Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics: A Review of Their History, Structure, Properties, Coating Technologies and Biomedical Applications

PubMed Central

Eliaz, Noam; Metoki, Noah

2017-01-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics are widely used in the field of bone regeneration, both in orthopedics and in dentistry, due to their good biocompatibility, osseointegration and osteoconduction. The aim of this article is to review the history, structure, properties and clinical applications of these materials, whether they are in the form of bone cements, paste, scaffolds, or coatings. Major analytical techniques for characterization of CaPs, in vitro and in vivo tests, and the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and international standards from CaP coatings on orthopedic and dental endosseous implants, are also summarized, along with the possible effect of sterilization on these materials. CaP coating technologies are summarized, with a focus on electrochemical processes. Theories on the formation of transient precursor phases in biomineralization, the dissolution and reprecipitation as bone of CaPs are discussed. A wide variety of CaPs are presented, from the individual phases to nano-CaP, biphasic and triphasic CaP formulations, composite CaP coatings and cements, functionally graded materials (FGMs), and antibacterial CaPs. We conclude by foreseeing the future of CaPs. PMID:28772697

Forum: Communication Activism Pedagogy. Expanding CAP's Interventionist Model and Developing Proper Learning Rubrics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Del Gandio, Jason

2017-01-01

For Frey and Palmer (2014), communication activism pedagogy (CAP) "teaches students how to use their communication knowledge and resources (e.g., theories, research methods, pedagogies, and other practices) to work with community members to intervene into and reconstruct unjust discourses in more just ways." The author of this response…

The Development and Resulting Performance Impact of Positive Psychological Capital

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luthans, Fred; Avey, James B.; Avolio, Bruce J.; Peterson, Suzanne J.

2010-01-01

Recently, theory and research have supported psychological capital (PsyCap) as an emerging core construct linked to positive outcomes at the individual and organizational level. However, to date, little attention has been given to PsyCap development through training interventions; nor have there been attempts to determine empirically if such…

Extension of a nonlinear systems theory to general-frequency unsteady transonic aerodynamic responses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silva, Walter A.

1993-01-01

A methodology for modeling nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic responses, for subsequent use in aeroservoelastic analysis and design, using the Volterra-Wiener theory of nonlinear systems is presented. The methodology is extended to predict nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic responses of arbitrary frequency. The Volterra-Wiener theory uses multidimensional convolution integrals to predict the response of nonlinear systems to arbitrary inputs. The CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) code is used to generate linear and nonlinear unit impulse responses that correspond to each of the integrals for a rectangular wing with a NACA 0012 section with pitch and plunge degrees of freedom. The computed kernels then are used to predict linear and nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic responses via convolution and compared to responses obtained using the CAP-TSD code directly. The results indicate that the approach can be used to predict linear unsteady aerodynamic responses exactly for any input amplitude or frequency at a significant cost savings. Convolution of the nonlinear terms results in nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic responses that compare reasonably well with those computed using the CAP-TSD code directly but at significant computational cost savings.

Child welfare professionals' determination of when children's access or potential access to loaded firearms constitutes child neglect.

PubMed

Evans, Erin M; Jennissen, Charles A; Oral, Resmiye; Denning, Gerene M

2017-11-01

Pediatric deaths and injuries from access to firearms are a significant public health problem. No studies have examined how experts determine child neglect regarding firearm access in the home. Our study objectives were to identify factors that influenced pediatric experts' finding of firearm-related child neglect and to assess their attitudes toward child access prevention (CAP) laws. A survey was distributed to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Child Abuse and Neglect members. Demographics, attitudes regarding CAP laws, and ages (up to 14 years old) at which experts deemed several scenarios as child neglect were determined. Scenarios tested potential versus actual loaded firearm access, presence or absence of a CAP law, and injury versus no injury when the firearm was accessed. One hundred ninety-three surveys were completed. Experts agreed (>95%) that CAP laws were important, even for children up to age 15 years. Although a high percentage considered potential access to a loaded firearm as child neglect, a CAP law significantly increased the percentage for each age. In addition, higher percentages of respondents from states with CAP laws than those without deemed potential access as child neglect for 12- and 14-year-olds. In contrast, if the child had accessed a loaded firearm, there were no significant differences in the high percentages that deemed the scenario as child neglect under any conditions, including with and without a CAP law. Although almost all child neglect experts considered potential and actual access to loaded firearms as child neglect, CAP laws increased the percentage for cases of potential access. Universal CAP laws may help ensure that determinations of child neglect are more consistent across states. The deterrent effect of potential child neglect findings may increase the number of parents securing firearms in ways that prevent child access and reduce firearm-related deaths and injuries. Epidemiologic study, level III.

The source of the electric field in the nightside magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1975-01-01

In the open magnetosphere model magnetic field lines from the polar caps connect to the interplanetary magnetic field and conduct an electric field from interplanetary space to the polar ionosphere. By examining the magnetic flux involved it is concluded that only slightly more than half of the magnetic flux in the polar caps belongs to open field lines and that such field lines enter or leave the magnetosphere through narrow elongated windows stretching the tail. These window regions are identified with the tail's boundary region and shift their position with changes in the interplanetary magnetic field, in particular when a change of interplanetary magnetic sector occurs. The circuit providing electric current in the magnetopause and the plasma sheet is extended across those windows; thus energy is drained from the interplanetary electric field and an electric potential drop is produced across the plasma sheet. The polar cap receives its electric field from interplanetary space on the day side from open magnetic field lines and on the night side from closed field lines leading to the plasma sheet. The theory described provides improved understanding of magnetic flux bookkeeping, of the origin of Birkeland currents, and of the boundary layer of the geomagnetic tail.

Redox Control and Hydrogen Production in Sediment Caps Using Carbon Cloth Electrodes

PubMed Central

Sun, Mei; Yan, Fei; Zhang, Ruiling; Reible, Danny D.; Lowry, Gregory V.; Gregory, Kelvin B.

2010-01-01

Sediment caps that degrade contaminants can improve their ability to contain contaminants relative to sand and sorbent-amended caps, but few methods to enhance contaminant degradation in sediment caps are available. The objective of this study was to determine if, carbon electrodes emplaced within a sediment cap at poised potential could create a redox gradient and provide electron donor for the potential degradation of contaminants. In a simulated sediment cap overlying sediment from the Anacostia River (Washington, DC), electrochemically induced redox gradients were developed within 3 days and maintained over the period of the test (~100 days). Hydrogen and oxygen were produced by water electrolysis at the electrode surfaces and may serve as electron donor and acceptor for contaminant degradation. Electrochemical and geochemical factors that may influence hydrogen production were studied. Hydrogen production displayed zero order kinetics with ~75% coulombic efficiency and rates were proportional to the applied potential between 2.5V to 5V and not greatly affected by pH. Hydrogen production was promoted by increasing ionic strength and in the presence of natural organic matter. Graphite electrode-stimulated degradation of tetrachlorobenzene in a batch reactor was dependent on applied voltage and production of hydrogen to a concentration above the threshold for biological dechlorination. These findings suggest that electrochemical reactive capping can potentially be used to create “reactive” sediments caps capable of promoting chemical or biological transformations of contaminants within the cap. PMID:20879761

From phase space to integrable representations and level-rank duality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chattopadhyay, Arghya; Dutta, Parikshit; Dutta, Suvankar

2018-05-01

We explicitly find representations for different large N phases of Chern-Simons matter theory on S 2 × S 1. These representations are characterised by Young diagrams. We show that no-gap and lower-gap phase of Chern-Simons-matter theory correspond to integrable representations of SU( N) k affine Lie algebra, where as upper-cap phase corresponds to integrable representations of SU( k - N) k affine Lie algebra. We use phase space description of [1] to obtain these representations and argue how putting a cap on eigenvalue distribution forces corresponding representations to be integrable. We also prove that the Young diagrams corresponding to lower-gap and upper-cap representations are related to each other by transposition under level-rank duality. Finally we draw phase space droplets for these phases and show how information about eigenvalue and Young diagram descriptions can be captured in topologies of these droplets in a unified way.

Telecommunications Policy Research Conference. Alternatives to Rate of Return Regulation Section. Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Telecommunications Policy Research Conference, Inc., Washington, DC.

The first of two papers presented in this section, "Price-Caps: Theory and Implementation" (Peter B. Linhart and Roy Radner) describes a proposed method of regulation involving price caps on core services and no price regulation of other services. This method is designed to replace rate-of-return regulation during a transition period to…

Assessing the transport potential of polymeric nanocapsules developed for crop protection.

PubMed

Petosa, Adamo Riccardo; Rajput, Faraz; Selvam, Olivia; Öhl, Carolin; Tufenkji, Nathalie

2017-03-15

Nanotechnology is increasingly important in the agricultural sector, with novel products being developed to heighten crop yields and increase pesticide efficacy. Herein, the transport potential of different polymeric nanocapsules (nCAPs) developed as pesticide delivery vehicles was assessed in model soil systems. The nCAPs examined are (i) poly(acrylic acid)-based (nCAP1), (ii) poly(methacrylic acid)-ran-poly(ethyl acrylate) copolymer-based (nCAP2), (iii) poly(methacrylic acid-ran-styrene) copolymer-based (nCAP3), and (iv) poly(methacrylic acid-ran-butylmethacrylate)-based (nCAP4). nCAP mobility was examined in columns packed with agricultural loamy sand saturated with artificial porewater containing Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ cations (10 mM ionic strength, pH 6 and 8). Furthermore, the impact of (i) cation species, (ii) sand type, and (iii) ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer on the transport potential of a nanoformulation combining nCAP4 capsules and the pyrethroid bifenthrin (nCAP4-BIF) was examined and compared to a commercial bifenthrin formulation (Capture ® LFR). Although nCAP4-BIF and Capture ® LFR formulations were highly mobile in quartz sand saturated with 10 mM NaNO 3 (≥95% elution), they were virtually immobile in the presence of 10% ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer. The presence of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ did not hinder nCAP4-BIF elution in quartz sand saturated with 10 mM standard CIPAC D synthetic porewater; however, limited Capture ® LFR transport (<10% elution) was observed under the same conditions. Capture ® LFR also exhibited limited mobility in the presence or absence of fertilizer in loamy sand saturated with divalent salt solutions, whereas nCAP4-BIF exhibited increased elution with time and enhanced transport upon the addition of fertilizer. Overall, nCAP4 is a promising delivery vehicle in pyrethroid nanoformulations such as nCAP4-BIF. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Component analysis and free radicals scavenging activity of Cicer arietinum L. husk pectin.

PubMed

Urias-Orona, Vania; Huerta-Oros, Joselina; Carvajal-Millán, Elizabeth; Lizardi-Mendoza, Jaime; Rascón-Chu, Agustin; Gardea, Alfonso A

2010-10-11

A pectin (CAP) was extracted from the husk of Cicer arietinum L. Monosaccharide analysis of CAP revealed the dominance of galacturonic acid and smaller amounts of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucose, xylose and mannose. Viscosimetric analysis showed that the intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and the molecular weight (MW) of CAP were 296 mL/g and 105 kDa, respectively. The degree of esterification (DE = 10%) was determined by FTIR spectroscopy. CAP exhibited a dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity, as shown by its DPPH radical inhibition. At 1.0 mg/mL CAP exhibited a scavenging rate of 29% on DPPH radicals. The evaluation of antioxidant activity suggested that CAP had good potential for DPPH radical scavenging activity and should be explored as a novel potential antioxidant.

Evaluation of Sediment Agitation and Mixing Into the Surrounding Water Column From Capping Activities – Boston Harbor

EPA Science Inventory

Capping is a common remediation technology for the containment of contaminated sediments. While capping is a common remediation technology for contaminated sediments, little information exists on the potential release of contaminated sediments during and after the capping operati...

Reduction of the field-aligned potential drop in the polar cap during large geomagnetic storms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitamura, N.; Seki, K.; Nishimura, Y.; Hori, T.; Terada, N.; Ono, T.; Strangeway, R. J.

2013-12-01

We have studied photoelectron flows and the inferred field-aligned potential drop in the polar cap during 5 large geomagnetic storms that occurred in the periods when the photoelectron observations in the polar cap were available near the apogee of the FAST satellite (~4000 km) at solar maximum, and the footprint of the satellite paths in the polar cap was under sunlit conditions most of the time. In contrast to the ~20 V potential drop during geomagnetically quiet periods at solar maximum identified by Kitamura et al. [JGR, 2012], the field-aligned potential drop frequently became smaller than ~5 V during the main and early recovery phases of the large geomagnetic storms. Because the potential acts to inhibit photoelectron escape, this result indicates that the corresponding acceleration of ions by the field-aligned potential drop in the polar cap and the lobe region is smaller during the main and early recovery phases of large geomagnetic storms compared to during geomagnetically quiet periods. Under small field-aligned current conditions, the number flux of outflowing ions should be nearly equal to the net escaping electron number flux. Since ions with large flux originating from the cusp/cleft ionosphere convect into the polar cap during geomagnetic storms [e.g., Kitamura et al., JGR, 2010], the net escaping electron number flux should increase to balance the enhanced ion outflows. The magnitude of the field-aligned potential drop would be reduced to let a larger fraction of photoelectrons escape.

Evaluation of Sediment Agitation and Mixing into the Surrounding WaterColumn from Capping Activities at the Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund Site

EPA Science Inventory

Capping is a common remediation technology for the containment of contaminated sediments. While capping is a common remediation technology for contaminated sediments, little information exists on the potential release of contaminated sediments during and after the capping operati...

Click- and chirp-evoked human compound action potentials

PubMed Central

Chertoff, Mark; Lichtenhan, Jeffery; Willis, Marie

2010-01-01

In the experiments reported here, the amplitude and the latency of human compound action potentials (CAPs) evoked from a chirp stimulus are compared to those evoked from a traditional click stimulus. The chirp stimulus was created with a frequency sweep to compensate for basilar membrane traveling wave delay using the O-Chirp equations from Fobel and Dau [(2004). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 2213–2222] derived from otoacoustic emission data. Human cochlear traveling wave delay estimates were obtained from derived compound band action potentials provided by Eggermont [(1979). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 65, 463–470]. CAPs were recorded from an electrode placed on the tympanic membrane (TM), and the acoustic signals were monitored with a probe tube microphone attached to the TM electrode. Results showed that the amplitude and latency of chirp-evoked N1 of the CAP differed from click-evoked CAPs in several regards. For the chirp-evoked CAP, the N1 amplitude was significantly larger than the click-evoked N1s. The latency-intensity function was significantly shallower for chirp-evoked CAPs as compared to click-evoked CAPs. This suggests that auditory nerve fibers respond with more unison to a chirp stimulus than to a click stimulus. PMID:21117748

DFT Studies of Graphene-Functionalised Derivatives of Capecitabine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aramideh, Mehdi; Mirzaei, Mahmoud; Khodarahmi, Ghadamali; Gülseren, Oğuz

2017-11-01

Cancer is one of the major problems for so many people around the world; therefore, dedicating efforts to explore efficient therapeutic methodologies is very important for researchers of life sciences. In this case, nanostructures are expected to be carriers of medicinal compounds for targeted drug design and delivery purposes. Within this work, the graphene (Gr)-functionalised derivatives of capecitabine (CAP), as a representative anticancer, have been studied based on density functional theory calculations. Two different sizes of Gr molecular models have been used for the functionalisation of CAP counterparts, CAP-Gr3 and CAP-Gr5, to explore the effects of Gr-functionalisation on the original properties of CAP. All singular and functionalised molecular models have been optimised and the molecular and atomic scale properties have been evaluated for the optimised structures. Higher formation favourability has been obtained for CAP-Gr5 in comparison with CAP-Gr3 and better structural stability has been obtained in the water-solvated system than the isolated gas-phase system for all models. The CAP-Gr5 model could play a better role of electron transferring in comparison with the CAP-Gr3 model. As a concluding remark, the molecular properties of CAP changed from singular to functionalised models whereas the atomic properties remained almost unchanged, which is expected for a carrier not to use significant perturbations to the original properties of the carried counterpart.

Comportamento stagionale delle calote polari di Marte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Giovanni, Giovanni

2004-08-01

The rhythms of progression and retraction of the polar ice caps on Mars have been studied to establish possible variations in polar meteorology over the course of the last centuries. The applied theoretical procedure offers a mathematical function that contains some significant physical parameters, for example the length and the beginning of spring and another parameter which depends on temperature. The numerical data for the South Polar Cap during the grand oppositions of the last 130 years has been studied with the suggested theory. Evident correlations emerge between parameters and form of the diagram of cap amplitude versus time.

AGT/ℤ2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Floch, Bruno; Turiaci, Gustavo J.

2017-12-01

We relate Liouville/Toda CFT correlators on Riemann surfaces with boundaries and cross-cap states to supersymmetric observables in four-dimensional N=2 gauge theories. Our construction naturally involves four-dimensional theories with fields defined on different ℤ2 quotients of the sphere (hemisphere and projective space) but nevertheless interacting with each other. The six-dimensional origin is a ℤ2 quotient of the setup giving rise to the usual AGT correspondence. To test the correspondence, we work out the ℝℙ4 partition function of four-dimensional N=2 theories by combining a 3d lens space and a 4d hemisphere partition functions. The same technique reproduces known ℝℙ2 partition functions in a form that lets us easily check two-dimensional Seiberg-like dualities on this nonorientable space. As a bonus we work out boundary and cross-cap wavefunctions in Toda CFT.

Ag2S Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells by First Principles: The Effect of Capping Ligands and Linkers.

PubMed

Amaya Suárez, Javier; Plata, Jose J; Márquez, Antonio M; Fernández Sanz, Javier

2017-09-28

Quantum dots solar cells, QDSCs, are one of the candidates for being a reliable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the well-studied CdSe and CdTe-based QDSCs present a variety of issues for their use in consumer-goods applications. Silver sulfide, Ag 2 S, is a promising material, but poor efficiency has been reported for QDSCs based on this compound. The potential influence of each component of QDSCs is critical and key for the development of more efficient devices based on Ag 2 S. In this work, density functional theory calculations were performed to study the nature of the optoelectronic properties for an anatase-TiO 2 (101) surface sensitized with different silver sulfide nanoclusters. We demonstrated how it is possible to deeply tune of its electronic properties by modifying the capping ligands and linkers to the surface. Finally, an analysis of the electron injection mechanism for this system is presented.

Effect of nanoscale size and medium on metal work function in oleylamine-capped gold nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdellatif, M. H.; Ghosh, S.; Liakos, I.; Scarpellini, A.; Marras, S.; Diaspro, A.; Salerno, M.

2016-02-01

The work function is an important material property with several applications in photonics and optoelectronics. We aimed to characterize the work function of clusters resulting from gold nanocrystals capped with oleylamine surfactant and drop-casted onto gold substrate. We used scanning Kelvin probe microscopy to investigate the work function, and complemented our study mainly with X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oleylamine works as an electron blocking layer through which the electrical conduction takes place by tunneling effect. The surface potential appears to depend on the size of the clusters, which can be ascribed to their difference in effective work function with the substrate. The charge state of gold clusters is discussed in comparison with theory, and their capacitance is calculated from a semi-analytical equation. The results suggest that at the nanoscale the work function is not an intrinsic property of a material but rather depends on the size and morphology of the clusters, including also effects of the surrounding materials.

Legionnaire's Disease and its Mimics: A Clinical Perspective.

PubMed

Cunha, Burke A; Cunha, Cheston B

2017-03-01

Whenever the cardinal manifestations of a disorder occur in similar disorders, there is potential for a disease mimic. Legionnaire's disease has protean manifestations and has the potential to mimic or be mimicked by other community acquired pneumonias (CAPs). In CAPs caused by other than Legionella species, the more characteristic features in common with legionnaire's disease the more difficult the diagnostic conundrum. In hospitalized adults with CAP, legionnaire's disease may mimic influenza or other viral pneumonias. Of the bacterial causes of CAP, psittacosis and Q fever, but not tularemia, are frequent mimics of legionnaire's disease. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optical property investigations of polystyrene capped Ca{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Dy{sup 3+} persistent phosphor

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

Jain, Abhilasha, E-mail: abhilasha.vnit@gmail.com; Kumar, Ashwini; Dhoble, S.J

2015-10-15

Highlights: • Synthesis of polymer capped pyrophosphate phosphors by citrate gel method. • Radiative lifetime is calculated from parameters of Judd-Ofelt theory and ICP-AES. • Reaction mechanism is discussed leading to high photoluminescence efficiency. • PL emission spectrum reveals broad band emission suitable for solid state lighting. - Abstract: By virtue of enhanced photosensivity, good optical response and better thermal stability, organic–inorganic hybrid materials are contemplated as one of the alternatives for designing advanced optoelectronic devices and innovative photonic applications. A novel inorganic organic hybrid Ca{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Dy{sup 3+} phosphor has been fabricated by Pechini method. The optical propertymore » of synthesized phosphor is successfully altered by the in corporation of polystyrene sulfonic acid as capping agent in the colloidal solution. The phase purity and the average particle size of the prepared phosphor were calculated from X-ray diffraction (XRD) employing Debye Scherrer method. The morphological and chemical investigations were carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The radiative transitions are explained on the basis of Judd-Ofelt theory and on the basis of derived parameters, the radiative lifetime of persistent hybrid Ca{sub 2}P{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Dy{sup 3+} phosphor is calculated as 5.33 ms. This paper explores the mechanism leading to high photoluminescence efficiency using organic capping additives. The photoluminescence (PL) graphs reveal broad band emission at 482 nm (blue) and 573 nm (yellow) corresponding to {sup 4}F{sub 9/2}-{sup 6}H{sub 15/2} and {sup 4}F{sub 9/2}-{sup 6}H{sub 13/2} transitions of Dy{sup 3+}, respectively. The Commission International De I-Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity co-ordinates were calculated from emission spectra and the values (x, y) were approaching to standard value of white emission. The synthesized pyrophosphate phosphors can thereby account in multiple potential applications including white light emitting diodes.« less

Reinforcement of composite laminate free edges with U-shaped caps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howard, W. E.; Gossard, T., Jr.; Jones, R. M.

1986-01-01

Generalized plane strain finite element analysis is used to predict reduction of interlaminar normal stresses when a U-shaped cap is bonded to the edge of a laminate. Three-dimensional composite material failure criteria are used in a progressive laminate failure analysis to predict failure loads of laminates with different edge cap designs. In an experimental program, symmetric 11-layer graphite-epoxy laminates with a one-layer cap of Kevlar-epoxy cloth are shown to be 130 to 140 percent stronger than uncapped laminates under static tensile and tension-tension fatigue loading. In addition, the coefficient of variation of the static tensile failure load decreases from 24 to 8 percent when edge caps are added. The predicted failure load calculated with the finite element results is 10 percent lower than the actual failure load. For both capped and uncapped laminates, actual failure loads are much lower than those predicted using classical lamination theory stresses and a two-dimensional failure criterion. Possible applications of the free edge reinforcement concept are described, and future research is suggested.

Closed almost-periodic orbits in semiclassical quantization of generic polygons

PubMed

Biswas

2000-05-01

Periodic orbits are the central ingredients of modern semiclassical theories and corrections to these are generally nonclassical in origin. We show here that, for the class of generic polygonal billiards, the corrections are predominantly classical in origin owing to the contributions from closed almost-periodic (CAP) orbit families. Furthermore, CAP orbit families outnumber periodic families but have comparable weights. They are hence indispensable for semiclassical quantization.

Metastable Autoionizing States of Molecules and Radicals in Highly Energetic Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-22

electronic states. The specific aims are to develop and calibrate complex-scaled equation-of-motion coupled cluster (cs-EOM- CC ) and CAP (complex...absorbing potential) augmented EOM- CC methods. We have implemented and benchmarked cs-EOM-CCSD and CAP- augmented EOM-CCSD methods for excitation energies...motion coupled cluster (cs-EOM- CC ) and CAP (complex absorbing potential) augmented EOM- CC methods. We have implemented and benchmarked cs-EOM-CCSD and

Integrin activation by a cold atmospheric plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volotskova, Olga; Stepp, Mary Ann; Keidar, Michael

2012-05-01

Current breakthrough research on cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) demonstrates that CAP has great potential in various areas, including medicine and biology, thus providing a new tool for living tissue treatment. In this paper, we explore potential mechanisms by which CAP alters cell migration and influences cell adhesion. We focus on the study of CAP interaction with fibroblasts and corneal epithelial cells. The data show that fibroblasts and corneal epithelial cells have different thresholds (treatment times) required to achieve maximum inhibition of cell migration. Both cell types reduced their migration rates by ˜30-40% after CAP compared to control cells. Also, the impact of CAP treatment on cell migration and persistence of fibroblasts after integrin activation by MnCl2, serum starvation or replating cells onto surfaces coated with integrin ligands is assessed; the results show that activation by MnCl2 or starvation attenuates cells’ responses to plasma. Studies carried out to assess the impact of CAP treatment on the activation state of β1 integrin and focal adhesion size by using immunofluorescence show that fibroblasts have more active β1 integrin on their surface and large focal adhesions after CAP treatment. Based on these data, a thermodynamic model is presented to explain how CAP leads to integrin activation and focal adhesion assembly.

Phytoextraction of Pb and Cu contaminated soil with maize and microencapsulated EDTA.

PubMed

Xie, Zhiyi; Wu, Longhua; Chen, Nengchang; Liu, Chengshuai; Zheng, Yuji; Xu, Shengguang; Li, Fangbai; Xu, Yanling

2012-09-01

Chelate-assisted phytoextraction using agricultural crops has been widely investigated as a remediation technique for soils contaminated with low mobility potentially toxic elements. Here, we report the use of a controlled-release microencapsulated EDTA (Cap-EDTA) by emulsion solvent evaporation to phytoremediate soil contaminated with Pb and Cu. Incubation experiments were carried out to assess the effect of Cap- and non-microencapsulated EDTA (Ncap-EDTA) on the mobility of soil metals. Results showed EDTA effectively increased the mobility of Pb and Cu in the soil solution and Cap-EDTA application provided lower and more constant water-soluble concentrations of Pb and Cu in comparison with. Phytotoxicity may be alleviated and plant uptake of Pb and Cu may be increased after the incorporation of Cap-EDTA. In addition phytoextraction efficiencies of maize after Cap- and Ncap-EDTA application were tested in a pot experiment. Maize shoot concentrations of Pb and Cu were lower with Cap-EDTA application than with Ncap-EDTA. However, shoot dry weight was significantly higher with Cap-EDTA application. Consequently, the Pb and Cu phytoextraction potential of maize significantly increased with Cap-EDTA application compared with the control and Ncap-EDTA application.

The catheter hub disinfection cap as esophageal foreign body.

PubMed

Tawfik, Kareem O; Myer, Charles M; Shikary, Tasneem; Goldschneider, Kenneth R

2015-12-01

Disinfection caps are increasingly being used to prevent catheter-associated bloodstream infections. These devices, designed for continuous passive disinfection of catheter hubs, are typically small and often brightly colored. As such, they have the potential to become pediatric airway and esophageal foreign bodies. We report two patients who developed esophageal foreign body following ingestion of disinfection caps. Given the increasing use of these devices, it is imperative that health care providers be aware of this potential iatrogenic problem. We propose that the use of disinfection caps may not be appropriate in pediatric patients with risk factors for foreign body ingestion. © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Prostate-Specific Antigen: Nonspecific in Deceased Organ Donors.

PubMed

Pabisiak, K; Ostrowski, M; Kram, A; Safranow, K; Myślak, M; Sieńko, J; Sulikowski, T; Ciechanowski, K

2016-06-01

Currently, there is no clear position regarding the donation of organs from donors with prostate carcinoma (CaP) in European countries, except Italy. The lengthening of life expectancy increases the probability of prostate cancer among potential organ donors. The concentration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >2 ng/mL at 60 years of age is related to the increasing possibility of identifying an advanced form of CaP. In recent years in Poland, the recommendation has been to determine tumor markers in potential donors. In the first year of the recommendation, 10% of potential male cadaveric donors were disqualified in West Pomerania, Poland, on the basis of elevated PSA levels (>10 ng/mL). To avoid reduction of the actual donor pool, each potential male donor reported to the center since January 2010 undergoes a routine histologic evaluation of the whole prostate, regardless of the PSA level, before organ implantation. In the study group (N = 52), histopathologic evaluation revealed 6 cases of CaP (12%). In CaP positive group Gleason score range from 2+2 to 3+4. In CaP donors PSA level have been noticed in range 1.79 ng/mL - 7.66 ng/mL. There was no correlation between histologically confirmed CaP and the PSA level. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Potential prebiotic properties of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) agro-industrial byproduct on Lactobacillus species.

PubMed

Duarte, Francisca Nayara Dantas; Rodrigues, Jéssica Bezerra; da Costa Lima, Maiara; Lima, Marcos Dos Santos; Pacheco, Maria Teresa Bertoldo; Pintado, Maria Manuela Estevez; de Souza Aquino, Jailane; de Souza, Evandro Leite

2017-08-01

The prebiotic effects of a cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) agro-industrial byproduct powder (CAP) on different potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strains, namely Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05, Lactobacillus casei L-26 and Lactobacillus paracasei L-10, were assessed using in vitro experimental models. Accordingly, the growth of the Lactobacillus strains when cultivated in a broth containing CAP (20 or 30 g L -1 ), glucose (20 g L -1 ) or fructooligosaccharides (FOS) (20 g L -1 ) was monitored over 48 h; the prebiotic activity scores of CAP were determined; and the changes in pH values, production of organic acids and consumption of sugars in growth media were verified. During the 48-h cultivation, similar viable cell counts were observed for the Lactobacillus strains grown in the different media tested. The CAP presented positive prebiotic activity scores toward all the tested Lactobacillus strains, indicating a desirable selective fermentable activity relative to enteric organisms. The cultivation of the Lactobacillus strains in broth containing glucose, FOS or CAP resulted in high viable cell counts, a decreased pH, the production of organic acids and the consumption of sugars over time, revealing intense bacterial metabolic activity. The CAP exerts potential prebiotic effects on different potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strains and should be an added-value ingredient for the food industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Polar Rain Gradients and Field-Aligned Polar Cap Potentials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fairfield, D. H.; Wing, S.; Newell, P. T.; Ruohoniemi, J. M.; Gosling, J. T.; Skoug, R. M.

2008-01-01

ACE SWEPAM measurements of solar wind field-aligned electrons have been compared with simultaneous measurements of polar rain electrons precipitating over the polar cap and detected by DMSP spacecraft. Such comparisons allow investigation of cross-polar-cap gradients in the intensity of otherwise-steady polar rain. The generally good agreement of the distribution functions, f, from the two data sources confirms that direct entry of solar electrons along open field lines is indeed the cause of polar rain. The agreement between the data sets is typically best on the side of the polar cap with most intense polar rain but the DMSP f's in less intense regions can be brought into agreement with ACE measurements by shifting all energies by a fixed amounts that range from tens to several hundred eV. In most cases these shifts are positive which implies that field-aligned potentials of these amounts exist on polar cap field lines which tend to retard the entry of electrons and produce the observed gradients. These retarding potentials undoubtedly appear in order to prevent the entry of low-energy electrons and maintain charge quasi-neutrality that would otherwise be violated since most tailward flowing magnetosheath ions are unable to follow polar rain electrons down to the polar cap. In more limited regions near the boundary of the polar cap there is sometimes evidence for field-aligned potentials of the opposite sign that accelerate polar rain electrons. A solar electron burst is also studied and it is concluded that electrons from such bursts can enter the magnetotail and precipitate in the same manner as polar rain.

Artificial Niches for Stromal Stem Cells as a Potential Instrument for the Design of the Surface of Biomimetic Osteogenic Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khlusov, I. A.; Khlusova, M. Yu.; Pichugin, V. F.; Sharkeev, Yu. P.; Legostaeva, E. V.

2014-02-01

A relationship between the topography of rough calcium phosphate surfaces having osteogenic niche-reliefs and the electrostatic potential of these surfaces as a possible instrument to control stromal stem cells has been investigated. The in vitro culture of human lung prenatal stromal cells on nanostructured/ultrafine-grained VT1.0 titanium alloy plates with bilateral rough calcium phosphate (CaP) microarc coating was used. It was established that the amplitude of the electret CaP surface potential linearly increased with increasing area of valleys (sockets), and the negative charge is formed on the socket surface. The area of alkaline phosphatase staining (the marker of osteoblast maturation and differentiation) of adherent CD34- CD44+ cells increases linearly with increasing area of artificial microterritory (socket) of the CaP surface occupied with each cell. The negative electret potential in valleys (sockets) of microarc CaP coatings can be the physical mechanism mediating the influence of the surface topography on osteogenic maturation and differentiation of cells in vitro. This mechanism can be called "niche-potential" and can be used as an instrument for biomimetic modification of smooth CaP surfaces to strengthen their integration with the bone tissue.

Rapid surface enhanced Raman scattering detection method for chloramphenicol residues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Wei; Yao, Weirong

2015-06-01

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a widely used amide alcohol antibiotics, which has been banned from using in food producing animals in many countries. In this study, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) coupled with gold colloidal nanoparticles was used for the rapid analysis of CAP. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted with Gaussian 03 at the B3LYP level using the 3-21G(d) and 6-31G(d) basis sets to analyze the assignment of vibrations. Affirmatively, the theoretical Raman spectrum of CAP was in complete agreement with the experimental spectrum. They both exhibited three strong peaks characteristic of CAP at 1104 cm-1, 1344 cm-1, 1596 cm-1, which were used for rapid qualitative analysis of CAP residues in food samples. The use of SERS as a method for the measurements of CAP was explored by comparing use of different solvents, gold colloidal nanoparticles concentration and absorption time. The method of the detection limit was determined as 0.1 μg/mL using optimum conditions. The Raman peak at 1344 cm-1 was used as the index for quantitative analysis of CAP in food samples, with a linear correlation of R2 = 0.9802. Quantitative analysis of CAP residues in foods revealed that the SERS technique with gold colloidal nanoparticles was sensitive and of a good stability and linear correlation, and suited for rapid analysis of CAP residue in a variety of food samples.

Rapid surface enhanced Raman scattering detection method for chloramphenicol residues.

PubMed

Ji, Wei; Yao, Weirong

2015-06-05

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a widely used amide alcohol antibiotics, which has been banned from using in food producing animals in many countries. In this study, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) coupled with gold colloidal nanoparticles was used for the rapid analysis of CAP. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted with Gaussian 03 at the B3LYP level using the 3-21G(d) and 6-31G(d) basis sets to analyze the assignment of vibrations. Affirmatively, the theoretical Raman spectrum of CAP was in complete agreement with the experimental spectrum. They both exhibited three strong peaks characteristic of CAP at 1104 cm(-1), 1344 cm(-1), 1596 cm(-1), which were used for rapid qualitative analysis of CAP residues in food samples. The use of SERS as a method for the measurements of CAP was explored by comparing use of different solvents, gold colloidal nanoparticles concentration and absorption time. The method of the detection limit was determined as 0.1 μg/mL using optimum conditions. The Raman peak at 1344 cm(-1) was used as the index for quantitative analysis of CAP in food samples, with a linear correlation of R(2)=0.9802. Quantitative analysis of CAP residues in foods revealed that the SERS technique with gold colloidal nanoparticles was sensitive and of a good stability and linear correlation, and suited for rapid analysis of CAP residue in a variety of food samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Using Gamma ray and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) to Evaluate Elemental Sequences in Cap-carbonates and Cap-like Carbonates of the Death Valley Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holter, S. A.; Theissen, K. M.; Hickson, T. A.; Bostick, B.

2004-12-01

The Snowball Earth theory of Hoffman et al. (1998) proposes dramatic post-glacial chemical weathering as large concentrations of carbon were removed from the atmosphere. This would result in a large input of terrigenous material into the oceans; hence, we might expect that carbonates formed under these conditions would demonstrate elevated K, U, Th levels in comparison to carbonates formed under more typical conditions. In January of 2004 we collected spectral gamma data (K, U, Th) and hand samples from cap carbonates (Noonday Dolomite) and cap-like carbonates (Beck Spring Dolomite) of the Death Valley region in order to explore elemental changes in post-snowball Earth oceans. Based on our spectral gamma results, Th/U ratio trends suggested variations in the oxidation state of the Precambrian ocean. We pursued further investigations of trace elements to ascertain the reliability of these results by using ICP-OES. A suite of 25 trace elements was measured, most notably including U and Th. The ICP-OES data not only allow us to compare elemental changes between cap-carbonates and cap-like carbonates, but they also allow for a comparison of optical emission spectrometry and hand held gamma spectrometry methods. Both methods show similar trends in U and Th values for both the cap-carbonates and cap-like carbonates.

Biologic Potential of Calcium Phosphate Biopowders Produced via Decomposition Combustion Synthesis

PubMed Central

Vollmer, N.; King, K.B.; Ayers, R.

2015-01-01

The aim of this research was to evaluate the biologic potential of calcium phosphate (CaP) biopowders produced with a novel reaction synthesis system. Decomposition combustion synthesis (DCS) is a modified combustion synthesis method capable of producing CaP powders for use in bone tissue engineering applications. During DCS, the stoichiometric ratio of reactant salt to fuel was adjusted to alter product chemistry and morphology. In vitro testing methods were utilized to determine the effects of controlling product composition on cytotoxicity, proliferation, biocompatibility and biomineralization. In vitro, human fetal osteoblasts (ATCC, CRL-11372) cultured with CaP powder displayed a flattened morphology, and uniformly encompassed the CaP particulates. Matrix vesicles containing calcium and phosphorous budded from the osteoblast cells. CaP powders produced via DCS are a source of biologically active, synthetic, bone graft substitute materials PMID:26034341

Visual laterality responses to different emotive stimuli by red-capped mangabeys, Cercocebus torquatus torquatus.

PubMed

de Latude, Marion; Demange, Marianne; Bec, Philippe; Blois-Heulin, Catherine

2009-01-01

Hemispheric asymmetry in emotional perception has been put forward by different theories as the right hemisphere theory or the valence theory. But no consensus was found about the role played by both hemispheres. So, in order to test the different theories, we investigated preferential use of one eye in red-capped mangabeys, at the individual as well as at the group level. In this study we investigated the influence of the emotional value of stimuli on the direction and strength of visual preference of 14 red-capped mangabeys. Temporal stability of the bias of use of a given eye was evaluated by comparing our current results to those obtained 2.5 months previously. Two experimental devices, a tube and a box, tested five different stimuli: four food types varying in palatability and a neutral stimulus. The subjects' food preferences were evaluated before testing the laterality. The mangabeys used their left eyes predominantly at the group level for the tube task. The majority of the subjects showed a visual preference at the individual level for the box task, but this bias was not present at the group level. As the palatability of the stimuli increased, the number of lateralized subjects and the number of subjects using preferentially their left eye increased. Similarly, the strength of laterality was related to food preference. Strength of laterality was significantly higher for subjects using their left eye than for subjects using their right eye. Preferential use of a given eye was stable over short periods 2.5 months later. Our data agree with reports on visual laterality for other species. Our results support the valence theory of a hemispheric sharing of control of emotions in relation to their emotional value.

A decision tool for selecting trench cap designs

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

Paige, G.B.; Stone, J.J.; Lane, L.J.

1995-12-31

A computer based prototype decision support system (PDSS) is being developed to assist the risk manager in selecting an appropriate trench cap design for waste disposal sites. The selection of the {open_quote}best{close_quote} design among feasible alternatives requires consideration of multiple and often conflicting objectives. The methodology used in the selection process consists of: selecting and parameterizing decision variables using data, simulation models, or expert opinion; selecting feasible trench cap design alternatives; ordering the decision variables and ranking the design alternatives. The decision model is based on multi-objective decision theory and uses a unique approach to order the decision variables andmore » rank the design alternatives. Trench cap designs are evaluated based on federal regulations, hydrologic performance, cover stability and cost. Four trench cap designs, which were monitored for a four year period at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, are used to demonstrate the application of the PDSS and evaluate the results of the decision model. The results of the PDSS, using both data and simulations, illustrate the relative advantages of each of the cap designs and which cap is the {open_quotes}best{close_quotes} alternative for a given set of criteria and a particular importance order of those decision criteria.« less

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in endosperm cap weakening and embryo elongation growth during lettuce seed germination

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yu; Chen, Bingxian; Xu, Zhenjiang; Shi, Zhaowan; Chen, Shanli; Huang, Xi; Chen, Jianxun; Wang, Xiaofeng

2014-01-01

Endosperm cap (CAP) weakening and embryo elongation growth are prerequisites for the completion of lettuce seed germination. Although it has been proposed that the cell wall loosening underlying these processes results from an enzymatic mechanism, it is still unclear which enzymes are involved. Here it is shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are non-enzymatic factors, may be involved in the two processes. In Guasihong lettuce seeds imbibed in water, O2·– and H2O2 accumulated and peroxidase activity increased in the CAP, whereas its puncture force decreased. In addition, in the radicle, the increase in embryo growth potential was accompanied by accumulation of O2·– and an increase in peroxidase activity. Imbibing seeds in 0.3% sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) reduced endosperm viability and the levels of O2·–, H2O2, and peroxidase activity in the CAP, whereas the decrease in its puncture force was inhibited. However, in the embryo, SDIC did not affect the accumulation of O2·–, peroxidase activity, and the embryo growth potential. As a result, SDIC caused atypical germination, in which the endosperm ruptured at the boundary between the CAP and lateral endosperm. ROS scavengers and ROS generation inhibitors inhibited the CAP weakening and also decreased the embryo growth potential, thus decreasing the percentage of seed germination. Exogenous ROS and ROS generation inducers increased the percentage of CAP rupture to some extent, and the addition of H2O2 to 0.3% SDIC enabled some seeds to undergo typical germination. PMID:24744430

Phenylbutyrate counteracts Shigella mediated downregulation of cathelicidin in rabbit lung and intestinal epithelia: a potential therapeutic strategy.

PubMed

Sarker, Protim; Ahmed, Sultan; Tiash, Snigdha; Rekha, Rokeya Sultana; Stromberg, Roger; Andersson, Jan; Bergman, Peter; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur H; Agerberth, Birgitta; Raqib, Rubhana

2011-01-01

Cathelicidins and defensins are endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are downregulated in the mucosal epithelia of the large intestine in shigellosis. Oral treatment of Shigella infected rabbits with sodium butyrate (NaB) reduces clinical severity and counteracts the downregulation of cathelicidin (CAP-18) in the large intestinal epithelia. To develop novel regimen for treating infectious diseases by inducing innate immunity, we selected sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PB), a registered drug for a metabolic disorder as a potential therapeutic candidate in a rabbit model of shigellosis. Since acute respiratory infections often cause secondary complications during shigellosis, the systemic effect of PB and NaB on CAP-18 expression in respiratory epithelia was also evaluated. The readouts were clinical outcomes, CAP-18 expression in mucosa of colon, rectum, lung and trachea (immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR) and release of the CAP-18 peptide/protein in stool (Western blot). Significant downregulation of CAP-18 expression in the epithelia of rectum and colon, the site of Shigella infection was confirmed. Interestingly, reduced expression of CAP-18 was also noticed in the epithelia of lung and trachea, indicating a systemic effect of the infection. This suggests a causative link to acute respiratory infections during shigellosis. Oral treatment with PB resulted in reduced clinical illness and upregulation of CAP-18 in the epithelium of rectum. Both PB and NaB counteracted the downregulation of CAP-18 in lung epithelium. The drug effect is suggested to be systemic as intravenous administration of NaB could also upregulate CAP-18 in the epithelia of lung, rectum and colon. Our results suggest that PB has treatment potential in human shigellosis. Enhancement of CAP-18 in the mucosal epithelia of the respiratory tract by PB or NaB is a novel discovery. This could mediate protection from secondary respiratory infections that frequently are the lethal causes in dysentery.

Phenylbutyrate Counteracts Shigella Mediated Downregulation of Cathelicidin in Rabbit Lung and Intestinal Epithelia: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy

PubMed Central

Sarker, Protim; Ahmed, Sultan; Tiash, Snigdha; Rekha, Rokeya Sultana; Stromberg, Roger; Andersson, Jan; Bergman, Peter; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur H.

2011-01-01

Background Cathelicidins and defensins are endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are downregulated in the mucosal epithelia of the large intestine in shigellosis. Oral treatment of Shigella infected rabbits with sodium butyrate (NaB) reduces clinical severity and counteracts the downregulation of cathelicidin (CAP-18) in the large intestinal epithelia. Aims To develop novel regimen for treating infectious diseases by inducing innate immunity, we selected sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (PB), a registered drug for a metabolic disorder as a potential therapeutic candidate in a rabbit model of shigellosis. Since acute respiratory infections often cause secondary complications during shigellosis, the systemic effect of PB and NaB on CAP-18 expression in respiratory epithelia was also evaluated. Methods The readouts were clinical outcomes, CAP-18 expression in mucosa of colon, rectum, lung and trachea (immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR) and release of the CAP-18 peptide/protein in stool (Western blot). Principal findings Significant downregulation of CAP-18 expression in the epithelia of rectum and colon, the site of Shigella infection was confirmed. Interestingly, reduced expression of CAP-18 was also noticed in the epithelia of lung and trachea, indicating a systemic effect of the infection. This suggests a causative link to acute respiratory infections during shigellosis. Oral treatment with PB resulted in reduced clinical illness and upregulation of CAP-18 in the epithelium of rectum. Both PB and NaB counteracted the downregulation of CAP-18 in lung epithelium. The drug effect is suggested to be systemic as intravenous administration of NaB could also upregulate CAP-18 in the epithelia of lung, rectum and colon. Conclusion Our results suggest that PB has treatment potential in human shigellosis. Enhancement of CAP-18 in the mucosal epithelia of the respiratory tract by PB or NaB is a novel discovery. This could mediate protection from secondary respiratory infections that frequently are the lethal causes in dysentery. PMID:21673991

Transport of bare and capped zinc oxide nanoparticles is dependent on porous medium composition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurlanda-Witek, H.; Ngwenya, B. T.; Butler, I. B.

2014-07-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are one of the most frequently used nanoparticles in industry and hence are likely to be introduced to the groundwater environment. The mobility of these nanoparticles in different aquifer materials has not been assessed. While some studies have been published on the transport of ZnO nanoparticles in individual porous media, these studies do not generally account for varying porous medium composition both within and between aquifers. As a first step towards understanding the impact of this variability, this paper compares the transport of bare ZnO nanoparticles (bZnO-NPs) and capped ZnO nanoparticles, coated with tri-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (cZnO-NPs), in saturated columns packed with glass beads, fine grained sand and fine grained calcite, at near-neutral pH and groundwater salinity levels. With the exception of cZnO-NPs in sand columns, ZnO nanoparticles are highly immobile in all three types of studied porous media, with most retention taking place near the column inlet. Results are in general agreement with DLVO theory, and the deviation in experiments with cZnO-NPs flowing through columns packed with sand is linked to variability in zeta potential of the capped nanoparticles and sand grains. Therefore, differences in surface charge of nanoparticles and porous media are demonstrated to be key drivers in nanoparticle transport.

Managing surface water inputs to reduce phosphorus loss from Cranberry farms

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Calcium phosphate (Ca-P) precipitation holds great promise in the mitigation of dissolved phosphorus (DP) loss from cranberry bogs, with precipitated Ca-P potentially serving as a fertilizer source for the subsequent cranberry crop. We quantified Ca-P precipitation following calcite application to h...

Electronic properties and reactivity of Pt-doped carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Tian, Wei Quan; Liu, Lei Vincent; Wang, Yan Alexander

2006-08-14

The structures of the (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) segments with hemispheric carbon cages capped at the ends (SWCNT rod) and the Pt-doped SWCNT rods have been studied within density functional theory. Our theoretical studies find that the hemispheric cages introduce localized states on the caps. The cap-Pt-doped SWCNT rods can be utilized as sensors because of the sensitivity of the doped Pt atom. The Pt-doped SWCNT rods can also be used as catalysts, where the doped Pt atom serves as the enhanced and localized active center on the SWCNT. The adsorptions of C(2)H(4) and H(2) on the Pt atom in the Pt-doped SWCNT rods reveal different adsorption characteristics. The adsorption of C(2)H(4) on the Pt atom in all of the three Pt-doped SWCNT rods studied (cap-end-doped, cap-doped, and wall-doped) is physisorption with the strongest interaction occurring in the middle of the sidewall of the SWCNT. On the other hand, the adsorption of H(2) on the Pt atom at the sidewall of the SWCNT is chemisorption resulting in the decomposition of H(2), and the adsorption of H(2) at the hemispheric caps is physisorption.

Assessing the measurement of aerosol single scattering albedo by Cavity Attenuated Phase-Shift Single Scattering Monitor (CAPS PMssa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perim de Faria, Julia; Bundke, Ulrich; Onasch, Timothy B.; Freedman, Andrew; Petzold, Andreas

2016-04-01

The necessity to quantify the direct impact of aerosol particles on climate forcing is already well known; assessing this impact requires continuous and systematic measurements of the aerosol optical properties. Two of the main parameters that need to be accurately measured are the aerosol optical depth and single scattering albedo (SSA, defined as the ratio of particulate scattering to extinction). The measurement of single scattering albedo commonly involves the measurement of two optical parameters, the scattering and the absorption coefficients. Although there are well established technologies to measure both of these parameters, the use of two separate instruments with different principles and uncertainties represents potential sources of significant errors and biases. Based on the recently developed cavity attenuated phase shift particle extinction monitor (CAPS PM_{ex) instrument, the CAPS PM_{ssa instrument combines the CAPS technology to measure particle extinction with an integrating sphere capable of simultaneously measuring the scattering coefficient of the same sample. The scattering channel is calibrated to the extinction channel, such that the accuracy of the single scattering albedo measurement is only a function of the accuracy of the extinction measurement and the nephelometer truncation losses. This gives the instrument an accurate and direct measurement of the single scattering albedo. In this study, we assess the measurements of both the extinction and scattering channels of the CAPS PM_{ssa through intercomparisons with Mie theory, as a fundamental comparison, and with proven technologies, such as integrating nephelometers and filter-based absorption monitors. For comparison, we use two nephelometers, a TSI 3563 and an Aurora 4000, and two measurements of the absorption coefficient, using a Particulate Soot Absorption Photometer (PSAP) and a Multi Angle Absorption Photometer (MAAP). We also assess the indirect absorption coefficient measurement from the CAPS PM_{ssa (calculated as the difference from the measured extinction and scattering). The study was carried out in the laboratory with controlled particle generation systems. We used both light absorbing aerosols (Regal 400R pigment black from Cabot Corp. and colloidal graphite - Aquadag - from Agar Scientific) and purely scattering aerosols (ammonium sulphate and polystyrene latex spheres), covering single scattering albedo values from approximately 0.4 to 1.0. A new truncation angle correction for the CAPS PM_{ssa integrated sphere is proposed.

Novel bifunctional cap for simultaneous electroencephalography and transcranial electrical stimulation.

PubMed

Wunder, Sophia; Hunold, Alexander; Fiedler, Patrique; Schlegelmilch, Falk; Schellhorn, Klaus; Haueisen, Jens

2018-05-08

Neuromodulation induced by transcranial electric stimulation (TES) exhibited promising potential for clinical practice. However, the underlying mechanisms remain subject of research. The combination of TES and electroencephalography (EEG) offers great potential for investigating these mechanisms and brain function in general, especially when performed simultaneously. In conventional applications, the combination of EEG and TES suffers from limitations on the electrode level (gel for electrode-skin interface) and the usability level (preparation time, reproducibility of positioning). To overcome these limitations, we designed a bifunctional cap for simultaneous TES-EEG applications. We used novel electrode materials, namely textile stimulation electrodes and dry EEG electrodes integrated in a flexible textile cap. We verified the functionality of this cap by analysing the effect of TES on visual evoked potentials (VEPs). In accordance with previous reports using standard TES, the amplitude of the N75 component was significantly decreased post-stimulation, indicating the feasibility of using this novel flexible cap for simultaneous TES and EEG. Further, we found a significant reduction of the P100 component only during TES, indicating a different brain modulation effect during and after TES. In conclusion, the novel bifunctional cap offers a novel tool for simultaneous TES-EEG applications in clinical research, therapy monitoring and closed-loop stimulation.

Controversies in diagnosis and management of community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Sparham, Sarah; Charles, Patrick Gp

2017-04-17

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common condition; however, it appears to be overdiagnosed. Diagnosing CAP too frequently may be adding to the problems of overuse of antibiotics, such as bacterial resistance in the community and greater costs and complications in individuals. Data support that most patients with non-severe CAP can be treated for 3-5 days; however, most patients with CAP are receiving much longer courses of therapy. Macrolides such as azithromycin have the potential to prolong the QT interval, although large population studies show that this does not appear to result in excess cardiac mortality. CAP is associated with an increase in a variety of cardiac complications, most notably infarctions and worsening cardiac failure, so clinicians should be vigilant for signs and symptoms of these complications, particularly in patients with a history of ischaemic cardiac disease or the presence of cardiac risk factors. Cardiac risk factors should be assessed and managed in patients with CAP over 40 years of age, although there are yet to be data to show that this approach reduces deaths. Corticosteroids may have a slight effect on reducing deaths in patients with severe CAP, but this must be balanced against the significant potential for side effects.

Idealized model of polar cap currents, fields, and auroras

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cornwall, J. M.

1985-01-01

During periods of northward Bz, the electric field applied to the magnetosphere is generally opposite to that occurring during southward Bz and complicated patterns of convection result, showing some features reversed in comparison with the southward Bz case. A study is conducted of a simple generalization of early work on idealized convection models, which allows for coexistence of sunward convection over the central polar cap and antisunward convection elsewhere in the cap. The present model, valid for By approximately 0, has a four-cell convection pattern and is based on the combination of ionospheric current conservation with a relation between parallel auroral currents and parallel potential drops. Global magnetospheric issues involving, e.g., reconnection are not considered. The central result of this paper is an expression giving the parallel potential drop for polar cap auroras (with By approximately 0) in terms of the polar cap convection field profile.

The Role and Reprocessing of Attitudes in Fostering Employee Work Happiness: An Intervention Study.

PubMed

Williams, Paige; Kern, Margaret L; Waters, Lea

2017-01-01

This intervention study examines the iterative reprocessing of explicit and implicit attitudes as the process underlying associations between positive employee attitudes (PsyCap), perception of positive organization culture (organizational virtuousness, OV), and work happiness. Using a quasi-experimental design, a group of school staff ( N = 69) completed surveys at three time points. After the first assessment, the treatment group ( n = 51) completed a positive psychology training intervention. Results suggest that employee PsyCap, OV, and work happiness are associated with one another through both implicit and explicit attitudes. Further, the Iterative-Reprocessing Model of attitudes (IRM) provides some insights into the processes underlying these associations. By examining the role and processes through which explicit and implicit attitudes relate to wellbeing at work, the study integrates theories on attitudes, positive organizational scholarship, positive organizational behavior and positive education. It is one of the first studies to apply the theory of the IRM to explain associations amongst PsyCap, OV and work happiness, and to test the IRM theory in a field-based setting. In applying attitude theory to wellbeing research, this study provides insights to mechanisms underlying workplace wellbeing that have not been previously examined and in doing so responds to calls for researchers to learn more about the mechanisms underlying wellbeing interventions. Further, it highlights the need to understand subconscious processes in future wellbeing research and to include implicit measures in positive psychology interventions measurement programs. Practically, this research calls attention to the importance of developing both the positive attitudes of employees and the organizational culture in developing employee work happiness.

The Role and Reprocessing of Attitudes in Fostering Employee Work Happiness: An Intervention Study

PubMed Central

Williams, Paige; Kern, Margaret L.; Waters, Lea

2017-01-01

This intervention study examines the iterative reprocessing of explicit and implicit attitudes as the process underlying associations between positive employee attitudes (PsyCap), perception of positive organization culture (organizational virtuousness, OV), and work happiness. Using a quasi-experimental design, a group of school staff (N = 69) completed surveys at three time points. After the first assessment, the treatment group (n = 51) completed a positive psychology training intervention. Results suggest that employee PsyCap, OV, and work happiness are associated with one another through both implicit and explicit attitudes. Further, the Iterative-Reprocessing Model of attitudes (IRM) provides some insights into the processes underlying these associations. By examining the role and processes through which explicit and implicit attitudes relate to wellbeing at work, the study integrates theories on attitudes, positive organizational scholarship, positive organizational behavior and positive education. It is one of the first studies to apply the theory of the IRM to explain associations amongst PsyCap, OV and work happiness, and to test the IRM theory in a field-based setting. In applying attitude theory to wellbeing research, this study provides insights to mechanisms underlying workplace wellbeing that have not been previously examined and in doing so responds to calls for researchers to learn more about the mechanisms underlying wellbeing interventions. Further, it highlights the need to understand subconscious processes in future wellbeing research and to include implicit measures in positive psychology interventions measurement programs. Practically, this research calls attention to the importance of developing both the positive attitudes of employees and the organizational culture in developing employee work happiness. PMID:28154546

Characterization Of Contaminant Migration Potential In The Vicinity Of An In-Place Sand Cap

EPA Science Inventory

This study characterized the chemical transport potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the vicinity of a sand cap placed in the nearshore zone of a tidal marine embayment. Groundwater seepage was investigated along the per...

Temporary hearing loss influences post-stimulus time histogram and single neuron action potential estimates from human compound action potentials

PubMed Central

Lichtenhan, Jeffery T.; Chertoff, Mark E.

2008-01-01

An analytic compound action potential (CAP) obtained by convolving functional representations of the post-stimulus time histogram summed across auditory nerve neurons [P(t)] and a single neuron action potential [U(t)] was fit to human CAPs. The analytic CAP fit to pre- and postnoise-induced temporary hearing threshold shift (TTS) estimated in vivoP(t) and U(t) and the number of neurons contributing to the CAPs (N). The width of P(t) decreased with increasing signal level and was wider at the lowest signal level following noise exposure. P(t) latency decreased with increasing signal level and was shorter at all signal levels following noise exposure. The damping and oscillatory frequency of U(t) increased with signal level. For subjects with large amounts of TTS, U(t) had greater damping than before noise exposure particularly at low signal levels. Additionally, U(t) oscillation was lower in frequency at all click intensities following noise exposure. N increased with signal level and was smaller after noise exposure at the lowest signal level. Collectively these findings indicate that neurons contributing to the CAP during TTS are fewer in number, shorter in latency, and poorer in synchrony than before noise exposure. Moreover, estimates of single neuron action potentials may decay more rapidly and have a lower oscillatory frequency during TTS. PMID:18397026

Enhanced protective immune response to PCV2 subunit vaccine by co-administration of recombinant porcine IFN-γ in mice.

PubMed

Wang, Yi-Ping; Liu, Dan; Guo, Long-Jun; Tang, Qing-Hai; Wei, Yan-Wu; Wu, Hong-Li; Liu, Jian-Bo; Li, Sheng-Bin; Huang, Li-Ping; Liu, Chang-Ming

2013-01-21

The capsid (Cap) protein of PCV2 is the major immunogenic protein that is crucial to induce PCV2-specific neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity; thus, it is a suitable target antigen for the research and development of genetically engineered vaccines against PCV2 infection. IFN-γ has exhibited potential efficacy as an immune adjuvant that enhances the immunogenicity of certain vaccines in experimental animal models. In this study, three recombinant proteins: PCV2-Cap protein, porcine IFN-γ (PoIFN-γ), and the fusion protein (Cap-PoIFN-γ) of PCV2-Cap protein and PoIFN-γ were respectively expressed in the baculovirus system, and analyzed by Western blot and indirect ELISA. Additionally, we evaluated the enhancement of the protective immune response to the Cap protein-based PCV2 subunit vaccine elicited by co-administration of PoIFN-γ in mice. Vaccination of mice with the PCV2-Cap+PoIFN-γ vaccine elicited significantly higher levels of PCV2-specific IPMA antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, and lymphocyte proliferative responses compared to the Cap-PoIFN-γ vaccine, the PCV2-Cap vaccine, and LG-strain. Following virulent PCV2 challenge, no viraemia was detected in all immunized groups, and the viral loads in lungs of the PCV2-Cap+PoIFN-γ group were significantly lower compared to the Cap-PoIFN-γ group, the LG-strain group, and the mock group, but slightly lower compared to the PCV2-Cap group. These findings suggested that PoIFN-γ substantially enhanced the protective immune response to the Cap protein-based PCV2 subunit vaccine, and that the PCV2-Cap+PoIFN-γ subunit vaccine potentially serves as an attractive candidate vaccine for the prevention and control of PCV2-associated diseases. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Terahertz spin current pulses controlled by magnetic heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kampfrath, T.; Battiato, M.; Maldonado, P.; Eilers, G.; Nötzold, J.; Mährlein, S.; Zbarsky, V.; Freimuth, F.; Mokrousov, Y.; Blügel, S.; Wolf, M.; Radu, I.; Oppeneer, P. M.; Münzenberg, M.

2013-04-01

In spin-based electronics, information is encoded by the spin state of electron bunches. Processing this information requires the controlled transport of spin angular momentum through a solid, preferably at frequencies reaching the so far unexplored terahertz regime. Here, we demonstrate, by experiment and theory, that the temporal shape of femtosecond spin current bursts can be manipulated by using specifically designed magnetic heterostructures. A laser pulse is used to drive spins from a ferromagnetic iron thin film into a non-magnetic cap layer that has either low (ruthenium) or high (gold) electron mobility. The resulting transient spin current is detected by means of an ultrafast, contactless amperemeter based on the inverse spin Hall effect, which converts the spin flow into a terahertz electromagnetic pulse. We find that the ruthenium cap layer yields a considerably longer spin current pulse because electrons are injected into ruthenium d states, which have a much lower mobility than gold sp states. Thus, spin current pulses and the resulting terahertz transients can be shaped by tailoring magnetic heterostructures, which opens the door to engineering high-speed spintronic devices and, potentially, broadband terahertz emitters.

Growth, reproduction and biochemical toxicity of chlorantraniliprole in soil on earthworms (Eisenia fetida).

PubMed

Liu, Tong; Wang, Xiuguo; Chen, Dan; Li, Yiqiang; Wang, Fenglong

2018-04-15

Diamide insecticides have become the fourth most commonly used insecticide class in the world. Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) is a first-generation diamide insecticide with broad application potential. In this experiment, the eco-toxicity of CAP in soil at 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) was evaluated during a 42 d exposure. More specifically, the environmental fate and transport of CAP between soil and earthworms was monitored during the exposure period. The present results indicated that the CAP contents of 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg treatments decreased to no more than 20% in the soil after 42 d of exposure. The accumulation of CAP in earthworms was 0.03, 0.58, 4.28 and 7.21mg/kg earthworm (FW) at 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg after 42 d of exposure. At 0.1mg/kg and 1.0mg/kg, CAP had no effect on earthworms during the exposure period. The weight of earthworms was significantly reduced at 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg at 28 and 42 days after CAP application. After the 14th day, CAP induced excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg, resulting in oxidative damage to biomacromolecules. We believe that CAP has a high risk potential for earthworms when used at 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Secreted Expression of the Cap Gene of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 in Classical Swine Fever Virus C-Strain: Potential of C-Strain Used as a Vaccine Vector

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lingkai; Li, Yongfeng; Xie, Libao; Wang, Xiao; Gao, Xulei; Sun, Yuan; Qiu, Hua-Ji

2017-01-01

Bivalent vaccines based on live attenuated viruses expressing a heterologous protein are an attractive strategy to address co-infections with various pathogens in the field. Considering the excellent efficacy and safety of the lapinized live attenuated vaccine C-strain (HCLV strain) of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), we proposed that C-strain has the potential as a viral vector for developing bivalent vaccines. To this end, we generated three recombinant viruses based on C-strain, one expressing the capsid (Cap) gene of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) with the nuclear localization signal (NLS) (rHCLV-2ACap), and the other two expressing the PCV2 Cap gene without the NLS yet containing the signal peptide of the prolactin gene (rHCLV-pspCap) or that of the ubiquitin-specific peptidase gene (rHCLV-uspCap). All the recombinant viruses exhibited phenotypes similar to those of the parental virus and produced high-level anti-CSFV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in rabbits. Interestingly, rHCLV-uspCap and rHCLV-pspCap, but not rHCLV-2ACap, elicited detectable anti-Cap and -PCV2 NAbs in rabbits. Taken together, our data demonstrate that C-strain can be used as a viral vector to develop bivalent vaccines. PMID:29035292

Secreted Expression of the Cap Gene of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 in Classical Swine Fever Virus C-Strain: Potential of C-Strain Used as a Vaccine Vector.

PubMed

Zhang, Lingkai; Li, Yongfeng; Xie, Libao; Wang, Xiao; Gao, Xulei; Sun, Yuan; Qiu, Hua-Ji

2017-10-16

Bivalent vaccines based on live attenuated viruses expressing a heterologous protein are an attractive strategy to address co-infections with various pathogens in the field. Considering the excellent efficacy and safety of the lapinized live attenuated vaccine C-strain (HCLV strain) of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), we proposed that C-strain has the potential as a viral vector for developing bivalent vaccines. To this end, we generated three recombinant viruses based on C-strain, one expressing the capsid ( Cap ) gene of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) with the nuclear localization signal (NLS) (rHCLV-2ACap), and the other two expressing the PCV2 Cap gene without the NLS yet containing the signal peptide of the prolactin gene (rHCLV-pspCap) or that of the ubiquitin-specific peptidase gene (rHCLV-uspCap). All the recombinant viruses exhibited phenotypes similar to those of the parental virus and produced high-level anti-CSFV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in rabbits. Interestingly, rHCLV-uspCap and rHCLV-pspCap, but not rHCLV-2ACap, elicited detectable anti-Cap and -PCV2 NAbs in rabbits. Taken together, our data demonstrate that C-strain can be used as a viral vector to develop bivalent vaccines.

Theoretical study for heterojunction surface of NEA GaN photocathode dispensed with Cs activation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Sihao; Liu, Lei; Wang, Honggang; Wang, Meishan; Kong, Yike

2016-09-01

For the disadvantages of conventional negative electron affinity (NEA) GaN photocathodes activated by Cs or Cs/O, new-type NEA GaN photocathodes with heterojunction surface dispensed with Cs activation are investigated based on first-principle study with density functional theory. Through the growth of an ultrathin n-type GaN cap layer on p-type GaN emission layer, a p-n heterojunction is formed on the surface. According to the calculation results, it is found that Si atoms tend to replace Ga atoms to result in an n-type doped cap layer which contributes to the decreasing of work function. After the growth of n-type GaN cap layer, the atom structure near the p-type emission layer is changed while that away from the surface has no obvious variations. By analyzing the E-Mulliken charge distribution of emission surface with and without cap layer, it is found that the positive charge of Ga and Mg atoms in the emission layer decrease caused by the cap layer, while the negative charge of N atom increases. The conduction band moves downwards after the growth of cap layer. Si atom produces donor levels around the valence band maximum. The absorption coefficient of GaN emission layer decreases and the reflectivity increases caused by n-type GaN cap layer.

Potentiation of capsaicin-induced neurogenic inflammation by 5-HT7 receptors in the rat hind paw: Involvement of calcitonin gen-related peptide.

PubMed

Arreola-Peralta, Luis D; Altamirano-Reyna, Frida; Galindo-González, Deni M; Solis-Anguiano, Jessica G; Lacivita, Enza; Leopoldo, Marcello; Terrón, José A

2018-05-03

A decrease in the activation threshold of primary sensory neurons to transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) stimulation by serotonin 5-HT7 receptors has been reported but no confirmation if this might translate into facilitation of neurogenic inflammation has been provided. We analysed the modulation of capsaicin (CAP)-induced neurogenic inflammation in the rat hind paw by the selective 5-HT7 receptor agonist, LP-44, and the involvement of calcitonin gen-related peptide (CGRP) in this effect. Animals received intra-plantar injections (30 μL) of vehicle, CAP (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%), LP-44 (7.5 and 15 nmol) and the combination of LP-44 + CAP; then, the time course of the inflammatory responses was measured. The effect of the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist, SB-269970 (3 mg/kg, s.c.), on responses produced by LP-44 alone and combined with CAP was tested. As expected, CAP produced concentration- and time-dependent inflammatory responses in the hind paw. Interestingly, LP-44 by itself also produced inflammation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and magnified CAP-induced responses. Systemic pre-treatment with SB-269970 significantly blunted LP-44 (15 nmol)-induced inflammation as well as magnified inflammatory responses produced by the combination of LP-44 (7.5 and 15 nmol) + CAP (0.1%) thus confirming the involvement of 5-HT7 receptors. Finally, the non-peptide CGRP receptor antagonist, BIBN4096 (3 mg/kg, s.c.), strongly inhibited the potentiated inflammatory responses induced by LP-44 (7.5 and 15 nmol) + CAP (0.1%) thus substantiating their neurogenic nature. Thus, sensitization of CAP-sensitive primary sensory neurons by 5-HT7 receptors may result in facilitation of neurogenic inflammation involving CGRP in the rat hind paw. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Capacitive mixing with electrodes of the same kind for energy production from salinity differences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marino, M.; Kozynchenko, O.; Tennison, S.; Brogioli, D.

2016-03-01

The capacitive mixing technique is aimed at producing renewable energy from salinity differences, for example between sea and river water. The technique makes use of two electrodes that modify their potential in opposite directions when the concentration of the solution in which they are immersed is changed, as a consequence of the dynamics of the electric double layer which forms in the ionic solution. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find two electrodes presenting both optimal performances and opposite potential variations. In order to overcome this problem, we present here a cell scheme with electrodes of the same kind (and thus identical dependence of potential on concentration) which can be operated with a CapMix cycle; it is based on a concentration cell with identical electrodes dipped into two compartments separated by a non-perm-selective porous diaphragm. Thanks to the cyclic operation, the actual cell voltage rise and the power production are close to the values obtained with the traditional scheme, or even higher, depending on the features of the ion transport in the liquid junction region. We present an experimental demonstration of the working principles and we study the power production and energy efficiency in the light of the theory of ion transport in fluids. We show that our technique is competitive with respect to the other CapMix techniques, with the relevant advantage that we make use of only one kind of electrode.

Capacitive mixing with electrodes of the same kind for energy production from salinity differences.

PubMed

Marino, M; Kozynchenko, O; Tennison, S; Brogioli, D

2016-03-23

The capacitive mixing technique is aimed at producing renewable energy from salinity differences, for example between sea and river water. The technique makes use of two electrodes that modify their potential in opposite directions when the concentration of the solution in which they are immersed is changed, as a consequence of the dynamics of the electric double layer which forms in the ionic solution. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find two electrodes presenting both optimal performances and opposite potential variations. In order to overcome this problem, we present here a cell scheme with electrodes of the same kind (and thus identical dependence of potential on concentration) which can be operated with a CapMix cycle; it is based on a concentration cell with identical electrodes dipped into two compartments separated by a non-perm-selective porous diaphragm. Thanks to the cyclic operation, the actual cell voltage rise and the power production are close to the values obtained with the traditional scheme, or even higher, depending on the features of the ion transport in the liquid junction region. We present an experimental demonstration of the working principles and we study the power production and energy efficiency in the light of the theory of ion transport in fluids. We show that our technique is competitive with respect to the other CapMix techniques, with the relevant advantage that we make use of only one kind of electrode.

Pore Water PAH Transport in Amended Sediment Caps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gidley, P. T.; Kwon, S.; Ghosh, U.

2009-05-01

Capping is a common remediation strategy for contaminated sediments that creates a physical barrier between contaminated sediments and the water column. Diffusive flux of contaminants through a sediment cap is small. However, under certain hydrodynamic conditions such as groundwater potential and tidal pumping, groundwater advection can accelerate contaminant transport. Hydrophobic organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be transported through the cap under advective conditions. To better understand PAH migration under these conditions, physical models of sediment caps were evaluated in the laboratory through direct measurement of pore water using solid phase micro-extraction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Contaminated sediment and capping material was obtained from an existing Superfund site that was capped at Eagle Harbor, Washington. A PAH dissolution model linked to an advection-dispersion equation with retardation using published organic carbon-water partitioning coefficients (Koc) was compared to measured PAHs in the sediment and cap porewater of the physical model.

The pharmaceutical vial capping process: Container closure systems, capping equipment, regulatory framework, and seal quality tests.

PubMed

Mathaes, Roman; Mahler, Hanns-Christian; Buettiker, Jean-Pierre; Roehl, Holger; Lam, Philippe; Brown, Helen; Luemkemann, Joerg; Adler, Michael; Huwyler, Joerg; Streubel, Alexander; Mohl, Silke

2016-02-01

Parenteral drug products are protected by appropriate primary packaging to protect against environmental factors, including potential microbial contamination during shelf life duration. The most commonly used CCS configuration for parenteral drug products is the glass vial, sealed with a rubber stopper and an aluminum crimp cap. In combination with an adequately designed and controlled aseptic fill/finish processes, a well-designed and characterized capping process is indispensable to ensure product quality and integrity and to minimize rejections during the manufacturing process. In this review, the health authority requirements and expectations related to container closure system quality and container closure integrity are summarized. The pharmaceutical vial, the rubber stopper, and the crimp cap are described. Different capping techniques are critically compared: The most common capping equipment with a rotating capping plate produces the lowest amount of particle. The strength and challenges of methods to control the capping process are discussed. The residual seal force method can characterize the capping process independent of the used capping equipment or CCS. We analyze the root causes of several cosmetic defects associated with the vial capping process. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Polar Rain Gradients and Field-Aligned Polar Cap Potentials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fairfield, D. H.; Wing, S.; Newell, P. T.; Ruohoniemi, J. M.; Gosling, J. T.; Skoug, R. M.

2008-01-01

ACE SWEPAM measurements of solar wind field-aligned electrons have been compared with simultaneous measurements of polar rain electrons precipitating over the polar cap and detected by DMSP spacecraft. Such comparisons allow investigation of cross-polarcap gradients in the intensity of otherwise-steady polar rain. The generally good agreement of the distribution functions, f, from the two data sources confirms that direct entry of solar electrons along open field lines is indeed the cause of polar rain. The agreement between the data sets is typically best on the side of the polar cap with most intense polar rain but the DMSP f's in less intense regions can be brought into agreement with ACE measurements by shifting all energies by a fixed amounts that range from tens to several hundred eV. In most cases these shifts are positive which implies that field-aligned potentials of these amounts exist on polar cap field lines which tend to retard the entry of electrons and produce the observed gradients. These retarding potentials undoubtedly appear in order to prevent the entry of low-energy electrons and maintain charge quasi-neutrality that would otherwise be violated since most tailward flowing magnetosheath ions are unable to follow polar rain electrons down to the polar cap. In more limited regions near the boundary of the polar cap there is sometimes evidence for field-aligned potentials of the opposite sign that accelerate polar rain electrons. A solar electron burst is also studied and it is concluded that electrons from such bursts can enter the magnetotail and precipitate in the same manner as polar rain.

Systematic review of compound action potentials as predictors for cochlear implant performance.

PubMed

van Eijl, Ruben H M; Buitenhuis, Patrick J; Stegeman, Inge; Klis, Sjaak F L; Grolman, Wilko

2017-02-01

The variability in speech perception between cochlear implant users is thought to result from the degeneration of the auditory nerve. Degeneration of the auditory nerve, histologically assessed, correlates with electrophysiologically acquired measures, such as electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs) in experimental animals. To predict degeneration of the auditory nerve in humans, where histology is impossible, this paper reviews the correlation between speech perception and eCAP recordings in cochlear implant patients. PubMed and Embase. We performed a systematic search for articles containing the following major themes: cochlear implants, evoked potentials, and speech perception. Two investigators independently conducted title-abstract screening, full-text screening, and critical appraisal. Data were extracted from the remaining articles. Twenty-five of 1,429 identified articles described a correlation between speech perception and eCAP attributes. Due to study heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not feasible, and studies were descriptively analyzed. Several studies investigating presence of the eCAP, recovery time constant, slope of the amplitude growth function, and spatial selectivity showed significant correlations with speech perception. In contrast, neural adaptation, eCAP threshold, and change with varying interphase gap did not significantly correlate with speech perception in any of the identified studies. Significant correlations between speech perception and parameters obtained through eCAP recordings have been documented in literature; however, reporting was ambiguous. There is insufficient evidence for eCAPs as a predictive factor for speech perception. More research is needed to further investigate this relation. Laryngoscope, 2016 127:476-487, 2017. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Preliminary Validation of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory in Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kutsal, Ebru; Pasli, Figen; Isikli, Sedat; Sahin, Figen; Yilmaz, Gokce; Beyazova, Ufuk

2011-01-01

This study aims to provide preliminary findings on the validity of Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAP Inventory) on Turkish sample of 23 abuser and 47 nonabuser parents. To investigate validity in two groups, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Psychopathic Deviate (MMPI-PD) scale is also used along with CAP. The results show…

Cold plasma selectivity in the interaction with various types of the cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volotskova, Olga; Stepp, Mary Ann; Keidar, Michael

2011-10-01

Present research in the area of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) demonstrates great potential in various areas including medicine and biology. Depending on their configuration they can be used for wound healing, sterilization, targeted cell/tissue removal, and cancer treatments. Here we explore potential mechanisms by which CAP alters cell migration and influences cell adhesion. The migration studies are focused on the CAP interaction with fibroblasts and corneal epithelial cells. Data show that various types of cells have different thresholds (treatment times) required to achieve maximum inhibition of cell migration which is around ~30-40%. Studies to assess the impact of CAP treatment on the activation state of integrins and focal adhesion size by immunofluorescence showed more active b1 integrin on the cell surface and large focal adhesions after CAP treatment. Based on these data, a thermodynamic model is presented to explain how CAP leads to integrin activation and focal adhesion assembly. Also responses of the various types of the cells to the cold plasma treatment on the example of the epithelial keratinocytes, papilloma and carcinoma cells are studied. Cell cycle, migration and cell vitality analysis were performed. The goal of this study is to understand the mechanism by which the CAP jet alters cell migration, influences adhesion and cell survival.

Auditory steady-state evoked potentials vs. compound action potentials for the measurement of suppression tuning curves in the sedated dog puppy.

PubMed

Markessis, Emily; Poncelet, Luc; Colin, Cécile; Hoonhorst, Ingrid; Collet, Grégory; Deltenre, Paul; Moore, Brian C J

2010-06-01

Auditory steady-state evoked potential (ASSEP) tuning curves were compared to compound action potential (CAP) tuning curves, both measured at 2 Hz, using sedated beagle puppies. The effect of two types of masker (narrowband noise and sinusoidal) on the tuning curve parameters was assessed. Whatever the masker type, CAP tuning curve parameters were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to the ASSEP ones, with a similar inter-subject variability, but with a greater incidence of upward tip displacement. Whatever the procedure, sinusoidal maskers produced sharper tuning curves than narrow-band maskers. Although these differences are not likely to have significant implications for clinical work, from a fundamental point of view, their origin requires further investigations. The same amount of time was needed to record a CAP and an ASSEP 13-point tuning curve. The data further validate the ASSEP technique, which has the advantages of having a smaller tendency to produce upward tip shifts than the CAP technique. Moreover, being non invasive, ASSEP tuning curves can be easily repeated over time in the same subject for clinical and research purposes.

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Expression Mediates Capsaicin-Induced Cell Death.

PubMed

Ramírez-Barrantes, Ricardo; Córdova, Claudio; Gatica, Sebastian; Rodriguez, Belén; Lozano, Carlo; Marchant, Ivanny; Echeverria, Cesar; Simon, Felipe; Olivero, Pablo

2018-01-01

The transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family consists of a broad variety of non-selective cation channels that integrate environmental physicochemical signals for dynamic homeostatic control. Involved in a variety of cellular physiological processes, TRP channels are fundamental to the control of the cell life cycle. TRP channels from the vanilloid (TRPV) family have been directly implicated in cell death. TRPV1 is activated by pain-inducing stimuli, including inflammatory endovanilloids and pungent exovanilloids, such as capsaicin (CAP). TRPV1 activation by high doses of CAP (>10 μM) leads to necrosis, but also exhibits apoptotic characteristics. However, CAP dose-response studies are lacking in order to determine whether CAP-induced cell death occurs preferentially via necrosis or apoptosis. In addition, it is not known whether cytosolic Ca 2+ and mitochondrial dysfunction participates in CAP-induced TRPV1-mediated cell death. By using TRPV1-transfected HeLa cells, we investigated the underlying mechanisms involved in CAP-induced TRPV1-mediated cell death, the dependence of CAP dose, and the participation of mitochondrial dysfunction and cytosolic Ca 2+ increase. Together, our results contribute to elucidate the pathophysiological steps that follow after TRPV1 stimulation with CAP. Low concentrations of CAP (1 μM) induce cell death by a mechanism involving a TRPV1-mediated rapid and transient intracellular Ca 2+ increase that stimulates plasma membrane depolarization, thereby compromising plasma membrane integrity and ultimately leading to cell death. Meanwhile, higher doses of CAP induce cell death via a TRPV1-independent mechanism, involving a slow and persistent intracellular Ca 2+ increase that induces mitochondrial dysfunction, plasma membrane depolarization, plasma membrane loss of integrity, and ultimately, cell death.

Exact near-onset analysis of the spin-density-wave instability in ferromagnetic superconductors: The linearly polarized state

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

Hu, C.

1984-09-01

Using an approach similar to Abvikosov's theory of the vortex state near H/sub c/2, we have performed an exact, near-onset analysis of a spin-density-wave instability leading to the ''linearly polarized state'' of Greenside et al. in ferromagnetic superconductors. The approach is based on a generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory for such materials, as formulated by Blount and Varma. Two models have been considered. In the (..cap alpha..,..beta..) model, where the bulk magnetic energy is taken to be (1/2)..cap alpha../sub m/M/sup 2/+(1/4)..beta../sub m/M/sup 4/, we find the transition to be second order, and obtain explicit formulas for various physical quantities to leading ordermore » in the deviation from onset. We have also rigorously analyzed the most favored spatial structure just below onset, among all possibilities allowed by the instability, and have concluded that a plane-wave-like structure is favored in a physical limit considered. In the (..cap alpha..,..gamma..) model, where the bulk magnetic energy is taken to be (1/2)..cap alpha../sub m/M/sup 2/+(1/6)..gamma../sub m/M/sup 6/ as is supported by recent experiments for ErRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/, we find the transition to be first order. This approach is then confined to an unphysical branch, which does not permit us to calculate various physical quantities on the physical branch.« less

Validez Convergente de la Version Espanola Preliminar del Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Depresion y Aduste Marital (Convergent Validity of the Preliminary Spanish Version of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Depression and Marital Adjustment).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arruabarrena, M. Ignacia; de Paul, Joaquin

1992-01-01

"Convergent validity" of preliminary Spanish version of Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory was studied. CAP uses ecological-systemic model of child maltreatment to evaluate individual, family, and social factors facilitating physical child abuse. Depression and marital adjustment were measured in three groups of mothers. Results found…

DC Potentials Applied to an End-cap Electrode of a 3-D Ion Trap for Enhanced MSn Functionality

PubMed Central

Prentice, Boone M.; Xu, Wei; Ouyang, Zheng; McLuckey, Scott A.

2010-01-01

The effects of the application of various DC magnitudes and polarities to an end-cap of a 3-D quadrupole ion trap throughout a mass spectrometry experiment were investigated. Application of a monopolar DC field was achieved by applying a DC potential to the exit end-cap electrode, while maintaining the entrance end-cap electrode at ground potential. Control over the monopolar DC magnitude and polarity during time periods associated with ion accumulation, mass analysis, ion isolation, ion/ion reaction, and ion activation can have various desirable effects. Included amongst these are increased ion capture efficiency, increased ion ejection efficiency during mass analysis, effective isolation of ions using lower AC resonance ejection amplitudes, improved temporal control of the overlap of oppositely charged ion populations, and the performance of “broad-band” collision induced dissociation (CID). These results suggest general means to improve the performance of the 3-D ion trap in a variety of mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry experiments. PMID:21927573

Fluorescence microscopic analysis of antifungal effects of cold atmospheric pressure plasma in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Itooka, Koki; Takahashi, Kazuo; Izawa, Shingo

2016-11-01

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has potential to be utilized as an alternative method for sterilization in food industries without thermal damage or toxic residues. In contrast to the bactericidal effects of CAP, information regarding the efficacy of CAP against eukaryotic microorganisms is very limited. Therefore, herein we investigated the effects of CAP on the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a focus on the cellular response to CAP. The CAP treatment caused oxidative stress responses including the nuclear accumulation of the oxidative stress responsive transcription factor Yap1, mitochondrial fragmentation, and enhanced intracellular oxidation. Yeast cells also induced the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) genes and formation of Hsp104 aggregates when treated with CAP, suggesting that CAP denatures proteins. As phenomena unique to eukaryotic cells, the formation of cytoplasmic mRNP granules such as processing bodies and stress granules and changes in the intracellular localization of Ire1 were caused by the treatment with CAP, indicating that translational repression and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were induced by the CAP treatment. These results suggest that the fungicidal effects of CAP are attributed to the multiple severe stresses.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Selectively Ablating Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells

PubMed Central

Wang, Mian; Holmes, Benjamin; Cheng, Xiaoqian; Zhu, Wei; Keidar, Michael; Zhang, Lijie Grace

2013-01-01

Traditional breast cancer treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy contain many inherent limitations with regards to incomplete and nonselective tumor ablation. Cold atomospheric plasma (CAP) is an ionized gas where the ion temperature is close to room temperature. It contains electrons, charged particles, radicals, various excited molecules, UV photons and transient electric fields. These various compositional elements have the potential to either enhance and promote cellular activity, or disrupt and destroy them. In particular, based on this unique composition, CAP could offer a minimally-invasive surgical approach allowing for specific cancer cell or tumor tissue removal without influencing healthy cells. Thus, the objective of this research is to investigate a novel CAP-based therapy for selectively bone metastatic breast cancer treatment. For this purpose, human metastatic breast cancer (BrCa) cells and bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were separately treated with CAP, and behavioral changes were evaluated after 1, 3, and 5 days of culture. With different treatment times, different BrCa and MSC cell responses were observed. Our results showed that BrCa cells were more sensitive to these CAP treatments than MSCs under plasma dose conditions tested. It demonstrated that CAP can selectively ablate metastatic BrCa cells in vitro without damaging healthy MSCs at the metastatic bone site. In addition, our study showed that CAP treatment can significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of BrCa cells. The results suggest the great potential of CAP for breast cancer therapy. PMID:24040051

An Investigation of Student Response to a Potential Tuition Cap Increase at Casper College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Elizabeth; Aitchison, Thomas; Allen, Eric; Gomez, Carrie; Laird, Sheree; Raczynska, Kaja

2015-01-01

Wyoming Community College Commission policy currently states any student enrolled for more than 12 credit hours will be charged tuition for only 12 credit hours. This policy is referred to as the tuition cap. In November 2010, the commission discussed increasing the tuition cap to 15 credits. An increase from 12 to 15 credits would have…

Variability of Lyman-alpha emission from Jupiter

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

Cochran, W.D.; Barker, E.S.

1979-12-01

The Jovian L..cap alpha.. emission line was reobserved in 1978 March using the high-resolution spectrometer of the Copernicus satellite. An intensity of 8.3 +- 2.9 kilorayleighs was measured. This value represents a significant increase in intensity over previous (1976) Copernicus observations, but is lower than the recent (1979) values obtained by Voyager 1 and IUE. The increase in intensity has been accompanied by a significant increase in line width givin strong support to the theory that the emission results from resonant scattering of the solar L..cap alpha.. line by H atoms in the upper Jovian atmosphere. The strength of Jovianmore » L..cap alpha.. emission correlates well with the level of solar activity. The solar extreme ultraviolet radiation varies with the solar cycle. This radiation causes the dissociation of H/sub 2/ and CH/sub 4/ into H atoms in the Jovian atmosphere. Therefore, in times of high solar activity, the H column density will increase, causing the observed stronger Jovian L..cap alpha.. emission.« less

In Vitro and In Vivo Prostate Cancer Metastasis and Chemoresistance Can Be Modulated by Expression of either CD44 or CD147

PubMed Central

Hao, Jingli; Madigan, Michele C.; Khatri, Aparajita; Power, Carl A.; Hung, Tzong-Tyng; Beretov, Julia; Chang, Lei; Xiao, Weiwei; Cozzi, Paul J.; Graham, Peter H.; Kearsley, John H.; Li, Yong

2012-01-01

CD44 and CD147 are associated with cancer metastasis and progression. Our purpose in the study was to investigate the effects of down-regulation of CD44 or CD147 on the metastatic ability of prostate cancer (CaP) cells, their docetaxel (DTX) responsiveness and potential mechanisms involved in vitro and in vivo. CD44 and CD147 were knocked down (KD) in PC-3M-luc CaP cells using short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Expression of CD44, CD147, MRP2 (multi-drug resistance protein-2) and MCT4 (monocarboxylate tranporter-4) was evaluated using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The DTX dose-response and proliferation was measured by MTT and colony assays, respectively. The invasive potential was assessed using a matrigel chamber assay. Signal transduction proteins in PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk pathways were assessed by Western blotting. An in vivo subcutaneous (s.c.) xenograft model was established to assess CaP tumorigenecity, lymph node metastases and DTX response. Our results indicated that KD of CD44 or CD147 decreased MCT4 and MRP2 expression, reduced CaP proliferation and invasive potential and enhanced DTX sensitivity; and KD of CD44 or CD147 down-regulated p-Akt and p-Erk, the main signal modulators associated with cell growth and survival. In vivo, CD44 or CD147-KD PC-3M-luc xenografts displayed suppressed tumor growth with increased DTX responsiveness compared to control xenografts. Both CD44 and CD147 enhance metastatic capacity and chemoresistance of CaP cells, potentially mediated by activation of the PI3K and MAPK pathways. Selective targeting of CD44/CD147 alone or combined with DTX may limit CaP metastasis and increase chemosensitivity, with promise for future CaP treatment. PMID:22870202

Stigma

PubMed Central

Santos, Jussara C.; Barros, Sônia; Santos, Irma M. M.

2016-01-01

In this study, we have surveyed how professionals from multidisciplinary teams at psychosocial care centers (CAPS), in the city of São Paulo, understand the concept of mental illness stigma. The aim of the survey was to characterize the actions developed by the team to overcome stigma and, thus, contribute to develop strategies that incorporate overcoming stigma in the territory. Our objective is to get acquainted to the concepts about stigma shared by the participants. This survey was based on the theory of stigma by Erving Goffman; data were collected through semi-structured interviews with mental health professionals belonging to the CAPS teams. Results indicate that social exclusion is understood as a synonym to stigma, and that proximity of CAPS to society in the territory facilitates social inclusion and the overcoming of the mental illness stigma. PMID:28462343

The Influence of Glutamate on Axonal Compound Action Potential In Vitro.

PubMed

Abouelela, Ahmed; Wieraszko, Andrzej

2016-01-01

Background  Our previous experiments demonstrated modulation of the amplitude of the axonal compound action potential (CAP) by electrical stimulation. To verify assumption that glutamate released from axons could be involved in this phenomenon, the modification of the axonal CAP induced by glutamate was investigated. Objectives  The major objective of this research is to verify the hypothesis that axonal activity would trigger the release of glutamate, which in turn would interact with specific axonal receptors modifying the amplitude of the action potential. Methods  Segments of the sciatic nerve were exposed to exogenous glutamate in vitro, and CAP was recorded before and after glutamate application. In some experiments, the release of radioactive glutamate analog from the sciatic nerve exposed to exogenous glutamate was also evaluated. Results  The glutamate-induced increase in CAP was blocked by different glutamate receptor antagonists. The effect of glutamate was not observed in Ca-free medium, and was blocked by antagonists of calcium channels. Exogenous glutamate, applied to the segments of sciatic nerve, induced the release of radioactive glutamate analog, demonstrating glutamate-induced glutamate release. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that axolemma contains components necessary for glutamatergic neurotransmission. Conclusion  The proteins of the axonal membrane can under the influence of electrical stimulation or exogenous glutamate change membrane permeability and ionic conductance, leading to a change in the amplitude of CAP. We suggest that increased axonal activity leads to the release of glutamate that results in changes in the amplitude of CAPs.

Capillary Contact Angle in a Completely Wet Groove

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parry, A. O.; Malijevský, A.; Rascón, C.

2014-10-01

We consider the phase equilibria of a fluid confined in a deep capillary groove of width L with identical side walls and a bottom made of a different material. All walls are completely wet by the liquid. Using density functional theory and interfacial models, we show that the meniscus separating liquid and gas phases at two phase capillary coexistence meets the bottom capped end of the groove at a capillary contact angle θcap(L) which depends on the difference between the Hamaker constants. If the bottom wall has a weaker wall-fluid attraction than the side walls, then θcap>0 even though all the isolated walls are themselves completely wet. This alters the capillary condensation transition which is now first order; this would be continuous in a capped capillary made wholly of either type of material. We show that the capillary contact angle θcap(L) vanishes in two limits, corresponding to different capillary wetting transitions. These occur as the width (i) becomes macroscopically large, and (ii) is reduced to a microscopic value determined by the difference in Hamaker constants. This second wetting transition is characterized by large scale fluctuations and essential critical singularities arising from marginal interfacial interactions.

Some methods to regulate low-bias negative differential resistance in σ barrier separating nanoscale molecular transport systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Ji-Mei; Liu, Jing; Min, Yi; Zhou, Li-Ping

2016-12-01

Using the first-principles method which combines the nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) with density functional theory (DFT), the role of defect, dopant, barrier length and geometric deformation for low-bias negative differential resistance (NDR) in two capped armchair carbon nanotubes (CNTs) sandwiching σ barrier are systematically analyzed. We found that this method can regulate the negative differential resistance (NDR) effects such as current peak and peak position. The adjusting mechanism may originate from orbital interaction and orbital reconstruction. Our calculations try to manipulate the transport characteristics in energy space by simply manipulating the structure in real space, which may promise the potential applications in nanomolecular-electronics in the future.

Targeting interleukin-1β in CAPS (cryopyrin-associated periodic) syndromes: what did we learn?

PubMed

Koné-Paut, Isabelle; Piram, Maryam

2012-11-01

CAPS is the prototype of an IL-1β driven auto inflammatory disorder. Features of recurrent systemic inflammation compromises patient's quality of life, and may reduce life expectancy by inducing definite organ damage. Recent treatment targeting IL-1 have shown dramatic effect on patient's clinical symptoms and quality of life. Anakinra was first used successfully in treating small series of patients with all CAPS phenotypes. Two pivotal randomized placebo-controlled studies allowed licensing of rilonacept and canakinumab as orphan drugs for CAPS patients. The use of anti-IL-1 drugs in CAPS is still relatively new, and their effect on a long term is not well known. As we can suppress the clinical symptoms of patients with CAPS, important questions remain regarding the full effect of anti-IL-1 treatment on organ involvement and their potential ability to prevent them. As important variations of treatment doses and schedules appear in reaching effectiveness, pharmacologic studies are still warranted to determine a potential diffusion of anti-IL-1 drugs in the fluids and tissues. More studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of anti-IL-1 drugs given in patients before 2 years of age are warranted, since it is believed that the earliest treatment could avoid secondary CAPS complications to develop. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Production of putrescine-capped stable silver nanoparticle: its characterization and antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saha, Saswati; Gupta, Bhaskar; Gupta, Kamala; Chaudhuri, Mahua Ghosh

2016-11-01

Integration of biology with nanotechnology is now becoming attention-grabbing area of research. The antimicrobial potency of silver has been eminent from antiquity. Due to the recent desire for the enhancement of antibacterial efficacy of silver, various synthesis methods of silver in their nano dimensions are being practiced using a range of capping material. The present work highlights a facile biomimetic approach for production of silver nanoparticle being capped and stabilized by putrescine, possessing a diameter of 10-25 ± 1.5 nm. The synthesized nanoparticles have been analyzed spectrally and analytically. Morphological studies are carried out by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and crystallinity by selected area electron diffraction patterns. Moreover, the elemental composition of the capped nanoparticles was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. A comparative study (zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration) regarding the interactions and antibacterial potentiality of the capped silver nanoparticles with respect to the bare ones reveal the efficiency of the capped one over the bare one. The bacterial kinetic study was executed to monitor the interference of nanoparticles with bacterial growth rate. The results also highlight the efficacy of putrescine-capped silver nanoparticles as effective growth inhibitors against multi-drug resistant human pathogenic bacterial strains, which may, thus, potentially be applicable as an effective antibacterial control system to fight diseases.

Cell water balance of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during its post-harvest lifetime studied by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Donker, H C; Van As, H

1999-04-19

A combination of quantitative water density and T2 MRI and changes therein observed after infiltration with 'invisible' Gd-DTPA solution was used to study cell water balances, cell water potentials and cell integrity. This method was applied to reveal the evolution and mechanism of redistribution of water in harvested mushrooms. Even when mushrooms did not lose water during the storage period, a redistribution of water was observed from stipe to cap and gills. When the storage condition resulted in a net loss of water, the stipe lost more water than the cap. The water density in the gill increased, probably due to development of spores. Deterioration effects (i.e. leakage of cells, decrease in osmotic water potential) were found in the outer stipe. They were not found in the cap, even at prolonged storage at 293 K and R.H.=70%. The changes in osmotic potential were partly accounted for by changes in the mannitol concentration. Changes in membrane permeability were also indicated. Cells in the cap had a constant low membrane (water) permeability. They developed a decreasing osmotic potential (more negative), whereas the osmotic potential in the outer stipe increased, together with the permeability of cells.

Facile and green synthesis of highly stable L-cysteine functionalized copper nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Nikhil; Upadhyay, Lata Sheo Bachan

2016-11-01

A simple eco-friendly method for L-cysteine capped copper nanoparticles (CCNPs) synthesis in aqueous solution has been developed. Glucose and L-cysteine were used as reducing agent and capping/functionalizing agent, respectively. Different parameters such as capping agent concentration, pH, reaction temperature, and reducing agent concentration were optimized during the synthesis. The L-cysteine capped copper nanoparticle were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Particle size and zeta potential analyser, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Spherical shaped cysteine functionalized/capped copper nanoparticles with an average size of 40 nm were found to be highly stable at room temperature (RT) for a period of 1 month

Turbine combustor with fuel nozzles having inner and outer fuel circuits

DOEpatents

Uhm, Jong Ho; Johnson, Thomas Edward; Kim, Kwanwoo

2013-12-24

A combustor cap assembly for a turbine engine includes a combustor cap and a plurality of fuel nozzles mounted on the combustor cap. One or more of the fuel nozzles would include two separate fuel circuits which are individually controllable. The combustor cap assembly would be controlled so that individual fuel circuits of the fuel nozzles are operated or deliberately shut off to provide for physical separation between the flow of fuel delivered by adjacent fuel nozzles and/or so that adjacent fuel nozzles operate at different pressure differentials. Operating a combustor cap assembly in this fashion helps to reduce or eliminate the generation of undesirable and potentially harmful noise.

Controlling plasma stimulated media in cancer treatment application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Dayun; Sherman, Jonathan H.; Cheng, Xiaoqian; Ratovitski, Edward; Canady, Jerome; Keidar, Michael

2014-12-01

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) constitutes a "cocktail" of various reactive species. Accumulating evidence shows the effectiveness of CAP in killing cancer cells and decreasing the tumor size, which provides a solid basis for its potential use in cancer treatment. Currently, CAP is mainly used to directly treat cancer cells and trigger the death of cancer cells via apoptosis or necrosis. By altering the concentration of fetal bovine serum in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and the temperature to store CAP stimulated media, we demonstrated controllable strategies to harness the stimulated media to kill glioblastoma cells in vitro. This study demonstrated the significant role of media in killing cancer cells via the CAP treatment.

Quantitative ionization chamber alignment to a water surface: Theory and simulation.

PubMed

Siebers, Jeffrey V; Ververs, James D; Tessier, Frédéric

2017-07-01

To examine the response properties of cylindrical cavity ionization chambers (ICs) in the depth-ionization buildup region so as to obtain a robust chamber-signal - based method for definitive water surface identification, hence absolute ionization chamber depth localization. An analytical model with simplistic physics and geometry is developed to explore the theoretical aspects of ionization chamber response near a phantom water surface. Monte Carlo simulations with full physics and ionization chamber geometry are utilized to extend the model's findings to realistic ion chambers in realistic beams and to study the effects of IC design parameters on the entrance dose response. Design parameters studied include full and simplified IC designs with varying central electrode thickness, wall thickness, and outer chamber radius. Piecewise continuous fits to the depth-ionization signal gradient are used to quantify potential deviation of the gradient discontinuity from the chamber outer radius. Exponential, power, and hyperbolic sine functional forms are used to model the gradient for chamber depths of zero to the depth of the gradient discontinuity. The depth-ionization gradient as a function of depth is maximized and discontinuous when a submerged IC's outer radius coincides with the water surface. We term this depth the gradient chamber alignment point (gCAP). The maximum deviation between the gCAP location and the chamber outer radius is 0.13 mm for a hypothetical 4 mm thick wall, 6.45 mm outer radius chamber using the power function fit, however, the chamber outer radius is within the 95% confidence interval of the gCAP determined by this fit. gCAP dependence on the chamber wall thickness is possible, but not at a clinically relevant level. The depth-ionization gradient has a discontinuity and is maximized when the outer-radius of a submerged IC coincides with the water surface. This feature can be used to auto-align ICs to the water surface at the time of scanning and/or be applied retrospectively to scan data to quantify absolute IC depth. Utilization of the gCAP should yield accurate and reproducible depth calibration for clinical depth-ionization measurements between setups and between users. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Use of Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potentials for Cochlear Implant Fitting: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

de Vos, Johan J; Biesheuvel, Jan Dirk; Briaire, Jeroen J; Boot, Pieter S; van Gendt, Margriet J; Dekkers, Olaf M; Fiocco, Marta; Frijns, Johan H M

The electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP) is widely used in the clinic as an objective measure to assess cochlear implant functionality. During the past decade, there has been increasing interest in applying eCAPs for fitting of cochlear implants. Several studies have shown that eCAP-based fitting can potentially replace time-consuming behavioral fitting procedures, especially in young children. However, a closer look to all available literature revealed that there is no clear consensus on the validity of this fitting procedure. This study evaluated the validity of eCAP-based fitting of cochlear implant recipients based on a systematic review of the recent literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used to search the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The term "eCAP" was combined with "cochlear implants," "thresholds," and "levels," in addition to a range of related terms. Finally, 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated on the risk of bias and, when possible, compared by meta-analysis. Almost all assessed studies suffered from some form of risk of bias. Twenty-nine of the studies based their conclusion on a group correlation instead of individual subject correlations (analytical bias); 14 studies were unclear about randomization or blinding (outcome assessment bias); 9 studies provided no clear description of the populations used, for example, prelingually or postlingually implanted subjects (selection bias); and 4 studies had a high rate of loss (>10%) for patients or electrodes (attrition bias). Meta-analysis of these studies revealed a weak pooled correlation between eCAP thresholds and both behavioral T- and C-levels (r = 0.58 and r = 0.61, respectively). This review shows that the majority of the assessed studies suffered from substantial shortcomings in study design and statistical analysis. Meta-analysis showed that there is only weak evidence to support the use of eCAP data for cochlear implant fitting purposes; eCAP thresholds are an equally weak predictor for both T- and C-levels. Based on this review, it can be concluded that research on eCAP-based fitting needs a profound reflection on study design and analysis to draw well-grounded conclusions about the validity of eCAP-based fitting of cochlear implant recipients.

Artificial Bee Colony Optimization of Capping Potentials for Hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Calculations.

PubMed

Schiffmann, Christoph; Sebastiani, Daniel

2011-05-10

We present an algorithmic extension of a numerical optimization scheme for analytic capping potentials for use in mixed quantum-classical (quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical, QM/MM) ab initio calculations. Our goal is to minimize bond-cleavage-induced perturbations in the electronic structure, measured by means of a suitable penalty functional. The optimization algorithm-a variant of the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm, which relies on swarm intelligence-couples deterministic (downhill gradient) and stochastic elements to avoid local minimum trapping. The ABC algorithm outperforms the conventional downhill gradient approach, if the penalty hypersurface exhibits wiggles that prevent a straight minimization pathway. We characterize the optimized capping potentials by computing NMR chemical shifts. This approach will increase the accuracy of QM/MM calculations of complex biomolecules.

Pulsed magnetic stimulation modifies amplitude of action potentials in vitro via ionic channels-dependent mechanism.

PubMed

Ahmed, Zaghloul; Wieraszko, Andrzej

2015-07-01

This paper investigates the influence of pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) on amplitude of evoked, compound action potential (CAP) recorded from the segments of sciatic nerve in vitro. PMFs were applied for 30 min at frequency of 0.16 Hz and intensity of 15 mT. In confirmation of our previous reports, PMF exposure enhanced amplitude of CAPs. The effect persisted beyond PMF activation period. As expected, CAP amplitude was attenuated by antagonists of sodium channel, lidocaine, and tetrodotoxin. Depression of the potential by sodium channels antagonists was reversed by subsequent exposure to PMFs. The effect of elevated potassium concentration and veratridine on the action potential was modified by exposure to PMFs as well. Neither inhibitors of protein kinase C and protein kinase A, nor known free radicals scavengers had any effects on PMF action. Possible mechanisms of PMF action are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Inhibitory effects of opioids on compound action potentials in frog sciatic nerves and their chemical structures.

PubMed

Mizuta, Kotaro; Fujita, Tsugumi; Nakatsuka, Terumasa; Kumamoto, Eiichi

2008-08-01

An opioid tramadol more effectively inhibits compound action potentials (CAPs) than its metabolite mono-O-demethyl-tramadol (M1). To address further this issue, we examined the effects of opioids (morphine, codeine, ethylmorphine and dihydrocodeine) and cocaine on CAPs by applying the air-gap method to the frog sciatic nerve. All of the opioids at concentrations less than 10 mM reduced the peak amplitude of the CAP in a reversible and dose-dependent manner. The sequence of the CAP peak amplitude reductions was ethylmorphine>codeine>dihydrocodeine> or = morphine; the effective concentration for half-maximal inhibition (IC(50)) of ethylmorphine was 4.6 mM. All of the CAP inhibitions by opioids were resistant to a non-specific opioid-receptor antagonist naloxone. The CAP peak amplitude reductions produced by morphine, codeine and ethylmorphine were related to their chemical structures in such that this extent enhanced with an increase in the number of -CH(2) in a benzene ring, as seen in the inhibitory actions of tramadol and M1. Cocaine reduced CAP peak amplitudes with an IC(50) value of 0.80 mM. It is concluded that opioids reduce CAP peak amplitudes in a manner being independent of opioid-receptor activation and with an efficacy being much less than that of cocaine. It is suggested that the substituted groups of -OH bound to the benzene ring of morphine, codeine and ethylmorphine as well as of tramadol and M1, the structures of which are quite different from those of the opioids, may play an important role in producing nerve conduction block.

Engineering ellipsoidal cap-like hydrogel particles as building blocks or sacrificial templates for three-dimensional cell culture.

PubMed

Zhang, Weiwei; Huang, Guoyou; Ng, Kelvin; Ji, Yuan; Gao, Bin; Huang, Liqing; Zhou, Jinxiong; Lu, Tian Jian; Xu, Feng

2018-03-26

Hydrogel particles that can be engineered to compartmentally culture cells in a three-dimensional (3D) and high-throughput manner have attracted increasing interest in the biomedical area. However, the ability to generate hydrogel particles with specially designed structures and their potential biomedical applications need to be further explored. This work introduces a method for fabricating hydrogel particles in an ellipsoidal cap-like shape (i.e., ellipsoidal cap-like hydrogel particles) by employing an open-pore anodic aluminum oxide membrane. Hydrogel particles of different sizes are fabricated. The ability to produce ellipsoidal cap-like magnetic hydrogel particles with controlled distribution of magnetic nanoparticles is demonstrated. Encapsulated cells show high viability, indicating the potential for using these hydrogel particles as structure- and remote-controllable building blocks for tissue engineering application. Moreover, the hydrogel particles are also used as sacrificial templates for fabricating ellipsoidal cap-like concave wells, which are further applied for producing size controllable cell aggregates. The results are beneficial for the development of hydrogel particles and their applications in 3D cell culture.

Enhancing Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment Efficiency for Cancer Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Xiaoqian

To improve efficiency and safety of anti-cancer therapies the researchers and clinicians alike are prompted to develop targeted combined therapies that especially minimize damage to healthy tissues while eradicating the body of cancerous tissues. Previous research in cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and cancer cell interaction has repeatedly proven that cold plasma induced cell death. In this study, we seek to integrate the medical application of CAP. We proposed and implemented 3 novel ideas to enhance efficacy and selectivity of cancer therapy. It is postulated that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a major role in the CAP cancer therapy. We determined a mechanism of CAP therapy on glioblastoma cells (U87) through an understanding of the composition of CAP, including output voltage, treatment time, and gas flow-rate. We varied the characteristics of the cold plasma in order to obtain different major species (such as O, OH, N2+, and N2 lines). "plasma dosage" D ~ Q * V * t. is defined, where D is the entire "plasma dosage"; Q is the flow rate of feeding gas; V is output voltage; t is treatment time. The proper CAP dosage caused 3-fold cell death in the U87 cells compared to the normal human astrocytes E6/E7 cells. We demonstrated there is a synergy between AuNPS and CAP in cancer therapy. Specifically, the concentration of AuNPs plays an important role on plasma therapy. At an optimal concentration, gold nanoparticles can significantly induce U87 cell death up to a 30% overall increase compared to the control group with the same plasma dosage but no AuNPs applied. The ROS intensity of the corresponding conditions has a reversed trend compared to cell viability. This matches with the theory that intracellular ROS accumulation results in oxidative stress, which further changes the intracellular pathways, causing damage to the proteins, lipids and DNA. Our results show that this synergy has great potential in improving the efficiency of cancer therapy and reducing harm to normal cells. Finally, we propose a novel idea to combine static magnetic field (SMF) with CAP as a tool for cancer therapy. The breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 showed a significant decrease in viability after direct plasma treatment with SMF (compared to only plasma treatment). In addition, cancer cells treated by the CAP-SMF-activated media (indirect treatment) also showed viability decrease but slightly weaker than the direct plasma-MF treatment. When treated by plasma with MF, mouse wild type dermal fibroblasts (WTDF) show no difference from the plasma treatment, both directly and indirectly. By integrating the use of MF and CAP, we are able to discover their advantages that are yet to be utilized. Although plasma can selectively kill cancer cells, long time exposure can still damage the normal cells around the tumor. This prompts researchers to seek for novel ideas in the designing of plasma treatment. This study provides the idea of combining the proper dosage of cold atmospheric plasma, AuNPs and MF in order to achieve the enhanced killing effect on cancer cells.

Natural dye extracted from karkadah and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells: experimental and density functional theory study.

PubMed

Reda, S M; Soliman, K A

2016-02-01

This work presents an experimental and theoretical study of cyanidin natural dye as a sensitizer for ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells. ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using ammonia and oxalic acid as a capping agent. The calculated average size of the synthesized ZnO with different capping agents was found to be 32.1 nm. Electronic properties of cyanidin and delphinidin dye were studied using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT with a B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. By comparing the theoretical results with the experimental data, the cyanidin dye can be used as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells. An efficiency of 0.006% under an AM-1.5 illumination at 100  mW/cm(2) was attained. The influence of dye adsorption time on the solar cell performance is discussed.

Nanowire growth from the viewpoint of the thin film polylayer growth theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashchiev, Dimo

2018-03-01

The theory of polylayer growth of thin solid films is employed for description of the growth kinetics of single-crystal nanowires. Expressions are derived for the dependences of the height h and radius r of a given nanowire on time t, as well as for the h(r) dependence. These dependences are applicable immediately after the nanowire nucleation on the substrate and thus include the period during which the nucleated nanowire changes its shape from that of cap to that of column. The analysis shows that the nanowire cap-to-column shape transition is continuous and makes it possible to kinetically define the nanowire shape-transition radius by means of the nanowire radial and axial growth rates. The obtained h(t), r(t) and h(r) dependences are found to provide a good description of available experimental data for growth of self-nucleated GaN nanowires by the vapor-solid mechanism.

Experimental and theoretical study of iron and mild steel combustion in oxygen flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Rabii, Hazem; Kazakov, Kirill A.; Muller, Maryse

2017-03-01

The effects of oxygen flow speed and pressure on the iron and mild steel combustion are investigated experimentally and theoretically. The studied specimens are vertical cylindrical rods subjected to an axial oxygen flow and ignited at the upper end by laser irradiation. Three main stages of the combustion process have been identified experimentally: (1) induction period, during which the rod is heated until an intensive metal oxidation begins at its upper end; (2) static combustion, during which a laminar liquid "cap'' slowly grows on the upper rod end, and, after the liquid cap detachment from the sample; (3) dynamic combustion, which is characterized by a rapid metal consumption and turbulent liquid motions. An analytical description of these stages is given. In particular, a model of the dynamic combustion is constructed based on the turbulent oxygen transport through the liquid metal-oxide flow. This model yields a simple expression for the fraction of metal burned in the process and allows one to calculate the normal propagation speed of the solid metal-liquid interface as a function of the oxygen flow speed and pressure. A comparison of the theory with the experimental results is made, and its potential application is mentioned.

Calcium phosphate particles stimulate interleukin-1β release from human vascular smooth muscle cells: A role for spleen tyrosine kinase and exosome release.

PubMed

Dautova, Yana; Kapustin, Alexander N; Pappert, Kevin; Epple, Matthias; Okkenhaug, Hanneke; Cook, Simon J; Shanahan, Catherine M; Bootman, Martin D; Proudfoot, Diane

2018-02-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) particle deposits are found in several inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis. CaP, and other forms of crystals and particles, can promote inflammasome formation in macrophages leading to caspase-1 activation and secretion of mature interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Given the close association of small CaP particles with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerotic fibrous caps, we aimed to determine if CaP particles affected pro-inflammatory signalling in human VSMCs. Using ELISA to measure IL-1β release from VSMCs, we demonstrated that CaP particles stimulated IL-1β release from proliferating and senescent human VSMCs, but with substantially greater IL-1β release from senescent cells; this required caspase-1 activity but not LPS-priming of cells. Potential inflammasome agonists including ATP, nigericin and monosodium urate crystals did not stimulate IL-1β release from VSMCs. Western blot analysis demonstrated that CaP particles induced rapid activation of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) (increased phospho-Y525/526). The SYK inhibitor R406 reduced IL-1β release and caspase-1 activation in CaP particle-treated VSMCs, indicating that SYK activation occurs upstream of and is required for caspase-1 activation. In addition, IL-1β and caspase-1 colocalised in intracellular endosome-like vesicles and we detected IL-1β in exosomes isolated from VSMC media. Furthermore, CaP particle treatment stimulated exosome secretion by VSMCs in a SYK-dependent manner, while the exosome-release inhibitor spiroepoxide reduced IL-1β release. CaP particles stimulate SYK and caspase-1 activation in VSMCs, leading to the release of IL-1β, at least in part via exosomes. These novel findings in human VSMCs highlight the pro-inflammatory and pro-calcific potential of microcalcification. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Two New Fluorogenic Aptasensors Based on Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles to Detect Ochratoxin A

PubMed Central

Ribes, Àngela; Santiago‐Felipe, Sara; Bernardos, Andrea; Marcos, M. Dolores; Pardo, Teresa; Sancenón, Félix; Aznar, Elena

2017-01-01

Abstract Aptamers have been used as recognition elements for several molecules due to their great affinity and selectivity. Additionally, mesoporous nanomaterials have demonstrated great potential in sensing applications. Based on these concepts, we report herein the use of two aptamer‐capped mesoporous silica materials for the selective detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). A specific aptamer for OTA was used to block the pores of rhodamine B‐loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Two solids were prepared in which the aptamer capped the porous scaffolds by using a covalent or electrostatic approach. Whereas the prepared materials remained capped in water, dye delivery was selectively observed in the presence of OTA. The protocol showed excellent analytical performance in terms of sensitivity (limit of detection: 0.5–0.05 nm), reproducibility, and selectivity. Moreover, the aptasensors were tested for OTA detection in commercial foodstuff matrices, which demonstrated their potential applicability in real samples. PMID:29046860

Antisymmetrization effects and the form factor of the real part of the. cap alpha. -nucleus potential

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

Majka, Z.; Budzanowski, A.; Grotowski, K.

1978-07-01

Antisymmetrization effects in the ..cap alpha..-nucleus interaction are investigated on the basis of a microscopic model in an one nucleon exchange approximation. It influences the form factor, increasing the halfway radius and decreasing the diffuseness as compared with the direct term of the potential only. Antisymmetrization preserves the shape of the potential which can be parametrized by a Woods-Saxon squared form. The phenomenological potential with the energy independent form factor of the above shape fits experimental data in a wide energy region.

Cap analogs modified with 1,2-dithiodiphosphate moiety protect mRNA from decapping and enhance its translational potential

PubMed Central

Strenkowska, Malwina; Grzela, Renata; Majewski, Maciej; Wnek, Katarzyna; Kowalska, Joanna; Lukaszewicz, Maciej; Zuberek, Joanna; Darzynkiewicz, Edward; Kuhn, Andreas N.; Sahin, Ugur; Jemielity, Jacek

2016-01-01

Along with a growing interest in mRNA-based gene therapies, efforts are increasingly focused on reaching the full translational potential of mRNA, as a major obstacle for in vivo applications is sufficient expression of exogenously delivered mRNA. One method to overcome this limitation is chemically modifying the 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5′ end of mRNA (m7Gppp-RNA). We report a novel class of cap analogs designed as reagents for mRNA modification. The analogs carry a 1,2-dithiodiphosphate moiety at various positions along a tri- or tetraphosphate bridge, and thus are termed 2S analogs. These 2S analogs have high affinities for translation initiation factor 4E, and some exhibit remarkable resistance against the SpDcp1/2 decapping complex when introduced into RNA. mRNAs capped with 2S analogs combining these two features exhibit high translation efficiency in cultured human immature dendritic cells. These properties demonstrate that 2S analogs are potentially beneficial for mRNA-based therapies such as anti-cancer immunization. PMID:27903882

Advancing the Assessment of Personality Pathology With the Cognitive-Affective Processing System.

PubMed

Huprich, Steven K; Nelson, Sharon M

2015-01-01

The Cognitive-Affective Processing System (CAPS) is a dynamic and expansive model of personality proposed by Mischel and Shoda (1995) that incorporates dispositional and processing frameworks by considering the interaction of the individual and the situation, and the patterns of variation that result. These patterns of cognition, affect, and behavior are generally defined through the use of if … then statements, and provide a rich understanding of the individual across varying levels of assessment. In this article, we describe the CAPS model and articulate ways in which it can be applied to conceptualizing and assessing personality pathology. We suggest that the CAPS model is an ideal framework that integrates a number of current theories of personality pathology, and simultaneously overcomes a number of limits that have been empirically identified in the past.

Application of the CAP-TSD unsteady transonic small disturbance program to wing flutter. [Computational Aeroelasticity Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, Robert M.; Batina, John T.

1989-01-01

The application and assessment of a computer program called CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) for flutter predictions are described. Flutter calculations are presented for two thin swept-and-tapered wing planforms with well-defined modal properties. One planform is a series of 45-degree swept wings and the other planform is a clipped delta wing. Comparisons are made between the results of CAP-TSD using the linear equation and no airfoil thickness and the results obtained from a subsonic kernel function analysis. The calculations cover a Mach number range from low subsonic to low supersonic values, including the transonic range, and are compared with subsonic linear theory and experimental data. It is noted that since both wings have very thin airfoil sections, the effects of thickness are minimal.

Ca-P spots modified zirconia by liquid precursor infiltration and the effect on osteoblast-like cell responses.

PubMed

Li, Yongmei; Liu, Yan; Zhang, Zutai; Zhuge, Ruishen; Ding, Ning; Tian, Yueming

2018-01-26

Ca-P spots modified zirconia by liquid precursor infiltration and the cell responses were investigated. Pre-sintered zirconia specimens were immersed in Ca-P precursor solution. After dense sintering, scanning electron microscopy showed Ca-P spots were formed on the zirconia and anchored with zirconia substrates. The distribution density was increased with the extension of immersion time. Energy dispersive spectrometer confirmed the stoichiometric Ca/P ratio was about 1.67. After hydrothermal treatment, Ca-P spots turned into rod crystals where diffraction peaks of tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite were detected by X-ray diffraction, and Ca 2+ and PO 4 3- release decreased slightly (p>0.05). There was no significant decrease on three-point bending strength (p>0.05). Osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells attached and spread well and showed higher proliferation on Ca-P spots modified zirconia (p<0.05), though its initial alkaline phosphatase activity was not significant high (p>0.05). In conclusion, Ca-P liquid precursor infiltration is a potential method to modify the zirconia ceramics for improving bioactivity.

Cometabolic degradation of chloramphenicol via a meta-cleavage pathway in a microbial fuel cell and its microbial community.

PubMed

Zhang, Qinghua; Zhang, Yanyan; Li, Daping

2017-04-01

The performance of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) in terms of degradation of chloramphenicol (CAP) was investigated. Approximately 84% of 50mg/L CAP was degraded within 12h in the MFC. A significant interaction of pH, temperature, and initial CAP concentration was found on removal of CAP, and a maximum degradation rate of 96.53% could theoretically be achieved at 31.48°C, a pH of 7.12, and an initial CAP concentration of 106.37mg/L. Moreover, CAP was further degraded through a ring-cleavage pathway. The antibacterial activity of CAP towards Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was largely eliminated by MFC treatment. High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated that Azonexus, Comamonas, Nitrososphaera, Chryseobacterium, Azoarcus, Rhodococcus, and Dysgonomonas were the predominant genera in the MFC anode biofilm. In conclusion, the MFC shows potential for the treatment of antibiotic residue-containing wastewater due to its high rates of CAP removal and energy recovery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Porous hydroxyapatite and biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics promote ectopic osteoblast differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lingli; Hanagata, Nobutaka; Maeda, Megumi; Minowa, Takashi; Ikoma, Toshiyuki; Fan, Hongsong; Zhang, Xingdong

2009-04-01

Because calcium phosphate (Ca-P) ceramics have been used as bone substitutes, it is necessary to investigate what effects the ceramics have on osteoblast maturation. We prepared three types of Ca-P ceramics with different Ca-P ratios, i.e. hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics with dense-smooth and porous structures. Comprehensive gene expression microarray analysis of mouse osteoblast-like cells cultured on these ceramics revealed that porous Ca-P ceramics considerably affected the gene expression profiles, having a higher potential for osteoblast maturation. In the in vivo study that followed, porous Ca-P ceramics were implanted into rat skeletal muscle. Sixteen weeks after the implantation, more alkaline-phosphatase-positive cells were observed in the pores of hydroxyapatite and BCP, and the expression of the osteocalcin gene (an osteoblast-specific marker) in tissue grown in pores was also higher in hydroxyapatite and BCP than in β-TCP. In the pores of any Ca-P ceramics, 16 weeks after the implantation, we detected the expressions of marker genes of the early differentiation stage of chondrocytes and the complete differentiation stage of adipocytes, which originate from mesenchymal stem cells, as well as osteoblasts. These marker gene expressions were not observed in the muscle tissue surrounding the implanted Ca-P ceramics. These observations indicate that porous hydroxyapatite and BCP had a greater potential for promoting the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts than β-TCP.

Magnetic vortices in nanocaps induced by curvature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdelgawad, Ahmed M.; Nambiar, Nikhil; Bapna, Mukund; Chen, Hao; Majetich, Sara A.

2018-05-01

Magnetic nanoparticles with room temperature remanent magnetic vortices stabilized by their curvature are very intriguing due to their potential use in biomedicine. In the present study, we investigate room temperature magnetic chirality in 100 nm diameter permalloy spherical caps with 10 nm and 30 nm thicknesses. Micromagnetic OOMMF simulations predict the equilibrium spin structure for these caps to form a vortex state. We fabricate the permalloy caps by sputtering permalloy on both close-packed and sparse arrays of polystyrene nanoparticles. Magnetic force microscopy scans show a clear signature of a vortex state in close-packed caps of both 10 nm and 30 nm thicknesses. Alternating gradient magnetometry measurements of the caps are consistent with a remnant vortex state in 30 nm thick caps and a transition to an onion state followed by a vortex state in 10 nm thick caps. Out-of-plane measurements supported by micromagnetic simulations shows that an out-of-plane field can stabilize a vortex state down to a diameter of 15 nm.

Three-dimensional computer model for the atmospheric general circulation experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, G. O.

1984-01-01

An efficient, flexible, three-dimensional, hydrodynamic, computer code has been developed for a spherical cap geometry. The code will be used to simulate NASA's Atmospheric General Circulation Experiment (AGCE). The AGCE is a spherical, baroclinic experiment which will model the large-scale dynamics of our atmosphere; it has been proposed to NASA for future Spacelab flights. In the AGCE a radial dielectric body force will simulate gravity, with hot fluid tending to move outwards. In order that this force be dominant, the AGCE must be operated in a low gravity environment such as Spacelab. The full potential of the AGCE will only be realized by working in conjunction with an accurate computer model. Proposed experimental parameter settings will be checked first using model runs. Then actual experimental results will be compared with the model predictions. This interaction between experiment and theory will be very valuable in determining the nature of the AGCE flows and hence their relationship to analytical theories and actual atmospheric dynamics.

Present-day dynamics and future evolution of the world's northernmost ice cap, Hans Tausen Iskappe (Greenland)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zekollari, Harry; Huybrechts, Philippe; Noël, Brice; van de Berg, Willem Jan; van den Broeke, Michiel R.

2017-04-01

In this study the dynamics of Hans Tausen Iskappe (western Peary Land, Greenland) are investigated with a coupled ice flow - mass balance model. Precipitation is obtained from the Regional Climate Model RACMO 2.3 and the surface mass balance is calculated from a Positive Degree-Day runoff/retention model, for which the input parameters are derived from field observations. For the ice flow a 3-D higher-order thermo-mechanical model is used, which is run at a 250 m resolution. Under 1961-1990 climatic conditions a steady state ice cap is obtained that is overall similar in geometry to the present-day ice cap. Ice thickness, temperature and flow velocity in the interior agree well with observations. For the outlet glaciers a reasonable agreement with temperature and ice thickness measurements can only be obtained with an additional heat source related to infiltrating meltwater. The simulations indicate that the SMB-elevation feedback has a major effect on the ice cap response time and stability. This causes the southern part of the ice cap to be extremely sensitive to a change in climatic conditions and leads to thresholds in the ice cap evolution. Under constant 2005-2014 climatic conditions the entire southern part of the ice cap cannot be sustained and the ice cap loses about 80% of its present-day volume. The future projected loss of surrounding permanent sea-ice and corresponding potential sharp precipitation increase may however lead to an attenuation of the retreat and even potential stabilization of the ice cap for a warming of up to 2-3°C. In a warmer and wetter climate the ice margin will retreat while the interior is projected to grow, leading to a steeper ice cap, in line with the present-day observed trends. For intermediate (+4°C) and high warming scenarios (+8°C) the ice cap is projected to disappear respectively around 2400 and 2200 A.D., almost irrespective of the projected precipitation regime and the simulated present-day geometry.

On the Maas problem of seawater intrusion combated by infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kacimov, A. R.

2008-09-01

SummaryThe problem of Maas [Maas, K. 2007. Influence of climate change on a Ghijben-Herzberg lens. J. Hydrol. 347, 223-228] for infiltration inflow into a porous flat-roofed fresh water lens floating on the interface of an ascending Darcian saline water flow is shown to be in exact match with the Polubarinova-Kochina [Polubarinova-Kochina, P.Ya., 1977. Theory of Ground Water Movement. Nauka, Moscow (in Russian)] problem for flow in a lens capped by a cambered phreatic surface with a uniform accretion. The Maas complex potential in the domain of a heavy saline water seeping beneath the lens corresponds to one of an ideal fluid flow past an elliptical cylinder that makes possible conversion of this potential into ascending-descending seepage flows with floating (but stagnant) DNAPL-LNAPL volumes. Similar matching is possible for the velocity potential of an axisymmetric flow past an ellipsoid and hydrostatic pressure of a stagnant NAPL body stored in a semi-ellipsoidal pond.

Status of Net Metering: Assessing the Potential to Reach Program Caps

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

Heeter, J.; Gelman, R.; Bird, L.

2014-09-01

Several states are addressing the issue of net metering program caps, which limit the total amount of net metered generating capacity that can be installed in a state or utility service territory. In this analysis, we examine net metering caps to gain perspective on how long net metering will be available in various jurisdictions under current policies. We also surveyed state practices and experience to understand important policy design considerations.

Ellipsoidal corrections for geoid undulation computations using gravity anomalies in a cap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rapp, R. H.

1981-01-01

Ellipsoidal correction terms have been derived for geoid undulation computations when the Stokes equation using gravity anomalies in a cap is combined with potential coefficient information. The correction terms are long wavelength and depend on the cap size in which its gravity anomalies are given. Using the regular Stokes equation, the maximum correction for a cap size of 20 deg is -33 cm, which reduces to -27 cm when the Stokes function is modified by subtracting the value of the Stokes function at the cap radius. Ellipsoidal correction terms were also derived for the well-known Marsh/Chang geoids. When no gravity was used, the correction could reach 101 cm, while for a cap size of 20 deg the maximum correction was -45 cm. Global correction maps are given for a number of different cases. For work requiring accurate geoid computations these correction terms should be applied.

Au36(SPh)24 nanomolecules: X-ray crystal structure, optical spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and theoretical analysis.

PubMed

Nimmala, Praneeth Reddy; Knoppe, Stefan; Jupally, Vijay Reddy; Delcamp, Jared H; Aikens, Christine M; Dass, Amala

2014-12-11

The physicochemical properties of gold:thiolate nanomolecules depend on their crystal structure and the capping ligands. The effects of protecting ligands on the crystal structure of the nanomolecules are of high interest in this area of research. Here we report the crystal structure of an all aromatic thiophenolate-capped Au36(SPh)24 nanomolecule, which has a face-centered cubic (fcc) core similar to other nanomolecules such as Au36(SPh-tBu)24 and Au36(SC5H9)24 with the same number of gold atoms and ligands. The results support the idea that a stable core remains intact even when the capping ligand is varied. We also correct our earlier assignment of "Au36(SPh)23" which was determined based on MALDI mass spectrometry which is more prone to fragmentation than ESI mass spectrometry. We show that ESI mass spectrometry gives the correct assignment of Au36(SPh)24, supporting the X-ray crystal structure. The electronic structure of the title compound was computed at different levels of theory (PBE, LDA, and LB94) using the coordinates extracted from the single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The optical and electrochemical properties were determined from experimental data using UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. Au36(SPh)24 shows a broad electrochemical gap near 2 V, a desirable optical gap of ∼1.75 eV for dye-sensitized solar cell applications, as well as appropriately positioned electrochemical potentials for many electrocatalytic reactions.

Evaluation of the 3D spatial distribution of the Calcium/Phosphorus ratio in bone using computed-tomography dual-energy analysis.

PubMed

Hadjipanteli, A; Kourkoumelis, N; Fromme, P; Huang, J; Speller, R D

2016-01-01

The Calcium/Phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio was shown to vary between healthy bones and bones with osteoporotic symptoms. The relation of the Ca/P ratio to bone quality remains under investigation. To study this relation and determine if the ratio can be used to predict bone fractures, a non-invasive 3D imaging technique is required. The first aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a computed-tomography dual-energy analysis (CT-DEA) technique developed to assess the Ca/P ratio in bone apatite (collagen-free bone) in identifying differences between healthy and inflammation-mediated osteoporotic (IMO) bones. The second aim was to extend the above technique for its application to a more complex structure, intact bone, that could potentially lead to clinical use. For the first aim, healthy and IMO rabbit cortical bone apatite samples were assessed. For the second aim, some changes were made to the technique, which was applied to healthy and IMO intact bone samples. Statistically significant differences between healthy and IMO bone apatite were found for the bulk Ca/P ratio, low Ca/P ratio proportion and interconnected low Ca/P ratio proportion. For the intact bone samples, the bulk Ca/P ratio was found to be significantly different between healthy and IMO. Results show that the CT-DEA technique can be used to identify differences in the Ca/P ratio between healthy and osteoporotic, in both bone apatite and intact bone. With quantitative imaging becoming an increasingly important advancement in medical imaging, CT-DEA for bone decomposition could potentially have several applications. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Possible recent and ancient glacial ice flow in the south polar region of Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kargel, J. S.

1992-01-01

Martian polar science began almost as soon as small telescopes were trained on the planet. The seasonal expansion and contraction of the polar caps and their high albedoes led most astronomers to think that water ice is the dominant constituent. In 1911 Lowell perceived a bluish band around the retreating edge of the polar caps, and interpreted it as water from melting polar ice and seasonal snow. An alternative idea in his time was that the polar caps consist of frozen carbonic acid. Lowell rejected the carbonic acid hypothesis on account of his blue band. He also pointed out that carbonic acid would sublimate rather than melt at confining pressures near and below one bar, hence, carbonic acid could not account for the blue band. In comparing Lowell's theories with today's knowledge, it is recognized that (1) sublimation is mainly responsible for the growth and contraction of Mars' polar caps, (2) carbon dioxide is a major component of the southern polar cap, and (3) Lowell's blue band was probably seasonal dust and/or clouds. Geomorphic evidence that glacial ice and glacial melt waters once flowed over broad areas of the southern polar region. Two aspects of the south polar region suggest possible glacial processes during two distinct eras in Mars' history.

Variability of child access prevention laws and pediatric firearm injuries.

PubMed

Hamilton, Emma C; Miller, Charles C; Cox, Charles S; Lally, Kevin P; Austin, Mary T

2018-04-01

State-level child access prevention (CAP) laws impose criminal liability on adults who negligently allow children access to firearms. The CAP laws can be further divided into strong CAP laws which impose criminal liability for negligently stored firearms and weak CAP laws that prohibit adults from intentionally, knowingly, and/or recklessly providing firearms to a minor. We hypothesized that strong CAP laws would be associated with a greater reduction in pediatric firearm injuries than weak CAP laws. We constructed a cross-sectional national study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Kids Inpatient Database from 2006 and 2009 using weighted counts of firearm-related admissions among children younger than 18 years. Poisson regression was used to estimate the association of CAP laws with pediatric firearm injuries. After adjusting for race, sex, age, and socioeconomic income quartile, strong CAP laws were associated with a significant reduction in all (incidence rate ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.93), self-inflicted (incidence rate ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.79), and unintentional (incidence rate ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.74) pediatric firearm injuries. Weak CAP laws, which only impose liability for reckless endangerment, were associated with an increased risk of all pediatric firearm injuries. The association of CAP laws on hospitalizations for pediatric firearm injuries differed greatly depending on whether a state had adopted a strong CAP law or a weak CAP law. Implementation of strong CAP laws by each state, which require safe storage of firearms, has the potential to significantly reduce pediatric firearm injuries. Prognostic and epidemiology study, level III.

Impact of Vial Capping on Residual Seal Force and Container Closure Integrity.

PubMed

Mathaes, Roman; Mahler, Hanns-Christian; Roggo, Yves; Ovadia, Robert; Lam, Philippe; Stauch, Oliver; Vogt, Martin; Roehl, Holger; Huwyler, Joerg; Mohl, Silke; Streubel, Alexander

2016-01-01

The vial capping process is a critical unit operation during drug product manufacturing, as it could possibly generate cosmetic defects or even affect container closure integrity. Yet there is significant variability in capping equipment and processes, and their relation to potential defects or container closure integrity has not been thoroughly studied. In this study we applied several methods-residual seal force tester, a self-developed system of a piezo force sensor measurement, and computed tomography-to characterize different container closure system combinations that had been sealed using different capping process parameter settings. Additionally, container closure integrity of these samples was measured using helium leakage (physical container closure integrity) and compared to characterization data. The different capping equipment settings lead to residual seal force values from 7 to 115 N. High residual seal force values were achieved with high capping pre-compression force and a short distance between the capping plate and plunge. The choice of container closure system influenced the obtained residual seal force values. The residual seal force tester and piezoelectric measurements showed similar trends. All vials passed physical container closure integrity testing, and no stopper rupture was seen with any of the settings applied, suggesting that container closure integrity was warranted for the studied container closure system with the chosen capping setting ranges. The vial capping process is a critical unit operation during drug product manufacturing, as it could possibly generate cosmetic defects or even affect container closure integrity. Yet there is significant variability in capping equipment and processes, and their relation to potential defects or container closure integrity has not been thoroughly studied. In this study we applied several methods-residual seal force tester, a self-developed system of a piezo force sensor measurement, and computed tomography-to characterize different container closure system combinations that had been sealed using different capping process parameter settings. The residual seal force tester can analyze a variety of different container closure systems independent of the capping equipment. An adequate and safe residual seal force range for each container closure system configuration can be established with the residual seal force tester and additional methods like computed tomography scans and leak testing. In the residual seal force range studied, the physical container closure integrity of the container closure system was warranted. © PDA, Inc. 2016.

Materials Data on CaP2Xe5F22 (SG:33) by Materials Project

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

Kristin Persson

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

Materials Data on K3CaP2HO8 (SG:12) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2014-07-09

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

Materials Data on CaP2(H2O3)3 (SG:2) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2014-07-09

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

Materials Data on CaP3H10NO12 (SG:18) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2014-07-09

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

A novel "dual-potential" electrochemiluminescence aptasensor array using CdS quantum dots and luminol-gold nanoparticles as labels for simultaneous detection of malachite green and chloramphenicol.

PubMed

Feng, Xiaobin; Gan, Ning; Zhang, Huairong; Yan, Qing; Li, Tianhua; Cao, Yuting; Hu, Futao; Yu, Hongwei; Jiang, Qianli

2015-12-15

A novel type of "dual-potential" electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor array was fabricated on a homemade screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for simultaneous detection of malachite green (MG) and chloramphenicol (CAP) in one single assay. The SPCE substrate consisted of a common Ag/AgCl reference electrode, carbon counter electrode and two carbon working electrodes (WE1 and WE2). In the system, CdS quantum dots (QDs) were modified on WE1 as cathode ECL emitters and luminol-gold nanoparticles (L-Au NPs) were modified on WE2 as anode ECL emitters. Then the MG aptamer complementary strand (MG cDNA) and CAP aptamer complementary strand (CAP cDNA) were attached on CdS QDs and L-Au NPs, respectively. The cDNA would hybridize with corresponding aptamer that was respectively tagged with cyanine dye (Cy5) (as quenchers of CdS QDs) and chlorogenic acid (CA) (as quenchers of l-Au NPs) using poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) as a bridging agent. PEI could lead to a large number of quenchers on the aptamer, which increased the quenching efficiency. Upon MG and CAP adding, the targets could induce strand release due to the highly affinity of analytes toward aptamers. Meanwhile, it could release the Cy5 and CA, which recovered cathode ECL of CdS QDs and anode ECL of L-Au NPs simultaneously. This "dual-potential" ECL strategy could be used to detect MG and CAP with the linear ranges of 0.1-100 nM and 0.2-150 nM, with detection limits of 0.03 nM and 0.07 nM (at 3sB), respectively. More importantly, this designed method was successfully applied to determine MG and CAP in real fish samples and held great potential in the food analysis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Self-assembly of virus-like particles of porcine circovirus type 2 capsid protein expressed from Escherichia coli

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is a serious problem to the swine industry and can lead to significant negative impacts on profitability of pork production. Syndrome associated with PCV2 is known as porcine circovirus closely associated with post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The capsid (Cap) protein of PCV2 is a major candidate antigen for development of recombinant vaccine and serological diagnostic method. The recombinant Cap protein has the ability to self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs) in vitro, it is particularly opportunity to develop the PV2 VLPs vaccine in Escherichia coli,(E.coli ), because where the cost of the vaccine must be weighed against the value of the vaccinated pig, when it was to extend use the VLPs vaccine of PCV2. Results In this report, a highly soluble Cap-tag protein expressed in E.coli was constructed with a p-SMK expression vector with a fusion tag of small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO). The recombinant Cap was purified using Ni2+ affinity resins, whereas the tag was used to remove the SUMO protease. Simultaneously, the whole native Cap protein was able to self-assemble into VLPs in vitro when viewed under an electron microscope. The Cap-like particles had a size and shape that resembled the authentic Cap. The result could also be applied in the large-scale production of VLPs of PCV2 and could be used as a diagnostic antigen or a potential VLP vaccine against PCV2 infection in pigs. Conclusion we have, for the first time, utilized the SUMO fusion motif to successfully express the entire authentic Cap protein of PCV2 in E. coli. After the cleavage of the fusion motif, the nCap protein has the ability to self-assemble into VLPs, which can be used as as a potential vaccine to protect pigs from PCV2-infection. PMID:20646322

Water dispersible microbicidal cellulose acetate phthalate film

PubMed Central

Neurath, A Robert; Strick, Nathan; Li, Yun-Yao

2003-01-01

Background Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) has been used for several decades in the pharmaceutical industry for enteric film coating of oral tablets and capsules. Micronized CAP, available commercially as "Aquateric" and containing additional ingredients required for micronization, used for tablet coating from water dispersions, was shown to adsorb and inactivate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), herpesviruses (HSV) and other sexually transmitted disease (STD) pathogens. Earlier studies indicate that a gel formulation of micronized CAP has a potential as a topical microbicide for prevention of STDs including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The objective of endeavors described here was to develop a water dispersible CAP film amenable to inexpensive industrial mass production. Methods CAP and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) were dissolved in different organic solvent mixtures, poured into dishes, and the solvents evaporated. Graded quantities of a resulting selected film were mixed for 5 min at 37°C with HIV-1, HSV and other STD pathogens, respectively. Residual infectivity of the treated viruses and bacteria was determined. Results The prerequisites for producing CAP films which are soft, flexible and dispersible in water, resulting in smooth gels, are combining CAP with HPC (other cellulose derivatives are unsuitable), and casting from organic solvent mixtures containing ≈50 to ≈65% ethanol (EtOH). The films are ≈100 µ thick and have a textured surface with alternating protrusions and depressions revealed by scanning electron microscopy. The films, before complete conversion into a gel, rapidly inactivated HIV-1 and HSV and reduced the infectivity of non-viral STD pathogens >1,000-fold. Conclusions Soft pliable CAP-HPC composite films can be generated by casting from organic solvent mixtures containing EtOH. The films rapidly reduce the infectivity of several STD pathogens, including HIV-1. They are converted into gels and thus do not have to be removed following application and use. In addition to their potential as topical microbicides, the films have promise for mucosal delivery of pharmaceuticals other than CAP. PMID:14617380

Active targeting of cancer cells using folic acid-conjugated platinum nanoparticles.

PubMed

Teow, Yiwei; Valiyaveettil, Suresh

2010-12-01

Interaction of nanoparticles with human cells is an interesting topic for understanding toxicity and developing potential drug candidates. Water soluble platinum nanoparticles were synthesized via reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid using sodium borohydride in the presence of capping agents. The bioactivity of folic acid and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) capped platinum nanoparticles (Pt-nps) has been investigated using commercially available cell lines. In the cell viability experiments, PVP-capped nanoparticles were found to be less toxic (>80% viability), whereas, folic acid-capped platinum nanoparticles showed a reduced viability down to 24% after 72 h of exposure at a concentration of 100 μg ml(-1) for MCF7 breast cancer cells. Such toxicity, combined with the possibility to incorporate functional organic molecules as capping agents, can be used for developing new drug candidates.

Effects of light on protein patterns in gravitropically stimulated root caps of corn

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feldman, L. J.; Gildow, V.

1984-01-01

In certain cultivars of corn (Zea mays var. Merit), light stimulates gravitropic bending of the root by influencing events in the root cap. In this paper, we report on changes in root cap proteins which occur as a result of the light treatment and single out specific proteins as potentially having a role in mediating the gravitropic response. For this work, we have used root caps maintained aseptically in culture media supplemented with auxin. If auxin is deleted from the culture medium, the protein profiles observed following illumination differ from that seen in caps provided light while in auxin-supplemented media. We also report that several of the proteins for which synthesis is stimulated by light appear to turn over rapidly, usually within 0.5 hour of formation.

A brief review of moxifloxacin in the treatment of elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)

PubMed Central

Ferrara, Anna M

2007-01-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a common cause of morbidity and a potentially life-threatening illness throughout the world mainly in elderly patients. Initial antibacterial treatment, usually empirical, should be as effective as possible in order to assure rapid clinical resolution and reduce high rates of hospitalization and mortality especially affecting aged patients. New fluoroquinolones with potent activity against the most important respiratory pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, a key pathogen mainly in old patients with CAP, have been recently suggested by several international guidelines as monotherapy for the treatment of most CAP patient categories. Among newer derivatives, moxifloxacin, an advanced generation 8-methoxy quinolone, has demonstrated good clinical and bacteriological efficacy in large, well designed clinical trials both in adults and old patients with CAP, achieving also in aged people efficacy comparable with that of standard treatments. Good pharmacokinetic characteristics such as excellent penetration into respiratory tract tissues and fluids, optimal bioavailability, simplicity of once-daily dosing, and good tolerability, represent potential advantages of moxifloxacin over other therapies. In addition, primarily due to a shorter length of hospital stay, moxifloxacin has been shown to save costs compared with standard therapy. PMID:18044134

Long noncoding RNA BDNF-AS is associated with clinical outcomes and has functional role in human prostate cancer.

PubMed

Li, Wensheng; Dou, Zhongling; We, Shuguang; Zhu, Zhiyi; Pan, Dong; Jia, Zhaohui; Liu, Hui; Wang, Xiaobin; Yu, Guoqiang

2018-06-01

The underlying molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer (CaP) are largely unknown. We investigated the expression, prognostic value and functional role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) brain-derived neurotrophin factor antisense (BDNF-AS) in CaP. Clinical tumor samples were excised from patients with CaP. Their endogenous BDNF-AS expression levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Correlations between CaP patients' endogenous BDNF-AS expression and their clinicopathological factors, overall survival were statistically analyzed. BDNF-AS expression levels were also probed in immortal CaP cell lines. In LNCaP and PC-3 cells, BDNF-AS was ectopically overexpressed through lentiviral transduction. The functions of BDNF-AS upregulation on CaP cell development were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. BDNF-AS was downregulated in human CaP tumors. Low BDNF-AS expression was correlated with CaP patients' poor prognosis and shorter overall survival. BDNF-AS was also found to be lowly expressed in CaP cell lines. In LNCaP and PC-3 cells, lentivirus-driven BDNF-AS overexpression exerted significantly tumor-suppressing effects on hindering cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and explant growth in vivo. Downregulated BDNF-AS in CaP patients could be a potential prognostic biomarker for predicating poor prognosis and survival. Upregulating BDNF-AS may be a novel molecular intervening target for CaP treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Silver nanoparticles with tunable work functions

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

Wang, Pangpang, E-mail: pangpang@molecular-device.kyushu-u.ac.jp; Tanaka, Daisuke; Ryuzaki, Sou

To improve the efficiencies of electronic devices, materials with variable work functions are required to decrease the energy level differences at the interfaces between working layers. Here, we report a method to obtain silver nanoparticles with tunable work functions, which have the same silver core of 5 nm in diameter and are capped by myristates and 1-octanethoilates self-assembled monolayers, respectively. The silver nanoparticles capped by organic molecules can form a uniform two-dimensional sheet at air-water interface, and the sheet can be transferred on various hydrophobic substrates. The surface potential of the two-dimensional nanoparticle sheet was measured in terms of Kelvin probemore » force microscopy, and the work function of the sheet was then calculated from the surface potential value by comparing with a reference material. The exchange of the capping molecules results in a work function change of approximately 150–250 meV without affecting their hydrophobicity. We systematically discussed the origin of the work function difference and found it should come mainly from the anchor groups of the ligand molecules. The organic molecule capped nanoparticles with tunable work functions have a potential for the applications in organic electronic devices.« less

Zeta potential and Raman studies of PVP capped Bi2S3 nanoparticles synthesized by polyol method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarachand, Sathe, Vasant G.; Okram, Gunadhor S.

2018-05-01

Here we report the synthesis and characterisation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) capped Bi2S3 nanoparticles via one step catalyst-free polyol method. Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analysis were performed on it. Rietveld refinement of powder XRD of PVP capped samples confirmed the formation of single phase orthorhombic Bi2S3 for all PVP capped samples. The presence of eight obvious Raman modes further confirmed the formation of stoichiometric Bi2S3. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies show a clear increase in hydrodynamic diameter for samples made with increasing PVP concentration. Particle size obtained from DLS and XRD (using Scherrer's formula) combine with change in full width half maxima of Raman modes collectively suggest overall improvement in crystallinity and quality of product on introducing PVP. In zeta potential (ζ) measurement, steric hindrance of carbon chains plays very crucial role and a systematic reduction of ζ value is observed for samples made with decreasing PVP concentration. An isoelectric point is obtained for sample made with low PVP (1g). Present results are likely to open a window for its medical and catalytic applications.

Impact of Micro-to Meso-scale Fractures on Sealing Behavior of Argillaceous Cap Rocks For CO 2 Sequestration

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

Evans, James

This multi-disciplinary project evaluated seal lithologies for the safety and security of long-term geosequestration of CO 2. We used integrated studies to provide qualitative risk for potential seal failure; we integrated data sets from outcrop, core, geochemical analysis, rock failure properties from mechanical testing, geophysical wireline log analysis, and geomechanical modeling to understand the effects of lithologic heterogeneity and changing mechanical properties have on the mechanical properties of the seal. The objectives of this study were to characterize cap rock seals using natural field analogs, available drillhole logging data and whole-rock core, geochemical and isotopic analyses. Rock deformation experiments weremore » carried out on collected samples to develop better models of risk estimation for potential cap rock seal failure. We also sampled variably faulted and fractured cap rocks to examine the impacts of mineralization and/or alteration on the mechanical properties. We compared CO 2 reacted systems to non-CO 2 reacted seal rock types to determine response of each to increased pore fluid pressures and potential for the creation of unintentional hydrofractures at depth.« less

Production of porous Calcium Phosphate (CaP) ceramics with aligned pores using ceramic/camphene-based co-extrusion.

PubMed

Choi, Won-Young; Kim, Hyoun-Ee; Moon, Young-Wook; Shin, Kwan-Ha; Koh, Young-Hag

2015-01-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics are one of the most valuable biomaterials for uses as the bone scaffold owing to their outstanding biocompatability, bioactivity, and biodegradation nature. In particular, these materials with an open porous structure can stimulate bone ingrowth into their 3-dimensionally interconnected pores. However, the creation of pores in bulk materials would inevitably cause a severe reduction in mechanical properties. Thus, it is a challenge to explore new ways of improving the mechanical properties of porous CaP scaffolds without scarifying their high porosity. Porous CaP ceramic scaffolds with aligned pores were successfully produced using ceramic/camphene-based co-extrusion. This aligned porous structure allowed for the achievement of high compressive strength when tested parallel to the direction of aligned pores. In addition, the overall porosity and mechanical properties of the aligned porous CaP ceramic scaffolds could be tailored simply by adjusting the initial CaP content in the CaP/camphene slurry. The porous CaP scaffolds showed excellent in vitro biocompatibility, suggesting their potential as the bone scaffold. Aligned porous CaP ceramic scaffolds with considerably enhanced mechanical properties and tailorable porosity would find very useful applications as the bone scaffold.

Variability of Mars' North Polar Water Ice Cap: I. Analysis of Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiter Imaging Data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bass, Deborah S.; Herkenhoff, Kenneth; Paige, David A.

2000-01-01

Previous studies interpreted differences in ice coverage between Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiter observations of Mars' north residual polar cap as evidence of interannual variability of ice deposition on the cap. However, these investigators did not consider the possibility that there could be significant changes in the ice coverage within the northern residual cap over the course of the summer season. Our more comprehensive analysis of Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiter imaging data shows that the appearance of the residual cap does not show large-scale variance on an interannual basis. Rather we find evidence that regions that were dark at the beginning of summer look bright by the end of summer and that this seasonal variation of the cap repeats from year to year. Our results suggest that this brightening was due to the deposition of newly formed water ice on the surface. We find that newly formed ice deposits in the summer season have the same red-to-violet band image ratios as permanently bright deposits within the residual cap. We believe the newly formed ice accumulates in a continuous layer. To constrain the minimum amount of deposited ice, we used observed albedo data in conjunction with calculations using Mie theory for single scattering and a delta-Eddington approximation of radiative transfer for multiple scattering. The brightening could have been produced by a minimum of (1) a ~35-μm-thick layer of 50-μm-sized ice particles with 10% dust or (2) a ~14-μm-thick layer of 10-μm-sized ice particles with 50% dust.

Capsaicin Supplementation Reduces Physical Fatigue and Improves Exercise Performance in Mice

PubMed Central

Hsu, Yi-Ju; Huang, Wen-Ching; Chiu, Chien-Chao; Liu, Yan-Lin; Chiu, Wan-Chun; Chiu, Chun-Hui; Chiu, Yen-Shuo; Huang, Chi-Chang

2016-01-01

Chili pepper is used as a food, seasoning and has been revered for its medicinal and health claims. It is very popular and is the most common spice worldwide. Capsaicin (CAP) is a major pungent and bioactive phytochemical in chili peppers. CAP has been shown to improve mitochondrial biogenesis and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. However, there is limited evidence around the effects of CAP on physical fatigue and exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of CAP on anti-fatigue and ergogenic functions following physiological challenge. Female Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice from four groups (n = 8 per group) were orally administered CAP for 4 weeks at 0, 205, 410, and 1025 mg/kg/day, which were respectively designated the vehicle, CAP-1X, CAP-2X, and CAP-5X groups. The anti-fatigue activity and exercise performance was evaluated using forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming time, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatine kinase (CK) after a 15-min swimming exercise. The grip strength and exhaustive swimming time of the CAP-5X group were significantly higher than other groups. CAP supplementation dose-dependently reduced serum lactate, ammonia, BUN and CK levels, and increased glucose concentration after the 15-min swimming test. In addition, CAP also increased hepatic glycogen content, an important energy source for exercise. The possible mechanism was relevant to energy homeostasis and the physiological modulations by CAP supplementation. Therefore, our results suggest that CAP supplementation may have a wide spectrum of bioactivities for promoting health, performance improvement and fatigue amelioration. PMID:27775591

Capsaicin Supplementation Reduces Physical Fatigue and Improves Exercise Performance in Mice.

PubMed

Hsu, Yi-Ju; Huang, Wen-Ching; Chiu, Chien-Chao; Liu, Yan-Lin; Chiu, Wan-Chun; Chiu, Chun-Hui; Chiu, Yen-Shuo; Huang, Chi-Chang

2016-10-20

Chili pepper is used as a food, seasoning and has been revered for its medicinal and health claims. It is very popular and is the most common spice worldwide. Capsaicin (CAP) is a major pungent and bioactive phytochemical in chili peppers. CAP has been shown to improve mitochondrial biogenesis and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. However, there is limited evidence around the effects of CAP on physical fatigue and exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of CAP on anti-fatigue and ergogenic functions following physiological challenge. Female Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice from four groups ( n = 8 per group) were orally administered CAP for 4 weeks at 0, 205, 410, and 1025 mg/kg/day, which were respectively designated the vehicle, CAP-1X, CAP-2X, and CAP-5X groups. The anti-fatigue activity and exercise performance was evaluated using forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming time, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatine kinase (CK) after a 15-min swimming exercise. The grip strength and exhaustive swimming time of the CAP-5X group were significantly higher than other groups. CAP supplementation dose-dependently reduced serum lactate, ammonia, BUN and CK levels, and increased glucose concentration after the 15-min swimming test. In addition, CAP also increased hepatic glycogen content, an important energy source for exercise. The possible mechanism was relevant to energy homeostasis and the physiological modulations by CAP supplementation. Therefore, our results suggest that CAP supplementation may have a wide spectrum of bioactivities for promoting health, performance improvement and fatigue amelioration.

Linking job-relevant personality traits, transformational leadership, and job performance via perceived meaningfulness at work: A moderated mediation model.

PubMed

Frieder, Rachel E; Wang, Gang; Oh, In-Sue

2018-03-01

By integrating the fundamental principles of the theory of purposeful work behavior (TPWB; Barrick, Mount, & Li, 2013) with cognitive-affective personality system (CAPS) theory (Mischel, 1977; Mischel & Shoda, 1995), we examine how and when salespeople's job-relevant personality traits relate to their performance. We argue that individuals with personality traits that fit outdoor sales jobs (i.e., conscientious, extraversion, openness to experience) will perceive their work as more meaningful and as a result achieve heightened performance. Moreover, drawing from TPWB and CAPS theory, we expect that as an important element of the social context, transformational leadership moderates the indirect effect of salespeople's job-relevant personality traits on their job performance via enhanced perceptions of meaningfulness at work. Results based on data from 496 outdoor salespeople and their 218 supervisors and regional managers provide support for the hypotheses pertaining to conscientiousness and openness, but not extraversion. Specifically, the conditional indirect effects of conscientiousness or openness on performance through perceived meaningfulness are more positive under low, rather than high, levels of transformational leadership. Implications for research and practice are discussed along with study limitations and future research directions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Risk for Intimate Partner Violence and Child Physical Abuse: Psychosocial Characteristics of Multirisk Male and Female Navy Recruits

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-02-01

Abuse Scale of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) In- ventory. The CAP is a 160-item, forced-choice (i.e., agree or disagree), self-report questionnaire... child abuse (Milner, Gold, Ayoub, & Jacewitz, 1984). Even when CAP scores are obtained before a child is born, they predict later negative child out...integrating domes- tic violence and child abuse prevention services may be exacerbated by the fact that these systems tend to converge around cases in

Curriculum Alignment Projects: Toward Developing a Need to Know

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinkerton, K. David

2001-02-01

This study investigated means of designing a high school chemistry curriculum. A Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP) was used to coordinate one semester (18 weeks) of activities. CAPs are long-term, multiple-approach design and construction projects that provide students a concrete task to accomplish, rather than an abstract theme to appreciate. Topics were selected for their potential contribution to students' success on the CAP, not because the topics were coming up next in a textbook. One particular CAP, Bicarbonate Squeeze Play, is described in detail. After one cycle of CAPs, student motivation began to change from extrinsic to intrinsic; achievement on objective measures was holding steady; students' abilities to craft and carry out long-term plans for complex projects were improving; and the teacher was learning how to design curriculum that fostered students' need to know.

Physicochemical fabrication of antibacterial calcium phosphate submicrospheres with dispersed silver nanoparticles via coprecipitation and photoreduction under laser irradiation.

PubMed

Nakamura, Maki; Oyane, Ayako; Shimizu, Yoshiki; Miyata, Saori; Saeki, Ayumi; Miyaji, Hirofumi

2016-12-01

We achieved rapid, surfactant-free, and one-pot fabrication of antibacterial calcium phosphate (CaP) submicrospheres containing silver nanoparticles by combining physical laser and chemical coprecipitation processes. In this physicochemical process, weak pulsed laser irradiation (20min) was performed on a labile CaP reaction mixture supplemented with silver ions as a light-absorbing agent. The silver content in the submicrospheres was controlled for a wide range (Ag/P elemental ratio varied from 0.60 to 62.0) by tuning the initial concentration of silver ions (from 5 to 20mM) in the CaP reaction mixture. At the silver concentration of 5mM, we obtained unique nanocomposite particles: CaP submicrospheres (average diameter of approximately 500nm) containing metallic silver nanoparticles dispersed throughout, as a result of CaP and silver coprecipitation with simultaneous photoreduction of silver ions and spheroidization of the coprecipitates. These CaP submicrospheres containing silver nanoparticles (ca. 0.3mg silver per 1mg submicrospheres) exhibited antibacterial activity against major pathogenic oral bacteria, i.e., Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Moreover, the CaP submicrospheres dissolved and neutralized the acidic environment generated by Streptococcus mutans, demonstrating their potential as acid-neutralizing and remineralizing agents. The present process and resulting antibacterial CaP-based submicrospheres are expected to be useful in dental healthcare and infection control. Nano- and microsized spheres of calcium phosphate (CaP) containing silver nanoparticles have great potential in dental applications. Conventional fabrication processes were time-consuming or weak regarding the size/shape control of the spheres. In this study, we achieved a simple (one-pot), rapid (20-min irradiation), and surfactant-free fabrication of CaP submicrospheres containing silver nanoparticles by pulsed laser irradiation to a mixture of calcium, phosphate, and silver ion solutions. The resulting CaP submicrospheres contained metallic silver nanoparticles dispersed throughout in a sequence of reactions: CaP and silver coprecipitation, laser-induced melting and spheroidization of the coprecipitates, and photoreduction of silver ions. These submicrospheres showed antibacterial activity against oral bacteria and acid-neutralizing property in the bacterial suspension, and hence are worth considering for dental applications. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Peroxiredoxin Expression of Human Osteosarcoma Cells Is Influenced by Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment.

PubMed

Gümbel, Denis; Gelbrich, Nadine; Napp, Matthias; Daeschlein, Georg; Kramer, Axel; Sckell, Axel; Burchardt, Martin; Ekkernkamp, Axel; Stope, Matthias B

2017-03-01

To evaluate the potential involvement of redox-specific signalling pathways in cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)-induced apoptosis on human osteosarcoma cells. Osteosarcoma cell lines were treated with CAP with or without antioxidative agents and seeded in cell culture plates. Cell proliferation was determined by counting viable cells. Carrier gas-treated cells served as control. Peroxiredoxin (PRX) 1-3 expression and secretion were assessed. CAP treatment exhibited strongly attenuated proliferation rates. This effect was significantly attenuated by the addition of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). CAP-treated cells exhibited an increase of PRX 1 and 2 10 sec after treatment. The ratio of oxidized to reduced PRX1 and PRX2 was significantly altered with increasing cellular concentration of the oxidized dimer. Antioxidant supplementation with NAC increases proliferation of CAP-treated osteosarcoma cells, implicating an involvement of redox signalling. Activation of PRX1 and -2 indicate CAP affects redox homeostasis. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Towards single crystalline, highly monodisperse and catalytically active gold nanoparticles capped with probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum derived lipase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Imran; Nagarjuna, Ravikiran; Ray Dutta, Jayati; Ganesan, Ramakrishnan

2018-03-01

Owing to the eco-friendly nature of biomolecules, there lies a huge interest in exploring them as capping agents for nanoparticles to achieve stability and biocompatibility. Lipase extracted from the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum is utilized for the first time to study its efficacy in capping gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in the room temperature synthesis using HAuCl4. The synthesized lipase-capped GNPs are characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, HR-TEM, DLS and zeta potential measurements. Importantly, selected area electron diffraction (SAED) studies with HR-TEM have revealed the effect of lipase capping in tuning the polycrystallinity of the GNPs. The lipase-capped GNPs are explored for their catalytic efficiency towards an environmentally and industrially important conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. Exploiting the amine functional groups in the protein, the recoverability and reusability of the GNPs have been demonstrated through immobilization over amine-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles.

Analysis of compound action potentials elicited with specific current stimulating pulses in an isolated rat sciatic nerve.

PubMed

Žužek, Monika C; Rozman, Janez; Pečlin, Polona; Vrecl, Milka; Frangež, Robert

2017-02-01

The ability to selectively stimulate Aα, Aβ-fibers and Aδ-fibers in an isolated rat sciatic nerve (SNR) was assessed. The stimulus used was a current, biphasic pulse with a quasitrapezoidal cathodic phase and rectangular anodic phase where parameters were systematically varied: intensity of the cathodic phase (ic); width of the cathodic phase (tc); width of the cathodic exponential decay (texp) and time constant of the exponential decay (τexp). A SNR was stimulated using a pair of hook electrodes while conduction velocity (CV) and compound action potentials (CAP) were measured at two sites along the SNR using another two pairs of electrodes. Results showed that the highest CAP1 (8.5-9 mV), shall be expected when parameters of the stimulus were within the following range: ic=3.8-4 mA, tc=350-400 μs and texp=330-440 μs. Results also showed that with ascending tc and texp, CV of the corresponding superficial region of the SNR was reduced in both, conduction velocity of CAP1 and conduction velocity of CAP2. It was concluded that action potentials (APs) were activated in the Aβ-fibers and Aδ-fibers along with a slight AP inhibition in the Aβ-fibers. The obtained results, could serve as a tool for developing multi-electrode systems that potentially enable fiber-type selective stimulation of nerve fibers.

Fabrication of versatile cladding light strippers and fiber end-caps with CO2 laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinke, M.; Theeg, T.; Wysmolek, M.; Ottenhues, C.; Pulzer, T.; Neumann, J.; Kracht, D.

2018-02-01

We report on novel fabrication schemes of versatile cladding light strippers and end-caps via CO2 laser radiation. We integrated cladding light strippers in SMA-like connectors for reliable and stable fiber-coupling of high-power laser diodes. Moreover, the application of cladding light strippers in typical fiber geometries for high-power fiber lasers was evaluated. In addition, we also developed processes to fuse end-caps to fiber end faces via CO2 laser radiation and inscribe the fibers with cladding light strippers near the end-cap. Corresponding results indicate the great potential of such devices as a monolithic and low-cost alternative to SMA connectors.

Treatment of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome with defibrotide, a proposed vascular endothelial cell modulator.

PubMed

Burcoglu-O'Ral, Arsinur; Erkan, Doruk; Asherson, Ronald

2002-09-01

To define at the molecular level the vascular endothelial cell (VEC) injury characteristics of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) and to report successful therapeutic use of a VEC modulator, defibrotide. We describe a 55-year-old man with primary APS with an intractable prothrombotic state (CAPS) resistant to combined therapy with heparin, warfarin, aspirin, and dipyridamole. Treatment with defibrotide was conducted in the context of an investigational phase II protocol where the dose was regulated and individualized by disease/patient-specific molecular and clinical markers. The patient entered complete remission with defibrotide treatment. During treatment, dose dependent pharmacological actions of defibrotide and key stress markers for VEC injury were identified. Evidence of defibrotide's polypharmacology included downregulation of cytokines, notably tumor necrosis factor-alpha, as the earliest effect, cellular differentiation of VEC, possibly with direct regulatory effect over cellular genes, and the reversal of platelet consumption and prothrombotic state. Von Willebrand antigen levels were used as the sole marker to guide therapy. This case demonstrates effective remission of CAPS with defibrotide treatment. In contrast to theories that CAPS is triggered by ischemic and thrombotic tissue damage, these data present VEC injury as the primary and representative lesion of CAPS. The pathogenesis may involve concurrent impairment of different VEC functions. Achieving remission may require a polypharmacologic approach, represented here by use of defibrotide.

Feasibility of 3D printed air slab diode caps for small field dosimetry.

PubMed

Perrett, Benjamin; Charles, Paul; Markwell, Tim; Kairn, Tanya; Crowe, Scott

2017-09-01

Commercial diode detectors used for small field dosimetry introduce a field-size-dependent over-response relative to an ideal, water-equivalent dosimeter due to high density components in the body of the detector. An air gap above the detector introduces a field-size-dependent under-response, and can be used to offset the field-size-dependent detector over-response. Other groups have reported experimental validation of caps containing air gaps for use with several types of diodes in small fields. This paper examines two designs for 3D printed diode air caps for the stereotactic field diode (SFD)-a cap containing a sealed air cavity, and a cap with an air cavity at the face of the SFD. Monte Carlo simulations of both designs were performed to determine dimensions for an air cavity to introduce the desired dosimetric correction. Various parameter changes were also simulated to estimate the dosimetric uncertainties introduced by 3D printing. Cap layer dimensions, cap density changes due to 3D printing, and unwanted air gaps were considered. For the sealed design the optimal air gap size for water-equivalent cap material was 0.6 mm, which increased to 1.0 mm when acrylonitrile butadiene styrene in the cap was simulated. The unsealed design had less variation, a 0.4 mm air gap is optimal in both situations. Unwanted air pockets in the bore of the cap and density changes introduced by the 3D printing process can potentially introduce significant dosimetric effects. These effects may be limited by using fine print resolutions and minimising the volume of cap material.

Investigation of flange failures in falsework cap and sill beams : recommendations for the design of beams and posts in bridge falsework.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-12-01

Recent field observations in bridge falsework identified potential deficiencies in the design of falsework resulting in : localized bending in sill and cap beam flanges and lateral buckling in other beams. Possible limits states associated with : the...

Psychometric Properties of the Life Events Checklist

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Matt J.; Litz, Brett T.; Hsu, Julie L.; Lombardo, Thomas W.

2004-01-01

The Life Events Checklist (LEC), a measure of exposure to potentially traumatic events, was developed at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) concurrently with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) to facilitate the diagnosis of PTSD. Although the CAPS is recognized as the gold standard in PTSD symptom assessment,…

LONG-TERM RECOVERY OF PCB-CONTAMINATED SURFACE SEDIMENTS AT THE SANGAMO-WESTON/TWELVEMILE CREEK/LAKE HARTWELL SUPERFUND SITE

EPA Science Inventory

Natural recovery of contaminated sediments relies on burial of contaminated sediments with increasingly clean sediments over time (i.e., natural capping). Natural capping reduces the risk of resuspension of contaminated surface sediments, and it reduces the potential for contamin...

Three ways to solve critical ϕ4 theory on 4 ‑ 𝜖 dimensional real projective space: Perturbation, bootstrap, and Schwinger-Dyson equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasegawa, Chika; Nakayama, Yu

2018-03-01

In this paper, we solve the two-point function of the lowest dimensional scalar operator in the critical ϕ4 theory on 4 ‑ 𝜖 dimensional real projective space in three different methods. The first is to use the conventional perturbation theory, and the second is to impose the cross-cap bootstrap equation, and the third is to solve the Schwinger-Dyson equation under the assumption of conformal invariance. We find that the three methods lead to mutually consistent results but each has its own advantage.

Image-guided cold atmosphere plasma (CAP) therapy for cutaneous wound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zelin; Ren, Wenqi; Gan, Qi; Li, Jiahong; Li, XiangXiang; Zhang, Shiwu; Jin, Fan; Cheng, Cheng; Ting, Yue; Xu, Ronald X.

2016-03-01

Bacterial infection is one of the major factors contributing to the compromised healing in chronic wounds. Sometimes bacteria biofilms formed on the wound are more resistant than adherent bacteria. Cold atmosphere plasma (CAP) has already shown its potential in contact-free disinfection, blood coagulation, and wound healing. In this study, we integrated a multimodal imaging system with a portable CAP device for image-guided treatment of infected wound in vivo and evaluated the antimicrobial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa sample in vitro.15 ICR mice were divided into three groups for therapeutic experiments:(1) control group with no infection nor treatment (2) infection group without treatment (3) infection group with treatment. For each mouse, a three millimeters punch biopsy was created on the dorsal skin. Infection was induced by Staphylococcus aureus inoculation one day post-wounding. The treated group was subjected to CAP for 2 min daily till day 13. For each group, five fixed wounds' oxygenation and blood perfusion were evaluated daily till day 13 by a multimodal imaging system that integrates a multispectral imaging module and a laser speckle imaging module. In the research of relationship between therapeutic depth and sterilization effect on P.aeruginosa in agarose, we found that the CAP-generated reactive species reached the depth of 26.7μm at 30s and 41.6μm at 60s for anti-bacterial effects. Image-guided CAP therapy can be potentially used to control infection and facilitate the healing process of infected wounds.

Advances in synthesis of calcium phosphate crystals with controlled size and shape.

PubMed

Lin, Kaili; Wu, Chengtie; Chang, Jiang

2014-10-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) materials have a wide range of applications, including biomaterials, adsorbents, chemical engineering materials, catalysts and catalyst supports and mechanical reinforcements. The size and shape of CaP crystals and aggregates play critical roles in their applications. The main inorganic building blocks of human bones and teeth are nanocrystalline CaPs; recently, much progress has been made in the application of CaP nanocrystals and their composites for clinical repair of damaged bone and tooth. For example, CaPs with special micro- and nanostructures can better imitate the biomimetic features of human bone and tooth, and this offers significantly enhanced biological performances. Therefore, the design of CaP nano-/microcrystals, and the shape and hierarchical structures of CaPs, have great potential to revolutionize the field of hard tissue engineering, starting from bone/tooth repair and augmentation to controlled drug delivery devices. Previously, a number of reviews have reported the synthesis and properties of CaP materials, especially for hydroxyapatite (HAp). However, most of them mainly focused on the characterizations and physicochemical and biological properties of HAp particles. There are few reviews about the control of particle size and size distribution of CaPs, and in particular the control of nano-/microstructures on bulk CaP ceramic surfaces, which is a big challenge technically and may have great potential in tissue engineering applications. This review summarizes the current state of the art for the synthesis of CaP crystals with controlled sizes from the nano- to the macroscale, and the diverse shapes including the zero-dimensional shapes of particles and spheres, the one-dimensional shapes of rods, fibers, wires and whiskers, the two-dimensional shapes of sheets, disks, plates, belts, ribbons and flakes and the three-dimensional (3-D) shapes of porous, hollow, and biomimetic structures similar to biological bone and tooth. In addition, this review will also summarize studies on the controlled formation of nano-/microstructures on the surface of bulk ceramics, and the preparation of macroscopical bone grafts with 3-D architecture nano-/microstructured surfaces. Moreover, the possible directions of future research and development in this field, such as the detailed mechanisms behind the size and shape control in various strategies, the importance of theoretical simulation, self-assembly, biomineralization and sacrificial precursor strategies in the fabrication of biomimetic bone-like and enamel-like CaP materials are proposed. Copyright © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ir Spectral Mapping of the Martian South Polar Residual CAP Using Crism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, Jacqueline; Sidiropoulos, Panagiotis; Muller, Jan-Peter

2016-06-01

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered to be important in theories of abiogenesis (Allamandola, 2011) . There is evidence that PAHs have been detected on two icy Saturnian satellites using the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) on the Cassini spacecraft (Cruikshank et al., 2007). The hypothesised presence of PAHs in Mars south polar cap has not been systematically examined even though the Mars south polar cap may allow the preservation of organic molecules that are typically destroyed at the Martian surface by UV radiation (Dartnell et al. 2012). This hypothesis is supported by recent analyses of South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC) structural evolution (Thomas et al., 2009) that suggest the possibility that seasonal and long term sublimation may excavate dust particles from within the polar ice. Periodic sublimation is believed to be responsible for the formation of so-called "Swiss Cheese Terrain", a unique surface feature found only in the Martian south polar residual cap consisting of flat floored, circular depressions (Byrne, 2009). We show the first examples of work towards the detection of PAHs in Swiss Cheese Terrain, using data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), on board NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). CRISM is designed to search for mineralogical indications of past and present water, thus providing extensive coverage of the south polar cap. In this work, we discuss whether CRISM infrared spectra can be used to detect PAHs in Swiss Cheese Terrain and demonstrate a number of maps showing shifts in spectral profiles over the SPRC.

Assessment of Cytokine and Chemokine Signatures as Potential Biomarkers of Childhood Community-acquired Pneumonia Severity: A Nested Cohort Study in India.

PubMed

Saghafian-Hedengren, Shanie; Mathew, Joseph L; Hagel, Eva; Singhi, Sunit; Ray, Pallab; Ygberg, Sofia; Nilsson, Anna

2017-01-01

Pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of childhood mortality in developing countries. In resource-poor settings, pneumonia diagnosis is commonly made clinically, based on World Health Organization guidelines, where breathing difficulty or cough and age-adjusted tachypnea suffice to establish diagnosis. Also, the severity of CAP is generally based on clinical features and existing biomarkers do not reliably correlate to either clinical severity or outcome. Here, we asked whether systemic immune and inflammatory mediators could act as biomarkers predicting CAP severity or outcome. Serum from a subset of a CAP cohort (n = 196), enrolled in India, classified according to World Health Organization criteria as having pneumonia or severe pneumonia, was used for simultaneous measurement of 21 systemic cytokines and chemokines. We found significantly higher IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IFN-γ and lower CCL22 concentrations in patients with severe compared with mild CAP (P values: 0.019, 0.036, 0.006, 0.016 and 0.003, respectively). Based on higher MIP-1α, IL-8, IL-17 or lower CCL22 response pattern at the time of enrolment, children with fatal outcome showed markedly different pattern of inflammatory response compared with children classified with the same disease severity, but with nonfatal outcome (P values: 0.043, 0.017, 0.008 and 0.020, respectively). Our results suggest a relation between an elevated mixed cytokine response and CAP severity on one hand, and a bias toward uncontrolled neutrophilic inflammation in subjects with fatal outcome on the other. Collectively our findings contribute to increased knowledge on new biomarkers that can potentially predict severity and outcome of childhood CAP in the future.

Capsaicin-based analgesic balm attenuates the skeletal muscle metaboreflex in healthy humans.

PubMed

Vianna, Lauro C; Fernandes, Igor A; Barbosa, Thales C; Teixeira, André L; Claudio Lucas da Nóbrega, Antonio

2018-04-26

The exercise pressor reflex (EPR) is comprised from group III and IV skeletal muscle afferents and is one of the principal mediators of the cardiovascular response to exercise. In animals, capsaicin-based analgesic balm (CAP) attenuates the pressor response to muscle contraction, indicating the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPv1) receptor (localized on the group IV afferent neuron) as an important mediator of the EPR. However, whether these findings can be extrapolated to humans remain unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that CAP attenuates blood pressure (BP) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) responses to isolated muscle metaboreflex activation in healthy men. MSNA (microneurography) and beat-to-beat heart hate (HR - electrography) and BP (finger photoplethysmography) were continuously measured in eight healthy males (23{plus minus}5 y) at rest, during isometric handgrip exercise and during post-exercise ischemia (PEI). Trials were performed before, 30 and 60 min after the topical application of CAP (0.1%, CAPZASIN-HP) over the volar forearm of the subject's exercising arm. Isometric exercise evoked increases in mean BP (∆32{plus minus}4 mmHg) and MSNA (∆26{plus minus}5 bursts/min; ∆19{plus minus}5 bursts/100 heart beats). The increases in BP during handgrip were not affected by CAP, but the increase in MSNA was lower after 60-min of CAP application. During PEI, the increases in BP and MSNA were all significantly less than those before CAP (all P<0.05). In conclusion, CAP attenuated BP and sympathetic responses evoked by PEI in humans. These data provide evidence that TRPv1 receptors potentially contribute to the EPR in humans, via its metabolic component.

A real options approach to clinical faculty salary structure.

PubMed

Kahn, Marc J; Long, Hugh W

2012-01-01

One can use the option theory model originally developed to price financial opportunities in security markets to analyze many other economic arrangements such as the salary structures of clinical faculty in an academic medical center practice plan. If one views the underlying asset to be the portion (labeled "salary") of the economic value of the collections made for the care provided patients by the physician, then a salary guarantee can be considered a put option provided the physician, the guarantee having value to the physician only when the actual salary earned is less than the salary guarantee. Similarly, within an incentive plan, a salary cap can be thought of as a call option provided to the practice plan since a salary cap only has value to the practice plan when a physician's earnings exceed the cap. Further, based on analysis of prior earnings, the Black-Scholes options pricing model can be used both to price each option and to determine a financially neutral balance between a salary guarantee and a salary cap by equating the prices of the implied put and call options. We suggest that such analysis is superior to empirical methods for setting clinical faculty salary structure in the academic practice plan setting.

Molecular characterization of colorectal adenomas with and without malignancy reveals distinguishing genome, transcriptome and methylome alterations.

PubMed

Druliner, Brooke R; Wang, Panwen; Bae, Taejeong; Baheti, Saurabh; Slettedahl, Seth; Mahoney, Douglas; Vasmatzis, Nikolaos; Xu, Hang; Kim, Minsoo; Bockol, Matthew; O'Brien, Daniel; Grill, Diane; Warner, Nathaniel; Munoz-Gomez, Miguel; Kossick, Kimberlee; Johnson, Ruth; Mouchli, Mohamad; Felmlee-Devine, Donna; Washechek-Aletto, Jill; Smyrk, Thomas; Oberg, Ann; Wang, Junwen; Chia, Nicholas; Abyzov, Alexej; Ahlquist, David; Boardman, Lisa A

2018-02-16

The majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) arises from precursor lesions known as polyps. The molecular determinants that distinguish benign from malignant polyps remain unclear. To molecularly characterize polyps, we utilized Cancer Adjacent Polyp (CAP) and Cancer Free Polyp (CFP) patients. CAPs had tissues from the residual polyp of origin and contiguous cancer; CFPs had polyp tissues matched to CAPs based on polyp size, histology and dysplasia. To determine whether molecular features distinguish CAPs and CFPs, we conducted Whole Genome Sequencing, RNA-seq, and RRBS on over 90 tissues from 31 patients. CAPs had significantly more mutations, altered expression and hypermethylation compared to CFPs. APC was significantly mutated in both polyp groups, but mutations in TP53, FBXW7, PIK3CA, KIAA1804 and SMAD2 were exclusive to CAPs. We found significant expression changes between CAPs and CFPs in GREM1, IGF2, CTGF, and PLAU, and both expression and methylation alterations in FES and HES1. Integrative analyses revealed 124 genes with alterations in at least two platforms, and ERBB3 and E2F8 showed aberrations specific to CAPs across all platforms. These findings provide a resource of molecular distinctions between polyps with and without cancer, which have the potential to enhance the diagnosis, risk assessment and management of polyps.

Immunogenicity of adenovirus vaccines expressing the PCV2 capsid protein in pigs.

PubMed

Li, Delong; Du, Qian; Wu, Bin; Li, Juejun; Chang, Lingling; Zhao, Xiaomin; Huang, Yong; Tong, Dewen

2017-08-24

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main pathogen of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), causing great economic losses in pig industry. In previous study, we constructed adenovirus vector vaccines expressing PCV2 Cap either modified with Intron A and WPRE, or CD40L and GMCSF, and evaluated all of these vaccines in mice and in pigs. Although Ad-A-C-W and Ad-CD40L-Cap-GMCSF could induce stronger immune responses than Ad-Cap, neither of them was better than commercial inactivated vaccine PCV2 SH-strain. In this study, secretory recombinant adenoviruses (Ad-A-spCap-W and Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W) and non-secretory recombinant adenovirus Ad-A-CD40L-Cap-GMCSF-W were constructed, and identified by western blot and confocal laser microscope observation. The results of ELISA and VN showed that humoral immune responses induced by Ad-A-spCap-W and Ad-A-CD40L-Cap-GMCSF-W were not significantly different from SH-strain, but Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W could induce significantly higher humoral immune response than SH-strain. Lymphocytes proliferative and cytokines releasing levels of Ad-A-spCap-W and Ad-A-CD40L-Cap-GMCSF-W were not significantly different from SH-strain, but Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W was significantly higher than SH-strain. PCV2-challenge experiment showed that virus loads were significantly reduced in Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W vaccinated group, and no obviously clinical and microscopic lesions were observed in Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W vaccinated group. Altogether, these results demonstrate that recombinant adenovirus vaccine Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W induces stronger immune responses and provides better protection than commercial inactivated vaccine PCV2 SH-strain, and suggest that Ad-A-spCD40L-spCap-spGMCSF-W could be a potential vaccine candidate against PCVAD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complex absorbing potential based Lorentzian fitting scheme and time dependent quantum transport.

PubMed

Xie, Hang; Kwok, Yanho; Jiang, Feng; Zheng, Xiao; Chen, GuanHua

2014-10-28

Based on the complex absorbing potential (CAP) method, a Lorentzian expansion scheme is developed to express the self-energy. The CAP-based Lorentzian expansion of self-energy is employed to solve efficiently the Liouville-von Neumann equation of one-electron density matrix. The resulting method is applicable for both tight-binding and first-principles models and is used to simulate the transient currents through graphene nanoribbons and a benzene molecule sandwiched between two carbon-atom chains.

Can CT imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis identify all vertebral injuries of the thoracolumbar spine without dedicated reformatting?

PubMed

Imran, Jonathan B; Madni, Tarik D; Pruitt, Jeffrey H; Cornelius, Canon; Subramanian, Madhu; Clark, Audra T; Mokdad, Ali A; Rizk, Paul; Minei, Joseph P; Cripps, Michael W; Eastman, Alexander L

2018-07-01

The main objective of this study was to compare detection rates of clinically significant thoracolumbar spine (TLS) fracture between computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest, abdomen, and spine (CT CAP) and CT for the thoracolumbar spine (CT TL). We retrospectively identified patients at our institution with a TLS fracture over a two-year period that had both CT CAP and reformatted CT TL imaging. The sensitivity of CT CAP to identify fracture was calculated for each fracture type. A total of 516 TLS fractures were identified in 125 patients using reformatted CT TL spine imaging. Overall, 69 of 512 fractures (13%) were missed on CT CAP that were identified on CT TL. Of those, there were no clinically significant missed fractures. CT CAP could potentially be used as a screening tool for clinically significant TLS injuries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Transient aero-thermal mapping of passive Thermal Protection system for nose-cap of Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahulikar, Shripad P.; Khurana, Shashank; Dungarwal, Ritesh; Shevakari, Sushil G.; Subramanian, Jayakumar; Gujarathi, Amit V.

2008-12-01

The temperature field history of passive Thermal Protection System (TPS) material at the nose-cap (forward stagnation region) of a Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle (RHV) is generated. The 3-D unsteady heat transfer model couples conduction in the solid with external convection and radiation that are modeled as time-varying boundary conditions on the surface. Results are presented for the following two cases: (1) nose-cap comprised of ablative TPS material only (SIRCA/PICA), and (2) nose-cap comprised of a combination of ablative TPS material with moderate thermal conductivity and insulative TPS material. Comparison of the temperature fields of SIRCA and PICA [Case (1)] indicates lowering of the peak stagnation region temperatures for PICA, due to its higher thermal conductivity. Also, the use of PICA and insulative TPS [Case (2)] for the nose-cap has higher potential for weight reduction than the use of ablative TPS alone.

Electrocochleographic analysis of the suppression of tinnitus by electrical promontory stimulation.

PubMed

Watanabe, K; Okawara, D; Baba, S; Yagi, T

1997-01-01

To investigate the origin, and evaluate the mechanism by which tinnitus is suppressed we performed electrical promontory stimulation (EPS) in 56 patients with tinnitus, and measured the compound action potential (CAP) using electrocochleography before and after EPS. In the group of patients in whom tinnitus was suppressed, the CAP amplitudes increased significantly, whereas the latencies showed no remarkable change. In the group of patients in whom tinnitus was not suppressed, both the CAP amplitudes and latencies exhibited no significant change. These data indicate that the effect on the cochlear nerve plays an important role in the suppression of tinnitus by EPS. The CAP reflects the number of the auditory nerve fibers which discharge synchronously. It is speculated that an increase of the CAP amplitudes is caused by synchronizing discharges of the auditory nerve fibers, and that the mechanism by which EPS suppresses tinnitus may be related to synchronizing these discharges.

Perennial water ice identified in the south polar cap of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bibring, Jean-Pierre; Langevin, Yves; Poulet, François; Gendrin, Aline; Gondet, Brigitte; Berthé, Michel; Soufflot, Alain; Drossart, Pierre; Combes, Michel; Bellucci, Giancarlo; Moroz, Vassili; Mangold, Nicolas; Schmitt, Bernard; OMEGA Team; Erard, S.; Forni, O.; Manaud, N.; Poulleau, G.; Encrenaz, T.; Fouchet, T.; Melchiorri, R.; Altieri, F.; Formisano, V.; Bonello, G.; Fonti, S.; Capaccioni, F.; Cerroni, P.; Coradini, A.; Kottsov, V.; Ignatiev, N.; Titov, D.; Zasova, L.; Pinet, P.; Sotin, C.; Hauber, E.; Hoffman, H.; Jaumann, R.; Keller, U.; Arvidson, R.; Mustard, J.; Duxbury, T.; Forget, F.

2004-04-01

The inventory of water and carbon dioxide reservoirs on Mars are important clues for understanding the geological, climatic and potentially exobiological evolution of the planet. From the early mapping observation of the permanent ice caps on the martian poles, the northern cap was believed to be mainly composed of water ice, whereas the southern cap was thought to be constituted of carbon dioxide ice. However, recent missions (NASA missions Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey) have revealed surface structures, altimetry profiles, underlying buried hydrogen, and temperatures of the south polar regions that are thermodynamically consistent with a mixture of surface water ice and carbon dioxide. Here we present the first direct identification and mapping of both carbon dioxide and water ice in the martian high southern latitudes, at a resolution of 2km, during the local summer, when the extent of the polar ice is at its minimum. We observe that this south polar cap contains perennial water ice in extended areas: as a small admixture to carbon dioxide in the bright regions; associated with dust, without carbon dioxide, at the edges of this bright cap; and, unexpectedly, in large areas tens of kilometres away from the bright cap.

Characterization of phthalocyanine functionalized quantum dots by dynamic light scattering, laser Doppler, and capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Ramírez-García, Gonzalo; Oluwole, David O; Nxele, Siphesihle Robin; d'Orlyé, Fanny; Nyokong, Tebello; Bedioui, Fethi; Varenne, Anne

2017-02-01

In this work, we characterized different phtalocyanine-capped core/shell/shell quantum dots (QDs) in terms of stability, ζ-potential, and size at various pH and ionic strengths, by means of capillary electrophoresis (CE), and compared these results to the ones obtained by laser Doppler electrophoresis (LDE) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effect of the phthalocyanine metallic center (Zn, Al, or In), the number (one or four), and nature of substituents (carboxyphenoxy- or sulfonated-) of functionalization on the phthalocyanine physicochemical properties were evaluated. Whereas QDs capped with zinc mono-carboxyphenoxy-phtalocyanine (ZnMCPPc-QDs) remained aggregated in the whole analyzed pH range, even at low ionic strength, QDs capped with zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phtalocyanine (ZnTPPc-QDs) were easily dispersed in buffers at pH equal to or higher than 7.4. QDs capped with aluminum tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (AlTSPPc-QDs) and indium tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanines (InTCPPc-QDs) were stable in aqueous suspension only at pH higher than 9.0 due to the presence of functional groups bound to the metallic center of the phthalocyanine. The ζ-potential values determined by CE for all the samples decreased when ionic strength increased, being well correlated with the aggregation of the nanoconjugates at elevated salt concentrations. The use of electrokinetic methodologies has provided insights into the colloidal stability of the photosensitizer-functionalized QDs in physiological relevant solutions and thereby, its usefulness for improving their design and applications for photodynamic therapy. Graphical Abstract Schematic illustration of the phthalocyanine capped QDs nanoconjugates and the capillary electrophoresis methods applied for size and ζ-potential characterization.

30 CFR 250.124 - Will MMS approve gas injection into the cap rock containing a sulphur deposit?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Will MMS approve gas injection into the cap rock containing a sulphur deposit? 250.124 Section 250.124 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY... increase potential hazards to present or future sulphur mining operations. Fees ...

Impact of Environmental Conditions (pH, Ionic Strength, And Electrolyte Type) On The Surface Charge And Aggregation Of Silver Nanoparticles Suspensions

EPA Science Inventory

The impact of capping agents and environmental conditions (pH, ionic strength, and background electrolytes) on surface charge and aggregation potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) suspensions were investigated. Capping agents are chemicals used in the synthesis of nanopartic...

Toward the in vivo study of captopril-conjugated quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manabe, Noriyoshi; Hoshino, Akiyoshi; Liang, Yi-qiang; Goto, Tomomasa; Kato, Norihiro; Yamamoto, Kenji

2005-04-01

Photo-luminescent semiconductor quantum dots are nanometer-size probes that have the potential to be applied to the fields of the bio-imaging and the study of the cell mobility inside the body. At the same time, on the other hand, quantum dots are expected to carry some kind of molecules to the local organ inside of the animal body, which leads to the expectation that they can be used as a medicine-carrier. For this purpose, we conjugate (2S)-1-[(2s)-2-Methyl-3-sulfanylpropionyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (cap) with the quantum dot. Cap has the effect as an anti-hypertension drug, which inhibits angiotensin 1 converting enzyme. We conjugated the quantum dot with cap by the exchange reaction avoiding the regions which holds medicinal effect. Quantum dot conjugated with cap (QD-cap) were 3-times brighter than thioglycerol-coated quantum dots (QD-OH). The particle size of cap was 1.1nm and that of QD-cap was 12nm. QD-cap was permeated into the HeLa cells, while QD-MUA were taken into the HeLa cells by endocytosis. In addition, no apoptosis was detected against the cells that permeated QD-cap, because there was no damage to DNA. These results indicated that QD-conjugated medicines (QD-medicine) could be safe in the experiment on the level of the cell. More over, when QD-cap was intravenously injected into Stroke-prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRSP), they reduced blood pressure at systole. Therefore, the anti-hypertension effect of cap remained after conjugated with the quantum dot. These results suggested that QD-medicine were effective on the animal level.

Bromovirus RNA Replication Compartment Formation Requires Concerted Action of 1a's Self-Interacting RNA Capping and Helicase Domains

PubMed Central

Diaz, Arturo; Gallei, Andreas

2012-01-01

All positive-strand RNA viruses replicate their genomes in association with rearranged intracellular membranes such as single- or double-membrane vesicles. Brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNA synthesis occurs in vesicular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane invaginations, each induced by many copies of viral replication protein 1a, which has N-terminal RNA capping and C-terminal helicase domains. Although the capping domain is responsible for 1a membrane association and ER targeting, neither this domain nor the helicase domain was sufficient to induce replication vesicle formation. Moreover, despite their potential for mutual interaction, the capping and helicase domains showed no complementation when coexpressed in trans. Cross-linking showed that the capping and helicase domains each form trimers and larger multimers in vivo, and the capping domain formed extended, stacked, hexagonal lattices in vivo. Furthermore, coexpressing the capping domain blocked the ability of full-length 1a to form replication vesicles and replicate RNA and recruited full-length 1a into mixed hexagonal lattices with the capping domain. Thus, BMV replication vesicle formation and RNA replication depend on the direct linkage and concerted action of 1a's self-interacting capping and helicase domains. In particular, the capping domain's strong dominant-negative effects showed that the ability of full-length 1a to form replication vesicles was highly sensitive to disruption by non-productively titrating lattice-forming self-interactions of the capping domain. These and other findings shed light on the roles and interactions of 1a domains in replication compartment formation and support prior results suggesting that 1a induces replication vesicles by forming a capsid-like interior shell. PMID:22090102

Plant bio-transformable HMG-CoA reductase gene loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticle: in vitro characterization and stability study.

PubMed

Ohadi R, Mehrnaz S; Alvari, Amene; Samim, M; Abdin, Malik Z

2013-03-01

Encapsulation of plasmid DNA in nanoparticle is expected to enhance the stability of DNA, reproducibility and frequency of the genetic transformation in plants. Here we report the formulation of HMG Co-A reductase gene loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles (Cap nanoparticles) and their in-vitro, in-vivo characterization. The developed Cap nanoparticles were characterized by DSC, FT-IR, and XRD. Developed Cap nanoparticles were spherical in shape having the particle size and zeta potential in the range of 10.86±0.09nm to 33.42±0.18nm and -25.5±0.07mV to -31.7±0.07mV (for Cap-I to Cap-IV). DNA releasing in acidic media showed, initially slow release followed by fast release with a maximum release of Cap-I (95.77±1.39%) > Cap-II (87.32±2.07%) > Cap-III (76.54±2.01%) > Cap-IV (72.93±1.75%) over 60min. Cap nanoparticles were quite stable at storage condition of 40±0.5°C/75±5%RH, 25±0.5°C/60±RH, 4±0.5°C/ambient humidity and the integrity of pDNA encapsulated was confirmed by gel electrophoresis. Compared to wild type C. intybus, transformation efficiency and enhanced biosynthesis of esculin with the DNA nanoparticles in C. intybus were about 10% and 71%, respectively. Antioxidant activity capacity of the biotransformed plants was significantly higher than the normal plant due to high accumulation of esculin.

Regulation of Seed Germination in the Close Arabidopsis Relative Lepidium sativum: A Global Tissue-Specific Transcript Analysis1[C][W][OA

PubMed Central

Morris, Karl; Linkies, Ada; Müller, Kerstin; Oracz, Krystyna; Wang, Xiaofeng; Lynn, James R.; Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard; Finch-Savage, William E.

2011-01-01

The completion of germination in Lepidium sativum and other endospermic seeds (e.g. Arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana]) is regulated by two opposing forces, the growth potential of the radicle (RAD) and the resistance to this growth from the micropylar endosperm cap (CAP) surrounding it. We show by puncture force measurement that the CAP progressively weakens during germination, and we have conducted a time-course transcript analysis of RAD and CAP tissues throughout this process. We have also used specific inhibitors to investigate the importance of transcription, translation, and posttranslation levels of regulation of endosperm weakening in isolated CAPs. Although the impact of inhibiting translation is greater, both transcription and translation are required for the completion of endosperm weakening in the whole seed population. The majority of genes expressed during this process occur in both tissues, but where they are uniquely expressed, or significantly differentially expressed between tissues, this relates to the functions of the RAD as growing tissue and the CAP as a regulator of germination through weakening. More detailed analysis showed that putative orthologs of cell wall-remodeling genes are expressed in a complex manner during CAP weakening, suggesting distinct roles in the RAD and CAP. Expression patterns are also consistent with the CAP being a receptor for environmental signals influencing germination. Inhibitors of the aspartic, serine, and cysteine proteases reduced the number of isolated CAPs in which weakening developed, and inhibition of the 26S proteasome resulted in its complete cessation. This indicates that targeted protein degradation is a major control point for endosperm weakening. PMID:21321254

Capsaicin-induced activation of ERK1/2 and its involvement in GAP-43 expression and CGRP depletion in organotypically cultured DRG neurons.

PubMed

Li, Yunfeng; Liu, Guixiang; Li, Hao; Xu, Youzheng; Zhang, Hong; Liu, Zhen

2013-04-01

Low concentrations of capsaicin (CAP) stimulate and high concentrations of CAP can be toxic to the primary sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). CAP induces the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) in DRG neurons. The effect of the activation of ERK1/2 by different concentrations of CAP on growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) expression and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) depletion in DRG neurons remains unknown. In the present study, organotypic embryonic 15-day-old rat DRG explants were used to determine the effect of different concentrations of CAP on GAP-43 expression and CGRP depletion. The results showed that, compared to unstimulated control cultures, GAP-43 and pERK1/2 protein levels increased at a low concentration (2 μmol/L) of CAP and decreased at a higher concentration (10 μmol/L). The number of CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) migrating neurons also decreased in CAP-treated cultures. The increase in GAP-43 levels and CGRP depletion could be blocked by the administration of ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. The results of the present study imply that CAP at different concentrations has different effects on GAP-43 expression and CGRP depletion. These effects were involved in the activation of ERK1/2 in organotypically cultured DRG neurons stimulated with CAP. These data may provide new insights for further development potential therapeutic applications of CAP with moderate dose on neurogenic inflammation.

Using Multimedia Tools to Support Teacher Candidates' Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Michael J.; Ely, Emily; Thomas, Cathy Newman; Pullen, Paige C.; Newton, Jennifer R.; Ashworth, Kristen; Cole, Mira T.; Lovelace, Shelly P.

2012-01-01

Content Acquisition Podcasts (CAPs), created using Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, are a form of instructional technology that can deliver critical course content and be used by teacher educators to conserve limited face-to-face instructional time. In this study, the authors investigate whether the sequence of instruction for CAP…

Counseling Families from a Systems Perspective. Highlights: An ERIC/CAPS Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Mary

This digest briefly reviews theoretical models for counseling dysfunctional familes, then discusses the use of systems theory in counseling families. It lists the characteristics of a dysfunctional family, explains family systems intervention, discusses the goals of family treatment, and describes several family systems counseling techniques. (NB)

New candidate markers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakurina, G. V.; Kolegova, E. S.; Cheremisina, O. V.; Kulbakin, D. E.; Choinzonov, E. L.

2017-09-01

The tumor progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the main causes of high mortality of the patients with HNSCC. The tumor progression, particularly the metastasis, is characterized by the changes in the composition, functions and structure of different proteins. We have previously shown that serum of HNSCC patients contains the proteins which regulate various cellular processes—adenylyl cyclase associated protein 1 (CAP1), protein phosphatase 1 B (PPM1B), etc. The levels of CAP1 and PPM1B were determined using the enzyme immunoassay. The results of this study show that CAP1 and PPM1B take a part in the progression of HNSCC. The levels of CAP1 and PPM1B in the tumor and in morphologically normal tissue depended on the prevalence of the tumor process. The CAP1 and PPM1B levels were significantly higher in tumor tissue of the patients with regional metastasis. Our data allow assuming the potential possibility for predicting the outcome of the HNSCC measuring the level of tissue CAP1.

Measuring atmospheric visibility cavity attenuated phase shift spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Guo; Ye, Shan-Shan; Yang, Xiao; Han, Ye-Xing; Tang, Huai-Wu; Yu, Zhi-Wei

2016-10-01

In the paper, an accurate and sensitive cavity attenuated phase shift spectroscopy (CAPS) system was used to monitor the atmospheric visibility coefficient in urban areas. The CAPS system, which detects the atmospheric visibility within a 10 nm bandpass centered at 532 nm, comprises a green LED with center wavelength in 532nm, a resonant optical cavity (36 cm length), a Photo Multiplier Tube detector and a lock in amplifier. The performance of the CAPS system was evaluated by measuring of the stability and response of the system. The minima ( 0.06 Mm-1) in the Allan plots show the optimum average time( 80s) for optimum detection performance of the CAPS system. The 2L/min flow rate, the CAPS system rise and fall response time is about 15 s, so as to realize the fast measurement of visibility. By comparing the forward scatter visibility meter measurement results, the CAPS system measurement results are verified reliably, and have high precision measurement. These figures indicate that this method has the potential to become one of the most sensitive on-line analytical techniques for atmospheric visibility detection.

New concepts concerning prostate cancer screening.

PubMed

Fillmore, Rebecca A; Kojima, Chinatsu; Johnson, Chevaun; Kolcun, Georgina; Dangott, Lawrence J; Zimmer, Warren E

2014-07-01

Prostate Cancer (CaP) is rapidly becoming a worldwide health issue. While CaP mortality has decreased in recent years, coincident with the widespread use of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, it remains the most common solid tumor in men and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The frequency of CaP is growing not only in western cultures, but also its incidence is dramatically increasing in eastern nations. Recently, examination of data from long-term trials and follow up has cast a shadow on the effectiveness of employing PSA as a primary screening tool for CaP. In this review, we not only summarize opinions from this examination and synthesize recommendations from several groups that suggest strategies for utilizing PSA as a tool, but also call for research into biomarkers for CaP diagnosis and disease progression. We also describe our recent work that identified a smooth muscle contractile protein in prostate epithelia, namely smooth muscle gamma actin, and indicate the potential for this molecule as a new unique footprint and as a CaP marker. © 2014 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Fast calculation of low altitude disturbing gravity for ballistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jianqiang; Wang, Fanghao; Tian, Shasha

2018-03-01

Fast calculation of disturbing gravity is a key technology in ballistics while spherical cap harmonic(SCH) theory can be used to solve this problem. By using adjusted spherical cap harmonic(ASCH) methods, the spherical cap coordinates are projected into a global coordinates, then the non-integer associated Legendre functions(ALF) of SCH are replaced by integer ALF of spherical harmonics(SH). This new method is called virtual spherical harmonics(VSH) and some numerical experiment were done to test the effect of VSH. The results of earth's gravity model were set as the theoretical observation, and the model of regional gravity field was constructed by the new method. Simulation results show that the approximated errors are less than 5mGal in the low altitude range of the central region. In addition, numerical experiments were conducted to compare the calculation speed of SH model, SCH model and VSH model, and the results show that the calculation speed of the VSH model is raised one order magnitude in a small scope.

Catastrophic cerebral antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as cerebral infarction with haemorrhagic transformation after sudden withdrawal of warfarin in a patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome

PubMed Central

Wani, Abdul Majid; Hussain, Waleed Mohd; Mejally, Mousa Ali Al; Ali, Khaled Shawkat; Raja, Sadeya Hanif; Maimani, Wael Al; Bafaraj, Mazen G; Bashraheel, Ashraf; Akhtar, Mubeena; Khoujah, Amer Mohd

2010-01-01

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is caused by thrombotic vascular occlusions that affect both small and large vessels, producing ischaemia in the affected organs. The “catastrophic” variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome (cAPS) develops over a short period of time. Although patients with cAPS represent <1% of all patients with APS, they are usually life threatening with a 50% mortality rate. A strong association with concomitant infection is thought to act as the main trigger of microthromboses in cAPS. Several theories have been proposed to explain these physiopathological features. Some of them suggest the possibility of molecular mimicry between components of infectious microorganisms and natural anticoagulants, which might be involved in the production of cross-reacting antiphospholipid antibodies. We present a case of catastrophic cerebral APS characterised by massive temporal lobe infarction and subsequent haemorrhagic transformation after sudden withdrawal of warfarin. PMID:22242060

Empirical investigation of a field theory formula and Black's formula for the price of an interest-rate caplet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baaquie, Belal E.; Liang, Cui

2007-01-01

The industry standard for pricing an interest-rate caplet is Black's formula. Another distinct price of the same caplet can be derived using a quantum field theory model of the forward interest rates. An empirical study is carried out to compare the two caplet pricing formulae. Historical volatility and correlation of forward interest rates are used to generate the field theory caplet price; another approach is to fit a parametric formula for the effective volatility using market caplet price. The study shows that the field theory model generates the price of a caplet and cap fairly accurately. Black's formula for a caplet is compared with field theory pricing formula. It is seen that the field theory formula for caplet price has many advantages over Black's formula.

Mars polar cap: a habitat for elementary life1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallis, M. K.; Wickramasinghe, N. C.

2009-04-01

Ices in the Martian polar caps are potential habitats for various species of microorganisms. Salts in the ice and biological anti-freeze polymers maintain liquid in cracks in the ices far below 0°C, possibly down to the mean 220-240 K. Sub-surface microbial life is shielded from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, but could potentially be activated on south-facing slopes under the midday, midsummer Sun. Such life would be limited by low levels of vapour, little transport of nutrients, low light levels below a protective dirt-crust, frost accumulation at night and in shadows, and little if any active translocation of organisms. As in the Antarctic and in permafrost, movement to new habitats depends on geo-climatic changes, which for Mars's north polar cap occur on a 50 000 year scale, except for rare meteorite impacts.

Eco-friendly Fibre from Recycled Polypropylene of Bottle Cap Waste and Lignin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soekoco, A. S.; Basuki, A.; Mardiyati

2016-01-01

Ecofriendly fibre is one of potential alternatives to fulfill the rising demand in textile material supply which is limited due to the decreasing reserve of oil. Large amount of polypropylene waste from bottle cap and lignin as a byproduct from pulp industry are potential solutions. Grinded polypropylene bottle cap was blended with lignin powder in concentration of 5 wt. % processed by melt spinning at 170° C temperature. The fibres produced have an average diameter 170 and 250 micrometres. In view of the mechanical properties. the tensile strength is 11.9 MPa for fibre with 170 micrometres diameter and 14.7 MPa for fibre with 250 micrometres diameter. Fibre surface morphology was further studied using micron microscope. and the result shows black flocks spread in the fibre. indicating that the lignin does not blend evenly.

Temperature Control and Numerical Analysis for Mass Concrete Pile Cap of Hai-huang Bridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Han; Hao, Yang; Yong-liang, Wang

2018-05-01

In order to study the heat of hydration in massive concrete, this paper takes Hai-huang bridge for engineering background and uses the finite element analysis software of FEA to analyze the heat of hydration effect of the cushion cap. Comparing the measured data with the theory data, the results showed that the concrete crack was controlled effectively and ensure the construction quality by adopted reasonable temperature control measures. The results of the research prove that the measured data was consistent with calculation data, and it proves the accuracy of the finite element analysis. Finally, the study provides certain reference and guiding significance for similar project.

Scaling for turbulent viscosity of buoyant plumes in stratified fluids: PIV measurement with implications for submarine hydrothermal plume turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wei; He, Zhiguo; Jiang, Houshuo

2017-11-01

Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been used to measure instantaneous two-dimensional velocity vector fields of laboratory-generated turbulent buoyant plumes in linearly stratified saltwater over extended periods of time. From PIV-measured time-series flow data, characteristics of plume mean flow and turbulence have been quantified. To be specific, maximum plume penetration scaling and entrainment coefficient determined from the mean flow agree well with the theory based on the entrainment hypothesis for buoyant plumes in stratified fluids. Besides the well-known persistent entrainment along the plume stem (i.e., the 'plume-stem' entrainment), the mean plume velocity field shows persistent entrainment along the outer edge of the plume cap (i.e., the 'plume-cap' entrainment), thereby confirming predictions from previous numerical simulation studies. To our knowledge, the present PIV investigation provides the first measured flow field data in the plume cap region. As to measured plume turbulence, both the turbulent kinetic energy field and the turbulence dissipation rate field attain their maximum close to the source, while the turbulent viscosity field reaches its maximum within the plume cap region; the results also show that maximum turbulent viscosity scales as νt,max = 0.030(B/N)1/2, where B is source buoyancy flux and N is ambient buoyancy frequency. These PIV data combined with previously published numerical simulation results have implications for understanding the roles of hydrothermal plume turbulence, i.e. plume turbulence within the cap region causes the 'plume-cap' entrainment that plays an equally important role as the 'plume-stem' entrainment in supplying the final volume flux at the plume spreading level.

Analysis of factors controlling sediment phosphorus flux potential of wetlands in Hulun Buir grassland by principal component and path analysis method.

PubMed

He, Jing; Su, Derong; Lv, Shihai; Diao, Zhaoyan; Ye, Shengxing; Zheng, Zhirong

2017-11-08

Phosphorus (P) flux potential can predict the trend of phosphorus release from wetland sediments to water and provide scientific parameters for further monitoring and management for phosphorus flux from wetland sediments to overlying water. Many studies have focused on factors affecting sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface, but rarely on the relationship among these factors. In the present study, experiment on sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface was conducted in six wetlands in Hulun Buir grassland, China and the relationships among sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface, sediment physical properties, and sediment chemical characteristics were examined. Principal component analysis and path analysis were used to discuss these data in correlation coefficient, direct, and indirect effects on sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface. Results indicated that the major factors affecting sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface were amount of organophosphate-degradation bacterium in sediment, Ca-P content, and total phosphorus concentrations. The factors of direct influence sediment P flux potential were sediment Ca-P content, Olsen-P content, SOC content, and sediment Al-P content. The indirect influence sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface was sediment Olsen-P content, sediment SOC content, sediment Ca-P content, and sediment Al-P content. And the standard multiple regression describing the relationship between sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface and its major effect factors was Y = 5.849 - 1.025X 1  - 1.995X 2  + 0.188X 3  - 0.282X 4 (r = 0.9298, p < 0.01, n = 96), where Y is sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface, X 1 is sediment Ca-P content, X 2 is sediment Olsen-P content, X 3 is sediment SOC content, and X 4 is sediment Al-P content. Therefore, future research will focus on these sediment properties to analyze the interrelation among sediment properties factors, main vegetable factors, and environment factors which influence the sediment P flux potential in sediment-water interface.

A Pedagogical Note on the Superiority of Price-Cap Regulation to Rate-of-Return Regulation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Currier, Kevin M.; Jackson, Brian K.

2008-01-01

The two forms of natural monopoly regulation that are typically discussed in intermediate microeconomics textbooks are marginal cost pricing and average cost pricing (rate-of-return regulation). However, within the last 20 years, price-cap regulation has largely replaced rate-of-return regulation because of the former's potential to generate more…

Enantioselective analysis of chloramphenicol residues in honey samples by chiral LC-MS/MS and results of a honey survey.

PubMed

Rimkus, Gerhard G; Hoffmann, Dirk

2017-06-01

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used widely in both human and veterinary medication. Since 1994, CAP has not been authorised for use in food-producing animals in the European Union due to several adverse effects. A minimum required performance level (MRPL) of 0.3 µg kg - 1 was established in 2003. The CAP molecule contains two asymmetric centres, thus in total four para-CAP stereoisomers exist. Only the RR-CAP enantiomer is bioactive, having significant antimicrobial activity. For the first time a chiral LC-MS/MS method is reported to identify and quantify the four CAP enantiomers at residue levels in honey samples. The method was validated at two concentration levels. The decision limits (CCα) and detection capabilities (CCß) were well below 0.3 µg kg - 1 , with limits of quantification (LOQs) between 0.08 and 0.12 µg kg - 1 for all four enantiomers. The method provides a sensitive and reliable analysis of CAP enantiomers in honey, and proved its robustness during the daily routine analyses of numerous honey samples. In an internal honey survey, in total 40 honey samples from different geographical regions with identified CAP residues at or above the MRPL were reanalysed by chiral LC-MS/MS. In nine honey samples only the bioactive RR-CAP was detected as anticipated. However, in all other 31 honey samples the non-bioactive SS-CAP was also identified and quantified unambiguously. In 10 of these samples, mixtures of RR- and SS-CAP were analysed, and in 21 samples only the SS-CAP enantiomer, with concentrations up to 2.2 µg kg - 1 . Most of these samples are honeys from Ukraine and Eastern Europe. This is the first report of SS-CAP residues in food samples. The potential sources for these findings are discussed and the need of further systematic studies emphasised. It is recommended to examine in more depth the toxicological profile of the individual CAP stereoisomers.

Economic growth and biodiversity loss in an age of tradable permits.

PubMed

Rosales, Jon

2006-08-01

Tradable permits are increasingly becoming part of environmental policy and conservation programs. The efficacy of tradable permit schemes in addressing the root cause of environmental decline-economic growth--will not be achieved unless the schemes cap economic activity based on ecological thresholds. Lessons can be learned from the largest tradable permit scheme to date, emissions trading now being implemented with the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol caps neither greenhouse gas emissions at a level that will achieve climate stability nor economic growth. If patterned after the Kyoto Protocol, cap-and-trade schemes for conservation will not ameliorate biodiversity loss either because they will not address economic growth. In response to these failures to cap economic growth, professional organizations concerned about biodiversity conservation should release position statements on economic growth and ecological thresholds. The statements can then be used by policy makers to infuse these positions into the local, national, and international environmental science-policy process when these schemes are being developed. Infusing language into the science-policy process that calls for capping economic activity based on ecological thresholds represents sound conservation science. Most importantly, position statements have a greater potential to ameliorate biodiversity loss if they are created and released than if this information remains within professional organizations because there is the potential for these ideas to be enacted into law and policy.

Polysaccharide-capped silver Nanoparticles inhibit biofilm formation and eliminate multi-drug-resistant bacteria by disrupting bacterial cytoskeleton with reduced cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanyasi, Sridhar; Majhi, Rakesh Kumar; Kumar, Satish; Mishra, Mitali; Ghosh, Arnab; Suar, Mrutyunjay; Satyam, Parlapalli Venkata; Mohapatra, Harapriya; Goswami, Chandan; Goswami, Luna

2016-04-01

Development of effective anti-microbial therapeutics has been hindered by the emergence of bacterial strains with multi-drug resistance and biofilm formation capabilities. In this article, we report an efficient green synthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) by in situ reduction and capping with a semi-synthetic polysaccharide-based biopolymer (carboxymethyl tamarind polysaccharide). The CMT-capped AgNPs were characterized by UV, DLS, FE-SEM, EDX and HR-TEM. These AgNPs have average particle size of ~20-40 nm, and show long time stability, indicated by their unchanged SPR and Zeta-potential values. These AgNPs inhibit growth and biofilm formation of both Gram positive (B. subtilis) and Gram negative (E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium) bacterial strains even at concentrations much lower than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints of antibiotics, but show reduced or no cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. These AgNPs alter expression and positioning of bacterial cytoskeletal proteins FtsZ and FtsA. CMT-capped AgNPs can effectively block growth of several clinical isolates and MDR strains representing different genera and resistant towards multiple antibiotics belonging to different classes. We propose that the CMT-capped AgNPs can have potential bio-medical application against multi-drug-resistant microbes with minimal cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells.

Polysaccharide-capped silver Nanoparticles inhibit biofilm formation and eliminate multi-drug-resistant bacteria by disrupting bacterial cytoskeleton with reduced cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells

PubMed Central

Sanyasi, Sridhar; Majhi, Rakesh Kumar; Kumar, Satish; Mishra, Mitali; Ghosh, Arnab; Suar, Mrutyunjay; Satyam, Parlapalli Venkata; Mohapatra, Harapriya; Goswami, Chandan; Goswami, Luna

2016-01-01

Development of effective anti-microbial therapeutics has been hindered by the emergence of bacterial strains with multi-drug resistance and biofilm formation capabilities. In this article, we report an efficient green synthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) by in situ reduction and capping with a semi-synthetic polysaccharide-based biopolymer (carboxymethyl tamarind polysaccharide). The CMT-capped AgNPs were characterized by UV, DLS, FE-SEM, EDX and HR-TEM. These AgNPs have average particle size of ~20–40 nm, and show long time stability, indicated by their unchanged SPR and Zeta-potential values. These AgNPs inhibit growth and biofilm formation of both Gram positive (B. subtilis) and Gram negative (E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium) bacterial strains even at concentrations much lower than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints of antibiotics, but show reduced or no cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. These AgNPs alter expression and positioning of bacterial cytoskeletal proteins FtsZ and FtsA. CMT-capped AgNPs can effectively block growth of several clinical isolates and MDR strains representing different genera and resistant towards multiple antibiotics belonging to different classes. We propose that the CMT-capped AgNPs can have potential bio-medical application against multi-drug-resistant microbes with minimal cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells. PMID:27125749

Contribution of the Antibiotic Chloramphenicol and Its Analogues as Precursors of Dichloroacetamide and Other Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water.

PubMed

Chu, Wenhai; Krasner, Stuart W; Gao, Naiyun; Templeton, Michael R; Yin, Daqiang

2016-01-05

Dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a disinfection byproduct, has been detected in drinking water. Previous research showed that amino acids may be DCAcAm precursors. However, other precursors may be present. This study explored the contribution of the antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAP) and two of its analogues (thiamphenicol, TAP; florfenicol, FF) (referred to collectively as CAPs), which occur in wastewater-impacted source waters, to the formation of DCAcAm. Their formation yields were compared to free and combined amino acids, and they were investigated in filtered waters from drinking-water-treatment plants, heavily wastewater-impacted natural waters, and secondary effluents from wastewater treatment plants. CAPs had greater DCAcAm formation potential than two representative amino acid precursors. However, in drinking waters with ng/L levels of CAPs, they will not contribute as much to DCAcAm formation as the μg/L levels of amino acids. Also, the effect of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) on DCAcAm formation from CAPs in real water samples during subsequent chlorination was evaluated. Preoxidation of CAPs with AOPs reduced the formation of DCAcAm during postchlorination. The results of this study suggest that CAPs should be considered as possible precursors of DCAcAm, especially in heavily wastewater-impacted waters.

Neoproterozoic cap-dolostone deposition in stratified glacial meltwater plume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chao; Wang, Zhengrong; Raub, Timothy D.; Macdonald, Francis A.; Evans, David A. D.

2014-10-01

Neoproterozoic cap carbonates host distinctive geochemical and sedimentological features that reflect prevailing conditions in the aftermath of Snowball Earth. Interpretation of these features has remained contentious, with hypotheses hinging upon timescale and synchronicity of deposition, and whether or not geochemical signatures of cap carbonates represent those of a well-mixed ocean. Here we present new high-resolution Sr and Mg isotope results from basal Ediacaran cap dolostones in South Australia and Mongolia. Least-altered Sr and Mg isotope compositions of carbonates are identified through a novel incremental leaching technique that monitors the purity of a carbonate sample and the effects of diagenesis. These data can be explained by the formation of these cap dolostones involving two chemically distinct solutions, a glacial meltwater plume enriched in radiogenic Sr, and a saline ocean residue with relatively lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Model simulations suggest that these water bodies remained dynamically stratified during part of cap-dolostone deposition, most likely lasting for ∼8 thousand years. Our results can potentially reconcile previous conflicts between timescales estimated from physical mixing models and paleomagnetic constraints. Geochemical data from cap carbonates used to interpret the nature of Snowball Earth and its aftermath should be recast in terms of a chemically distinct meltwater plume.

NESHAP Area-Specific Dose-Release Factors for Potential Onsite Member-of-the-Public Locations at SRS using CAP88-PC Version 4.0

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

Trimor, P.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the use of the computer model CAP88-PC to estimate the total effective doses (TED) for demonstrating compliance with 40 CFR 61, Subpart H (EPA 2006), the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations. As such, CAP88 Version 4.0 was used to calculate the receptor dose due to routine atmospheric releases at the Savannah River Site (SRS). For estimation, NESHAP dose-release factors (DRFs) have been supplied to Environmental Compliance and Area Closure Projects (EC&ACP) for many years. DRFs represent the dose to a maximum receptor exposed to 1 Ci of a specified radionuclidemore » being released into the atmosphere. They are periodically updated to include changes in the CAP88 version, input parameter values, site meteorology, and location of the maximally exposed individual (MEI). In this report, the DRFs were calculated for potential radionuclide atmospheric releases from 13 SRS release points. The three potential onsite MEI locations to be evaluated are B-Area, Three Rivers Landfill (TRL), and Savannah River Ecology Lab Conference Center (SRELCC) with TRL’s onsite workers considered as members-of-the-public, and the potential future constructions of dormitories at SRELCC and Barracks at B-Area. Each MEI location was evaluated at a specified compass sector with different area to receptor distances and was conducted for both ground-level and elevated release points. The analysis makes use of area-specific meteorological data (Viner 2014). The resulting DRFs are compared to the 2014 NESHAP offsite MEI DRFs for three operational areas; A-Area, H-Area, and COS for a release rate of 1 Ci of tritium oxide at 0 ft. elevation. CAP88 was executed again using the 2016 NESHAP MEI release rates for 0 and 61 m stack heights to determine the radionuclide dose at TRL from the center-of-site (COS).« less

INNOVATIVE IN-SITU REMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS FOR SIMULTANEOUS CONTROL OF CONTAMINATION AND EROSION

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

Knox, A; Michael Paller, M; Danny D. Reible, D

2007-11-28

New technologies are needed that neutralize contaminant toxicity and control physical transport mechanisms that mobilize sediment contaminants. The last 12 months of this comprehensive project investigated the use of combinations of sequestering agents to develop in situ active sediment caps that stabilize mixtures of contaminants and act as a barrier to mechanical disturbance under a broad range of environmental conditions. Efforts focused on the selection of effective sequestering agents for use in active caps, the composition of active caps, and the effects of active cap components on contaminant bioavailability and retention. Results from this project showed that phosphate amendments, somemore » organoclays, and the biopolymer, chitosan, were very effective at removing metals from both fresh and salt water. These amendments also exhibited high retention (80% or more) of most metals indicating reduced potential for remobilization to the water column. Experiments on metal speciation and retention in contaminated sediment showed that apatite and organoclay can immobilize a broad range of metals under both reduced and oxidized conditions. These studies were followed by sequential extractions to evaluate the bioavailability and retention of metals in treated sediments. Metal fractions recovered in early extraction steps are more likely to be bioavailable and were termed the Potentially Mobile Fraction (PMF). Less bioavailable fractions collected in later extraction steps were termed the Recalcitrant Factor (RF). Apatite and organoclay reduced the PMF and increased the RF for several elements, especially Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Cd. Empirically determined partitioning coefficients and modeling studies were used to assess the retention of organic contaminants on selected sequestering agents. Organoclays exhibited exceptionally high sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as indicated by a comparison of K{sub d} values among 12 amendments. These results suggested that organoclays have high potential for controlling organic contaminants. Measured partitioning coefficients were used to model the time required for a contaminant to penetrate sediment caps composed of organoclay. The results showed that a thin layer of highly sorptive organoclay can lead to very long migration times, perhaps longer than the expected lifetime of the contaminant in the sediment environment. A one-dimensional numerical model was used to examine the diffusion of metals through several cap material based on measured and assumed material and transport properties. These studies showed that active caps composed of apatite or organoclay have the potential to delay contaminant breakthrough due to diffusion by hundreds of years or more compared with passive caps composed of sand. Advectively dominated column experiments are currently underway to define effective sorption related retardation factors in promising amendments for various hydrophobic organic compounds. Upon completion of these experiments, advection transient models will be used to estimate the time required for the breakthrough of various contaminants in caps composed of different experimental materials. Biopolymer products for inclusion in active caps were evaluated on the basis of resistance to biodegradation, sorption capacity for organic and inorganic contaminants, and potential for erosion control. More than 20 biopolymer products were evaluated resulting in the selection of chitosan/guar gum cross-linked with borax and xanthan/chitosan cross-linked with calcium chloride for inclusion in active caps to produce a barrier that resists mechanical disturbance. A process was developed for coating sand with cross-linked biopolymers to provide a means for delivery to the sediment surface. Properties of biopolymer coated sand such as carbon fraction (indicating biopolymer coverage), porosity, bulk density, and biodegradability have been evaluated, and experiments are currently underway to assess the resistance of biopolymer coated sand to erosion. Although the ability of active cap materials to remediate contaminants has been emphasized in this study, it is also important to ensure that these materials do not have deleterious effects on the environment. Therefore, promising amendments were evaluated for toxicity using 10 day sediment toxicity tests, the standardized Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), and measurement of metal concentrations in aqueous extracts from the amendments. Metal concentrations were below TCLP limits, EPA ambient water quality criteria, and other ecological screening values These results showed that apatite, organoclay, and biopolymer coated sand do not release metals. The sediment toxicity tests indicated that apatite and biopolymer coated sand are unlikely to adversely affect benthic organisms, even when used in high concentrations.« less

Traditional Japanese medicines inhibit compound action potentials in the frog sciatic nerve.

PubMed

Matsushita, Akitomo; Fujita, Tsugumi; Ohtsubo, Sena; Kumamoto, Eiichi

2016-02-03

Traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicines have a variety of clinical effects including pain alleviation, but evidence for a mechanism for their pain relief has not yet been elucidated fully. Considering that Kampo medicine contains many plant-derived chemicals having an ability to inhibit nerve action potential conduction, it is possible that this medicine inhibits nerve conduction. The purpose of the present study was to know how various Kampo medicines affect nerve conduction. We examined the effects of Kampo and crude medicines on compound action potentials (CAPs) recorded from the frog sciatic nerve by using the air-gap method. Daikenchuto, rikkosan, kikyoto, rikkunshito, shakuyakukanzoto and kakkonto concentration-dependently reduced the peak amplitude of the CAP. Among the Kampo medicines, daikenchuto was the most effective in inhibiting CAPs. Daikenchuto is composed of three kinds of crude medicine, Japanese pepper, processed ginger and ginseng radix. When the crude medicines were tested, Japanese pepper and processed ginger reduced CAP peak amplitudes, while ginseng radix hardly affected CAPs. Moreover, there was an interaction between the Japanese pepper and processed ginger activities in such that one medicine at low but not high concentrations increased the extent of the inhibition by the other one that was co-applied. Kampo medicines have an ability to inhibit nerve conduction. This action of daikenchuto is due to Japanese pepper and processed ginger but not ginseng radix, probably through an interaction between Japanese pepper and processed ginger in a manner dependent on their concentrations. Nerve conduction inhibition could contribute to at least a part of Kampo medicine's clinical effects such as pain alleviation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strategy for Improved Representation of Magnetospheric Electric Potential Structure on a Polar-Capped Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulz, M.

2016-12-01

In some simple models of magnetospheric electrodynamics [e.g., Volland, Ann. Géophys., 31, 159-173, 1975], the normal component of the convection electric field is discontinuous across the boundary between closed and open magnetic field lines, and this discontinuity facilitates the formation of auroral arcs there. The requisite discontinuity in E is achieved by making the scalar potential proportional to a positive power (typically 1 or 2) of L on closed field lines and to a negative power (typically -1/2) of L on open (i.e., polar-cap) field lines. This suggests that it may be advantageous to construct more realistic (and thus more complicated) empirical magnetospheric and ionospheric electric-field models from superpositions of mutually orthogonal (or not) vector basis functions having this same analytical property (i.e., discontinuity at L = L*, the boundary surface between closed and open magnetic field lines). The present work offers a few examples of such constructions. A major challenge in this project has been to devise a coordinate system that simplifies the required analytical expansions of electric scalar potentials and accommodates the anti-sunward offset of each polar-cap boundary's centroid with respect to the corresponding magnetic pole. For circular northern and southern polar caps containing equal amounts of magnetic flux, one can imagine a geometrical construction of nested circular (but non-concentric) contours of constant quasi-latitude whose centers converge toward the magnetic poles as the contours themselves approach the magnetic equator. For more general polar-cap shapes and (in any case) to assure mutual orthogonality of respective coordinate surfaces on a spherical ionosphere, a formulation based on harmonic coordinates (expanded from eigen-solutions of the two-dimensional Laplace equation) may be preferable.

Interaction of Tamoxifen and noise induced damage to the cochlea

PubMed Central

Pillai, Jagan A; Siegel, Jonathan H

2011-01-01

Tamoxifen has been used extensively in the treatment of breast cancer and other neoplasms. In addition to its well-known action on estrogen receptors it is also known to acutely block chloride channels that participate in cell volume regulation. Tamoxifen’s role in preventing cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) swelling in vitro suggested that OHC swelling noted following noise exposure could potentially be a therapeutic target for Tamoxifen in its role as a chloride channel blocker to help prevent noise induced hearing loss. To investigate this possiblity, the effects of exposure to Tamoxifen on physiologic measures of cochlear function in the presence and absence of subsequent noise exposure were studied. Male Mongolian gerbils (2–4 months old) were randomly assigned to different groups. Tamoxifen at ~10 mg/kg was administered to one of the groups. Five hours later they were exposed to a one-third octave band of noise centered at 8 kHz in a sound isolation chamber for 30 minutes at 108dB SPL. Compound action potential (CAP) thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels were measured 30–35 days following noise exposure. Tamoxifen administration did not produce any changes in CAP thresholds and DPOAE levels when administered by itself in the absence of noise. Tamoxifen causes a significant increase in CAP thresholds from 8–15 kHz following noise exposure compared to CAP thresholds in animals exposed to noise alone. No significant differences were seen in the DPOAE levels the f2 = 8–15 kHz frequency range where maximum noise-induced increases in CAP thresholds were seen. Contrary to our original expectation, it is concluded that Tamoxifen potentiates the degree of damage to the cochlea resulting from noise exposure. PMID:21907781

Morphological and functional changes in RAW264 macrophage-like cells in response to a hydrated layer of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite.

PubMed

Igeta, Kazuki; Kuwamura, Yuta; Horiuchi, Naohiro; Nozaki, Kosuke; Shiraishi, Daichi; Aizawa, Mamoru; Hashimoto, Kazuaki; Yamashita, Kimihiro; Nagai, Akiko

2017-04-01

Synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) is used clinically as a material for bone prostheses owing to its good bone-bonding ability; however, it does not contribute to bone remodeling. Carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite (CAp) has greater bioresorption capacity than HAp while having similar bone-bonding potential, and is therefore considered as a next promising material for bone prostheses. However, the effects of the CAp instability on inflammatory and immune responses are unknown in detail. Here, we show that the surface layer of CAp is more hydrated than that of HAp and induces changes in the shape and function of macrophage-like cells. HAp and CAp were synthesized by wet method and molded into disks. The carbonate content of CAp disks was 6.2% as determined by Fourier transform (FT) infrared spectral analysis. Diffuse reflectance infrared FT analysis confirmed that physisorbed water and surface hydroxyl groups (OH - ) were increased whereas structural OH - was decreased on the CAp as compared to the HAp surface. The degree of hydroxylation in CAp was comparable to that in bone-apatite structures, and the CAp surface exhibited greater hydrophilicity and solubility than HAp. We investigated immune responses to these materials by culturing RAW264 cells (macrophage precursors) on their surfaces. Cell spreading on the CAp disk was suppressed and the secretion level of inflammatory cytokines was reduced as compared to cells grown on HAp. These results indicate that the greater surface hydration of CAp surface can attenuate adverse inflammatory responses to implanted bone prostheses composed of this material. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1063-1070, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Time Lapse to Colorectal Cancer: Telomere Dynamics Define the Malignant Potential of Polyps.

PubMed

Druliner, Brooke R; Ruan, Xiaoyang; Johnson, Ruth; Grill, Diane; O'Brien, Daniel; Lai, Tsung-Po; Rashtak, Shahrooz; Felmlee-Devine, Donna; Washechek-Aletto, Jill; Malykh, Andrei; Smyrk, Thomas; Oberg, Ann; Liu, Hongfang; Shay, Jerry W; Ahlquist, David A; Boardman, Lisa A

2016-09-01

Whereas few adenomas become cancer, most colorectal cancers arise from adenomas. Telomere length is a recognized biomarker in multiple cancers, and telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) are exploited by malignant cells. We sought to determine whether telomere length and TMM distinguish cancer-associated adenomas from those that are cancer-free. Tissues were identified as cancer-adjacent polyp (CAP)-residual adenoma contiguous with cancer-and cancer-free polyp (CFP)-adenomas without malignancy. Telomere length, TMM, and expression were measured in 102 tissues including peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), normal colon epithelium, adenoma, and cancer (in CAP cases) from 31 patients. Telomere length was measured in a separate cohort of 342 PBL from CAP and CFP patients. The mean differences in telomere length between normal and adenoma were greater in CAP than in CFP cases, P=0.001; telomere length in PBL was 91.7 bp greater in CAP than in CFP, P=0.007. Each 100 bp telomere increase was associated with a 1.14 (1.04-1.26) increased odds of being a CAP, P=0.0063. The polyp tissue from CAP patients had shorter telomeres and higher Telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression compared with polyps from CFP patients, P=0.05. There was a greater degree of alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) level difference in CFP polyps than in CAP polyps. The polyp telomere lengths of aggressive CAPs were significantly different from the polyps of non-aggressive CAPs, P=0.01. Adenomas that progress to cancer exhibit distinct telomere length and TMM profiles. We report for the first time that PBL telomeres differ in patients with polyps that become malignant, and therefore may have clinical value in adenoma risk assessment and management.

Negative life events and school adjustment among Chinese nursing students: The mediating role of psychological capital.

PubMed

Liu, Chunqin; Zhao, Yuanyuan; Tian, Xiaohong; Zou, Guiyuan; Li, Ping

2015-06-01

Adjustment difficulties of college students are common and their school adjustment has gained wide concern in recent years. Negative life events and psychological capital (PsyCap) have been associated with school adjustment. However, the potential impact of negative life events on PsyCap, and whether PsyCap mediates the relationship between negative life events and school adjustment among nursing students have not been studied. To investigate the relationship among negative life events, PsyCap, and school adjustment among five-year vocational high school nursing students in China and the mediating role of PsyCap between negative life events and school adjustment. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted. 643 five-year vocational high school nursing students were recruited from three public high vocational colleges in Shandong of China. Adolescent Self-Rating Life Event Checklist (ASLEC), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire for Adolescent Students scale (PCQAS), and the Chinese College Student Adjustment Scale (CCSAS) were used in this study. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to explore the mediating role of PsyCap. Negative life events were negatively associated with the dimensions of school adjustment (interpersonal relationship adaptation, learning adaptation, campus life adaptation, career adaptation, emotional adaptation, self-adaptation, and degree of satisfaction). PsyCap was positively associated with the dimensions of school adjustment and negatively associated with negative life events. PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between negative life events and school adjustment. Negative life events may increase the risk of school maladjustment in individuals with low PsyCap. Interventions designed to increase nursing students' PsyCap might buffer the stress of adverse life events, and thereby, enhance students' positive adjustment to school. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Crystal structure of Au25(SePh)18 nanoclusters and insights into their electronic, optical and catalytic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Yongbo; Zhong, Juan; Yang, Sha; Wang, Shuxin; Cao, Tiantian; Zhang, Jun; Li, Peng; Hu, Daqiao; Pei, Yong; Zhu, Manzhou

2014-10-01

The crystal structure of selenolate-capped Au25(SePh)18- nanoclusters has been unambiguously determined for the first time, and provides a solid basis for a deeper understanding of the structure-property relationships. The selenolate-capped Au25 cluster shows noticeable differences from the previously reported Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18- counterpart, albeit both share the icosahedral Au13 core and semi-ring Au2(SeR)3 or Au2(SR)3 motifs. Distinct differences in the electronic structure and optical, catalytic and electrochemical properties are revealed by the coupling experiments with density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Overall, the successful determination of the Au25(SePh)18- structure removes any ambiguity about its structure, and comparison with the thiolated Au25 counterpart helps us to further understand how the ligands affect the properties of the nanocluster.The crystal structure of selenolate-capped Au25(SePh)18- nanoclusters has been unambiguously determined for the first time, and provides a solid basis for a deeper understanding of the structure-property relationships. The selenolate-capped Au25 cluster shows noticeable differences from the previously reported Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18- counterpart, albeit both share the icosahedral Au13 core and semi-ring Au2(SeR)3 or Au2(SR)3 motifs. Distinct differences in the electronic structure and optical, catalytic and electrochemical properties are revealed by the coupling experiments with density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. Overall, the successful determination of the Au25(SePh)18- structure removes any ambiguity about its structure, and comparison with the thiolated Au25 counterpart helps us to further understand how the ligands affect the properties of the nanocluster. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr04631e

Estimation of geopotential differences over intercontinental locations using satellite and terrestrial measurements. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pavlis, Nikolaos K.

1991-01-01

An error analysis study was conducted in order to assess the current accuracies and the future anticipated improvements in the estimation of geopotential differences over intercontinental locations. An observation/estimation scheme was proposed and studied, whereby gravity disturbance measurements on the Earth's surface, in caps surrounding the estimation points, are combined with corresponding data in caps directly over these points at the altitude of a low orbiting satellite, for the estimation of the geopotential difference between the terrestrial stations. The mathematical modeling required to relate the primary observables to the parameters to be estimated, was studied for the terrestrial data and the data at altitude. Emphasis was placed on the examination of systematic effects and on the corresponding reductions that need to be applied to the measurements to avoid systematic errors. The error estimation for the geopotential differences was performed using both truncation theory and least squares collocation with ring averages, in case observations on the Earth's surface only are used. The error analysis indicated that with the currently available global geopotential model OSU89B and with gravity disturbance data in 2 deg caps surrounding the estimation points, the error of the geopotential difference arising from errors in the reference model and the cap data is about 23 kgal cm, for 30 deg station separation.

Ionic Substitutions in Non-Apatitic Calcium Phosphates

PubMed Central

Laskus, Aleksandra; Kolmas, Joanna

2017-01-01

Calcium phosphate materials (CaPs) are similar to inorganic part of human mineralized tissues (i.e., bone, enamel, and dentin). Owing to their high biocompatibility, CaPs, mainly hydroxyapatite (HA), have been investigated for their use in various medical applications. One of the most widely used ways to improve the biological and physicochemical properties of HA is ionic substitution with trace ions. Recent developments in bioceramics have already demonstrated that introducing foreign ions is also possible in other CaPs, such as tricalcium phosphates (amorphous as well as α and β crystalline forms) and brushite. The purpose of this paper is to review recent achievements in the field of non-apatitic CaPs substituted with various ions. Particular attention will be focused on tricalcium phosphates (TCP) and “additives” such as magnesium, zinc, strontium, and silicate ions, all of which have been widely investigated thanks to their important biological role. This review also highlights some of the potential biomedical applications of non-apatitic substituted CaPs. PMID:29186932

Forum: Communication Activism Pedagogy. Look to Our Campuses for Focus and Inspiration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McConnell, Kathleen F.

2017-01-01

Lawrence R. Frey and David L. Palmer describe communication activism pedagogy (CAP) as "putting meat on critical pedagogy's theoretical bones" and applying theory to real-life activist movements (Frey & Palmer 2014). Their hope is to inspire students "beyond matriculation to develop their roles as activists," and Frey and…

Evaluating the Relationship between Naturalistic Content Acquisition Podcast Views and Course Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Michael J.; Alves, Kat D.; Miciak, Jeremy; Romig, John; Mathews, Hannah Morris; Thomas, Cathy Newman

2016-01-01

Content Acquisition Podcasts for Teachers (CAP-T) are a form of multimedia-based instruction that are supported by an empirical record of effectiveness and are grounded in Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning and accompanying instructional design principles. In this study, 162 students enrolled in an introductory course in special…

Developing and testing a positive theory of instrument choice: Renewable energy policy in the fifty American states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciocirlan, Cristina E.

The environmental economics literature consistently suggests that properly designed and implemented economic incentives are superior to command-and-control regulation in reducing pollution. Economic incentives, such as green taxes, cap-and-trade programs, tax incentives, are able to reduce pollution in a cost-effective manner, provide flexibility to industry and stimulate innovation in cleaner technologies. In the past few decades, both federal and state governments have shown increased use of economic incentives in environmental policy. Some states have embraced them in an active manner, while others have failed to do so. This research uses a three-step analysis. First, it asks why some states employ more economic incentives than others to stimulate consumption of renewable energy by the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Second, it asks why some states employ stronger incentives than others. And third, it asks why certain states employ certain instruments, such as electricity surcharges, cap-and-trade programs, tax incentives or grants, while others do not. The first two analyses were conducted using factor analysis and multiple regression analysis, while the third analysis employed logistic regression models to analyze the data. Data for all three analyses were obtained from a combination of primary and secondary sources. To address these questions, a theory of instrument choice at the state level, which includes both internal and external determinants of policy-making, was developed and tested. The state level of analysis was chosen. States have proven to be pioneers in designing policies to address greenhouse gases (see, for instance, the recent cap-and-trade legislation passed in California). The theory was operationalized with the help of four models: needs/responsiveness, interest group influence, professionalism/capacity and innovation-and-diffusion. The needs/responsiveness model suggests that states tend to choose more and stronger economic incentives when they are more dependent on conventional sources of energy, such as coal, oil and gas or when they have the potential to produce renewable energy. The interest group influence model suggests that instrument choice is ultimately a political decision, most likely to benefit some groups more than others. The professionalism/capacity model posits that states with more professional legislatures, with legislators who make more use of policy analysis, with more capacity to generate nonpartisan policy research and with larger agencies tend to employ more and stronger instruments to stimulate renewable energy consumption and production. And last, the innovation-and-diffusion model suggests that states with a proven innovation record in climate change tend to employ more and stronger economic incentives than states without such record. Also, this model explains states' instrument choice decisions as a function of the choices made by their neighbors.

Phase Composition Control of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles for Tunable Drug Delivery Kinetics and Treatment of Osteomyelitis. Part 1: Preparation and Drug Release

PubMed Central

Uskoković, Vuk; Desai, Tejal A.

2012-01-01

Developed in this study is a multifunctional material for simultaneous osseoinduction and drug delivery, potentially applicable in the treatment of osteomyelitis. It is composed of agglomerates of nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CAP) with different monophasic contents. The drug loading capacity and the release kinetics were investigated on two model drug compounds with different chemical structures, sizes and adsorption propensities: bovine serum albumin and fluorescein. Loading of CAP powders with small molecule drugs was achieved by physisorption and desiccation-induced agglomeration of nanoparticulate subunits into microscopic blocks. The material dissolution rate and the drug release rate depended on the nature of the CAP phase, decreasing from monocalcium phosphate to monetite to amorphous CAP and calcium pyrophosphate to hydroxyapatite. The sustained release of the two model drugs was shown to be directly relatable to the degradation rate of CAP carriers. It was demonstrated that the degradation rate of the carrier and the drug release kinetics could be made tunable within the time scale of 1–2 h for the most soluble CAP phase, monocalcium phosphate, to 1–2 years for the least soluble one, hydroxyapatite. From the standpoint of antibiotic therapy for osteomyelitis, typically lasting for six weeks, the most prospective CAP powder was amorphous CAP with its release time scale for a small organic molecule, the same category to which antibiotics belong, of 1 – 2 months under the conditions applied in our experiments. By combining these different CAP phases in various proportions, drug release profiles could be tailored to the therapeutic occasion. PMID:23115118

Glacial isostatic uplift of the European Alps

PubMed Central

Mey, Jürgen; Scherler, Dirk; Wickert, Andrew D.; Egholm, David L.; Tesauro, Magdala; Schildgen, Taylor F.; Strecker, Manfred R.

2016-01-01

Following the last glacial maximum (LGM), the demise of continental ice sheets induced crustal rebound in tectonically stable regions of North America and Scandinavia that is still ongoing. Unlike the ice sheets, the Alpine ice cap developed in an orogen where the measured uplift is potentially attributed to tectonic shortening, lithospheric delamination and unloading due to deglaciation and erosion. Here we show that ∼90% of the geodetically measured rock uplift in the Alps can be explained by the Earth’s viscoelastic response to LGM deglaciation. We modelled rock uplift by reconstructing the Alpine ice cap, while accounting for postglacial erosion, sediment deposition and spatial variations in lithospheric rigidity. Clusters of excessive uplift in the Rhône Valley and in the Eastern Alps delineate regions potentially affected by mantle processes, crustal heterogeneity and active tectonics. Our study shows that even small LGM ice caps can dominate present-day rock uplift in tectonically active regions. PMID:27830704

Mechanical properties of new dental pulp-capping materials.

PubMed

Nielsen, Matthew J; Casey, Jeffery A; VanderWeele, Richard A; Vandewalle, Kraig S

2016-01-01

The mechanical properties of pulp-capping materials may affect their resistance to fracture during placement of a final restorative material or while supporting an overlying restoration over time. The purpose of this study was to compare the compressive strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of 2 new pulp-capping materials (TheraCal LC and Biodentine), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and calcium hydroxide over time. Specimens were created in molds and tested to failure in a universal testing machine after 15 minutes, 3 hours, and 24 hours. The MTA specimens did not set at 15 minutes. At all time periods, TheraCal LC had the greatest compressive and flexural strengths. After 3 and 24 hours, Biodentine had the greatest flexural modulus. TheraCal LC had greater early strength to potentially resist fracture during immediate placement of a final restorative material. Biodentine had greater stiffness after 3 hours to potentially provide better support of an overlying restoration under function over time.

Glacial isostatic uplift of the European Alps.

PubMed

Mey, Jürgen; Scherler, Dirk; Wickert, Andrew D; Egholm, David L; Tesauro, Magdala; Schildgen, Taylor F; Strecker, Manfred R

2016-11-10

Following the last glacial maximum (LGM), the demise of continental ice sheets induced crustal rebound in tectonically stable regions of North America and Scandinavia that is still ongoing. Unlike the ice sheets, the Alpine ice cap developed in an orogen where the measured uplift is potentially attributed to tectonic shortening, lithospheric delamination and unloading due to deglaciation and erosion. Here we show that ∼90% of the geodetically measured rock uplift in the Alps can be explained by the Earth's viscoelastic response to LGM deglaciation. We modelled rock uplift by reconstructing the Alpine ice cap, while accounting for postglacial erosion, sediment deposition and spatial variations in lithospheric rigidity. Clusters of excessive uplift in the Rhône Valley and in the Eastern Alps delineate regions potentially affected by mantle processes, crustal heterogeneity and active tectonics. Our study shows that even small LGM ice caps can dominate present-day rock uplift in tectonically active regions.

Depolymerization of Trityl End-Capped Poly(Ethyl Glyoxylate): Potential Applications in Smart Packaging.

PubMed

Fan, Bo; Salazar, Rómulo; Gillies, Elizabeth R

2018-06-01

The temperature-dependent depolymerization of self-immolative poly(ethyl glyoxylate) (PEtG) capped with triphenylmethyl (trityl) groups is studied and its potential application for smart packaging is explored. PEtGs with four different trityl end-caps are prepared and found to undergo depolymerization to volatile products from the solid state at different rates depending on temperature and the electron-donating substituents on the trityl aromatic rings. Through the incorporation of hydrophobic dyes including Nile red and IR-780, the depolymerization is visualized as a color change of the dye as it changes from a dispersed to aggregated state. The ability of this platform to provide information on thermal history through an easily readable signal makes it promising in smart packaging applications for sensitive products such a food and other cargo that is susceptible to degradation. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

In situ synthesis and surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles with curcumin and their antioxidant properties: an experimental and density functional theory investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Dheeraj K.; Jagannathan, Ramya; Khandelwal, Puneet; Abraham, Priya Mary; Poddar, Pankaj

2013-02-01

Curcumin ((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is an active component of turmeric; it is responsible for its characteristic yellow color and therapeutic potential, but its poor bioavailability remains a major challenge. In order to improve the bioavailability of curcumin, various approaches have been used. One of the possible approaches to increase the bioavailability of curcumin is its conjugation on the surface of metal nanoparticles. Therefore, in the present study, we report the binding of curcumin on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs were synthesized by the direct reduction of HAuCl4 using curcumin in the aqueous phase, without the use of any other reducing agents. We found that curcumin acts both as a reducing and capping agent, stabilizing the gold sol for many months. Moreover, these curcumin-capped AuNPs also show good antioxidant activity which was confirmed by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl) radical test. Thus, the surface functionalization of AuNPs with curcumin may pave a new way of using the curcuminoids towards possible drug delivery and therapeutics. Apart from the experimental study, a detailed quantum chemical calculation using density functional theory (DFT) has been performed, in order to investigate the formation of a complex of curcumin with Au3+ ions in different possible conformational isomeric forms. Our theoretical calculations indicate the evidence of electron transfer from curcumin into the Au center and essentially indicate that as a consequence of complexation, Au3+ ions are reduced to Au0. Our theoretical results also propose that it is the breakage of intramolecular H-bonding that probably leads to the increased availability of curcumin in the presence of gold ions and water molecules.Curcumin ((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is an active component of turmeric; it is responsible for its characteristic yellow color and therapeutic potential, but its poor bioavailability remains a major challenge. In order to improve the bioavailability of curcumin, various approaches have been used. One of the possible approaches to increase the bioavailability of curcumin is its conjugation on the surface of metal nanoparticles. Therefore, in the present study, we report the binding of curcumin on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs were synthesized by the direct reduction of HAuCl4 using curcumin in the aqueous phase, without the use of any other reducing agents. We found that curcumin acts both as a reducing and capping agent, stabilizing the gold sol for many months. Moreover, these curcumin-capped AuNPs also show good antioxidant activity which was confirmed by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl) radical test. Thus, the surface functionalization of AuNPs with curcumin may pave a new way of using the curcuminoids towards possible drug delivery and therapeutics. Apart from the experimental study, a detailed quantum chemical calculation using density functional theory (DFT) has been performed, in order to investigate the formation of a complex of curcumin with Au3+ ions in different possible conformational isomeric forms. Our theoretical calculations indicate the evidence of electron transfer from curcumin into the Au center and essentially indicate that as a consequence of complexation, Au3+ ions are reduced to Au0. Our theoretical results also propose that it is the breakage of intramolecular H-bonding that probably leads to the increased availability of curcumin in the presence of gold ions and water molecules. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr33776b

A multi-point perspective on the formation of polar cap arcs: kinetic modeling and observations by Cluster and TIMED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Keyser, J. M.; Maggiolo, R.; Echim, M.; Simon, C.; Zhang, Y.; Trotignon, J.

2010-12-01

On April 1st, 2004 the GUVI imager onboard the TIMED spacecraft spots an isolated and elongated polar cap arc. Simultaneously, the Cluster spacecraft detects an isolated upflowing ion beam above the polar cap. Cluster observations show that the ions are accelerated upward by a quasi-stationary electric field. The field-aligned potential drop is estimated to about 600 V and the upflowing ions are accompanied by a tenuous population of isotropic protons with a temperature of about 300eV. The footprint of the magnetic field line on which the Cluster spacecraft are situated, is located just outside the GUVI field of view in the prolongation of the polar cap arc. This suggests that the upflowing ion beam and the polar cap arc may be different signatures of the same phenomenon, as suggested by a recent statistical study of polar cap ion beams using Cluster data. We use Cluster observations at high altitude as input to a quasi-stationary magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling model. Using a Knight-type current-voltage relationship and the current continuity at the topside ionosphere, the model computes the energy spectrum of precipitating electrons at ionospheric altitudes corresponding to the generator electric field observed by Cluster. The MI coupling model provides a field-aligned potential drop in agreement with Cluster observations of upflowing ions and a spatial scale of the polar cap arc consistent with the optical observations by TIMED. The energy spectrum of the precipitating electrons provided by the model is introduced as input to the Trans4 ionospheric transport code. This 1-D model, based on Boltzmann's kinetic formalism, takes into account ionospheric processes like photoionisation and electron/proton precipitation, and computes the optical and UV emissions due to precipitating electrons. The emission rates provided by the Trans4 code are then compared to the optical observations by TIMED. Data and modeling results are consistent with quasi-static acceleration of precipitating magnetospheric electrons. We also discuss possible implications of our modeling results for optical observations of polar cap arcs.

Sulfate-dependent Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane as a Generation Mechanism for Calcite Cap Rock in Gulf Coast Salt Domes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caesar, K. H.; Kyle, R.; Lyons, T. W.; Loyd, S. J.

2015-12-01

Gulf Coast salt domes, specifically their calcite cap rocks, have been widely recognized for their association with significant reserves of crude oil and natural gas. However, the specific microbial reactions that facilitate the precipitation of these cap rocks are still largely unknown. Insight into the mineralization mechanism(s) can be obtained from the specific geochemical signatures recorded in these structures. Gulf Coast cap rocks contain carbonate and sulfur minerals that exhibit variable carbon (d13C) and sulfur isotope (δ34S) signatures. Calcite d13C values are isotopically depleted and show a large range of values from -1 to -52‰, reflecting a mixture of various carbon sources including a substantial methane component. These depleted carbon isotope compositions combined with the presence of abundant sulfide minerals in cap rocks have led to interpretations that invoke microbial sulfate reduction as an important carbonate mineral-yielding process in salt dome environments. Sulfur isotope data from carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS: trace sulfate incorporated within the carbonate mineral crystal lattice) provide a more direct proxy for aqueous sulfate in salt dome systems and may provide a means to directly fingerprint ancient sulfate reduction. We find CAS sulfur isotope compositions (δ34SCAS) significantly greater than those of the precursor Jurassic sulfate-salt deposits (which exhibit δ34S values of ~ +15‰). This implies that cap rock carbonate generation occurred via microbial sulfate reduction under closed-system conditions. The co-occurrence of depleted carbonate d13C values (< ~30‰) and the enriched δ34SCAS values are evidence for sulfate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). AOM, which has been shown to yield extensive seafloor carbonate authigenesis, is also potentially partly responsible for the carbonate minerals of the Gulf Coast calcite cap rocks through concomitant production of alkalinity. Collectively, these data shed new light on a potential hotspot of microbial activity in the deep biosphere.

Immunogenicity and immunoprotection of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) Cap protein displayed by Lactococcus lactis.

PubMed

Li, Peng-Cheng; Qiao, Xu-Wen; Zheng, Qi-Sheng; Hou, Ji-Bo

2016-01-27

The capsid (Cap) protein, an important immunoprotective protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), was expressed on the cell surface of the Gram-positive food-grade bacterium, Lactococcus lactis. Cap protein was fused to the peptidoglycan binding domain (known as the protein anchor domain, PA) of the lactococcal AcmA cell-wall hydrolase. The Cap protein fusion was non-covalently rebound to the surface of non-genetically modified, non-living high-binder L. lactis cells (designated Gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) particles). Expression of the recombinant GEM-displaying capsid protein (GEM-PA-Cap) was verified by Western blotting and immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy assays. To evaluate the immunogenicity of the recombinant Cap protein (rCap), 20 PCV2-seronegative piglets were immunized with the GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine, GEM alone, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, challenge control and empty control). Each group consisted of five piglets. The results showed that the level of PCV2-specific antibodies in piglets immunized with the GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine was significantly higher than that of the piglets immunized with GEM alone or the control group at all the time points post-vaccination (P<0.01). After challenge with the PCV2 wild-type strain, piglets that received the GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine showed significantly higher average daily weight gain (DWG) and shorter fever duration than the other two groups (P<0.001). Furthermore, a significant reduction in the gross lung lesion scores and lymph node lesion scores was noted in the GEM-PA-Cap-immunized group compared with the scores of the GEM or PBS-treated group (P<0.01). The results suggest that recombinant rCap displayed by L. lactis GEM particles provided the piglets with significant immunoprotection from PCV2-associated disease. Thus, the novel GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine has potential to be considered an effective and safe candidate vaccine against PCV2 infection in piglets. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Low-Lying π* Resonances of Standard and Rare DNA and RNA Bases Studied by the Projected CAP/SAC-CI Method.

PubMed

Kanazawa, Yuki; Ehara, Masahiro; Sommerfeld, Thomas

2016-03-10

Low-lying π* resonance states of DNA and RNA bases have been investigated by the recently developed projected complex absorbing potential (CAP)/symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method using a smooth Voronoi potential as CAP. In spite of the challenging CAP applications to higher resonance states of molecules of this size, the present calculations reproduce resonance positions observed by electron transmission spectra (ETS) provided the anticipated deviations due to vibronic effects and limited basis sets are taken into account. Moreover, for the standard nucleobases, the calculated positions and widths qualitatively agree with those obtained in previous electron scattering calculations. For guanine, both keto and enol forms were examined, and the calculated values of the keto form agree clearly better with the experimental findings. In addition to these standard bases, three modified forms of cytosine, which serve as epigenetic or biomarkers, were investigated: formylcytosine, methylcytosine, and chlorocytosine. Last, a strong correlation between the computed positions and the observed ETS values is demonstrated, clearly suggesting that the present computational protocol should be useful for predicting the π* resonances of congeners of DNA and RNA bases.

Phytoremediation -- a practical capping alternative

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

Beath, J.M.; Peak, M.J.

1997-12-31

Much literature has been devoted recently to the use of various plant species for the uptake of heavy metals and organic contaminants. Other uses for plants as part of the remediation process are growing in perceived effectiveness. Consequently, this paper deals with two other equally important potential uses of plants to address environmental problems that are just now evolving to the field trial stage: the use of plants to remediate organic pollutants; and the use of plants to control the rainfall-driven leaching of contaminants and the subsequent delivery to underlying groundwater. The traditional Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) approachmore » to capping landfills will be contrasted with the potential benefits of using plants that can balance incoming rainfall with evapotranspiration, as well as plants which can act on organic constituents in soil or sludge by either uptake or by promoting microbial activity in soil. This paper compares traditional RCRA capping costs to those for a phytoremediation capping alternative, whose benefits include significantly lower implementation cost and continued remediation. This paper discusses important elements of a successful approach to phytoremediation including: species selection, implementation techniques, cost-efficient monitoring, regulatory aspects, project timing, and realistic expectations.« less

Poly(ethyl glyoxylate)-Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanoparticles: Stimuli-Responsive Drug Release via End-to-End Polyglyoxylate Depolymerization.

PubMed

Fan, Bo; Gillies, Elizabeth R

2017-08-07

The ability to disrupt polymer assemblies in response to specific stimuli provides the potential to release drugs selectively at certain sites or conditions in vivo. However, most stimuli-responsive delivery systems require many stimuli-initiated events to release drugs. "Self-immolative polymers" offer the potential to provide amplified responses to stimuli as they undergo complete end-to-end depolymerization following the cleavage of a single end-cap. Herein, linker end-caps were developed to conjugate self-immolative poly(ethyl glyoxylate) (PEtG) with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to form amphiphilic block copolymers. These copolymers were self-assembled to form nanoparticles in aqueous solution. Cleavage of the linker end-caps were triggered by a thiol reducing agent, UV light, H 2 O 2 , and combinations of these stimuli, resulting in nanoparticle disintegration. Low stimuli concentrations were effective in rapidly disrupting the nanoparticles. Nile red, doxorubin, and curcumin were encapsulated into the nanoparticles and were selectively released upon application of the appropriate stimulus. The ability to tune the stimuli-responsiveness simply by changing the linker end-cap makes this new platform highly attractive for applications in drug delivery.

A clinical evaluation committee assessment of recombinant human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (tifacogin) in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia

PubMed Central

Laterre, Pierre-François; Opal, Steven M; Abraham, Edward; LaRosa, Steven P; Creasey, Abla A; Xie, Fang; Poole, Lona; Wunderink, Richard G

2009-01-01

Introduction The purpose of this analysis was to determine the potential efficacy of recombinant human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (tifacogin) in a subpopulation of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) from a phase III study of severe sepsis. Methods A retrospective review of patients with suspected pneumonia was conducted by an independent clinical evaluation committee (CEC) blinded to treatment assignment. The CEC reanalyzed data from patients enrolled in an international multicenter clinical trial of sepsis who had a diagnosis of pneumonia as the probable source of sepsis. The primary efficacy measure was all-cause 28-day mortality. Results Of 847 patients identified on case report forms with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia, 780 (92%) were confirmed by the CEC to have pneumonia. Of confirmed pneumonia cases, 496 (63.6%) met the definition for CAP. In the CEC CAP population, the mortality rates of the tifacogin and placebo groups were 70/251 (27.9%) and 80/245 (32.7%), respectively. The strongest signals were seen in patients with CAP not receiving concomitant heparin, having microbiologically confirmed infection, or having the combination of documented infection and no heparin. The reduction in mortality in this narrowly defined subgroup when treated with tifacogin compared with placebo was statistically significant (17/58 [29.3%] with tifacogin and 28/54 [51.9%] with placebo; unadjusted P value of less than 0.02). Conclusions Tifacogin administration did not significantly reduce mortality in any severe CAP patient. Exploratory analyses showed an improved survival in patients who did not receive concomitant heparin with microbiologically confirmed infections. These data support the rationale of an ongoing phase III study exploring the potential benefit of tifacogin in severe CAP. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00084071. PMID:19284881

NIR-Emitting Alloyed CdTeSe QDs and Organic Dye Assemblies: A Nontoxic, Stable, and Efficient FRET System.

PubMed

Ramírez-Herrera, Doris E; Rodríguez-Velázquez, Eustolia; Alatorre-Meda, Manuel; Paraguay-Delgado, Francisco; Tirado-Guízar, Antonio; Taboada, Pablo; Pina-Luis, Georgina

2018-04-11

In the present work, we synthesize Near Infrared (NIR)-emitting alloyed mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped CdTeSe quantum dots (QDs) in a single-step one-hour process, without the use of an inert atmosphere or any pyrophoric ligands. The quantum dots are water soluble, non-toxic, and highly photostable and have high quantum yields (QYs) up to 84%. The alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs exhibit a red-shifted emission, whose color can be tuned between visible and NIR regions (608-750 nm) by controlling the Te:Se molar ratio in the precursor mixtures and/or changing the time reaction. The MPA-capped QDs were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and zeta potential measurements. Photostability studies were performed by irradiating the QDs with a high-power xenon lamp. The ternary MPA-CdTeSe QDs showed greater photostability than the corresponding binary MPA-CdTe QDs. We report the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs as energy donors and Cyanine5 NHS-ester (Cy5) dye as an energy acceptor with efficiency ( E ) up to 95%. The distance between the QDs and dye ( r ), the Förster distance ( R ₀), and the binding constant ( K ) are reported. Additionally, cytocompatibility and cell internalization experiments conducted on human cancer cells (HeLa) cells revealed that alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs are more cytocompatible than MPA-capped CdTe QDs and are capable of ordering homogeneously all over the cytoplasm, which allows their use as potential safe, green donors for biological FRET applications.

Contralateral Inhibition of Click- and Chirp-Evoked Human Compound Action Potentials

PubMed Central

Smith, Spencer B.; Lichtenhan, Jeffery T.; Cone, Barbara K.

2017-01-01

Cochlear outer hair cells (OHC) receive direct efferent feedback from the caudal auditory brainstem via the medial olivocochlear (MOC) bundle. This circuit provides the neural substrate for the MOC reflex, which inhibits cochlear amplifier gain and is believed to play a role in listening in noise and protection from acoustic overexposure. The human MOC reflex has been studied extensively using otoacoustic emissions (OAE) paradigms; however, these measurements are insensitive to subsequent “downstream” efferent effects on the neural ensembles that mediate hearing. In this experiment, click- and chirp-evoked auditory nerve compound action potential (CAP) amplitudes were measured electrocochleographically from the human eardrum without and with MOC reflex activation elicited by contralateral broadband noise. We hypothesized that the chirp would be a more optimal stimulus for measuring neural MOC effects because it synchronizes excitation along the entire length of the basilar membrane and thus evokes a more robust CAP than a click at low to moderate stimulus levels. Chirps produced larger CAPs than clicks at all stimulus intensities (50–80 dB ppeSPL). MOC reflex inhibition of CAPs was larger for chirps than clicks at low stimulus levels when quantified both in terms of amplitude reduction and effective attenuation. Effective attenuation was larger for chirp- and click-evoked CAPs than for click-evoked OAEs measured from the same subjects. Our results suggest that the chirp is an optimal stimulus for evoking CAPs at low stimulus intensities and for assessing MOC reflex effects on the auditory nerve. Further, our work supports previous findings that MOC reflex effects at the level of the auditory nerve are underestimated by measures of OAE inhibition. PMID:28420960

NIR-Emitting Alloyed CdTeSe QDs and Organic Dye Assemblies: A Nontoxic, Stable, and Efficient FRET System

PubMed Central

Ramírez-Herrera, Doris E.; Rodríguez-Velázquez, Eustolia; Alatorre-Meda, Manuel; Paraguay-Delgado, Francisco; Tirado-Guízar, Antonio; Taboada, Pablo; Pina-Luis, Georgina

2018-01-01

In the present work, we synthesize Near Infrared (NIR)-emitting alloyed mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped CdTeSe quantum dots (QDs) in a single-step one-hour process, without the use of an inert atmosphere or any pyrophoric ligands. The quantum dots are water soluble, non-toxic, and highly photostable and have high quantum yields (QYs) up to 84%. The alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs exhibit a red-shifted emission, whose color can be tuned between visible and NIR regions (608–750 nm) by controlling the Te:Se molar ratio in the precursor mixtures and/or changing the time reaction. The MPA-capped QDs were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and zeta potential measurements. Photostability studies were performed by irradiating the QDs with a high-power xenon lamp. The ternary MPA-CdTeSe QDs showed greater photostability than the corresponding binary MPA-CdTe QDs. We report the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs as energy donors and Cyanine5 NHS-ester (Cy5) dye as an energy acceptor with efficiency (E) up to 95%. The distance between the QDs and dye (r), the Förster distance (R0), and the binding constant (K) are reported. Additionally, cytocompatibility and cell internalization experiments conducted on human cancer cells (HeLa) cells revealed that alloyed MPA-capped CdTeSe QDs are more cytocompatible than MPA-capped CdTe QDs and are capable of ordering homogeneously all over the cytoplasm, which allows their use as potential safe, green donors for biological FRET applications. PMID:29641435

Polar cap arcs from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere: kinetic modelling and observations by Cluster and TIMED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maggiolo, R.; Echim, M.; Wedlund, C. Simon; Zhang, Y.; Fontaine, D.; Lointier, G.; Trotignon, J.-G.

2012-02-01

On 1 April 2004 the GUVI imager onboard the TIMED spacecraft spots an isolated and elongated polar cap arc. About 20 min later, the Cluster satellites detect an isolated upflowing ion beam above the polar cap. Cluster observations show that the ions are accelerated upward by a quasi-stationary electric field. The field-aligned potential drop is estimated to about 700 V and the upflowing ions are accompanied by a tenuous population of isotropic protons with a temperature of about 500 eV. The magnetic footpoints of the ion outflows observed by Cluster are situated in the prolongation of the polar cap arc observed by TIMED GUVI. The upflowing ion beam and the polar cap arc may be different signatures of the same phenomenon, as suggested by a recent statistical study of polar cap ion beams using Cluster data. We use Cluster observations at high altitude as input to a quasi-stationary magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling model. Using a Knight-type current-voltage relationship and the current continuity at the topside ionosphere, the model computes the energy spectrum of precipitating electrons at the top of the ionosphere corresponding to the generator electric field observed by Cluster. The MI coupling model provides a field-aligned potential drop in agreement with Cluster observations of upflowing ions and a spatial scale of the polar cap arc consistent with the optical observations by TIMED. The computed energy spectrum of the precipitating electrons is used as input to the Trans4 ionospheric transport code. This 1-D model, based on Boltzmann's kinetic formalism, takes into account ionospheric processes such as photoionization and electron/proton precipitation, and computes the optical and UV emissions due to precipitating electrons. The emission rates provided by the Trans4 code are compared to the optical observations by TIMED. They are similar in size and intensity. Data and modelling results are consistent with the scenario of quasi-static acceleration of electrons that generate a polar cap arc as they precipitate in the ionosphere. The detailed observations of the acceleration region by Cluster and the large scale image of the polar cap arc provided by TIMED are two different features of the same phenomenon. Combined together, they bring new light on the configuration of the high-latitude magnetosphere during prolonged periods of Northward IMF. Possible implications of the modelling results for optical observations of polar cap arcs are also discussed.

A new, simple, green, and one-pot four-component synthesis of bare and poly(α,γ, L-glutamic acid)-capped silver nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Savanović, Igor; Uskoković, Vuk; Škapin, Srečo D.; Bračko, Ines; Jovanović, Uroš; Uskoković, Dragan

2013-01-01

A simple and green chemical method has been developed to synthesize stable bare and capped silver nanoparticles based on the reduction of silver ions by glucose and capping by poly(α,γ,L-glutamic acid) (PGA). The use of ammonia during synthesis was avoided. PGA has had a dual role in the synthesis and was used as a capping agent to make the silver nanoparticle more biocompatible and to protect the nanoparticles from agglomerating in the liquid medium. The synthesized PGA-capped silver nanoparticles in the size range 5–45 nm were stable over long periods of time, without signs of precipitation. Morphological examination has shown that the silver nanoparticles had a nearly spherical, multiply twinned structure. The effects of the reaction temperature and the reaction time during the synthesis were investigated too. The biocompatibility of the PGA-capped silver nano-particles is discussed in terms of in vitro toxicity with human intestinal Caco-2 cells. The samples were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential measurements. PMID:24062597

Density functional study of the 13C NMR chemical shifts in small-to-medium-diameter infinite single-walled carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Zurek, Eva; Pickard, Chris J; Walczak, Brian; Autschbach, Jochen

2006-11-02

NMR chemical shifts were calculated for semiconducting (n,0) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with n ranging from 7 to 17. Infinite isolated SWNTs were calculated using a gauge-including projector-augmented plane-wave (GIPAW) approach with periodic boundary conditions and density functional theory (DFT). In order to minimize intertube interactions in the GIPAW computations, an intertube distance of 8 A was chosen. For the infinite tubes, we found a chemical shift range of over 20 ppm for the systems considered here. The SWNT family with lambda = mod(n, 3) = 0 has much smaller chemical shifts compared to the other two families with lambda = 1 and lambda = 2. For all three families, the chemical shifts decrease roughly inversely proportional to the tube's diameter. The results were compared to calculations of finite capped SWNT fragments using a gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) basis. Direct comparison of the two types of calculations could be made if benzene was used as the internal (computational) reference. The NMR chemical shifts of finite SWNTs were found to converge very slowly, if at all, to the infinite limit, indicating that capping has a strong effect (at least for the (9,0) tubes) on the calculated properties. Our results suggest that (13)C NMR has the potential for becoming a useful tool in characterizing SWNT samples.

Structural and electronic properties of Genm- and KGen- Zintl anions (n=3-10;m=2-4) from density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Si-Dian; Guo, Qiao-Ling; Zhao, Xiu-Feng; Wu, Hai-Shun; Jin, Zhi-Hao

2002-07-01

Structural optimizations and frequency analyses have been performed on free Genm- and KGen- (n=3-10, m=2-4) Zintl anions and ionization potentials and electron affinities calculated for KGen using the density functional theory (DFT) of Becke's three-parameter hybrid functional with the Perdew/Wang 91 expression. The DFT results obtained for small clusters (n=3-5) are further checked with both the second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and the configuration interaction calculations with all single and double substitutions from the Hartree-Fock reference determinant (CISD). Free Gen2- anions are found to share the same geometries as naked Zintl anions observed in solids with a systematical expansion in bond lengths within about 5%. Intensive searches indicate that two isomers, a tricapped trigonal prism (D3h) and a slightly distorted tricapped trigonal prism (C2v), exist for Ge92- and Ge93-, while nido-Ge94- clearly favors the monocapped antisquare prism (C4v) structure. HOMO-LUMO energy gaps >2.23 eV are obtained for Genm- series at the DFT level, except Ge93- which has a much narrower energy gap of 1.16 eV. The calculated Gibbs free energy change of Ge92-+Ge94-=2 Ge93- conversion reaction involving nonagermanides has the value of Delta]G[deg=-2.91 x105 J mol-1, providing the first quantum chemistry evidence that the geometrically deduced mixed valent couple of Ge92- and Ge94- in a previous study is thermodynamically unstable compared to two Ge93- anions. The calculated stabilization energies of Gen2-, Gen-, and Gen exhibit similar variation trends, clearly indicating a maximum at n=7, a minimum at n=8, and an obvious recovery at n=9 and 10. The calculated normal vibrational frequencies reproduce the six observed Raman peaks of naked Ge52- with an averaged discrepancy of 11 cm-1. Face-capped or edge-capped deltahedral structures are predicted for binary KGen- anions and KGen and K2Gen neutrals. The magic numbers at n=5, 9, and 10 obtained in both stabilization energies and ionization potentials well reproduce the abundance distributions of KGen- observed in time-of-flight mass spectra. The validity of the Zintl-Klemm-Busmann principle in KGen and K2Gen neutrals is supported by the finding that sizable electron transfers from K atoms to Gen nuclei occur in these clusters and the Gen nuclei approach corresponding structures of free closo-Gen2- anions.

Human neural tuning estimated from compound action potentials in normal hearing human volunteers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verschooten, Eric; Desloovere, Christian; Joris, Philip X.

2015-12-01

The sharpness of cochlear frequency tuning in humans is debated. Evoked otoacoustic emissions and psychophysical measurements suggest sharper tuning in humans than in laboratory animals [15], but this is disputed based on comparisons of behavioral and electrophysiological measurements across species [14]. Here we used evoked mass potentials to electrophysiologically quantify tuning (Q10) in humans. We combined a notched noise forward masking paradigm [9] with the recording of trans tympanic compound action potentials (CAP) from masked probe tones in awake human and anesthetized monkey (Macaca mulatta). We compare our results to data obtained with the same paradigm in cat and chinchilla [16], and find that CAP-Q10values in human are ˜1.6x higher than in cat and chinchilla and ˜1.3x higher than in monkey. To estimate frequency tuning of single auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) in humans, we derive conversion functions from ANFs in cat, chinchilla, and monkey and apply these to the human CAP measurements. The data suggest that sharp cochlear tuning is a feature of old-world primates.

Fluid core size of Mars from detection of the solar tide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yoder, C. F.; Konopliv, A. S.; Yuan, D. N.; Standish, E. M.; Folkner, W. M.

2003-01-01

The solar tidal deformation of Mars, measured by its k2 potential Love number, has been obtained from an analysis of Mars Global Surveyor radio tracking. The observed k2 of 0.153 +/- 0.017 is large enough to rule out a solid iron core and so indicates that at least the outer part of the core is liquid. The inferred core radius is between 1520 and 1840 kilometers and is independent of many interior properties, although partial melt of the mantle is one factor that could reduce core size. Ice-cap mass changes can be deduced from the seasonal variations in air pressure and the odd gravity harmonic J3, given knowledge of cap mass distribution with latitude. The south cap seasonal mass change is about 30 to 40% larger than that of the north cap.

Fluid Core Size of Mars from Detection of the Solar Tide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoder, C. F.; Konopliv, A. S.; Yuan, D. N.; Standish, E. M.; Folkner, W. M.

2003-04-01

The solar tidal deformation of Mars, measured by its k2 potential Love number, has been obtained from an analysis of Mars Global Surveyor radio tracking. The observed k2 of 0.153 +/- 0.017 is large enough to rule out a solid iron core and so indicates that at least the outer part of the core is liquid. The inferred core radius is between 1520 and 1840 kilometers and is independent of many interior properties, although partial melt of the mantle is one factor that could reduce core size. Ice-cap mass changes can be deduced from the seasonal variations in air pressure and the odd gravity harmonic J3, given knowledge of cap mass distribution with latitude. The south cap seasonal mass change is about 30 to 40% larger than that of the north cap.

CAP - JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CONTAMINATION ANALYSIS PROGRAM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Millard, J. M.

1994-01-01

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory Contamination Analysis Program (CAP) is a generalized transient executive analysis computer code which solves realistic mass transport problems in the free molecular flow environment. These transport problems involve mass flux from surface source emission and re-emission, venting, and engine emission. CAP solution capability allows for one-bounce mass reflections if required. CAP was developed to solve thin-film contamination problems in the free molecular flow environment, the intent being to provide a powerful analytic tool for evaluating spacecraft contamination problems. The solution procedure uses an enclosure method based on a lumped-parameter multinodal approach with mass exchange between nodes. Transient solutions are computed by the finite difference Euler method. First-order rate theory is used to represent surface emission and reemission (user care must be taken to insure the problem is appropriate for such behavior), and all surface emission and reflections are assumed diffuse. CAP does not include the effects of post-deposition chemistry or interaction with the ambient atmosphere. CAP reads in a model represented by a multiple-block data stream. CAP allows the user to edit the input data stream and stack sequential editing operations (or cases) in order to make complex changes in behavior (surface temperatures, engine start-up and shut-down, etc.) in a single run if desired. The eight data blocks which make up the input data stream consist of problem control parameters, nodal data (area, temperature, mass, etc.), engine or vent distribution factors (based upon plume definitions), geometric configuration factors (diffuse surface emission), surface capture coefficient tables, source emission rate constant tables, reemission rate constant tables, and partial node to body collapse capability (for deposition rates only). The user must generate this data stream, since neither the problem-specific geometric relationships, the constituents involved, nor plume distribution functions are a part of CAP. Instead, these are used to generate the data stream model CAP solves. Outputs vary from individual deposition rates of exchange, on an internodal basis and on a constituent basis as a function of time, to deposition on each surface on a constituent basis as a function of time. The type of outputs may be user-specified by control parameters. CAP allows the user to select output intervals within the solution interval and to generate restart nodal data blocks. CAP is composed of several FORTRAN subroutines which serve specific functions and can be easily edited. The code is relatively small (2152 statements), and contains comment statements for all operations. It is written in relatively generic FORTRAN to be adaptable to a variety of computers. CAP was implemented on a DEC VAX 11/780 computer, and is distributed on a 9-track DEC VAX BACKUP format magnetic tape. Virtual memory required is 4.6 MB, which corresponds to a 900 node model capacity. CAP was originally developed under contract for NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center in 1979 by JPL, and was subsequently modified as required for project support at JPL. CAP is a copyrighted work with all copyright vested in NASA.

Geological and geophysical properties of cap rock in a natural CO2 occurrence, Mihályi-Répcelak area, Western Hungary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Király, Csilla; Szamosfalvi, Ágnes; Sendula, Eszter; Páles, Mariann; Kovács, István; Kónya, Péter; Falus, György; Szabó, Csaba

2015-04-01

The physical and geochemical consistency of the cap rock is primarily important for safe geological storage of CO2.. As a consequence of CO2 injection reactions took place between the minerals of the reservoir, the cap rock and CO2 saturated pore water. These reactions may change the mineral composition and petrophysical properties of the storage reservoir as well as the cap rock that provides the only physical barrier that retains carbon dioxide in the target reservoir formation. Study of the natural CO2 occurrences delivers information to understand which properties of a cap rock provide the sustainable closure and retainment. Knowledge of the long term effect of CO2 on the behavior of the cap rock is an important input in the selection procedure of a potential CO2 injection site. Yet, very few data exist on geochemical properties and reactivity of the cap rocks. During normal commercial operations the reservoir is typically cored, but not the cap rock. This study may enhance our knowledge about possible mineralogical reactions, which can occur in clayey-aleuritic cap rocks. The Mihályi-Répcelak natural CO2 occurrence is believed to be leakage safe. There is no known seepage on the surface. It is suggested that the aleuritic clay rich cap rock occurring at the natural reservoir can stop CO2 migration into other reservoirs or to the surface. The most important characteristics of cap rocks that they have low permeability (<0.1 mD) and porosity (eff.por. = 4%) and high clayeyness (approx. 80%). However, we demonstrate that in addition to these parameters the geochemical properties of cap rock is also important. In order to characterize the natural CO2 occurrence, we applied the following analysis, like XRD, FTIR, SEM. The petrophysical properties are determined from the interpretation of geophysical well-logs and grain size distribution. The most important result of this study that adequate petrophysical properties do not completely define the suitability of a cap rock. The effective porosity (~4 %), permeability (0.026 mD) and clayeyness (~80%) data imply that the studied aleurolites are good cap rocks. The mineral composition of cap rock is similar to that of reservoir rock, however, the ratio of components is different. The mineralogical analysis and petrography yield to the reaction between CO2 and the cap rocks. The most visible effect of CO2 presence is the dawsonite precipitation after albite dissolution within the cap rocks. Therefore, the CO2 may migrate through the cap rocks in geological time scale, however the total system could be leakage safe.

Biomarkers in Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

PubMed

Principi, Nicola; Esposito, Susanna

2017-02-19

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses, or a combination of these infectious agents. The severity of the clinical manifestations of CAP varies significantly. Consequently, both the differentiation of viral from bacterial CAP cases and the accurate assessment and prediction of disease severity are critical for effectively managing individuals with CAP. To solve questionable cases, several biomarkers indicating the etiology and severity of CAP have been studied. Unfortunately, only a few studies have examined the roles of these biomarkers in pediatric practice. The main aim of this paper is to detail current knowledge regarding the use of biomarkers to diagnose and treat CAP in children, analyzing the most recently published relevant studies. Despite several attempts, the etiologic diagnosis of pediatric CAP and the estimation of the potential outcome remain unsolved problems in most cases. Among traditional biomarkers, procalcitonin (PCT) appears to be the most effective for both selecting bacterial cases and evaluating the severity. However, a precise cut-off separating bacterial from viral and mild from severe cases has not been defined. The three-host protein assay based on C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), plasma interferon-γ protein-10 (IP-10), and micro-array-based whole genome expression arrays might offer more advantages in comparison with former biomarkers. However, further studies are needed before the routine use of those presently in development can be recommended.

Capsaicin modulates acetylcholine release at the myoneural junction.

PubMed

Thyagarajan, Baskaran; Potian, Joseph G; Baskaran, Padmamalini; McArdle, Joseph J

2014-12-05

Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins are non-selective cation channel proteins that are expressed throughout the body. Previous studies demonstrated the expression of TRP Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), capsaicin (CAP) receptor, in sensory neurons. Recently, we reported TRPV1 expression in mouse motor nerve terminals [MNTs; (Thyagarajan et al., 2009)], where we observed that CAP protected MNTs from botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A). Phrenic nerve diaphragm nerve muscle preparations (NMP) isolated from isoflurane anesthetized adult mice were analyzed for twitch tension, spontaneous (mEPCs) and nerve stimulus evoked (EPCs) acetylcholine release. When acutely applied to isolated NMP, CAP produced a concentration-dependent decline of twitch tension and produced a significant decline in the amplitude of EPCs and quantal content without any effect on the mEPCs. The suppression of nerve stimulus evoked acetylcholine release by CAP was antagonized by capsazepine (CPZ), a TRPV1 antagonist. CAP did not suppress phrenic nerve stimulus evoked acetylcholine release in TRPV1 knockout mice. Also, CAP treatment, in vitro, interfered with the localization of adapter protein 2 in cholinergic Neuro 2a cells. Wortmannin, (WMN; non-selective phosphoinositol kinase inhibitor), mimicked the effects of CAP by inhibiting the acetylcholine exocytosis. Our data suggest that TRPV1 proteins expressed at the MNT are coupled to the exo-endocytic mechanisms to regulate neuromuscular functions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesizing parallel imaging applications using the CAP (computer-aided parallelization) tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gennart, Benoit A.; Mazzariol, Marc; Messerli, Vincent; Hersch, Roger D.

1997-12-01

Imaging applications such as filtering, image transforms and compression/decompression require vast amounts of computing power when applied to large data sets. These applications would potentially benefit from the use of parallel processing. However, dedicated parallel computers are expensive and their processing power per node lags behind that of the most recent commodity components. Furthermore, developing parallel applications remains a difficult task: writing and debugging the application is difficult (deadlocks), programs may not be portable from one parallel architecture to the other, and performance often comes short of expectations. In order to facilitate the development of parallel applications, we propose the CAP computer-aided parallelization tool which enables application programmers to specify at a high-level of abstraction the flow of data between pipelined-parallel operations. In addition, the CAP tool supports the programmer in developing parallel imaging and storage operations. CAP enables combining efficiently parallel storage access routines and image processing sequential operations. This paper shows how processing and I/O intensive imaging applications must be implemented to take advantage of parallelism and pipelining between data access and processing. This paper's contribution is (1) to show how such implementations can be compactly specified in CAP, and (2) to demonstrate that CAP specified applications achieve the performance of custom parallel code. The paper analyzes theoretically the performance of CAP specified applications and demonstrates the accuracy of the theoretical analysis through experimental measurements.

The inhibitory effects of capillarisin on cell proliferation and invasion of prostate carcinoma cells.

PubMed

Tsui, Ke-Hung; Chang, Ying-Ling; Yang, Pei-Shan; Hou, Chen-Pang; Lin, Yu-Hsiang; Lin, Bing-Wei; Feng, Tsui-Hsia; Juang, Horng-Heng

2018-04-01

Capillarisin (Cap), an active component of Artemisia capillaris root extracts, is characterized by its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. Nevertheless, the functions of Cap in prostate cancer have not been fully explored. We evaluated the potential actions of Cap on the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of prostate carcinoma cells. Cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution were measured by water-soluble tetrazolium-1 and flow cytometry assays. The expression of cyclins, p21, p27, survivin, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP2 and MMP9) were assessed by immunoblotting assays. Effects of Cap on invasion and migration were determined by wound closure and matrigel transmigration assays. The constitutive and interlukin-6 (IL-6)-inducible STAT3 activation of prostate carcinoma cells were determined by immunoblotting and reporter assays. Capillarisin inhibited androgen-independent DU145 and androgen-dependent LNCaP cell growth through the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase by upregulating p21 and p27 while downregulating expression of cyclin D1, cyclin A and cyclin B. Cap decreased protein expression of survivin, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and therefore blocked the migration and invasion of DU145 cells. Cap suppressed constitutive and IL-6-inducible STAT3 activation in DU145 and LNCaP cells. Our data indicate that Cap blocked cell growth by modulation of p21, p27 and cyclins. The inhibitory effects of Cap on survivin, MMP-2, MMP-9 and STAT3 activation may account for the suppression of invasion in prostate carcinoma cells. Our data suggest that Cap might be a therapeutic agent in treating advanced prostate cancer with constitutive STAT3 or IL-6-inducible STAT3 activation. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evaluation of a laboratory-scale bioreactive in situ sediment cap for the treatment of organic contaminants.

PubMed

Himmelheber, David W; Pennell, Kurt D; Hughes, Joseph B

2011-11-01

The development of bioreactive sediment caps, in which microorganisms capable of contaminant transformation are placed within an in situ cap, provides a potential remedial design that can sustainably treat sediment and groundwater contaminants. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability and limitations of a mixed, anaerobic dechlorinating consortium to treat chlorinated ethenes within a sand-based cap. Results of batch experiments demonstrate that a tetrachloroethene (PCE)-to-ethene mixed consortium was able to completely dechlorinate dissolved-phase PCE to ethene when supplied only with sediment porewater obtained from a sediment column. To simulate a bioreactive cap, laboratory-scale sand columns inoculated with the mixed culture were placed in series with an upflow sediment column and directly supplied sediment effluent and dissolved-phase chlorinated ethenes. The mixed consortium was not able to sustain dechlorination activity at a retention time of 0.5 days without delivery of amendments to the sediment effluent, evidenced by the loss of cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) dechlorination to vinyl chloride. When soluble electron donor was supplied to the sediment effluent, complete dechlorination of cis-DCE to ethene was observed at retention times of 0.5 days, suggesting that sediment effluent lacked sufficient electron donor to maintain active dechlorination within the sediment cap. Introduction of elevated contaminant concentrations also limited biotransformation performance of the dechlorinating consortium within the cap. These findings indicate that in situ bioreactive capping can be a feasible remedial approach, provided that residence times are adequate and that appropriate levels of electron donor and contaminant exist within the cap. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Market for School Choice in Indiana. AEI Education Policy Working Paper 2012-1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McShane, Michael Q.

2012-01-01

The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program has the potential to be the largest school voucher program in the country. Though the authorizing legislation capped enrollment in the program at 7,500 for its first year (the 2011-12 school year), that cap was increased to 15,000 for this year, and will be removed for all subsequent years. With careful…

Comparative Analysis, Hypercard, and the Future of Social Studies Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jennings, James M.

This research paper seeks to address new theories of learning and instructional practices that will be needed to meet the demands of 21st century education. A brief review of the literature on the topics of constructivism, reflective inquiry, and multicultural education, which form the major elements of a computer-based system called HyperCAP, are…

Variable pulmonary responses from exposure to concentrated ambient air particles in a rat model of bronchitis.

PubMed

Kodavanti, U P; Mebane, R; Ledbetter, A; Krantz, T; McGee, J; Jackson, M C; Walsh, L; Hilliard, H; Chen, B Y; Richards, J; Costa, D L

2000-04-01

Chronic bronchitis may be considered a risk factor in particulate matter (PM)-induced morbidity. We hypothesized that a rat model of human bronchitis would be more susceptible to the pulmonary effects of concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) from Research Triangle Park, NC. Bronchitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats (90-100 days of age) by exposure to 200 ppm sulfur dioxide (SO2), 6 h/day x 5 days/week x 6 weeks. One day following the last SO2 exposure, both healthy (air-exposed) and bronchitic (SO2-exposed) rats were exposed to filtered air (three healthy; four bronchitic) or CAPs (five healthy; four bronchitic) by whole-body inhalation, 6 h/day x 2 or 3 days. Pulmonary injury was determined either immediately (0h) or 18 h following final CAPs exposure. The study protocol involving 0 h time point was repeated four times (study #A, November, 1997; #B, February, 1998; #C and #D, May, 1998), whereas the study protocol involving 18 h time point was done only once (#F). In an additional study (#E), rats were exposed to residual oil fly ash (ROFA), approximately 1 mg/ m(3)x6 h/day x 3 days to mimic the CAPs protocol (February, 1998). The rats allowed 18 h recovery following CAPs exposure (#F) did not depict any CAPs-related differences in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) injury markers. Of the four CAPs studies conducted (0 h time point), the first (#A) study (approximately 650 microg/m3 CAPs) revealed significant changes in the lungs of CAPs-exposed bronchitic rats compared to the clean air controls. These rats had increased BALF protein, albumin, N-acetyl glutaminidase (NAG) activity and neutrophils. The second (#B) study (approximately 475 microg/m3 CAPs) did not reveal any significant effects of CAPs on BALF parameters. Study protocols #C (approximately 869 microg/m3 CAPs) and #D (approximately 907 microg/m3 CAPs) revealed only moderate increases in the above mentioned BALF parameters in bronchitic rats exposed to CAPs. Pulmonary histologic evaluation of studies #A, #C, #D, and #F revealed marginally higher congestion and perivascular cellularity in CAPs-exposed bronchitic rats. Healthy and bronchitic rats exposed to ROFA (approximately 1 mg/m3) did not show significant pulmonary injury (#E). Analysis of leachable elemental components of CAPs revealed the presence of sulfur, zinc, manganese, and iron. There was an apparent lack of association between pulmonary injury and CAPs concentration, or its leachable sulfate or elemental content. In summary, real-time atmospheric PM may result in pulmonary injury, particularly in susceptible models. However, the variability observed in pulmonary responses to CAPs emphasizes the need to conduct repeated studies, perhaps in relation to the season, as composition of CAPs may vary. Additionally, potential variability in pathology of induced bronchitis or other lung disease may decrease the ability to distinguish toxic injury due to PM.

Three essays on utility regulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hlasny, Vladimir

To induce utilities in the gas distribution market to operate efficiently, US states have deployed consumer choice programs, price caps, and variations of sliding scale plans. My first essay studies the impact of these restructuring and deregulation efforts on consumer rates, using panel data from a custom survey of state commissions and the Department of Energy. I estimate the residential, small commercial and industrial price equations jointly, and use instrumental variables to control for the potentially endogenous demand and status of deregulation. Consumer choice programs lower the prices by 2.2-20.1% compared to the rate of return regulation, benefiting industrial consumers the most and households the least. These effects appear even one to two years prior to the programs' implementation, and become stronger over time. Price caps lower all prices by 0.0-20.0%, with the same ranking. The impacts of sliding scale plans are close to zero, between -2.6% and +4.0% The second paper evaluates health damages caused by air concentrations of SO2 under three alternative environmental policies leading to identical aggregate emissions: emission caps, a nationwide emission tax, and a system of tradable emission allowances such as the one currently used in the US. The numerical model of the industry finds generators' output, participation in energy trade and SO2 abatement effort under each policy. The resulting SO2 concentrations are used to derive the aggregate health damages using estimates in the medical literature. SO2 concentrations vary across policies even when the aggregate emissions are the same. These variations translate into substantially different losses for any individual state, and, nationwide, to hundreds of millions of dollars of difference in aggregate damages. Emission caps are found to lead to the lowest damages, outperforming the currently used system of allowances by 452 million. A uniform emission tax leads to very similar damages as the system of tradable allowances, in agreement with the theory. These results are consistent with prior academic studies, that emission allowances and uniform taxes may lead to higher damages than regulatory instruments that control regional emissions more closely. In terms of SO2 concentrations and health impacts, emission caps are shown to favor the southern and southeastern states, where they deliver 840 million lower damages than the system of allowances or an emission tax, while they deliver 390 million higher damages in the northern and northeastern states. In the third essay I compute health damages from SO2 under different assumptions on the relationship between the concentration levels and their marginal health impacts. I evaluate SO2 concentration profiles resulting under the three policies in the previous chapter. Using the ranges of marginal damage estimates in medical literature, emission caps are shown to lead to the lowest damages under all considered slopes, although their benefit over the system of tradable allowances falls as the slope of the marginal damage function increases. With the maxiμm slope consistent with current medical data, the savings in damages under the emission caps in the southern states fall to 670 million compared the system of allowances, while the excess in damages they cause in the north and the northeast rises to $600 million.

Therapy of prostate cancer using a novel cancer terminator virus and a small molecule BH-3 mimetic.

PubMed

Sarkar, Siddik; Quinn, Bridget A; Shen, Xue-Ning; Dash, Rupesh; Das, Swadesh K; Emdad, Luni; Klibanov, Alexander L; Wang, Xiang-Yang; Pellecchia, Maurizio; Sarkar, Devanand; Fisher, Paul B

2015-05-10

Despite recent advances, treatment options for advanced prostate cancer (CaP) remain limited. We are pioneering approaches to treat advanced CaP that employ conditionally replication-competent oncolytic adenoviruses that simultaneously produce a systemically active cancer-specific therapeutic cytokine, mda-7/IL-24, Cancer Terminator Viruses (CTV). A truncated version of the CCN1/CYR61 gene promoter, tCCN1-Prom, was more active than progression elevated gene-3 promoter (PEG-Prom) in regulating transformation-selective transgene expression in CaP and oncogene-transformed rat embryo cells. Accordingly, we developed a new CTV, Ad.tCCN1-CTV-m7, which displayed dose-dependent killing of CaP without harming normal prostate epithelial cells in vitro with significant anti-cancer activity in vivo in both nude mouse CaP xenograft and transgenic Hi-Myc mice (using ultrasound-targeted microbubble (MB)-destruction, UTMD, with decorated MBs). Resistance to mda-7/IL-24-induced cell death correlated with overexpression of Bcl-2 family proteins. Inhibiting Mcl-1 using an enhanced BH3 mimetic, BI-97D6, sensitized CaP cell lines to mda-7/IL-24-induced apoptosis. Combining BI-97D6 with Ads expressing mda-7/IL-24 promoted ER stress, decreased anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 expression and enhanced mda-7/IL-24 expression through mRNA stabilization selectively in CaP cells. In Hi-myc mice, the combination induced enhanced apoptosis and tumor growth suppression. These studies highlight therapeutic efficacy of combining a BH3 mimetic with a novel CTV, supporting potential clinical applications for treating advanced CaP.

Noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis in patients without ultrasonographic evidence of fatty liver using the controlled attenuation parameter evaluated with transient elastography.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Yusuf; Ergelen, Rabia; Akin, Hakan; Imeryuz, Nese

2013-11-01

Although ultrasound is a useful technique for detecting hepatic steatosis, it cannot provide a precise determination of hepatic fat content. A novel attenuation parameter named controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been developed to process the raw ultrasonic signals acquired by Fibroscan. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hepatic steatosis in apparently healthy Turkish individuals using the proposed diagnostic cut-off points for CAP. In addition, we sought to investigate the association of CAP with the traditional risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a screening setting. In the present study, 102 Turkish individuals without evidence of fatty liver on ultrasound and normal aminotransferase levels underwent CAP measurements by means of Fibroscan. The mean (SD), median (minimum-maximum), and 5th and 95th percentile values of CAP values in this cohort of 102 individuals were 206.99 (48.12), 210.5 (100.0-314.0), 113.4 and 280.2 dB/m, respectively. Using the cut-offs of 222, 238, and 283 dB/m for CAP, there were 39 (38.2%), 23 (22.5%), and five (4.9%) individuals out of 102 who had at least 10% steatosis despite normal liver findings on ultrasound. After allowance for potential confounders, CAP was independently associated with BMI (β=0.39, t=3.5, P<0.001) and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria (β=0.24, t=2.1, P<0.05). These results hold promise for early noninvasive detection of hepatic steatosis on the basis of CAP assessment.

LIBS analysis of hydroxyapatite extracted from bovine bone for Ca/P ratio measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tariq, Usman; Haider, Zuhaib; Hussain, Rafaqat; Tufail, Kashif; Ali, Jalil

2017-03-01

Hydroxyapatite has been extensively used as a potential biocompatible ceramic in many orhtopedic applications. Hydroxyapatite is one of the members of calcium phosphate family and been used extensively as a bone substitute. The mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite itself, ceramics and bone cements prepared from hydroxyapatite vary greatly with slight variation in its Ca/P ratio. At present EDX, XRD, XRF and ICP-OES are being used for the determination of Ca/P ratio in hydroxyapatite. These techniques require special sample preparation, may also use toxic chemicals and usually are not very fast in giving the measurements. We report LIBS as a rapid alternative technique for calculation of Ca/P ratio in hydroxyapatite extracted from bovine bone (BHA). Ca/P ratio in laboratory prepared HA is calculated using LIBS and the results are validated against EDX results Ca/P ratio of the hydroxyapatite was calculated as 1.54±0.19 using LIBS while 1.63±0.03 using EDX. Ca/P ratio calculated by LIBS and EDX and showed comparable results with a difference of 5.5%. Moreover, plasma temperature and the ratio of the calcium (ion) line to calcium (atomic) line did not show significant variation in plasma conditions during measurements. The present study has demonstrated that LIBS can also be used for the determination of Ca/P ratio of hydroxyapatite and other calcium phosphates. At the request of all authors of the paper, and with the agreement of the Proceedings Editor, an updated version of this article was published on 24 May 2017.

Gossypol-Capped Mitoxantrone-Loaded Mesoporous SiO2 NPs for the Cooperative Controlled Release of Two Anti-Cancer Drugs.

PubMed

Heleg-Shabtai, Vered; Aizen, Ruth; Sharon, Etery; Sohn, Yang Sung; Trifonov, Alexander; Enkin, Natalie; Freage, Lina; Nechushtai, Rachel; Willner, Itamar

2016-06-15

Mesoporous SiO2 nanoparticles, MP-SiO2 NPs, are functionalized with the boronic acid ligand units. The pores of the MP-SiO2 NPs are loaded with the anticancer drug mitoxantrone, and the pores are capped with the anticancer drug gossypol. The resulting two-drug-functionalized MP-SiO2 NPs provide a potential stimuli-responsive anticancer drug carrier for cooperative chemotherapeutic treatment. In vitro experiments reveal that the MP-SiO2 NPs are unlocked under environmental conditions present in cancer cells, e.g., acidic pH and lactic acid overexpressed in cancer cells. The effective unlocking of the capping units under these conditions is attributed to the acidic hydrolysis of the boronate ester capping units and to the cooperative separation of the boronate ester bridges by the lactate ligand. The gossypol-capped mitoxantrone-loaded MP-SiO2 NPs reveals preferential cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and cooperative chemotherapeutic activities toward the cancer cells. The MCF-10A epithelial breast cells and the malignant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells treated with the gossypol-capped mitoxantrone-loaded MP-SiO2 NPs revealed after a time-interval of 5 days a cell death of ca. 8% and 60%, respectively. Also, the gossypol-capped mitoxantrone-loaded MP-SiO2 NPs revealed superior cancer-cell death (ca. 60%) as compared to control carriers consisting of β-cyclodextrin-capped mitoxantrone-loaded (ca. 40%) under similar loading of the mitoxantrone drug. The drugs-loaded MP-SiO2 NPs reveal impressive long-term stabilities.

Statin therapy in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Grudzinska, Frances S; Dosanjh, Davinder Ps; Parekh, Dhruv; Dancer, Rachel Ca; Patel, Jaimin; Nightingale, Peter; Walton, Georgia M; Sapey, Elizabeth; Thickett, David R

2017-10-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of death from infection in developed countries. There is evidence of an association between improved survival from infection and statin use. The possible beneficial effects of statins are complicated by the common use of macrolide antibiotics for pneumonia, with current guidance suggesting that concurrent macrolide and statin use is contraindicated.We conducted an observational study of statin use in patients with CAP. Of 2,067 patients with CAP, 30.4% were on statin therapy at admission. Statin users were more likely to survive the admission (p<0.001). In addition, we conducted a survey of doctors and found that knowledge regarding concurrent macrolide and statin use was lacking.These data suggest a potential role of statins in the management of CAP. Further research using high-dose statins is required to assess their safe use in subjects with mild to moderate infections. © Royal College of Physicians 2017. All rights reserved.

Computing resonance energies, widths, and wave functions using a Lanczos method in real arithmetic.

PubMed

Tremblay, Jean Christophe; Carrington, Tucker

2005-06-22

We introduce new ideas for calculating resonance energies and widths. It is shown that a non-Hermitian-Lanczos approach can be used to compute eigenvalues of H+W, where H is the Hamiltonian and W is a complex absorbing potential (CAP), without evaluating complex matrix-vector products. This is done by exploiting the link between a CAP-modified Hamiltonian matrix and a real but nonsymmetric matrix U suggested by Mandelshtam and Neumaier [J. Theor. Comput. Chem. 1, 1 (2002)] and using a coupled-two-term Lanczos procedure. We use approximate resonance eigenvectors obtained from the non-Hermitian-Lanczos algorithm and a very good CAP to obtain very accurate energies and widths without solving eigenvalue problems for many values of the CAP strength parameter and searching for cusps. The method is applied to the resonances of HCO. We compare properties of the method with those of established approaches.

Polymerizable-group capped ZnS nanoparticle for high refractive index inorganic-organic hydrogel contact lens.

PubMed

Zhao, Peili; Xu, Jinku; Zhang, Yongchun; Zhu, Weiyue; Cui, Yuezhi

2018-09-01

Refractive index (RI) is an important parameter for contact lens biomaterials. In this paper, a novel polymerizable-group capped ZnS nanoparticle (NP) was synthesized by chemical link between hydroxyl group on the surface of ZnS (ME-capped) and isocyanate group of polymerizable molecule of 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate. Then the ZnS NP copolymerized with monomer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) to prepare high refractive index hydrogel contact lens with high content of inorganic ZnS NP. Increasing polymerizable-group capped ZnS content in the hydrogels improved its RI value and mechanical properties, however decreased slightly its transmittance, equilibrium (ESR) and lysozyme deposition on the hydrogel surface. The ZnS-containing hydrogels possessed good cytocompatibility and in vivo biocompatibility in rabbit eyes, demonstrating a potential application as high RI ocular refractive correction biomaterial. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Selective and Sensitive Detection of Cyanide.

PubMed

Sayed, Sameh El; Licchelli, Maurizio; Martínez-Máñez, Ramón; Sancenón, Félix

2017-10-18

The development of easy and affordable methods for the detection of cyanide is of great significance due to the high toxicity of this anion and the potential risks associated with its pollution. Herein, optical detection of cyanide in water has been achieved by using a hybrid organic-inorganic nanomaterial. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were loaded with [Ru(bipy) 3 ] 2+ , functionalized with macrocyclic nickel(II) complex subunits, and capped with a sterically hindering anion (hexametaphosphate). Cyanide selectively induces demetallation of nickel(II) complexes and the removal of capping anions from the silica surface, allowing the release of the dye and the consequent increase in fluorescence intensity. The response of the capped nanoparticles in aqueous solution is highly selective and sensitive towards cyanide with a limit of detection of 2 μm. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Aqueous synthesis of L-cysteine and mercaptopropionic acid co-capped ZnS quantum dots with dual emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Yingkun; Wang, Yongbo; Yang, Min; Liu, Enzhou; Hu, Xiaoyun; Zhang, Xu; Fan, Jun

2018-07-01

In this paper, L-cysteine (L-cys) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) co-capped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with dual emissions have been successfully synthesized by a one-pot aqueous-phase synthesis method. The intensities of the dual emissions could be controlled by regulating the molar ratio of L-cys to MPA, and the fluorescence color also turned from blue to yellow accordingly. The relationship between the ligands and fluorescence was investigated and the results indicated that L-cys could cause two emissions and MPA improved the emission intensity. In addition, the L-cys-MPA co-capped ZnS QDs showed high photostability under UV irradiation. Therefore, the L-cys-MPA co-capped ZnS QDs, which show the dual emissions and tunable emission intensities, have great potentials for use in ratiometric fluorescence sensors and multicolor bioimaging.

Fluorescence turn-on detection of alkaline phosphatase activity based on controlled release of PEI-capped Cu nanoclusters from MnO2 nanosheets.

PubMed

Zhang, Yunyi; Li, Yongxin; Zhang, Cuiyun; Zhang, Qingfeng; Huang, Xinan; Yang, Meiding; Shahzad, Sohail Anjum; Lo, Kenneth Kam-Wing; Yu, Cong; Jiang, Shichun

2017-08-01

A fluorescence turn-on assay for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is developed through the controlled release of polyethyleneimine-capped copper nanoclusters (PEI-capped CuNCs) from the MnO 2 nanosheets. In an aqueous solution, the positively charged PEI-capped CuNCs could be adsorbed onto the surface of the negatively charged MnO 2 nanosheets. Such adsorption through favorable electrostatic interactions could efficiently quench the nanocluster fluorescence emission via resonance energy transfer from the PEI-capped CuNCs to the MnO 2 nanosheets. 2-Phospho-L-ascorbic acid (AAP) could be hydrolyzed to L-ascorbic acid (AA) in the presence of ALP. AA could reduce MnO 2 into Mn 2+ and trigger the disintegration of the MnO 2 nanosheets. As a result, the CuNCs were released and the quenched fluorescence was recovered efficiently. The detection strategy is simple, inexpensive, sensitive, selective, with low toxicity, and has better biocompatibility. The newly fabricated biosensor for ALP activity will potentially make it a robust candidate for numerous biological and biomedical applications.

IMF B(y) and day-night conductivity effects in the expanding polar cap convection model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moses, J. J.; Gorney, D. J.; Siscoe, G. L.; Crooker, N. U.

1987-01-01

During southward B(z) periods the open field line region in the ionosphere (polar cap) expands due to increased dayside merging. Ionospheric plasma flow patterns result which can be classified by the sign of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B(y) component. In this paper, a time-dependent ionospheric convection model is constructed to simulate these flows. The model consists of a spiral boundary with a gap in it. The sign of the IMF B(y) component determines the geometry of the gap. A potential is applied across the gap and distributed around the boundary. A flow results which enters the polar cap through the gap and uniformly pushes the boundary outward. Results of the model show that B(y) effects are greatest near the gap and virtually unnoticeable on the nightside of the polar cap. Adding a day-night ionospheric conductivity gradient concentrates the polar cap electric field toward dawn. The resulting flow curvature gives a sunward component that is independent of B(y). These patterns are shown to be consistent with published observations.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Changes Gene Expression of Key Molecules of the Wound Healing Machinery and Improves Wound Healing In Vitro and In Vivo

PubMed Central

Arndt, Stephanie; Unger, Petra; Wacker, Eva; Shimizu, Tetsuji; Heinlin, Julia; Li, Yang-Fang; Thomas, Hubertus M.; Morfill, Gregor E.; Zimmermann, Julia L.

2013-01-01

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has the potential to interact with tissue or cells leading to fast, painless and efficient disinfection and furthermore has positive effects on wound healing and tissue regeneration. For clinical implementation it is necessary to examine how CAP improves wound healing and which molecular changes occur after the CAP treatment. In the present study we used the second generation MicroPlaSter ß® in analogy to the current clinical standard (2 min treatment time) in order to determine molecular changes induced by CAP using in vitro cell culture studies with human fibroblasts and an in vivo mouse skin wound healing model. Our in vitro analysis revealed that the CAP treatment induces the expression of important key genes crucial for the wound healing response like IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2, and promotes the production of collagen type I and alpha-SMA. Scratch wound healing assays showed improved cell migration, whereas cell proliferation analyzed by XTT method, and the apoptotic machinery analyzed by protein array technology, was not altered by CAP in dermal fibroblasts. An in vivo wound healing model confirmed that the CAP treatment affects above mentioned genes involved in wound healing, tissue injury and repair. Additionally, we observed that the CAP treatment improves wound healing in mice, no relevant side effects were detected. We suggest that improved wound healing might be due to the activation of a specified panel of cytokines and growth factors by CAP. In summary, our in vitro human and in vivo animal data suggest that the 2 min treatment with the MicroPlaSter ß® is an effective technique for activating wound healing relevant molecules in dermal fibroblasts leading to improved wound healing, whereas the mechanisms which contribute to these observed effects have to be further investigated. PMID:24265766

Origin of sulfur for elemental sulfur concentration in salt dome cap rocks, Gulf Coast Basin, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, J. M.; Kyle, R.; Loyd, S. J.

2017-12-01

Calcite cap rocks of the Boling and Main Pass salt domes contain large elemental sulfur accumulations. Isotopic and petrographic data indicate complex histories of cap rock paragenesis for both domes. Whereas paragenetic complexity is in part due to the open nature of these hydrodynamic systems, a comprehensive understanding of elemental sulfur sources and concentration mechanisms is lacking. Large ranges in traditional sulfur isotope compositions (δ34S) among oxidized and reduced sulfur-bearing phases has led some to infer that microbial sulfate reduction and/or influx of sulfide-rich formation waters occurred during calcite cap rock formation. Ultimately, traditional sulfur isotope analyses alone cannot distinguish among local microbial or exogenous sulfur sources. Recently, multiple sulfur isotope (32S, 33S, 34S, 36S) studies reveal small, but measurable differences in mass-dependent behavior of microbial and abiogenic processes. To distinguish between the proposed sulfur sources, multiple-sulfur-isotope analyses have been performed on native sulfur from the Boling and Main Pass cap rocks. Similarities or deviations from equilibrium relationships indicate which pathways were responsible for native sulfur precipitation. Pathway determination provides insight into Gulf Coast cap rock development and potentially highlights the conditions that led to anomalous sulfur enrichment in Boling and Main Pass Domes.

Mesenchymal stem cells promote hard-tissue repair after direct pulp capping.

PubMed

Obeid, Maram; Saber, Shehab El Din Mohamed; Ismael, Alaa El Din; Hassanien, Ehab

2013-05-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of autologous mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) to promote hard-tissue formation after direct pulp capping procedures. Bone marrow was aspirated from the iliac crest of healthy dogs of nonspecific race. Mononuclear cells were obtained using the Histopaque (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO) protocol and cultured for 21 days. Direct pulp capping procedures were performed in posterior teeth, and then mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate, or BMSCs were used as direct pulp capping agents. After 3 months, animals were sacrificed, and jaw segments were processed for radiographic examination using cone-beam computed tomography scanning and histologic examination to assess the formation of a hard-tissue barrier according to a scoring system. The longitudinal and cross-sectional radiophotographs and histologic sections confirmed the formation of an evident calcific barrier after direct pulp capping with MTA and BMSCs. Statistical analysis of the scores given for radiographic and histologic calcific bridge formation showed that both MTA and BMSCs had a comparable tendency to produce a hard-tissue barrier that was significantly higher than hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate (P < .05). Autologous mesenchymal BMSCs were able to promote hard-tissue formation after direct pulp capping procedures. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In situ synthesis and surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles with curcumin and their antioxidant properties: an experimental and density functional theory investigation.

PubMed

Singh, Dheeraj K; Jagannathan, Ramya; Khandelwal, Puneet; Abraham, Priya Mary; Poddar, Pankaj

2013-03-07

Curcumin ((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is an active component of turmeric; it is responsible for its characteristic yellow color and therapeutic potential, but its poor bioavailability remains a major challenge. In order to improve the bioavailability of curcumin, various approaches have been used. One of the possible approaches to increase the bioavailability of curcumin is its conjugation on the surface of metal nanoparticles. Therefore, in the present study, we report the binding of curcumin on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs were synthesized by the direct reduction of HAuCl(4) using curcumin in the aqueous phase, without the use of any other reducing agents. We found that curcumin acts both as a reducing and capping agent, stabilizing the gold sol for many months. Moreover, these curcumin-capped AuNPs also show good antioxidant activity which was confirmed by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl) radical test. Thus, the surface functionalization of AuNPs with curcumin may pave a new way of using the curcuminoids towards possible drug delivery and therapeutics. Apart from the experimental study, a detailed quantum chemical calculation using density functional theory (DFT) has been performed, in order to investigate the formation of a complex of curcumin with Au(3+) ions in different possible conformational isomeric forms. Our theoretical calculations indicate the evidence of electron transfer from curcumin into the Au center and essentially indicate that as a consequence of complexation, Au(3+) ions are reduced to Au(0). Our theoretical results also propose that it is the breakage of intramolecular H-bonding that probably leads to the increased availability of curcumin in the presence of gold ions and water molecules.

Mapping auditory nerve firing density using high-level compound action potentials and high-pass noise masking a

PubMed Central

Earl, Brian R.; Chertoff, Mark E.

2012-01-01

Future implementation of regenerative treatments for sensorineural hearing loss may be hindered by the lack of diagnostic tools that specify the target(s) within the cochlea and auditory nerve for delivery of therapeutic agents. Recent research has indicated that the amplitude of high-level compound action potentials (CAPs) is a good predictor of overall auditory nerve survival, but does not pinpoint the location of neural damage. A location-specific estimate of nerve pathology may be possible by using a masking paradigm and high-level CAPs to map auditory nerve firing density throughout the cochlea. This initial study in gerbil utilized a high-pass masking paradigm to determine normative ranges for CAP-derived neural firing density functions using broadband chirp stimuli and low-frequency tonebursts, and to determine if cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) pathology alters the distribution of neural firing in the cochlea. Neural firing distributions for moderate-intensity (60 dB pSPL) chirps were affected by OHC pathology whereas those derived with high-level (90 dB pSPL) chirps were not. These results suggest that CAP-derived neural firing distributions for high-level chirps may provide an estimate of auditory nerve survival that is independent of OHC pathology. PMID:22280596

PVP and PEG doped CuO nanoparticles are more biologically active: Antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic perspective.

PubMed

Javed, Rabia; Ahmed, Madiha; Haq, Ihsan Ul; Nisa, Sobia; Zia, Muhammad

2017-10-01

Search for biologically active nanoparticles is prerequisite for biomedical applications. CuO nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation method are capped by polyethylene-glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) on the surface by simple adsorption. Physical and chemical properties carried out by SEM, XRD and FTIR confirm nanometer in size and efficient capping of PVP and PEG on CuO NPs. Biological assays reveal higher activities of CuO-PEG and CuO-PVP as compared to the uncapped CuO nanoparticles. CuO-PEG shows better antitumor activity against Streptomyces as compared with CuO-PVP and CuO NPs. Both the capped NPs are significantly active for α-amylase inhibition assay. CuO-PVP demonstrates significantly better activity against bacterial strains followed by CuO-PEG and uncapped CuO. PVP coated CuO NPs also shows strong DPPH based free radical scavenging activity, total reducing power potential, total antioxidative potential and also carries flavonoid and phenolics properties determines to querecetin and gallic acid equivalence, respectively. It can be concluded that PVP and PEG capped CuO NPs are more capable to be used in biomedical applications as drug and diagnostic carrier molecules. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Robust Synthesis of Ciprofloxacin-Capped Metallic Nanoparticles and Their Urease Inhibitory Assay.

PubMed

Nisar, Muhammad; Khan, Shujaat Ali; Qayum, Mughal; Khan, Ajmal; Farooq, Umar; Jaafar, Hawa Z E; Zia-Ul-Haq, Muhammad; Ali, Rashid

2016-03-25

The fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug ciprofloxacin (cip) has been used to cap metallic (silver and gold) nanoparticles by a robust one pot synthetic method under optimized conditions, using NaBH₄ as a mild reducing agent. Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) showed constancy against variations in pH, table salt (NaCl) solution, and heat. Capping with metal ions (Ag/Au-cip) has significant implications for the solubility, pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of fluoroquinolone molecules. The metallic nanoparticles were characterized by several techniques such as ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods. The nanoparticles synthesized using silver and gold were subjected to energy dispersive X-ray tests in order to show their metallic composition. The NH moiety of the piperazine group capped the Ag/Au surfaces, as revealed by spectroscopic studies. The synthesized nanoparticles were also assessed for urease inhibition potential. Fascinatingly, both Ag-cip and Au-cip NPs exhibited significant urease enzyme inhibitory potential, with IC50 = 1.181 ± 0.02 µg/mL and 52.55 ± 2.3 µg/mL, compared to ciprofloxacin (IC50 = 82.95 ± 1.62 µg/mL). MNPs also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against selected bacterial strains.

Serum levels of endothelial and neural cell adhesion molecules in prostate cancer.

PubMed

Lynch, D F; Hassen, W; Clements, M A; Schellhammer, P F; Wright, G L

1997-08-01

Tumorigenesis and progression to metastatic disease are accompanied by changes in the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Normally expressed CAMs, such as E-cadherin, are lost, while others, i.e., ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, and E-selectin, are altered and overexpressed in progressive disease and metastases. Abnormal levels of these latter CAMs have been observed in melanoma and carcinomas of the colon and breast, and NCAM is overexpressed in small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The objective of this study was to determine if serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, and E-selectin could differentiate patients with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) from those with prostate carcinoma (CaP) and identify prostate cancers with high potential for progression to metastatic disease. Serum levels of these CAMs were determined by ELISA in serum from normal males and females and from patients with BPH and CaP before and after treatment. Sera from patients with breast carcinoma, colon carcinoma, melanoma, and small-cell lung carcinoma were also evaluated, as soluble CAMs have been reported to be elevated in these cancer patients. ICAM-1 levels were elevated in sera from patients with breast carcinoma (P = 0.0004) and melanoma (P = 0.0001). VCAM-1 levels were elevated in sera from patients with colon carcinoma (P = 0.0001). NCAM levels were elevated in the sera of patients with SCLC (P = 0.0001). Normal levels of ICAM-1, E-selectin, and NCAM were found in both BPH and pretreatment CaP patients. Median NCAM levels in hormone-refractive CaP patients were significantly greater than in BPH (P = 0.0005) and CaP patients with pathologically determined organ-confined (P = 0.0014) or nonorgan-confined disease (P = 0.0385). VCAM-1 levels were significantly elevated in both BPH patients (P = 0.0002) and CaP patients (P = 0.0002) when compared with levels for normal age-matched donors. None of the CAMs were found to offer an advantage over prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) for monitoring CaP patients following definitive radiotherapy, radical prostatectomy, or hormonal therapy. The results of this study indicate that serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, and E-selectin are not clinically useful biomarkers for differentiating CaP from BPH, for predicting progression, for identifying metastatic potential, or for monitoring treatment.

"Transcend": initial outcomes from a posttraumatic stress disorder/substance abuse treatment program.

PubMed

Donovan, B; Padin-Rivera, E; Kowaliw, S

2001-10-01

This paper describes the development of a comprehensive treatment program for combat veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse (SA). Outcome data are presented on 46 male patients who completed treatment between 1996 and 1998. The treatment approach, defined by a detailed manual, integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral skills training, constructivist theory approaches, SA relapse prevention strategies, and peer social support into a group-focused program. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) were used to assess treatment effectiveness at discharge and 6- and 12-month follow-up. Significant symptom changes revealed on CAPS and ASI scores at discharge and follow-up are analyzed. Discussion focuses on hypotheses regarding treatment effectiveness, study limitations, and suggestions for further research.

Further investigations of the aeroelastic behavior of the AFW wind-tunnel model using transonic small disturbance theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silva, Walter A.; Bennett, Robert M.

1992-01-01

The Computational Aeroelasticity Program-Transonic Small Disturbance (CAP-TSD) code, developed at LaRC, is applied to the active flexible wing wind-tunnel model for prediction of transonic aeroelastic behavior. A semi-span computational model is used for evaluation of symmetric motions, and a full-span model is used for evaluation of antisymmetric motions, and a full-span model is used for evaluation of antisymmetric motions. Static aeroelastic solutions using CAP-TSD are computed. Dynamic deformations are presented as flutter boundaries in terms of Mach number and dynamic pressure. Flutter boundaries that take into account modal refinements, vorticity and entropy corrections, antisymmetric motion, and sensitivity to the modeling of the wing tip ballast stores are also presented with experimental flutter results.

Block Copolymer Adhesion Measured by Contact Mechanics Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falsafi, A.; Bates, S.; Tirrell, M.; Pocius, A. V.

1997-03-01

Adhesion measurements for a series of polyolefin diblocks and triblocks are presented. These materials have poly(ethylene-propylene) or poly(ethyl-ethylene) rubbery block, and semicrystalline polyethylene block as physical crosslinker. The experiments consist of compression and decompression profiles of contact area between the samples as a function of normal load, analyzed by the JKR Theory. The samples are prepared either by formation of caps from the bulk material in melting and subsequent cooling, and/or coating them in thin films on surface modified elastic foundations of polydimethylsiloxane caps. The latter minimizes the viscoelastic losses which are dominant in the bulk of material. The effect of molecular architecture and microstructure on adhesion energy and dynamics of separation, obtained from decompression experiments, is discussed in view of their influence on molecular arrangements at the contacting surfaces.

Martian Polar Caps: Folding, Faulting, Flowing Glaciers of Multiple Interbedded Ices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kargel, J. S.

2001-12-01

The Martian south polar cap (permanent CO2 cap and polar layered deposits), exhibit abundant, varied, and widespread deformational phenomena. Folding and boudinage are very common. Strike-slip or normal faults are rarer. Common in the vicinity of major troughs and scarps are signs of convergent flow tectonics manifested as wrinkle-ridge-like surface folds, thrust faults, and viscous forebulges with thin-skinned extensional crevasses and wrinkle-ridge folds. Such flow convergence is predicted by theory. Boudinage and folding at the 300-m wavelength scale, indicating rheologically contrasting materials, is widely exposed at deep levels along erosional scarps. Independent morphologic evidence indicates south polar materials of contrasting volatility. Hence, the south polar cap appears to be a multiphase structure of interbedded ices. The north polar cap locally also exhibits flow indicators, though they are neither as common nor as varied as in the south. The large-scale quasi-spiral structure of the polar caps could be a manifestation of large-scale boudinage. According to this scenario, deep-level boudinage continuously originates under the glacial divide (the polar cap summit). Rod-like boudin structures are oriented transverse to flow and migrate outward with the large-scale flow field. Troughs develop over areas between major boudins. A dynamic competition, and possibly a rough balance, develops between the local flow field in the vicinity of a trough (which tends to close the trough by lateral closure and upwelling flow) and sublimation erosion (which tends to widen and deepen them). Over time, the troughs flow to the margins of the polar cap where they, along with other polar structures, are destroyed by sublimation. Major ice types contributing to rheological and volatility layering may include, in order of highest to lowest mechanical strength, CO2 clathrate hydrate, water ice containing inert/insoluble dust, pure water ice, water ice containing traces of liquid-soluble salts, water ice containing traces of solid-soluble acids, CO2 ice. This is also nearly the same sequence of highest to lowest melting/dissociation points, but it is different than the sequence of volatility. This geologic-structural interpretation and specific chemical models are amenable to testing by computational means and point the way toward future needed observations, including complete high-resolution imaging of the polar caps, measurement of flow fields (possibly by laser interferometry), mapping of subsurface structures (by radar and/or seismic methods), and determination of composition (by penetrators, drillers, or borers). New lab data are needed on the physical properties of candidate ices.

How roots perceive and respond to gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, R.; Evans, M. L.

1986-01-01

Graviperception by plant roots is believed to occur via the sedimentation of amyloplasts in columella cells of the root cap. This physical stimulus results in an accumulation of calcium on the lower side of the cap, which in turn induces gravicurvature. In this paper we present a model for root gravitropism integrating gravity-induced changes in electrical potential, cytochemical localization of calcium in cells of gravistimulated roots, and the interdependence of calcium and auxin movement. Key features of the model are that 1) gravity-induced redistribution of calcium is an early event in the transduction mechanism, and 2) apoplastic movement of calcium through the root-cap mucilage may be an important component of the pathway for calcium movement.

Projecting the potential impact of the Cap-Score™ on clinical pregnancy, live births, and medical costs in couples with unexplained infertility.

PubMed

Babigumira, Joseph B; Sharara, Fady I; Garrison, Louis P

2018-01-01

The Cap-Score™ was developed to assess the capacitation status of men, thereby enabling personalized management of unexplained infertility by choosing timed intrauterine insemination (IUI), versus immediate in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in individuals with a low Cap-Score™. The objective of this study was to estimate the differences in outcomes and costs comparing the use of the Cap-Score™ with timed IUI (CS-TI) and the standard of care (SOC), which was assumed to be three IUI cycles followed by three IVF-ICSI cycles. We developed and parameterized a decision-analytic model of management of unexplained infertility for women based on data from the published literature. We calculated the clinical pregnancy rates, live birth rates, and medical costs comparing CS-TI and SOC. We used Monte Carlo simulation to quantify uncertainty in projected estimates and performed univariate sensitivity analysis. Compared to SOC, CS-TI was projected to increase the pregnancy rate by 1-26%, marginally reduce live birth rates by 1-3% in couples with women below 40 years, increase live birth rates by 3-7% in couples with women over 40 years, reduce mean medical costs by $4000-$19,200, reduce IUI costs by $600-$1370, and reduce IVF costs by $3400-$17,800, depending on the woman's age. The Cap-Score™ is a potentially valuable clinical tool for management of unexplained infertility because it is projected to improve clinical pregnancy rates, save money, and, depending on the price of the test, increase access to treatment for infertility.

Concerns Around Budget Impact Thresholds: Not All Drugs Are the Same.

PubMed

Ciarametaro, Michael; Abedi, Susan; Sohn, Adam; Ge, Colin Fan; Odedara, Neel; Dubois, Robert

2017-02-01

The use of budget thresholds is a recent development in the United States (e.g., the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review drug assessments). Budget thresholds establish limits that require some type of budgetary action if exceeded. This research focused on the advisability of using product-level budget thresholds as fixed spending caps by examining whether they are likely to improve or worsen market efficiency over status quo. The aim of this study was to determine whether fixed product-level spending caps are advisable for biopharmaceuticals. We systematically examined 5-year, postlaunch revenue for drugs that launched in the United States between 2003 and 2014 using the IMS MIDAS database. For products launched between 2011 and 2014, we used historical revenue as the baseline and trended out 60 months postlaunch based on exponential smoothing. Forecasted fifth-year revenue was compared to analyst reports. Fifth-year revenue was compared against a hypothetical $904 million spending cap to determine the amount of annual spending that might require reallocation. Descriptive statistics of 5-year, postlaunch revenue and annual spending requiring reallocation were calculated. Adhering to a $904 million product-level spending cap requires that approximately one-third of new drug spending be reallocated to other goods and services that have the potential to be less cost-effective due to significant barriers. Fixed product-level spending caps have the potential to reduce market efficiency due to their independence from value and the presence of important operational challenges. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modelled Cost-Effectiveness of a Package Size Cap and a Kilojoule Reduction Intervention to Reduce Energy Intake from Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Australia.

PubMed

Crino, Michelle; Herrera, Ana Maria Mantilla; Ananthapavan, Jaithri; Wu, Jason H Y; Neal, Bruce; Lee, Yong Yi; Zheng, Miaobing; Lal, Anita; Sacks, Gary

2017-09-06

Interventions targeting portion size and energy density of food and beverage products have been identified as a promising approach for obesity prevention. This study modelled the potential cost-effectiveness of: a package size cap on single-serve sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) >375 mL ( package size cap ), and product reformulation to reduce energy content of packaged SSBs ( energy reduction ). The cost-effectiveness of each intervention was modelled for the 2010 Australia population using a multi-state life table Markov model with a lifetime time horizon. Long-term health outcomes were modelled from calculated changes in body mass index to their impact on Health-Adjusted Life Years (HALYs). Intervention costs were estimated from a limited societal perspective. Cost and health outcomes were discounted at 3%. Total intervention costs estimated in AUD 2010 were AUD 210 million. Both interventions resulted in reduced mean body weight ( package size cap : 0.12 kg; energy reduction : 0.23 kg); and HALYs gained ( package size cap : 73,883; energy reduction : 144,621). Cost offsets were estimated at AUD 750.8 million ( package size cap ) and AUD 1.4 billion ( energy reduction ). Cost-effectiveness analyses showed that both interventions were "dominant", and likely to result in long term cost savings and health benefits. A package size cap and kJ reduction of SSBs are likely to offer excellent "value for money" as obesity prevention measures in Australia.

Modelled Cost-Effectiveness of a Package Size Cap and a Kilojoule Reduction Intervention to Reduce Energy Intake from Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Australia

PubMed Central

Mantilla Herrera, Ana Maria; Neal, Bruce; Zheng, Miaobing; Lal, Anita; Sacks, Gary

2017-01-01

Interventions targeting portion size and energy density of food and beverage products have been identified as a promising approach for obesity prevention. This study modelled the potential cost-effectiveness of: a package size cap on single-serve sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) >375 mL (package size cap), and product reformulation to reduce energy content of packaged SSBs (energy reduction). The cost-effectiveness of each intervention was modelled for the 2010 Australia population using a multi-state life table Markov model with a lifetime time horizon. Long-term health outcomes were modelled from calculated changes in body mass index to their impact on Health-Adjusted Life Years (HALYs). Intervention costs were estimated from a limited societal perspective. Cost and health outcomes were discounted at 3%. Total intervention costs estimated in AUD 2010 were AUD 210 million. Both interventions resulted in reduced mean body weight (package size cap: 0.12 kg; energy reduction: 0.23 kg); and HALYs gained (package size cap: 73,883; energy reduction: 144,621). Cost offsets were estimated at AUD 750.8 million (package size cap) and AUD 1.4 billion (energy reduction). Cost-effectiveness analyses showed that both interventions were “dominant”, and likely to result in long term cost savings and health benefits. A package size cap and kJ reduction of SSBs are likely to offer excellent “value for money” as obesity prevention measures in Australia. PMID:28878175

Cold thermal injury from cold caps used for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

PubMed

Belum, Viswanath Reddy; de Barros Silva, Giselle; Laloni, Mariana Tosello; Ciccolini, Kathryn; Goldfarb, Shari B; Norton, Larry; Sklarin, Nancy T; Lacouture, Mario E

2016-06-01

The use of scalp cooling for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is increasing. Cold caps are placed onto the hair-bearing areas of the scalp for varying time periods before, during, and after cytotoxic chemotherapy. Although not yet reported, improper application procedures could result in adverse events (AEs). At present, there are no evidence-based scalp cooling protocols, and there is no regulatory oversight of their use. To report the occurrence of cold thermal injury (frostbite) on the scalp, following the use of cold caps for the prevention of CIA. We identified four patients who developed cold thermal injuries on the scalp following the application of cold caps. Medical records were analyzed to retrieve the demographic and clinical characteristics. The cold thermal injuries in our patients were grade 1/2 in severity and improved with topical interventions and interruption of cold cap use, although grade 1 persistent alopecia ensued in 3 patients. The true incidence of such injuries in this setting, however, remains unknown. Cold thermal injuries are likely infrequent and preventable AEs that may result from improper device application procedures during cold cap use. Although these untoward events are usually mild to moderate in severity, the potential occurrence of long-term sequelae (e.g., permanent alopecia and scarring) or the need to discontinue cold cap use, are not known. Prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the risk and standardize healthcare delivery methods, and to improve patient/supportive/healthcare provider education.

Pneumococcal vaccination reduces the risk of community-acquired pneumonia in children.

PubMed

Hasegawa, Junko; Mori, Mitsuru; Ohnishi, Hirofumi; Tsugawa, Takeshi; Hori, Tsukasa; Yoto, Yuko; Tsutsumi, Hiroyuki

2017-03-01

The seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced to Japan in 2009, after which there was a rapid decline in invasive pneumococcal disease. There are few data, however, on the effectiveness of PCV7 against community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We conducted an ambispective cohort study among children aged 0-6 years old who attended day-care centers. A total of 624 children at 10 day-care centers in Sapporo, Japan participated in the study. The parents reported whether their child had received PCV7 one or more times, as well as the exact dates of vaccination from records in maternal and child health handbooks marked by pediatricians. Each CAP event was reported by parents according to doctor diagnosis. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI of CAP incidence reduced by PCV7 inoculation. During the observational period, 94 subjects contracted CAP. After adjusting for potentially confounding variables, inoculation with PCV7 was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CAP (HR, 0.22; 95%CI: 0.13-0.34). On stratified analysis by age, PCV7 was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CAP in both children aged <3 years (HR, 0.31; 95%CI: 0.14-0.71), and those ≥3 years (HR, 0.20; 95%CI: 0.09-0.43). PCV7 is highly effective in reducing the risk of CAP in children attending day-care centers. © 2016 Japan Pediatric Society.

Quantification of fibrous cap thickness in intracoronary optical coherence tomography with a contour segmentation method based on dynamic programming.

PubMed

Zahnd, Guillaume; Karanasos, Antonios; van Soest, Gijs; Regar, Evelyn; Niessen, Wiro; Gijsen, Frank; van Walsum, Theo

2015-09-01

Fibrous cap thickness is the most critical component of plaque stability. Therefore, in vivo quantification of cap thickness could yield valuable information for estimating the risk of plaque rupture. In the context of preoperative planning and perioperative decision making, intracoronary optical coherence tomography imaging can provide a very detailed characterization of the arterial wall structure. However, visual interpretation of the images is laborious, subject to variability, and therefore not always sufficiently reliable for immediate decision of treatment. A novel semiautomatic segmentation method to quantify coronary fibrous cap thickness in optical coherence tomography is introduced. To cope with the most challenging issue when estimating cap thickness (namely the diffuse appearance of the anatomical abluminal interface to be detected), the proposed method is based on a robust dynamic programming framework using a geometrical a priori. To determine the optimal parameter settings, a training phase was conducted on 10 patients. Validated on a dataset of 179 images from 21 patients, the present framework could successfully extract the fibrous cap contours. When assessing minimal cap thickness, segmentation results from the proposed method were in good agreement with the reference tracings performed by a medical expert (mean absolute error and standard deviation of 22 ± 18 μm) and were similar to inter-observer reproducibility (21 ± 19 μm, R = .74), while being significantly faster and fully reproducible. The proposed framework demonstrated promising performances and could potentially be used for online identification of high-risk plaques.

Comparison of the EZ-Cap recapper with the Mayo recapper for the prevention of needlesticks.

PubMed

Dewhirst, Chad A; Hung, Joseph C

2008-09-01

The purpose of this project was the development of a device that improves the design of our current capping block, the Mayo recapper. The major challenges for design and improvement included creating a device that is simple to use and can be applied throughout our department. We wanted a recapper device that increased safety and minimized the potential for needlesticks. Simplicity was another important factor, along with versatility and low cost. A new recapper, called EZ-Cap, was developed, and a comparison study was conducted to evaluate the pros and cons of the EZ-Cap recapper and the Mayo recapper. Nuclear medicine technologists (n = 10) in our department used each device when administering patient injections. At the conclusion of their patient injection rotation, they recorded on a survey sheet the pros and cons of each device. The results of this survey were used to evaluate the effectiveness, comfort level during use, and safety of each recapping device. We used a 2-level scoring system to help determine which device was more favorable. The first level focused on comfort and convenience and was given a score of +1 or -1. The second level focused on safety and was given a score of +2 or -2. Because we believed that safety was a high priority for our capping blocks, this level received a higher score than the first level. The Mayo recapper was the device preferred by 9 of 10 technologists surveyed. The EZ-Cap recapper had several technical issues that made it difficult to use and that could potentially lead to safety concerns. According to our scoring system, the Mayo recapper received a score of +9 for its pros and -4 for its cons. By comparison, the EZ-Cap recapper received a score of +7 for its pros and -16 for its cons. Our results show that the Mayo recapper was the device of choice because its pros outweighed its cons. However, we will continually improve the effectiveness of the Mayo recapper to prevent needlesticks.

Maximally exposed offsite individual location determination for NESHAPS compliance

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

Simpkins, A.A.

2000-03-13

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the use of the computer program CAP88 for demonstrating compliance with the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS.) One of the inputs required for CAP88 is the location of the maximally exposed individual (MEI) by sector and distance. Distances to the MEI have been determined for 15 different potential release locations at SRS. These locations were compared with previous work and differences were analyzed. Additionally, SREL Conference Center was included as a potential offsite location since in the future it may be used as a dormitory. Worst sectors were then determined basedmore » on the distances.« less

Antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy of antineoplastic agent capped gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Selvaraj, V; Grace, A Nirmala; Alagar, M; Hamerton, I

2010-04-01

Synthesis of thioguanine (TG)-capped Au nanoparticles (Au@TG) and their enhanced in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy against Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Hep2 cancer cell (Human epidermiod cell) have been reported. The nature of binding between 6-TG and the gold nanoparticles via complexation is investigated using ultraviolet-visible spectrum, cyclic voltammetry, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The present experimental studies suggests that Au@TG are more potential than TG towards antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Hence, gold nanoparticles have the potential to be used as effective carriers for anticancer drug.

Classification of capped tubular viral particles in the family of Papovaviridae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keef, T.; Taormina, A.; Twarock, R.

2006-04-01

A vital constituent of a virus is its protein shell, called the viral capsid, that encapsulates and hence provides protection for the viral genome. Viral capsids are usually spherical, and for a significant number of viruses they exhibit overall icosahedral symmetry. The corresponding surface lattices, that encode the locations of the capsid proteins and intersubunit bonds, can be modelled by viral tiling theory. It has been shown in vitro that under a variation of the experimental boundary conditions, such as the pH value and salt concentration, tubular particles may appear instead of, or in addition to, spherical ones. In order to develop models that describe the simultaneous assembly of both spherical and tubular variants, and hence study the possibility of triggering tubular malformations as a means of interference with the replication mechanism, viral tiling theory has to be extended to include tubular lattices with end caps. We focus here on the case of Papovaviridae, which play a distinguished role from the viral structural point of view as they correspond to all pentamer lattices, i.e. lattices formed from clusters of five protein subunits throughout. These results pave the way for a generalization of recently developed assembly models.

Interest Rates and Coupon Bonds in Quantum Finance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baaquie, Belal E.

2009-09-01

1. Synopsis; 2. Interest rates and coupon bonds; 3. Options and option theory; 4. Interest rate and coupon bond options; 5. Quantum field theory of bond forward interest rates; 6. Libor Market Model of interest rates; 7. Empirical analysis of forward interest rates; 8. Libor Market Model of interest rate options; 9. Numeraires for bond forward interest rates; 10. Empirical analysis of interest rate caps; 11. Coupon bond European and Asian options; 12. Empirical analysis of interest rate swaptions; 13. Correlation of coupon bond options; 14. Hedging interest rate options; 15. Interest rate Hamiltonian and option theory; 16. American options for coupon bonds and interest rates; 17. Hamiltonian derivation of coupon bond options; Appendixes; Glossaries; List of symbols; Reference; Index.

Human recombinant cementum attachment protein (hrPTPLa/CAP) promotes hydroxyapatite crystal formation in vitro and bone healing in vivo.

PubMed

Montoya, Gonzalo; Arenas, Jesús; Romo, Enrique; Zeichner-David, Margarita; Alvarez, Marco; Narayanan, A Sampath; Velázquez, Ulises; Mercado, Gabriela; Arzate, Higinio

2014-12-01

Cementum extracellular matrix is similar to other mineralized tissues; however, this unique tissue contains molecules only present in cementum. A cDNA of these molecules, cementum attachment protein (hrPTPLa/CAP) was cloned and expressed in a prokaryotic system. This molecule is an alternative splicing of protein tyrosine phosphatase-like A (PTPLa). In this study, we wanted to determine the structural and functional characteristics of this protein. Our results indicate that hrPTPLa/CAP contains a 43.2% α-helix, 8.9% β-sheet, 2% β-turn and 45.9% random coil secondary structure. Dynamic light scattering shows that this molecule has a size distribution of 4.8 nm and aggregates as an estimated mass of 137 kDa species. AFM characterization and FE-SEM studies indicate that this protein self-assembles into nanospheres with sizes ranging from 7.0 to 27 nm in diameter. Functional studies demonstrate that hrPTPLa/CAP promotes hydroxyapatite crystal nucleation: EDS analysis revealed that hrPTPLa/CAP-induced crystals had a 1.59 ± 0.06 Ca/P ratio. Further confirmation with MicroRaman spectrometry and TEM confirm the presence of hydroxyapatite. In vivo studies using critical-size defects in rat cranium showed that hrPTPLa/CAP promoted 73% ± 2.19% and 87% ± 1.97% new bone formation at 4 and 8 weeks respectively. Although originally identified in cementum, PTPLa/CAP is very effective at inducing bone repair and healing and therefore this novel molecule has a great potential to be used for mineralized tissue bioengineering and tissue regeneration. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tracking Retreat of the North Seasonal Ice Cap on Mars: Results from the THEMIS Investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ivanov, A. B.; Wagstaff, K. L.; Ttus, T. N.

2005-01-01

The CO2 ice caps on Mars advance and retreat with the seasons. This phenomenon was first observed by Cassini and then confirmed by numerous ground based observations in 19th and 20th centuries. With the advent of the space age observations of the seasonal ice cap were done by all orbiting spacecraft starting with Mariner 7. Viking Orbiters and more recently the Mars Global Surveyor (particularly Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) and Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) instruments) have accumulated significant data on the retreat of the CO2 seasonal cap. During Mars year 2 of THEMIS operations at Mars, we planned an observational campaign in which the THEMIS instrument (onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft) repeatedly observed the north seasonal polar cap from midwinter to late spring. THEMIS allows simultaneous observations in both Thermal IR (12.57 m) and Visible wavelengths (0.65 m). One of the goals for this work is to initiate an interannual program for observations of the seasonal ice caps using the THEMIS instrument. The most efficient way to detect the edge between frost and bare ground is directly onboard of the spacecraft. Prior to onboard software design effort, we have developed two groundbased algorithms for automatically finding the edge of the seasonal polar cap in THEMIS IR data. The first algorithm relies on fully calibrated data and can be used for highly reliable groundbased analyses. The second method was specifically developed for processing raw, uncalibrated data in a highly efficient way. It has the potential to enable automatic, onboard detections of the seasonal cap retreat. We have experimentally confirmed that both methods produce similar results, and we have validated both methods against a model constructed from the MGS TES data from the same season.

Thermographic Analysis of Composite Cobonds on the X-33

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, S. S.; Walker, J. L.; Lansing, M. D.

2001-01-01

During the manufacture of the X-33 liquid hydrogen (LH2) Tank 2, a total of 36 reinforcing caps were inspected thermographically. The cured reinforcing sheets of graphite/epoxy were bonded to the tank using a wet cobond process with vacuum bagging and low temperature curing. A foam filler material wedge separated the reinforcing caps from the outer skin of the tank. Manufacturing difficulties caused by a combination of the size of the reinforcing caps and their complex geometry lead to a potential for trapping air in the bond line. An inspection process was desired to ensure that the bond line was free of voids before it had cured so that measures could be taken to rub out the entrapped air or remove the cap and perform additional surface matching. Infrared thermography was used to perform the procure 'wet bond' inspection as well a to document the final 'cured' condition of the caps. The thermal map of the bond line was acquired by heating the cap with either a flash lamp or a set of high intensity quartz lamps and then viewing it during cool down. The inspections were performed through the vacuum bag and voids were characterized by localized hot spots. In order to ensure that the cap had bonded to the tank properly, a post cure 'flash heating' thermographic investigation was performed with the vacuum bag removed. Any regions that had opened up after the preliminary inspection or that were hidden during the bagging operation were marked and filled by drilling small holes in the cap and injecting resin. This process was repeated until all critical sized voids were filled.

Towards novel efficient and stable nuclear import signals: synthesis and properties of trimethylguanosine cap analogs modified within the 5',5'-triphosphate bridge.

PubMed

Zytek, Malgorzata; Kowalska, Joanna; Lukaszewicz, Maciej; Wojtczak, Blazej A; Zuberek, Joanna; Ferenc-Mrozek, Aleksandra; Darzynkiewicz, Edward; Niedzwiecka, Anna; Jemielity, Jacek

2014-12-07

A trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap is present at the 5' end of several small nuclear and nucleolar RNAs. Recently, it has been reported that the TMG cap is a potential nuclear import signal for nucleus-targeting therapeutic nucleic acids and proteins. The import is mediated by recognition of the TMG cap by the snRNA transporting protein, snurportin1. This work describes the synthesis and properties of a series of dinucleotide TMG cap (m3(2,2,7)GpppG) analogs modified in the 5',5'-triphosphate bridge as tools to study TMG cap-dependent biological processes. The bridge was altered at different positions by introducing either bridging (imidodiphosphate, O to NH and methylenebisphosphonate, O to CH2) or non-bridging (phosphorothioate, O to S and boranophosphate, O to BH3) modifications, or by elongation to tetraphosphate. The stability of novel analogs in blood serum was studied to reveal that the α,β-bridging O to NH substitution (m3(2,2,7)GppNHpG) confers the highest resistance. Short RNAs capped with analogs containing α,β-bridging (m3(2,2,7)GppNHpG) or β-non-bridging (m3(2,2,7)GppSpG D2) modifications were resistant to decapping pyrophosphatase, hNudt16. Preliminary studies on binding by human snurportin1 revealed that both O to NH and O to S substitutions support this binding. Due to favorable properties in all three assays, m3(2,2,7)GppNHpG was selected as a promising candidate for further studies on the efficiency of the TMG cap as a nuclear import signal.

Increased risk of pneumonia in residents living near poultry farms: does the upper respiratory tract microbiota play a role?

PubMed

Smit, Lidwien A M; Boender, Gert Jan; de Steenhuijsen Piters, Wouter A A; Hagenaars, Thomas J; Huijskens, Elisabeth G W; Rossen, John W A; Koopmans, Marion; Nodelijk, Gonnie; Sanders, Elisabeth A M; Yzermans, Joris; Bogaert, Debby; Heederik, Dick

2017-01-01

Air pollution has been shown to increase the susceptibility to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Previously, we observed an increased incidence of CAP in adults living within 1 km from poultry farms, potentially related to particulate matter and endotoxin emissions. We aim to confirm the increased risk of CAP near poultry farms by refined spatial analyses, and we hypothesize that the oropharyngeal microbiota composition in CAP patients may be associated with residential proximity to poultry farms. A spatial kernel model was used to analyze the association between proximity to poultry farms and CAP diagnosis, obtained from electronic medical records of 92,548 GP patients. The oropharyngeal microbiota composition was determined in 126 hospitalized CAP patients using 16S-rRNA-based sequencing, and analyzed in relation to residential proximity to poultry farms. Kernel analysis confirmed a significantly increased risk of CAP when living near poultry farms, suggesting an excess risk up to 1.15 km, followed by a sharp decline. Overall, the oropharyngeal microbiota composition differed borderline significantly between patients living <1 km and ≥1 km from poultry farms (PERMANOVA p  = 0.075). Results suggested a higher abundance of Streptococcus pneumoniae (mean relative abundance 34.9% vs. 22.5%, p  = 0.058) in patients living near poultry farms, which was verified by unsupervised clustering analysis, showing overrepresentation of a S. pneumoniae cluster near poultry farms ( p  = 0.049). Living near poultry farms is associated with an 11% increased risk of CAP, possibly resulting from changes in the upper respiratory tract microbiota composition in susceptible individuals. The abundance of S. pneumoniae near farms needs to be replicated in larger, independent studies.

Allergen Chip Diagnosis for Soy-Allergic Patients: Gly m 4 as a Marker for Severe Food-Allergic Reactions to Soy

PubMed Central

Berneder, M.; Bublin, M.; Hoffmann-Sommergruber, K.; Hawranek, T.; Lang, R.

2016-01-01

Background Gly m 5 and Gly m 6 are known to induce severe reactions in soy-allergic patients. For birch pollen (BP)-allergic patients, the Bet v 1 homologous allergen Gly m 4 is also a potential trigger of generalized severe reactions upon soy consumption. Therefore, reliable component-resolved diagnosis of soy allergy is needed. Methods IgE reactivity from sera of 20 patients from a BP environment with reported soy allergy was assessed. Skin prick tests (SPT) with BP and soy drink were performed. Specific IgE for BP, soy, Bet v 1 and Gly m 4 was analyzed by ImmunoCAP. In addition, ISAC microarray profiling was performed. Results Nineteen of 20 patients were BP allergic (positive SPT and/or CAP results for BP extract and Bet v 1). Eighteen soy-allergic patients were tested positive with soy drink in SPT. Soy CAP results were negative in the majority of tests (15/20), whereas 19/20 sera had specific IgE to Gly m 4. In the microarray approach, 14/20 sera displayed Gly m 4-specific IgE, the additional 6 sera had IgE levels below 0.3 ISAC standardized units. The BP-negative serum had Gly m 5- and Gly m 6-specific IgE which correlated with positive soy ImmunoCAP. Conclusions Soy sensitization detected by SPT and Gly m 4 ImmunoCAP were in good qualitative agreement with ISAC results. Soy ImmunoCAP was only specific for Gly m 5 and Gly m 6 sensitization. Gly m 4 ImmunoCAP has a higher sensitivity than ImmunoCAP ISAC. In this patient cohort, Gly m 4 sensitization was linked to the development of severe and generalized allergic reactions upon soy consumption. PMID:23548307

Cytogenetic evaluation of gold nanorods using Allium cepa test.

PubMed

Rajeshwari, A; Roy, Barsha; Chandrasekaran, Natarajan; Mukherjee, Amitava

2016-12-01

The current study reveals the impact of gold nanorods (NRs) capped with CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) or PEG (polyethylene glycol) on Allium cepa. The morphology and surface charge of CTAB- and PEG-capped gold NRs were characterized by electron microscopic and zeta potential analyses. The chromosomal aberrations like clumped chromosome, chromosomal break, chromosomal bridge, diagonal anaphase, disturbed metaphase, laggard chromosome, and sticky chromosome were observed in the root tip cells exposed to different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 μg/mL) of CTAB- and PEG-capped gold NRs. We found that both CTAB- and PEG-capped gold NRs were able to induce toxicity in the plant system after 4-h interaction. At a maximum concentration of 10 μg/mL, the mitotic index reduction induced by CTAB-capped gold NRs was 40-fold higher than that induced by PEG-capped gold NRs. The toxicity of gold NRs was further confirmed by lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress analyses. The unbound CTAB also contributed to the toxicity in root tip cells, while PEG alone shows less toxicity to the cells. The vehicle control CTAB contributed to the toxic effects in root tip cells, while PEG alone did not show any toxicity to the cells. The results revealed that even though both the particles have adverse effects on A. cepa, there was a significant difference in the mitotic index and oxidative stress generation in root cells exposed to CTAB-capped gold NRs. Thus, this study concludes that the surface polymerization of gold NRs by PEG can reduce the toxicity of CTAB-capped gold NRs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The role of calcium in the desensitization of capsaicin responses in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

PubMed

Koplas, P A; Rosenberg, R L; Oxford, G S

1997-05-15

Capsaicin (Cap) is a pungent extract of the Capsicum pepper family, which activates nociceptive primary sensory neurons. Inward current and membrane potential responses of cultured neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion neurons to capsaicin were examined using whole-cell and perforated patch recording methods. The responses exhibited strong desensitization operationally classified as acute (diminished response during constant Cap exposure) and tachyphylaxis (diminished response to successive applications of Cap). Both acute desensitization and tachyphylaxis were greatly diminished by reductions in external Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, chelation of intracellular Ca2+ by addition of either EGTA or bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid to the patch pipette attenuated both forms of desensitization even in normal Ca2+. Release of intracellular Ca2+ by caffeine triggered acute desensitization in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, and barium was found to effectively substitute for calcium in supporting desensitization. Cap activated inward current at an ED50 of 728 nM, exhibiting cooperativity (Hill coefficient, 2.2); however, both forms of desensitization were only weakly dependent on [Cap], suggesting a dissociation between activation of Cap-sensitive channels and desensitization. Removal of ATP and GTP from the intracellular solutions resulted in nearly complete tachyphylaxis even with intracellular Ca2+ buffered to low levels, whereas changes in nucleotide levels did not significantly alter the acute form of desensitization. These data suggest a key role for intracellular Ca2+ in desensitization of Cap responses, perhaps through Ca2+-dependent dephosphorylation at a locus that normally sustains Cap responsiveness via ATP-dependent phosphorylation. It also seems that the signaling mechanisms underlying the two forms of desensitization are not identical in detail.

Thermographic Analysis of Composite Cobonds on the X-33

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, Samuel S.; Walker, James L.; Lansing, Matthew D.; Whitaker, Ann F. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

During the manufacture of the X-33 liquid hydrogen (LH2) Tank 2, a total of thirty-six reinforcing caps were inspected thermographically. The cured reinforcing sheets of graphite/epoxy were bonded to the tank using a wet cobond process with vacuum bagging and low temperature curing. A foam filler material wedge separated the reinforcing caps from the outer skin of the tank. Manufacturing difficulties caused by a combination of the size of the reinforcing caps and their complex geometry lead to a potential for trapping air in the bond line. An inspection process was desired to ensure that the bond line was free of voids before it had cured so that measures could be taken to rub out the entrapped air or remove the cap and perform additional surface matching. Infrared thermography was used to perform the precure "wet bond" inspection as well as to document the final "cured" condition of the caps. The thermal map of the bond line was acquired by heating the cap with either a flash lamp or a set of high intensity quartz lamps and then viewing it during cool down. The inspections were performed through the vacuum bag and voids were characterized by localized hot spots. In order to ensure that the cap had bonded to the tank properly, a post cure "flash heating" thermographic investigation was performed with the vacuum bag removed. Any regions that had opened up after the preliminary inspection or that were hidden during the bagging operation were marked and filled by drilling small holes in the cap and injecting resin. This process was repeated until all critical sized voids were filled.

EAGLE CAP WILDERNESS AND ADJACENT AREAS, OREGON.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kilsgaard, Thor H.; Tuchek, Ernest T.

1984-01-01

On the basis of a mineral survey of the Eagle Cap Wilderness and adjacent areas a probable mineral-resources potential was identified in five areas in the eastern part of the wilderness. Mineral resources are most likely to occur in tactite deposits in sedimentary rocks at or near contacts with intrusive granitic rocks that could contain copper and small amounts of other metals; however, there is little promise for the occurrence of energy resources.

The effects of seasonal and diurnal variations in the Earth's magnetic dipole orientation on solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cnossen, Ingrid; Wiltberger, Michael; Ouellette, Jeremy E.

2012-11-01

The angle μ between the geomagnetic dipole axis and the geocentric solar magnetospheric (GSM) z axis, sometimes called the “dipole tilt,” varies as a function of UT and season. Observations have shown that the cross-polar cap potential tends to maximize near the equinoxes, when on average μ = 0, with smaller values observed near the solstices. This is similar to the well-known semiannual variation in geomagnetic activity. We use numerical model simulations to investigate the role of two possible mechanisms that may be responsible for the influence of μ on the magnetosphere-ionosphere system: variations in the coupling efficiency between the solar wind and the magnetosphere and variations in the ionospheric conductance over the polar caps. Under southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions, variations in ionospheric conductance at high magnetic latitudes are responsible for 10-30% of the variations in the cross-polar cap potential associated with μ, but variations in solar wind-magnetosphere coupling are more important and responsible for 70-90%. Variations in viscous processes contribute slightly to this, but variations in the reconnection rate with μ are the dominant cause. The variation in the reconnection rate is primarily the result of a variation in the length of the section of the separator line along which relatively strong reconnection occurs. Changes in solar wind-magnetosphere coupling also affect the field-aligned currents, but these are influenced as well by variations in the conductance associated with variations in μ, more so than the cross-polar cap potential. This may be the case for geomagnetic activity too.

Electrophysiological Assessment of a Peptide Amphiphile Nanofiber Nerve Graft for Facial Nerve Repair.

PubMed

Greene, Jacqueline J; McClendon, Mark T; Stephanopoulos, Nicholas; Álvarez, Zaida; Stupp, Samuel I; Richter, Claus-Peter

2018-04-27

Facial nerve injury can cause severe long-term physical and psychological morbidity. There are limited repair options for an acutely transected facial nerve not amenable to primary neurorrhaphy. We hypothesize that a peptide amphiphile nanofiber neurograft may provide the nanostructure necessary to guide organized neural regeneration. Five experimental groups were compared, animals with 1) an intact nerve, 2) following resection of a nerve segment, and following resection and immediate repair with either a 3) autograft (using the resected nerve segment), 4) neurograft, or 5) empty conduit. The buccal branch of the rat facial nerve was directly stimulated with charge balanced biphasic electrical current pulses at different current amplitudes while nerve compound action potentials (nCAPs) and electromygraphic (EMG) responses were recorded. After 8 weeks, the proximal buccal branch was surgically re-exposed and electrically evoked nCAPs were recorded for groups 1-5. As expected, the intact nerves required significantly lower current amplitudes to evoke an nCAP than those repaired with the neurograft and autograft nerves. For other electrophysiologic parameters such as latency and maximum nCAP, there was no significant difference between the intact, autograft and neurograft groups. The resected group had variable responses to electrical stimulation, and the empty tube group was electrically silent. Immunohistochemical analysis and TEM confirmed myelinated neural regeneration. This study demonstrates that the neuroregenerative capability of peptide amphiphile nanofiber neurografts is similar to the current clinical gold standard method of repair and holds potential as an off-the-shelf solution for facial reanimation and potentially peripheral nerve repair. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Reconfiguring the AR-TIF2 Protein–Protein Interaction HCS Assay in Prostate Cancer Cells and Characterizing the Hits from a LOPAC Screen

PubMed Central

Fancher, Ashley T.; Hua, Yun; Camarco, Daniel P.; Close, David A.; Strock, Christopher J.

2016-01-01

Abstract The continued activation of androgen receptor (AR) transcription and elevated expression of AR and transcriptional intermediary factor 2 (TIF2) coactivator observed in prostate cancer (CaP) recurrence and the development of castration-resistant CaP (CRPC) support a screening strategy for small-molecule inhibitors of AR-TIF2 protein–protein interactions (PPIs) to find new drug candidates. Small molecules can elicit tissue selective effects, because the cells of distinct tissues express different levels and cohorts of coregulatory proteins. We reconfigured the AR-TIF2 PPI biosensor (PPIB) assay in the PC-3 CaP cell line to determine whether AR modulators and hits from an AR-TIF2 PPIB screen conducted in U-2 OS cells would behave differently in the CaP cell background. Although we did not observe any significant differences in the compound responses between the assay performed in osteosarcoma and CaP cells, the U-2 OS AR-TIF2 PPIB assay would be more amenable to screening, because both the virus and cell culture demands are lower. We implemented a testing paradigm of counter-screens and secondary hit characterization assays that allowed us to identify and deprioritize hits that inhibited/disrupted AR-TIF2 PPIs and AR transcriptional activation (AR-TA) through antagonism of AR ligand binding or by non-specifically blocking nuclear receptor trafficking. Since AR-TIF2 PPI inhibitor/disruptor molecules act distally to AR ligand binding, they have the potential to modulate AR-TA in a cell-specific manner that is distinct from existing anti-androgen drugs, and to overcome the development of resistance to AR antagonism. We anticipate that the application of this testing paradigm to characterize the hits from an AR-TIF2 PPI high-content screening campaign will enable us to prioritize the AR-TIF2 PPI inhibitor/disruptor leads that have potential to be developed into novel therapeutics for CaP and CRPC. PMID:27606620

Formation of Gas Traps in the Martian Soil and Implications for Methane Variability on Mars.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavlov, A.; Davis, J.; Redwing, E.; Trainer, M. G.; Johnson, C.

2017-12-01

Several independent groups have reported on the detection of methane in the Martian atmosphere. Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) methane observations display rapid increase of the atmospheric methane abundance from 1 ppb to 7 ppb levels followed by an abrupt disappearance suggest the possibility of small, local, near-surface sources of methane. Such sources may take the form of shallow subsurface cemented soil caps which can trap gases and are readily activated by either motion of the MSL rover itself, by impacts of small meteorites, or even annual climate oscillations. We have simulated the formation of such soil caps in the shallow subsurface Martian-like condition. We show that the initially uniform sample of icy soil (JSC-Mars-1A) with Mg perchlorate exhibit quick stratification on the scale of several cm under Martian pressures over the period of several days. Briny water migrates towards the top of the sample resulting in the enhanced abundance of perchlorates in the top few cm. As water evaporates and ice sublimates from the top of the sample, perchlorate remains in the top layer of soil causing soil cementation and formation of the cap. The observed caps were solid, ice-free and effectively shut off sublimation of ice from underneath the cap. We tested whether similar soil caps can trap various gases (including methane) in the shallow subsurface of Mars. We injected neon gas at the bottom of the soil sample and monitored neon gas permeability through the soil sample by measuring gas pressure differential above and below the soil sample. We found that a mixture of JSC-Mars-1A and 5% of Mg perchlorate produce gas impermeable soil cap capable of withstanding an excess of 5 mbars of neon under the cap at the soil temperatures +0.5 C - +9 C. The cap remained gas impermeable after subsequent cooling of the sample soil sample to the subzero temperatures. Gas permeability of the soil caps under various temperatures and atmospheric pressures will be reported. Our results suggest that the formation of cemented soil caps can be widespread phenomena on Mars in the areas of shallow permafrost and abundant perchlorates or RSL slopes. Potentially, soil caps can form gas pockets for trace species (like methane) which can be relatively easily disturbed causing abrupt changes in the atmospheric methane abundance detected by MSL's Curiosity rover.

Visual performance for trip hazard detection when using incandescent and led miner cap lamps.

PubMed

Sammarco, John J; Gallagher, Sean; Reyes, Miguel

2010-04-01

Accident data for 2003-2007 indicate that slip, trip, and falls (STFs) are the second leading accident class (17.8%, n=2,441) of lost-time injuries in underground mining. Proper lighting plays a critical role in enabling miners to detect STF hazards in this environment. Often, the only lighting available to the miner is from a cap lamp worn on the miner's helmet. The focus of this research was to determine if the spectral content of light from light-emitting diode (LED) cap lamps enabled visual performance improvements for the detection of tripping hazards as compared to incandescent cap lamps that are traditionally used in underground mining. A secondary objective was to determine the effects of aging on visual performance. The visual performance of 30 subjects was quantified by measuring each subject's speed and accuracy in detecting objects positioned on the floor both in the near field, at 1.83 meters, and far field, at 3.66 meters. Near field objects were positioned at 0 degrees and +/-20 degrees off axis, while far field objects were positioned at 0 degrees and +/-10 degrees off axis. Three age groups were designated: group A consisted of subjects 18 to 25 years old, group B consisted of subjects 40 to 50 years old, and group C consisted of subjects 51 years and older. Results of the visual performance comparison for a commercially available LED, a prototype LED, and an incandescent cap lamp indicate that the location of objects on the floor, the type of cap lamp used, and subject age all had significant influences on the time required to identify potential trip hazards. The LED-based cap lamps enabled detection times that were an average of 0.96 seconds faster compared to the incandescent cap lamp. Use of the LED cap lamps resulted in average detection times that were about 13.6% faster than those recorded for the incandescent cap lamp. The visual performance differences between the commercially available LED and prototype LED cap lamp were not statistically significant. It can be inferred from this data that the spectral content from LED-based cap lamps could enable significant visual performance improvements for miners in the detection of trip hazards. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[The comparison of patients with hospitalized health-care-associated pneumonia to community-acquired pneumonia].

PubMed

Taşbakan, Mehmet Sezai; Bacakoğlu, Feza; Başoğlu, Ozen Kaçmaz; Gürgün, Alev; Başarik, Burcu; Citim Tuncel, Senay; Sayiner, Abdullah

2011-01-01

Health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is defined as pneumonia that develops in patients with a history of recent hospitalization, hemodialysis as an outpatient, residence in a nursing home, outpatient intravenous therapy and home wound care. We aimed to compare the initial demographic characteristics, causative agents and prognosis between hospitalized HCAP and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. HCAP and CAP patients hospitalized between 01 September 2008-01 September 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Out of 187 patients (131 males, mean age 66.3 ± 14.3 years) who were hospitalized during one-year period, 98 were diagnosed as HCAP and 89 as CAP. Among HCAP patients, 64 (65.3%) had a history of hospitalization in the last 90 days, 26 (26.5%) received outpatient intravenous therapy, 17 (17.3%) had home wound care, 6 (6.1%) were on hemodialysis program in the last 30 days and 4 (4.1%) lived in a nursing home. The causative pathogen was detected in 39 (39.8%) HCAP and 8 (9.0%) CAP patients. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in HCAP, and Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in CAP patients. Inappropriate empiric antibiotic treatment was documented in 8 (25.8%) of 39 HCAP patients, in whom a causative agent was isolated whereas the antibiotic treatment was appropriate in all CAP patients. The duration of hospitalization (14.4 ± 11.4 vs. 10.7 ± 7.9 days, p= 0.011) and mortality rate (34.7% vs. 9.0%, p< 0.001) were higher in HCAP compared with CAP patients. As HCAP is different than CAP in terms of patients' characteristics, causative microorganisms and prognosis, it should be considered in all patients hospitalized as CAP. Potentially drug-resistant microorganisms should be taken into consideration in the empirical antibiotic treatment of these patients.

Electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurement on ligand capped PbS quantum dots at gap of Au nanodimer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiaowei; Minamimoto, Hiro; Murakoshi, Kei

2018-05-01

The vibrational characteristics of ligand-capped lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) were clarified via electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-SERS) using a hybridized system of gold (Au) nanodimers and PbS QDs under electrochemical potential control. Enhanced electromagnetic field caused by the coupling of QDs with plasmonic Au nanodimers allowed the characteristic behavior of the ligand oleic acid (OA) on the PbS QD surface to be detected under electrochemical potential control. Binding modes between the QDs and OA molecules were characterized using synchronous two-dimensional correlation spectra at distinct electrochemical potentials, confirming that the bidentate bridging mode was probably the most stable mode even under relatively negative potential polarization. Changes in binding modes and molecular orientations resulted in fluctuations in EC-SERS spectra. The present observations strongly recommend the validity of the QD-plasmonic nanostructure coupled system for sensitive molecular detection via EC-SERS.

Effect of poly-α, γ, L-glutamic acid as a capping agent on morphology and oxidative stress-dependent toxicity of silver nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Stevanović, Magdalena; Kovačević, Branimir; Petković, Jana; Filipič, Metka; Uskoković, Dragan

2011-01-01

Highly stable dispersions of nanosized silver particles were synthesized using a straightforward, cost-effective, and ecofriendly method. Nontoxic glucose was utilized as a reducing agent and poly-α, γ, L-glutamic acid (PGA), a naturally occurring anionic polymer, was used as a capping agent to protect the silver nanoparticles from agglomeration and render them biocompatible. Use of ammonia during synthesis was avoided. Our study clearly demonstrates how the concentration of the capping agent plays a major role in determining the dimensions, morphology, and stability, as well as toxicity of a silver colloidal solution. Hence, proper optimization is necessary to develop silver colloids of narrow size distribution. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential measurement. MTT assay results indicated good biocompatibility of the PGA-capped silver nanoparticles. Formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species was measured spectrophotometrically using 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate as a fluorescent probe, and it was shown that the PGA-capped silver nanoparticles did not induce intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species. PMID:22131829

Intramolecular Dynamics within the N-Cap-SH3-SH2 Regulatory Unit of the c-Abl Tyrosine Kinase Reveal Targeting to the Cellular Membrane*♦

PubMed Central

de Oliveira, Guilherme A. P.; Pereira, Elen G.; Ferretti, Giulia D. S.; Valente, Ana Paula; Cordeiro, Yraima; Silva, Jerson L.

2013-01-01

c-Abl is a key regulator of cell signaling and is under strict control via intramolecular interactions. In this study, we address changes in the intramolecular dynamics coupling within the c-Abl regulatory unit by presenting its N-terminal segment (N-Cap) with an alternative function in the cell as c-Abl becomes activated. Using small angle x-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that the N-Cap and the Src homology (SH) 3 domain acquire μs-ms motions upon N-Cap association with the SH2-L domain, revealing a stabilizing synergy between these segments. The N-Cap-myristoyl tether likely triggers the protein to anchor to the membrane because of these flip-flop dynamics, which occur in the μs-ms time range. This segment not only presents the myristate during c-Abl inhibition but may also trigger protein localization inside the cell in a functional and stability-dependent mechanism that is lost in Bcr-Abl+ cells, which underlie chronic myeloid leukemia. This loss of intramolecular dynamics and binding to the cellular membrane is a potential therapeutic target. PMID:23928308

Effect of capping agents: Structural, optical and biological properties of ZnO nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javed, Rabia; Usman, Muhammad; Tabassum, Saira; Zia, Muhammad

2016-11-01

Different biological activities of capped and uncapped ZnO nanoparticles were investigated, and the effects of potential capping agents on these biological activities were studied. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and capped by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) using a simple chemical method of co-precipitation. Characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the crystallinity, size, functional group, and band gap of synthesized nanoparticles. Reduction in size occurred from 34 nm to 26 nm due to surfactant. Results of all biological activities indicated significantly higher values in capped as compared to uncapped nanoparticles. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Escherichia coli (ATCC15224), and Acetobacter was obtained. This activity was more prominent against Gram-positive bacteria, and ZnO-PVP nanoparticles elucidated highest antibacterial activity (zone of inhibition 17 mm) against Gram-positive, Bacillus subtilis species. Antioxidant activities including total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, total reducing power and %age inhibition of DPPH, and antidiabetic activity against α-amylase enzyme found to be exhibited highest by ZnO-PEG nanoparticles.

Small GSH-Capped CuInS2 Quantum Dots: MPA-Assisted Aqueous Phase Transfer and Bioimaging Applications.

PubMed

Zhao, Chuanzhen; Bai, Zelong; Liu, Xiangyou; Zhang, Yijia; Zou, Bingsuo; Zhong, Haizheng

2015-08-19

An efficient ligand exchange strategy for aqueous phase transfer of hydrophobic CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots was developed by employing glutathione (GSH) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as the ligands. The whole process takes less than 20 min and can be scaled up to gram amount. The material characterizations show that the final aqueous soluble samples are solely capped with GSH on the surface. Importantly, these GSH-capped CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots have small size (hydrodynamic diameter <10 nm), moderate fluorescent properties (up to 34%) as well as high stability in aqueous solutions (stable for more than three months in 4 °C without any significant fluorescence quenching). Moreover, this ligand exchange strategy is also versatile for the aqueous phase transfer of other hydrophobic quantum dots, for instance, CuInSe2 and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. We further demonstrated that GSH-capped quantum dots could be suitable fluorescence markers to penetrate cell membrane and image the cells. In addition, the GSH-capped CuInS2 quantum dots also have potential use in other fields such as photocatalysis and quantum dots sensitized solar cells.

Inverted channel deposits on the floor of Miyamoto crater, Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Newsom, Horton E.; Lanza, N.L.; Ollila, A.M.; Wiseman, S.M.; Roush, T.L.; Marzo, G.A.; Tornabene, L.L.; Okubo, C.H.; Osterloo, M.M.; Hamilton, V.E.; Crumpler, L.S.

2010-01-01

Morphological features on the western floor of Miyamoto crater in southwestern Meridiani Planum, Mars, are suggestive of past fluvial activity. Imagery from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) gives a detailed view of raised curvilinear features that appear to represent inverted paleochannel deposits. The inverted terrain appears to be capped with a resistant, dark-toned deposit that is partially covered by unconsolidated surficial materials. Subsequent to deposition of the capping layer, erosion of the surrounding material has left the capping materials perched on pedestals of uneroded basal unit material. Neither the capping material nor the surrounding terrains show any unambiguous morphological evidence of volcanism or glaciation. The capping deposit may include unconsolidated or cemented stream deposits analogous to terrestrial inverted channels in the Cedar Mountain Formation near Green River, Utah. In addition to this morphological evidence for fluvial activity, phyllosilicates have been identified in the basal material on the floor of Miyamoto crater by orbital spectroscopy, providing mineralogical evidence of past aqueous activity. Based on both the morphological and mineralogical evidence, Miyamoto crater represents an excellent site for in situ examination and sampling of a potentially habitable environment. ?? 2009 Elsevier Inc.

Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization: rational decision making and interpretation of guidelines.

PubMed

Postma, Douwe F; van Werkhoven, Cornelis H; Oosterheert, Jan Jelrik

2017-05-01

This review focuses on the evidence base for guideline recommendations on the diagnosis, the optimal choice, timing and duration of empirical antibiotic therapy, and the use of microbiological tests for patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): issues for which guidelines are frequently used as a quick reference. Furthermore, we will discuss possibilities for future research in these topics. Many national and international guideline recommendations, even on critical elements of CAP management, are based on low-to-moderate quality evidence. The diagnosis and management of CAP has hardly changed for decades. The recommendation to cover atypical pathogens in all hospitalized CAP patients is based on observational studies only and is challenged by two recent trials. The following years, improved diagnostic testing, radiologically by low-dose Computed Tomography or ultrasound and/or microbiologically by point-of-care multiplex PCR, has the potential to largely influence the choice and start of antibiotic therapy in hospitalized CAP patients. Rapid microbiological testing will hopefully improve antibiotic de-escalation or early pathogen-directed therapy, both potent ways of reducing broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Current guideline recommendations on the timing and duration of antibiotic therapy are based on limited evidence, but will be hard to improve.

Intramolecular dynamics within the N-Cap-SH3-SH2 regulatory unit of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase reveal targeting to the cellular membrane.

PubMed

de Oliveira, Guilherme A P; Pereira, Elen G; Ferretti, Giulia D S; Valente, Ana Paula; Cordeiro, Yraima; Silva, Jerson L

2013-09-27

c-Abl is a key regulator of cell signaling and is under strict control via intramolecular interactions. In this study, we address changes in the intramolecular dynamics coupling within the c-Abl regulatory unit by presenting its N-terminal segment (N-Cap) with an alternative function in the cell as c-Abl becomes activated. Using small angle x-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that the N-Cap and the Src homology (SH) 3 domain acquire μs-ms motions upon N-Cap association with the SH2-L domain, revealing a stabilizing synergy between these segments. The N-Cap-myristoyl tether likely triggers the protein to anchor to the membrane because of these flip-flop dynamics, which occur in the μs-ms time range. This segment not only presents the myristate during c-Abl inhibition but may also trigger protein localization inside the cell in a functional and stability-dependent mechanism that is lost in Bcr-Abl(+) cells, which underlie chronic myeloid leukemia. This loss of intramolecular dynamics and binding to the cellular membrane is a potential therapeutic target.

SEM evaluation of pulp reaction to different pulp capping materials in dog’s teeth

PubMed Central

Asgary, Saeed; Parirokh, Masoud; Eghbal, Mohammad Jafar; Ghoddusi, Jamileh

2006-01-01

Introduction: This investigation evaluates the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcium enriched mixture (CEM) as pulp capping materials on dental pulp tissues. Materials and Methods: The experimental procedures were performed on eighteen intact dog canine teeth. The pulps were exposed. Cavities were randomly filled with CEM, MTA, or CH followed by glass ionomer filling. After 2 months, animals were sacrificed, each tooth was sectioned into halves, and the interface between each capping material and pulp tissue was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) in profile view of the specimens. Results: Dentinal bridge formation as the most characteristic reaction was resulted from SEM observation in all examined groups. Odontoblast-like cells were formed and create dens collagen network, which was calcified gradually by deposition of calcosphirit structures to form newly dentinal bridge. Conclusion: Based on the results of this in vivo study, it was concluded that these test materials are able to produce calcified tissue in underlying pulp in the case of being used as a pulp capping agent. Additionally, it appears that CEM has the potential to be used as a direct pulp capping material during vital pulp therapy. PMID:24379876

Fused thiophene and its periphery fluorinated substitution derivatives: a theoretical study for organic semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Hui-Ling; Shi, Ya-Rui; Liu, Yu-Fang

2015-06-01

A series of phenyl end-capped derivatives of benzo[d,d‧]thieno[3,2-b4,5- b‧]dithiophene (BTDT) with periphery-fluorinated substitutions (PFS) were systematically investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) combined with the Marcus-Hush electron transfer theory. The substituting effects of PFS were discussed. Compared with the original compounds, (i) the PFS compounds have a relatively higher efficiency of charge transport, lower barriers of electron injection, and larger HOMO-LUMO gaps; (ii) the air-stability and the device performance are enhanced by PFS; and (iii) the HOMO-LUMO transitions in the absorption spectrum of the PFS compounds show an obvious blue-shift trend. The perfluorophenylbisbenzo[d, d‧]thieno[3,2-b4,5-b‧]dithiophene (BpF-BTDT) is found to be the most stable and most effective compound in charge transport among the investigated compounds, and it is suggested as an ambipolar semiconducting material. The results of electronic coupling of the bisbenzo[d, d‧]thieno[3,2-b 4,5- b‧]dithiophene (BBTDT) derivatives show that the orbital interaction is mainly contributed by the neighboring molecule in the two dimensional (2D) layer. The PFS compounds have lower oxidization potential, ionization potential, and electron affinity values than the corresponding original ones, which suggest that fluorination can enhance the performance of the thiophene-based organic solar cells. These findings provide a better understanding of the PFS effects on organic semiconductors and may help to design high-performance semiconductor materials.

Photoluminescence light-up detection of zinc ion and imaging in living cells based on the aggregation induced emission enhancement of glutathione-capped copper nanoclusters.

PubMed

Lin, Liyun; Hu, Yuefang; Zhang, Liangliang; Huang, Yong; Zhao, Shulin

2017-08-15

In this work, we prepared glutathione (GSH)-capped copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) with red emission by simply adjusting the pH of GSH/Cu 2+ mixture at room temperature. A photoluminescence light-up method for detecting Zn 2+ was then developed based on the aggregation induced emission enhancement of GSH-capped Cu NCs. Zn 2+ could trigger the aggregation of Cu NCs, inducing the enhancement of luminescence and the increase of absolute quantum yield from 1.3% to 6.2%. GSH-capped Cu NCs and the formed aggregates were characterized, and the possible mechanism was also discussed. The prepared GSH-capped Cu NCs exhibited a fast response towards Zn 2+ and a wider detection range from 4.68 to 2240μM. The detection limit (1.17μM) is much lower than that of the World Health Organization permitted in drinking water. Furthermore, taking advantages of the low cytotoxicity, large Stokes shift, red emission and light-up detection mode, we explored the use of the prepared GSH-capped Cu NCs in the imaging of Zn 2+ in living cells. The developed luminescence light-up nanoprobe may hold the potentials for Zn 2+ -related drinking water safety and biological applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Divergence of IL-1, IL-18, and cell death in NLRP3 inflammasomopathies

PubMed Central

Brydges, Susannah D.; Broderick, Lori; McGeough, Matthew D.; Pena, Carla A.; Mueller, James L.; Hoffman, Hal M.

2013-01-01

The inflammasome is a cytoplasmic multiprotein complex that promotes proinflammatory cytokine maturation in response to host- and pathogen-derived signals. Missense mutations in cryopyrin (NLRP3) result in a hyperactive inflammasome that drives overproduction of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, leading to the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) disease spectrum. Mouse lines harboring CAPS-associated mutations in Nlrp3 have elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and closely mimic human disease. To examine the role of inflammasome-driven IL-18 in murine CAPS, we bred Nlrp3 mutations onto an Il18r-null background. Deletion of Il18r resulted in partial phenotypic rescue that abolished skin and visceral disease in young mice and normalized serum cytokines to a greater extent than breeding to Il1r-null mice. Significant systemic inflammation developed in aging Nlrp3 mutant Il18r-null mice, indicating that IL-1 and IL-18 drive pathology at different stages of the disease process. Ongoing inflammation in double-cytokine knockout CAPS mice implicated a role for caspase-1–mediated pyroptosis and confirmed that CAPS is inflammasome dependent. Our results have important implications for patients with CAPS and residual disease, emphasizing the need to explore other NLRP3-mediated pathways and the potential for inflammasome-targeted therapy. PMID:24084736

Blood serum chemistry of wild Alaskan Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with avian keratin disorder

USGS Publications Warehouse

Van Hemert, Caroline R.; Handel, Colleen M.

2016-01-01

We measured serum chemistries in wild Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) from Alaska to test for potential differences associated with beak deformities characteristic of avian keratin disorder. Lower uric acid in affected birds was the only difference detected between groups, although sample sizes were small. This difference could be associated with fasting or malnutrition in birds with beak deformities, but it is challenging to interpret its biologic significance without reference values. Black-capped Chickadees had high levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase relative to reference values for companion birds. However, all serum chemistry parameters from our study were within the range of values reported from other apparently healthy wild-caught birds.

Cell Penetrating Peptides and Cationic Antibacterial Peptides

PubMed Central

Rodriguez Plaza, Jonathan G.; Morales-Nava, Rosmarbel; Diener, Christian; Schreiber, Gabriele; Gonzalez, Zyanya D.; Lara Ortiz, Maria Teresa; Ortega Blake, Ivan; Pantoja, Omar; Volkmer, Rudolf; Klipp, Edda; Herrmann, Andreas; Del Rio, Gabriel

2014-01-01

Cell penetrating peptides (CPP) and cationic antibacterial peptides (CAP) have similar physicochemical properties and yet it is not understood how such similar peptides display different activities. To address this question, we used Iztli peptide 1 (IP-1) because it has both CPP and CAP activities. Combining experimental and computational modeling of the internalization of IP-1, we show it is not internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis, yet it permeates into many different cell types, including fungi and human cells. We also show that IP-1 makes pores in the presence of high electrical potential at the membrane, such as those found in bacteria and mitochondria. These results provide the basis to understand the functional redundancy of CPPs and CAPs. PMID:24706763

Determination of Nerve Fiber Diameter Distribution From Compound Action Potential: A Continuous Approach.

PubMed

Un, M Kerem; Kaghazchi, Hamed

2018-01-01

When a signal is initiated in the nerve, it is transmitted along each nerve fiber via an action potential (called single fiber action potential (SFAP)) which travels with a velocity that is related with the diameter of the fiber. The additive superposition of SFAPs constitutes the compound action potential (CAP) of the nerve. The fiber diameter distribution (FDD) in the nerve can be computed from the CAP data by solving an inverse problem. This is usually achieved by dividing the fibers into a finite number of diameter groups and solve a corresponding linear system to optimize FDD. However, number of fibers in a nerve can be measured sometimes in thousands and it is possible to assume a continuous distribution for the fiber diameters which leads to a gradient optimization problem. In this paper, we have evaluated this continuous approach to the solution of the inverse problem. We have utilized an analytical function for SFAP and an assumed a polynomial form for FDD. The inverse problem involves the optimization of polynomial coefficients to obtain the best estimate for the FDD. We have observed that an eighth order polynomial for FDD can capture both unimodal and bimodal fiber distributions present in vivo, even in case of noisy CAP data. The assumed FDD distribution regularizes the ill-conditioned inverse problem and produces good results.

Role of laser irradiation in direct pulp capping procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Javed, Fawad; Kellesarian, Sergio Varela; Abduljabbar, Tariq; Gholamiazizi, Elham; Feng, Changyong; Aldosary, Khaled; Vohra, Fahim; Romanos, Georgios E

2017-02-01

A variety of materials are available to treat exposed dental pulp by direct pulp capping. The healing response of the pulp is crucial to form a dentin bridge and seal off the exposed pulp. Studies have used lasers to stimulate the exposed pulp to form tertiary dentin. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the evidence on the effects of laser irradiation as an adjunctive therapy to stimulate healing after pulp exposure. A systematic literature search was conducted up to April 2016. A structured search using the keywords "Direct pulp capping," "Lasers," "Calcium hydroxide pulp capping," and "Resin pulp capping" was performed. Initially, 34 potentially relevant articles were identified. After removal of duplicates and screening by title, abstract, and full text when necessary, nine studies were included. Studies were assessed for bias and data were synthetized using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Six studies were clinical, and three were preclinical animal trials; the follow-up period ranged from 2 weeks to 54 months. More than two thirds of the included studies showed that laser therapy used as an adjunct for direct pulp capping was more effective in maintaining pulp vitality than conventional therapy alone. Meta-analysis showed that the success rate in the laser treatment group was significantly higher than the control group (log odds ratio = 1.737; 95 % confidence interval, 1.304-2.171). Lasers treatment of exposed pulps can improve the outcome of direct pulp capping procedures; a number of confounding factors may have influenced the outcomes of the included studies.

Derivation of the Time-Reversal Anomaly for (2 +1 )-Dimensional Topological Phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tachikawa, Yuji; Yonekura, Kazuya

2017-09-01

We prove an explicit formula conjectured recently by Wang and Levin for the anomaly of time-reversal symmetry in (2 +1 )-dimensional fermionic topological quantum field theories. The crucial step is to determine the cross-cap state in terms of the modular S matrix and T2 eigenvalues, generalizing the recent analysis by Barkeshli et al. in the bosonic case.

Boron-capped tris(glyoximato) cobalt clathrochelate as a precursor for the electrodeposition of nanoparticles catalyzing H2 evolution in water.

PubMed

Anxolabéhère-Mallart, Elodie; Costentin, Cyrille; Fournier, Maxime; Nowak, Sophie; Robert, Marc; Savéant, Jean-Michel

2012-04-11

Electrochemical investigation of a boron-capped tris(glyoximato)cobalt clathrochelate complex in the presence of acid reveals that the catalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution results from an electrodeposition of cobalt-containing nanoparticles on the electrode surface at a modest cathodic potential. The deposited particles act as remarkably active catalysts for H(2) production in water at pH 7. © 2012 American Chemical Society

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

Polat, Ozgur; Ertugrul, Memhet; Thompson, James R

To obtain an engineered surface for deposition of high-Tc superconductors, nanoscale modulations of the surface of the underlying LaMnO3 (LMO) cap layer is a potential source for generating microstructural defects in YBa2Cu3O7- (YBCO) films. These defects may improve the flux-pinning and consequently increase the critical current density, Jc. To provide such nanoscale modulation via a practical and scalable process, tantalum (Ta) and palladium (Pd) nano-islands were deposited using dc-magnetron sputtering on the surface of the cap layer of commercial metal tape templates for second-generation wires. The size and density of these nano-islands can be controlled by changing sputtering conditions suchmore » as the power and deposition time. Compared to the reference sample grown on an untreated LMO cap layer, the YBCO films grown on the LMO cap layers with Ta or Pd nano-islands exhibited improved in-field Jc performance. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to assess the evolving size and density of the nano-islands.« less

Therapy Caps and Variation in Cost of Outpatient Occupational Therapy by Provider, Insurance Status, and Geographic Region.

PubMed

Pergolotti, Mackenzi; Lavery, Jessica; Reeve, Bryce B; Dusetzina, Stacie B

This article describes the cost of occupational therapy by provider, insurance status, and geographic region and the number of visits allowed and out-of-pocket costs under proposed therapy caps. This retrospective, population-based study used Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data for occupational therapists billing in 2012 and 2013 (Ns = 3,662 and 3,820, respectively). We examined variations in outpatient occupational therapy services with descriptive statistics and the impact of therapy caps on occupational therapy visits and patient out-of-pocket costs. Differences in cost between occupational and physical therapists were minimal. The most frequently billed service was therapeutic exercises. Wisconsin had the most inflated outpatient costs in both years. Under the proposed therapy cap, patients could receive an evaluation plus 12-14 visits. . Wide variation exists in potential patient out-of-pocket costs for occupational therapy services on the basis of insurance coverage and state. Patients without insurance pay a premium. Copyright © 2018 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

Therapy Caps and Variation in Cost of Outpatient Occupational Therapy by Provider, Insurance Status, and Geographic Region

PubMed Central

Pergolotti, Mackenzi; Lavery, Jessica; Reeve, Bryce B.; Dusetzina, Stacie B.

2018-01-01

OBJECTIVE. This article describes the cost of occupational therapy by provider, insurance status, and geographic region and the number of visits allowed and out-of-pocket costs under proposed therapy caps. METHOD. This retrospective, population-based study used Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data for occupational therapists billing in 2012 and 2013 (Ns = 3,662 and 3,820, respectively). We examined variations in outpatient occupational therapy services with descriptive statistics and the impact of therapy caps on occupational therapy visits and patient out-of-pocket costs. RESULTS. Differences in cost between occupational and physical therapists were minimal. The most frequently billed service was therapeutic exercises. Wisconsin had the most inflated outpatient costs in both years. Under the proposed therapy cap, patients could receive an evaluation plus 12–14 visits. DISCUSSION. Wide variation exists in potential patient out-of-pocket costs for occupational therapy services on the basis of insurance coverage and state. Patients without insurance pay a premium. PMID:29426383

Observations of severe in-flight environments on airplane composite structural components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howell, W. E.; Fisher, B. D.

1983-01-01

The development of relatively inexpensive, highly sophisticated avionics systems makes it now possible for general aviation aircraft to fly under more severe weather conditions than formerly. Increased instrument flying increases exposure of aircraft to potentially severe thunderstorm activity such as high rain rates, hail stones, and lightning strikes. In particular, the effects of lightning on aircraft can be catastrophic. Interest in aircraft lightning protection has been stimulated by the introduction of advanced composites as an aircraft structural material. The present investigation has the objective to report experiences with three composite components which have flown in thunderstorms, taking into account three F-106B composite fin caps. The only visible lightning strike damage to a flame sprayed aluminum coated glass/epoxy fin cap was a small area of the aluminum which was burned. Visible lightning strike damage to a Kevlar/epoxy fin cap was limited to the exterior ply of aluminum coated glass fabric. In the case of a graphite/epoxy fin cap, lightning currents could be conducted.

VHL negatively regulates SARS coronavirus replication by modulating nsp16 ubiquitination and stability.

PubMed

Yu, Xiao; Chen, Shuliang; Hou, Panpan; Wang, Min; Chen, Yu; Guo, Deyin

2015-04-03

Eukaryotic cellular and most viral RNAs carry a 5'-terminal cap structure, a 5'-5' triphosphate linkage between the 5' end of the RNA and a guanosine nucleotide (cap-0). SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nonstructural protein nsp16 functions as a methyltransferase, to methylate mRNA cap-0 structure at the ribose 2'-O position of the first nucleotide to form cap-1 structures. However, whether there is interplay between nsp16 and host proteins was not yet clear. In this report, we identified several potential cellular nsp16-interacting proteins from a human thymus cDNA library by yeast two-hybrid screening. VHL, one of these proteins, was proven to interact with nsp16 both in vitro and in vivo. Further studies showed that VHL can inhibit SARS-CoV replication by regulating nsp16 ubiquitination and promoting its degradation. Our results have revealed the role of cellular VHL in the regulation of SARS-CoV replication. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Understanding and treatment of chronic abdominal pain in pediatric primary care.

PubMed

Schurman, Jennifer Verrill; Kessler, Emily D; Friesen, Craig A

2014-10-01

This study examined the practices used by primary care pediatricians to assess and treat chronic abdominal pain (CAP), as an initial step in guiding clinical practice guideline (CPG) development. A survey was mailed to a random sample of office-based pediatrician members (primary care pediatricians [PCPs]) of the American Medical Association. PCPs (n = 470) provided information about the typical presentation of CAP, assessment/treatment approaches used in their own practice, their definition of a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), and their familiarity with the Rome Criteria for diagnosing FGIDs. Substantial variability among PCPs was noted across all these areas. Results suggest that perceptions and practices of pediatric CAP vary widely among PCPs; no single standard of care emerged to guide development of a CPG for this population. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of specific strategies currently in use to identify potential opportunities for improving assessment and treatment of CAP in pediatric primary care. © The Author(s) 2014.

Modeling and simulation for the field emission of carbon nanotubes array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X. Q.; Wang, M.; Ge, H. L.; Chen, Q.; Xu, Y. B.

2005-12-01

To optimize the field emission of the infinite carbon nanotubes (CNTs) array on a planar cathode surface, the numerical simulation for the behavior of field emission with finite difference method was proposed. By solving the Laplace equation with computer, the influence of the intertube distance, the anode-cathode distance and the opened/capped CNT on the field emission of CNTs array were taken into account, and the results could accord well with the experiments. The simulated results proved that the field enhancement factor of individual CNT is largest, but the emission current density is little. Due to the enhanced screening of the electric field, the enhancement factor of CNTs array decreases with decreasing the intertube distance. From the simulation the field emission can be optimized when the intertube distance is close to the tube height. The anode-cathode distance hardly influences the field enhancement factor of CNTs array, but can low the threshold voltage by decreasing the anode-cathode distance. Finally, the distribution of potential of the capped CNTs array and the opened CNTs array was simulated, which the results showed that the distribution of potential can be influenced to some extent by the anode-cathode distance, especially at the apex of the capped CNTs array and the brim of the opened CNTs array. The opened CNTs array has larger field enhancement factor and can emit more current than the capped one.

Using transonic small disturbance theory for predicting the aeroelastic stability of a flexible wind-tunnel model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silva, Walter A.; Bennett, Robert M.

1990-01-01

The CAP-TSD (Computational Aeroelasticity Program - Transonic Small Disturbance) code, developed at the NASA - Langley Research Center, is applied to the Active Flexible Wing (AFW) wind tunnel model for prediction of the model's transonic aeroelastic behavior. Static aeroelastic solutions using CAP-TSD are computed. Dynamic (flutter) analyses are then performed as perturbations about the static aeroelastic deformations of the AFW. The accuracy of the static aeroelastic procedure is investigated by comparing analytical results to those from previous AFW wind tunnel experiments. Dynamic results are presented in the form of root loci at different Mach numbers for a heavy gas and air. The resultant flutter boundaries for both gases are also presented. The effects of viscous damping and angle-of-attack, on the flutter boundary in air, are presented as well.

Targets for antibiotic and healthcare resource stewardship in inpatient community-acquired pneumonia: a comparison of management practices with National Guideline Recommendations.

PubMed

Jenkins, T C; Stella, S A; Cervantes, L; Knepper, B C; Sabel, A L; Price, C S; Shockley, L; Hanley, M E; Mehler, P S; Burman, W J

2013-02-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common infection leading to hospitalization in the USA. The objective of this study was to evaluate management practices for inpatient CAP in relation to Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society (IDSA/ATS) guidelines to identify opportunities for antibiotic and health care resource stewardship. This was a retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalized for CAP at a single institution from 15 April 2008 to 31 May 2009. Of the 209 patients with CAP who presented to Denver Health Medical Center during the study period and were hospitalized, 166 (79 %) and 43 (21 %) were admitted to a medical ward and the intensive care unit (ICU), respectively. Sixty-one (29 %) patients were candidates for outpatient therapy per IDSA/ATS guidance with a CURB-65 score of 0 or 1 and absence of hypoxemia. Sputum cultures were ordered for 110 specimens; however, an evaluable sample was obtained in only 49 (45 %) cases. Median time from antibiotic initiation to specimen collection was 11 [interquartile range (IQR) 6-19] h, and a potential pathogen was identified in only 18 (16 %) cultures. Blood cultures were routinely obtained for both non-ICU (81 %) and ICU (95 %) cases, but 15 of 36 (42 %) positive cultures were false-positive results. The most common antibiotic regimen was ceftriaxone + azithromycin (182, 87 % cases). Discordant with IDSA/ATS recommendations, oral step-down therapy consisted of a new antibiotic class in 120 (66 %), most commonly levofloxacin (101, 55 %). Treatment durations were typically longer than suggested with a median of 10 (IQR 8-12) days. In this cohort of patients hospitalized for CAP, management was frequently inconsistent with IDSA/ATS guideline recommendations, revealing potential targets to reduce unnecessary antibiotic and healthcare resource utilization.

Microarray evaluation of specific IgE to allergen components in elite athletes.

PubMed

Bonini, M; Marcomini, L; Gramiccioni, C; Tranquilli, C; Melioli, G; Canonica, G W; Bonini, S

2012-12-01

Allergic sensitization and diseases have been reported to have a very high and increasing prevalence in elite athletes. Over 80% of allergic athletes are poly-sensitized. This study aims at evaluating the potential diagnostic added value of a microarray technology (ImmunoCAP ISAC, Phadia AB [at present Thermo Fisher Scientific] Uppsala, Sweden which detects IgE antibodies to specific or cross-reacting allergen components. Seventy-two poly-sensitized athletes according to skin prick test (SPT) with different allergic phenotypes (asthma n = 19; rhino-conjunctivitis n = 20; food allergy and/or oral allergy syndrome n = 13; no clinical symptoms n = 20) and two different control populations (20 poly-sensitized sedentary subjects with respiratory allergy and 20 healthy athletes with negative SPT) were studied for detecting specific IgE (sIgE) both to allergen extracts (ImmunoCAPsIgE) and to allergen components (ImmunoCAP ISAC). ImmunoCAP ISAC detected the presence of sIgE in 90% of poly-sensitized athletes--in 96% with symptoms and in 75% without symptoms--and in 100% of allergic controls. The pattern of positivity towards the 103 components tested differed from subject to subject, even in those with the same sensitization to allergen extract SPT or sIgE. Based on the ISAC results, poly-sensitized athletes were classified into the following prototypical patterns, differently represented in the clinical phenotypes studied (P = 0.03): (1) One single predominant specific allergen positivity; (2) sIgE to two or more non-cross-reacting allergens; (3) sIgE to cross-reacting allergens; and (4) sIgE to components potentially responsible for severe allergic reactions. The ImmunoCAP ISAC represents a useful additional tool for diagnosis and management of poly-sensitized athletes. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Chronological changes in the eighth cranial nerve compound action potential (CAP) in experimental endolymphatic hydrops: the effects of altering the polarity of click sounds.

PubMed

Morizono, Tetsuo; Kondo, Tsuyoshi; Yamano, Takafumi; Miyagi, Morimichi; Shiraishi, Kimio

2009-02-01

Using a guinea pig model of experimental endolymphatic hydrops, click sounds of altered polarity showed different latencies and amplitudes in hydropic compared with normal cochleae. Latency changes appeared as early as 1 week after endolymphatic obstruction. This method can help diagnose endolymphatic hydrops. The goal of the study was to develop an objective electrophysiological diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops. Endolymphatic hydrops were created surgically in guinea pigs. The latency and the amplitude of the eighth cranial nerve compound action potential (CAP) for click sounds of altered polarity were measured up to 8 weeks after the surgery. At early stages after surgery, the latency for condensation clicks became longer, and at later stages the latencies for both condensation and rarefaction became longer. The discrepancy in the latencies for rarefaction and condensation click sounds (rarefaction minus condensation) became larger by the first week after surgery, but no further discrepancy occurred thereafter. Compared with latency changes, amplitude changes in the CAP were rapid and progressive following surgery, suggesting ongoing damage to hair cells.

A capacitive, biocompatible and adhesive electrode for long-term and cap-free monitoring of EEG signals.

PubMed

Lee, Seung Min; Kim, Jeong Hun; Byeon, Hang Jin; Choi, Yoon Young; Park, Kwang Suk; Lee, Sang-Hoon

2013-06-01

Long-term electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring broadens EEG applications to various areas, but it requires cap-free recording of EEG signals. Our objective here is to develop a capacitive, small-sized, adhesive and biocompatible electrode for the cap-free and long-term EEG monitoring. We have developed an electrode made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and adhesive PDMS for EEG monitoring. This electrode can be attached to a hairy scalp and be completely hidden by the hair. We tested its electrical and mechanical (adhesive) properties by measuring voltage gain to frequency and adhesive force using 30 repeat cycles of the attachment and detachment test. Electrode performance on EEG was evaluated by alpha rhythm detection and measuring steady state visually evoked potential and N100 auditory evoked potential. We observed the successful recording of alpha rhythm and evoked signals to diverse stimuli with high signal quality. The biocompatibility of the electrode was verified and a survey found that the electrode was comfortable and convenient to wear. These results indicate that the proposed EEG electrode is suitable and convenient for long term EEG monitoring.

Intracellular ROS mediates gas plasma-facilitated cellular transfection in 2D and 3D cultures

PubMed Central

Xu, Dehui; Wang, Biqing; Xu, Yujing; Chen, Zeyu; Cui, Qinjie; Yang, Yanjie; Chen, Hailan; Kong, Michael G.

2016-01-01

This study reports the potential of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as a versatile tool for delivering oligonucleotides into mammalian cells. Compared to lipofection and electroporation methods, plasma transfection showed a better uptake efficiency and less cell death in the transfection of oligonucleotides. We demonstrated that the level of extracellular aqueous reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by gas plasma is correlated with the uptake efficiency and that this is achieved through an increase of intracellular ROS levels and the resulting increase in cell membrane permeability. This finding was supported by the use of ROS scavengers, which reduced CAP-based uptake efficiency. In addition, we found that cold atmospheric plasma could transfer oligonucleotides such as siRNA and miRNA into cells even in 3D cultures, thus suggesting the potential for unique applications of CAP beyond those provided by standard transfection techniques. Together, our results suggest that cold plasma might provide an efficient technique for the delivery of siRNA and miRNA in 2D and 3D culture models. PMID:27296089

Chondroitin sulfate-capped super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as potential carriers of doxorubicin hydrochloride.

PubMed

Mallick, Neha; Anwar, Mohammed; Asfer, Mohammed; Mehdi, Syed Hassan; Rizvi, Mohammed Moshahid Alam; Panda, Amulya Kumar; Talegaonkar, Sushama; Ahmad, Farhan Jalees

2016-10-20

Chondroitin-4-sulfate (CS), a glycosaminoglycan, was used to prepare CS-capped super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, which were further employed for loading a water-soluble chemotherapeutic agent (doxorubicin hydrochloride, DOX). CS-capped SPIONs have potential biomedical application in cancer targeting. The optimized formulation had a hydrodynamic size of 91.2±0.8nm (PDI; 0.228±0.004) and zeta potential of -49.1±1.66mV. DOX was loaded onto the formulation up to 2% (w/w) by physical interaction with CS. TEM showed nano-sized particles having a core-shell structure. XRD confirmed crystal phase of iron oxide. FT-IR conceived the interaction of iron oxide with CS as bidentate chelation and also confirmed DOX loading. Vibration sample magnetometry confirmed super-paramagnetic nature of nanoparticles, with saturation magnetization of 0.238emug(-1). In vitro release profile at pH 7.4 showed that 96.67% of DOX was released within 24h (first order kinetics). MTT assay in MCF7 cells showed significantly higher (p<0.0001) cytotoxicity for DOX in SPIONs than DOX solution (IC50 values 6.294±0.4169 and 11.316±0.1102μgmL(-1), respectively). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection of a strongly negative surface potential at Saturn's moon Hyperion.

PubMed

Nordheim, T A; Jones, G H; Roussos, E; Leisner, J S; Coates, A J; Kurth, W S; Khurana, K K; Krupp, N; Dougherty, M K; Waite, J H

2014-10-28

On 26 September 2005, Cassini conducted its only close targeted flyby of Saturn's small, irregularly shaped moon Hyperion. Approximately 6 min before the closest approach, the electron spectrometer (ELS), part of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) detected a field-aligned electron population originating from the direction of the moon's surface. Plasma wave activity detected by the Radio and Plasma Wave instrument suggests electron beam activity. A dropout in energetic electrons was observed by both CAPS-ELS and the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument Low-Energy Magnetospheric Measurement System, indicating that the moon and the spacecraft were magnetically connected when the field-aligned electron population was observed. We show that this constitutes a remote detection of a strongly negative (∼ -200 V) surface potential on Hyperion, consistent with the predicted surface potential in regions near the solar terminator.

Particle Acceleration in Dissipative Pulsar Magnetospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kazanas, Z.; Kalapotharakos, C.; Harding, A.; Contopoulos, I.

2012-01-01

Pulsar magnetospheres represent unipolar inductor-type electrical circuits at which an EM potential across the polar cap (due to the rotation of their magnetic field) drives currents that run in and out of the polar cap and close at infinity. An estimate ofthe magnitude of this current can be obtained by dividing the potential induced across the polar cap V approx = B(sub O) R(sub O)(Omega R(sub O)/c)(exp 2) by the impedance of free space Z approx eq 4 pi/c; the resulting polar cap current density is close to $n {GJ} c$ where $n_{GJ}$ is the Goldreich-Julian (GJ) charge density. This argument suggests that even at current densities close to the GJ one, pulsar magnetospheres have a significant component of electric field $E_{parallel}$, parallel to the magnetic field, a condition necessary for particle acceleration and the production of radiation. We present the magnetic and electric field structures as well as the currents, charge densities, spin down rates and potential drops along the magnetic field lines of pulsar magnetospheres which do not obey the ideal MHD condition $E cdot B = 0$. By relating the current density along the poloidal field lines to the parallel electric field via a kind of Ohm's law $J = sigma E_{parallel}$ we study the structure of these magnetospheres as a function of the conductivity $sigma$. We find that for $sigma gg OmegaS the solution tends to the (ideal) Force-Free one and to the Vacuum one for $sigma 11 OmegaS. Finally, we present dissipative magnetospheric solutions with spatially variable $sigma$ that supports various microphysical properties and are compatible with the observations.

Inhibition by TRPA1 agonists of compound action potentials in the frog sciatic nerve

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

Matsushita, Akitomo; Ohtsubo, Sena; Fujita, Tsugumi

Highlights: •TRPA1 agonists inhibited compound action potentials in frog sciatic nerves. •This inhibition was not mediated by TRPA1 channels. •This efficacy was comparable to those of lidocaine and cocaine. •We found for the first time an ability of TRPA1 agonists to inhibit nerve conduction. -- Abstract: Although TRPV1 and TRPM8 agonists (vanilloid capsaicin and menthol, respectively) at high concentrations inhibit action potential conduction, it remains to be unknown whether TRPA1 agonists have a similar action. The present study examined the actions of TRPA1 agonists, cinnamaldehyde (CA) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), which differ in chemical structure from each other, on compoundmore » action potentials (CAPs) recorded from the frog sciatic nerve by using the air-gap method. CA and AITC concentration-dependently reduced the peak amplitude of the CAP with the IC{sub 50} values of 1.2 and 1.5 mM, respectively; these activities were resistant to a non-selective TRP antagonist ruthenium red or a selective TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031. The CA and AITC actions were distinct in property; the latter but not former action was delayed in onset and partially reversible, and CA but not AITC increased thresholds to elicit CAPs. A CAP inhibition was seen by hydroxy-α-sanshool (by 60% at 0.05 mM), which activates both TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels, a non-vanilloid TRPV1 agonist piperine (by 20% at 0.07 mM) and tetrahydrolavandulol (where the six-membered ring of menthol is opened; IC{sub 50} = 0.38 mM). It is suggested that TRPA1 agonists as well as TRPV1 and TRPM8 agonists have an ability to inhibit nerve conduction without TRP activation, although their agonists are quite different in chemical structure from each other.« less

Cold atmospheric plasma discharged in water and its potential use in cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhitong; Cheng, Xiaoqian; Lin, Li; Keidar, Michael

2017-01-01

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a novel technology for cancer treatment. CAP can directly treat cells and tissue but such direct application is limited to skin or can be invoked as a supplement during open surgery. In this study we report indirect plasma treatment using CAP discharged in deionized (DI) water using three gases as carriers (argon (Ar), helium (He), and nitrogen (N2)). Plasma stimulated water was applied to the human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay tests showed that using Ar plasma had the strongest effect on inducing apoptosis in cultured human breast cancer cells. This result is attributed to the elevated production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in water.

Nonsurgical Brain Activity Recovery From a Cap Containing Multiple Electroencephalogram Recording Sites

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

Astin, Director (December, 1965) [2] Agranovich, Y. Ya. “The theory of operators with dominant main diagonal. I.” Positiv - ity, Volume 2 (1998) pages 153...A Spherical Harmonics Solu- tion for Radiative Transfer Problems with Reflecting Boundaries and Internal Sources” Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy...F. Huxley. “A Quantitative Description of Membrane Current and its Application to Conduction and Excitation in Nerve” Journal of Physiology (1952

Consequences of Developmental Exposure to Concentrated Ambient Ultrafine Particle Air Pollution Combined with the Adult Paraquat and Maneb Model of the Parkinson’s Disease Phenotype in Male Mice

PubMed Central

Allen, Joshua L; Liu, Xiufang; Weston, Douglas; Conrad, Katherine; Oberdörster, Günter; Cory-Slechta, Deborah A

2014-01-01

Current evidence suggests suceptibility of both the substantia nigra and striatum to exposure to components of air pollution. Further, air pollution has been associated with increased risk of PD diagnsosis in humans or PD-like pathology in animals. This study examined whether exposure of mice to concentrated ambient ultrafine particles (CAPS; <100 nm diameter) during the first two weeks of life would alter susceptibility to induction of the Parkinson’s disease phenyotype (PDP) in a pesticide-based paraquat and maneb (PQ+MB) model during adulthood utilizing i.p. injections of 10 mg/kg PQ and 30 mg/kg MB 2× per week for 6 weeks. Evidence of CAPS-induced enhancement of the PQ+MB PDP was limited primarily to delayed recovery of locomotor activity 24 post injection of PQ+MB that could be related to alterations in striatal GABA inhibitory function. Absence of more extensive interactions might also reflect the finding that CAPS and PQ+MB appeared to differentially target the nigrostriatal dopamine and amino acid systems, with CAPS impacting striatum and PQ+MB impacting dopamine-glutamate function in midbrain; both CAPS and PQ+MB elevated glutamate levels in these specific regions, consistent with potential excitotoxicity. These findings demonstrate the ability of postnatal CAPS to produce locomotor dysfunction and dopaminergic and glutamateric changes, independent of PQ+MB, in brain regions involved in the PDP. PMID:24486957

Topical delivery of anti-TNFα siRNA and capsaicin via novel lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles efficiently inhibits skin inflammation in vivo

PubMed Central

Desai, Pinaki R.; Marepally, Srujan; Patel, Apurva R.; Voshavar, Chandrashekhar; Chaudhuri, Arabinda; Singh, Mandip

2013-01-01

The barrier properties of the skin pose a significant but not insurmountable obstacle for development of new effective anti-inflammatory therapies. The objective of this study was to design and evaluate therapeutic efficacy of anti-nociception agent Capsaicin (Cap) and anti-TNFα siRNA (siTNFα) encapsulated cyclic cationic head Lipid-Polymer hybrid Nanocarriers (CyLiPns) against chronic skin inflammatory diseases. Physico-chemical characterizations including hydrodynamic size, surface potential and entrapment efficacies of CyLiPns were found to be 163 ± 9 nm, 35.14 ± 8.23 mV and 92% for Cap, respectively. In vitro skin distribution studies revealed that CyLiPns could effectively deliver FITC-siRNA upto 360 µm skin depth. Further, enhanced (p<0.001) Cap permeation from CyLiPns was observed compared to Capsaicin-Solution and Capzasin-HP. Therapeutic efficacies of CyLiPns were assessed using imiquamod induced psoriatic plaque like model. CyLiPns carrying both Cap and siTNFα showed significant reduced expression of TNFα, NF-κB, IL-17, IL-23 and Ki-67 genes compare to either drugs alone (p<0.05) and was in close comparison with Topgraf®;. Collectively these findings support our notion that novel cationic lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles can efficiently carry siTNFα and Cap into deeper dermal milieu and Cap with combination of siTNFα show synergism in treating skin inflammation. PMID:23643662

Nano-oxide-layer insertion and specular effects in spin valves: Experiment and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L.; Qiu, J. J.; McMahon, W. J.; Li, K. B.; Wu, Y. H.

2004-06-01

We report a systematic study of NOL (nano-oxide-layer) insertion and specular effects on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of single, synthetic, and dual spin valves, using a semiclassical Boltzmann theory. It is confirmed that the GMR ratio is enhanced by NOL insertion inside the pinned layer or after the free layer. The enhancements are primarily due to the contribution of the majority carriers. The NOL insertions inside the inactive layers of spin valves such as the seed, under, and capping layers reduce the GMR ratio. Though introducing a NOL before or after the Cu spacer would, in principle, significantly suppress the GMR ratio due to the blocking effect or the average effect of different spin channels, large positive or negative (inverse) GMR is found by assuming spin-dependent NOL specular reflections. We have also demonstrated that specular reflection, even beyond a capping layer, may result in reduction of GMR. Upon appropriate NOL insertion, the amplitude of curve of GMR versus thickness of individual layer of spin valves may be generally enhanced, but the shape may change, depending on whether the distance of the NOL to the layer is small or large (distance effect). Finally, it is found that most results obtained for the single realistic spin valves are applicable to synthetic and dual spin valves.

The First Result of Relative Positioning and Velocity Estimation Based on CAPS

PubMed Central

Zhao, Jiaojiao; Ge, Jian; Wang, Liang; Wang, Ningbo; Zhou, Kai; Yuan, Hong

2018-01-01

The Chinese Area Positioning System (CAPS) is a new positioning system developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences based on the communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The CAPS has been regarded as a pilot system to test the new technology for the design, construction and update of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). The system structure of CAPS, including the space, ground control station and user segments, is almost like the traditional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs), but with the clock on the ground, the navigation signal in C waveband, and different principles of operation. The major difference is that the CAPS navigation signal is first generated at the ground control station, before being transmitted to the satellite in orbit and finally forwarded by the communication satellite transponder to the user. This design moves the clock from the satellite in orbit to the ground. The clock error can therefore be easily controlled and mitigated to improve the positioning accuracy. This paper will present the performance of CAPS-based relative positioning and velocity estimation as assessed in Beijing, China. The numerical results show that, (1) the accuracies of relative positioning, using only code measurements, are 1.25 and 1.8 m in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively; (2) meanwhile, they are about 2.83 and 3.15 cm in static mode and 6.31 and 10.78 cm in kinematic mode, respectively, when using the carrier-phase measurements with ambiguities fixed; and (3) the accuracy of the velocity estimation is about 0.04 and 0.11 m/s in static and kinematic modes, respectively. These results indicate the potential application of CAPS for high-precision positioning and velocity estimation and the availability of a new navigation mode based on communication satellites. PMID:29757204

Cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 inhibits TRPV1 in trigeminal ganglion neurons via PKA and PKC pathways.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Cao, Xuehong; Liu, Changjin; Liu, Lieju

2012-02-01

Although the inhibitory effect of cannabinoids on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel may explain the efficacy of peripheral cannabinoids in antihyperalgesia and antinociceptive actions, the mechanism for cannabinoid-induced inhibition of TRPV1 in primary sensory neurons is not understood. Therefore, we explored how WIN55,212-2 (WIN, a synthetic cannabinoid) inhibited TRPV1 in rat trigeminal ganglion neurons. A "bell"-shaped concentration-dependent curve was obtained from the effects of WIN on TRPV1 channel. The maximal inhibition on capsaicin-induced current (I (cap)) by WIN was at a concentration of 10(-9) M, and at this concentration I (cap) was reduced by 95 ± 1.6%. When the concentration of WIN was at 10(-6) M, it displayed a stimulatory effect on I (cap). In this study, several intracellular signaling transduction pathways were tested to study whether they were involved in the inhibitory effects of WIN on I (cap). We found that the inhibitory effect of WIN on I (cap) was completely reversed by PKA antagonists H-89 and KT5720 as well as by PKC antagonists BIM and staurosporine. It was also found that the inhibitory effect was partly reversed by PKG antagonist PKGi, while G-protein antagonist GDP-βs/pertussis toxin (PTX) and PLC antagonist U-73122 had no effect on the inhibitory effect of WIN on I(cap). These results suggest that several intracellular signaling transduction pathways including PKA and PKC systems underlie the inhibitory effects of WIN on I (cap); however, G protein-coupled receptors CB1 or CB2 were not involved.

Safety of vaccinations in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes: a prospective registry based study.

PubMed

Jaeger, Veronika K; Hoffman, Hal M; van der Poll, Tom; Tilson, Hugh; Seibert, Julia; Speziale, Antonio; Junge, Guido; Franke, Kristina; Vritzali, Eleni; Hawkins, Philip N; Kuemmerle-Deschner, Jasmin; Walker, Ulrich A

2017-09-01

Pneumococcal, tetanus and influenza vaccinations are recommended for patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) when treated with immunosuppressive medication. The aim of this publication is to report the safety of pneumococcal and other vaccinations in CAPS patients. All CAPS patients followed in the β-CONFIDENT (Clinical Outcomes and Safety Registry study of Ilaris patients) registry were analysed if they had received a vaccination. The β-CONFIDENT registry is a global, long-term, prospective, observational registry, capturing and monitoring patients treated with canakinumab. Sixty-eight CAPS patients had received a total of 159 vaccine injections, 107 injections against influenza, 19 pneumococcal vaccinations, 12 against tetanus/diphtheria antigens and 21 other vaccinations. Fourteen per cent of injections had elicited at least one vaccine reaction. All five vaccine-related serious adverse events were associated with pneumococcal vaccination. Vaccine reactions were observed in 70% of pneumococcal vaccinations, compared with 7% in influenza and 17% in tetanus/diphtheria vaccinations. The odds ratios to react to the pneumococcal vaccines compared with influenza and tetanus/diphtheria vaccines were 31.0 (95% CI: 8, 119) and 10.8 (95% CI: 2, 74). Vaccine reactions after pneumococcal vaccinations were more severe and lasted significantly longer (up to 3 weeks) compared with other vaccinations. In two patients, pneumococcal vaccination also elicited symptoms consistent with systemic inflammation due to CAPS reactivation. Pneumococcal vaccines, unlike other vaccines, frequently trigger severe local and systemic inflammation in CAPS patients. Clinicians must balance potential benefits of pneumococcal immunization against safety concerns. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine might be favourable over the polysaccharide vaccine in CAPS patients. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Calcium phosphate-titanium composites for articulating surfaces of load-bearing implants.

PubMed

Bandyopadhyay, Amit; Dittrick, Stanley; Gualtieri, Thomas; Wu, Jeffrey; Bose, Susmita

2016-04-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP)-titanium (Ti) composites were processed using a commercial laser engineered net shaping (LENS™) machine to increase wear resistance of articulating surfaces of load-bearing implants. Such composites could be used to cover the surface of titanium implants and potentially increase the lifetime of a joint replacement. It was hypothesized that adding calcium phosphate to commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti6Al4V alloy via laser processing would decrease the material loss when subjected to wear. This added protection would be due to the in situ formation of a CaP tribofilm. Different amounts of CaP were mixed by weight with pure Ti and Ti6Al4V powders. The mixed powders were then made into cylindrical samples using a commercial LENS™-750 system. Microstructures were observed and it was found the CaP had integrated into the titanium metal matrix. Compression test revealed that CaP significantly increased the 0.2% offset yield strength as well as the ultimate compressive strength of CP-Ti. It was found that the addition of CaP to pure titanium reduced the material loss and increased wear resistance. This was due to the formation of CaP tribofilm on the articulating surface. The in situ formed tribofilm also lowered the coefficient of friction and acted as a solid lubricant between the two interacting metal surfaces. Overall, CaP addition to Ti and its alloy Ti6Al4V show an effective way to minimize wear induced damage due to the formation of in situ tribofilm at the articulating surface, a strategy that can be utilized in various biomedical devices. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

Chan, R.K.; Otte, C.A.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae MATa cells carrying mutations in either sst1 or sst2 are supersensitive to the G1 arrest induced by ..cap alpha.. factor pheromone. When sst1 mutants were mixed with normal SST/sup +/ cells, the entire population recovered together from ..cap alpha.. factor arrest, suggesting that SST/sup +/ cells helped sst1 mutants to recover. Complementation tests and linkage analysis showed that sst1 and bar1, a mutation which eliminates the ability of MATa cells to act as a ''barrier'' to the diffusion of ..cap alpha.. factor, were lesions in the same genes. These findings suggest that sst1 mutants are defective in recoverymore » from ..cap alpha.. factor arrest because they are unable to degrade the pheromone. In contrast, recovery of sst2 mutants was not potentiated by the presence of SST/sup +/ cells in mixing experiments. When either normal MATa cells or mutant cells carrying defects in sst1 or sst2 were exposed to ..cap alpha.. factor for 1 h and then washed free of the pheromone, the sst2 cells subsequently remained arrested in the absence of ..cap alpha.. factor for a much longer time than SST/sup +/ or sst1 cells. These observations suggest that the defect in sst2 mutants is intrinsic to the cell and is involved in the mechanism of ..cap alpha.. factor action at some step after the initial interaction of the pheromone with the cell. The presence of an sst2 mutation appears to cause a growth debility, since repeated serial subculture of haploid sst2-1 strains led to the accumulation of faster-growing revertants that were pheromone resistant and were mating defective (''sterile'').« less

Inactivation of chemical and heat-resistant spores of Bacillus and Geobacillus by nitrogen cold atmospheric plasma evokes distinct changes in morphology and integrity of spores.

PubMed

van Bokhorst-van de Veen, Hermien; Xie, Houyu; Esveld, Erik; Abee, Tjakko; Mastwijk, Hennie; Nierop Groot, Masja

2015-02-01

Bacterial spores are resistant to severe conditions and form a challenge to eradicate from food or food packaging material. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment is receiving more attention as potential sterilization method at relatively mild conditions but the exact mechanism of inactivation is still not fully understood. In this study, the biocidal effect by nitrogen CAP was determined for chemical (hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide), physical (UV) and heat-resistant spores. The three different sporeformers used are Bacillus cereus a food-borne pathogen, and Bacillus atrophaeus and Geobacillus stearothermophilus that are used as biological indicators for validation of chemical sterilization and thermal processes, respectively. The different spores showed variation in their degree of inactivation by applied heat, hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and UV treatments, whereas similar inactivation results were obtained with the different spores treated with nitrogen CAP. G. stearothermophilus spores displayed high resistance to heat, hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, while for UV treatment B. atrophaeus spores are most tolerant. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed distinct morphological changes for nitrogen CAP-treated B. cereus spores including etching effects and the appearance of rough spore surfaces, whereas morphology of spores treated with heat or disinfectants showed no such changes. Moreover, microscopy analysis revealed CAP-exposed B. cereus spores to turn phase grey conceivably because of water influx indicating damage of the spores, a phenomenon that was not observed for non-treated spores. In addition, data are supplied that exclude UV radiation as determinant of antimicrobial activity of nitrogen CAP. Overall, this study shows that nitrogen CAP treatment has a biocidal effect on selected Bacillus and Geobacillus spores associated with alterations in spore surface morphology and loss of spore integrity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Carbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide oxidation process for azo dye decolorization: Process, kinetics, and mechanisms.

PubMed

Li, Yang; Li, Lei; Chen, Zi-Xi; Zhang, Jie; Gong, Li; Wang, Yi-Xuan; Zhao, Han-Qing; Mu, Yang

2018-02-01

Advanced oxidation processes offer effective solutions in treating wastewater from various industries. This study is the first time to investigate the potential of carbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide (CAP) oxidation process for the removal of organic pollutant from highly alkaline wastewaters. Azo dye acid orange 7 (AO7) was selected as a model pollutant. The influences of various parameters on AO7 decolorization by the CAP oxidation were evaluated. Furthermore, the active species involved in AO7 degradation were explored using scavenger experiments and electron spin resonance analysis. Additionally, AO7 degradation products by the CAP oxidation were identified to elucidate possible transformation pathways. Results showed that the CAP oxidation had better AO7 decolorization performance compared to bicarbonate-activated hydrogen peroxide method. The AO7 decolorization efficiency augmented from 3.70 ± 0.76% to 54.27 ± 2.65% when carbonate concentration was increased from 0 to 50 mM at pH 13.0, and then changed slightly with further increasing carbonate concentration to 70 mM. It increased almost linearly from 5.95 ± 0.32% to 94.03 ± 0.39% as H 2 O 2 concentration was increased from 5 to 50 mM. Moreover, trace amount of Co(II) could facilitate AO7 decolorization by the CAP reaction. Superoxide and carbonate radicals might be the main reactive oxygen species involved in the CAP process. Finally, a possible degradation pathway of AO7 by the CAP oxidation was proposed based on the identified products. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, properties, and biological activity of boranophosphate analogs of the mRNA cap: versatile tools for manipulation of therapeutically relevant cap-dependent processes

PubMed Central

Kowalska, Joanna; Wypijewska del Nogal, Anna; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew M.; Buck, Janina; Nicola, Corina; Kuhn, Andreas N.; Lukaszewicz, Maciej; Zuberek, Joanna; Strenkowska, Malwina; Ziemniak, Marcin; Maciejczyk, Maciej; Bojarska, Elzbieta; Rhoads, Robert E.; Darzynkiewicz, Edward; Sahin, Ugur; Jemielity, Jacek

2014-01-01

Modified mRNA cap analogs aid in the study of mRNA-related processes and may enable creation of novel therapeutic interventions. We report the synthesis and properties of 11 dinucleotide cap analogs bearing a single boranophosphate modification at either the α-, β- or γ-position of the 5′,5′-triphosphate chain. The compounds can potentially serve either as inhibitors of translation in cancer cells or reagents for increasing expression of therapeutic proteins in vivo from exogenous mRNAs. The BH3-analogs were tested as substrates and binding partners for two major cytoplasmic cap-binding proteins, DcpS, a decapping pyrophosphatase, and eIF4E, a translation initiation factor. The susceptibility to DcpS was different between BH3-analogs and the corresponding analogs containing S instead of BH3 (S-analogs). Depending on its placement, the boranophosphate group weakened the interaction with DcpS but stabilized the interaction with eIF4E. The first of the properties makes the BH3-analogs more stable and the second, more potent as inhibitors of protein biosynthesis. Protein expression in dendritic cells was 2.2- and 1.7-fold higher for mRNAs capped with m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D1 and m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D2, respectively, than for in vitro transcribed mRNA capped with m27,3′-OGpppG. Higher expression of cancer antigens would make mRNAs containing m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D1 and m27,2′-OGppBH3pG D2 favorable for anticancer immunization. PMID:25150148

Levofloxacin : a review of its use as a high-dose, short-course treatment for bacterial infection.

PubMed

Anderson, Vanessa R; Perry, Caroline M

2008-01-01

Levofloxacin (Levaquin) is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial that is the L-isomer of ofloxacin. A high-dose (750 mg) short-course (5 days) of once-daily levofloxacin is approved for use in the US in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) and acute pyelonephritis (AP). The broad spectrum antibacterial profile of levofloxacin means that monotherapy is often a possibility in patients with CAP at times when other agents may require combination therapy, although levofloxacin can be used in combination therapy when necessary. The high-dose, short-course levofloxacin regimen maximizes its concentration-dependent bactericidal activity and may reduce the potential for resistance to emerge. In addition, this regimen lends itself to better compliance because of the shorter duration of treatment and the convenient once-daily administration schedule. Oral levofloxacin is rapidly absorbed and is bioequivalent to the intravenous formulation; importantly, patients can transition between the formulations, which results in more options in regards to the treatment regimen and the potential for patients with varying degrees of illness to be treated. Levofloxacin has good tissue penetration and an adequate concentration can be maintained in the urinary tract to treat uropathogens. Levofloxacin is generally well tolerated and has good efficacy in the treatment of patients with CAP, ABS, complicated UTI and AP. The efficacy and tolerability of levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for 10 days in patients with CAP, ABS and UTIs is well established, and the high-dose, short-course levofloxacin regimen has been shown to be noninferior to the 10-day regimen in CAP and ABS, and to have a similar tolerability profile. Similarly, the high-dose, short-course levofloxacin regimen is noninferior to ciprofloxacin in patients with complicated UTI or AP. Thus, levofloxacin is a valuable antimicrobial agent that has activity against a wide range of bacterial pathogens; however, its use should be considered carefully so that the potential for resistance selection can be minimized and its usefulness in severe infections and against a range of penicillin- and macrolide-resistant pathogens can be maintained.

Dependence of electron beam instability growth rates on the beam-plasma system parameters

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

Strangeway, R.J.

1982-02-01

Electron beam instabilites are studied by using a simple model for an electron beam streaming through a cold plasma, the beam being of finite width perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. Through considerations of finite geometry and the coldness of the beam and background plasma, an instability similar to the two stream instability is assumed to be the means for wave growth in the system. Having found the maximum growth rate for one set of beam-plasma system parameters, this maximum growth rate is traced as these parameters are varied. The parameters that describe the system are the beam velocity (v/submore » b/), electron gyrofrequency to ambient electron plasma frequency ratio (..cap omega../sub e//..omega../sub p/e), the beam to background number density ratio (n/sub b//n/sub a/), and the beam width (a). When ..cap omega../sub e//..omega../sub p/e>1, a mode with ..cap omega../sub e/<..omega..<..omega../sub u/hr is found to be unstable, where ..cap omega.. is the wave frequency and ..omega../sub u/hr is the upper hybrid resonance frequency. For low values of n/sub b//n/sub a/ and ..cap omega../sub e/<..omega../sub p/e, this mode is still present with ..omega../sub p/e<..omega..<..omega../sub u/hr. If the beam density is large, n/sub b//n/sub a/approx. =1, the instability occures for frequencies just above the electron gyrofrequency. This mode may well be that observed in laboratory plasma before the system undergoes the beam-plasma discharge. There is another instability present, which occurs for ..omega..approx. =..omega../sub p/e. The growth rates for this mode, which are generally larger than those found for the ..omega..approx. =..omega..uhr mode, are only weakly dependent on ..cap omega../sub d//..omega../sub p/e. That this mode is not always observed in the laboratory implies that some factors not considered in the present theory suppress this mode, specifically, finite beam length.« less

Interactions between human osteoblasts and prostate cancer cells in a novel 3D in vitro model

PubMed Central

Sieh, Shirly; Lubik, Amy A; Clements, Judith A; Nelson, Colleen C

2010-01-01

Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions play a major role in tumor morphogenesis and cancer metastasis. Therefore, it is crucial to create a model with a biomimetic microenvironment that allows such interactions to fully represent the pathophysiology of a disease for an in vitro study. This is achievable by using three-dimensional (3D) models instead of conventional two-dimensional (2D) cultures with the aid of tissue engineering technology. We are now able to better address the complex intercellular interactions underlying prostate cancer (CaP) bone metastasis through such models. In this study, we assessed the interaction of CaP cells and human osteoblasts (hOBs) within a tissue engineered bone (TEB) construct. Consistent with other in vivo studies, our findings show that intercellular and CaP cell-bone matrix interactions lead to elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases, steroidogenic enzymes and the CaP biomarker, prostate specific antigen (PSA); all associated with CaP metastasis. Hence, it highlights the physiological relevance of this model. We believe that this model will provide new insights for understanding of the previously poorly understood molecular mechanisms of bone metastasis, which will foster further translational studies, and ultimately offer a potential tool for drug screening. PMID:21197221

Solid Rocket Booster Hydraulic Pump Port Cap Joint Load Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gamwell, W. R.; Murphy, N. C.

2004-01-01

The solid rocket booster uses hydraulic pumps fabricated from cast C355 aluminum alloy, with 17-4 PH stainless steel pump port caps. Corrosion-resistant steel, MS51830 CA204L self-locking screw thread inserts are installed into C355 pump housings, with A286 stainless steel fasteners installed into the insert to secure the pump port cap to the housing. In the past, pump port cap fasteners were installed to a torque of 33 Nm (300 in-lb). However, the structural analyses used a significantly higher nut factor than indicated during tests conducted by Boeing Space Systems. When the torque values were reassessed using Boeing's nut factor, the fastener preload had a factor of safety of less than 1, with potential for overloading the joint. This paper describes how behavior was determined for a preloaded joint with a steel bolt threaded into steel inserts in aluminum parts. Finite element models were compared with test results. For all initial bolt preloads, bolt loads increased as external applied loads increased. For higher initial bolt preloads, less load was transferred into the bolt, due to external applied loading. Lower torque limits were established for pump port cap fasteners and additional limits were placed on insert axial deformation under operating conditions after seating the insert with an initial preload.

Pharmacological treatment options for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes.

PubMed

Landmann, Emmanuelle C; Walker, Ulrich A

2017-08-01

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are rare monogenic autoinflammatory diseases, comprising a spectrum of phenotypes of varying severity. CAPS are associated with gain-of-function mutations in the NLRP3 inflammasome, a multiprotein complex critical for the activation of IL-1ß, and are characterized by episodes of fever, urticaria-like rash, musculoskeletal, ocular, and neurological symptoms. Areas covered: Accounting for the pivotal role of IL-1ß in the pathogenesis of CAPS, three therapeutic options, all blocking the action of IL-1ß, are currently approved: anakinra, a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, the IL-1 trap rilonacept and canakinumab, a monoclonal anti-IL-1ß antibody. All agents reduce or even resolve clinical symptoms, biochemical activity markers and improve quality of life in CAPS. This review also covers pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety aspects of the approved drugs and the potential utility of IL-1β blockers in a wide range of other conditions with an autoinflammatory component. Expert commentary: Due to the success story of current pharmaceutics, the therapeutic options in CAPS are not expected to expand in the near future. Prospective observational studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and sustained benefit. New IL-1ß blockers will likely address unmet clinical needs in other autoinflammatory conditions.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous Aegle marmelos leaf extract

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

Jagajjanani Rao, K.; Paria, Santanu, E-mail: santanuparia@yahoo.com

Graphical abstract: Silver nanoparticles capped with polyphenols present in Aegle marmelos leaf extract. Display Omitted Highlights: ► Silver nanoparticles are synthesized using Aegle marmelos leaf extract in aqueous media. ► Reduction reaction is fast and occurs at room temperature. ► The presence of polyphenols acts as in situ capping agent. -- Abstract: Synthesis of nanoparticles by green route is an emerging technique drawing more attention recently because of several advantages over the convention chemical routes. The present study reports one-pot synthesis and in situ stabilization of silver nanoparticles using Aegle marmelos leaf extract. Nanoparticles of almost uniform spherical size (∼60more » nm) were synthesized within ∼25 min reaction time at room temperature. The size of particles depends on the ratio of AgNO{sub 3} and leaf extract. The crystallinity, size, and shape of the nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy respectively. The size stability was attained by the capping effect of polyphenolic tannin compound, procatacheuate in the extract. The capped polyphenols can be removed from the particle surface by simple NaOH/methanol wash. The involvement of phenolic compounds in metal ion reduction and capping were supported by UV–visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography, and zeta potential measurements.« less

A Chronology of Late-Glacial and Holocene Advances of Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru, Based on 10Be and Radiocarbon Dating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, M. A.; Lowell, T. V.; Schaefer, J. M.

2007-12-01

The Quelccaya Ice Cap region in the southeastern Peruvian Andes (~13-14°S latitude) is a key location for the development of late-glacial and Holocene terrestrial paleoclimate records in the tropics. We present a chronology of past extents of Quelccaya Ice Cap based on ~thirty internally consistent 10Be dates of boulders on moraines and bedrock as well as twenty radiocarbon dates of organic material associated with moraines. Based on results from both dating methods, we suggest that significant advances of Quelccaya Ice Cap occurred during late-glacial time, at ~12,700-11,400 yr BP, and during Late Holocene time ~400-300 yr BP. Radiocarbon dating of organic material associated with moraines provides maximum and minimum ages for ice advances and recessions, respectively, thus providing an independent check on 10Be dates of boulders on moraines. The opportunity to use both 10Be and radiocarbon dating makes the Quelccaya Ice Cap region a potentially important low-latitude calibration site for production rates of cosmogenic nuclides. Our radiocarbon chronology provides a tighter constraint on maximum ages of late-glacial and Late Holocene ice advances. Upcoming field research will obtain organic material for radiocarbon dating to improve minimum age constrains for late-glacial and Late Holocene ice recessions.

Hydrophobic interactions in complexes of antimicrobial peptides with bacterial polysaccharides.

PubMed

Kuo, Hsin H; Chan, Celine; Burrows, Lori L; Deber, Charles M

2007-06-01

Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are responsible for chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, where they are characterized by overproduction of the exopolysaccharide alginate and are recalcitrant to treatment with conventional antibiotics. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs) are potential alternatives for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant P. aeruginosa. However, alginate in P. aeruginosa biofilms has been proposed to bind these peptides through hydrophobic interactions, consequently reducing their activity [Chan et al., J Biol Chem 2004; 279: 38749-38754]. Here we perform biophysical analyses of the interactions of alginate with a series of novel peptide antibiotics (alpha-CAPs) of prototypic sequence KK-AAAXAAAAAXAAWAAXAAA-KKKK (where X = Phe, Trp or Leu). The hydrophobic interaction interface in alginate was investigated by examining (i) the effects of polysaccharide composition with respect to D-mannuronate and L-guluronate content; (ii) glycan chain length; (iii) alpha-CAP Trp fluorescence; and (iv) 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate fluorescence. The results show that, while M and G residues produce equivalent effects, hydrophobic interactions between alginate and alpha-CAPs require a minimal glycan chain length. Peptide interactions with alginate are deduced to be mediated by hydrophobic microdomains comprised of pyranosyl C-H groups that are inducible upon formation of alpha-CAP-alginate complexes due to charge neutralization between the two species.

Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS): A Space-Based System Concept for Revolutionizing Earth Protection and Utilization of Near-Earth Objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazanek, Daniel D.; Roithmayr, Carlos M.; Antol, Jeffrey; Kay-Bunnell, Linda; Werner, Martin R.; Park, Sang-Young; Kumar, Renjith R.

2002-01-01

There exists an infrequent, but significant hazard to life and property due to impacting asteroids and comets. There is currently no specific search for long-period comets, smaller near-Earth asteroids, or smaller short-period comets. These objects represent a threat with potentially little or no warning time using conventional ground-based telescopes. These planetary bodies also represent a significant resource for commercial exploitation, long-term sustained space exploration, and scientific research. The Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) would expand the current detection effort to include long-period comets, as well as small asteroids and short-period comets capable of regional destruction. A space-based detection system, despite being more costly and complex than Earth-based initiatives, is the most promising way of expanding the range of detectable objects, and surveying the entire celestial sky on a regular basis. CAPS is a future spacebased system concept that provides permanent, continuous asteroid and comet monitoring, and rapid, controlled modification of the orbital trajectories of selected bodies. CAPS would provide an orbit modification system capable of diverting kilometer class objects, and modifying the orbits of smaller asteroids for impact defense and resource utilization. This paper provides a summary of CAPS and discusses several key areas and technologies that are being investigated.

Carbon Nanotubes: On the Origin of Helicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harutyunyan, Avetik

2015-03-01

The mechanism of helicity formation of carbon nanotubes still remains elusive that hinders their applications. Current explanations mainly rely on the planar interrelationship between the structure of nanotube and corresponding facet of catalyst in 2D geometry that could amend the structure of grown carbon layer, specifically due to the epitaxial interaction. Yet, the structure of carbon nanotube and circumference of the rims assume involvement of more than one facet i.e. it is 3D problem. By aiming this problem we find that the nanotube nucleation is initiated by cap formation via evolving of graphene embryo across the adjacent facets of catalyst particle. As a result the graphene embryos incorporate in their hexagonic network various polygons to accommodate the curved 3D geometry that initiates cap formation following by elongation of the circumferential rims. Based on these results, also on the census of nanotube caps and the fact that given cap fit only one nanotube wall, we consider carbon cap responsible for the helicity of carbon nanotube. This understanding could provide new avenues towards engineering particles to explicitly accommodate certain helicities via exploitation of the angular distribution of catalyst adjacent facets. Our recent progresses in production of carbon nanotubes, nanotube reinforced composites and their potential applications also will be presented.

[Protective effect of indirect activator of calcium pump on noise-induced hearing loss].

PubMed

Liu, Jun; Yu, Ning; Han, Dongyi; Yang, Weiyan; Li, Xingqi

2002-12-01

To investigate the possible protective effect of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC) and indirect activator of Ca2+ pump, on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Twenty guinea pigs were divided randomly into two groups, and then perfused with artificial perilymph solutions in one group and with artificial perilymph solutions containing 3 mumol/L PMA in the other one, respectively. All animals were exposed with 100 dB SPL white noise for 2 hours. Cochlear microphonics (CM) and compound action potential (CAP) were recorded from the round window (RW) before noise exposure and 2 hours after noise exposure. There was no significant difference in CAP threshold and CM amplitude between two groups before noise exposure. A significant difference was observed in CAP threshold and CM amplitude between two groups after noise exposure. The amplitude of CM decreased and the threshold of CAP increased in both group after noise exposure, but in the PMA group the decrease of the amplitude of CM was higher while the increase of threshold of CAP lower than that in control (P < 0.05). PMA might have partly protective effect on NIHL. These findings indirectly proved that intracellular Ca2+ overload might involve in the mechanism of NIHL.

Mechanochemical approach for the capping of mixed core CdS/ZnS nanocrystals: Elimination of cadmium toxicity.

PubMed

Bujňáková, Zdenka; Baláž, Matej; Dutková, Erika; Baláž, Peter; Kello, Martin; Mojžišová, Gabriela; Mojžiš, Ján; Vilková, Mária; Imrich, Ján; Psotka, Miroslav

2017-01-15

The wet mechanochemical procedure for the capping of the CdS and CdS/ZnS quantum dot nanocrystals is reported. l-cysteine and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used as capping agents. When using l-cysteine, the dissolution of cadmium(II) was almost none for CdS/ZnS nanocrystals. Moreover, prepared CdS- and CdS/ZnS-cysteine nanosuspensions exhibited unimodal particle size distributions with very good stability, which was further supported by the zeta potential measurements. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed the successful embedment of cysteine into the structure of the nanocrystals. Additionally, the optical properties were examined, and the results showed that the cysteine nanosuspension has promising fluorescence properties. On the other hand, PVP was not determined to be a very suitable capping agent for the present system. In this case, the release of cadmium(II) was higher in comparison to the l-cysteine capped samples. The nanosuspensions were successfully used for in vitro studies on selected cancer cell lines. Using fluorescence microscopy, it was evidenced that the nanocrystals enter the cell and that they can serve as imaging agents in biomedical applications. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

14-3-3η Amplifies Androgen Receptor Actions in Prostate Cancer

PubMed Central

Titus, Mark A.; Tan, Jiann-an; Gregory, Christopher W.; Ford, O. Harris; Subramanian, Romesh R.; Fu, Haian; Wilson, Elizabeth M.; Mohler, James L.; French, Frank S.

2009-01-01

Purpose Androgen receptor (AR) abundance and AR-regulated gene expression in castration-recurrent prostate cancer (CaP) are indicative of AR activation in the absence of testicular androgen. AR transactivation of target genes in castration-recurrent CaP occurs in part through mitogen signaling that amplifies the actions of AR and its coregulators. Herein we report on the role of 14-3-3η in AR action. Experimental Design and Results AR and 14-3-3η co-localized in COS cell nuclei with and without androgen and 14-3-3η promoted AR nuclear localization in the absence of androgen. 14-3-3η interacted with AR in cell-free binding and coimmunoprecipitation assays. In the recurrent human CaP cell line, CWR-R1, native endogenous AR transcriptional activation was stimulated by 14-3-3η at low DHT concentrations and was increased by EGF. Moreover, the DHT and EGF dependent increase in AR transactivation was inhibited by a dominant negative 14-3-3η. In the CWR22 CaP xenograft model, 14-3-3η expression was increased by androgen, suggesting a feed-forward mechanism that potentiates both 14-3-3η and AR actions. 14-3-3η mRNA and protein decreased following castration of tumor bearing mice and increased in tumors of castrate mice after treatment with testosterone. CWR22 tumors that recurred 5 months after castration contained 14-3-3η levels similar to the androgen-stimulated tumors removed before castration. In a human prostate tissue microarray of clinical specimens, 14-3-3η localized with AR in nuclei and the similar amounts expressed in castration-recurrent CaP, androgen-stimulated CaP and benign prostatic hyperplasia were consistent with AR activation in recurrent CaP. Conclusion 14-3-3η enhances androgen and mitogen induced AR transcriptional activity in castration-recurrent CaP. PMID:19996220

Periodontal regeneration using an injectable bone cement combined with BMP-2 or FGF-2.

PubMed

Oortgiesen, Daniël A W; Walboomers, X Frank; Bronckers, Antonius L J J; Meijer, Gert J; Jansen, John A

2014-03-01

Periodontitis is a frequently diagnosed oral disease characterized by bone resorption and soft tissue loss around teeth. Unfortunately, currently available therapies only slow or arrest progress of the disease. Ideally, treatment of periodontal defects should be focused on complete regeneration of the lost tissues [(bone and periodontal ligament (PDL)]. As a result, this study used intrabony defects to evaluate the regenerative potential of an injectable macroporous calcium phosphate cement (CaP) in combination with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) or fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). After creating 30 periodontal defects in 15 Wistar rats, three treatment strategies were conducted: application of CaP only, CaP + BMP-2 and CaP + FGF-2. Animals were euthanized after 12 weeks and processed for histology and histomorphometry. Using CaP alone resulted in limited effects on PDL and bone healing. CaP + BMP-2 showed a good response for bone healing; a significant 2.4 fold increase in bone healing score was observed compared to CaP. However, for PDL healing, CaP + BMP-2 treatment showed no difference compared to the CaP group. The best results were observed with the combined treatment of CaP + FGF-2, which showed a significant 3.3 fold increase in PDL healing score compared to CaP + BMP-2 and a significant 2.6 fold increase compared to CaP. For bone healing, CaP +  FGF-2 showed a significant 1.9 fold increase compared to CaP but no significant difference was noted compared to the CaP + BMP-2 group. The combination of a topical application of FGF-2 and an injectable CaP seems to be a promising treatment modality for periodontal regeneration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Developmental Exposure to Concentrated Ambient Ultrafine Particulate Matter Air Pollution in Mice Results in Persistent and Sex-Dependent Behavioral Neurotoxicity and Glial Activation

PubMed Central

Allen, Joshua L.; Liu, Xiufang; Weston, Douglas; Prince, Lisa; Oberdörster, Günter; Finkelstein, Jacob N.; Johnston, Carl J.; Cory-Slechta, Deborah A.

2014-01-01

The brain appears to be a target of air pollution. This study aimed to further ascertain behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms of our previously observed preference for immediate reward (Allen, J. L., Conrad, K., Oberdorster, G., Johnston, C. J., Sleezer, B., and Cory-Slechta, D. A. (2013). Developmental exposure to concentrated ambient particles and preference for immediate reward in mice. Environ. Health Perspect. 121, 32–38), a phenotype consistent with impulsivity, in mice developmentally exposed to inhaled ultrafine particles. It examined the impact of postnatal and/or adult concentrated ambient ultrafine particles (CAPS) or filtered air on another behavior thought to reflect impulsivity, Fixed interval (FI) schedule-controlled performance, and extended the assessment to learning/memory (novel object recognition (NOR)), and locomotor activity to assist in understanding behavioral mechanisms of action. In addition, levels of brain monoamines and amino acids, and markers of glial presence and activation (GFAP, IBA-1) were assessed in mesocorticolimbic brain regions mediating these cognitive functions. This design produced four treatment groups/sex of postnatal/adult exposure: Air/Air, Air/CAPS, CAPS/Air, and CAPS/CAPS. FI performance was adversely influenced by CAPS/Air in males, but by Air/CAPS in females, effects that appeared to reflect corresponding changes in brain mesocorticolimbic dopamine/glutamate systems that mediate FI performance. Both sexes showed impaired short-term memory on the NOR. Mechanistically, cortical and hippocampal changes in amino acids raised the potential for excitotoxicity, and persistent glial activation was seen in frontal cortex and corpus callosum of both sexes. Collectively, neurodevelopment and/or adulthood CAPS can produce enduring and sex-dependent neurotoxicity. Although mechanisms of these effects remain to be fully elucidated, findings suggest that neurodevelopment and/or adulthood air pollution exposure may represent a significant underexplored risk factor for central nervous system diseases/disorders and thus a significant public health threat even beyond current appreciation. PMID:24690596

Dissection of the antimicrobial and hemolytic activity of Cap18: Generation of Cap18 derivatives with enhanced specificity.

PubMed

Ebbensgaard, Anna; Mordhorst, Hanne; Overgaard, Michael Toft; Aarestrup, Frank Møller; Hansen, Egon Bech

2018-01-01

Due to the rapid emergence of resistance to classical antibiotics, novel antimicrobial compounds are needed. It is desirable to selectively kill pathogenic bacteria without targeting other beneficial bacteria in order to prevent the negative clinical consequences caused by many broad-spectrum antibiotics as well as reducing the development of antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an alternative to classical antibiotics and it has been previously demonstrated that Cap18 has high antimicrobial activity against a broad range of bacterial species. In this study we report the design of a positional scanning library consisting of 696 Cap18 derivatives and the subsequent screening for antimicrobial activity against Y. ruckeri, A. salmonicida, S. Typhimurium and L. lactis as well as for hemolytic activity measuring the hemoglobin release of horse erythrocytes. We show that the hydrophobic face of Cap18, in particular I13, L17 and I24, is essential for its antimicrobial activity against S. Typhimurium, Y. ruckeri, A. salmonicida, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, L. lactis, L. monocytogenes and E. faecalis. In particular, Cap18 derivatives harboring a I13D, L17D, L17P, I24D or I24N substitution lost their antimicrobial activity against any of the tested bacterial strains. In addition, we were able to generate species-specific Cap18 derivatives by particular amino acid substitutions either in the hydrophobic face at positions L6, L17, I20, and I27, or in the hydrophilic face at positions K16 and K18. Finally, our data showed the proline residue at position 29 to be essential for the inherent low hemolytic activity of Cap18 and that substitution of the residues K16, K23, or G21 by any hydrophobic residues enhances the hemolytic activity. This study demonstrates the potential of generating species-specific AMPs for the selective elimination of bacterial pathogens.

Effect of DSPE-PEG on compound action potential, injury potential and ion concentration following compression in ex vivo spinal cord.

PubMed

Wang, Aihua; Huo, Xiaolin; Zhang, Guanghao; Wang, Xiaochen; Zhang, Cheng; Wu, Changzhe; Rong, Wei; Xu, Jing; Song, Tao

2016-05-04

It has been shown that polyethylene glycol (PEG) can reseal membrane disruption on the spinal cord, but only high concentrations of PEG have been shown to have this effect. Therefore, the effect of PEG is somewhat limited, and it is necessary to investigate a new approach to repair spinal cord injury. This study assesses the ability of 1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly (ethylene glycol)) 2000] (DSPE-PEG) to recover physiological function and attenuate the injury-induced influx of extracellular ions in ex vivo spinal cord injury. Isolated spinal cords were subjected to compression injury and treated with PEG or DSPE-PEG immediately after injury. The compound action potential (CAP) was recorded before and after injury to assess the functional recovery. Furthermore, injury potential, the difference in gap potentials before and after compression, and the concentration of intracellular ions were used to evaluate the effect of DSPE-PEG on reducing ion influx. Data showed that the injury potential and ion concentration of the untreated, PEG and DSPE-PEG group, without significant difference among them, are remarkably higher than those of the intact group. Moreover, the CAP recovery of the DSPE-PEG and PEG treated spinal cords was significantly greater than that of the untreated spinal cords. The level of CAP recovery in the DSPE-PEG and PEG treated groups was the same, but the concentration of DSPE-PEG used was much lower than the concentration of PEG. These results suggest that instant application of DSPE-PEG could effectively repair functional disturbance in SCI at a much lower concentration than PEG. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surfactant-Mediated Growth of Ge/Si(001) Interface Studied by XPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunnella, R.; Castrucci, P.; Pinto, N.; Cucculelli, P.; Davoli, I.; Sébilleau, D.; de Crescenzi, M.

The influence of Sb as a surfactant on the formation of Si/Ge interface is studied by means of XPD (X-ray photoelectron diffraction) and AED (Auger electron diffraction) from Ge and Si core levels. The technique employed is particularly suitable for checking the film tetragonal distortion, the growth morphology and the sharpness of the interface. We found a layer by layer growth mode for 3 ML of Ge on Si(001) and related values of strain of the film close to the value predicted by the elastic theory which enforces the use of such a surfactant to obtain high quality and sharp heterostructures. In addition, studying the influence of 3 ML of the Si cap layer on the 3 ML Ge, we obtain no indication of Ge segregation into the Si cap layer. Finally, evidences of quality degradation after high temperature (T > 600°C) annealing are shown.

The atypical pneumonias: clinical diagnosis and importance.

PubMed

Cunha, B A

2006-05-01

The most common atypical pneumonias are caused by three zoonotic pathogens, Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis), Francisella tularensis (tularemia), and Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), and three nonzoonotic pathogens, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella. These atypical agents, unlike the typical pathogens, often cause extrapulmonary manifestations. Atypical CAPs are systemic infectious diseases with a pulmonary component and may be differentiated clinically from typical CAPs by the pattern of extrapulmonary organ involvement which is characteristic for each atypical CAP. Zoonotic pneumonias may be eliminated from diagnostic consideration with a negative contact history. The commonest clinical problem is to differentiate legionnaire's disease from typical CAP as well as from C. pneumoniae or M. pneumonia infection. Legionella is the most important atypical pathogen in terms of severity. It may be clinically differentiated from typical CAP and other atypical pathogens by the use of a weighted point system of syndromic diagnosis based on the characteristic pattern of extrapulmonary features. Because legionnaire's disease often presents as severe CAP, a presumptive diagnosis of Legionella should prompt specific testing and empirical anti-Legionella therapy such as the Winthrop-University Hospital Infectious Disease Division's weighted point score system. Most atypical pathogens are difficult or dangerous to isolate and a definitive laboratory diagnosis is usually based on indirect, i.e., direct flourescent antibody (DFA), indirect flourescent antibody (IFA). Atypical CAP is virtually always monomicrobial; increased IFA IgG tests indicate past exposure and not concurrent infection. Anti-Legionella antibiotics include macrolides, doxycycline, rifampin, quinolones, and telithromycin. The drugs with the highest level of anti-Legionella activity are quinolones and telithromycin. Therapy is usually continued for 2 weeks if potent anti-Legionella drugs are used. In adults, M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae may exacerbate or cause asthma. The importance of the atypical pneumonias is not related to their frequency (approximately 15% of CAPs), but to difficulties in their diagnosis, and their nonresponsiveness to beta-lactam therapy. Because of the potential role of C. pneumoniae in coronary artery disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), and the role of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in causing or exacerbating asthma, atypical CAPs also have public health importance.

Febrile Neutropenia Rates According to Body Mass Index and Dose Capping in Women Receiving Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Lote, H; Sharp, A; Redana, S; Papadimitraki, E; Capelan, M; Ring, A

2016-09-01

Studies suggest worse outcomes in obese women with breast cancer than in non-obese women. One potential reason may be that oncologists 'dose cap' adjuvant chemotherapy in obese patients in order to avoid excessive toxicity. Reductions from standard dosing may compromise survival outcomes in the curative setting. Here we describe the body mass index (BMI) distribution of patients in a non-trial population, the frequency with which oncologists dose cap and its effect on febrile neutropenia chemotherapy toxicity. In this non-randomised study, electronic patient records retrospectively identified patients with early breast cancer who initiated neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital between 1 January and 31 December 2013. Baseline data included age, BMI, performance status, tumour characteristics, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and comorbidities. Chemotherapy doses, rates of dose capping across BMI groups and rates of febrile neutropenia were reported. In total, 325 patients were eligible: 79 (24.5%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30), 109 (33.5%) were overweight (BMI ≥25 - <30) and 137 (42%) were normal bodyweight (BMI < 25). Sixteen patients (20.5%) in the obese group received dose-capped chemotherapy. Overall, 62 patients (19%) had an episode of febrile neutropenia. Obese patients receiving uncapped chemotherapy did not experience a significant difference in febrile neutropenia rates when compared with overweight or normal bodyweight groups (P = 0.5798). The febrile neutropenia rate in obese patients receiving capped chemotherapy was 6.5%, compared with 24% in obese patients receiving uncapped chemotherapy (P = 0.1216). In a non-trial population of obese patients, dose capping is frequently used. Obese patients receiving uncapped chemotherapy do not experience increased febrile neutropenia rates when compared with uncapped overweight or normal bodyweight patients. Furthermore, dose capping was associated with a trend towards lower rates of febrile neutropenia than in other groups and may indicate relative under-dosing of chemotherapy. This supports international guidelines that state that obese patients should not be dose capped. Copyright © 2016 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alkyl-Capped Silicon Nanocrystals Lack Cytotoxicity and have Enhanced Intracellular Accumulation in Malignant Cells via Cholesterol-Dependent Endocytosis

PubMed Central

Alsharif, Naif H; Berger, Christine E M; Varanasi, Satya S; Chao, Yimin; Horrocks, Benjamin R; Datta, Harish K

2009-01-01

Nanocrystals of various inorganic materials are being considered for application in the life sciences as fluorescent labels and for such therapeutic applications as drug delivery or targeted cell destruction. The potential applications of the nanoparticles are critically compromised due to the well-documented toxicity and lack of understanding about the mechanisms involved in the intracellular internalization. Here intracellular internalization and toxicity of alkyl-capped silicon nanocrystals in human neoplastic and normal primary cells is reported. The capped nanocrystals lack cytotoxicity, and there is a marked difference in the rate and extent of intracellular accumulation of the nanoparticles between human cancerous and non-cancerous primary cells, the rate and extent being higher in the malignant cells compared to normal human primary cells. The exposure of the cells to the alkyl-capped nanocrystals demonstrates no evidence of in vitro cytotoxicity when assessed by cell morphology, apoptosis, and cell viability assays. The internalization of the nanocrystals by Hela and SW1353 cells is almost completely blocked by the pinocytosis inhibitors filipin, cytochalasin B, and actinomycin D. The internalization process is not associated with any surface change in the nanoparticles, as their luminescence spectrum is unaltered upon transport into the cytosol. The observed dramatic difference in the rate and extent of internalization of the nanocrystals between malignant and non-malignant cells therefore offers potential application in the management of human neoplastic conditions. PMID:19058285

Biomimetic Multispiked Connecting Ti-Alloy Scaffold Prototype for Entirely-Cementless Resurfacing Arthroplasty Endoprostheses-Exemplary Results of Implantation of the Ca-P Surface-Modified Scaffold Prototypes in Animal Model and Osteoblast Culture Evaluation.

PubMed

Uklejewski, Ryszard; Rogala, Piotr; Winiecki, Mariusz; Tokłowicz, Renata; Ruszkowski, Piotr; Wołuń-Cholewa, Maria

2016-06-29

We present here-designed, manufactured, and tested by our research team-the Ti-alloy prototype of the multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) interfacing the components of resurfacing arthroplasty (RA) endoprostheses with bone. The spikes of the MSC-Scaffold prototype mimic the interdigitations of the articular subchondral bone, which is the natural biostructure interfacing the articular cartilage with the periarticular trabecular bone. To enhance the osteoinduction/osteointegration potential of the MSC-Scaffold, the attempts to modify its bone contacting surfaces by the process of electrochemical cathodic deposition of Ca-P was performed with further immersion of the MSC-Scaffold prototypes in SBF in order to transform the amorphous calcium-phosphate coating in hydroxyapatite-like (HA-like) coating. The pilot experimental study of biointegration of unmodified and Ca-P surface-modified MSC-Scaffold prototypes was conducted in an animal model (swine) and in osteoblast cell culture. On the basis of a microscope-histological method the biointegration was proven by the presence of trabeculae in the interspike spaces of the MSC-Scaffold prototype on longitudinal and cross-sections of bone-implant specimens. The percentage of trabeculae in the area between the spikes of specimen containing Ca-P surface modified scaffold prototype observed in microCT reconstructions of the explanted joints was visibly higher than in the case of unmodified MSC-Scaffold prototypes. Significantly higher Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity and the cellular proliferation in the case of Ca-P-modified MSC-Scaffold pre-prototypes, in comparison with unmodified pre-prototypes, was found in osteoblast cell cultures. The obtained results of experimental implantation in an animal model and osteoblast cell culture evaluations of Ca-P surface-modified and non-modified biomimetic MSC-Scaffold prototypes for biomimetic entirely-cementless RA endoprostheses indicate the enhancement of the osteoinduction/osteointegration potential by the Ca-P surface modification of the Ti-alloy MSC-Scaffold prototype. Planned further research on the prototype of this biomimetic MSC-Scaffold for a new generation of RA endoprostheses is also given.

Potential for cross-contamination from use of a needleless injector.

PubMed

Weintraub, A M; Ponce de Leon, M P

1998-08-01

Medical devices that are used on patients in fields containing potentially infectious body fluids can become contaminated and transmit infectious agents to other sites on the patient or to other patients if the devices are not properly cleaned and decontaminated after use on each patient treatment site. One such device is the needleless or jet injector, which is widely used in medicine and dentistry to deliver local anesthetic in procedures such as bone marrow aspirations, lumbar punctures, and cutaneous and intraoral injections. This study was conducted to determine whether cross-contamination can occur on in vitro reuse of a needleless injector and whether a manufacturer's recommended method of injector decontamination (ie, immersion sterilization) is effective in the prevention of cross-contamination. The study was performed with new autoclaved injectors, fluorescein dye, and Streptococcus crista (the bacteria commonly found in saliva) in the field of use to determine whether these devices can become contaminated during use and carry over the contamination to other sites during immediate reuse. Fluorescein dye and bacteria tests with the needleless injectors showed that contamination or carryover does occur. It appeared to reduced to a minimum when a autoclaved, sterile rubber cap used over the head of the device during injection was replaced between each use, although replacement of the rubber cap alone did not prevent carryover. Immersion of the head of the injector in a 2% glutaraldehyde solution for 30 minutes followed by a sterile water rinse and the replacement of the rubber cap with a sterile cap between uses was shown to curtail bacterial growth and prevent cross-contamination on immediate reuse of the device. This study demonstrated that needleless injectors become contaminated during in vitro use and direct contact with contaminated surfaces and that needless injectors carry over the contamination to subsequent sites of release. The replacement of the injector's rubber cap with a new one after initial discharge or the removal of an exposed rubber cap and immersion of the head of the injector in 2% glutaraldehyde followed by a rinse of the head in sterile water, as recommended by one injector manufacturer, can minimize or eliminate the carryover.

A Genome-Wide RNAi Screen Identifies FOXO4 as a Metastasis-Suppressor through Counteracting PI3K/AKT Signal Pathway in Prostate Cancer

PubMed Central

Su, Bing; Gao, Lingqiu; Baranowski, Catherine; Gillard, Bryan; Wang, Jianmin; Ransom, Ryan; Ko, Hyun-Kyung; Gelman, Irwin H.

2014-01-01

Activation of the PI3K/AKT signal pathway is a known driving force for the progression to castration-recurrent prostate cancer (CR-CaP), which constitutes the major lethal phenotype of CaP. Here, we identify using a genomic shRNA screen the PI3K/AKT-inactivating downstream target, FOXO4, as a potential CaP metastasis suppressor. FOXO4 protein levels inversely correlate with the invasive potential of a panel of human CaP cell lines, with decreased mRNA levels correlating with increased incidence of clinical metastasis. Knockdown (KD) of FOXO4 in human LNCaP cells causes increased invasion in vitro and lymph node (LN) metastasis in vivo without affecting indices of proliferation or apoptosis. Increased Matrigel invasiveness was found by KD of FOXO1 but not FOXO3. Comparison of differentially expressed genes affected by FOXO4-KD in LNCaP cells in culture, in primary tumors and in LN metastases identified a panel of upregulated genes, including PIP, CAMK2N1, PLA2G16 and PGC, which, if knocked down by siRNA, could decrease the increased invasiveness associated with FOXO4 deficiency. Although only some of these genes encode FOXO promoter binding sites, they are all RUNX2-inducible, and RUNX2 binding to the PIP promoter is increased in FOXO4-KD cells. Indeed, the forced expression of FOXO4 reversed the increased invasiveness of LNCaP/shFOXO4 cells; the forced expression of FOXO4 did not alter RUNX2 protein levels, yet it decreased RUNX2 binding to the PIP promoter, resulting in PIP downregulation. Finally, there was a correlation between FOXO4, but not FOXO1 or FOXO3, downregulation and decreased metastasis-free survival in human CaP patients. Our data strongly suggest that increased PI3K/AKT-mediated metastatic invasiveness in CaP is associated with FOXO4 loss, and that mechanisms to induce FOXO4 re-expression might suppress CaP metastatic aggressiveness. PMID:24983969

Biomimetic Multispiked Connecting Ti-Alloy Scaffold Prototype for Entirely-Cementless Resurfacing Arthroplasty Endoprostheses—Exemplary Results of Implantation of the Ca-P Surface-Modified Scaffold Prototypes in Animal Model and Osteoblast Culture Evaluation

PubMed Central

Uklejewski, Ryszard; Rogala, Piotr; Winiecki, Mariusz; Tokłowicz, Renata; Ruszkowski, Piotr; Wołuń-Cholewa, Maria

2016-01-01

We present here—designed, manufactured, and tested by our research team—the Ti-alloy prototype of the multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) interfacing the components of resurfacing arthroplasty (RA) endoprostheses with bone. The spikes of the MSC-Scaffold prototype mimic the interdigitations of the articular subchondral bone, which is the natural biostructure interfacing the articular cartilage with the periarticular trabecular bone. To enhance the osteoinduction/osteointegration potential of the MSC-Scaffold, the attempts to modify its bone contacting surfaces by the process of electrochemical cathodic deposition of Ca-P was performed with further immersion of the MSC-Scaffold prototypes in SBF in order to transform the amorphous calcium-phosphate coating in hydroxyapatite-like (HA-like) coating. The pilot experimental study of biointegration of unmodified and Ca-P surface-modified MSC-Scaffold prototypes was conducted in an animal model (swine) and in osteoblast cell culture. On the basis of a microscope-histological method the biointegration was proven by the presence of trabeculae in the interspike spaces of the MSC-Scaffold prototype on longitudinal and cross-sections of bone-implant specimens. The percentage of trabeculae in the area between the spikes of specimen containing Ca-P surface modified scaffold prototype observed in microCT reconstructions of the explanted joints was visibly higher than in the case of unmodified MSC-Scaffold prototypes. Significantly higher Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity and the cellular proliferation in the case of Ca-P-modified MSC-Scaffold pre-prototypes, in comparison with unmodified pre-prototypes, was found in osteoblast cell cultures. The obtained results of experimental implantation in an animal model and osteoblast cell culture evaluations of Ca-P surface-modified and non-modified biomimetic MSC-Scaffold prototypes for biomimetic entirely-cementless RA endoprostheses indicate the enhancement of the osteoinduction/osteointegration potential by the Ca-P surface modification of the Ti-alloy MSC-Scaffold prototype. Planned further research on the prototype of this biomimetic MSC-Scaffold for a new generation of RA endoprostheses is also given. PMID:28773652

Accuracy verification and identification of matrix effects. The College of American Pathologists' Protocol.

PubMed

Eckfeldt, J H; Copeland, K R

1993-04-01

Proficiency testing using stabilized control materials has been used for decades as a means of monitoring and improving performance in the clinical laboratory. Often, the commonly used proficiency testing materials exhibit "matrix effects" that cause them to behave differently from fresh human specimens in certain clinical analytic systems. Because proficiency testing is the primary method in which regulatory agencies have chosen to evaluate clinical laboratory performance, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has proposed guidelines for investigating the influence of matrix effects on their Survey results. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the feasibility, usefulness, and potential problems associated with this CAP Matrix Effect Analytical Protocol, in which fresh patient specimens and CAP proficiency specimens are analyzed simultaneously by a field method and a definitive, reference, or other comparative method. The optimal outcome would be that both the fresh human and CAP Survey specimens agree closely with the comparative method result. However, this was not always the case. Using several different analytic configurations, we were able to demonstrate matrix and calibration biases for several of the analytes investigated.

The ITO-capped WO3 nanowires biosensor based on field-effect transistor in label-free protein sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shariati, Mohsen

2017-05-01

The fabrication of ITO-capped WO3 nanowires associated with their bio-sensing properties in field-effect transistor diagnostics basis as a biosensor has been reported. The bio-sensing property for manipulated nanowires elucidated that the grown nanostructures were very sensitive to protein. The ITO-capped WO3 nanowires biosensor showed an intensive bio-sensing activity against reliable protein. Polylysine strongly charged bio-molecule was applied as model system to demonstrate the implementation of materialized biosensor. The employed sensing mechanism was `label-free' and depended on bio-molecule's intrinsic charge. For nanowires synthesis, the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism was used. Nanowires were beyond a few hundred nanometers in lengths and around 15-20 nm in diameter, while the globe cap's size on the nanowires was around 15-25 nm. The indium tin oxide (ITO) played as catalyst in nanofabrication for WO3 nanowires growth and had outstanding role in bio-sensing especially for bio-molecule adherence. In applied electric field presence, the fabricated device showed the great potential to enhance medical diagnostics.

Levofloxacin in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Noreddin, Ayman M; Elkhatib, Walid F

2010-05-01

Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone that has a broad spectrum of activity against several causative bacterial pathogens of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The efficacy and tolerability of levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for 10 days in patients with CAP are well established. Furthermore, a high-dose (750 mg), short-course (5 days) of once-daily levofloxacin has been approved for use in the USA in the treatment of CAP, acute bacterial sinusitis, acute pyelonephritis and complicated urinary tract infections. Levofloxacin can be used as a monotherapy in patients with CAP, however, levofloxacin combination therapy with anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam (or aminoglycoside) should be considered if Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the causative pathogen of the respiratory infection. The high-dose, short-course levofloxacin regimen maximizes its concentration-dependent antibacterial activity, decreases the potential for drug resistance and has better patient compliance. Oral levofloxacin is rapidly absorbed and is bioequivalent to the intravenous formulation and the patients can switch between these formulations, which results in more options with respect to the therapeutic regimens. Furthermore, levofloxacin is generally well tolerated, has good tissue penetration and adequate concentrations can be maintained at the site of infections.

Effect of chitosan-carvacrol coating on the quality of Pacific white shrimp during iced storage as affected by caprylic acid.

PubMed

Wang, Qianyun; Lei, Jun; Ma, Junjie; Yuan, Gaofeng; Sun, Haiyan

2018-01-01

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chitosan-carvacrol coating with or without caprylic acid (CAP) on the quality of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during 10days of iced storage. The result showed that chitosan-carvacrol coating significantly inhibited the increase in total aerobic plate count (TPC), pH and total volatile basic nitrogen content (TVB-N) of shrimp in comparison with the control. Chitosan-carvacrol coating also delayed the melanosis formation and changes of ΔE values, and improved the texture and sensory properties of shrimp. Moreover, incorporation of CAP potentiated the efficacy of chitosan-carvacrol coating in retarding the increase of TPC and TVB-N. Incorporation of CAP into chitosan-carvacrol coating also enabled the texture characteristics of shrimp to be retained greater degrees. These results suggested that chitosan-carvacrol coating may be promising to be used as active packaging for extending the shelf life, and incorporation of CAP may enhance the efficacy of the coating. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pull-out simulations of a capped carbon nanotube in carbon nanotube-reinforced nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Y.; Liu, S.; Hu, N.; Han, X.; Zhou, L.; Ning, H.; Wu, L.; Alamusi, Yamamoto, G.; Chang, C.; Hashida, T.; Atobe, S.; Fukunaga, H.

2013-04-01

Systematic atomic simulations based on molecular mechanics were conducted to investigate the pull-out behavior of a capped carbon nanotube (CNT) in CNT-reinforced nanocomposites. Two common cases were studied: the pull-out of a complete CNT from a polymer matrix in a CNT/polymer nanocomposite and the pull-out of the broken outer walls of a CNT from the intact inner walls (i.e., the sword-in-sheath mode) in a CNT/alumina nanocomposite. By analyzing the obtained relationship between the energy increment (i.e., the difference in the potential energy between two consecutive pull-out steps) and the pull-out displacement, a set of simple empirical formulas based on the nanotube diameter was developed to predict the corresponding pull-out force. The predictions from these formulas are quite consistent with the experimental results. Moreover, the much higher pull-out force for a capped CNT than that of the corresponding open-ended CNT implies a significant contribution from the CNT cap to the interfacial properties of the CNT-reinforced nanocomposites. This finding provides a valuable insight for designing nanocomposites with desirable mechanical properties.

Multidimensional assessment of acute confusion after traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Sherer, Mark; Nakase-Thompson, Risa; Yablon, Stuart A; Gontkovsky, Samuel T

2005-05-01

To describe the phenomenology of posttraumatic confusional state (PTCS) and to provide preliminary validation of a new procedure, the Confusion Assessment Protocol (CAP), for assessing PTCS. Criterion standard investigation. Inpatient traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation program. Two consecutive series of patients (n=62, n=93) with TBI admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. Not applicable. Clinical diagnosis of delirium based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, classification of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) based on the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT), and Disability Rating Scale score at time of rehabilitation hospital discharge. Results Agreement between the diagnosis of PTCS with the CAP and DSM-IV classification of delirium was 87%, and agreement between PTCS and PTA using GOAT criteria was 90%. Patients classified as in PTCS sustained more severe injuries and required longer rehabilitation stays. Confusion status was associated with poorer functional status at rehabilitation discharge. The CAP is a brief, structured, repeatable measure of multiple neurobehavioral aspects of PTCS. Confusion status as determined by CAP assessment contributed to prediction of outcome at rehabilitation discharge after adjustment for other potential predictors.

The photoelectron-driven polar wind: Coupled fluid- semikinetic simulations and measurements by the thermal ion dynamics experiment on the POLAR spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Yi-Jiun

1998-11-01

The polar wind is an ambipolar outflow of thermal plasma from the terrestrial high latitude ionosphere to the magnetosphere along geomagnetic field lines. This dissertation comprises a simulation and data analysis investigation of the polar wind from the ionosphere to the magnetosphere. In order to study the transport of ionospheric plasma from the collisional lower ionosphere to the collisionless magnetosphere, a self-consistent steady state coupled fluid-semikinetic model has been developed, which incorporates photoelectron and magnetospheric plasma effects. In applying this treatment to the simulation of the photoelectron-driven polar wind, an electric potential layer of the order of 40 Volts which develops above 3 RE altitude is obtained, when the downward magnetospheric electron fluxes are insufficient to balance the ionospheric photoelectron flux. This potential layer accelerates the ionospheric ions to supersonic speeds at high altitudes, but not at low altitudes (as some previous theories have suggested). In order to experimentally investigate the polar wind, low-energy ion data obtained by the Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) on the POLAR satellite has been analyzed. A survey of the polar wind characteristics as observed by TIDE at 5000 km and 8 RE altitudes is presented in this dissertation. At 5000 km altitude, the H+ polar wind exhibited a supersonic outflow, while O+ displayed subsonic downflow. Dramatic decreases of the 5000 km H+ and O+ ion densities and fluxes correlated with increasing solar zenith angle for the ionospheric base, which is consistent with solar illumination ionization control of the 5000 km ion densities. However, the polar cap downward O+ flow and the density declined from dayside to nightside, which is also consistent with a cleft ion fountain origin for the polar cap O+. At 8 RE altitude, both H+ and O+ outflows were supersonic, and H+ was the dominant ion species. The typical velocity ratios, VO+:VHe+:VH+~2:3:5, may suggest transport processes which result in comparable energy gains, such as electric potential layer produced by photoelectron effects.

HOW DO STONES FORM? IS UNIFICATION OF THEORIES ON STONE FORMATION POSSIBLE?

PubMed Central

Bird, Victoria Y.; Khan, Saeed R.

2017-01-01

Summary There are two basic pathways for formation of calcium based kidney stones. Most idiopathic calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones are formed in association with sub-epithelial plaques of calcium phosphate (CaP), known as Randall’s plaques, on renal papillary surfaces. Crystal formation and retention within the terminal collecting ducts, the ducts of Bellini, leading to the formation of Randall’s plugs, is the other pathway. Both pathways require supersaturation leading to crystallization, regulated by various crystallization modulators produced in response to changing urinary conditions. High supersaturation, as a result of a variety of genetic and environmental factors, leads to crystallization in the terminal collecting ducts, eventually plugging their openings into the renal pelvis. Stasis behind the plugs may lead to the formation of attached or unattached stones in the tubular lumen. Deposition of crystals on the plug surface facing the pelvic or tubular urine may result in stone formation on the Randall’s plugs. Kidneys of idiopathic stone formers may be subjected to oxidative stress as a result of increased urinary excretion of calcium/oxalate/phosphate and/or decrease in the production of functional crystallization inhibitors or in relation to co-morbidities such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, or acute kidney injury. We have proposed that production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes dedifferentiation of epithelial/endothelial cells into osteoblast type cells and deposition of CaP in the basement membrane of renal tubules or vessels. Growth, aggregation and melding of CaP crystals leads to the formation of plaque which grows by further calcification of interstitial collagen and membranous vesicles. Plaque becomes exposed to pelvic urine once the covering papillary epithelium is breached. Surface layers of CaP are replaced by CaOx through direct transformation or demineralization of CaP and mineralization of CaOx. Alternatively, or in addition, CaOx crystals nucleate directly on the plaque surface. Stone growth may also depend upon supersaturation in the pelvic urine, triggering further nucleation, growth and aggregation. PMID:28221139

A simple and facile synthesis of MPA capped CdSe and CdSe/CdS core/shell nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sukanya, D.; Sagayaraj, P.

2015-06-01

II-VI semiconductor nanostructures, in particular, CdSe quantum dots have drawn a lot of attention because of their promising potential applications in biological tagging, photovoltaic, display devices etc. due to their excellent optical properties, high emission quantum yield, size dependent emission wavelength and high photostability. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and properties of mercaptopropionic acid capped CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles through a simple and efficient co-precipitation method followed by hydrothermal treatment. The growth process, characterization and the optical absorption as a function of wavelength for the synthesized MPA capped CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles have been determined using X-ray diffraction study (XRD), Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM).

Reducing the effect of parasitic capacitance on implantable passive resonant sensors.

PubMed

Drazan, John F; Abdoun, Omar T; Wassick, Michael T; Marcus, George A; Dahle, Reena; Beardslee, Luke A; Cady, Nathaniel C; Ledet, Eric H

2016-08-01

Passive, LC resonators have the potential to serve as small, robust, low cost, implantable sensors to wirelessly monitor implants following orthopedic surgery. One significant barrier to using LC sensors is the influence on the sensor's resonance of the surrounding conductive high permittivity media in vivo. The surrounding media can detune the resonant frequency of the LC sensor resulting in a bias. To mitigate the effects of the surrounding media, we added a "capping layer" to LC sensors to isolate them from the surrounding media. Several capping materials and thicknesses were tested to determine effectiveness at reducing the sensor's interaction with the surrounding media. Results show that a 1 mm glass capping layer on the outer surfaces of the sensor was sufficient to reduce the effects of the media on sensor signal to less than 1%.

Extending density functional embedding theory for covalently bonded systems.

PubMed

Yu, Kuang; Carter, Emily A

2017-12-19

Quantum embedding theory aims to provide an efficient solution to obtain accurate electronic energies for systems too large for full-scale, high-level quantum calculations. It adopts a hierarchical approach that divides the total system into a small embedded region and a larger environment, using different levels of theory to describe each part. Previously, we developed a density-based quantum embedding theory called density functional embedding theory (DFET), which achieved considerable success in metals and semiconductors. In this work, we extend DFET into a density-matrix-based nonlocal form, enabling DFET to study the stronger quantum couplings between covalently bonded subsystems. We name this theory density-matrix functional embedding theory (DMFET), and we demonstrate its performance in several test examples that resemble various real applications in both chemistry and biochemistry. DMFET gives excellent results in all cases tested thus far, including predicting isomerization energies, proton transfer energies, and highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps for local chromophores. Here, we show that DMFET systematically improves the quality of the results compared with the widely used state-of-the-art methods, such as the simple capped cluster model or the widely used ONIOM method.

Casimir Effect in Hemisphere Capped Tubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bezerra de Mello, E. R.; Saharian, A. A.

2016-02-01

In this paper we investigate the vacuum densities for a massive scalar field with general curvature coupling in background of a (2 + 1)-dimensional spacetime corresponding to a cylindrical tube with a hemispherical cap. A complete set of mode functions is constructed and the positive-frequency Wightman function is evaluated for both the cylindrical and hemispherical subspaces. On the base of this, the vacuum expectation values of the field squared and energy-momentum tensor are investigated. The mean field squared and the normal stress are finite on the boundary separating two subspaces, whereas the energy density and the parallel stress diverge as the inverse power of the distance from the boundary. For a conformally coupled field, the vacuum energy density is negative on the cylindrical part of the space. On the hemisphere, it is negative near the top and positive close to the boundary. In the case of minimal coupling the energy density on the cup is negative. On the tube it is positive near the boundary and negative at large distances. Though the geometries of the subspaces are different, the Casimir pressures on the separate sides of the boundary are equal and the net Casimir force vanishes. The results obtained may be applied to capped carbon nanotubes described by an effective field theory in the long-wavelength approximation.

The Future Role of the Combined Action Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-06

control predominates the VC can gain resources by means of covert purchase or hit-and-run raids if not by direct taxation . 36 Similar to the personnel...It may require changing accepted practises that are hundreds of years old. Nevertheless, change is imperative if CAP is to be successful. This is...8217Communist Party of the Philippines: Theory and Practise of United Front.* Masters Thesis, United States Army Command and General Staff College, Ft

Strategy and the Revolution in Military Affairs: From Theory to Policy.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-06-27

incorporation of rifled weapons in the 19th century were constituent parts of a “major” revolution which included fundamental social, economic, and...development (see Figure 3). Still, combat effectiveness is always relative. Percussion- cap rifled muskets of the mid- 19th century were certainly more...breakthrough as when the European powers of the mid- 19th to early 20th centuries combined industrialization, railroads, improved metallurgy and explosives

Communication: Photoinduced carbon dioxide binding with surface-functionalized silicon quantum dots.

PubMed

Douglas-Gallardo, Oscar A; Sánchez, Cristián Gabriel; Vöhringer-Martinez, Esteban

2018-04-14

Nowadays, the search for efficient methods able to reduce the high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has turned into a very dynamic research area. Several environmental problems have been closely associated with the high atmospheric level of this greenhouse gas. Here, a novel system based on the use of surface-functionalized silicon quantum dots (sf-SiQDs) is theoretically proposed as a versatile device to bind carbon dioxide. Within this approach, carbon dioxide trapping is modulated by a photoinduced charge redistribution between the capping molecule and the silicon quantum dots (SiQDs). The chemical and electronic properties of the proposed SiQDs have been studied with a Density Functional Theory and Density Functional Tight-Binding (DFTB) approach along with a time-dependent model based on the DFTB framework. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that proposes and explores the potential application of a versatile and friendly device based on the use of sf-SiQDs for photochemically activated carbon dioxide fixation.

Efficient Brownian Dynamics of rigid colloids in linear flow fields based on the grand mobility matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palanisamy, Duraivelan; den Otter, Wouter K.

2018-05-01

We present an efficient general method to simulate in the Stokesian limit the coupled translational and rotational dynamics of arbitrarily shaped colloids subject to external potential forces and torques, linear flow fields, and Brownian motion. The colloid's surface is represented by a collection of spherical primary particles. The hydrodynamic interactions between these particles, here approximated at the Rotne-Prager-Yamakawa level, are evaluated only once to generate the body's (11 × 11) grand mobility matrix. The constancy of this matrix in the body frame, combined with the convenient properties of quaternions in rotational Brownian Dynamics, enables an efficient simulation of the body's motion. Simulations in quiescent fluids yield correct translational and rotational diffusion behaviour and sample Boltzmann's equilibrium distribution. Simulations of ellipsoids and spherical caps under shear, in the absence of thermal fluctuations, yield periodic orbits in excellent agreement with the theories by Jeffery and Dorrepaal. The time-varying stress tensors provide the Einstein coefficient and viscosity of dilute suspensions of these bodies.

Quantum mechanical design and structures of hexanuclear sandwich complex and its multidecker sandwich clusters (Li6)n([18]annulene)n+1 (n = 1-3).

PubMed

Wang, Shu-Jian; Li, Ying; Wu, Di; Wang, Yin-Feng; Li, Zhi-Ru

2012-09-13

By means of density functional theory, a hexanuclear sandwich complex [18]annulene-Li6-[18]annulene which consists of a central Li6 hexagon ring and large face-capping ligands, [18]annulene, is designed and investigated. The large interaction energy and HOMO-LUMO gap suggest that this novel charge-separated complex is highly stable and may be experimentally synthesized. In addition, the stability found in the [18]annulene-Li6-[18]annulene complex extends to multidecker sandwich clusters (Li6)n([18]annulene)n+1 (n = 2-3). The energy gain upon addition of a [18]annulene-Li6 unit to (Li6)n-1([18]annulene)n is pretty large (96.97-98.22 kcal/mol), indicating that even larger multideckers will also be very stable. Similar to ferrocene, such a hexanuclear sandwich complex could be considered as a versatile building block to find potential applications in different areas of chemistry, such as nanoscience and material science.

Mechanics of Lamellipodia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quint, D. A.; Schwarz, J. M.

2008-03-01

The actin cytoskeleton is a morphologically-complex assembly of cross-linked F-actin filaments. The cytoskeleton provides rigidity for the cell within appropriate time scales so that it can change its shape to, for example, crawl along surfaces. In addition to cross-linking proteins, many other proteins are involved in the assembly of the actin cytoskeleton such as branching proteins, capping proteins, and severing proteins. Presumably these proteins work cooperatively toward the dynamic formation of rigidity. We will initially focus on the role of branching proteins. The F-actin filaments in lamellipodia---protrusions of the mobile edge of a crawling cell---have some overall orientation due to the branching. Branched filaments emerge at a 70 degree angle from the mother filament's growing end.^1 This overall orientation is modelled as an anisotropy in an effective medium theory determining the cytoskeleton's elasticity in the static regime. The potential for a splay rigid phase, in addition to a rigid phase, is also investigated. ^1T. M. Svitkina and G. G. Borisy, J. Cell Biol. 145, 1009 (1999).

Communication: Photoinduced carbon dioxide binding with surface-functionalized silicon quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Douglas-Gallardo, Oscar A.; Sánchez, Cristián Gabriel; Vöhringer-Martinez, Esteban

2018-04-01

Nowadays, the search for efficient methods able to reduce the high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has turned into a very dynamic research area. Several environmental problems have been closely associated with the high atmospheric level of this greenhouse gas. Here, a novel system based on the use of surface-functionalized silicon quantum dots (sf-SiQDs) is theoretically proposed as a versatile device to bind carbon dioxide. Within this approach, carbon dioxide trapping is modulated by a photoinduced charge redistribution between the capping molecule and the silicon quantum dots (SiQDs). The chemical and electronic properties of the proposed SiQDs have been studied with a Density Functional Theory and Density Functional Tight-Binding (DFTB) approach along with a time-dependent model based on the DFTB framework. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that proposes and explores the potential application of a versatile and friendly device based on the use of sf-SiQDs for photochemically activated carbon dioxide fixation.

Buoyant production and consumption of turbulence kinetic energy in cloud-topped mixed layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Randall, D. A.

1984-01-01

It is pointed out that studies of the entraining planetary boundary layer (PBL) have generally emphasized the role of buoyancy fluxes in driving entrainment. The buoyancy flux is proportional to the rate of conversion of the potential energy of the mean flow into the kinetic energy of the turbulence. It is not unusual for conversion to proceed in both directions simultaneously. This occurs, for instance, in both clear and cloudy convective mixed layers which are capped by inversions. A partitioning of the net conversion into positive parts, generating turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), and negative parts (TKE-consuming), would make it possible to include the positive part in the gross production rate, and closure would be achieved. Three different approaches to partitioning have been proposed. The present investigation is concerned with a comparison of the three partitioning theories. Particular attention is given to the cloud-topped mixed layer because in this case the differences between two partitioning approaches are most apparent.

Can nonadditive dispersion forces explain chain formation of nanoparticles?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwaadgras, Bas W.; Verdult, Maarten W. J.; Dijkstra, Marjolein; van Roij, René

2013-03-01

We study to what extent dielectric nanoparticles prefer to self-assemble into linear chains or into more compact structures. To calculate the Van der Waals (VdW) attraction between the clusters we use the Coupled Dipole Method (CDM), which treats each atom in the nanoparticle as an inducible oscillating point dipole. The VdW attraction then results from the full many-body interactions between the dipoles. For non-capped nanoparticles, we calculate in which configuration the VdW attraction is maximal. We find that in virtually all cases we studied, many-body effects only result in local potential minima at the linear configuration, as opposed to global ones, and that these metastable minima are in most cases rather shallow compared to the thermal energy. In this work, we also compare the CDM results with those from Hamaker-de Boer and Axilrod-Teller theory to investigate the influence of the many-body effects and the accuracy of these two approximate methods.

Co-crystallization of cholesterol and calcium phosphate as related to atherosclerosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, Danielle; Azoury, Reuven; Sarig, Sara

1990-09-01

Calcification of atherosclerotic plaques occurs very frequently and aggravates the disease. In biological systems, epitaxial relationships between crystal structures may be important in nucleating the deposit of a solid phase. The biologically preferred calcium phosphate species, apatite, and cholesterol crystal have structurally compatible crystallographic faces which allow epitaxial growth of one crystal upon another. The present study describes a new approach to explore, in vitro, the crystallization processes of calcium phosphate (CaP) with cholesterol (CS) and cholestanol (CN) which are related to atherosclerosis. Aqueous solutions containing calcium and phosphate ions or CaP crystals as hydroxyapatite were added into saturated ethanolic solutions of CS or CS and 10% CN. After precipitation, crystals were collected and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infra-red (IR), X-ray, scanning electron microscope (SEM-LINK), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and atomic absorption. The principal result is the well-formed crystals precipitation when an aqueous solution and CaP seed crystals were added to saturated solutions of CS and 10% CN. Cholesterol-cholestanol dihydrate (CC2W) crystals precipitated in the presence of CaP seeds were compared to the CC2W crystals obtained without the mineral compound. The results of this comparison indicate a special link between crystals of CaP and CC2W, and support the epitaxial relationship between the two kinds of crystals. The potential of CC2W crystals to be precipitated by CaP seed crystals prove likewise the possible significant role of the cholestanol metabolite in the process of cholesterol crystallization and calcification in the arteries.

Microstructures of Randall's plaques and their interfaces with calcium oxalate monohydrate kidney stones reflect underlying mineral precipitation mechanisms.

PubMed

Sethmann, Ingo; Wendt-Nordahl, Gunnar; Knoll, Thomas; Enzmann, Frieder; Simon, Ludwig; Kleebe, Hans-Joachim

2017-06-01

Randall's plaques (RP) are preferred sites for the formation of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) kidney stones. However, although processes of interstitial calcium phosphate (CaP) plaque formation are not well understood, the potential of plaque microstructures as indicators of CaP precipitation conditions received only limited attention. We investigated RP-associated COM stones for structural details of the calcified tissues and microstructural features of plaque-stone interfaces as indicators of the initial processes of stone formation. Significantly increased CaP supersaturation can be expected for interstitial fluid, if reabsorbed ions from the tubular system continuously diffuse into the collagenous connective tissue. Densely packed, fine-grained CaP particles were found in dense textures of basement membranes while larger, laminated particles were scattered in coarse-meshed interstitial tissue, which we propose to be due to differential spatial confinements and restrictions of ion diffusion. Particle morphologies suggest an initial precipitation as metastable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). Morphologies and arrangements of first COM crystals at the RP-stone interface ranged from stacked euhedral platelets to skeletal morphologies and even porous, dendritic structures, indicating, in this order, increasing levels of COM supersaturation. Furthermore, these first COM crystals were often coated with CaP. On this basis, we propose that ions from CaP-supersaturated interstitial fluid may diffuse through porous RP into the urine, where a resulting local increase in COM supersaturation could trigger crystal nucleation and, hence, initiate stone formation. Ion-depleted fluid in persistent pores of initial COM layers may get replenished from interstitial fluid, leading to CaP precipitation in porous COM.

Managing community acquired pneumonia in the elderly - the next generation of pharmacotherapy on the horizon.

PubMed

Amalakuhan, B; Echevarria, K L; Restrepo, M I

2017-08-01

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially among the elderly. Antibiotic treatment for CAP in the elderly is particularly challenging for many reasons, including compliance issues, immunosuppression, polypharmacy and antimicrobial resistance. There are few available antibiotics that are able to address these concerns. Areas covered: After a systematic review of the current literature, we describe seven novel antibiotics that are currently in advanced stages of development (phase 3 and beyond) and show promise for the treatment of CAP in those over the age of 65. These antibiotics are: Solithromycin, Pristinamycin, Nemonaxacin, Lefamulin, Omadacycline, Ceftobiprole and Delafloxacin. Using a novel conceptual framework designed by the present authors, known as the 'San Antonio NIPS model', we evaluate their strengths and weaknesses based on their ability to address the unique challenges that face the elderly. Expert opinion: All seven antibiotics have potential value for effective utilization in the elderly, but to varying degrees based on their NIPS model score. The goal of this model is to reorganize a clinician's focus on antibiotic choices in the elderly and bring attention to a seldom discussed topic that may potentially become a health-care crisis in the next decade.

Improved High-Voltage Gas Isolator for Ion Thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, Bruce

2007-01-01

A report describes an improved high-voltage isolator for preventing electrical discharge along the flow path of a propellant gas being fed from a supply at a spacecraft chassis electrical potential to an ion thruster at a potential as high as multiple kilovolts. The isolator must survive launch vibration and must remain electrically nonconductive for thousands of hours under conditions that, in the absence of proper design, would cause formation of electrically conductive sputtered metal, carbon, and/or decomposed hydrocarbons on its surfaces. The isolator includes an alumina cylinder containing a spiral channel filled with a porous medium made from alumina microbeads fired together with an alumina slurry. Connections to gas-transport tubes are made at both ends of the alumina cylinder by means of metal caps containing fine-mesh screens to prevent passage of loose alumina particles. The outer surface of the alumina cylinder is convoluted to lengthen the electrical path between the metal caps and to afford shadow shielding to minimize the probability of formation of a continuous deposit that would electrically connect the ends. A flanged cylindrical metal cap that surrounds the alumina cylinder without touching one of the ends provides additional shadow shielding.

Modelling climate change impacts on tourism demand: A comparative study from Sardinia (Italy) and Cap Bon (Tunisia).

PubMed

Köberl, Judith; Prettenthaler, Franz; Bird, David Neil

2016-02-01

Tourism represents an important source of income and employment in many Mediterranean regions, including the island of Sardinia (Italy) and the Cap Bon peninsula (Tunisia). Climate change may however impact tourism in both regions, for example, by altering the regions' climatic suitability for common tourism types or affecting water availability. This paper assesses the potential impacts of climate change on tourism in the case study regions of Sardinia and Cap Bon. Direct impacts are studied in a quantitative way by applying a range of climate scenario data on the empirically estimated relationship between climatic conditions and tourism demand, using two different approaches. Results indicate a potential for climate-induced tourism revenue gains especially in the shoulder seasons during spring and autumn, but also a threat of climate-induced revenue losses in the summer months due to increased heat stress. Annual direct net impacts are nevertheless suggested to be (slightly) positive in both case study regions. Significant climate-induced reductions in total available water may however somewhat counteract the positive direct impacts of climate change by putting additional water costs on the tourism industry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydrothermally synthesized PEGylated calcium phosphate nanoparticles incorporating Gd-DTPA for contrast enhanced MRI diagnosis of solid tumors.

PubMed

Mi, Peng; Kokuryo, Daisuke; Cabral, Horacio; Kumagai, Michiaki; Nomoto, Takahiro; Aoki, Ichio; Terada, Yasuko; Kishimura, Akihiro; Nishiyama, Nobuhiro; Kataoka, Kazunori

2014-01-28

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles with calcium phosphate (CaP) core and PEGylated shell were developed to incorporate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gadolinium (III) (Gd-DTPA) for noninvasive diagnosis of solid tumors. A two-step preparation method was applied to elaborate hybrid nanoparticles with a z-average hydrodynamic diameter about 80nm, neutral surface ξ-potential and high colloidal stability in physiological environments by self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(aspartic acid) block copolymer, Gd-DTPA, and CaP in aqueous solution, followed with hydrothermal treatment. Incorporation into the hybrid nanoparticles allowed Gd-DTPA to show significant enhanced retention ratio in blood circulation, leading to high accumulation in tumor positions due to enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Moreover, Gd-DTPA revealed above 6 times increase of relaxivity in the nanoparticle system compared to free form, and eventually, selective and elevated contrast enhancements in the tumor positions were observed. These results indicate the high potential of Gd-DTPA-loaded PEGylated CaP nanoparticles as a novel contrast agent for noninvasive cancer diagnosis. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The case for Ofsmoke: the potential for price cap regulation of tobacco to raise £500 million per year in the UK.

PubMed

Branston, J Robert; Gilmore, Anna B

2014-01-01

A system of price-cap regulation has previously been suggested to address the market failure inherent to the tobacco industry. This would benefit public health directly (eg, by making it extremely difficult for the industry to sell cut-price cigarettes, or use price as a marketing strategy) and indirectly (eg, by reducing the available money the industry has for spending on marketing and lobbying). This paper explores the feasibility of applying such a scheme in the UK. The impact of price-capping is modelled using optimistic and conservative scenarios, each with different assumptions, and using 2009 and 2010 profit data for the major companies selling tobacco in the UK. The models are used to calculate by how much would profit be reduced through the imposition of price caps, and thus, how much revenue could be raised in additional taxes, assuming the end price the consumer pays does not change. Tobacco companies enjoy massive profit margins, up to 67%, in the UK. The optimistic scenario suggests a potential increase in UK tobacco tax revenue of £585.7 million in 2010 (£548.4 million in 2009), while the conservative model suggests an increase in revenue of £433.6 million in 2010 (£399.2 million in 2009). This would be approximately enough to fund, twice over, UK-wide antitobacco smuggling measures, and smoking cessation services in England, including the associated pharmacotherapies, to help people stop smoking. Applying a system of price-cap regulation in the UK would raise around £500 million per annum (US$750 million). This is likely to be an underestimate because of cautious assumptions used in the model. These significant financial benefits, in addition to the public health benefits that would be generated, suggest this is a policy that should be given serious consideration.

THE CASE FOR OFSMOKE: THE POTENTIAL FOR PRICE CAP REGULATION OF TOBACCO TO RAISE £500M PER YEAR IN THE UK

PubMed Central

Robert Branston, J.; Gilmore, Anna B.

2013-01-01

Objective A system of price-cap regulation has previously been suggested to address the market failure inherent to the tobacco industry. This would benefit public health directly (for example, by making it extremely difficult for the industry to sell cut price cigarettes or use price as a marketing strategy) and indirectly (for example, by reducing the money industry has available to spend on marketing and lobbying). This paper explores the feasibility of applying such a scheme in the UK. Methods The impact of price-capping is modelled using optimistic and conservative scenarios, each with different assumptions, and using 2009 and 2010 profit data for the major companies selling tobacco in the UK. The models are used to calculate by how much profit would be reduced through the imposition of price caps, and thus how much revenue could be raised in additional taxes, assuming the end price the consumer pays does not change. Results Tobacco companies enjoy massive profit margins, up to 67%, in the UK. The optimistic scenario suggests a potential increase in UK tobacco tax revenue of £585.7m in 2010 (£548.4m in 2009), while the conservative model suggests an increase in revenue of £433.6m in 2010 (£399.2m in 2009). This would be approximately enough to fund, twice over, UK wide anti-tobacco smuggling measures and smoking cessation services in England including the associated pharmacotherapies. Conclusions Applying a system of price cap regulation in the UK would raise around £500m per annum (US$750m). This is likely to be an under-estimate because of cautious assumptions used in the model. These significant financial benefits, in addition to the public health benefits that would be generated, suggest this is a policy that should be given serious consideration. PMID:23322310

The peroxynitrite donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine induces reversible changes in electrophysiological properties of neurons of the guinea-pig spinal cord.

PubMed

Ashki, N; Hayes, K C; Bao, F

2008-09-22

Elevated concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) are present within the CNS following neurotrauma and are implicated in the pathogenesis of the accompanying neurologic deficits. We tested the hypothesis that elevated extracellular concentrations of ONOO(-), introduced by the donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), induce reversible axonal conduction deficits in neurons of the guinea-pig spinal cord. The compound action potential (CAP) and compound membrane potential (CMP) of excised ventral cord white matter were recorded before, during, and after, bathing the tissue (30 min) in varying concentrations (0.125-2.0 mM) of SIN-1 (3.75-60 microM ONOO(-)). The principal results were rapid onset, concentration-dependent, reductions in amplitude of the CAP (P<0.05). At a concentration of 0.25 mM of SIN-1 the reduction in CAP amplitude was fully reversible and was not accompanied by any changes in CMP. At higher concentrations of SIN-1 (> or =0.5 mM) the reversibility was incomplete and there was concurrent depolarization of the CMP. These electrophysiological changes were not evident when the donor had been a priori depleted of ONOO(-) by uric acid or was co-administered with the ONOO(-) scavenger ebselen (3 mM). Immuno-fluorescence staining for nitrotyrosine (Ntyr) revealed extensive nitration of tyrosine residues in neurons exposed to higher concentrations of SIN-1. These results are the first to demonstrate that ONOO(-) induces reversible conduction deficits within axons of the spinal cord. The dissociation of CAP and CMP changes at low concentrations of SIN-1, when the CAP changes were reversible and there was no evidence of nitration of tyrosine residues, is consistent with ONOO(-)-induced alteration in Na+ channel conductance in the axolemma. The results support the view that ONOO(-) contributes to both reversible and non-reversible neurologic deficits following neurotrauma. The reversal of immune-mediated conduction deficits may contribute to spontaneous neurologic deficits following neurotrauma.

Usefulness of Midregional Proadrenomedullin to Predict Poor Outcome in Patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia

PubMed Central

Gordo-Remartínez, Susana; Sevillano-Fernández, José A.; Álvarez-Sala, Luis A.; Andueza-Lillo, Juan A.; de Miguel-Yanes, José M.

2015-01-01

Background midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is a prognostic biomarker in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We sought to confirm whether MR-proADM added to Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) improves the potential prognostic value of PSI alone, and tested to what extent this combination could be useful in predicting poor outcome of patients with CAP in an Emergency Department (ED). Methods Consecutive patients diagnosed with CAP were enrolled in this prospective, single-centre, observational study. We analyzed the ability of MR-proADM added to PSI to predict poor outcome using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, logistic regression and risk reclassification and comparing it with the ability of PSI alone. The primary outcome was “poor outcome”, defined as the incidence of an adverse event (ICU admission, hospital readmission, or mortality at 30 days after CAP diagnosis). Results 226 patients were included; 33 patients (14.6%) reached primary outcome. To predict primary outcome the highest area under curve (AUC) was found for PSI (0.74 [0.64-0.85]), which was not significantly higher than for MR-proADM (AUC 0.72 [0.63-0.81, p > 0.05]). The combination of PSI and MR-proADM failed to improve the predictive potential of PSI alone (AUC 0.75 [0.65-0.85, p=0.56]). Ten patients were appropriately reclassified when the combined PSI and MR-proADM model was used as compared with the model of PSI alone. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) index was statistically significant (7.69%, p = 0.03) with an improvement percentage of 3.03% (p = 0.32) for adverse event, and 4.66% (P = 0.02) for no adverse event. Conclusion MR-proADM in combination with PSI may be helpful in individual risk stratification for short-term poor outcome of CAP patients, allowing a better reclassification of patients compared with PSI alone. PMID:26030588

Boosting the oxidase mimicking activity of nanoceria by fluoride capping: rivaling protein enzymes and ultrasensitive F- detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Biwu; Huang, Zhicheng; Liu, Juewen

2016-07-01

Nanomaterial-based enzyme mimics (nanozymes) are currently a new forefront of chemical research. However, the application of nanozymes is limited by their low catalytic activity and low turnover numbers. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) are among the few with oxidase activity. Herein, we report an interesting finding addressing their limitations. The oxidase activity of nanoceria is improved by over 100-fold by fluoride capping, making it more close to real oxidases. The turnover number reached 700 in 15 min, drastically improved from ~15 turnovers for the naked particles. The mechanism is attributed to surface charge modulation and facilitated electron transfer by F- capping based on ζ-potential and free radical measurements. Ultrasensitive sensing of fluoride was achieved with a detection limit of 0.64 μM F- in water and in toothpastes, while no other tested anions can achieve the activity enhancement.Nanomaterial-based enzyme mimics (nanozymes) are currently a new forefront of chemical research. However, the application of nanozymes is limited by their low catalytic activity and low turnover numbers. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) are among the few with oxidase activity. Herein, we report an interesting finding addressing their limitations. The oxidase activity of nanoceria is improved by over 100-fold by fluoride capping, making it more close to real oxidases. The turnover number reached 700 in 15 min, drastically improved from ~15 turnovers for the naked particles. The mechanism is attributed to surface charge modulation and facilitated electron transfer by F- capping based on ζ-potential and free radical measurements. Ultrasensitive sensing of fluoride was achieved with a detection limit of 0.64 μM F- in water and in toothpastes, while no other tested anions can achieve the activity enhancement. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Methods, TMB oxidation kinetics and control experiments. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr02730j

Structure of the antiviral assembly inhibitor CAP-1 complex with the HIV-1 CA protein.

PubMed

Kelly, Brian N; Kyere, Sampson; Kinde, Isaac; Tang, Chun; Howard, Bruce R; Robinson, Howard; Sundquist, Wesley I; Summers, Michael F; Hill, Christopher P

2007-10-19

The CA domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag polyprotein plays critical roles in both the early and late phases of viral replication and is therefore an attractive antiviral target. Compounds with antiviral activity were recently identified that bind to the N-terminal domain of CA (CA N) and inhibit capsid assembly during viral maturation. We have determined the structure of the complex between CA N and the antiviral assembly inhibitor N-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-N'-{2-[({5-[(dimethylamino)-methyl]-2-furyl}-methyl)-sulfanyl]ethyl}-urea) (CAP-1) using a combination of NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The protein undergoes a remarkable conformational change upon CAP-1 binding, in which Phe32 is displaced from its buried position in the protein core to open a deep hydrophobic cavity that serves as the ligand binding site. The aromatic ring of CAP-1 inserts into the cavity, with the urea NH groups forming hydrogen bonds with the backbone oxygen of Val59 and the dimethylamonium group interacting with the side-chains of Glu28 and Glu29. Elements that could be exploited to improve binding affinity are apparent in the structure. The displacement of Phe32 by CAP-1 appears to be facilitated by a strained main-chain conformation, which suggests a potential role for a Phe32 conformational switch during normal capsid assembly.

SWAB/NVALT (Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy and Dutch Association of Chest Physicians) guidelines on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults.

PubMed

Wiersinga, W J; Bonten, M J; Boersma, W G; Jonkers, R E; Aleva, R M; Kullberg, B J; Schouten, J A; Degener, J E; Janknegt, R; Verheij, T J; Sachs, A P E; Prins, J M

2012-03-01

The Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy (SWAB) and the Dutch Association of Chest Physicians (NVALT) convened a joint committee to develop evidence-based guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). The guidelines are intended for adult patients with CAP who present at the hospital and are treated as outpatients as well as for hospitalised patients up to 72 hours after admission. Areas covered include current patterns of epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of causative agents of CAP in the Netherlands, the possibility to predict the causative agent of CAP on the basis of clinical data at first presentation, risk factors associated with specific pathogens, the importance of the severity of disease upon presentation for choice of initial treatment, the role of rapid diagnostic tests in treatment decisions, the optimal initial empiric treatment and treatment when a specific pathogen has been identified, the timeframe in which the first dose of antibiotics should be given, optimal duration of antibiotic treatment and antibiotic switch from the intravenous to the oral route. Additional recommendations are made on the role of radiological investigations in the diagnostic work-up of patients with a clinical suspicion of CAP, on the potential benefit of adjunctive immunotherapy, and on the policy for patients with parapneumonic effusions.

Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS): Preliminary Space-Based Concept and Study Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mazanek, Daniel D.; Roithmayr, Carlos M.; Antol, Jeffrey; Park, Sang-Young; Koons, Robert H.; Bremer, James C.; Murphy, Douglas G.; Hoffman, James A.; Kumar, Renjith R.; Seywald, Hans

2005-01-01

There exists an infrequent, but significant hazard to life and property due to impacting asteroids and comets. There is currently no specific search for long-period comets, smaller near-Earth asteroids, or smaller short-period comets. These objects represent a threat with potentially little or no warning time using conventional ground-based telescopes. These planetary bodies also represent a significant resource for commercial exploitation, long-term sustained space exploration, and scientific research. The Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) is a future space-based system concept that provides permanent, continuous asteroid and comet monitoring, and rapid, controlled modification of the orbital trajectories of selected bodies. CAPS would expand the current detection effort to include long-period comets, as well as small asteroids and short-period comets capable of regional destruction. A space-based detection system, despite being more costly and complex than Earth-based initiatives, is the most promising way of expanding the range of detectable objects, and surveying the entire celestial sky on a regular basis. CAPS would provide an orbit modification system capable of diverting kilometer class objects, and modifying the orbits of smaller asteroids for impact defense and resource utilization. This Technical Memorandum provides a compilation of key related topics and analyses performed during the CAPS study, which was performed under the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts (RASC) program, and discusses technologies that could enable the implementation of this future system.

Mercury in fruiting bodies of dark honey fungus (Armillaria solidipes) and beneath substratum soils collected from spatially distant areas.

PubMed

Falandysz, Jerzy; Mazur, Aneta; Kojta, Anna K; Jarzyńska, Grażyna; Drewnowska, Małgorzata; Dryżałowska, Anna; Nnorom, Innocent C

2013-03-15

This paper reports data on bioconcentration potential and baseline mercury concentrations of fruiting bodies of dark honey fungus (Armillaria solidipes) Peck and soil substrate layer (0-10 cm) from 12 spatially distant sites across Poland. Mercury content of caps, stipes and soil samples were determined using validated analytical procedure including cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy after thermal decomposition of the sample matrix and further amalgamation and desorption of mercury from gold wool. Mean mercury concentrations ranged from 20 ± 8 to 300 ± 70 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw) in caps, from 20 ± 6 to 160 ± 40 ng g(-1) dw in stipes, and in underlying soil were from 20 ± 2 to 100 ± 130 ng g(-1) dw. The results showed that stipes mercury concentrations were 1.1- to 1.7-fold lower than those of caps. All caps and the majority of stipes were characterized by bioconcentration factor values > 1, indicating that dark honey fungus can be characterized as a moderate mercury accumulator. Occasional or relatively frequent eating of meals including caps of dark honey fungus is considered safe in view of the low total mercury content, and the mercury intake rates are below the current reference dose and provisionally tolerable weekly intake limits for this hazardous metal. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.

Risk of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with a diagnosis of pernicious anemia: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Almario, Christopher V; Metz, David C; Haynes, Kevin; Yang, Yu-Xiao

2015-11-01

Pernicious anemia (PA) is an autoimmune disease that causes achlorhydria or profound hypochlorhydria. We conducted a population-based study to determine whether individuals with PA are at an increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We performed a retrospective cohort study using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) from the UK (1993-2009). The eligible study cohort included individuals 18 years of age or older, with at least 1 year of THIN follow-up. The exposed group consisted of individuals with a diagnosis code for PA. The unexposed group consisted of individuals without a diagnosis of PA and was frequency matched with the exposed group with respect to age, sex, and practice site. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the hazard ratio with the 95% confidence interval for CAP associated with PA, accounting for a comprehensive list of potential confounders. The study included 13,605 individuals with PA and 50,586 non-PA individuals. The crude incidence rate of CAP was 9.4/1000 person-years for those with PA, versus 6.4/1000 person-years for those without PA. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for CAP associated with PA was 1.18 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.29). In this large population-based cohort study, individuals with PA and presumed chronic achlorhydria were at an increased risk for CAP.

RAGE-dependent potentiation of TRPV1 currents in sensory neurons exposed to high glucose.

PubMed

Lam, Doris; Momeni, Zeinab; Theaker, Michael; Jagadeeshan, Santosh; Yamamoto, Yasuhiko; Ianowski, Juan P; Campanucci, Verónica A

2018-01-01

Diabetes mellitus is associated with sensory abnormalities, including exacerbated responses to painful (hyperalgesia) or non-painful (allodynia) stimuli. These abnormalities are symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), which is the most common complication that affects approximately 50% of diabetic patients. Yet, the underlying mechanisms linking hyperglycemia and symptoms of DPN remain poorly understood. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel plays a central role in such sensory abnormalities and shows elevated expression levels in animal models of diabetes. Here, we investigated the function of TRPV1 channels in sensory neurons cultured from the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of neonatal mice, under control (5mM) and high glucose (25mM) conditions. After maintaining DRG neurons in high glucose for 1 week, we observed a significant increase in capsaicin (CAP)-evoked currents and CAP-evoked depolarizations, independent of TRPV1 channel expression. These functional changes were largely dependent on the expression of the receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE), calcium influx, cytoplasmic ROS accumulation, PKC, and Src kinase activity. Like cultured neurons from neonates, mature neurons from adult mice also displayed a similar potentiation of CAP-evoked currents in the high glucose condition. Taken together, our data demonstrate that under the diabetic condition, DRG neurons are directly affected by elevated levels of glucose, independent of vascular or glial signals, and dependent on RAGE expression. These early cellular and molecular changes to sensory neurons in vitro are potential mechanisms that might contribute to sensory abnormalities that can occur in the very early stages of diabetes.

RAGE-dependent potentiation of TRPV1 currents in sensory neurons exposed to high glucose

PubMed Central

Lam, Doris; Momeni, Zeinab; Theaker, Michael; Jagadeeshan, Santosh; Yamamoto, Yasuhiko; Ianowski, Juan P.

2018-01-01

Diabetes mellitus is associated with sensory abnormalities, including exacerbated responses to painful (hyperalgesia) or non-painful (allodynia) stimuli. These abnormalities are symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), which is the most common complication that affects approximately 50% of diabetic patients. Yet, the underlying mechanisms linking hyperglycemia and symptoms of DPN remain poorly understood. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel plays a central role in such sensory abnormalities and shows elevated expression levels in animal models of diabetes. Here, we investigated the function of TRPV1 channels in sensory neurons cultured from the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of neonatal mice, under control (5mM) and high glucose (25mM) conditions. After maintaining DRG neurons in high glucose for 1 week, we observed a significant increase in capsaicin (CAP)-evoked currents and CAP-evoked depolarizations, independent of TRPV1 channel expression. These functional changes were largely dependent on the expression of the receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE), calcium influx, cytoplasmic ROS accumulation, PKC, and Src kinase activity. Like cultured neurons from neonates, mature neurons from adult mice also displayed a similar potentiation of CAP-evoked currents in the high glucose condition. Taken together, our data demonstrate that under the diabetic condition, DRG neurons are directly affected by elevated levels of glucose, independent of vascular or glial signals, and dependent on RAGE expression. These early cellular and molecular changes to sensory neurons in vitro are potential mechanisms that might contribute to sensory abnormalities that can occur in the very early stages of diabetes. PMID:29474476

Treatment with Entinostat Heals Experimental Cholera by Affecting Physical and Chemical Barrier Functions of Intestinal Epithelia.

PubMed

Sarker, Protim; Banik, Atanu; Stromberg, Roger; Gudmundsson, Gudmundur H; Raqib, Rubhana; Agerberth, Birgitta

2017-07-01

We have shown previously that oral treatment with sodium butyrate or phenylbutyrate in an experimental model of shigellosis improves clinical outcomes and induces the expression of the antimicrobial peptide CAP-18 in the large intestinal epithelia. In a subsequent study, we found that entinostat, an aroylated phenylenediamine compound, has similar therapeutic potential against shigellosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate entinostat as a potential candidate for host-directed therapy against cholera in an experimental model. Vibrio cholerae -infected rabbits were treated with two different dose regimens of entinostat: either 0.5 mg twice daily for 2 days or 1 mg once daily for 2 days. The effects of treatment on clinical outcomes and V. cholerae shedding (CFU count in stool) were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out to assess CAP-18 expression in ileal and jejunal mucosae. The serum zonulin level was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate gut permeability. Infection of rabbits with V. cholerae downregulated CAP-18 expression in the ileal epithelium; the expression was replenished by oral treatment with entinostat at either dose regimen. The level of zonulin, a marker of gut permeability, in serum was upregulated after infection, and this upregulation was counteracted after treatment with entinostat. Entinostat treatment also led to recovery from cholera and a decline in the V. cholerae count in stool. In conclusion, the improved clinical outcome of cholera for rabbits treated with entinostat is associated with the induction of CAP-18 and the reduction of gut epithelial permeability. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

Serologic assays for the detection and strain identification of Pteropine orthoreovirus.

PubMed

Singh, Harpal; Shimojima, Masayuki; Fukushi, Shuetsu; Fukuma, Aiko; Tani, Hideki; Yoshikawa, Tomoki; Taniguchi, Satoshi; Yang, Ming; Sugamata, Masami; Morikawa, Shigeru; Saijo, Masayuki

2016-05-11

Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV), potentially of bat origin, is reported to be a causative agent of emerging respiratory tract infections among humans in Southeast Asia. We evaluated the efficacy of serologic assays using the major outer capsid and cell attachment proteins (CAP) of PRV strains in the screening, confirmation and identification of three groups of human PRV infections; Indonesian/Japanese, Indonesian/Hong Kong and Malaysian strains. The different serologic assays were tested using rabbit polyclonal antisera raised against these proteins of selected PRV strains, and validation was carried out using sera from a Miyazaki-Bali/2007 PRV-infected patient and the patient's contacts. The results of this study showed that rabbit polyclonal antisera raised against the CAP of the Miyazaki-Bali/2007 PRV strain showed the highest reactivity to the Miyazaki-Bali/2007 PRV and to a lesser extent, cross-reactivity with the HK23629/07 and Melaka PRVs, respectively. Neutralization activity against the Miyazaki-Bali/2007 PRV was observed using rabbit anti-Miyazaki-Bali/2007 PRV CAP (320) but not with rabbit anti-HK23629/07 (<20) and Melaka (<20) PRV CAP. This lack of cross-neutralization, suggests the potential for human reinfection with different strains. The use of sera collected from contacts of the Miyazaki-Bali/2007 PRV-infected patient suggested that human-to-human infections with PRV are unlikely. Previously reported cases of PRV infections among human have been mild. However, the expanding geographic distribution of these viruses, of which its virulence remains unknown, warrants close monitoring to enable the development of prevention and control strategies in the event that a change in virulence occurs.

Update to the College of American Pathologists reporting on thyroid carcinomas.

PubMed

Ghossein, Ronald

2009-03-01

The reporting of thyroid carcinomas follows the recommendations of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) protocols and includes papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma and medullary carcinoma. Despite past and recent efforts, there are a number of controversial issues in the classification and diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas (TC) that, potentially impact on therapy and prognosis of patients with TC. The most updated version of the CAP thyroid cancer protocol incorporates recent changes in histologic classification as well as changes in the staging of thyroid cancers as per the updated American Joint Commission on Cancer staging manual. Among the more contentious issues in the pathology of thyroid carcinoma include the defining criteria for tumor invasiveness. While there are defined criteria for invasion, there is not universal agreement in what constitutes capsular invasion, angioinvasion and extrathyroidal invasion. Irrespective of the discrepant views on invasion, pathologists should report on the presence and extent (focal, widely) of capsular invasion, angioinvasion and extrathyroidal extension. These findings assist clinicians in their assessment of the recurrence risk and potential for metastatic disease. It is beyond the scope of this paper to detail the entire CAP protocol for thyroid carcinomas; rather, this paper addresses some of the more problematic issues confronting pathologists in their assessment and reporting of thyroid carcinomas. The new CAP protocol for reporting of thyroid carcinomas is a step toward improving the clinical value of the histopathologic reporting of TC. Large meticulous clinico-pathologic and molecular studies with long term follow up are still needed in order to increase the impact of microscopic examination on the prognosis and management of TC.

The Role of Ionospheric Conductivity in the Response of the Magnetosphere and Ionosphere to Changes in the Earth's Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cnossen, I.; Wiltberger, M. J.; Richmond, A. D.; Ouellette, J.

2014-12-01

The strength and orientation of the Earth's magnetic field play an important role in the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system. This is demonstrated in a set of idealized experiments with the Coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere model using a dipolar magnetic field. A decrease of the dipole moment (M) causes an increase in ionospheric conductance. This increase in conductance results in enhanced field-aligned currents (FACs), which change the shape of the magnetosphere, and causes a deviation from theoretical scaling relations of the stand-off distance, the size of the polar cap, and the cross-polar cap potential with M. The orientation of the Earth's magnetic field determines how the angle μ between the geomagnetic dipole axis and the geocentric solar magnetospheric (GSM) z-axis varies with season and universal time (UT). The angle μ can affect solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in two distinct ways: via variations in ionospheric conductivity over the polar caps or via a change in the coupling efficiency between the solar wind and magnetosphere as a result of changes in geometry. Simulations in which the ionospheric conductivity was either kept fixed or allowed to vary realistically demonstrated that variations in ionospheric conductance are responsible for ~10-30% of the variations in the cross-polar cap potential associated with variations in μ for southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The remainder was mostly due to variations in the magnetic reconnection rate, which were associated with variations in the length of the section of the separator line along which relatively strong reconnection occurs.

Retention of Electronic Conductivity in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Nanostructures Using a SrCuO2 Capping Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aurino, P. P.; Kalabukhov, A.; Borgani, R.; Haviland, D. B.; Bauch, T.; Lombardi, F.; Claeson, T.; Winkler, D.

2016-08-01

The interface between two wide band-gap insulators, LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) offers a unique playground to study the interplay and competitions between different ordering phenomena in a strongly correlated two-dimensional electron gas. Recent studies of the LAO/STO interface reveal the inhomogeneous nature of the 2DEG that strongly influences electrical-transport properties. Nanowires needed in future applications may be adversely affected, and our aim is, thus, to produce a more homogeneous electron gas. In this work, we demonstrate that nanostructures fabricated in the quasi-2DEG at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface, capped with a SrCuO2 layer, retain their electrical resistivity and mobility independent of the structure size, ranging from 100 nm to 30 μ m . This is in contrast to noncapped LAO/STO structures, where the room-temperature electrical resistivity significantly increases when the structure size becomes smaller than 1 μ m . High-resolution intermodulation electrostatic force microscopy reveals an inhomogeneous surface potential with "puddles" of a characteristic size of 130 nm in the noncapped samples and a more uniform surface potential with a larger characteristic size of the puddles in the capped samples. In addition, capped structures show superconductivity below 200 mK and nonlinear current-voltage characteristics with a clear critical current observed up to 700 mK. Our findings shed light on the complicated nature of the 2DEG at the LAO/STO interface and may also be used for the design of electronic devices.

Degradation and biological properties of Ca-P contained micro-arc oxidation self-sealing coating on pure magnesium for bone fixation

PubMed Central

Wang, Weidan; Wan, Peng; Liu, Chen; Tan, Lili; Li, Weirong; Li, Lugee; Yang, Ke

2015-01-01

Poor corrosion resistance is one of the main disadvantages for biodegradable magnesium-based metals, especially applied for bone fixation, where there is a high demand of bio-mechanical strength and stability. Surface coating has been proved as an effective method to control the in vivo degradation. In this study a Ca-P self-sealing micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating was studied to verify its efficacy and biological properties by in vitro and in vivo tests. It was found that the MAO coating could effectively retard the degradation according to immersion and electrochemical tests as well as 3D reconstruction by X-ray tomography after implantation. The MAO coating exhibited no toxicity and could stimulate the new bone formation. Therefore, the Ca-P self-sealing MAO coating could be a potential candidate for application of biodegradable Mg-based implant in bone fixations. PMID:26816635

ULF/Lower-ELF Electromagnetic Field Measurements in the Polar Caps

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

motion sensitive and the ice stations are subject to noisy motion from I ordinary ice movements (the bumping, scraping, and so on of ice floes) 56 ,zp and...the earth", Geomag. Aeron. USSR, English Transl., 17, 760-762, 1977. Cagniard, L., "Basic theory of the magneto- telluric method of geo- physical...1967. Nishida, A., Geomagnetic Diagnosis of the Magnetosphere, 256 pp., Springer, New York, 1978. Novysh, V.V., and G.A. Fonarev, " Telluric currents

TRPV1 Activation Counters Diet-Induced Obesity Through Sirtuin-1 activation and PRDM-16 Deacetylation in Brown Adipose Tissue

PubMed Central

Baskaran, Padmamalini; Krishnan, Vivek; Fettel, Kevin; Gao, Peng; Zhu, Zhiming; Ren, Jun; Thyagarajan, Baskaran

2017-01-01

Background/Objective An imbalance between energy intake and expenditure leads to obesity. Increasing metabolism and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) can help in overcoming obesity. Here, we investigated the effect of activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) in the upregulation of thermogenic proteins in BAT to counter diet-induced obesity. Subjects/Methods We investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist) on the expression of metabolically important thermogenic proteins in BAT of wild type and TRPV1−/− mice that received either a normal chow or high fat (± capsaicin; TRPV1 activator) diet by immunoblotting. We measured the metabolic activity, respiratory quotient and BAT lipolysis. Results CAP antagonized high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity without decreasing energy intake in mice. HFD suppressed TRPV1 expression and activity in BAT and CAP countered this effect. HFD feeding caused glucose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia and decreased the plasma concentration of glucagon like peptide-1 and CAP countered these effects. HFD suppressed the expression of metabolically important thermogenic genes, ucp-1, bmp8b, sirtuin 1, pgc-1α and prdm-16 in BAT and CAP prevented this effect. CAP increased the phosphorylation of sirtuin 1 and induced an interaction between PPARγ with PRDM-16. Further, CAP treatment, in vitro, decreased the acetylation of PRDM-16, which was antagonized by inhibition of TRPV1 by capsazepine, chelation of intracellular Ca2+ by cell permeable BAPTA-AM or the inhibition of SIRT-1 by EX 527. Further, CAP supplementation, post HFD, promoted weight loss and enhanced the respiratory exchange ratio. CAP did not have any effect in TRPV1−/− mice. Conclusions Our data show that activation of TRPV1 in BAT enhances the expression of SIRT-1, which facilitates the deacetylation and interaction of PPARγ and PRDM-16. These data suggest that TRPV1 activation is a novel strategy to counter diet-induced obesity by enhancing metabolism and energy expenditure. PMID:28104916

Developmental exposure to concentrated ambient ultrafine particulate matter air pollution in mice results in persistent and sex-dependent behavioral neurotoxicity and glial activation.

PubMed

Allen, Joshua L; Liu, Xiufang; Weston, Douglas; Prince, Lisa; Oberdörster, Günter; Finkelstein, Jacob N; Johnston, Carl J; Cory-Slechta, Deborah A

2014-07-01

The brain appears to be a target of air pollution. This study aimed to further ascertain behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms of our previously observed preference for immediate reward (Allen, J. L., Conrad, K., Oberdorster, G., Johnston, C. J., Sleezer, B., and Cory-Slechta, D. A. (2013). Developmental exposure to concentrated ambient particles and preference for immediate reward in mice. Environ. Health Perspect. 121, 32-38), a phenotype consistent with impulsivity, in mice developmentally exposed to inhaled ultrafine particles. It examined the impact of postnatal and/or adult concentrated ambient ultrafine particles (CAPS) or filtered air on another behavior thought to reflect impulsivity, Fixed interval (FI) schedule-controlled performance, and extended the assessment to learning/memory (novel object recognition (NOR)), and locomotor activity to assist in understanding behavioral mechanisms of action. In addition, levels of brain monoamines and amino acids, and markers of glial presence and activation (GFAP, IBA-1) were assessed in mesocorticolimbic brain regions mediating these cognitive functions. This design produced four treatment groups/sex of postnatal/adult exposure: Air/Air, Air/CAPS, CAPS/Air, and CAPS/CAPS. FI performance was adversely influenced by CAPS/Air in males, but by Air/CAPS in females, effects that appeared to reflect corresponding changes in brain mesocorticolimbic dopamine/glutamate systems that mediate FI performance. Both sexes showed impaired short-term memory on the NOR. Mechanistically, cortical and hippocampal changes in amino acids raised the potential for excitotoxicity, and persistent glial activation was seen in frontal cortex and corpus callosum of both sexes. Collectively, neurodevelopment and/or adulthood CAPS can produce enduring and sex-dependent neurotoxicity. Although mechanisms of these effects remain to be fully elucidated, findings suggest that neurodevelopment and/or adulthood air pollution exposure may represent a significant underexplored risk factor for central nervous system diseases/disorders and thus a significant public health threat even beyond current appreciation. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Electrochemical Induced Calcium Phosphate Precipitation: Importance of Local pH

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for living organisms and cannot be replaced or substituted. In this paper, we present a simple yet efficient membrane free electrochemical system for P removal and recovery as calcium phosphate (CaP). This method relies on in situ formation of hydroxide ions by electro mediated water reduction at a titanium cathode surface. The in situ raised pH at the cathode provides a local environment where CaP will become highly supersaturated. Therefore, homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation of CaP occurs near and at the cathode surface. Because of the local high pH, the P removal behavior is not sensitive to bulk solution pH and therefore, efficient P removal was observed in three studied bulk solutions with pH of 4.0 (56.1%), 8.2 (57.4%), and 10.0 (48.4%) after 24 h of reaction time. While P removal efficiencies are not generally affected by bulk solution pH, the chemical-physical properties of CaP solids collected on the cathode are still related to bulk solution pH, as confirmed by structure characterizations. High initial solution pH promotes the formation of more crystalline products with relatively high Ca/P molar ratio. The Ca/P molar ratio increases from 1.30 (pH 4.0) to 1.38 (pH 8.2) and further increases to 1.55 (pH 10.0). The formation of CaP precipitates was a typical crystallization process, with an amorphous phase formed at the initial stage which then transforms to the most stable crystal phase, hydroxyapatite, which is inferred from the increased Ca/P molar ratio from 1.38 (day 1) to the theoretical 1.76 (day 11) and by the formation of needle-like crystals. Finally, we demonstrated the efficiency of this system for real wastewater. This, together with the fact that the electrochemical method can work at low bulk pH, without dosing chemicals and a need for a separation process, highlights the potential application of the electrochemical method for P removal and recovery. PMID:28872838

A biochemical framework for eIF4E-dependent mRNA export and nuclear recycling of the export machinery.

PubMed

Volpon, Laurent; Culjkovic-Kraljacic, Biljana; Sohn, Hye Seon; Blanchet-Cohen, Alexis; Osborne, Michael J; Borden, Katherine L B

2017-06-01

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E acts in the nuclear export and translation of a subset of mRNAs. Both of these functions contribute to its oncogenic potential. While the biochemical mechanisms that underlie translation are relatively well understood, the molecular basis for eIF4E's role in mRNA export remains largely unexplored. To date, over 3000 transcripts, many encoding oncoproteins, were identified as potential nuclear eIF4E export targets. These target RNAs typically contain a ∼50-nucleotide eIF4E sensitivity element (4ESE) in the 3' UTR and a 7-methylguanosine cap on the 5' end. While eIF4E associates with the cap, an unknown factor recognizes the 4ESE element. We previously identified cofactors that functionally interacted with eIF4E in mammalian cell nuclei including the leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat protein LRPPRC and the export receptor CRM1/XPO1. LRPPRC simultaneously interacts with both eIF4E bound to the 5' mRNA cap and the 4ESE element in the 3' UTR. In this way, LRPPRC serves as a specificity factor to recruit 4ESE-containing RNAs within the nucleus. Further, we show that CRM1 directly binds LRPPRC likely acting as the export receptor for the LRPPRC-eIF4E-4ESE RNA complex. We also found that Importin 8, the nuclear importer for cap-free eIF4E, imports RNA-free LRPPRC, potentially providing both coordinated nuclear recycling of the export machinery and an important surveillance mechanism to prevent futile export cycles. Our studies provide the first biochemical framework for the eIF4E-dependent mRNA export pathway. © 2017 Volpon et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press for the RNA Society.

The potential of biogas production from municipal solid waste in a tropical climate.

PubMed

Getahun, Tadesse; Gebrehiwot, Mulat; Ambelu, Argaw; Van Gerven, Tom; Van der Bruggen, Bart

2014-07-01

The objective of this study was to estimate the potential of organic municipal solid waste generated in an urban setting in a tropical climate to produce biogas. Five different categories of wastes were considered: fruit waste, food waste, yard waste, paper waste, and mixed waste. These fractions were assessed for their efficiency for biogas production in a laboratory-scale batch digester for a total period of 8 weeks at a temperature of 15-30 °C. During this period, fruit waste, food waste, yard waste, paper waste, and mixed waste were observed to produce 0.15, 0.17, 0.10, 0.08, and 0.15 m(3) of biogas per kilogram of volatile solids, respectively. The biogas produced and caloric value of each feedstock was in the range of 1.25 × 10(-3) m(3) (17 kWh)/cap/day (paper waste) to 15 × 10(-3) m(3) (170 kWh)/cap/day (mixed waste). Paper waste produced the least (<1×10(-3)(<17.8 kWh)/cap/day), and mixed waste produced the highest methane yield (10 × 10(-3) m(3) (178 kWh)/cap/day). Thus, mixed waste was found to be more efficient than other feedstocks for biogas and methane production; this was mainly related to the better C/N ratio in mixed waste. Taking the total waste production in Jimma into account, the total mixed organic solid waste could produce 865 × 10(3) m(3) (5.4 m(3)/capita) of biogas or 537 × 10(3) m(3) (3.4 m(3)/capita) of methane per year. The total caloric value of methane production potential from mixed organic municipal solid waste was many times higher than the total energy requirement of the area.

Megaripples, multiple cap carbonates, and apparently conformable sections: observations that normalize some interpretations of Snowball Earth stratigraphy while complicating others

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raub, T.; Lamb, M. P.; Fischer, W. W.; Myrow, P.; Perron, T.; Kunzmann, M.; Liu, C.; Prave, A. R.

2012-12-01

Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth is intellectually alluring in part because its remarkable sedimentary and geochemical record challenges uniformitarian description and demands multiple working hypotheses. Apparently exceptional features in that record may represent the end-products of truly nonuniformitarian processes acting on a fundamentally different Earth than the modern world: an Earth which is oxygen-poor, lacking terrestrial macrobiota, and of uncertain (or arguably bizarre) geomagnetic and geodynamic character. But many features in this remarkable rock record might be explained by perfectly ordinary processes acting on anomalous materials, or in systems bounded by conditions that are rare, but not mysterious, on modern Earth. I will present emerging examples of both interpretive modes. Exceptional bedforms known as cap carbonate megaripples can be explained under normal wave climates by aggradation of unusually large carbonate grains anomalously widespread in a shallow shelfal setting. Bedform topography may be inherited or else migrate laterally through discrete, episodic depositional events if cementation is fast. Trace metal isotopes excurse most prominently at the very base of conformable cap carbonate sections, and in the terminal stages of deglaciation, at times when the seawater saturation state is most dynamic. In the end, basic field geology without genetic presumption, and the interpretive context it lends specific geochemical analyses, remains most likely to successfully evaluate the likelihoods of both existing and new Snowball Earth scenarios. The most fundamental unanswered question remains one of stratigraphic architecture: what is the climatic phase, the timing, and the duration for both diamictite and cap carbonate deposition? End-member solutions remain viable: diamictite and cap carbonate may both be of prolonged duration and globally diachronous, with diamictite representing syn-glacial and interstadial cycles and cap carbonate spanning both deglacial and postglacial phases. Or diamictite may be a deglacial prelude to cap carbonate deposition, and both lithofacies must be mostly globally synchronous and relatively quick in order to respect uniformitarian icesheet dynamic considerations. This "deglacial diamictite and quick cap carbonate" scenario would require fully nonuniformitarian geophysical and likely unprecedented geochemical regimes. The most important sections to be further described or else newly discovered, with power to test between these end-members and intermediate solutions, are likely to be sections where basal diamictite appears to postdate preglacial strata by only a short hiatus; sections with multiple cap carbonate lithofacies and excursions, or else conformable contacts between siliciclastic and cap carbonate glaciogenic facies; and outcrop belts with potential shelf-to-slope transects. New descriptions are emerging of late Neoproterozoic outcrops with each of these four characters.

Fused X-ray and MR Imaging Guidance of Intrapericardial Delivery of Microencapsulated Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Immunocompetent Swine

PubMed Central

Fu, Yingli; Azene, Nicole; Ehtiati, Tina; Flammang, Aaron; Gilson, Wesley D.; Gabrielson, Kathleen; Weiss, Clifford R.; Bulte, Jeff W. M.; Solaiyappan, Meiyappan; Johnston, Peter V.

2014-01-01

Purpose To assess intrapericardial delivery of microencapsulated, xenogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by using x-ray fused with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (x-ray/MR imaging) guidance as a potential treatment for ischemic cardiovascular disease in an immunocompetent swine model. Materials and Methods All animal experiments were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. Stem cell microencapsulation was performed by using a modified alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate encapsulation method to include 10% (wt/vol) barium sulfate to create barium-alginate microcapsules (BaCaps) that contained hMSCs. With x-ray/MR imaging guidance, eight female pigs (approximately 25 kg) were randomized to receive either BaCaps with hMSCs, empty BaCaps, naked hMSCs, or saline by using a percutaneous subxiphoid approach and were compared with animals that received empty BaCaps (n = 1) or BaCaps with hMSCs (n = 2) by using standard fluoroscopic delivery only. MR images and C-arm computed tomographic (CT) images were acquired before injection and 1 week after delivery. Animals were sacrificed immediately or at 1 week for histopathologic validation. Cardiac function between baseline and 1 week after delivery was evaluated by using a paired Student t test. Results hMSCs remained highly viable (94.8% ± 6) 2 days after encapsulation in vitro. With x-ray/MR imaging, successful intrapericardial access and delivery were achieved in all animals. BaCaps were visible fluoroscopically and at C-arm CT immediately and 1 week after delivery. Whereas BaCaps were free floating immediately after delivery, they consolidated into a pseudoepicardial tissue patch at 1 week, with hMSCs remaining highly viable within BaCaps; naked hMSCs were poorly retained. Follow-up imaging 1 week after x-ray/MR imaging–guided intrapericardial delivery showed no evidence of pericardial adhesion and/or effusion or adverse effect on cardiac function. In contradistinction, BaCaps delivery with x-ray fluoroscopy without x-ray/MR imaging (n = 3) resulted in pericardial adhesions and poor hMSC viability after 1 week. Conclusion Intrapericardial delivery of BaCaps with hMSCs leads to high cell retention and survival. With x-ray/MR imaging guidance, intrapericardial delivery can be performed safely in the absence of preexisting pericardial effusion to provide a novel route for cardiac cellular regenerative therapy. © RSNA, 2014 Online supplemental material is available for this article. PMID:24749713

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes: development of a patient-reported outcomes instrument to assess the pattern and severity of clinical disease activity.

PubMed

Hoffman, Hal M; Wolfe, Frederick; Belomestnov, Pavel; Mellis, Scott J

2008-09-01

Development of an instrument for characterization of symptom patterns and severity in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). Two generations of daily health assessment forms (DHAFs) were evaluated in this study. The first-generation DHAF queried 11 symptoms. Analyses of results obtained with that instrument identified five symptoms included in a revised second-generation DHAF that was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. This DHAF was also assessed during the initial portion of a phase 3 clinical study of CAPS treatment. Forty-eight CAPS patients provided data for the first-generation DHAFs. Five symptoms (rash, fever, joint pain, eye redness/pain, and fatigue) were included in the revised second-generation DHAF. Symptom severity was highly variable during all study phases with as many as 89% of patients reporting at least one symptom flare, and percentages of days with flares reaching 58% during evaluation of the second-generation instrument. Mean composite key symptom scores (KSSs) computed during evaluation of the second-generation DHAF correlated well with Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (r=0.91, p<0.0001) and patient reports of limitations of daily activities (r=0.68, p<0.0001). Test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha's were high (0.93 and 0.94, respectively) for the second-generation DHAF. Further evaluation of this DHAF during a baseline period and placebo treatment in a phase 3 clinical study of CAPS patients indicated strong correlations between baseline KSS and Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity. Cronbach's alpha's at baseline and test-retest reliability were also high. Potentially important study limitations include small sample size, the lack of a standard tool for CAPS symptom assessment against which to validate the DHAF, and no assessment of the instrument's responsivity to CAPS therapy. The DHAF is a new instrument that may be useful for capturing symptom patterns and severity in CAPS patients and monitoring responses to therapies for these conditions.

Impact of food model (micro)structure on the microbial inactivation efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma.

PubMed

Smet, C; Noriega, E; Rosier, F; Walsh, J L; Valdramidis, V P; Van Impe, J F

2017-01-02

The large potential of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) for food decontamination has recently been recognized. Room-temperature gas plasmas can decontaminate foods without causing undesired changes. This innovative technology is a promising alternative for treating fresh produce. However, more fundamental studies are needed before its application in the food industry. The impact of the food structure on CAP decontamination efficacy of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes was studied. Cells were grown planktonically or as surface colonies in/on model systems. Both microorganisms were grown in lab culture media in petri dishes at 20°C until cells reached the stationary phase. Before CAP treatment, cells were deposited in a liquid carrier, on a solid(like) surface or on a filter. A dielectric barrier discharge reactor generated helium-oxygen plasma, which was used to treat samples up to 10min. Although L. monocytogenes is more resistant to CAP treatment, similar trends in inactivation behavior as for S. Typhimurium are observed, with log reductions in the range [1.0-2.9] for S. Typhimurium and [0.2-2.2] for L. monocytogenes. For both microorganisms, cells grown planktonically are easily inactivated, as compared to surface colonies. More stressing growth conditions, due to cell immobilization, result in more resistant cells during CAP treatment. The main difference between the inactivation support systems is the absence or presence of a shoulder phase. For experiments in the liquid carrier, which exhibit a long shoulder, the plasma components need to diffuse and penetrate through the medium. This explains the higher efficacies of CAP treatment on cells deposited on a solid(like) surface or on a filter. This research demonstrates that the food structure influences the cell inactivation behavior and efficacy of CAP, and indicates that food intrinsic factors need to be accounted when designing plasma treatment. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

ROBO1, a tumor suppressor and critical molecular barrier for localized tumor cells to acquire invasive phenotype: Study in African-American and Caucasian prostate cancer models

PubMed Central

Parray, Aijaz; Siddique, Hifzur R.; Kuriger, Jacquelyn K.; Mishra, Shrawan K.; Rhim, Johng S.; Nelson, Heather H.; Aburatani, Hiroyuki; Konety, Badrinath R.; Koochekpour, Shahriar; Saleem, Mohammad

2015-01-01

High-risk populations exhibit early transformation of localized prostate cancer (CaP) disease to metastasis which results in the mortality of such patients. The paucity of knowledge about the molecular mechanism involved in acquiring of metastatic behavior by primary tumor cells and non-availability of reliable phenotype-discriminating biomarkers are stumbling blocks in the management of CaP disease. Here, we determine the role and translational relevance of ROBO1 (an organogenesis-associated gene) in human CaP. Employing CaP-progression models and prostatic tissues of Caucasian and African-American patients, we show that ROBO1 expression is localized to cell-membrane and significantly lost in primary and metastatic tumors. While Caucasians exhibited similar ROBO1 levels in primary and metastatic phenotype, a significant difference was observed between tumor phenotypes in African-Americans. Epigenetic assays identified promoter methylation of ROBO1 specific to African-American metastatic CaP cells. Using African-American CaP models for further studies, we show that ROBO1 negatively regulates motility and invasiveness of primary CaP cells, and its loss causes these cells to acquire invasive trait. To understand the underlying mechanism, we employed ROBO1-expressing/ROBO1-C2C3-mutant constructs, immunoprecipitation, confocal-microscopy and luciferase-reporter techniques. We show that ROBO1 through its interaction with DOCK1 (at SH3-SH2-domain) controls the Rac-activation. However, loss of ROBO1 results in Rac1-activation which in turn causes E-Cadherin/β-catenin cytoskeleton destabilization and induction of cell migration. We suggest that ROBO1 is a predictive biomarker that has potential to discriminate among CaP types, and could be exploited as a molecular target to inhibit the progression of disease as well as treat metastasis in high-risk populations such as African-Americans. PMID:24752651

Structure of human IFIT1 with capped RNA reveals adaptable mRNA binding and mechanisms for sensing N1 and N2 ribose 2′-O methylations

PubMed Central

Laudenbach, Beatrice Theres; Martínez-Montero, Saúl; Cencic, Regina; Habjan, Matthias; Pichlmair, Andreas; Damha, Masad J.; Pelletier, Jerry; Nagar, Bhushan

2017-01-01

IFIT1 (IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats-1) is an effector of the host innate immune antiviral response that prevents propagation of virus infection by selectively inhibiting translation of viral mRNA. It relies on its ability to compete with the translation initiation factor eIF4F to specifically recognize foreign capped mRNAs, while remaining inactive against host mRNAs marked by ribose 2′-O methylation at the first cap-proximal nucleotide (N1). We report here several crystal structures of RNA-bound human IFIT1, including a 1.6-Å complex with capped RNA. IFIT1 forms a water-filled, positively charged RNA-binding tunnel with a separate hydrophobic extension that unexpectedly engages the cap in multiple conformations (syn and anti) giving rise to a relatively plastic and nonspecific mode of binding, in stark contrast to eIF4E. Cap-proximal nucleotides encircled by the tunnel provide affinity to compete with eIF4F while allowing IFIT1 to select against N1 methylated mRNA. Gel-shift binding assays confirm that N1 methylation interferes with IFIT1 binding, but in an RNA-dependent manner, whereas translation assays reveal that N1 methylation alone is not sufficient to prevent mRNA recognition at high IFIT1 concentrations. Structural and functional analysis show that 2′-O methylation at N2, another abundant mRNA modification, is also detrimental for RNA binding, thus revealing a potentially synergistic role for it in self- versus nonself-mRNA discernment. Finally, structure-guided mutational analysis confirms the importance of RNA binding for IFIT1 restriction of a human coronavirus mutant lacking viral N1 methylation. Our structural and biochemical analysis sheds new light on the molecular basis for IFIT1 translational inhibition of capped viral RNA. PMID:28251928

Burden of hospitalized childhood community-acquired pneumonia: A retrospective cross-sectional study in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea

PubMed Central

Tan, Kah Kee; Dang, Duc Anh; Kim, Ki Hwan; Kartasasmita, Cissy; Zhang, Xu-Hao; Shafi, Fakrudeen; Yu, Ta-Wen; Ledesma, Emilio; Meyer, Nadia

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: Few studies describe the community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) burden in children in Asia. We estimated the proportion of all CAP hospitalizations in children from nine hospitals across the Republic of Korea (high-income), Indonesia, Malaysia (middle-income), and Vietnam (low/middle-income). Methods: Over a one or two-year period, children <5 years hospitalized with CAP were identified using ICD-10 discharge codes. Cases were matched to standardized definitions of suspected (S-CAP), confirmed (C-CAP), or bacterial CAP (B-CAP) used in a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine efficacy study (COMPAS). Median total direct medical costs of CAP-related hospitalizations were calculated. Results: Vietnam (three centers): 7591 CAP episodes were identified with 4.3% (95% confidence interval 4.2;4.4) S-CAP, 3.3% (3.2;3.4) C-CAP and 1.4% (1.3;1.4) B-CAP episodes of all-cause hospitalization in children aged <5 years. The B-CAP case fatality rate (CFR) was 1.3%. Malaysia (two centers): 1027 CAP episodes were identified with 2.7% (2.6;2.9); 2.6% (2.4;2.8); 0.04% (0.04;0.1) due to S-CAP, C-CAP, and B-CAP, respectively. One child with B-CAP died. Indonesia (one center): 960 CAP episodes identified with 18.0% (17.0;19.1); 16.8% (15.8;17.9); 0.3% (0.2;0.4) due to S-CAP, C-CAP, and B-CAP, respectively. The B-CAP CFR was 20%. Korea (three centers): 3151 CAP episodes were identified with 21.1% (20.4;21.7); 11.8% (11.2;12.3); 2.4% (2.1;2.7) due to S-CAP, C-CAP, and B-CAP, respectively. There were no deaths. Costs: CAP-related hospitalization costs were highest for B-CAP episodes: 145.00 (Vietnam) to 1013.3 USD (Korea) per episode. Conclusion: CAP hospitalization causes an important health and cost burden in all four countries studied (NMRR-12-50-10793). PMID:29125809

Biomedical Applications of the Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Cell Responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volotskova, Olga

Current breakthrough research on cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) demonstrates that CAP has great potential in various areas, including medicine and biology, thus providing a new tool for living tissue treatment. Depending on the configuration the cold plasma sources can be used in the following areas: wound healing, skin diseases, hospital hygiene, sterilization, antifungal treatments, dental care, cosmetics targeted cell/tissue removal, and cancer treatments. This dissertation is focused on the studies of biomedical applications of cold atmospheric plasma jet based on helium flow and resultant cell responses to the cold plasma treatment. The studies were carried out on extra-cellular and intra-cellular levels in vitro. The main practical applications are wound healing and alternative to existing cancer therapy methods, areas of great interest and significant challenges. The CAP jet was built in the Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory of Dr. Michael Keidar, as a part of multidisciplinary collaboration with the GW Medical School (Dr. M.A. Stepp) concerned with plasma medicine and bioengineering studies. Normal and cancer cells have two fundamental behavioral properties, proliferation and motility, which can be evaluated through cell migration rates and cell cycle progression. Various microscopic, spectroscopic and flow cytometry techniques were used to characterize cell responses to the cold plasma treatment. It was found that CAP effect on the cells is localized within the area of the treatment (of around ˜ 5mm in diameter). The migration rates of the normal skin cells can be reduced up to ˜ 40%. However, depending on the cell type the required treatment time is different, thus differential treatment of various cells presented in tissue is possible. The CAP effect on the migration was explained through the changes of the cell surface proteins/integrins. It was also found that normal and cancer cells respond differently to the CAP treatment under the same experimental conditions. CAP is currently being evaluated as a new highly selective alternative addition to existing cancer therapies. It was shown that the increased sensitivity of cancer cells to CAP treatment is caused by differences in the distribution of cancer cells and normal cells within the cell cycle. It was also shown that the expression of γH2A.X (pSer139), an oxidative stress reporter indicating S-phase damage, is enhanced specifically within CAP treated cells in the S phase of the cell cycle together with significant decrease in EdU-signal of DNA-replicating cells. Thus, newly developed CAP technology was proven to be of a great interest for practical applications in the areas of wound healing and cancer treatment. The identification and explanation of the mechanisms by which CAP affects the cells was presented.

Synthesis of a novel glucose capped gold nanoparticle as a better theranostic candidate

PubMed Central

Suvarna, Saritha; Das, Ujjal; KC, Sunil; Mishra, Snehasis; Sudarshan, Mathummal; Saha, Krishna Das; Dey, Sanjit; Chakraborty, Anindita; Narayana, Y.

2017-01-01

Gold nanoparticles are predominantly used in diagnostics, therapeutics and biomedical applications. The present study has been designed to synthesize differently capped gold nanoparticles (AuNps) by a simple, one-step, room temperature procedure and to evaluate the potential of these AuNps for biomedical applications. The AuNps are capped with glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) and citrate using different reducing agents. This is the first report of synthesis of 2DG-AuNp by the simple room temperature method. The synthesized gold nanoparticles are characterized with UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) study of the synthesized AuNps shows increase in Raman signals up to 50 times using 2DG. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiozol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay has been performed using all the three differently capped AuNps in different cell lines to assess cytotoxcity if any, of the nanoparticles. The study shows that 2DG-AuNps is a better candidate for theranostic application. PMID:28582426

0.9% sodium chloride injection with and without heparin for maintaining peripheral indwelling intermittent-infusion devices in infants.

PubMed

Nelson, T J; Graves, S M

1998-03-15

The use of 0.9% sodium chloride injection with and without heparin sodium for maintaining peripheral indwelling intermittent-infusion devices (PIIIDs) in infants was studied. In this double-blind study, children up to one year of age who had a 24-gauge PIIID through which a continuous i.v. infusion was no longer running were randomly assigned to have their PIIID capped with 0.9% sodium chloride injection with or without heparin sodium 10 units/mL. PIIIDs were capped every eight hours if no medications were administered; otherwise, they were capped after each dose of an i.v. drug. The heparin group had 26 patients with 28 evaluable PIIIDs, and the 0.9% sodium chloride injection group had 32 patients with 46 evaluable PIIIDs. The two groups did not differ significantly in variables assessing the duration of PIIID use, reasons for removal of PIIIDs, mean number of cappings, irritant potential of administered drugs, or severity of medication-related irritation. There was no significant difference between 0.9% sodium chloride injection with and without heparin sodium 10 units/mL in maintaining 24-gauge PIIIDs in children younger than one year.

Pull-out simulations of a capped carbon nanotube in carbon nanotube-reinforced nanocomposites

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

Li, Y.; Liu, S.; Hu, N.

2013-04-14

Systematic atomic simulations based on molecular mechanics were conducted to investigate the pull-out behavior of a capped carbon nanotube (CNT) in CNT-reinforced nanocomposites. Two common cases were studied: the pull-out of a complete CNT from a polymer matrix in a CNT/polymer nanocomposite and the pull-out of the broken outer walls of a CNT from the intact inner walls (i.e., the sword-in-sheath mode) in a CNT/alumina nanocomposite. By analyzing the obtained relationship between the energy increment (i.e., the difference in the potential energy between two consecutive pull-out steps) and the pull-out displacement, a set of simple empirical formulas based on themore » nanotube diameter was developed to predict the corresponding pull-out force. The predictions from these formulas are quite consistent with the experimental results. Moreover, the much higher pull-out force for a capped CNT than that of the corresponding open-ended CNT implies a significant contribution from the CNT cap to the interfacial properties of the CNT-reinforced nanocomposites. This finding provides a valuable insight for designing nanocomposites with desirable mechanical properties.« less

Sources of heterogeneity in case-control studies on associations between statins, ACE-inhibitors, and proton pump inhibitors and risk of pneumonia.

PubMed

de Groot, Mark C H; Klungel, Olaf H; Leufkens, Hubert G M; van Dijk, Liset; Grobbee, Diederick E; van de Garde, Ewoudt M W

2014-10-01

The heterogeneity in case-control studies on the associations between community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and ACE-inhibitors (ACEi), statins, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) hampers translation to clinical practice. Our objective is to explore sources of this heterogeneity by applying a common protocol in different data settings. We conducted ten case-control studies using data from five different health care databases. Databases varied on type of patients (hospitalised vs. GP), level of case validity, and mode of exposure ascertainment (prescription or dispensing based). Identified CAP patients and controls were matched on age, gender, and calendar year. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for the associations between the drugs of interest and CAP. Associations were adjusted by a common set of potential confounders. Data of 38,742 cases and 118,019 controls were studied. Comparable patterns of variation between case-control studies were observed for ACEi, statins and PPI use and pneumonia risk with adjusted ORs varying from 1.04 to 1.49, 0.82 to 1.50 and 1.16 to 2.71, respectively. Overall, higher ORs were found for hospitalised CAP patients matched to population controls versus GP CAP patients matched to population controls. Prevalence of drug exposure was higher in dispensing data versus prescription data. We show that case-control selection and methods of exposure ascertainment induce bias that cannot be adjusted for and to a considerable extent explain the heterogeneity in results obtained in case-control studies on statins, ACEi and PPIs and CAP. The common protocol approach helps to better understand sources of variation in observational studies.

Persistence and immunogenicity of chemically attenuated blood stage Plasmodium falciparum in Aotus monkeys.

PubMed

De, Sai Lata; Stanisic, Danielle I; van Breda, Karin; Bellete, Bernadette; Harris, Ivor; McCallum, Fiona; Edstein, Michael D; Good, Michael F

2016-08-01

Malaria is a disease caused by a protozoan of the Plasmodium genus and results in 0.5-0.7million deaths per year. Increasing drug resistance of the parasite and insecticide resistance of mosquitoes necessitate alternative control measures. Numerous vaccine candidates have been identified but none have been able to induce robust, long-lived protection when evaluated in malaria endemic regions. Rodent studies have demonstrated that chemically attenuated blood stage parasites can persist at sub-patent levels and induce homologous and heterologous protection against malaria. Parasite-specific cellular responses were detected, with protection dependent on CD4+ T cells. To investigate this vaccine approach for Plasmodium falciparum, we characterised the persistence and immunogenicity of chemically attenuated P. falciparum FVO strain parasites (CAPs) in non-splenectomised Aotus nancymaae monkeys following administration of a single dose. Control monkeys received either normal red blood cells or wild-type parasites followed by drug treatment. Chemical attenuation was performed using tafuramycin A, which irreversibly binds to DNA. CAPs were detected in the peripheral blood for up to 2days following inoculation as determined by thick blood smears, and for up to 8days as determined by quantitative PCR. Parasite-specific IgG was not detected in monkeys that received CAPs; however, in vitro parasite-specific T cell proliferation was observed. Following challenge, the CAP monkeys developed an infection; however, one CAP monkey and the infection and drug-cure monkeys showed partial or complete resistance. These experiments lay the groundwork for further assessment of CAPs as a potential vaccine against malaria. Copyright © 2016 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relationship between the Use of Inhaled Steroids for Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Early Outcomes in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

PubMed Central

Almirall, Jordi; Bolíbar, Ignasi; Serra-Prat, Mateu; Palomera, Elisabet; Roig, Jordi; Hospital, Imma; Carandell, Eugenia; Agustí, Mercè; Ayuso, Pilar; Estela, Andreu; Torres, Antoni

2013-01-01

Background The role of inhaled steroids in patients with chronic respiratory diseases is a matter of debate due to the potential effect on the development and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We assessed whether treatment with inhaled steroids in patients with chronic bronchitis, COPD or asthma and CAP may affect early outcome of the acute pneumonic episode. Methods Over 1-year period, all population-based cases of CAP in patients with chronic bronchitis, COPD or asthma were registered. Use of inhaled steroids were registered and patients were followed up to 30 days after diagnosis to assess severity of CAP and clinical course (hospital admission, ICU admission and mortality). Results Of 473 patients who fulfilled the selection criteria, inhaled steroids were regularly used by 109 (23%). In the overall sample, inhaled steroids were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization (OR=1.96, p = 0.002) in the bivariate analysis, but this effect disappeared after adjusting by other severity-related factors (adjusted OR=1.08, p=0.787). This effect on hospitalization also disappeared when considering only patients with asthma (OR=1.38, p=0.542), with COPD alone (OR=4.68, p=0.194), but a protective effect was observed in CB patients (OR=0.15, p=0.027). Inhaled steroids showed no association with ICU admission, days to clinical recovery and mortality in the overall sample and in any disease subgroup. Conclusions Treatment with inhaled steroids is not a prognostic factor in COPD and asthmatic patients with CAP, but could prevent hospitalization for CAP in patients with clinical criteria of chronic bronchitis. PMID:24039899

Motion of a Drop on a Solid Surface Due to a Wettability Gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Subramanian, R.; Moumen, Nadjoua; McLaughlin, John B.

2005-01-01

The hydrodynamic force experienced by a spherical-cap drop moving on a solid surface is obtained from two approximate analytical solutions and used to predict the quasi-steady speed of the drop in a wettability gradient. One solution is based on approximation of the shape of the drop as a collection of wedges, and the other is based on lubrication theory. Also, asymptotic results from both approximations for small contact angles, as well as an asymptotic result from lubrication theory that is good when the length scale of the drop is large compared with the slip length, are given. The results for the hydrodynamic force also can be used to predict the quasi-steady speed of a drop sliding down an incline.

Cooperative Atmosphere-Surface Exchange Study-1999.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moeng, Chin-Hoh; Poulos, Gregory S.; Lemone, Margaret A.

2003-10-01

Surface-station, radiosonde, and Doppler minisodar data from the Cooperative Atmosphere-Surface Exchange Study-1997 (CASES-97) field project, collected in a 60-km-wide array in the lower Walnut River watershed (terrain variation 150 m) southeast of Wichita, Kansas, are used to study the relationship of the change of the 2-m potential temperature 2m with station elevation ze, 2m/ze ,ze to the ambient wind and thermal stratification /z ,z during fair-weather nights. As in many previous studies, predawn 2m varies linearly with ze, and ,ze ,z over a depth h that represents the maximum elevation range of the stations. Departures from the linear 2m-elevation relationship (,ze line) are related to vegetation (cool for vegetation, warm for bare ground), local terrain (drainage flows from nearby hills, although a causal relationship is not established), and the formation of a cold pool at lower elevations on some days.The near-surface flow and its evolution are functions of the Froude number Fr = S/(Nh), where S is the mean wind speed from the surface to h, and N is the corresponding Brunt-Väisälä frequency. The near-surface wind is coupled to the ambient flow for Fr = 3.3, based on where the straight line relating ,ze to ln Fr intersects the ln Fr axis. Under these conditions, 2m is constant horizontally even though ,z > 0, suggesting that near-surface air moves up- and downslope dry adiabatically. However, 2m cools (or warms) everywhere at the same rate. The lowest Froude numbers are associated with drainage flows, while intermediate values characterize regimes with intermediate behavior. The evolution of 2m horizontal variability σ through the night is also a function of the predawn Froude number. For the nights with the lowest Fr, the σ maximum occurs in the last 1-3 h before sunrise. For nights with Fr 3.3 (,ze 0) and for intermediate values, σ peaks 2-3 h after sunset. The standard deviations relative to the ,ze line reach their lowest values in the last hours of darkness. Thus, it is not surprising that the relationships of ,ze to Fr and ,z based on data through the night show more scatter, and ,ze 0.5,z in contrast to the predawn relationship. However, ,ze 0 for ln Fr = 3.7, a value similar to that just before sunrise.A heuristic Lagrangian parcel model is used to explain the horizontal uniformity of time-evolving 2m when the surface flow is coupled with the ambient wind, as well as both the linear variation of 2m with elevation and the time required to reach maximum values of σ under drainage-flow conditions.

Vegetation success, seepage, and erosion on tailing sites reclaimed with cattle and biosolids

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

Vinson, J.; Jones, B.; Milczarek, M.

1999-07-01

Reclamation field studies were designed at the Phelps Dodge Morenci Mine in Arizona to evaluate the benefits of biosolids, cattle impact, and other treatment variables on soil-capped tailings. First-year monitoring has provided preliminary data about soil chemical and physical parameters, soil matrix potential profiles, erosion, and vegetation measurements of ground cover, biomass production and frequency. Plots were first seeded in January 1998 with a cover crop of oats or barley. Plots were seeded again in August 1998 with native and native plus non-native plant species. Early productivity from the second seeding was inversely related to seedling density. Plots capped withmore » unamended Gila conglomerate (Gila) materials contained meager plant nutrient levels and produced numerous small seedlings that were poorly rooted and had little standing biomass. Vegetation on the cattle and biosolids treatments was vigorous and productive but at a much lower density than unamended Gila plots. Cattle treatment added little plant-nutrient value to the Gila cap compared to biosolids amendment. However, high rates of biosolids brought excessive salinity. Straw from the cattle treatment provided an effective mulch to improve soil moisture storage but increased the potential for deep seepage. Unamended Gila and biosolids plots had intermediate moisture storage and a modest potential for seepage compared to bare tailings. Mulch cover plus a lower rate of biosolids on Gila is seen as a promising, cost-effective amendment combination for future evaluation.« less

Ion Transport across Biological Membranes by Carborane-Capped Gold Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Carborane-capped gold nanoparticles (Au/carborane NPs, 2–3 nm) can act as artificial ion transporters across biological membranes. The particles themselves are large hydrophobic anions that have the ability to disperse in aqueous media and to partition over both sides of a phospholipid bilayer membrane. Their presence therefore causes a membrane potential that is determined by the relative concentrations of particles on each side of the membrane according to the Nernst equation. The particles tend to adsorb to both sides of the membrane and can flip across if changes in membrane potential require their repartitioning. Such changes can be made either with a potentiostat in an electrochemical cell or by competition with another partitioning ion, for example, potassium in the presence of its specific transporter valinomycin. Carborane-capped gold nanoparticles have a ligand shell full of voids, which stem from the packing of near spherical ligands on a near spherical metal core. These voids are normally filled with sodium or potassium ions, and the charge is overcompensated by excess electrons in the metal core. The anionic particles are therefore able to take up and release a certain payload of cations and to adjust their net charge accordingly. It is demonstrated by potential-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy that polarized phospholipid membranes of vesicles can be depolarized by ion transport mediated by the particles. It is also shown that the particles act as alkali-ion-specific transporters across free-standing membranes under potentiostatic control. Magnesium ions are not transported. PMID:29161496

Ion Transport across Biological Membranes by Carborane-Capped Gold Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Grzelczak, Marcin P; Danks, Stephen P; Klipp, Robert C; Belic, Domagoj; Zaulet, Adnana; Kunstmann-Olsen, Casper; Bradley, Dan F; Tsukuda, Tatsuya; Viñas, Clara; Teixidor, Francesc; Abramson, Jonathan J; Brust, Mathias

2017-12-26

Carborane-capped gold nanoparticles (Au/carborane NPs, 2-3 nm) can act as artificial ion transporters across biological membranes. The particles themselves are large hydrophobic anions that have the ability to disperse in aqueous media and to partition over both sides of a phospholipid bilayer membrane. Their presence therefore causes a membrane potential that is determined by the relative concentrations of particles on each side of the membrane according to the Nernst equation. The particles tend to adsorb to both sides of the membrane and can flip across if changes in membrane potential require their repartitioning. Such changes can be made either with a potentiostat in an electrochemical cell or by competition with another partitioning ion, for example, potassium in the presence of its specific transporter valinomycin. Carborane-capped gold nanoparticles have a ligand shell full of voids, which stem from the packing of near spherical ligands on a near spherical metal core. These voids are normally filled with sodium or potassium ions, and the charge is overcompensated by excess electrons in the metal core. The anionic particles are therefore able to take up and release a certain payload of cations and to adjust their net charge accordingly. It is demonstrated by potential-dependent fluorescence spectroscopy that polarized phospholipid membranes of vesicles can be depolarized by ion transport mediated by the particles. It is also shown that the particles act as alkali-ion-specific transporters across free-standing membranes under potentiostatic control. Magnesium ions are not transported.

The potential for short rotation energy forestry on restored landfill caps.

PubMed

Nixon, D J; Stephens, W; Tyrrel, S F; Brierley, E D

2001-05-01

This review examines the potential for producing biomass on restored landfills using willow and poplar species in short rotation energy forestry. In southern England, the potential production may be about 20 t ha(-1) of dry stem wood annually. However, actual yields are likely to be constrained by detrimental soil conditions, including shallow depth, compaction, low water holding capacity and poor nutritional status. These factors will affect plant growth by causing drought, waterlogging, poor soil aeration and nutritional deficiencies. Practical solutions to these problems include the correct placement and handling of the agricultural cap material, soil amelioration using tillage and the addition of organic matter (such as sewage sludge), irrigation (possibly using landfill leachate), the installation of drainage and the application of inorganic fertilizers. The correct choice of species and clone, along with good site management are also essential if economically viable yields are to be obtained. Further investigations are required to determine the actual yields that can be obtained on landfill sites using a range of management inputs.

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

Popp, R.A.; Lalley, P.A.; Whitney, J.B.

A genetic polymorphism for a Bgl I endonuclease site near the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogene ..cap alpha..-4 of C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice was used to show that ..cap alpha..-4 was not affected by three independent mutations in which the adult globin genes ..cap alpha..-1 and ..cap alpha..-2 were deleted. These results indicated that ..cap alpha..-4 might not be located adjacent to the adult ..cap alpha..-globin genes on chromosome 11. Restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA of a primary clone of a Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrid that had lost mouse chromosomes 11 and 18 showed that this clone lacked the adult murinemore » globin genes ..cap alpha..-1 and ..cap alpha..-2 but it did contain the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4. These results indicated that the adult ..cap alpha..-globin genes and ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes are not located on the same chromosome. Similar analyses of several other Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids that had segregated other mouse chromosomes indicated that the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4 are located on mouse chromosomes 15 and 17, respectively. These data explain why ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4 were not affected by the three independently induced deletion-type mutations that cause ..cap alpha..-thalassemia in the mouse.« less

Treatment of Ras-induced cancers by the F-actin cappers tensin and chaetoglobosin K, in combination with the caspase-1 inhibitor N1445.

PubMed

Tikoo, A; Cutler, H; Lo, S H; Chen, L B; Maruta, H

1999-01-01

For transforming normal fibroblasts to malignant cells, oncogenic Ras mutants such as v-Ha-ras require Rho family GTPases (Rho, Rac, and CDC42) that are responsible for controlling actin-cytoskeleton organization. Ras activates Rac through a PI-3 kinase-mediated pathway. Rac causes uncapping of actin filaments (F-actin) at the plus-ends, through phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2), and eventually induces membrane ruffling. Several distinct F-actin/PIP2-binding proteins, such as gelsolin, which severs and caps the plus-ends of actin filaments, or HS1, which cross-links actin filaments, have been shown to suppress v-Ha-Ras-induced malignant transformation when they are overexpressed. Interestingly, an F-actin cross-linking drug (photosensitizer) called MKT-077 suppresses Ras transformation. Thus, an F-actin capping/severing drug might also have an anticancer potential. This study was conducted to determine first whether Ras-induced malignant phenotype (anchorage-independent growth) is suppressed by overexpression of the gene encoding a large plus-end F-actin capping protein called tensin and second to test the anti-Ras potential of a unique fungal antibiotic (small compound) called chaetoglobosin K (CK) that also caps the plus-ends of actin filaments. DNA transfection with a retroviral vector carrying the tensin cDNA was used to overexpress tensin in v-Ha-Ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. All stable tensin transfectants rarely formed colonies in soft agar, indicating that tensin suppresses the anchorage-independent growth. The anti-Ras action of CK was determined by incubating the Ras-transformants in the presence of CK in soft agar. Two microM CK almost completely inhibited their colony formation, indicating that CK also suppresses the malignant phenotype. However, unlike tensin, CK causes an apoptosis of Ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells and, less effectively, of normal NIH 3T3 cells, indicating that CK has an F-actin capping-independent side effect(s). CK-induced apoptosis is at least in part caused by CK-induced inhibition of the kinase PKB/AKT. However, a specific ICE/caspase-1 inhibitor called N1445 completely abolished the CK-induced apoptosis by reactivating PKB, but without affecting the CK-induced suppression of Ras transformation. Like the F-actin cross-linking drug MKT-077, the F-actin capping drug CK may be useful for the treatment of Ras-associated cancers if it is combined with the ICE inhibitor N1445, which abolishes the side effect of CK. Our observations that two distinct F-actin capping molecules (i.e., tensin and CK) suppress Ras-induced malignant phenotype strongly suggest, if not prove, that capping of actin filaments at the plus-ends alone is sufficient to block one of the Ras signaling pathways essential for its oncogenicity. This notion is compatible with the fact that Ras induces the uncapping of actin filaments at the plus-ends through the Rac/PIP2 pathway.

An evolutionary attractor model for sapwood cross section in relation to leaf area.

PubMed

Westoby, Mark; Cornwell, William K; Falster, Daniel S

2012-06-21

Sapwood cross-sectional area per unit leaf area (SA:LA) is an influential trait that plants coordinate with physical environment and with other traits. We develop theory for SA:LA and also for root surface area per leaf area (RA:LA) on the premise that plants maximizing the surplus of revenue over costs should have competitive advantage. SA:LA is predicted to increase in water-relations environments that reduce photosynthetic revenue, including low soil water potential, high water vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and low atmospheric CO(2). Because sapwood has costs, SA:LA adjustment does not completely offset difficult water relations. Where sapwood costs are large, as in tall plants, optimal SA:LA may actually decline with (say) high VPD. Large soil-to-root resistance caps the benefits that can be obtained from increasing SA:LA. Where a plant can adjust water-absorbing surface area of root per leaf area (RA:LA) as well as SA:LA, optimal RA:SA is not affected by VPD, CO(2) or plant height. If selection favours increased height more so than increased revenue-minus-cost, then height is predicted to rise substantially under improved water-relations environments such as high-CO(2) atmospheres. Evolutionary-attractor theory for SA:LA and RA:LA complements models that take whole-plant conductivity per leaf area as a parameter. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Auroral Potential Drops on Field-Aligned Currents and Nightside Reconnection Dynamos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotko, W.; Xi, S.; Zhang, B.; Wiltberger, M. J.; Lyon, J.

2016-12-01

The reaction of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system to dynamic auroral potential drops is investigated using the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry global model and, for the first time in a global simulation, including the dissipative load of field-aligned potential drops in the low-altitude boundary condition. This extra load reduces the demand for field-aligned current (j||) from nightside reconnection dynamos. The system adapts by forcing the nightside x-line closer to Earth to reduce current lensing (j||/B = constant) at the ionosphere, with the plasma sheet undergoing additional contraction during substorm recovery and steady magnetospheric convection. For steady and moderate solar wind driving and with constant ionospheric conductance, the cross-polar cap potential and hemispheric field-aligned current are lower by approximately the ratio of the peak field-aligned potential drop to the cross polar cap potential (10-15%) when potential drops are included. Hemispheric ionospheric Joule dissipation is less by 8%, while the area-integrated, average work done on the fluid by the reconnecting magnetotail field increases by 50% within |y| < 8 RE. Effects on the nightside plasma sheet include: (1) an average x-line 4 RE closer to Earth; (2) a 12% higher mean reconnection rate; and (3) dawn-dusk asymmetry in reconnection with a 17% higher rate in the premidnight sector.

Effects of auroral potential drops on plasma sheet dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xi, Sheng; Lotko, William; Zhang, Binzheng; Wiltberger, Michael; Lyon, John

2016-11-01

The reaction of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system to dynamic auroral potential drops is investigated using the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry global model including, for the first time in a global simulation, the dissipative load of field-aligned potential drops in the low-altitude boundary condition. This extra load reduces the field-aligned current (j||) supplied by nightside reconnection dynamos. The system adapts by forcing the nightside X line closer to Earth, with a corresponding reduction in current lensing (j||/B = constant) at the ionosphere and additional contraction of the plasma sheet during substorm recovery and steady magnetospheric convection. For steady and moderate solar wind driving and with constant ionospheric conductance, the cross polar cap potential and hemispheric field-aligned current are lower by approximately the ratio of the peak field-aligned potential drop to the cross polar cap potential (10-15%) when potential drops are included. Hemispheric ionospheric Joule dissipation is less by 8%, while the area-integrated, average work done on the fluid by the reconnecting magnetotail field increases by 50% within |y| < 8 RE. Effects on the nightside plasma sheet include (1) an average X line 4 RE closer to Earth; (2) a 12% higher mean reconnection rate; and (3) dawn-dusk asymmetry in reconnection with a 17% higher rate in the premidnight sector.

78 FR 18335 - Central Arizona Project-Rate Order No. WAPA-158

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-26

... Project, reflected in Transmission Service Rate Schedules CAP-FT2, CAP-NFT2, and CAP-NITS2, from January 1... existing Rate Schedules CAP-FT2, CAP-NFT2, CAP-NITS2 under Rate Order No. WAPA-124,\\1\\ were approved for a... Transmission Service Rate Schedules CAP-FT2, CAP-NFT2, and CAP-NITS2 on an interim basis effective as of...

Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque Elasticity Reconstruction Based on a Segmentation-Driven Optimization Procedure Using Strain Measurements: Theoretical Framework

PubMed Central

Le Floc’h, Simon; Tracqui, Philippe; Finet, Gérard; Gharib, Ahmed M.; Maurice, Roch L.; Cloutier, Guy; Pettigrew, Roderic I.

2016-01-01

It is now recognized that prediction of the vulnerable coronary plaque rupture requires not only an accurate quantification of fibrous cap thickness and necrotic core morphology but also a precise knowledge of the mechanical properties of plaque components. Indeed, such knowledge would allow a precise evaluation of the peak cap-stress amplitude, which is known to be a good biomechanical predictor of plaque rupture. Several studies have been performed to reconstruct a Young’s modulus map from strain elastograms. It seems that the main issue for improving such methods does not rely on the optimization algorithm itself, but rather on preconditioning requiring the best estimation of the plaque components’ contours. The present theoretical study was therefore designed to develop: 1) a preconditioning model to extract the plaque morphology in order to initiate the optimization process, and 2) an approach combining a dynamic segmentation method with an optimization procedure to highlight the modulogram of the atherosclerotic plaque. This methodology, based on the continuum mechanics theory prescribing the strain field, was successfully applied to seven intravascular ultrasound coronary lesion morphologies. The reconstructed cap thickness, necrotic core area, calcium area, and the Young’s moduli of the calcium, necrotic core, and fibrosis were obtained with mean relative errors of 12%, 4% and 1%, 43%, 32%, and 2%, respectively. PMID:19164080

Study on influences of TiN capping layer on time-dependent dielectric breakdown characteristic of ultra-thin EOT high-k metal gate NMOSFET with kMC TDDB simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hao; Yang, Hong; Luo, Wei-Chun; Xu, Ye-Feng; Wang, Yan-Rong; Tang, Bo; Wang, Wen-Wu; Qi, Lu-Wei; Li, Jun-Feng; Yan, Jiang; Zhu, Hui-Long; Zhao, Chao; Chen, Da-Peng; Ye, Tian-Chun

2016-08-01

The thickness effect of the TiN capping layer on the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristic of ultra-thin EOT high-k metal gate NMOSFET is investigated in this paper. Based on experimental results, it is found that the device with a thicker TiN layer has a more promising reliability characteristic than that with a thinner TiN layer. From the charge pumping measurement and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analysis, it is indicated that the sample with the thicker TiN layer introduces more Cl passivation at the IL/Si interface and exhibits a lower interface trap density. In addition, the influences of interface and bulk trap density ratio N it/N ot are studied by TDDB simulations through combining percolation theory and the kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) method. The lifetime reduction and Weibull slope lowering are explained by interface trap effects for TiN capping layers with different thicknesses. Project supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. SS2015AA010601), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61176091 and 61306129), and the Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Microelectronics Devices & Integrated Technology, Institute of MicroElectronics of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Telomere Attrition in Isolated High-Grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Surrounding Stroma Is Predictive of Prostate Cancer1

PubMed Central

Joshua, Anthony Michael; Vukovic, Bisera; Braudey, Ilan; Hussein, Sundus; Zielenska, Maria; Srigley, John; Evans, Andrew; Squire, Jeremy Andrew

2007-01-01

Abstract The causes of early genomic events underlying the development of prostate cancer (CaP) remain unclear. The onset of chromosomal instability is likely to facilitate the formation of crucial genomic aberrations both in the precursor lesion high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HPIN) and in CaP. Instability generated by telomere attrition is one potential mechanism that could initiate chromosomal rearrangements. In this study, normalized telomere length variation was examined in a cohort of 68 men without CaP who had HPIN only on prostatic biopsies. Multiple significant associations between telomere attrition and eventual diagnosis of CaP in the HPIN and in the surrounding stroma were found. Kaplan-Meier analysis of telomere length demonstrated a significantly increased risk for the development of cancer with short telomeres in the surrounding stroma [P = .035; hazard ratio (HR) = 2.12; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.231–0.956], and a trend for HPIN itself (P = .126; HR = 1.72; 95% CI = 0.287–1.168). Cox regression analysis also demonstrated significance between the time from the original biopsy to the diagnosis of cancer and telomere length in HPIN and in the surrounding stroma. These analyses showed significance, both alone and in combination with baseline prostate-specific antigen, and lend support to the hypothesis that telomere attrition in prostatic preneoplasia may be fundamental to the generation of chromosomal instability and to the emergence of CaP. PMID:17325746

Measurement of aerosol optical properties by cw cavity enhanced spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Guo; Ye, Shan-Shan; Yang, Xiao; Han, Ye-Xing; Tang, Huai-Wu; Yu, Zhi-Wei

2016-10-01

The CAPS (Cavity Attenuated Phase shift Spectroscopy) system, which detects the extinction coefficients within a 10 nm bandpass centered at 532 nm, comprises a green LED with center wavelength in 532nm, a resonant optical cavity (36 cm length), a Photo Multiplier Tube detector, and a lock in amplifier. The square wave modulated light from the LED passes through the optical cavity and is detected as a distorted waveform which is characterized by a phase shift with respect to the initial modulation. Extinction coefficients are determined from changes in the phase shift of the distorted waveform of the square wave modulated LED light that is transmitted through the optical cavity. The performance of the CAPS system was evaluated by using measurements of the stability and response of the system. The minima ( 0.1 Mm-1) in the Allan plots show the optimum average time ( 100s) for optimum detection performance of the CAPS system. In the paper, it illustrates that extinction coefficient was correlated with PM2.5 mass (0.91). These figures indicate that this method has the potential to become one of the most sensitive on-line analytical techniques for extinction coefficient detection. This work aims to provide an initial validation of the CAPS extinction monitor in laboratory and field environments. Our initial results presented in this paper show that the CAPS extinction monitor is capable of providing state-of-the-art performance while dramatically reducing the complexity of optical instrumentation for directly measuring the extinction coefficients.

Loss of 4E-BP1 function induces EMT and promotes cancer cell migration and invasion via cap-dependent translational activation of snail

PubMed Central

She, Qing-Bai

2014-01-01

The cap-dependent translation is frequently deregulated in a variety of cancers associated with tumor progression. However, the molecular basis of the translation activation for metastatic progression of cancer remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate that activation of cap-dependent translation by silencing the translational repressor 4E-BP1 causes cancer epithelial cells to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is associated with selective upregulation of the EMT inducer Snail followed by repression of E-cadherin expression and promotion of cell migratory and invasive capabilities as well as metastasis. Conversely, inhibition of cap-dependent translation by a dominant active mutant 4E-BP1 effectively downregulates Snail expression and suppresses cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, dephosphorylation of 4E-BP1 by mTORC1 inhibition or directly targeting the translation initiation also profoundly attenuates Snail expression and cell motility, whereas knockdown of 4E-BP1 or overexpression of Snail significantly rescues the inhibitory effects. Importantly, 4E-BP1-regulated Snail expression is not associated with its changes in the level of transcription or protein stability. Together, these findings indicate a novel role of 4E-BP1 in the regulation of EMT and cell motility through translational control of Snail expression and activity, and suggest that targeting cap-dependent translation may provide a promising approach for blocking Snail-mediated metastatic potential of cancer. PMID:24970798

Preparation and Properties of Nanoparticles of Calcium Phosphates With Various Ca/P Ratios.

PubMed

Sun, Limin; Chow, Laurence C; Frukhtbeyn, Stanislav A; Bonevich, John E

2010-01-01

This study aimed at preparing and studying the properties of nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (nCaP) with Ca/P ratios ranging from 1.0 to 1.67 using a spray-drying technique. Micro-structural analyses suggested that the nCaPs with Ca/P ratios of 1.67 to 1.33 were nano-sized amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) containing varying amounts of acid phosphate and carbonate. The nCaP with Ca/P ratio of 1 contained only nano-sized low crystalline dicalcium phosphate (DCP). BET measurements of the nCaPs showed specific surface areas of (12 ± 2 to 50 ± 1) m(2)/g, corresponding to estimated equivalent spherical diameters of (38 to 172) nm. However, dynamic light scattering measurements revealed much larger particles of (380 ± 49 to 768 ± 111) nm, owing to agglomeration of the smaller primary nano particles as revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Thermodynamic solubility measurements showed that the nCaPs with Ca/P ratio of 1.33 - 1.67 all have similar solubility behavior. The materials were more soluble than the crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) at pH greater than about 4.7, and more soluble than β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and DCP at pH above 5.5. Their solubility approached that of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) at about pH 7. These nCaPs, which cannot be readily prepared by other currently available methods for nanoparticle preparation, have potential biomedical applications.

Novel single-stranded DNA binding protein-assisted fluorescence aptamer switch based on FRET for homogeneous detection of antibiotics.

PubMed

Wang, Ye; Gan, Ning; Zhou, You; Li, Tianhua; Cao, Yuting; Chen, Yinji

2017-01-15

Herein, a smart single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB)-assisted fluorescence aptamer switch based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was designed. The FRET switch was synthesized by connecting SSB labeled quantum dots (QDs@SSB) as donor with aptamer (apt) labeled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@apt) as acceptor, and it was employed for detecting chloramphenicol (CAP) in a homogenous solution. In the assay, the interaction between core-shell QDs@SSB and AuNPs@apt leads to a dramatic quenching (turning off). After adding CAP in the detection system, AuNPs@apt can bind the target specifically then separate QDs@SSB with AuNPs@apt-target, resulting in restoring the fluorescence intensity of QDs (turning on). Consequently, the fluorescence intensity recovers and the recovery extent can be used for detection of CAP in homogenous phase via optical responses. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensity increased linearly with increasing concentrations of CAP from 0.005 to 100ngmL -1 . The limit of this fluorescence aptamer switch was around 3pgmL -1 for CAP detection. When the analyte is changed, the assay can be applied to detect other targets only by changing relative aptamer in AuNPs@apt probe. Furthermore, it has potential to be served as a simple, sensitive and portable platform for antibiotic contaminants detection in biological and environmental samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Toxicological implications of selenium nanoparticles with different coatings along with Se4+ on Lemna minor.

PubMed

Tarrahi, Roshanak; Khataee, Alireza; Movafeghi, Ali; Rezanejad, Farkhondeh; Gohari, Gholamreza

2017-08-01

Nanoparticles have potential high risks for living organisms in the environment due to their specific qualities and their easy access. In the present study, selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) with two different coatings (l-cysteine and tannic acid) were synthesized. The characteristics of particles were analyzed using XRD, FT-IR and SEM. The impact of the nanoparticles besides Se 4+ , on the aquatic higher plant Lemna minor was evaluated and compared. Entrance of l-cysteine and tannic acid capped Se NPs in the roots of Lemna minor was proved by TEM and fluorescence microscopy. Adverse effects of mentioned NPs and differences of these effects from those by sodium selenite as the ionic form were assessed by a range of biophysicochemical tests. Altogether, the results asserted that Lemna minor was notably poisoned by both capped Se NPs and Se 4+ . Thus, growth and photosynthetic pigments were decreased while lipid peroxidation along with total phenol and flavonoid contents were raised. Eventually some changes in enzymatic activities were presented. To sum up the consequences, it can be concluded that all changes occurred due to the plant defense system especially in order to remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) and possible phytotoxicity originated by l- cysteine and tannic acid capped Se NPs in addition to Se 4+ . The influence of tannic acid capped Se NPs after sodium selenite is stronger by the means of antioxidant enzymes activity in comparison with l-cysteine capped Se NPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Update on the combination effect of macrolide antibiotics in community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Emmet O'Brien, M; Restrepo, Marcos I; Martin-Loeches, Ignacio

2015-09-01

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of death from an infectious cause worldwide. Guideline-concordant antibiotic therapy initiated in a timely manner is associated with improved treatment responses and patient outcomes. In the post-antibiotic era, much of the morbidity and mortality of CAP is as a result of the interaction between bacterial virulence factors and host immune responses. In patients with severe CAP, or who are critically ill, there is a lot of emerging observational evidence demonstrating improved survival rates when treatment using combination therapy with a β-lactam and a macrolide is initiated, as compared to other antibiotic regimes without a macrolide. Macrolides in combination with a β-lactam antibiotic provide broader coverage for the atypical organisms implicated in CAP, and may contribute to antibacterial synergism. However, it has been postulated that the documented immunomodulatory effects of macrolides are the primary mechanism for improved patient outcomes through attenuation of bacterial virulence factors and host systemic inflammatory responses. Despite concerns regarding the limitations of observational evidence and the lack of confirmatory randomized controlled trials, the potential magnitude of mortality benefits estimated at 20-50% cannot be overlooked. In light of recent data from a number of trials showing that combination treatment with a macrolide and a suitable second agent is justified in all patients with severe CAP, such treatment should be obligatory for those admitted to an intensive care setting. Copyright © 2015 The Japanese Respiratory Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel biodegradable calcium phosphate/polymer composite coating with adjustable mechanical properties formed by hydrothermal process for corrosion protection of magnesium substrate.

PubMed

Kaabi Falahieh Asl, Sara; Nemeth, Sandor; Tan, Ming Jen

2016-11-01

Ceramic type coatings on metallic implants, such as calcium phosphate (Ca-P), are generally stiff and brittle, potentially leading to the early failure of the bone-implant interface. To reduce material brittleness, polyacrylic acid and carboxymethyl cellulose were used in this study to deposit two types of novel Ca-P/polymer composite coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy using a one-step hydrothermal process. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy showed that the deposited Ca-P crystal phase and morphology could be controlled by the type and concentration of polymer used. Incorporation of polymer in the Ca-P coatings reduced the coating elastic modulus bringing it close to that of magnesium and that of human bone. Nanoindentation test results revealed significantly decreased cracking tendency with the incorporation of polymer in the Ca-P coating. Apart from mechanical improvements, the protective composite layers had also enhanced the corrosion resistance of the substrate by a factor of 1000 which is sufficient for implant application. Cell proliferation studies indicated that the composite coatings induced better cell attachment compared with the purely inorganic Ca-P coating, confirming that the obtained composite materials could be promising candidates for surface protection of magnesium for implant application with the multiple functions of corrosion protection, interfacial stress reduction, and cell attachment/cell growth promotion. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1643-1657, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

SiO2 and ZnO Dopants in 3D Printed TCP Scaffolds Enhances Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis in vivo

PubMed Central

Fielding, Gary; Bose, Susmita

2013-01-01

Calcium phosphate (CaP) scaffolds with three dimensionally (3D) interconnected pores play an important role in mechanical interlocking and biological fixation in bone implant applications. CaPs alone, however, are only osteoconductive (ability to guide bone growth). Much attention has been given to the incorporation of biologics and pharmacologics to add osteoinductive (ability to cause new bone growth) properties to CaP materials. Because biologics and pharmacologics are generally delicate compounds and also subject to increased regulatory scrutiny, there is a need to investigate alternative methods to introduce osteoinductivity to CaP materials. In this study silica (SiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) have been incorporated in to 3D printed β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds to investigate their potential to trigger osteoinduction in vivo. Silicon and zinc are trace elements that are common to bone and have also been shown to have many beneficial properties from increased bone regeneration to angiogenesis. Implants were placed in bicortical femur defects introduced to a murine model for up to 16 weeks. Addition of dopants into TCP increased the capacity for new early bone formation by modulating collagen I production and osteocalcin production. Neovascularization was found to be up to three times more than the pure TCP control group. The findings from this study indicate that the combination of SiO2 and ZnO dopants in TCP may be a viable alternative to introduce osteoinductive properties to CaPs. PMID:23871941

Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Patients with a Diagnosis of Pernicious Anemia: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Almario, Christopher V.; Metz, David C.; Haynes, Kevin; Yang, Yu-Xiao

2015-01-01

Objective Pernicious anemia (PA) is an autoimmune disease that causes achlorhydria or profound hypochlorhydria. We conducted a population-based study to determine whether individuals with PA are at increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) from the United Kingdom (1993 to 2009). The eligible study cohort included individuals 18 years of age or older and with at least 1 year of THIN follow-up. The exposed group consisted of individuals with a diagnosis code for PA. The unexposed group consisted of individuals without a diagnosis of PA and was frequency matched with the exposed group with respect to age, sex, and practice site. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for CAP associated with PA, accounting for a comprehensive list of potential confounders. Results The study included 13,605 individuals with PA and 50,586 non-PA subjects. The crude incidence rate of CAP was 9.4 per 1000 person-years for those with PA, versus 6.4 per 1000 person-years for those without PA. The multivariable adjusted HR for CAP associated with PA was 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 – 1.29. Conclusions In this large population-based cohort study, individuals with PA and presumed chronic achlorhydria were at increased risk for CAP. PMID:26225868

Host–guest complexes between cryptophane-C and chloromethanes revisited

PubMed Central

Takacs, Z; Soltesova, M; Kowalewski, J; Lang, J; Brotin, T; Dutasta, J-P

2013-01-01

Cryptophane-C is composed of two nonequivalent cyclotribenzylene caps, one of which contains methoxy group substituents on the phenyl rings. The two caps are connected by three OCH2CH2O linkers in an anti arrangement. Host–guest complexes of cryptophane-C with dichloromethane and chloroform in solution were investigated in detail by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Variable temperature proton and carbon-13 spectra show a variety of dynamic processes, such as guest exchange and host conformational transitions. The guest exchange was studied quantitatively by exchange spectroscopy measurements or by line-shape analysis. The conformational preferences of the guest-containing host were interpreted through cross-relaxation measurements, providing evidence of the gauche+2 and gauche−2 conformations of the linkers. In addition, the mobility of the chloroform guest inside the cavity was studied by carbon-13 relaxation experiments. Combining different types of evidence led to a detailed picture of molecular recognition, interpreted in terms of conformational selection. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID:23132654

What dictates which ion, I- or Br-, mediates the growth of cubic Pd nanocrystals?

PubMed

Wang, Ze-Hong; Wu, Ya-Jiao; Xue, Huan-Huan; Zhou, Lin-Nan; Geng, Wen-Chao; Yi, Hai-Bo; Li, Yong-Jun

2018-04-25

Cubic Pd nanocrystals (CPNCs) as one of typical nanostructures are generally fabricated using I- or Br- as capping ions. However, which ion, I- or Br-, exclusively mediates the growth of CPNCs in a given reaction system is not well understood. Herein, regardless of I- or Br- as the capping ion, we successfully achieved CPNCs in the same reaction system simply by adjusting the pH. Based on the Finke-Watzky kinetic model, an increase in pH accelerates the overall reduction rate of Pd2+, and the formation of CPNCs only occurs over the range of specific solution reduction rate constants (k1). This kinetically illuminates that the reduction rate of Pd2+ is the physicochemical parameter that determines which ion, I- or Br-, dictates the growth of CPNCs. Also, density functional theory (DFT) calculations further elucidate the dependence of the reduction rate of Pd2+ on pH and the configuration of the activated Pd2+ complex.

Theory of the mode stabilization mechanism in concave-micromirror-capped vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Si-Hyun; Park, Yeonsang; Jeon, Heonsu

2003-08-01

We have investigated theoretically the transverse mode stabilization mechanism in oxide-confined concave-micromirror-capped vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (CMC-VCSELs) as reported by Park et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 183 (2002)]. From detailed numerical calculations on a model CMC-VCSEL structure, we found that mode discrimination factors appear to be periodic in the micromirror layer thickness with a periodicity of λ/2. We also found that there are two possible concave micromirror structures for the fundamental transverse mode laser operation. These structures can be grouped according to the thickness of the concave micromirror layer: whether it is an integer or a half-integer multiple of λ/2. The optimal micromirror curvature radius differs accordingly for each case. In an optimally designed CMC-VCSEL model structure, the fundamental transverse mode can be favored as much as 4, 8, and 13 times more strongly than the first, second, and third excited modes, respectively.

Interhemispheric differences in ionospheric convection: Cluster EDI observations revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Förster, M.; Haaland, S.

2015-07-01

The interaction between the interplanetary magnetic field and the geomagnetic field sets up a large-scale circulation in the magnetosphere. This circulation is also reflected in the magnetically connected ionosphere. In this paper, we present a study of ionospheric convection based on Cluster Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) satellite measurements covering both hemispheres and obtained over a full solar cycle. The results from this study show that average flow patterns and polar cap potentials for a given orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field can be very different in the two hemispheres. In particular during southward directed interplanetary magnetic field conditions, and thus enhanced energy input from the solar wind, the measurements show that the southern polar cap has a higher cross polar cap potential. There are persistent north-south asymmetries, which cannot easily be explained by the influence of external drivers. These persistent asymmetries are primarily a result of the significant differences in the strength and configuration of the geomagnetic field between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Since the ionosphere is magnetically connected to the magnetosphere, this difference will also be reflected in the magnetosphere in the form of different feedback from the two hemispheres. Consequently, local ionospheric conditions and the geomagnetic field configuration are important for north-south asymmetries in large regions of geospace.

The cathelicidin protein CRAMP is a potential atherosclerosis self-antigen in ApoE(-/-) mice

PubMed Central

Mihailovic, Peter M.; Lio, Wai Man; Yano, Juliana; Zhao, Xiaoning; Zhou, Jianchang; Chyu, Kuang-Yuh; Shah, Prediman K.; Cercek, Bojan

2017-01-01

Auto-immunity is believed to contribute to inflammation in atherosclerosis. The antimicrobial peptide LL-37, a fragment of the cathelicidin protein precursor hCAP18, was previously identified as an autoantigen in psoriasis. Given the reported link between psoriasis and coronary artery disease, the biological relevance of the autoantigen to atherosclerosis was tested in vitro using a truncated (t) form of the mouse homolog of hCAP18, CRAMP, on splenocytes from athero-prone ApoE(-/-) mice. Stimulation with tCRAMP resulted in increased CD8+ T cells with Central Memory and Effector Memory phenotypes in ApoE(-/-) mice, differentially activated by feeding with normal chow or high fat diet. Immunization of ApoE(-/-) with different doses of the shortened peptide (Cramp) resulted in differential outcomes with a lower dose reducing atherosclerosis whereas a higher dose exacerbating the disease with increased neutrophil infiltration of the atherosclerotic plaques. Low dose Cramp immunization also resulted in increased splenic CD8+ T cell degranulation and reduced CD11b+CD11c+ conventional dendritic cells (cDCs), whereas high dose increased CD11b+CD11c+ cDCs. Our results identified CRAMP, the mouse homolog of hCAP-18, as a potential self-antigen involved in the immune response to atherosclerosis in the ApoE(-/-) mouse model. PMID:29091929

Electrical stimulation vs. pulsed and continuous-wave optical stimulation of the rat prostate cavernous nerves, in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perkins, William C.; Lagoda, Gwen A.; Burnett, Arthur; Fried, Nathaniel M.

2015-07-01

Identification and preservation of the cavernous nerves (CNs) during prostate cancer surgery is critical for post-operative sexual function. Electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) mapping has previously been tested as an intraoperative tool for CN identification, but was found to be unreliable. ENS is limited by the need for electrode-tissue contact, poor spatial precision from electrical current spreading, and stimulation artifacts interfering with detection. Alternatively, optical nerve stimulation (ONS) provides noncontact stimulation, improved spatial selectivity, and elimination of stimulation artifacts. This study compares ENS to pulsed/CW ONS to explore the ONS mechanism. A total of eighty stimulations were performed in 5 rats, in vivo. ENS (4 V, 5 ms, 10 Hz) was compared to ONS using a pulsed diode laser nerve stimulator (1873 nm, 5 ms, 10 Hz) or CW diode laser nerve stimulator (1455 nm). Intracavernous pressure (ICP) response and nerve compound action potentials (nCAPs) were measured. All three stimulation modes (ENS, ONS-CW, ONS-P) produced comparable ICP magnitudes. However, ENS demonstrated more rapid ICP response times and well defined nCAPs compared to unmeasurable nCAPs for ONS. Further experiments measuring single action potentials during ENS and ONS are warranted to further understand differences in the ENS and ONS mechanisms.

Effect of permeability enhancers on paracellular permeability of acyclovir.

PubMed

Ates, Muge; Kaynak, Mustafa Sinan; Sahin, Selma

2016-06-01

According to Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), acyclovir is a class III (high solubility, low permeability) compound, and it is transported through paracellular route by passive diffusion. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various pharmaceutical excipients on the intestinal permeability of acyclovir. The single-pass in-situ intestinal perfusion (SPIP) method was used to estimate the permeability values of acyclovir and metoprolol across different intestinal segments (jejunum, ileum and colon). Permeability coefficient (Peff ) of acyclovir was determined in the absence and presence of a permeation enhancer such as dimethyl β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium caprate (Cap-Na) and chitosan chloride. All enhancers increased the permeability of paracellularly transported acyclovir. Although Cap-Na has the highest permeability-enhancing effect in all segments, permeation-enhancing effect of chitosan and SLS was only significant in ileum. On the other hand, DM-β-CD slightly decreased the permeability in all intestinal segments. These findings have potential implication concerning the enhancement of absorption of paracellularly transported compounds with limited oral bioavailability. In the case of acyclovir, Cap-Na either alone or in combination with SLS or chitosan has the potential to improve its absorption and bioavailability and has yet to be explored. © 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

CYTOKINES AS THE PREDICTORS OF SEVERE MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN (REVIEW).

PubMed

Chkhaidze, I; Kapanadze, N

2017-06-01

In spite of many attempts to differentiate bacterial from viral disease and predict severity and outcome, the etiologic diagnosis of paediatric community acquired pneumonia and the estimation of potential outcomes remain unsolved problems in most cases. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the major pathogens causing CAP in children. Although MP infection was traditionally thought to be a self-limited process, more and more severe cases even fatal cases of MP infections were reported in recent years. So it is essential for pediatricians to recognize severe or refractory or severe MP early, treat it promptly and prevent the progress of the disease. In recent years, several new biomarkers have been tested in children with CAP. Some of the biomarkers used for etiologic diagnosis in children with CAP and they also have been used the MP infection severity. Among traditional biomarkers, several cytokines appears to be effective both in selection of bacterial cases and in evaluation of severity. However, a precise cut-off level able to separate bacterial from viral cases and mild from severe cases has not been defined. Further studies enrolled with a large number of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae is needed to be carried out to identify the potential utility of different cytokines as the good predictors.

Cold atmospheric plasma jet in an axial DC electric field

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

Lin, Li, E-mail: lilin@gwu.edu, E-mail: keidar@gwu.edu; Keidar, Michael, E-mail: lilin@gwu.edu, E-mail: keidar@gwu.edu

2016-08-15

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) jet is currently intensively investigated as a tool for new and potentially transformative cancer treatment modality. However, there are still many unknowns about the jet behavior that requires attention. In this paper, a helium CAP jet is tested in an electrostatic field generated by a copper ring. Using Rayleigh microwave scattering method, some delays of the electron density peaks for different ring potentials are observed. Meanwhile, a similar phenomenon associated with the bullet velocity is found. Chemical species distribution along the jet is analyzed based on the jet optical emission spectra. The spectra indicate that amore » lower ring potential, i.e., lower DC background electric field, can increase the amount of excited N{sub 2}, N{sub 2}{sup +}, He, and O in the region before the ring, but can decrease the amount of excited NO and HO almost along the entire jet. Combining all the results above, we discovered that an extra DC potential mainly affects the temporal plasma jet properties. Also, it is possible to manipulate the chemical compositions of the jet using a ring with certain electric potentials.« less

Space plasma simulations; Proceedings of the Second International School for Space Simulations, Kapaa, HI, February 4-15, 1985. Parts 1 & 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashour-Abdalla, M. (Editor); Dutton, D. A. (Editor)

1985-01-01

Space plasma simulations, observations, and theories are discussed. Papers are presented on the capabilities of various types of simulation codes and simulation models. Consideration is given to plasma waves in the earth's magnetotail, outer planet magnetosphere, geospace, and the auroral and polar cap regions. Topics discussed include space plasma turbulent dissipation, the kinetics of plasma waves, wave-particle interactions, whistler mode propagation, global energy regulation, and auroral arc formation.

Comment on radiative magnetic energy shifts in hydrogen

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

Calmet, J.; Grotch, H.; Owen, D.A.

It is shown that the magnetic radiative energy shift derived from the relativistic-Lamb-shift expression of Erickson and Yennie reduces in the nonrelativistic limit to a formula given by Grotch and Hegstrom, which was derived starting from the nonrelativistic theory. This clears up a discrepancy between those two approaches. The corresponding correction to the g factor, which exists only for states with l not = 0, is estimated to be -0.24 ..cap alpha../sup 3/ for the 2P state of hydrogen.

Optimum structural design with static aeroelastic constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowman, Keith B; Grandhi, Ramana V.; Eastep, F. E.

1989-01-01

The static aeroelastic performance characteristics, divergence velocity, control effectiveness and lift effectiveness are considered in obtaining an optimum weight structure. A typical swept wing structure is used with upper and lower skins, spar and rib thicknesses, and spar cap and vertical post cross-sectional areas as the design parameters. Incompressible aerodynamic strip theory is used to derive the constraint formulations, and aerodynamic load matrices. A Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Technique (SUMT) algorithm is used to optimize the wing structure to meet the desired performance constraints.

A capping case study : integrating freight rail into a community setting.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-11-01

"This investigation seeks to explore specific design solutions that could potentially enhance the capabilities of heavy rail facilities while increasing : their safety and reducing their environmental and community impacts. : Using Portland's Brookly...

Ballistocardiogram Artifact Removal with a Reference Layer and Standard EEG Cap

PubMed Central

Luo, Qingfei; Huang, Xiaoshan; Glover, Gary H.

2014-01-01

Background In simultaneous EEG-fMRI, the EEG recordings are severely contaminated by ballistocardiogram (BCG) artifacts, which are caused by cardiac pulsations. To reconstruct and remove the BCG artifacts, one promising method is to measure the artifacts in the absence of EEG signal by placing a group of electrodes (BCG electrodes) on a conductive layer (reference layer) insulated from the scalp. However, current BCG reference layer (BRL) methods either use a customized EEG cap composed of electrode pairs, or need to construct the custom reference layer through additional model-building experiments for each EEG-fMRI experiment. These requirements have limited the versatility and efficiency of BRL. The aim of this study is to propose a more practical and efficient BRL method and compare its performance with the most popular BCG removal method, the optimal basis sets (OBS) algorithm. New Method By designing the reference layer as a permanent and reusable cap, the new BRL method is able to be used with a standard EEG cap, and no extra experiments and preparations are needed to use the BRL in an EEG-fMRI experiment. Results The BRL method effectively removed the BCG artifacts from both oscillatory and evoked potential scalp recordings and recovered the EEG signal. Comparison with Existing Method Compared to the OBS, this new BRL method improved the contrast-to-noise ratios of the alpha-wave, visual, and auditory evoked potential signals by 101%, 76%, and 75% respectively, employing 160 BCG electrodes. Using only 20 BCG electrodes, the BRL improved the EEG signal by 74%/26%/41% respectively. Conclusion The proposed method can substantially improve the EEG signal quality compared with traditional methods. PMID:24960423

Purex Plant comparison with 40 CFR 61, subpart H, and other referenced guidelines for the Product Removal (PR) (296-A-1) stack

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

Lohrasbi, J.

Dose calculations for atmospheric radionuclide releases from the Hanford Site for calendar year (CY) 1992 were performed by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) using the approved US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CAP-88 computer model. Emissions from discharge points in the Hanford Site 100, 200, 300, 400, and 600 areas were calculated based on results of analyses of continuous and periodic sampling conducted at the discharge points. These calculated emissions were provided for inclusion in the CAP-88 model by area and by individual facility for those facilities having the potential to contribute more than 10 percent of the Hanford Site total ormore » to result in an impact of greater than 0.1 mrem per year to the maximally exposed individual (MEI). Also included in the assessment of offsite dose modeling are the measured radioactive emissions from all Hanford Site stacks that have routine monitoring performed. Record sampling systems have been installed on all stacks and vents that use exhaust fans to discharge air that potentially may carry airborne radioactivity. Estimation of activity from ingrowth of long-lived radioactive progeny is not included in the CAP-88 model; therefore, the Hanford Site GENII code (Napier et al. 1988) was used to supplement the CAP-88 dose calculations. When the dose to the MEI located in the Ringold area was calculated, the effective dose equivalent (EDE) from combined Hanford Site radioactive airborne emissions was shown to be 3.7E-03 mrem. This value was reported in the annual air emission report prepared for the Hanford Site (RL 1993).« less

The etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in Australia: why penicillin plus doxycycline or a macrolide is the most appropriate therapy.

PubMed

Charles, Patrick G P; Whitby, Michael; Fuller, Andrew J; Stirling, Robert; Wright, Alistair A; Korman, Tony M; Holmes, Peter W; Christiansen, Keryn J; Waterer, Grant W; Pierce, Robert J P; Mayall, Barrie C; Armstrong, John G; Catton, Michael G; Nimmo, Graeme R; Johnson, Barbara; Hooy, Michelle; Grayson, M L

2008-05-15

Available data on the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Australia are very limited. Local treatment guidelines promote the use of combination therapy with agents such as penicillin or amoxycillin combined with either doxycycline or a macrolide. The Australian CAP Study (ACAPS) was a prospective, multicenter study of 885 episodes of CAP in which all patients underwent detailed assessment for bacterial and viral pathogens (cultures, urinary antigen testing, serological methods, and polymerase chain reaction). Antibiotic agents and relevant clinical outcomes were recorded. The etiology was identified in 404 (45.6%) of 885 episodes, with the most frequent causes being Streptococcus pneumoniae (14%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (9%), and respiratory viruses (15%; influenza, picornavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus). Antibiotic-resistant pathogens were rare: only 5.4% of patients had an infection for which therapy with penicillin plus doxycycline would potentially fail. Concordance with local antibiotic recommendations was high (82.4%), with the most commonly prescribed regimens being a penicillin plus either doxycycline or a macrolide (55.8%) or ceftriaxone plus either doxycycline or a macrolide (36.8%). The 30-day mortality rate was 5.6% (50 of 885 episodes), and mechanical ventilation or vasopressor support were required in 94 episodes (10.6%). Outcomes were not compromised by receipt of narrower-spectrum beta-lactams, and they did not differ on the basis of whether a pathogen was identified. The vast majority of patients with CAP can be treated successfully with narrow-spectrum beta-lactam treatment, such as penicillin combined with doxycycline or a macrolide. Greater use of such therapy could potentially reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance among common bacterial pathogens.

Auditory Cortex Basal Activity Modulates Cochlear Responses in Chinchillas

PubMed Central

León, Alex; Elgueda, Diego; Silva, María A.; Hamamé, Carlos M.; Delano, Paul H.

2012-01-01

Background The auditory efferent system has unique neuroanatomical pathways that connect the cerebral cortex with sensory receptor cells. Pyramidal neurons located in layers V and VI of the primary auditory cortex constitute descending projections to the thalamus, inferior colliculus, and even directly to the superior olivary complex and to the cochlear nucleus. Efferent pathways are connected to the cochlear receptor by the olivocochlear system, which innervates outer hair cells and auditory nerve fibers. The functional role of the cortico-olivocochlear efferent system remains debated. We hypothesized that auditory cortex basal activity modulates cochlear and auditory-nerve afferent responses through the efferent system. Methodology/Principal Findings Cochlear microphonics (CM), auditory-nerve compound action potentials (CAP) and auditory cortex evoked potentials (ACEP) were recorded in twenty anesthetized chinchillas, before, during and after auditory cortex deactivation by two methods: lidocaine microinjections or cortical cooling with cryoloops. Auditory cortex deactivation induced a transient reduction in ACEP amplitudes in fifteen animals (deactivation experiments) and a permanent reduction in five chinchillas (lesion experiments). We found significant changes in the amplitude of CM in both types of experiments, being the most common effect a CM decrease found in fifteen animals. Concomitantly to CM amplitude changes, we found CAP increases in seven chinchillas and CAP reductions in thirteen animals. Although ACEP amplitudes were completely recovered after ninety minutes in deactivation experiments, only partial recovery was observed in the magnitudes of cochlear responses. Conclusions/Significance These results show that blocking ongoing auditory cortex activity modulates CM and CAP responses, demonstrating that cortico-olivocochlear circuits regulate auditory nerve and cochlear responses through a basal efferent tone. The diversity of the obtained effects suggests that there are at least two functional pathways from the auditory cortex to the cochlea. PMID:22558383

Targets for Antibiotic and Health Care Resource Stewardship in Inpatient Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Comparison of Management Practices with National Guideline Recommendations

PubMed Central

Jenkins, Timothy C.; Stella, Sarah A.; Cervantes, Lilia; Knepper, Bryan C.; Sabel, Allison L.; Price, Connie S.; Shockley, Lee; Hanley, Michael E.; Mehler, Philip S.; Burman, William J.

2012-01-01

Purpose Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common infection leading to hospitalization in the U.S. The objective of this study was to evaluate management practices for inpatient CAP in relation to IDSA/ATS guidelines to identify opportunities for antibiotic and health care resource stewardship. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalized for CAP at a single institution from April 15, 2008 – May 31, 2009. Results Of 209 cases, 166 (79%) were admitted to a medical ward and 43 (21%) to the intensive care unit (ICU). 61 (29%) cases were candidates for outpatient therapy per IDSA/ATS guidance with a CURB-65 score of 0 or 1 and absence of hypoxemia. 110 sputum cultures were ordered; however, an evaluable sample was obtained in 49 (45%) cases, median time from antibiotic initiation to specimen collection was 11 (IQR 6–19) hours, and a potential pathogen was identified in only 18 (16%). Blood cultures were routinely obtained for both non-ICU (81%) and ICU (95%) cases, but 15 of 36 (42%) positive cultures were false-positive results. The most common antibiotic regimen was ceftriaxone plus azithromycin (182, 87% cases). Discordant with IDSA/ATS recommendations, oral step-down therapy consisted of a new antibiotic class in 120 (66%), most commonly levofloxacin (101, 55%). Treatment durations were typically longer than suggested with a median of 10 (IQR 8 – 12) days. Conclusions In this cohort of patients hospitalized for CAP, management was frequently inconsistent with IDSA/ATS guideline recommendations revealing potential targets to reduce unnecessary antibiotic and health care resource utilization. PMID:23160837

CapZyme-Seq Comprehensively Defines Promoter-Sequence Determinants for RNA 5' Capping with NAD.

PubMed

Vvedenskaya, Irina O; Bird, Jeremy G; Zhang, Yuanchao; Zhang, Yu; Jiao, Xinfu; Barvík, Ivan; Krásný, Libor; Kiledjian, Megerditch; Taylor, Deanne M; Ebright, Richard H; Nickels, Bryce E

2018-05-03

Nucleoside-containing metabolites such as NAD + can be incorporated as 5' caps on RNA by serving as non-canonical initiating nucleotides (NCINs) for transcription initiation by RNA polymerase (RNAP). Here, we report CapZyme-seq, a high-throughput-sequencing method that employs NCIN-decapping enzymes NudC and Rai1 to detect and quantify NCIN-capped RNA. By combining CapZyme-seq with multiplexed transcriptomics, we determine efficiencies of NAD + capping by Escherichia coli RNAP for ∼16,000 promoter sequences. The results define preferred transcription start site (TSS) positions for NAD + capping and define a consensus promoter sequence for NAD + capping: HRRASWW (TSS underlined). By applying CapZyme-seq to E. coli total cellular RNA, we establish that sequence determinants for NCIN capping in vivo match the NAD + -capping consensus defined in vitro, and we identify and quantify NCIN-capped small RNAs (sRNAs). Our findings define the promoter-sequence determinants for NCIN capping with NAD + and provide a general method for analysis of NCIN capping in vitro and in vivo. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Polar cap particle precipitation and aurora: Review and commentary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newell, Patrick T.; Liou, Kan; Wilson, Gordon R.

2009-02-01

Polar rain has a beautiful set of symmetry properties, individually established, but not previously discussed collectively, which can be organized by a single unifying principle. The key polar rain properties are favored hemisphere (controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field Bx), dawn/dusk gradient (IMF By), merging rate (IMF Bz or more generally d[Phi]MP/dt), nightside/dayside gradient, and seasonal effect. We argue that all five properties involve variants on a single theme: the further downstream a field line exits the magnetosphere (or less directly points toward the solar wind electron heat flux), the weaker the polar rain. This effect is the result of the requirements of charge quasi-neutrality, and because the ion thermal velocity declines and the tailward ion bulk flow velocity rises moving down tail from the frontside magnetopause. Polar cap arcs (or more properly, high-latitude sun-aligned arcs) are largely complementary to the polar rain, occurring most frequently when the dayside merging rate is low, and thus when polar rain is weak. Sun-aligned arcs are often considered as originating either in the polar rain or the expansion of the plasma sheet into the polar cap. In fact three quite distinct types of sun-aligned high-latitude arcs exist, two common, and one rare. One type of arc occurs as intensifications of the polar rain, and is common, but weak, typically <0.1 ergs/cm2 s, and lacks associated ion precipitation. A second category of Sun-aligned arcs with energy flux >0.1 ergs/cm2 s usually occurs adjacent to the auroral oval, and includes ion precipitation. The plasma regime of these common, and at times intense, arcs is often distinct from the oval which they abut. Convection alone does not specify the open/closed nature of these arcs, because multiple narrow convection reversals are common around such arcs, and the arcs themselves can be embedded within flows that are either sunward or anti-sunward. These observational facts do not neatly fit into either a plasma sheet origin or a polar rain origin (e.g., the necessity to abut the auroral oval, and the presence of ions does not fit the properties of polar rain, which can in any event be nearly absent for northward interplanetary magnetic field). One theory is that such arcs are associated with merging tailward of the cusp. Both of these common types of sun-aligned arcs fade within about 30 min of a southward IMF turning. The third, and rarest, category of sun-aligned arcs are intense, well detached from the auroral oval, contain plasma sheet origin ion precipitation as well as electrons, and persist for hours after a southward turning. These intense detached sun-aligned arcs can rapidly cross the polar cap, sometimes multiple times. Most events discussed in the literature as "theta-aurora" do not fit into this category (for example, although they may appear detached in images, they abut the oval in particle data, and do not have the persistence of detached events under southward IMF turnings). It is possible that no single theory can account for all three types of sun-aligned arcs. Solar energetic particle (SEP) events are at times used to demarcate polar cap open/closed boundaries. Although this works at times, examples exist where this method fails (e.g., very quiet conditions for which SEP reaches below L=4), and the method should be used with caution. Finally, it is shown that, although it is rare, the polar cap can at times completely close.

High-pressure jet cutters improve capping operations

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

Abel, L.W.; Campbell, P.J.; Bowden, J.R. Sr.

1995-05-08

Advances in abrasive cutting technology have improved the methods for removing damaged equipment and preparing wellheads for capping. This technology, much of which was refined during well control operations in Kuwait in 1991, can improve the safety and efficiency of capping jobs by cutting wellheads or casing quickly and cleanly. The majority of well control jobs involve one of three types of capping operations: capping to a flange, capping by installing a wellhead, or capping to a casing stub. Capping operations are often the first major step in regaining control of the well during blowout intervention. Proper planning of amore » capping operation must take into account the mass flow rate, combustible nature of the flow, well bore geometry, and operations in the post-capping phase of the project. The paper discusses capping vehicles, tree removal, jet cutters, capping to a flange, capping to a stub, swallowing the stub, spin-on technique, capping on fire, stinging, offshore blowouts, firefighting, pollution control, intervention equipment, and rig removal.« less

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Results Based on a Sample of Chinese Mothers in Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chan, Y. C.; Lam, Gladys L. T.; Chun, P. K. R.; So, Moon Tong Ernest

2006-01-01

Objectives: To evaluate whether or not the original six-factor structure of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory suggested by [Milner, J. S. (1986). "The Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Manual" (2nd ed.). DeKalb, IL: Psytec. Inc.] can be confirmed with data from a group of Chinese mothers in Hong Kong. Method: Eight hundred and…

Cradle Cap (For Parents)

MedlinePlus

... Safe Videos for Educators Search English Español Cradle Cap (Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis) KidsHealth / For Parents / Cradle Cap ( ... many babies develop called cradle cap. About Cradle Cap Cradle cap is the common term for seborrheic ...

The effect of medical malpractice liability on rate of referrals received by specialist physicians.

PubMed

Xu, Xiao; Spurr, Stephen J; Nan, Bin; Fendrick, A Mark

2013-10-01

Using nationally representative data from the United States, this paper analyzed the effect of a state’s medical malpractice environment on referral visits received by specialist physicians. The analytic sample included 12,839 ambulatory visits to specialist care doctors in office-based settings in the United States during 2003–2007. Whether the patient was referred for the visit was examined for its association with the state’s malpractice environment, assessed by the frequency and severity of paid medical malpractice claims, medical malpractice insurance premiums and an indicator for whether the state had a cap on non-economic damages. After accounting for potential confounders such as economic or professional incentives within practices, the analysis showed that statutory caps on non-economic damages of $250,000 were significantly associated with lower likelihood of a specialist receiving referrals, suggesting a potential impact of a state’s medical malpractice environment on physicians’ referral behavior.

The Effect of Medical Malpractice Liability on Rate of Referrals Received by Specialist Physicians

PubMed Central

Xu, Xiao; Spurr, Stephen J.; Nan, Bin; Fendrick, A. Mark

2013-01-01

Using nationally representative data from the U.S., this paper analyzed the effect of a state’s medical malpractice environment on referral visits received by specialist physicians. The analytic sample included 12,839 ambulatory visits to specialist care doctors in office-based settings in the U.S. during 2003–2007. Whether the patient was referred for the visit was examined for its association with the state’s malpractice environment, assessed by the frequency and severity of paid medical malpractice claims, medical malpractice insurance premiums, and an indicator for whether the state had a cap on noneconomic damages. After accounting for potential confounders such as economic or professional incentives within practices, the analysis showed that statutory caps on noneconomic damages of $250,000 were significantly associated with lower likelihood of a specialist receiving referrals, suggesting a potential impact of a state’s medical malpractice environment on physicians’ referral behavior. PMID:23527533

Effect of heterocyclic capping groups on the self-assembly of a dipeptide hydrogel.

PubMed

Martin, Adam D; Wojciechowski, Jonathan P; Warren, Holly; in het Panhuis, Marc; Thordarson, Pall

2016-03-14

The mechanism and design rules associated with the self-assembly of short peptides into hydrogels is currently not well understood. In this work, four diphenylalanine-based peptides have been synthesised, bearing heterocyclic capping groups which have different degrees of hydrogen bonding potential and nitrogen substitution. For these four peptides, zeta potential and electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements were undertaken to monitor gelation, with the impedance data showing different gelation times for each peptide hydrogel. Through a combination of atomic force microscopy and rheological measurmeents, including dynamic strain and frequency sweeps, and thixotropic tests, the relationship between the mechanism of self-assembly in these hydrogels and their macroscopic behaviour can be established. It is observed that the degree of nitrogen substitution affects the self-assembly mechanisms of the hydrogels and as such, that there is an interplay between branching and bundling self-assembly pathways that are responsible for the final properties of each hydrogel.

Mars atmospheric D/H - Consistent with polar volatile theory?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jakosky, Bruce M.

1990-01-01

Current theories on the Martian water history are discussed on the basis of data for the D/H ratio in the Martian atmosphere (which was found to be enhanced by a factor of 6 + or - relative to the value on earth). In particular, the calculations of Yung et al. (1988), on the basis of their photochemical model, are found to be inconsistent with current theories for the evolution of the polar deposits on Mars. While the photochemical model predicts that about 95 percent of the Martian water has escaped over geologic time and the nonatmospheric reservoir is now only 02 m thick, the polar volatile theory suggest that polar deposits contain the equivalent of tens of meters of water, requiring a more rapid escape of H and D to space than predicted by the photochemical model to match the observed D/H ratio. The paper examines the behavior of the polar caps and the atmospheric water vapor over geologic time and the loss of H and D to space. It is concluded that, at present, it is premature to accept a specific history for water on Mars.

Tumor-derived CXCL8 signaling augments stroma-derived CCL2-promoted proliferation and CXCL12-mediated invasion of PTEN-deficient prostate cancer cells

PubMed Central

Maxwell, Pamela J.; Neisen, Jessica; Messenger, Johanna; Waugh, David J.J.

2014-01-01

Impaired PTEN function is a genetic hallmark of aggressive prostate cancers (CaP) and is associated with increased CXCL8 expression and signaling. The current aim was to further characterize biological responses and mechanisms underpinning CXCL8-promoted progression of PTEN-depleted prostate cancer, focusing on characterizing the potential interplay between CXCL8 and other disease-promoting chemokines resident within the prostate tumor microenvironment. Autocrine CXCL8-stimulation (i) increased expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in PTEN-deficient CaP cells suggesting a self-potentiating signaling axis and (ii) induced expression of CXCR4 and CCR2 in PTEN-wild-type and PTEN-depleted CaP cells. In contrast, paracrine CXCL8 signaling induced expression and secretion of the chemokines CCL2 and CXCL12 from prostate stromal WPMY-1 fibroblasts and monocytic macrophage-like THP-1 cells. In vitro studies demonstrated functional co-operation of tumor-derived CXCL8 with stromal-derived chemokines. CXCL12-induced migration of PC3 cells and CCL2-induced proliferation of prostate cancer cells were dependent upon intrinsic CXCL8 signaling within the prostate cancer cells. For example, in co-culture experiments, CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling but not CCL2/CCR2 signaling supported fibroblast-mediated migration of PC3 cells while CXCL12/CXCR4 and CCL2/CCR2 signaling underpinned monocyte-enhanced migration of PC3 cells. Combined inhibition of both CXCL8 and CXCL12 signaling was more effective in inhibiting fibroblast-promoted cell motility while repression of CXCL8 attenuated CCL2-promoted proliferation of prostate cancer cells. We conclude that tumor-derived CXCL8 signaling from PTEN-deficient tumor cells increases the sensitivity and responsiveness of CaP cells to stromal chemokines by concurrently upregulating receptor expression in cancer cells and inducing stromal chemokine synthesis. Combined chemokine targeting may be required to inhibit their multi-faceted actions in promoting the invasion and proliferation of aggressive CaP. PMID:24970800