management of ACS.

QbD-oriented development and validation of a bioanalytical method for nevirapine with enhanced liquid-liquid extraction and chromatographic separation.

PubMed

Beg, Sarwar; Chaudhary, Vandna; Sharma, Gajanand; Garg, Babita; Panda, Sagar Suman; Singh, Bhupinder

2016-06-01

The present studies describe the systematic quality by design (QbD)-oriented development and validation of a simple, rapid, sensitive and cost-effective reversed-phase HPLC bioanalytical method for nevirapine in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a C18 column using isocratic 68:9:23% v/v elution of methanol, acetonitrile and water (pH 3, adjusted by orthophosphoric acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min using UV detection at 230 nm. A Box-Behnken design was applied for chromatographic method optimization taking mobile phase ratio, pH and flow rate as the critical method parameters (CMPs) from screening studies. Peak area, retention time, theoretical plates and peak tailing were measured as the critical analytical attributes (CAAs). Further, the bioanalytical liquid-liquid extraction process was optimized using an optimal design by selecting extraction time, centrifugation speed and temperature as the CMPs for percentage recovery of nevirapine as the CAA. The search for an optimum chromatographic solution was conducted through numerical desirability function. Validation studies performed as per the US Food and Drug Administration requirements revealed results within the acceptance limit. In a nutshell, the studies successfully demonstrate the utility of analytical QbD approach for the rational development of a bioanalytical method with enhanced chromatographic separation and recovery of nevirapine in rat plasma. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Correlation of Serum and Dried Blood Spot Results for Quantitation of Schistosoma Circulating Anodic Antigen: a Proof of Principle

PubMed Central

Downs, Jennifer A.; Corstjens, Paul L.A.M.; Mngara, Julius; Lutonja, Peter; Isingo, Raphael; Urassa, Mark; Kornelis, Dieuwke; van Dam, Govert J.

2015-01-01

Circulating Anodic Antigen (CAA) testing is a powerful, increasingly-used tool for diagnosis of active schistosome infection. We sought to determine the feasibility and reliability of measuring CAA in blood spots collected on Whatman 903 Protein Saver cards, which are the predominant filter papers used worldwide for dried blood spot (DBS) research and clinical care. CAA was eluted from blood spots collected from 19 individuals onto Whatman 903 cards in Mwanza, Tanzania, and the assay was optimized to achieve CAA ratios comparable to those obtained from the spots’ corresponding serum samples. The optimized assay was then used to determine the correlation of serum samples (n=16) with DBS from cards that had been stored for 8 years at ambient temperature.Using a DBS volume equivalent to approximately four times the quantity of serum, CAA testing in DBS had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 79% compared to CAA testing in serum. CAA testing was reliable in samples eluted from Whatman 903 cards that had been stored for 8 years at ambient temperature. The overall kappa coefficient was 0.53 (standard error 0.17, p<0.001). We conclude that CAA can be reliably and accurately measured in DBS collected onto the filter paper that is most commonly used for clinical care and research, and that can be stored for prolonged periods of time. This finding opens new avenues for future work among more than 700 million individuals living in areas worldwide in which schistosomes are endemic. PMID:26149541

Benchmark Problems Used to Assess Computational Aeroacoustics Codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dahl, Milo D.; Envia, Edmane

2005-01-01

The field of computational aeroacoustics (CAA) encompasses numerical techniques for calculating all aspects of sound generation and propagation in air directly from fundamental governing equations. Aeroacoustic problems typically involve flow-generated noise, with and without the presence of a solid surface, and the propagation of the sound to a receiver far away from the noise source. It is a challenge to obtain accurate numerical solutions to these problems. The NASA Glenn Research Center has been at the forefront in developing and promoting the development of CAA techniques and methodologies for computing the noise generated by aircraft propulsion systems. To assess the technological advancement of CAA, Glenn, in cooperation with the Ohio Aerospace Institute and the AeroAcoustics Research Consortium, organized and hosted the Fourth CAA Workshop on Benchmark Problems. Participants from industry and academia from both the United States and abroad joined to present and discuss solutions to benchmark problems. These demonstrated technical progress ranging from the basic challenges to accurate CAA calculations to the solution of CAA problems of increasing complexity and difficulty. The results are documented in the proceedings of the workshop. Problems were solved in five categories. In three of the five categories, exact solutions were available for comparison with CAA results. A fourth category of problems representing sound generation from either a single airfoil or a blade row interacting with a gust (i.e., problems relevant to fan noise) had approximate analytical or completely numerical solutions. The fifth category of problems involved sound generation in a viscous flow. In this case, the CAA results were compared with experimental data.

Hydrocortisone selectively inhibits IgE-dependent arachidonic acid release from rat peritoneal mast cells

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

Heiman, A.S.; Crews, F.T.

Purified rat mst cells were used to study the effects of antiinflammatory steroids on the release of (1-14C)-arachidonic acid ((1-14C)AA) and metabolites. Mast cell were incubated overnight with glucocorticoids, (1-14C)AA incorporated into cellular phospholipids and the release of (1-14C)AA, and metabolites determined using a variety of secretagogues. Release of (1-14C)AA and metabolites by concanavalin A, the antigen ovalbumin and anti-immunoglobulin E antibody was markedly reduced by glucocorticoid treatment. Neither the total incorporation of (1-14C)AA nor the distribution into phospholipids was altered by hydrocortisone pretreatment. Glucocorticoid pretreatment did not alter (1-14C)AA release stimulated by somatostatin, compound 48/80, or the calcium ionophore,more » A23187. These data indicate that antiinflammatory steroids selectively inhibit immunoglobulin dependent release of arachidonic acid from rat mast cells. These findings question the role of lipomodulin and macrocortin as general phospholipase inhibitors and suggest that they may be restricted to immunoglobulin stimuli.« less

Acute convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage and cortical superficial siderosis in probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy without lobar haemorrhage.

PubMed

Charidimou, Andreas; Boulouis, Grégoire; Fotiadis, Panagiotis; Xiong, Li; Ayres, Alison M; Schwab, Kristin M; Gurol, Mahmut Edip; Rosand, Jonathan; Greenberg, Steve M; Viswanathan, Anand

2018-04-01

Acute non-traumatic convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH) is increasingly recognised in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). We investigated: (a) the overlap between acute cSAH and cortical superficial siderosis-a new CAA haemorrhagic imaging signature and (b) whether acute cSAH presents with particular clinical symptoms in patients with probable CAA without lobar intracerebral haemorrhage. MRI scans of 130 consecutive patients meeting modified Boston criteria for probable CAA were analysed for cortical superficial siderosis (focal, ≤3 sulci; disseminated, ≥4 sulci), and key small vessel disease markers. We compared clinical, imaging and cortical superficial siderosis topographical mapping data between subjects with versus without acute cSAH, using multivariable logistic regression. We included 33 patients with probable CAA presenting with acute cSAH and 97 without cSAH at presentation. Patients with acute cSAH were more commonly presenting with transient focal neurological episodes (76% vs 34%; p<0.0001) compared with patients with CAA without cSAH. Patients with acute cSAH were also more often clinically presenting with transient focal neurological episodes compared with cortical superficial siderosis-positive, but cSAH-negative subjects with CAA (76% vs 30%; p<0.0001). Cortical superficial siderosis prevalence (but no other CAA severity markers) was higher among patients with cSAH versus those without, especially disseminated cortical superficial siderosis (49% vs 19%; p<0.0001). In multivariable logistic regression, cortical superficial siderosis burden (OR 5.53; 95% CI 2.82 to 10.8, p<0.0001) and transient focal neurological episodes (OR 11.7; 95% CI 2.70 to 50.6, p=0.001) were independently associated with acute cSAH. This probable CAA cohort provides additional evidence for distinct disease phenotypes, determined by the presence of cSAH and cortical superficial siderosis. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Prolonged diet induced obesity has minimal effects towards brain pathology in mouse model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy: implications for studying obesity-brain interactions in mice.

PubMed

Zhang, Le; Dasuri, Kalavathi; Fernandez-Kim, Sun-Ok; Bruce-Keller, Annadora J; Freeman, Linnea R; Pepping, Jennifer K; Beckett, Tina L; Murphy, M Paul; Keller, Jeffrey N

2013-09-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) occurs in nearly every individual with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down's syndrome, and is the second largest cause of intracerebral hemorrhage. Mouse models of CAA have demonstrated evidence for increased gliosis contributing to CAA pathology. Nearly two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, with little known about the effects of obesity on the brain, although increasingly the vasculature appears to be a principle target of obesity effects on the brain. In the current study we describe for the first time whether diet induced obesity (DIO) modulates glial reactivity, amyloid levels, and inflammatory signaling in a mouse model of CAA. In these studies we identify surprisingly that DIO does not significantly increase Aβ levels, astrocyte (GFAP) or microglial (IBA-1) gliosis in the CAA mice. However, within the hippocampal gyri a localized increase in reactive microglia were increased in the CA1 and stratum oriens relative to CAA mice on a control diet. DIO was observed to selectively increase IL-6 in CAA mice, with IL-1β and TNF-α not increased in CAA mice in response to DIO. Taken together, these data show that prolonged DIO has only modest effects towards Aβ in a mouse model of CAA, but appears to elevate some localized microglial reactivity within the hippocampal gyri and selective markers of inflammatory signaling. These data are consistent with the majority of the existing literature in other models of Aβ pathology, which surprisingly show a mixed profile of DIO effects towards pathological processes in mouse models of neurodegenerative disease. The importance for considering the potential impact of ceiling effects in pathology within mouse models of Aβ pathogenesis, and the current experimental limitations for DIO in mice to fully replicate metabolic dysfunction present in human obesity, are discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Animal Models of Disease. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effect of feeding higher concentrations of limiting amino acids on performance, slaughter variables and nitrogen retention in broiler chicken fed graded levels of toasted guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) meal.

PubMed

Rao, S V Rama; Raju, M V L N; Prakash, B; Rajkumar, U; Srilatha, T; Reddy, E P K

2018-06-01

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing higher concentrations (100 vs. 110%) of critical amino acids (CAA) on performance (body weight gain - BWG, feed efficiency - FE), slaughter variables and nitrogen retention in broiler chicken (1-6 weeks of age) fed graded levels of toasted guar meal (TGM) as a protein source in diets. The TGM was included at five graded concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150and200 g/kg) in iso-caloric and iso-protein diets with either the recommended concentration (100%) of CAA (lysine, total sulphur amino acids, threonine, tryptophan and valine) or at 10% higher (110%) concentration. A metabolism trial of three-day duration was conducted during sixth week of age to study nitrogen retention. The TGM levels and CAA concentration at 21 or 42 d of age did not influence BWG, FI and FE. BWG was not affected with inclusion of TGM up to 100 g/kg in starter and overall production (1 - 42 d of age) phases. The FE improved with TGM supplementation during starter phase, while at the end of experiment (42 d), FE was depressed by inclusion of TGM in dose dependant manner. All performance variables improved with increase in concentration of CAA from 100 to 110%. Breast meat weight improved and abdominal fat weight reduced with higher levels of CAA in diet. Retention of nitrogen reduced with increase in level of TGM in broiler diet. Increasing concentrations of CAA in diet improved nitrogen retention. It was concluded that TGM could be incorporated up to 100 g/kg with 100% CAA and up to 150 g/kg with 110% CAA without affecting performance. Increasing CAA concentration (110%) in diets significantly improved BWG and FE (21 and 42 d), breast meat weight and nitrogen retention in broiler chicken.

Assessing the potential of amino acid 13C patterns as a carbon source tracer in marine sediments: effects of algal growth conditions and sedimentary diagenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, T.; Bach, L. T.; Salvatteci, R.; Wang, Y. V.; Andersen, N.; Ventura, M.; McCarthy, M. D.

2015-08-01

Burial of organic carbon in marine sediments has a profound influence in marine biogeochemical cycles and provides a sink for greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4. However, tracing organic carbon from primary production sources as well as its transformations in the sediment record remains challenging. Here we examine a novel but growing tool for tracing the biosynthetic origin of amino acid carbon skeletons, based on naturally occurring stable carbon isotope patterns in individual amino acids (δ13CAA). We focus on two important aspects for δ13CAA utility in sedimentary paleoarchives: first, the fidelity of source diagnostic of algal δ13CAA patterns across different oceanographic growth conditions, and second, the ability of δ13CAA patterns to record the degree of subsequent microbial amino acid synthesis after sedimentary burial. Using the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii, we tested under controlled conditions how δ13CAA patterns respond to changing environmental conditions, including light, salinity, temperature, and pH. Our findings show that while differing oceanic growth conditions can change macromolecular cellular composition, δ13CAA isotopic patterns remain largely invariant. These results emphasize that δ13CAA patterns should accurately record biosynthetic sources across widely disparate oceanographic conditions. We also explored how δ13CAA patterns change as a function of age, total nitrogen and organic carbon content after burial, in a marine sediment core from a coastal upwelling area off Peru. Based on the four most informative amino acids for distinguishing between diatom and bacterial sources (i.e., isoleucine, lysine, leucine and tyrosine), bacterially derived amino acids ranged from 10 to 15 % in the sediment layers from the last 5000 years, and up to 35 % during the last glacial period. The greater bacterial contributions in older sediments indicate that bacterial activity and amino acid resynthesis progressed, approximately as a function of sediment age, to a substantially larger degree than suggested by changes in total organic nitrogen and carbon content. It is uncertain whether archaea may have contributed to sedimentary δ13CAA patterns we observe, and controlled culturing studies will be needed to investigate whether δ13CAA patterns can differentiate bacterial from archeal sources. Further research efforts are also needed to understand how closely δ13CAA patterns derived from hydrolyzable amino acids represent total sedimentary proteineincous material, and more broadly sedimentary organic nitrogen. Overall, however, both our culturing and sediment studies suggest that δ13CAA patterns in sediments will represent a novel proxy for understanding both primary production sources, and the direct bacterial role in the ultimate preservation of sedimentary organic matter.

Using Focus Groups to Investigate the Presence of Formative Feedback in CAA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Broughton, Stephen; Hernandez-Martinez, Paul; Robinson, Carol L.

2012-01-01

The aim of this project was to examine the effectiveness of feedback offered by computer-aided assessment (CAA). CAA provides practice tests for undergraduates, and feedback to help them improve their scores and mathematical understanding. However, there is a lack of evidence-based literature on the effect of formative feedback in mathematics…

75 FR 24409 - Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley, South...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-05

... certain fee rules under section 185 of the CAA. A number of Indian tribes have Indian country located... CAA programs in Indian country, and the relevant Indian tribes have not applied for eligibility to... reclassification provisions of the CAA in these Indian country areas and is reclassifying these areas, except...

Effect of pH on the survival of Listeria innocua in calcium ascorbate solutions and on quality of fresh-cut apples.

PubMed

Karaibrahimoglu, Yildiz; Fan, Xuetong; Sapers, Gerald M; Sokorai, Kimberly

2004-04-01

Fresh-cut apple slices were dipped in calcium ascorbate (CaA) solution at pH values ranging from 2.5 to 7.0 to inhibit browning. After treatment, the cut apples were stored at 4 and 10 degrees C for up to 21 days. Color and texture of the apples were determined on days 1, 14, and 21. In a separate experiement, the pH of CaA solution was adjusted with acetic acid to six different pH levels, and the solution was inoculated with Listeria innocua. The survival of the bacterium and the stability of CaA were determined at 0, 20, and 96 h. The cut apples maintained fresh quality when the pH of the CaA solution was above 4.5, but slight discoloration of apple slices dipped in pH 4.5 solution was observed after 14 days at 10 degrees C. At pH 5.0, the CaA dip maintained the quality of the apples at both temperatures for at least 21 days. The L. innocua population was reduced by 4 to 5 log CFU/ml at pH 4.5 after 96 h. At pH 5, the bacterial population in the CaA solution was reduced by approximately 2 log CFU/ml during the same period. The CaA solution was stable at pH 5 for at least 96 h. Reduction of the pH to between 4.5 and 5.0 might reduce the risk of foodborne illness due to consumption of fresh-cut apples treated with a CaA solution contaminated with Listeria.

Cortical Superficial Siderosis in Different Types of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

PubMed

Wollenweber, Frank Arne; Baykara, Ebru; Zedde, Marialuisa; Gesierich, Benno; Achmüller, Melanie; Jouvent, Eric; Viswanathan, Anand; Ropele, Stefan; Chabriat, Hugues; Schmidt, Reinhold; Opherk, Christian; Dichgans, Martin; Linn, Jennifer; Duering, Marco

2017-05-01

Cortical superficial siderosis (cSS) has emerged as a clinically relevant imaging feature of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). However, it remains unknown whether cSS is also present in nonamyloid-associated small vessel disease and whether patients with cSS differ in terms of other small vessel disease imaging features. Three hundred sixty-four CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) patients, 372 population-based controls, and 100 CAA patients with cSS (fulfilling the modified Boston criteria for possible/probable CAA) were included. cSS and cerebral microbleeds were visually rated on T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. White matter hyperintensities were segmented on fluid-attenauted inversion recovery images, and their spatial distribution was compared between groups using colocalization analysis. Cerebral microbleeds location was determined in an observer-independent way using an atlas in standard space. cSS was absent in CADASIL and present in only 2 population-based controls (0.5%). Cerebral microbleeds were present in 64% of CAA patients with cSS, 34% of patients with CADASIL, and 12% of population-based controls. Among patients with cerebral microbleeds, lobar location was found in 95% of CAA patients with cSS, 48% of CADASIL patients, and 69% of population-based controls. The spatial distribution of white matter hyperintensities was comparable between CAA with cSS and CADASIL as indicated by high colocalization coefficients. cSS was absent in CADASIL, whereas other small vessel disease imaging features were similar to CAA patients with cSS. Our findings suggest that cSS in combination with other small vessel disease imaging markers is highly indicative of CAA. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Toward Establishing a Realistic Benchmark for Airframe Noise Research: Issues and Challenges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khorrami, Mehdi R.

2010-01-01

The availability of realistic benchmark configurations is essential to enable the validation of current Computational Aeroacoustic (CAA) methodologies and to further the development of new ideas and concepts that will foster the technologies of the next generation of CAA tools. The selection of a real-world configuration, the subsequent design and fabrication of an appropriate model for testing, and the acquisition of the necessarily comprehensive aeroacoustic data base are critical steps that demand great care and attention. In this paper, a brief account of the nose landing-gear configuration, being proposed jointly by NASA and the Gulfstream Aerospace Company as an airframe noise benchmark, is provided. The underlying thought processes and the resulting building block steps that were taken during the development of this benchmark case are given. Resolution of critical, yet conflicting issues is discussed - the desire to maintain geometric fidelity versus model modifications required to accommodate instrumentation; balancing model scale size versus Reynolds number effects; and time, cost, and facility availability versus important parameters like surface finish and installation effects. The decisions taken during the experimental phase of a study can significantly affect the ability of a CAA calculation to reproduce the prevalent flow conditions and associated measurements. For the nose landing gear, the most critical of such issues are highlighted and the compromises made to resolve them are discussed. The results of these compromises will be summarized by examining the positive attributes and shortcomings of this particular benchmark case.

Cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay for assessing antioxidants, foods, and dietary supplements.

PubMed

Wolfe, Kelly L; Liu, Rui Hai

2007-10-31

A cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay for quantifying the antioxidant activity of phytochemicals, food extracts, and dietary supplements has been developed. Dichlorofluorescin is a probe that is trapped within cells and is easily oxidized to fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF). The method measures the ability of compounds to prevent the formation of DCF by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP)-generated peroxyl radicals in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. The decrease in cellular fluorescence when compared to the control cells indicates the antioxidant capacity of the compounds. The antioxidant activities of selected phytochemicals and fruit extracts were evaluated using the CAA assay, and the results were expressed in micromoles of quercetin equivalents per 100 micromol of phytochemical or micromoles of quercetin equivalents per 100 g of fresh fruit. Quercetin had the highest CAA value, followed by kaempferol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), myricetin, and luteolin among the pure compounds tested. Among the selected fruits tested, blueberry had the highest CAA value, followed by cranberry > apple = red grape > green grape. The CAA assay is a more biologically relevant method than the popular chemistry antioxidant activity assays because it accounts for some aspects of uptake, metabolism, and location of antioxidant compounds within cells.

Congenital aural atresia and stenosis: surgery strategies and long-term results.

PubMed

Li, Chenlong; Zhang, Tianyu; Fu, Yaoyao; Qing, Fenghua; Chi, Fanglu

2014-07-01

To compare the patients who underwent surgery for congenital aural atresia (CAA) with congenital aural stenosis (CAS) for the stability of hearing results and complications during long-term follow-up. Retrospective review. Seventy-five CAA patients and fifty CAS patients who underwent congenital meatoplasty with canalplasty and tympanoplasty between 2007 and 2012. Paired comparison analyses detected no significant difference in preoperative ABG but significant changes in postoperative ABG, ΔABG, the number of ABG < 30 dB and ABG < 10 dB between CAA and CAS. Complications such as postoperative stenosis, bony regrowth, external aural canal (EAC) infection, EAC eczema, total deaf, and lateralization of the tympanic membrane (TM) were observed in 61.3% of patients with CAA and 20% of patients with CAS. Chi square test detected significant differences in complications between patients with CAA and CAS (χ(2) = 20.73, p < 0.01). Meatoplasty with canalplasty and tympanoplasty in individuals with CAS can yield reliable and lasting positive hearing results with a low incidence of severe complications. The existence and preoperative condition of patients' TM and EAC skin helped improve hearing results and decrease the incidence of complications. However, the final hearing results and complications required stricter indications for CAA patients.

Is There a Right Ear Advantage in Congenital Aural Atresia?

PubMed

Reed, Robert; Hubbard, Matthew; Kesser, Bradley W

2016-12-01

To compare speech/language development and academic progress between children with right versus left congenital aural atresia (CAA). Case control survey and review of audiometric data. Tertiary care academic practice. Children with unilateral CAA. Demographic and audiometric data; rates of grade retention, use of any hearing or learning resource, and behavioral problems. No significant differences in grade retention rate, utilization of amplification, speech language therapy, use of an individualized education program, or frequency modulated system were found between children with right versus left CAA. Children with left CAA were significantly more likely to be enrolled in special education programs (p = 0.026). Differences in reported communication problems approached significance with more difficulty noted in the right ear group (p = 0.059). Left CAA patients were also more likely to have reported behavioral problems (p = 0.0039). Contrary to the hypothesis that a normal hearing right ear confers a language advantage in patients with unilateral hearing loss, children with left CAA (normal right ear) were statistically more likely to be enrolled in a special education program and have behavioral problems. Reported communication problems were more common in right CAA patients, but this did not reach statistical significance. No differences were found in use of amplification, frequency modulated system, individualized education program, or grade retention. Further investigation of both the clinical implications and underlying psychoacoustics of unilateral hearing loss and the identification and habilitation of "at risk" unilateral hearing loss children is warranted.

Association of CAA and TATC Insertion/Deletion Genetic Polymorphisms in RTN4 3'-UTR with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk.

PubMed

Wang, NaNa; Chen, KeYu; Xu, Jia; Yuan, Fang; Li, HongYu; Deng, FengMei; Zhang, LuShun

2018-01-01

Evidence from recent researchers suggested that RTN4 is a multifunctional gene, including tumor suppression, apoptosis, vascular remodeling, and inhibition of axonal regeneration. The CAA and TATC insertion/deletion polymorphisms (CAA/TATC polymorphisms) of RTN4 3″-untranslated regions (UTRs) have been linked to cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), uterine leiomyomas (UL) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the association between these two polymorphisms sites with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) risk was not carry out before. A total of 284 HCC patients and 484 control subjects were recruited for this study. The RTN4 CAA/TATC insertion/deletion genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The ID/DD genotypes of CAA were significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC compared with the II genotype (ID vs. II: OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.10-2.04; DD vs. II: OR = 2.00, 95%CI: 1.15-3.46). Meanwhile, the frequency of D allele of CAA was significantly related with an increased risk of HCC compared with the I allele (D vs. I: OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.12-1.73). The ID genotypes of TATC was significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC compared with the DD genotype (ID vs. DD: OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.23-2.33). The present study provided evidence that RTN4 CAA/TATC polymorphisms were associated with HCC development in Chinese Han population.

Cardiac Complications in 38 Cases of Kawasaki Disease with Coronary Artery Aneurysm Diagnosed by Echocardiography.

PubMed

Wei, Ya Juan; Zhao, Xiao Lan; Liu, Bao Min; Niu, Hua; Li, Qian

2016-05-01

The long-term prognosis of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) complicated by coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications of KD with CAAs. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and complications of 38 KD patients with CAAs who were treated and underwent regular follow-up with echocardiography between January 1989 and May 2013. During a period of 29 days to 19 years after disease onset, complications seen included coronary stenosis and occlusion (six patients), thrombosis (17 patients), myocardial infarction (six patients), and calcification of CAAs (seven patients). Rupture of giant CAAs occurred in two patients and caused sudden death in one of these patients at 29 days and in the other patient at 5 months after disease onset. A total of seven deaths occurred, with five deaths caused by myocardial infarction. Three of these had undiagnosed incomplete KD or had not received regular treatment, while two experienced sudden death after several asymptomatic myocardial infarctions. Cardiac complications of KD with CAAs include thrombosis, coronary stenosis, myocardial infarction, sudden death, and calcification. Although rare, rupture of giant CAAs is fatal and might occur earlier after the onset of disease. Mortality occurred primarily in the earlier cases when anticoagulant therapy was insufficient and in patients who did not receive regular treatment. Echocardiography can provide reliable information for assessing the progression and prognosis of this condition. © 2015, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

2 CFR 1532.1110 - How will a CAA or CWA conviction affect my eligibility to participate in Federal contracts...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 2 Grants and Agreements 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false How will a CAA or CWA conviction affect my eligibility to participate in Federal contracts, subcontracts, assistance, loans and other benefits? 1532.1110... the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act § 1532.1110 How will a CAA or CWA conviction affect my...

78 FR 63887 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Approval and Promulgation of State Air Quality...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-25

..., revisions to the State of Iowa's State Implementation Plan (SIP), Title V program, and Clean Air Act (CAA..., subject to the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA, do not exist in the State; and... changes to the Title V program, pursuant to section 500 of the CAA. DATES: This rule is effective December...

Utilizing the ultrasensitive Schistosoma up-converting phosphor lateral flow circulating anodic antigen (UCP-LF CAA) assay for sample pooling-strategies.

PubMed

Corstjens, Paul L A M; Hoekstra, Pytsje T; de Dood, Claudia J; van Dam, Govert J

2017-11-01

Methodological applications of the high sensitivity genus-specific Schistosoma CAA strip test, allowing detection of single worm active infections (ultimate sensitivity), are discussed for efficient utilization in sample pooling strategies. Besides relevant cost reduction, pooling of samples rather than individual testing can provide valuable data for large scale mapping, surveillance, and monitoring. The laboratory-based CAA strip test utilizes luminescent quantitative up-converting phosphor (UCP) reporter particles and a rapid user-friendly lateral flow (LF) assay format. The test includes a sample preparation step that permits virtually unlimited sample concentration with urine, reaching ultimate sensitivity (single worm detection) at 100% specificity. This facilitates testing large urine pools from many individuals with minimal loss of sensitivity and specificity. The test determines the average CAA level of the individuals in the pool thus indicating overall worm burden and prevalence. When requiring test results at the individual level, smaller pools need to be analysed with the pool-size based on expected prevalence or when unknown, on the average CAA level of a larger group; CAA negative pools do not require individual test results and thus reduce the number of tests. Straightforward pooling strategies indicate that at sub-population level the CAA strip test is an efficient assay for general mapping, identification of hotspots, determination of stratified infection levels, and accurate monitoring of mass drug administrations (MDA). At the individual level, the number of tests can be reduced i.e. in low endemic settings as the pool size can be increased as opposed to prevalence decrease. At the sub-population level, average CAA concentrations determined in urine pools can be an appropriate measure indicating worm burden. Pooling strategies allowing this type of large scale testing are feasible with the various CAA strip test formats and do not affect sensitivity and specificity. It allows cost efficient stratified testing and monitoring of worm burden at the sub-population level, ideally for large-scale surveillance generating hard data for performance of MDA programs and strategic planning when moving towards transmission-stop and elimination.

The Diagnostic Utility of Computer-Assisted Auscultation for the Early Detection of Cardiac Murmurs of Structural Origin in the Periodic Health Evaluation

PubMed Central

Viviers, Pierre L.; Kirby, Jo-Anne H.; Viljoen, Jeandré T.; Derman, Wayne

2017-01-01

Background: Identification of the nature of cardiac murmurs during the periodic health evaluation (PHE) of athletes is challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing between murmurs of physiological or structural origin. Previously, computer-assisted auscultation (CAA) has shown promise to support appropriate referrals in the nonathlete pediatric population. Hypothesis: CAA has the ability to accurately detect cardiac murmurs of structural origin during a PHE in collegiate athletes. Study Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A total of 131 collegiate athletes (104 men, 28 women; mean age, 20 ± 2 years) completed a sports physician (SP)–driven PHE consisting of a cardiac history questionnaire and a physical examination. An independent CAA assessment was performed by a technician who was blinded to the SP findings. Athletes with suspected structural murmurs or other clinical reasons for concern were referred to a cardiologist for confirmatory echocardiography (EC). Results: Twenty-five athletes were referred for further investigation (17 murmurs, 6 abnormal electrocardiographs, 1 displaced apex, and 1 possible case of Marfan syndrome). EC confirmed 3 structural and 22 physiological murmurs. The SP flagged 5 individuals with possible underlying structural pathology; 2 of these murmurs were confirmed as structural in nature. Fourteen murmurs were referred by CAA; 3 of these were confirmed as structural in origin by EC. One such murmur was not detected by the SP, however, and detected by CAA. The sensitivity of CAA was 100% compared with 66.7% shown by the SP, while specificity was 50% and 66.7%, respectively. Conclusion: CAA shows potential to be a feasible adjunct for improving the identification of structural murmurs in the athlete population. Over-referral by CAA for EC requires further investigation and possible refinements to the current algorithm. Further studies are needed to determine the true sensitivity, specificity, and cost efficacy of the device among the athletic population. Clinical Relevance: CAA may be a useful cardiac screening adjunct during the PHE of athletes, particularly as it may guide appropriate referral of suspected structural murmurs for further investigation. PMID:28661830

The Diagnostic Utility of Computer-Assisted Auscultation for the Early Detection of Cardiac Murmurs of Structural Origin in the Periodic Health Evaluation.

PubMed

Viviers, Pierre L; Kirby, Jo-Anne H; Viljoen, Jeandré T; Derman, Wayne

Identification of the nature of cardiac murmurs during the periodic health evaluation (PHE) of athletes is challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing between murmurs of physiological or structural origin. Previously, computer-assisted auscultation (CAA) has shown promise to support appropriate referrals in the nonathlete pediatric population. CAA has the ability to accurately detect cardiac murmurs of structural origin during a PHE in collegiate athletes. Cross-sectional, descriptive study. Level 3. A total of 131 collegiate athletes (104 men, 28 women; mean age, 20 ± 2 years) completed a sports physician (SP)-driven PHE consisting of a cardiac history questionnaire and a physical examination. An independent CAA assessment was performed by a technician who was blinded to the SP findings. Athletes with suspected structural murmurs or other clinical reasons for concern were referred to a cardiologist for confirmatory echocardiography (EC). Twenty-five athletes were referred for further investigation (17 murmurs, 6 abnormal electrocardiographs, 1 displaced apex, and 1 possible case of Marfan syndrome). EC confirmed 3 structural and 22 physiological murmurs. The SP flagged 5 individuals with possible underlying structural pathology; 2 of these murmurs were confirmed as structural in nature. Fourteen murmurs were referred by CAA; 3 of these were confirmed as structural in origin by EC. One such murmur was not detected by the SP, however, and detected by CAA. The sensitivity of CAA was 100% compared with 66.7% shown by the SP, while specificity was 50% and 66.7%, respectively. CAA shows potential to be a feasible adjunct for improving the identification of structural murmurs in the athlete population. Over-referral by CAA for EC requires further investigation and possible refinements to the current algorithm. Further studies are needed to determine the true sensitivity, specificity, and cost efficacy of the device among the athletic population. CAA may be a useful cardiac screening adjunct during the PHE of athletes, particularly as it may guide appropriate referral of suspected structural murmurs for further investigation.

An adaptive semantic matching paradigm for reliable and valid language mapping in individuals with aphasia.

PubMed

Wilson, Stephen M; Yen, Melodie; Eriksson, Dana K

2018-04-17

Research on neuroplasticity in recovery from aphasia depends on the ability to identify language areas of the brain in individuals with aphasia. However, tasks commonly used to engage language processing in people with aphasia, such as narrative comprehension and picture naming, are limited in terms of reliability (test-retest reproducibility) and validity (identification of language regions, and not other regions). On the other hand, paradigms such as semantic decision that are effective in identifying language regions in people without aphasia can be prohibitively challenging for people with aphasia. This paper describes a new semantic matching paradigm that uses an adaptive staircase procedure to present individuals with stimuli that are challenging yet within their competence, so that language processing can be fully engaged in people with and without language impairments. The feasibility, reliability and validity of the adaptive semantic matching paradigm were investigated in sixteen individuals with chronic post-stroke aphasia and fourteen neurologically normal participants, in comparison to narrative comprehension and picture naming paradigms. All participants succeeded in learning and performing the semantic paradigm. Test-retest reproducibility of the semantic paradigm in people with aphasia was good (Dice coefficient = 0.66), and was superior to the other two paradigms. The semantic paradigm revealed known features of typical language organization (lateralization; frontal and temporal regions) more consistently in neurologically normal individuals than the other two paradigms, constituting evidence for validity. In sum, the adaptive semantic matching paradigm is a feasible, reliable and valid method for mapping language regions in people with aphasia. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Experimental Validation of Numerical Simulations for an Acoustic Liner in Grazing Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tam, Christopher K. W.; Pastouchenko, Nikolai N.; Jones, Michael G.; Watson, Willie R.

2013-01-01

A coordinated experimental and numerical simulation effort is carried out to improve our understanding of the physics of acoustic liners in a grazing flow as well our computational aeroacoustics (CAA) method prediction capability. A numerical simulation code based on advanced CAA methods is developed. In a parallel effort, experiments are performed using the Grazing Flow Impedance Tube at the NASA Langley Research Center. In the experiment, a liner is installed in the upper wall of a rectangular flow duct with a 2 inch by 2.5 inch cross section. Spatial distribution of sound pressure levels and relative phases are measured on the wall opposite the liner in the presence of a Mach 0.3 grazing flow. The computer code is validated by comparing computed results with experimental measurements. Good agreements are found. The numerical simulation code is then used to investigate the physical properties of the acoustic liner. It is shown that an acoustic liner can produce self-noise in the presence of a grazing flow and that a feedback acoustic resonance mechanism is responsible for the generation of this liner self-noise. In addition, the same mechanism also creates additional liner drag. An estimate, based on numerical simulation data, indicates that for a resonant liner with a 10% open area ratio, the drag increase would be about 4% of the turbulent boundary layer drag over a flat wall.

Systematic Development and Validation of a Thin-Layer Densitometric Bioanalytical Method for Estimation of Mangiferin Employing Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) Approach

PubMed Central

Khurana, Rajneet Kaur; Rao, Satish; Beg, Sarwar; Katare, O.P.; Singh, Bhupinder

2016-01-01

The present work aims at the systematic development of a simple, rapid and highly sensitive densitometry-based thin-layer chromatographic method for the quantification of mangiferin in bioanalytical samples. Initially, the quality target method profile was defined and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) earmarked, namely, retardation factor (Rf), peak height, capacity factor, theoretical plates and separation number. Face-centered cubic design was selected for optimization of volume loaded and plate dimensions as the critical method parameters selected from screening studies employing D-optimal and Plackett–Burman design studies, followed by evaluating their effect on the CAAs. The mobile phase containing a mixture of ethyl acetate : acetic acid : formic acid : water in a 7 : 1 : 1 : 1 (v/v/v/v) ratio was finally selected as the optimized solvent for apt chromatographic separation of mangiferin at 262 nm with Rf 0.68 ± 0.02 and all other parameters within the acceptance limits. Method validation studies revealed high linearity in the concentration range of 50–800 ng/band for mangiferin. The developed method showed high accuracy, precision, ruggedness, robustness, specificity, sensitivity, selectivity and recovery. In a nutshell, the bioanalytical method for analysis of mangiferin in plasma revealed the presence of well-resolved peaks and high recovery of mangiferin. PMID:26912808

Chromic acid anodizing of aluminum foil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dursch, H.

1988-01-01

The success of the Space Station graphite/epoxy truss structure depends on its ability to endure long-term exposure to the LEO environment, primarily the effects of atomic oxygen and the temperture cycling resulting from the 94 minute orbit. This report describes the development and evaluation of chromic acid anodized (CAA) aluminum foil as protective coatings for these composite tubes. Included are: development of solar absorptance and thermal emittance properties required of Al foil and development of CAA parameters to achieve these optical properties; developing techniques to CAA 25 ft lengths of Al foil; developing bonding processes for wrapping the Al foil to graphite/epoxy tubes; and atomic oxygen testing of the CAA Al foil. Two specifications were developed and are included in the report: Chromic Acid Anodizing of Aluminum Foil Process Specification and Bonding of Anodized Aluminum Foil to Graphite/Epoxy Tubes. Results show that CAA Al foil provides and excellent protective and thermal control coating for the Space Station truss structure.

Evaluation of high temperature structural adhesives for extended service. [supersonic cruise aircraft research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hill, S. G.

1981-01-01

Eight different Ti-6Al-4V surface treatments were investigated for each of 10 candidate resins. Primers (two for each resin) were studied for appropriate cure and thickness and initial evaluation of bond joints began using various combinations of the adhesive resins and surface treatments. Surface failure areas of bonded titanium coupons were analyzed by electron microscopy and surface chemical analysis techniques. Results of surface characterization and failure analysis are described for lap shear bond joints occurring with adhesive systems consisting of: (1) LARC-13 adhesive, Pasa jell surface treatment; (2) LARC-13 adhesive, 10 volt CAA treatment; (3) PPQ adhesive, 10 volt CAA treatment; and (4) PPQ adhesive, 5 volt CAA treatment. The failure analysis concentrated on the 10,000 hr 505K (450 F) exposed specimens which exhibited adhesive failure. Environmental exposure data being generated on the PPQ-10 volt CAA and the LARC-TPI-10 volt CAA adhesive systems is included.

40 CFR 51.126 - Determination of widespread use of ORVR and waiver of CAA section 182(b)(3) Stage II gasoline...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Determination of widespread use of ORVR and waiver of CAA section 182(b)(3) Stage II gasoline vapor recovery requirements. 51.126 Section 51... Determination of widespread use of ORVR and waiver of CAA section 182(b)(3) Stage II gasoline vapor recovery...

Coronary artery aneurysm regression after Kawasaki disease and associated risk factors: a 3-year follow-up study in East China.

PubMed

Tang, Yunjia; Yan, Wenhua; Sun, Ling; Xu, Qiuqin; Ding, Yueyue; Lv, Haitao

2018-01-12

Kawasaki disease (KD) is the leading cause of acquired heart disease due to its complicated coronary artery lesions. Up to now, few studies were focused on the status of persistent coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in KD patients. The present study was designed to identify the coronary artery outcomes and seek the risk factors associated with the regression of CAA in KD patients. One hundred and twenty KD patients with CAA hospitalized in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from Jan 2008 to Dec 2013 were prospectively studied by a 3-year follow-up. Data regarding demographic, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic characteristics were documented and further analyzed. It was estimated that 39.2% of the patients had complete regression of CAA within 4 weeks, 59.2% within 8 weeks, and 70.0% within 16 weeks. No fatal cardiac events occurred. We found patients who aged ≤ 1 year, received initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment after the 10th day of illness, and IVIG non-responders were associated with the regression of persistent CAA. The relative risks were 1.55, 1.87, and 1.88, respectively. Age, initial IVIG treatment, and IVIG response were risk factors of persistent CAA, and more attention should be paid on these patients.

The cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3) gene of oomycetes: structure, phylogeny and influence on sensitivity to carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides.

PubMed

Blum, Mathias; Gamper, Hannes A; Waldner, Maya; Sierotzki, Helge; Gisi, Ulrich

2012-04-01

Proper disease control is very important to minimize yield losses caused by oomycetes in many crops. Today, oomycete control is partially achieved by breeding for resistance, but mainly by application of single-site mode of action fungicides including the carboxylic acid amides (CAAs). Despite having mostly specific targets, fungicidal activity can differ even in species belonging to the same phylum but the underlying mechanisms are often poorly understood. In an attempt to elucidate the phylogenetic basis and underlying molecular mechanism of sensitivity and tolerance to CAAs, the cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3) gene was isolated and characterized, encoding the target site of this fungicide class. The CesA3 gene was present in all 25 species included in this study representing the orders Albuginales, Leptomitales, Peronosporales, Pythiales, Rhipidiales and Saprolegniales, and based on phylogenetic analyses, enabled good resolution of all the different taxonomic orders. Sensitivity assays using the CAA fungicide mandipropamid (MPD) demonstrated that only species belonging to the Peronosporales were inhibited by the fungicide. Molecular data provided evidence, that the observed difference in sensitivity to CAAs between Peronosporales and CAA tolerant species is most likely caused by an inherent amino acid configuration at position 1109 in CesA3 possibly affecting fungicide binding. The present study not only succeeded in linking CAA sensitivity of various oomycetes to the inherent CesA3 target site configuration, but could also relate it to the broader phylogenetic context. Copyright © 2012 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anatomical measurement of the ossicles in patients with congenital aural atresia and stenosis.

PubMed

Li, Jieying; Chen, Keguang; Li, Chenlong; Yin, Dongming; Zhang, Tianyu; Dai, Peidong

2017-10-01

Our aims were to measure and compare anatomical parameters of the ossicles in normal, congenital aural stenosis (CAS), and congenital aural atresia (CAA) ears. This retrospective study was performed using three-dimensional reconstructed images derived from computed tomography scans of 20 normal subjects, 20 CAS patients, and 20 CAA patients. The lengths of the malleus handle and long process of the incus were greater in normal ears than in CAS and CAA ears (all P < 0.05). The angles of the incudostapedial joint and between the short and long processes of the incus were smaller in normal ears than in CAS and CAA ears (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the positions of the malleus head and incudomalleolar joint, the size of the malleus head, the length of the short process of the incus, or the angle of the incudomalleolar joint (P > 0.05). Anatomical parameters of the lower part, but not of the upper part, of the ossicular chain in CAS and CAA ears differed from those in normal ears. Different branchial arch origins of the upper and lower parts of the ossicular chain may explain these findings. Dysplasia of the second arch, which develops into the lower part of the ossicular chain, may contribute to ossicular malformation in CAA and CAS. Accurate radiographic measurement of malformed ossicles may be useful for reconstructive surgery of CAA and CAS using the patient's native ossicular chain and for choosing an appropriate place for active middle ear implants. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Early-Phase 11C-PiB PET in Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Symptomatic Cerebral Hemorrhage: Potential Diagnostic Value?

PubMed Central

Aigbirhio, Franklin I.; Fryer, Tim D.; Menon, David K.; Warburton, Elizabeth A.; Baron, Jean-Claude

2015-01-01

Although late-phase (>35min post-administration) 11C-PiB-PET has good sensitivity in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), its specificity is poor due to frequently high uptake in healthy aged subjects. By detecting perfusion-like abnormalities, early-phase 11C-PiB-PET might add diagnostic value. Early-frame (1–6min) 11C-PiB-PET was obtained in 11 non-demented patients with probable CAA-related symptomatic lobar intracerebral haemorrhage (70±7yrs), 9 age-matched healthy controls (HCs) and 10 HCs <55yrs. There was a significant decrease in early-phase atrophy-corrected whole-cortex SUV relative to cerebellar vermis (SUVR) in the CAA vs age-matched HC group. None of the age-matched controls fell below the lower 95% confidence limit derived from the young HCs, while 6/11 CAA patients did (sensitivity = 55%, specificity = 100%). Combining both early- and late-phase 11C-PiB data did not change the sensitivity and specificity of late-phase PiB, but combined early- and late-phase positivity entails a very high suspicion of underlying Aβ-related clinical disorder, i.e., CAA or Alzheimer disease (AD). In order to clarify this ambiguity, we then show that the occipital/posterior cingulate ratio is markedly lower in CAA than in AD (N = 7). These pilot data suggest that early-phase 11C-PiB-PET may not only add to late-phase PiB-PET with respect to the unclear situation of late-phase positivity, but also help differentiate CAA from AD. PMID:26439113

Impact of canine-assisted ambulation on hospitalized chronic heart failure patients' ambulation outcomes and satisfaction: a pilot study.

PubMed

Abate, Samantha V; Zucconi, Michele; Boxer, Bruce Alan

2011-01-01

Chronic heart failure (HF) is a prevalent and costly disease process. Early ambulation has been shown to have a positive impact on patient outcomes and length of stay. Animal-assisted therapy is a novel modality that has shown to be a safe and effective adjunct to a number of traditional treatment plans. This study sought to synergistically combine ambulation and animal-assisted therapy by using canine-assisted ambulation (CAA) to improve the ambulation outcomes of HF patients. Sixty-nine hospitalized patients with a primary diagnosis of HF were approached to ambulate with a restorative aide. After recording their initial response, they were given the opportunity to participate in CAA (walking with a therapy dog). Initial ambulation refusal rate was compared with a historical population of 537 HF patients. Distance ambulated was recorded using a pedometer and compared with a randomly selected, 64-patient sample from the historical HF patient population, stratified by day of hospital stay. Patient satisfaction was assessed through a 5-item Likert scale survey. The 537-patient historical HF population had an ambulation refusal rate of 28%. When offered the chance to participate in CAA, only 7.2% of the study population refused ambulation (P = .0002). Of the 69-patient study sample, 13 initially refused ambulation then agreed when offered CAA (P = .0009). Distance ambulated increased from 120.2 steps in a randomly selected, stratified historical sample to 235.07 in the CAA study sample (P < .0001). Patients unanimously agreed that they enjoyed CAA and would like to participate in CAA again. Canine-assisted ambulation is a safe and effective adjunct to an early ambulation program for HF patients. Canine-assisted ambulation may decrease hospital length of stay and thereby decrease the costs of HF care. Additional research involving CAA's application to other disease processes in various settings is warranted.

Inactivation of Cg10062, a cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase homologue in Corynebacterium glutamicum, by (R)- and (S)-oxirane-2-carboxylate: analysis and implications.

PubMed

Robertson, Brooklyn A; Johnson, William H; Lo, Herng-Hsiang; Whitman, Christian P

2008-08-19

( R)- and ( S)-oxirane-2-carboxylate were determined to be active site-directed irreversible inhibitors of the cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase ( cis-CaaD) homologue Cg10062 found in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Kinetic analysis indicates that the ( R) enantiomer binds more tightly and is the more potent inhibitor, likely reflecting more favorable interactions with active site residues. Pro-1 is the sole site of covalent modification by the ( R) and ( S) enantiomers. Pro-1, Arg-70, Arg-73, and Glu-114, previously identified as catalytic residues in Cg10062, have also been implicated in the inactivation mechanism. Pro-1, Arg-70, and Arg-73 are essential residues for the process as indicated by the observation that the enzymes with the corresponding alanine mutations are not covalently modified by either enantiomer. The E114Q mutant slows covalent modification of Cg10062 but does not prevent it. The results are comparable to those found for the irreversible inactivation of cis-CaaD by ( R)-oxirane-2-carboxylate with two important distinctions: the alkylation of cis-CaaD is stereospecific, and Glu-114 does not take part in the cis-CaaD inactivation mechanism. Cg10062 exhibits low-level cis-CaaD and trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD) activities, with the cis-CaaD activity predominating. Hence, the preference of Cg10062 for the cis isomer correlates with the observation that the ( R) enantiomer is the more potent inactivator. Moreover, the factors responsible for the relaxed substrate specificity of Cg10062 may account for the stereoselective inactivation by the enantiomeric epoxides. Delineation of these factors would provide a more complete picture of the substrate specificity determinants for cis-CaaD. This study represents an important step toward this goal by setting the stage for a crystallographic analysis of inactivated Cg10062.

Tissue microstructural changes are independently associated with cognitive impairment in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

PubMed

Viswanathan, Anand; Patel, Pratik; Rahman, Rosanna; Nandigam, R N Kaveer; Kinnecom, Catherine; Bracoud, Luc; Rosand, Jonathan; Chabriat, Hugues; Greenberg, Steven M; Smith, Eric E

2008-07-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a major cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage and cognitive impairment and is associated with white matter hyperintensities and cerebral microbleeds. MRI diffusion tensor imaging detects microstructural tissue damage in advanced CAA even in areas that appear normal on conventional MRI. We hypothesized that higher global mean apparent diffusion coefficient (mean ADC), reflecting a higher amount of chronic tissue disruption caused by CAA, would be independently associated with CAA-related cognitive impairment. Preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment was systematically assessed using a standardized questionnaire (IQCODE) in 49 patients. Volume of white matter hyperintensities, number of microbleeds, and mean ADC were determined from MRIs obtained within 14.0+/-22.5 days of intracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment. White matter hyperintensities and mean ADC were measured in the hemisphere uninvolved by intracerebral hemorrhage to avoid confounding. Preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment was identified in 10 of 49 subjects. Mean ADC was the only variable associated with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment and was elevated in those with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment compared with those without (12.4x10(-4) versus 11.7x10(-4) mm(2)/s; P=0.03). Mean ADC positively correlated with age but not white matter hyperintensities or number of microbleeds. In logistic regression controlling for age and visible cerebral atrophy, mean ADC was independently associated with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment (OR per 1x10(-4) mm(2)/s increase=2.45, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.40, P=0.04). Mean ADC is independently associated with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment in CAA. The lack of correlation with other MRI markers of CAA suggests that mean ADC may be sensitive to distinct aspects of CAA pathology and its tissue consequences. These results suggest that global MRI diffusion changes are sensitive to clinically relevant microstructural alterations and may be useful markers of CAA-related tissue damage.

Tissue Microstructural Changes Are Independently Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

PubMed Central

Viswanathan, Anand; Patel, Pratik; Rahman, Rosanna; Nandigam, R.N. Kaveer; Kinnecom, Catherine; Bracoud, Luc; Rosand, Jonathan; Chabriat, Hugues; Greenberg, Steven M.; Smith, Eric E.

2009-01-01

Background and Purpose Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a major cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage and cognitive impairment and is associated with white matter hyperintensities and cerebral microbleeds. MRI diffusion tensor imaging detects microstructural tissue damage in advanced CAA even in areas that appear normal on conventional MRI. We hypothesized that higher global mean apparent diffusion coefficient (mean ADC), reflecting a higher amount of chronic tissue disruption caused by CAA, would be independently associated with CAA-related cognitive impairment. Methods Preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment was systematically assessed using a standardized questionnaire (IQCODE) in 49 patients. Volume of white matter hyperintensities, number of microbleeds, and mean ADC were determined from MRIs obtained within 14.0±22.5 days of intracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment. White matter hyperintensities and mean ADC were measured in the hemisphere uninvolved by intracerebral hemorrhage to avoid confounding. Results Preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment was identified in 10 of 49 subjects. Mean ADC was the only variable associated with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment and was elevated in those with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment compared with those without (12.4×10-4 versus 11.7×10-4 mm2/s; P=0.03). Mean ADC positively correlated with age but not white matter hyperintensities or number of microbleeds. In logistic regression controlling for age and visible cerebral atrophy, mean ADC was independently associated with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment (OR per 1×10-4 mm2/s increase=2.45, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.40, P=0.04). Conclusions Mean ADC is independently associated with preintracerebral hemorrhage cognitive impairment in CAA. The lack of correlation with other MRI markers of CAA suggests that mean ADC may be sensitive to distinct aspects of CAA pathology and its tissue consequences. These results suggest that global MRI diffusion changes are sensitive to clinically relevant microstructural alterations and may be useful markers of CAA-related tissue damage. PMID:18436874

40 CFR 51.1103 - Application of classification and attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). 51.1103 Section... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). (a) In... Ozone NAAQS (0.075 ppm) for Areas Subject to Section 51.1102(a) Area class 8-hour design value(ppm ozone...

40 CFR 51.1103 - Application of classification and attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). 51.1103 Section... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). (a) In... Ozone NAAQS (0.075 ppm) for Areas Subject to Section 51.1102(a) Area class 8-hour design value(ppm ozone...

40 CFR 51.1103 - Application of classification and attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). 51.1103 Section... attainment date provisions in CAA section 181 of subpart 2 to areas subject to § 51.1102(a). (a) In... Ozone NAAQS (0.075 ppm) for Areas Subject to Section 51.1102(a) Area class 8-hour design value(ppm ozone...

Association of Severity of Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Patients With Kawasaki Disease and Risk of Later Coronary Events.

PubMed

Miura, Masaru; Kobayashi, Tohru; Kaneko, Tetsuji; Ayusawa, Mamoru; Fukazawa, Ryuji; Fukushima, Naoya; Fuse, Shigeto; Hamaoka, Kenji; Hirono, Keiichi; Kato, Taichi; Mitani, Yoshihide; Sato, Seiichi; Shimoyama, Shinya; Shiono, Junko; Suda, Kenji; Suzuki, Hiroshi; Maeda, Jun; Waki, Kenji; Kato, Hitoshi; Saji, Tsutomu; Yamagishi, Hiroyuki; Ozeki, Aya; Tomotsune, Masako; Yoshida, Makiko; Akazawa, Yohei; Aso, Kentaro; Doi, Shouzaburoh; Fukasawa, Yoshi; Furuno, Kenji; Hayabuchi, Yasunobu; Hayashi, Miyuki; Honda, Takafumi; Horita, Norihisa; Ikeda, Kazuyuki; Ishii, Masahiro; Iwashima, Satoru; Kamada, Masahiro; Kaneko, Masahide; Katyama, Hiroshi; Kawamura, Yoichi; Kitagawa, Atushi; Komori, Akiko; Kuraishi, Kenji; Masuda, Hiroshi; Matsuda, Shinichi; Matsuzaki, Satoshi; Mii, Sayaka; Miyamoto, Tomoyuki; Moritou, Yuji; Motoki, Noriko; Nagumo, Kiyoshi; Nakamura, Tsuneyuki; Nishihara, Eiki; Nomura, Yuichi; Ogata, Shohei; Ohashi, Hiroyuki; Okumura, Kenichi; Omori, Daisuke; Sano, Tetsuya; Suganuma, Eisuke; Takahashi, Tsutomu; Takatsuki, Shinichi; Takeda, Atsuhito; Terai, Masaru; Toyono, Manatomo; Watanabe, Kenichi; Watanabe, Makoto; Yamamoto, Masaki; Yamamura, Kenichiro

2018-05-07

Few studies with sufficient statistical power have shown the association of the z score of the coronary arterial internal diameter with coronary events (CE) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) with coronary artery aneurysms (CAA). To clarify the association of the z score with time-dependent CE occurrence in patients with KD with CAA. This multicenter, collaborative retrospective cohort study of 44 participating institutions included 1006 patients with KD younger than 19 years who received a coronary angiography between 1992 and 2011. The time-dependent occurrence of CE, including thrombosis, stenosis, obstruction, acute ischemic events, and coronary interventions, was analyzed for small (z score, <5), medium (z score, ≥5 to <10; actual internal diameter, <8 mm), and large (z score, ≥10 or ≥8 mm) CAA by the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify risk factors for CE after adjusting for age, sex, size, morphology, number of CAA, resistance to initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, and antithrombotic medications. Of 1006 patients, 714 (71%) were male, 341 (34%) received a diagnosis before age 1 year, 501 (50%) received a diagnosis between age 1 and 5 years, and 157 (16%) received a diagnosis at age 5 years or older. The 10-year event-free survival rate for CE was 100%, 94%, and 52% in men (P < .001) and 100%, 100%, and 75% in women (P < .001) for small, medium, and large CAA, respectively. The CE-free rate was 100%, 96%, and 79% in patients who were not resistant to IVIG therapy (P < .001) and 100%, 96%, and 51% in patients who were resistant to IVIG therapy (P < .001), respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed that large CAA (hazard ratio, 8.9; 95% CI, 5.1-15.4), male sex (hazard ratio, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7-4.8), and resistance to IVIG therapy (hazard ratio, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.6) were significantly associated with CE. Classification using the internal diameter z score is useful for assessing the severity of CAA in relation to the time-dependent occurrence of CE and associated factors in patients with KD. Careful management of CE is necessary for all patients with KD with CAA, especially men and IVIG-resistant patients with a large CAA.

Assessing the potential of amino acid δ13C patterns as a carbon source tracer in marine sediments: effects of algal growth conditions and sedimentary diagenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, T.; Bach, L. T.; Salvatteci, R.; Wang, Y. V.; Andersen, N.; Ventura, M.; McCarthy, M. D.

2015-01-01

Burial of organic carbon in marine sediments has a profound influence in marine biogeochemical cycles, and provides a sink for greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4. However, tracing organic carbon from primary production sources as well as its transformations in the sediment record remains challenging. Here we examine a novel but growing tool for tracing biosynthetic origin of amino acid carbon skeletons, based on natural occurring stable carbon isotope patterns in individual amino acids (δ13CAA). We focus on two important aspects for δ13CAA utility in sedimentary paleoarchives: first, the fidelity of source diagnostic of algal δ13CAA patterns across different oceanographic growth conditions; and second, the ability of δ13CAA patterns to record the degree of subsequent microbial amino acid synthesis after sedimentary burial. Using the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii, we tested under controlled conditions how δ13CAA patterns respond to changing environmental conditions, including light, salinity, temperature, and pH. Our findings show that while differing oceanic growth conditions can change macromolecular cellular composition, δ13CAA isotopic patterns remain largely invariant. These results underscore that δ13CAA patterns should accurately record biosynthetic sources across widely disparate oceanographic conditions. We also explored how δ13CAA patterns change as a function of age, total nitrogen and organic carbon content after burial, in a marine sediment core from a coastal upwelling area off Peru. Based on the four most informative amino acids for distinguishing between diatom and bacterial sources (i.e. isoleucine, lysine, leucine and tyrosine), bacterial derived amino acids ranged from 10-15% in the sediment layers from the last 5000 years to 35% during the last glacial period. The larger bacterial fractions in older sediments indicate that bacterial activity and amino acid resynthesis progressed, approximately as a function of sediment age, to a substantially larger degree than suggested by changes in total organic nitrogen and carbon content. Taken together, these culturing and sediment studies suggest that δ13CAA patterns in sediments represent a novel proxy for understanding both primary production sources, as well as direct bacterial role in the ultimate preservation of sedimentary organic matter.

Diabetes self management: are Cuban Americans receiving quality health care?

PubMed

Huffman, Fatma G; Vaccaro, Joan A; Nath, Subrata; Zarini, Gustavo G

2009-01-01

We investigated the relationship among factors predicting inadequate glucose control among 182 Cuban-American adults (Females = 110, Males = 72) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (CAA). Cross-sectional study of CAA from a randomized mailing list in two counties of South Florida. Fasted blood parameters and anthropometric measures were collected during the study. BMI was calculated (kg/m2). Characteristics and diabetes care of CAA were self-reported Participants were screened by trained interviewers for heritage and diabetes status (inclusion criteria: self-reported having type 2 diabetes; age > or = 35 years, male and female; not pregnant or lactating; no thyroid disorders; no major psychiatric disorders). Participants signed informed consent form. Statistical analyses used SPSS and included descriptive statistic, multiple logistic and ordinal logistic regression models, where all CI 95%. Eighty-eight percent of CAA had BMI of > or = 25 kg/m2. Only 54% reported having a diet prescribed/told to schedule meals. We found CAA told to schedule meals were 3.62 more likely to plan meals (1.81, 7.26), p < 0.001) and given a prescribed diet, controlling for age, corresponded with following a meal plan OR 4.43 (2.52, 7.79, p < 0.001). The overall relationship for HbA1c < 8.5 to following a meal plan was OR 9.34 (2.84, 30.7. p < 0.001). The advantage of having a medical professional prescribe a diet seems to be an important environmental support factor in this sample's diabetes care, since obesity rates are well above the national average. Nearly half CAA are not given dietary guidance, yet our results indicate CAA may improve glycemic control by receiving dietary instructions.

Posterior white matter disease distribution as a predictor of amyloid angiopathy

PubMed Central

Thanprasertsuk, Sekh; Martinez-Ramirez, Sergi; Pontes-Neto, Octavio Marques; Ni, Jun; Ayres, Alison; Reed, Anne; Swords, Kyleen; Gurol, M. Edip; Greenberg, Steven M.

2014-01-01

Objectives: We sought to examine whether a posterior distribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) is an independent predictor of pathologically confirmed cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and whether it is associated with MRI markers of CAA, in patients without lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods: We developed a quantitative method to measure anteroposterior (AP) distribution of WMH. A retrospective cohort of patients without intracerebral hemorrhage and with pathologic evaluation of CAA was examined to determine whether posterior WMH distribution was an independent predictor of CAA (n = 59). The relationship of AP distributions of WMH to strictly lobar microbleeds (MBs) (n = 259) and location of dilated perivascular spaces (DPVS) (n = 85) was examined in a separate cohort of patients evaluated in a memory clinic. Results: A more posterior WMH distribution was found to be an independent predictor of pathologic evidence of CAA (p = 0.001, odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.19 [1.07–1.32]), even in the subgroup without lobar MBs (p = 0.016, odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.18 [1.03–1.36]). In the memory clinic cohort, strictly lobar MBs were independently associated with more posterior WMH distribution (p = 0.009). AP distribution of WMH was also associated with location of DPVS (p = 0.001), in that patients with predominant DPVS in the white matter over the basal ganglia harbored a more posterior WMH distribution. Conclusions: Our results suggest that AP distribution of WMH may represent an additional marker of CAA, irrespective of the presence of lobar hemorrhages. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that there is a significant association between the AP distribution of WMH on MRI with the presence of pathologically confirmed CAA pathology. PMID:25063759

Progression of Brain Network Alterations in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

PubMed

Reijmer, Yael D; Fotiadis, Panagiotis; Riley, Grace A; Xiong, Li; Charidimou, Andreas; Boulouis, Gregoire; Ayres, Alison M; Schwab, Kristin; Rosand, Jonathan; Gurol, M Edip; Viswanathan, Anand; Greenberg, Steven M

2016-10-01

We recently showed that cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is associated with functionally relevant brain network impairments, in particular affecting posterior white matter connections. Here we examined how these brain network impairments progress over time. Thirty-three patients with probable CAA underwent multimodal brain magnetic resonance imaging at 2 time points (mean follow-up time: 1.3±0.4 years). Brain networks of the hemisphere free of intracerebral hemorrhages were reconstructed using fiber tractography and graph theory. The global efficiency of the network and mean fractional anisotropies of posterior-posterior, frontal-frontal, and posterior-frontal network connections were calculated. Patients with moderate versus severe CAA were defined based on microbleed count, dichotomized at the median (median=35). Global efficiency of the intracerebral hemorrhage-free hemispheric network declined from baseline to follow-up (-0.008±0.003; P=0.029). The decline in global efficiency was most pronounced for patients with severe CAA (group×time interaction P=0.03). The decline in global network efficiency was associated with worse executive functioning (β=0.46; P=0.03). Examination of subgroups of network connections revealed a decline in fractional anisotropies of posterior-posterior connections at both levels of CAA severity (-0.006±0.002; P=0.017; group×time interaction P=0.16). The fractional anisotropies of posterior-frontal and frontal-frontal connections declined in patients with severe but not moderate CAA (group×time interaction P=0.007 and P=0.005). Associations were independent of change in white matter hyperintensity volume. Brain network impairment in patients with CAA worsens measurably over just 1.3-year follow-up and seem to progress from posterior to frontal connections with increasing disease severity. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

Aortic Valve Disease and Vascular Mechanics: Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Analysis.

PubMed

Leite, Luís; Teixeira, Rogério; Oliveira-Santos, Manuel; Barbosa, António; Martins, Rui; Castro, Graça; Gonçalves, Lino; Pego, Mariano

2016-08-01

Degenerative aortic valve disease (AVD) is a complex disorder that goes beyond valve itself, also undermining aortic wall. We aimed to assess the ascending aortic mechanics with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and hypothesized a relationship with degree of AR. Aortic mechanics were then compared with those of similarly studied healthy controls and patients with aortic stenosis (AS); finally, we aimed to assess the prognostic significance of vascular mechanics in AVD. Overall, 73 patients with moderate-to-severe AR and 22 healthy subjects were enrolled, alongside a previously examined cohort (N = 45) with moderate-to-severe AS. Global circumferential ascending aortic strain (CAAS) and strain rate (CAASR) served as indices of aortic deformation; corrected CAAS was calculated as CAAS/pulse pressure (PP). Median clinical follow-up was 438 days. In patients with severe (vs. moderate) AR, CAASR (1.53 ± 0.29/sec vs. 1.90 ± 0.62/sec, P < 0.05) and corrected CAAS (0.14 ± 0.06%/mmHg vs. 0.19 ± 0.08%/mmHg, P < 0.05) were significantly lower, whereas CAAS did not differ significantly. Measurers of aortic mechanics (CAAS, corrected CAAS, CAASR) differed significantly (all P < 0.01) in patients with AS and AR and in healthy subjects, with lower values seen in patients with AS. In follow-up, survival rate of AVD patients with baseline CAASR >0.88/sec was significantly higher (log rank, 97.4% vs. 73.0%; P = 0.03). Quantitative measures of aortic mechanics were lower for AS patients, suggesting a more significant derangement of aortic elastic properties. In the context of AVD, vascular mechanics assessment proved useful in gauging clinical prognosis. © 2016, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Traffic Jam at the Blood Brain Barrier Promotes Greater Accumulation of Alzheimer’s Disease Amyloid-β Proteins in the Cerebral Vasculature

PubMed Central

Agyare, Edward K.; Leonard, Sarah R.; Curran, Geoffry L.; Yu, Caroline C.; Lowe, Val J.; Paravastu, Anant K.; Poduslo, Joseph F.; Kandimalla, Karunya K.

2013-01-01

Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the brain vasculature results in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which occurs in about 80% of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. While Aβ42 predominates parenchymal amyloid plaques in AD brain, Aβ40 is prevalent in the cerebrovascular amyloid. Dutch mutation of Aβ40 (E22Q) promotes aggressive cerebrovascular accumulation and leads to severe CAA in the mutation carriers; knowledge of how DutchAβ40 drives this process more efficiently than Aβ40 could reveal various pathophysiological events that promote CAA. In this study we have demonstrated that DutchAβ40 show preferential accumulation in the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) endothelial cells due to its inefficient blood-to-brain transcytosis. Consequently, DutchAβ40 establishes a permeation barrier in the BBB endothelium, prevents its own clearance from the brain and promotes the formation of amyloid deposits in the cerebral microvessels. The BBB endothelial accumulation of native Aβ40 is not robust enough to exercise such a significant impact on its brain clearance. Hence, the cerebrovascular accumulation of Aβ40 is slow and may require other co-pathologies to precipitate into CAA. In conclusion, the magnitude of Aβ accumulation in the BBB endothelial cells is a critical factor that promotes CAA; hence, clearing vascular endothelium of Aβ proteins may halt or even reverse CAA. PMID:23249146

MRI-visible perivascular spaces in cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hypertensive arteriopathy

PubMed Central

Boulouis, Gregoire; Pasi, Marco; Auriel, Eitan; van Etten, Ellis S.; Haley, Kellen; Ayres, Alison; Schwab, Kristin M.; Martinez-Ramirez, Sergi; Goldstein, Joshua N.; Rosand, Jonathan; Viswanathan, Anand; Greenberg, Steven M.; Gurol, M. Edip

2017-01-01

Objective: To assess MRI-visible enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) burden and different topographical patterns (in the centrum semiovale [CSO] and basal ganglia [BG]) in 2 common microangiopathies: cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and hypertensive arteriopathy (HA). Methods: Consecutive patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from a prospective MRI cohort were included. Small vessel disease MRI markers, including cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), cortical superficial siderosis (cSS), and white matter hyperintensities (WMH), were rated. CSO-EPVS/BG-EPVS were assessed on a validated 4-point visual rating scale (0 = no EPVS, 1 = <10, 2 = 11–20, 3 = 21–40, and 4 = >40 EPVS). We tested associations of predefined high-degree (score >2) CSO-EPVS and BG-EPVS with other MRI markers in multivariable logistic regression. We subsequently evaluated associations with CSO-EPVS predominance (i.e., CSO-EPVS > BG-EPVS) and BG-EPVS predominance pattern (i.e., BG-EPVS > CSO-EPVS) in adjusted multinomial logistic regression (reference group, BG-EPVS = CSO-EPVS). Results: We included 315 patients with CAA-ICH and 137 with HA-ICH. High-degree CSO-EPVS prevalence was greater in CAA-related ICH vs HA-related ICH (43.8% vs 17.5%, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression, high-degree CSO-EPVS was associated with lobar CMB (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.61, p = 0.003) and cSS (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.30–3.32, p = 0.002). Deep CMBs (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.75–4.64, p < 0.0001) and higher WMH volume (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04, p = 0.010) were predictors of high-degree BG-EPVS. A CSO-EPVS–predominant pattern was more common in CAA-ICH than in HA-ICH (75.9% vs 39.4%, respectively, p < 0.0001). CSO-PVS predominance was associated with lobar CMB burden and cSS, while BG-EPVS predominance was associated with HA-ICH and WMH volumes. Conclusions: Different patterns of MRI-visible EPVS provide insights into the dominant underlying microangiopathy type in patients with spontaneous ICH. PMID:28228568

Determining Antioxidant Activities of Lactobacilli Cell-Free Supernatants by Cellular Antioxidant Assay: A Comparison with Traditional Methods

PubMed Central

Xing, Jiali; Wang, Gang; Zhang, Qiuxiang; Liu, Xiaoming; Gu, Zhennan; Zhang, Hao; Chen, Yong Q.; Chen, Wei

2015-01-01

Antioxidant activity of lactic acid bacteria is associated with multiple health-protective effects. Traditional indexes of chemical antioxidant activities poorly reflect the antioxidant effects of these bacteria in vivo. Cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay was used in this study to determine the antioxidant activity of cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of 10 Lactobacillus strains. The performance of the CAA assay was compared with that of four chemical antioxidant activity assays, namely, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRS), reducing power (RP), and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation (ILAP). Results of the CAA assay were associated with those of DPPH and ILAP assays, but not with those of RP and HRS assays. The inter- and intra-specific antioxidant activities of CFS were characterized by chemical and CAA assays. L. rhamnosus CCFM 1107 displayed a high antioxidative effect similar to positive control L. rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 in all of the assays. The CAA assay is a potential method for the detection of antioxidant activities of lactobacilli CFSs. PMID:25789875

Ischemic brain injury in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

PubMed Central

van Veluw, Susanne J; Greenberg, Steven M

2016-01-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common form of cerebral small vessel disease and an important risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage and cognitive impairment. While the majority of research has focused on the hemorrhagic manifestation of CAA, its ischemic manifestations appear to have substantial clinical relevance as well. Findings from imaging and pathologic studies indicate that ischemic lesions are common in CAA, including white-matter hyperintensities, microinfarcts, and microstructural tissue abnormalities as detected with diffusion tensor imaging. Furthermore, imaging markers of ischemic disease show a robust association with cognition, independent of age, hemorrhagic lesions, and traditional vascular risk factors. Widespread ischemic tissue injury may affect cognition by disrupting white-matter connectivity, thereby hampering communication between brain regions. Challenges are to identify imaging markers that are able to capture widespread microvascular lesion burden in vivo and to further unravel the etiology of ischemic tissue injury by linking structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities to their underlying pathophysiology and histopathology. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ischemic brain injury in CAA will be a key step toward new interventions to improve long-term cognitive outcomes for patients with CAA. PMID:25944592

Intramolecular triple helix as a model for regular polyribonucleotide (CAA)(n).

PubMed

Efimov, Alexander V; Spirin, Alexander S

2009-10-09

The regular (CAA)(n) polyribonucleotide, as well as the omega leader sequence containing (CAA)-rich core, have recently been shown to form cooperatively melted and compact structures. In this report, we propose a structural model for the (CAA)(n) sequence in which the polyribonucleotide chain is folded upon itself, so that it forms an intramolecular triple helix. The triple helix is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between bases thus forming coplanar triads, and by stacking interactions between the base triads. A distinctive feature of the proposed triple helix is that it does not contain the canonical double-helix elements. The difference from the known triple helices is that Watson-Crick hydrogen bond pairings do not take place in the interactions between the bases within the base triads.

Combat Identification Systems COMO Integrated Air Defense Model Evaluation (CISE) Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-02-01

use K or IR , whichever one applies) E-6 CAA-SR-89- 3 Subroutine PDECLR 1/21/88 Before label 1000 Insert: IF (IR.GT.10) IR a 10 These changes were made...Internal Distribution: Unclassified Library 2 F-2 CAA-SR-89- 3 GLOSSARY 1. ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND SHORT TERMS ADM2 Air Defense Models Modification...STUDY REPORT ’ , CAA-Sn-89- 3 i , .- CD o COMBAT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS N COMO INTEGRATED AIR DEFENSE MODEL EVALUATION (CISE) STUDY FEBRUARY 1989

NASA Principal Center for Review of Clean Air Act Regulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark-Ingram, Marceia; Munafo, Paul M. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations have greatly impacted materials and processes utilized in the manufacture of aerospace hardware. Code JE/ NASA's Environmental Management Division at NASA Headquarters recognized the need for a formal, Agency-wide review process of CAA regulations. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was selected as the 'Principal Center for Review of Clean Air Act Regulations'. This presentation describes the centralized support provided by MSFC for the management and leadership of NASA's CAA regulation review process.

Effect of consecutive alternating administration (CAA) of a triple anti-enteroviral combination on Coxsackievirus B1 neuroinfection in mice.

PubMed

Stoyanova, Adelina; Nikolova, Ivanka; Galabov, Angel S

2015-09-01

Currently, clinically effective antivirals for use in the treatment of enteroviral (EV) infections do not exist. The main reason is the development of drug resistance, the principle obstacle in the development of EV infection chemotherapy, based til now on monotherapy. The most important achievement of our previous studies was the development of a novel scheme for in vivo application of a triple combination of EV inhibitors with different modes of action against Coxsackievirus B (CVB) infections in mice. It consists of consecutive alternating administration (CAA) of the substances in the combination. Here, we tested the effect of the triple combination pleconaril, guanidine-HCl, and oxoglaucine (PGO) via CAA in newborn mice infected with a neurotropic strain of CVB1 (20 LD50 per mouse). This combination manifested a considerable protective effect with pleconaril doses of 25-200mg/kg: it decreased mortality rate (protection index, PI, between 31.3% and 67.7%) and increased mean survival time (MST) by 4-6days. Pleconaril monotherapy demonstrated activity similar to that of PGO via CAA, as measured by PI values, but MST values were slightly lower. However, it also greatly suppressed growth of infected suckling mice, especially at 200mg/kg. This toxic effect was avoided with CAA of PGO at pleconaril doses of 25-100mg/kg. Pleconaril monotherapy administered every 3days was ineffective. The PGO with CAA treatment course decreased infectious virus content, whereas pleconaril monotherapy did not. Analysis of drug-sensitivity in brain samples from CVB1 infected mice, based on IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values from cell culture experiments, showed that the CAA course counteracted the development of drug resistance to pleconaril and oxoglaucine in the triple PGO combination and increased drug sensitivity. In contrast, pleconaril and oxoglaucine monotherapies resulted in drug resistance. This data clearly proves the effectiveness of the proposed novel approach-the CAA treatment course-for combined application of EV replication inhibitors. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Benefit of immediate coronary angiography after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in France: A nationwide propensity score analysis from the RéAC Registry.

PubMed

Jaeger, Déborah; Dumas, Florence; Escutnaire, Josephine; Sadoune, Sonia; Lauvray, Adrien; Elkhoury, Carlos; Bassand, Adrien; Girerd, Nicolas; Gueugniaud, Pierre Yves; Tazarourte, Karim; Hubert, Hervé; Cariou, Alain; Chouihed, Tahar

2018-05-01

The survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains extremely low, generally under 10%. Post-resuscitation care, and particularly early coronary reperfusion, may improve this outcome. The main objective of the present study was to determine whether patients with immediate coronary angiography at hospital admission (CAA) had a better outcome than patients without immediate CAA. This cohort analysis study was based on data extracted from the French National Cardiac Arrest registry (RéAC). To control for attribution bias, patients were matched using a propensity score, which included age clusters, low flow and no flow delays, initial rhythm and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The main endpoint was survival at day 30 (D30). Secondary endpoint was neurological recovery of survivors assessed by the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale, with CPC 1 and 2 at D30 considered as a favorable outcome. From July 1st, 2011 to October 1st, 2016, 63394 OHCA were registered in the database, of which 39444 were of an unknown or suspected cardiac origin. After on-site resuscitation by a mobile medical team, 7584 patients were transported to a hospital facility. Among these patients, 4046 were retained in the analysis after matching for the aforementioned factors and constituted into 2 groups: immediate coronary angiography (iCAA) group (n = 2023) and non-immediate coronary angiography (niCAA) group (n = 2023). The survival rate at D30 after matching was 43.3% in the iCAA group versus 34.5% in the niCAA group (OD = 0.66 [0.58; 0.75], p < 0.001). In the iCAA group, (n = 707) 36% of the patients at D30 were CPC 1-2 comparatively to (n = 539) 27.3% in the niCAA group (p < 0.01). Both the survival and proportion of patients with favorable neurological recovery were significantly higher in patients who underwent an immediate coronary angiography after a resuscitated OHCA. These observational results warrant further exploration of the benefit of this invasive strategy in randomized studies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fourth Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshop on Benchmark Problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dahl, Milo D. (Editor)

2004-01-01

This publication contains the proceedings of the Fourth Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshop on Benchmark Problems. In this workshop, as in previous workshops, the problems were devised to gauge the technological advancement of computational techniques to calculate all aspects of sound generation and propagation in air directly from the fundamental governing equations. A variety of benchmark problems have been previously solved ranging from simple geometries with idealized acoustic conditions to test the accuracy and effectiveness of computational algorithms and numerical boundary conditions; to sound radiation from a duct; to gust interaction with a cascade of airfoils; to the sound generated by a separating, turbulent viscous flow. By solving these and similar problems, workshop participants have shown the technical progress from the basic challenges to accurate CAA calculations to the solution of CAA problems of increasing complexity and difficulty. The fourth CAA workshop emphasized the application of CAA methods to the solution of realistic problems. The workshop was held at the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 20 to 22, 2003. At that time, workshop participants presented their solutions to problems in one or more of five categories. Their solutions are presented in this proceedings along with the comparisons of their solutions to the benchmark solutions or experimental data. The five categories for the benchmark problems were as follows: Category 1:Basic Methods. The numerical computation of sound is affected by, among other issues, the choice of grid used and by the boundary conditions. Category 2:Complex Geometry. The ability to compute the sound in the presence of complex geometric surfaces is important in practical applications of CAA. Category 3:Sound Generation by Interacting With a Gust. The practical application of CAA for computing noise generated by turbomachinery involves the modeling of the noise source mechanism as a vortical gust interacting with an airfoil. Category 4:Sound Transmission and Radiation. Category 5:Sound Generation in Viscous Problems. Sound is generated under certain conditions by a viscous flow as the flow passes an object or a cavity.

Cryopreserved arterial allografts for in situ reconstruction of abdominal aortic native or secondary graft infection.

PubMed

Ben Ahmed, Sabrina; Louvancourt, Adrien; Daniel, Guillaume; Combe, Pierre; Duprey, Ambroise; Albertini, Jean-Noël; Favre, Jean-Pierre; Rosset, Eugenio

2018-02-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the early and long-term outcome of cryopreserved arterial allografts (CAAs) used for in situ reconstruction of abdominal aortic native or secondary graft infection and to identify predictors of mortality. We retrospectively included 71 patients (mean age, 65.2 years [range, 41-84 years]; men, 91.5%) treated for abdominal aortic native or secondary graft infection (65 prosthetic graft infections; 16 of them had secondary aortoenteric fistula, 2 venous graft infections, and 4 mycotic aneurysms) by in situ reconstruction with CAA in the university hospitals of Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Etienne from 2000 to 2016. The cryopreservation protocol was identical in both centers (-140°C). Early (<30 days) and late (>30 days) mortality and morbidity, reinfection, and CAA patency were assessed. Computed tomography was performed in all survivors. Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analyses were performed with the log-rank test and multivariate analysis with the Cox regression model. Mean follow-up was 45 months (0-196 months). Early postoperative mortality rate was 16.9% (11/71). Early postoperative CAA-related mortality rate was 2.8% (2/71); both patients died of proximal anastomotic rupture on postoperative days 4 and 15. Early CAA-related reintervention rate was 5.6% (4/71); all had an anastomotic rupture, and two were lethal. Early postoperative reintervention rate was 15.5% (11/71). Intraoperative bacteriologic samples were positive in 56.3%, and 31% had a sole microorganism. Escherichia coli was more frequently identified in the secondary aortoenteric fistula and Staphylococcus epidermidis in the infected prosthesis. Late CAA-related mortality rate was 2.8%: septic shock at 2 months in one patient and proximal anastomosis rupture at 1 year in one patient. Survival at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years was 75%, 64%, and 54%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified type 1 diabetes (hazard ratio, 2.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-5.88; P = .04) and American Society of Anesthesiologists class 4 (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-6.53; P = .035) as predictors of mortality after in situ CAA reconstruction. Reinfection rate was 4% (3/71). Late CAA-related reintervention rate was 12.7% (9/71): proximal anastomotic rupture in one, CAA branch stenosis/thrombosis in five, ureteral-CAA branch fistula in one, and distal anastomosis false aneurysm in two. Primary patency at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years was 100%, 93%, and 93%, respectively. Assisted primary patency at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years was 100%, 96%, and 96%, respectively. No aneurysm or dilation was observed. The prognosis of native or secondary aortic graft infections is poor. Aortic in situ reconstruction with CAA offers acceptable early and late results. Patients with type 1 diabetes and American Society of Anesthesiologists class 4 are at higher risk of mortality. Copyright © 2017 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

QbD-Based Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating HPLC Method for Estimating Ketoprofen in Bulk Drug and Proniosomal Vesicular System.

PubMed

Yadav, Nand K; Raghuvanshi, Ashish; Sharma, Gajanand; Beg, Sarwar; Katare, Om P; Nanda, Sanju

2016-03-01

The current studies entail systematic quality by design (QbD)-based development of simple, precise, cost-effective and stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method for estimation of ketoprofen. Analytical target profile was defined and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) were selected. Chromatographic separation was accomplished with an isocratic, reversed-phase chromatography using C-18 column, pH 6.8, phosphate buffer-methanol (50 : 50v/v) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection at 258 nm. Systematic optimization of chromatographic method was performed using central composite design by evaluating theoretical plates and peak tailing as the CAAs. The method was validated as per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines with parameters such as high sensitivity, specificity of the method with linearity ranging between 0.05 and 250 µg/mL, detection limit of 0.025 µg/mL and quantification limit of 0.05 µg/mL. Precision was demonstrated using relative standard deviation of 1.21%. Stress degradation studies performed using acid, base, peroxide, thermal and photolytic methods helped in identifying the degradation products in the proniosome delivery systems. The results successfully demonstrated the utility of QbD for optimizing the chromatographic conditions for developing highly sensitive liquid chromatographic method for ketoprofen. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Systematic Development and Validation of a Thin-Layer Densitometric Bioanalytical Method for Estimation of Mangiferin Employing Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) Approach.

PubMed

Khurana, Rajneet Kaur; Rao, Satish; Beg, Sarwar; Katare, O P; Singh, Bhupinder

2016-01-01

The present work aims at the systematic development of a simple, rapid and highly sensitive densitometry-based thin-layer chromatographic method for the quantification of mangiferin in bioanalytical samples. Initially, the quality target method profile was defined and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) earmarked, namely, retardation factor (Rf), peak height, capacity factor, theoretical plates and separation number. Face-centered cubic design was selected for optimization of volume loaded and plate dimensions as the critical method parameters selected from screening studies employing D-optimal and Plackett-Burman design studies, followed by evaluating their effect on the CAAs. The mobile phase containing a mixture of ethyl acetate : acetic acid : formic acid : water in a 7 : 1 : 1 : 1 (v/v/v/v) ratio was finally selected as the optimized solvent for apt chromatographic separation of mangiferin at 262 nm withRf 0.68 ± 0.02 and all other parameters within the acceptance limits. Method validation studies revealed high linearity in the concentration range of 50-800 ng/band for mangiferin. The developed method showed high accuracy, precision, ruggedness, robustness, specificity, sensitivity, selectivity and recovery. In a nutshell, the bioanalytical method for analysis of mangiferin in plasma revealed the presence of well-resolved peaks and high recovery of mangiferin. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Modification of the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay to study phenolic antioxidants in a Caco-2 cell line.

PubMed

Kellett, Mary E; Greenspan, Phillip; Pegg, Ronald B

2018-04-01

In vitro assays are widely used to analyze the antioxidant potential of compounds, but they cannot accurately predict antioxidant behavior in living systems. Cell-based assays, like the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay, are gaining importance as they provide a biological perspective. When the CAA assay was employed to study phenolic antioxidants using hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells, quercetin showed antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells; 25 and 250μM quercetin reduced fluorescence by 17.1±0.9% and 58.6±2.4%, respectively. (+)-Catechin, a phenolic antioxidant present in many foods, bestowed virtually no CAA in HepG2 cells. When Caco-2 cells were employed, more robust antioxidant activity was observed; 50μM (+)-catechin and quercetin reduced fluorescence by 54.1±1.4% and 63.6±0.9%, respectively. Based on these results, likely due to differences in active membrane transport between the cell types, the Caco-2-based CAA assay appears to be a more appropriate method for the study of certain dietary phenolics. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CFD-CAA Coupled Calculations of a Tandem Cylinder Configuration to Assess Facility Installation Effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Redonnet, Stephane; Lockard, David P.; Khorrami, Mehdi R.; Choudhari, Meelan M.

2011-01-01

This paper presents a numerical assessment of acoustic installation effects in the tandem cylinder (TC) experiments conducted in the NASA Langley Quiet Flow Facility (QFF), an open-jet, anechoic wind tunnel. Calculations that couple the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) of the TC configuration within the QFF are conducted using the CFD simulation results previously obtained at NASA LaRC. The coupled simulations enable the assessment of installation effects associated with several specific features in the QFF facility that may have impacted the measured acoustic signature during the experiment. The CFD-CAA coupling is based on CFD data along a suitably chosen surface, and employs a technique that was recently improved to account for installed configurations involving acoustic backscatter into the CFD domain. First, a CFD-CAA calculation is conducted for an isolated TC configuration to assess the coupling approach, as well as to generate a reference solution for subsequent assessments of QFF installation effects. Direct comparisons between the CFD-CAA calculations associated with the various installed configurations allow the assessment of the effects of each component (nozzle, collector, etc.) or feature (confined vs. free jet flow, etc.) characterizing the NASA LaRC QFF facility.

Comparison of the effects of the US Clean Air Act and of smoking prevention and cessation efforts on the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia.

PubMed

Goldstein, Bernard D; Liu, Yan; Wu, Felicia; Lioy, Paul

2011-12-01

We used 2 approaches based on published information to compare the impacts on leukemia incidence and benzene exposure of the 1990 US Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments and smoking prevention and cessation efforts. We extrapolated leukemia mortality related to community air pollution levels and to cigarette smoking from data from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Surgeon General. We also estimated relative decline in total exposures to benzene (a known human leukemogen) owing to the CAA amendments and to smoking prevention and cessation efforts. We estimated that because of the CAA, there will be approximately 300 fewer leukemia deaths in the United States during the period 2000 through 2020. During the closest comparable period (1987-2007), we estimated that decline in cigarette smoking led to 7120 fewer leukemia deaths, of which 1282 to 3702 were attributable to benzene. Similarly, the decline in smoking led to about a tenfold greater decrease in total-population benzene exposure than did the 1990 CAA amendments. Both the CAA and smoking cessation activities contribute to a decrease in leukemia incidence. Smoking cessation activities have had a greater effect in the past.

Microbleeds in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer disease: a T2*-weighted gradient-echo 7.0 T magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

De Reuck, Jacques L; Cordonnier, Charlotte; Deramecourt, Vincent; Auger, Florent; Durieux, Nicolas; Bordet, Regis; Maurage, Claude-Alain; Leys, Didier; Pasquier, Florence

2013-01-01

This study aims to determine the distribution and to quantify microbleeds (MBs) in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) on T2*-weighted gradient-echo 7.0 T magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-eight AD brains were compared with 5 controls. The AD brains were subdivided further: 18 without and 10 with additional severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (AD-CAA). The distribution and the number of cortical focal signal intensity losses, representing MBs, were assessed on coronal sections at the frontal, the central, and the occipital level of a cerebral hemisphere. MBs prevailed in the central sections (P=0.005) of AD brains without CAA, whereas in AD-CAA brains, they were more frequent in all coronal sections (P≤0.002). They prevailed in the deep cortical layers of the AD brains and of the controls (P≤0.03). They were significantly increased in all cortical layers of the AD-CAA brains (P≤0.04), compared with the controls. MBs prevalence in brains of AD patients had a different topographic distribution according to the absence or presence of severe CAA.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 17: full phenotype in a 41 CAG/CAA repeats carrier.

PubMed

Origone, Paola; Gotta, Fabio; Lamp, Merit; Trevisan, Lucia; Geroldi, Alessandro; Massucco, Davide; Grazzini, Matteo; Massa, Federico; Ticconi, Flavia; Bauckneht, Matteo; Marchese, Roberta; Abbruzzese, Giovanni; Bellone, Emilia; Mandich, Paola

2018-01-01

Spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17) is one of the most heterogeneous forms of autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias with a large clinical spectrum which can mimic other movement disorders such as Huntington disease (HD), dystonia and parkinsonism. SCA17 is caused by an expansion of CAG/CAA repeat in the Tata binding protein ( TBP ) gene. Normal alleles contain 25 to 40 CAG/CAA repeats, alleles with 50 or greater CAG/CAA repeats are pathological with full penetrance. Alleles with 43 to 49 CAG/CAA repeats were also reported and their penetrance is estimated between 50 and 80%. Recently few symptomatic individuals having 41 and 42 repeats were reported but it is still unclear whether CAG/CAA repeats of 41 or 42 are low penetrance disease-causing alleles. Thus, phenotypic variability like the disease course in subject with SCA17 locus restricted expansions remains to be fully understood. The patients was a 63-year-old woman who, at 54 years, showed personality changes and increased frequency of falls. At 55 years of age neuropsychological tests showed executive attention and visuospatial deficit. At the age of 59 the patient developed dysarthria and a progressive cognitive deficit. The neurological examination showed moderate gait ataxia, dysdiadochokinesia and dysmetria, dysphagia, dysarthria and abnormal saccadic pursuit, severe axial asynergy during postural changes, choreiform dyskinesias. Molecular analysis of the TBP gene demonstrated an allele with 41 repeat suggesting that 41 CAG/CCG TBP repeats could be an allele associated with the full clinical spectrum of SCA17. The described case with the other similar cases described in the literature suggests that 41 CAG/CAA trinucleotides should be considered as critical threshold in SCA17. We suggest that SCA17 diagnosis should be suspected in patients presenting with movement disorders associated with other neurodegenerative signs and symptoms.

Significance of different carbon forms and carbonic anhydrase activity in monitoring and prediction of algal blooms in the urban section of Jialing River, Chongqing, China.

PubMed

Nie, Yudong; Zhang, Zhi; Shen, Qian; Gao, Wenjin; Li, Yingfan

2016-05-18

The Three Gorges Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants worldwide; its reservoir was preliminarily impounded in 2003 and finally impounded to 175 m in 2012. The impoundment caused some environmental problems, such as algal blooms. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an important biocatalyst in the carbon utilization by algae and plays an important role in algal blooms. CA has received considerable attention for its role in red tides in oceans, but less investigation has been focused on its role in algal blooms in fresh water. In this study, the seasonal variation of water quality parameters, different carbon forms, carbonic anhydrase activity (CAA), and the algal cell density of four sampling sites in the urban section of the Jialing River were investigated from November 1, 2013 to October 31, 2014. Results indicated that CAA exhibited a positive correlation with dissoluble organic carbon (DOC), pH, and temperature, but a negative correlation with CO2 and dissoluble inorganic carbon (DIC). Algal cell density exhibited a positive correlation with flow velocity (V), pH, particulate organic carbon (POC), and CAA, a negative correlation with CO2, and a negative partial correlation with DIC. The relationship between CAA and algal cell density for the entire year can be described as cells = 23.278CAA - 42.666POC + 139.547pH - 1057.106. The algal bloom prediction model for the key control period can be described as cells = -45.895CAA + 776.103V- 29.523DOC + 14.219PIC + 35.060POC + 19.181 (2 weeks in advance) and cells = 69.200CAA + 203.213V + 4.184CO2 + 38.911DOC + 40.770POC - 189.567 (4 weeks in advance). The findings in this study demonstrate that the carbon utilization by algae is conducted by CA and provide a new method of monitoring algal cell density and predicting algal blooms.

Comparative studies on the interaction of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid with bovine serum albumin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shuang; Huang, Kelong; Zhong, Ming; Guo, Jun; Wang, Wei-zheng; Zhu, Ronghua

2010-10-01

The substitution of the hydrogen on aromatic and esterification of carboxyl group of the phenol compounds plays an important role in their bio-activities. In this paper, caffeic acid (CaA), chlorogenic acid (ChA) and ferulic acid (FA) were selected to investigate the binding to bovine serum albumin (BSA) using UV absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that the methoxyl group substituting for the 3-hydroxyl group of CaA decreased the affinity for BSA and the esterification of carboxyl group of CaA with quinic acid increased the affinities. The affinities of ChA and FA with BSA were more sensitive to the temperature than that of CaA with BSA. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence indicated that the Stern-Volmer plots largely deviated from linearity at high concentrations and were caused by complete quenching of the tyrosine fluorescence of BSA.

75 FR 31843 - Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials That Are Solid Waste

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-04

...On January 2, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to solicit comment on which non-hazardous secondary materials that are used as fuels or ingredients in combustion units are solid wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The meaning of ``solid waste'' as defined under RCRA is of particular importance since it will determine whether a combustion unit is required to meet emissions standards for solid waste incineration units issued under section 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) or emissions standards for commercial, industrial, and institutional boilers issued under CAA section 112. CAA section 129 states that the term ``solid waste'' shall have the meaning ``established by the Administrator pursuant to [RCRA].'' EPA is proposing a definition of non-hazardous solid waste that would be used to identify whether non-hazardous secondary materials burned as fuels or used as ingredients in combustion units are solid waste. EPA is also proposing that non-hazardous secondary materials that have been discarded, and are therefore solid wastes, may be rendered products after they have been processed (altered chemically or physically) into a fuel or ingredient product. This proposed rule is necessary to identify units for the purpose of developing certain standards under sections 112 and 129 of the CAA. In addition to this proposed rule, EPA is concurrently proposing air emission requirements under CAA section 112 for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers and process heaters, as well as air emission requirements under CAA section 129 for commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

Viewed from the 274-foot level mobile launcher (ML), the Orion crew access arm (CAA) is beign installed on the tower. The CAA will support the Space launch System (SLS) rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System, or SLS, rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

Viewed from the 274-foot level mobile launcher (ML), a technician begins installation of the Orion crew access arm (CAA) to the tower. The CAA will support the Space launch System (SLS) rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System, or SLS, rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Rocky Flats CAAS System Recalibrated, Retested, and Analyzed to Install in the Criticality Experiments Facility at the Nevada Test Site

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

Kim, S; Heinrichs, D; Biswas, D

2009-05-27

Neutron detectors and control panels transferred from the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) were recalibrated and retested for redeployment to the CEF. Testing and calibration were successful with no failure to any equipment. Detector sensitivity was tested at a TRIGA reactor, and the response to thermal neutron flux was satisfactory. MCNP calculated minimum fission yield ({approx} 2 x 10{sup 15} fissions) was applied to determine the thermal flux at selected detector positions at the CEF. Thermal flux levels were greater than 6.39 x 10{sup 6} (n/cm{sup 2}-sec), which was about four orders of magnitude greater than the minimum alarm flux. Calculationsmore » of detector survivable distances indicate that, to be out of lethal area, a detector needs to be placed greater than 15 ft away from a maximum credible source. MCNP calculated flux/dose results were independently verified by COG. CAAS calibration and the testing confirmed that the RFP CAAS system is performing its functions as expected. New criteria for the CAAS detector placement and 12-rad zone boundaries at the CEF are established. All of the CAAS related documents and hardware have been transferred from LLNL to NSTec for installation at the CEF high bay areas.« less

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: An Important Differential Diagnosis of Stroke in the Elderly

PubMed Central

AZMIN, Shahrul; OSMAN, Syazarina Sharis; MUKARI, Shahizon; SAHATHEVAN, Ramesh

2015-01-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) accounts for approximately 10–20% of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). This figure is thought to be higher in the elderly population. With the increasing life expectancy of our population, we anticipate that the prevalence of CAA- related ICH will increase in tandem. Although CAA-related ICH and hypertension-related ICH are distinct entities based on histopathology and imaging, the clinical presentation of the two conditions is similar. The use of brain computed tomography (CT) scans remain the ICH imaging modality of choice in Malaysia due to its availability, cost, and sensitivity in detecting acute bleeds. On the other hand, the use of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequencing enables the clinician to determine the presence of chronic blood products in the brain, especially clinically silent microbleeds associated with CAA. However, the use of brain MRI scans in our country is limited and leads to a blurring of lines when differentiating between hypertension-related ICH and CAA-related ICH. How this misrepresentation affects the management of these conditions is unclear. In this study, we present two cases of ICH to illustrate this point and to serve as a springboard to question current practice and promote discussion. PMID:25892953

Comparison of the Effects of the US Clean Air Act and of Smoking Prevention and Cessation Efforts on the Risk of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

PubMed Central

Liu, Yan; Wu, Felicia; Lioy, Paul

2011-01-01

Objectives. We used 2 approaches based on published information to compare the impacts on leukemia incidence and benzene exposure of the 1990 US Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments and smoking prevention and cessation efforts. Methods. We extrapolated leukemia mortality related to community air pollution levels and to cigarette smoking from data from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Surgeon General. We also estimated relative decline in total exposures to benzene (a known human leukemogen) owing to the CAA amendments and to smoking prevention and cessation efforts. Results. We estimated that because of the CAA, there will be approximately 300 fewer leukemia deaths in the United States during the period 2000 through 2020. During the closest comparable period (1987–2007), we estimated that decline in cigarette smoking led to 7120 fewer leukemia deaths, of which 1282 to 3702 were attributable to benzene. Similarly, the decline in smoking led to about a tenfold greater decrease in total-population benzene exposure than did the 1990 CAA amendments. Conclusions. Both the CAA and smoking cessation activities contribute to a decrease in leukemia incidence. Smoking cessation activities have had a greater effect in the past. PMID:22021318

A Computer-Aided Analysis Method of SPECT Brain Images for Quantitative Treatment Monitoring: Performance Evaluations and Clinical Applications.

PubMed

Zheng, Xiujuan; Wei, Wentao; Huang, Qiu; Song, Shaoli; Wan, Jieqing; Huang, Gang

2017-01-01

The objective and quantitative analysis of longitudinal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images are significant for the treatment monitoring of brain disorders. Therefore, a computer aided analysis (CAA) method is introduced to extract a change-rate map (CRM) as a parametric image for quantifying the changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in longitudinal SPECT brain images. The performances of the CAA-CRM approach in treatment monitoring are evaluated by the computer simulations and clinical applications. The results of computer simulations show that the derived CRMs have high similarities with their ground truths when the lesion size is larger than system spatial resolution and the change rate is higher than 20%. In clinical applications, the CAA-CRM approach is used to assess the treatment of 50 patients with brain ischemia. The results demonstrate that CAA-CRM approach has a 93.4% accuracy of recovered region's localization. Moreover, the quantitative indexes of recovered regions derived from CRM are all significantly different among the groups and highly correlated with the experienced clinical diagnosis. In conclusion, the proposed CAA-CRM approach provides a convenient solution to generate a parametric image and derive the quantitative indexes from the longitudinal SPECT brain images for treatment monitoring.

2 CFR 1532.1600 - What definitions apply specifically to actions under this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

..., floating craft, location or site of operations that gives rise to a CAA or CWA conviction, and is a... transactions may be performed. If a site of operations giving rise to a CAA or CWA conviction contains or...

Cross-talk between Aβ and endothelial SSAO/VAP-1 accelerates vascular damage and Aβ aggregation related to CAA-AD.

PubMed

Solé, Montse; Miñano-Molina, Alfredo J; Unzeta, Mercedes

2015-02-01

An association between semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been largely postulated. Increased SSAO activity and expression have been detected in cerebrovascular tissue and plasma of AD patients, colocalizing with cerebrovascular amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposits. As an enzyme, SSAO metabolizes primary amines generating hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, and aldehydes. The ability of these products to generate oxidative stress, to enhance the advanced glycation end-product generation, to promote the Aβ aggregation in vitro, and to induce apoptosis supports its role in CAA-related vascular pathology. However, whether the SSAO increase constitutes a cause or it is a consequence of the pathologic process has not been elucidated so far. To set up the nature of this relationship, vascular cell models expressing SSAO were treated with different Aβ forms, simulating the CAA conditions in vitro. It was found that the presence of the vasculotropic Dutch-mutated Aβ1-40 increases (Aβ1-40 D) the SSAO-dependent toxicity, which is accompanied by an increase of SSAO protein availability in endothelial cell membranes. In addition, SSAO enhances Aβ1-40 D and Aβ1-42 deposition on vascular cells by both activity-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Thus, we provide evidences indicating that Aβ itself could be one of the factors inducing SSAO increase in AD, enhancing its toxic effect, and inducing the vascular dysfunction and, in turn, that SSAO stimulates Aβ deposition on the vascular walls, thereby contributing to the CAA-AD progression. Therefore, molecules inhibiting SSAO could provide an alternative treatment for preventing/delaying the progress of CAA-AD-associated vasculopathy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Atrioventricular depolarization differences identify coronary artery anomalies in Kawasaki disease.

PubMed

Cortez, Daniel; Sharma, Nandita; Jone, Pei-Ni

2017-03-01

Kawasaki disease (KD) is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Signal average electrocardiogram changes in patients during the acute phase of KD with coronary artery anomalies (CAA) include depolarization changes. We set out to determine if 12-lead-derived atrioventricular depolarization differences can identify CAA in patients with KD. A blinded, retrospective case-control study of patients with KD was performed. Deep Q waves, corrected QT-intervals (QTc), spatial QRS-T angles, T-wave vector magnitudes (RMS-T), and a novel parameter for assessment of atrioventricular depolarization difference (the spatial PR angle) and a two dimensional PR angle were assessed. Comparisons between groups were performed to test for significant differences. One hundred one patients with KD were evaluated, with 68 having CAA (67.3%, mean age 3.6 ± 3.0 years, 82.6% male), and 32 without CAA (31.7%, mean age 2.7 ± 3.2 years, 70.4% male). The spatial PR angle significantly discriminated KD patients with CAA from those without, 59.7° ± 31.1° versus 41.6° ± 11.5° (p < .001). A spatial PR angle cutoff value of 56.9° gave positive/negative predictive values and odds ratios of 93.8%, 43.5%, and 11.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6-52.2). The two dimensional PR angle either below 7° or above 92° gave positive/negative predictive values and odds ratios of 100.0%, 38.8%, and 21.1% (95% CI 1.2-362.8). No other parameters significantly differentiated the groups. Atrioventricular depolarization differences, measured by the spatial or two dimensional PR angle differentiate KD patients with CAA versus those without. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation with epilepsy mimicking a presentation of brain tumor: A case report and review of the literature.

PubMed

Kusakabe, Kosuke; Inoue, Akihiro; Matsumoto, Shirabe; Kurata, Mie; Kitazawa, Riko; Watanabe, Hideaki; Kunieda, Takeharu

2018-05-29

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri), a rare and treatable variant of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, lacks specific imaging and clinical features, and requires invasive brain biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. We report the case of a patient with nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) caused by CAA-ri in the right occipital lobe. A 78-year-old man with a history of hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to our hospital following an episode of seizures. CT scan showed a low-attenuating subcortical lesion in the right occipital lobe. MRI revealed the lesion as hypointense on T1-weighted imaging (WI) and hyperintense on T2-WI, showing no enhancement on T1-WI contrast-enhanced with gadolinium. In addition, T2*-weighted gradient-recalled echo (T2*-GRE) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) revealed extensive cortical microbleeds. Biopsy to determine the exact diagnosis revealed histological findings of reactive changes and perivascular inflammatory infiltration associated with amyloid deposition in vessel walls. These findings were consistent with CAA-ri. Corticosteroid therapy with dexamethasone was initiated for a short period as a diagnostic and therapeutic maneuver, resulting in marked reductions in the lesion. CAA is generally associated with intracerebral hemorrhage, dementia, and small cerebral infarctions in the elderly population, but in a small proportion of cases is related to inflammatory responses to vascular deposits of Aβ, as so-called CAA-ri. CAA-ri should be considered among the differential diagnoses for causes of unprovoked seizure onset in elderly individuals, when associated with petechial hemorrhages on T2*-GRE and SWI sequences on MRI. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Immune function of peripheral T cells in patients with venous thromboembolism or coronary artery atherosclerosis.

PubMed

Zhou, Lin; Song, Haoming; Xu, Wenjun; Xu, Jiahong; Jiang, Jinfa; Gong, Zhu; Liu, Yang; Yan, Wenwen; Wang, Lemin

2014-06-01

Recent studies have shown that the major risk factors for arterial thrombotic diseases are closely associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study aimed to investigate the expression of CD3, CD4 and CD8 in T lymphocytes, the CD4/CD8 ratio and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with VTE, coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) and healthy subjects. A total of 82 healthy subjects, 51 VTE patients and 114 CAA patients were recruited, and the expression of CD3, CD4 and CD8 in T lymphocytes and the CD4/CD8 ratio were determined. Serum hs-CRP was also measured. Compared to healthy subjects, VTE patients had significantly reduced CD3 expression (p=0.019), comparable CD4 expression (p=0.868), significantly reduced CD8 expression (p<0.001) and increased CD4/CD8 ratio (p=0.044). However, VTE patients had comparable expression of CD3, CD4 and CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratio to CAA patients. In addition, among patients with VTE or CAA, the proportion of patients with reduced CD3+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes or increased CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher than in healthy subjects. In addition, hs-CRP in both VTE and CAA groups was significantly higher than in healthy subjects. The antigen recognition and signal transduction activation of T cells is significantly reduced in patients with VTE or CAA, and the killing effect of T cells on pathogens, including viruses, is also significantly compromised. In addition, inflammatory and immune mechanisms are involved in the occurrence and development of venous and arterial thrombosis. Copyright © 2013 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Minocycline Reduces Spontaneous Hemorrhage in Mouse Models of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

PubMed Central

Liao, Fan; Xiao, Qingli; Kraft, Andrew; Gonzales, Ernie; Perez, Ron; Greenberg, Steven M.; Holtzman, David; Lee, Jin-Moo

2015-01-01

Background and Purpose Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA) is a common cause of recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the elderly. Previous studies have shown that CAA induces inflammation and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (gelatinases) in amyloid-laden vessels. Here, we inhibited both using minocycline in CAA mouse models to determine if spontaneous ICH could be reduced. Methods Tg2576 (n=16) and 5×FAD/ApoE4 knock-in mice (n=16), aged to 17 and 12 months, respectively, were treated with minocycline (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline every other day for two months. Brains were extracted and stained with X-34 (to quantify amyloid), Perl’s blue (to quantify hemorrhage), and immunostained to examined Aβ load, gliosis (GFAP, Iba-1), and vascular markers of blood-brain-barrier integrity (ZO-1 and collagen IV). Brain extracts were used to quantify mRNA for a variety of inflammatory genes. Results Minocycline treatment significantly reduced hemorrhage frequency in the brains of Tg2576 and 5×FAD/ApoE4 mice relative to the saline-treated mice, without affecting CAA load. Gliosis (GFAP and Iba-1 immunostaining), gelatinase activity, and expression of a variety of inflammatory genes (MMP-9, Nox4, CD45, S-100b, Iba-1) were also significantly reduced. Higher levels of microvascular tight junction and basal lamina proteins were found in the brains of minocycline-treated Tg2576 mice relative to saline-treated controls. Conclusions Minocycline reduced gliosis, inflammatory gene expression, gelatinase activity, and spontaneous hemorrhage in two different mouse models of CAA, supporting the importance of MMP-related and inflammatory pathways in ICH pathogenesis. As an FDA-approved drug, minocycline might be considered for clinical trials to test efficacy in preventing CAA-related ICH. PMID:25944329

Adapting Social Neuroscience Measures for Schizophrenia Clinical Trials, Part 3: Fathoming External Validity

PubMed Central

Olbert, Charles M.

2013-01-01

It is unknown whether measures adapted from social neuroscience linked to specific neural systems will demonstrate relationships to external variables. Four paradigms adapted from social neuroscience were administered to 173 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia to determine their relationships to functionally meaningful variables and to investigate their incremental validity beyond standard measures of social and nonsocial cognition. The 4 paradigms included 2 that assess perception of nonverbal social and action cues (basic biological motion and emotion in biological motion) and 2 that involve higher level inferences about self and others’ mental states (self- referential memory and empathic accuracy). Overall, social neuroscience paradigms showed significant relationships to functional capacity but weak relationships to community functioning; the paradigms also showed weak correlations to clinical symptoms. Evidence for incremental validity beyond standard measures of social and nonsocial cognition was mixed with additional predictive power shown for functional capacity but not community functioning. Of the newly adapted paradigms, the empathic accuracy task had the broadest external validity. These results underscore the difficulty of translating developments from neuroscience into clinically useful tasks with functional significance. PMID:24072806

Adapting social neuroscience measures for schizophrenia clinical trials, part 3: fathoming external validity.

PubMed

Olbert, Charles M; Penn, David L; Kern, Robert S; Lee, Junghee; Horan, William P; Reise, Steven P; Ochsner, Kevin N; Marder, Stephen R; Green, Michael F

2013-11-01

It is unknown whether measures adapted from social neuroscience linked to specific neural systems will demonstrate relationships to external variables. Four paradigms adapted from social neuroscience were administered to 173 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia to determine their relationships to functionally meaningful variables and to investigate their incremental validity beyond standard measures of social and nonsocial cognition. The 4 paradigms included 2 that assess perception of nonverbal social and action cues (basic biological motion and emotion in biological motion) and 2 that involve higher level inferences about self and others' mental states (self-referential memory and empathic accuracy). Overall, social neuroscience paradigms showed significant relationships to functional capacity but weak relationships to community functioning; the paradigms also showed weak correlations to clinical symptoms. Evidence for incremental validity beyond standard measures of social and nonsocial cognition was mixed with additional predictive power shown for functional capacity but not community functioning. Of the newly adapted paradigms, the empathic accuracy task had the broadest external validity. These results underscore the difficulty of translating developments from neuroscience into clinically useful tasks with functional significance.

Dominant behaviours in the expression of human carbonic anhydrase hCA I activity.

PubMed

Abdelrahim, M Yahia M; Tanc, Muhammet; Winum, Jean-Yves; Supuran, Claudiu T; Barboiu, Mihail

2014-07-28

Here we describe the screening via Dynamic Deconvolution of DCLs of inhibitors (CAIs) and activators (CAAs) of hCA I. The inhibitory effects dominate over the activating ones, while the CAAs may be identified in the absence of CAIs.

In Vitro Expansion of CAG, CAA, and Mixed CAG/CAA Repeats.

PubMed

Figura, Grzegorz; Koscianska, Edyta; Krzyzosiak, Wlodzimierz J

2015-08-11

Polyglutamine diseases, including Huntington's disease and a number of spinocerebellar ataxias, are caused by expanded CAG repeats that are located in translated sequences of individual, functionally-unrelated genes. Only mutant proteins containing polyglutamine expansions have long been thought to be pathogenic, but recent evidence has implicated mutant transcripts containing long CAG repeats in pathogenic processes. The presence of two pathogenic factors prompted us to attempt to distinguish the effects triggered by mutant protein from those caused by mutant RNA in cellular models of polyglutamine diseases. We used the SLIP (Synthesis of Long Iterative Polynucleotide) method to generate plasmids expressing long CAG repeats (forming a hairpin structure), CAA-interrupted CAG repeats (forming multiple unstable hairpins) or pure CAA repeats (not forming any secondary structure). We successfully modified the original SLIP protocol to generate repeats of desired length starting from constructs containing short repeat tracts. We demonstrated that the SLIP method is a time- and cost-effective approach to manipulate the lengths of expanded repeat sequences.

Multidentate (18)F-polypegylated styrylpyridines as imaging agents for Aβ plaques in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

PubMed

Zha, Zhihao; Choi, Seok Rye; Ploessl, Karl; Lieberman, Brian P; Qu, Wenchao; Hefti, Franz; Mintun, Mark; Skovronsky, Daniel; Kung, Hank F

2011-12-08

β-Amyloid plaques (Aβ plaques) in the brain are associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Imaging agents that could target the Aβ plaques in the living human brain would be potentially valuable as biomarkers in patients with CAA. A new series of (18)F styrylpyridine derivatives with high molecular weights for selectively targeting Aβ plaques in the blood vessels of the brain but excluded from the brain parenchyma is reported. The styrylpyridine derivatives, 8a-c, display high binding affinities and specificity to Aβ plaques (K(i) = 2.87, 3.24, and 7.71 nM, respectively). In vitro autoradiography of [(18)F]8a shows labeling of β-amyloid plaques associated with blood vessel walls in human brain sections of subjects with CAA and also in the tissue of AD brain sections. The results suggest that [(18)F]8a may be a useful PET imaging agent for selectively detecting Aβ plaques associated with cerebral vessels in the living human brain.

A Caco-2 cell-based quantitative antioxidant activity assay for antioxidants.

PubMed

Wan, Hongxia; Liu, Dong; Yu, Xiangying; Sun, Haiyan; Li, Yan

2015-05-15

A Caco-2 cell-based antioxidant activity (CAA) assay for quantitative evaluation of antioxidants was developed by optimizing seeding density and culture time of Caco-2 cells, incubation time and concentration of fluorescent probe (2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate, DCFH-DA), incubation way and incubation time of antioxidants (pure phytochemicals) and DCFH-DA with cells, and detection time of fluorescence. Results showed that the CAA assay was of good reproducibility and could be used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of antioxidants at the following conditions: seeding density of 5 × 10(4)/well, cell culture time of 24h, co-incubation of 60 μM DCFH-DA and pure phytochemicals with Caco-2 cells for 20 min and fluorescence recorded for 90 min. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between CAA values and rat plasma ORAC values following the intake of antioxidants for selected pure phytochemicals (R(2) = 0.815, p < 0.01), demonstrating the good biological relevance of CAA assay. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seven-days-ahead forecasting of childhood asthma admissions using artificial neural networks in Athens, Greece.

PubMed

Moustris, Kostas P; Douros, Konstantinos; Nastos, Panagiotis T; Larissi, Ioanna K; Anthracopoulos, Michael B; Paliatsos, Athanasios G; Priftis, Kostas N

2012-01-01

Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were developed and applied in order to predict the total weekly number of Childhood Asthma Admission (CAA) at the greater Athens area (GAA) in Greece. Hourly meteorological data from the National Observatory of Athens and ambient air pollution data from seven different areas within the GAA for the period 2001-2004 were used. Asthma admissions for the same period were obtained from hospital registries of the three main Children's Hospitals of Athens. Three different ANN models were developed and trained in order to forecast the CAA for the subgroups of 0-4, 5-14-year olds, and for the whole study population. The results of this work have shown that ANNs could give an adequate forecast of the total weekly number of CAA in relation to the bioclimatic and air pollution conditions. The forecasted numbers are in very good agreement with the observed real total weekly numbers of CAA.

Cardiolipin deficiency causes a dissociation of the b 6 c:caa 3 megacomplex in B. subtilis membranes.

PubMed

García Montes de Oca, Led Yered Jafet; Cabellos Avelar, Tecilli; Picón Garrido, Gerardo Ignacio; Chagoya-López, Alicia; González de la Vara, Luis; Delgado Buenrostro, Norma Laura; Chirino-López, Yolanda Irasema; Gómez-Lojero, Carlos; Gutiérrez-Cirlos, Emma Berta

2016-08-01

The associations among respiratory complexes in energy-transducing membranes have been established. In fact, it is known that the Gram-negative bacteria Paracoccus denitrificans and Escherichia coli have respiratory supercomplexes in their membranes. These supercomplexes are important for channeling substrates between enzymes in a metabolic pathway, and the assembly of these supercomplexes depends on the protein subunits and membrane lipids, mainly cardiolipin, which is present in both the mitochondrial inner membrane and bacterial membranes. The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis has a branched respiratory chain, in which some complexes generate proton motive force whereas others constitute an escape valve of excess reducing power. Some peculiarities of this respiratory chain are the following: a type II NADH dehydrogenase, a unique b 6 c complex that has a b 6 type cytochrome with a covalently bound heme, and a c-type heme attached to the third subunit, which is similar to subunit IV of the photosynthetic b 6 f complex. Cytochrome c oxygen reductase (caa 3 ) contains a c-type cytochrome on subunit I. We previously showed that the b 6 c and the caa 3 complexes form a supercomplex. Both the b 6 c and the caa 3 together with the quinol oxygen reductase aa 3 generate the proton motive force in B. subtilis. In order to seek proof that this supercomplex is important for bacterial growth in aerobic conditions we compared the b 6 c: caa 3 supercomplex from wild type membranes with membranes from two mutants lacking cardiolipin. Both mutant complexes were found to have similar activity and heme content as the wild type. Clear native electrophoresis showed that mutants lacking cardiolipin had b 6 c:caa 3 supercomplexes of lower mass or even individual complexes after membrane solubilization with digitonin. The use of dodecyl maltoside revealed a more evident difference between wild-type and mutant supercomplexes. Here we provide evidence showing that cardiolipin plays a role in the stability of the b 6 c:caa 3 supercomplex in B. subtilis.

Theoretical Study of Electron Transfer Properties of Squaraine Dyes for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juwita, Ratna; Tsai, Hui-Hsu Gavin

2018-01-01

The environmental issues and high cost of Ru create many scientists to explore cheaper and safer sensitizer as alternative for dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Dyes play an important role in solar energy conversion efficiency. The squaraine (SQ) dyes has good spectral match with the solar spectra, therefore, SQ dyes have great potential for the applications in DSCs. SQ01_CA is an unsymmetrical SQ dye, reported by Grätzel and colleagues in 2007, featuring a D-π-spacer-A framework and has a carboxylic acid anchoring group. The electron donating ability of indolium in SQ01_CA and SQ01_CAA dyes is relatively weak, better performance may be achieved by introducing an additional donor moiety into indolium [1]. In this study, we investigate six unsymmetrical SQ dyes adsorbed on a (TiO2)38 cluster [2] using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT to study electron transfer properties of squaraine dyes on their photophysical. SQ01_CA, WH-SQ01_CA, and WH-SQ02_CA use a carboxylic acid group as its electron acceptor. Furthermore, SQ01_CAA, WH-SQ01_CAA, and WH-SQ02_CAA use a cyanoacrylic acid group as its electron acceptor. WH-SQ01_CA and WH-SQ01_CAA have an alkyl, while WH-SQ02_CA and WH-SQ02_CAA have alkoxyl substituted diarylamines to the indolium donor of sensitizer SQ01_CA. Our calculations show with additional diarylamines in donor tail of WH-SQ02_CAA, the SQ dyes have red-shifted absorption and have slightly larger probability of electron density transferred to TiO2 moiety. Furthermore, an additional -CN group as electron a withdrawing group in the acceptor exhibits red-shifted absorption and enhances the electron density transferred to TiO2 and anchoring moiety after photo-excitation. The tendency of calculated probabilities of electron density being delocalized into TiO2 and driving force for excited-state electron injection of these studied SQ dyes is compatible with their experimentally observed.

Spatial Relation between Microbleeds and Amyloid Deposits in Amyloid Angiopathy

PubMed Central

Dierksen, Gregory A; Skehan, Maureen E; Khan, Muhammad A; Jeng, Jed; Nandigam, RN Kaveer; Becker, John A; Kumar, Ashok; Neal, Krista L; Betensky, Rebecca A; Frosch, Matthew P; Rosand, Jonathan; Johnson, Keith A; Viswanathan, Anand; Salat, David H; Greenberg, Steven M

2010-01-01

Advanced cerebrovascular β-amyloid deposition (cerebral amyloid angiopathy, CAA) is associated with cerebral microbleeds, but the precise relationship between CAA burden and microbleeds is undefined. We used T2*-weighted MRI and noninvasive amyloid imaging with Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) to analyze the spatial relationship between CAA and microbleeds. On co-registered PET and MRI images, PiB retention was increased at microbleed sites compared to simulated control lesions (p=0.002) and declined with increasing distance from the microbleed (p<0.0001). These findings indicate that microbleeds occur preferentially in local regions of concentrated amyloid and support therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing vascular amyloid deposition. PMID:20865701

Detection of Isolated Cerebrovascular β-Amyloid with Pittsburgh Compound B

PubMed Central

Greenberg, SM; Grabowski; Gurol, ME; Skehan, ME; Nandigam, RNK; Becker, JA; Garcia-Alloza, M; Prada, C; Frosch, MP; Rosand, J; Viswanathan, A; Smith, EE; Johnson, KA

2008-01-01

Imaging of cerebrovascular β-amyloid (cerebral amyloid angiopathy, CAA) is complicated by this pathology’s nearly universal overlap with Alzheimer pathology. We performed PET imaging with Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) on 42-year old man with early manifestations of Iowa-type hereditary CAA, a form of the disorder with little or no plaque deposits of fibrillar β-amyloid. The results demonstrated elevated PiB retention selectively in occipital cortex, sparing regions typically labeled in Alzheimer disease. These results offer compelling evidence that PiB-PET can noninvasively detect isolated CAA prior to overt signs of tissue damage such as hemorrhage or white matter lesions. PMID:19067370

Perceptions of University Students regarding Computer Assisted Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jamil, Mubashrah

2012-01-01

Computer assisted assessment (CAA) is a common technique of assessment in higher educational institutions in Western countries, but a relatively new concept for students and teachers in Pakistan. It was therefore interesting to investigate students' perceptions about CAA practices from different universities of Pakistan. Information was collected…

THE CHALLENGES OF AIR POLLUTION AND RESIDUAL RISK ASSESSMENT (EDITORIAL)

EPA Science Inventory

The Clean Air Act (CAA), a comprehensive federal law that regulates air pollution from stationary and mobile sources, was first passed in 1963. The act has provided the primary framework for protecting human health and the environment. The CAA divides air pollutants into "criteri...

Army Task Force on Behavioral Health: Corrective Action Plan

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

Veterans Affairs Legal Section KNOWLEDGE MGMT SECTION • KMO • CAA Analyst Figure I-1. Task Force Organization. ACRONYM Key ASA(M&RA): Assistant...Army Audit Agency OTIG: Office of the Inspector General OTSG: Office of the Surgeon General KMO : Knowledge Management Officer CAA: Center for

Assessment of Motor Function, Sensory Motor Gating and Recognition Memory in a Novel BACHD Transgenic Rat Model for Huntington Disease

PubMed Central

Abada, Yah-se K.; Nguyen, Huu Phuc; Schreiber, Rudy; Ellenbroek, Bart

2013-01-01

Rationale Huntington disease (HD) is frequently first diagnosed by the appearance of motor symptoms; the diagnosis is subsequently confirmed by the presence of expanded CAG repeats (> 35) in the HUNTINGTIN (HTT) gene. A BACHD rat model for HD carrying the human full length mutated HTT with 97 CAG-CAA repeats has been established recently. Behavioral phenotyping of BACHD rats will help to determine the validity of this model and its potential use in preclinical drug discovery studies. Objectives The present study seeks to characterize the progressive emergence of motor, sensorimotor and cognitive deficits in BACHD rats. Materials and Methods Wild type and transgenic rats were tested from 1 till 12 months of age. Motor tests were selected to measure spontaneous locomotor activity (open field) and gait coordination. Sensorimotor gating was assessed in acoustic startle response paradigms and recognition memory was evaluated in an object recognition test. Results Transgenic rats showed hyperactivity at 1 month and hypoactivity starting at 4 months of age. Motor coordination imbalance in a Rotarod test was present at 2 months and gait abnormalities were seen in a Catwalk test at 12 months. Subtle sensorimotor changes were observed, whereas object recognition was unimpaired in BACHD rats up to 12 months of age. Conclusion The current BACHD rat model recapitulates certain symptoms from HD patients, especially the marked motor deficits. A subtle neuropsychological phenotype was found and further studies are needed to fully address the sensorimotor phenotype and the potential use of BACHD rats for drug discovery purposes. PMID:23874679

The extent of inferior displacement of the mastoid tegmen is related to the severity of congenital aural atresia.

PubMed

Ju, Young-Ho; Park, Euyhyun; Park, Sangheon; Jung, Kwangjin; Lee, Kijeong; Im, Gi Jung

2014-03-01

The extent of inferior displacement of the mastoid tegmen is related to the severity of congenital aural atresia (CAA). To analyze anatomic variations observed on high-resolution temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT) in patients with CAA, the extent of inferior displacement of the mastoid tegmen and the size of the incudo-stapedial (IS) joint angle were compared with surgical parameters for atresiaplasty, such as Jahrsdoerfer score and hearing acuity. Sixty-one patients with unilateral CAA underwent high-resolution TBCT and hearing tests. We evaluated TBCTs in terms of Jahrsdoerfer criteria and analyzed the relationships among the inferior displacement of the mastoid tegmen, size of the IS joint angle, hearing acuity, and the Jahrsdoerfer score on the atretic side. IS joint angle on the atretic side was found to be 120.6 ± 11°, which was significantly greater than the corresponding value of 103.4 ± 5.4° on the normal side. Cholesteatoma occurred significantly more often in CAA patients with narrow external auditory canals (EACs) (9/27; 33.3%), compared with CAA patients with no EAC opening (2/34; 5.9%). There was a significant relation between the extent of inferior displacement of the mastoid tegmen (28.9% in the atretic side and 17.3% in the normal side) and the Jahrsdoerfer score (p < 0.0001).

Coronary artery aneurysm combined with other multiple aneurysms at multiple locations: A case report and systematic review.

PubMed

Jiang, Li-Cheng; Cao, Jia-Yu; Chen, Mao

2017-12-01

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) with concomitant aneurysms at multiple sites is quite unusual and rare. The characteristics and the etiology of this phenomenon are unknown. Herein, we present a case with right coronary aneurysm with concomitant abdominal aorta as well as right renal artery aneurysm. A systematic review of the literatures regarding CAA with other coexisting aneurysms at multiple locations was also conducted on Medline and Embase databases. A total of 76 patients (male gender: 58; age: 37.4 ± 26.5) including the present case were included in the final study. The most common etiology of CAA with multiple aneurysms was Kawasaki (43.3%) and atherosclerotic disease (16.4%). CAA was the most frequently found at the right coronary artery (62.7%), following, left anterior descending (51%), left main (43.1%), and left circumflex (35.3%). The most common concomitant aneurysms were abdominal aorta (52.6%) and iliac artery (50%). In addition, 60.5% of the patients had an involved bilateral peripheral artery. CAA with coexisting systemic aneurysms in multiple sites is quite rare. And it usually involves multiple aneurysms at the coronary and bilateral peripheral arteries simultaneously. Currently, there are no general consensus regarding the clinical characteristics, diagnostic method, and treatment of these cases. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

[Management of cerebral small vessel disease for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia].

PubMed

Ihara, Masafumi

2013-07-01

With the demographic shift in life expectancy inexorably increasing in developed countries, dementia is set to become one of the most important health problems worldwide. In recent years, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) has received much attention as an important cause of dementia. The reason for this is twofold: firstly, arteriosclerosis (type 1 SVD) is the leading cause of vascular cognitive impairment, and secondly, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA; type 2 SVD) is an almost invariable accompaniment of Alzheimer's disease. SVD is known to induce a variety of pathological changes; for example, type 1 SVD results in lacunar infarction, deep microbleeds, and white matter damage, while type 2 SVD leads to cortical microinfarcts, lobar microbleeds, and white matter damage. SVD is considered a spectrum of abnormalities, with the majority of patients experiencing symptoms from both type 1 and type 2 SVD as the disease progresses. The discouraging results of immunotherapy clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease have shifted the scientific attention from the classical neuron-centric approach towards a novel neurovascular approach. As arteries stiffen with age or with other co-morbid factors such as life-related diseases, amyloid β (Aβ) synthesis becomes upregulated, resulting in the deposition of insoluble Aβ not only in the parenchyma as senile plaques but also in the perivascular drainage pathways as CAA. Therefore, therapeutic strategies such as vasoactive drugs that enhance the patency of this Aβ drainage pathway may facilitate Aβ removal and help prevent cognitive decline in the elderly. Based on this emerging paradigm, clinical trials are warranted to investigate whether a neurovascular therapeutic approach can effectively halt cognitive decline and act as a preemptive medicine for patients at risk of dementia.

76 FR 40258 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of NE

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-08

... the CAA and EPA's policies addressing such excess emissions (``SSM''); and (ii) existing provisions... believes that some states may have existing SIP approved SSM provisions that are contrary to the CAA and... State provisions with regard to excess emissions during SSM of operations at facilities.'' EPA further...

METHANOL: THE CURRENT STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

EPA Science Inventory

Methanol has been a topic of interest both as an environmental pollutant and as a fuel. The Clean Air Act (CAA) includes methanol in a list of 189 toxic air pollutants that the U.S. Congress identified for special consideration in the 1990 CAA Amendments. In addition, growing i...

Understanding the Relationships between Air Pollution Levels and Human Health Outcomes

EPA Science Inventory

As mandated by the CAA, EPA established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants and conducts periodic review of the NAAQS to assess if they need to be revised. The CAA then provides for implementation of the NAAQS based on a combination of local con...

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Grey-backed Shrike, Lanius tephronotus (Aves: Passeriformes): the first representative of the family Laniidae with a novel CAA stop codon at the end of cox2 gene.

PubMed

Qian, Chaoju; Yan, Xia; Guo, Zhichun; Wang, Yuanxiu; Li, Xixi; Yang, Jianke; Kan, Xianzhao

2013-08-01

The complete Grey-backed Shrike mitochondrial genome has been sequenced to be 16,820 bp in length, consisting of 37 encode genes: 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. In addition, a single control region was also observed. Compared with other reported Passeriformes mtgenome sequences, three bases CAA were detected at the end of Lanius tephronotus cox2 gene with the downstream adjacent base T. The first base of CAA probably occurred C to U transcript editing event resulting in a normal stop codon UAA.

Spatial relation between microbleeds and amyloid deposits in amyloid angiopathy.

PubMed

Dierksen, Gregory A; Skehan, Maureen E; Khan, Muhammad A; Jeng, Jed; Nandigam, R N Kaveer; Becker, John A; Kumar, Ashok; Neal, Krista L; Betensky, Rebecca A; Frosch, Matthew P; Rosand, Jonathan; Johnson, Keith A; Viswanathan, Anand; Salat, David H; Greenberg, Steven M

2010-10-01

Advanced cerebrovascular β-amyloid deposition (cerebral amyloid angiopathy, CAA) is associated with cerebral microbleeds, but the precise relationship between CAA burden and microbleeds is undefined. We used T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and noninvasive amyloid imaging with Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) to analyze the spatial relationship between CAA and microbleeds. On coregistered positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI images, PiB retention was increased at microbleed sites compared to simulated control lesions (p = 0.002) and declined with increasing distance from the microbleed (p < 0.0001). These findings indicate that microbleeds occur preferentially in local regions of concentrated amyloid and support therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing vascular amyloid deposition.

Towards Computational Fronesis: Verifying Contextual Appropriateness of Emotions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ptaszynski, Michal; Dybala, Pawel; Mazur, Michal; Rzepka, Rafal; Araki, Kenji; Momouchi, Yoshio

2013-01-01

This paper presents research in Contextual Affect Analysis (CAA) for the need of future application in intelligent agents, such as conversational agents or artificial tutors. The authors propose a new term, Computational Fronesis (CF), to embrace the tasks included in CAA applied to development of conversational agents such as artificial tutors.…

Promoting Creativity through Assessment: A Formative Computer-Assisted Assessment Tool for Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cropley, David; Cropley, Arthur

2016-01-01

Computer-assisted assessment (CAA) is problematic when it comes to fostering creativity, because in educational thinking the essence of creativity is not finding the correct answer but generating novelty. The idea of "functional" creativity provides rubrics that can serve as the basis for forms of CAA leading to either formative or…

76 FR 11963 - Updating Cross-References for the Oklahoma State Implementation Plan

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-04

... material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the... (CAA), among other things, further provides that CAA subsection 307(d) does not apply when EPA has made...

Effective Computer-Aided Assessment of Mathematics; Principles, Practice and Results

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenhow, Martin

2015-01-01

This article outlines some key issues for writing effective computer-aided assessment (CAA) questions in subjects with substantial mathematical or statistical content, especially the importance of control of random parameters and the encoding of wrong methods of solution (mal-rules) commonly used by students. The pros and cons of using CAA and…

75 FR 15348 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Revision To Control...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-29

.... What Is a SIP? Section 110 of the CAA requires states to develop air pollution regulations and control... air pollution regulations, control strategies, other means or techniques, and technical analyses... provisions of the CAA. A SIP protects air quality primarily by addressing air pollution at its point of...

77 FR 32493 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; California; San Joaquin Valley Unified Air...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-01

... permit program for pre- construction review of certain new and modified major stationary sources in... program as required by section 165 of the CAA for certain new and modified major stationary sources... the CAA requires states to adopt a pre-construction permitting program for certain new and modified...

A modular Human Exposure Model (HEM) framework to characterize near-field chemical exposure in LCIA and CAA

EPA Science Inventory

Life Cycle Impact Analysis (LCIA) has proven to be a valuable tool for systematically comparing processes and products, and has been proposed for use in Chemical Alternatives Analysis (CAA). The exposure assessment portion of the human health impact scores of LCIA has historicall...

Assessing Elementary Algebra with STACK

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sangwin, Christopher J.

2007-01-01

This paper concerns computer aided assessment (CAA) of mathematics in which a computer algebra system (CAS) is used to help assess students' responses to elementary algebra questions. Using a methodology of documentary analysis, we examine what is taught in elementary algebra. The STACK CAA system, http://www.stack.bham.ac.uk/, which uses the CAS…

Computer-Assisted Assessment in Higher Education. Staff and Educational Development Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Sally, Ed.; Race, Phil, Ed.; Bull, Joanna, Ed.

This book profiles how computer-assisted assessment can help both staff and students by drawing on the experience and expertise of practitioners, in the United Kingdom and internationally, who are already using computer-assisted assessment. The publication is organized into three main sections--"Pragmatics and Practicalities of CAA,""Using CAA for…

75 FR 12087 - Determination of Attainment, Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-12

... the Clean Air Act (CAA) affecting the Indiana portion (Lake and Porter Counties) of the Chicago-Gary... Oxides (NO X ) in Lake and Porter Counties from CAA Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT... Lake and Porter Counties, also published in today's Federal Register, the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL...

Comparing the moisturizing effects of ascorbic acid and calcium ascorbate against that of tocopherol in emulsions.

PubMed

Gönüllü, U; Sensoy, D; Uner, M; Yener, G; Altinkurt, T

2006-01-01

Calcium ascorbate (CAAS), which is a hydrophilic and stable derivative of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) (AA), is commonly used in foods as an antioxidative agent. There are very limited reports on its dermatological use in the literature. In this paper, it is reported that CAAS could be used in place of ascorbic acid, which has chemical stability problems in topicals due to degradation by oxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the skin-hydrating effect of CAAS compared to those of ascorbic acid and tocopherol (vitamin E) (T), which is a potential skin moisturizer and commonly used in dermocosmetics. Vitamins are incorporated into two kinds of base creams (o/w and w/o emulsion creams), alone and in combinations. Formulations were applied to the inner forearms of volunteers, and skin conductance was measured by using a corneometer. Data obtained were statistically evaluated. It was found that the skin-hydrating effect of CAAS was higher than that of AA and lower than that of T. However, its effect was very close to that of T.

Modifying the Human-Machine Interface Based on Quantitative Measurements of the Level of Awareness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freund, Louis E.; Knapp, Benjamin

1999-01-01

This project got underway without funding approved during the summer of 1998. The initial project steps were to identify previously published work in the fields of error classification systems, physiological measurements of awareness, and related topics. This agenda was modified at the request of NASA Ames in August, 1998 to include supporting the new Cargo Air Association (CAA) evaluation of the Human Factors related to the ADS-B technology. Additional funding was promised to fully support both efforts. Work on library research ended in the late Fall, 1998 when the SJSU project directors were informed that NASA would not be adding to the initial funding of the research project as had been initially committed. However, NASA did provide additional funding for the CAA project activity. NASA elected to leave the research grant in place to provide a pathway for the CAA project funding to SJSU (San Jose State University) to support Dr. Freund's work on the CAA tasks. Dr. Knapp essentially terminated his involvement with the project at this time.

78 FR 21281 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of Missouri; Infrastructure SIP...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-10

...EPA is proposing action on four Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions. First, EPA is proposing to approve portions of two SIP submissions from the State of Missouri addressing the applicable requirements of Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 1997 and 2006 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP to support implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each new or revised NAAQS promulgated by EPA. These SIPs are commonly referred to as ``infrastructure'' SIPs. The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. EPA is also proposing to approve two additional SIP submissions from Missouri, one addressing the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program in Missouri, and another addressing the requirements applicable to any board or body which approves permits or enforcement orders of the CAA, both of which support requirements associated with infrastructure SIPs.

Investigation of dispersion-relation-preserving scheme and spectral analysis methods for acoustic waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanel, Florence O.; Baysal, Oktay

1995-01-01

Important characteristics of the aeroacoustic wave propagation are mostly encoded in their dispersion relations. Hence, a computational aeroacoustic (CAA) algorithm, which reasonably preserves these relations, was investigated. It was derived using an optimization procedure to ensure, that the numerical derivatives preserved the wave number and angular frequency of the differential terms in the linearized, 2-D Euler equations. Then, simulations were performed to validate the scheme and a compatible set of discretized boundary conditions. The computational results were found to agree favorably with the exact solutions. The boundary conditions were transparent to the outgoing waves, except when the disturbance source was close to a boundary. The time-domain data generated by such CAA solutions were often intractable until their spectra was analyzed. Therefore, the relative merits of three different methods were included in the study. For simple, periodic waves, the periodogram method produced better estimates of the steep-sloped spectra than the Blackman-Tukey method. Also, for this problem, the Hanning window was more effective when used with the weighted-overlapped-segment-averaging and Blackman-Tukey methods gave better results than the periodogram method. Finally, it was demonstrated that the representation of time domain-data was significantly dependent on the particular spectral analysis method employed.

Morphological Characteristics of Round Window Niche in Congenital Aural Atresia and Stenosis Patients.

PubMed

Chen, Keguang; Lyu, Huiying; Xie, Youzhou; Yang, Lin; Zhang, Tianyu; Dai, Peidong

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to measure the round window niche (RWN) among congenital aural atresia (CAA), congenital aural stenosis (CAS) and control groups and to analyze whether differences exist between them. Computed tomography images of 10 normal subjects (20 ears), 27 CAS patients (30 ears) and 25 CAA patients (30 ears) were analyzed. We measured RWN on the basis of 3-dimensional reconstruction. The anterior wall length and the depth of RWN were smaller in control group than those in the CAS group; furthermore, the anterior wall length and the depth of RWN in CAS group were smaller than those in CAA group (P < 0.05). The posterior wall length of RWN was found smaller in the control group than that in both hCAS and CAA groups (P < 0.05). The superior and inferior wall lengths of RWN were found smaller in control group than those in the CAA group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the sizes of the round window membrane and niche opening or the angle between the plane of the RWN opening and the round window membrane plane among all groups. The RWN walls lengths and its depth tended to be longer with the aggravation of the aural malformations. Our calculation results may provide some information for a better design and a safer implantation of the floating mass transducer in the area of RWN.

Structure at 1.3 A resolution of Rhodothermus marinus caa(3) cytochrome c domain.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Vasundara; Rajendran, Chitra; Sousa, Filipa L; Melo, Ana M P; Saraiva, Lígia M; Pereira, Manuela M; Santana, Margarida; Teixeira, Miguel; Michel, Hartmut

2005-02-04

The cytochrome c domain of subunit II from the Rhodothermus marinus caa(3) HiPIP:oxygen oxidoreductase, a member of the superfamily of heme-copper-containing terminal oxidases, was produced in Escherichia coli and characterised. The recombinant protein, which shows the same optical absorption and redox properties as the corresponding domain in the holo enzyme, was crystallized and its structure was determined to a resolution of 1.3 A by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) technique using the anomalous dispersion of the heme iron atom. The model was refined to final R(cryst) and R(free) values of 13.9% and 16.7%, respectively. The structure reveals the insertion of two short antiparallel beta-strands forming a small beta-sheet, an interesting variation of the classical all alpha-helical cytochrome c fold. This modification appears to be common to all known caa(3)-type terminal oxidases, as judged by comparative modelling and by analyses of the available amino acid sequences for these enzymes. This is the first high-resolution crystal structure reported for a cytochrome c domain of a caa(3)-type terminal oxidase. The R.marinus caa(3) uses HiPIP as the redox partner. The calculation of the electrostatic potential at the molecular surface of this extra C-terminal domain provides insights into the binding to its redox partner on one side and its interaction with the remaining subunit II on the other side.

Dementia incidence and predictors in cerebral amyloid angiopathy patients without intracerebral hemorrhage.

PubMed

Xiong, Li; Boulouis, Gregoire; Charidimou, Andreas; Roongpiboonsopit, Duangnapa; Jessel, Michael J; Pasi, Marco; Reijmer, Yael D; Fotiadis, Panagiotis; Ayres, Alison; Merrill, Emily; Schwab, Kristin; Blacker, Deborah; Gurol, M Edip; Greenberg, Steven M; Viswanathan, Anand

2018-02-01

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common cause of cognitive impairment in older individuals. This study aimed to investigate predictors of dementia in CAA patients without intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). A total of 158 non-demented patients from the Stroke Service or the Memory Clinic who met the modified Boston Criteria for probable CAA were included. At baseline, neuroimaging markers, including lobar microbleeds (cerebral microbleeds (CMBs)), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cortical superficial siderosis (cSS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible centrum semiovale perivascular spaces (CSO-PVS), lacunes, and medial temporal atrophy (MTA) were assessed. The overall burden of small vessel disease (SVD) for CAA was calculated by a cumulative score based on CMB number, WMH severity, cSS presence and extent and CSO-PVS severity. The estimated cumulative dementia incidence at 1 year was 14% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5%-23%), and 5 years 73% (95% CI: 55%, 84%). Age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.05 per year, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08, p = 0.007), presence of MCI status (HR 3.40, 95% CI: 1.97-6.92, p < 0.001), MTA (HR 1.71 per point, 95% CI: 1.26-2.32, p = 0.001), and SVD score (HR 1.23 per point, 95% CI: 1.20-1.48, p = 0.030) at baseline were independent predictors for dementia conversion in these patients. Cognitive deterioration of CAA patients appears attributable to cumulative changes, from both vasculopathic and neurodegenerative lesions.

Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on iron efficiency: Removal of three chloroacetic acids.

PubMed

Tang, Shun; Wang, Xiao-mao; Mao, Yu-qin; Zhao, Yu; Yang, Hong-wei; Xie, Yuefeng F

2015-04-15

The monochloroacetic, dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acid (MCAA, DCAA and TCAA) removed by metallic iron under controlled dissolved oxygen conditions (0, 0.75, 1.52, 2.59, 3.47 or 7.09 mg/L DO) was investigated in well-mixed batch systems. The removal of CAAs increased first and then decreased with increasing DO concentration. Compared with anoxic condition, the reduction of MCAA and DCAA was substantially enhanced in the presence of O2, while TCAA reduction was significantly inhibited above 2.59 mg/L. The 1.52 mg/L DO was optimum for the formation of final product, acetic acid. Chlorine mass balances were 69-102%, and carbon mass balances were 92-105%. With sufficient mass transfer from bulk to the particle surface, the degradation of CAAs was limited by their reduction or migration rate within iron particles, which were dependent on the change of reducing agents and corrosion coatings. Under anoxic conditions, the reduction of CAAs was mainly inhibited by the available reducing agents in the conductive layer. Under low oxic conditions, the increasing reducing agents and thin lepidocrocite layer were favorable for CAA dechlorination. Under high oxic conditions, the redundant oxygen competing for reducing agents and significant lepidocrocite growth became the major restricting factors. Various CAA removal mechanisms could be potentially applied to explaining the effect of DO concentration on iron efficiency for contaminant reduction in water and wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of the specificity of monoclonal antibodies against Schistosoma mansoni CAA glycoprotein antigen using neoglycoconjugate variants.

PubMed

Carvalho de Souza, Adriana; van Remoortere, Alexandra; Hokke, Cornelis H; Deelder, André M; Vliegenthart, Johannes F G; Kamerling, Johannis P

2005-09-01

The immunogenic O-glycan of circulating anodic antigen (CAA) is a high-molecular-mass polysaccharide with the unique -->6)-[beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1--> repeating unit. To obtain information at the molecular level about the specificity of monoclonal antibodies against CAA, the immunoreactivity of two series of bovine serum albumin-coupled synthetic oligosaccharides related to the CAA O-glycan was monitored using ELISA and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The importance of the axial hydroxyl group of beta-D-GalpNAc for antibody binding was investigated using the following series of analogues: beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O); beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->6)-[beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O); and beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->6)-[beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->O). In the second series of analogues, beta-D-Glcp6S-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->O), beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Glcp6S-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->O), and beta-D-Glcp6S-(1-->3)-beta-D-Gal-pNAc-(1-->6)-[beta-D-Glcp6S-(1-->3)]-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->O), the native beta-D-GlcpA moiety was replaced by beta-D-Glcp6S to evaluate the influence of the nature of the charge on antibody recognition. Comparison of the immunoreactivity of these series with that measured for conjugates containing corresponding synthetic CAA fragments showed that the antibody binding levels can be correlated to the antibody specificity to CAA fragments. For the most reactive antibodies, the structural changes chosen (beta-D-GalpNAc replaced by beta-D-GlcpNAc, and beta-D-GlcpA replaced by beta-D-Glcp6S) completely eradicated the binding.

The Correlation Between Pre and Postoperative Hearing Level with High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Findings in Congenital Canal Atresia (CAA) Patients.

PubMed

Asma, A; Abdul Fatah, A W; Hamzaini, A H; Mazita, A

2013-12-01

In managing patient with congenital congenital aural atresia (CAA), preoperative high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan and hearing assessment are important. A grading system based on HRCT findings was first introduced by Jahrsdoefer in order to select appropriate candidates for operation and to predict the postoperative hearing outcome in CAA patients. The score of eight and more was considered as a good prognostic factor for hearing reconstruction surgery. However previously in our center this score was not used as the criteria for surgical procedure. This study was conducted at Center A to evaluate the correlation between pre and postoperative hearing level with HRCT based on a Jahrsdoefer grading system in patients with CAA. All records and HRCT films with CAA from January 1997 until December 2007 at Center A were evaluated. The demographic data, operative records, pre and post operative hearing levels and HRCT findings were analyzed. Hearing level in this study was based on a pure tone average of air-bone gap at 500 Hz, 1 kHz and 2 kHz or hearing level obtained from auditory brainstem response eudiometry. This study was approved by Research Ethics Committee (code number, FF-197-2008). Thirty-two ears were retrospectively evaluated. The postoperative hearing level of 30 dB and less was considered as successful hearing result postoperatively. Of the six ears which underwent canalplasty, three had achieved successful hearing result. However, there was no significant correlation between preoperative hearing level (HL) with HRCT score and postoperative HL with HRCT score at 0.05 significant levels (correlation coefficient = -0.292, P = 0.105 and correlation coefficient = -0.127, P = 0.810) respectively. Hearing evaluation and HRCT temporal bone are two independent evaluations for the patients with CAA before going for hearing reconstructive surgery.

Intrasubject Predictions of Vocational Preference: Convergent Validation via the Decision Theoretic Paradigm.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Monahan, Carlyn J.; Muchinsky, Paul M.

1985-01-01

The degree of convergent validity among four methods of identifying vocational preferences is assessed via the decision theoretic paradigm. Vocational preferences identified by Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), a rating procedure, and ranking were compared with preferences identified from a policy-capturing model developed from an…

Noise optimization of a regenerative automotive fuel pump

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. F.; Feng, H. H.; Mou, X. L.; Huang, Y. X.

2017-03-01

The regenerative pump used in automotive is facing a noise problem. To understand the mechanism in detail, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Acoustic Analysis (CAA) together were used to understand the fluid and acoustic characteristics of the fuel pump using ANSYS-CFX 15.0 and LMS Virtual. Lab Rev12, respectively. The CFD model and acoustical model were validated by mass flow rate test and sound pressure test, respectively. Comparing the computational and experimental results shows that sound pressure levels at the observer position are consistent at high frequencies, especially at blade passing frequency. After validating the models, several numerical models were analyzed in the study for noise improvement. It is observed that for configuration having greater number of impeller blades, noise level was significantly improved at blade passing frequency, when compared to that of the original model.

State Implementation Plans; General Preamble & Lead (Pb) Addendum for the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990 (57 FR 13498 & 58 FR 67748)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains a copy of the 1993 & 1993 Federal Register publications of the State Implementation Plans (SIPs); General Preamble & Lead (Pb) Addendum for the Implementation of Title I of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990.

76 FR 20853 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Kentucky; Approval of Section 110...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-14

... NAAQS through the year 2020 for the Four Kentucky Areas. These maintenance plans meet applicable... period of 10 years after redesignation, consistent with the CAA section 175A(a). EPA approved Kentucky's... attainment areas) were required to submit 10-year maintenance plans pursuant to section 110(a)(1) of the CAA...

A historical overview of the development of manganese (Mn) pharmacokinetic data under Section 211(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA)

EPA Science Inventory

Abstract for Manganese 2016A historical overview of the development of manganese (Mn) pharmacokinetic data under Section 211(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA)William K BoyesBackground. In the 1990’s, the use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) as an octane-enh...

2 CFR 1532.1600 - What definitions apply specifically to actions under this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

..., partnership, association, state, municipality, commission, or political subdivision of a state, or any..., floating craft, location or site of operations that gives rise to a CAA or CWA conviction, and is a... transactions may be performed. If a site of operations giving rise to a CAA or CWA conviction contains or...

40 CFR 51.902 - Which classification and nonattainment area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas designated nonattainment for the 8-hour NAAQS? 51.902 Section 51.902 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... Implementation of 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard § 51.902 Which classification and...

40 CFR 51.902 - Which classification and nonattainment area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour NAAQS? 51.902 Section 51.902 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... Implementation of 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard § 51.902 Which classification and...

40 CFR 51.902 - Which classification and nonattainment area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour NAAQS? 51.902 Section 51.902 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... Implementation of 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard § 51.902 Which classification and...

40 CFR 51.902 - Which classification and nonattainment area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas designated nonattainment for the 1997 8-hour NAAQS? 51.902 Section 51.902 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... Implementation of 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard § 51.902 Which classification and...

40 CFR 51.902 - Which classification and nonattainment area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... area planning provisions of the CAA shall apply to areas designated nonattainment for the 8-hour NAAQS? 51.902 Section 51.902 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... Implementation of 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard § 51.902 Which classification and...

40 CFR 69.11 - New exemptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... shall be fired in Cabras Power Plant Units Nos. 1 through 3 and in Piti Power Plant Units Nos. 4 and 5... conditionally exempts Piti Power Plant Units No. 8 and No. 9 from certain CAA requirements. (2) A waiver of the... Administrator of EPA conditionally exempts Guam Power Authority (“GPA”) from certain CAA requirements. (1) A...

2009 Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research. NIH Publication No. 09-7465

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, 2009

2009-01-01

In response to the heightened societal concern over autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Congress passed the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006 (P.L. 109-416). Through this Act, Congress intended to rapidly increase, accelerate the pace and improve coordination of scientific discovery in ASD research. The CAA requires the Interagency Autism…

Staff Report to the Senior Department Official on Recognition Compliance Issues. Recommendation Page: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

US Department of Education, 2010

2010-01-01

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) is a national accrediting agency of graduate education programs in audiology or speech-language pathology. The CAA currently accredits or or preaccredits 319 programs (247 in speech-language pathology and 72 in…

Structure of caa(3) cytochrome c oxidase--a nature-made enzyme-substrate complex.

PubMed

Noor, Mohamed Radzi; Soulimane, Tewfik

2013-05-01

Aerobic respiration, the energetically most favorable metabolic reaction, depends on the action of terminal oxidases that include cytochrome c oxidases. The latter forms a part of the heme-copper oxidase superfamily and consists of three different families (A, B, and C types). The crystal structures of all families have now been determined, allowing a detailed structural comparison from evolutionary and functional perspectives. The A2-type oxidase, exemplified by the Thermus thermophilus caa(3) oxidase, contains the substrate cytochrome c covalently bound to the enzyme complex. In this article, we highlight the various features of caa(3) enzyme and provide a discussion of their importance, including the variations in the proton and electron transfer pathways.

Multiple Spontaneous Cerebral Microbleeds and Leukoencephalopathy in PSEN1-Associated Familial Alzheimer's Disease: Mirror of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy?

PubMed

Floris, Gianluca; Di Stefano, Francesca; Cherchi, Maria Valeria; Costa, Gianna; Marrosu, Francesco; Marrosu, Maria Giovanna

2015-01-01

Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) might reflect specific underlying vascular pathologies like cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In the present study we report the gradient-echo MRI pattern of two siblings with P284S PSEN1 mutation. T2* gradient-echo images of the two subjects demonstrated multiple microbleeds in lobar regions. The role and causes of CMB in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have not been clearly established and useful contributions could derive from familial AD studies. Furthermore, since CAA is a potential risk factor for developing adverse events in AD immunization trials, the identification in vivo of CAA through non-invasive MRI methods could be useful to monitoring side effects.

A Refined Computer Harassment Paradigm: Validation, and Test of Hypotheses about Target Characteristics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siebler, Frank; Sabelus, Saskia; Bohner, Gerd

2008-01-01

A refined computer paradigm for assessing sexual harassment is presented, validated, and used for testing substantive hypotheses. Male participants were given an opportunity to send sexist jokes to a computer-simulated female chat partner. In Study 1 (N = 44), the harassment measure (number of sexist jokes sent) correlated positively with…

Latent class analysis to evaluate performance of point-of-care CCA for low-intensity Schistosoma mansoni infections in Burundi.

PubMed

Clements, Michelle N; Corstjens, Paul L A M; Binder, Sue; Campbell, Carl H; de Dood, Claudia J; Fenwick, Alan; Harrison, Wendy; Kayugi, Donatien; King, Charles H; Kornelis, Dieuwke; Ndayishimiye, Onesime; Ortu, Giuseppina; Lamine, Mariama Sani; Zivieri, Antonio; Colley, Daniel G; van Dam, Govert J

2018-02-23

Kato-Katz examination of stool smears is the field-standard method for detecting Schistosoma mansoni infection. However, Kato-Katz misses many active infections, especially of light intensity. Point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) is an alternative field diagnostic that is more sensitive than Kato-Katz when intensity is low, but interpretation of CCA-trace results is unclear. To evaluate trace results, we tested urine and stool specimens from 398 pupils from eight schools in Burundi using four approaches: two in Burundi and two in a laboratory in Leiden, the Netherlands. In Burundi, we used Kato-Katz and point-of-care CCA (CCAB). In Leiden, we repeated the CCA (CCAL) and also used Up-Converting Phosphor Circulating Anodic Antigen (CAA). We applied Bayesian latent class analyses (LCA), first considering CCA traces as negative and then as positive. We used the LCA output to estimate validity of the prevalence estimates of each test in comparison to the population-level infection prevalence and estimated the proportion of trace results that were likely true positives. Kato-Katz yielded the lowest prevalence (6.8%), and CCAB with trace considered positive yielded the highest (53.5%). There were many more trace results recorded by CCA in Burundi (32.4%) than in Leiden (2.3%). Estimated prevalence with CAA was 46.5%. LCA indicated that Kato-Katz had the lowest sensitivity: 15.9% [Bayesian Credible Interval (BCI): 9.2-23.5%] with CCA-trace considered negative and 15.0% with trace as positive (BCI: 9.6-21.4%), implying that Kato-Katz missed approximately 85% of infections. CCAB underestimated disease prevalence when trace was considered negative and overestimated disease prevalence when trace was considered positive, by approximately 12 percentage points each way, and CAA overestimated prevalence in both models. Our results suggest that approximately 52.2% (BCI: 37.8-5.8%) of the CCAB trace readings were true infections. Whether measured in the laboratory or the field, CCA outperformed Kato-Katz at the low infection intensities in Burundi. CCA with trace as negative likely missed many infections, whereas CCA with trace as positive overestimated prevalence. In the absence of a field-friendly gold standard diagnostic, the use of a variety of diagnostics with differing properties will become increasingly important as programs move towards elimination of schistosomiasis. It is clear that CCA is a valuable tool for the detection and mapping of S. mansoni infection in the field and CAA may be a valuable field tool in the future.

Time-resolved single-turnover of caa(3) oxidase from Thermus thermophilus. Fifth electron of the fully reduced enzyme converts O(H) into E(H) state.

PubMed

Siletsky, Sergey A; Belevich, Ilya; Belevich, Nikolai P; Soulimane, Tewfik; Verkhovsky, Michael I

2011-09-01

The oxidative part of the catalytic cycle of the caa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus was followed by time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Rate constants, chemical nature and the spectral properties of the catalytic cycle intermediates (Compounds A, P, F) reproduce generally the features typical for the aa(3)-type oxidases with some distinctive peculiarities caused by the presence of an additional 5-th redox-center-a heme center of the covalently bound cytochrome c. Compound A was formed with significantly smaller yield compared to aa(3) oxidases in general and to ba(3) oxidase from the same organism. Two electrons, equilibrated between three input redox-centers: heme a, Cu(A) and heme c are transferred in a single transition to the binuclear center during reduction of the compound F, converting the binuclear center through the highly reactive O(H) state into the final product of the reaction-E(H) (one-electron reduced) state of the catalytic site. In contrast to previous works on the caa(3)-type enzymes, we concluded that the finally produced E(H) state of caa(3) oxidase is characterized by the localization of the fifth electron in the binuclear center, similar to the O(H)→E(H) transition of the aa(3)-type oxidases. So, the fully-reduced caa(3) oxidase is competent in rapid electron transfer from the input redox-centers into the catalytic heme-copper site. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relation of the Allelic Variants of Multidrug Resistance Gene to Agranulocytosis Associated With Clozapine.

PubMed

Anıl Yağcioğlu, A Elif; Yoca, Gökhan; Ayhan, Yavuz; Karaca, R Özgür; Çevik, Lokman; Müderrisoğlu, Ahmet; Göktaş, Mustafa T; Eni, Nurhayat; Yazıcı, M Kâzım; Bozkurt, Atilla; Babaoğlu, Melih O

2016-06-01

Clozapine use is associated with leukopenia and more rarely agranulocytosis, which may be lethal. The drug and its metabolites are proposed to interact with the multidrug resistance transporter (ABCB1/MDR1) gene product, P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Among various P-glycoprotein genetic polymorphisms, nucleotide changes in exons 26 (C3435T), 21 (G2677T), and 12 (C1236T) have been implicated for changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many substrate drugs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between these specific ABCB1 polymorphisms and clozapine-associated agranulocytosis (CAA). Ten patients with a history of CAA and 91 control patients without a history of CAA, despite 10 years of continuous clozapine use, were included. Patient recruitment and blood sample collection were conducted at the Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, in collaboration with the members of the Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Section of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey, working in various psychiatry clinics. After DNA extraction from peripheral blood lymphocytes, genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction and endonuclease digestion. Patients with CAA had shorter duration of clozapine use but did not show any significant difference in other clinical, sociodemographic characteristics and in genotypic or allelic distributions of ABCB1 variants and haplotypes compared with control patients. Among the 10 patients with CAA, none carried the ABCB1 all-variant haplotype (TT-TT-TT), whereas the frequency of this haplotype was approximately 12% among the controls. Larger sample size studies and thorough genetic analyses may reveal both genetic risk and protective factors for this serious adverse event.

75 FR 50711 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Final Approval and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-17

... conditional approval of portions of OAC rule 3745-21-09. You can learn more information about the rule...). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: Under section 110(k)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is disapproving an...) of the CAA, we are also conditionally approving a revision of paragraph (BBB)(1) of OAC 3745-21-09...

Career Adapt-Abilities Scale--Italian Form: Psychometric Properties and Relationships to Breadth of Interests, Quality of Life, and Perceived Barriers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soresi, Salvatore; Nota, Laura; Ferrari, Lea

2012-01-01

The Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS)-Italian Form consists of four 6-item scales, which measure concern, control, curiosity, and confidence as psychosocial resources for managing occupational transitions, developmental tasks, and work traumas. The 24-item CAAS-Italian Form is identical to the International Form 2.0. The factor structure was…

Design of cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base compounds based on the quantitative structure–activity relationship

Treesearch

Hui Wang; Mingyue Jiang; Shujun Li; Chung-Yun Hse; Chunde Jin; Fangli Sun; Zhuo Li

2017-01-01

Cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base (CAAS) is a new class of safe, bioactive compounds which could be developed as potential antifungal agents for fungal infections. To design new cinnamaldehyde amino acid Schiff base compounds with high bioactivity, the quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs) for CAAS compounds against Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and...

75 FR 22047 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-27

... your concerns, and suggest alternatives. 7. Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use... demonstration requirements of sections 172(c)(2) and (6) of the CAA, and the requirement for contingency... implemented pursuant to section 172(c)(9) or 182(c)(9) of the CAA, on the contingency of an area not making...

[Chromosome abnormalities associated with Phl and acturial survivorship curve in chronic myeloid leukemia. Probabilistic interpretation of blastic transformation of CML].

PubMed

Coutris, G

1981-12-01

Sixty-six patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, all with Philadelphia chromosome, have been studied for chromosomic abnormalities associated (CAA) to Ph', as well as for actuarial curve of survivorship. Patients dying from another disease were excluded from this study. Frequency of cells with CAA was measured and appeared strongly higher after blastic transformation than during myelocytic state; probability to be a blastic transformation is closely correlated with this frequency. On the other hand, actuarial curve of survivorship is very well represented by an exponential curve. This suggests a constant rate of death during disease evolution, for these patients without intercurrent disease. As a mean survivance after blastic transformation is very shorter than myelocytic duration, a constant rate of blastic transformation could be advanced: it explains possible occurrence of transformation as soon as preclinic state of a chronic myelogenous leukemia. Even if CAA frequency increases after blastic transformation, CAA can occur a long time before it and do not explain it: submicroscopic origin should be searched for the constant rate of blastic transformation would express the risk of a genic transformation at a constant rate during myelocytic state.

White paper: A plan for cooperation between NASA and DARPA to establish a center for advanced architectures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denning, P. J.; Adams, G. B., III; Brown, R. L.; Kanerva, P.; Leiner, B. M.; Raugh, M. R.

1986-01-01

Large, complex computer systems require many years of development. It is recognized that large scale systems are unlikely to be delivered in useful condition unless users are intimately involved throughout the design process. A mechanism is described that will involve users in the design of advanced computing systems and will accelerate the insertion of new systems into scientific research. This mechanism is embodied in a facility called the Center for Advanced Architectures (CAA). CAA would be a division of RIACS (Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science) and would receive its technical direction from a Scientific Advisory Board established by RIACS. The CAA described here is a possible implementation of a center envisaged in a proposed cooperation between NASA and DARPA.

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Between NASA Headquarters and MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) for NASA Principal Center for Review of Clean Air Regulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, Salvadore V.; Clark-Ingram, Marceia A.

2000-01-01

This paper presents a memorandum of agreement on Clean Air Regulations. NASA headquarters (code JE and code M) has asked MSFC to serve as principle center for review of Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations. The purpose of the principle center is to provide centralized support to NASA headquarters for the management and leadership of NASA's CAA regulation review process and to identify the potential impact of proposed CAA reguations on NASA program hardware and supporting facilities. The materials and processes utilized in the manufacture of NASA's programmatic hardware contain HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants), VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), and ODC (Ozone Depleting Chemicals). This paper is presented in viewgraph form.

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

PubMed

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

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

[Reconsidering evaluation criteria regarding health care research: toward an integrative framework of quantitative and qualitative criteria].

PubMed

Miyata, Hiroaki; Kai, Ichiro

2006-05-01

Debate about the relationship between quantitative and qualitative paradigms is often muddled and confused and the clutter of terms and arguments has resulted in the concepts becoming obscure and unrecognizable. It is therefore very important to reconsider evaluation criteria regarding rigor in social science. As Lincoln & Guba have already compared quantitative paradigms (validity, reliability, neutrality, generalizability) with qualitative paradigms (credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability), we have discuss use of evaluation criteria based on pragmatic perspective. Validity/Credibility is the paradigm concerned to observational framework, while Reliability/Dependability refer to the range of stability in observations, Neutrality/Confirmability reflect influences between observers and subjects, Generalizability/Transferability have epistemological difference in the way findings are applied. Qualitative studies, however, does not always chose the qualitative paradigms. If we assume the stability to some extent, it is better to use the quantitative paradigm (reliability). Moreover as a quantitative study can not always guarantee a perfect observational framework, with stability in all phases of observations, it is useful to use qualitative paradigms to enhance the rigor in the study.

Ostracism Online: A social media ostracism paradigm.

PubMed

Wolf, Wouter; Levordashka, Ana; Ruff, Johanna R; Kraaijeveld, Steven; Lueckmann, Jan-Matthis; Williams, Kipling D

2015-06-01

We describe Ostracism Online, a novel, social media-based ostracism paradigm designed to (1) keep social interaction experimentally controlled, (2) provide researchers with the flexibility to manipulate the properties of the social situation to fit their research purposes, (3) be suitable for online data collection, (4) be convenient for studying subsequent within-group behavior, and (5) be ecologically valid. After collecting data online, we compared the Ostracism Online paradigm with the Cyberball paradigm (Williams & Jarvis Behavior Research Methods, 38, 174-180, 2006) on need-threat and mood questionnaire scores (van Beest & Williams Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 91, 918-928, 2006). We also examined whether ostracized targets of either paradigm would be more likely to conform to their group members than if they had been included. Using a Bayesian analysis of variance to examine the individual effects of the different paradigms and to compare these effects across paradigms, we found analogous effects on need-threat and mood. Perhaps because we examined conformity to the ostracizers (rather than neutral sources), neither paradigm showed effects of ostracism on conformity. We conclude that Ostracism Online is a cost-effective, easy to use, and ecologically valid research tool for studying the psychological and behavioral effects of ostracism.

Career Adapt-Abilities Scale in a French-Speaking Swiss Sample: Psychometric Properties and Relationships to Personality and Work Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rossier, Jerome; Zecca, Gregory; Stauffer, Sarah D.; Maggiori, Christian; Dauwalder, Jean-Pierre

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) in a French-speaking Swiss sample and its relationship with personality dimensions and work engagement. The heterogeneous sample of 391 participants (M[subscript age] = 39.59, SD = 12.30) completed the CAAS-International and a short version…

The Army Study Program Fiscal Year 1993 Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-11-16

results of the PERFORMER: CAA Ardennes campaign and, if necessary, to recommend modifications to CEM. PROJECT TITLE: Economic Analysis Of HODA Automation...DCSOPS PERFORMER: CAA PROJECT TITLE: Wartime Requirements, FY 99 PUIC: CSCAMNO15 To assist HODA in determining conventional munition requirements...STUDY WILL ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP A MULTIPLE CRITERIA OPTIMIZATION MODEL DTIC NUMBER: TO AID IN THE PROGRAMMING OF ARMY ACQUISITION FUNDS AT HODA . THE

78 FR 23149 - Air Quality: Revision to Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds-Exclusion of trans 1-chloro-3,3...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-18

... contribution to tropospheric ozone formation. Because EPA received one adverse comment, we are withdrawing the... air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone under title I of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The direct final... of preparing SIPs to attain the NAAQS for ozone under title I of the CAA. If it had become effective...

Ruminal and Abomasal Starch Hydrolysate Infusions Selectively Decrease the Expression of Cationic Amino Acid Transporter mRNA by Small Intestinal Epithelia of Forage-fed Beef Steers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Although cationic amino acids (CAA) are consid-ered essential to maximize optimal growth of cattle, transporters responsible for CAA absorption by bovine small intestinal epithelia have not been described. This study was conducted to test 2 hypotheses: 1) the duo¬denal, jejunal, and ileal epithelia ...

75 FR 71125 - Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-22

... public comment. SUMMARY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (``CAA'' or the ``Act''), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is hereby given of a proposed consent decree to address a... section 110(k)(2) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. 7410(k)(2), to take timely final action on a submission entitled...

Colonic prolapse after intersphincteric resection for very low rectal cancer: a report of 12 cases.

PubMed

Chau, A; Frasson, M; Debove, C; Maggiori, L; Panis, Y

2016-10-01

There are no published data concerning management of patients with exteriorized colonic prolapse (CP) after intersphincteric rectal resection (ISR) and side-to-end coloanal manual anastomosis (CAA) for very low rectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to report our experience in 12 consecutive cases of CP following ISR with CAA. From 2006 to 2014, all patients with very low rectal cancer who developed CP after ISR and CAA were reviewed. Demographic and surgical data, prolapse symptoms and treatment were recorded. Postoperative morbidity, functional outcomes and results after prolapse surgery were recorded. Twelve out of 143 patients (8 %) who underwent ISR with side-to-end CAA for low rectal cancer presented CP: 7/107 ISR (7 %) with partial resection of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) and 5/36 ISR (14 %) with subtotal or total resection of the IAS (NS). CP was diagnosed after a median of 6 months (range 2-72 months) after ISR. All patients with CP suffered from pain and fecal incontinence. Median Wexner fecal incontinence score before surgery was 16.5 (range 12-20). Three patients refused reoperation. Nine patients underwent transanal surgery with prolapse resection (including colonic stump and side-to-end anastomosis) and new end-to-end CAA (with posterior myorraphy in 4 cases). After a median follow-up of 30 months (range 8-87 months), 3/9 patients (33 %) had CP recurrence: One with very poor function was treated by abdominoperineal resection and definitive stoma. The 2 others were successfully reoperated on transanally. Median Wexner fecal incontinence score after CP surgery was 9 (range 0-20). No CP recurrence was noted for the 6 other patients, and function improved in all cases. Thus, at the end of follow-up, 8/9 patients (89 %) had no recurrence after surgery. We believe surgery must be attempted in these patients who develop CP after ISR with CAA for very low rectal cancer in order to improve function and symptoms. A transanal approach with CP resection and new end-to-end anastomosis appeared to be safe and effective. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results.

Thermodynamic and dynamic ice thickness contributions in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in NEMO-LIM2 numerical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xianmin; Sun, Jingfan; Chan, Ting On; Myers, Paul G.

2018-04-01

Sea ice thickness evolution within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) is of great interest to science, as well as local communities and their economy. In this study, based on the NEMO numerical framework including the LIM2 sea ice module, simulations at both 1/4 and 1/12° horizontal resolution were conducted from 2002 to 2016. The model captures well the general spatial distribution of ice thickness in the CAA region, with very thick sea ice (˜ 4 m and thicker) in the northern CAA, thick sea ice (2.5 to 3 m) in the west-central Parry Channel and M'Clintock Channel, and thin ( < 2 m) ice (in winter months) on the east side of CAA (e.g., eastern Parry Channel, Baffin Island coast) and in the channels in southern areas. Even though the configurations still have resolution limitations in resolving the exact observation sites, simulated ice thickness compares reasonably (seasonal cycle and amplitudes) with weekly Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) New Ice Thickness Program data at first-year landfast ice sites except at the northern sites with high concentration of old ice. At 1/4 to 1/12° scale, model resolution does not play a significant role in the sea ice simulation except to improve local dynamics because of better coastline representation. Sea ice growth is decomposed into thermodynamic and dynamic (including all non-thermodynamic processes in the model) contributions to study the ice thickness evolution. Relatively smaller thermodynamic contribution to ice growth between December and the following April is found in the thick and very thick ice regions, with larger contributions in the thin ice-covered region. No significant trend in winter maximum ice volume is found in the northern CAA and Baffin Bay while a decline (r2 ≈ 0.6, p < 0.01) is simulated in Parry Channel region. The two main contributors (thermodynamic growth and lateral transport) have high interannual variabilities which largely balance each other, so that maximum ice volume can vary interannually by ±12 % in the northern CAA, ±15 % in Parry Channel, and ±9 % in Baffin Bay. Further quantitative evaluation is required.

Is Implicit Theory of Mind a Real and Robust Phenomenon? Results From a Systematic Replication Study.

PubMed

Kulke, Louisa; von Duhn, Britta; Schneider, Dana; Rakoczy, Hannes

2018-06-01

Recently, theory-of-mind research has been revolutionized by findings from novel implicit tasks suggesting that at least some aspects of false-belief reasoning develop earlier in ontogeny than previously assumed and operate automatically throughout adulthood. Although these findings are the empirical basis for far-reaching theories, systematic replications are still missing. This article reports a preregistered large-scale attempt to replicate four influential anticipatory-looking implicit theory-of-mind tasks using original stimuli and procedures. Results showed that only one of the four paradigms was reliably replicated. A second set of studies revealed, further, that this one paradigm was no longer replicated once confounds were removed, which calls its validity into question. There were also no correlations between paradigms, and thus, no evidence for their convergent validity. In conclusion, findings from anticipatory-looking false-belief paradigms seem less reliable and valid than previously assumed, thus limiting the conclusions that can be drawn from them.

ACB-PCR measurement of spontaneous and furan-induced H-ras codon 61 CAA to CTA and CAA to AAA mutation in B6C3F1 mouse liver.

PubMed

Banda, Malathi; Recio, Leslie; Parsons, Barbara L

2013-10-01

Furan is a rodent liver carcinogen, but the mode of action for furan hepatocarcinogenicity is unclear. H-ras codon 61 mutations have been detected in spontaneous liver tumors of B6C3F1 mice, and the fraction of liver tumors carrying H-ras codon 61 CAA to AAA mutation increased in furan-treated mice. Allele-specific competitive blocker PCR (ACB-PCR) has been used previously to quantify early, carcinogen-induced increases in tumor-associated mutations. The present pilot study investigated whether furan drives clonal expansion of pre-existing H-ras mutant cells in B6C3F1 mouse liver. H-ras codon 61 CAA to CTA and CAA to AAA mutations were measured in DNA isolated from liver tissue of female mice treated with 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 mg furan/kg body weight, five days per week for three weeks, using five mice per treatment group. Spontaneous levels of mutation were low, with two of five control mice having an H-ras codon 61 CTA or AAA mutant fraction (MF) greater than 10(-5) . Several furan-treated mice had H-ras codon 61 AAA or CTA MFs greater than those measured in control mice and lower bound estimates of induced MF were calculated. However, no statistically-significant differences were observed between treatment groups. Therefore, while sustained exposure to furan is carcinogenic, at the early stage of carcinogenesis examined in this study (three weeks), there was not a significant expansion of H-ras mutant cells. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The positional relationship between facial nerve and round window niche in patients with congenital aural atresia and stenosis.

PubMed

Chen, Keguang; Lyu, Huiying; Xie, Youzhou; Yang, Lin; Zhang, Tianyu; Dai, Peidong

2016-03-01

To investigate whether differences existing in the distance between facial nerve (FN) and round window niche opening among congenital aural atresia (CAA), congenital aural stenosis (CAS) and a normal control group and to assess its effect on the round window implantation of vibrant soundbridge, CT images of 10 normal subjects (20 ears), 27 CAS patients (30 ears) and 25 CAA patients (30 ears) were analyzed. The distances from the central point of round window niche opening to the terminal point of the horizontal segment, the salient point of pyramidal segment, the beginning point of the vertical segment, and the vertical segment of the facial nerve (abbreviate as OA, OB, OC, OE, respectively) were calculated based on three-dimensional reconstruction using mimics software. The results suggested that the pyramidal segment of the FN was positioned more closely to round window niche opening in patients with both CAA and CAS groups than that in control group, whereas there was no significant difference between CAA and CAS group (P < 0.05). The vertical portion of the FN was positioned more closely to round window niche opening in the CAA group than those in both the CAS and control groups with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the vertical portion of the FN was positioned more closely to round window niche opening in the CAS group than that in control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the dislocation between facial nerve and round window niche in patients with congenital auditory canal malformations could have significant effects on the round window implantation of vibrant soundbridge. Moreover, three-dimensional measurements and assessments before surgery might be helpful for a safer surgical approach and implantation of vibrant soundbridge.

Association of the GGCX (CAA)16/17 repeat polymorphism with higher warfarin dose requirements in African Americans.

PubMed

Cavallari, Larisa H; Perera, Minoli; Wadelius, Mia; Deloukas, Panos; Taube, Gelson; Patel, Shitalben R; Aquino-Michaels, Keston; Viana, Marlos A G; Shapiro, Nancy L; Nutescu, Edith A

2012-02-01

Little is known about genetic contributors to higher than usual warfarin dose requirements, particularly for African Americans. This study tested the hypothesis that the γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) genotype contributes to warfarin dose requirements greater than 7.5 mg/day in an African American population. A total of 338 African Americans on a stable dose of warfarin were enrolled. The GGCX rs10654848 (CAA)n, rs12714145 (G>A), and rs699664 (p.R325Q); VKORC1 c.-1639G>A and rs61162043; and CYP2C9*2, *3, *5, *8, *11, and rs7089580 genotypes were tested for their association with dose requirements greater than 7.5 mg/day alone and in the context of other variables known to influence dose variability. The GGCX rs10654848 (CAA)16 or 17 repeat occurred at a frequency of 2.6% in African Americans and was overrepresented among patients requiring greater than 7.5 mg/day versus those who required lower doses (12 vs. 3%, P=0.003; odds ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval, 1.5-10.5). The GGCX rs10654848 genotype remained associated with high dose requirements on regression analysis including age, body size, and VKORC1 genotype. On linear regression, the GGCX rs10654848 genotype explained 2% of the overall variability in warfarin dose in African Americans. An examination of the GGCX rs10654848 genotype in warfarin-treated Caucasians revealed a (CAA)16 repeat frequency of only 0.27% (P=0.008 compared with African Americans). These data support the GGCX rs10654848 genotype as a predictor of higher than usual warfarin doses in African Americans, who have a 10-fold higher frequency of the (CAA)16/17 repeat compared with Caucasians.

MMP-7 and TIMP-1, new targets in predicting poor wound healing in apical periodontitis.

PubMed

Letra, Ariadne; Ghaneh, Ghazaleh; Zhao, Min; Ray, Herbert; Francisconi, Carolina Favaro; Garlet, Gustavo Pompermaier; Silva, Renato Menezes

2013-09-01

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are strongly associated with tissue destruction because of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the expression of MMPs and TIMPs messenger RNA and protein levels in apical periodontitis lesions. Tissue samples from patients presenting clinical signs of chronic apical abscess (CAA) or asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP) were collected postoperatively and used for gene expression analysis of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -14, -16, and -25; TIMP-1; and TIMP-2 in real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to detect the expression of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 proteins. Lastly, U-937 cells were induced to terminal differentiation into macrophages, infected with purified Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, and assessed for the expression of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Significantly higher messenger RNA levels were found for all genes in AAP and CAA samples when compared with healthy control samples (P < .001). AAP cases exhibited significantly higher TIMP-1 when compared with CAA cases, whereas CAA cases showed higher MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9 messenger RNA levels (P < .05). We also detected positive the expression of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 proteins in the tissue samples. The expression of both MMP-7 and TIMP-1 were increased in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells compared with nonstimulated cells and appear to colocalize in the Golgi apparatus. MMPs appear to have an influential role in CAA cases in which ongoing tissue destruction is observed. TIMPs are preferentially associated with AAP, perhaps as a subsequent defense mechanism against excessive destruction. Taken together, our findings implicate MMP and TIMP molecules in the dynamics of inflammatory periapical lesion development. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 31263 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of California; Interstate Transport of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-31

...EPA is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of a State Implementation Plan (``SIP'') revision submitted by the State of California on November 17, 2007, for the purpose of addressing the ``transport SIP'' provisions of Clean Air Act (``CAA'') section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and the 1997 fine particulate matter (``PM2.5'') NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA requires that each SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions that adversely affect air quality in other States through interstate transport. EPA is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of California's SIP revision for the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS with respect to the requirement in CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) that each SIP contain adequate measures prohibiting emissions of air pollutants in amounts which will interfere with other States' measures required under title I, part C of the CAA to prevent significant deterioration of air quality. Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve California's SIP revision with respect to those Districts in California that implement SIP-approved permit programs meeting the approval criteria under CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i), as discussed in this proposal. EPA is simultaneously proposing to disapprove California's SIP revision with respect to those Districts in California that do not implement SIP-approved permit programs meeting these approval criteria. For any District for which we finalize a disapproval, EPA intends to simultaneously promulgate a limited Federal Implementation Plan (``FIP''), as discussed in this proposal, unless the relevant area is already subject to a FIP.

Upper thermal tolerance plasticity in tropical amphibian species from contrasting habitats: implications for warming impact prediction.

PubMed

Simon, Monique Nouailhetas; Ribeiro, Pedro Leite; Navas, Carlos Arturo

2015-02-01

Tropical ectothermic species are currently depicted as more vulnerable to increasing temperatures because of the proximity between their upper thermal limits and environmental temperatures. Yet, the acclimatory capacity of thermal limits has rarely been measured in tropical species, even though they are generally predicted to be smaller than in temperate species. We compared critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and warming tolerance (WT: the difference between CTmax and maximum temperature, Tmax), as well as CTmax acclimatory capacity of toad species from the Atlantic forest (AF) and the Brazilian Caatinga (CAA), a semi-arid habitat with high temperatures. Acclimation temperatures represented the mean temperatures of AF and CAA habitats, making estimates of CTmax and WT more ecologically realistic. CAA species mean CTmax was higher compared to AF species in both acclimation treatments. Clutches within species, as well as between AF and CAA species, differed in CTmax plasticity and we discuss the potential biological meaning of these findings. We did not find a trade-off between absolute CTmax and CTmax plasticity, indicating that species can have both high CTmax and high CTmax plasticity. Although CTmax was highly correlated to Tmax, CTmax plasticity was not related to Tmax or Tmax coefficients of variation. CAA species mean WT was lower than for AF species, but still very high for all species, diverging from other studies with tropical species. This might be partially related to over-estimation of vulnerability due to under-appreciation of realistic acclimation treatments in CTmax estimation. Thus, some tropical species might not be as vulnerable to warming as previously predicted if CTmax is considered as a shifting population parameter. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fine specificities of natural regulatory T cells after IVIG therapy in patients with Kawasaki disease

PubMed Central

Burns, Jane C.; Touma, Ranim; Song, Yali; Padilla, Robert L.; Tremoulet, Adriana H.; Sidney, John; Sette, Alessandro; Franco, Alessandra

2016-01-01

The activation of natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) recognizing the heavy constant region (Fc) of IgG is an important mechanism of action of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in Kawasaki disease (KD). Lack of circulating Fc-specific nTreg in the sub-acute phase of KD is correlated with the development of coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). Here, we characterize the fine specificity of nTreg in sub-acute (2- to 8-week post-IVIG) and convalescent (1- to 10-year post-IVIG) KD subjects by testing the immunogenicity of 64 peptides, 15 amino acids in length with a 10 amino acid-overlap spanning the entire Fc protein. About 12 Fc peptides (6 pools of 2 consecutive peptides) were recognized by nTreg in the cohorts studied, including two patients with CAA. To test whether IVIG expands the same nTreg populations that maintain vascular homeostasis in healthy subjects, we compared these results with results obtained in healthy adult controls. Similar nTreg fine specificities were observed in KD patients after IVIG and in healthy donors. These results suggest that T cell fitness rather than T cell clonal deletion or anergy is responsible for the lack of Fc-specific nTreg in KD patients who develop CAA. Furthermore, we found that adolescents and adults who had KD during childhood without developing CAA did not respond to the Fc protein in vitro, suggesting that the nTreg response induced by IVIG in KD patients is short-lived. Our results support the concept that peptide epitopes may be a viable therapeutic approach to expand Fc-specific nTreg and more effectively prevent CAA in KD patients. PMID:25822882

Molecular cloning, expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi).

PubMed

Cheng, Xiao-Yan; He, Shan; Liang, Xu-Fang; Song, Yi; Yuan, Xiao-Chen; Li, Ling; Wen, Zheng-Yong; Cai, Wen-Jing; Tao, Ya-Xiong

2015-11-01

In the wild, mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) only feed on live prey fish, refusing dead prey. When reared in ponds, training will result in some mandarin fish accepting artificial diets. However, little is currently known about the molecular mechanism of the individual difference. Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is a suppressor of learning and long-term memory (LTM) in mammals. In the present study, the relationship between PP1 and the individual difference in acceptance of artificial diets in mandarin fish was investigated. The complete CDS (coding sequence) of four PP1 isoforms (PP1caa, PP1cab, PP1cb and PP1cc) were cloned in mandarin fish. The amino acid sequences of these PP1 isoforms are highly conserved in different species. The mRNA expressions of PP1caa and PP1cb in brain of artificial diet feeders were significantly higher than those in nonfeeders, suggesting the deficiency in the maintenance of long-term memory of its natural food habit (live prey fish). The SNP loci in PP1caa and PP1cb were also found to be associated with the individual difference in acceptance of artificial diets in mandarin fish. These SNPs of PP1caa and PP1cb genes could be useful markers for gene-associated breeding of mandarin fish, which could accept artificial diets. In conclusion, different mRNA expression and SNPs of PP1caa and PP1cb genes in feeders and nonfeeders of artificial diets might contribute to understanding the molecular mechanism of individual difference in acceptance of artificial diets in mandarin fish. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Renal cytochrome P450 omega-hydroxylase and epoxygenase activity are differentially modified by nitric oxide and sodium chloride.

PubMed

Oyekan, A O; Youseff, T; Fulton, D; Quilley, J; McGiff, J C

1999-10-01

Renal function is perturbed by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). To probe the basis of this effect, we characterized the effects of nitric oxide (NO), a known suppressor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, on metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), the expression of omega-hydroxylase, and the efflux of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) from the isolated kidney. The capacity to convert [(14)C]AA to HETEs and epoxides (EETs) was greater in cortical microsomes than in medullary microsomes. Sodium nitroprusside (10-100 microM), an NO donor, inhibited renal microsomal conversion of [(14)C]AA to HETEs and EETs in a dose-dependent manner. 8-bromo cGMP (100 microM), the cell-permeable analogue of cGMP, did not affect conversion of [(14)C]AA. Inhibition of NOS with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) significantly increased conversion of [(14)C]AA to HETE and greatly increased the expression of omega-hydroxylase protein, but this treatment had only a modest effect on epoxygenase activity. L-NAME induced a 4-fold increase in renal efflux of 20-HETE, as did L-nitroarginine. Oral treatment with 2% sodium chloride (NaCl) for 7 days increased renal epoxygenase activity, both in the cortex and the medulla. In contrast, cortical omega-hydroxylase activity was reduced by treatment with 2% NaCl. Coadministration of L-NAME and 2% NaCl decreased conversion of [(14)C]AA to HETEs without affecting epoxygenase activity. Thus, inhibition of NOS increased omega-hydroxylase activity, CYP4A expression, and renal efflux of 20-HETE, whereas 2% NaCl stimulated epoxygenase activity.

Characterization of CAA0225, a novel inhibitor specific for cathepsin L, as a probe for autophagic proteolysis.

PubMed

Takahashi, Katsuyuki; Ueno, Takashi; Tanida, Isei; Minematsu-Ikeguchi, Naoko; Murata, Mitsuo; Kominami, Eiki

2009-03-01

We screened a series of new epoxysuccinyl peptides for the development of a lysosomal cathepsin L-specific inhibitor. Among the compounds tested, (2S,3S)-oxirane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid 2-[((S)-1-benzylcarbamoyl-2-phenyl-ethyl)-amide] 3-{[2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-amide} (compound CAA0225) was the most potent inhibitor of cathepsin L. CAA0225 inhibited rat liver cathepsin L with IC50 values of 1.9 nM, but not rat liver cathepsin B (IC50, >1000-5000 nM). To assess the contribution of cathepsin L to lysosomal proteolysis, we evaluated autophagy, which is the process of lysosomal self-degradation of cell constituents. In HeLa and Huh-7 cells cultured under nutrient-deprived conditions CAA0225 significantly inhibited degradation of long-lived proteins; however, the magnitude of inhibition was comparable to that in the presence of CA-074-OMe, which is a cathepsin B-specific inhibitor. Thus the contributions of cathepsin L and cathepsin B to autophagic protein degradation of cytoplasmic proteins are nearly equal. During autophagy, microtubule-associated protein IA/IB light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (A) receptor-associated protein (GABARAP)-II, which are specific markers of autophagosomal membranes that engulf cytoplasmic components, also undergo degradation upon fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. CAA0225 effectively inhibited degradation of LC3-II and GABARAP, whereas CA-074-OMe had only a marginal effect on their levels. Therefore we conclude that cathepsin L does not play a general role in the degradation of proteins in the lumen of autophagosomes, but rather is involved specifically in the degradation of autophagosomal membrane markers.

Third Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshop on Benchmark Problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dahl, Milo D. (Editor)

2000-01-01

The proceedings of the Third Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshop on Benchmark Problems cosponsored by the Ohio Aerospace Institute and the NASA Glenn Research Center are the subject of this report. Fan noise was the chosen theme for this workshop with representative problems encompassing four of the six benchmark problem categories. The other two categories were related to jet noise and cavity noise. For the first time in this series of workshops, the computational results for the cavity noise problem were compared to experimental data. All the other problems had exact solutions, which are included in this report. The Workshop included a panel discussion by representatives of industry. The participants gave their views on the status of applying computational aeroacoustics to solve practical industry related problems and what issues need to be addressed to make CAA a robust design tool.

KSC-2012-6229

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2012-6225

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2012-6231

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2012-6226

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2012-6230

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked by technicians and engineers at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to assess the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KSC-2012-6228

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked by technicians and engineers at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to assess the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

[Sporadic Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: An Overview with Clinical Cases].

PubMed

Schöberl, F; Eren, O E; Wollenweber, F A; Kraus, T; Kellert, L

2016-09-01

Sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a cerebral small vessel disease in the elderly. Neuropathologically, it is characterized by deposition of amyloid-ß (Aß) in the wall of small to medium-sized arteries, capillaries and venules of the cerebral cortex and leptomeninges. Over the last years it was recognized as an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and cognitive deficits in the elderly. The clinical and radiological manifestations are diverse ranging from acute onset focal neurological deficits due to intracerebral lobar hemorrhage to subacute progressive cognitive impairment due to Aß-mediated inflammation confluent subcortical edema. The wide clinico-radiological spectrum of CAA is a major challenge for the neurologist and stroke physician. This review provides a structured and detailed look at recent developments in CAA, and is illustrated with case studies. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

78 FR 45922 - Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; New...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-30

... confidential in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 40 CFR Parts 2 and 1042, and class... Section 206(a) of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7521) and 40 CFR Part 1042. Certification reporting is mandatory under Section 206(a) of CAA (42 U.S.C. 7521) and 40 CFR Part 1042, Subpart C. PLT reporting is mandatory...

Community Organization Efforts, Political and Institutional Change, and the Diffusion of Change Produced by Community Action Programs. Final Report on Phase I.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vanecko, James J.; And Others

The first part of a two phase project, this was an evaluation of characteristics of community action agencies (CAAs) which make them more or less effective in influencing other institutions to be more responseive to the needs and demands of the poor. CAA board members, representatives of the poor and other segments of the community, and…

Fire Fighting Task Force (FIRE)

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-04-01

and fdenify by block number) ~’This study is part of ~a contining effort to develop soldier data and performance algorithms (pergorithus) needed to...similar to combat, results will be useful in developing algorithms and data for use in US Army Concepts Analysis Agency (CAA) combat models. THE...dimensions. The US Army Concepts Analysis Agency (CAA) is committed to adding the soldier variables and algorithms that are necessary to fully represent

The development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in cerebral vessels. A review with illustrations based upon own investigated post mortem cases.

PubMed

Mendel, T A; Wierzba-Bobrowicz, T; Lewandowska, E; Stępień, T; Szpak, G M

2013-12-01

The process of β-amyloid accumulation in cerebral vessels is presented. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) was confirmed during an autopsy. It was diagnosed according to the Boston criteria. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy can involve all kinds of cerebral vessels (cortical and leptomeningeal arterioles, capillaries and veins). The development of CAA is a progressive process. β-amyloid appears first in the tunica media, surrounding smooth muscle cells, and in the adventitia. β-amyloid is progressively accumulated, causing a gradual loss of smooth muscle cells in the vessel wall and finally replacing them. Then, the detachment and delamination of the outer part of the tunica media results in the "double barrel" appearance, fibrinoid necrosis, and microaneurysm formation. Microbleeding with perivascular deposition of erythrocytes and blood breakdown products can also occur. β-amyloid can also be deposited in the surrounding of the affected vessels of the brain parenchyma, known as "dysphoric CAA". Ultrastructurally, when deposits of amyloid fibers were localized in or outside the arteriolar wall, the degenerating vascular smooth muscle cells were observed. In the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology the study was carried out in a group of 48 patients who died due to intracerebral hemorrhage caused by sporadic CAA.

Metabolic and microbial signatures in rat hepatocellular carcinoma treated with caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhan; Wang, Di; Qiao, Shanlei; Wu, Xinyue; Cao, Shuyuan; Wang, Li; Su, Xiaojian; Li, Lei

2017-07-03

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment remains lack of effective chemopreventive agents, therefore it is very attractive and urgent to discover novel anti-HCC drugs. In the present study, the effects of chlorogenic acid (ChA) and caffeic acid (CaA) on HCC induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) were evaluated. ChA or CaA could reduce the histopathological changes and liver injury markers, such as alanine transarninase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bile acid, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The underlying mechanisms were investigated by a data integration strategy based on correlation analyses of metabonomics data and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing data. ChA or CaA could inhibit the increase of Rumincoccaceae UCG-004 and reduction of Lachnospiraceae incertae sedis, and Prevotella 9 in HCC rats. The principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were applied to reveal the metabolic differences among these groups. 28 different metabolites showed a trend to return to normal in both CaA and ChA treatment. Among them, Bilirubin, L-Tyrosine, L-Methionine and Ethanolamine were correlated increased Rumincoccaceae UCG-004 and decreased of Lachnospiraceae incertae sedis and Prevotella 9. These correlations could be identified as metabolic and microbial signatures of HCC onset and potential therapeutic targets.

Hemodynamic Based Coronary Artery Aneurysm Thrombosis Risk Stratification in Kawasaki Disease Patients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grande Gutierrez, Noelia; Mathew, M.; McCrindle, B.; Kahn, A.; Burns, J.; Marsden, A.

2017-11-01

Coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) as a result of Kawasaki Disease (KD) put patients at risk for thrombosis and myocardial infarction. Current AHA guidelines recommend CAA diameter >8 mm or Z-score >10 as the criterion for initiating systemic anticoagulation. Our hypothesis is that hemodynamic data derived from computational blood flow simulations is a better predictor of thrombosis than aneurysm diameter alone. Patient-specific coronary models were constructed from CMRI for a cohort of 10 KD patients (5 confirmed thrombosis cases) and simulations with fluid structure interaction were performed using the stabilized finite element Navier-Stokes solver available in SimVascular. We used a closed-loop lumped parameter network (LPN) to model the heart and vascular boundary conditions coupled numerically to the flow solver. An automated parameter estimation method was used to match LPN values to clinical data for each patient. Hemodynamic data analysis resulted in low correlation between Wall Shear Stress (WSS)/ Particle Residence Time (PRT) and CAA diameter but demonstrates the positive correlation between hemodynamics and adverse patient outcomes. Our results suggest that quantifying WSS and PRT should enable identification of regions at higher risk of thrombosis. We propose a quantitative method to non-invasively assess the abnormal flow in CAA following KD that could potentially improve clinical decision-making regarding anticoagulation therapy.

75 FR 48880 - Approval and Promulgation of Gila River Indian Community's Tribal Implementation Plan

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-12

...The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the Gila River Indian Community's (GRIC or the Tribe) Tribal Implementation Plan (TIP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate air pollution within the exterior boundaries of the Tribe's reservation. The proposed TIP is one of four CAA regulatory programs that comprise the Tribe's Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). EPA approved the Tribe for treatment in the same manner as a State (Treatment as State or TAS) for purposes of administering the AQMP and other CAA authorities on October 21, 2009. In this action we propose to act only on those portions of the AQMP that constitute a TIP containing severable elements of an implementation plan under CAA section 110(a). The proposed TIP includes general and emergency authorities, ambient air quality standards, permitting requirements for minor sources of air pollution, enforcement authorities, procedures for administrative appeals and judicial review in Tribal court, requirements for area sources of fugitive dust and fugitive particulate matter, general prohibitory rules, and source category-specific emission limitations. The purpose of the proposed TIP is to implement, maintain, and enforce the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in the GRIC reservation. The intended effect of today's proposed action is to make the GRIC TIP federally enforceable.

Validity and reliability of four language mapping paradigms.

PubMed

Wilson, Stephen M; Bautista, Alexa; Yen, Melodie; Lauderdale, Stefanie; Eriksson, Dana K

2017-01-01

Language areas of the brain can be mapped in individual participants with functional MRI. We investigated the validity and reliability of four language mapping paradigms that may be appropriate for individuals with acquired aphasia: sentence completion, picture naming, naturalistic comprehension, and narrative comprehension. Five neurologically normal older adults were scanned on each of the four paradigms on four separate occasions. Validity was assessed in terms of whether activation patterns reflected the known typical organization of language regions, that is, lateralization to the left hemisphere, and involvement of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the left middle and/or superior temporal gyri. Reliability (test-retest reproducibility) was quantified in terms of the Dice coefficient of similarity, which measures overlap of activations across time points. We explored the impact of different absolute and relative voxelwise thresholds, a range of cluster size cutoffs, and limitation of analyses to a priori potential language regions. We found that the narrative comprehension and sentence completion paradigms offered the best balance of validity and reliability. However, even with optimal combinations of analysis parameters, there were many scans on which known features of typical language organization were not demonstrated, and test-retest reproducibility was only moderate for realistic parameter choices. These limitations in terms of validity and reliability may constitute significant limitations for many clinical or research applications that depend on identifying language regions in individual participants.

A Paradigm Regained: Conflict Perspective on Language Use in Bilingual Educational and Social Contexts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Eddie

The validity of the consensus paradigm dominant in sociolinguistics is questioned. Social scientists working in this paradigm take the perspective of society as an aggregate operating through agreement between its constituent elements, working to the benefit of the aggregate. The best-known of the consensus-oriented theories is…

40 CFR 51.904 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b)? (a) Classification. The Administrator may classify an area subject to § 51.902(b) as an overwhelming...

40 CFR 51.904 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b)? (a) Classification. The Administrator may classify an area subject to § 51.902(b) as an overwhelming...

40 CFR 51.904 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b)? (a) Classification. The Administrator may classify an area subject to § 51.902(b) as an overwhelming...

40 CFR 51.904 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b)? (a) Classification. The Administrator may classify an area subject to § 51.902(b) as an overwhelming...

40 CFR 51.904 - How do the classification and attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b... attainment date provisions in section 172(a) of subpart 1 of the CAA apply to areas subject to § 51.902(b)? (a) Classification. The Administrator may classify an area subject to § 51.902(b) as an overwhelming...

CERA; Refiners can cope with CAA requirements

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

Not Available

1992-02-17

This paper reports on a study conducted for the Department of Energy which predicts initial reformulated gasoline requirements in 1995 won't pose significant technical problems for U.S. refiners. But nearly all refiners will have to make added investments. Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) prepared the study for DOE on critical issues affecting refiners and U.S. product supplies in the 1990s, particularly the effects of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments.

Factors associated with ATXN2 CAG/CAA repeat intergenerational instability in Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 2.

PubMed

Almaguer-Mederos, L E; Mesa, J M L; González-Zaldívar, Y; Almaguer-Gotay, D; Cuello-Almarales, D; Aguilera-Rodríguez, R; Falcón, N S; Gispert, S; Auburger, G; Velázquez-Pérez, L

2018-05-14

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the unstable expansion of a CAG/CAA repeat in the ATXN2 gene, which normally encodes 22 glutamines (Q22). A large study was conducted to characterize the CAG/CAA repeat intergenerational instability in SCA2 families. Large normal alleles (LNA, Q24-31) were significantly more unstable upon maternal transmissions. In contrast, expanded alleles (EA, Q32-750) were significantly more unstable during paternal transmissions, in correlation with repeat length. Significant correlations were found between the instability and the age at conception in paternal transmissions. In conclusion, intergenerational instability at ATXN2 locus is influenced by the sex, repeat length and age at conception of the transmitting parent. These results have profound implications for genetic counseling services. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Computational Aeroacoustics: An Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tam, Christopher K. W.

2003-01-01

An overview of recent advances in computational aeroacoustics (CAA) is presented. CAA algorithms must not be dispersive and dissipative. It should propagate waves supported by the Euler equations with the correct group velocities. Computation domains are inevitably finite in size. To avoid the reflection of acoustic and other outgoing waves at the boundaries of the computation domain, it is required that special boundary conditions be imposed at the boundary region. These boundary conditions either absorb all the outgoing waves without reflection or allow the waves to exit smoothly. High-order schemes, invariably, supports spurious short waves. These spurious waves tend to pollute the numerical solution. They must be selectively damped or filtered out. All these issues and relevant computation methods are briefly reviewed. Jet screech tones are known to have caused structural fatigue in military combat aircrafts. Numerical simulation of the jet screech phenomenon is presented as an example of a successful application of CAA.

Advances in Numerical Boundary Conditions for Computational Aeroacoustics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tam, Christopher K. W.

1997-01-01

Advances in Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) depend critically on the availability of accurate, nondispersive, least dissipative computation algorithm as well as high quality numerical boundary treatments. This paper focuses on the recent developments of numerical boundary conditions. In a typical CAA problem, one often encounters two types of boundaries. Because a finite computation domain is used, there are external boundaries. On the external boundaries, boundary conditions simulating the solution outside the computation domain are to be imposed. Inside the computation domain, there may be internal boundaries. On these internal boundaries, boundary conditions simulating the presence of an object or surface with specific acoustic characteristics are to be applied. Numerical boundary conditions, both external or internal, developed for simple model problems are reviewed and examined. Numerical boundary conditions for real aeroacoustic problems are also discussed through specific examples. The paper concludes with a description of some much needed research in numerical boundary conditions for CAA.

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for the 92-Acre Area and Corrective Action Unit 111: Area 5 WMD Retired Mixed Waste Pits, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada

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

NSTec Environmental Restoration

This Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan (CADD/CAP) has been prepared for the 92-Acre Area, the southeast quadrant of the Radioactive Waste Management Site, located in Area 5 of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The 92-Acre Area includes Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 111, 'Area 5 WMD Retired Mixed Waste Pits.' Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) were developed for the 92-Acre Area, which includes CAU 111. The result of the DQO process was that the 92-Acre Area is sufficiently characterized to provide the input data necessary to evaluate corrective action alternatives (CAAs) without the collection of additional data. The DQOs aremore » included as Appendix A of this document. This CADD/CAP identifies and provides the rationale for the recommended CAA for the 92-Acre Area, provides the plan for implementing the CAA, and details the post-closure plan. When approved, this CADD/CAP will supersede the existing Pit 3 (P03) Closure Plan, which was developed in accordance with Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 265, 'Interim Status Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities.' This document will also serve as the Closure Plan and the Post-Closure Plan, which are required by 40 CFR 265, for the 92-Acre Area. After closure activities are complete, a request for the modification of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Permit that governs waste management activities at the NNSS will be submitted to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to incorporate the requirements for post-closure monitoring. Four CAAs, ranging from No Further Action to Clean Closure, were evaluated for the 92-Acre Area. The CAAs were evaluated on technical merit focusing on performance, reliability, feasibility, safety, and cost. Based on the evaluation of the data used to develop the conceptual site model; a review of past, current, and future operations at the site; and the detailed and comparative analysis of the potential CAAs, Closure in Place with Administrative Controls is the preferred CAA for the 92-Acre Area. Closure activities will include the following: (1) Constructing an engineered evapotranspiration cover over the 92-Acre Area; (2) Installing use restriction (UR) warning signs, concrete monuments, and subsidence survey monuments; (3) Establishing vegetation on the cover; (4) Implementing a UR; and (5) Implementing post-closure inspections and monitoring. The Closure in Place with Administrative Controls alternative meets all requirements for the technical components evaluated, fulfills all applicable federal and state regulations for closure of the site, and will minimize potential future exposure pathways to the buried waste at the site.« less

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for the 92-Acre Area and Corrective Action Unit 111: Area 5 WMD Retired Mixed Waste Pits, Nevada Test Site, Nevada

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

NSTec Environmental Restoration

2009-07-31

This Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan (CADD/CAP) has been prepared for the 92-Acre Area, the southeast quadrant of the Radioactive Waste Management Site, located in Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The 92-Acre Area includes Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 111, 'Area 5 WMD Retired Mixed Waste Pits.' Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) were developed for the 92-Acre Area, which includes CAU 111. The result of the DQO process was that the 92-Acre Area is sufficiently characterized to provide the input data necessary to evaluate corrective action alternatives (CAAs) without the collection of additional data. The DQOs are includedmore » as Appendix A of this document. This CADD/CAP identifies and provides the rationale for the recommended CAA for the 92-Acre Area, provides the plan for implementing the CAA, and details the post-closure plan. When approved, this CADD/CAP will supersede the existing Pit 3 (P03) Closure Plan, which was developed in accordance with Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 265, 'Interim Status Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities.' This document will also serve as the Closure Plan and the Post-Closure Plan, which are required by 40 CFR 265, for the 92-Acre Area. After closure activities are complete, a request for the modification of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Permit that governs waste management activities at the NTS will be submitted to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to incorporate the requirements for post-closure monitoring. Four CAAs, ranging from No Further Action to Clean Closure, were evaluated for the 92-Acre Area. The CAAs were evaluated on technical merit focusing on performance, reliability, feasibility, safety, and cost. Based on the evaluation of the data used to develop the conceptual site model; a review of past, current, and future operations at the site; and the detailed and comparative analysis of the potential CAAs, Closure in Place with Administrative Controls is the preferred CAA for the 92-Acre Area. Closure activities will include the following: (1) Constructing an engineered evapotranspiration cover over the 92-Acre Area; (2) Installing use restriction (UR) warning signs, concrete monuments, and subsidence survey monuments; (3) Establishing vegetation on the cover; (4) Implementing a UR; and (5) Implementing post-closure inspections and monitoring. The Closure in Place with Administrative Controls alternative meets all requirements for the technical components evaluated, fulfills all applicable federal and state regulations for closure of the site, and will minimize potential future exposure pathways to the buried waste at the site.« less

The development of a scale to identify college and university science professors' science-faith paradigms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bundrick, David Ray

The relationship between science and religion in American higher education changed significantly over the past two centuries as empiricism and naturalism became the philosophical underpinnings of the university. This philosophical shift contributed significantly to the secularization of the academy, the context in which philosophers of science during the last half-century have theorized a variety of theoretical patterns for relating science and religion. Evidence suggests that science professors operationalize various science-faith paradigms, but no instrument prior to this research had ever been created to measure the constructs. The purpose of this research was to develop a scale, with at least adequate psychometric properties (good validity and initial reliability), able to identify and discriminate among these various science-faith paradigms (in the Western Christian tradition) in practice among college and university science professors in the United States. The researcher conducted a Web-based electronic survey of a stratified random sample of science professors representing a variety of higher education institution types, science disciplines, and religious affiliation. Principal Components Analysis of the survey data produced five factors predicted by the researcher. These factors correspond to five science-faith paradigms: Conflict---Science over Religion; Conflict---Religion over Science; Compartmentalism; Complementarism; and Concordism. Analysis of items loading on each factor produced a 50-item Science-Faith Paradigm Scale (SFPS) that consists of five sub-scales, each having characteristics of good content validity, construct validity, and initial reliability (Cronbach's alpha ranging from .87 to .95). Preliminary exploratory analysis of differences in SFPS sub-scale scores based on demographic variables indicates that the SFPS is capable of discriminating among groups. This research validates the existence of five science-faith paradigms in practice in the Western Christian tradition, enriches the information base on science-faith paradigms in the academy, and makes possible further research in this subject area. The Science-Faith Paradigm Scale is subject to confirmatory analysis through further research and may be employed voluntarily by science faculty for self-understanding that could lead to more effective communication among science professors and greater appreciation for the diversity of scientific-religious perspectives in American higher education.

Possible reduced penetrance of expansion of 44 to 47 CAG/CAA repeats in the TATA-binding protein gene in spinocerebellar ataxia type 17.

PubMed

Oda, Masaya; Maruyama, Hirofumi; Komure, Osamu; Morino, Hiroyuki; Terasawa, Hideo; Izumi, Yuishin; Imamura, Tohru; Yasuda, Minoru; Ichikawa, Keiji; Ogawa, Masafumi; Matsumoto, Masayasu; Kawakami, Hideshi

2004-02-01

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia caused by expansion of CAG/CAA trinucleotide repeats in the TATA-binding protein (TBP) gene. Because the number of triplets in patients with SCA17 in previous studies ranged from 43 to 63, the normal number of trinucleotide units has been considered to be 42 or less. However, some healthy subjects in SCA17 pedigrees carry alleles with the same number of expanded repeats as patients with SCA17. To investigate the minimum number of CAG/CAA repeats in the TBP gene that causes SCA17. We amplified the region of the TBP gene containing the CAG/CAA repeat by means of polymerase chain reaction and performed fragment and sequence analyses. The subjects included 734 patients with SCA (480 patients with sporadic SCA and 254 patients with familial SCA) without CAG repeat expansions at the SCA1, SCA2, Machado-Joseph disease, SCA6, SCA7, or dentatorubral-pallidolluysian atrophy loci, with 162 healthy subjects, 216 patients with Parkinson disease, and 195 with Alzheimer disease as control subjects. Eight patients with SCA possessed an allele with more than 43 CAG/CAA repeats. Among the non-SCA groups, alleles with 43 to 45 repeats were seen in 3 healthy subjects and 2 with Parkinson disease. In 1 SCA pedigree, a patient with possible SCA17 and her healthy sister had alleles with 45 repeats. A 34-year-old man carrying alleles with 47 and 44 repeats (47/44) had developed progressive cerebellar ataxia and myoclonus at 25 years of age, and he exhibited dementia and pyramidal signs. He was the only affected person in his pedigree, although his father and mother carried alleles with mildly expanded repeats (44/36 and 47/36, respectively). In another pedigree, 1 patient carried a 43-repeat allele, whereas another patient had 2 normal alleles, indicating that the 43-repeat allele may not be pathologic in this family. We estimate that 44 CAG/CAA repeats is the minimum number required to cause SCA17. However, the existence of unaffected subjects with mildly expanded triplets suggests that the TBP gene mutation may not penetrate fully. Homozygosity of alleles with mildly expanded triplet repeats in the TBP gene might contribute to the pathologic phenotype.

Insights into the molecular mechanism of tolerance to carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides in Pythium aphanidermatum.

PubMed

Blum, Mathias; Gisi, Ulrich

2012-08-01

Tolerance to the oomycete-specific carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides is a poorly understood mechanism in Pythium species. The root-rot and damping-off causative agent Pythium aphanidermatum and the CAA fungicide mandipropamid (MPD) were used to investigate the molecular basis of CAA tolerance. Five genes putatively involved in carbohydrate synthesis were identified and characterised: one chitin synthase gene, PaChs, and four cellulose synthase genes PaCesA1 to PaCesA4, of which PaCesA3 encodes the MPD target enzyme. These genes were differentially expressed throughout the life cycle of P. aphanidermatum. Mycelium treated with MPD concentrations slightly affecting mycelial growth did not cause a change in PaCesA3 expression nor a strong upregulation of PaCesA homologues. The high tolerance level of P. aphanidermatum and the lack of PaCesA upregulation imply that MPD tolerance is the result of a specific amino acid configuration in the cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3) target enzyme. Indeed, P. aphanidermatum displays the amino acid L1109 which is also associated with MPD resistance in artificial mutants of Phytophthora species. It is concluded that MPD tolerance in P. aphanidermatum is not caused by compensatory mechanisms but most likely by an inherent target-site configuration in PaCesA3 that hinders MPD binding to the enzyme pocket. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.

Instability of expanded CAG/CAA repeats in spinocerebellar ataxia type 17.

PubMed

Gao, Rui; Matsuura, Tohru; Coolbaugh, Mary; Zühlke, Christine; Nakamura, Koichiro; Rasmussen, Astrid; Siciliano, Michael J; Ashizawa, Tetsuo; Lin, Xi

2008-02-01

Trinucleotide repeat expansions are dynamic mutations causing many neurological disorders, and their instability is influenced by multiple factors. Repeat configuration seems particularly important, and pure repeats are thought to be more unstable than interrupted repeats. But direct evidence is still lacking. Here, we presented strong support for this hypothesis from our studies on spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17). SCA17 is a typical polyglutamine disease caused by CAG repeat expansion in TBP (TATA binding protein), and is unique in that the pure expanded polyglutamine tract is coded by either a simple configuration with long stretches of pure CAGs or a complex configuration containing CAA interruptions. By small pool PCR (SP-PCR) analysis of blood DNA from SCA17 patients of distinct racial backgrounds, we quantitatively assessed the instability of these two types of expanded alleles coding similar length of polyglutamine expansion. Mutation frequency in patients harboring pure CAG repeats is 2-3 folds of those with CAA interruptions. Interestingly, the pure CAG repeats showed both expansion and deletion while the interrupted repeats exhibited mostly deletion at a significantly lower frequency. These data strongly suggest that repeat configuration is a critical determinant for instability, and CAA interruptions might serve as a limiting element for further expansion of CAG repeats in SCA17 locus, suggesting a molecular basis for lack of anticipation in SCA17 families with interrupted CAG expansion.

Combined effect of loss of the caa3 oxidase and Crp regulation drives Shewanella to thrive in redox-stratified environments.

PubMed

Zhou, Guangqi; Yin, Jianhua; Chen, Haijiang; Hua, Yijie; Sun, Linlin; Gao, Haichun

2013-09-01

Shewanella species are a group of facultative Gram-negative microorganisms with remarkable respiration abilities that allow the use of a diverse array of terminal electron acceptors (EA). Like most bacteria, S. oneidensis possesses multiple terminal oxidases, including two heme-copper oxidases (caa3- and cbb3-type) and a bd-type quinol oxidase. As aerobic respiration is energetically favored, mechanisms underlying the fact that these microorganisms thrive in redox-stratified environments remain vastly unexplored. In this work, we discovered that the cbb3-type oxidase is the predominant system for respiration of oxygen (O2), especially when O2 is abundant. Under microaerobic conditions, the bd-type quinol oxidase has a significant role in addition to the cbb3-type oxidase. In contrast, multiple lines of evidence suggest that under test conditions the caa3-type oxidase, an analog to the mitochondrial enzyme, has no physiological significance, likely because of its extremely low expression. In addition, expression of both cbb3- and bd-type oxidases is under direct control of Crp (cAMP receptor protein) but not the well-established redox regulator Fnr (fumarate nitrate regulator) of canonical systems typified in Escherichia coli. These data, collectively, suggest that adaptation of S. oneidensis to redox-stratified environments is likely due to functional loss of the caa3-type oxidase and switch of the regulatory system for respiration.

Mechanical sea-ice strength parameterized as a function of ice temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hata, Yukie; Tremblay, Bruno

2016-04-01

Mechanical sea-ice strength is key for a better simulation of the timing of landlock ice onset and break-up in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA). We estimate the mechanical strength of sea ice in the CAA by analyzing the position record measured by the several buoys deployed in the CAA between 2008 and 2013, and wind data from the Canadian Meteorological Centre's Global Deterministic Prediction System (CMC_GDPS) REforecasts (CGRF). First, we calculate the total force acting on the ice using the wind data. Next, we estimate upper (lower) bounds on the sea-ice strength by identifying cases when the sea ice deforms (does not deform) under the action of a given total force. Results from this analysis show that the ice strength of landlock sea ice in the CAA is approximately 40 kN/m on the landfast ice onset (in ice growth season). Additionally, it becomes approximately 10 kN/m on the landfast ice break-up (in melting season). The ice strength decreases with ice temperature increase, which is in accord with results from Johnston [2006]. We also include this new parametrization of sea-ice strength as a function of ice temperature in a coupled slab ocean sea ice model. The results from the model with and without the new parametrization are compared with the buoy data from the International Arctic Buoy Program (IABP).

Neuropathology of Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer Disease in the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center Database.

PubMed

Ringman, John M; Monsell, Sarah; Ng, Denise W; Zhou, Yan; Nguyen, Andy; Coppola, Giovanni; Van Berlo, Victoria; Mendez, Mario F; Tung, Spencer; Weintraub, Sandra; Mesulam, Marek-Marsel; Bigio, Eileen H; Gitelman, Darren R; Fisher-Hubbard, Amanda O; Albin, Roger L; Vinters, Harry V

2016-03-01

Alzheimer disease (AD) represents a genetically heterogeneous entity. To elucidate neuropathologic features of autosomal dominant AD ([ADAD] due to PSEN1, APP, or PSEN2 mutations), we compared hallmark AD pathologic findings in 60 cases of ADAD and 120 cases of sporadic AD matched for sex, race, ethnicity, and disease duration. Greater degrees of neuritic plaque and neurofibrillary tangle formation and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) were found in ADAD (p values < 0.01). Moderate to severe CAA was more prevalent in ADAD (63.3% vs. 39.2%, p = 0.003), and persons with PSEN1 mutations beyond codon 200 had higher average Braak scores and severity and prevalence of CAA than those with mutations before codon 200. Lewy body pathology was less extensive in ADAD but was present in 27.1% of cases. We also describe a novel pathogenic PSEN1 mutation (P267A). The finding of more severe neurofibrillary pathology and CAA in ADAD, particularly in carriers of PSEN1 mutations beyond codon 200, warrants consideration when designing trials to treat or prevent ADAD. The finding of Lewy body pathology in a substantial minority of ADAD cases supports the assertion that development of Lewy bodies may be in part driven by abnormal β-amyloid protein precursor processing. © 2016 American Association of Neuropathologists, Inc. All rights reserved.

Building Bridges across Knowledge Systems: Ubuntu and Participative Research Paradigms in Bantu Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muwanga-Zake, J. W. F.

2009-01-01

This paper discusses how Ubuntu as a philosophy and a methodology was used among Bantu in South Africa together with participative Western paradigms in evaluating an educational computer game. The paper argues that research among Bantu has to articulate research experiences within Ubuntu paradigms if valid outcomes are to be realised. (Contains 1…

White matter hyperintensity patterns in cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hypertensive arteriopathy.

PubMed

Charidimou, Andreas; Boulouis, Gregoire; Haley, Kellen; Auriel, Eitan; van Etten, Ellis S; Fotiadis, Panagiotis; Reijmer, Yael; Ayres, Alison; Vashkevich, Anastasia; Dipucchio, Zora Y; Schwab, Kristin M; Martinez-Ramirez, Sergi; Rosand, Jonathan; Viswanathan, Anand; Greenberg, Steven M; Gurol, M Edip

2016-02-09

To identify different white matter hyperintensity (WMH) patterns between 2 hemorrhage-prone cerebral small vessel diseases (SVD): cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and hypertensive arteriopathy (HA). Consecutive patients with SVD-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from a single-center prospective cohort were analyzed. Four predefined subcortical WMH patterns were compared between the CAA and HA groups. These WMH patterns were (1) multiple subcortical spots; (2) peri-basal ganglia (BG); (3) large posterior subcortical patches; and (4) anterior subcortical patches. Their associations with other imaging (cerebral microbleeds [CMBs], enlarged perivascular spaces [EPVS]) and clinical markers of SVD were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. The cohort included 319 patients with CAA and 137 patients with HA. Multiple subcortical spots prevalence was higher in the CAA compared to the HA group (29.8% vs 16.8%; p = 0.004). Peri-BG WMH pattern was more common in the HA- vs the CAA-ICH group (19% vs 7.8%; p = 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression, presence of multiple subcortical spots was associated with lobar CMBs (odds ratio [OR] 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.50, p = 0.039) and high degree of centrum semiovale EPVS (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.56-3.80, p < 0.0001). By contrast, age (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.09, p = 0.002), deep CMBs (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.44-4.20, p = 0.001), total WMH volume (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.04, p = 0.002), and high BG EPVS degree (OR 8.81; 95% CI 3.37-23.02, p < 0.0001) were predictors of peri-BG WMH pattern. Different patterns of subcortical leukoaraiosis visually identified on MRI might provide insights into the dominant underlying microangiopathy type as well as mechanisms of tissue injury in patients with ICH. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Will the circle be unbroken: a history of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

PubMed

Bachmann, John

2007-06-01

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Air & Waste Management Association, this review examines the history of air quality management (AQM) in the United States over the last century, with an emphasis on the ambient standards programs established by the landmark 1970 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments. The current CAA system is a hybrid of several distinct air pollution control philosophies, including the recursive or circular system driven by ambient standards. Although this evolving system has resulted in tremendous improvements in air quality, it has been far from perfect in terms of timeliness and effectiveness. The paper looks at several periods in the history of the U.S. program, including: (1) 1900-1970, spanning the early smoke abatement and smog control programs, the first federal involvement, and the development of a hybrid AQM approach in the 1970 CAA; (2) 1971-1976, when the first National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were set and implemented; (3) 1977-1993, a period of the first revisions to the standards, new CAA Amendments, delays in implementation and decision-making, and key science/policy/legislative developments that would alter both the focus and scale of air pollution programs and how they are implemented; and (4) 1993-2006, the second and third wave of NAAQS revisions and their implementation in the context of the 1990 CAA. This discussion examines where NAAQS have helped drive implementation programs and how improvements in both effects and air quality/control sciences influenced policy and legislation to enhance the effectiveness of the system over time. The review concludes with a look toward the future of AQM, emphasizing challenges and ways to meet them. The most significant of these is the need to make more efficient progress toward air quality goals, while adjusting the system to address the growing intersections between air quality management and climate change.

A simplified conjoint recognition paradigm for the measurement of gist and verbatim memory.

PubMed

Stahl, Christoph; Klauer, Karl Christoph

2008-05-01

The distinction between verbatim and gist memory traces has furthered the understanding of numerous phenomena in various fields, such as false memory research, research on reasoning and decision making, and cognitive development. To measure verbatim and gist memory empirically, an experimental paradigm and multinomial measurement model has been proposed but rarely applied. In the present article, a simplified conjoint recognition paradigm and multinomial model is introduced and validated as a measurement tool for the separate assessment of verbatim and gist memory processes. A Bayesian metacognitive framework is applied to validate guessing processes. Extensions of the model toward incorporating the processes of phantom recollection and erroneous recollection rejection are discussed.

Measures of Effectiveness-CONUS Reorganization 1973 (As Pertains to FORSCOM, TRADOC, HSC, OTEA and CAA). Volume I. Executive Summary

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-11-01

obvioun that they were’ dkep]y corncented a d halrd at work in &,tvrloping meaw to masure their rmT effectiveness . This proposed eval- tiatiot plIn wilt be...AD/A-002 532 MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS -CONUS REORCAN- IZATION 1973 (AS PERTAINS TO FORSCOM. TRADOC, HSC, OTEA AND CAA). VOLUME I.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY M...resulting Interaction organizational objective goal effectiveness imovati ye chanuge vrasurement are a The study provider, an evaluatinn plan, "ased

Implementation of Change (IC).

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-30

4- co C\\J t ) t r) - 1 )C CC :r E 4-’ c) C- co cn a, ko r- co0 :3 -~ a)~ -D V) 0:3 4-2 CAA-SR-80-5 4-5. SUMMARY. The above discussion suggests that...MTOE documents frequently cost the Army resources; e.g., changes to components of sets, kits and outfits ( SKO ). On the other hand, failure to implement...either retraineo tn recruited to meet the qudlification requiremient. F-13 CAA-SR- KO -5 a. Central Assignment Procedures System (CAP III). Personnel

Personnel Attrition Rates in Historical Land Combat Operations: Susceptibility and Vulnerability of Major Anatomical Regions

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-08-01

effectiveness , estimate personnel attr;i"on, perform studies and analyses. or assess protective equipment for personnel. i II CAA-RP-93-3 DEPARTMENT OF THE...weapons or weapons effects that are difficult to localize are excluded from the 1-1 CAA-RP-93-3 scope of this paper Some examples of the types of weapons...or weapon effects excluded atr" .;i,nical weapons (encompassing war gases and other toxic substances, flame weapons. and biological agents), nuclear

Total Army Requirements Program - Phase I (TARP-I).

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-07

PUTY CHITF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS AND PLANS WASHINGTON, D.C. A0316 ,,, TO DAHO -RQR 5 E 1980 A’T’ YIO orP SUBJECT: Study Directive - Total Army...ATTN: DAMO-RQR. 6. STUDY AGENCY. US Army Concepts Analysis Agency. B-1 CAA-SR-81-14 DAHO -RQR SUBJECT: Study Directive - Total Army Requirements...copy of report. (5) May 1981 - SAG Meeting, present report findings. (6) June 1981 - Publish report. B-3 CAA-SR-81-14 DAHO -RQR SUBJECT: Study

Identifying Molecular Regulators of Neuronal Functions Affected in the Movement Disorder Dystonia

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-01

GC-3’ (forward), 5’-CGT GTG GCT GTT GGG GTT GTT GCT GAG GTA-3’ (reverse) for the 498-bp amplicon, 5’-CAC CCT ATC AGG GGA GGA CAA CTT TCG-3’ (forward...3’ (reverse) for the 983- bp amplicon, and 5’-CAC CCT ATC AGG GGA GGA CAA CTT TCG-3’ (forward), 5’-ACA GTG TAG TAA GGC AAA GCA AGG AG-3’ (reverse) for

Identification and location tasks rely on different mental processes: a diffusion model account of validity effects in spatial cueing paradigms with emotional stimuli.

PubMed

Imhoff, Roland; Lange, Jens; Germar, Markus

2018-02-22

Spatial cueing paradigms are popular tools to assess human attention to emotional stimuli, but different variants of these paradigms differ in what participants' primary task is. In one variant, participants indicate the location of the target (location task), whereas in the other they indicate the shape of the target (identification task). In the present paper we test the idea that although these two variants produce seemingly comparable cue validity effects on response times, they rest on different underlying processes. Across four studies (total N = 397; two in the supplement) using both variants and manipulating the motivational relevance of cue content, diffusion model analyses revealed that cue validity effects in location tasks are primarily driven by response biases, whereas the same effect rests on delay due to attention to the cue in identification tasks. Based on this, we predict and empirically support that a symmetrical distribution of valid and invalid cues would reduce cue validity effects in location tasks to a greater extent than in identification tasks. Across all variants of the task, we fail to replicate the effect of greater cue validity effects for arousing (vs. neutral) stimuli. We discuss the implications of these findings for best practice in spatial cueing research.

Why the Evidence-Based Paradigm in Early Childhood Education and Care Is Anything but Evident

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vandenbroeck, Michel; Roets, Griet; Roose, Rudi

2012-01-01

Praxeological research is a necessary contribution to the research field in early childhood education and care, which is currently dominated by an evidence-based paradigm that tends to consider the measurement of predefined outcomes as the most valid form of research. We analyse the history of the evidence-based paradigm in the field of medicine…

Paradigms or Toolkits? Philosophical and Methodological Positions as Heuristics for Mixed Methods Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maxwell, Joseph A.

2011-01-01

In this article, the author challenges the validity and usefulness of the concept of "paradigm," as this term has been used in the social sciences generally, and specifically in the debates over research methods. He emphasizes that in criticizing what he sees as the misuse of the paradigm concept, he is not arguing for dismissing or ignoring…

Development of a multiplex allele-specific primer PCR assay for simultaneous detection of QoI and CAA fungicide resistance alleles in Plasmopara viticola populations.

PubMed

Aoki, Yoshinao; Hada, Yosuke; Suzuki, Shunji

2013-02-01

DNA-based diagnosis has become a common tool for the evaluation of fungicide resistance in obligate phytopathogenic fungus Plasmopara viticola. A multiplex allele-specific primer PCR assay has been developed for the rapid detection of fungicide resistance in P. viticola populations. With this assay, a glycine-to-alanine substitution at codon 143 of the P. viticola cytochrome b gene, which conferred QoI fungicide resistance, and a glycine-to-serine substitution at codon 1105 of the P. viticola cellulose synthase gene PvCesA3, which conferred CAA fungicide resistance, were detected simultaneously. It is suggested that the present assay is a reliable tool for the rapid and simultaneous detection of QoI and CAA fungicide resistance alleles in P. viticola populations. The assay required only 2 h from the sampling of symptoms to the detection of resistance alleles to both fungicides. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cerebral vascular amyloid seeds drive amyloid β-protein fibril assembly with a distinct anti-parallel structure

PubMed Central

Xu, Feng; Fu, Ziao; Dass, Sharmila; Kotarba, AnnMarie E.; Davis, Judianne; Smith, Steven O.; Van Nostrand, William E.

2016-01-01

Cerebrovascular accumulation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ), a condition known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), is a common pathological feature of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Familial Aβ mutations, such as Dutch-E22Q and Iowa-D23N, can cause severe cerebrovascular accumulation of amyloid that serves as a potent driver of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. The distinctive features of vascular amyloid that underlie its unique pathological properties remain unknown. Here, we use transgenic mouse models producing CAA mutants (Tg-SwDI) or overproducing human wild-type Aβ (Tg2576) to demonstrate that CAA-mutant vascular amyloid influences wild-type Aβ deposition in brain. We also show isolated microvascular amyloid seeds from Tg-SwDI mice drive assembly of human wild-type Aβ into distinct anti-parallel β-sheet fibrils. These findings indicate that cerebrovascular amyloid can serve as an effective scaffold to promote rapid assembly and strong deposition of Aβ into a unique structure that likely contributes to its distinctive pathology. PMID:27869115

KSC-2012-6227

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-11-14

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Orion spacecraft crew access arm, or CAA, seal prototype is being checked out at the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Monitoring the activity, from the left are Kent Bachelor, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies lead, Kelli Maloney, NASA lead and Clayton Gvasse, Nelson Engineering lead. The tests will use a mockup of the vehicle Outer Mold Line and CAA white room to test the performance of the seal while simulating vehicle to CAA white room excursions. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

Corrective Action Investigation Plan for Corrective Action Unit 568: Area 3 Plutonium Dispersion Sites Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 0

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

Matthews, Patrick

2014-01-01

CAU 568 is a grouping of sites where there has been a suspected release of contamination associated with nuclear testing. This document describes the planned investigation of CAU 568, which comprises the following corrective action sites (CASs): • 03-23-17, S-3I Contamination Area • 03-23-19, T-3U Contamination Area • 03-23-20, Otero Contamination Area • 03-23-22, Platypus Contamination Area • 03-23-23, San Juan Contamination Area • 03-23-26, Shrew/Wolverine Contamination Area These sites are being investigated because existing information on the nature and extent of potential contamination is insufficient to evaluate and recommend corrective action alternatives (CAAs). Additional information will be obtained bymore » conducting a corrective action investigation before evaluating CAAs and selecting the appropriate corrective action for each CAS. The results of the field investigation will support a defensible evaluation of viable CAAs that will be presented in the investigation report.« less

76 FR 19292 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Oregon; Interstate Transport of Pollution...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-07

...EPA is proposing to approve a portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Oregon for the purpose of addressing the interstate transport provisions of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA requires that each State have adequate provisions to prohibit air emissions from adversely affecting air quality in other States through interstate transport. EPA is proposing to approve Oregon's SIP revision for the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS as meeting the requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) to prohibit emissions that will contribute significantly to nonattainment of the these standards in any other State and to prohibit emissions that will interfere with maintenance of these standards by any other State.

Coffee phenolic phytochemicals suppress colon cancer metastasis by targeting MEK and TOPK.

PubMed

Kang, Nam Joo; Lee, Ki Won; Kim, Bo Hyun; Bode, Ann M; Lee, Hyo-Jeong; Heo, Yong-Seok; Boardman, Lisa; Limburg, Paul; Lee, Hyong Joo; Dong, Zigang

2011-06-01

Epidemiological studies suggest that coffee consumption reduces the risk of cancers, including colon cancer, but the molecular mechanisms and target(s) underlying the chemopreventive effects of coffee and its active ingredient(s) remain unknown. Based on serving size or daily units, coffee contains larger amounts of phenolic phytochemicals than tea or red wine. Coffee or chlorogenic acid inhibited CT-26 colon cancer cell-induced lung metastasis by blocking phosphorylation of ERKs. Coffee or caffeic acid (CaA) strongly suppressed mitogen-activated MEK1 and TOPK activities and bound directly to either MEK1 or TOPK in an ATP-noncompetitive manner. Coffee or CaA, but not caffeine, inhibited ERKs phosphorylation, AP-1 and NF-κB transactivation and subsequently inhibited TPA-, EGF- and H-Ras-induced neoplastic transformation of JB6 P+ cells. Coffee consumption was also associated with a significant attenuation of ERKs phosphorylation in colon cancer patients. These results suggest that coffee and CaA target MEK1 and TOPK to suppress colon cancer metastasis and neoplastic cell transformation.

Aβ-related angiitis: comparison with CAA without inflammation and primary CNS vasculitis.

PubMed

Salvarani, Carlo; Hunder, Gene G; Morris, Jonathan M; Brown, Robert D; Christianson, Teresa; Giannini, Caterina

2013-10-29

To analyze the clinical findings, response to therapy, and outcomes of patients with cerebral vascular amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition with and without inflammatory vascular infiltration. We report 78 consecutive patients with cerebral vascular Aβ deposition examined at Mayo Clinic Rochester over 25 years (1987 through 2011). Specimens reviewed by a neuropathologist showed 40 with vascular Aβ peptide without inflammation (cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]), 28 with granulomatous vasculitis (Aβ-related angiitis or ABRA), and 10 with perivascular CAA-related inflammation. We also matched findings in 118 consecutive patients with primary CNS vasculitis (PCNSV) without Aβ seen over 25 years (1983 through 2007). Compared to the 40 with CAA, the 28 with ABRA were younger at diagnosis (p = 0.05), had less altered cognition (p = 0.02), fewer neurologic deficits (p = 0.02), and fewer intracranial hemorrhages (<0.001), but increased gadolinium leptomeningeal enhancement (p = 0.01) at presentation, and less mortality and disability at last follow-up (p < 0.001). Compared with PCNSV, the 28 patients with ABRA were older at diagnosis (p < 0.001), had a higher frequency of altered cognition (p = 0.05), seizures/spells (p = 0.006), gadolinium leptomeningeal enhancement (p < 0.001), and intracerebral hemorrhage (p = 0.02), lower frequency of hemiparesis (p = 0.01), visual symptoms (p = 0.04), and MRI evidence of cerebral infarction (p = 0.003), but higher CSF protein levels (p = 0.03). Results of treatment and outcomes in ABRA and PCNSV were similar. ABRA appears to represent a distinct subset of PCNSV.

Vibrant soundbridge in aural atresia: does severity matter?

PubMed

McKinnon, B J; Dumon, T; Hagen, R; Lesinskas, E; Mlynski, R; Profant, M; Spindel, J; Van Beek-King, J; Zernotti, M

2014-07-01

Congenital aural atresia (CAA) poses significant challenges to surgical remediation. Both bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA) and the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) have been considered as alternatives or adjuncts to conventional atresiaplasty. A consensus statement on VSB implantation in children and adolescents recommended against implantation when the Jahrsdoerfer score was less than 8. More recent publications suggest that patients with Jahrsdoerfer scores between three and seven may benefit from VSB implantation. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the outcomes of VSB implantation in CAA. The study was a multi-center, retrospective review. A retrospective review of data (patient's demographic, clinical, implant and audiological information) from four collaborating centers that have performed VSB implantation in CAA was performed. Outcomes based on severity of the atresia using the Jahrsdoerfer and Yellon-Branstetter scoring systems were also evaluated. Data from 28 patients from the four centers revealed no iatrogenic facial nerve injuries or change in bone thresholds. Post-operative speech threshold and speech recognition was, respectively, 39 dB and 94%. Jahrsdoerfer and Yellon scores ranged from 4 to 9 and 4 to 12, respectively. The scores did not correlate to or predict outcomes. Three individual elements of the scores did correlate to initial, but not long-term outcomes. Atresiaplasty and BAHA in the management of CAA are not complete solutions. VSB may offer an alternative in these surgically complex patients for achieving amplification, though better metrics for patient selection need to be developed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE : IV.

Candida albicans C3d receptor, isolated by using a monoclonal antibody.

PubMed Central

Linehan, L; Wadsworth, E; Calderone, R

1988-01-01

Pseudohyphae of Candida albicans possess a receptor for C3d, a fragment of the complement component C3. This receptor was partially purified by using a monoclonal antibody (CA-A) that previously had been shown to inhibit the binding of C3d to C. albicans pseudohyphae. Purified immunoglobulin G from ascites fluid (CA-A) was coupled to a cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose column, and an affinity-purified fraction (A2) from C. albicans pseudohyphae was obtained. This fraction inhibited rosetting of the EAC3d receptor by pseudohyphae and appeared to contain glycoprotein, since receptor activity could be removed when A2 was incubated with lectins specific for mannose and glucose. A2 was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and two polypeptides of approximately 60 and 70 kilodaltons (kDa) were consistently identified in reducing gels. The 60-kDa protein was identified as a glycoprotein by concanavalin A binding. A2 was further analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Of three fractions obtained by HPLC, one containing the 60-kDa protein was found to have receptor activity. When analyzed by HPLC, this protein was found to contain mannose and glucose in approximately equal amounts. Both immunofluorescence and electron microscopy of pseudohyphae treated with CA-A identified A2 as a surface moiety. Thus, the C3d receptor of C. albicans, isolated with CA-A, is a glycoprotein of approximately 60 kDa. Images PMID:2969374

RNA editing in the anticodon of tRNA Leu (CAA) occurs before group I intron splicing in plastids of a moss Takakia lepidozioides S. Hatt. & Inoue.

PubMed

Miyata, Y; Sugita, C; Maruyama, K; Sugita, M

2008-03-01

RNA editing of cytidine (C) to uridine (U) transitions occurs in plastids and mitochondria of most land plants. In this study, we amplified and sequenced the group I intron-containing tRNA Leu gene, trnL-CAA, from Takakia lepidozioides, a moss. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the T. lepidozioides tRNA Leu gene consisted of a 35-bp 5' exon, a 469-bp group I intron and a 50-bp 3' exon. The intron was inserted between the first and second position of the tRNA Leu anticodon. In general, plastid tRNA Leu genes with a group I intron code for a TAA anticodon in most land plants. This strongly suggests that the first nucleotide of the CAA anticodon could be edited in T. lepidozioides plastids. To investigate this possibility, we analysed cDNAs derived from the trnL-CAA transcripts. We demonstrated that the first nucleotide C of the anticodon was edited to create a canonical UAA anticodon in T. lepidozioides plastids. cDNA sequencing analyses of the spliced or unspliced tRNA Leu transcripts revealed that, while the spliced tRNA was completely edited, editing in the unspliced tRNAs were only partial. This is the first experimental evidence that the anticodon editing of tRNA occurs before RNA splicing in plastids. This suggests that this editing is a prerequisite to splicing of pre-tRNA Leu.

The round window diameter in congenital aural atresia and comparison with sensorineural hearing loss and control group.

PubMed

Saylisoy, Suzan; Incesulu, Armagan; Kaya, Ercan; Pinarbasli, Ozgur; Adapinar, Baki

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to measure round window (RW) diameters in patients with congenital aural atresia (CAA) or sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and a normal control group and to analyze whether differences exist between these groups. Temporal bone computed tomographic scans of 12 patients with CAA (5 males, 7 females) aged 1 to 50 years (median age, 6 years), 12 patients with SNHL (8 males, 4 females) aged 2 to 32 years (median age, 5 years), and 11 patients (3 males, 7 females) aged 2 months to 53 years (median age, 8 years) randomly selected from a pool of patients with unilateral chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma were reviewed. We measured RW diameter on oblique reconstruction planes. To prevent possible individual differences, skull width was measured. There were no statistically significant differences between all groups for skull width. Both RW diameter and RW membrane width were found smaller in the CAA group than both SNHL group and control group with statistical significance, whereas there were no statistically significant differences between the SNHL group and the control group. We found that both the RW diameter and RW membrane width in CAA were smaller than those in the control group. If this finding is supported in future studies, the production of floating mass transducer with different sizes may be useful. We suggest that RW diameter should be measured in each patient before operation and thus a floating mass transducer with the appropriate caliber should be chosen.

Degradation of hydroxycinnamic acid mixtures in aqueous sucrose solutions by the Fenton process.

PubMed

Nguyen, Danny M T; Zhang, Zhanying; Doherty, William O S

2015-02-11

The degradation efficiencies and behaviors of caffeic acid (CaA), p-coumaric acid (pCoA), and ferulic acid (FeA) in aqueous sucrose solutions containing the mixture of these hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) were studied by the Fenton oxidation process. Central composite design and multiresponse surface methodology were used to evaluate and optimize the interactive effects of process parameters. Four quadratic polynomial models were developed for the degradation of each individual acid in the mixture and the total HCAs degraded. Sucrose was the most influential parameter that significantly affected the total amount of HCA degraded. Under the conditions studied there was a <0.01% loss of sucrose in all reactions. The optimal values of the process parameters for a 200 mg/L HCA mixture in water (pH 4.73, 25.15 °C) and sucrose solution (13 mass %, pH 5.39, 35.98 °C) were 77% and 57%, respectively. Regression analysis showed goodness of fit between the experimental results and the predicted values. The degradation behavior of CaA differed from those of pCoA and FeA, where further CaA degradation is observed at increasing sucrose and decreasing solution pH. The differences (established using UV/vis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy) were because, unlike the other acids, CaA formed a complex with Fe(III) or with Fe(III) hydrogen-bonded to sucrose and coprecipitated with lepidocrocite, an iron oxyhydroxide.

Efficiency of three diets for larval development in mass rearing Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

PubMed

Puggioli, Arianna; Balestrino, F; Damiens, D; Lees, R S; Soliban, S M; Madakacherry, O; Dindo, M L; Bellini, R; Gilles, J R L

2013-07-01

A fundamental step in establishing a mass production system is the development of a larval diet that promotes high adult performance at a reasonable cost. To identify a suitable larval diet for Aedes albopictus (Skuse), three diets were compared: a standard laboratory diet used at the Centro Agricoltura Ambiente, Italy (CAA) and two diets developed specifically for mosquito mass rearing at the FAO/IAEA Laboratory, Austria. The two IAEA diets, without affecting survival to the pupal stage, resulted in a shorter time to pupation and to emergence when compared with the CAA diet. At 24 h from pupation onset, 50 and 90% of the male pupae produced on the CAA and IAEA diets, respectively, had formed and could be collected. The diet received during the larval stage affected the longevity of adult males with access to water only, with best results observed when using the CAA larval diet. However, similar longevity among diet treatments was observed when males were supplied with sucrose solution. No differences were observed in the effects of larval diet on adult male size or female fecundity and fertility. Considering these results, along with the relative costs of the three diets, the IAEA 2 diet is found to be the preferred choice for mass rearing of Aedes albopictus, particularly if a sugar meal can be given to adult males before release, to ensure their teneral reserves are sufficient for survival, dispersal, and mating in the field.

Duration of high-dose aspirin therapy does not affect long-term coronary artery outcomes in Kawasaki disease.

PubMed

Migally, Karl; Braunlin, Elizabeth A; Zhang, Lei; Binstadt, Bryce A

2018-05-02

BackgroundHigh-dose aspirin (HDA) is used with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in Kawasaki disease (KD). Practice regarding HDA varies, and it is unclear whether HDA duration affects the long-term course.MethodsWe retrospectively studied KD patients at our hospital for over 10 years. Patients were categorized as having received HDA for 0, 1-7, or >7 days. Primary outcome was the maximum coronary Z-score at diagnosis and follow-up; secondary outcomes included inflammatory markers.ResultsOne hundred and three patients had HDA duration documented, of which 35 patients had coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) at diagnosis. There was no difference in demographics or inflammatory markers between the HDA groups, and no difference in HDA duration between patients with or without CAAs. Seventeen patients received no HDA; they had longer illness and defervescence duration before diagnosis, and were less likely to receive IVIg. For CAAs, multivariate regression revealed that HDA duration did not predict the coronary Z-score at 9-15 months. Higher Z-score at diagnosis was associated with higher Z-score at 9-15 months.ConclusionThe only factor associated with coronary Z-score at 9-15 months was the Z-score at diagnosis. At our institution, longer illness and defervescence duration and the lack of IVIg administration were associated with not administering HDA. HDA duration did not affect the clinically relevant outcomes, particularly CAA persistence.Pediatric Research advance online publication, 2 May 2018; doi:10.1038/pr.2018.44.

Is Vasomotion in Cerebral Arteries Impaired in Alzheimer's Disease?

PubMed

Di Marco, Luigi Yuri; Farkas, Eszter; Martin, Chris; Venneri, Annalena; Frangi, Alejandro F

2015-01-01

A substantial body of evidence supports the hypothesis of a vascular component in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebral hypoperfusion and blood-brain barrier dysfunction have been indicated as key elements of this pathway. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a cerebrovascular disorder, frequent in AD, characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in cerebral blood vessel walls. CAA is associated with loss of vascular integrity, resulting in impaired regulation of cerebral circulation, and increased susceptibility to cerebral ischemia, microhemorrhages, and white matter damage. Vasomotion- the spontaneous rhythmic modulation of arterial diameter, typically observed in arteries/arterioles in various vascular beds including the brain- is thought to participate in tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery regulation. Vasomotion is impaired in adverse conditions such as hypoperfusion and hypoxia. The perivascular and glymphatic pathways of Aβ clearance are thought to be driven by the systolic pulse. Vasomotion produces diameter changes of comparable amplitude, however at lower rates, and could contribute to these mechanisms of Aβ clearance. In spite of potential clinical interest, studies addressing cerebral vasomotion in the context of AD/CAA are limited. This study reviews the current literature on vasomotion, and hypothesizes potential paths implicating impaired cerebral vasomotion in AD/CAA. Aβ and oxidative stress cause vascular tone dysregulation through direct effects on vascular cells, and indirect effects mediated by impaired neurovascular coupling. Vascular tone dysregulation is further aggravated by cholinergic deficit and results in depressed cerebrovascular reactivity and (possibly) impaired vasomotion, aggravating regional hypoperfusion and promoting further Aβ and oxidative stress accumulation.

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 413: Clean Slate II Plutonium Dispersion (TTR) Tonopah Test Range, Nevada. Revision 0

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

Matthews, Patrick

This Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan provides the rationale and supporting information for the selection and implementation of corrective actions at Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 413, Clean Slate II Plutonium Dispersion (TTR). CAU 413 is located on the Tonopah Test Range and includes one corrective action site, TA-23-02CS. CAU 413 consists of the release of radionuclides to the surface and shallow subsurface from the Clean Slate II (CSII) storage–transportation test conducted on May 31, 1963. The CSII test was a non-nuclear detonation of a nuclear device located inside a concrete bunker covered with 2 feet of soil. To facilitatemore » site investigation and the evaluation of data quality objectives decisions, the releases at CAU 413 were divided into seven study groups: 1 Undisturbed Areas 2 Disturbed Areas 3 Sedimentation Areas 4 Former Staging Area 5 Buried Debris 6 Potential Source Material 7 Soil Mounds Corrective action investigation (CAI) activities, as set forth in the CAU 413 Corrective Action Investigation Plan, were performed from June 2015 through May 2016. Radionuclides detected in samples collected during the CAI were used to estimate total effective dose using the Construction Worker exposure scenario. Corrective action was required for areas where total effective dose exceeded, or was assumed to exceed, the radiological final action level (FAL) of 25 millirem per year. The results of the CAI and the assumptions made in the data quality objectives resulted in the following conclusions: The FAL is exceeded in surface soil in SG1, Undisturbed Areas; The FAL is assumed to be exceeded in SG5, Buried Debris, where contaminated debris and soil were buried after the CSII test; The FAL is not exceeded at SG2, SG3, SG4, SG6, or SG7. Because the FAL is exceeded at CAU 413, corrective action is required and corrective action alternatives (CAAs) must be evaluated. For CAU 413, three CAAs were evaluated: no further action, clean closure, and closure in place. The CAAs were evaluated on technical merit focusing on performance, reliability, feasibility, safety, and cost. Based on the evaluation of analytical data from the CAI, review of future and current operations at CAU 413, and the detailed and comparative analysis of CAAs, clean closure was selected as the preferred CAA for CAU 413 by the U.S. Air Force, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Department of Energy at the CAA meeting held on August 24, 2016.« less

The Pliocene High Arctic terrestrial palaeoenvironmental record and the development of the western Canadian Arctic coastal plain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rybczynski, N.; Braschi, L.; Gosse, J. C.; Kennedy, C.; Fraser, D.; Lakeman, T.

2013-12-01

The Pliocene fossil record of the High Arctic is represented by a collection of sites that occur across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA), with deposits in the west comprising a 1200 km-long dissected clastic wedge (Beaufort Formation) and those in the east represented by high terrace gravel deposits. Fossil material from these sites is often very well preserved and provides evidence of a boreal-type forest. In the eastern Arctic our research sites includes the Fyles Leaf Bed (FLB) and the Beaver Pond (BP) sites, on west central Ellesmere Island. These are about 10 km apart and preserve evidence of forest and peatlands. The BP fossil site preserves the remains of fossil vertebrates including fish, frog, horse, beaver, deerlet, and black bear, consistent with a boreal type forest habitat. The FLB site has recently yielded the first fossil evidence for a High Arctic camel, identified with the help of collagen fingerprinting from a fragmentary limb bone (tibia). Although modern camels live in open habitats, biogeographic and comparative dental evidence, in combination, suggest that the North American Arctic camels were browsers, and therefore forest-dwelling. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Ellesmere sites has yielded a Mean Annual Temperature of between 14 to 22 degrees Celsius warmer than today. Minimum cosmogenic nuclide burial ages of 3.4 and 3.8 Ma obtained for the BP and FLB sites, respectively, are consistent with vertebrate and floral biostratigraphic evidence. The Beaufort Formation, located in the Western CAA, was formed by a regional northwesterly flowing braided fluvial system. The Beaufort Formation appears to have filled at least the western portions of the 100 km-wide channels that currently separate the islands of the CAA. Intervals of Pliocene continental-shelf progradation are recorded in the lower Iperk Formation, which is situated offshore and includes complex sigmoid-oblique clinoforms indicative of high-energy, coarse-clastic, deltaic sedimentation. A key objective of our research is to derive new age estimates and improved correlations between the eastern Arctic deposits, Beaufort and Iperk Formations in order to test different hypotheses to explain the nature of the dramatic landscape changes that were responsible for deposition of the Beaufort Formation and infilling of the CAA channels. For example, if the channels of the modern CAA function as a heat source during winter months and a heat sink during summer months, infilling of the CAA channels in the Pliocene by the Beaufort Formation may have functioned to shut down this radiative process, resulting in increased continentality.

Reductionism, Paradigm Shifts, and Learning Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forness, Steven R.

1988-01-01

In response to two papers decrying reductionism and advocating holistic constructivism in models of learning disabilities, the article applauds trends toward a shifting paradigm in the field but warns against advocating any single approach as the only valid path to effective learning. (DB)

A Behavioral Commentary on Poplin's Discussion of Reductionistic Fallacy and Holistic/Constructivist Principles.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kimball, Walter H.; Heron, Timothy E.

1988-01-01

In response to two papers decrying reductionism and advocating holistic constructivism in models of learning disabilities, the article claims that the behavioral paradigm, unlike the holistic paradigm, has provided a validated and documented instructional methodology. (DB)

Information processing as a paradigm for decision making.

PubMed

Oppenheimer, Daniel M; Kelso, Evan

2015-01-03

For decades, the dominant paradigm for studying decision making--the expected utility framework--has been burdened by an increasing number of empirical findings that question its validity as a model of human cognition and behavior. However, as Kuhn (1962) argued in his seminal discussion of paradigm shifts, an old paradigm cannot be abandoned until a new paradigm emerges to replace it. In this article, we argue that the recent shift in researcher attention toward basic cognitive processes that give rise to decision phenomena constitutes the beginning of that replacement paradigm. Models grounded in basic perceptual, attentional, memory, and aggregation processes have begun to proliferate. The development of this new approach closely aligns with Kuhn's notion of paradigm shift, suggesting that this is a particularly generative and revolutionary time to be studying decision science.

Self-assembling cyclic tetrapeptide from alternating C-linked carbo-beta-amino acid [(S)-beta-Caa] and alpha-aminoxy acid [(R)-Ama]: a selective chloride ion receptor.

PubMed

Sharma, Gangavaram V M; Manohar, Vennampalli; Dutta, Samit Kumar; Sridhar, Bojja; Ramesh, Venna; Srinivas, Ragampeta; Kunwar, Ajit C

2010-02-19

A cyclic tetrapeptide is prepared from alternating (S)-beta-Caa (C-linked carbo-beta-amino acid) and (R)-Ama (alpha-aminoxy acid). Extensive NMR (in CDCl(3) solution) and mass spectral (MS) studies show its halide binding capacity, with a special affinity to the chloride ion. At higher concentration it was found to form molecular aggregates as evidenced from transmission electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic analysis, confirming the formation of nanorods.

Detection of Hb Constant Spring [α142, Term→Gln, TAA>CAA (α2)] in heterozygotes combined with β-thalassemia.

PubMed

Li, You-Qiong; Li, Ru; Li, Dong-Zhi

2013-01-01

Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS, α142, Term→Gln, TAA>CAA (α2)] is a nondeletional form of α-thalassemia (α-thal) that is most prevalent in Southern Chinese and Southeast Asian populations. We previously found that Hb CS trait could efficiently be screened using Sebia Capillarys2. In this study, we report that Hb CS heterozygotes combined with β-thal could not be detected by the Sebia Capillarys2 method due to the very small amount of Hb CS.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

With a control panel visible in the foreground, a technician begins installation of the Orion crew access arm (CAA) to the mobile launcher (ML) tower at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System, or SLS, rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

Viewed from the 274-foot level mobile launcher (ML), technicians help install the Orion crew access arm (CAA) to the tower at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Phenothiazine-based CaaX competitive inhibitors of human farnesyltransferase bearing a cysteine, methionine, serine or valine moiety as a new family of antitumoral compounds.

PubMed

Dumitriu, Gina-Mirabela; Bîcu, Elena; Belei, Dalila; Rigo, Benoît; Dubois, Joëlle; Farce, Amaury; Ghinet, Alina

2015-10-15

A new family of CaaX competitive inhibitors of human farnesyltransferase based on phenothiazine and carbazole skeleton bearing a l-cysteine, l-methionine, l-serine or l-valine moiety was designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated. Phenothiazine derivatives proved to be more active than carbazole-based compounds. Phenothiazine 1b with cysteine residue was the most promising inhibitor of human farnesyltransferase in the current study. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New Synthetic and Assembly Methodology for Guiding Nanomaterial Assembly with High Fidelity into 1D Clusters and 3D Crystals Using Biomimetic Interactions

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

sequences Type Sequence (* = Phosphorothioate bases) Tm S/S𔃻/S𔃼 (°C) U T*T*T* T*T*T TTT TTA CTC ACC TAT ATC A 16.5 U𔃻 GTG AGT A U...27 T𔃻 GTC GTG A T𔃼 CAA AGT GT T𔃽 CAA AGT GTG TCG TGA 27% 25% 48% F re qu en cy ( % ) 0 20 40 60 80 100 0-30° 31-60° 61-90° (b) (i) (ii

Law's Dilemma: Validating Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Clash of Evidential Paradigms

PubMed Central

Iyioha, Ireh

2011-01-01

This paper examines the (in)compatibility between the diagnostic and therapeutic theories of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and a science-based regulatory framework. Specifically, the paper investigates the nexus between statutory legitimacy and scientific validation of health systems, with an examination of its impact on the development of complementary and alternative therapies. The paper evaluates competing theories for validating CAM ranging from the RCT methodology to anthropological perspectives and contends that while the RCT method might be beneficial in the regulation of many CAM therapies, yet dogmatic adherence to this paradigm as the exclusive method for legitimizing CAM will be adverse to the independent development of many CAM therapies whose philosophies and mechanisms of action are not scientifically interpretable. Drawing on history and research evidence to support this argument, the paper sues for a regulatory model that is accommodative of different evidential paradigms in support of a pluralistic healthcare system that balances the imperative of quality assurance with the need to ensure access. PMID:20953428

ATXN2 with intermediate-length CAG/CAA repeats does not seem to be a risk factor in hereditary spastic paraplegia.

PubMed

Nielsen, Troels Tolstrup; Svenstrup, Kirsten; Budtz-Jørgensen, Esben; Eiberg, Hans; Hasholt, Lis; Nielsen, Jørgen E

2012-10-15

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) confines a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive spasticity and lower limb weakness. Age of onset is highly variable even in familial cases with known mutations suggesting that the disease is modulated by other yet unknown parameters. Although progressive gait disturbances, lower limb spasticity and extensor plantar responses are hallmarks of HSP these characteristics are also found in other neurodegenerative disorders, e.g. amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). HSP has been linked to ALS and frontotemporal degeneration with motor neuron disease (FTD-MND), since TDP-43 positive inclusions have recently been found in an HSP subtype, and TDP-43 are found in abundance in pathological inclusions of both ALS and FTD-MND. Furthermore, ataxin-2 (encoded by the gene ATXN2), a polyglutamine containing protein elongated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, has been shown to be a modulator of TDP-43 induced toxicity in ALS animal and cell models. Finally, it has been shown that ATXN2 with non-pathogenic intermediate-length CAG/CAA repeat elongations (encoding the polyglutamine tract) is a genetic risk factor of ALS. Considering the similarities in the disease phenotype and the neuropathological link between ALS and HSP we hypothesized that intermediate-length CAG/CAA repeats in ATXN2 could be a modulator of HSP. We show that in a cohort of 181 HSP patients 4.9 % of the patients had intermediate-length CAG/CAA repeats in ATXN2 which was not significantly different from the frequencies in a Danish control cohort or in American and European control populations. However, the mean age of onset was significantly lower in HSP patients with intermediate-length CAG/CAA repeats in ATXN2 compared to patients with normal length repeats. Based on these results we conclude that ATXN2 is most likely not a risk factor of HSP, whereas it might serve as a modulator of age of onset. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of novel and standard diagnostic tools for the detection of Schistosoma mekongi infection in Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia.

PubMed

Vonghachack, Youthanavanh; Sayasone, Somphou; Khieu, Virak; Bergquist, Robert; van Dam, Govert J; Hoekstra, Pytsje T; Corstjens, Paul L A M; Nickel, Beatrice; Marti, Hanspeter; Utzinger, Jürg; Muth, Sinuon; Odermatt, Peter

2017-08-10

Given the restricted distribution of Schistosoma mekongi in one province in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and two provinces in Cambodia, together with progress of the national control programmes aimed at reducing morbidity and infection prevalence, the elimination of schistosomiasis mekongi seems feasible. However, sensitive diagnostic tools will be required to determine whether elimination has been achieved. We compared several standard and novel diagnostic tools in S. mekongi-endemic areas. The prevalence and infection intensity of S. mekongi were evaluated in 377 study participants from four villages in the endemic areas in Lao PDR and Cambodia using Kato-Katz stool examination, antibody detection based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and schistosome circulating antigen detection by lateral-flow tests. Two highly sensitive test systems for the detection of cathodic and anodic circulating antigens (CCA, CAA) in urine and serum were utilized. Stool microscopy revealed an overall prevalence of S. mekongi of 6.4% (one case in Cambodia and 23 cases in Lao PDR), while that of Opisthorchis viverrini, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia spp. were 50.4%, 28.1%, 3.5%, 0.3% and 1.9%, respectively. In the urine samples, the tests for CCA and CAA detected S. mekongi infections in 21.0% and 38.7% of the study participants, respectively. In the serum samples, the CAA assay revealed a prevalence of 32.4%, while a combination of the CAA assay in serum and in urine revealed a prevalence of 43.2%. There was a difference between the two study locations with a higher prevalence reached in the samples from Lao PDR. The CCA, CAA and ELISA results showed substantially higher prevalence estimates for S. mekongi compared to Kato-Katz thick smears. Active schistosomiasis mekongi in Lao PDR and Cambodia might thus have been considerably underestimated previously. Hence, sustained control efforts are still needed to break transmission of S. mekongi. The pivotal role of highly sensitive diagnostic assays in areas targeting elimination cannot be overemphasised.

PolyQ repeat expansions in ATXN2 associated with ALS are CAA interrupted repeats.

PubMed

Yu, Zhenming; Zhu, Yongqing; Chen-Plotkin, Alice S; Clay-Falcone, Dana; McCluskey, Leo; Elman, Lauren; Kalb, Robert G; Trojanowski, John Q; Lee, Virginia M-Y; Van Deerlin, Vivianna M; Gitler, Aaron D; Bonini, Nancy M

2011-03-29

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, rapidly progressive disease leading to paralysis and death. Recently, intermediate length polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats of 27-33 in ATAXIN-2 (ATXN2), encoding the ATXN2 protein, were found to increase risk for ALS. In ATXN2, polyQ expansions of ≥ 34, which are pure CAG repeat expansions, cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. However, similar length expansions that are interrupted with other codons, can present atypically with parkinsonism, suggesting that configuration of the repeat sequence plays an important role in disease manifestation in ATXN2 polyQ expansion diseases. Here we determined whether the expansions in ATXN2 associated with ALS were pure or interrupted CAG repeats, and defined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs695871 and rs695872 in exon 1 of the gene, to assess haplotype association. We found that the expanded repeat alleles of 40 ALS patients and 9 long-repeat length controls were all interrupted, bearing 1-3 CAA codons within the CAG repeat. 21/21 expanded ALS chromosomes with 3CAA interruptions arose from one haplotype (GT), while 18/19 expanded ALS chromosomes with <3CAA interruptions arose from a different haplotype (CC). Moreover, age of disease onset was significantly earlier in patients bearing 3 interruptions vs fewer, and was distinct between haplotypes. These results indicate that CAG repeat expansions in ATXN2 associated with ALS are uniformly interrupted repeats and that the nature of the repeat sequence and haplotype, as well as length of polyQ repeat, may play a role in the neurological effect conferred by expansions in ATXN2.

Is Vasomotion in Cerebral Arteries Impaired in Alzheimer’s Disease?

PubMed Central

Di Marco, Luigi Yuri; Farkas, Eszter; Martin, Chris; Venneri, Annalena; Frangi, Alejandro F.

2015-01-01

Abstract A substantial body of evidence supports the hypothesis of a vascular component in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral hypoperfusion and blood-brain barrier dysfunction have been indicated as key elements of this pathway. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a cerebrovascular disorder, frequent in AD, characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in cerebral blood vessel walls. CAA is associated with loss of vascular integrity, resulting in impaired regulation of cerebral circulation, and increased susceptibility to cerebral ischemia, microhemorrhages, and white matter damage. Vasomotion— the spontaneous rhythmic modulation of arterial diameter, typically observed in arteries/arterioles in various vascular beds including the brain— is thought to participate in tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery regulation. Vasomotion is impaired in adverse conditions such as hypoperfusion and hypoxia. The perivascular and glymphatic pathways of Aβ clearance are thought to be driven by the systolic pulse. Vasomotion produces diameter changes of comparable amplitude, however at lower rates, and could contribute to these mechanisms of Aβ clearance. In spite of potential clinical interest, studies addressing cerebral vasomotion in the context of AD/CAA are limited. This study reviews the current literature on vasomotion, and hypothesizes potential paths implicating impaired cerebral vasomotion in AD/CAA. Aβ and oxidative stress cause vascular tone dysregulation through direct effects on vascular cells, and indirect effects mediated by impaired neurovascular coupling. Vascular tone dysregulation is further aggravated by cholinergic deficit and results in depressed cerebrovascular reactivity and (possibly) impaired vasomotion, aggravating regional hypoperfusion and promoting further Aβ and oxidative stress accumulation. PMID:25720414

76 FR 81727 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Oklahoma; Federal Implementation Plan for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-28

...EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving a revision to the Oklahoma State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality on February 19, 2010, intended to address the regional haze requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition, EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving a portion of a revision to the Oklahoma SIP submitted by the State of Oklahoma on May 10, 2007 and supplemented on December 10, 2007 to address the requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) as it applies to visibility for the 1997 8- hour ozone and 1997 fine particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This CAA requirement is intended to prevent emissions from one state from interfering with the visibility programs in another state. EPA is approving certain core elements of the SIP including Oklahoma's: determination of baseline and natural visibility conditions; coordinating regional haze and reasonably attributable visibility impairment; monitoring strategy and other implementation requirements; coordination with states and Federal Land Managers; and a number of NOX, SO2, and PM BART determinations. EPA is finding that Oklahoma's regional haze SIP did not address the sulfur dioxide Best Available Retrofit Technology requirements for six units in Oklahoma in accordance with the Regional Haze requirements, or the requirement to prevent interference with other states' visibility programs. EPA is promulgating a Federal Implementation Plan to address these deficiencies by requiring emissions to be reduced at these six units. This action is being taken under section 110 and part C of the CAA.

A new paradigm (Westphal-Paradigm) to study the neural correlates of panic disorder with agoraphobia.

PubMed

Wittmann, A; Schlagenhauf, F; John, T; Guhn, A; Rehbein, H; Siegmund, A; Stoy, M; Held, D; Schulz, I; Fehm, L; Fydrich, T; Heinz, A; Bruhn, H; Ströhle, A

2011-04-01

Agoraphobia (with and without panic disorder) is a highly prevalent and disabling anxiety disorder. Its neural complexity can be characterized by specific cues in fMRI studies. Therefore, we developed a fMRI paradigm with agoraphobia-specific stimuli. Pictures of potential agoraphobic situations were generated. Twenty-six patients, suffering from panic disorder and agoraphobia, and 22 healthy controls rated the pictures with respect to arousal, valence, and agoraphobia-related anxiety. The 96 pictures, which discriminated best between groups were chosen, split into two parallel sets and supplemented with matched neutral pictures from the International Affective Picture System. Reliability, criterion, and construct validity of the picture set were determined in a second sample (44 patients, 28 controls). The resulting event-related "Westphal-Paradigm" with cued and uncued pictures was tested in a fMRI pilot study with 16 patients. Internal consistency of the sets was very high; parallelism was given. Positive correlations of picture ratings with Mobility Inventory and Hamilton anxiety scores support construct validity. FMRI data revealed activations in areas associated with the fear circuit including amygdala, insula, and hippocampal areas. Psychometric properties of the Westphal-Paradigm meet necessary quality requirements for further scientific use. The paradigm reliably produces behavioral and fMRI patterns in response to agoraphobia-specific stimuli. To our knowledge, it is the first fMRI paradigm with these properties. This paradigm can be used to further characterize the functional neuroanatomy of panic disorder and agoraphobia and might be useful to contribute data to the differentiation of panic disorder and agoraphobia as related, but conceptually different clinical disorders.

Theoretical and experimental studies on alpha/epsilon-hybrid peptides: design of a 14/12-helix from peptides with alternating (S)-C-linked carbo-epsilon-amino acid [(S)-epsilon-Caa((x))] and L-ala.

PubMed

Sharma, Gangavaram V M; Babu, Bommagani Shoban; Chatterjee, Deepak; Ramakrishna, Kallaganti V S; Kunwar, Ajit C; Schramm, Peter; Hofmann, Hans-Jörg

2009-09-04

An (S)-C-linked carbo-epsilon-amino acid [(S)-epsilon-Caa((x))] was prepared from the known (S)-delta-Caa. This monomer was utilized together with l-Ala to give novel alpha/epsilon-hybrid peptides in 1:1 alternation. Conformational analysis on penta- and hexapeptides by NMR (in CDCl(3)), CD, and MD studies led to the identification of robust 14/12-mixed helices. This is in agreement with the data from a theoretical conformational analysis on the basis of ab initio MO theory providing a complete overview on all formally possible hydrogen-bonded helix patterns of alpha/epsilon-hybrid peptides with 1:1 backbone alternation. The "new motif" of a mixed 14/12-helix was predicted as most stable in vacuum. Obviously, the formation of ordered secondary structures is also possible in peptide foldamers with amino acid constituents of considerable backbone lengths. Thus, alpha/epsilon-hybrid peptides expand the domain of foldamers and allow the introduction of desired functionalities via the alpha-amino acid constituents.

76 FR 48002 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of California; Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-08

...EPA is finalizing a limited approval and limited disapproval of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California on November 17, 2007, to address the ``transport SIP'' provisions of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA requires that each SIP contain, among other things, adequate measures prohibiting emissions of air pollutants in amounts which will interfere with any other State's measures required under title I, part C of the CAA to prevent significant deterioration of air quality. EPA is approving California's SIP revision with respect to those Districts that implement SIP- approved permit programs meeting the approval criteria and simultaneously disapproving California's SIP revision with respect to those Districts that do not implement SIP-approved permit programs meeting the approval criteria, as discussed in our May 31, 2011 proposed rule (76 FR 31263).

Coffee phenolic phytochemicals suppress colon cancer metastasis by targeting MEK and TOPK

PubMed Central

Kang, Nam Joo; Lee, Ki Won; Kim, Bo Hyun; Bode, Ann M.; Lee, Hyo-Jeong; Heo, Yong-Seok; Boardman, Lisa; Limburg, Paul; Lee, Hyong Joo; Dong, Zigang

2011-01-01

Epidemiological studies suggest that coffee consumption reduces the risk of cancers, including colon cancer, but the molecular mechanisms and target(s) underlying the chemopreventive effects of coffee and its active ingredient(s) remain unknown. Based on serving size or daily units, coffee contains larger amounts of phenolic phytochemicals than tea or red wine. Coffee or chlorogenic acid inhibited CT-26 colon cancer cell-induced lung metastasis by blocking phosphorylation of ERKs. Coffee or caffeic acid (CaA) strongly suppressed mitogen-activated MEK1 and TOPK activities and bound directly to either MEK1 or TOPK in an ATP-noncompetitive manner. Coffee or CaA, but not caffeine, inhibited ERKs phosphorylation, AP-1 and NF-κB transactivation and subsequently inhibited TPA-, EGF- and H-Ras-induced neoplastic transformation of JB6 P+ cells. Coffee consumption was also associated with a significant attenuation of ERKs phosphorylation in colon cancer patients. These results suggest that coffee and CaA target MEK1 and TOPK to suppress colon cancer metastasis and neoplastic cell transformation. PMID:21317303

Numerical characterization of landing gear aeroacoustics using advanced simulation and analysis techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redonnet, S.; Ben Khelil, S.; Bulté, J.; Cunha, G.

2017-09-01

With the objective of aircraft noise mitigation, we here address the numerical characterization of the aeroacoustics by a simplified nose landing gear (NLG), through the use of advanced simulation and signal processing techniques. To this end, the NLG noise physics is first simulated through an advanced hybrid approach, which relies on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational AeroAcoustics (CAA) calculations. Compared to more traditional hybrid methods (e.g. those relying on the use of an Acoustic Analogy), and although it is used here with some approximations made (e.g. design of the CFD-CAA interface), the present approach does not rely on restrictive assumptions (e.g. equivalent noise source, homogeneous propagation medium), which allows to incorporate more realism into the prediction. In a second step, the outputs coming from such CFD-CAA hybrid calculations are processed through both traditional and advanced post-processing techniques, thus offering to further investigate the NLG's noise source mechanisms. Among other things, this work highlights how advanced computational methodologies are now mature enough to not only simulate realistic problems of airframe noise emission, but also to investigate their underlying physics.

Assessing behavioural and cognitive domains of autism spectrum disorders in rodents: current status and future perspectives.

PubMed

Kas, Martien J; Glennon, Jeffrey C; Buitelaar, Jan; Ey, Elodie; Biemans, Barbara; Crawley, Jacqueline; Ring, Robert H; Lajonchere, Clara; Esclassan, Frederic; Talpos, John; Noldus, Lucas P J J; Burbach, J Peter H; Steckler, Thomas

2014-03-01

The establishment of robust and replicable behavioural testing paradigms with translational value for psychiatric diseases is a major step forward in developing and testing etiology-directed treatment for these complex disorders. Based on the existing literature, we have generated an inventory of applied rodent behavioural testing paradigms relevant to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This inventory focused on previously used paradigms that assess behavioural domains that are affected in ASD, such as social interaction, social communication, repetitive behaviours and behavioural inflexibility, cognition as well as anxiety behaviour. A wide range of behavioural testing paradigms for rodents were identified. However, the level of face and construct validity is highly variable. The predictive validity of these paradigms is unknown, as etiology-directed treatments for ASD are currently not on the market. To optimise these studies, future efforts should address aspects of reproducibility and take into account data about the neurodevelopmental underpinnings and trajectory of ASD. In addition, with the increasing knowledge of processes underlying ASD, such as sensory information processes and synaptic plasticity, phenotyping efforts should include multi-level automated analysis of, for example, representative task-related behavioural and electrophysiological read-outs.

Utility of the Hebb-Williams Maze Paradigm for Translational Research in Fragile X Syndrome: A Direct Comparison of Mice and Humans.

PubMed

Boutet, Isabelle; Collin, Charles A; MacLeod, Lindsey S; Messier, Claude; Holahan, Matthew R; Berry-Kravis, Elizabeth; Gandhi, Reno M; Kogan, Cary S

2018-01-01

To generate meaningful information, translational research must employ paradigms that allow extrapolation from animal models to humans. However, few studies have evaluated translational paradigms on the basis of defined validation criteria. We outline three criteria for validating translational paradigms. We then evaluate the Hebb-Williams maze paradigm (Hebb and Williams, 1946; Rabinovitch and Rosvold, 1951) on the basis of these criteria using Fragile X syndrome (FXS) as model disease. We focused on this paradigm because it allows direct comparison of humans and animals on tasks that are behaviorally equivalent (criterion #1) and because it measures spatial information processing, a cognitive domain for which FXS individuals and mice show impairments as compared to controls (criterion #2). We directly compared the performance of affected humans and mice across different experimental conditions and measures of behavior to identify which conditions produce comparable patterns of results in both species. Species differences were negligible for Mazes 2, 4, and 5 irrespective of the presence of visual cues, suggesting that these mazes could be used to measure spatial learning in both species. With regards to performance on the first trial, which reflects visuo-spatial problem solving, Mazes 5 and 9 without visual cues produced the most consistent results. We conclude that the Hebb-Williams mazes paradigm has the potential to be utilized in translational research to measure comparable cognitive functions in FXS humans and animals (criterion #3).

Evaluation of Neutron Response of Criticality Accident Alarm System Detector to Quasi-Monoenergetic 24 keV Neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsujimura, Norio; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Yashima, Hiroshi

The criticality accident alarm system (CAAS), which was recently developed and installed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's Tokai Reprocessing Plant, consists of a plastic scintillator combined with a cadmium-lined polyethylene moderator and thereby responds to both neutrons and gamma rays. To evaluate the neutron absorbed dose rate response of the CAAS detector, a 24 keV quasi-monoenergetic neutron irradiation experiment was performed at the B-1 facility of the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The detector's evaluated neutron response was confirmed to agree reasonably well with prior computer-predicted responses.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-24

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Orion crew access arm (CAA) is lifted and attached to the Mobile Launcher (ML). The arm is installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Install on Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-24

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Orion crew access arm (CAA) is lifted and attached to the Mobile Launcher (ML). The arm is installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Lattice Boltzmann for Airframe Noise Predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barad, Michael; Kocheemoolayil, Joseph; Kiris, Cetin

2017-01-01

Increase predictive use of High-Fidelity Computational Aero- Acoustics (CAA) capabilities for NASA's next generation aviation concepts. CFD has been utilized substantially in analysis and design for steady-state problems (RANS). Computational resources are extremely challenged for high-fidelity unsteady problems (e.g. unsteady loads, buffet boundary, jet and installation noise, fan noise, active flow control, airframe noise, etc) ü Need novel techniques for reducing the computational resources consumed by current high-fidelity CAA Need routine acoustic analysis of aircraft components at full-scale Reynolds number from first principles Need an order of magnitude reduction in wall time to solution!

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane positions the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML). The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML). The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane begins lifting the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML). The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

Viewed from the 274-foot level mobile launcher (ML), a crane positions the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the tower that will support the Space launch System (SLS) rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the SLS, rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Analytical procedure validation and the quality by design paradigm.

PubMed

Rozet, Eric; Lebrun, Pierre; Michiels, Jean-François; Sondag, Perceval; Scherder, Tara; Boulanger, Bruno

2015-01-01

Since the adoption of the ICH Q8 document concerning the development of pharmaceutical processes following a quality by design (QbD) approach, there have been many discussions on the opportunity for analytical procedure developments to follow a similar approach. While development and optimization of analytical procedure following QbD principles have been largely discussed and described, the place of analytical procedure validation in this framework has not been clarified. This article aims at showing that analytical procedure validation is fully integrated into the QbD paradigm and is an essential step in developing analytical procedures that are effectively fit for purpose. Adequate statistical methodologies have also their role to play: such as design of experiments, statistical modeling, and probabilistic statements. The outcome of analytical procedure validation is also an analytical procedure design space, and from it, control strategy can be set.

Paradigms and Postmodernism in Science and Science Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pushkin, David B.

Science, particularly the physical sciences, has undergone several paradigm shifts during history. The modernistic and mechanistic world that was viewed through the lens of Newton's laws no longer offers valid answers to present-day questions. This paper examines four themes: the evolution of physics, the evolution of chemistry, the evolution of…

Orion FSW V and V and Kedalion Engineering Lab Insight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mangieri, Mark L.

2010-01-01

NASA, along with its prime Orion contractor and its subcontractor s are adapting an avionics system paradigm borrowed from the manned commercial aircraft industry for use in manned space flight systems. Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) techniques have been proven as a robust avionics solution for manned commercial aircraft (B737/777/787, MD 10/90). This presentation will outline current approaches to adapt IMA, along with its heritage FSW V&V paradigms, into NASA's manned space flight program for Orion. NASA's Kedalion engineering analysis lab is on the forefront of validating many of these contemporary IMA based techniques. Kedalion has already validated many of the proposed Orion FSW V&V paradigms using Orion's precursory Flight Test Article (FTA) Pad Abort 1 (PA-1) program. The Kedalion lab will evolve its architectures, tools, and techniques in parallel with the evolving Orion program.

Deciding with the eye: how the visually manipulated accessibility of information in memory influences decision behavior.

PubMed

Platzer, Christine; Bröder, Arndt; Heck, Daniel W

2014-05-01

Decision situations are typically characterized by uncertainty: Individuals do not know the values of different options on a criterion dimension. For example, consumers do not know which is the healthiest of several products. To make a decision, individuals can use information about cues that are probabilistically related to the criterion dimension, such as sugar content or the concentration of natural vitamins. In two experiments, we investigated how the accessibility of cue information in memory affects which decision strategy individuals rely on. The accessibility of cue information was manipulated by means of a newly developed paradigm, the spatial-memory-cueing paradigm, which is based on a combination of the looking-at-nothing phenomenon and the spatial-cueing paradigm. The results indicated that people use different decision strategies, depending on the validity of easily accessible information. If the easily accessible information is valid, people stop information search and decide according to a simple take-the-best heuristic. If, however, information that comes to mind easily has a low predictive validity, people are more likely to integrate all available cue information in a compensatory manner.

Fast ice in the Canadian Arctic: Climatology, Atmospheric Forcing and Relation to Bathymetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galley, R. J.; Barber, D. G.

2010-12-01

Mobile sea ice in the northern hemisphere has experienced significant reductions in both extent and thickness over the last thirty years, and global climate models agree that these decreases will continue. However, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) creates a much different icescape than in the central Arctic Ocean due to its distinctive topographic, bathymetric and climatological conditions. Of particular interest is the continued viability of landfast sea ice as a means of transportation and platform for transportation and hunting for the Canadian Inuit that reside in the region, as is the possibility of the Northwest Passage becoming a viable shipping lane in the future. Here we determine the climatological average landfast ice conditions in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago over the last 27 years, we investigate variability and trends in these landfast ice conditions, and we attempt to elucidate the physical parameters conducive to landfast sea ice formation in sub-regions of the CAA during different times of the year. We use the Canadian Ice Service digital sea ice charts between 1983 and 2009 on a 2x2km grid to determine the sea ice concentration-by-type and whether the sea ice in a grid cell was landfast on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis depending on the time of year. North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) atmospheric data were used in this work, including air temperature, surface level pressure and wind speed and direction. The bathymetric data employed was from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean. Results indicate that the CAA sea ice regime is not climatologically analogous to the mobile sea ice of the central Arctic Ocean. The sea ice and the atmospheric and bathymetric properties that control the amount and timing of landfast sea ice within the CAA are regionally variable.

Cortical superficial siderosis and first-ever cerebral hemorrhage in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

PubMed Central

Boulouis, Gregoire; Xiong, Li; Jessel, Michel J.; Roongpiboonsopit, Duangnapa; Ayres, Alison; Schwab, Kristin M.; Rosand, Jonathan; Gurol, M. Edip; Greenberg, Steven M.; Viswanathan, Anand

2017-01-01

Objective: To investigate whether cortical superficial siderosis (cSS) is associated with increased risk of future first-ever symptomatic lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) presenting with neurologic symptoms and without ICH. Methods: Consecutive patients meeting modified Boston criteria for probable CAA in the absence of ICH from a single-center cohort were analyzed. cSS and other small vessel disease MRI markers were assessed according to recent consensus recommendations. Patients were followed prospectively for future incident symptomatic lobar ICH. Prespecified Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate cSS and first-ever lobar ICH risk adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The cohort included 236 patients with probable CAA without lobar ICH at baseline. cSS prevalence was 34%. During a median follow-up of 3.26 years (interquartile range 1.42–5.50 years), 27 of 236 patients (11.4%) experienced a first-ever symptomatic lobar ICH. cSS was a predictor of time until first ICH (p = 0.0007, log-rank test). The risk of symptomatic ICH at 5 years of follow-up was 19% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11%–32%) for patients with cSS at baseline vs 6% (95% CI 3%–12%) for patients without cSS. In multivariable Cox regression models, cSS presence was the only independent predictor of increased symptomatic ICH risk during follow-up (HR 4.04; 95% CI 1.73–9.44, p = 0.001), after adjusting for age, lobar cerebral microbleeds burden, and white matter hyperintensities. Conclusions: cSS is consistently associated with an increased risk of future lobar ICH in CAA with potentially important clinical implications for patient care decisions such as antithrombotic use. PMID:28356458

Corrective Action Decision Document/Corrective Action Plan for Corrective Action Unit 573: Alpha Contaminated Sites Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 0

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

Matthews, Patrick

CAU 573 comprises the following corrective action sites (CASs): • 05-23-02, GMX Alpha Contaminated Area • 05-45-01, Atmospheric Test Site - Hamilton These two CASs include the release at the Hamilton weapons-related tower test and a series of 29 atmospheric experiments conducted at GMX. The two CASs are located in two distinctly separate areas within Area 5. To facilitate site investigation and data quality objective (DQO) decisions, all identified releases (i.e., CAS components) were organized into study groups. The reporting of investigation results and the evaluation of DQO decisions are at the release level. The corrective action alternatives (CAAs) weremore » evaluated at the FFACO CAS level. The purpose of this CADD/CAP is to evaluate potential CAAs, provide the rationale for the selection of recommended CAAs, and provide the plan for implementation of the recommended CAA for CAU 573. Corrective action investigation (CAI) activities were performed from January 2015 through November 2015, as set forth in the CAU 573 Corrective Action Investigation Plan (CAIP). Analytes detected during the CAI were evaluated against appropriate final action levels (FALs) to identify the contaminants of concern. Assessment of the data generated from investigation activities conducted at CAU 573 revealed the following: • Radiological contamination within CAU 573 does not exceed the FALs (based on the Occasional Use Area exposure scenario). • Chemical contamination within CAU 573 does not exceed the FALs. • Potential source material—including lead plates, lead bricks, and lead-shielded cables—was removed during the investigation and requires no additional corrective action.« less

A proteome analysis of the response of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa oxyR mutant to iron limitation.

PubMed

Vinckx, Tiffany; Wei, Qing; Matthijs, Sandra; Noben, Jean-Paul; Daniels, Ruth; Cornelis, Pierre

2011-06-01

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa the response to oxidative stress is orchestrated by the LysR regulator OxyR by activation of the transcription of two catalase genes (katA and katB), of the alkyl-hydroxyperoxidases ahpCF and ahpB. Next to the expected high sensitivity to oxidative stress generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS: H(2)O(2), O(2)(-)), the oxyR mutant shows a defective growth under conditions of iron limitation (Vinckx et al. 2008). Although production and uptake of the siderophore pyoverdine is not affected by the absence of oxyR, the mutant is unable to satisfy its need for iron when grown under iron limiting conditions. In order to get a better insight into the effects caused by iron limitation on the physiological response of the oxyR mutant we decided to compare the proteomes of the wild type and the mutant grown in the iron-poor casamino acids medium (CAA), in CAA plus H(2)O(2), and in CAA plus the strong iron chelator ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDHA). Especially in the presence of hydrogen peroxide the oxyR cells increase the production of stress proteins (Dps and IbpA). The superoxide dismutase SodM is produced in higher amounts in the oxyR mutant grown in CAA plus H(2)O(2). The PchB protein, a isochorismate-pyruvate lyase involved in the siderophore pyochelin biosynthesis is not detectable in the extracts from the oxyR mutant grown in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. When cells were grown in the presence of EDDHA, we observed a reduction of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur), and an increase in the two subunits of the succinyl-CoA synthetase and the fumarase FumC1.

Knowledge Activation, Integration, and Validation during Narrative Text Comprehension

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cook, Anne E.; O'Brien, Edward J.

2014-01-01

Previous text comprehension studies using the contradiction paradigm primarily tested assumptions of the activation mechanism involved in reading. However, the nature of the contradiction in such studies relied on validation of information in readers' general world knowledge. We directly tested this validation process by varying the strength of…

[Reconstituting evaluation methods based on both qualitative and quantitative paradigms].

PubMed

Miyata, Hiroaki; Okubo, Suguru; Yoshie, Satoru; Kai, Ichiro

2011-01-01

Debate about the relationship between quantitative and qualitative paradigms is often muddled and confusing and the clutter of terms and arguments has resulted in the concepts becoming obscure and unrecognizable. In this study we conducted content analysis regarding evaluation methods of qualitative healthcare research. We extracted descriptions on four types of evaluation paradigm (validity/credibility, reliability/credibility, objectivity/confirmability, and generalizability/transferability), and classified them into subcategories. In quantitative research, there has been many evaluation methods based on qualitative paradigms, and vice versa. Thus, it might not be useful to consider evaluation methods of qualitative paradigm are isolated from those of quantitative methods. Choosing practical evaluation methods based on the situation and prior conditions of each study is an important approach for researchers.

Critical Low-Noise Technologies Being Developed for Engine Noise Reduction Systems Subproject

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grady, Joseph E.; Civinskas, Kestutis C.

2004-01-01

NASA's previous Advanced Subsonic Technology (AST) Noise Reduction Program delivered the initial technologies for meeting a 10-year goal of a 10-dB reduction in total aircraft system noise. Technology Readiness Levels achieved for the engine-noise-reduction technologies ranged from 4 (rig scale) to 6 (engine demonstration). The current Quiet Aircraft Technology (QAT) project is building on those AST accomplishments to achieve the additional noise reduction needed to meet the Aerospace Technology Enterprise's 10-year goal, again validated through a combination of laboratory rig and engine demonstration tests. In order to meet the Aerospace Technology Enterprise goal for future aircraft of a 50- reduction in the perceived noise level, reductions of 4 dB are needed in both fan and jet noise. The primary objectives of the Engine Noise Reduction Systems (ENRS) subproject are, therefore, to develop technologies to reduce both fan and jet noise by 4 dB, to demonstrate these technologies in engine tests, and to develop and experimentally validate Computational Aero Acoustics (CAA) computer codes that will improve our ability to predict engine noise.

Effects of cavity dimensions, boundary layer, and temperature on cavity noise with emphasis on benchmark data to validate computational aeroacoustic codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahuja, K. K.; Mendoza, J.

1995-01-01

This report documents the results of an experimental investigation on the response of a cavity to external flowfields. The primary objective of this research was to acquire benchmark of data on the effects of cavity length, width, depth, upstream boundary layer, and flow temperature on cavity noise. These data were to be used for validation of computational aeroacoustic (CAA) codes on cavity noise. To achieve this objective, a systematic set of acoustic and flow measurements were made for subsonic turbulent flows approaching a cavity. These measurements were conducted in the research facilities of the Georgia Tech research institute. Two cavity models were designed, one for heated flow and another for unheated flow studies. Both models were designed such that the cavity length (L) could easily be varied while holding fixed the depth (D) and width (W) dimensions of the cavity. Depth and width blocks were manufactured so that these dimensions could be varied as well. A wall jet issuing from a rectangular nozzle was used to simulate flows over the cavity.

Closure Report for Corrective Action Unit 568: Area 3 Plutonium Dispersion Sites Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 1

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

Matthews, Patrick

The purpose of this CR is to provide documentation and justification that no further corrective action is needed for the closure of CAU 568 based on the implementation of corrective actions. This includes a description of closure activities that were performed and an evaluation of the verification data. The CAP (NNSA/NFO, 2016a) and ROTC-1 (NNSA/NFO, 2016c) provide information relating to the selection of CAAs and the reasoning behind their selection. The CADD (NNSA/NFO, 2015) identifies the release sites that require additional corrective action and presents information supporting the selection of CAAs.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-24

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane is prepared to lift the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML). The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System, or SLS, rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

Under the watchful eye of technicians and engineers, a crane begins lifting the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians assist as a crane lifts the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML). The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Heterogeneous histopathology of cortical microbleeds in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

PubMed

van Veluw, Susanne J; Biessels, Geert Jan; Klijn, Catharina J M; Rozemuller, Annemieke J M

2016-03-01

To investigate the histopathologic substrate of microbleeds detected on 7T postmortem MRI in autopsy cases with severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and Alzheimer pathology. Five decedents (mean age at death 79.6 ± 5.7 years) with documented severe CAA and Alzheimer pathology on standard neuropathologic examination were selected from a local database. Formalin-fixed coronal brain slices were scanned at 7T MRI, including high-resolution T2- and T2*-weighted sequences. Representative microbleeds from each case were sampled for histopathologic analysis, including the presence of blood, blood breakdown products, and markers of ischemic tissue injury. On MRI, we identified >300 cortical and 4 subcortical microbleeds. Two out of 15 sampled cortical microbleeds corresponded histologically to erythrocytes (suggestive of recent hemorrhages), 4 to vasculopathies (fibrinoid necrosis in 3 and a cavernoma) without substantial parenchymal tissue injury, and 9 to accumulations of iron-positive siderophages without erythrocytes (suggestive of old hemorrhages) combined with mild to moderate degrees of chronic ischemic tissue injury. This study provides evidence for heterogeneous pathologic substrates and possibly different pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying MRI-observed cortical microbleeds in the context of advanced CAA and Alzheimer disease. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Design and acceptability of the Aviation Laser Exposure Self-Assessment (ALESA).

PubMed

Waggel, Stephanie E; Hutchison, Ewan J

2013-03-01

There is an increase in reports of aircraft exposed to lasers directed from the ground. Approximately 2300 cases were reported to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) in 2011. While the likelihood of injuries directly resulting from such exposure is currently low, this may increase with the increasing power of lasers. A project was undertaken to develop a rapid self-assessment tool that would assist pilots in determining whether permanent injury has occurred after eye exposure to a laser and whether professional assessment should be sought. Laser incidents reported to the UK CAA were analyzed. With the aid of expert advice, the Aviation Laser Exposure Self-Assessment (ALESA) tool was produced using key aspects of illumination needed to determine the risk of harm. There were 25 pilots and flight crewmembers who have experienced aviation laser exposure who were given the tool and their response was assessed with a questionnaire. There was a favorable response to five of the six measured aspects of the ALESA. The ALESA is considered a useful tool for pilots following laser exposure during flight. The UK CAA is making the tool available through its website.

Assessment Of Coronary Artery Aneurysms Using Transluminal Attenuation Gradient And Computational Modeling In Kawasaki Disease Patients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grande Gutierrez, Noelia; Kahn, Andrew; Shirinsky, Olga; Gagarina, Nina; Lyskina, Galina; Fukazawa, Ryuji; Owaga, Shunichi; Burns, Jane; Marsden, Alison

2015-11-01

Kawasaki Disease (KD) can result in coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in up to 25% of patients, putting them at risk of thrombus formation, myocardial infarction and sudden death. Clinical guidelines recommend CAA diameter >8 mm as the arbitrary criterion for initiating systemic anticoagulation. KD patient specific modeling and flow simulations suggest that hemodynamic data can predict regions at increased risk of thrombosis. Transluminal Attenuation Gradient (TAG) is determined from the change in radiological attenuation per vessel length and has been proposed as a non-invasive method for characterizing coronary stenosis from CT Angiography. We hypothesized that CAA abnormal flow could be quantified using TAG. We computed hemodynamics for patient specific coronary models using a stabilized finite element method, coupled numerically to a lumped parameter network to model the heart and vascular boundary conditions. TAG was quantified in the major coronary arteries. We compared TAG for aneurysmal and normal arteries and we analyzed TAG correlation with hemodynamic and geometrical parameters. Our results suggest that TAG may provide hemodynamic data not available from anatomy alone. TAG represents a possible extension to standard CTA that could help to better evaluate the risk of thrombus formation in KD.

Validation of operant social motivation paradigms using BTBR T+tf/J and C57BL/6J inbred mouse strains

PubMed Central

Martin, Loren; Sample, Hannah; Gregg, Michael; Wood, Caleb

2014-01-01

Background As purported causal factors are identified for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), new assays are needed to better phenotype animal models designed to explore these factors. With recent evidence suggesting that deficits in social motivation are at the core of ASD behavior, the development of quantitative measures of social motivation is particularly important. The goal of our study was to develop and validate novel assays to quantitatively measure social motivation in mice. Methods In order to test the validity of our paradigms, we compared the BTBR strain, with documented social deficits, to the prosocial C57BL/6J strain. Two novel conditioning paradigms were developed that allowed the test mouse to control access to a social partner. In the social motivation task, the test mice lever pressed for a social reward. The reward contingency was set on a progressive ratio of reinforcement and the number of lever presses achieved in the final trial of a testing session (breakpoint) was used as an index of social motivation. In the valence comparison task, motivation for a food reward was compared to a social reward. We also explored activity, social affiliation, and preference for social novelty through a series of tasks using an ANY-Maze video-tracking system in an open-field arena. Results BTBR mice had significantly lower breakpoints in the social motivation paradigm than C57BL/6J mice. However, the valence comparison task revealed that BTBR mice also made significantly fewer lever presses for a food reward. Conclusions The results of the conditioning paradigms suggest that the BTBR strain has an overall deficit in motivated behavior. Furthermore, the results of the open-field observations may suggest that social differences in the BTBR strain are anxiety induced. PMID:25328850

Validation of operant social motivation paradigms using BTBR T+tf/J and C57BL/6J inbred mouse strains.

PubMed

Martin, Loren; Sample, Hannah; Gregg, Michael; Wood, Caleb

2014-09-01

As purported causal factors are identified for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), new assays are needed to better phenotype animal models designed to explore these factors. With recent evidence suggesting that deficits in social motivation are at the core of ASD behavior, the development of quantitative measures of social motivation is particularly important. The goal of our study was to develop and validate novel assays to quantitatively measure social motivation in mice. In order to test the validity of our paradigms, we compared the BTBR strain, with documented social deficits, to the prosocial C57BL/6J strain. Two novel conditioning paradigms were developed that allowed the test mouse to control access to a social partner. In the social motivation task, the test mice lever pressed for a social reward. The reward contingency was set on a progressive ratio of reinforcement and the number of lever presses achieved in the final trial of a testing session (breakpoint) was used as an index of social motivation. In the valence comparison task, motivation for a food reward was compared to a social reward. We also explored activity, social affiliation, and preference for social novelty through a series of tasks using an ANY-Maze video-tracking system in an open-field arena. BTBR mice had significantly lower breakpoints in the social motivation paradigm than C57BL/6J mice. However, the valence comparison task revealed that BTBR mice also made significantly fewer lever presses for a food reward. The results of the conditioning paradigms suggest that the BTBR strain has an overall deficit in motivated behavior. Furthermore, the results of the open-field observations may suggest that social differences in the BTBR strain are anxiety induced.

A Survey of Current Rotorcraft Propulsion Health Monitoring Technologies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delgado, Irebert R.; Dempsey, Paula J.; Simon, Donald L.

2012-01-01

A brief review is presented on the state-of-the-art in rotorcraft engine health monitoring technologies including summaries on current practices in the area of sensors, data acquisition, monitoring and analysis. Also, presented are guidelines for verification and validation of Health Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) and specifically for maintenance credits to extend part life. Finally, a number of new efforts in HUMS are summarized as well as lessons learned and future challenges. In particular, gaps are identified to supporting maintenance credits to extend rotorcraft engine part life. A number of data sources were consulted and include results from a survey from the HUMS community, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) documents, American Helicopter Society (AHS) papers, as well as references from Defence Science & Technology Organization (DSTO), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Molecular Rayleigh Scattering Techniques Developed for Measuring Gas Flow Velocity, Density, Temperature, and Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, Amy F.; Seasholtz, Richard G.; Elam, Kristie A.; Panda, Jayanta

2005-01-01

Nonintrusive optical point-wise measurement techniques utilizing the principles of molecular Rayleigh scattering have been developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center to obtain time-averaged information about gas velocity, density, temperature, and turbulence, or dynamic information about gas velocity and density in unseeded flows. These techniques enable measurements that are necessary for validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational aeroacoustic (CAA) codes. Dynamic measurements allow the calculation of power spectra for the various flow properties. This type of information is currently being used in jet noise studies, correlating sound pressure fluctuations with velocity and density fluctuations to determine noise sources in jets. These nonintrusive techniques are particularly useful in supersonic flows, where seeding the flow with particles is not an option, and where the environment is too harsh for hot-wire measurements.

Measurement of breast volume using body scan technology(computer-aided anthropometry).

PubMed

Veitch, Daisy; Burford, Karen; Dench, Phil; Dean, Nicola; Griffin, Philip

2012-01-01

Assessment of breast volume is an important tool for preoperative planning in various breast surgeries and other applications, such as bra development. Accurate assessment can improve the consistency and quality of surgery outcomes. This study outlines a non-invasive method to measure breast volume using a whole body 3D laser surface anatomy scanner, the Cyberware WBX. It expands on a previous publication where this method was validated against patients undergoing mastectomy. It specifically outlines and expands the computer-aided anthropometric (CAA) method for extracting breast volumes in a non-invasive way from patients enrolled in a breast reduction study at Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia. This step-by-step description allows others to replicate this work and provides an additional tool to assist them in their own clinical practice and development of designs.

A Pliocene chronostratigraphy for the Canadian western and high Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gosse, John; Braschi, Lea; Rybczynski, Natalia; Lakeman, Thomas; Zimmerman, Susan; Finkel, Robert; Barendregt, Rene; Matthews, John

2014-05-01

The Beaufort Formation comprises an extensive (1200 km long, more than 1 km thick) clastic wedge that formed during the Pliocene along the western Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA). In the western Arctic, the Ballast Brook (BB) site on Banks Is. exposes more than 20 km of section through the sandy and pebble sandy braided stream deposits with detrital organic beds. Farther north, Beaufort Fm fluvial and estuarine facies have been examined on Meighen Is. In the high Arctic, high terrace gravels (450 m high surface) at the Fyles Leaf Bed (FLB) and Beaver Pond (BP) sites on Ellesmere Is. are not considered part of the Beaufort Fm but have similar paleoenvironmental records. Fossil plant and faunal material from these sediments is often very well preserved and provides evidence of a boreal-type forest and peatlands. The BP fossil site preserves the remains of fossil vertebrates including fish, frog, horse, beaver, deerlet, and black bear, consistent with a boreal type forest habitat. The FLB site has recently yielded the first fossil evidence for a High Arctic camel, identified with the help of collagen fingerprinting from a fragmentary limb bone (tibia). Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Ellesmere sites has yielded a Mean Annual Temperature of between 14 to 22 degrees Celsius warmer than today. Minimum cosmogenic nuclide burial ages of 3.4 and 3.8 Ma obtained for the BP and FLB sites, respectively, are consistent with vertebrate and floral biostratigraphic evidence. The paleoenvironmental records from the Beaufort Fm in the western CAA sites have revealed a similar ecosystem with noteworthy differences in MAT and perhaps seasonality. New burial ages from Meighen Is. indicate a maximum age of 6.1 Ma, consistent with yet much older than previous age estimates, but supportive of paleomagnetic and biostratigraphy at the same location. The age differences may account for some of the interpreted variations in paleoenvironments, in addition to spatial differences in climate. The Beaufort Fm. appears to have filled at least the western portions of the ca. 100 km-wide channels that currently separate the islands of the CAA. Intervals of Pliocene continental-shelf progradation are recorded in the lower Iperk Fm, which is situated offshore and includes complex sigmoid-oblique clinoforms indicative of high-energy, coarse-clastic, deltaic sedimentation. A key objective of our research is to derive new age estimates and improved correlations among the Beaufort and Iperk Formations and high terrace gravels in order to test hypotheses to explain the nature of the dramatic landscape changes responsible for their deposition and the infilling of the CAA channels. If the channels of the modern CAA function as a heat source during winter months and a heat sink during summer months, infilling of the CAA channels and development of a broad coastal plain in the Pliocene may have shut down this radiative process, resulting in increased seasonality and continentality.

Validating Self-Paced Sentence-by-Sentence Reading: Story Comprehension, Recall, and Narrative Transportation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung-Fat-Yim, Ashley; Peterson, Jordan B.; Mar, Raymond A.

2017-01-01

Previous studies on discourse have employed a self-paced sentence-by-sentence paradigm to present text and record reading times. However, presenting discourse this way does not mirror real-world reading conditions; for example, this paradigm prevents regressions to earlier portions of the text. The purpose of the present study is to investigate…

Modelling Safe Interface Interactions in Web Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brambilla, Marco; Cabot, Jordi; Grossniklaus, Michael

Current Web applications embed sophisticated user interfaces and business logic. The original interaction paradigm of the Web based on static content pages that are browsed by hyperlinks is, therefore, not valid anymore. In this paper, we advocate a paradigm shift for browsers and Web applications, that improves the management of user interaction and browsing history. Pages are replaced by States as basic navigation nodes, and Back/Forward navigation along the browsing history is replaced by a full-fledged interactive application paradigm, supporting transactions at the interface level and featuring Undo/Redo capabilities. This new paradigm offers a safer and more precise interaction model, protecting the user from unexpected behaviours of the applications and the browser.

The Contribution of Rubrics to the Validity of Performance Assessment: A Study of the Conservation-Restoration and Design Undergraduate Degrees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menéndez-Varela, José-Luis; Gregori-Giralt, Eva

2016-01-01

Rubrics have attained considerable importance in the authentic and sustainable assessment paradigm; nevertheless, few studies have examined their contribution to validity, especially outside the domain of educational studies. This empirical study used a quantitative approach to analyse the validity of a rubrics-based performance assessment. Raters…

Assessing the validity of subjective reports in the auditory streaming paradigm.

PubMed

Farkas, Dávid; Denham, Susan L; Bendixen, Alexandra; Winkler, István

2016-04-01

While subjective reports provide a direct measure of perception, their validity is not self-evident. Here, the authors tested three possible biasing effects on perceptual reports in the auditory streaming paradigm: errors due to imperfect understanding of the instructions, voluntary perceptual biasing, and susceptibility to implicit expectations. (1) Analysis of the responses to catch trials separately promoting each of the possible percepts allowed the authors to exclude participants who likely have not fully understood the instructions. (2) Explicit biasing instructions led to markedly different behavior than the conventional neutral-instruction condition, suggesting that listeners did not voluntarily bias their perception in a systematic way under the neutral instructions. Comparison with a random response condition further supported this conclusion. (3) No significant relationship was found between social desirability, a scale-based measure of susceptibility to implicit social expectations, and any of the perceptual measures extracted from the subjective reports. This suggests that listeners did not significantly bias their perceptual reports due to possible implicit expectations present in the experimental context. In sum, these results suggest that valid perceptual data can be obtained from subjective reports in the auditory streaming paradigm.

Verification of a Viscous Computational Aeroacoustics Code using External Verification Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ingraham, Daniel; Hixon, Ray

2015-01-01

The External Verification Analysis approach to code verification is extended to solve the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with constant properties, and is used to verify a high-order computational aeroacoustics (CAA) code. After a brief review of the relevant literature, the details of the EVA approach are presented and compared to the similar Method of Manufactured Solutions (MMS). Pseudocode representations of EVA's algorithms are included, along with the recurrence relations needed to construct the EVA solution. The code verification results show that EVA was able to convincingly verify a high-order, viscous CAA code without the addition of MMS-style source terms, or any other modifications to the code.

Verification of a Viscous Computational Aeroacoustics Code Using External Verification Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ingraham, Daniel; Hixon, Ray

2015-01-01

The External Verification Analysis approach to code verification is extended to solve the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with constant properties, and is used to verify a high-order computational aeroacoustics (CAA) code. After a brief review of the relevant literature, the details of the EVA approach are presented and compared to the similar Method of Manufactured Solutions (MMS). Pseudocode representations of EVA's algorithms are included, along with the recurrence relations needed to construct the EVA solution. The code verification results show that EVA was able to convincingly verify a high-order, viscous CAA code without the addition of MMS-style source terms, or any other modifications to the code.

Experimental hypertension increases spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages in a mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis

PubMed Central

Passos, Giselle F; Kilday, Kelley; Gillen, Daniel L; Vasilevko, Vitaly

2015-01-01

Hypertension and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are major risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH); however the mechanisms of interplay between the two are not fully understood. We investigated the effect of hypertension in a transgenic mouse model with Alzheimer’s-like pathology (Tg2576) treating them with angiontensin II and L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester. A similar increase in systolic blood pressure was observed in both Tg2576 and control mice; however Tg2576 mice developed signs of stroke with a markedly shorter latency. Cerebral deposition of amyloid beta promotes the hypertension-induced ICH, thus supporting the notion that hypertension is a risk factor for ICH among patients with CAA. PMID:26661173

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-24

Under the watchful eye of technicians and engineers, a crane is prepared to lift the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System, or SLS, rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Crew Access Arm Installation onto Mobile Launcher

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-26

Seen to the right of the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane positions the Orion crew access arm (CAA) so it can be attached to the mobile launcher (ML). The arm will be installed at about the 274-foot level on the ML tower. NASA's Exploration Ground Systems organization has been overseeing installation of umbilicals and other launch accessories on the 380-foot-tall ML in preparation for stacking the first launch of the Space launch System (SLS), rocket with an Orion spacecraft. The CAA is designed to rotate from its retracted position and line up with Orion's crew hatch providing entry for astronauts and technicians.

Application of computational aero-acoustics to real world problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardin, Jay C.

1996-01-01

The application of computational aeroacoustics (CAA) to real problems is discussed in relation to the analysis performed with the aim of assessing the application of the various techniques. It is considered that the applications are limited by the inability of the computational resources to resolve the large range of scales involved in high Reynolds number flows. Possible simplifications are discussed. It is considered that problems remain to be solved in relation to the efficient use of the power of parallel computers and in the development of turbulent modeling schemes. The goal of CAA is stated as being the implementation of acoustic design studies on a computer terminal with reasonable run times.

Maternal Separation Does Not Produce a Significant Behavioral Change in Mice

PubMed Central

Tan, Shawn; Ho, Hin San; Song, Anna Yoonsu; Low, Joey

2017-01-01

Early life adversities together with genetic predispositions have been associated with elevated risks of neuropsychiatric disorders during later life. In order to investigate the underlying mechanisms, many chronic, early-life stress paradigms in multiple animal models have been developed. Previously, studies reported that maternal separation (MS) in the early postnatal stages triggers depression-and/or anxiety-like behaviors in rats. However, similar studies using mice have reported inconsistent behavioral outcomes. In this study, we sought to assess behavioral outcomes from two different early-life stress paradigms; a conventional 3-hour MS and a maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW) paradigm using C57BL/6J male mice with independent cohorts. Our data demonstrated that both MS and MSEW paradigms did not produce reported behavioral anomalies. Therefore, MS paradigms in mice require further validation and modification. PMID:29302206

Tracing Carbon Sources through Aquatic and Terrestrial Food Webs Using Amino Acid Stable Isotope Fingerprinting

PubMed Central

Larsen, Thomas; Ventura, Marc; Andersen, Nils; O’Brien, Diane M.; Piatkowski, Uwe; McCarthy, Matthew D.

2013-01-01

Tracing the origin of nutrients is a fundamental goal of food web research but methodological issues associated with current research techniques such as using stable isotope ratios of bulk tissue can lead to confounding results. We investigated whether naturally occurring δ13C patterns among amino acids (δ13CAA) could distinguish between multiple aquatic and terrestrial primary production sources. We found that δ13CAA patterns in contrast to bulk δ13C values distinguished between carbon derived from algae, seagrass, terrestrial plants, bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, we showed for two aquatic producers that their δ13CAA patterns were largely unaffected by different environmental conditions despite substantial shifts in bulk δ13C values. The potential of assessing the major carbon sources at the base of the food web was demonstrated for freshwater, pelagic, and estuarine consumers; consumer δ13C patterns of essential amino acids largely matched those of the dominant primary producers in each system. Since amino acids make up about half of organismal carbon, source diagnostic isotope fingerprints can be used as a new complementary approach to overcome some of the limitations of variable source bulk isotope values commonly encountered in estuarine areas and other complex environments with mixed aquatic and terrestrial inputs. PMID:24069196

Intestinal Permeability and Cellular Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds from Mango (Mangifera indica cv. Ataulfo) Peels.

PubMed

Pacheco-Ordaz, Ramón; Antunes-Ricardo, Marilena; Gutiérrez-Uribe, Janet A; González-Aguilar, Gustavo A

2018-02-08

Mango ( Mangifera indica cv. Ataulfo) peel contains bound phenolics that may be released by alkaline or acid hydrolysis and may be converted into less complex molecules. Free phenolics from mango cv. Ataulfo peel were obtained using a methanolic extraction, and their cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and permeability were compared to those obtained for bound phenolics released by alkaline or acid hydrolysis. Gallic acid was found as a simple phenolic acid after alkaline hydrolysis along with mangiferin isomers and quercetin as aglycone and glycosides. Only gallic acid, ethyl gallate, mangiferin, and quercetin were identified in the acid fraction. The acid and alkaline fractions showed the highest CAA (60.5% and 51.5%) when tested at 125 µg/mL. The value of the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) across the Caco-2/HT-29 monolayer of gallic acid from the alkaline fraction was higher (2.61 × 10 -6 cm/s) than in the other fractions and similar to that obtained when tested pure (2.48 × 10 -6 cm/s). In conclusion, mango peels contain bound phenolic compounds that, after their release, have permeability similar to pure compounds and exert an important CAA. This finding can be applied in the development of nutraceuticals using this important by-product from the mango processing industry.

Corrective Action Investigation Plan for Corrective Action Unit 576: Miscellaneous Radiological Sites and Debris Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, Revision 0

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

Matthews, Patrick

Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 576 is located in Areas 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 of the Nevada National Security Site, which is approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. CAU 576 is a grouping of sites where there has been a suspected release of contamination associated with nuclear testing. This document describes the planned investigation of CAU 576, which comprises the following corrective action sites (CASs): 00-99-01, Potential Source Material; 02-99-12, U-2af (Kennebec) Surface Rad-Chem Piping; 03-99-20, Area 3 Subsurface Rad-Chem Piping; 05-19-04, Frenchman Flat Rad Waste Dump ; 09-99-08, U-9x (Allegheny) Subsurface Rad-Chem Piping; 09-99-09, U-9its u24more » (Avens-Alkermes) Surface Contaminated Flex Line These sites are being investigated because existing information on the nature and extent of potential contamination is insufficient to evaluate and recommend corrective action alternatives (CAAs). Additional information will be obtained by conducting a corrective action investigation before evaluating CAAs and selecting the appropriate corrective action for each CAS. The results of the field investigation will support a defensible evaluation of viable CAAs that will be presented in the Corrective Action Decision Document (CADD).« less

Tracing carbon sources through aquatic and terrestrial food webs using amino acid stable isotope fingerprinting.

PubMed

Larsen, Thomas; Ventura, Marc; Andersen, Nils; O'Brien, Diane M; Piatkowski, Uwe; McCarthy, Matthew D

2013-01-01

Tracing the origin of nutrients is a fundamental goal of food web research but methodological issues associated with current research techniques such as using stable isotope ratios of bulk tissue can lead to confounding results. We investigated whether naturally occurring δ(13)C patterns among amino acids (δ(13)CAA) could distinguish between multiple aquatic and terrestrial primary production sources. We found that δ(13)CAA patterns in contrast to bulk δ(13)C values distinguished between carbon derived from algae, seagrass, terrestrial plants, bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, we showed for two aquatic producers that their δ(13)CAA patterns were largely unaffected by different environmental conditions despite substantial shifts in bulk δ(13)C values. The potential of assessing the major carbon sources at the base of the food web was demonstrated for freshwater, pelagic, and estuarine consumers; consumer δ(13)C patterns of essential amino acids largely matched those of the dominant primary producers in each system. Since amino acids make up about half of organismal carbon, source diagnostic isotope fingerprints can be used as a new complementary approach to overcome some of the limitations of variable source bulk isotope values commonly encountered in estuarine areas and other complex environments with mixed aquatic and terrestrial inputs.

Analysis of the interphase of a polyamide bonded to chromic acid anodized Ti-6AL-4V

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

Guinta, R.K.; Kander, R.G.

2000-01-06

Structural adhesive joints, when tested as made, typically fail cohesively through the centerline of the adhesive. However, in any study of adhesive joint durability, failure near the adhesive/substrate interface becomes an important consideration. In the current study, an interfacially debonding adhesive test, the notched coating adhesion (NCA) test, was applied to LaRC(trademark) PETI-5 adhesive bonded to chronic acid anodized (CAA) Ti-6Al-4V. Post-failure analysis of the interphase region included X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Mechanical interlocking between an adhesive and a substrate occurs when the liquid adhesivemore » flows into interstices of the substrate, solidifies, and becomes locked in place. Mechanical interlocking is believed to significantly contribute to the adhesion of substrates that exhibit microroughness, such as metal surfaces treated with chromic acid anodization or sodium hydroxide anodization. Filbey and Wightman found that an epoxy penetrated the pores of CAA Ti-6Al-4V, one of the limited number of pore penetration studies that have been reported. In the current study, the penetration of PETI-5 into the pores of CAA Ti-6Al-4V is investigated through analysis of adhesive/substrate failure surfaces.« less

Recurrent Kawasaki disease: USA and Japan.

PubMed

Maddox, Ryan A; Holman, Robert C; Uehara, Ritei; Callinan, Laura S; Guest, Jodie L; Schonberger, Lawrence B; Nakamura, Yosikazu; Yashiro, Mayumi; Belay, Ermias D

2015-12-01

Descriptive epidemiologic studies of recurrent and non-recurrent Kawasaki disease (KD) may identify other potentially important differences between these illnesses. Data from the USA and Japan, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national KD surveillance(1984-2008) and the 17th Japanese nationwide survey (2001-2002), respectively, were analyzed to examine recurrent KD patients <18 years of age meeting the CDC KD case or atypical KD case definition. These patients were compared with non-recurrent KD patients. Of the 5557 US KD patients <18 years of age during 1984-2008, 97 (1.7%) were identified as having had recurrent KD. Among the US Asian/Pacific Islander KD patients, 3.5% had recurrent KD, which was similar to the percentage identified among KD patients (3.5%) in the Japanese survey. Compared with non-recurrent KD patients, KD patients [with recurrent KD] were more likely to be older, fulfill the atypical KD case definition, and have coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) despite i.v. immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. Differences in the age, race, and frequency of CAA exist between recurrent and non-recurrent KD patients. The increased association of CAA with recurrent KD suggests that more aggressive treatment strategies in conjunction with IVIG may be indicated for the second episode of KD. © 2015 Japan Pediatric Society.

Recurrent Kawasaki disease, United States and Japan

PubMed Central

Maddox, Ryan A.; Holman, Robert C.; Uehara, Ritei; Callinan, Laura S.; Guest, Jodie L.; Schonberger, Lawrence B.; Nakamura, Yosikazu; Yashiro, Mayumi; Belay, Ermias D.

2015-01-01

Background Descriptive epidemiologic studies of recurrent and non-recurrent Kawasaki disease (KD) may identify other potentially important differences between these illnesses. Methods Data from the United States and Japan, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national KD surveillance (1984–2008) and the 17th Japanese nationwide survey (2001–2002), respectively, were analyzed to examine recurrent KD patients <18 years of age meeting the CDC KD case or atypical KD case definition. These patients were compared to non-recurrent KD patients. Results Of the 5557 US KD patients <18 years of age during 1984–2008, 97 (1.7%) were identified as having had recurrent KD. Among the US Asian/Pacific Islander KD patients, 3.5% had recurrent KD, which was similar to the percentage identified among KD patients (3.5%) in the Japanese survey. Compared to non-recurrent KD patients, KD patients experiencing a recurrent KD episode were more likely to be older, fulfill the atypical KD case definition, and have coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) despite IVIG treatment. Conclusions Differences in the age, race, and frequency of CAA exist between recurrent and non-recurrent KD patients. The increased association of CAA with recurrent KD suggests that more aggressive treatment strategies in conjunction with IVIG may be indicated for the second episode of KD. PMID:26096590

Ifosfamide metabolites CAA, 4-OH-Ifo and Ifo-mustard reduce apical phosphate transport by changing NaPi-IIa in OK cells.

PubMed

Patzer, L; Hernando, N; Ziegler, U; Beck-Schimmer, B; Biber, J; Murer, H

2006-11-01

Renal Fanconi syndrome occurs in about 1-5% of all children treated with Ifosfamide (Ifo) and impairment of renal phosphate reabsorption in about 20-30% of them. Pathophysiological mechanisms of Ifo-induced nephropathy are ill defined. The aim has been to investigate whether Ifo metabolites affect the type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate transporter (NaPi-IIa) in viable opossum kidney cells. Ifo did not influence viability of cells or NaPi-IIa-mediated transport up to 1 mM/24 h. Incubation of confluent cells with chloroacetaldehyde (CAA) and 4-hydroperoxyIfosfamide (4-OH-Ifo) led to cell death by necrosis in a concentration-dependent manner. At low concentrations (50-100 microM/24 h), cell viability was normal but apical phosphate transport, NaPi-IIa protein, and -mRNA expression were significantly reduced. Coincubation with sodium-2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA) prevented the inhibitory action of CAA but not of 4-OH-Ifo; DiMESNA had no effect. Incubation with Ifosfamide-mustard (Ifo-mustard) did alter cell viability at concentrations above 500 microM/24 h. At lower concentrations (50-100 microM/24 h), it led to significant reduction in phosphate transport, NaPi-IIa protein, and mRNA expression. MESNA did not block these effects. The effect of Ifo-mustard was due to internalization of NaPi-IIa. Cyclophosphamide-mustard (CyP-mustard) did not have any influence on cell survival up to 1000 microM, but the inhibitory effect on phosphate transport and on NaPi-IIa protein was the same as found after Ifo-mustard. In conclusion, CAA, 4-OH-Ifo, and Ifo- and CyP-mustard are able to inhibit sodium-dependent phosphate cotransport in viable opossum kidney cells. The Ifo-mustard effect took place via internalization and reduction of de novo synthesis of NaPi-IIa. Therefore, it is possible that Ifo-mustard plays an important role in pathogenesis of Ifo-induced nephropathy.

Mixed-location cerebral hemorrhage/microbleeds: Underlying microangiopathy and recurrence risk.

PubMed

Pasi, Marco; Charidimou, Andreas; Boulouis, Gregoire; Auriel, Eitan; Ayres, Alison; Schwab, Kristin M; Goldstein, Joshua N; Rosand, Jonathan; Viswanathan, Anand; Pantoni, Leonardo; Greenberg, Steven M; Gurol, M Edip

2018-01-09

To assess the predominant type of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and recurrence risk in patients who present with a combination of lobar and deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)/microbleed locations (mixed ICH). Of 391 consecutive patients with primary ICH enrolled in a prospective registry, 75 (19%) had mixed ICH. Their demographics, clinical/laboratory features, and SVD neuroimaging markers were compared to those of 191 patients with probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA-ICH) and 125 with hypertensive strictly deep microbleeds and ICH (HTN-ICH). ICH recurrence and case fatality were also analyzed. Patients with mixed ICH showed a higher burden of vascular risk factors reflected by a higher rate of left ventricular hypertrophy, higher creatinine values, and more lacunes and severe basal ganglia (BG) enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) than patients with CAA-ICH (all p < 0.05). In multivariable models mixed ICH diagnosis was associated with higher creatinine levels (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-5.0, p = 0.010), more lacunes (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.7-6.8), and more severe BG EPVS (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.7-19.7) than patients with CAA-ICH. Conversely, when patients with mixed ICH were compared to patients with HTN-ICH, they were independently associated with older age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.1), more lacunes (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3), and higher microbleed count (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0). Among 90-day survivors, adjusted case fatality rates were similar for all 3 categories. Annual risk of ICH recurrence was 5.1% for mixed ICH, higher than for HTN-ICH but lower than for CAA-ICH (1.6% and 10.4%, respectively). Mixed ICH, commonly seen on MRI obtained during etiologic workup, appears to be driven mostly by vascular risk factors similar to HTN-ICH but demonstrates more severe parenchymal damage and higher ICH recurrence risk. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Neurology.

Cluster Ion Spectrometry (CIS) Data Archiving in the CAA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dandouras, I. S.; Barthe, A.; Penou, E.; Brunato, S.; Reme, H.; Kistler, L. M.; Blagau, A.; Facsko, G.; Kronberg, E.; Laakso, H. E.

2009-12-01

The Cluster Active Archive (CAA) aims at preserving the four Cluster spacecraft data, so that they are usable in the long-term by the scientific community as well as by the instrument team PIs and Co-Is. This implies that the data are filed together with the descriptive and documentary elements making it possible to select and interpret them. The CIS (Cluster Ion Spectrometry) experiment is a comprehensive ionic plasma spectrometry package onboard the four Cluster spacecraft, capable of obtaining full three-dimensional ion distributions (about 0 to 40 keV/e) with a time resolution of one spacecraft spin (4 sec) and with mass-per-charge composition determination. The CIS package consists of two different instruments, a Hot Ion Analyser (HIA) and a time-of-flight ion Composition Distribution Function (CODIF) analyser. For the archival of the CIS data a multi-level approach has been adopted. The CAA archival includes processed raw data (Level 1 data), moments of the ion distribution functions (Level 2 data), and calibrated high-resolution data in a variety of physical units (Level 3 data). The latter are 3-D ion distribution functions and 2-D pitch-angle distributions. In addition, a software package has been developed to allow the CAA user to interactively calculate partial or total moments of the ion distributions. Instrument cross-calibration has been an important activity in preparing the data for archival. The CIS data archive includes also experiment documentation, graphical products for browsing through the data, and data caveats. In addition, data quality indexes are under preparation, to help the user. Given the complexity of an ion spectrometer, and the variety of its operational modes, each one being optimised for a different magnetospheric region or measurement objective, consultation of the data caveats by the end user will always be a necessary step in the data analysis.

Validity evidence for the situational judgment test paradigm in emotional intelligence measurement.

PubMed

Libbrecht, Nele; Lievens, Filip

2012-01-01

To date, various measurement approaches have been proposed to assess emotional intelligence (EI). Recently, two new EI tests have been developed based on the situational judgment test (SJT) paradigm: the Situational Test of Emotional Understanding (STEU) and the Situational Test of Emotion Management (STEM). Initial attempts have been made to examine the construct-related validity of these new tests; we extend these findings by placing the tests in a broad nomological network. To this end, 850 undergraduate students completed a personality inventory, a cognitive ability test, a self-report EI test, a performance-based EI measure, the STEU, and the STEM. The SJT-based EI tests were not strongly correlated with personality and fluid cognitive ability. Regarding their relation with existing EI measures, the tests did not capture the same construct as self-report EI measures, but corresponded rather to performance-based EI measures. Overall, these results lend support for the SJT paradigm for measuring EI as an ability.

Using Genetic Buffering Relationships Identified in Fission Yeast To Elucidate the Molecular Pathology of Tuberous Sclerosis

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

5’-aat tat ttt ata tgg aat gag caa gta tgt ttt atc ata att gac cag ttc att tca agg acc ttc aaa aat ata cct acg aat tcg agc tcg ttt aaa c-3’), or...oTsc13 (5’-tta aga gtt cag att tgc ttt atg tgg tta ttc tgc tga agg tcc taa ttt att gac gtt gaa aaa taa agg cca cat agc gga tcc ccg ggt taa tta a-3...and oTsc14 (5’-ata aaa aaa att aat taa tga tgg caa ggc aca atc gta atc aat ctt tta att tag gac ttt tta tat gcc ctt atg gcg aat tcg agc tcg ttt aaa c

Ecological Risk Assessment of Munitions Compounds on Coral and Coral Reef Health

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

C308R Porites lobata Maunalua Bay, Oahu, HI K5 TAG GTG GGG AAT CAA ACG GC C307F C309F Porites lobata La Perouse, Maui, HI 3-3 GCT GGC TTA CAG...GGA ATT TTA ACT TCA AGC 24 41.7% 54°C 2.08 Kb this work Porites mtDNA cobR A GAT TCT CTT TGC GCA GTG GCA TAG G 25 52.0% 59°C this work Porites mtDNA...47.6% 52°C 2.14 Kb this work Porites mtDNA nad5(5’)R K CCA ACT GTG CAG ACT TTC CAA CC 23 52.2% 57°C this work References and further reading

Does Validation during Language Comprehension Depend on an Evaluative Mindset?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Isberner, Maj-Britt; Richter, Tobias

2014-01-01

Whether information is routinely and nonstrategically evaluated for truth during comprehension is still a point of contention. Previous studies supporting the assumption of nonstrategic validation have used a Stroop-like paradigm in which participants provided yes/no judgments in tasks unrelated to the truth or plausibility of the experimental…

Relationship disruption stress in human infants: a validation study with experimental and control groups.

PubMed

Haley, David W

2011-09-01

The current study examined whether the psychological stress of the still-face (SF) task (i.e. stress resulting from a parent's unresponsiveness) is a valid laboratory stress paradigm for evaluating infant cortisol reactivity. Given that factors external to the experimental paradigm, such as arriving at a new place, may cause an elevation in cortisol secretion; we tested the hypothesis that infants would show a cortisol response to the SF task but not to a normal FF task (control). Saliva was collected for cortisol measurement from 6-month-old infants (n = 31) randomly assigned to either a repeated SF task or to a continuous FF task. Parent-infant dyads were videotaped. Salivary cortisol concentration was measured at baseline, 20, and 30 min after the start of the procedure. Infant salivary cortisol concentrations showed a significant increase over time for the SF task but not for the FF task. The results provide new evidence that the repeated SF task provides a psychological challenge that is due to the SF condition rather than to some non-task related factor; these results provide internal validity for the paradigm. The study offers new insight into the role of parent-infant interactions in the activation of the infant stress response system.

Changing the Paradigm: Simulation, a Method of First Resort

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

Environment xvii USAF United States Air Force USD(I) Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) V&V Verification and Validation VIC Vector -in...continued use throughout the operations research community, and is perhaps best known from Harvey Wagner’s seminal textbook Principles of Operations...pages 887 and 890 of Harvey Wagner’s seminal textbook Principles of Operations Research (Wagner, 1969). Why was this the paradigm of the time? Was

Test-retest paradigm of the forced swimming test in female mice is not valid for predicting antidepressant-like activity: participation of acetylcholine and sigma-1 receptors.

PubMed

Su, Jing; Hato-Yamada, Noriko; Araki, Hiroaki; Yoshimura, Hiroyuki

2013-01-01

The forced swimming test (FST) in mice is widely used to predict the antidepressant activity of a drug, but information describing the immobility of female mice is limited. We investigated whether a prior swimming experience affects the immobility duration in a second FST in female mice and whether the test-retest paradigm is a valid screening tool for antidepressants. Female ICR mice were exposed to the FST using two experimental paradigms: a single FST and a double FST in which mice had experienced FST once 24 h prior to the second trail. The initial FST experience reliably prolonged immobility duration in the second FST. The antidepressants imipramine and paroxetine significantly reduced immobility duration in the single FST, but not in the double FST. Scopolamine and the sigma-1 (σ1) antagonist NE-100 administered before the second trial significantly prevented the prolongation of immobility. Neither a 5-HT1A nor a 5-HT2A receptor agonist affected immobility duration. We suggest that the test-retest paradigm in female mice is not adequate for predicting antidepressant-like activity of a drug; the prolongation of immobility in the double FST is modulated through acetylcholine and σ1 receptors.

Volkswagen Violations

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This site provides information on EPA's issued notice of violation (NOV) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to Volkswagen. The NOV alleges software that circumvents EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants.

Corrective Action Decision Document/Closure Report for Corrective Action Unit 567: Miscellaneous Soil Sites - Nevada National Security Site, Nevada

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

Matthews, Patrick

2014-12-01

This Corrective Action Decision Document/Closure Report presents information supporting the closure of Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 567: Miscellaneous Soil Sites, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada. The purpose of this Corrective Action Decision Document/Closure Report is to provide justification and documentation supporting the recommendation that no further corrective action is needed for CAU 567 based on the implementation of the corrective actions. The corrective actions implemented at CAU 567 were developed based on an evaluation of analytical data from the CAI, the assumed presence of COCs at specific locations, and the detailed and comparative analysis of the CAAs. The CAAs weremore » selected on technical merit focusing on performance, reliability, feasibility, safety, and cost. The implemented corrective actions meet all requirements for the technical components evaluated. The CAAs meet all applicable federal and state regulations for closure of the site. Based on the implementation of these corrective actions, the DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office provides the following recommendations: • No further corrective actions are necessary for CAU 567. • The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection issue a Notice of Completion to the DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office for closure of CAU 567. • CAU 567 be moved from Appendix III to Appendix IV of the FFACO.« less

Cerebral Arterial Occlusion Did Not Promote the Prevalence of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

PubMed

Honda, Kazuhiro

2016-08-01

An impairment of amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance has been suggested in Alzheimer's disease. Perivascular drainage along cerebrovascular vessels is considered an important amyloid clearance pathway. This study examined the effect of reduced arterial pulsation that could cause an impairment in cerebral amyloid drainage on the prevalence of cortical microbleeds (CMBs), a surrogate marker for cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Patients who lost depiction of either side of the carotid artery or the middle cerebral artery on magnetic resonance angiography were studied. Those who showed acute cerebral infarction or a previous cortical cerebral infarction were excluded. The number of CMBs was counted on the occluded and non-occluded sides of the brain in each subject. The number of subjects who showed more CMBs on the occluded side of the brain was compared with the number of subjects who showed more CMBs on the non-occluded side of the brain. Twenty-eight patients were studied. The extent of lacunar infarction and white matter lesions was not different, irrespective of the occluded vessels or the distribution of CMBs. The prevalence of CMBs was not different between the occluded and non-occluded sides of the brain. In this cross-sectional study, reduction of arterial pulsation was not associated with a higher prevalence of CAA. Therefore, reduced arterial pulsation alone may not be enough to promote CAA.

The chloroplast division mutant caa33 of Arabidopsis thaliana reveals a crucial impact of chloroplast homeostasis on stress acclimation and retrograde plastid-to-nucleus signaling

PubMed Central

Šimková, Klára; Kim, Chanhong; Gacek, Katarzyna; Baruah, Aiswarya; Laloi, Christophe; Apel, Klaus

2011-01-01

SUMMARY Retrograde plastid-to-nucleus signaling tightly controls and coordinates nuclear and plastid gene expression that is required for plastid biogenesis and chloroplast activities. As chloroplasts act as sensors of environmental changes, plastid-derived signaling also modulates stress responses of plants by transferring stress-related signals and altering nuclear gene expression. Various mutant screens have been undertaken to identify constituents of plastid signaling pathways. Almost all mutations identified in these screens have in common that they target plastid-specific but not extra-plastidic functions. They have been suggested to define either genuine constituents of retrograde signaling pathways or components required for the synthesis of plastid signals. Here we report the characterization of the caa33 (constitutive activator of AAA-ATPase) mutant, which reveals another way of how mutations that affect plastid functions may modulate retrograde plastid signaling. caa33 disturbs a plastid-specific function by impeding plastid division thereby perturbing plastid homeostasis. This results in pre-conditioning plants by activating the expression of stress genes, enhancing pathogen resistance and attenuating the plant’s capacity to respond to plastid signals. Our study reveals an intimate link between chloroplast activity and the plant’s susceptibility to stress and emphasizes the need to consider the possible impact of pre-conditioning on retrograde plastid-to-nucleus signaling. PMID:22014227

Evaluation of impacted Brazilian estuaries using the native oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae: Branchial carbonic anhydrase as a biomarker.

PubMed

Azevedo-Linhares, Maristela; Freire, Carolina A

2015-12-01

In this study, we investigated the use of branchial carbonic anhydrase activity in a sessile filter feeding species, the oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae, as a biomarker. The oysters were collected in three human impacted Brazilian estuaries, following a crescent latitudinal gradient: in Pernambuco state (Itamaracá), in Espírito Santo state (Piraquê), and in Paraná state (Paranaguá), in August/2003 (Winter in the southern hemisphere) and February/2004 (Summer). Three sites were chosen in each estuary for oyster sampling: Reference (R), Contaminated 1 (C1, close to industrial/harbor contamination), and Contaminated 2 (C2, near to sewage discharges). Comparing to values in oysters sampled in reference sites, there was apparent inhibition in carbonic anhydrase activity (CAA) in gills of oysters from C1 of Itamaracá and from C2 of Piraquê, both cases in Summer. On the other hand, increased CAA was noted in C2 oysters of Itamaracá in winter, and of Paranaguá, in both seasons. Branchial CAA in C. rhizophorae was thus very responsive to coastal contamination. Data are consistent with its usefulness as a supporting biomarker for inexpensive and rapid analysis in the assessment of estuaries using a sessile osmoconformer species, but preferably allied to other biomarkers and with knowledge on the suite of contaminants present. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Reduction of antiproliferative capacities, cell-based antioxidant capacities and phytochemical contents of common beans and soybeans upon thermal processing.

PubMed

Xu, Baojun; Chang, Sam K C

2011-12-01

The effects of boiling and steaming processes on the antiproliferative and cellular antioxidant properties, as well as phytochemicals, of two types of common beans (pinto and black beans) and two types of soybeans (yellow and black) were investigated. All thermal-processing methods caused significant (p<0.05) decreases in total phenolic content (TPC), total saponin content (TSC) and phytic acid content (PAC) values in all bean types (except for TPC values in pressure-steamed yellow soybeans) as compared to those of the raw beans. All types of uncooked raw beans exhibited cellular antioxidant activities (CAA) in dose-dependent manners. Black soybeans exhibited the greatest CAA, followed by black beans, pinto beans and yellow soybeans. The CAA of cooked beans were generally diminished or eliminated by thermal processing. The hydrophilic extracts from raw pinto beans, black beans and black soybeans exhibited antiproliferation capacities against human gastric (AGS) and colorectal (SW480) cancer cells in dose-dependent manners. The raw yellow soybeans exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferation activities against the SW480 cells. Most of the cooked beans lost their antiproliferation capacities as observed in the raw beans. These results indicate that different processing methods may have various effects on phytochemical profiles and bioactivities. Overall, thermal processing caused a significant reduction of the health-promotion effects of beans. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intestinal Permeability and Cellular Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds from Mango (Mangifera indica cv. Ataulfo) Peels

PubMed Central

Pacheco-Ordaz, Ramón; González-Aguilar, Gustavo A.

2018-01-01

Mango (Mangifera indica cv. Ataulfo) peel contains bound phenolics that may be released by alkaline or acid hydrolysis and may be converted into less complex molecules. Free phenolics from mango cv. Ataulfo peel were obtained using a methanolic extraction, and their cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and permeability were compared to those obtained for bound phenolics released by alkaline or acid hydrolysis. Gallic acid was found as a simple phenolic acid after alkaline hydrolysis along with mangiferin isomers and quercetin as aglycone and glycosides. Only gallic acid, ethyl gallate, mangiferin, and quercetin were identified in the acid fraction. The acid and alkaline fractions showed the highest CAA (60.5% and 51.5%) when tested at 125 µg/mL. The value of the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) across the Caco-2/HT-29 monolayer of gallic acid from the alkaline fraction was higher (2.61 × 10−6 cm/s) than in the other fractions and similar to that obtained when tested pure (2.48 × 10−6 cm/s). In conclusion, mango peels contain bound phenolic compounds that, after their release, have permeability similar to pure compounds and exert an important CAA. This finding can be applied in the development of nutraceuticals using this important by-product from the mango processing industry. PMID:29419800

The enforcement provisions of the Clean Air Act - not the same old Section 113

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

Benthul, H.R.

1996-08-01

The Clean Air Act ({open_quotes}CAA{close_quotes}) of 1990 was in many respects a major overhaul of the previous versions of the Clean Air Act although it retained most of the preexisting major programs such as the basic National Ambient Air Quality Standards ({open_quotes}NAAQS{close_quotes}) scheme, PSD, new source performance standards, regulation of toxic air pollutants, and the like. The 1990 Act strengthened the enforcement provisions of the Act by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Environmental Protection Agency ({open_quotes}EPA{close_quotes}) of {section}113. For example, the criminal enforcement provisions of {section}113 are expanded both in the range of punishment and in the kinds ofmore » activities which are subject to criminal enforcement. Moreover, the Act now contains a number of additional enforcement provisions in addition to those found in {section}113. The purpose of this paper is to discuss both the {section}113 provision and as well, identify those enforcement provisions found outside {section}113. The latter provisions will be taken up first and addressed by Titles of the Act. The discussion of specific sections and subsections of the CAA are necessarily brief and in the nature of highlighting of particular features; like the rest of the CAA, careful reading and analysis is a requirement for full understanding.« less

Motiva Enterprises LLC Refinery Settlement

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Settlement summary for nine refineries owned by Motiva, Equilon, and the Deer Park Refining Limited Partnership (Shell Deer Park) to assure compliance with major provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

40 CFR 89.3 - Acronyms and abbreviations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials CAA Clean... Oxygen OEM Original equipment manufacturer PM Particulate matter SAE Society of Automotive Engineers SEA...

40 CFR 89.3 - Acronyms and abbreviations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials CAA Clean... Oxygen OEM Original equipment manufacturer PM Particulate matter SAE Society of Automotive Engineers SEA...

CAA for Jet Noise Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mankbadi, Reda

2001-01-01

Dr. Mankbadi summarized recent CAA results. Examples of the effect of various boundary condition schemes on the computed acoustic field, for a point source in a uniform flow, were shown. Solutions showing the impact of inflow excitations on the result were also shown. Results from a large eddy simulation, using a fourth-order MacCormack scheme with a Smagorinsky sub-grid turbulence model, were shown for a Mach 2.1 unheated jet. The results showed that the results were free from spurious modes. Results were shown for a Mach 1.4 jet using LES in the near field and the Kirchhoff method for the far field. Predicted flow field characteristics were shown to be in good agreement with data and predicted far field directivities were shown to be in qualitative agree with experimental measurements.

CAA for Jet Noise Physics: Issues and Recent Progress

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mankbadi, Reda

2001-01-01

Dr. Mankbadi summarized recent CAA results. Examples of the effect of various boundary condition schemes on the computed acoustic field, for a point source in a uniform flow, were shown. Solutions showing the impact of inflow excitations on the result were also shown. Results from a large eddy simulation, using a fourth-order MacCormack scheme with a Smagorinsky sub-grid turbulence model, were shown for a Mach 2.1 unheated jet. The results showed that the results were free from spurious modes. Results were shown for a Mach 1.4 jet using LES in the near field and the Kirchhoff method for the far field. Predicted flow field characteristics were shown to be in good agreement with data and predicted far field directivities were shown to be in qualitative agree with experimental measurements.

77 FR 18051 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Regional Haze State...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-26

...EPA is proposing to approve a State implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Colorado on May 25, 2011 that addresses regional haze (RH). EPA is proposing to determine that the plan submitted by Colorado satisfies the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the Act'') and our rules that require states to prevent any future and remedy any existing man-made impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is taking this action pursuant to section 110 of the CAA.

Pathogenetic Influences of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in Prostate Cancer Progression

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-25

expression of each GOI were calculated by raising 2 to the negative value ΔΔCt for each sample. Primer sequences used were: AR-F: 5’ ATG GTG AGC AGA... GTG CCC TAT C 3’ AR- R: 5’ ATG GTC CCT GGC AGT CTC CAA A 3’ PSA-F: CGC AAG TTC ACC CTC AGA AGG T 3’ PSA-R: 5’ GAC GTG ATA CCT TGA AGC ACA CC 3’ MSMB-F...TGG CGT TCC AGG GAC TCA T 3’ Zeb1-F: 5’ GGC ATA CAC CTA CTC AAC TAC GG 3’ Zeb1-R: 5’ TGG GCG GTG TAG AAT CAG AGT C 3’ Snail-F: 5’ TGC CCT CAA GAT

Comparative pharmacokinetics of ifosfamide, 4-hydroxyifosfamide, chloroacetaldehyde, and 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide in patients on fractionated intravenous ifosfamide therapy.

PubMed

Kurowski, V; Wagner, T

1993-01-01

The initial metabolism of the oxazaphosphorine cytostatic ifosfamide (IF) consists of two different pathways: ring oxidation at carbon-4 forms the cytostatically active metabolite 4-hydroxyifosfamide (4-OH-IF, "activated ifosfamide"), whereas side-chain oxidation with liberation of the presumably neurotoxic compound chloroacetaldehyde (CAA) that may also be responsible for IF-associated nephrotoxicity results in the formation of the cytostatically inactive metabolites 2-dechloroethylifosfamide (2-DCE-IF) and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide (3-DCE-IF). The pharmacokinetics of IF and its metabolites were investigated in 11 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma receiving IF on a 5-day divided-dose schedule (1.5 g/m2 daily). Blood samples were drawn on days 1 and 5 for up to 24 h after the start of the IF infusion. IF, 2-DCE-IF, and 3-DCE-IF were simultaneously quantified by gas chromatography (GC) with an NIP flame-ionization detector (NPFID), CAA was determined by GC with an electron-capture detector (ECD), and the highly unstable compound 4-OH-IF was measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with fluorometric detection of 7-OH-quinoline, which is formed by the condensation of 4-OH-IF-derived acrolein with m-aminophenol. As compared with the values obtained on day 1, on day 5 the terminal half-life and AUC values determined for IF were reduced by 30% (6.36 vs 4.06 h and 1781 vs 1204 nmol h ml-1, respectively), whereas the maximal concentration (Cmax) values were not affected significantly (199.1 vs 181.1 nmol ml-1). This known phenomenon is explained by autoinduction of hepatic IF metabolism and was paralleled by increased metabolite levels. The mean Cmax values determined for 4-OH-IF, CAA, 3-DCE-IF, and 2-DCE-IF (on day 1/on day 5) were 1.51/2.59, 2.69/4.85, 12.9/26.5, and 8.6/16.7 nmol ml-1, respectively. The corresponding AUC values were 11.3/16.5, 30.3/34.3, 146/354, and 111/209 nmol h ml-1, respectively. As calculated by intraindividual comparison, the mean Cmax (day 5): Cmax (day 1) ratios for 4-OH-IF, CAA, 3-DCE-IF, and 2-DCE-IF were 1.94*, 2.05*, 2.52*, and 2.33*, respectively; the corresponding AUC (day 5): AUC (day 1) ratios were 1.51*, 1.29, 2.34*, and 2.23*, respectively (* P < 0.05). These data reveal that during fractionated-dose IF therapy the cancerotoxic effect of the drug increases. If the assumed role of CAA in IF-associated neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity is a dose-dependent phenomenon, the probability of developing these side effects would also increase during prolonged IF application.

Improved sensitivity of the urine CAA lateral-flow assay for diagnosing active Schistosoma infections by using larger sample volumes.

PubMed

Corstjens, Paul L A M; Nyakundi, Ruth K; de Dood, Claudia J; Kariuki, Thomas M; Ochola, Elizabeth A; Karanja, Diana M S; Mwinzi, Pauline N M; van Dam, Govert J

2015-04-22

Accurate determination of Schistosoma infection rates in low endemic regions to examine progress towards interruption of transmission and elimination requires highly sensitive diagnostic tools. An existing lateral flow (LF) based test demonstrating ongoing infections through detection of worm circulating anodic antigen (CAA), was improved for sensitivity through implementation of a protocol allowing increased sample input. Urine is the preferred sample as collection is non-invasive and sample volume is generally not a restriction. Centrifugal filtration devices provided a method to concentrate supernatant of urine samples extracted with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). For field trials a practical sample volume of 2 mL urine allowed detection of CAA down to 0.3 pg/mL. The method was evaluated on a set of urine samples (n = 113) from an S. mansoni endemic region (Kisumu, Kenya) and compared to stool microscopy (Kato Katz, KK). In this analysis true positivity was defined as a sample with either a positive KK or UCAA test. Implementation of the concentration method increased clinical sensitivity (Sn) from 44 to 98% when moving from the standard 10 μL (UCAA10 assay) to 2000 μL (UCAA2000 assay) urine sample input. Sn for KK varied between 23 and 35% for a duplicate KK (single stool, two slides) to 52% for a six-fold KK (three consecutive day stools, two slides). The UCAA2000 assay indicated 47 positive samples with CAA concentration above 0.3 pg/mL. The six-fold KK detected 25 egg positives; 1 sample with 2 eggs detected in the 6-fold KK was not identified with the UCAA2000 assay. Larger sample input increased Sn of the UCAA assay to a level indicating 'true' infection. Only a single 2 mL urine sample is needed, but analysing larger sample volumes could still increase test accuracy. The UCAA2000 test is an appropriate candidate for accurate identification of all infected individuals in low-endemic regions. Assay materials do not require refrigeration and collected urine samples may be stored and transported to central test laboratories without the need to be frozen.

Mid-term Risk for Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Chronic Myocarditis in Children with Kawasaki Disease and Transient Coronary Abnormalities.

PubMed

Parihar, Mansingh; Singh, Surjit; Vignesh, Pandiarajan; Gupta, Anju; Rohit, Manojkumar

2017-08-01

There is evidence for premature atherosclerosis and systemic arterial stiffening during follow-up of children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). Moreover, patients with KD may also have subclinical myocardial involvement and inhomogeneous ventricular repolarization. The inhomogeneous ventricular repolarization manifests as increased QT dispersion on electrocardiography. There is a paucity of studies in endothelial dysfunction and QT dispersion in children with KD and transient CAA. Twenty children with KD and transient CAA were studied at least 1 year after resolution of CAA. Mean follow-up period between KD onset and enrolment in the study was 53.7 months. Twenty age and sex-matched controls were enrolled. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was used to analyze brachial artery dilatation in response to reactive hyperemia (cases and controls) and sublingual nitroglycerine (cases only). Carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and stiffness index were calculated. The difference between maximum and minimum QTc intervals on 12 lead electrocardiogram was calculated as QTc dispersion (QTcd). No statistically significant difference was noted in percent flow-mediated dilatation of brachial arteries in response to reactive hyperemia between cases (13.31 ± 10.41%) and controls (12.86 ± 7.09%). Sublingual nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation in children with KD was 14.88 ± 12.03%. Mean cIMT was similar in cases (0.036 ± 0.015 cm) and controls (0.035 ± 0.076 cm; p = 0.791). No statistically significant difference between groups was observed in mean QTcd values (0.057 ± 0.018 s vs. 0.059 ± 0.015 s in controls, p = 0.785). No evidence of significant endothelial dysfunction or increased QT dispersion in patients with KD and transient coronary artery abnormalities was found in our cohort when studied at a mean follow-up of 53.7 months. This is reassuring, and indicates that risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and myocarditis in a subset of children with KD and transient coronary artery abnormalities is not significant.

Selecting accurate post-elimination monitoring tools to prevent reemergence of urogenital schistosomiasis in Morocco: a pilot study.

PubMed

Balahbib, Abdelaali; Amarir, Fatima; Corstjens, Paul L A M; de Dood, Claudia J; van Dam, Govert J; Hajli, Amina; Belhaddad, Meryem; El Mansouri, Bouchra; Sadak, Abderrahim; Rhajaoui, Mohamed; Adlaoui, El Bachir

2017-04-06

After alleged stop of transmission of schistosomiasis and further down the line in post elimination settings, sensitive tools are required to monitor infection status to prevent potential re-emergence. In Rahala, where transmission cycle of Schistosoma haematobium is interrupted since 2004 but where 30% of snails are still infected by S. bovis, potential human S. bovis infection can't be excluded. As methods based on egg-counts do not provide the required sensitivity, antibody or antigen assays are envisaged as the most appropriate tools for this type of monitoring. In this pilot study, the performances of three assays were compared: two commercially available antibody tests (ELISA and haemagglutination format) indicating exposure, and an antigen test (lateral flow strip format) demonstrating active infection. All 37 recruited study participants resided in Rahala (Akka, province Tata, Morocco). Participants had been diagnosed and cured from schistosomiasis in the period between 1983 and 2003. In 2015 these asymptomatic participants provided fresh clinical samples (blood and urine) for analysis with the aforementioned diagnostics tests. No eggs were identified in the urine of the 37 participants. The haemagglutination test indicated 6 antibody positives whereas the ELISA indicated 28 antibody positives, one indecisive and one false positive. ELISA and haemagglutination results matched for 18 individuals, amongst which 5 out of 6 haemagglutination positives. With the antigen test (performed on paired serum and urine samples), serum from two participants (cured 21 and 32 years ago) indicated the presence of low levels of the highly specific Schistosoma circulating anodic antigen (CAA), demonstrating low worm level infections (less than 5 pg/ml corresponding to probably single worm pair). One tested also CAA positive with urine. ELISA indicated the presence of human anti-Schistosoma antibodies in these two CAA positive cases, haemagglutination results were negative. To prevent reemergence of schistosomiasis in Morocco current monitoring programs require specific protocols that include testing of antibody positives for active infection by the UCP-LF CAA test, the appropriate diagnostic tool to identify Schistosoma low grade infections in travelers, immigrants and assumed cured cases. The test is genus specific will also identify infections related to S. bovis.

Metabolism of uniformly labeled 13C-eicosapentaenoic acid and 13C-arachidonic acid in young and old men.

PubMed

Léveillé, Pauline; Chouinard-Watkins, Raphaël; Windust, Anthony; Lawrence, Peter; Cunnane, Stephen C; Brenna, J Thomas; Plourde, Mélanie

2017-08-01

Background: Plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA) concentrations increase with age. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate EPA and AA metabolism in young and old men by using uniformly labeled carbon-13 ( 13 C) fatty acids. Design: Six young (∼25 y old) and 6 old (∼75 y old) healthy men were recruited. Each participant consumed a single oral dose of 35 mg 13 C-EPA and its metabolism was followed in the course of 14 d in the plasma and 28 d in the breath. After the washout period of ≥28 d, the same participants consumed a single oral dose of 50 mg 13 C-AA and its metabolism was followed for 28 d in plasma and breath. Results: There was a time × age interaction for 13 C-EPA ( P time × age = 0.008), and the shape of the postprandial curves was different between young and old men. The 13 C-EPA plasma half-life was ∼2 d for both young and old men ( P = 0.485). The percentage dose recovered of 13 C-EPA per hour as 13 CO 2 and the cumulative β-oxidation of 13 C-EPA did not differ between young and old men. At 7 d, however, old men had a >2.2-fold higher plasma 13 C-DHA concentration synthesized from 13 C-EPA compared with young men ( P age = 0.03). 13 C-AA metabolism was not different between young and old men. The 13 C-AA plasma half-life was ∼4.4 d in both young and old participants ( P = 0.589). Conclusions: The metabolism of 13 C-AA was not modified by age, whereas 13 C-EPA metabolism was slightly but significantly different in old compared with young men. The higher plasma 13 C-DHA seen in old men may be a result of slower plasma DHA clearance with age. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02957188. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

77 FR 15985 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Preconstruction...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-19

... balances afforded by the CAA have been maintained, including the independent obligation for attainment of..., Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides...

Renewable Fuels Volume Standards Timeline Announced Documents

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Consent Decrees where plaintiffs filed March 18, 2015 in alleging that EPA has violated a nondiscretionary duty under CAA to establish renewable fuel obligations applicable to the calendar year 2014 and 2015.

Trends and variability in summer sea ice cover in the Canadian Arctic based on the Canadian Ice Service Digital Archive, 1960-2008 and 1968-2008

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tivy, Adrienne; Howell, Stephen E. L.; Alt, Bea; McCourt, Steve; Chagnon, Richard; Crocker, Greg; Carrieres, Tom; Yackel, John J.

2011-03-01

The Canadian Ice Service Digital Archive (CISDA) is a compilation of weekly ice charts covering Canadian waters from the early 1960s to present. The main sources of uncertainty in the database are reviewed and the data are validated for use in climate studies before trends and variability in summer averaged sea ice cover are investigated. These data revealed that between 1968 and 2008, summer sea ice cover has decreased by 11.3% ± 2.6% decade-1 in Hudson Bay, 2.9% ± 1.2% decade-1 in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA), 8.9% ± 3.1% decade-1 in Baffin Bay, and 5.2% ± 2.4% decade-1 in the Beaufort Sea with no significant reductions in multiyear ice. Reductions in sea ice cover are linked to increases in early summer surface air temperature (SAT); significant increases in SAT were observed in every season and they are consistently greater than the pan-Arctic change by up to ˜0.2°C decade-1. Within the CAA and Baffin Bay, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation index correlates well with multiyear ice coverage (positive) and first-year ice coverage (negative) suggesting that El Niño episodes precede summers with more multiyear ice and less first-year ice. Extending the trend calculations back to 1960 along the major shipping routes revealed significant decreases in summer sea ice coverage ranging between 11% and 15% decade-1 along the route through Hudson Bay and 6% and 10% decade-1 along the southern route of the Northwest Passage, the latter is linked to increases in SAT. Between 1960 and 2008, no significant trends were found along the northern western Parry Channel route of the Northwest Passage.

Cloning of TaSST genes associated with water soluble carbohydrate content in bread wheat stems and development of a functional marker.

PubMed

Dong, Yan; Zhang, Yan; Xiao, Yonggui; Yan, Jun; Liu, Jindong; Wen, Weie; Zhang, Yong; Jing, Ruilian; Xia, Xianchun; He, Zhonghu

2016-05-01

We cloned TaSST genes, developed a gene-specific marker for TaSST-D1, and identified three QTL in the Doumai/Shi 4185 RIL population. TaSST-D1 is within one of the three QTL. Sucrose:sucrose-1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST), a critical enzyme in the fructan biosynthetic pathway, is significantly and positively associated with water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content in bread wheat stems. In the present study, wheat 1-SST genes (TaSST) were isolated and located on chromosomes 4A, 7A and 7D. Sequence analysis of TaSST-D1 revealed 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the third exon between cultivars with higher and lower WSC content. A cleaved amplified polymorphism sequence (CAPS) marker, WSC7D, based on the polymorphism at position 1216 (C-G) was developed to discriminate the two alleles. WSC7D was located on chromosome 7DS using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from a Doumai/Shi 4185 cross, and a set of Chinese Spring nullisomic-tetrasomic lines. TaSST-D1 co-segregated with the CAPS marker WSC7D and was linked to SNP marker BS00108793_51 on chromosome 7DS at a genetic distance of 6.1 cM. It explained 8.8, 10.9, and 11.3% of the phenotypic variances in trials at Beijing and Shijiazhuang as well as the averaged data from those environments, respectively. Two additional QTL (QWSC.caas-4BS and QWSC.caas-7AS) besides TaSST-D1 were mapped in the RIL population. One hundred and forty-nine Chinese wheat cultivars and advanced lines tested in four environments were used to validate a highly significant (P < 0.01) association between WSC7D and WSC content in wheat stems. WSC7D can be used as a gene-specific marker for improvement of stem WSC content in wheat breeding programs.

A Highly Predictive Model for Diagnosis of Colorectal Neoplasms Using Plasma MicroRNA: Improving Specificity and Sensitivity

PubMed Central

Carter, Jane V.; Roberts, Henry L.; Pan, Jianmin; Rice, Jonathan D.; Burton, James F.; Galbraith, Norman J.; Eichenberger, M. Robert; Jorden, Jeffery; Deveaux, Peter; Farmer, Russell; Williford, Anna; Kanaan, Ziad; Rai, Shesh N.; Galandiuk, Susan

2016-01-01

OBJECTIVE(S) Develop a plasma-based microRNA (miRNA) diagnostic assay specific for colorectal neoplasms, building upon our prior work. BACKGROUND Colorectal neoplasms (colorectal cancer [CRC] and colorectal advanced adenoma [CAA]) frequently develop in individuals at ages when other common cancers also occur. Current screening methods lack sensitivity, specificity, and have poor patient compliance. METHODS Plasma was screened for 380 miRNAs using microfluidic array technology from a “Training” cohort of 60 patients, (10 each) control, CRC, CAA, breast (BC), pancreatic (PC) and lung (LC) cancer. We identified uniquely dysregulated miRNAs specific for colorectal neoplasia (p<0.05, false discovery rate: 5%, adjusted α=0.0038). These miRNAs were evaluated using single assays in a “Test” cohort of 120 patients. A mathematical model was developed to predict blinded sample identity in a 150 patient “Validation” cohort using repeat-sub-sampling validation of the testing dataset with 1000 iterations each to assess model detection accuracy. RESULTS Seven miRNAs (miR-21, miR-29c, miR-122, miR-192, miR-346, miR-372, miR-374a) were selected based upon p-value, area-under-the-curve (AUC), fold-change, and biological plausibility. AUC (±95% CI) for “Test” cohort comparisons were 0.91 (0.85-0.96), 0.79 (0.70-0.88) and 0.98 (0.96-1.0), respectively. Our mathematical model predicted blinded sample identity with 69-77% accuracy between all neoplasia and controls, 67-76% accuracy between colorectal neoplasia and other cancers, and 86-90% accuracy between colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma. CONCLUSIONS Our plasma miRNA assay and prediction model differentiates colorectal neoplasia from patients with other neoplasms and from controls with higher sensitivity and specificity compared to current clinical standards. PMID:27471839

RMP Guidance for Warehouses - Appendix C: Technical Assistance

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources to assist warehousing facilities in complying include the Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office website, EPCRA/Superfund/RCRA/CAA hotline, OSHA publications and training program, and Institute of Chemical Engineers publications.

RMP Guidance for Chemical Distributors - Appendix C: Technical Assistance

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources available to assist warehousing facilities include the Office of Emergency Management website, EPCRA/Superfund/RCRA/CAA hotline, OSHA website and documents and training program, and American Institute of Chemical Engineers publications.

Precision-Guided Munitions Effects Representation

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-03

Center for Army Analysis (CAA) by the TRADOC Analysis Center, Monterey (TRAC-MTRY). The focus of the research is to improve the current methodology ... Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 Timeline... Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1 MATLAB Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-49 Damage

Intravenous injection of beta-amyloid seeds promotes cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

PubMed

Burwinkel, Michael; Lutzenberger, Manuel; Heppner, Frank L; Schulz-Schaeffer, Walter; Baier, Michael

2018-03-05

Seeding and spread of beta-amyloid (Aβ) pathologies have been considered to be based on prion-like mechanisms. However, limited transmissibility of Aβ seeding activity upon peripheral exposure would represent a key difference to prions, not only in terms of pathogenesis but also in terms of potential transmission of disease. We partially characterized the seeded Aβ amyloidosis after intracerebral injection of various brain homogenates in APP/PS1 mice. One particularly seed-laden homogenate was selected to investigate the development of Aβ pathologies after intravenous exposure. We report here that a single intravenous injection of an Alzheimer disease patient's-brain extract into APP/PS1 recipient mice led to cerebral amyloid angiopathy within 180 days post injection. Thus, vascular proteinopathies such as CAA are transmissible in mice via the intravenous route of peripheral exposure.

Molecular screening of the Hbs Constant Spring (codon 142, TAA>CAA, α2) and Paksé (codon 142, TAA>TAT, α2) mutations in Thailand.

PubMed

Pichanun, Dalad; Munkongdee, Thongperm; Klamchuen, Sumonmaln; Butthep, Punnee; Winichagoon, Pranee; Fucharoen, Suthat; Svasti, Saovaros

2010-01-01

Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS, α142(H19)Term] and Hb Paksé [α142(H19)Term] occur from the mutation in the termination codon of the α2-globin gene, TAA>CAA (→Gln) and TAA>TAT (→Tyr), respectively. They are the most common nondeletional α-thalassemia (α-thal) variants causing Hb H disease in Southeast Asia. In this study, 587 cord blood samples were screened for the Hb CS and Hb Paksé mutations by a dot-blot hybridization technique using oligonucleotide probes specific for each mutation. The results showed that the prevalence of Hb CS and Hb Paksé in Central Thailand are 5.80 and 0.51%, respectively, which is in concordance with the results from previous studies.

ACE Inhibition in Anti-Thy1 Glomerulonephritis Limits Proteinuria but Does Not Improve Renal Function and Structural Remodeling

PubMed Central

Westerweel, Peter E.; Joles, Jaap A.; den Ouden, Krista; Goldschmeding, Roel; Rookmaaker, Maarten B.; Verhaar, Marianne C.

2012-01-01

Background/Aims ACE inhibitor (ACE-I) treatment effectively inhibits proteinuria and ameliorates the course of various renal diseases. In experimental glomerulonephritis, however, angiotensin II (AngII) infusion has also been shown to be renoprotective. We evaluated the long-term (28 days) course of anti-Thy1 glomerulonephritis in animals with suppressed AngII formation by ACE-I treatment. Methods Brown Norway rats received perindopril (2.8 mg/kg/day, n = 12), dihydropyridine calcium-antagonist amlodipine (Ca-A; 13 mg/kg/day, n = 6) or were left untreated (n = 14). All animals were monitored for blood pressure, proteinuria, and creatinine clearance after anti-Thy1 injection. Renal histology was assessed at day 7 and 28. Results Systolic blood pressure was equally reduced by ACE-I and Ca-A treatment. AngII suppression prevented development of proteinuria, but did not protect against glomerular microaneurysm formation or reduction in creatinine clearance. After resolution of the microaneurysms, animals with suppressed AngII production showed a modest increase in glomerulosclerosis and vasculopathic thickening of intrarenal vessels. Conclusions In anti-Thy1 glomerulonephritis, suppression of AngII formation does not protect against the induction of glomerular damage and is associated with mild aggravation of adverse renal fibrotic remodeling. Proteinuria, however, is effectively prevented by ACE-I treatment. Ca-A treatment did not affect the course of glomerulonephritis, indicating that ACE-I effects are blood pressure independent. PMID:22479264

Final Report for the Testing of the Y-12 Criticality Accident Alarm System Detectors at the Godiva IV Burst Reactor (IER-443)

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

Scorby, John C.; Hickman, David; Hudson, Becka

This report documents the experimental conditions and final results for the performance testing of the Y-12 Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS) detectors at the Godiva IV Burst Reactor at the National Criticality Experimental Research Center (NCERC) at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The testing followed a previously issued test plan and was conducted during the week of July 17, 2017, with completion on Thursday July 20. The test subjected CAAS detectors supplied by Y-12 to very intense and short duration mixed neutron and gamma radiation fields to establish compliance to maximum radiation and minimum pulse width requirements. ANSI/ANS- 8.3.1997more » states that the “system shall be sufficiently robust as to actuate an alarm signal when exposed to the maximum radiation expected”, which has been defined at Y-12, in Documented Safety Analyses (DSAs), to be a dose rate of 10 Rad/s. ANSI/ANS-8.3.1997 further states that “alarm actuation shall occur as a result of a minimum duration transient” which may be assumed to be 1 msec. The pulse widths and dose rates provided by each burst during the test exceeded those requirements. The CAAS detectors all provided an immediate alarm signal and remained operable after the bursts establishing compliance to the requirements and fitness for re-deployment at Y-12.« less

Blood Platelets in the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

PubMed Central

Gowert, Nina S.; Donner, Lili; Chatterjee, Madhumita; Eisele, Yvonne S.; Towhid, Seyda T.; Münzer, Patrick; Walker, Britta; Ogorek, Isabella; Borst, Oliver; Grandoch, Maria; Schaller, Martin; Fischer, Jens W.; Gawaz, Meinrad; Weggen, Sascha; Lang, Florian; Jucker, Mathias; Elvers, Margitta

2014-01-01

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by neurotoxic amyloid-ß plaque formation in brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels known as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Besides CAA, AD is strongly related to vascular diseases such as stroke and atherosclerosis. Cerebrovascular dysfunction occurs in AD patients leading to alterations in blood flow that might play an important role in AD pathology with neuronal loss and memory deficits. Platelets are the major players in hemostasis and thrombosis, but are also involved in neuroinflammatory diseases like AD. For many years, platelets were accepted as peripheral model to study the pathophysiology of AD because platelets display the enzymatic activities to generate amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides. In addition, platelets are considered to be a biomarker for early diagnosis of AD. Effects of Aß peptides on platelets and the impact of platelets in the progression of AD remained, however, ill-defined. The present study explored the cellular mechanisms triggered by Aß in platelets. Treatment of platelets with Aß led to platelet activation and enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane scrambling, suggesting enhanced platelet apoptosis. More important, platelets modulate soluble Aß into fibrillar structures that were absorbed by apoptotic but not vital platelets. This together with enhanced platelet adhesion under flow ex vivo and in vivo and platelet accumulation at amyloid deposits of cerebral vessels of AD transgenic mice suggested that platelets are major contributors of CAA inducing platelet thrombus formation at vascular amyloid plaques leading to vessel occlusion critical for cerebrovascular events like stroke. PMID:24587388

Least-Squares Spectral Element Solutions to the CAA Workshop Benchmark Problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Wen H.; Chan, Daniel C.

1997-01-01

This paper presents computed results for some of the CAA benchmark problems via the acoustic solver developed at Rocketdyne CFD Technology Center under the corporate agreement between Boeing North American, Inc. and NASA for the Aerospace Industry Technology Program. The calculations are considered as benchmark testing of the functionality, accuracy, and performance of the solver. Results of these computations demonstrate that the solver is capable of solving the propagation of aeroacoustic signals. Testing of sound generation and on more realistic problems is now pursued for the industrial applications of this solver. Numerical calculations were performed for the second problem of Category 1 of the current workshop problems for an acoustic pulse scattered from a rigid circular cylinder, and for two of the first CAA workshop problems, i. e., the first problem of Category 1 for the propagation of a linear wave and the first problem of Category 4 for an acoustic pulse reflected from a rigid wall in a uniform flow of Mach 0.5. The aim for including the last two problems in this workshop is to test the effectiveness of some boundary conditions set up in the solver. Numerical results of the last two benchmark problems have been compared with their corresponding exact solutions and the comparisons are excellent. This demonstrates the high fidelity of the solver in handling wave propagation problems. This feature lends the method quite attractive in developing a computational acoustic solver for calculating the aero/hydrodynamic noise in a violent flow environment.

Antioxidant activity of puha (Sonchus oleraceus L.) as assessed by the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay.

PubMed

McDowell, Arlene; Thompson, Scott; Stark, Mirjam; Ou, Zong-Quan; Gould, Kevin S

2011-12-01

There is considerable interest in antioxidant dietary components that can be protective against degenerative diseases in humans. Puha (Sonchus oleraceus L.) is a rich source of polyphenols, and exhibits strong antioxidant activity as measured by the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. However, the potential of puha to protect against degenerative diseases requires that low molecular weight antioxidants (LMWA) are absorbed by, and active in, human cells. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay was used to investigate the antioxidant activity of puha leaf extracts. Preparation methods of freezing and freeze-drying reduced the total polyphenolic content compared with fresh puha, but did not affect the LMWA potential as determined by the DPPH assay. The IC(50) values were 0.012 ± 0.003 mg/mL and 0.010 ± 0.005 mg/mL for freeze-dried and fresh puha leaves, respectively. Using the CAA assay, it was shown that LMWAs from foliar extracts of puha were effectively absorbed into HepG2 cells, and exerted antioxidant activity at levels comparable to those of extracts from blueberry fruits, the much-touted antioxidant superfood. Methylene blue staining of HepG2 cells indicated that puha extracts were not cytotoxic at concentrations below 100 mg DW/mL. The data indicate the potential of puha as a nutraceutical supplement for human health. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Learned helplessness: validity and reliability of depressive-like states in mice.

PubMed

Chourbaji, S; Zacher, C; Sanchis-Segura, C; Dormann, C; Vollmayr, B; Gass, P

2005-12-01

The learned helplessness paradigm is a depression model in which animals are exposed to unpredictable and uncontrollable stress, e.g. electroshocks, and subsequently develop coping deficits for aversive but escapable situations (J.B. Overmier, M.E. Seligman, Effects of inescapable shock upon subsequent escape and avoidance responding, J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 63 (1967) 28-33 ). It represents a model with good similarity to the symptoms of depression, construct, and predictive validity in rats. Despite an increased need to investigate emotional, in particular depression-like behaviors in transgenic mice, so far only a few studies have been published using the learned helplessness paradigm. One reason may be the fact that-in contrast to rats (B. Vollmayr, F.A. Henn, Learned helplessness in the rat: improvements in validity and reliability, Brain Res. Brain Res. Protoc. 8 (2001) 1-7)--there is no generally accepted learned helplessness protocol available for mice. This prompted us to develop a reliable helplessness procedure in C57BL/6N mice, to exclude possible artifacts, and to establish a protocol, which yields a consistent fraction of helpless mice following the shock exposure. Furthermore, we validated this protocol pharmacologically using the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine. Here, we present a mouse model with good face and predictive validity that can be used for transgenic, behavioral, and pharmacological studies.

[The nurse answers for health in social inequalities: the development of the nursing critical paradigm.].

PubMed

Rocco, Gennaro; Stievano, Alessandro

2007-01-01

Until the early Eighties, critical social theory as a philosophical orientation informing nursing science, theory development and practice did not exist. Interest on this topic began to arise only after the mid-Eighties. In fact, nursing scholars questioned the validity of empiricism as the historical foundation for nursing science and the limitations of interpretivism in strengthening nursing knowledge, and thus started to focus on the lack of epistemological perspectives in nursing, giving particular prominence to the peculiar social, political, historical and economic conditions involving those who needed nursing care. The theoretical reflection began to develop, like the empirical paradigm, the post-positivist paradigm and, later, the interpretative paradigm, expanded thanks to the early works by Martha Rogers and Rosemarie Rizzo Parse, were seen as unable to address issues related to power inequities, structural constraints and oppression suffered by vulnerable groups such as the homeless, mental health individuals, people affected by HIV+ and other infectious diseases, unemployed, etc.. Empiricism and interpretative paradigms did not manage to bridge the gap between theory and praxis, and a new theoretical and philosophical approach gradually gained ground. This paradigm, based on critical social theory, was developed by distinguished scholars and intellectuals, such as Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse of the Frankfurt School in the Thirties, and, in recent years, by Giddens, Bourdieu, Foucault, Habermas. On this social field the first works of Allen, Thompson, Stevens, Campbell and Bunting, Kendall, allowed to work out a new paradigmatic nursing approach that would have predicted the employment of the critical theory for particular nursing aspects, as a conceptual framework for nursing education, as a paradigm to carry out participatory action-research and for the development of the discipline. The purpose of this article was to describe this new paradigmatic nursing approach. In this way, we hope to give emphasis to the epistemological debate that should characterize a discipline that has undertaken by now, also in Italy, the characteristics of a scientific and a fully epistemological validity.

Materials Data on CaAs (SG:189) by Materials Project

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

Kristin Persson

2016-02-10

Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

Notification: Background Investigation Services

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The purpose of this memorandum is to notify you that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) plans to begin the preliminary research phase of an evaluation of EPA’s Oversight of Clean Air Act (CAA) Title V Emissions Fees.

Tesoro Los Angeles Refinery Integration and Compliance Project

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA Region 9 has two announcements pertaining to the Los Angeles Refinery Integration and Compliance project (LARIC project): permit revisions meet all CAA requirements and federal PSD permitting provisions do not apply to this project.

MTU America Inc. Clean Air Act Settlement

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The settlement resolves an enforcement action by EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice against MTU for Clean Air Act (CAA) violations involving MTU’s failure to comply with certain testing, certification and reporting.

Structured Overlapping Grid Simulations of Contra-rotating Open Rotor Noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Housman, Jeffrey A.; Kiris, Cetin C.

2015-01-01

Computational simulations using structured overlapping grids with the Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) solver framework are presented for predicting tonal noise generated by a contra-rotating open rotor (CROR) propulsion system. A coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational AeroAcoustics (CAA) numerical approach is applied. Three-dimensional time-accurate hybrid Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes/Large Eddy Simulation (RANS/LES) CFD simulations are performed in the inertial frame, including dynamic moving grids, using a higher-order accurate finite difference discretization on structured overlapping grids. A higher-order accurate free-stream preserving metric discretization with discrete enforcement of the Geometric Conservation Law (GCL) on moving curvilinear grids is used to create an accurate, efficient, and stable numerical scheme. The aeroacoustic analysis is based on a permeable surface Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) approach, evaluated in the frequency domain. A time-step sensitivity study was performed using only the forward row of blades to determine an adequate time-step. The numerical approach is validated against existing wind tunnel measurements.

Paradigms of psychiatry: eclecticism and its discontents.

PubMed

Ghaemi, Seyyed Nassir

2006-11-01

To assess paradigms of psychiatry, assessing their strengths and limitations. The biopsychosocial model, and eclecticism in general, serves as the primary paradigm of mainstream contemporary psychiatry. In the past few decades, the biopsychosocial model served as a cease-fire between the biological and psychoanalytic extremism that characterized much of the 19th and 20th century history of psychiatry. Despite being broad and fostering an 'anything goes' mentality, it fails to provide much guidance as a model. In recent years, the biological school has gained prominence and now is under attack from many quarters. Critics tend toward dogmatism themselves, usually of postmodernist or libertarian varieties. Three alternate approaches include pragmatism, integrationism, and pluralism. Pluralism, as technically defined here based on the work of Karl Jaspers, rejects or accepts different methods but holds that some methods are better than others for specific circumstances or conditions. The compromise paradigm of biopsychosocial eclecticism has failed to sufficiently guide contemporary psychiatry. The concurrent revival of the biological model has led to postmodernist counter-reactions which, though valid in many specifics, promise to replace one ideological dogma with another. New paradigms are needed.

Validation of Autonomic and Endocrine Reactivity to a Laboratory Stressor in Young Children

PubMed Central

Roos, Leslie E.; Giuliano, Ryan J.; Beauchamp, Kathryn G.; Gunnar, Megan; Amidon, Brigette; Fisher, Philip A.

2017-01-01

The validation of laboratory paradigms that reliably induce a stress response [including hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation], is critical for understanding how children’s stress-response systems support emotional and cognitive function. Early childhood research to date is markedly limited, given the difficulty in establishing paradigms that reliably induce a cortisol response. Furthermore, research to date has not included a control condition or examined concurrent ANS reactivity. We addressed these limitations by characterizing the extent to which a modified matching task stressor paradigm induces HPA and ANS activation, beyond a closely matched control condition. Modifications include an unfamiliar and unfriendly assessor to increase the stressful nature of the task. Results validate the matching task as a laboratory stressor, with significant differences in HPA and ANS responsivity between conditions. The Stressor group exhibited a cortisol increase post-stressor, while the Control group was stable over time. Children in both conditions exhibited reduced parasympathetic activity to the first-half of the task, but in the second-half, only children in the Stressor condition, who were experiencing exaggerated signals of failure, exhibited further parasympathetic decline. The Stressor condition induced higher sympathetic activity (versus Control) throughout the task, with exaggerated second-half differences. Within the Stressor condition, responsivity was convergent across systems, with greater cortisol reactivity correlated with the magnitude of parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic engagement. Future research employing the matching task will facilitate understanding the role of HPA and ANS function in development. PMID:28024268

Tolerance of sexual harassment: a laboratory paradigm.

PubMed

Angelone, David J; Mitchell, Damon; Carola, Kara

2009-12-01

The present study attempted to develop a laboratory analogue for the study of tolerance for sexual harassment by using an online speed-dating paradigm. In that context, the relation between participants' sexual harassment attitudes, perpetrator attractiveness, perpetrator status, and perceived dating potential of the perpetrator were examined as factors influencing participants' tolerance of sexually harassing behavior. Participants were 128 female college students from a small northeastern public university. Results indicated that attractiveness, high social status, and attitudinal beliefs about sexual harassment were all predictive of tolerance for sexual harassment, providing preliminary support for the validity of this paradigm. In addition, participants' self reported likelihood to date a bogus male dating candidate was also predictive of tolerance for sexual harassment, over and above the aforementioned variables, suggesting that dating potential can play a role in perceptions of sexual harassment. Further, this experiment demonstrated that perceptions of sexual harassment can be assessed using the in vivo measurement of behavior. In addition, using an online environment not only provides a contemporary spin and adds a greater degree of external validity compared to other sexual harassment analogues, it also reduces any risk of potential physical sexual contact for participants.

On the relationship between the causal-inference and meta-analytic paradigms for the validation of surrogate endpoints.

PubMed

Alonso, Ariel; Van der Elst, Wim; Molenberghs, Geert; Buyse, Marc; Burzykowski, Tomasz

2015-03-01

The increasing cost of drug development has raised the demand for surrogate endpoints when evaluating new drugs in clinical trials. However, over the years, it has become clear that surrogate endpoints need to be statistically evaluated and deemed valid, before they can be used as substitutes of "true" endpoints in clinical studies. Nowadays, two paradigms, based on causal-inference and meta-analysis, dominate the scene. Nonetheless, although the literature emanating from these paradigms is wide, till now the relationship between them has largely been left unexplored. In the present work, we discuss the conceptual framework underlying both approaches and study the relationship between them using theoretical elements and the analysis of a real case study. Furthermore, we show that the meta-analytic approach can be embedded within a causal-inference framework on the one hand and that it can be heuristically justified why surrogate endpoints successfully evaluated using this approach will often be appealing from a causal-inference perspective as well, on the other. A newly developed and user friendly R package Surrogate is provided to carry out the evaluation exercise. © 2014, The International Biometric Society.

78 FR 72609 - Approval and Promulgation of State Air Quality Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-03

..., subpart B and part 62, subpart A. Section 129 of the CAA regulates air pollutants that include organics... pollution control, Aluminum, Fertilizers, Fluoride, Intergovernmental relations, Paper and paper products...

Air Dashboard Help | ECHO | US EPA

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The dashboards found on the Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) website are specialized to track both facility and agency performance as they relate to compliance with and enforcement of environmental standards under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Overview of SNAP

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Section 612(c) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the Agency to publish a list of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The SNAP program does not require that substitutes be risk- free to be found acceptable.

Learn About FCA Violations

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Learn about EPA's issued notice of violation (NOV) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and FCA US LLC. The NOV alleges that FCA installed software that circumvents EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants.

Tribal Air Grants Framework - Menu of Options

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Tool to assist tribes that apply for CAA funding to draft moreeffective work plans for projects that will develop tribal knowledge of air quality issues andbuild tribal expertise to manage air quality on reservations and tribal trust land

76 FR 9706 - Finding of Substantial Inadequacy of Implementation Plan; Call for Iowa State Implementation Plan...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-22

... advance and available for prompt implementation once triggered. Section 110(k)(5) of the CAA provides that... Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Iowa, Particulate matter, State Implementation Plan. Dated...

Changes to EPCRA, CERCLA, CAA 112(r) Consolidated List of Lists – March 2015

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Changes include adding to the explanation for applying TPQs for EHS that are molten solids or solids in solution, reinstated TRI reporting requirements for hydrogen sulfide, and updated radionuclides list.

Reducing Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Use and Emissions in the Federal Sector through SNAP

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Certain HFCs have high global-warming potential, raising concern about their impacts as they become increasingly used as replacements for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) being phased out under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Public Notice Distribution List for CAA Permits in the Mountains and Plains Region (Region 8)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Clean Air Act public notice notification list - subscription form. Currently this is for EPA Region 8 states Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, and 27 Indian Reservations

SH Bell Consent Decree Entered

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA complaint, Consent Decree, against S.H. Bell alleging that emissions of ambient manganese from its facility in East Liverpool, OH & in Ohioville, PA present an imminent and public health or welfare under CAA Sect. 303, CERCLA Sect. 106

General RMP Guidance - Appendix C: Technical Assistance

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Contacts for resources available to facilities in complying with 40 CFR part 68 (risk management program) include Office of Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response, EPCRA/Superfund/RCRA/CAA Call Center, and the Center for Chemical Process Safety.

Study of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni antioxidant activities and cellular properties.

PubMed

Bender, Cecilia; Graziano, Sara; Zimmermann, Benno F

2015-01-01

The aim of our study was to determine the antioxidant activities, cytotoxicity and proliferative properties in Stevia rebaudiana leaves and stems. Leaves extracts exhibited a higher antioxidant activity than stems extract, through oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. Stevioside and rebaudioside A, the main sweetening metabolites in stevia leaves, exhibited a low ORAC value in comparison with plant extracts, while did not elicit any CAA. Stevia rebaudiana did not exhibit toxicity against HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) human cells. No proliferative nor catalase modulations were observed in cells treated with such extracts. Our findings support the promising role of stevia that, apart from its sweetness, can act as a source of antioxidants, even at the intracellular level. This activity makes S. rebaudiana crude extract an interesting resource of natural sweetness with antioxidant properties which may find numerous applications in foods and nutritional supplements industries.

Overcoming Geometry-Induced Stiffness with IMplicit-Explicit (IMEX) Runge-Kutta Algorithms on Unstructured Grids with Applications to CEM, CFD, and CAA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kanevsky, Alex

2004-01-01

My goal is to develop and implement efficient, accurate, and robust Implicit-Explicit Runge-Kutta (IMEX RK) methods [9] for overcoming geometry-induced stiffness with applications to computational electromagnetics (CEM), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational aeroacoustics (CAA). IMEX algorithms solve the non-stiff portions of the domain using explicit methods, and isolate and solve the more expensive stiff portions using implicit methods. Current algorithms in CEM can only simulate purely harmonic (up to lOGHz plane wave) EM scattering by fighter aircraft, which are assumed to be pure metallic shells, and cannot handle the inclusion of coatings, penetration into and radiation out of the aircraft. Efficient MEX RK methods could potentially increase current CEM capabilities by 1-2 orders of magnitude, allowing scientists and engineers to attack more challenging and realistic problems.

Characterization of chiral amino acids from different milk origins using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion-mobility mass spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, He; Zheng, Nan; Li, Songli; Zhang, Yangdong; Zhao, Shengguo; Wen, Fang; Wang, Jiaqi

2017-04-01

Milk contains free amino acids (AAs) that play essential roles in maintaining the growth and health of infants, and D-AA isomers are increasingly being recognized as important signalling molecules. However, there are no studies of the different characteristics of chiral AA (C-AA) from different milk origins. Here, UPLC coupled to ion-mobility high-resolution MS (IM-HRMS) was employed to characterize 18 pairs of C-AAs in human, cow, yak, buffalo, goat, and camel milk. The results proved that milk origins can be differentiated based on the D- to L- AA ratio-based projection scores by principal component analysis. The present study gives a deeper understanding of the D- to L- AA ratio underlying the biological functions of different animal milks, and provide a new strategy for the study of AA metabolic pathways.

Effort-Based Decision-Making Paradigms for Clinical Trials in Schizophrenia: Part 2—External Validity and Correlates

PubMed Central

Reddy, L. Felice; Barch, Deanna M.; Buchanan, Robert W.; Dunayevich, Eduardo; Gold, James M.; Marder, Steven R.; Wynn, Jonathan K.; Young, Jared W.; Green, Michael F.

2015-01-01

Effort-based decision making has strong conceptual links to the motivational disturbances that define a key subdomain of negative symptoms. However, the extent to which effort-based decision-making performance relates to negative symptoms, and other clinical and functionally important variables has yet to be systematically investigated. In 94 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia, we examined the external validity of 5 effort-based paradigms, including the Effort Expenditure for Rewards, Balloon Effort, Grip Strength Effort, Deck Choice Effort, and Perceptual Effort tasks. These tasks covered 3 types of effort: physical, cognitive, and perceptual. Correlations between effort related performance and 6 classes of variables were examined, including: (1) negative symptoms, (2) clinically rated motivation and community role functioning, (3) self-reported motivational traits, (4) neurocognition, (5) other psychiatric symptoms and clinical/demographic characteristics, and (6) subjective valuation of monetary rewards. Effort paradigms showed small to medium relationships to clinical ratings of negative symptoms, motivation, and functioning, with the pattern more consistent for some measures than others. They also showed small to medium relations with neurocognitive functioning, but were generally unrelated to other psychiatric symptoms, self-reported traits, antipsychotic medications, side effects, and subjective valuation of money. There were relatively strong interrelationships among the effort measures. In conjunction with findings from a companion psychometric article, all the paradigms warrant further consideration and development, and 2 show the strongest potential for clinical trial use at this juncture. PMID:26209546

The advantage of objects over images in discrimination and reversal learning by kea, Nestor notabilis

PubMed Central

O'Hara, Mark; Huber, Ludwig; Gajdon, Gyula Kopanny

2015-01-01

Studies investigating the same paradigm but employing different methods are often directly compared in the literature. One such paradigm used to assess behavioural flexibility in animals is reversal learning. Commonly, these studies require individuals to learn the reward contingency of either solid objects presented on the ground or images presented on a touchscreen. Once learned, these contingencies are swapped. Researchers often refer to trials required to reach learning criteria from different studies, to compare the flexibility of different species, but rarely take methodological differences into account. A direct evaluation of the validity of such comparisons is lacking. To address this latent question, we confronted kea, an alpine parrot species of New Zealand and known for its behavioural flexibility, with a standard reversal learning paradigm on the touchscreen and a standard reversal learning paradigm with solid objects. The kea required significantly more trials to reach criterion in the acquisition and the reversal on the touchscreen. Also, the absolute increase in the number of trials required for the reversal was significantly greater on the touchscreen. This indicates that it is not valid to compare learning speed across studies that do not correspond in the addressed methodology. Taking into account the kea's ecology and explorative nature we discuss stimulus abstraction (limited depth cues and tactile stimulus feedback) and the spatial relation between reward and stimulus on the touchscreen as possible causes for decreased inhibition in this condition. Contrary to the absolute increase in number of trials required for the reversal, the increase in relation to the acquisition was greater with solid objects. This highlights the need for further research on the mechanisms involved causing methodology-dependent differences, some of which we discuss, in order to increase the validity of interpretations across studies and in respect to the subject's ecology. PMID:25745190

Bioenergetics at extreme temperature: Thermus thermophilus ba(3)- and caa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidases.

PubMed

Radzi Noor, Mohamed; Soulimane, Tewfik

2012-04-01

Seven years into the completion of the genome sequencing projects of the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus strains HB8 and HB27, many questions remain on its bioenergetic mechanisms. A key fact that is occasionally overlooked is that oxygen has a very limited solubility in water at high temperatures. The HB8 strain is a facultative anaerobe whereas its relative HB27 is strictly aerobic. This has been attributed to the absence of nitrate respiration genes from the HB27 genome that are carried on a mobilizable but highly-unstable plasmid. In T. thermophilus, the nitrate respiration complements the primary aerobic respiration. It is widely known that many organisms encode multiple biochemically-redundant components of the respiratory complexes. In this minireview, the presence of the two cytochrome c oxidases (CcO) in T. thermophilus, the ba(3)- and caa(3)-types, is outlined along with functional considerations. We argue for the distinct evolutionary histories of these two CcO including their respective genetic and molecular organizations, with the caa(3)-oxidase subunits having been initially 'fused'. Coupled with sequence analysis, the ba(3)-oxidase crystal structure has provided evolutionary and functional information; for example, its subunit I is more closely related to archaeal sequences than bacterial and the substrate-enzyme interaction is hydrophobic as the elevated growth temperature weakens the electrostatic interactions common in mesophiles. Discussion on the role of cofactors in intra- and intermolecular electron transfer and proton pumping mechanism is also included. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

LRP1 in brain vascular smooth muscle cells mediates local clearance of Alzheimer's amyloid-β.

PubMed

Kanekiyo, Takahisa; Liu, Chia-Chen; Shinohara, Mitsuru; Li, Jie; Bu, Guojun

2012-11-14

Impaired clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a major pathogenic event for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ depositions in brain parenchyma as senile plaques and along cerebrovasculature as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are hallmarks of AD. A major pathway that mediates brain Aβ clearance is the cerebrovascular system where Aβ is eliminated through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and/or degraded by cerebrovascular cells along the interstitial fluid drainage pathway. An Aβ clearance receptor, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), is abundantly expressed in cerebrovasculature, in particular in vascular smooth muscle cells. Previous studies have indicated a role of LRP1 in endothelial cells in transcytosing Aβ out of the brain across the BBB; however, whether this represents a significant pathway for brain Aβ clearance remains controversial. Here, we demonstrate that Aβ can be cleared locally in the cerebrovasculature by an LRP1-dependent endocytic pathway in smooth muscle cells. The uptake and degradation of both endogenous and exogenous Aβ were significantly reduced in LRP1-suppressed human brain vascular smooth muscle cells. Conditional deletion of Lrp1 in vascular smooth muscle cell in amyloid model APP/PS1 mice accelerated brain Aβ accumulation and exacerbated Aβ deposition as amyloid plaques and CAA without affecting Aβ production. Our results demonstrate that LRP1 is a major Aβ clearance receptor in cerebral vascular smooth muscle cell and a disturbance of this pathway contributes to Aβ accumulation. These studies establish critical functions of the cerebrovasculature system in Aβ metabolism and identify a new pathway involved in the pathogenesis of both AD and CAA.

Variations in freshwater pathways from the Arctic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zeliang; Hamilton, James; Su, Jie

2017-06-01

Understanding the mechanisms that drive exchanges between the Arctic Ocean and adjacent oceans is critical to building our knowledge of how the Arctic is reacting to a warming climate, and how potential changes in Arctic Ocean freshwater export may impact the AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation). Here, freshwater pathways from the Arctic Ocean to the North Atlantic are investigated using a 1 degree global model. An EOF analysis of modeled sea surface height (SSH) demonstrates that while the second mode accounts for only 15% of the variability, the associated geostrophic currents are strongly correlated with freshwater exports through CAA (Canadian Arctic Archipelago; r = 0.75), Nares Strait (r = 0.77) and Fram Strait (r = -0.60). Separation of sea level into contributing parts allows us to show that the EOF1 is primarily a barotropic mode reflecting variability in bottom pressure equivalent sea level, while the EOF2 mode reflects changes in steric height in the Arctic Basin. This second mode is linked to momentum wind driven surface current, and dominates the Arctic Ocean freshwater exports. Both the Arctic Oscillation and Arctic Dipole atmospheric indices are shown to be linked to Arctic Ocean freshwater exports, with the forcing associated with the Arctic Dipole reflecting the out-of-phase relationship between transports through the CAA and those through Fram Strait. Finally, observed freshwater transport variation through the CAA is found to be strongly correlated with tide gauge data from the Beaufort Sea coast (r = 0.81), and with the EOF2 mode of GRACE bottom pressure data (r = 0.85) on inter-annual timescales.

Landfast ice thickness in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from observations and models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howell, Stephen E. L.; Laliberté, Frédéric; Kwok, Ron; Derksen, Chris; King, Joshua

2016-07-01

Observed and modelled landfast ice thickness variability and trends spanning more than 5 decades within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) are summarized. The observed sites (Cambridge Bay, Resolute, Eureka and Alert) represent some of the Arctic's longest records of landfast ice thickness. Observed end-of-winter (maximum) trends of landfast ice thickness (1957-2014) were statistically significant at Cambridge Bay (-4.31 ± 1.4 cm decade-1), Eureka (-4.65 ± 1.7 cm decade-1) and Alert (-4.44 ± 1.6 cm -1) but not at Resolute. Over the 50+-year record, the ice thinned by ˜ 0.24-0.26 m at Cambridge Bay, Eureka and Alert with essentially negligible change at Resolute. Although statistically significant warming in spring and fall was present at all sites, only low correlations between temperature and maximum ice thickness were present; snow depth was found to be more strongly associated with the negative ice thickness trends. Comparison with multi-model simulations from Coupled Model Intercomparison project phase 5 (CMIP5), Ocean Reanalysis Intercomparison (ORA-IP) and Pan-Arctic Ice-Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System (PIOMAS) show that although a subset of current generation models have a "reasonable" climatological representation of landfast ice thickness and distribution within the CAA, trends are unrealistic and far exceed observations by up to 2 orders of magnitude. ORA-IP models were found to have positive correlations between temperature and ice thickness over the CAA, a feature that is inconsistent with both observations and coupled models from CMIP5.

Transcriptome Signatures of Selection, Drift, Introgression, and Gene Duplication in the Evolution of an Extremophile Endemic Plant

PubMed Central

Hawkins, Angela K; Garza, Elyssa R; Dietz, Valerie A; Hernandez, Oscar J; Hawkins, W Daryl; Burrell, A Millie

2017-01-01

Abstract Plants on serpentine soils provide extreme examples of adaptation to environment, and thus offer excellent models for the study of evolution at the molecular and genomic level. Serpentine outcrops are derived from ultramafic rock and have extremely low levels of essential plant nutrients (e.g., N, P, K, and Ca), as well as toxic levels of heavy metals (e.g., Ni, Cr, and Co) and low moisture availability. These outcrops provide habitat to a number of endemic plant species, including the annual mustard Caulanthus amplexicaulis var. barbarae (Cab) (Brassicaceae). Its sister taxon, C. amplexicaulis var. amplexicaulis (Caa), is intolerant to serpentine soils. Here, we assembled and annotated comprehensive reference transcriptomes of both Caa and Cab for use in protein coding sequence comparisons. A set of 29,443 reciprocal best Blast hit (RBH) orthologs between Caa and Cab was compared with identify coding sequence variants, revealing a high genome-wide dN/dS ratio between the two taxa (mean = 0.346). We show that elevated dN/dS likely results from the composite effects of genetic drift, positive selection, and the relaxation of negative selection. Further, analysis of paralogs within each taxon revealed the signature of a period of elevated gene duplication (∼10 Ma) that is shared with other species of the tribe Thelypodieae, and may have played a role in the striking morphological and ecological diversity of this tribe. In addition, distribution of the synonymous substitution rate, dS, is strongly bimodal, indicating a history of reticulate evolution that may have contributed to serpentine adaptation. PMID:29220486

Reconstructing decades of glacial mass loss in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noël, Brice; van de Berg, Willem Jan; Lhermitte, Stef; Wouters, Bert; van den Broeke, Michiel

2017-04-01

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) comprises multiple small glaciers and ice caps mostly concentrated on Ellesmere and Baffin Islands situated in the north (NCAA) and south (SCAA) of the archipelago, respectively. Because they cover a relatively small area and show complex geometries, current regional climate models, generally running at 5 to 20 km horizontal resolution, struggle to accurately resolve surface mass change patterns. Here, we present a 58-year (1958-2015) reconstruction of daily, 1 km surface mass balance (SMB) of the CAA, statistically downscaled from the output of the regional climate model RACMO2.3 at 11 km. By correcting for biases in elevation and ice albedo, the downscaling method significantly improves mass loss estimates over narrow outlet glaciers and isolated ice fields through better resolved marginal meltwater runoff. During the last two decades, CAA glaciers have experienced warmer conditions (+1.1°C) resulting in continued mass loss. NCAA and SCAA mass loss accounted for -24.7 ± 18.0 Gt yr-1 and -21.9 ± 8.2 Gt yr-1 respectively, almost tripling (-8.4 Gt yr-1) and doubling (-11.8 Gt yr-1) the 1958-1995 average. Following the recent warming, enhanced meltwater production reduced the refreezing capacity of inland firn layers by about 6%. While the interior of NCAA ice caps can still buffer most of the additional melt, the lack of a perennial firn area over low-lying SCAA glaciers caused uninterrupted mass loss since the 1980s, which, in the absence of significant refreezing capacity, indicates inevitable disappearance of these highly sensitive glaciers.

Neuroscience, virtual reality and neurorehabilitation: brain repair as a validation of brain theory.

PubMed

Verschure, Paul F M J

2011-01-01

This paper argues that basing cybertherapy approaches on a theoretical understanding of the brain has advantages. On one hand it provides for a rational approach towards therapy design while on the other allowing for a direct validation of brain theory in the clinic. As an example this paper discusses how the Distributed Adaptive Control architecture, a theory of mind, brain and action, has given rise to a new paradigm in neurorehabilitation called the Rehabilitation Gaming System (RGS) and to novel neuroprosthetic systems. The neuroprosthetic system considered is developed to replace the function of cerebellar micro-circuits, expresses core aspects of the learning systems of DAC and has been successfully tested in in-vivo experiments. The Virtual reality based rehabilitation paradigm of RGS has been validated in the treatment of acute and chronic stroke and has been shown to be more effective than existing methods. RGS provides a foundation for integrated at-home therapy systems that can operate largely autonomously when also augmented with appropriate physiological monitoring and diagnostic devices. These examples provide first steps towards a science based medicine.

Materials Data on Ca(As2Rh3)2 (SG:187) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2015-03-08

Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

Pesticide Active Ingredient Production Industry: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This action promulgates national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for the pesticide active ingredient (PAI) production source category under section 112 of the Clean Air Act as amended (CAA or Act).

77 FR 281 - Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-04

... holidays. Comments on a disk or CD-ROM should be formatted in Word or ASCII file, avoiding the use of... U.S. Virgin Islands had failed to submit CAA SIPs for improving visibility in mandatory Federal...

Lone Star Industries, Inc. (Buzzi), Clean Air Act Settlement

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Buzzi agreed to invest approximately $1 million in pollution control technology that will protect public health and resolve violations of the CAA. The settlement requires that Buzzi spend approximately $1.7 million on an environmental mitigation project

Notification: Evaluation of Enforcement Decree Compliance for Selected Clean Air Act Sources

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Project #OPE-FY14-0016, May 22, 2014. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) plans to begin the preliminary research phase of an evaluation of enforcement decree compliance for selected Clean Air Act (CAA) sources.

General RMP Guidance - Chapter 11: Communication with the Public

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

CAA requires that Risk Management Plans and offsite consequence analysis be made available to the public, so you should be prepared to discuss them with the press, Local Emergency Planning Committees, State Emergency Response Commissions, and others.

EnviroSafe Finding of Violation

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This document outlines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reissuing an enclosed Finding of Violation (FOV) to Enviro-Safe Refrigerants, Inc. (you). We find that you have violated the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7413(a) (the CAA).

Crew Activity Analyzer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murray, James; Kirillov, Alexander

2008-01-01

The crew activity analyzer (CAA) is a system of electronic hardware and software for automatically identifying patterns of group activity among crew members working together in an office, cockpit, workshop, laboratory, or other enclosed space. The CAA synchronously records multiple streams of data from digital video cameras, wireless microphones, and position sensors, then plays back and processes the data to identify activity patterns specified by human analysts. The processing greatly reduces the amount of time that the analysts must spend in examining large amounts of data, enabling the analysts to concentrate on subsets of data that represent activities of interest. The CAA has potential for use in a variety of governmental and commercial applications, including planning for crews for future long space flights, designing facilities wherein humans must work in proximity for long times, improving crew training and measuring crew performance in military settings, human-factors and safety assessment, development of team procedures, and behavioral and ethnographic research. The data-acquisition hardware of the CAA (see figure) includes two video cameras: an overhead one aimed upward at a paraboloidal mirror on the ceiling and one mounted on a wall aimed in a downward slant toward the crew area. As many as four wireless microphones can be worn by crew members. The audio signals received from the microphones are digitized, then compressed in preparation for storage. Approximate locations of as many as four crew members are measured by use of a Cricket indoor location system. [The Cricket indoor location system includes ultrasonic/radio beacon and listener units. A Cricket beacon (in this case, worn by a crew member) simultaneously transmits a pulse of ultrasound and a radio signal that contains identifying information. Each Cricket listener unit measures the difference between the times of reception of the ultrasound and radio signals from an identified beacon. Assuming essentially instantaneous propagation of the radio signal, the distance between that beacon and the listener unit is estimated from this time difference and the speed of sound in air.] In this system, six Cricket listener units are mounted in various positions on the ceiling, and as many as four Cricket beacons are attached to crew members. The three-dimensional position of each Cricket beacon can be estimated from the time-difference readings of that beacon from at least three Cricket listener units

Levels of H-ras codon 61 CAA to AAA mutation: response to 4-ABP-treatment and Pms2-deficiency.

PubMed

Parsons, Barbara L; Delongchamp, Robert R; Beland, Frederick A; Heflich, Robert H

2006-01-01

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiencies result in increased frequencies of spontaneous mutation and tumor formation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that a chemically-induced mutational response would be greater in a mouse with an MMR-deficiency than in the MMR-proficient mouse models commonly used to assay for chemical carcinogenicity. To accomplish this, the induction of H-ras codon 61 CAA-->AAA mutation was examined in Pms2 knockout mice (Pms2-/-, C57BL/6 background) and sibling wild-type mice (Pms2+/+). Groups of five or six neonatal male mice were treated with 0.3 micromol 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) or the vehicle control, dimethylsulfoxide. Eight months after treatment, liver DNAs were isolated and analysed for levels of H-ras codon 61 CAA-->AAA mutation using allele-specific competitive blocker-PCR. In Pms2-proficient and Pms2-deficient mice, 4-ABP treatment caused an increase in mutant fraction (MF) from 1.65x10(-5) to 2.91x10(-5) and from 3.40x10(-5) to 4.70x10(-5), respectively. Pooling data from 4-ABP-treated and control mice, the approximately 2-fold increase in MF observed in Pms2-deficient as compared with Pms2-proficient mice was statistically significant (P=0.0207) and consistent with what has been reported previously in terms of induction of G:C-->T:A mutation in a Pms2-deficient background. Pooling data from both genotypes, the increase in H-ras MF in 4-ABP-treated mice, as compared with control mice, did not reach the 95% confidence level of statistical significance (P=0.0606). The 4-ABP treatment caused a 1.76-fold and 1.38-fold increase in average H-ras MF in Pms2-proficient and Pms2-deficient mice, respectively. Furthermore, the levels of induced mutation in Pms2-proficient and Pms2-deficient mice were nearly identical (1.26x10(-5) and 1.30x10(-5), respectively). We conclude that Pms2-deficiency does not result in an amplification of the H-ras codon 61 CAA-->AAA mutational response induced by 4-ABP.

The ad-libitum alcohol 'taste test': secondary analyses of potential confounds and construct validity.

PubMed

Jones, Andrew; Button, Emily; Rose, Abigail K; Robinson, Eric; Christiansen, Paul; Di Lemma, Lisa; Field, Matt

2016-03-01

Motivation to drink alcohol can be measured in the laboratory using an ad-libitum 'taste test', in which participants rate the taste of alcoholic drinks whilst their intake is covertly monitored. Little is known about the construct validity of this paradigm. The objective of this study was to investigate variables that may compromise the validity of this paradigm and its construct validity. We re-analysed data from 12 studies from our laboratory that incorporated an ad-libitum taste test. We considered time of day and participants' awareness of the purpose of the taste test as potential confounding variables. We examined whether gender, typical alcohol consumption, subjective craving, scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and perceived pleasantness of the drinks predicted ad-libitum consumption (construct validity). We included 762 participants (462 female). Participant awareness and time of day were not related to ad-libitum alcohol consumption. Males drank significantly more alcohol than females (p < 0.001), and individual differences in typical alcohol consumption (p = 0.04), craving (p < 0.001) and perceived pleasantness of the drinks (p = 0.04) were all significant predictors of ad-libitum consumption. We found little evidence that time of day or participant awareness influenced alcohol consumption. The construct validity of the taste test was supported by relationships between ad-libitum consumption and typical alcohol consumption, craving and pleasantness ratings of the drinks. The ad-libitum taste test is a valid method for the assessment of alcohol intake in the laboratory.

Deprivation, reinforcement and peer support as work motivators: A paradigm for habilitation of older retardates.

PubMed

Cleland, C C; Swartz, J D

1968-04-01

A chronically institutionalized, high-grade retardate group traditionally characterized as possessing poor habilitation prognosis was re-appraised and good prognostic indices were isolated and described, from this appraisal the principles of deprivation, reinforcement and peer support were invoked to develop an habilitation paradigm for this selected high-risk group. Although specifically tailored to retardates, the model may have generalization potential for other handicapped groups. Through this research and placement approach, it appears possible to more validly assess the circumstances that enhance or undermine retardates' motivation to work.

Bristle-sensors—low-cost flexible passive dry EEG electrodes for neurofeedback and BCI applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grozea, Cristian; Voinescu, Catalin D.; Fazli, Siamac

2011-04-01

In this paper, we present a new, low-cost dry electrode for EEG that is made of flexible metal-coated polymer bristles. We examine various standard EEG paradigms, such as capturing occipital alpha rhythms, testing for event-related potentials in an auditory oddball paradigm and performing a sensory motor rhythm-based event-related (de-) synchronization paradigm to validate the performance of the novel electrodes in terms of signal quality. Our findings suggest that the dry electrodes that we developed result in high-quality EEG recordings and are thus suitable for a wide range of EEG studies and BCI applications. Furthermore, due to the flexibility of the novel electrodes, greater comfort is achieved in some subjects, this being essential for long-term use.

Adapting Social Neuroscience Measures for Schizophrenia Clinical Trials, Part 1: Ferrying Paradigms Across Perilous Waters

PubMed Central

Green, Michael F.

2013-01-01

Social cognitive impairment is prominent in schizophrenia, and it is closely related to functional outcome. Partly for these reasons, it has rapidly become a target for both training and psychopharmacological interventions. However, there is a paucity of reliable and valid social cognitive endpoints that can be used to evaluate treatment response in clinical trials. Also, clinical studies in schizophrenia have benefited rather little from the surge of activity and knowledge in nonclinical social neuroscience. The National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored study, “Social Cognition and Functioning in Schizophrenia” (SCAF), attempted to address this translational challenge by selecting paradigms from social neuroscience that could be adapted for use in schizophrenia. The project also evaluated the psychometric properties and external validity of the tasks to determine their suitability for multisite clinical trials. This first article in the theme section presents the goals, conceptual background, and rationale for the SCAF project. PMID:24072811

Simulation/Emulation Techniques: Compressing Schedules With Parallel (HW/SW) Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mangieri, Mark L.; Hoang, June

2014-01-01

NASA has always been in the business of balancing new technologies and techniques to achieve human space travel objectives. NASA's Kedalion engineering analysis lab has been validating and using many contemporary avionics HW/SW development and integration techniques, which represent new paradigms to NASA's heritage culture. Kedalion has validated many of the Orion HW/SW engineering techniques borrowed from the adjacent commercial aircraft avionics solution space, inserting new techniques and skills into the Multi - Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Orion program. Using contemporary agile techniques, Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products, early rapid prototyping, in-house expertise and tools, and extensive use of simulators and emulators, NASA has achieved cost effective paradigms that are currently serving the Orion program effectively. Elements of long lead custom hardware on the Orion program have necessitated early use of simulators and emulators in advance of deliverable hardware to achieve parallel design and development on a compressed schedule.

Kedalion: NASA's Adaptable and Agile Hardware/Software Integration and Test Lab

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mangieri, Mark L.; Vice, Jason

2011-01-01

NASA fs Kedalion engineering analysis lab at Johnson Space Center is on the forefront of validating and using many contemporary avionics hardware/software development and integration techniques, which represent new paradigms to heritage NASA culture. Kedalion has validated many of the Orion hardware/software engineering techniques borrowed from the adjacent commercial aircraft avionics solution space, with the intention to build upon such techniques to better align with today fs aerospace market. Using agile techniques, commercial products, early rapid prototyping, in-house expertise and tools, and customer collaboration, Kedalion has demonstrated that cost effective contemporary paradigms hold the promise to serve future NASA endeavors within a diverse range of system domains. Kedalion provides a readily adaptable solution for medium/large scale integration projects. The Kedalion lab is currently serving as an in-line resource for the project and the Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) program.

Amended Complaint for Volkswagen

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The settlement partially resolves allegations that Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act (“CAA”) by the sale of approximately 500,000 model year 2009 to 2015 motor vehicles containing 2.0 liter diesel engines equipped with “defeat devices” (“CAA 2.0 liter.

Emission Reduction Potential of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-05-19

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) provides : funds to states for projects designed to help attain and maintain the national : ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) set under the Clean Air Act (CAA). CMAQ : was creat...

Vol. 58 No. 90 Wednesday, May 12, 1993 p 28094 (Proposed Rule)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This action proposes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) program for evaluating and regulating substitutes for the ozone-depleting chemicals being phased out under the stratospheric ozone protection provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

78 FR 69998 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Rescission of Federal...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-22

... application of the PSD permitting requirements to biogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from bioenergy and... rule does not change the balance of power between Wyoming and EPA as provided for in the CAA. Thus...

77 FR 39659 - Proposed Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plan; Michigan; Determination of Attainment of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-05

... 2006 24-Hour Fine Particle Standards for the Detroit-Ann Arbor Nonattainment Area AGENCY: Environmental... the Clean Air Act (CAA) regarding the fine particle (PM 2.5 ) nonattainment area of Detroit-Ann Arbor...

Materials Data on CaAs2(XeF5)4 (SG:4) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2016-02-04

Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

Report: EPA Region 8 Needs to Better Manage the Risk Management Program for Airborne Chemical Releases

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #09-P-0130, March 30, 2009. The two Region 8 offices jointly responsible for implementing the CAA 112(r) Risk Management Program have not effectively planned or coordinated compliance assurance activities.

Reinstatement of contextual conditioned anxiety in virtual reality and the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in humans.

PubMed

Genheimer, Hannah; Andreatta, Marta; Asan, Esther; Pauli, Paul

2017-12-20

Since exposure therapy for anxiety disorders incorporates extinction of contextual anxiety, relapses may be due to reinstatement processes. Animal research demonstrated more stable extinction memory and less anxiety relapse due to vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). We report a valid human three-day context conditioning, extinction and return of anxiety protocol, which we used to examine effects of transcutaneous VNS (tVNS). Seventy-five healthy participants received electric stimuli (unconditioned stimuli, US) during acquisition (Day1) when guided through one virtual office (anxiety context, CTX+) but never in another (safety context, CTX-). During extinction (Day2), participants received tVNS, sham, or no stimulation and revisited both contexts without US delivery. On Day3, participants received three USs for reinstatement followed by a test phase. Successful acquisition, i.e. startle potentiation, lower valence, higher arousal, anxiety and contingency ratings in CTX+ versus CTX-, the disappearance of these effects during extinction, and successful reinstatement indicate validity of this paradigm. Interestingly, we found generalized reinstatement in startle responses and differential reinstatement in valence ratings. Altogether, our protocol serves as valid conditioning paradigm. Reinstatement effects indicate different anxiety networks underlying physiological versus verbal responses. However, tVNS did neither affect extinction nor reinstatement, which asks for validation and improvement of the stimulation protocol.

The single lineup paradigm: A new way to manipulate target presence in eyewitness identification experiments.

PubMed

Oriet, Chris; Fitzgerald, Ryan J

2018-02-01

The suspect in eyewitness lineups may be guilty or innocent. These possibilities are traditionally simulated in eyewitness identification studies using a dual-lineup paradigm: All witnesses observe the same perpetrator and then receive one of two lineups. In this paradigm, the suspect's guilt is manipulated by including the perpetrator in one lineup and an innocent suspect in the other. The lineup is then filled with people matched to either the suspect (resulting in different fillers in perpetrator-present and perpetrator-absent lineups) or to the perpetrator (resulting in the same fillers in each lineup). An inescapable feature of the dual-lineup paradigm is that the perpetrator-present and perpetrator-absent lineups differ not only in the suspect's guilt, but also in their composition. Here, we describe a single-lineup paradigm: Subjects observe one of two perpetrators and then all subjects receive the same lineup containing one of the perpetrators. This alternative paradigm allows manipulation of the suspect's guilt without changing the lineup's composition. In three experiments, we applied the single-lineup paradigm to explore suspect-filler similarity and consistently found that increasing similarity reduced perpetrator identifications but did little to prevent innocent suspect misidentifications. Conversely, when fillers were matched to the perpetrator using a dual-lineup paradigm, increasing similarity reduced identification of perpetrators and innocent suspects. This finding suggests that the effect of filler similarity may depend on the person to whom the fillers are matched. We suggest that the single-lineup paradigm is a more ecologically valid and better controlled approach to creating suspect-matched lineups in laboratory investigations of eyewitness memory than existing procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

A nonmusical paradigm for identifying absolute pitch possessors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, David A.; Olson, Ingrid R.; Marks, Lawrence E.; Gore, John C.

2004-09-01

The ability to identify and reproduce sounds of specific frequencies is remarkable and uncommon. The etiology and defining characteristics of this skill, absolute pitch (AP), have been very controversial. One theory suggests that AP requires a specific type of early musical training and that the ability to encode and remember tones depends on these learned musical associations. An alternate theory argues that AP may be strongly dependent on hereditary factors and relatively independent of musical experience. To date, it has been difficult to test these hypotheses because all previous paradigms for identifying AP have required subjects to employ knowledge of musical nomenclature. As such, these tests are insensitive to the possibility of discovering AP in either nonmusicians or musicians of non-Western training. Based on previous literature in pitch memory, a paradigm is presented that is intended to distinguish between AP possessors and nonpossessors independent of the subjects' musical experience. The efficacy of this method is then tested with 20 classically defined AP possessors and 22 nonpossessors. Data from these groups strongly support the validity of the paradigm. The use of a nonmusical paradigm to identify AP may facilitate research into many aspects of this phenomenon.

A nonmusical paradigm for identifying absolute pitch possessors.

PubMed

Ross, David A; Olson, Ingrid R; Marks, Lawrence E; Gore, John C

2004-09-01

The ability to identify and reproduce sounds of specific frequencies is remarkable and uncommon. The etiology and defining characteristics of this skill, absolute pitch (AP), have been very controversial. One theory suggests that AP requires a specific type of early musical training and that the ability to encode and remember tones depends on these learned musical associations. An alternate theory argues that AP may be strongly dependent on hereditary factors and relatively independent of musical experience. To date, it has been difficult to test these hypotheses because all previous paradigms for identifying AP have required subjects to employ knowledge of musical nomenclature. As such, these tests are insensitive to the possibility of discovering AP in either nonmusicians or musicians of non-Western training. Based on previous literature in pitch memory, a paradigm is presented that is intended to distinguish between AP possessors and nonpossessors independent of the subjects' musical experience. The efficacy of this method is then tested with 20 classically defined AP possessors and 22 nonpossessors. Data from these groups strongly support the validity of the paradigm. The use of a nonmusical paradigm to identify AP may facilitate research into many aspects of this phenomenon.