Primary central nervous system lymphoma can be histologically diagnosed after previous corticosteroid use: a pilot study to determine whether corticosteroids prevent the diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma.

PubMed

Porter, Alyx B; Giannini, Caterina; Kaufmann, Timothy; Lucchinetti, Claudia F; Wu, Wenting; Decker, Paul A; Atkinson, John L D; O'Neill, Brian Patrick

2008-05-01

The objective is to determine whether corticosteroid administration before biopsy prevents histopathological diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). A retrospective review was performed of immunocompetent PCNSL patients from 1985 to 2005. A total of 109 patients was identified. Sixty-eight (63.6%) patients received corticosteroids before diagnosis. Thirteen patients (of 109; 12%) had undergone repeat brain biopsy to confirm PCNSL. These included 8 (of 68) patients who had received corticosteroids (12%), and 5 (of 39) who had not (13%) (p = 1.0). The majority of PCNSL patients who received corticosteroids before diagnosis did not experience significant radiographic change or require second biopsy for diagnosis.

Characteristics of Students Receiving Special Education Services in a Central Minnesota School District According to Setting, Classification, and Level of Service.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ittenbach, Richard F.; And Others

The records of 1,231 preschool, elementary, and secondary students receiving special education services in a central Minnesota school district were evaluated to provide information on differences according to setting, classification, and level of service. Data were analyzed within the context of four broad domains: demographics (age, race, gender,…

Advances in central receivers for concentrating solar applications

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

Ho, Clifford K.

This paper provides a review of current state-of-the-art commercial central receiver systems and emerging technologies intended to increase the outlet temperature to >700 °C. Research on particle-based, gas-based, and liquid-based receiver designs that can achieve these higher temperatures are discussed. Particle-based technologies include directly irradiated designs (free-falling, obstructed, centrifugal) and enclosed designs (gravity fed, fluidized). New gas-based receivers include micro-channel designs and light-trapping configurations that increase the surface area, heat transfer, and solar absorptance to enable higher fluxes and pressures. Liquid-based receivers and materials that are reviewed include high-temperature halide salts (chlorides and fluorides), carbonate salts, and liquid metals (sodiummore » and lead bismuth). Advantages and challenges associated with each of the technologies and receiver designs are presented.« less

Advances in central receivers for concentrating solar applications

DOE PAGES

Ho, Clifford K.

2017-04-09

This paper provides a review of current state-of-the-art commercial central receiver systems and emerging technologies intended to increase the outlet temperature to >700 °C. Research on particle-based, gas-based, and liquid-based receiver designs that can achieve these higher temperatures are discussed. Particle-based technologies include directly irradiated designs (free-falling, obstructed, centrifugal) and enclosed designs (gravity fed, fluidized). New gas-based receivers include micro-channel designs and light-trapping configurations that increase the surface area, heat transfer, and solar absorptance to enable higher fluxes and pressures. Liquid-based receivers and materials that are reviewed include high-temperature halide salts (chlorides and fluorides), carbonate salts, and liquid metals (sodiummore » and lead bismuth). Advantages and challenges associated with each of the technologies and receiver designs are presented.« less

Gaussian mixture models as flux prediction method for central receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grobler, Annemarie; Gauché, Paul; Smit, Willie

2016-05-01

Flux prediction methods are crucial to the design and operation of central receiver systems. Current methods such as the circular and elliptical (bivariate) Gaussian prediction methods are often used in field layout design and aiming strategies. For experimental or small central receiver systems, the flux profile of a single heliostat often deviates significantly from the circular and elliptical Gaussian models. Therefore a novel method of flux prediction was developed by incorporating the fitting of Gaussian mixture models onto flux profiles produced by flux measurement or ray tracing. A method was also developed to predict the Gaussian mixture model parameters of a single heliostat for a given time using image processing. Recording the predicted parameters in a database ensures that more accurate predictions are made in a shorter time frame.

Whole-brain radiotherapy and high-dose methylprednisolone for elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: Results of North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) 96-73-51

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

Laack, Nadia N.; Ballman, Karla V.; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, toxicity, and survival of whole-brain radiotherapy-treated (WBRT) and high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP)-treated in elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Methods and Materials: Patients with PCNSL who were 70 years and older received 1 g of methylprednisolone daily for 5 days, 30 days after WBRT. Patients then received 1 g of methylprednisolone every 28 days until progression. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) at 6 months. Results were compared with those in patients on the previous North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) trial who received pre-WBRT cytoxan,more » adriamycin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) and high-dose cytarabine (CHOP-WBRT). A planned interim analysis was performed. The current regimen would be considered inactive if survival was not improved from patients treated with CHOP-WBRT. Results: Nineteen patients were accrued between 1998 and 2003. Median age was 76 years. Interim analysis revealed a 6-month survival of 33%, resulting in closure of the trial. Toxicity, OS, and event-free survival (EFS) were similar to those in patients more than 70 years of age who received CHOP-WBRT. The subgroup of patients who received HDMP had longer OS (12.1 vs. 7.0 months, p = 0.76) and EFS (11.7 vs. 4.0 months, p = 0.04) compared with the CHOP-WBRT patients alive 60 days after the start of treatment. Conclusions: Patients on-study long enough to receive HDMP had prolongation of OS and EFS compared to patients receiving CHOP-WBRT. Although the numbers of patients are too small for statistical conclusions, the HDMP regimen deserves further study.« less

Support and maneuvering apparatus for solar energy receivers

DOEpatents

Murphy, L.M.

1988-07-28

A support and maneuvering apparatus is disclosed for a solar energy receiving device adapted for receiving and concentrating solar energy and having a central axis extending through the center thereof. The apparatus includes a frame for mounting the perimeter of said solar energy receiving device. A support member extends along the central axis of the receiving device and has a base end passing through the center of the receiving device and an outer distal end adapted for carrying a solar energy receiving and conversion mechanism. A variable tension mechanism interconnects the support member with the frame to provide stiffening for the support member and the frame and to assist in the alignment of the frame to optimize the optical efficiency of the solar energy receiving device. A rotatable base is provided, and connecting members extend from the base for pivotable attachment to the frame at spaced positions therealong. Finally, an elevation assembly is connected to the receiving device for selectively pivoting the receiving about an axis defined between the attachment positions of the connecting members on the frame. 4 figs.

Support and maneuvering apparatus for solar energy receivers

DOEpatents

Murphy, Lawrence M.

1989-01-01

A support and maneuvering apparatus is disclosed for a solar energy receiving device adpated for receiving and concentrating solar energy and having a central axis extending through the center thereof. The apparatus includes a frame for mounting the perimeter of said solar energy receiving device. A support member extends along the central axis of the receiving device and has a base end passing through the center of the receiving device and an outer distal end adapted for carrying a solar energy receiving and conversion mechanism. A variable tension mechanism interconnects the support member with the frame to provide stiffening for the support member and the frame and to assist in the alignment of the frame to optimize the optical efficiency of the solar energy receiving device. A rotatable base is provided, and connecting members extend from the base for pivotable attachment to the frame at spaced positions therealong. Finally, an elevation assembly is connected to the receiving device for selectively pivoting the receiving device about an axis defined between the attachment positions of the connecting members on the frame.

Toward large-scale solar energy systems with peak concentrations of 20,000 suns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kribus, Abraham

1997-10-01

The heliostat field plays a crucial role in defining the achievable limits for central receiver system efficiency and cost. Increasing system efficiency, thus reducing the reflective area and system cost, can be achieved by increasing the concentration and the receiver temperature. The concentration achievable in central receiver plants, however, is constrained by current heliostat technology and design practices. The factors affecting field performance are surface and tracking errors, astigmatism, shadowing, blocking and dilution. These are geometric factors that can be systematically treated and reduced. We present improvements in collection optics and technology that may boost concentration (up to 20,000 peak), achievable temperature (2,000 K), and efficiency in solar central receiver plants. The increased performance may significantly reduce the cost of solar energy in existing applications, and enable solar access to new ultra-high-temperature applications, such as: future gas turbines approaching 60% combined cycle efficiency; high-temperature thermo-chemical processes; and gas-dynamic processes.

Conceptual design of advanced central receiver power systems sodium-cooled receiver concept. Volume 1. Executive summary. Final report

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

Not Available

1979-06-01

The conceptual design of an advanced central receiver power system using liquid sodium as a heat transport medium has been completed by a team consisting of the Energy Systems Group (prime contractor), McDonnell Douglas, Stearns-Roger, The University of Houston, and Salt River Project. The purpose of this study was to determine the technical and economic advantages of this concept for commercial-scale power plants. This final report covers all tasks of the project. These tasks were as follows: (1) review and analysis of preliminary specification; (2) parametric analysis; (3) select commercial configuration; (4) commercial plant conceptual design; (5) assessment of commercialmore » plant; (6) advanced central receiver power system development plan; (7) program plan; (8) reports and data; (9) program management; and (10) safety analysis. A programmatic overview of the accomplishments of this program is given. The 100-MW conceptual commercial plant, the 281-MW optimum plant, and the 10-MW pilot plant are described. (WHK)« less

Solar Pilot Plant, Phase I. Preliminary design report. Volume II, Book 2. Central receiver optical model users manual. CDRL item 2. [HELIAKI code

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

None

1977-05-01

HELIAKI is a FORTRAN computer program which simulates the optical/thermal performance of a central receiver solar thermal power plant for the dynamic conversion of solar-generated heat to electricity. The solar power plant which this program simulates consists of a field of individual sun tracking mirror units, or heliostats, redirecting sunlight into a cavity, called the receiver, mounted atop a tower. The program calculates the power retained by that cavity receiver at any point in time or the energy into the receiver over a year's time using a Monte Carlo ray trace technique to solve the multiple integral equations. An artist'smore » concept of this plant is shown.« less

Receiver-exciter controller design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jansma, P. A.

1982-01-01

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

Frequency and Content of Chat Questions by Time of Semester at the University of Central Florida: Implications for Training, Staffing and Marketing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goda, Donna; Bishop, Corinne

2008-01-01

The more than 4,000 "chats" received by the University of Central Florida's (UCF) Ask-A-Librarian digital reference service are the subject of this practitioner-based, descriptive case study. Question content from chats received during four semesters between January 2005 and May 2006 are categorized and plotted, by semester, to show the…

A 200kW central receiver CPV system

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

Lasich, John, E-mail: jbl@raygen.com; Thomas, Ian, E-mail: ithomas@raygen.com; Hertaeg, Wolfgang

2015-09-28

Raygen Resources has recently completed a Central Receiver CPV (CSPV) pilot plant in Central Victoria, Australia. The system is under final commissioning and initial operation is expected in late April 2015. The pilot demonstrates a full scale CSPV repeatable unit in a form that is representative of a commercial product and provides a test bed to prove out performance and reliability of the CSPV technology. Extensive testing of the system key components: dense array module, wireless solar powered heliostat and control system has been performed in the laboratory and on sun. Results from this key component testing are presented herein.

The Crustal Structure of the Central Anatolia (Turkey) Using Receiver Functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yelkenci, S.; Benoit, M.; Kuleli, H.; Gurbuz, C.

2005-12-01

Central Anatolia lies in a transitional region between the extensional tectonics of western Anatolia and the complex transpressional tectonics of Eastern Anatolia, and has a complicated thermal and structural history. Few studies of the crustal structure of Anatolia have been performed, however, studies of the crustal structure of Eastern Anatolia showed that crustal thicknesses were thinner than previously thought. To further investigate the crustal structure in Central Anatolia, we present results from receiver function analysis using new data from broad-band instruments. The stations were equipped with 7 broadband three-component STS-2 and 13 short period three-component S-13 sensors. These stations operated for period of one and half months between the October and November, 2002, and yielded data for ~ 40 high quality receiver functions. Additionally, receiver functions were also computed using data from permanent stations MALT, ISP, and ANTO. We applied the hk-stacking technique of Zhu and Kanamori (2000) to receiver functions to obtain the crustal thickness and Vp/Vs ratios. Furthermore, we applied a waveform modeling technique to investigate mid-crustal discontinuties previously imaged in the region. Our results compare well with refraction-based crustal thicknesses in overlapped areas.

Performance comparison of different thermodynamic cycles for an innovative central receiver solar power plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes-Belmonte, Miguel A.; Sebastián, Andrés; González-Aguilar, José; Romero, Manuel

2017-06-01

The potential of using different thermodynamic cycles coupled to a solar tower central receiver that uses a novel heat transfer fluid is analyzed. The new fluid, named as DPS, is a dense suspension of solid particles aerated through a tubular receiver used to convert concentrated solar energy into thermal power. This novel fluid allows reaching high temperatures at the solar receiver what opens a wide range of possibilities for power cycle selection. This work has been focused into the assessment of power plant performance using conventional, but optimized cycles but also novel thermodynamic concepts. Cases studied are ranging from subcritical steam Rankine cycle; open regenerative Brayton air configurations at medium and high temperature; combined cycle; closed regenerative Brayton helium scheme and closed recompression supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle. Power cycle diagrams and working conditions for design point are compared amongst the studied cases for a common reference thermal power of 57 MWth reaching the central cavity receiver. It has been found that Brayton air cycle working at high temperature or using supercritical carbon dioxide are the most promising solutions in terms of efficiency conversion for the power block of future generation by means of concentrated solar power plants.

Central solar-energy receiver

DOEpatents

Not Available

1981-10-27

An improved tower-mounted central solar energy receiver for heating air drawn through the receiver by an induced draft fan is described. A number of vertically oriented, energy absorbing, fin-shaped slats are radially arranged in a number of concentric cylindrical arrays on top of the tower coaxially surrounding a pipe having air holes through which the fan draws air which is heated by the slats which receive the solar radiation from a heliostat field. A number of vertically oriented and wedge-shaped columns are radially arranged in a number of concentric cylindrical clusters surrounding the slat arrays. The columns have two mirror-reflecting sides to reflect radiation into the slat arrays and one energy absorbing side to reduce reradiation and reflection from the slat arrays.

Central solar energy receiver

DOEpatents

Drost, M. Kevin

1983-01-01

An improved tower-mounted central solar energy receiver for heating air drawn through the receiver by an induced draft fan. A number of vertically oriented, energy absorbing, fin-shaped slats are radially arranged in a number of concentric cylindrical arrays on top of the tower coaxially surrounding a pipe having air holes through which the fan draws air which is heated by the slats which receive the solar radiation from a heliostat field. A number of vertically oriented and wedge-shaped columns are radially arranged in a number of concentric cylindrical clusters surrounding the slat arrays. The columns have two mirror-reflecting sides to reflect radiation into the slat arrays and one energy absorbing side to reduce reradiation and reflection from the slat arrays.

Concentrated solar-flux measurements at the IEA-SSPS solar-central-receiver power plant, Tabernas - Lameria (Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vontobel, G.; Schelders, C.; Real, M.

A flux analyzing system (F.A.S.) was installed at the central receiver system of the SSPS project to determine the relative flux distribution of the heliostat field and to measure the entire optical solar flux reflected from the heliostat field into the receiver cavity. The functional principles of the F.A.S. are described. The raw data and the evaluation of the measurements of the entire helistat field are given, and an approach to determine the actual fluxes which hit the receiver tube bundle is presented. A method is described to qualify the performance of each heliostat using a computer code. The data of the measurements of the direct radiation are presented.

Review of dextromethorphan administration in 18 patients with subacute methotrexate central nervous system toxicity.

PubMed

Afshar, Maryam; Birnbaum, Daniel; Golden, Carla

2014-06-01

The pathogenesis of methotrexate central nervous system toxicity is multifactorial, but it is likely related to central nervous system folate homeostasis. The use of folinate rescue has been described to decrease toxicity in patients who had received intrathecal methotrexate. It has also been described in previous studies that there is an elevated level of homocysteine in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients who had received intrathecal methotrexate. Homocysteine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist. The use of dextromethorphan, noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor receptor antagonist, has been used in the treatment of sudden onset of neurological dysfunction associated with methotrexate toxicity. It remains unclear whether the dextromethorphan impacted the speed of recovery, and its use remains controversial. This study reviews the use of dextromethorphan in the setting of subacute methotrexate central nervous system toxicity. Charts of 18 patients who had sudden onset of neurological impairments after receiving methotrexate and were treated with dextromethorphan were reviewed. The use of dextromethorphan in most of our patients resulted in symptomatic improvement. In this patient population, earlier administration of dextromethorphan resulted in faster improvement of impairments and led to prevention of recurrence of seizure activity induced by methotrexate central nervous system toxicity. Our study provides support for the use of dextromethorphan in patients with subacute methotrexate central nervous system toxicity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Apipuncture treatment for central post-stroke pain.

PubMed

Yun, Sang Pil; Sun, Bong Chul

2010-02-01

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of apipuncture treatment for central post-stroke pain. Two (2) female subjects with central post-stroke pain were treated with apipuncture. Both patients experienced a reduction in the intensity of pain after receiving apipuncture treatment without adverse effects. Apipuncture is an effective and safe intervention to treat central post-stroke pain.

Developing a Performance Measurement System for University Central Administrative Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arena, Marika; Arnaboldi, Michela; Azzone, Giovanni; Carlucci, Paola

2009-01-01

Central administrative services have recently received increasing attention from practitioners and academics due to the challenging need to both manage scarce resources and provide high-quality services. In this context, performance measurement systems (PMSs) may assume a central role, although an unresolved debate remains on the claimed benefits…

Knowledgeable Lemurs Become More Central in Social Networks.

PubMed

Kulahci, Ipek G; Ghazanfar, Asif A; Rubenstein, Daniel I

2018-04-23

Strong relationships exist between social connections and information transmission [1-9], where individuals' network position plays a key role in whether or not they acquire novel information [2, 3, 5, 6]. The relationships between social connections and information acquisition may be bidirectional if learning novel information, in addition to being influenced by it, influences network position. Individuals who acquire information quickly and use it frequently may receive more affiliative behaviors [10, 11] and may thus have a central network position. However, the potential influence of learning on network centrality has not been theoretically or empirically addressed. To bridge this epistemic gap, we investigated whether ring-tailed lemurs' (Lemur catta) centrality in affiliation networks changed after they learned how to solve a novel foraging task. Lemurs who had frequently initiated interactions and approached conspecifics before the learning experiment were more likely to observe and learn the task solution. Comparing social networks before and after the learning experiment revealed that the frequently observed lemurs received more affiliative behaviors than they did before-they became more central after the experiment. This change persisted even after the task was removed and was not caused by the observed lemurs initiating more affiliative behaviors. Consequently, quantifying received and initiated interactions separately provides unique insights into the relationships between learning and centrality. While the factors that influence network position are not fully understood, our results suggest that individual differences in learning and becoming successful can play a major role in social centrality, especially when learning from others is advantageous. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NCI Central Review Board Receives Accreditation

Cancer.gov

The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs has awarded the NCI Central Institutional Review Board full accreditation. AAHRPP awards accreditation to organizations demonstrating the highest ethical standards in clinical res

Associations of centrally acting ACE inhibitors with cognitive decline and survival in Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Fazal, Karim; Perera, Gayan; Khondoker, Mizanur; Howard, Robert; Stewart, Robert

2017-07-01

Cognitive improvement has been reported in patients receiving centrally acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (C-ACEIs). To compare cognitive decline and survival after diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease between people receiving C-ACEIs, non-centrally acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (NC-ACEIs), and neither. Routine Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were extracted in 5260 patients receiving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and analysed against C-/NC-ACEI exposure at the time of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. In the 9 months after Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, MMSE scores significantly increased by 0.72 and 0.19 points per year in patients on C-ACEIs and neither respectively, but deteriorated by 0.61 points per year in those on NC-ACEIs. There were no significant group differences in score trajectories from 9 to 36 months and no differences in survival. In people with Alzheimer's disease receiving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, those also taking C-ACEIs had stronger initial improvement in cognitive function, but there was no evidence of longer-lasting influence on dementia progression. R.S. has received research funding from Pfizer, Lundbeck, Roche, Janssen and GlaxoSmithKline. © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.

Analysis and improvement of the cavity structure of steam receiver of 1MWe solar tower power plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Qiang; Wang, Zhifeng; Zhu, Lingzhi

2017-06-01

The central receiver, which plays a dominant role in the radiation-heat conversion, is one of the most important components in the solar tower power plants. Its performance can directly affect the efficiency of the entire solar power generation system. In general, the performance of the central receiver is mainly determined by two aspects: the first is the receiver structure and arrangement of heating pipes, the other is the integral control and operation strategy. The former is the internal essence of the receiver and the latter is extrinsic. In this paper, the latter is temporarily not in the scope of the discussion. According to the previous cavity structure and arrangement of the heating pipes, it is found that there are varying degrees of deformation to the heating pipes, especially for the superheated pipes. In order to make some improvement for the cavity receiver, firstly, the most likely causes were analyzed according to the previous structure. Secondly, a possible cavity structure was proposed according to the calculation results. The results show that the performance of the receiver is better than the previous one.

Solar thermal electricity generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasemagha, Khairy Ramadan

1993-01-01

This report presents the results of modeling the thermal performance and economic feasibility of large (utility scale) and small solar thermal power plants for electricity generation. A number of solar concepts for power systems applications have been investigated. Each concept has been analyzed over a range of plant power ratings from 1 MW(sub e) to 300 MW(sub e) and over a range of capacity factors from a no-storage case (capacity factor of about 0.25 to 0.30) up to intermediate load capacity factors in the range of 0.46 to 0.60. The solar plant's economic viability is investigated by examining the effect of various parameters on the plant costs (both capital and O & M) and the levelized energy costs (LEC). The cost components are reported in six categories: collectors, energy transport, energy storage, energy conversion, balance of plant, and indirect/contingency costs. Concentrator and receiver costs are included in the collector category. Thermal and electric energy transport costs are included in the energy transport category. Costs for the thermal or electric storage are included in the energy storage category; energy conversion costs are included in the energy conversion category. The balance of plant cost category comprises the structures, land, service facilities, power conditioning, instrumentation and controls, and spare part costs. The indirect/contingency category consists of the indirect construction and the contingency costs. The concepts included in the study are (1) molten salt cavity central receiver with salt storage (PFCR/R-C-Salt); (2) molten salt external central receiver with salt storage (PFCR/R-E-Salt); (3) sodium external central receiver with sodium storage (PFCR/RE-Na); (4) sodium external central receiver with salt storage (PFCR/R-E-Na/Salt); (5) water/steam external central receiver with oil/rock storage (PFCR/R-E-W/S); (6) parabolic dish with stirling engine conversion and lead acid battery storage (PFDR/SLAB); (7) parabolic dish with stirling engine conversion and redox advanced battery storage (PFDR/S-RAB); and (8) parabolic trough with oil/rock storage (LFDR/R-HT-45). Key annual efficiency and economic results of the study are highlighted in tabular format for plant sizes and capacity factor that resulted in the lowest LEC over the analysis range.

Sensitivity analysis of heliostat aiming strategies and receiver size on annual thermal production of a molten salt external receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servert, Jorge; González, Ana; Gil, Javier; López, Diego; Funes, Jose Felix; Jurado, Alfonso

2017-06-01

Even though receiver size and aiming strategy are to be jointly analyzed to optimize the thermal energy that can be extracted from a solar tower receiver, customarily, they have been studied as separated problems. The main reason is the high-level of detail required to define aiming strategies, which are often simplified in annual simulation models. Aiming strategies are usually focused on obtaining a homogeneous heat flux on the central receiver, with the goal to minimize the maximum heat flux value that may lead to damaging it. Some recent studies have addressed the effect of different aiming strategies on different receiver types, but they have only focused on the optical efficiency. The receiver size is also an additional parameter that has to be considered: larger receiver sizes provide a larger aiming surface and a reduction on spillage losses, but require higher investment while penalizing the thermal performance of the receiver due to the greater external convection losses. The present paper presents a sensitivity analysis of both factors for a predefined solar field at a fixed location, using a central receiver and molten salts as HTF. The analysis includes the design point values and annual energy outputs comparing the effect on the optical performance (measured using a spillage factor) and thermal energy production.

Solar central electric power generation - A baseline design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, J. C.

1976-01-01

The paper presents the conceptual technical baseline design of a solar electric power plant using the central receiver concept, and derives credible cost estimates from the baseline design. The major components of the plant - heliostats, tower, receiver, tower piping, and thermal storage - are discussed in terms of technical and cost information. The assumed peak plant output is 215 MW(e), over 4000 daylight hours. The contribution of total capital investment to energy cost is estimated to be about 55 mills per kwh in mid-1974 dollars.

Arms Transfers to Venezuela: A Comparative and Critical Analysis of the Acquisition Process (1980-1996).

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-03-01

Budget (Oficina Central de Presupuesto [OCEPRE]), which is the presidential agency with overall responsibility to formulate the national budget...Budget (Oficina Central de Presupuesto OCEPRE), and they receive a special treatment in the Venezuelan Budgetary process. The OCEPRE is the...the Central Office of Budget (Oficina Central de Presupuesto , OCEPRE). This occurs when funds for weapons acquisitions come from the ordinary budget

Effects of Centralizing Acute Stroke Services on Stroke Care Provision in Two Large Metropolitan Areas in England

PubMed Central

Morris, Stephen; Hoffman, Alex; Hunter, Rachael M.; Boaden, Ruth; McKevitt, Christopher; Perry, Catherine; Pursani, Nanik; Rudd, Anthony G.; Turner, Simon J.; Tyrrell, Pippa J.; Wolfe, Charles D.A.; Fulop, Naomi J.

2015-01-01

Background and Purpose— In 2010, Greater Manchester and London centralized acute stroke care into hyperacute units (Greater Manchester=3, London=8), with additional units providing ongoing specialist stroke care nearer patients’ homes. Greater Manchester patients presenting within 4 hours of symptom onset were eligible for hyperacute unit admission; all London patients were eligible. Research indicates that postcentralization, only London’s stroke mortality fell significantly more than elsewhere in England. This article attempts to explain this difference by analyzing how centralization affects provision of evidence-based clinical interventions. Methods— Controlled before and after analysis was conducted, using national audit data covering Greater Manchester, London, and a noncentralized urban comparator (38 623 adult stroke patients, April 2008 to December 2012). Likelihood of receiving all interventions measured reliably in pre- and postcentralization audits (brain scan; stroke unit admission; receiving antiplatelet; physiotherapist, nutrition, and swallow assessments) was calculated, adjusting for age, sex, stroke-type, consciousness, and whether stroke occurred in-hospital. Results— Postcentralization, likelihood of receiving interventions increased in all areas. London patients were overall significantly more likely to receive interventions, for example, brain scan within 3 hours: Greater Manchester=65.2% (95% confidence interval=64.3–66.2); London=72.1% (71.4–72.8); comparator=55.5% (54.8–56.3). Hyperacute units were significantly more likely to provide interventions, but fewer Greater Manchester patients were admitted to these (Greater Manchester=39%; London=93%). Differences resulted from contrasting hyperacute unit referral criteria and how reliably they were followed. Conclusions— Centralized systems admitting all stroke patients to hyperacute units, as in London, are significantly more likely to provide evidence-based clinical interventions. This may help explain previous research showing better outcomes associated with fully centralized models. PMID:26130092

Central line associated sepsis in children receiving parenteral nutrition in Oman.

PubMed

Al Lawati, Tawfiq T; Al Jamie, Adawaiya; Al Mufarraji, Nasra

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) is used when gut fails to provide complete nutrition. Central line Associate Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) a major complication of this therapy. The objective of the study was to report the incidence of CLABSI and associated mortality in children receiving PN in the Royal Hospital and study the indication and duration of PN use. All children from the age of 0-48 months who received TPN outside NICU from the period between 1/1/2011 till 31/12/2014 were included. Data were retrieved from the hospital electronic data base. There were 42 children 27 males and 15 females who used PN through a central line for a total duration of 569 days. The incidence of CLABSI was 14 days per 1000 days catheter and mortality of 556 per 10000. The average duration of TPN was 14.5 days. Most of the patient had CLABSI in the PICU and cardiac related illness or surgery was the most common indication of PN use. The average duration of use was 14 days. Inspite of that short duration use of PN, there is a very high incidence of CLABSI and its related mortality. Bundle policy for central line care is not used in the Royal Hospital and this study calls for urgent implementation of central line care bundle policy in the Royal Hospital. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Differentiation of Enhancing Glioma and Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma by Texture-Based Machine Learning.

PubMed

Alcaide-Leon, P; Dufort, P; Geraldo, A F; Alshafai, L; Maralani, P J; Spears, J; Bharatha, A

2017-06-01

Accurate preoperative differentiation of primary central nervous system lymphoma and enhancing glioma is essential to avoid unnecessary neurosurgical resection in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a machine-learning algorithm by using texture analysis of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images for differentiation of primary central nervous system lymphoma and enhancing glioma. Seventy-one adult patients with enhancing gliomas and 35 adult patients with primary central nervous system lymphomas were included. The tumors were manually contoured on contrast-enhanced T1WI, and the resulting volumes of interest were mined for textural features and subjected to a support vector machine-based machine-learning protocol. Three readers classified the tumors independently on contrast-enhanced T1WI. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were estimated for each reader and for the support vector machine classifier. A noninferiority test for diagnostic accuracy based on paired areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve was performed with a noninferiority margin of 0.15. The mean areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.877 (95% CI, 0.798-0.955) for the support vector machine classifier; 0.878 (95% CI, 0.807-0.949) for reader 1; 0.899 (95% CI, 0.833-0.966) for reader 2; and 0.845 (95% CI, 0.757-0.933) for reader 3. The mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the support vector machine classifier was significantly noninferior to the mean area under the curve of reader 1 ( P = .021), reader 2 ( P = .035), and reader 3 ( P = .007). Support vector machine classification based on textural features of contrast-enhanced T1WI is noninferior to expert human evaluation in the differentiation of primary central nervous system lymphoma and enhancing glioma. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Single-stick tunneled central venous access using the jugular veins in infants weighing less than 5 kg.

PubMed

Lindquester, Will S; Hawkins, C Matthew; Monroe, Eric J; Gill, Anne E; Shivaram, Giridhar M; Seidel, F Glen; Lungren, Matthew P

2017-11-01

Despite the demonstrated feasibility of the single-stick technique in the femoral vein, its use in neonates and infants for placing central lines in internal and external jugular veins has not been reported. Describe and assess the safety and efficacy of tunneled jugular central venous catheter placement performed under ultrasound (US) and fluoroscopic guidance in neonates and infants weighing <5 kg using the single-stick technique at three tertiary pediatric hospitals. Thirty-three children weighing less than 5 kg received tunneled central venous access in either internal or external jugular veins using the single-stick technique. Patient history, procedural records and clinical follow-up documents were retrospectively reviewed. Complication rates were compared to those of 41 patients receiving single-stick femoral central lines. Technical complications occurred during one (3.0%) jugular placement with the patient having a failed right-side attempt with subsequent successful left-side placement. The catheters did not last the entire course of treatment in three (9.1%) patients with jugular lines. One patient had the catheter removed due to concern for infection, one catheter was accidentally removed during dressing changes, and one catheter was displaced and subsequently exchanged. Of patients receiving femoral central lines, 1 (2.4%) had a technical complication and 5 catheters (12.2%) did not last the entire course of treatment. The placement of tunneled central venous catheters in neonates/infants <5 kg is safe and technically feasible using the internal/external jugular vein via the single-stick technique. By theoretically reducing the risks of catheter infection by avoiding the diaper area and thrombosis by using larger veins, it may be preferable in certain patient populations.

Solar thermal repowering utility value analysis. Final report

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

Taylor, R.; Day, J.; Reed, B.

The retrofit of solar central receiver energy supply systems to existing steam-electric generating stations (repowering) is being considered as a major programmatic thrust by DOE. The determination of a government response appropriate to the opportunities of repowering is an important policy question, and is the major reason for the analysis. The study objective is to define a government role in repowering that constitutes an efficient program investment in pursuit of viable private markets for heliostat-based energy systems. In support of that objective, the study is designed to identify the scope and nature of the repowering opportunity within the larger contextmore » of its contributions to central receiver technology development and commercialization. The Supply and Integration Tasks are documented elsewhere. This report documents the Demand Task, determining and quantifying the sources of the value of repowering and of central receiver technology in general to electric utilities. The modeling tools and assumptions used in the Demand Task are described and the results are presented and interpreted. (MCW)« less

An Evaluation of the Early Alert (STAR) Program at Central Piedmont Community College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gammon, J. B.

2017-01-01

Central Piedmont Community College is exploring ways to help at-risk students achieve academic success by utilizing an early-alert system called Success Through Academic Reporting (STAR). All First-Time, Full-time Degree-seeking students (FFD) receive an opportunity for follow-up services that support a centralized strategy, which has the…

Associations of centrally acting ACE inhibitors with cognitive decline and survival in Alzheimer’s disease

PubMed Central

Fazal, Karim; Khondoker, Mizanur; Howard, Robert; Stewart, Robert

2017-01-01

Background Cognitive improvement has been reported in patients receiving centrally acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (C-ACEIs). Aims To compare cognitive decline and survival after diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease between people receiving C-ACEIs, non-centrally acting angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (NC-ACEIs), and neither. Method Routine Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were extracted in 5260 patients receiving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and analysed against C-/NC-ACEI exposure at the time of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Results In the 9 months after Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, MMSE scores significantly increased by 0.72 and 0.19 points per year in patients on C-ACEIs and neither respectively, but deteriorated by 0.61 points per year in those on NC-ACEIs. There were no significant group differences in score trajectories from 9 to 36 months and no differences in survival. Conclusions In people with Alzheimer’s disease receiving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, those also taking C-ACEIs had stronger initial improvement in cognitive function, but there was no evidence of longer-lasting influence on dementia progression. Declaration of interest R.S. has received research funding from Pfizer, Lundbeck, Roche, Janssen and GlaxoSmithKline. Copyright and usage © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license. PMID:28713585

Power collection reduction by mirror surface nonflatness and tracking error for a central receiver solar power system.

PubMed

McFee, R H

1975-07-01

The effects of random waviness, curvature, and tracking error of plane-mirror heliostats in a rectangular array around a central-receiver solar power system are determined by subdividing each mirror into 484 elements, assuming the slope of each element to be representative of the surface slope average at its location, and summing the contributions of all elements and then of all mirrors in the array. Total received power and flux density distribution are computed for a given sun location and set of array parameter values. Effects of shading and blocking by adjacent mirrors are included in the calculation. Alt-azimuth mounting of the heliostats is assumed. Representative curves for two receiver diameters and two sun locations indicate a power loss of 20% for random waviness, curvature, and tracking error of 0.1 degrees rms, 0.002 m(-1), and 0.5 degrees , 3sigma, respectively, for an 18.2-m diam receiver and 0.3 degrees rms, 0.005 m(-1), and greater than 1 degrees , respectively, for a 30.4-m diam receiver.

The economics of central billing offices.

PubMed

Woodcock, E; Nguyen, L

2000-01-01

The anticipation of economies of scale in physician billing has led many medical practices to consolidate their billing operations. This article analyzes these economies of scale, comparing performance indicators from centralized and decentralized operations. While consolidation provides compliance, control and information, diseconomies of scale can exist in the centralized receivables management process. The authors conclude that physician practices should consider a hybrid approach to billing, thus reaping the benefits of both centralization and decentralization.

Present Concepts in Internal Medicine, Nutritional Support Symposium. Volume 14, Number 1. Summer 1983,

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

7- peripheral intravenous route. CARE OF THE CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER Central venous catheter insertion requires the follow- ing skin preparation: 1...receiving parenteral nutrition who develop sepsis from central venous catheters may show persistent temperature spikes to 38.9 *C to 40.0 *C every 12-24...hours. Evaluating the central venous catheter as the etiology for febrile episodes is often difficult because many patients have other potential

Solar thermal power systems point-focusing thermal and electric applications projects. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marriott, A.

1980-01-01

The activities of the Point-Focusing Thermal and Electric Applications (PETEA) project for the fiscal year 1979 are summarized. The main thrust of the PFTEA Project, the small community solar thermal power experiment, was completed. Concept definition studies included a small central receiver approach, a point-focusing distributed receiver system with central power generation, and a point-focusing distributed receiver concept with distributed power generation. The first experiment in the Isolated Application Series was initiated. Planning for the third engineering experiment series, which addresses the industrial market sector, was also initiated. In addition to the experiment-related activities, several contracts to industry were let and studies were conducted to explore the market potential for point-focusing distributed receiver (PFDR) systems. System analysis studies were completed that looked at PFDR technology relative to other small power system technology candidates for the utility market sector.

Unified algorithm of cone optics to compute solar flux on central receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigoriev, Victor; Corsi, Clotilde

2017-06-01

Analytical algorithms to compute flux distribution on central receiver are considered as a faster alternative to ray tracing. They have quite too many modifications, with HFLCAL and UNIZAR being the most recognized and verified. In this work, a generalized algorithm is presented which is valid for arbitrary sun shape of radial symmetry. Heliostat mirrors can have a nonrectangular profile, and the effects of shading and blocking, strong defocusing and astigmatism can be taken into account. The algorithm is suitable for parallel computing and can benefit from hardware acceleration of polygon texturing.

From Latifundia to Central Planning and Onward to Agribusiness: A Rejoinder to Joachim Singelmann's Presidential Address on "From Central Planning to Markets"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Szelenyi, Ivan

2011-01-01

This article presents the author's rejoinder to Joachim Singelmann's presidential address on "From Central Planning to Markets." Joachim Singelmann in his presidential address challenged the received wisdom: socialism was doomed to fail; during the market transition all of its basic institutions had to be abolished and replaced by the…

Ultrabroadband Phased-Array Receivers Based on Optical Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-26

AFRL-AFOSR-VA-TR-2016-0121 Ultrabroadband Phased- array Receivers Based on Optical Techniques Christopher Schuetz UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE Final Report...Jul 15 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Ultrabroadband Phased- Array Receivers Based on Optical Techniques 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER FA9550-12-1...receiver that enables us to capture and convert signals across an array using photonic modulators, routing these signals to a central location using

Flexible fuel cell gas manifold system

DOEpatents

Cramer, Michael; Shah, Jagdish; Hayes, Richard P.; Kelley, Dana A.

2005-05-03

A fuel cell stack manifold system in which a flexible manifold body includes a pan having a central area, sidewall extending outward from the periphery of the central area, and at least one compound fold comprising a central area fold connecting adjacent portions of the central area and extending between opposite sides of the central area, and a sidewall fold connecting adjacent portions of the sidewall. The manifold system further includes a rail assembly for attachment to the manifold body and adapted to receive pins by which dielectric insulators are joined to the manifold assembly.

Receiver subsystem analysis report (RADL Item 4-1). The 10-MWe solar thermal central-receiver pilot plant: Solar-facilities design integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1982-04-01

The results of thermal hydraulic, design for the stress analyses which are required to demonstrate that the receiver design for the Barstow Solar Pilot Plant satisfies the general design and performance requirements during the plant's design life are presented. Recommendations are made for receiver operation. The analyses are limited to receiver subsystem major structural parts (primary tower, receiver unit core support structure), pressure parts (absorber panels, feedwater, condensate and steam piping/components, flash tank, and steam mainfold) and shielding.

Event centrality as a unique predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms and perceived disability following spinal cord injury.

PubMed

Boals, A; Trost, Z; Berntsen, D; Nowlin, L; Wheelis, T; Monden, K R

2017-11-01

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving completion of self-report measures. Individuals who acquire a spinal cord injury (SCI) face numerous physical and psychological challenges, with the former receiving considerable less attention during the rehabilitation process. In this article, we examined event centrality as a unique predictor of psychological outcomes in a sample of individuals receiving rehabilitation for SCI. Event centrality refers to the extent to which individuals construe a stressful experience as a core part of their identity. In samples of individuals exposed to psychological traumas (for example, sexual assault or military combat), event centrality has emerged as a consistent and powerful predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). This is the first study to examine event centrality in an SCI sample. Inpatient rehabilitation program in a large urban city in the Southwestern United States. A sample of 55 participants in rehabilitation for a recent SCI completed measures of event centrality, PTSS, depressed mood and perceived disability. Event centrality was significantly related to perceived disability (r=0.48) and PTSS (r=0.31) and accounted for unique variance in these two outcomes after controlling for demographics and depressed mood. Event centrality is common among individuals with SCI and may be a unique contributor to worse psychological and functional outcomes. We hope our findings will alert health-care professionals to the importance of event centrality. This study was supported by a grant from the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF89).

Dynamic conversion of solar generated heat to electricity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, J. C.; Fourakis, E.; Hammer, J. M.; Smith, G. A.; Grosskreutz, J. C.; Mcbride, E.

1974-01-01

The effort undertaken during this program led to the selection of the water-superheated steam (850 psig/900 F) crescent central receiver as the preferred concept from among 11 candidate systems across the technological spectrum of the dynamic conversion of solar generated heat to electricity. The solar power plant designs were investigated in the range of plant capacities from 100 to 1000 Mw(e). The investigations considered the impacts of plant size, collector design, feed-water temperature ratio, heat rejection equipment, ground cover, and location on solar power technical and economic feasibility. For the distributed receiver systems, the optimization studies showed that plant capacities less than 100 Mw(e) may be best. Although the size of central receiver concepts was not parametrically investigated, all indications are that the optimal plant capacity for central receiver systems will be in the range from 50 to 200 Mw(e). Solar thermal power plant site selection criteria and methodology were also established and used to evaluate potentially suitable sites. The result of this effort was to identify a site south of Inyokern, California, as typically suitable for a solar thermal power plant. The criteria used in the selection process included insolation and climatological characteristics, topography, and seismic history as well as water availability.

Large incidence angle and defocus influence cat's eye retro-reflector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lai-xian; Sun, Hua-yan; Zhao, Yan-zhong; Yang, Ji-guang; Zheng, Yong-hui

2014-11-01

Cat's eye lens make the laser beam retro-reflected exactly to the opposite direction of the incidence beam, called cat's eye effect, which makes rapid acquiring, tracking and pointing of free space optical communication possible. Study the influence of cat's eye effect to cat's eye retro-reflector at large incidence angle is useful. This paper analyzed the process of how the incidence angle and focal shit affect effective receiving area, retro-reflected beam divergence angle, central deviation of cat's eye retro-reflector at large incidence angle and cat's eye effect factor using geometrical optics method, and presented the analytic expressions. Finally, numerical simulation was done to prove the correction of the study. The result shows that the efficiency receiving area of cat's eye retro-reflector is mainly affected by incidence angle when the focal shift is positive, and it decreases rapidly when the incidence angle increases; the retro-reflected beam divergence and central deviation is mainly affected by focal shift, and within the effective receiving area, the central deviation is smaller than beam divergence in most time, which means the incidence beam can be received and retro-reflected to the other terminal in most time. The cat's eye effect factor gain is affected by both incidence angle and focal shift.

Techno-economic sensitivity study of heliostat field parameters for micro-gas turbine CSP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landman, Willem A.; Gauché, Paul; Dinter, Frank; Myburgh, J. T.

2017-06-01

Concentrating solar power systems based on micro-gas turbines potentially offer numerous benefits should they become commercially viable. Heliostat fields for such systems have unique requirements in that the number of heliostats and the focal ratios are typically much lower than conventional central receiver systems. This paper presents a techno-economic sensitivity study of heliostat field parameters for a micro-gas turbine central receiver system. A 100 kWe minitower system is considered for the base case and a one-at-a-time strategy is used to investigate parameter sensitivities. Increasing heliostat focal ratios are found to have significant optical performance benefits due to both a reduction in astigmatic aberrations and a reduction in the number of facet focal lengths required; confirming the hypothesis that smaller heliostats offer a techno-economic advantage. Fixed Horizontal Axis tracking mechanism is shown to outperform the conventional Azimuth Zenith tracking mechanism in high density heliostat fields. Although several improvements to heliostat field performance are discussed, the capex fraction of the heliostat field for such system is shown to be almost half that of a conventional central receiver system and optimum utilization of the higher capex components, namely; the receiver and turbine subsystems, are more rewarding than that of the heliostat field.

Preliminary design of a solar central receiver for a site-specific repowering application (Saguaro Power Plant). Volume 1. Executive summary. Final report, October 1982-September 1983

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

Weber, E.R.

1983-09-01

The preliminary design of a solar central receiver repowered gas/oil fired steam-Rankine cycle electric power generation plant was completed. The design is based on a central receiver technology using molten salt (60% NaNO/sub 3/, 40% KNO/sub 3/, by weight) for the heat transport and thermal storage fluid. Unit One of APS's Saguaro power plant located 43 km (27 mi) northwest of Tucson, AZ, is to be repowered. The selection of both the site and the molten salt central receiver promotes a near-term feasibility demonstration and cost-effective power production from an advanced solar thermal technology. The recommended system concept is tomore » repower the existing electric power generating system at the minimum useful level (66 MW/sub e/ gross) using a field of 4850 Martin Marietta second-generation (58.5 m/sup 2/) heliostats and a storage capacity of 4.0 hours. The storage capacity will be used to optimize dispatch of power to the utility system. The preliminary design was based on the use of the systems approach to design where the overall project was divided into systems, each of which is clearly bounded, and performs specific functions. The total project construction cost was estimated to be 213 million in 1983 dollars. The plant will be capable of displacing fossil energy equivalent to 2.4 million barrels of No. 6 oil in its first 10 years of operation.« less

75 FR 65012 - Nationwide Categorical Waivers Under Section 1605 (Buy American) of the American Recovery and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-21

... location and via the Internet; (4) load Management Ripple Control Receivers for an existing load management... central location and via the Internet; (4) Load Management Ripple Control Receivers for an existing load...

Highly elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase is associated with central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Results of a multicenter prospective cohort study.

PubMed

Kim, Seok Jin; Hong, Jun Sik; Chang, Myung Hee; Kim, Jeong-A; Kwak, Jae-Yong; Kim, Jin Seok; Yoon, Dok Hyun; Lee, Won Sik; Do, Young Rok; Kang, Hye Jin; Eom, Hyeon-Seok; Park, Yong; Won, Jong-Ho; Mun, Yeung-Chul; Kim, Hyo Jung; Kwon, Jung Hye; Kong, Jee Hyun; Oh, Sung Yong; Lee, Sunah; Bae, Sung Hwa; Yang, Deok-Hwan; Jun, Hyun Jung; Kim, Yang Soo; Yun, Hwan Jung; Lee, Soon Il; Kim, Min Kyoung; Park, Eun Kyung; Kim, Won Seog; Suh, Cheolwon

2016-11-01

Central nervous system involvement remains a challenging issue in the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We conducted a prospective cohort study with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients receiving rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone to identify incidence and risk factors for central nervous system involvement. Among 595 patients, 279 patients received pre-treatment central nervous system evaluation, and 14 patients had central nervous system involvement at diagnosis (2.3% out of entire patients and 5.0% out of the 279 patients). For those patients, median follow-up duration was 38.2 months and some of them achieved long-term survival. Out of 581 patients who did not have central nervous system involvement at diagnosis, 26 patients underwent secondary central nervous system relapse with a median follow-up of 35 months, and the median time to central nervous system involvement was 10.4 months (range: 3.4-29.2). Serum lactate dehydrogenase > ×3 upper limit of normal range, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2, and involvement of sinonasal tract or testis, were independent risk factors for central nervous system relapse in multivariate analysis. Our study suggests that enhanced stratification of serum lactate dehydrogenase according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-International Prognostic Index may contribute to better prediction for central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01202448.

Highly elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase is associated with central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Results of a multicenter prospective cohort study

PubMed Central

Kim, Seok Jin; Hong, Jun Sik; Chang, Myung Hee; Kim, Jeong-A; Kwak, Jae-Yong; Kim, Jin Seok; Yoon, Dok Hyun; Lee, Won Sik; Do, Young Rok; Kang, Hye Jin; Eom, Hyeon-Seok; Park, Yong; Won, Jong-Ho; Mun, Yeung-Chul; Kim, Hyo Jung; Kwon, Jung Hye; Kong, Jee Hyun; Oh, Sung Yong; Lee, Sunah; Bae, Sung Hwa; Yang, Deok-Hwan; Jun, Hyun Jung; Kim, Yang Soo; Yun, Hwan Jung; Il Lee, Soon; Kim, Min Kyoung; Park, Eun Kyung; Kim, Won Seog; Suh, Cheolwon

2016-01-01

Central nervous system involvement remains a challenging issue in the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We conducted a prospective cohort study with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients receiving rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone to identify incidence and risk factors for central nervous system involvement. Among 595 patients, 279 patients received pre-treatment central nervous system evaluation, and 14 patients had central nervous system involvement at diagnosis (2.3% out of entire patients and 5.0% out of the 279 patients). For those patients, median follow-up duration was 38.2 months and some of them achieved long-term survival. Out of 581 patients who did not have central nervous system involvement at diagnosis, 26 patients underwent secondary central nervous system relapse with a median follow-up of 35 months, and the median time to central nervous system involvement was 10.4 months (range: 3.4–29.2). Serum lactate dehydrogenase > ×3 upper limit of normal range, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2, and involvement of sinonasal tract or testis, were independent risk factors for central nervous system relapse in multivariate analysis. Our study suggests that enhanced stratification of serum lactate dehydrogenase according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-International Prognostic Index may contribute to better prediction for central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01202448. PMID:27713132

Separating temporal and topological effects in walk-based network centrality.

PubMed

Colman, Ewan R; Charlton, Nathaniel

2016-07-01

The recently introduced concept of dynamic communicability is a valuable tool for ranking the importance of nodes in a temporal network. Two metrics, broadcast score and receive score, were introduced to measure the centrality of a node with respect to a model of contagion based on time-respecting walks. This article examines the temporal and structural factors influencing these metrics by considering a versatile stochastic temporal network model. We analytically derive formulas to accurately predict the expectation of the broadcast and receive scores when one or more columns in a temporal edge-list are shuffled. These methods are then applied to two publicly available data sets and we quantify how much the centrality of each individual depends on structural or temporal influences. From our analysis, we highlight two practical contributions: a way to control for temporal variation when computing dynamic communicability and the conclusion that the broadcast and receive scores can, under a range of circumstances, be replaced by the row and column sums of the matrix exponential of a weighted adjacency matrix given by the data.

Separating temporal and topological effects in walk-based network centrality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colman, Ewan R.; Charlton, Nathaniel

2016-07-01

The recently introduced concept of dynamic communicability is a valuable tool for ranking the importance of nodes in a temporal network. Two metrics, broadcast score and receive score, were introduced to measure the centrality of a node with respect to a model of contagion based on time-respecting walks. This article examines the temporal and structural factors influencing these metrics by considering a versatile stochastic temporal network model. We analytically derive formulas to accurately predict the expectation of the broadcast and receive scores when one or more columns in a temporal edge-list are shuffled. These methods are then applied to two publicly available data sets and we quantify how much the centrality of each individual depends on structural or temporal influences. From our analysis, we highlight two practical contributions: a way to control for temporal variation when computing dynamic communicability and the conclusion that the broadcast and receive scores can, under a range of circumstances, be replaced by the row and column sums of the matrix exponential of a weighted adjacency matrix given by the data.

CESA-1 receiver design review. Phase 1. Final report

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

Not Available

1980-07-01

The Central Electrica Solar de Almeria CESA-1 is a 1.0 MWe water/steam solar central receiver electric power plant being built by the Spanish in Almeria, Spain. Centro de Estudios de la Energia (CEE) is responsible for the management, design, and construction of the project. At the request of the Solar Energy Research Institute and with the approval of the Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore is providing technical assistance in areas unique to solar applications to CEE. At the request of CEE, Sandia contracted with Foster Wheeler Development Corporation (FWDC) to critically review and evaluate the CESA-1 receiver design.more » Foster Wheeler Iberia (FWI) was subcontracted to FWDC to coordinate efforts with CEE in Madrid. The FWDC program which was started on July 9, 1979, was subdivided into three tasks: (1) design basis review: critical review of the receiver design specifications and requirements; (2) design review and analyses: critical review of thermal/hydraulic, structural, and materials aspects of the receiver design and the design and analysis procedures used by the designer in critical areas of the design; and (3) operational review: critical review of receiver instrumentation and controls and the operational and safety aspects of the receiver. Results of the design review and evaluation are presented. (WHK)« less

19 CFR 356.7 - Request to determine when the Government of a FTA country received notice of a scope determination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...) and (e)(2) with the Secretary of Commerce, Attention: Import Administration, Central Records Unit... name of applicable FTA country] Received Notice of a Scope Determination by first class mail or...

KSC-03pd0216

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A sea turtle rescued from the Mosquito Lagoon is prepared to receive a transmitter on its back. Several turtles were found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received the transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported in a skiff through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released into the Indian River Lagoon.

KSC-03pd0217

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sea turtle rescued from the Mosquito Lagoon is prepared to receive a transmitter on its back. Several turtles were found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received the transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported in a skiff through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released into the Indian River Lagoon.

Outreach hepatitis B vaccination of female sex workers in central-west Brazil: immunization status, compliance, and immune response.

PubMed

Carneiro, Luciene Moraes; Mousquer, Gina Jonasson; Pinheiro, Raquel Silva; Castro, Ana Rita Coimbra Motta; França, Divânia Dias Da Silva; Caetano, Karlla Antonieta Amorim; Carneiro, Megmar Aparecida dos Santos; Martins, Regina Maria Bringel; Matos, Marcos André de; Castro, Lisie; Rezende, Grazielli; Teles, Sheila Araujo

2014-01-01

To evaluate the hepatitis B immunization status of female sex workers (FSWs) in Central-West Brazil and to evaluate their compliance with and immune response to hepatitis B vaccination delivered using outreach strategies. A total of 721 FSWs recruited in 2 large cities in Central-West Brazil were interviewed and screened for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. Hepatitis B vaccine was offered to all women susceptible to HBV, using outreach strategies. The immune response of FSWs who received a full course of vaccine was assessed following the final vaccine dose. We found that 27.6% of FSWs, the majority of whom were aged 18 to 25 years, had serological evidence of previous hepatitis B vaccination. A total of 434 FSWs were eligible for vaccination, 389 (89.6%) of whom accepted the first hepatitis B vaccine dose. Of those, 64% received a second dose and 37.5% received all three doses. Through the outreach strategy, there was a 52.2% increase in the number of women who received the second dose and a 67% increase in the number who received the third dose. Of the 146 women who received a full course of vaccine, 105 accepted testing for quantitative anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) following the final vaccine dose, and 92.4% of those tested had developed protective levels of anti-HBs. Lower education level, workplace, and length of prostitution were predictors of full-vaccine acceptance. The present findings illustrate the benefits of using outreach strategies to overcome the difficulties of vaccinating hard-to-reach populations such as FSWs.

Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Bevacizumab Therapy for Radiation Necrosis of the Central Nervous System

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

Levin, Victor A., E-mail: vlevin49@comcast.ne; Bidaut, Luc; Hou, Ping

Purpose: To conduct a controlled trial of bevacizumab for the treatment of symptomatic radiation necrosis of the brain. Methods and Materials: A total of 14 patients were entered into a placebo-controlled randomized double-blind study of bevacizumab for the treatment of central nervous system radiation necrosis. All patients were required to have radiographic or biopsy proof of central nervous system radiation necrosis and progressive neurologic symptoms or signs. Eligible patients had undergone irradiation for head-and-neck carcinoma, meningioma, or low- to mid-grade glioma. Patients were randomized to receive intravenous saline or bevacizumab at 3-week intervals. The magnetic resonance imaging findings 3 weeksmore » after the second treatment and clinical signs and symptoms defined the response or progression. Results: The volumes of necrosis estimated on T{sub 2}-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T{sub 1}-weighted gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated that although no patient receiving placebo responded (0 of 7), all bevacizumab-treated patients did so (5 of 5 randomized and 7 of 7 crossover) with decreases in T{sub 2}-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T{sub 1}-weighted gadolinium-enhanced volumes and a decrease in endothelial transfer constant. All bevacizumab-treated patients-and none of the placebo-treated patients-showed improvement in neurologic symptoms or signs. At a median of 10 months after the last dose of bevacizumab in patients receiving all four study doses, only 2 patients had experienced a recurrence of magnetic resonance imaging changes consistent with progressive radiation necrosis; one patient received a single additional dose of bevacizumab and the other patient received two doses. Conclusion: The Class I evidence of bevacizumab efficacy from the present study in the treatment of central nervous system radiation necrosis justifies consideration of this treatment option for people with radiation necrosis secondary to the treatment of head-and-neck cancer and brain cancer.« less

Anti-PD-L1 Treatment Induced Central Diabetes Insipidus.

PubMed

Zhao, Chen; Tella, Sri Harsha; Del Rivero, Jaydira; Kommalapati, Anuhya; Ebenuwa, Ifechukwude; Gulley, James; Strauss, Julius; Brownell, Isaac

2018-02-01

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), anti-programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (anti-CTLA4) monoclonal antibodies, have been widely used in cancer treatment. They are known to cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which resemble autoimmune diseases. Anterior pituitary hypophysitis with secondary hypopituitarism is a frequently reported irAE, especially in patients receiving anti-CTLA4 treatment. In contrast, posterior pituitary involvement, such as central diabetes insipidus (DI), is relatively rare and is unreported in patients undergoing PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. We describe a case of a 73-year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma who received the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody avelumab and achieved partial response. The patient developed nocturia, polydipsia, and polyuria 3 months after starting avelumab. Further laboratory testing revealed central DI. Avelumab was held and he received desmopressin for the management of central DI. Within 6 weeks after discontinuation of avelumab, the patient's symptoms resolved and he was eventually taken off desmopressin. The patient remained off avelumab and there were no signs or symptoms of DI 2 months after the discontinuation of desmopressin. To our knowledge, this is the first report of central DI associated with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. The patient's endocrinopathy was successfully managed by holding treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor. This case highlights the importance of early screening and appropriate management of hormonal irAEs in subjects undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors to minimize morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society

The 10 MWe solar thermal central receiver pilot plant solar facilities design integration, RADL item 1-10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1980-08-01

Work on the plant support subsystems and engineering services is reported. The master control system, thermal storage subsystem, receiver unit, and the beam characterization system were reviewed. Progress in program management and system integration is highlighted.

Transient simulation of molten salt central receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doupis, Dimitri; Wang, Chuan; Carcorze-Soto, Jorge; Chen, Yen-Ming; Maggi, Andrea; Losito, Matteo; Clark, Michael

2016-05-01

Alstom is developing concentrated solar power (CSP) utilizing 60/40wt% NaNO3-KNO3 molten salt as the working fluid in a tower receiver for the global renewable energy market. In the CSP power generation cycle, receivers undergo a daily cyclic operation due to the transient nature of solar energy. Development of robust and efficient start-up and shut-down procedures is critical to avoiding component failures due to mechanical fatigue resulting from thermal transients, thus maintaining the performance and availability of the CSP plant. The Molten Salt Central Receiver (MSCR) is subject to thermal transients during normal daily operation, a cycle that includes warmup, filling, operation, draining, and shutdown. This paper describes a study to leverage dynamic simulation and finite element analysis (FEA) in development of start-up, shutdown, and transient operation concepts for the MSCR. The results of the FEA also verify the robustness of the MSCR design to the thermal transients anticipated during the operation of the plant.

GPS Signal Corruption by the Discrete Aurora: Precise Measurements From the Mahali Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semeter, Joshua; Mrak, Sebastijan; Hirsch, Michael; Swoboda, John; Akbari, Hassan; Starr, Gregory; Hampton, Don; Erickson, Philip; Lind, Frank; Coster, Anthea; Pankratius, Victor

2017-10-01

Measurements from a dense network of GPS receivers have been used to clarify the relationship between substorm auroras and GPS signal corruption as manifested by loss of lock on the received signal. A network of nine receivers was deployed along roadways near the Poker Flat Research Range in central Alaska, with receiver spacing between 15 and 30 km. Instances of large-amplitude phase fluctuations and signal loss of lock were registered in space and time with auroral forms associated with a sequence of westward traveling surges associated with a substorm onset over central Canada. The following conclusions were obtained: (1) The signal corruption originated in the ionospheric E region, between 100 and 150 km altitude, and (2) the GPS links suffering loss of lock were confined to a narrow band (<20 km wide) along the trailing edge of the moving auroral forms. The results are discussed in the context of mechanisms typically cited to account for GPS phase scintillation by auroral processes.

Electrical or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of primary motor cortex for intractable neuropathic pain.

PubMed

Saitoh, Youichi; Maruo, Tomoyuki; Yokoe, Masaru; Matsuzaki, Taiga; Sekino, Masaki

2013-01-01

To assess the pain-relieving effects of motor cortex electrical stimulation (MCS) and the predictive factors retrospectively. Thirty-four patients with intractable neuropathic pain underwent MCS; 19 patients had cerebral lesions, and 15 had non-cerebral lesions. In selected 12 patients, test electrodes were implanted within the central sulcus and on the precentral gyrus. Twelve patients received both MCS and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor cortex. Pain reduction of >50% was observed in 12 of 32 (36%) patients with >12 months follow-ups (2 patients were excluded because of short follow-up). In 10 of the 12 patients who received test electrodes within the central sulcus and on the precentral gyrus, the optimal stimulation was MCS within the central sulcus. In 4 of these (40%) patients, positive effects were maintained at follow-ups. The pain reduction of rTMS significantly correlated with that of MCS during test stimulation. The test stimulation within the central sulcus was more effective than that of the precentral gyrus. In the selected patients, chronic stimulation within the central sulcus did not significantly improve long-term results. Repeated rTMS seems to be same effective as MCS.

Comparison of blood loss between using non central part cutting knee prosthesis and distal central part cutting.

PubMed

Malairungsakul, Anan

2014-12-01

Patients who undergo knee replacement surgery may need to receive a blood transfusion due to blood loss during the operation. Therefore it was important to improve the design of knee implant operative procedures in an attempt to reduce the rate of blood loss. The present study aimed to compare the blood loss between two types of knee replacement surgery. This is a retrospective study in which 78 patients received cemented knee replacements in Phayao Hospital between October 2010 and March 2012. There were two types of surgical procedure: 1) using an implant position covering the end of the femoral bone without cutting into the central part of the distal femoral, 2) using an implant position covering the end of the femoral bone cutting the central part of the distal femoral. Blood loss, blood transfusion, hemoglobin and hematocrit were recorded preoperatively, immediately postsurgery and 48 hours after surgery. Findings revealed that the knee replacement surgery using the implant position covering the end of the femoral bone without cutting the central part of the distal femoral significantly lowered the rate of blood loss when compared to using the implant position covering the end of the femoral bone with central cutting of the distal femor. The average blood loss during the operation without cutting at the central part of distal femoral was 49.50 ± 11.11 mL; whereas the operation cutting the central part of the distal femoral was 58.50 ± 11.69 mL. As regards blood loss, the knee replacement surgery using the implant position covering the end ofthefemoral bone without cutting the central part of distal femor was better than using the implant position covering the end of the femoral bone cutting at the central part of the distal femor.

Solar central receiver hybrid power system, phase 1. Volume 3: Appendices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1979-09-01

Parametric salt piping data, sample heat exchanger calculations, and salt/materials compatibility evaluations are presented. Data lists that include the heliostat field coordinates, the STEAEC program input data, the hybrid receiver design drawings and models, and the piping stress analysis are also presented.

Korean Affairs Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-10-14

secretary, of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, received a gift from Paola Ortiz, daughter of the manager of the Ecuadoran Voluntad ...received today Paola Ortiz, daughter of manager of the Ecuadoran " Voluntad " Publishing House Humberto, and her entour- age, on a visit to our country

Receiver function images of the central Chugoku region in the Japanese islands using Hi-net data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramesh, D. S.; Wakatsu, H. K.; Watada, S.; Yuan, X.

2005-04-01

Crustal configuration of the central Chugoku region with disposition of the Philippine Sea Plate (PHS) in this area are investigated through the receiver function approach using short-period Hi-net data. Images of the upper mantle discontinuities are also obtained. Restituted short-period receiver functions bring out discernible variations in average composition of the crust and its thickness in the study region. The Vp/ Vs values in the study area are generally high, reaching values in excess of 1.85 at a few places. The central part of the study region showing the highest Vp/ Vs values is coincidentally a subregion of least seismicity, possibly bestowed with special subsurface structure. Migrated receiver function images, both Ps and Pps images, unambiguously trace the NW subducting PHS taking a steeper plunge in the northwest part of the Chugoku region reaching depths of 70 km from its low dip disposition in the southeast. An excellent correlation of the subducting PHS with the hypocenters is also seen. We demonstrate that short-period data after restitution and application of appropriate low pass filters can indeed detect presence of the global 410-km and 660-km discontinuities and map their disposition reasonably well. Our migrated receiver functions image the deflections in the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities in an anti-correlated fashion on expected lines of Clapeyron slope predictions induced by subduction of the Pacific plate (PAC) beneath Japanese islands, though PAC itself is feebly traced but shows good correlation with slab seismicity.

The presumed central nervous system effects of rocuronium in a neonate and its reversal with sugammadex.

PubMed

Langley, Ross J; McFadzean, Jillian; McCormack, Jon

2016-01-01

We describe a 2-day-old male infant who received rocuronium as part of general anesthesia for a tracheal esophageal fistula repair. Postoperatively, he had prolonged central and peripheral neuromuscular blockade despite cessation of the rocuronium infusion several hours previously. This case discusses the presumed central nervous system effects of rocuronium in a neonate and its effective reversal with sugammadex. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Korean Affairs Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-08-14

Plan 86 Libya Receives DPRK Economic Delegation 86 Ethiopian Envoy Received 86 Peruvian Visitor Received 87 - d Egyptian Anniversary 87 Kim Il...in the designing of the hotel is a cinema house with several hundreds of seats. Guest flats will be arranged from the third floor. Each flat will... PERUVIAN VISITOR RECEIVED—Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA)—Comrade Pak Song-chol, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers

Evaluation of the variability of wind speed at different heights and its impact on the receiver efficiency of central receiver systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delgado, A.; Gertig, C.; Blesa, E.; Loza, A.; Hidalgo, C.; Ron, R.

2016-05-01

Typical plant configurations for Central Receiver Systems (CRS) are comprised of a large field of heliostats which concentrate solar irradiation onto the receiver, which is elevated hundreds of meters above the ground. Wind speed changes with altitude above ground, impacting on the receiver thermal efficiency due to variations of the convective heat losses. In addition, the physical properties of air vary at high altitudes to a significant degree, which should be considered in the thermal losses calculation. DNV GL has long-reaching experience in wind energy assessment with reliable methodologies to reduce the uncertainty of the determination of the wind regime. As a part of this study, DNV GL estimates the wind speed at high altitude for different sites using two methods, a detailed estimation applying the best practices used in the wind energy sector based on measurements from various wind sensors and a simplified estimation applying the power law (1, 2) using only one wind measurement and a representative value for the surface roughness. As a result of the study, a comparison of the wind speed estimation considering both methods is presented and the impact on the receiver performance for the evaluated case is estimated.

Electron beam diagnostic system using computed tomography and an annular sensor

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

Elmer, John W.; Teruya, Alan T.

2015-08-11

A system for analyzing an electron beam including a circular electron beam diagnostic sensor adapted to receive the electron beam, the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor having a central axis; an annular sensor structure operatively connected to the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor, wherein the sensor structure receives the electron beam; a system for sweeping the electron beam radially outward from the central axis of the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor to the annular sensor structure wherein the electron beam is intercepted by the annular sensor structure; and a device for measuring the electron beam that is intercepted by themore » annular sensor structure.« less

Electron beam diagnostic system using computed tomography and an annular sensor

DOEpatents

Elmer, John W.; Teruya, Alan T.

2014-07-29

A system for analyzing an electron beam including a circular electron beam diagnostic sensor adapted to receive the electron beam, the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor having a central axis; an annular sensor structure operatively connected to the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor, wherein the sensor structure receives the electron beam; a system for sweeping the electron beam radially outward from the central axis of the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor to the annular sensor structure wherein the electron beam is intercepted by the annular sensor structure; and a device for measuring the electron beam that is intercepted by the annular sensor structure.

Solar thermal central receivers for industrial process heat generation: User views and recommendations for commercialization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fish, M. J.

1981-08-01

Results of recent meetings with several private industrial groups in which solar thermal central receivers were discussed in depth as a potential for industrial process heat generation are summarized. Topics covering potential economics, technical requirements, and actions to promote commercialization of the technology are presented. These findings are then translated into recommendations for commercialization in private industrial markets. Key points include the need for small scale systems integration projects in addition to the 10 MW/sub e/ plant under construction at Barstow, CA, and the adoption of financial incentives, such as tax credits, for getting the early commercial plants built.

Visualizing the Comorbidity Burden in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Receiving Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia.

PubMed

Mathu-Muju, Kavita R; Li, Hsin-Fang; Nam, Lisa H; Bush, Heather M

2016-01-01

The purposes of this study were to: (1) describe the comorbidity burden in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receiving dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA); and (2) characterize the complexity of these concurrent comorbidities. A retrospective chart review was completed of 303 children with ASD who received dental treatment under GA. All comorbidities, in addition to the primary diagnosis of ASD, were categorized using the International Classification of Diseases-10 codes. The interconnectedness of the comorbidities was graphically displayed using a network plot. Network indices (degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality) were used to characterize the comorbidities that exhibited the highest connectedness to ASD. The network plot of medical diagnoses for children with ASD was highly complex, with multiple connected comorbidities. Developmental delay, speech delay, intellectual disability, and seizure disorders exhibited the highest connectedness to ASD. Children with autism spectrum disorder may have a significant comorbidity burden of closely related neurodevelopmental disorders. The medical history review should assess the severity of these concurrent disorders to evaluate a patient's potential ability to cooperate for dental treatment and to determine appropriate behavior guidance techniques to facilitate the delivery of dental care.

18 CFR 367.1410 - Account 141, Notes receivable.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Account 141, Notes receivable. 367.1410 Section 367.1410 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY... POWER ACT AND NATURAL GAS ACT UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR CENTRALIZED SERVICE COMPANIES SUBJECT TO...

18 CFR 367.1720 - Account 172, Rents receivable.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Account 172, Rents receivable. 367.1720 Section 367.1720 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY... POWER ACT AND NATURAL GAS ACT UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR CENTRALIZED SERVICE COMPANIES SUBJECT TO...

78 FR 28841 - Quartzsite Solar Energy Project Record of Decision (DOE/EIS-0440)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-16

... proposed Project would contain the central receiver or tower, a solar field consisting of mirrors or... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Quartzsite Solar Energy Project Record of...), received a request from Quartzsite Solar Energy, LLC (QSE) to interconnect its proposed Quartzsite Solar...

The spotted owl in southern and central coastal California

Treesearch

R.J. Gutiérrez; Douglas J. Tempel; M. Zachariah Peery

2017-01-01

Spotted owl populations found in southern and central coastal California have received much less attention than those inhabiting the Sierra Nevada because of economic (effect of habitat conservation measures on timber harvest) and social issues (community stability and desire for naturally functioning ecosystems). Yet there has been continued concern over the...

ARSENIC TRANSPORT ACROSS THE GROUNDWATER – SURFACE WATER INTERFACE AT A SITE IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

EPA Science Inventory

Plow Shop Pond, located in central Massachusetts within the New England ‘arsenic belt,’ receives water from a series of interconnected upstream ponds as well as from upward-discharging groundwater. A small, shallow embayment on the southwest side of the pond is known as Red Cove...

Veneer log production and receipts, North Central Region, 1968.

Treesearch

Thomas P. Jr. Ginnaty

1970-01-01

The 1968 veneer-log production and mill receipts were 45.5 and 47.6 million board feet, respectively, in the Lake States--declines of 11 and 14%, respectively, since 1966. The Central States produced 37.0 million board feet of logs and received 48.8 million--about the same as in 1966.

78 FR 53158 - Notice of Public Meeting; Central Montana Resource Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-28

..., Central Montana District Manager, Lewistown Field Office, 920 NE Main, Lewistown, MT 59457, (406) 538-1900... Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-677-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business... individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15-member...

Concentric tube support assembly

DOEpatents

Rubio, Mark F.; Glessner, John C.

2012-09-04

An assembly (45) includes a plurality of separate pie-shaped segments (72) forming a disk (70) around a central region (48) for retaining a plurality of tubes (46) in a concentrically spaced apart configuration. Each segment includes a support member (94) radially extending along an upstream face (96) of the segment and a plurality of annularly curved support arms (98) transversely attached to the support member and radially spaced apart from one another away from the central region for receiving respective upstream end portions of the tubes in arc-shaped spaces (100) between the arms. Each segment also includes a radial passageway (102) formed in the support member for receiving a fluid segment portion (106) and a plurality of annular passageways (104) formed in the support arms for receiving respective arm portions (108) of the fluid segment portion from the radial passageway and for conducting the respective arm portions into corresponding annular spaces (47) formed between the tubes retained by the disk.

Solar energy apparatus with apertured shield

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Collings, Roger J. (Inventor); Bannon, David G. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A protective apertured shield for use about an inlet to a solar apparatus which includesd a cavity receiver for absorbing concentrated solar energy. A rigid support truss assembly is fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projects radially inwardly therefrom to define a generally central aperture area through which solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver. A non-structural, laminated blanket is spread over the rigid support truss in such a manner as to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area toward the periphery of the inlet. The outer surface area faces away from the inlet and the inner surface area faces toward the cavity receiver. The laminated blanket includes at least one layer of material, such as ceramic fiber fabric, having high infra-red emittance and low solar absorption properties, and another layer, such as metallic foil, of low infra-red emittance properties.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data to and from a downhole tool

DOEpatents

Hall, David R.; Fox, Joe

2007-03-13

A transmission line network system for transmitting and/or receiving data from a downhole tool. The invention is achieved by providing one or more transceiving elements, preferably rings, at either end of a downhole tool. A conduit containing a coaxial cable capable of communicating an electrical signal is attached to the transceiving element and extends through a central bore of the downhole tool and through the central bore of any tool intermediate the first transceiving element and a second transceiving element. Upon receiving an electrical signal from the cable, the second transceiving element may convert such signal to a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be detected by a third transceiving element in close proximity to the second transceiving element. In this manner, many different tools may be included in a downhole transmission network without requiring substantial modification, if any, of any particular tool.

Diffraction-Based Optical Switch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sperno, Stevan M. (Inventor); Fuhr, Peter L. (Inventor); Schipper, John F. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

Method and system for controllably redirecting a light beam, having a central wavelength lambda, from a first light-receiving site to a second light-receiving site. A diffraction grating is attached to or part of a piezoelectric substrate, which is connected to one or two controllable voltage difference sources. When a substrate voltage difference is changed and the diffraction grating length in each of one or two directions is thereby changed, at least one of the diffraction angle, the diffraction order and the central wavelength is controllably changed. A diffracted light beam component, having a given wavelength, diffraction angle and diffraction order, that is initially received at a first light receiving site (e.g., a detector or optical fiber) is thereby controllably shifted or altered and can be received at a second light receiving site. A polynomially stepped, chirped grating is used in one embodiment. In another embodiment, an incident light beam, having at least one of first and second wavelengths, lambda1 and lambda2, is received and diffracted at a first diffraction grating to provide a first diffracted beam. The first diffracted beam is received and diffracted at a second diffraction grating to produce a second diffracted beam. The second diffracted beam is received at a light-sensitive transducer, having at least first and second spaced apart light detector elements that are positioned so that, when the incident light beam has wavelength lambda1 or lambda2 (lambda1 not equal to lambda2), the second diffracted beam is received at the first element or at the second element, respectively; change in a selected physical parameter at the second grating can also be sensed or measured. A sequence of spaced apart light detector elements can be positioned along a linear or curvilinear segment with equal or unequal spacing.

The Quality Rating System of Chinese Preschool Education: Prospects and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hu, Bi Ying; Li, Kejian

2012-01-01

In China, the Central People's Government (2010) recently promulgated the "Compendium for China's Mid- and Long-Term Education Development," which declared that 95% of Chinese children should receive at least one year of preschool education, while 75% of children should receive a three-year preschool education by 2020. Subsequently, The…

Effects of Cover Stories on Problem Solving in a Statistics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ricks, Travis Rex; Wiley, Jennifer

2014-01-01

Does having more knowledge or interest in the topics used in example problems facilitate or hinder learning in statistics? Undergraduates enrolled in Introductory Psychology received a lesson on central tendency. Following the lesson, half of the students completed a worksheet with a baseball cover story while the other half received a weather…

Preliminary design of a solar central receiver for a site-specific repowering application (Saguaro Power Plant). Volume III. Specifications. Final report, October 1982-September 1983

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

Weber, E.R.

1983-09-01

This volume on specifications for the Saguaro Power Plant includes the following: subsystem interface definition document; solar collector subsystem specification; receiver specification; thermal energy storage specification; solar steam generator specification; and master control system specification.

Large-scale use of solar energy with central receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreith, F.; Meyer, R. T.

1983-12-01

The working principles of solar central receiver power plants are outlined and applications are discussed. Heliostat arrays direct sunlight into a receiver cavity mounted on a tower, heating the working fluid in the tower to temperatures exceeding 500 C. The formulation for the image plane and the geometric concentration ratio for a heliostat field are provided, noting that commercial electric power plants will require concentration ratios of 200-1000. Automated controls consider imperfections in the mirrors, tracking errors, and seasonal insolation intensity and angular variations. Membranes may be used instead of rigid heliostat mirrors to reduce costs, while trade-offs exist between the efficiencies of cavity and exterior receivers on the tower. Sensible heat storage has proved most effective for cloudy or nighttime operations. Details of the DOE Solar One 10 MW plant, which began operation in 1982, are provided, with mention given to the 33.6 continuous hours of power generation that have been achieved. Projected costs of commercial installations are $700/kWt, and possible applications include recovering and refining oil, processing natural gas, uranium ore, and sugar cane, drying gypsum board, and manufacturing ammonia.

Heat transfer experiments with a central receiver tube subjected to unsteady and non-uniform heat flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández-Torrijos, María; Marugán-Cruz, Carolina; Sobrino, Celia; Santana, Domingo

2017-06-01

In this work, a molten salt test loop to study the heat transfer process in external molten salt receivers is described. The experimental installation is formed by a cylindrical molten salt tank, a pump, a flow meter, and an induction heater to generate the heat flux, which is applied in a small rectangular region of the tube surface. In central tower plants, the external receiver pipe is considered to be under unilateral concentrated solar radiation, because only one side of the pipe receives high heat flux. The main advantage of using an induction heater is the control of heating in different areas of the tube. In order to measure the effects of a non-homogenous and unsteady heat flux on the wall temperature distribution a series of experiments have been carried out. 4 K-type thermocouples have been welded at different axial and azimuthal positions of the pipe to obtain the wall temperature distribution. Different temperature measurements have been made varying the heat flux and water velocity to study their effects on the heat transfer process.

Neighborhood comparison operator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gennery, Donald B. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

Digital values in a moving window are compared by an operator having nine comparators (18) connected to line buffers (16) for receiving a succession of central pixels together with eight neighborhood pixels. A single bit of program control determines whether the neighborhood pixels are to be compared with the central pixel or a threshold value. The central pixel is always compared with the threshold. The comparator output, plus 2 bits indicating odd-even pixel/line information about the central pixel, addresses a lookup table (20) to provide 14 bits of information, including 2 bits which control a selector (22) to pass either the central pixel value, the other 12 bits of table information, or the bit-wise logic OR of all neighboring pixels.

Online Bibliographic Databases in South Central Pennsylvania: Current Status and Training Needs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townley, Charles

A survey of libraries in south central Pennsylvania was designed to identify those that are using or planning to use databases and assess their perceived training needs. This report describes the methodology and analyzes the responses received form the 57 libraries that completed the questionnaire. Data presented in eight tables are concerned with…

Global Norms and Local Politics: Uses and Abuses of Education Gender Quotas in Tajikistan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silova, Iveta; Abdushukurova, Tatiana

2009-01-01

In Central Asia, the post-Soviet transformation period has been accompanied by significant economic and social costs, including the widening of the gender gaps in politics, economy and the social sphere. Tajikistan, which receives the largest amount of international aid and has the worst record of gender inequity in Central Asia, has quickly…

Radiation necrosis causing failure of automatic ventilation during sleep with central sleep apnea

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

Udwadia, Z.F.; Athale, S.; Misra, V.P.

A patient operated upon for a midline cerebellar hemangioblastoma developed failure of automatic respiration during sleep, together with central sleep apnea syndrome, approximately two years after receiving radiation therapy to the brain. Clinical and CT scan findings were compatible with a diagnosis of radiation necrosis as the cause of his abnormal respiratory control.

Ionization detector, electrode configuration and single polarity charge detection method

DOEpatents

He, Z.

1998-07-07

An ionization detector, an electrode configuration and a single polarity charge detection method each utilize a boundary electrode which symmetrically surrounds first and second central interlaced and symmetrical electrodes. All of the electrodes are held at a voltage potential of a first polarity type. The first central electrode is held at a higher potential than the second central or boundary electrodes. By forming the first and second central electrodes in a substantially interlaced and symmetrical pattern and forming the boundary electrode symmetrically about the first and second central electrodes, signals generated by charge carriers are substantially of equal strength with respect to both of the central electrodes. The only significant difference in measured signal strength occurs when the charge carriers move to within close proximity of the first central electrode and are received at the first central electrode. The measured signals are then subtracted and compared to quantitatively measure the magnitude of the charge. 10 figs.

Ionization detector, electrode configuration and single polarity charge detection method

DOEpatents

He, Zhong

1998-01-01

An ionization detector, an electrode configuration and a single polarity charge detection method each utilize a boundary electrode which symmetrically surrounds first and second central interlaced and symmetrical electrodes. All of the electrodes are held at a voltage potential of a first polarity type. The first central electrode is held at a higher potential than the second central or boundary electrodes. By forming the first and second central electrodes in a substantially interlaced and symmetrical pattern and forming the boundary electrode symmetrically about the first and second central electrodes, signals generated by charge carriers are substantially of equal strength with respect to both of the central electrodes. The only significant difference in measured signal strength occurs when the charge carriers move to within close proximity of the first central electrode and are received at the first central electrode. The measured signals are then subtracted and compared to quantitatively measure the magnitude of the charge.

Scanning seismic intrusion detection method and apparatus. [monitoring unwanted subterranean entry and departure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, R. D. (Inventor)

1983-01-01

An intrusion monitoring system includes an array of seismic sensors, such as geophones, arranged along a perimeter to be monitored for unauthorized intrusion as by surface movement or tunneling. Two wires lead from each sensor to a central monitoring station. The central monitoring station has three modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, the output of all of the seismic sensors is summed into a receiver for amplification and detection. When the amplitude of the summed signals exceeds a certain predetermined threshold value an alarm is sounded. In a second mode of operation, the individual output signals from the sensors are multiplexed into the receiver for sequentially interrogating each of the sensors.

Silent emergency alarm system for schools and the like

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Read, W. S.; Roberts, V. W. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

An emergency alert system is described. In a school each classroom (or other area) is instrumented with a hidden microphone and receiver tuned to a non-audible frequency. The receivers' outputs are connected to a central display unit in the school's administrative office. Each instructor is provided with a small concealable transmitter which, when hand activated by the instructor upon the occurrance of any emergency, generates a non-audible signal at the receiver's tuned frequency.

Structure of the Upper Mantle and Mantle Transition Zone in Central Mongolia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Z.; Meltzer, A.; Stachnik, J.; Fischer, K. M.; Russo, R. M.; Munkhuu, U.; Baasanbat, T.

2016-12-01

Located between two major Archean cratons, the Siberian Craton to the north and the Tarim and Sino-Korean Cratons to the south, the lithosphere of Central Mongolia was constructed over an extended period of orogenesis associated with the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Archean to Early Proterozoic basement was modified by accreted subduction complexes during the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic and basalt magmatism in the Cenozoic. Central and western Mongolia constitute a significant portion of the greater Mongolian plateau, an approximately 2.6 million km2area of Central Asia with an average elevation of 1500 meters. The high topography of the Mongolian Plateau has been attributed to far-field effects of India-Asia convergence, Pacific plate subduction, mantle plume activity, convective mantle flow, and magmatic underplating. The origin and persistence of continental plateaus through time provides insight into the evolution of continents and interactions between mantle dynamics and surface processes. As part of a larger interdisciplinary project to understand the origin of high topography in continental interiors we deployed 112 seismic broadband stations in central Mongolia as three separate subarrays in two separate mobilizations over a four year period (2012-2016). The stations extend from the Hovsgol rift in northern Mongolia, through the Hangay Dome, and into the Gobi Altai in southern Mongolia. We use S wave Receiver functions (SRF) to examine the lithosphere asthenosphere boundary and P wave Receiver functions (PRF) to investigate the mantle transition zone (MTZ). Preliminary SRF results from the subarray in the Hangay show lithospheric thinning and E-W variation. The LAB beneath the Hangay is 100km. It gradually thins to 90 km at the western end of the central Hangay and thins more abruptly to 80km at the eastern end of the central Hangay. These results are in agreement with results from joint inversion of receiver functions and surface waves and teleseismic tomography. PRF exhibit a clear Ps arrival from the 410-km discontinuity but a weak Ps phase converted from 660-km discontinuity in both station and CCP stacks. The 410-km Ps arrival is gradually delayed from south to north corresponding to a depth change of 20km. Several stations with visible 660-km Ps suggest a 10-30 km thinning within the MTZ.

Solar central receiver heliostat reflector assembly

DOEpatents

Horton, Richard H.; Zdeb, John J.

1980-01-01

A heliostat reflector assembly for a solar central receiver system comprises a light-weight, readily assemblable frame which supports a sheet of stretchable reflective material and includes mechanism for selectively applying tension to and positioning the sheet to stretch it to optical flatness. The frame is mounted on and supported by a pipe pedestal assembly that, in turn, is installed in the ground. The frame is controllably driven in a predetermined way by a light-weight drive system so as to be angularly adjustable in both elevation and azimuth to track the sun and efficiently continuously reflect the sun's rays to a focal zone, i.e. central receiver, which forms part of a solar energy utilization system, such as a solar energy fueled electrical power generation system. The frame may include a built-in system for testing for optical flatness of the reflector. The preferable geometric configuration of the reflector is octagonal; however, it may be other shapes, such as hexagonal, pentagonal or square. Several different embodiments of means for tensioning and positioning the reflector to achieve optical flatness are disclosed. The reflector assembly is based on the stretch frame concept which provides an extremely light-weight, simple, low-cost reflector assembly that may be driven for positioning and tracking by a light-weight, inexpensive drive system.

Capsaicin-responsive corneal afferents do not contain TRPV1 at their central terminals in trigeminal nucleus caudalis in rats.

PubMed

Hegarty, Deborah M; Hermes, Sam M; Largent-Milnes, Tally M; Aicher, Sue A

2014-11-01

We examined the substrates for ocular nociception in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Capsaicin application to the ocular surface in awake rats evoked nocifensive responses and suppressed spontaneous grooming responses. Thus, peripheral capsaicin was able to activate the central pathways encoding ocular nociception. Our capsaicin stimulus evoked c-Fos expression in a select population of neurons within rostral trigeminal nucleus caudalis in anesthetized rats. These activated neurons also received direct contacts from corneal afferent fibers traced with cholera toxin B from the corneal surface. However, the central terminals of the corneal afferents that contacted capsaicin-activated trigeminal neurons did not contain TRPV1. To determine if TRPV1 expression had been altered by capsaicin stimulation, we examined TRPV1 content of corneal afferents in animals that did not receive capsaicin stimulation. These studies confirmed that while TRPV1 was present in 30% of CTb-labeled corneal afferent neurons within the trigeminal ganglion, TRPV1 was only detected in 2% of the central terminals of these corneal afferents within the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Other TRP channels were also present in low proportions of central corneal afferent terminals in unstimulated animals (TRPM8, 2%; TRPA1, 10%). These findings indicate that a pathway from the cornea to rostral trigeminal nucleus caudalis is involved in corneal nociceptive transmission, but that central TRP channel expression is unrelated to the type of stimulus transduced by the peripheral nociceptive endings. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Incidence and risk factors for central venous access port-related infection in Chinese cancer patients.

PubMed

Wang, Ting-Yao; Lee, Kuan-Der; Chen, Ping-Tsung; Chen, Min-Chi; Chen, Yi-Yang; Huang, Cih-En; Kuan, Feng-Che; Chen, Chih-Cheng; Lu, Chang Hsien

2015-11-01

Cytotoxic chemotherapy via central venous access ports is an important part of the standard treatment for most cancers, but it is accompanied with the risk of infections. This study aimed to analyze the incidence and risk factors for central venous access port-related infection (CPI) among Chinese patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy. Between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2005 a total of 1391 cancer patients with 1449 totally implantable central venous access ports were evaluated. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used for the analyses of risk factors. The overall CPI incidence rate was 0.21 per 1000 catheter-days. Hematological malignancies and head and neck cancer were associated with an increased risk of CPI (hazard ratio 4.00 and 4.11, respectively, both p < 0.001) and less infection-free catheter longevity (p < 0.001) compared with other cancer types. Chemotherapy in an adjuvant setting was associated with a lower risk of infection than for patients in a nonadjuvant setting (p < 0.001). The most common pathogens isolated from CPI were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida. Infection remains to be a challenging issue for totally implantable central venous ports. Implementation of an insertion bundle for the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections is warranted, especially for those patients with hematological and head and neck cancers, as well as for patients receiving chemotherapy in the metastatic settings. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The 10 MWe solar thermal central receiver pilot plant solar facilities design integration, RADL item 1-10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1980-07-01

Accomplishments are reported in the areas of: program management, system integration, the beam characterization system, receiver unit, thermal storage subsystems, master control system, plant support subsystem and engineering services. A solar facilities design integration program action items update is included. Work plan changes and cost underruns are discussed briefly. (LEW)

A Fresh Approach for Fresh Faces: Central Office Leaders Adopt Strategies to Support New Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Molitor, Suzanne; Burkett, Dina; Cunningham, Allison; Dell, Cheryl; Presta, Anna

2014-01-01

The Ontario Ministry of Education established the New Teacher Induction Program in 2006, ensuring that new teachers in the province receive orientation, mentoring, and continuous professional learning in their first year. Through this program, districts receive funding and opportunities to support mentors and respond to the needs of novice…

Sources of Social Capital: Effects of Altruistic Citizenship Behavior and Job Involvement on Advice Network Centrality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Mian; Zheng, Wei; Wei, Jun

2009-01-01

Social capital has been receiving increasing attention in HRD research. However, the sources of social capital have received inadequate attention. Little has been done to reveal how people obtain their social capital in the workplace. This study investigated the effects of employees' altruistic citizenship behavior and job involvement on their…

The Fed and the U.S. Constitution: Too Much Independence?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suiter, Mary C.; Schug, Mark C.

2012-01-01

Central banking in the United States has a long and controversial history dating back to the earliest days of the republic. One of the most widely presented arguments against a central bank has been that the U.S. Constitution does not expressly grant the federal government power to charter a bank. Recently, this issue has received new scrutiny in…

Education for Management in Central America. The Role of the Library of the Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bloch, Thomas

1973-01-01

The institute, established in 1968, is a multinational organization for education in management at the post-graduate level. Its library, with five staff members, now has 4,000 volumes and receives 300 periodical publications: it should eventually become a Central American business and economic management information and research center. (Author/SJ)

Use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) in children receiving autologous or allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.

PubMed

Benvenuti, Stefano; Ceresoli, Rosanna; Boroni, Giovanni; Parolini, Filippo; Porta, Fulvio; Alberti, Daniele

2018-03-01

The aim of our study was to present our experience with the use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in pediatric patients receiving autologous or allogenic blood stem-cell transplantation. The insertion of the device in older children does not require general anesthesia and does not require a surgical procedure. From January 2014 to January 2017, 13 PICCs were inserted as a central venous device in 11 pediatric patients submitted to 14 autologous or allogeneic stem-cell transplantation, at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the Children's Hospital of Brescia. The mean age of patients at the time of the procedure was 11.3 years (range 3-18 years). PICCs remained in place for an overall period of 4104 days. All PICCs were positioned by the same specifically trained physician and utilized by nurses of our stem-cell transplant unit. No insertion-related complications were observed. Late complications were catheter ruptures and line occlusions (1.2 per 1000 PICC days). No rupture or occlusion required removal of the device. No catheter-related venous thrombosis, catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), accidental removal or permanent lumen occlusion were observed. Indications for catheter removal were completion of therapy (8 patients) and death (2 patients). Three PICCs are currently being used for blood sampling in follow-up patients after transplantation. Our data suggest that PICCs are a safe and effective alternative to conventional central venous catheters even in pediatric patients with high risk of infectious and hemorrhagic complications such as patients receiving stem-cell transplantation.

Advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma outcomes with transition from devolved to centralised care in a regional Cancer Centre.

PubMed

Faluyi, Olusola O; Connor, Joanna L; Chatterjee, Madhuchanda; Ikin, Carl; Wong, Helen; Palmer, Daniel H

2017-02-14

Previous observations suggest suboptimal 'real world' survival outcomes for advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We hypothesized that centralisation of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma management would improve chemotherapy treatment and survival from the disease. The data was prospectively collected on all cases of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma reviewed through Clatterbridge Cancer Centre according to two groups; 1 October 2009-31st Dec 2010 (devolved care) or 1 January 2013-31 March 2014 (centralised care). Analysis included treatment received, 30-day chemotherapy mortality rate and overall survival (OS). More patients received chemotherapy with central care (67.0% (n=115) vs 43.0% (n=121); P=2.2 × 10 -4 ) with no difference in 30-day mortality (20.8% vs 25%; P=0.573) but reduced time to commencement of chemotherapy (18 vs 28 days, P=1.0 × 10 -3 ). More patients received second-line chemotherapy with central care (23.4% vs 1.9%, P=1.4 × 10 -4 ), while OS was significantly increased with central care (median: Five vs three months, HR 0.785, P=0.045). Exploratory analysis suggested that it was those with a poorer performance status, elderly or with metastatic disease who benefited the most from transition to central care. A centralised clinic model for advanced pancreatic cancer management resulted in prompt, safe and higher use of chemotherapy compared with devolved care. This was associated with a modest survival benefit. Prospective studies are required to validate the findings reported and the basis for improved survival with centralised care.

Progesterone increases resistance of ophthalmic and central retinal arteries in climacteric women.

PubMed

Souza, M A M De; Souza, B M De; Geber, S

2013-04-01

To evaluate the effect of a synthetic progestin on the vascular resistance of the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries in climacteric women, compared to placebo, using transorbital ultrasound with Doppler velocimetry. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study with 216 climacteric women. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of two groups: either the group receiving placebo (one pill/day for 30 days) (n = 108) or the group receiving progestin (5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate/day for 30 days) (n = 108). Transorbital Doppler velocimetric ultrasound was performed, before and after treatment; we measured the pulsatility index, resistance index and systole/diastole ratio. The mean ages of the participants in the study group and the control group were 54 ± 6.2 years (range 48-59 years) and 55 ± 6.8 years (range 46-60 years), respectively. When we compared the effect of the progestin on the central retinal artery before and after treatment, we observed a significant increase after the treatment in all Doppler indices. The same was observed when we compared the effect of the progestin on the ophthalmic artery. In the group of women receiving placebo, the Doppler indices were similar before and after treatment. Our results demonstrate the existence of a progestogenic vasoconstrictive effect in the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries. As this study provides new data, the observed effect needs further investigations to better elucidate its extent. Moreover, our findings may be particularly useful to others interested in understanding the vascular dynamics of the cerebral vessels and to researchers running clinical trials related to hormone replacement therapy.

Neighborhood comparison operator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gennery, D. B. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

Digital values in a moving window are compared by an operator having nine comparators connected to line buffers for receiving a succession of central pixels together with eight neighborhood pixels. A single bit of program control determines whether the neighborhood pixels are to be compared with the central pixel or a threshold value. The central pixel is always compared with the threshold. The omparator output plus 2 bits indicating odd-even pixel/line information about the central pixel addresses a lookup table to provide 14 bits of information, including 2 bits which control a selector to pass either the central pixel value, the other 12 bits of table information, or the bit-wise logical OR of all nine pixels through circuit that implements a very wide OR gate.

Changes in Retinal and Choroidal Vascular Blood Flow after Oral Sildenafil: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study.

PubMed

Berrones, David; Salcedo-Villanueva, Guillermo; Morales-Cantón, Virgilio; Velez-Montoya, Raul

2017-01-01

To describe changes in the retina and choroidal flow by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) after a single dose of oral sildenafil. A case-control study. Patients in the study group received 50 mg of oral sildenafil. Patients in the control group received a sham pill. Retinal and choroidal images were obtained at baseline (before pill ingestion) and 1 hour after ingestion. Central macular and choroidal thickness, choroidal and outer retina flow, and the retinal and choroidal vascular density were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test. Twenty eyes were enrolled into the study group and 10 eyes in the control group. There was a significant difference in central choroidal thickness and outer retina blood flow between groups after 1 hour of sildenafil ingestion ( p < 0.01). There were no differences in central macular thickness, choroidal flow, and retinal vascular density among groups. A single dose of oral sildenafil increases choroidal thickness, probably due to sildenafil-induced vasodilation.

Changes in Retinal and Choroidal Vascular Blood Flow after Oral Sildenafil: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study

PubMed Central

Berrones, David; Morales-Cantón, Virgilio

2017-01-01

Purpose To describe changes in the retina and choroidal flow by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) after a single dose of oral sildenafil. Method A case-control study. Patients in the study group received 50 mg of oral sildenafil. Patients in the control group received a sham pill. Retinal and choroidal images were obtained at baseline (before pill ingestion) and 1 hour after ingestion. Central macular and choroidal thickness, choroidal and outer retina flow, and the retinal and choroidal vascular density were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test. Results Twenty eyes were enrolled into the study group and 10 eyes in the control group. There was a significant difference in central choroidal thickness and outer retina blood flow between groups after 1 hour of sildenafil ingestion (p < 0.01). There were no differences in central macular thickness, choroidal flow, and retinal vascular density among groups. Conclusions A single dose of oral sildenafil increases choroidal thickness, probably due to sildenafil-induced vasodilation. PMID:29129998

Vascular resistance of central retinal and ophthalmic arteries in postmenopausal women after use of tibolone.

PubMed

de Souza, Marco Aurélio Martins; de Souza, Bruno Martins; Geber, Selmo

2012-03-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tibolone on vascular resistance of the central retinal and ophthalmic artery in postmenopausal women and to compare this effect with that of placebo using transorbital ultrasound with Doppler velocimetry. We performed a prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. A total of 100 healthy postmenopausal women (follicle-stimulating hormone, >40 IU/L) younger than 65 years were studied. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: placebo (n = 50) and tibolone (2.5 mg; n = 50). Transorbital Doppler velocimetric ultrasound was performed before treatment and 80 days after. The mean age was similar in both groups. Participants who received tibolone did not show any difference in pulsatility index, resistance index, and systole/diastole ratio of the central retinal and ophthalmic arteries after treatment. The same was observed in participants who received placebo. Our study demonstrates that tibolone administration to healthy postmenopausal women does not affect the resistance of small-caliber cerebral arteries.

Control system development for a 1 MW/e/ solar thermal power plant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daubert, E. R.; Bergthold, F. M., Jr.; Fulton, D. G.

1981-01-01

The point-focusing distributed receiver power plant considered consists of a number of power modules delivering power to a central collection point. Each power module contains a parabolic dish concentrator with a closed-cycle receiver/turbine/alternator assembly. Currently, a single-module prototype plant is under construction. The major control system tasks required are related to concentrator pointing control, receiver temperature control, and turbine speed control. Attention is given to operational control details, control hardware and software, and aspects of CRT output display.

Crustal structure in the southern part of Central Java based on analysis of tele-seismic receiver function using a neighbourhood algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ariyanto, P.; Syuhada; Rosid, S.; Anggono, T.; Januarti, Y.

2018-03-01

In this study, we applied receiver functions analysis to determine the crustal thickness, the ratio of Vp/Vs and the S wave velocity in the southern part of the Central Java. We selected tele-seismic data with magnitude more than 6 (M>6) and epicenter distance 30°-90° recorded from 3 broadband stations: UGM, YOGI, and WOJI station, as part of Indonesia-Geophone Network (IA-GE). Inversions were performed using nonlinear Neighborhood Algorithm (NA). We observed Ps phase conversion on the receiver functions corresponding to Moho depth at around 36-39 km. We also observed strong negative phase arrivals at around 10-12 s which might be associated with Indo-Australian subducting slab underneath the stations. The inversion results show the presence of low velocity zone with high Vp/Vs ratio (>1.78) in the middle crust around the study area which could be related to the Merapi-Lawu Anomaly (MLA).

Design and calibration of a novel transient radiative heat flux meter for a spacecraft thermal test

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

Sheng, Chunchen; Hu, Peng, E-mail: hupeng@ustc.edu.cn; Cheng, Xiaofang

2016-06-15

Radiative heat flux measurement is significantly important for a spacecraft thermal test. To satisfy the requirements of both high accuracy and fast response, a novel transient radiative heat flux meter was developed. Its thermal receiver consists of a central thermal receiver and two thermal guarded annular plates, which ensure the temperature distribution of the central thermal receiver to be uniform enough for reasonably applying lumped heat capacity method in a transient radiative heat flux measurement. This novel transient radiative heat flux meter design can also take accurate measurements regardless of spacecraft surface temperature and incident radiation spectrum. The measurement principlemore » was elaborated and the coefficients were calibrated. Experimental results from testing a blackbody furnace and an Xenon lamp show that this novel transient radiative heat flux meter can be used to measure transient radiative heat flux up to 1400 W/m{sup 2} with high accuracy and the response time of less than 10 s.« less

Application of a reversible chemical reaction system to solar thermal power plants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanseth, E. J.; Won, Y. S.; Seibowitz, L. P.

1980-01-01

Three distributed dish solar thermal power systems using various applications of SO2/SO3 chemical energy storage and transport technology were comparatively assessed. Each system features various roles for the chemical system: (1) energy storage only, (2) energy transport, or (3) energy transport and storage. These three systems were also compared with the dish-Stirling, using electrical transport and battery storage, and the central receiver Rankine system, with thermal storage, to determine the relative merit of plants employing a thermochemical system. As an assessment criterion, the busbar energy costs were compared. Separate but comparable solar energy cost computer codes were used for distributed receiver and central receiver systems. Calculations were performed for capacity factors ranging from 0.4 to 0.8. The results indicate that SO2/SO3 technology has the potential to be more cost effective in transporting the collected energy than in storing the energy for the storage capacity range studied (2-15 hours)

Novel imaging closed loop control strategy for heliostats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bern, Gregor; Schöttl, Peter; Heimsath, Anna; Nitz, Peter

2017-06-01

Central Receiver Systems use up to thousands of heliostats to concentrate solar radiation. The precise control of heliostat aiming points is crucial not only for efficiency but also for reliable plant operation. Besides the calibration of open loop control systems, closed loop tracking strategies are developed to address a precise and efficient aiming strategy. The need for cost reductions in the heliostat field intensifies the motivation for economic closed loop control systems. This work introduces an approach for a closed loop heliostat tracking strategy using image analysis and signal modulation. The approach aims at the extraction of heliostat focal spot position within the receiver domain by means of a centralized remote vision system decoupled from the rough conditions close to the focal area. Taking an image sequence of the receiver while modulating a signal on different heliostats, their aiming points are retrieved. The work describes the methodology and shows first results from simulations and practical tests performed in small scale, motivating further investigation and deployment.

Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998. Report to Congress on State Performance, Program Year 2004-05

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

US Department of Education, 2007

2007-01-01

The "Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998" requires that the Secretary provide the appropriate committees of Congress copies of annual reports received by the department from each eligible agency that receives funds under the Act. Congress has made "accountability for results" a central focus of the…

Solar tower enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Huiqiang; Xu, Yan; Acosta-Iborra, Alberto; Santana, Domingo

2017-06-01

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants are located in desert areas where the Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) value is very high. Since water resource is scarcely available, mechanical draft cooing technology is commonly used, with power consumption of mechanical fans being approximately 2% of the total power generated. Today, there is only one solar power plant (Khi Solar One in South Africa) uses a condenser installed in a Natural Draft Cooling (NDC) tower that avoids the windage loss of water occurring in wet cooling towers. Although, Khi Solar One is a cavity receiver power tower, the receivers can be hung onto the NDC tower. This paper looks at a novel integration of a NDC tower into an external molten salt receiver of a solar power plant, which is one of a largest commercial molten salt tower in China, with 100MWe power capacity. In this configuration study, the NDC tower surrounds the concrete tower of the receiver concentrically. In this way, the receiver concrete tower is the central support of the NDC tower, which consists of cable networks that are fixed to the concrete tower and suspended at a certain height over the floor. The cable networks support the shell of the NDC tower. To perform a preliminary analysis of the behavior of this novel configuration, two cases of numerical simulation in three dimensional (3D) models have been solved using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code, ANSYS Fluent 6.3. The results show that the integration of the NDC tower into an external central receiver tower is feasible. Additionally, the total heat transfer rate is not reduced but slightly increases when the molten salt receiver is in operation because of the additional natural draft induced by the high temperature of the receiver.

Asking the Presidents: The Most Pressing Issues at Community Colleges in the North Central Region. AIR 1988 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Budig, Jeanne E.

A survey of 350 presidents at two-year colleges in the North Central Accreditation Region generated a list of their perceptions of the currently most pressing issues related to accreditation, academic transfer and vocational/technical education. A total of 162 usable responses was received. Results included the finding that the most pressing issue…

Effects of harvesting treatments on the ant community in a Mississippi River bottomland hardwood forest in west-central Mississippi

Treesearch

Lynne C. Thompson; David M. General; Brian Roy Lockhart

2010-01-01

We assessed effects that harvesting treatments had on the ant community in a Mississippi River bottomland hardwood forest in west-central MS. Ants were collected on Pittman Island using pitfall traps from July to November in 1996, 1997, and 2000. The forest received three replicated harvesting treatments in 1995, including: 1) uncut controls (check), 2) selection...

[The characteristics of the geroprotective action of magnetotherapy in elderly patients with combined cardiovascular pathology].

PubMed

Abramovich, S G; Fedotchenko, A A; Koriakina, A V; Pogodin, K V; Smirnov, S N

1999-01-01

Central hemodynamics, diastolic and pumping functions of the heart, myocardial reactivity, microcirculation and biological age of cardiovascular system were studied in 66 elderly patients suffering from hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The patients received systemic magnetotherapy which produced a geroprotective effect as shown by improved microcirculation, myocardial reactivity, central hemodynamics reducing biological age of cardiovascular system and inhibiting its ageing.

Acute Central Neuropeptide Y Administration Increases Food Intake but Does Not Affect Hepatic Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (Vldl) Production in Mice

PubMed Central

Havekes, Louis M.; Romijn, Johannes A.; Rensen, Patrick C. N.

2013-01-01

Objective Central neuropeptide Y (NPY) administration stimulates food intake in rodents. In addition, acute modulation of central NPY signaling increases hepatic production of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triglyceride (TG) in rats. As hypertriglyceridemia is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis, for which well-established mouse models are available, we set out to validate the effect of NPY on hepatic VLDL-TG production in mice, to ultimately investigate whether NPY, by increasing VLDL production, contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Research Design and Methods Male C57Bl/6J mice received an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) cannula into the lateral (LV) or third (3V) ventricle of the brain. One week later, after a 4 h fast, the animals received an intravenous (i.v.) injection of Tran35S (100 µCi) followed by tyloxapol (500 mg/kg body weight; BW), enabling the study of hepatic VLDL-apoB and VLDL-TG production, respectively. Immediately after the i.v. injection of tyloxapol, the animals received either an i.c.v. injection of NPY (0.2 mg/kg BW in artificial cerebrospinal fluid; aCSF), synthetic Y1 receptor antagonist GR231118 (0.5 mg/kg BW in aCSF) or vehicle (aCSF), or an i.v. injection of PYY3–36 (0.5 mg/kg BW in PBS) or vehicle (PBS). Results Administration of NPY into both the LV and 3V increased food intake within one hour after injection (+164%, p<0.001 and +367%, p<0.001, respectively). NPY administration neither in the LV nor in the 3V affected hepatic VLDL-TG or VLDL-apoB production. Likewise, antagonizing central NPY signaling by either PYY3–36 or GR231118 administration did not affect hepatic VLDL production. Conclusion In mice, as opposed to rats, acute central administration of NPY increases food intake without affecting hepatic VLDL production. These results are of great significance when extrapolating findings on the central regulation of hepatic VLDL production between species. PMID:23460782

Thermal resistance model for CSP central receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Meyer, O. A. J.; Dinter, F.; Govender, S.

2016-05-01

The receiver design and heliostat field aiming strategy play a vital role in the heat transfer efficiency of the receiver. In molten salt external receivers, the common operating temperature of the heat transfer fluid or molten salt ranges between 285°C to 565°C. The optimum output temperature of 565°C is achieved by adjusting the mass flow rate of the molten salt through the receiver. The reflected solar radiation onto the receiver contributes to the temperature rise in the molten salt by means of heat transfer. By investigating published work on molten salt external receiver operating temperatures, corresponding receiver tube surface temperatures and heat losses, a model has been developed to obtain a detailed thermographic representation of the receiver. The steady state model uses a receiver flux map as input to determine: i) heat transfer fluid mass flow rate through the receiver to obtain the desired molten salt output temperature of 565°C, ii) receiver surface temperatures iii) receiver tube temperatures iv) receiver efficiency v) pressure drop across the receiver and vi) corresponding tube strain per panel.

Ignitability test method and apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bement, Laurence J. (Inventor); Bailey, James W. (Inventor); Schimmel, Morry L. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

An apparatus for testing ignitability of an initiator includes a body with a central cavity, initiator holder for holding the initiator over the central cavity of the body, an ignition material holder disposed in the central cavity of the body and a cavity facing the initiator holder which receives a measured quantity of ignition material to be ignited by the initiator and a chamber in communication with the cavity of the ignition material holder and the central cavity of the body. A measuring system for analyzing pressure characteristics is generated by ignition material by the initiator. The measuring system includes at least one transducer coupled to an oscillograph for recording pressure traces generated by ignition.

Ignitability test method and apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bement, Laurence J. (Inventor); Bailey, James W. (Inventor); Schimmel, Morry L. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

An apparatus for testing ignitability of an initiator includes a body having a central cavity, an initiator holder for holding the initiator over the central cavity of the body, an ignition material holder disposed in the central cavity of the body and having a cavity facing the initiator holder which receives a measured quantity of ignition material to be ignited by the initiator. It contains a chamber in communication with the cavity of the ignition material and the central cavity of the body, and a measuring system for analyzing pressure characteristics generated by ignition of the ignition material by the initiator. The measuring system includes at least one transducer coupled with an oscillograph for recording pressure traces generated by ignition.

Efficacy and safety of recombinant activated factor vii in major surgical procedures: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

PubMed

Ranucci, Marco; Isgrò, Giuseppe; Soro, Giorgio; Conti, Daniela; De Toffol, Barbara

2008-03-01

To investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) treatment in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. Relevant studies were searched in BioMedCentral, CENTRAL, PubMed, and PubMed Central. Only randomized controlled trials on humans undergoing major surgery were included. Efficacy was determined as the rate of patients receiving allogeneic packed red blood cells; safety was assessed in terms of thromboembolic complications and mortality rate. We followed the Cochrane Collaboration method for data extraction and internal validity procedures, as well as the Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses statement. Seven randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Treatment with rFVIIa is associated with a reduced risk of receiving allogeneic packed red blood cells (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.80). In a subgroup analysis, only patients receiving at least 50 mug/kg of rFVIIa had a significant benefit (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.78). No differences in thromboembolic complications and mortality rates were observed. Treatment with rFVIIa is effective in reducing the rate of patients undergoing transfusion with allogeneic packed red blood cells. However, the cost-benefit ratio is favorable only in patients who need a huge number of packed red blood cell units. No safety concerns arise from the present study.

Use and abuse of prescribed opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants among U.S. active duty military personnel in FY 2010.

PubMed

Jeffery, Diana D; May, Laurie; Luckey, Bill; Balison, Barbara M; Klette, Kevin L

2014-10-01

This study establishes rates of use/abuse of Schedule II-IV prescription medications in U.S. active duty military personnel, and characterizes correlates of such use/abuse. All active duty personnel serving for 12 months during fiscal year 2010 were included. Data were obtained from medical and pharmacy claims and drug screening results. Logistic regression models were used to examine predictors of drug use, along with bivariate analyses to compare abuse of prescribed and illegal drugs. Nearly one-third of active duty service members received at least one prescription for opioids, central nervous system depressants, or stimulants, with 26.4% having received at least one prescription for opioids. About 0.7%, 1.4%, and 0.6% of the total force received >90-day prescriptions for opioids, central nervous system depressants, or stimulants, respectively. Battlefield injury, receipt of psychotropic medications, and substance abuse adverse events were predictive of >90-day supply of opioids. About 0.7% of the total force had documented known drug abuse for prescribed drugs compared to 0.4% for illegal drug abuse. We recommend systematic monitoring of prescriptions for controlled substances which may carry serious consequences, evaluation of the impact of controlled substances on military readiness, and examination of the rationale for prescribing controlled drugs. Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections influence Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) pain response classification in candidates for lumbar herniated disc surgery.

PubMed

van Helvoirt, Hans; Apeldoorn, Adri T; Knol, Dirk L; Arts, Mark P; Kamper, Steven J; van Tulder, Maurits W; Ostelo, Raymond W

2016-04-27

Prospective cohort study. Although lumbar radiculopathy is regarded as a specific diagnosis, the most effective treatment strategy is unclear. Commonly used treatments include transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) and Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (MDT), but no studies have investigated the effectiveness of this combination. MDT differentiates pain centralization (C) from non-centralization (NC), which indicates good vs. poor prognostic validity respectively. The main aims were 1) to determine changes in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) pain response classifications after transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) in candidates for lumbar herniated disc surgery and 2) to evaluate differences in short and long term outcomes for patients with different pain response classifications. Candidates for lumbar herniated disc surgery were assessed with a MDT protocol and their pain response classified as centralizing or peripheralizing. For this study,only patients were eligible who showed a peripheralizing pain response at intake. All patients then received TESIs and were reassessed and classified using the MDT protocol, into groups according to pain response (resolved, centralizing, peripheralizing with less pain and peripheralising with severe pain). After receiving targeted treatment based on pain response after TESIs, ranging from advice, MDT or surgery, follow-up assessments were completed at discharge and at 12 months. The primary outcomes were disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ] for Sciatica), pain severity in leg (visual analogue scale [VAS], 0-100) and global perceived effect (GPE). Linear mixed-models were used to determine between-groups differences in outcome. A total of 77 patients with lumbar disc herniation and peripheralizing symptoms were included. Patients received an average of 2 (SD 0.7) TESIs. After TESIs, 17 patients (22%) were classified as peripheralizing with continuing severe pain.These patients underwent surgery and were not further evaluated. Eleven (14%) patients were classified as resolved, 37 (48%) as centralizing with significant less pain, and 12 (16%) as peripheralizing with significant less pain. None of these patients underwent surgery. Resolved and centralizer subgroups had better outcomes in terms of VAS and RMDQ than the non-operated peripheralizers at discharge and at 12 months. The succes rates (GPE) for the resolved, centralizing, and peripheralizing with less pain patients were 100%, 100% and 33% respectively at short term, and 100%, 92% and 50% respectively at long term. After TESIs, a peripheralizing pain pattern changed to resolved or centralizing in 62% of the patients. For the non-operated patients, those with a centralising pattern after TESIs reported better pain and disability outcomes than those with peripheralizing pattern at short and long term.

Successful Salvage of Central Venous Catheters in Patients with Catheter-Related or Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections by Using a Catheter Lock Solution Consisting of Minocycline, EDTA, and 25% Ethanol

PubMed Central

Chaftari, Anne-Marie; Zakhour, Ramia; Jordan, Mary; Al Hamal, Zanaib; Jiang, Ying; Yousif, Ammar; Garoge, Kumait; Mulanovich, Victor; Viola, George M.; Kanj, Soha; Pravinkumar, Egbert; Rosenblatt, Joel; Hachem, Ray

2016-01-01

In cancer patients with long-term central venous catheters (CVC), removal and reinsertion of a new CVC at a different site might be difficult because of the unavailability of accessible vascular sites. In vitro and animal studies showed that a minocycline-EDTA-ethanol (M-EDTA-EtOH) lock solution may eradicate microbial organisms in biofilms, hence enabling the treatment of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) while retaining the catheter in situ. Between April 2013 and July 2014, we enrolled 30 patients with CLABSI in a prospective study and compared them to a historical group of 60 patients with CLABSI who had their CVC removed and a new CVC inserted. Each catheter lumen was locked with an M-EDTA-EtOH solution for 2 h administered once daily, for a total of 7 doses. Patients who received locks had clinical characteristics that were comparable to those of the control group. The times to fever resolution and microbiological eradication were similar in the two groups. Patients with the lock intervention received a shorter duration of systemic antibiotic therapy than that of the control patients (median, 11 days versus 16 days, respectively; P < 0.0001), and they were able to retain their CVCs for a median of 74 days after the onset of bacteremia. The M-EDTA-EtOH lock was associated with a significantly decreased rate of mechanical and infectious complications compared to that of the CVC removal/reinsertion group, who received a longer duration of systemic antimicrobial therapy. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01539343.) PMID:27001822

Central line replacement following infection does not improve reinfection rates in pediatric pulmonary hypertension patients receiving intravenous prostanoid therapy.

PubMed

McCarthy, Elisa K; Ogawa, Michelle T; Hopper, Rachel K; Feinstein, Jeffrey A; Gans, Hayley A

2018-01-01

Treatment of pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) with IV prostanoids has greatly improved outcomes but requires a central line, posing inherent infection risk. This study examines the types of infections, infection rates, and importantly the effect of line management strategies on reinfection in children receiving IV prostanoids for PH. This study is a retrospective review of all pediatric PH patients receiving intravenous epoprostenol (EPO) or treprostinil (TRE) at one academic tertiary care center between 2000 and 2014. No patients declined participation in the study or were otherwise excluded. Infectious complications were characterized by organism(s), infection rates, time to next infection, and line management decisions (salvage vs. replace). Of the 40 patients followed, 13 sustained 38 infections involving 49 pathogens, with a predominance of gram-positive (GP) organisms (n = 35). The pooled infection rate was 1.06 per 1000 prostanoid days with no difference between EPO and TRE. No significant difference in reinfection rate was observed when comparing line salvage to replacement, regardless of organism type. Both overall and organism-type comparisons suggest longer time between line infections following line salvage compared with line replacement (732 vs. 410 days overall; 793 vs. 363 days for GP; 611 vs. 581 days for gram-negative [GN]; P > 0.05 for all comparisons). Central line replacement following blood stream infections in pediatric PH patients does not improve subsequent infection rates or time to next infection, and may lead to unnecessary risks associated with line replacement, including potential loss of vascular access. A revised approach to central line infections in pediatric PH is proposed.

Neurophysiological findings relevant to echolocation in marine animals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bullock, T. H.; Ridgway, S. H.

1972-01-01

A review of echolocation mechanisms in marine mammals, chiefly porpoises, is given. Data cover peripheral auditory and central neurophysiological specializations favorable to the analysis of echolocating clicks and their echoes. Conclusions show (1) signals are received from 50 up to at least 135 kHz, (2) sound is received through the mandible skin, and (3) the midbrain sites are insensitive to low frequencies (below 6 kHz).

Protocols using Anonymous Connections: Mobile Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-01-01

call from a cell phone ; the phone never receives a call in the ordinary sense of `receive’. We will return to discuss paging brie y below. The principals...speci ed in our protocol are the caller’s cell phone P , the central switch S, and the callee intended to receive the call R. We now present our...protocol for initiating a call from a cell phone . 1. P )P S : Payment info., N 2. S )P P : Ack or Nack 3. P ,P S $ R : Conversation To make a call from a

Central venous catheter infection-related glomerulonephritis under long-term parenteral nutrition: a report of two cases.

PubMed

Okada, Mari; Sato, Mai; Ogura, Masao; Kamei, Koichi; Matsuoka, Kentaro; Ito, Shuichi

2016-03-31

Advances in long-term parenteral nutrition via indwelling central venous catheter have improved the quality of life and mortality in patients with life-threatening gastrointestinal diseases complicated with severely impaired absorption. However, infection to central venous catheter is still a common and critical complication for such patients. We encountered two patients under long-term parenteral nutrition who developed glomerulonephritis associated with central venous catheter infection. Persistent bacterial infection in indwelling medical devices placed in the blood-stream such as a ventricular-atrial shunt is known to cause glomerulonephritis, a condition termed shunt nephritis. We reported the clinical manifestations, treatment and their pathological findings in the two patients with glomerulonephritis associated with central venous catheter infection. Both patients suffered from megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome, a form of pseudo-Hirschsprung's disease. They had been receiving home parenteral nutrition via central venous catheter because of severe malabsorption. They presented proteinuria, hematuria, hypocomplementemia and positive PR3-antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody accompanied by Staphylococcus epidermidis infection in the central venous catheter. Their renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with positive C3 deposition. One of them recovered completely following the removal of catheter and administration of antibiotics, while another did not respond to the treatments. We then treated her with methylprednisolone pulse therapy followed by prednisolone. She responded well, and achieved complete remission. As central venous catheter infection-related glomerulonephritis has a similar etiology to shunt nephritis, removal of the catheter and administration of antibiotics is fundamental to the treatment. If a patient is resistant to such conventional therapy, additional steroid and/or immunosuppressive agent could be considered. Although the number of patients with classical shunt nephritis is decreasing since the ventricular-peritoneal shunt has become became the major procedure for hydrocephalus, central venous catheter infection-related glomerulonephritis may increase in the future due to a marked increase in the number of patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition. Routine urinalysis should be considered in such patients for early detection of central venous catheter infection-related glomerulonephritis.

77 FR 71501 - International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-03

...NMFS issues regulations under the authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) to implement requirements for U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing that offload or receive transshipments of highly migratory species (HMS), U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing that provide bunkering or other support services to fishing vessels, and U.S. fishing vessels used for commercial fishing that receive bunkering or engage in other support services, in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). Some of the requirements also apply to transshipments of fish caught in the area of application of the Convention (Convention Area) and transshipped elsewhere. NMFS also issues requirements regarding notification of entry into and exit from the ``Eastern High Seas Special Management Area'' (Eastern SMA) and requirements relating to discards from purse seine fishing vessels. This action is necessary for the United States to implement decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission or WCPFC) and to satisfy its obligations under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party.

Cavity radiation model for solar central receivers

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

Lipps, F.W.

1981-01-01

The Energy Laboratory of the University of Houston has developed a computer simulation program called CREAM (i.e., Cavity Radiations Exchange Analysis Model) for application to the solar central receiver system. The zone generating capability of CREAM has been used in several solar re-powering studies. CREAM contains a geometric configuration factor generator based on Nusselt's method. A formulation of Nusselt's method provides support for the FORTRAN subroutine NUSSELT. Numerical results from NUSSELT are compared to analytic values and values from Sparrow's method. Sparrow's method is based on a double contour integral and its reduction to a single integral which is approximatedmore » by Guassian methods. Nusselt's method is adequate for the intended engineering applications, but Sparrow's method is found to be an order of magnitude more efficient in many situations.« less

Assessment of clinical efficacy and safety in a randomized double-blind study of etanercept and sulfasalazine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis from Eastern/Central Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

PubMed

Damjanov, Nemanja; Shehhi, Waleed Al; Huang, Feng; Kotak, Sameer; Burgos-Vargas, Ruben; Shirazy, Khalid; Bananis, Eustratios; Szumski, Annette; Llamado, Lyndon J Q; Mahgoub, Ehab

2016-05-01

Despite the demonstrated efficacy of etanercept for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), sulfasalazine is often prescribed, especially in countries with limited access to biologic agents. The objective of this subset analysis of the ASCEND trial was to compare the efficacy of etanercept and sulfasalazine in treating patients with AS from Asia, Eastern/Central Europe, and Latin America. A total of 287 patients, 190 receiving etanercept 50 mg once weekly and 97 receiving sulfasalazine 3 g daily, from eight countries were included in this subset analysis. Differences in disease activity and patient-reported outcomes assessing health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) parameters in response to treatment were analyzed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test for categorical efficacy endpoints and analysis of covariance model for continuous variables. At week 16, a significantly greater proportion of patients receiving etanercept achieved ASAS20 (79.0 %) compared with patients receiving sulfasalazine (61.9 %; p = 0.002). At week 16, treatment with etanercept also resulted in significantly better responses than sulfasalazine for ASAS40 (64.7 vs. 35.1 %; p < 0.001), ASAS5/6 (48.1 vs. 26.3 %; p < 0.001), proportion of patients achieving 50 % response in Bath AS Disease Activity Index (65.8 vs. 42.3 %; p < 0.001), partial remission (35.3 vs. 17.5 %; p = 0.002), and all HRQoL parameters. Both treatments were well tolerated. Etanercept was significantly more effective than sulfasalazine in the treatment of patients with AS from Asia, Central/Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

Intravitreal aflibercept for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion: 18-month results of the phase 3 GALILEO study.

PubMed

Ogura, Yuichiro; Roider, Johann; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Holz, Frank G; Simader, Christian; Schmidt-Erfurth, Ursula; Vitti, Robert; Berliner, Alyson J; Hiemeyer, Florian; Stemper, Brigitte; Zeitz, Oliver; Sandbrink, Rupert

2014-11-01

To evaluate intravitreal aflibercept for treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Randomized, double-masked, phase 3 study. A total of 177 patients with macular edema secondary to CRVO were randomized to receive 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept (n = 106) or sham (n = 71) every 4 weeks for 20 weeks. From weeks 24 to 48, patients were monitored every 4 weeks; the former group received intravitreal aflibercept as needed (PRN), and the sham group received sham. From weeks 52 to 76, patients were monitored every 8 weeks, and both groups received intravitreal aflibercept PRN. The primary endpoint (proportion of patients who gained ≥15 letters) was at week 24. This study reports exploratory outcomes at week 76. The proportion of patients who gained ≥15 letters in the intravitreal aflibercept and sham groups was 60.2% vs 22.1% at week 24 (patients discontinued before week 24 were considered nonresponders; P < .0001), 60.2% vs 32.4% at week 52 (last observation carried forward, P < .001), and 57.3% vs 29.4% at week 76 (last observation carried forward; P < .001). Mean μm change from baseline central retinal thickness was -448.6 vs -169.3 at week 24 (P < .0001), -423.5 vs -219.3 at week 52 (P < .0001), and -389.4 vs -306.4 at week 76 (P = .1122). Over 76 weeks, the most common ocular serious adverse event in the intravitreal aflibercept group was macular edema (3.8%). The visual and anatomic improvements seen after fixed, monthly dosing at week 24 were largely maintained when treatment intervals were extended. Patients with macular edema following CRVO benefited from early treatment with intravitreal aflibercept. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acute sleep deprivation preconditions the heart against ischemia/ reperfusion injury: the role of central GABA-A receptors

PubMed Central

Parsa, Hoda; Imani, Alireza; Faghihi, Mahdieh; Riahi, Esmail; Badavi, Mohammad; Shakoori, Abbas; Rastegar, Tayebeh; Aghajani, Marjan; Rajani, Sulail Fatima

2017-01-01

Objective(s): Central γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission modulates cardiovascular functions and sleep. Acute sleep deprivation (ASD) affects functions of various body organs via different mechanisms. Here, we evaluated the effect of ASD on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), and studied the role of GABA-A receptor inhibition in central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) by assessing nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: The CeA in sixty male Wistar rats was cannulated for saline or bicuculline (GABA-A receptor antagonist) administration. All animals underwent 30 min of coronary occlusion (ischemia), followed by 2 hr reperfusion (IR). The five experimental groups (n=12) included are as follows: IR: received saline; BIC+IR: received Bicuculline; MLP+IR: received saline, followed by the placement of animals in an aquarium with multiple large platforms; ASD+IR: underwent ASD in an aquarium with multiple small platforms; and BIC+ASD+IR: received bicuculline prior to ASD. Results: Bicuculline administration increased the malondialdehyde levels and infarct size, and decreased the NO metabolites levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression in infarcted and non-infarcted areas in comparison to IR group. ASD reduced malondialdehyde levels and infarct size and increased NO metabolites, corticosterone levels and eNOS expression in infarcted and non-infarcted areas as compared to the IR group. Levels of malondialdehyde were increased while levels of NO metabolites, corticosterone and eNOS expression in infarcted and non-infarcted areas were reduced in the BIC+ASD+IR as compared to the ASD+IR group. Conclusion: Blockade of GABA-A receptors in the CeA abolishes ASD-induced cardioprotection by suppressing oxidative stress and NO production. PMID:29299201

Acute sleep deprivation preconditions the heart against ischemia/ reperfusion injury: the role of central GABA-A receptors.

PubMed

Parsa, Hoda; Imani, Alireza; Faghihi, Mahdieh; Riahi, Esmail; Badavi, Mohammad; Shakoori, Abbas; Rastegar, Tayebeh; Aghajani, Marjan; Rajani, Sulail Fatima

2017-11-01

Central γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission modulates cardiovascular functions and sleep. Acute sleep deprivation (ASD) affects functions of various body organs via different mechanisms. Here, we evaluated the effect of ASD on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), and studied the role of GABA-A receptor inhibition in central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) by assessing nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress. The CeA in sixty male Wistar rats was cannulated for saline or bicuculline (GABA-A receptor antagonist) administration. All animals underwent 30 min of coronary occlusion (ischemia), followed by 2 hr reperfusion (IR). The five experimental groups (n=12) included are as follows: IR: received saline; BIC+IR: received Bicuculline; MLP+IR: received saline, followed by the placement of animals in an aquarium with multiple large platforms; ASD+IR: underwent ASD in an aquarium with multiple small platforms; and BIC+ASD+IR: received bicuculline prior to ASD. Bicuculline administration increased the malondialdehyde levels and infarct size, and decreased the NO metabolites levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression in infarcted and non-infarcted areas in comparison to IR group. ASD reduced malondialdehyde levels and infarct size and increased NO metabolites, corticosterone levels and eNOS expression in infarcted and non-infarcted areas as compared to the IR group. Levels of malondialdehyde were increased while levels of NO metabolites, corticosterone and eNOS expression in infarcted and non-infarcted areas were reduced in the BIC+ASD+IR as compared to the ASD+IR group. Blockade of GABA-A receptors in the CeA abolishes ASD-induced cardioprotection by suppressing oxidative stress and NO production.

Decreasing troponin turnaround time in the emergency department using the central laboratory: A process improvement study.

PubMed

Boelstler, Arlene M; Rowland, Ralph; Theoret, Jennifer; Takla, Robert B; Szpunar, Susan; Patel, Shraddha P; Lowry, Andrew M; Pena, Margarita E

2015-03-01

To implement collaborative process improvement measures to reduce emergency department (ED) troponin turnaround time (TAT) to less than 60min using central laboratory. This was an observational, retrospective data study. A multidisciplinary team from the ED and laboratory identified opportunities and developed a new workflow model. Process changes were implemented in ED patient triage, staffing, lab collection and processing. Data collected included TAT of door-to-order, order-to-collect, collect-to-received, received-to-result, door-to-result, ED length of stay, and hemolysis rate before (January-August, 2011) and after (September 2011-June 2013) process improvement. After process improvement and implementation of the new workflow model, decreased median TAT (in min) was seen in door-to-order (54 [IQR43] vs. 11 [IQR20]), order-to-collect (15 [IQR 23] vs. 10 [IQR12]), collect-to-received (6 [IQR8] vs. 5 [IQR5]), received-to-result (30 [IQR12] vs. 24 [IQR11]), and overall door-to-result (117 [IQR60] vs. 60 [IQR40]). A troponin TAT of <60min was realized beginning in May 2012 (59 [IQR39]). Hemolysis rates decreased (14.63±0.74 vs. 3.36±1.99, p<0.0001), as did ED length of stay (5.87±2.73h vs. 5.15±2.34h, p<0.0001). Conclusion Troponin TAT of <60min using a central laboratory was achieved with collaboration between the ED and the laboratory; additional findings include a decreased ED length of stay. Copyright © 2014 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A remote drip infusion monitoring system employing Bluetooth.

PubMed

Amano, Hikaru; Ogawa, Hidekuni; Maki, Hiromichi; Tsukamoto, Sosuke; Yonezawa, Yoshiharu; Caldwell, W Morton

2012-01-01

We have developed a remote drip infusion monitoring system for use in hospitals. The system consists of several infusion monitoring devices and a central monitor. The infusion monitoring device employing a Bluetooth module can detect the drip infusion rate and an empty infusion solution bag, and then these data are sent to the central monitor placed at the nurses' station via the Bluetooth. The central monitor receives the data from several infusion monitoring devices and then displays graphically them. Therefore, the developed system can monitor intensively the drip infusion situation of the several patients at the nurses' station.

Patterns of innervation of neurones in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the cat.

PubMed Central

Julé, Y; Krier, J; Szurszewski, J H

1983-01-01

The patterns of peripheral and central synaptic input to non-spontaneous, irregular discharging and regular discharging neurones in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the cat were studied in vitro using intracellular recording techniques. All three types of neurones in rostral and caudal lobes received central synaptic input primarily from L3 and L4 spinal cord segments. Since irregular discharging neurones received synaptic input from intraganglionic regular discharging neurones, some of the central input to irregular discharging neurones may have been relayed through the regular discharging neurones. In the rostral lobes of the ganglion, more than 70% of the non-spontaneous and irregular discharging neurones tested received peripheral synaptic input from the lumbar colonic, intermesenteric and left and right hypogastric nerves. Most of the regular discharging neurones tested received synaptic input from the intermesenteric and lumbar colonic nerves; none of the regular discharging neurones received synaptic input from the hypogastric nerves. Some of the peripheral synaptic input from the lumbar colonic and intermesenteric nerves to irregular discharging neurones may have been relayed through the regular discharging neurones. Axons of non-spontaneous and irregular discharging neurones located in the rostral lobes travelled to the periphery exclusively in the lumbar colonic nerves. Antidromic responses were not observed in regular discharging neurones during stimulation of any of the major peripheral nerve trunks. This suggests these neurones were intraganglionic. In the caudal lobes, irregular discharging neurones received a similar pattern of peripheral synaptic input as did irregular discharging neurones located in the rostral lobes. The majority of irregular discharging neurones in the caudal lobes projected their axons to the periphery through the lumbar colonic nerves. Non-spontaneous neurones in the caudal lobes, in contrast to those located in the rostral lobes, received peripheral synaptic input primarily from the hypogastric nerves. Axons of the majority of non-spontaneous neurones located in the caudal lobes travelled to the periphery through hypogastric nerves. The results suggest that non-spontaneous neurones and irregular discharging neurones in the rostral lobes and the majority of irregular discharging neurones in the caudal lobes transact and integrate neural commands destined for abdominal viscera supplied by the lumbar colonic nerves. Non-spontaneous neurones in the caudal lobes transact and integrate neural commands destined for pelvic viscera supplied by the hypogastric nerves. PMID:6655582

Patterns of innervation of neurones in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the cat.

PubMed

Julé, Y; Krier, J; Szurszewski, J H

1983-11-01

The patterns of peripheral and central synaptic input to non-spontaneous, irregular discharging and regular discharging neurones in the inferior mesenteric ganglion of the cat were studied in vitro using intracellular recording techniques. All three types of neurones in rostral and caudal lobes received central synaptic input primarily from L3 and L4 spinal cord segments. Since irregular discharging neurones received synaptic input from intraganglionic regular discharging neurones, some of the central input to irregular discharging neurones may have been relayed through the regular discharging neurones. In the rostral lobes of the ganglion, more than 70% of the non-spontaneous and irregular discharging neurones tested received peripheral synaptic input from the lumbar colonic, intermesenteric and left and right hypogastric nerves. Most of the regular discharging neurones tested received synaptic input from the intermesenteric and lumbar colonic nerves; none of the regular discharging neurones received synaptic input from the hypogastric nerves. Some of the peripheral synaptic input from the lumbar colonic and intermesenteric nerves to irregular discharging neurones may have been relayed through the regular discharging neurones. Axons of non-spontaneous and irregular discharging neurones located in the rostral lobes travelled to the periphery exclusively in the lumbar colonic nerves. Antidromic responses were not observed in regular discharging neurones during stimulation of any of the major peripheral nerve trunks. This suggests these neurones were intraganglionic. In the caudal lobes, irregular discharging neurones received a similar pattern of peripheral synaptic input as did irregular discharging neurones located in the rostral lobes. The majority of irregular discharging neurones in the caudal lobes projected their axons to the periphery through the lumbar colonic nerves. Non-spontaneous neurones in the caudal lobes, in contrast to those located in the rostral lobes, received peripheral synaptic input primarily from the hypogastric nerves. Axons of the majority of non-spontaneous neurones located in the caudal lobes travelled to the periphery through hypogastric nerves. The results suggest that non-spontaneous neurones and irregular discharging neurones in the rostral lobes and the majority of irregular discharging neurones in the caudal lobes transact and integrate neural commands destined for abdominal viscera supplied by the lumbar colonic nerves. Non-spontaneous neurones in the caudal lobes transact and integrate neural commands destined for pelvic viscera supplied by the hypogastric nerves.

Central diabetes insipidus in pediatric severe traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Alharfi, Ibrahim M; Stewart, Tanya Charyk; Foster, Jennifer; Morrison, Gavin C; Fraser, Douglas D

2013-02-01

To determine the occurrence rate of central diabetes insipidus in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury and to describe the clinical, injury, biochemical, imaging, and intervention variables associated with mortality. Retrospective chart and imaging review. Children's Hospital, level 1 trauma center. Severely injured (Injury Severity Score ≥ 12) pediatric trauma patients (>1 month and <18 yr) with severe traumatic brain injury (presedation Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8 and head Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥ 4) that developed acute central diabetes insipidus between January 2000 and December 2011. Of 818 severely injured trauma patients, 180 had severe traumatic brain injury with an overall mortality rate of 27.2%. Thirty-two of the severe traumatic brain injury patients developed acute central diabetes insipidus that responded to desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin and/or vasopressin infusion, providing an occurrence rate of 18%. At the time of central diabetes insipidus diagnosis, median urine output and serum sodium were 6.8 ml/kg/hr (interquartile range = 5-11) and 154 mmol/L (interquartile range = 149-159), respectively. The mortality rate of central diabetes insipidus patients was 87.5%, with 71.4% declared brain dead after central diabetes insipidus diagnosis. Early central diabetes insipidus onset, within the first 2 days of severe traumatic brain injury, was strongly associated with mortality (p < 0.001), as were a lower presedation Glasgow Coma Scale (p = 0.03), a lower motor Glasgow Coma Scale (p = 0.01), an occurrence of fixed pupils (p = 0.04), and a prolonged partial thromboplastin time (p = 0.04). Cerebral edema on the initial computed tomography, obtained in the first 24 hrs after injury, was the only imaging finding associated with death (p = 0.002). Survivors of central diabetes insipidus were more likely to have intracranial pressure monitoring (p = 0.03), have thiopental administered to induce coma (p = 0.04) and have received a decompressive craniectomy for elevated intracranial pressure (p = 0.04). The incidence of central diabetes insipidus in pediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury is 18%. Mortality was associated with early central diabetes insipidus onset and cerebral edema on head computed tomography. Central diabetes insipidus nonsurvivors were less likely to have received intracranial pressure monitoring, thiopental coma and decompressive craniectomy.

Efficacy of Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor or Steroid Injection in Diabetic Macular Edema According to Fluid Turbidity in Optical Coherence Tomography

PubMed Central

Lee, Kyungmin; Chung, Heeyoung; Park, Youngsuk

2014-01-01

Purpose To determine if short term effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor or steroid injection are correlated with fluid turbidity, as detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients. Methods A total of 583 medical records were reviewed and 104 cases were enrolled. Sixty eyes received a single intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) on the first attack of DME and 44 eyes received triamcinolone acetonide treatment (IVTA). Intraretinal fluid turbidity in DME patients was estimated with initialintravitreal SD-OCT and analyzed with color histograms from a Photoshop program. Central macular thickness and visual acuity using a logarithm from the minimum angle of resolution chart, were assessed at the initial period and 2 months after injections. Results Visual acuity and central macular thickness improved after injections in both groups. In the IVB group, visual acuity and central macular thickness changed less as the intraretinal fluid became more turbid. In the IVTA group, visual acuity underwent less change while central macular thickness had a greater reduction (r = -0.675, p = 0.001) as the intraretinal fluid was more turbid. Conclusions IVB and IVTA injections were effective in reducing central macular thickness and improving visual acuity in DME patients. Further, fluid turbidity, which was detected by SD-OCT may be one of the indexes that highlight the influence of the steroid-dependent pathogenetic mechanism. PMID:25120338

Efficacy of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor or steroid injection in diabetic macular edema according to fluid turbidity in optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Lee, Kyungmin; Chung, Heeyoung; Park, Youngsuk; Sohn, Joonhong

2014-08-01

To determine if short term effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor or steroid injection are correlated with fluid turbidity, as detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients. A total of 583 medical records were reviewed and 104 cases were enrolled. Sixty eyes received a single intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) on the first attack of DME and 44 eyes received triamcinolone acetonide treatment (IVTA). Intraretinal fluid turbidity in DME patients was estimated with initial intravitreal SD-OCT and analyzed with color histograms from a Photoshop program. Central macular thickness and visual acuity using a logarithm from the minimum angle of resolution chart, were assessed at the initial period and 2 months after injections. Visual acuity and central macular thickness improved after injections in both groups. In the IVB group, visual acuity and central macular thickness changed less as the intraretinal fluid became more turbid. In the IVTA group, visual acuity underwent less change while central macular thickness had a greater reduction (r = -0.675, p = 0.001) as the intraretinal fluid was more turbid. IVB and IVTA injections were effective in reducing central macular thickness and improving visual acuity in DME patients. Further, fluid turbidity, which was detected by SD-OCT may be one of the indexes that highlight the influence of the steroid-dependent pathogenetic mechanism.

Chagas disease

MedlinePlus

... the walls Living in Central or South America Poverty Receiving a blood transfusion from a person who ... by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is ...

Whole Neuraxis Irradiation to Address Central Nervous System Relapse in High-Risk Neuroblastoma

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

Croog, Victoria J., E-mail: vcroog@sibley.or; Kramer, Kim; Cheung, Nai-Kong V.

Background: As systemic control of high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) has improved, relapse in the central nervous system (CNS) is an increasingly recognized entity that carries a grim prognosis. This study describes the use of craniospinal irradiation (CSI) for CNS relapse and compares outcomes to patients who received focal radiotherapy (RT). Methods: A retrospective query identified 29 children with NB treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center since 1987 who received RT for CNS relapse. At CNS relapse, 16 patients received CSI (median dose, 2160cGy), and 13 received focal RT. Of those who underwent CSI, 14 (88%) received intra-Ommaya (IO) radioimmunotherapy (RIT); onemore » patient in the non-CSI cohort received IO-RIT. Results: Patient characteristics were similar between the groups. Time to CNS relapse was 20 and 17 months for the CSI and non-CSI cohorts, respectively. At a median follow-up of 28 months, 12 patients (75%) in the CSI group are alive without CNS disease, including two patients with isolated skeletal relapse. Another patient is alive without disease after a brain relapse was retreated with RT. Three patients died-one with no NB at autopsy, one of CNS disease, and one of systemic disease. The two patients who died of NB did not receive IO-RIT. All 13 patients in the non-CSI cohort died at a median of 8.8 months. Conclusions: Low-dose CSI together with IO-RIT provides durable CNS remissions and improved survival compared with focal RT and conventional therapies. Further evaluation of long-term NB survivors after CSI is warranted to determine the treatment consequences for this cohort.« less

Adaptive receiver structures for asynchronous CDMA systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rapajic, Predrag B.; Vucetic, Branka S.

1994-05-01

Adaptive linear and decision feedback receiver structures for coherent demodulation in asynchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) systems are considered. It is assumed that the adaptive receiver has no knowledge of the signature waveforms and timing of other users. The receiver is trained by a known training sequence prior to data transmission and continuously adjusted by an adaptive algorithm during data transmission. The proposed linear receiver is as simple as a standard single-user detector receiver consisting of a matched filter with constant coefficients, but achieves essential advantages with respect to timing recovery, multiple access interference elimination, near/far effect, narrowband and frequency-selective fading interference suppression, and user privacy. An adaptive centralized decision feedback receiver has the same advantages of the linear receiver but, in addition, achieves a further improvement in multiple access interference cancellation at the expense of higher complexity. The proposed receiver structures are tested by simulation over a channel with multipath propagation, multiple access interference, narrowband interference, and additive white Gaussian noise.

The social network of international health aid.

PubMed

Han, Lu; Koenig-Archibugi, Mathias; Opsahl, Tore

2018-06-01

International development assistance for health generates an emergent social network in which policy makers in recipient countries are connected to numerous bilateral and multilateral aid agencies and to other aid recipients. Ties in this global network are channels for the transmission of knowledge, norms and influence in addition to material resources, and policy makers in centrally situated governments receive information faster and are exposed to a more diverse range of sources and perspectives. Since diversity of perspectives improves problem-solving capacity, the structural position of aid-receiving governments in the health aid network can affect the health outcomes that those governments are able to attain. We apply a recently developed Social Network Analysis measure to health aid data for 1990-2010 to investigate the relationship between country centrality in the health aid network and improvements in child health. A generalized method of moments (GMM) analysis indicates that, controlling for the volume of health aid and other factors, higher centrality in the health aid network is associated with better child survival rates in a sample of 110 low and middle income countries. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Dose at the Site of Second Tumor Formation After Radiotherapy to the Central Nervous System

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

Galloway, Thomas J.; University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, FL; Indelicato, Daniel J., E-mail: dindelicato@floridaproton.org

Purpose: Second tumors are an uncommon complication of multimodality treatment of childhood cancer. The present analysis attempted to correlate the dose received as a component of primary treatment and the site of the eventual development of a second tumor. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively identified 16 patients who had received radiotherapy to sites in the craniospinal axis and subsequently developed a second tumor. We compared the historical fields and port films of the primary treatment with the modern imaging of the second tumor locations. We classified the location of the second tumors as follows: in the boost field; marginal tomore » the boost field, but in a whole-brain field; in a whole-brain field; marginal to the whole brain/primary treatment field; and distant to the field. We divided the dose received into 3 broad categories: high dose (>45 Gy), moderate dose (20-36 Gy), and low dose (<20 Gy). Results: The most common location of the second tumor was in the whole brain field (57%) and in the moderate-dose range (81%). Conclusions: Our data contradict previous publications that suggested that most second tumors develop in tissues that receive a low radiation dose. Almost all the second tumors in our series occurred in tissue within a target volume in the cranium that had received a moderate dose (20-36 Gy). These findings suggest that a major decrease in the brain volume that receives a moderate radiation dose is the only way to substantially decrease the second tumor rate after central nervous system radiotherapy.« less

Risk of Infection Using Peripherally Inserted Central and Umbilical Catheters in Preterm Neonates.

PubMed

Shalabi, Mohamed; Adel, Mohamed; Yoon, Eugene; Aziz, Khalid; Lee, Shoo; Shah, Prakesh S

2015-12-01

To compare the rates of catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) in preterm infants born at <30 weeks' gestation who received a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) versus an umbilical venous catheter (UVC) immediately after birth as their primary venous access. This retrospective matched cohort study examined data from infants born at <30 weeks' gestation and admitted between January 2010 and December 2013 to neonatal units in the Canadian Neonatal Network. Eligible infants who received a PICC on the first day after birth (day 1) were matched with 2 additional groups of infants, those who received a UVC on day 1 and those who received a UVC on day 1 that was then changed for a PICC after 4 days or more. The primary outcome was number of infants with CABSI per 1000 catheter days, which was compared between the 3 groups using multivariable analyses. Data from 540 eligible infants were reviewed (180 per group). There was no significant difference in infants with CABSI/1000 catheter days between the 3 groups (9.3 vs 7.8 vs 8.2/1000 catheter days, respectively; P > .05) despite lower rates of late onset sepsis in the group of infants who received only a UVC. There was no significant difference in the incidence of CABSI between very preterm neonates who received a PICC, UVC, or UVC followed by PICC as the primary mode of venous access after birth. A prospective randomized controlled trial is justified to further guide practice regarding primary venous access and reduction of infection. Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection for Macular Edema Resulting from Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: One-Year Results of the Phase 3 GALILEO Study.

PubMed

Korobelnik, Jean-François; Holz, Frank G; Roider, Johann; Ogura, Yuichiro; Simader, Christian; Schmidt-Erfurth, Ursula; Lorenz, Katrin; Honda, Miki; Vitti, Robert; Berliner, Alyson J; Hiemeyer, Florian; Stemper, Brigitte; Zeitz, Oliver; Sandbrink, Rupert

2014-01-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept injections for treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). A randomized, multicenter, double-masked phase 3 study. A total of 177 treatment-naive patients with macular edema secondary to CRVO were randomized in a 3:2 ratio. Patients received either 2-mg intravitreal aflibercept or sham injections every 4 weeks for 20 weeks. From week 24 to 48, the aflibercept group received aflibercept as needed (pro re nata [PRN]), and the sham group continued receiving sham injections. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of patients who gained 15 letters or more in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at week 24. This study reports week 52 results including the proportion of patients who gained 15 letters or more in BCVA and the mean change from baseline BCVA and central retinal thickness. Efficacy end points at week 52 were all exploratory. At week 52, the mean percentage of patients gaining 15 letters or more was 60.2% in the aflibercept group and 32.4% in the sham group (P = 0.0004). Aflibercept patients, compared with sham patients, had a significantly higher mean improvement in BCVA (+16.9 letters vs. +3.8 letters, respectively) and reduction in central retinal thickness (-423.5 μm vs. -219.3 μm, respectively) at week 52 (P < 0.0001 for both). Aflibercept patients received a mean of 2.5 injections (standard deviation, 1.7 injections) during PRN dosing. The most common ocular adverse events in the aflibercept group were related to the injection procedure or the underlying disease, and included macular edema (33.7%), increased intraocular pressure (17.3%), and eye pain (14.4%). Treatment with intravitreal aflibercept provided significant functional and anatomic benefits after 52 weeks as compared with sham. The improvements achieved after 6 monthly doses at week 24 largely were maintained until week 52 with as-needed dosing. Intravitreal aflibercept generally was well tolerated. Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In situ reactor

DOEpatents

Radtke, Corey William; Blackwelder, David Bradley

2004-01-27

An in situ reactor for use in a geological strata, is described and which includes a liner defining a centrally disposed passageway and which is placed in a borehole formed in the geological strata; and a sampling conduit is received within the passageway defined by the liner and which receives a geological specimen which is derived from the geological strata, and wherein the sampling conduit is in fluid communication with the passageway defined by the liner.

An unusual case of central diabetes insipidus & hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state following cardiorespiratory arrest

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background We are describing an unusual case of severe hyperglycemia and hypernatremia, resistant to treatment. Case presentation A thirty year old female with adenocarcinoma of rectum was admitted with increasing lethargy, headache and drowsiness. She deteriorated rapidly and had cardiac arrest, following which she remained comatose. Her initial serum glucose and sodium were normal, but after receiving dexamethasone and mannitol, the serum glucose progressively increased to 54.7 mmol/L and sodium to 175 mmol/L, despite receiving very high dose of intravenous (IV) insulin infusion. She was evaluated for diabetes insipidus because of continued polyuria even after correction of hyperglycemia. Her serum osmolality was 337 mmol/kg, and urine osmolality was 141 mmol/kg which rose to 382 mmol/kg, after receiving 4 mcg of IV Desmopressin. Conclusion Our patient developed central diabetes insipidus post cardiac arrest and severe dehydration because of diabetes insipidus. Stress of critical illness, dehydration, dexamethasone and IV dextrose infusion were likely responsible for this degree of severe and resistant to treatment hyperglycemia. PMID:23947429

Geostar - Navigation location system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keyser, Donald A.

The author describes the Radiodetermination Satellite Service (RDSS). The initial phase of the RDSS provides for a unique service enabling central offices and headquarters to obtain position-location information and receive short digital messages from mobile user terminals throughout the contiguous United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. The system employs a spread-spectrum, CDMA modulation technique allowing multiple customers to use the system simultaneously, without preassigned coordination with fellow users. Position location is currently determined by employing an existing radio determination receiver, such as Loran-C, GPS, or Transit, in the mobile user terminal. In the early 1990s position location will be determined at a central earth station by time-differential ranging of the user terminals via two or more geostationary satellites. A brief overview of the RDSS system architecture is presented with emphasis on the user terminal and its diverse applications.

Distributed MIMO chaotic radar based on wavelength-division multiplexing technology.

PubMed

Yao, Tingfeng; Zhu, Dan; Ben, De; Pan, Shilong

2015-04-15

A distributed multiple-input multiple-output chaotic radar based on wavelength-division multiplexing technology (WDM) is proposed and demonstrated. The wideband quasi-orthogonal chaotic signals generated by different optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) are emitted by separated antennas to gain spatial diversity against the fluctuation of a target's radar cross section and enhance the detection capability. The received signals collected by the receive antennas and the reference signals from the OEOs are delivered to the central station for joint processing by exploiting WDM technology. The centralized signal processing avoids precise time synchronization of the distributed system and greatly simplifies the remote units, which improves the localization accuracy of the entire system. A proof-of-concept experiment for two-dimensional localization of a metal target is demonstrated. The maximum position error is less than 6.5 cm.

Optical study of solar tower power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eddhibi, F.; Ben Amara, M.; Balghouthi, M.; Guizani, A.

2015-04-01

The central receiver technology for electricity generation consists of concentrating solar radiation coming from the solar tracker field into a central receiver surface located on the top of the tower. The heliostat field is constituted of a big number of reflective mirrors; each heliostat tracks the sun individually and reflects the sunlight to a focal point. Therefore, the heliostat should be positioned with high precision in order to minimize optical losses. In the current work, a mathematical model for the analysis of the optical efficiency of solar tower field power plant is proposed. The impact of the different factors which influence the optical efficiency is analyzed. These parameters are mainly, the shading and blocking losses, the cosine effect, the atmospheric attenuation and the spillage losses. A new method for the calculation of blocking and shadowing efficiency is introduced and validated by open literature.

High-resolution receiver function imaging reveals Colorado Plateau lithospheric architecture and mantle-supported topography

USGS Publications Warehouse

Domingo, Dorothy L.; R. Aster,; S. Grand,; J Ni,; W.S. Baldridge,; David C. Wilson USGS,

2010-01-01

After maintaining elevations near sea level for over 500 million years, the Colorado Plateau (CP) has a present average elevation of 2 km. We compute new receiver function images from the first dense seismic transect to cross the plateau that reveal a central CP crustal thickness of 42–50 km thinning to 30–35 km at the CP margins. Isostatic calculations show that only approximately 20% of central CP elevations can be explained by thickened crust alone, with the CP edges requiring nearly total mantle compensation. We calculate an uplift budget showing that CP buoyancy arises from a combination of crustal thickening, heating and alteration of the lithospheric root, dynamic support from mantle upwelling, and significant buoyant edge effects produced by small-scale convecting asthenosphere at its margins.

[Pharmacovigilance in Portugal: Activity of the Central Pharmacovigilance Unit].

PubMed

Batel-Marques, Francisco; Mendes, Diogo; Alves, Carlos; Penedones, Ana; Dias, Patricia; Martins, Angelina; Santiago, Luiz Miguel; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Caramona, Margarida; Macedo, Tice

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to characterize the spontaneous reports of adverse events that were received by the Central Portugal Regional Pharmacovigilance Unit. Spontaneous reports received between 01/2001 and 12/2013 were considered. The annual reporting ratios were estimated. The cases were characterized according to their seriousness, previous description, causality assessment, origin and professional group of the reporter, type of adverse event and pharmacotherapeutic groups of the suspected drugs most frequently reported. The Pharmacovigilance Unit received 2408 reports that contained 5749 adverse events. In 2013, the reporting rate was estimated at 171 reports per million inhabitants. Fifty-five percent of the reports were assessed as serious. Ninety percent of the cases were assessed as being at least possibly related with the suspected drug. The suspected drugs most frequently reported were anti-infectives for systemic use (n = 809, 33%). The most frequently reported adverse events were "Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders" (n = 1139, 20%). There were 154 (6.4%) reports resulting in life-threatening situations and/or death, and 88 (3.6%) containing at least one adverse event assessed as serious, unknown and certain or probable. The present results are in line with those found in other studies, namely the seriousness and type of the adverse events and the pharmacotherapeutic groups of the most frequently reported suspected drugs. In the last years, the Central Portugal Regional Pharmacovigilance Unit has registered a growth in the reporting rate in general, as well as an increase in the reporting of unknown and serious adverse drug reactions.

Benefits of repeated individual dietary counselling in long-term weight control in women after delivery.

PubMed

Jaakkola, Johanna; Isolauri, Erika; Poussa, Tuija; Laitinen, Kirsi

2015-10-01

As pregnancy may trigger overweight in women, new means for its prevention are being sought. The aim here was to investigate the effect of individual dietary counselling during and after pregnancy on post-partum weight and waist circumference up to 4 years post-partum. A cohort of women (n = 256) were randomized to receive repeated individual dietary counselling by a nutritionist during and after pregnancy, or as controls not receiving dietary counselling, from the first trimester of pregnancy until 6 months after delivery. Counselling aimed to bring dietary intake into line with recommendations, with particular focus on the increase in the intake of unsaturated fatty acids instead of saturated. Pre-pregnancy weight was taken from welfare clinic records. Weight and waist circumference were measured at 4 years after delivery. The proportion of overweight women increased from 26% prior to pregnancy to 30% at 4 years after delivery among women receiving dietary counselling, as against considerably more, from 32% to 57%, among controls. The prevalence of central adiposity was 31% in women receiving dietary counselling, 64% in controls. Likewise, both the risk of overweight (odds ratio: 0.23, 0.08-0.63, P = 0.005) and central adiposity (odds ratio: 0.18, 0.06-0.52, P = 0.002) were lower in women receiving dietary counselling compared with controls. Repeated dietary counselling initiated in early pregnancy can be beneficial in long-term weight control after delivery. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Manifestation of Central Diabetes Insipidus in a Patient with Thyroid Storm.

PubMed

Nakamichi, Akiko; Ocho, Kazuki; Oka, Kosuke; Yasuda, Miho; Hasegawa, Kou; Iwamuro, Masaya; Obika, Mikako; Rai, Kammei; Otsuka, Fumio

2018-02-28

We herein report a case of central diabetes insipidus complicated with thyroid storm. A middle-aged woman who was receiving treatment for Graves' disease suddenly complained of polydipsia, polyuria and general fatigue. Laboratory tests showed hyperthyroidism, hypernatremia, hypoosmolar urine and a decreased plasma vasopressin level. The occurrence of central diabetes insipidus with hyperthyroidism was revealed on the basis of pituitary magnetic resonance imaging, a water deprivation test and a desmopressin test. The clinical co-existence of diabetes insipidus and hyperthyroidism is very rare; however, the complication should be considered when hypernatremia and/or dehydration progress in patients with Graves's disease as a common autoimmune-related etiology.

Proceedings of the 1992 Antenna Applications Symposium

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-01

consists of two optically fed lx4 subarrays with MMIC based active T/R modules. Custom designed fiber optic links have been employed to provide...factor 1/100,000. However, despite this enormous reduction in power , the peak amplitude is still more than 30 times larger than the rms noise. Based on...only passive components and receives inputs from a central high- power transmitter and also sends outputs to a low-noise receiver. Active ESAs, called

Progressive central puberty in a toddler with partial androgen insensitivity.

PubMed

Dougan, Grace C; Uli, Naveen; Shulman, Dorothy I

2014-03-01

A male infant was diagnosed with partial androgen insensitivity caused by a novel mutation in the androgen receptor. At 3.5 months of age, he received 100 mg of testosterone intramuscularly over the course of 3 months to increase phallic size. He developed pubic hair after 5 months and signs of progressive central precocious puberty when re-examined at 17.5 months, which subsequently was suppressed with depot leuprolide. Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise on central arterial stiffness and gait velocity in patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis.

PubMed

Lee, Yong Hee; Park, Soo Hyun; Yoon, Eun Sun; Lee, Chong-Do; Wee, Sang Ouk; Fernhall, Bo; Jae, Sae Young

2015-09-01

The effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training on central arterial stiffness and gait velocity in patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis were investigated. Twenty-six patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis were randomly assigned to either the combined aerobic and resistance exercise group (n = 14) or the control group (n = 12). The exercise intervention group received a combined aerobic and resistance exercise training (1 hr/day, three times/week for 16 wks), whereas the control group received usual care. Central arterial stiffness was determined by pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. Gait velocity was assessed using the 6-min walk test, 10-m walk test, and the Timed Up-and-Go test. Patients in the exercise intervention group had greater improvement of mean pulse wave velocity (P < 0.001), augmentation index (P = 0.048), and gait velocity (6-min walk test, P < 0.001; 10-m walk test, P < 0.001) than did patients in the control group. Patients in the exercise intervention group also had greater improvements in physical fitness component (grip strength, P < 0.001; muscular strength of upper and lower limbs, P < 0.027; flexibility, P < 0.001) when compared with control patients. The combined aerobic and resistance exercise program significantly reduced central arterial stiffness and increased gait velocity in patients with chronic poststroke hemiparesis.

Crustal Seismic Structure of Central Alberta from Receiver Function Inversions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Y.; Dokht, R.; Gu, Y. J.; Sacchi, M. D.

2013-12-01

It is widely believed that the basement structure of central Alberta represents the tectonic assembly and evolution of several Archean lithospheric fragments. These fragments underwent episodes of rifting, collision, subduction and melting during the Proterozoic, giving rise to a complex network of tectonic domains with considerable differences in the crustal magnetic and seismic signatures. Observational support for these episodes, e.g., the coeval subduction around the Hearne province, has been limited due to the lack of exposed geology and insufficient teleseismic data prior to 2006. Since mid 2007, the establishment of the Canadian Rockies and Alberta Network (CRANE) has greatly improved the broadband seismic data coverage in central and southern Alberta. Based on 5+ years of CRANE data, we systematically analyze crust and shallow mantle shear velocities through simultaneous inversions of low and high frequency receiver functions. P-to-S converted waves from several stations in central Alberta suggest a significant mid crustal low velocity zone (LVZ), where shear velocity could vary by as much as 35 percent in a depth range of 15-35 km. This structure is not required by the receiver functions from stations along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. While LVZ of notable magnitudes have been suggested previously in an overlapped part of the study region and attributed to the presence of serpentine or intrusive sill, the spatial dimensions of the anomaly reported in the current study is significantly larger: this anomaly spans hundreds of kilometers horizontally and is generally thicker than 10 km. The presence of mid/lower crustal LVZ in central Alberta is supported by recent group velocity maps based on noise correlation tomography, and the southeastward orientation of this LVZ is consistent with the proposed direction of the subducted oceanic microplate beneath the northwestern Hearne province during the Proterozoic. Still, the cause of the LVZ remains inconclusive, as the broad dimension of the anomaly would require major, potentially multiple, episodes of serpentinization and/or rework after the Paleoproterzoic. This process may span multiple domains and the correlation of present-day seismic structure with the domain boundaries (hence aeromagnetic signatures) remain questionable on the regional scale.

Local Control and Toxicity in a Large Cohort of Central Lung Tumors Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

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

Modh, Ankit; Rimner, Andreas; Williams, Eric

2014-12-01

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in central lung tumors has been associated with higher rates of severe toxicity. We sought to evaluate toxicity and local control in a large cohort and to identify predictive dosimetric parameters. Methods and Materials: We identified patients who received SBRT for central tumors according to either of 2 definitions. Local failure (LF) was estimated using a competing risks model, and multivariate analysis (MVA) was used to assess factors associated with LF. We reviewed patient toxicity and applied Cox proportional hazard analysis and log-rank tests to assess whether dose-volume metrics of normal structures correlated with pulmonarymore » toxicity. Results: One hundred twenty-five patients received SBRT for non-small cell lung cancer (n=103) or metastatic lesions (n=22), using intensity modulated radiation therapy. The most common dose was 45 Gy in 5 fractions. Median follow-up was 17.4 months. Incidence of toxicity ≥ grade 3 was 8.0%, including 5.6% pulmonary toxicity. Sixteen patients (12.8%) experienced esophageal toxicity ≥ grade 2, including 50% of patients in whom PTV overlapped the esophagus. There were 2 treatment-related deaths. Among patients receiving biologically effective dose (BED) ≥80 Gy (n=108), 2-year LF was 21%. On MVA, gross tumor volume (GTV) was significantly associated with LF. None of the studied dose-volume metrics of the lungs, heart, proximal bronchial tree (PBT), or 2 cm expansion of the PBT (“no-fly-zone” [NFZ]) correlated with pulmonary toxicity ≥grade 2. There were no differences in pulmonary toxicity between central tumors located inside the NFZ and those outside the NFZ but with planning target volume (PTV) intersecting the mediastinum. Conclusions: Using moderate doses, SBRT for central lung tumors achieves acceptable local control with low rates of severe toxicity. Dosimetric analysis showed no significant correlation between dose to the lungs, heart, or NFZ and severe pulmonary toxicity. Esophageal toxicity may be an underappreciated risk, particularly when PTV overlaps the esophagus.« less

Co-Authorship and Bibliographic Coupling Network Effects on Citations

PubMed Central

Biscaro, Claudio; Giupponi, Carlo

2014-01-01

This paper analyzes the effects of the co-authorship and bibliographic coupling networks on the citations received by scientific articles. It expands prior research that limited its focus on the position of co-authors and incorporates the effects of the use of knowledge sources within articles: references. By creating a network on the basis of shared references, we propose a way to understand whether an article bridges among extant strands of literature and infer the size of its research community and its embeddedness. Thus, we map onto the article – our unit of analysis – the metrics of authors' position in the co-authorship network and of the use of knowledge on which the scientific article is grounded. Specifically, we adopt centrality measures – degree, betweenneess, and closeness centrality – in the co-authorship network and degree, betweenness centrality and clustering coefficient in the bibliographic coupling and show their influence on the citations received in first two years after the year of publication. Findings show that authors' degree positively impacts citations. Also closeness centrality has a positive effect manifested only when the giant component is relevant. Author's betweenness centrality has instead a negative effect that persists until the giant component - largest component of the network in which all nodes can be linked by a path - is relevant. Moreover, articles that draw on fragmented strands of literature tend to be cited more, whereas the size of the scientific research community and the embeddedness of the article in a cohesive cluster of literature have no effect. PMID:24911416

Persuasion, Influence, and Value: Perspectives from Communication and Social Neuroscience.

PubMed

Falk, Emily; Scholz, Christin

2018-01-04

Opportunities to persuade and be persuaded are ubiquitous. What determines whether influence spreads and takes hold? This review provides an overview of evidence for the central role of subjective valuation in persuasion and social influence for both propagators and receivers of influence. We first review evidence that decisions to communicate information are determined by the subjective value a communicator expects to gain from sharing. We next review evidence that the effects of social influence and persuasion on receivers, in turn, arise from changes in the receiver's subjective valuation of objects, ideas, and behaviors. We then review evidence that self-related and social considerations are two key inputs to the value calculation in both communicators and receivers. Finally, we highlight biological coupling between communicators and receivers as a mechanism through which perceptions of value can be transmitted.

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

Kar, Durga P.; Nayak, Praveen P.; Bhuyan, Satyanarayan

In order to power or charge electronic devices wirelessly, a bi-directional wireless power transfer method has been proposed and experimentally investigated. In the proposed design, two receiving coils are used on both sides of a transmitting coil along its central axis to receive the power wirelessly from the generated magnetic fields through strongly coupled magnetic resonance. It has been observed experimentally that the maximum power transfer occurs at the operating resonant frequency for optimum electric load connected across the receiving coils on both side. The optimum wireless power transfer efficiency is 88% for the bi-directional power transfer technique compared 84%more » in the one side receiver system. By adopting the developed bi-directional power transfer method, two electronic devices can be powered up or charged simultaneously instead of a single device through usual one side receiver system without affecting the optimum power transfer efficiency.« less

Peripheral Venous Access Ports: Outcomes Analysis in 109 Patients

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

Bodner, Leonard J.; Nosher, John L.; Patel, Kaushik M.

Purpose: To perform a retrospective outcomes analysis of central venous catheters with peripheral venous access ports, with comparison to published data.Methods: One hundred and twelve central venous catheters with peripherally placed access ports were placed under sonographic guidance in 109 patients over a 4-year period. Ports were placed for the administration of chemotherapy, hyperalimentation, long-term antibiotic therapy, gamma-globulin therapy, and frequent blood sampling. A vein in the upper arm was accessed in each case and the catheter was passed to the superior vena cava or right atrium. Povidone iodine skin preparation was used in the first 65 port insertions. Amore » combination of Iodophor solution and povidone iodine solution was used in the last 47 port insertions. Forty patients received low-dose (1 mg) warfarin sodium beginning the day after port insertion. Three patients received higher doses of warfarin sodium for preexistent venous thrombosis. Catheter performance and complications were assessed and compared with published data.Results: Access into the basilic or brachial veins was obtained in all cases. Ports remained functional for a total of 28,936 patient days. The port functioned in 50% of patients until completion of therapy, or the patient's expiration. Ports were removed prior to completion of therapy in 18% of patients. Eleven patients (9.9% of ports placed) suffered an infectious complication (0.38 per thousand catheter-days)-in nine, at the port implantation site, in two along the catheter. In all 11 instances the port was removed. Port pocket infection in the early postoperative period occurred in three patients (4.7%) receiving a Betadine prep vs two patients (4.2%) receiving a standard O.R. prep. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.9). Venous thrombosis occurred in three patients (6.8%) receiving warfarin sodium and in two patients (3%) not receiving warfarin sodium. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.6). Aspiration occlusion occurred in 13 patients (11.7%). Intracatheter urokinase was infused in eight of these patients and successfully restored catheter function in all but two instances. These complication rates are comparable to or better than those reported with chest ports.Conclusion: Peripheral ports for long-term central venous access placed by interventional radiologists in the interventional radiology suite are as safe and as effective as chest ports.« less

Validation results of the IAG Dancer project for distributed GPS analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boomkamp, H.

2012-12-01

The number of permanent GPS stations in the world has grown far too large to allow processing of all this data at analysis centers. The majority of these GPS sites do not even make their observation data available to the analysis centers, for various valid reasons. The current ITRF solution is still based on centralized analysis by the IGS, and subsequent densification of the reference frame via regional network solutions. Minor inconsistencies in analysis methods, software systems and data quality imply that this centralized approach is unlikely to ever reach the ambitious accuracy objectives of GGOS. The dependence on published data also makes it clear that a centralized approach will never provide a true global ITRF solution for all GNSS receivers in the world. If the data does not come to the analysis, the only alternative is to bring the analysis to the data. The IAG Dancer project has implemented a distributed GNSS analysis system on the internet in which each receiver can have its own analysis center in the form of a freely distributed JAVA peer-to-peer application. Global parameters for satellite orbits, clocks and polar motion are solved via a distributed least squares solution among all participating receivers. A Dancer instance can run on any computer that has simultaneous access to the receiver data and to the public internet. In the future, such a process may be embedded in the receiver firmware directly. GPS network operators can join the Dancer ITRF realization without having to publish their observation data or estimation products. GPS users can run a Dancer process without contributing to the global solution, to have direct access to the ITRF in near real-time. The Dancer software has been tested on-line since late 2011. A global network of processes has gradually evolved to allow stabilization and tuning of the software in order to reach a fully operational system. This presentation reports on the current performance of the Dancer system, and demonstrates the obvious benefits of distributed analysis of geodetic data in general. IAG Dancer screenshot

HIV Immune Recovery Inflammatory Syndrome and Central Nervous System Paracoccidioidomycosis.

PubMed

de Almeida, Sérgio Monteiro; Roza, Thiago Henrique

2017-04-01

The immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a deregulated inflammatory response to invading microorganisms. It is manifested when there is an abrupt change in host immunity from an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive state to a pro-inflammatory state as a result of rapid depletion or removal of factors that promote immune suppression or inhibition of inflammation. The aim of this paper is to discuss and re-interpret the possibility of association of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) with IRIS in the central nervous system (CNS) in a case from Brazil published by Silva-Vergara ML. et al. (Mycopathologia 177:137-141, 6). An AIDS patient who was not receiving medical care developed pulmonary PCM successfully treated with itraconazole. The patient developed central nervous system PCM (NPCM) after starting the ARV therapy with recovery of immunity and control of HIV viral load, although it was not interpreted as IRIS by the authors, it fulfills the criteria for CNS IRIS. This could be the first case of NPCM associated with IRIS described. Although not frequent, IRIS must be considered in PCM patients and HIV, from endemic areas or patients that traveled to endemic areas, receiving ARV treatment and with worsening symptoms.

Assessment of the potential of solar thermal small power systems in small utilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steitz, P.; Mayo, L. G.; Perkins, S. P., Jr.

1978-01-01

The potential economic benefit of small solar thermal electric power systems to small municipal and rural electric utilities is assessed. Five different solar thermal small power system configurations were considered in three different solar thermal technologies. The configurations included: (1) 1 MW, 2 MW, and 10 MW parabolic dish concentrators with a 15 kW heat engine mounted at the focal point of each dish, these systems utilized advanced battery energy storage; (2) a 10 MW system with variable slat concentrators and central steam Rankine energy conversion, this system utilized sensible thermal energy storage; and (3) a 50 MW central receiver system consisting of a field of heliostats concentrating energy on a tower-mounted receiver and a central steam Rankine conversion system, this system also utilized sensible thermal storage. The results are summarized in terms of break-even capital costs. The break-even capital cost was defined as the solar thermal plant capital cost which would have to be achieved in order for the solar thermal plants to penetrate 10 percent of the reference small utility generation mix by the year 2000. The calculated break-even capital costs are presented.

Structure of Lithospheric and Upper Mantle Discontinuities beneath Central Mongolia from Receiver Functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Z.; Meltzer, A.; Fischer, K. M.; Stachnik, J. C.; Munkhuu, U.; Tsagaan, B.; Russo, R. M.

2017-12-01

The origin and preservation of high-elevation low-relief surfaces in continental interiors remains an open questions. Central Mongolia constitutes a major portion of the Mongolian Plateau and is an excellent place to link deep earth and surface processes. The lithosphere of Mongolia was constructed through accretionary orogenesis associated with the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) from the late Paleozoic to the early Triassic. Alkaline volcanic basalt derived from sublithospheric sources has erupted sporadically in Mongolia since 30 Ma. Constraining the depth variation of lithospheric and upper mantle discontinuities is crucial for understanding the interaction between upper mantle structure and surface topography. We conducted receiver functions (RF) analyses suitable data recorded at112 seismic broadband stations in central Mongolia to image the LAB and mantle transition zone beneath Central Mongolia. A modified H-κ stacking was performed to determine crustal average thickness (H) and Vp/Vs ratio (κ). Central Mongolia is characterized by thick crust (43-57 km) enabling use of both P wave RF and to S wave RF to image the LAB. The PRF traces in the depth domain are stacked based on piercing point locations for the 410 and 660 discontinuities using 0.6 ° × 0.6 ° bins in a grid. From south to north, the average lithospheric thickness is 85km in Gobi Altai gradually thinning northeastward to 78km in the southern Hangay Dome, 72 km in the northern Hangay Dome then increases to 75km in Hovsgol area. While there is overall thinning of the lithosphere from SW to NE, beneath the Hangay, there is a slight increase beneath the highest topography. The thickness of the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath central Mongolia is similar to global averages. This evidence argues against the hypothesis that a mantle plume exists beneath Central Mongolia causing low velocity anomalies in the upper mantle. To the east of the Hovsgol area in northern Mongolia, the MTZ thickens 10-15 km mainly due to depression in the 660-km discontinuity, perhaps representing a relict of subducted plate during CAOB.

Solar thermal technology evaluation, fiscal year 1982. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

Three primary solar concepts the central receiver, parabolic dish, and parabolic trough are investigated. To a lesser extent, the hemispherical bowl and salt-gradient solar pond are also being studied. Each technology is described.

Centralized Accounting and Electronic Filing Provides Efficient Receivables Collection.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Business Affairs, 1983

1983-01-01

An electronic filing system makes financial control manageable at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. The system enables quick access to computer-stored consolidated account data and microfilm images of charges, statements, and other billing documents. (MLF)

A feasibility study on solar utility total energy system /SUTES/

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilgen, E.

1980-11-01

A fully dedicated central receiver solar utility (CRSU) designed to meet domestic energy requirements for space heating and hot water has been synthesized and assessed at the conceptual level. The solar utility total energy system (SUTES) integrates (1) a central receiver solar utility (CRSU), (2) an electrical power generating system (EPGS), (3) a hydrogen production plant (HPP), (4) a water chilling system for cooling, heat pump system (HPS), (5) necessary thermal energy storage systems (TES), (6) a district heating and cooling system (DH&CS). All subsystems are close-coupled. Using consistent costing bases, it has been found that the SUTES concept provides energy costs which are lower than those provided by a CRSU. Representative costs are $3.14/GJ versus $8.56/GJ for 10 percent recovery factor and $12.55/GJ versus $13.47/GJ for 17.5 percent recovery factor.

Themis - A solar power station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hillairet, J.

The organization, goals, equipment, costs, and performance of the French Themis (Thermo-helio-electric-MW) project are outlined. The program was begun for both the domestic energy market and for export. The installation comprises a molten eutectic salt loop which receives heat from radiators situated in a central tower. The salt transfers the heat to water for steam generation of electricity. A storage tank holds enough molten salt to supply one day's reserve of power, 40 MWh. A field of heliostats directs the suns rays for an estimated 2400 hr/yr onto the central receiver aperture, while 11 additional parabolic concentrators provide sufficient heat to keep the salt reservoir at temperatures exceeding 200 C. In a test run of several months during the spring of 1982 the heliostats directed the sun's rays with an average efficiency of 75 percent, yielding 2.3 MW of power at a system efficiency of 20.5 percent in completely automatic operation.

Molten salt thermal energy storage subsystem for Solar Thermal Central Receiver plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, P. B.; Nassopoulos, G. P.

The development of a low-cost thermal energy storage subsystem for large solar plants is analyzed. Molten nitrate salt is used as both the plant's working fluid and as the storage medium. The storage system comprises a specially designed hot tank to hold salt at a storage temperature of 839 K (1050 F) and a separate carbon steel cold tank to hold the salt after its thermal energy has been extracted to generate steam. The hot tank is lined with insulating firebrick to lower the shell temperature to 561 K (550 F) so that a low-cost carbon steel shell can be used. A preliminary design is described for a large commercial-size plant (1200 MWht). Also described are a laboratory test program for the critical components and the design, construction, and test of a small-scale research experiment at the Central Receiver Test Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The application of simulation modeling to the cost and performance ranking of solar thermal power plants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosenberg, L. S.; Revere, W. R.; Selcuk, M. K.

1981-01-01

A computer simulation code was employed to evaluate several generic types of solar power systems (up to 10 MWe). Details of the simulation methodology, and the solar plant concepts are given along with cost and performance results. The Solar Energy Simulation computer code (SESII) was used, which optimizes the size of the collector field and energy storage subsystem for given engine-generator and energy-transport characteristics. Nine plant types were examined which employed combinations of different technology options, such as: distributed or central receivers with one- or two-axis tracking or no tracking; point- or line-focusing concentrator; central or distributed power conversion; Rankin, Brayton, or Stirling thermodynamic cycles; and thermal or electrical storage. Optimal cost curves were plotted as a function of levelized busbar energy cost and annualized plant capacity. Point-focusing distributed receiver systems were found to be most efficient (17-26 percent).

The effects of social networks on tobacco use among high-school adolescents in Mexico.

PubMed

Ramírez-Ortiz, Guadalupe; Caballero-Hoyos, Ramiro; Ramírez-López, Guadalupe; Valente, Thomas W

2012-01-01

To identify the effect of centrality in social network positions on tobacco-use among high-school adolescents in Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico. Longitudinal sociometric social network data were collected among 486 high-school adolescents in 2003 and 399 in 2004. The survey included: social network components, smoking and sociodemographic characteristics. Social network measures of centrality were calculated and multivariate logistic regression was used. Ever used tobacco (OR= 44.98), marginalized-low stratum (OR= 2.16) and in-degree (OR=1.10) predicted tobacco use. Out-degree (OR= 0 .89) and out-in-degree (OR= 0.90) protected against tobacco use. Nominating more friends rather than receiving such nominations was protective for tobacco use. Popular students, those receiving many nominations, were at higher risk for tobacco use. Involvement of leaders with capacity to influence might be an efficient strategy for dissemination of preventive messages.

Evaluation of Veda, Inc. , central receiver solar collection system concept

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

Ator, J.

1981-08-01

The Unified Heliostat Array (UHA) is a geometrical heliostat field layout with rows of mirrors placed at various levels on terraces. The Veda Industrial Heliostat (VIH) is a toroidal segment mirror mounted on an equatorial mount. These two concepts are evaluated to assess the credibility of the optical designs and the validity of UHA and VIH performance estimates, to determine what the distinctive features embodied in UHA AND VIH concepts offer that more conventional central receiver technologies do not, and to determine where the UHA and VIH concepts might be most applicable in DOE's Solar Thermal Program. The UHA areamore » efficiency, flux density distribution, and beam safety are evaluated, and the feasibility of using a secondary mirror and the potential for special applications are assessed. The optical design, equatorial mount, and manufacturability of the VIH are evaluated. (LEW)« less

Temperature offset control system

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

Fried, M.

1987-07-28

This patent describes a temperature offset control system for controlling the operation of both heating and air conditioning systems simultaneously contained within the same premises each of which is set by local thermostats to operate at an appropriate temperature, the offset control system comprising: a central control station having means for presetting an offset temperature range, means for sensing the temperature at a central location, means for comparing the sensed temperature with the offset temperature range, means responsive to the comparison for producing a control signal indicative of whether the sensed temperature is within the offset temperature range or beyondmore » the offset temperature range, and means for transmitting the control signal onto the standard energy lines servicing the premises; and a receiving station respectively associated with each heating and air conditioning system, the receiving stations each comprising means for receiving the same transmitted control signal from the energy lines, and switch means for controlling the energization of the respective system in response to the received control signal. The heating systems and associated local thermostat are disabled by the control signal when the control signal originates from a sensed temperature above the lower end of the offset temperature range. The air conditioning systems and associated thermostats are disabled by the same control signal when the control signal originates from a sensed temperature below the upper end of the offset temperature range.« less

The effect of the relativistic transformation law of angles on laser ranging of satellites moving in circular orbits equipped with a single retroreflector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazaeva, I. V.; Pasisnichenko, M. A.

2017-07-01

It is shown that due to the relativistic transformation law of angles, a laser pulse reflected from a moving retroreflector propagates not strictly back, but at a small angle to the direction of the laser station. For this reason, the ray located on the periphery of a pulse reaches the receiving telescope of the laser station instead of the central ray of a pulse. As a result, the flux of electromagnetic energy received by the laser station is certainly less than the flux of energy in the vicinity of the central ray. The energy flux attenuation coefficient is assessed on the basis of numerical analysis. It is shown that if the receiving telescope is separated from the laser station in order to be mobile and is moving along the Earth's surface so that the center of each spot formed by a pulse of the reflected light hits the telescope, then the electromagnetic energy flux during laser probing of the satellite will be higher by more than 100 times in comparison with the energy flux received by the stationary telescope of the laser station. From our study it follows that the maximum speed of motion of the centers of spots on the Earth's surface does not exceed 8 km/h.

A Study on the Knowledge, Perception, and Use of Breast Cancer Screening Methods and Quality of Care Among Women from Central Mexico.

PubMed

Cruz-Castillo, Andrea B; Hernández-Valero, María A; Hovick, Shelly R; Campuzano-González, Martha Elva; Karam-Calderón, Miguel Angel; Bustamante-Montes, L Patricia

2015-09-01

Studies on health behaviors have observed several barriers to breast cancer screening, including lack of breast cancer knowledge, distrust of health care providers, and long waiting times to be screened or to receive screening results. We conducted a nested case-control study among a subsample of 200 women 21 years of age and older [100 patients (cases)], who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and 100 controls, who were screened and found to be free of breast cancer), all residing in the Toluca metropolitan area in central Mexico. We examined how knowledge of breast cancer screening guidelines, perceptions of screening methods, and quality of health care influenced the use of breast cancer screening among study participants. Our study found that the most important factor associated with the decision to have breast cancer screenings was having a positive perception of the quality of care provided by the local health care centers, such as having competent clinic personnel, sufficient screening equipment, and reasonable waiting times to receive screening and to receive the screening results. Therefore, individual health care centers need to focus on the patients' perception of the services received by optimizing the care provided and, in so doing, increase the rates of early diagnosis and reduce the rate of mortality from breast cancer as well as its associated treatment costs.

A Study on the knowledge, perception and use of breast cancer screening methods and quality of care among women from central Mexico

PubMed Central

Cruz-Castillo, Andrea B.; Hernández-Valero, María A.; Hovick, Shelly R.; Campuzano-González, Martha Elva; Karam-Calderón, Miguel Angel; Bustamante-Montes, L. Patricia

2014-01-01

Studies on health behaviors have observed several barriers to breast cancer screening, including lack of breast cancer knowledge, distrust of health care providers, long waiting times to be screened or to receive screening results. We conducted a nested case-control study among a subsample of 200 women 21 years of age and older (100 cases, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and 100 controls, who were screened and found to be free of breast cancer), all residing in the Toluca metropolitan area in central Mexico. We examined how knowledge of breast cancer screening guidelines, perceptions of screening methods, and quality of health care influenced the use of breast cancer screening among study participants. Our study found that the most important factors associated with the decision to have breast cancer screenings was having a positive perception of the quality of care provided by the local health care centers, such as having competent clinic personnel, sufficient screening equipment, and reasonable waiting times to receive screening and to receive the screening results. Therefore, individual health care centers need to focus on the patients’ perception of the services received by optimizing the care provided, and in so doing increase the rates of early diagnosis, reduce the rate of mortality from breast cancer as well as its associated treatment costs. PMID:25182506

Survival and growth for the first-growing season of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings underplanted in mixed upland hardwood stands in South Central Iowa

Treesearch

Robert E. Bardon; David W. Countryman

1993-01-01

This paper reports the first year survival and growth of red oak seedlings underplanted in two mixed upland hardwood stands in south central Iowa. The underplanted seedlings were undercut and not undercut 1-0 red oak stock. Fifteen blocks were laid out in 1990, with seven of the blocks receiving a foliar application of glyphosate herbicide. In the winter of 1990-1991,...

The effects of Dalmane /flurazepam hydrochloride/ on human EEG characteristics.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frost, J. D., Jr.; Carrie, J. R. G.; Borda, R. P.; Kellaway, P.

1973-01-01

Evaluation of the changes in the waking EEGs of six healthy male subjects who received 30 mg daily oral doses of flurazepam hydrochloride for two weeks. A placebo was then substituted for flurazepam for another two weeks. An increase in beta activity with a maximum in fronto-central leads was observed during the test period. A small increase in the mean wavelength of the alpha and theta activities in the central-occipital derivations was also apparent in the subjects during the period.

Environmental Assessment for Travis AFB C-17 Use of Instrument Routes 264, 275, 280, 281 , and 282 in Central Nevada

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

alteration of surface water flows that would change existing downstream flows . Although wetlands occur within central Nevada, none of the activities...Range Ecoregion is internally drained by rivers flowing off the east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and by the Humboldt River, one of the longest...Valley and near Humboldt Lake are at the terminus of rivers; they receive return flow from flood-irrigated fields which, in turn, degrades water

Expedition 16 Soyuz TMA-11 Lands

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-04-18

Chief of NASA's Astronaut office, Steve Lindsey, left, and International Space Station Program Manager, Michael Suffredini, examine a map of central Kazakhstan at the Arkalyk airport as they received information on the landing of the Expedition 16 crew in the Soyuz TMA-11 capsule, Saturday, April 19, 2008. The Soyuz made a ballistic landing, touching down more then 400 kilometers short of the intended target in central Kazakhstan. The crew reported by satellite phone to recovery forces that they were in good shape. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Distributed Optimization of Multi Beam Directional Communication Networks

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-30

kT is the noise figure of the receiver. The path loss from node i to the central station is denoted as fi,C and is similarly defined. We seek to...optimally allocate power among several transmit beams per node in order to maximize the total signal-to- interference noise ratio at the central station...Computing, vol. 15, no. 9, September 2016. [6] X. Quan, Y. Liu, S. Shao, C. Huang, and Y. Tang, “Impacts of Phase Noise on Digital Self-Iinterference

Phase I Trial Using Patupilone (Epothilone B) and Concurrent Radiotherapy for Central Nervous System Malignancies

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

Fogh, Shannon; Machtay, Mitchell; Werner-Wasik, Maria

Purpose: Based on preclinical data indicating the radiosensitizing potential of epothilone B, the present study was designed to evaluate the toxicity and response rate of patupilone, an epothilone B, with concurrent radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of central nervous system malignancies. Methods and Materials: The present Phase I study evaluated the toxicities associated with patupilone combined with RT to establish the maximal tolerated dose. Eligible patients had recurrent gliomas (n = 10) primary (n = 5) or metastatic (n = 17) brain tumors. Dose escalation occurred if no dose-limiting toxicities, defined as any Grade 4-5 toxicity or Grade 3 toxicitymore » requiring hospitalization, occurred during treatment. Results: Of 14 patients, 5 were treated with weekly patupilone at 1.5 mg/m{sup 2}, 4 at 2.0 mg/m{sup 2}, 4 at 2.5 mg/m{sup 2}, and 1 at 4 mg/m{sup 2}. Of 18 patients, 7 were treated in the 6-mg/m{sup 2} group, 6 in the 8-mg/m{sup 2} group, and 5 in the 10-mg/m{sup 2} group. Primary central nervous system malignancies received RT to a median dose of 60 Gy. Central nervous system metastases received whole brain RT to a median dose of 37.4 Gy, and patients with recurrent gliomas underwent stereotactic RT to a median dose of 37.5 Gy. One dose-limiting toxicity (pneumonia) was observed in group receiving 8-mg/m{sup 2} every 3 weeks. At the subsequent dose level (10 mg/m{sup 2}), two Grade 4 dose-limiting toxicities occurred (renal failure and pulmonary hemorrhage); thus, 8 mg/m{sup 2} every 3 weeks was the maximal tolerated dose and the recommended Phase II dose. Conclusion: Combined with a variety of radiation doses and fractionation schedules, concurrent patupilone was well tolerated and safe, with a maximal tolerated dose of 8 mg/m{sup 2} every 3 weeks.« less

An automated model-based aim point distribution system for solar towers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarzbözl, Peter; Rong, Amadeus; Macke, Ansgar; Säck, Jan-Peter; Ulmer, Steffen

2016-05-01

Distribution of heliostat aim points is a major task during central receiver operation, as the flux distribution produced by the heliostats varies continuously with time. Known methods for aim point distribution are mostly based on simple aim point patterns and focus on control strategies to meet local temperature and flux limits of the receiver. Lowering the peak flux on the receiver to avoid hot spots and maximizing thermal output are obviously competing targets that call for a comprehensive optimization process. This paper presents a model-based method for online aim point optimization that includes the current heliostat field mirror quality derived through an automated deflectometric measurement process.

Evaluation of annual efficiencies of high temperature central receiver concentrated solar power plants with thermal energy storage.

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

Ehrhart, Brian David; Gill, David Dennis

The current study has examined four cases of a central receiver concentrated solar power plant with thermal energy storage using the DELSOL and SOLERGY computer codes. The current state-of-the-art base case was compared with a theoretical high temperature case which was based on the scaling of some input parameters and the estimation of other parameters based on performance targets from the Department of Energy SunShot Initiative. This comparison was done for both current and high temperature cases in two configurations: a surround field with an external cylindrical receiver and a north field with a single cavity receiver. There is amore » fairly dramatic difference between the design point and annual average performance, especially in the solar field and receiver subsystems, and also in energy losses due to the thermal energy storage being full to capacity. Additionally, there are relatively small differences (<2%) in annual average efficiencies between the Base and High Temperature cases, despite an increase in thermal to electric conversion efficiency of over 8%. This is due the increased thermal losses at higher temperature and operational losses due to subsystem start-up and shut-down. Thermal energy storage can mitigate some of these losses by utilizing larger thermal energy storage to ensure that the electric power production system does not need to stop and re-start as often, but solar energy is inherently transient. Economic and cost considerations were not considered here, but will have a significant impact on solar thermal electric power production strategy and sizing.« less

Central vasopressin V1a receptor activation is independently necessary for both partner preference formation and expression in socially monogamous male prairie voles.

PubMed

Donaldson, Zoe R; Spiegel, Lauren; Young, Larry J

2010-02-01

The neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) modulates a variety of species-specific social behaviors. In socially monogamous male prairie voles, AVP acts centrally via vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) to facilitate mating induced partner preferences. The display of a partner preference requires at least 2 temporally distinct processes: social bond formation as well as its recall, or expression. Studies to date have not determined in which of these processes V1aR acts to promote partner preferences. Here, male prairie voles were administered intracerebroventricularly a V1aR antagonist (AVPA) at different time points to investigate the role of V1aR in social bond formation and expression. Animals receiving AVPA prior to cohabitation with mating or immediately prior to partner preference testing failed to display a partner preference, while animals receiving AVPA immediately after cohabitation with mating and control animals receiving vehicle at all 3 time points displayed partner preferences. These results suggest that V1aR signaling is necessary for both the formation and expression of partner preferences and that these processes are dissociable. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Thermosensory processing in the Drosophila brain

PubMed Central

Liu, Wendy W.; Mazor, Ofer; Wilson, Rachel I.

2014-01-01

In Drosophila, just as in vertebrates, changes in external temperature are encoded by bidirectional opponent thermoreceptor cells: some cells are excited by warming and inhibited by cooling, whereas others are excited by cooling and inhibited by warming1,2. The central circuits that process these signals are not understood. In Drosophila, a specific brain region receives input from thermoreceptor cells2,3. Here we show that distinct genetically-identified projection neurons (PNs) in this brain region are excited by cooling, warming, or both. The PNs excited by cooling receive mainly feedforward excitation from cool thermoreceptors. In contrast, the PNs excited by warming (“warm-PNs”) receive both excitation from warm thermoreceptors and crossover inhibition from cool thermoreceptors via inhibitory interneurons. Notably, this crossover inhibition elicits warming-evoked excitation, because warming suppresses tonic activity in cool thermoreceptors. This in turn disinhibits warm-PNs and sums with feedforward excitation evoked by warming. Crossover inhibition could cancel non-thermal activity (noise) that is positively-correlated among warm and cool thermoreceptor cells, while reinforcing thermal activity which is anti-correlated. Our results show how central circuits can combine signals from bidirectional opponent neurons to construct sensitive and robust neural codes. PMID:25739502

A centralized audio presentation manager

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

Papp, A.L. III; Blattner, M.M.

1994-05-16

The centralized audio presentation manager addresses the problems which occur when multiple programs running simultaneously attempt to use the audio output of a computer system. Time dependence of sound means that certain auditory messages must be scheduled simultaneously, which can lead to perceptual problems due to psychoacoustic phenomena. Furthermore, the combination of speech and nonspeech audio is examined; each presents its own problems of perceptibility in an acoustic environment composed of multiple auditory streams. The centralized audio presentation manager receives abstract parameterized message requests from the currently running programs, and attempts to create and present a sonic representation in themore » most perceptible manner through the use of a theoretically and empirically designed rule set.« less

Doppler compensation by shifting transmitted object frequency within limits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laughlin, C. R., Jr.; Hollenbaugh, R. C.; Allen, W. K. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

A system and method are disclosed for position locating, deriving centralized air traffic control data, and communicating via voice and digital signals between a multiplicity of remote aircraft, including supersonic transports, and a central station. Such communication takes place through a synchronous satellite relay station. Side tone ranging patterns, as well as the digital and voice signals, are modulated on a carrier transmitted from the central station and received on all of the supersonic transports. Each aircraft communicates with the ground stations via a different frequency multiplexed spectrum. Supersonic transport position is derived from a computer at the central station and supplied to a local air traffic controller. Position is determined in response to variable phase information imposed on the side tones at the aircrafts. Common to all of the side tone techniques is Doppler compensation for the supersonic transport velocity.

Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2

2011-05-31

Senate - 06/06/2012 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Passed HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Central nervous system (image)

MedlinePlus

... receive nerve impulses from the spinal cord and cranial nerves. The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between the brain and the body. Spinal cord injury can occur when there is damage to the cells within the spinal cord or ...

Central implementation strategies outperform local ones in improving HIV testing in Veterans Healthcare Administration facilities.

PubMed

Goetz, Matthew Bidwell; Hoang, Tuyen; Knapp, Herschel; Burgess, Jane; Fletcher, Michael D; Gifford, Allen L; Asch, Steven M

2013-10-01

Pilot data suggest that a multifaceted approach may increase HIV testing rates, but the scalability of this approach and the level of support needed for successful implementation remain unknown. To evaluate the effectiveness of a scaled-up multi-component intervention in increasing the rate of risk-based and routine HIV diagnostic testing in primary care clinics and the impact of differing levels of program support. Three arm, quasi-experimental implementation research study. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Persons receiving primary care between June 2009 and September 2011 INTERVENTION: A multimodal program, including a real-time electronic clinical reminder to facilitate HIV testing, provider feedback reports and provider education, was implemented in Central and Local Arm Sites; sites in the Central Arm also received ongoing programmatic support. Control Arm sites had no intervention Frequency of performing HIV testing during the 6 months before and after implementation of a risk-based clinical reminder (phase I) or routine clinical reminder (phase II). The adjusted rate of risk-based testing increased by 0.4 %, 5.6 % and 10.1 % in the Control, Local and Central Arms, respectively (all comparisons, p < 0.01). During phase II, the adjusted rate of routine testing increased by 1.1 %, 6.3 % and 9.2 % in the Control, Local and Central Arms, respectively (all comparisons, p < 0.01). At study end, 70-80 % of patients had been offered an HIV test. Use of clinical reminders, provider feedback, education and social marketing significantly increased the frequency at which HIV testing is offered and performed in VHA facilities. These findings support a multimodal approach toward achieving the goal of having every American know their HIV status as a matter of routine clinical practice.

Solar thermal repowering systems integration. Final report

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

Dubberly, L. J.; Gormely, J. E.; McKenzie, A. W.

1979-08-01

This report is a solar repowering integration analysis which defines the balance-of-plant characteristics and costs associated with the solar thermal repowering of existing gas/oil-fired electric generating plants. Solar repowering interface requirements for water/steam and salt or sodium-cooled central receivers are defined for unit sizes ranging from 50 MWe non-reheat to 350 MWe reheat. Finally balance-of-plant cost estimates are presented for each of six combinations of plant type, receiver type and percent solar repowering.

Three mirror glancing incidence system for X-ray telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoover, R. B. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

A telescope suitable for soft X-ray astronomical observations consists of a paraboloid section for receiving rays at a grazing angle and a hyperboloid section which receives reflections from the paraboloid at a grazing angle and directs them to a predetermined point of focus. A second hyperboloid section is centrally located from the other two surfaces and positioned to reflect from its outer surface radiation which was not first reflected by the paraboloid. A shutter is included to assist in calibration.

USSR and Eastern Europe Scientific Abstracts, Engineering and Equipment, Number 39

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-01-30

34 ’\\ v i \\ • . .1 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A Approved for Public Release Distribution Unlimited •’••*^.:- v ;;;.-’.i^ 20000405 198 U. S...1034 manuscript received 22 Feb 77 GOLUBINSKIY, A . I., and GOLYBKIN, V . N., Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute imeni N. Ye. Zhukovskiy [Abstract] A ...Russian Vol 232 No 3, 1977 pp 538-541 manuscript received 23 Apr 76 ZHEVNIN, A . A ., and T0L0KN0V, V . I., Moscow Higher Technical School imeni N. E

Preliminary design of a solar central receiver for a site-specific repowering application (Saguaro Power Plant). Volume IV. Appendixes. Final report, October 1982-September 1983

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

Weber, E.R.

1983-09-01

The appendixes for the Saguaro Power Plant includes the following: receiver configuration selection report; cooperating modes and transitions; failure modes analysis; control system analysis; computer codes and simulation models; procurement package scope descriptions; responsibility matrix; solar system flow diagram component purpose list; thermal storage component and system test plans; solar steam generator tube-to-tubesheet weld analysis; pipeline listing; management control schedule; and system list and definitions.

9. NORTHEAST FROM SOUTH ENTRANCE ACROSS RECEIVING AREA OF FACTORY ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

9. NORTHEAST FROM SOUTH ENTRANCE ACROSS RECEIVING AREA OF FACTORY PAST THE GLASS-ENCLOSED OFFICE TOWARD SHOP AREA. BESIDE THE VERTICAL POST ROOF SUPPORT IN THE LEFT FOREGROUND IS A SCALE AND DRAFTING TABLE. BESIDE THE OFFICE WALL ON THE RIGHT IS A SMALL SHOP REPAIR BENCH, WHILE ABOVE THE OFFICE WINDOWS ARE BOXES OF COMPANY MANUSCRIPT BUSINESS RECORDS. THE WELDED METAL PIPE RACK IS A MODERN INTRUSION. - Kregel Windmill Company Factory, 1416 Central Avenue, Nebraska City, Otoe County, NE

Impacts of CTfastrak on Real Estate and Urban Economic Development : Phase 1

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-30

CTfastrak, a bus rapid transit service connecting four municipalities (Hartford, West Hartford, Newington, and New Britain) in Central Connecticut (CT), received final funding approval in 2011 and opened for service in March 2015. This new service ma...

40 CFR 445.1 - General applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... landfill wastewater from landfills operated in conjunction with other industrial or commercial operations... landfills operated in conjunction with other industrial or commercial operations when the landfill receives... operation. (g) This part does not apply to landfills operated in conjunction with Centralized Waste...

Teaching Critical Reflection. Trends and Issues Alerts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imel, Susan

Recently, the topic of reflection and the development of reflective practitioners have received a great deal of attention. Four elements are central to critical reflection: assumption analysis, contextual awareness, imaginative speculation, and reflective skepticism. Definitions of critical reflection often reveal differing theoretical…

47 CFR 52.15 - Central office code administration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... assignment databases; (3) Conducting the Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) data collection... telecommunications carrier that receives numbering resources from the NANPA, a Pooling Administrator or another... Administrator. (2) State commissions may investigate and determine whether service providers have activated...

47 CFR 52.15 - Central office code administration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... assignment databases; (3) Conducting the Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) data collection... telecommunications carrier that receives numbering resources from the NANPA, a Pooling Administrator or another... Administrator. (2) State commissions may investigate and determine whether service providers have activated...

47 CFR 52.15 - Central office code administration.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... assignment databases; (3) Conducting the Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast (NRUF) data collection... telecommunications carrier that receives numbering resources from the NANPA, a Pooling Administrator or another... Administrator. (2) State commissions may investigate and determine whether service providers have activated...

Selective local anesthetic placement using ultrasound guidance and neurostimulation for infraclavicular brachial plexus block.

PubMed

Bowens, Clifford; Gupta, Rajnish K; O'Byrne, William T; Schildcrout, Jonathan S; Shi, Yaping; Hawkins, Jermel J; Michaels, Damon R; Berry, James M

2010-05-01

In this study, we performed the infraclavicular block with combined ultrasound guidance and neurostimulation to selectively target cords to compare the success rates of placing a single injection of local anesthetic either in a central or peripheral location. Two hundred eighteen patients were enrolled in a consecutive, prospective study. Patients were randomized to injection of local anesthetic either centrally (posterior cord) or peripherally (medial or lateral cord) using ultrasound guidance and neurostimulation. Supervised senior anesthesiology residents or attending anesthesiologists performed the blocks. Both intent-to-treat and treatment-received analyses were used to compare central and peripheral placement efficacy. The overall success rate was significantly higher for the central placements than peripheral placements (96% vs 85%, P = 0.004). Individual cord success rates were as follows: posterior 99%, lateral 92%, and medial 84% (P = 0.001). The central group required attending physician intervention more frequently (27% vs 6%, P < 0.001). Postoperative pain scores of < or =3 were more likely with central placement (100% vs 94%, P = 0.012). Central placement of a single injection of local anesthetic targeted at the posterior cord resulted in a higher success rate for infraclavicular block.

A digital-receiver for the MurchisonWidefield Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prabu, Thiagaraj; Srivani, K. S.; Roshi, D. Anish; Kamini, P. A.; Madhavi, S.; Emrich, David; Crosse, Brian; Williams, Andrew J.; Waterson, Mark; Deshpande, Avinash A.; Shankar, N. Udaya; Subrahmanyan, Ravi; Briggs, Frank H.; Goeke, Robert F.; Tingay, Steven J.; Johnston-Hollitt, Melanie; R, Gopalakrishna M.; Morgan, Edward H.; Pathikulangara, Joseph; Bunton, John D.; Hampson, Grant; Williams, Christopher; Ord, Stephen M.; Wayth, Randall B.; Kumar, Deepak; Morales, Miguel F.; deSouza, Ludi; Kratzenberg, Eric; Pallot, D.; McWhirter, Russell; Hazelton, Bryna J.; Arcus, Wayne; Barnes, David G.; Bernardi, Gianni; Booler, T.; Bowman, Judd D.; Cappallo, Roger J.; Corey, Brian E.; Greenhill, Lincoln J.; Herne, David; Hewitt, Jacqueline N.; Kaplan, David L.; Kasper, Justin C.; Kincaid, Barton B.; Koenig, Ronald; Lonsdale, Colin J.; Lynch, Mervyn J.; Mitchell, Daniel A.; Oberoi, Divya; Remillard, Ronald A.; Rogers, Alan E.; Salah, Joseph E.; Sault, Robert J.; Stevens, Jamie B.; Tremblay, S.; Webster, Rachel L.; Whitney, Alan R.; Wyithe, Stuart B.

2015-03-01

An FPGA-based digital-receiver has been developed for a low-frequency imaging radio interferometer, the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). The MWA, located at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in Western Australia, consists of 128 dual-polarized aperture-array elements (tiles) operating between 80 and 300 MHz, with a total processed bandwidth of 30.72 MHz for each polarization. Radio-frequency signals from the tiles are amplified and band limited using analog signal conditioning units; sampled and channelized by digital-receivers. The signals from eight tiles are processed by a single digital-receiver, thus requiring 16 digital-receivers for the MWA. The main function of the digital-receivers is to digitize the broad-band signals from each tile, channelize them to form the sky-band, and transport it through optical fibers to a centrally located correlator for further processing. The digital-receiver firmware also implements functions to measure the signal power, perform power equalization across the band, detect interference-like events, and invoke diagnostic modes. The digital-receiver is controlled by high-level programs running on a single-board-computer. This paper presents the digital-receiver design, implementation, current status, and plans for future enhancements.

Local Nitric Oxide Production in Viral and Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hooper, D. Craig; Tsuyoshi Ohnishi, S.; Kean, Rhonda; Numagami, Yoshihiro; Dietzschold, Bernhard; Koprowski, Hilary

1995-06-01

Because of the short half-life of NO, previous studies implicating NO in central nervous system pathology during infection had to rely on the demonstration of elevated levels of NO synthase mRNA or enzyme expression or NO metabolites such as nitrate and nitrite in the infected brain. To more definitively investigate the potential causative role of NO in lesions of the central nervous system in animals infected with neurotropic viruses or suffering from experimental allergic encephalitis, we have determined directly the levels of NO present in the central nervous system of such animals. Using spin trapping of NO and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we confirm here that copious amounts of NO (up to 30-fold more than control) are elaborated in the brains of rats infected with rabies virus or borna disease virus, as well as in the spinal cords of rats that had received myelin basic protein-specific T cells.

KSC-03pd0229

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A sea turtle is released into the Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and the largest one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel for release..

KSC-03pd0227

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Several sea turtles await their release into the Mosquito Lagoon. They were found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and the largest one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel for release.

KSC-03pd0225

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large sea turtle with a transmitter is released into the Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and the largest one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel for release.

Crustal deformations in the Central Mediterranean derived from the WHAT A CAT GPS project.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaniuth, K.; Drewes, H.; Stuber, K.; Tremel, H.; Kahler, H.-G.; Peter, Y.; Zerbini, S.; Tonti, G.; Veis, G.; Fagard, H.

1999-03-01

The West Hellenic Arc Tectonics and Calabrian Arc Tectonics (WHAT A CAT) project aimes at monitoring crustal deformations in the Central Mediterranean by repeated GPS campaigns. The data set acquired so far is rather heterogeneous in terms of availability of GPS satellites, performance of the involved receiver systems and quality of the satellites' orbits. The paper presents the velocity estimates achieved using a modified version of the Bernese GPS software. Main characteristic of the solution strategy is the definition of station velocity parameters already on theobservation equation level.

The Impact of Changes in the TOEFL® Examination on Teaching and Learning in Central and Eastern Europe: Phase 2, Coping with Change. TOEFL iBT Research Report. TOEFL iBT-05. ETS RR-08-37

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wall, Dianne; Horák, Tania

2008-01-01

The aim of this report is to present the findings of the second phase in a longitudinal study of the impact of changes in the TOEFL® test on teaching and learning in test preparation classrooms. The focus of this phase was to monitor six teachers from five countries in Central and Eastern Europe as they received news about changes in the TOEFL and…

KSC-03pd0222

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sea turtle is carried toward the skiff that will return it to the lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released.

Central venous catheter infection caused by Moraxella osloensis in a patient receiving home parenteral nutrition.

PubMed

Buchman, A L; Pickett, M J; Mann, L; Ament, M E

1993-01-01

We report the first case of a central venous catheter infection caused by Moraxella osloensis, which was successfully treated without catheter removal. The isolation, identification, and pathogenesis of this species are discussed. It is recommended that Moraxella isolates be identified to species in order to determine the relative pathogenic and opportunistic roles of the various Moraxella species. Our case also demonstrates that catheter sepsis caused by some Gram-negative organisms may be amenable to systemic antibiotic therapy without the necessity of catheter removal.

Introduction to special issue on burnout and health.

PubMed

Schaufeli, W B; Greenglass, E R

2001-09-01

Abstract In recent years, the issue of occupational stress and burnout have received increasing research attention. Given the amount of time people spend on work-related activities and the central importance of work to one's sense of identity and self-worth, it is not surprising that occupational stress is regarded as a central area of study. Although burnout is linked to the extensive literature on occupational health, burnout goes beyond occupational health by focusing on specific stressors in the workplace to emphasize total life and environmental pressures affecting health.

75 FR 354 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-05

..., 2009. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers...: Iberdrola Renewables, Inc et al. submit Original Sheet 1 to FERC Electric Tariff, Third Revised Volume 1... Maine Power Company. Description: Central Maine Power Company submits executed Engineering and...

Transport, speciation, toxicity, and treatability of highway stormwater discharged to receiving waters in Louisiana : [tech summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

As centralized wastewater treatment continues to improve while increasingly replacing decentralized systems, urban : rainfall-runoff has become the leading contributor of water body impairments in the United States (USEPA, 1996). For : many water bod...

78 FR 15359 - Combined Notice of Filings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-11

... that the Commission has received the following Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings: Filings Instituting Proceedings Docket Numbers: RP13-620-000. Applicants: Southern Star Central Gas.... Docket Numbers: RP13-622-000. Applicants: Discovery Gas Transmission LLC. Description: 2013 Tariff...

Solar Thermal Power.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDaniels, David K.

The different approaches to the generation of power from solar energy may be roughly divided into five categories: distributed collectors; central receivers; biomass; ocean thermal energy conversion; and photovoltaic devices. The first approach (distributed collectors) is the subject of this module. The material presented is designed to…

Macroinvertebrate and organic matter export from headwater tributaries of a Central Appalachian stream

EPA Science Inventory

Headwater streams export organisms and other materials to their receiving streams and macroinvertebrate drift can shape colonization dynamics in downstream reaches while providing food for downstream consumers. Spring-time macroinvertebrate drift and organic matter export was me...

Differential contributions of peripheral and central mechanisms to pain in a rodent model of osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Haywood, Adrian R; Hathway, Gareth J; Chapman, Victoria

2018-05-08

The mechanisms underlying the transition from acute nociceptive pain to centrally maintained chronic pain are not clear. We have studied the contributions of the peripheral and central nervous systems during the development of osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received unilateral intra-articular injections of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA 1 mg) or saline, and weight-bearing (WB) asymmetry and distal allodynia measured. Subgroups of rats received intra-articular injections of, QX-314 (membrane impermeable local anaesthetic) + capsaicin, QX-314, capsaicin or vehicle on days 7, 14 or 28 post-MIA and WB and PWT remeasured. On days 7&14 post-MIA, but not day 28, QX-314 + capsaicin signficantly attenuated changes in WB induced by MIA, illustrating a crucial role for TRPV1 expressing nociceptors in early OA pain. The role of top-down control of spinal excitability was investigated. The mu-opioid receptor agonist DAMGO was microinjected into the rostroventral medulla, to activate endogenous pain modulatory systems, in MIA and control rats and reflex excitability measured using electromyography. DAMGO (3 ng) had a significantly larger inhibitory effect in MIA treated rats than in controls. These data show distinct temporal contribtuions of TRPV1 expressing nociceptors and opioidergic pain control systems at later timepoints.

Underplating along the northern portion of the Zagros suture zone, Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motaghi, K.; Shabanian, E.; Kalvandi, F.

2017-07-01

A 2-D absolute shear wave velocity model has been resolved beneath a seismic profile across the northeastern margin of the Arabian Plate-Central Iran by simultaneously inverting data from P receiver functions and fundamental mode Rayleigh wave phase velocity. The data were gathered by a linear seismic array crossing the Zagros fold and thrust belt, Urmia-Dokhtar magmatic arc and Central Iran block assemblage as three major structural components of the Arabia-Eurasia collision. Our model shows a low-velocity tongue protruding from upper to lower crust which, north of the Zagros suture, indicates the signature of an intracontinent low-strength shear zone between the underthrusting and overriding continents. The velocity model confirms the presence of a significant crustal root as well as a thick high-velocity lithosphere in footwall of the suture, continuing northwards beneath the overriding continent for at least 200 km. These features are interpreted as underthrusting of Arabia beneath Central Iran. Time to depth migration of P receiver functions reveals an intracrustal flat interface at ∼17 km depth south of the suture; we interpret it as a significant decoupling within the upper crust. All these crustal scale structural features coherently explain different styles and kinematics of deformation in northern Zagros (Lorestan zone) with respect to its southern part (Fars zone).

Effect of a centralized prescription network on inappropriate prescriptions for opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines.

PubMed

Dormuth, Colin R; Miller, Tarita A; Huang, Anjie; Mamdani, Muhammad M; Juurlink, David N

2012-11-06

Opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines are often misused in clinical practice. We determined whether implementation of a centralized prescription network offering real-time access to patient-level data on filled prescriptions (PharmaNet) reduced the number of potentially inappropriate prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines. We conducted a time series analysis using prescription records between Jan. 1, 1993, and Dec. 31, 1997, for residents of the province of British Columbia who were receiving social assistance or were 65 years or older. We calculated monthly percentages of filled prescriptions for an opioid or a benzodiazepine that were deemed inappropriate (those issued by a different physician and dispensed at a different pharmacy within 7 days after a filled prescription of at least 30 tablets of the same drug). Within 6 months after implementation of PharmaNet in July 1995, we observed a relative reduction in inappropriate filled prescriptions for opioids of 32.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.0%-34.7%) among patients receiving social assistance; inappropriate filled prescriptions for benzodiazepines decreased by 48.6% (95% CI 43.2%-53.1%). Similar and statistically significant reductions were observed among residents 65 years or older. The implementation of a centralized prescription network was associated with a dramatic reduction in inappropriate filled prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines.

Effect of skin disinfection with octenidine dihydrochloride on insertion site colonization of intravascular catheters.

PubMed

Dettenkofer, M; Jonas, D; Wiechmann, C; Rossner, R; Frank, U; Zentner, J; Daschner, F D

2002-10-01

We investigated the efficacy of two commercially available, alcohol-based antiseptic solutions in decontaminating the insertion site of central lines. One solution contained the bispyridine octenidine dihydrochloride. Inpatients receiving either a central venous catheter (CVC) or a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) were alternately assigned to different skin disinfection regimens at the insertion site: (A) 0.1% octendine dihydrochloride with 30% 1-propanol and 45% 2-propanol, (B) 74% ethanol with 10% 2-propanol. Quantitative skin cultures were obtained from the insertion site at predetermined intervals. A total of 60 patients received 12 CVCs and 47 PICCs (no significant difference with respect to gender, age and catheter type). In total, 90 cultures were assessed in each group. The median colony-forming unit (cfu) counts per 24 cm(2) (group A vs B) were 2,270 vs 2,950 before, 20 vs 40 following and 860 vs 1,210 24 h after catheter insertion, respectively. A statistically significant difference in the efficacy of skin decontamination was seen between groups in culture set (3) and in the difference between culture sets (2) and (3) (Wilcoxon rank sum test). Octenidine/propanol appears to be more effective than alcohol (ethanol/propanol) alone in reducing microflora of the skin at the PICC/CVC insertion site over a 24-h period.

Does receiving an American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts grant influence career path and scholarly impact among fellowship-trained rhinologists?

PubMed

Eloy, Jean Anderson; Svider, Peter F; Setzen, Michael; Baredes, Soly; Folbe, Adam J

2014-01-01

To determine whether American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Centralized Otolaryngology Research Efforts (CORE) grants influence career paths and scholarly impact of fellowship-trained rhinologists, and whether funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CORE programs is associated with increased scholarly impact among rhinologists. Another aim was to explore whether obtaining CORE grant funding is associated with NIH award acquisition. Practice setting, academic rank, and fellowship-training status were determined for individuals in the CORE grant database. The h-index and publication experience of practitioners was calculated using the Scopus database. Faculty listings were used to determine this data for a non-CORE-grants-funded "control" group of academic rhinologists. Active and past NIH funding was obtained using the NIH RePORTER database. Fifteen of 26 (57.7%) fellowship-trained rhinologists receiving CORE grants were funded for rhinologic projects. Five of 6 rhinologists receiving NIH funding had a CORE-grants-funding history. Twenty-two of 26 (84.6%) rhinologists receiving CORE funding are currently in academic practice. Academic rhinologists receiving CORE or NIH funding had higher h-indices, a result reaching significance among promoted faculty and those with greater than 10 years of publication experience. Encouraging the pursuit of CORE grants among junior faculty as well as trainees interested in rhinology may be a strategy for developing highly effective research habits that pay dividends after the first few years of one's career. Fellowship-trained rhinologists with a CORE funding history predominantly pursue careers in academic medicine, although their CORE projects are not necessarily related to rhinologic topics. © 2013 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic investigation: assessment of edivoxetine and atomoxetine on systemic and central 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, a biochemical marker for norepinephrine transporter inhibition.

PubMed

Kielbasa, William; Pan, Alan; Pereira, Alvaro

2015-03-01

Inhibition of norepinephrine (NE) reuptake into noradrenergic nerves is a common therapeutic target in the central nervous system (CNS). In noradrenergic nerves, NE is oxidized by monoamine oxidase to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG). In this study, 40 healthy male subjects received the NE transporter (NET) inhibitor edivoxetine (EDX) or atomoxetine (ATX), or placebo. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of these drugs in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was assessed. In Part A, subjects received EDX once daily (QD) for 14 or 15 days at targeted doses of 6mg or 9mg. In Part B, subjects received 80mg ATX QD for 14 or 15 days. Each subject received a lumbar puncture before receiving drug and after 14 or 15 days of dosing. Plasma and urine were collected at baseline and after 14 days of dosing. Edivoxetine plasma and CSF concentrations increased dose dependently. The time to maximum plasma concentration of EDX was 2h, and the half-life was 9h. At the highest EDX dose of 9mg, DHPG concentrations were reduced from baseline by 51% at 8h postdose in CSF, and steady-state plasma and urine DHPG concentrations decreased by 38% and 26%, respectively. For 80mg ATX, the decrease of plasma, CSF, or urine DHPG was similar to EDX. Herein we provide clinical evidence that EDX and ATX decrease DHPG concentrations in the periphery and CNS, presumably via NET inhibition. EDX and ATX concentrations measured in the CSF confirmed the availability of those drugs in the CNS. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.

Radiation heat transfer simulation in a window for a small particle solar receiver using the Monte Carlo method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitmore, Alexander Jason

Concentrating solar power systems are currently the predominant solar power technology for generating electricity at the utility scale. The central receiver system, which is a concentrating solar power system, uses a field of mirrors to concentrate solar radiation onto a receiver where a working fluid is heated to drive a turbine. Current central receiver systems operate on a Rankine cycle, which has a large demand for cooling water. This demand for water presents a challenge for the current central receiver systems as the ideal locations for solar power plants have arid climates. An alternative to the current receiver technology is the small particle receiver. The small particle receiver has the potential to produce working fluid temperatures suitable for use in a Brayton cycle which can be more efficient when pressurized to 0.5 MPa. Using a fused quartz window allows solar energy into the receiver while maintaining a pressurized small particle receiver. In this thesis, a detailed numerical investigation for a spectral, three dimensional, cylindrical glass window for a small particle receiver was performed. The window is 1.7 meters in diameter and 0.0254 meters thick. There are three Monte Carlo Ray Trace codes used within this research. The first MCRT code, MIRVAL, was developed by Sandia National Laboratory and modified by a fellow San Diego State University colleague Murat Mecit. This code produces the solar rays on the exterior surface of the window. The second MCRT code was developed by Steve Ruther and Pablo Del Campo. This code models the small particle receiver, which creates the infrared spectral direction flux on the interior surface of the window used in this work. The third MCRT, developed for this work, is used to model radiation heat transfer within the window itself and is coupled to an energy equation solver to produce a temperature distribution. The MCRT program provides a source term to the energy equation. This in turn, produces a new temperature field for the MCRT program; together the equations are solved iteratively. These iterations repeat until convergence is reached for a steady state temperature field. The energy equation was solved using a finite volume method. The window's thermal conductivity is modeled as a function of temperature. This thermal model is used to investigate the effects of different materials, receiver geometries, interior convection coefficients and exterior convection coefficients. To prevent devitrification and the ultimate failure of the window, the window needs to stay below the devitrification temperature of the material. In addition, the temperature gradients within the window need to be kept to a minimum to prevent thermal stresses. A San Diego State University colleague E-Fann Saung uses these temperature maps to insure that the mounting of the window does not produce thermal stresses which can cause cracking in the brittle fused quartz. The simulations in this thesis show that window temperatures are below the devitrification temperature of the window when there are cooling jets on both surfaces of the window. Natural convection on the exterior window surface was explored and it does not provide adequate cooling; therefore forced convection is required. Due to the low thermal conductivity of the window, the edge mounting thermal boundary condition has little effect on the maximum temperature of the window. The simulations also showed that the solar input flux absorbed less than 1% of the incoming radiation while the window absorbed closer to 20% of the infrared radiation emitted by the receiver. The main source of absorbed power in the window is located directly on the interior surface of the window where the infrared radiation is absorbed. The geometry of the receiver has a large impact on the amount of emitted power which reached the interior surface of the window, and using a conical shaped receiver dramatically reduced the receiver's infrared flux on the window. The importance of internal emission is explored within this research. Internal emission produces a more even emission field throughout the receiver than applying radiation surface emission only. Due to a majority of the infrared receiver re-radiation being absorbed right at the interior surface, the surface emission only approximation method produces lower maximum temperatures.

Pre-emptive multimodal analgesia with tramadol and ketamine-lidocaine infusion for suppression of central sensitization in a dog model of ovariohysterectomy.

PubMed

Kaka, Ubedullah; Rahman, Nor-Alimah; Abubakar, Adamu Abdul; Goh, Yong Meng; Fakurazi, Sharida; Omar, Mohamed Ariff; Chen, Hui Cheng

2018-01-01

The effects of pre-emptive infusion of ketamine-lidocaine with tramadol on the suppression of central sensitization were investigated in a dog ovariohysterectomy model. Twelve dogs were randomly assigned to two groups: ketamine-lidocaine-tramadol (KLT) and tramadol (T) groups. Both groups received intravenous tramadol 4 mg/kg body weight as premedication. Immediately after induction, the KLT group received ketamine and lidocaine at 0.5 and 2 mg/kg loading dose, followed by continuous rate infusion of 50 and 100 µg/kg/min, respectively, for 2 hours. Dogs in T group received saline bolus and continuous rate infusion at equi-volume. Intraoperatively, hemodynamic responses to surgical stimulation were recorded, whereas postoperative pain was evaluated using an algometer and short form of the Glasgow composite measure pain scale. Intraoperatively, hemodynamic responses to surgical stimulation were obtunded to a greater degree in KLT compared to T group. Postoperatively, the pain scores increased only for the first hour in KLT group, compared to 12 hours in T group. Mechanical thresholds at the abdomen decreased postoperatively between 12 and 60 hours in KLT group versus the entire 72 hours in T group. Thresholds at tibia and radius in both groups increased in the immediate 1 hour postoperatively, but decreased thereafter. Significant decrement of thresholds from baseline were detected in the tibia at 24, 42, and 60 hours in KLT group compared to 24-72 hours in T group, and in the radius between 36 and 48 hours in T group, but none in KLT group. Addition of pre-emptive ketamine-lidocaine infusion to single intravenous dose of tramadol enhanced attenuation of central sensitization and improved intra- and postoperative analgesia.

Radial to femoral arterial blood pressure differences in septic shock patients receiving high-dose norepinephrine therapy.

PubMed

Kim, Won Young; Jun, Jong Hun; Huh, Jin Won; Hong, Sang Bum; Lim, Chae-Man; Koh, Younsuck

2013-12-01

The accuracy of arterial blood pressure (ABP) monitoring is crucial in treating septic shock patients. Clinically significant differences in central to peripheral ABP could develop into sepsis during vasopressor therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference between radial (peripheral) and femoral (central) ABP in septic shock patients receiving high-dose norepinephrine (NE) therapy. This prospective observational study comparing simultaneous intra-arterial measurements of radial and femoral ABP was performed at a university-affiliated, tertiary referral center between October 2008 and March 2009. Patients with septic shock who needed continuous blood pressure monitoring and high-dose NE therapy 0.1 µg/kg per minute or greater to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 65 mmHg or greater were included. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Bland-Altman method for comparison of repeated measures. In total, 250 sets of systolic, mean, and diastolic femoral and radial ABP were recorded at baseline and after NE titration. Arterial blood pressure readings from the radial artery were underestimated compared with those from the femoral artery. Overall bias (mean difference between simultaneous measurements) between radial and femoral MAP was +4.9 mmHg; however, during high-dose NE therapy, the bias increased to +6.2 mmHg (95% limits of agreement: -6.0 to +18.3 mmHg). Clinically significant radial-femoral MAP differences (MAP ≥5 mmHg) occurred in up to 62.2% of patients with high-dose NE therapy. Radial artery pressure frequently underestimates central pressure in septic shock patients receiving high-dose NE therapy. Femoral arterial pressure monitoring may be more appropriate when high-dose NE therapy is administered.

A Retrospective Review of Treatment Results for Patients With Central Centrifugal Cicatrical Alopecia.

PubMed

Eginli, Ariana; Dothard, Emily; Bagayoko, Courtney W; Huang, Karen; Daniel, Alyssa; McMichael, Amy J

2017-04-01

INTRODUCTION: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a form of scarring alopecia primarily affecting women of African descent on the crown of the scalp. Limited data exists regarding evidence-based treatment for CCCA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine photos of subjects with CCCA before and after treatment in order to evaluate results of treatment and compare results of different treatment regimens.

METHODS: Photographs of 15 subjects with CCCA before and after treatment were evaluated by two blinded investigators who assigned disease severity scores to photographs based on a published scale: Central Scalp Alopecia Photographic Scale in African American Women.

RESUTLS: Median change in severity score (post-treatment severity score - pre-treatment severity score) was 0.5 (P = 0.58) for all 15 subjects receiving a series of 7 to 8 intralesional steroid injections along with topical steroids (Class I/II) +/- minoxidil and +/- anti-dandruff shampoo, indicating worsening of disease after treatment. Subjects receiving minoxidil versus those who did not (0.25 vs 0.5; P = 0.38) and subjects receiving anti-dandruff shampoo versus those who did not (0.0 vs 0.5; P = 0.42) demonstrated no statistically significant difference in pre- and post-treatment severity scores. Of 15 subjects, 5/15 (33.3%) had decreased severity scores, 8/15 (53.3%) had increased severity scores, and 2/15 (13.3%) had no change in severity scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Although no statistically significant difference was found in pre- versus post-treatment disease severity, this may indicate intralesional steroid injections and topical steroids +/- minoxidil and +/- anti-dandruff shampoo halt disease progression.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2017;16(4):317-320.

Antiresorptive treatment, when initiated after a first hip fracture, may not protect of a second contralateral episode in elderly population: A study with 685 patients.

PubMed

Besalduch, M; Carrera, I; Gómez-Masdeu, M; De Caso, J

2016-04-01

Osteoporosis predisposes for a higher risk of hip fracture and its treatment is frequently underprescribed. Our purpose was to assess the relation between having a second hip fracture and receiving osteoporosis treatment. Also to assess the relation between this second fracture and using central nervous system drugs or being institutionalised. We reviewed all the patients that were admitted to our hospital with an osteoporotic proximal femoral fracture between September 2009 and February 2011. We identified 685 patients, 74 of which presented a contralateral fracture. We evaluated if they were receiving osteoporosis treatment or taking any medication that could affect the central nervous system and if they were institutionalised. A 10.8% of patients had a second fracture and the mean time between the two of them was 20 months (1-122). There was a clear female predominance (76.35%). The mean age at occurrence of the primary fracture was 83.02 years and 85 for the second. A 90.8% did not follow any type of osteoporosis medication before the first fracture. A 50.9% did not receive central nervous system drugs and 79.1% lived at home at the time of the first fracture. 12.8% of the patients that did not follow the osteoporosis treatment, had a contralateral fracture, 3% more than those that did follow some kind of treatment, but this difference was not significant (p=0.2). We identified a similar number of patients undergoing osteoporotic treatment as registered in literature. There was no significant difference between suffering a second hip fracture and following osteoporosis treatment, using psychotropic drugs or being institutionalised. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of vertically ribbed surface roughness on the forced convective heat losses in central receiver systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlig, Ralf; Frantz, Cathy; Fritsch, Andreas

2016-05-01

External receiver configurations are directly exposed to ambient wind. Therefore, a precise determination of the convective losses is a key factor in the prediction and evaluation of the efficiency of the solar absorbers. Based on several studies, the forced convective losses of external receivers are modeled using correlations for a roughened cylinder in a cross-flow of air. However at high wind velocities, the thermal efficiency measured during the Solar Two experiment was considerably lower than the efficiency predicted by these correlations. A detailed review of the available literature on the convective losses of external receivers has been made. Three CFD models of different level of detail have been developed to analyze the influence of the actual shape of the receiver and tower configuration, of the receiver shape and of the absorber panels on the forced convective heat transfer coefficients. The heat transfer coefficients deduced from the correlations have been compared to the results of the CFD simulations. In a final step the influence of both modeling approaches on the thermal efficiency of an external tubular receiver has been studied in a thermal FE model of the Solar Two receiver.

Ultrabroadband phased-array radio frequency (RF) receivers based on optical techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Overmiller, Brock M.; Schuetz, Christopher A.; Schneider, Garrett; Murakowski, Janusz; Prather, Dennis W.

2014-03-01

Military operations require the ability to locate and identify electronic emissions in the battlefield environment. However, recent developments in radio detection and ranging (RADAR) and communications technology are making it harder to effectively identify such emissions. Phased array systems aid in discriminating emitters in the scene by virtue of their relatively high-gain beam steering and nulling capabilities. For the purpose of locating emitters, we present an approach realize a broadband receiver based on optical processing techniques applied to the response of detectors in conformal antenna arrays. This approach utilizes photonic techniques that enable us to capture, route, and process the incoming signals. Optical modulators convert the incoming signals up to and exceeding 110 GHz with appreciable conversion efficiency and route these signals via fiber optics to a central processing location. This central processor consists of a closed loop phase control system which compensates for phase fluctuations induced on the fibers due to thermal or acoustic vibrations as well as an optical heterodyne approach for signal conversion down to baseband. Our optical heterodyne approach uses injection-locked paired optical sources to perform heterodyne downconversion/frequency identification of the detected emission. Preliminary geolocation and frequency identification testing of electronic emissions has been performed demonstrating the capabilities of our RF receiver.

CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN RECEIVING EXOGENOUS TESTOSTERONE.

PubMed

Conway, Mandi D; Noble, Jason A; Peyman, Gholam A

2017-01-01

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR) is a serous detachment of the neurosensory retina commonly associated with male sex, Type-A personality and corticosteroid use. Exogenous administration of androgens and development of CSR in men has been reported. Only one case of CSR in a postmenopausal woman receiving exogenous androgen therapy has been reported. The authors describe three cases of chronic CSR in postmenopausal women receiving exogenous testosterone therapy. Diagnosis was based on characteristic clinical, fluorescein angiographic, and optical coherence tomography findings. The three women were being treated with exogenous testosterone and progesterone therapy for symptoms of menopause and libido loss. Average age at presentation was 54.7 years (53-56 years), average duration of exogenous androgen use was 61 months (36-87 months), with average 19.7-month follow-up. Resolution of symptoms seemed correlated with cessation of androgen use despite treatment with oscillatory photodynamic therapy and intravitreal pharmacotherapy with antivascular endothelial growth factor agents. Exogenous testosterone is increasingly prescribed for menopausal symptoms and libido loss. Treatment with oscillatory photodynamic therapy, supplemental bevacizumab intravitreal pharmacotherapy, and cessation of exogenous androgen therapy was successful in three cases of chronic, therapy-resistant CSR. Ophthalmologists should inquire about androgen usage in patients who present with CSR, especially in the setting of therapy resistance.

Integrated results from the COPERNICUS and GALILEO studies.

PubMed

Pielen, Amelie; Clark, W Lloyd; Boyer, David S; Ogura, Yuichiro; Holz, Frank G; Korobelnik, Jean-Francois; Stemper, Brigitte; Asmus, Friedrich; Rittenhouse, Kay D; Ahlers, Christiane; Vitti, Robert; Saroj, Namrata; Zeitz, Oliver; Haller, Julia A

2017-01-01

To report on the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in an integrated analysis of COPERNICUS and GALILEO. Patients were randomized to receive intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg every 4 weeks or sham injections until week 24. From week 24 to week 52, all intravitreal aflibercept-treated patients in both studies and sham-treated patients in COPERNICUS were eligible to receive intravitreal aflibercept based on prespecified criteria. In GALILEO, sham-treated patients continued to receive sham treatment through week 52. At week 24, mean gain in best-corrected visual acuity and mean reduction in central retinal thickness were greater for intravitreal aflibercept-treated patients compared with sham, consistent with individual trial results. At week 52, after 6 months of intravitreal aflibercept as-needed treatment in COPERNICUS, patients originally randomized to sham group experienced visual and anatomic improvements but did not improve to the extent of those initially treated with intravitreal aflibercept, while the sham group in GALILEO did not improve over week 24 mean best-corrected visual acuity scores. Ocular serious adverse events occurred in <10% of patients. This analysis of integrated data from COPERNICUS and GALILEO confirmed that intravitreal aflibercept is an effective treatment for macular edema following CRVO.

Integrated results from the COPERNICUS and GALILEO studies

PubMed Central

Pielen, Amelie; Clark, W Lloyd; Boyer, David S; Ogura, Yuichiro; Holz, Frank G; Korobelnik, Jean-Francois; Stemper, Brigitte; Asmus, Friedrich; Rittenhouse, Kay D; Ahlers, Christiane; Vitti, Robert; Saroj, Namrata; Zeitz, Oliver; Haller, Julia A

2017-01-01

Objectives To report on the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in an integrated analysis of COPERNICUS and GALILEO. Patients and methods Patients were randomized to receive intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg every 4 weeks or sham injections until week 24. From week 24 to week 52, all intravitreal aflibercept-treated patients in both studies and sham-treated patients in COPERNICUS were eligible to receive intravitreal aflibercept based on prespecified criteria. In GALILEO, sham-treated patients continued to receive sham treatment through week 52. Results At week 24, mean gain in best-corrected visual acuity and mean reduction in central retinal thickness were greater for intravitreal aflibercept-treated patients compared with sham, consistent with individual trial results. At week 52, after 6 months of intravitreal aflibercept as-needed treatment in COPERNICUS, patients originally randomized to sham group experienced visual and anatomic improvements but did not improve to the extent of those initially treated with intravitreal aflibercept, while the sham group in GALILEO did not improve over week 24 mean best-corrected visual acuity scores. Ocular serious adverse events occurred in <10% of patients. Conclusion This analysis of integrated data from COPERNICUS and GALILEO confirmed that intravitreal aflibercept is an effective treatment for macular edema following CRVO. PMID:28883712

Clinical islet transplantation experience of the University of California Islet Transplant Consortium.

PubMed

Brunicardi, F C; Atiya, A; Stock, P; Kenmochi, T; Une, S; Benhamou, P Y; Watt, P C; Miyamato, M; Wantanabe, Y; Nomura, Y

1995-12-01

The University of California Islet Transplant Consortium was formed to evaluate the feasibility of performing clinical islet transplantation at different transplant centers by using a single centralized islet isolation laboratory. From July 1992 through February 1995 seven adult islet transplantations were performed, six allografts and one autograft. Once procured, human pancreata were brought to the UCLA-VA Islet Core Laboratory for islet isolation and purification, which were then transported to different centers for transplantation. Patients 1 through 3 received their transplants in Los Angeles, patient 4 received her islet transplant in Torrance, and patients 5 through 7 received their transplants in San Francisco. Although none of these patients achieved insulin independence, four of seven had functioning grafts longer than 6 months as indicated by circulating C-peptide level greater than 0.7 ng/ml. Furthermore, improved glucose control as shown by a decreased insulin requirement was seen in 57% (four of seven patients) of these patients. The ability to isolate islets at a single laboratory and transport them long distances to different centers was shown in patients 4 through 7. Islet transplantation can be performed with improvements in blood glucose control, and islets can be isolated at a centralized location and successfully transported to different centers for transplantation.

Impact of community-delivered SMS alerts on dog-owner participation during a mass rabies vaccination campaign, Haiti 2017.

PubMed

Cleaton, Julie M; Wallace, Ryan M; Crowdis, Kelly; Gibson, Andy; Monroe, Benjamin; Ludder, Fleurinord; Etheart, Melissa D; Natal Vigilato, Marco Antonio; King, Alasdair

2018-04-19

Haiti has historically vaccinated between 100,000 and 300,000 dogs annually against rabies, however national authorities have not been able to reach and maintain the 70% coverage required to eliminate the canine rabies virus variant. Haiti conducts massive dog vaccination campaigns on an annual basis and utilizes both central point and door-to-door methods. These methods require that dog owners are aware of the dates and locations of the campaign. To improve this awareness among dog owners, 600,000 text messages were sent to phones in two Haitian communes (Gonaives and Saint-Marc) to remind dog owners to attend the campaign. Text messages were delivered on the second day and at the mid-point of the campaign. A post-campaign household survey was conducted to assess dog owner's perception of the text messages and the impact on their participation in the vaccination campaign. Overall, 147 of 160 (91.9%) text-receiving dog owners indicated the text was helpful, and 162 of 187 (86.6%) responding dog owners said they would like to receive text reminders during future rabies vaccination campaigns. In areas hosting one-day central point campaigns, dog owners who received the text were 2.0 (95% CI 1.1, 3.6) times more likely to have participated in the campaign (73.1% attendance among those who received the text vs 36.4% among those who did not). In areas incorporating door-to-door vaccination over multiple days there was no significant difference in participation between dog owners who did and did not receive a text. Text message reminders were well-received and significantly improved campaign attendance, indicating that short message service (SMS) alerts may be a successful strategy in low resource areas with large free roaming dog populations. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Outcomes and Acute Toxicities of Proton Therapy for Pediatric Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor of the Central Nervous System

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

McGovern, Susan L., E-mail: slmcgove@mdanderson.org; Okcu, M. Fatih; Munsell, Mark F.

Purpose: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the central nervous system is a rare cancer primarily affecting children younger than 5 years old. Because patients are young and receive intensive chemotherapy, there is concern regarding late radiation toxicity, particularly as survival rates improve. Therefore, there is interest in using proton therapy to treat these tumors. This study was undertaken to investigate outcomes and acute toxicities associated with proton therapy for AT/RT. Methods and Materials: The records of 31 patients with AT/RT treated with proton radiation from October 2008 to August 2013 were reviewed. Demographics, treatment characteristics, and outcomes were recorded andmore » analyzed. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 19 months (range, 4-55 months), with a median age at radiation start of 24 months (range, 6-62 months). Seventeen patients received local radiation with a median dose of 50.4 GyRBE (range, 9-54 GyRBE). Fourteen patients received craniospinal radiation; half received 24 GyRBE or less, and half received 30.6 GyRBE or more. For patients receiving craniospinal radiation, the median tumor dose was 54 GyRBE (range, 43.2-55.8 GyRBE). Twenty-seven patients (87%) completed the planned radiation. With median follow-up of 24 months for all patients (range, 3-53 months), median progression-free survival was 20.8 months and median overall survival was 34.3 months. Five patients (16%) developed clinical findings and imaging changes in the brainstem 1 to 4 months after radiation, consistent with radiation reaction; all cases resolved with steroids or bevacizumab. Conclusions: This is the largest report of children with AT/RT treated with proton therapy. Preliminary survival outcomes in this young pediatric population are encouraging compared to historic results, but further study is warranted.« less

77 FR 56625 - Privacy Act of 1974; Systems of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-13

... Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal.... George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000. Decentralized segments: Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Headquarters... decentralized system locations, write to the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, Freedom of...

ANAEROBIC COMPOST CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY - SITE ITER

EPA Science Inventory

In Fall 1994, anaerobic compost wetlands in both upflow and downflow configurations were constructed adjacent to and received drainage from the Burleigh Tunnel, which forms part of the Clear Creek/Central City Superfund site. The systems were operated over a 3 year period. The e...

Second generation heliostat development for solar central receiver systems. Volume 4, appendices F-J: Control software test results manufacturing pile installation pile coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1981-03-01

Support documentation for a second generation heliostat project is presented. Flowcharts of control software are included. Numerical and graphic test results are provided. Project management information is also provided.

Fear in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Carolyn

2010-01-01

Fear is powerful and pervasive in English schools and central to many education discourses. However, it has received very little "focussed" attention in the education literature, despite the increasing interest afforded to it in other disciplines. Understanding how fear works is extremely important as fear and wellbeing are inextricably…

Inequality of Effort in an Egalitarian Education System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matsuoka, Ryoji

2017-01-01

Japanese compulsory education is considered as relatively egalitarian since poorer regions receive more funding from the central government, which standardizes the quality of education nationwide. Nevertheless, the literature indicates socioeconomic status-based achievement and educational attainment gaps. As parts of explanations of these gaps,…

The Validity of Educational Disadvantage Policy Indicators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Driessen, Geert

2017-01-01

Many countries have implemented policies to prevent or combat educational disadvantage associated with socioeconomic factors in the students' home environment. Under such policies, educational institutions generally receive extra support from the central or local government. The support is normally based on indicators available in the home…

After Seattle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kenney, Brian

2005-01-01

Few public buildings, and no libraries, have ever received the sort of acclaim that Seattle's central library garnered even before it opened in May 2004. "The Seattle building is thrilling from top to bottom," wrote Paul Goldberger in "The New Yorker." Herbert Muschamp, in the "New York Times," agreed: "In more…

Study of atmospheric aerosols over the central Himalayan region using a newly developed Mie light detection and ranging system: preliminary results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bangia, Tarun; Omar, Amitesh; Sagar, Ram; Kumar, Ashish; Bhattacharjee, Samaresh; Reddy, Arjun; Agarwal, Prem Kumar; Phanikumar

2011-01-01

A LIDAR system to receive Mie backscattered photons has been developed at the Manora peak, Nainital, India and it is the first of its kind in the central Himalayan region. The system is sensitive to receive backscattered photons from heights up to ~20 km (above ground level). The atmospheric extinction profiles using Mie LIDAR have been estimated for the first time at this site in January (winter) and March (spring) seasons in three campaigns and maximum values are found to be ~0.01, 0.03, and 0.08 km-1, respectively. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) values are found to be ~0.051, 0.098, and 0.233 in three campaigns, respectively, showing enhancement from January (winter) to March (spring) indicating a seasonal variation. AOD values of LIDAR, aerosol robotic network, and moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer were found within the standard deviations. The aerosol loading at the site has increased during the last decade as evident from previous studies.

An automated system for the study of ionospheric spatial structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belinskaya, I. V.; Boitman, O. N.; Vugmeister, B. O.; Vyborova, V. M.; Zakharov, V. N.; Laptev, V. A.; Mamchenko, M. S.; Potemkin, A. A.; Radionov, V. V.

The system is designed for the study of the vertical distribution of electron density and the parameters of medium-scale ionospheric irregularities over the sounding site as well as the reconstruction of the spatial distribution of electron density within the range of up to 300 km from the sounding location. The system comprises an active central station as well as passive companion stations. The central station is equipped with the digital ionosonde ``Basis'', the measuring-and-computing complex IVK-2, and the receiver-recorder PRK-3M. The companion stations are equipped with receivers-recorders PRK-3. The automated comlex software system includes 14 subsystems. Data transfer between them is effected using magnetic disk data sets. The system is operated in both ionogram mode and Doppler shift and angle-of-arrival mode. Using data obtained in these two modes, the reconstruction of the spatial distribution of electron density in the region is carried out. Reconstruction is checked for accuracy using data from companion stations.

Efficient Usage of Dense GNSS Networks in Central Europe for the Visualization and Investigation of Ionospheric TEC Variations

PubMed Central

Zanimonskiy, Yevgen M.; Yampolski, Yuri M.; Figurski, Mariusz

2017-01-01

The technique of the orthogonal projection of ionosphere electronic content variations for mapping total electron content (TEC) allows us to visualize ionospheric irregularities. For the reconstruction of global ionospheric characteristics, numerous global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers located in different regions of the Earth are used as sensors. We used dense GNSS networks in central Europe to detect and investigate a special type of plasma inhomogeneities, called travelling ionospheric disturbances (TID). Such use of GNSS sensors allows us to reconstruct the main TID parameters, such as spatial dimensions, velocities, and directions of their movement. The paper gives examples of the restoration of dynamic characteristics of ionospheric irregularities for quiet and disturbed geophysical conditions. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of ionospheric disturbances stimulated by the magnetic storms of two St. Patrick’s Days (17 March 2013 and 2015). Additional opportunities for the remote sensing of the ionosphere with the use of dense regional networks of GNSS receiving sensors have been noted too. PMID:28994718

Efficient Usage of Dense GNSS Networks in Central Europe for the Visualization and Investigation of Ionospheric TEC Variations.

PubMed

Nykiel, Grzegorz; Zanimonskiy, Yevgen M; Yampolski, Yuri M; Figurski, Mariusz

2017-10-10

The technique of the orthogonal projection of ionosphere electronic content variations for mapping total electron content (TEC) allows us to visualize ionospheric irregularities. For the reconstruction of global ionospheric characteristics, numerous global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers located in different regions of the Earth are used as sensors. We used dense GNSS networks in central Europe to detect and investigate a special type of plasma inhomogeneities, called travelling ionospheric disturbances (TID). Such use of GNSS sensors allows us to reconstruct the main TID parameters, such as spatial dimensions, velocities, and directions of their movement. The paper gives examples of the restoration of dynamic characteristics of ionospheric irregularities for quiet and disturbed geophysical conditions. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of ionospheric disturbances stimulated by the magnetic storms of two St. Patrick's Days (17 March 2013 and 2015). Additional opportunities for the remote sensing of the ionosphere with the use of dense regional networks of GNSS receiving sensors have been noted too.

Neuropsychological and Behavioural Short-Term Effects of Cognitive Remediation Therapy in Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

van Noort, Betteke Maria; Kraus, Manuela Klara Aurelia; Pfeiffer, Ernst; Lehmkuhl, Ulrike; Kappel, Viola

2016-01-01

Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) aims to strengthen weak cognitive flexibility and central coherence in adult and adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN). Currently, there are no studies in adolescents with AN that control for learning effects because of re-testing while evaluating CRT. Twenty in- and outpatients with AN aged 12 to 18 years received CRT. Assessment took place directly before and after the intervention. Performance was compared to 20 age-, gender-, IQ-, and test-retest interval matched healthy controls, which did not receive CRT. AN patients showed an improvement in flexibility on neuropsychological assessment directly after CRT, whereas HC did not improve over time. Self-report assessment of flexibility, as well as central coherence, did not show significant improvement after CRT. Results suggest that CRT may be beneficial for enhancing flexibility in adolescents with AN. However, randomized controlled studies are essential to determine the actual efficacy of this intervention. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Determination of Shear Wave Velocity Structure in the Rio Grande Rift Through Receiver Function and Surface Wave Analysis. Appendix B

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-08-01

source and receiver responses for constant ray parameter, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 67, 1029-1050, 1977. Langston, C. A., Structure under Mount Rainier ...the 106 petrologic processes taking place within the rift. APPENDIX LIST OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS USED IN THESIS. 107 I 108 PROGRAM: RAY3D AUTHOR: Dr. T.J...Lab. Rep., LA-8676-T, 218 pp., 1981. Baldridge, W. S., Petrology an,3 petrogenesis of Plio- Pleistocene basaltic rocks from the central Rio Grand

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

Poerschke, Andrew; Rudd, Armin

This report investigates the feasibility of using a home-run manifold small-diameter duct system to provide space-conditioning air to individual thermal zones in a low-load home. This compact layout allows duct systems to easily be brought within conditioned space via interior partition walls. Centrally locating the air handling unit in the house significantly reduces duct lengths. The plenum box is designed so that each connected duct receives a similar amount of airflow—regardless of its position on the box. Furthermore, within a reasonable set of length restrictions each duct continues to receive similar airflow.

Modular fuel-cell stack assembly

DOEpatents

Patel, Pinakin [Danbury, CT; Urko, Willam [West Granby, CT

2008-01-29

A modular multi-stack fuel-cell assembly in which the fuel-cell stacks are situated within a containment structure and in which a gas distributor is provided in the structure and distributes received fuel and oxidant gases to the stacks and receives exhausted fuel and oxidant gas from the stacks so as to realize a desired gas flow distribution and gas pressure differential through the stacks. The gas distributor is centrally and symmetrically arranged relative to the stacks so that it itself promotes realization of the desired gas flow distribution and pressure differential.

[Efficacy of tramadol/acetaminophen medication for central post-stroke pain].

PubMed

Tanei, Takafumi; Kajita, Yasukazu; Noda, Hiroshi; Takebayashi, Shigenori; Hirano, Masaki; Nakahara, Norimoto; Wakabayashi, Toshihiko

2013-08-01

Central post-stroke pain(CPSP)is the most difficult type of central neuropathic pain to control with medical treatment. Opioids are commonly used for chronic neuropathic pain, but their efficacy in treating central neuropathic pain, particularly CPSP, is not clear. Tramadol is an opioid analgesic that, in combination with acetaminophen, has been approved since 2011 for the treatment of non-cancer pain in Japan. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of tramadol/acetaminophen medication for CPSP. We retrospectively reviewed nine cases of CPSP that received oral tramadol/acetaminophen medication. All cases received tramadol/acetaminophen medication after first taking pregabalin then antidepressant medication. Pain levels were assessed before tramadol/acetaminophen medication began and one month after a maintenance dose was reached, using a visual analogue scale(VAS)and the McGill pain questionnaire(MPQ). The mean dose of tramadol was 121±61.6 mg/day. Tramadol/acetaminophen medication was effective in reducing pain in seven of nine cases(77.8%). The VAS improved 32.9±13.8% from pre-to post-medication, and the MPQ improved from 15.4±9.1 pre-medication to 8.1±4.7 post-medication(p<0.05). These effects continued 9.3±4.5 months during follow up periods. Side effects were observed in six cases(one severe, one moderate, two mild, two transient), but medication was continued in eight cases. Oral tramadol/acetaminophen medication was effective at reducing pain levels in patients with CPSP, and is a medication option for the treatment of CPSP.

Safety of peripheral intravenous administration of vasoactive medication.

PubMed

Cardenas-Garcia, Jose; Schaub, Karen F; Belchikov, Yuly G; Narasimhan, Mangala; Koenig, Seth J; Mayo, Paul H

2015-09-01

Central venous access is commonly performed to administer vasoactive medication. The administration of vasoactive medication via peripheral intravenous access is a potential method of reducing the need for central venous access. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of vasoactive medication administered through peripheral intravenous access. Over a 20-month period starting in September 2012, we monitored the use of vasoactive medication via peripheral intravenous access in an 18-bed medical intensive care unit. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and phenylephrine were all approved for use through peripheral intravenous access. A total of 734 patients (age 72 ± 15 years, male/female 398/336, SAPS II score 75 ± 15) received vasoactive medication via peripheral intravenous access 783 times. Vasoactive medication used was norepinephrine (n = 506), dopamine (n = 101), and phenylephrine (n = 176). The duration of vasoactive medication via peripheral intravenous access was 49 ± 22 hours. Extravasation of the peripheral intravenous access during administration of vasoactive medication occurred in 19 patients (2%) without any tissue injury following treatment, with local phentolamine injection and application of local nitroglycerin paste. There were 95 patients (13%) receiving vasoactive medication through peripheral intravenous access who eventually required central intravenous access. Administration of norepinephrine, dopamine, or phenylephrine by peripheral intravenous access was feasible and safe in this single-center medical intensive care unit. Extravasation from the peripheral intravenous line was uncommon, and phentolamine with nitroglycerin paste were effective in preventing local ischemic injury. Clinicians should not regard the use of vasoactive medication is an automatic indication for central venous access. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Effect of central muscarinic receptors on passive-avoidance learning deficits induced by prenatal pentylenetetrazol kindling in male offspring.

PubMed

Pourmotabbed, A; Mahmoodi, G; Mahmoodi, S; Mohammadi-Farani, A; Nedaei, S E; Pourmotabbed, T; Pourmotabbed, T

2014-10-24

Occurrence of the epileptic seizures during gestation might affect the neurodevelopment of the fetus resulting in cognitive problems for the child later in life. We have previously reported that prenatal pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindling induces learning and memory deficits in the children born to kindled mothers, later in life but the mechanisms involved in this processes are unknown. The cholinergic system plays a major role in learning and memory. The present study was performed to investigate the possible involvement of central muscarinic cholinergic receptors on learning and memory deficits induced by prenatal PTZ-kindling in male offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were kindled by repetitive i.p. injection of 25mg/kg of PTZ on day 13 of their pregnancy. The effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjection of scopolamine and pilocarpine, muscarinic cholinergic receptors antagonist and agonist, respectively on passive-avoidance learning of pups were tested at 12weeks of age using shuttle-box apparatus. Our data showed that the retention latencies of pups that received scopolamine (2 or 3μg) were significantly reduced compared to those received normal saline (p<0.05). Interestingly, post training ICV administration of pilocarpine (2μg) retrieved pups' memory deficits (p<0.001). These results demonstrate for the first time, the importance of the central muscarinic cholinergic receptors in learning and memory deficits in pups born to kindled dams and suggest a central mechanism for the cognitive and memory dysfunction, associated with seizures during pregnancy. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Excitatory inputs to four types of spinocerebellar tract neurons in the cat and the rat thoraco-lumbar spinal cord

PubMed Central

Shrestha, Sony Shakya; Bannatyne, B Anne; Jankowska, Elzbieta; Hammar, Ingela; Nilsson, Elin; Maxwell, David J

2012-01-01

The cerebellum receives information from the hindlimbs through several populations of spinocerebellar tract neurons. Although the role of these neurons has been established in electrophysiological experiments, the relative contribution of afferent fibres and central neurons to their excitatory input has only been estimated approximately so far. Taking advantage of differences in the immunohistochemistry of glutamatergic terminals of peripheral afferents and of central neurons (with vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 or VGLUT2, respectively), we compared sources of excitatory input to four populations of spinocerebellar neurons in the thoraco-lumbar spinal cord: dorsal spinocerebellar tract neurons located in Clarke's column (ccDSCT) and in the dorsal horn (dhDSCT) and ventral spinocerebellar tract (VSCT) neurons including spinal border (SB) neurons. This was done on 22 electrophysiologically identified intracellularly labelled neurons in cats and on 80 neurons labelled by retrograde transport of cholera toxin b subunit injected into the cerebellum of rats. In both species distribution of antibodies against VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 on SB neurons (which have dominating inhibitory input from limb muscles), revealed very few VGLUT1 contacts and remarkably high numbers of VGLUT2 contacts. In VSCT neurons with excitatory afferent input, the number of VGLUT1 contacts was relatively high although VGLUT2 contacts likewise dominated, while the proportions of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 immunoreactive terminals were the reverse on the two populations of DSCT neurons. These findings provide morphological evidence that SB neurons principally receive excitatory inputs from central neurons and provide the cerebellum with information regarding central neuronal activity. PMID:22371473

Excitatory inputs to four types of spinocerebellar tract neurons in the cat and the rat thoraco-lumbar spinal cord.

PubMed

Shrestha, Sony Shakya; Bannatyne, B Anne; Jankowska, Elzbieta; Hammar, Ingela; Nilsson, Elin; Maxwell, David J

2012-04-01

The cerebellum receives information from the hindlimbs through several populations of spinocerebellar tract neurons. Although the role of these neurons has been established in electrophysiological experiments, the relative contribution of afferent fibres and central neurons to their excitatory input has only been estimated approximately so far. Taking advantage of differences in the immunohistochemistry of glutamatergic terminals of peripheral afferents and of central neurons (with vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 or VGLUT2, respectively), we compared sources of excitatory input to four populations of spinocerebellar neurons in the thoraco-lumbar spinal cord: dorsal spinocerebellar tract neurons located in Clarke's column (ccDSCT) and in the dorsal horn (dhDSCT) and ventral spinocerebellar tract (VSCT) neurons including spinal border (SB) neurons. This was done on 22 electrophysiologically identified intracellularly labelled neurons in cats and on 80 neurons labelled by retrograde transport of cholera toxin b subunit injected into the cerebellum of rats. In both species distribution of antibodies against VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 on SB neurons (which have dominating inhibitory input from limb muscles), revealed very few VGLUT1 contacts and remarkably high numbers of VGLUT2 contacts. In VSCT neurons with excitatory afferent input, the number of VGLUT1 contacts was relatively high although VGLUT2 contacts likewise dominated, while the proportions of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 immunoreactive terminals were the reverse on the two populations of DSCT neurons. These findings provide morphological evidence that SB neurons principally receive excitatory inputs from central neurons and provide the cerebellum with information regarding central neuronal activity.

Trial of real-time locating and messaging system with Bluetooth low energy.

PubMed

Arisaka, Naoya; Mamorita, Noritaka; Isonaka, Risa; Kawakami, Tadashi; Takeuchi, Akihiro

2016-09-14

Hospital real-time location systems (RTLS) are increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs, but room access tags are necessary. We developed three iPhone 5 applications for an RTLS and communications using Bluetooth low energy (BLE). The applications were: Peripheral device tags, Central beacons, and a Monitor. A Peripheral communicated with a Central using BLE. The Central communicated with a Monitor using sockets on TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) via a WLAN (wireless local area network). To determine a BLE threshold level for the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), relationships between signal strength and distance were measured in our laboratory and on the terrace. The BLE RSSI threshold was set at -70 dB, about 10 m. While an individual with a Peripheral moved around in a concrete building, the Peripheral was captured in a few 10-sec units at about 10 m from a Central. The Central and Monitor showed and saved the approach events, location, and Peripheral's nickname sequentially in real time. Remote Centrals also interactively communicate with Peripherals by intermediating through Monitors that found the nickname in the event database. Trial applications using BLE on iPhones worked well for patient tracking, and messaging in indoor environments.

Which Measurement of Blood Pressure Is More Associated With Albuminuria in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Central Blood Pressure or Peripheral Blood Pressure?

PubMed

Kitagawa, Noriyuki; Okada, Hiroshi; Tanaka, Muhei; Hashimoto, Yoshitaka; Kimura, Toshihiro; Nakano, Koji; Yamazaki, Masahiro; Hasegawa, Goji; Nakamura, Naoto; Fukui, Michiaki

2016-08-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether central systolic blood pressure (SBP) was associated with albuminuria, defined as urinary albumin excretion (UAE) ≥30 mg/g creatinine, and, if so, whether the relationship of central SBP with albuminuria was stronger than that of peripheral SBP in patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors performed a cross-sectional study in 294 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. The relationship between peripheral SBP or central SBP and UAE using regression analysis was evaluated, and the odds ratios of peripheral SBP or central SBP were calculated to identify albuminuria using logistic regression model. Moreover, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of central SBP was compared with that of peripheral SBP to identify albuminuria. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that peripheral SBP (β=0.255, P<.0001) or central SBP (r=0.227, P<.0001) was associated with UAE. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that peripheral SBP (odds ratio, 1.029; 95% confidence interval, 1.016-1.043) or central SBP (odds ratio, 1.022; 95% confidence interval, 1.011-1.034) was associated with an increased odds of albuminuria. In addition, AUC of peripheral SBP was significantly greater than that of central SBP to identify albuminuria (P=0.035). Peripheral SBP is superior to central SBP in identifying albuminuria, although both peripheral and central SBP are associated with UAE in patients with type 2 diabetes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

ANAEROBIC COMPOST CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY - SITE TECHNOLOGY CAPSULE

EPA Science Inventory

In fall 1994, anaerobic compost wetlands in both upflow and down flow configurations were constructed adjacent to and received drainage from the Burleigh tunnel, which forms part of the Clear Creek/Central City Superfund site. The systems were operated over a 3 year period. The ...

32 CFR 299.4 - Responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... INFORMATION ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE (NSA/CSS) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT... with NSA); (2) Receiving and handling all checks or money orders remitted in payment for FOIA requests... the requester upon being notified of such overpayment by the FOIA office. (d) The Deputy Director, NSA...

32 CFR 299.4 - Responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... INFORMATION ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE (NSA/CSS) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT... with NSA); (2) Receiving and handling all checks or money orders remitted in payment for FOIA requests... the requester upon being notified of such overpayment by the FOIA office. (d) The Deputy Director, NSA...

32 CFR 299.4 - Responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... INFORMATION ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE (NSA/CSS) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT... with NSA); (2) Receiving and handling all checks or money orders remitted in payment for FOIA requests... the requester upon being notified of such overpayment by the FOIA office. (d) The Deputy Director, NSA...

32 CFR 299.4 - Responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... INFORMATION ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE (NSA/CSS) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT... with NSA); (2) Receiving and handling all checks or money orders remitted in payment for FOIA requests... the requester upon being notified of such overpayment by the FOIA office. (d) The Deputy Director, NSA...

76 FR 81897 - TRICARE; Extended Care Health Option

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-29

... Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). DATES: Written comments received at the address indicated below by... and Plan on Services to Military Dependent Children with Autism.'' The plan included a proposal to use... Duty Family Members (ADFM) diagnosed with one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Central to the...

77 FR 47065 - Central Arizona Project-Rate Order No. WAPA-158

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-07

... to (602) 605-2490, attention: Jack Murray. Western will post official comments received via letter... period to ensure they are considered in Western's decision process. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Murray, Rates Manager, Desert Southwest Customer Service Regional Office, Western Area Power...

45 CFR 303.7 - Provision of services in interstate IV-D cases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ENFORCEMENT (CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STANDARDS FOR PROGRAM OPERATIONS § 303.7 Provision of services in interstate IV... central registry responsible for receiving, distributing and responding to inquiries on all incoming...

GEONETCastAmericas

Science.gov Websites

satellite-based data dissemination systems designed to distribute space-based, air-borne and in situ data ) satellite to broadcast environmental and other observation data to an area covering most of North, Central up the broadcast using inexpensive satellite receiver stations based on Digital Video Broadcast (DVB

75 FR 81307 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC, Crescent Dunes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-27

...-foot central receiver tower, salt tanks, steam generation building and equipment, steam turbine and... Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC, Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior... of the Record of Decision [[Page 81308

System for near real-time crustal deformation monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macdoran, P. F. (Inventor)

1979-01-01

A system is described for use in detecting earth crustal deformation using an RF interferometer technique for such purposes as earthquake predictive research and eventual operational predictions. A lunar based RF transmission or transmissions from earth orbiting satellites are received at two locations on Earth, and a precise time dependent phase measurement is made of the RF signal as received at the two locations to determine two or three spatial parameters of the antenna relative positions. The received data are precisely time tagged and land-line routed to a central station for real-time phase comparison and analysis. By monitoring the antenna relative positions over an extended period of months or years, crustal deformation of the Earth can be detected.

[Electromagnetic radiation of non-thermal intensity and short exposition as a sub-threshold irritant for the central nervous system].

PubMed

Luk'ianova, S N

2013-01-01

This work represents generalization and the analysis of the long-term own materials characterizing reaction of the brain on electromagnetic radiation of low intensity (energy flow density in the continuous regime or in the impulse approximately 500 microW/sm2) and a short exposition (approximately 30 min). A set of the experimental results received on separate neurons, formations and brain as a whole give an idea about the reaction of the central nervous system to the studied influence. Comparison of these data with the corresponding responses to the known incentives (light, sound, electric current) testifies to the electromagnetic radiation of low energy flow density and a short exposition as a sub-threshold irritant for the central nervous system.

Solar thermal electric power plants - Their performance characteristics and total social costs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caputo, R. S.; Truscello, V. C.

1976-01-01

The central receiver (power tower) concept as a thermal conversion approach to the conversion of solar energy into electricity is compared to other solar power plant designs which feature distributed solar collection and use other types of solar collector configurations. A variety of solar thermal storage concepts are discussed and their impacts on system performance are assessed. Although a good deal of quantification is possible in a comparative study, the subjective judgments carry enormous weight in a socio-economic decision, the ultimate choice of central power plant being more a social than an economic or technical decision. Major elements of the total social cost of each type of central plant are identified as utility economic costs, R&D funds, health costs, and other relevant social impacts.

Assessment of Real-World Central Nervous System Events in Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer Using Abiraterone Acetate, Bicalutamide, Enzalutamide, or Chemotherapy

PubMed Central

Pilon, Dominic; Behl, Ajay S.; Ellis, Lorie A.; Robitaille, Marie-Noëlle; Lefebvre, Patrick; Dawson, Nancy A.

2017-01-01

Background Central nervous system (CNS) events are frequently reported among patients with advanced prostate cancer as a consequence of the treatments used in this patient population. Objective To assess the incidence of CNS events in patients with advanced prostate cancer who initiated treatment with abiraterone acetate, bicalutamide, enzalutamide, or chemotherapy. Methods The Truven Health MarketScan Research databases were used to retrospectively identify patients with prostate cancer who initiated treatment with abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, bicalutamide, or chemotherapy after September 1, 2012 (ie, the index date). The chemotherapy agents included cabazitaxel, docetaxel, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, and estramustine, and were used as monotherapy or as combination therapy. Patients were followed until December 31, 2014, the end of exposure to treatment, or until loss to follow-up. Kaplan-Meier rates and adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the incidence of CNS events between the abiraterone acetate cohort and the other cohorts. A sensitivity analysis of patients with a diagnosis of metastasis was also conducted. Results A total of 1067 patients receiving abiraterone acetate, 5524 receiving bicalutamide, 592 receiving enzalutamide, and 256 receiving chemotherapy were identified. After 12 months, patients who received abiraterone acetate were less likely to have a CNS event than patients who received enzalutamide (39.5% vs 46.0%, respectively; P = .0036) or chemotherapy (39.5% vs 51.1%, respectively; P = .0277), and were more likely to have a CNS event than patients who received bicalutamide (39.5% vs 34.2%, respectively; P = .0397). After multivariate adjustment, at 12 months, patients who initiated abiraterone acetate treatment had 20% (P = .0388) reduction in the risk for a CNS event compared with patients who initiated enzalutamide; 8% (P = .3622) versus bicalutamide; and 27% (P = .0456) versus chemotherapy. The sensitivity analysis yielded similar results. Conclusion The results of this large observational study suggest that among patients with metastatic prostate cancer, treatment with abiraterone acetate is associated with a significantly lower likelihood of having a CNS event compared with treatment with enzalutamide or chemotherapy, but not with bicalutamide, even when controlling for metastatic disease. PMID:28626511

Results and conclusions of the European Intergroup EURO-LB02 trial in children and adolescents with lymphoblastic lymphoma.

PubMed

Landmann, Eva; Burkhardt, Birgit; Zimmermann, Martin; Meyer, Ulrike; Woessmann, Wilhelm; Klapper, Wolfram; Wrobel, Grazyna; Rosolen, Angelo; Pillon, Marta; Escherich, Gabriele; Attarbaschi, Andishe; Beishuizen, Auke; Mellgren, Karin; Wynn, Robert; Ratei, Richard; Plesa, Adriana; Schrappe, Martin; Reiter, Alfred; Bergeron, Christophe; Patte, Catherine; Bertrand, Yves

2017-12-01

In the European Intergroup EURO-LB02 trial, children and adolescents with lymphoblastic lymphoma underwent the non-Hodgkin lymphoma Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster protocol without prophylactic cranial radiotherapy. The primary aims of this trial were to test whether replacing prednisone with dexamethasone during induction increases event-free survival in the subgroups with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and whether therapy duration could be reduced from 24 to 18 months (factorial design, randomizations). These questions could not be answered due to premature closure of the trial. Here we report on the secondary aims of the trial: whether the results of the NHL-BFM90 study could be reproduced and evaluation of disease features and prognostic factors. Three hundred and nineteen patients (66 with precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 233 with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 12 with mixed phenotype, 8 not classifiable) were enrolled. In induction, 215 patients received prednisone and 104 patients received dexamethasone. The median follow-up was 6.8 years (range, 3.0-10.3). The 5-year event-free survival was 82±2% [12 toxic deaths, 5 secondary malignancies, 43 non-response/relapse (central nervous system n=9; all received prednisone during induction)]. The event-free survival rate was 80±5% for patients with precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 82±3% for those with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, and 100% for patients with a mixed phenotype. During induction, significantly more grade III/IV toxicities were observed in patients receiving dexamethasone, resulting in significant treatment delays. The number of toxic deaths did not differ significantly. The only variable associated with outcome was performance status at diagnosis. The 90% event-free survival rate for patients with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma shown in study NHL-BFM90 was not replicated, mainly due to more toxic deaths and central nervous system relapses. Dexamethasone in induction may prevent central nervous system relapse more effectively than prednisone but produces a higher burden of toxicity. (#NCT00275106). Copyright© 2017 Ferrata Storti Foundation.

Presynaptic Partners of Dorsal Raphe Serotonergic and GABAergic Neurons

PubMed Central

Weissbourd, Brandon; Ren, Jing; DeLoach, Katherine E.; Guenthner, Casey J.; Miyamichi, Kazunari; Luo, Liqun

2016-01-01

SUMMARY The serotonin system powerfully modulates physiology and behavior in health and disease, yet the circuit mechanisms underlying serotonin neuron activity are poorly understood. The major source of forebrain serotonergic innervation is from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), which contains both serotonin and GABA neurons. Using viral tracing combined with electrophysiology, we found that GABA and serotonin neurons in the DR receive excitatory, inhibitory, and peptidergic inputs from the same specific brain regions. Embedded in this overall similarity are important differences. Serotonin neurons are more likely to receive synaptic inputs from anterior neocortex while GABA neurons receive disproportionally higher input from the central amygdala. Local input mapping revealed extensive serotonin-serotonin as well as GABA-serotonin connectivity with a distinct spatial organization. Covariance analysis suggests heterogeneity of both serotonin and GABA neurons with respect to the inputs they receive. These analyses provide a foundation for further functional dissection of the serotonin system. PMID:25102560

KSC-03pd0221

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A large sea turtle is carried toward the skiff that will return it to the Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released.

KSC-03pd0224

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large sea turtle with a transmitter is ready to be returned to the Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and the one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released.

KSC-03pd0218

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This closeup shows the transmitter being attached to a sea turtle rescued from the Mosquito Lagoon. Several turtles were found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received the transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported in a skiff through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released into the Indian River Lagoon.

KSC-03pd0228

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A worker watches as one of the rescued sea turtles swims away in Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and the largest one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel for release.

KSC-03pd0219

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sea turtle rescued from the Mosquito Lagoon is seen with a transmitter recently attached to its back. Several turtles were found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received the transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported in a skiff through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released back into the Mosquito Lagoon.

KSC-03pd0226

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large sea turtle with a transmitter swims away after release into the Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and the largest one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel for release.

KSC-03pd0220

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - One of several sea turtles rescued from the Mosquito Lagoon is ready for release. The turtles were found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received the transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported in a skiff through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released back into the Mosquito Lagoon.

KSC-03pd0223

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-01-30

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large sea turtle with a transmitter lies in the skiff that will return it to the Mosquito Lagoon. It is one of several turtles found stunned, impacted by the unseasonal cold temperatures experienced in Central Florida. The cooperative effort of KSC contractor Dynamac Corporation's Aquatics Program and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge warmed the turtles and evaluated them for release. Most were tagged and one received a transmitter, provided by the University of Central Florida, for satellite tracking. The turtles were then transported through the Haulover Canal to a location away from the main channel and released.

An initial comparative assessment of orbital and terrestrial central power systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caputo, R.

1977-01-01

Orbital solar power plants, which beam power to earth by microwave, are compared with ground-based solar and conventional baseload power plants. Candidate systems were identified for three types of plants and the selected plant designs were then compared on the basis of economic and social costs. The representative types of plant selected for the comparison are: light water nuclear reactor; turbines using low BTU gas from coal; central receiver with steam turbo-electric conversion and thermal storage; silicon photovoltaic power plant without tracking and including solar concentration and redox battery storage; and silicon photovoltaics.

Modeling of the interest rate policy of the central bank of Russia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shelomentsev, A. G.; Berg, D. B.; Detkov, A. A.; Rylova, A. P.

2017-11-01

This paper investigates interactions among money supply, exchange rates, inflation, and nominal interest rates, which are regulating parameters of the Central bank policy. The study is based on the data received from Russian source in 2002-2016. The major findings are 1) the interest rate demonstrates almost no relation with inflation; 2) ties of money supply and the nominal interest rate are strong; 3) money supply and inflation show meaningful relations only in comparison to their growth rates. We have developed a dynamic model, which can be used in forecasting of macroeconomic processes.

Conventional early infant diagnosis in Lesotho from specimen collection to results usage to manage patients: Where are the bottlenecks?

PubMed Central

Hoffman, Heather J.; Isavwa, Anthony; Mokone, Mafusi; Foso, Matokelo; Safrit, Jeffrey T.; Mofenson, Lynne M.; Tylleskär, Thorkild

2017-01-01

Introduction Early infant diagnosis is an important step in identifying children infected with HIV during the perinatal period or in utero. Multiple factors contribute to delayed antiretroviral treatment initiation for HIV-infected children, including delays in the early infant HIV diagnosis cascade. Methods We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate early infant diagnosis turnaround times in Lesotho. Trained staff reviewed records of HIV-exposed infants (aged-6-8 weeks) who received an HIV test during 2011. Study sites were drawn from Highlands, Foothills and Lowlands regions of Lesotho. Central laboratory database data were linked to facility and laboratory register information. Turnaround time geometric means (with 95% CI) were calculated and compared by region using linear mixed models. Results 1,187 individual infant records from 25 facilities were reviewed. Overall, early infant diagnosis turnaround time was 61.7 days (95%CI: 55.3–68.7). Mean time from specimen collection to district laboratory was 14 days (95%CI: 12.1–16.1); from district to central laboratory, 2 days (95%CI 0.8–5.2); results from central laboratory to district hospital, 23.3 days (95%CI: 18.7–29.0); from district hospital to health facility, 3.2 days (95%CI 1.9–5.5); and from health facility to caregiver, 10.4 days (95%CI, 7.9–13.5). Mean times from specimen transfer to the central laboratory and for result transfer from central laboratory to district hospital were significantly shorter in the Lowlands Region (0.9 and 16.2 days, respectively), compared to Highlands Region (6.0 [P = 0.030] and 34.3 days [P = 0.0099]. Turnaround time from blood draw to receipt of results was significantly shorter for HIV infected infants compared to HIV uninfected infants [p = 0.0036] at an average of 47.1 days (95%CI: 38.9–56.9) and 62 days (95%CI: 55.9–68.7) respectively. Of 47 HIV-infected infants, 36 were initiated on antiretroviral therapy at an average of 1.3 days (95%CI: 0.3, 5.7) after caregiver received the result. Conclusion HIV-infected infants received results earlier and were rapidly initiated on antiretroviral therapy once the result was delivered to caregiver. However, average early infant diagnosis turnaround time was two months; the longest period of delay was transfer of results from central laboratory to district hospital. Turnaround time of results based on geographical regions or between hospitals and health centres varied but did not reach statistical significance. PMID:29016634

Investigating Segmentation in Cascadia: Anisotropic Crustal Structure and Mantle Wedge Serpentinization from Receiver Functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krueger, Hannah E.; Wirth, Erin A.

2017-10-01

The Cascadia subduction zone exhibits along-strike segmentation in structure, processes, and seismogenic behavior. While characterization of seismic anisotropy can constrain deformation processes at depth, the character of seismic anisotropy in Cascadia remains poorly understood. This is primarily due to a lack of seismicity in the subducting Juan de Fuca slab, which limits shear wave splitting and other seismological analyses that interrogate the fine-scale anisotropic structure of the crust and mantle wedge. We investigate lower crustal anisotropy and mantle wedge structure by computing P-to-S receiver functions at 12 broadband seismic stations along the Cascadia subduction zone. We observe P-to-SV converted energy consistent with previously estimated Moho depths. Several stations exhibit evidence of an "inverted Moho" (i.e., a downward velocity decrease across the crust-mantle boundary), indicative of a serpentinized mantle wedge. Stations with an underlying hydrated mantle wedge appear prevalent from northern Washington to central Oregon, but sparse in southern Oregon and northern California. Transverse component receiver functions are complex, suggesting anisotropic and/or dipping crustal structure. To constrain the orientation of crustal anisotropy we compute synthetic receiver functions using manual forward modeling. We determine that the lower crust shows variable orientations of anisotropy along-strike, with highly complex anisotropy in northern Cascadia, and generally NW-SE and NE-SW orientations of slow-axis anisotropy in central and southern Cascadia, respectively. The orientations of anisotropy from this work generally agree with those inferred from shear wave splitting of tremor studies at similar locations, lending confidence to this relatively new method of inferring seismic anisotropy from slow earthquakes.

Frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of central nervous system relapse in lymphoma patients treated with dose-adjusted EPOCH plus rituximab.

PubMed

Malecek, Mary-Kate; Petrich, Adam M; Rozell, Shaina; Chu, Benjamin; Trifilio, Steven; Galanina, Natalie; Maurer, Matthew; Farooq, Umar; Link, Brian K; Nowakowski, Grzegorz S; Nabhan, Chadi; Ayed, Ayed O

2017-11-01

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a rare but serious complication that carries a poor prognosis. The use of infusional etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and rituximab (EPOCH-R) for frontline treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is increasing, though little is known about incidence of and risk factors for CNS relapse with this regimen PATIENTS AND METHODS: We completed a chart review of patients with NHL who received EPOCH-R as front line therapy. Data obtained included baseline and treatment characteristics including if patients received CNS directed therapy. We measured overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and progression to CNS involvement. We identified 223 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 72% had DLBCL. Of all the patients, 5.8% experienced CNS relapse, and 38.6% were treated with CNS prophylaxis. There was no difference in rate of CNS relapse, OS, or PFS between patients who had and had not received CNS prophylaxis. Patients whose serum lactate dehydrogenase was greater than twice the upper limit of normal at diagnosis and those with extranodal disease were significantly more likely to have CNS relapse (P = .0247 and 0.022, respectively) than their counterparts. The rate of CNS relapse in this patient population approaches 6%, not significantly different from reports on those receiving R-CHOP. The results of this study suggest that CNS prophylaxis might be more selectively used among patients treated with EPOCH-R with certain high-risk features. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sodium citrate 4% versus heparin as a lock solution in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters.

PubMed

Yon, Calantha K; Low, Chai L

2013-01-15

The effects of heparin versus sodium citrate 4% as a lock solution on catheter-related infections (CRIs), catheter patency, and hospitalizations in long-term hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) were compared. Data for patients receiving heparin lock solutions were collected from July 2008 to July 2009. Data on patients receiving sodium citrate 4% lock solution were collected from September 2009 through December 2010. Patients who were receiving the heparin lock solution who continued to have a CVC in September 2009 were transitioned from heparin to sodium citrate catheter 4% lock solution. New patients with CVCs placed after September 2009 received sodium citrate 4% without a period of using heparin lock solution. Pertinent information on patient medical history, bleeding or clotting events, infections, and hospitalization was collected. Data were collected retrospectively for the heparin group and prospectively for the sodium citrate group. Data were collected from 360 patient-months among 60 patients during the heparin treatment period and from 451 patient-months among 58 patients during the sodium citrate period. Thirty-three patients were common to both study groups. There were significantly more CRIs and CRIs per 1000 catheter-days in the heparin than the sodium citrate treatment group. Secondary outcomes of hospitalizations and catheter thrombosis were comparable. CRIs and thrombosis led to significantly more catheter exchanges or removals in the heparin group than the sodium citrate group. In patients with long-term hemodialysis catheters, a lock solution of sodium citrate 4% was associated with fewer CRIs and similar effectiveness when compared with heparin 5000 units/mL.

The subtle central effect of nutraceuticals: Is it placebo or nocebo?

PubMed Central

Al-Gareeb, Ali I.

2015-01-01

Background: Herbal medicines are often perceived by the general public as a “soft” alternative to Western Medicine, but the use of these substances can be risky since they can induce nocebo effect. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the nocebo effects of Nigella sativa oil, garlic and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the integrative function of the central nervous system and psychomotor performance. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled, and prospective study conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq during February 2013. A total of 160 medical students participated in this study were randomly assigned equally to one of the following groups: Group A: Received single dose of N. sativa oil (500 ml capsule); Group B: Received single dose of garlic (500 mg capsule); Group C: Received single dose of CoQ10 (120 mg capsule) and; Group D: received single dose of matching oral placebo (300 mg starch capsule). For all participants, reaction time and flicker fusion threshold were measured by the Leeds psychomotor performance test battery before and after 3 h of taking the drugs Results: Neither placebo nor nutraceuticals exerted significant effect on total reaction time. Although the recognition reaction time is insignificantly reduced by 2.77% (placebo), 5.83% (Nigella sativa), 7.21% (garlic) and 12.64% (CoQ10) from the pretreatment values, they are adversely affect the motor reaction time to reach the significant level in subjects pretreated with Garlic (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Nutraceuticals are not free from nocebo effect on psychomotor performance. PMID:26401411

The subtle central effect of nutraceuticals: Is it placebo or nocebo?

PubMed

Al-Gareeb, Ali I

2015-01-01

Herbal medicines are often perceived by the general public as a "soft" alternative to Western Medicine, but the use of these substances can be risky since they can induce nocebo effect. The aim was to evaluate the nocebo effects of Nigella sativa oil, garlic and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the integrative function of the central nervous system and psychomotor performance. This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled, and prospective study conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq during February 2013. A total of 160 medical students participated in this study were randomly assigned equally to one of the following groups: Group A: Received single dose of N. sativa oil (500 ml capsule); Group B: Received single dose of garlic (500 mg capsule); Group C: Received single dose of CoQ10 (120 mg capsule) and; Group D: received single dose of matching oral placebo (300 mg starch capsule). For all participants, reaction time and flicker fusion threshold were measured by the Leeds psychomotor performance test battery before and after 3 h of taking the drugs. Neither placebo nor nutraceuticals exerted significant effect on total reaction time. Although the recognition reaction time is insignificantly reduced by 2.77% (placebo), 5.83% (Nigella sativa), 7.21% (garlic) and 12.64% (CoQ10) from the pretreatment values, they are adversely affect the motor reaction time to reach the significant level in subjects pretreated with Garlic (P = 0.02). Nutraceuticals are not free from nocebo effect on psychomotor performance.

Failure of intrathecal ketorolac to reduce remifentanil-induced postinfusion hyperalgesia in humans.

PubMed

Eisenach, James C; Tong, Chuanyao; Curry, Regina S

2015-01-01

In rodents, acute exposure to opioids results in transient antinociception followed by longer lasting hypersensitivity to tactile or thermal stimuli, a phenomenon termed opioid-induced hyperalgesia. This hypersensitivity can be blocked or reversed by intrathecally administered cyclooxygenase inhibitors, including ketorolac, suggesting a role for spinal prostaglandins. In surgical patients, the dose of intraoperative opioid, particularly the short-acting drug, remifentanil, is directly related to increased pain and opioid requirements for many hours postoperatively. In addition, experimentally induced tactile hypersensitivity in humans is exaggerated after cessation of remifentanil infusions. The degree of this experimental opioid-induced hyperalgesia is reduced by systemic treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors, and investigators have speculated that this reduction reflects the actions in the central nervous system, most likely in the spinal cord. To test this hypothesis, we measured cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin E2 concentrations during and after remifentanil infusion in 30 volunteers. These volunteers received intrathecal ketorolac or saline in a random, blinded manner during intravenous remifentanil infusion after generation of hypersensitivity by topical capsaicin. Remifentanil reduced pain to noxious heat stimuli and reduced areas of capsaicin-induced hypersensitivity similarly in those receiving intrathecal ketorolac or saline. The primary outcome measure, area of capsaicin-induced hypersensitivity after stopping remifentanil, showed a similar increase in those receiving ketorolac as in those receiving saline. Cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin E2 concentrations did not increase during postinfusion hyperalgesia compared with those during infusion, and they were not increased during infusion compared with those in historical controls. These data fail to support the hypothesis that acute opioid-induced hyperalgesia reflects spinal cyclooxygenase activation causing central sensitization.

Concentrating Solar Power Central Receiver Panel Component Fabrication and Testing FINAL REPORT

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

McDowell, Michael W; Miner, Kris

The objective of this project is to complete a design of an advanced concentrated solar panel and demonstrate the manufacturability of key components. Then confirm the operation of the key components under prototypic solar flux conditions. This work is an important step in reducing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) from a central receiver solar power plant. The key technical risk to building larger power towers is building the larger receiver systems. Therefore, this proposed technology project includes the design of an advanced molten salt prototypic sub-scale receiver panel that can be utilized into a large receiver system. Then completemore » the fabrication and testing of key components of the receive design that will be used to validate the design. This project shall have a significant impact on solar thermal power plant design. Receiver panels of suitable size for utility scale plants are a key element to a solar power tower plant. Many subtle and complex manufacturing processes are involved in producing a reliable, robust receiver panel. Given the substantial size difference between receiver panels manufactured in the past and those needed for large plant designs, the manufacture and demonstration on prototype receiver panel components with representative features of a full-sized panel will be important to improving the build process for commercial success. Given the thermal flux limitations of the test facility, the panel components cannot be rendered full size. Significance changes occurred in the projects technical strategies from project initiation to the accomplishments described herein. The initial strategy was to define cost improvements for the receiver, design and build a scale prototype receiver and test, on sun, with a molten salt heat transport system. DOE had committed to constructing a molten salt heat transport loop to support receiver testing at the top of the NSTTF tower. Because of funding constraints this did not happen. A subsequent plan to test scale prototype receiver, off sun but at temperature, at a molten salt loop at ground level adjacent to the tower also had to be abandoned. Thus, no test facility existed for a molten salt receiver test. As a result, PWR completed the prototype receiver design and then fabricated key components for testing instead of fabricating the complete prototype receiver. A number of innovative design ideas have been developed. Key features of the receiver panel have been identified. This evaluation includes input from Solar 2, personal experience of people working on these programs and meetings with Sandia. Key components of the receiver design and key processes used to fabricate a receiver have been selected for further evaluation. The Test Plan, Concentrated Solar Power Receiver In Cooperation with the Department of Energy and Sandia National Laboratory was written to define the scope of the testing to be completed as well as to provide details related to the hardware, instrumentation, and data acquisition. The document contains a list of test objectives, a test matrix, and an associated test box showing the operating points to be tested. Test Objectives: 1. Demonstrate low-cost manufacturability 2. Demonstrate robustness of two different tube base materials 3. Collect temperature data during on sun operation 4. Demonstrate long term repeated daily operation of heat shields 5. Complete pinhole tube weld repairs 6. Anchor thermal models This report discusses the tests performed, the results, and implications for design improvements and LCOE reduction.« less

THE DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A LOWER COST HELIOSTAT MIRROR SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING SOLAR ENERGY

EPA Science Inventory

A heliostat is a mirror based system which is used to continuously reflect sunlight onto a central receiver. The collected solar energy is then converted into electrical power. Currently, costs associated with the construction and maintenance of heliostats have proven prohibit...

78 FR 4140 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-18

... Company and Maine Electric Power Company submit clarification to the November 30, 2012 Application for... LLC, BE Rayle LLC, Cedar Brakes I, L.L.C., Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C., Central Power & Lime LLC, Triton... that the Commission received the following electric corporate filings: Docket Numbers: EC13-49-000...

77 FR 68759 - Combined Notice of Filings #2

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-16

... LLC, BE Rayle LLC, Cedar Brakes I, L.L.C., Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C., Central Power & Lime LLC, Triton Power Michigan LLC, Utility Contract Funding, L.L.C. Description: JPMorgan Sellers' Notice of Non... that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER10-1821-003...

75 FR 6197 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-08

... Contract Funding, L.L.C., Vineland Energy LLC, Central Power & Lime LLC, Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C., J.P..., 2010. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER97-870-016. Applicants: Sunoco Power Marketing LLC. Description: Sunoco Power Marketing, LLC submits...

78 FR 4142 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-18

... I, L.L.C., Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C., Central Power & Lime LLC, Utility Contract Funding, L.L.C... Energy Services, LLC, Champion Energy, LLC. Description: Updated Market Power Analysis for the Southwest... that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER10-2331-014; ER10...

Movement and Meaning-Making in Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Trent D.

2008-01-01

In this paper I argue that the meaning of movement of which embodied knowing, somatic understanding and ecological subjectivity are central tenets, has not received due recognition in the current discourses of physical education. While the interest in the meaning and meaning-making of movement within the physical education discourse has existed…

Genes, Environment, and Race: Quantitative Genetic Approaches

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitfield, Keith E.; McClearn, Gerald

2005-01-01

Understanding the origins of racial health disparities is currently a central focus of health-oriented funding agencies and the health policy community. In particular, the role of genetics in the origin of racial health disparities is receiving growing attention and has been susceptible to considerable misinterpretation. In this article, the…

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Benefit and Cost Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-11-01

North Amarica -Caribbean flow on routes west of Puerto Rico or proximate to Puerto Rico would receive full ADS-supported reduced separation minima...from - South/Central Pacific Ocean (HAW - S/C PAC) Ś. Alaska - to/from - North Amarica /West (AK - NAM/WEST) 7. Asia - to/from - Alaska (ASIA - AK) 8

18 CFR 367.1430 - Account 143, Other accounts receivable.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REGULATIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 2005, FEDERAL POWER ACT AND NATURAL GAS ACT UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR CENTRALIZED SERVICE COMPANIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 2005, FEDERAL POWER ACT AND NATURAL...

75 FR 63462 - Central New York Oil and Gas Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-15

... pipeline infrastructure to receive natural gas produced from Marcellus Shale production areas for delivery to existing interstate pipeline systems of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (TGP), CNYOG, and Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corporation (Transco). It would also provide for bi-directional transportation...

Vegetated treatment area effectiveness at reducing nutrient runoff from small swine operations in central Texas

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Numerous modeling and field studies have evaluated the effectiveness of vegetative treatment systems in treating runoff from animal feeding operations; however, none have evaluated the effectiveness of vegetative treatment areas (VTA’s) receiving direct runoff from small swine operations during natu...

Collaboration in Early Childhood Intervention Services in Gauteng: Caregiver Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kyarkanaye, Thilendree; Dada, Shakila; Samuels, Alecia E.

2017-01-01

A central tenant of early childhood intervention (ECI) is collaboration between professionals and the caregivers of children receiving these services. There are limited studies on caregiver perceptions of collaboration in ECI teams particularly in resource-limited countries. Sixty-four caregivers participated in this study by completing a…

Breaking up the transcription logjam can improve cash flow.

PubMed

Paulik, Dennis

2004-06-01

Using more than 20 transcription companies to handle its annual volume of 36 million lines, Health Midwest knew it had to gain control of the document transcription and delivery process. By centralizing its transcription service, the organization saved $600,000 and reduced days in accounts receivable by 10 days.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections

PubMed Central

Gahlot, Rupam; Nigam, Chaitanya; Kumar, Vikas; Yadav, Ghanshyam; Anupurba, Shampa

2014-01-01

Central-venous-catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are an important cause of hospital-acquired infection associated with morbidity, mortality, and cost. Consequences depend on associated organisms, underlying pre-morbid conditions, timeliness, and appropriateness of the treatment/interventions received. We have summarized risk factors, pathogenesis, etiology, diagnosis, and management of CRBSI in this review. PMID:25024944

Working toward a Stronger Conceptualization of Scientific Explanation for Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braaten, Melissa; Windschitl, Mark

2011-01-01

Scientific explanation plays a central role in science education reform documents, including the "Benchmarks for Science Literacy," the "National Science Education Standards", and the recent research report, "Taking Science to School." While scientific explanation receives significant emphases in these documents, there is little discussion or…

76 FR 6596 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-07

.... The Food Security Act of 1985 permits the states to establish ``central filing systems.'' These... in section 1324 of the Food Security Act of 1985. The information received from the State is... responsibility for the Clear Title Program (Section 1324 of the Food Security Act of 1985. Clear Title Program...

Improving the Textbook Adoption Process in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ho, Hsuan-fu; Hsu, Ying-tsun

2011-01-01

Textbooks were centrally selected in Taiwan until 1996 when the government commissioned its Textbook Liberalization Reform. Although this policy received complements from scholars and the general public, it encounters many unexpected problems in its implementation. The aims of this research are thus to identify the major criteria used by…

18 CFR 367.1710 - Account 171, Interest and dividends receivable.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... ACT OF 2005, FEDERAL POWER ACT AND NATURAL GAS ACT UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR CENTRALIZED SERVICE... NATURAL GAS ACT Balance Sheet Chart of Accounts Current and Accrued Assets § 367.1710 Account 171..., notes, commercial paper, loans, open accounts, deposits, and other similar items, the payment of which...

Developing, Implementing, and Assessing an Early Alert System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tampke, Dale R.

2013-01-01

Early alert systems offer institutions systematic approaches to identifying and intervening with students exhibiting at-risk behaviors. Many of these systems rely on a common format for student referral to central receiving point. Systems at larger institutions often use web-based technology to allow for a scalable (available campus wide) approach…

Reflecting on Teacher-Student Relations in TESOL

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farrell, Thomas S. C.

2015-01-01

Research in general education suggests that relationship-building is at the core of quality learning experiences. Yet relationship-building has not received the attention, it deserves from researchers in the field of TESOL where teacher-student relationships of various types are a central component in successful teaching and learning. This article…

Simulating sediment loading into the major reservoirs in Trinity River Basin

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Upper Trinity Basin supplies water to about one-fourth of Texas' population. The anticipated rapid growth of North Central Texas will certainly increase regional demands for high quality drinking water. This has increased concerns that sediment and nutrient loads received by drinking water reser...

Linguistic Correlates of Social Support

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suppes, Alexandra

2010-01-01

The perception that support is available is central to a person's well being. Nonetheless, naturalistic studies and experimental manipulations of support visibility have uncovered that receiving specific acts of support can entail an emotional cost and that a supportive act is most effective when it is accomplished outside of the recipient's…

Teaching Pronunciation with Computer Assisted Pronunciation Instruction in a Technological University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Sze-Chu; Hung, Po-Yi

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of computer assisted pronunciation instruction in English pronunciation for students in vocational colleges and universities in Taiwan. The participants were fifty-one first-year undergraduate students from a technological university located in central Taiwan. The participants received an…

Leadership, Goals, & Transformation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barone, Carole A.

2005-01-01

John C. Hitt became the fourth president of the University of Central Florida (UCF) on March 1, 1992, after nineteen years of administrative experience and a distinguished academic career. He received his M.S. and his Ph.D. at Tulane University. Dr. Hitt serves on the boards of EDUCAUSE, the National Center for Educational Accountability, the…

Feedback on Feedback Practice: Perceptions of Students and Academics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mulliner, Emma; Tucker, Matthew

2017-01-01

While feedback is widely considered central to student learning, students across the higher education sector commonly report dissatisfaction with the feedback they receive. In contrast, academics often feel they provide quality and informative feedback. This article explores and compares the perceptions of students and academics with regard to…

Design and Validation of Assessment Tests for Young Children in Zambia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matafwali, Beatrice; Serpell, Robert

2014-01-01

Early childhood education has received unprecedented attention among African policymakers in recent years, recognizing that the early years form an important foundation upon which later development is anchored and noting evidence that various Early Childhood Development (ECD) indicators are predictive of future academic success. Central to the…

Military Deception Reconsidered

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

operations through media channels to receive real benefits . If information advantage is properly formulated, carried out, and secured, it is a...timeliness, security, objective, and centralized control. However, I propose that operational advantage , consisting of surprise, information advantage ... Advantage , Surprise, Operational Advantage , Military Tactics, Deception Campaigns 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT Unclassified

(Meta)Search like Google

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rochkind, Jonathan

2007-01-01

The ability to search and receive results in more than one database through a single interface--or metasearch--is something many users want. Google Scholar--the search engine of specifically scholarly content--and library metasearch products like Ex Libris's MetaLib, Serials Solution's Central Search, WebFeat, and products based on MuseGlobal used…

Production and nitrogen-use efficiency of oat forage receiving slurry or urea

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Recently, several research projects have evaluated fall-grown oat for use as emergency fall forage throughout the north-central US; however, using fall-grown oat in cropping programs also allows the practical benefit of summer manure distribution that is completely de-coupled from corn production. ‘...

VEGF Trap-Eye for macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion: 6-month results of the phase III GALILEO study.

PubMed

Holz, Frank G; Roider, Johann; Ogura, Yuichiro; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Simader, Christian; Groetzbach, Georg; Vitti, Robert; Berliner, Alyson J; Hiemeyer, Florian; Beckmann, Karola; Zeitz, Oliver; Sandbrink, Rupert

2013-03-01

To evaluate intravitreal VEGF Trap-Eye (VTE) in patients with macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). In this double-masked study, 177 patients were randomised (3:2 ratio) to intravitreal injections of VTE 2 mg or sham procedure every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity was evaluated using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart. Central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured with optical coherence tomography. From baseline until week 24, more patients receiving VTE (60.2%) gained ≥ 15 letters compared with those receiving sham injections (22.1%) (p<0.0001). VTE patients gained a mean of 18.0 letters compared with 3.3 letters with sham injections (p<0.0001). Mean CRT decreased by 448.6 and 169.3 µm in the VTE and sham groups (p<0.0001). The most frequent ocular adverse events in the VTE arm were typically associated with the injection procedure or the underlying disease, and included eye pain (11.5%), increased intraocular pressure (9.6%) and conjunctival haemorrhage (8.7%). VTE 2 mg every 4 weeks was efficacious in CRVO with an acceptable safety profile. Vision gains with VTE were significantly higher than with observation/panretinal photocoagulation if needed. Based on these data, VTE may provide a new treatment option for CRVO.

Effect of a centralized prescription network on inappropriate prescriptions for opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines

PubMed Central

Dormuth, Colin R.; Miller, Tarita A.; Huang, Anjie; Mamdani, Muhammad M.; Juurlink, David N.

2012-01-01

Background: Opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines are often misused in clinical practice. We determined whether implementation of a centralized prescription network offering real-time access to patient-level data on filled prescriptions (PharmaNet) reduced the number of potentially inappropriate prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines. Methods: We conducted a time series analysis using prescription records between Jan. 1, 1993, and Dec. 31, 1997, for residents of the province of British Columbia who were receiving social assistance or were 65 years or older. We calculated monthly percentages of filled prescriptions for an opioid or a benzodiazepine that were deemed inappropriate (those issued by a different physician and dispensed at a different pharmacy within 7 days after a filled prescription of at least 30 tablets of the same drug). Results: Within 6 months after implementation of PharmaNet in July 1995, we observed a relative reduction in inappropriate filled prescriptions for opioids of 32.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.0%–34.7%) among patients receiving social assistance; inappropriate filled prescriptions for benzodiazepines decreased by 48.6% (95% CI 43.2%–53.1%). Similar and statistically significant reductions were observed among residents 65 years or older. Interpretation: The implementation of a centralized prescription network was associated with a dramatic reduction in inappropriate filled prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines. PMID:22949563

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Introduction of a new modified experimental model.

PubMed

Curra, Cláudia; Cardoso, Camila Lopes; Ferreira, Osny; Curi, Marcos Martins; Matsumoto, Mariza Akemi; Cavenago, Bruno Cavalini; Santos, Pâmela Letícia Dos; Santiago, Joel Ferreira

2016-05-01

To evaluate a modified experimental model for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) through the upper right central incisor extraction followed by intravenous bisphosphonate administration. Forty five rats underwent the upper right central incisor tooth extraction were divided in 2 groups: Group I - experimental group, 30 rats received an intravenous administration protocol of zoledronic acid 35μg/kg into the tail vein every two weeks, totalizing four administrations, during eight weeks of administration, previously the extraction, and Group II - control group, 15 rats didn't received any medication before extraction. The groups were subdivided in postoperative periods: 14/28/42 days. Clinical analysis and microtomography were performed to verify the presence of osteonecrosis. In addition, descritive histological analysis of hematoxylin-eosin stained sections was performed to evaluate the presence of osteonecrosis or necrotic foci. Twelve (40%) rats, from experimental group, showed clinical signs of MRONJ (p=0.005), however, all samples showed imaginologic findings like osteolysis and loss of integrity of the cellular walls (p≤0.001). Microscopic evaluation revealed osteonecrosis areas with microbial colonies and inflammatory infiltrate (p≤0.001). In the control group, all animals presented the chronology of a normal wound healing. The presence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw after maxillary central incisor extraction in rats. This new experimental model may be considered an option for the study of MRONJ.

PHLUX: Photographic Flux Tools for Solar Glare and Flux

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

2010-12-02

A web-based tool to a) analytically and empirically quantify glare from reflected light and determine the potential impact (e.g., temporary flash blindness, retinal burn), and b) produce flux maps for central receivers. The tool accepts RAW digital photographs of the glare source (for hazard assessment) or the receiver (for flux mapping), as well as a photograph of the sun for intensity and size scaling. For glare hazard assessment, the tool determines the retinal irradiance (W/cm2) and subtended source angle for an observer and plots the glare source on a hazard spectrum (i.e., low-potential for flash blindness impact, potential for flashmore » blindness impact, retinal burn). For flux mapping, the tool provides a colored map of the receiver scaled by incident solar flux (W/m2) and unwraps the physical dimensions of the receiver while accounting for the perspective of the photographer (e.g., for a flux map of a cylindrical receiver, the horizontal axis denotes receiver angle in degrees and the vertical axis denotes vertical position in meters; for a flat panel receiver, the horizontal axis denotes horizontal position in meters and the vertical axis denotes vertical position in meters). The flux mapping capability also allows the user to specify transects along which the program plots incident solar flux on the receiver.« less

A Central Catecholaminergic Circuit Controls Blood Glucose Levels during Stress.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhe; Wang, Liang; Gao, Wenling; Hu, Fei; Zhang, Juen; Ren, Yuqi; Lin, Rui; Feng, Qiru; Cheng, Mingxiu; Ju, Dapeng; Chi, Qingsheng; Wang, Dehua; Song, Sen; Luo, Minmin; Zhan, Cheng

2017-07-05

Stress-induced hyperglycemia is a fundamental adaptive response that mobilizes energy stores in response to threats. Here, our examination of the contributions of the central catecholaminergic (CA) neuronal system to this adaptive response revealed that CA neurons in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) control stress-induced hyperglycemia. Ablation of VLM CA neurons abolished the hyperglycemic response to both physical and psychological stress, whereas chemogenetic activation of these neurons was sufficient to induce hyperglycemia. We further found that CA neurons in the rostral VLM, but not those in the caudal VLM, cause hyperglycemia via descending projections to the spinal cord. Monosynaptic tracing experiments showed that VLM CA neurons receive direct inputs from multiple stress-responsive brain areas. Optogenetic studies identified an excitatory PVN-VLM circuit that induces hyperglycemia. This study establishes the central role of VLM CA neurons in stress-induced hyperglycemia and substantially expands our understanding of the central mechanism that controls glucose metabolism. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interactive effects of mechano- and chemo-receptor inputs on cardiorespiratory outputs in the toad.

PubMed

Wang, T; Taylor, E W; Reid, S G; Milsom, W K

2004-04-20

Arterial blood pressure (P(b)), pulmocutaneous blood flow (Q(pc)), heart rate (f(H)), and fictive ventilation (motor activity in the Vth cranial nerve, V(int)), were recorded from decerebrated, paralysed toads receiving unidirectional ventilation with experimental gas mixtures over a range of lung inflation. At the onset of spontaneous bouts of fictive ventilation, (Q(pc)) and P(b) increased immediately, often with changes in heart rate, implying central cardiorespiratory interactions. Inflation of the lungs with different gas mixtures revealed that the effect of hypercarbia on V(int) was reduced by lung inflation and that feedback from pulmonary stretch receptors may summate with central feedforward control of f(H) and (Q(pc)) in an interactive fashion. The results of bolus injections of cyanide into the carotid or the pulmonary circulations suggest there are oxygen sensitive receptors in both circuits that affect the cardiovascular system directly and respiratory activity by complex central interactions with inputs from central chemoreceptors and pulmonary stretch receptors.

Suppression of Rayleigh backscattering noise using cascaded-SOA and microwave photonic filter for 10 Gb/s loop-back WDM-PON.

PubMed

Feng, Hanlin; Ge, Jia; Xiao, Shilin; Fok, Mable P

2014-05-19

In this paper, we present a novel Rayleigh backscattering (RB) noise mitigation scheme based on central carrier suppression for 10 Gb/s loop-back wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (WDM-PON). Microwave modulated multi-subcarrier optical signal is used as downstream seeding light, while cascaded semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) are used in the optical network unit (ONU) for suppressing the central carrier of the multi-subcarrier upstream signal. With central carrier suppression, interference generated by carrier RB noise at low frequency region is eliminated successfully. Transmission performance over 45 km single mode fiber (SMF) is studied experimentally, and the optical-signal-to-Rayleigh-noise-ratio (OSRNR) can be reduced to 15 dB with central carrier suppression ratio (CCSR) of 21 dB. Receiver sensitivity is further improved by 6 dB with the use of microwave photonic filter (MPF) for suppressing residual upstream microwave signal and residual carrier RB at high frequency region.

P wave velocity of Proterozoic upper mantle beneath central and southern Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nyblade, Andrew A.; Vogfjord, Kristin S.; Langston, Charles A.

1996-05-01

P wave velocity structure of Proterozoic upper mantle beneath central and southern Africa was investigated by forward modeling of Pnl waveforms from four moderate size earthquakes. The source-receiver path of one event crosses central Africa and lies outside the African superswell while the source-receiver paths for the other events cross Proterozoic lithosphere within southern Africa, inside the African superswell. Three observables (Pn waveshape, PL-Pn time, and Pn/PL amplitude ratio) from the Pnl waveform were used to constrain upper mantle velocity models in a grid search procedure. For central Africa, synthetic seismograms were computed for 5880 upper mantle models using the generalized ray method and wavenumber integration; synthetic seismograms for 216 models were computed for southern Africa. Successful models were taken as those whose synthetic seismograms had similar waveshapes to the observed waveforms, as well as PL-Pn times within 3 s of the observed times and Pn/PL amplitude ratios within 30% of the observed ratio. Successful models for central Africa yield a range of uppermost mantle velocity between 7.9 and 8.3 km s-1, velocities between 8.3 and 8.5 km s-1 at a depth of 200 km, and velocity gradients that are constant or slightly positive. For southern Africa, successful models yield uppermost mantle velocities between 8.1 and 8.3 km s-1, velocities between 7.9 and 8.4 km s-1 at a depth of 130 km, and velocity gradients between -0.001 and 0.001 s-1. Because velocity gradients are controlled strongly by structure at the bottoming depths for Pn waves, it is not easy to compare the velocity gradients obtained for central and southern Africa. For central Africa, Pn waves turn at depths of about 150-200 km, whereas for southern Africa they bottom at ˜100-150 km depth. With regard to the origin of the African superswell, our results do not have sufficient resolution to test hypotheses that invoke simple lithospheric reheating. However, our models are not consistent with explanations for the African superswell invoking extensive amounts of lithospheric thinning. If extensive lithospheric thinning had occurred beneath southern Africa, as suggested previously, then upper mantle P wave velocities beneath southern Africa would likely be lower than those in our models.

Appropriate Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference Cutoffs for Categorization of Overweight and Central Adiposity among Uighur Adults in Xinjiang

PubMed Central

Ma, Yi-Tong; Liu, Fen; Yang, Yi-Ning; Ma, Xiang; Fu, Zhen-Yan; Li, Xiao-Mei; Xie, Xiang; Chen, You; Chen, Bangdang; He, Chun-Hui

2013-01-01

Objective The current overweight and central adiposity guidelines based on Western populations were not consistent with many studied based on the Asian populations. Uighur people live in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region which is located in the center of Asia. Their overweight and central cutoffs were largely unknown. We aimed to identify cutoffs for body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) and waist circumference (WC; in cm) for categorization of overweight and central adiposity among Uighur adults in Xinjiang. Methods 4767 Uighur participants were selected from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS) which was carried out from October 2007 to March 2010. The age of the participants were from 35 to 101 years old with the mean age of 50.09 years. Anthropometric data, blood pressure, serum concentration of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and fasting glucose were documented. The prevalence, sensitivity, specificity and distance on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of each BMI and waist circumference values were calculated. Results The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were higher with higher BMI for both men and women. The prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were higher with higher waist circumference for both men and women. In women, the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was noticed to increase as the waist circumference increased. The shortest distance in the receiver operating characteristic curves for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, or ≥ 2 of these risk factors suggested a BMI cutoff of 26 and a waist circumference cutoff of 90 cm for both men and women. Conclusions Higher cutoffs for BMI and waist circumference are needed in the identification of Uighur patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease. PMID:24244645

Cardiovascular and behavioral effects produced by administration of liposome-entrapped GABA into the rat central nervous system.

PubMed

Vaz, G C; Bahia, A P C O; de Figueiredo Müller-Ribeiro, F C; Xavier, C H; Patel, K P; Santos, R A S; Moreira, F A; Frézard, F; Fontes, M A P

2015-01-29

Liposomes are nanosystems that allow a sustained release of entrapped substances. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system (CNS). We developed a liposomal formulation of GABA for application in long-term CNS functional studies. Two days after liposome-entrapped GABA was injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV), Wistar rats were submitted to the following evaluations: (1) changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) to ICV injection of bicuculline methiodide (BMI) in anesthetized rats; (2) changes in cardiovascular reactivity to air jet stress in conscious rats; and (3) anxiety-like behavior in conscious rats. GABA and saline-containing pegylated liposomes were prepared with a mean diameter of 200 nm. Rats with implanted cannulas targeted to lateral cerebral ventricle (n = 5-8/group) received either GABA solution (GS), empty liposomes (EL) or GABA-containing liposomes (GL). Following (48 h) central microinjection (2 μL, 0.09 M and 99 g/L) of liposomes, animals were submitted to the different protocols. Animals that received GL demonstrated attenuated response of RSNA to BMI microinjection (GS 48 ± 9, EL 43 ± 9, GL 11 ± 8%; P < 0.05), blunted tachycardia in the stress trial (ΔHR: GS 115 ± 14, EL 117 ± 10, GL 74 ± 9 bpm; P<0.05) and spent more time in the open arms of elevated plus maze (EL 6 ± 2 vs. GL 18 ± 5%; P = 0.028) compared with GS and EL groups. These results indicate that liposome-entrapped GABA can be a potential tool for exploring the chronic effects of GABA in specific regions and pathways of the central nervous system. Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Projected climate impacts for the amphibians of the western hemisphere

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lawler, Joshua J.; Shafer, Sarah L.; Bancroft, Betsy A.; Blaustein, Andrew R.

2010-01-01

Given their physiological requirements, limited dispersal abilities, and hydrologically sensitive habitats, amphibians are likely to be highly sensitive to future climatic changes. We used three approaches to map areas in the western hemisphere where amphibians are particularly likely to be affected by climate change. First, we used bioclimatic models to project potential climate-driven shifts in the distribution of 413 amphibian species based on 20 climate simulations for 2071–2100. We summarized these projections to produce estimates of species turnover. Second, we mapped the distribution of 1099 species with restricted geographic ranges. Finally, using the 20 future climate-change simulations, we mapped areas that were consistently projected to receive less seasonal precipitation in the coming century and thus were likely to have altered microclimates and local hydrologies. Species turnover was projected to be highest in the Andes Mountains and parts of Central America and Mexico, where, on average, turnover rates exceeded 60% under the lower of two emissions scenarios. Many of the restricted-range species not included in our range-shift analyses were concentrated in parts of the Andes and Central America and in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Much of Central America, southwestern North America, and parts of South America were consistently projected to experience decreased precipitation by the end of the century. Combining the results of the three analyses highlighted several areas in which amphibians are likely to be significantly affected by climate change for multiple reasons. Portions of southern Central America were simultaneously projected to experience high species turnover, have many additional restricted-range species, and were consistently projected to receive less precipitation. Together, our three analyses form one potential assessment of the geographic vulnerability of amphibians to climate change and as such provide broad-scale guidance for directing conservation efforts.

Appropriate body mass index and waist circumference cutoffs for categorization of overweight and central adiposity among Uighur adults in Xinjiang.

PubMed

Pan, Shuo; Yu, Zi-Xiang; Ma, Yi-Tong; Liu, Fen; Yang, Yi-Ning; Ma, Xiang; Fu, Zhen-Yan; Li, Xiao-Mei; Xie, Xiang; Chen, You; Chen, Bangdang; He, Chun-Hui

2013-01-01

The current overweight and central adiposity guidelines based on Western populations were not consistent with many studied based on the Asian populations. Uighur people live in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region which is located in the center of Asia. Their overweight and central cutoffs were largely unknown. We aimed to identify cutoffs for body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) and waist circumference (WC; in cm) for categorization of overweight and central adiposity among Uighur adults in Xinjiang. 4767 Uighur participants were selected from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS) which was carried out from October 2007 to March 2010. The age of the participants were from 35 to 101 years old with the mean age of 50.09 years. Anthropometric data, blood pressure, serum concentration of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and fasting glucose were documented. The prevalence, sensitivity, specificity and distance on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of each BMI and waist circumference values were calculated. The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were higher with higher BMI for both men and women. The prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were higher with higher waist circumference for both men and women. In women, the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was noticed to increase as the waist circumference increased. The shortest distance in the receiver operating characteristic curves for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, or ≥ 2 of these risk factors suggested a BMI cutoff of 26 and a waist circumference cutoff of 90 cm for both men and women. Higher cutoffs for BMI and waist circumference are needed in the identification of Uighur patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Late sequela after treatment of childhood low-grade gliomas: a retrospective analysis of 69 long-term survivors treated between 1983 and 2003.

PubMed

Benesch, Martin; Lackner, Herwig; Sovinz, Petra; Suppan, Elisabeth; Schwinger, Wolfgang; Eder, Hans-Georg; Dornbusch, Hans Jürgen; Moser, Andrea; Triebl-Roth, Karin; Urban, Christian

2006-06-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the spectrum of late effects in a large cohort of pediatric patients with low-grade gliomas (WHO grade I and II) during an observation period of 20 years. Eighty-seven patients with low-grade gliomas grouped according to tumor location (cerebellum: n=28; cerebral hemispheres: n=21; central midline: n=15; brainstem: n=12; tectum: n=5; other locations: n=6) were evaluated for tumor- and/or treatment-related late effects by analysis of medical and computer records, and personal interviews. Seventy patients underwent neurosurgery, 29 patients received additional radiotherapy and 20 additional chemotherapy. Median follow-up of survivors is 96 months with an overall survival of 79% (cerebellum: 89%; cerebral hemispheres: 95%; central midline: 80%; brainstem: 25%; tectum: 100%; other locations: 66%). Chronic medical problems (mild ataxia to multiple severe neuroendocrine deficits) are observed in 100% of patients with brainstem/central midline tumors and in 40-50% of patients with low-grade gliomas of other locations. Endocrine deficiencies were observed in 15/17 (88%) of long-term survivors who received radiotherapy. In contrast, none of the patients who underwent surgery only had endocrine deficiencies. Seven long-term survivors (10.1%) are severely disabled with permanent need of medical help. Tumor- and treatment-related late effects are common in patients with low-grade gliomas with the most severe occurring in patients with brainstem or central midline tumors. As long-term survival is excellent in patients with low-grade gliomas except for tumors located in the brainstem, future treatment studies should focus on avoiding long-term late effects.

Projected climate impacts for the amphibians of the Western hemisphere.

PubMed

Lawler, Joshua J; Shafer, Sarah L; Bancroft, Betsy A; Blaustein, Andrew R

2010-02-01

Given their physiological requirements, limited dispersal abilities, and hydrologically sensitive habitats, amphibians are likely to be highly sensitive to future climatic changes. We used three approaches to map areas in the western hemisphere where amphibians are particularly likely to be affected by climate change. First, we used bioclimatic models to project potential climate-driven shifts in the distribution of 413 amphibian species based on 20 climate simulations for 2071-2100. We summarized these projections to produce estimates of species turnover. Second, we mapped the distribution of 1099 species with restricted geographic ranges. Finally, using the 20 future climate-change simulations, we mapped areas that were consistently projected to receive less seasonal precipitation in the coming century and thus were likely to have altered microclimates and local hydrologies. Species turnover was projected to be highest in the Andes Mountains and parts of Central America and Mexico, where, on average, turnover rates exceeded 60% under the lower of two emissions scenarios. Many of the restricted-range species not included in our range-shift analyses were concentrated in parts of the Andes and Central America and in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Much of Central America, southwestern North America, and parts of South America were consistently projected to experience decreased precipitation by the end of the century. Combining the results of the three analyses highlighted several areas in which amphibians are likely to be significantly affected by climate change for multiple reasons. Portions of southern Central America were simultaneously projected to experience high species turnover, have many additional restricted-range species, and were consistently projected to receive less precipitation. Together, our three analyses form one potential assessment of the geographic vulnerability of amphibians to climate change and as such provide broad-scale guidance for directing conservation efforts.

[Subcutaneously inserted central intravascular devices in the pediatric oncology patient: can we minimize their infection].

PubMed

Tardáguila, A R; Del Cañizo, A; Santos, M M; Fanjul, M; Corona, C; Zornoza, M; Parente, A; Carrera, N; Beléndez, C; Cerdá, J; Saavedra, J; Molina, E; García-Casillas, M A; Peláez, D

2011-10-01

Long-term indwelling central venous access devices are frequently used in pediatric patients. Their main complication is infection, that can even mean their removal. We try to identify the risk factors really involved in this complication and in their removal. We have made a retrospective review of 120 oncologic pediatric patients who received a central venous device between 2003 and 2009. We searched for epidemiologic, clinic, microbiologic and surgical risk factors. We made a comparative data analysis among: GROUP A, children who suffered device infection, GROUP B the others. Group A was divided into early infection (first month after implantation)/late infection, removed/not removed. Data were analized with statistical program SPSS. 29 suffered from leukemia, 19 from lymphoma and the main part, 72, from solid tumour. 31% experienced infection (GROUP A), being early in the 36% of them. 16% had to be withdrawn. Data analysis revealed statistical association with the age (p=0.015) and with the reception of chemiotherapic treatment the week before the surgical insertion. The rest of the studied factors did not revealed a real association, but could be guess a relationship among infection and leukemia, subclavian catheters, those patients whose deviced was introduced using a guide over a previous catheter and also transplanted. Related to early infection the only associateon founded was with the subclavian access (p=0.018). In conclusion, in our serie long-term central venous access infection was more frequent in the younger patients and also in those who had received chemotherapy the week before the catheter implantation. The tendency towards infection in leukemia, transplanted and subclavian carriers has to be studied in a prospective way with a larger number of oncologic children.

Aldosterone acting through the central nervous system sensitizes angiotensin II-induced hypertension.

PubMed

Xue, Baojian; Zhang, Zhongming; Roncari, Camila F; Guo, Fang; Johnson, Alan Kim

2012-10-01

Previous studies have shown that preconditioning rats with a nonpressor dose of angiotensin II (Ang II) sensitizes the pressor response produced by later treatment with a higher dose of Ang II and that Ang II and aldosterone (Aldo) can modulate each other's pressor effects through actions involving the central nervous system. The current studies tested whether Aldo can cross-sensitize the pressor actions of Ang II to enhance hypertension by employing an induction-delay-expression experimental design. Male rats were implanted for telemetered blood pressure recording. During induction, subpressor doses of either subcutaneous or intracerebroventricular Aldo were delivered for 1 week. Rats were then rested for 1 week (delay) to assure that any exogenous Aldo was metabolized. After this, Ang II was given subcutaneously for 2 weeks (expression). During induction and delay, Aldo had no sustained effect on blood pressure. However, during expression, Ang II-induced hypertension was greater in the groups receiving subcutaneous or intracerebroventricular Aldo during induction in comparison with those groups receiving vehicle. Central administration of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist blocked sensitization. Brain tissue collected at the end of delay and expression showed increased mRNA expression of several renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system components in cardiovascular-related forebrain regions of cross-sensitized rats. Cultured subfornical organ neurons preincubated with Aldo displayed greater increases in [Ca2+]i after Ang II treatment, and there was a greater Fra-like immunoreactivity present at the end of expression in cardiovascular-related forebrain structures. Taken together, these results indicate that Aldo pretreatment cross-sensitizes the development of Ang II-induced hypertension probably by mechanisms that involve the central nervous system.

High-temperature molten salt solar thermal systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Copeland, R. J.; Leach, J. W.; Stern, G.

Conceptual designs of a solar thermal central receiver and a thermal storage subsystem were analyzed to estimate thermal losses and to assess the economics of high-temperature applications with molten salt transport fluids. Modifications to a receiver design being developed by the Martin Marietta Corporation were studied to investigate possible means for improving efficiency at high temperatures. Computations were made based on conceptual design of internally insulated high temperature storage tanks to estimate cost and performance. A study of a potential application of the system for thermochemical production of hydrogen indicates that thermal storage at 1100 C will be economically attractive.

The 10 MWe Solar Thermal Central Receiver Pilot Plant: Solar facilities design integration. Pilot-plant station manual (RADL Item 2-1). Volume 1: System description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1982-09-01

The complete Barstow Solar Pilot Plant is described. The plant requirements and general description are presented, the mechanical, electric power, and control and instrumentation systems as well as civil engineering and structural aspects and the station buildings are described. Included in the mechanical systems are the heliostats, receiver, thermal storage system, beam characterization system, steam, water, nitrogen, and compressed air systems, chemical feed system, fire protection system, drains, sumps and the waste disposal systems, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.

Major technological innovations introduced in the large antennas of the Deep Space Network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Imbriale, W. A.

2002-01-01

The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is the largest and most sensitive scientific, telecommunications and radio navigation network in the world. Its principal responsibilities are to provide communications, tracking, and science services to most of the world's spacecraft that travel beyond low Earth orbit. The network consists of three Deep Space Communications Complexes. Each of the three complexes consists of multiple large antennas equipped with ultra sensitive receiving systems. A centralized Signal Processing Center (SPC) remotely controls the antennas, generates and transmits spacecraft commands, and receives and processes the spacecraft telemetry.

Prognostic Analysis for Cardiogenic Shock in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

PubMed Central

Lin, Mao-Jen; Chen, Chun-Yu; Lin, Hau-De

2017-01-01

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is uncommon in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Long-term outcome and adverse predictors for outcomes in AMI patients with CS receiving percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are unclear. A total of 482 AMI patients who received PCI were collected, including 53 CS and 429 non-CS. Predictors for AMI patients with CS including recurrent MI, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, all-cause mortality, and repeated-PCI were analyzed. The CS group had a lower central systolic pressure and central diastolic pressure (both P < 0.001). AMI patients with hypertension history were less prone to develop CS (P < 0.001). Calcium channel blockers and statins were less frequently used by the CS group than the non-CS group (both P < 0.05) after discharge. Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score, CV mortality, and all-cause mortality were higher in the CS group than the non-CS group (all P < 0.005). For patients with CS, stroke history was a predictor of recurrent MI (P = 0.036). CS, age, SYNTAX score, and diabetes were predictors of CV mortality (all P < 0.05). CS, age, SYNTAX score, and stroke history were predictors for all-cause mortality (all P < 0.05). CS, age, and current smoking were predictors for repeated-PCI (all P < 0.05). PMID:28251160

Prospective association between body mass index and receipt of preventive services: Results from the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study (CePAWHS)

PubMed Central

Kraschnewski, Jennifer L.; McCall-Hosenfeld, Jennifer S.; Weisman, Carol S.

2012-01-01

Objective We examine whether overweight and obesity are associated with disparities in clinical preventive services receipt in a unique, prospective, population-based cohort of reproductive-age women. Method We used data from the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study (CePAWHS) longitudinal survey of women ages 18–45. The baseline random-digit-dial telephone survey was conducted in 2004–2005 and a second telephone interview two years later; 1342 participants comprised the analytic sample. Dependent variables were seven preventive services identified at follow-up. In addition to baseline body mass index (BMI) category, independent variables were selected based on the behavioral model of health services utilization. Results Forty-six percent of the sample was classified as normal weight, 28% as overweight, and 26% as obese. In adjusted analyses, women who were overweight and obese, compared to women with normal weight, were more likely to receive preventive counseling for diet/nutrition, physical activity, and weight management (p<0.01). Overweight and obese women received more cholesterol and diabetes screening (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). However, there were no differences by BMI category in receipt of Pap testing or reproductive counseling. Conclusion Overall, we found that women with overweight and obesity were more likely to receive preventive services, especially services relevant for overweight and obese populations. PMID:22391575

Efficacy of nasal bi-level positive airway pressure in congestive heart failure patients with cheyne-stokes respiration and central sleep apnea.

PubMed

Kasai, Takatoshi; Narui, Koji; Dohi, Tomotaka; Ishiwata, Sugao; Yoshimura, Kunihiko; Nishiyama, Shin-Ichiro; Yamaguchi, Tetsu; Momomura, Shin-Ichi

2005-08-01

Cheyne - Stokes respiration with central sleep apnea (CSR-CSA) contributes to the poor prognosis in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Bi-level positive airway pressure (bi-level PAP) may be an effective alternative for treating CSR-CSA and CHF. Fourteen patients with CSR-CSA were divided into 2 groups, a control group that included 7 patients who decided to receive only conventional medications and a group of 7 patients that received bi-level PAP. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), mitral regurgitation (MR) area, plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class were evaluated initially (baseline) and 3 months later. In the control group, there were no significant changes in cardiac function during the study period. In contrast, in the group that received bi-level PAP, there were significant improvements in LVEF (from 36.3+/-2.9% to 46.0+/-4.0%, p = 0.02), MR area (from 30.4+/-7.6% to 20.0+/-5.1%, p = 0.02), BNP (from 993.6+/-332.0 pg/ml to 474.0+/-257.6 pg/ml, p = 0.02) and NYHA functional class (from 3.1+/-0.1 to 2.1+/-0.1, p = 0.03). Treatment with bi-level PAP improved cardiac functions in CHF patients with CSR-CSA.

The prognostic role of CD68 and FoxP3 expression in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

PubMed

Cho, Hyunsoo; Kim, Se Hoon; Kim, Soo-Jeong; Chang, Jong Hee; Yang, Woo Ick; Suh, Chang-Ok; Cheong, June-Won; Kim, Yu Ri; Lee, Jung Yeon; Jang, Ji Eun; Kim, Yundeok; Min, Yoo Hong; Kim, Jin Seok

2017-07-01

The prognostic role of CD68 and FoxP3 in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has not been evaluated. Thus, we examined the prognostic significance of CD68 and FoxP3 expression in tumor samples of 76 newly diagnosed immunocompetent PCNSL patients. All patients were treated initially with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based chemotherapy, and 16 (21.1%) patients received upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) consolidation. High expression of CD68 (>55 cells/high-power field) or FoxP3 (>15 cells/high-power field) was observed in 10 patients, respectively. High CD68 expression was associated with inferior overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in multivariate analysis (P = 0.023 and P = 0.021, respectively). In addition, we performed subgroup analysis based on upfront ASCT. High CD68 expression was also associated with inferior OS and PFS in multivariate analysis (P = 0.013 and P < 0.001, respectively) among patients who did not receive upfront ASCT (n = 60), but not in patients who received upfront ASCT. The expression of FoxP3 was not significantly associated with survival. Therefore, we identified a prognostic significance of high CD68 expression in PCNSL, which suggests a need for further clinical trials and biological studies on the role of PCNSL tumor microenvironment.

Central nervous system immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in AIDS: experience of a Mexican neurological centre.

PubMed

Guevara-Silva, Erik A; Ramírez-Crescencio, María A; Soto-Hernández, José Luís; Cárdenas, Graciela

2012-09-01

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) restores the inflammatory immune response in AIDS patients and it may unmask previous subclinical infections or paradoxically exacerbate symptoms of opportunistic infections. Up to 25% of patients receiving HAART develop immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We describe six patients with IRIS central nervous system (CNSIRIS) manifestations emphasizing the relevance of CSF cultures and neuroimaging in early diagnosis and management. Patients with CNSIRIS were identified among hospitalized HIV-infected patients that started HAART from January 2002 through December 2007 at a referral neurological center in Mexico. One-hundred and forty-two HIV-infected patients with neurological signs were hospitalized, 64 of which had received HAART, and six (9.3%) developed CNSIRIS. Five patients were male. Two cases of tuberculosis, two of cryptococcosis, one of brain toxoplasmosis, and one possible PML case were found. IRIS onset occurred within 12 weeks of HAART in five patients. Anti-infective therapy was continued. In one case, HAART was temporarily suspended. In long-term follow-up the clinical condition improved in all patients. CNSIRIS associated to opportunistic infections appeared in 9% of patients receiving HAART. Interestingly, no cases of malignancy or neoplasm IRIS-related were found. Frequent clinical assessment and neuroimaging studies supported diagnosis and treatment. Risk factors were similar to those found in other series. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Neurognathostomiasis, a neglected parasitosis of the central nervous system.

PubMed

Katchanov, Juri; Sawanyawisuth, Kittisak; Chotmongkoi, Verajit; Nawa, Yukifumi

2011-07-01

Gnathostomiasis is a foodborne zoonotic helminthic infection caused by the third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma spp. nematodes. The most severe manifestation involves infection of the central nervous system, neurognathostomiasis. Although gnathostomiasis is endemic to Asia and Latin America, almost all neurognathostomiasis cases are reported from Thailand. Despite high rates of illness and death, neurognathostomiasis has received less attention than the more common cutaneous form of gnathostomiasis, possibly because of the apparent geographic confinement of the neurologic infection to 1 country. Recently, however, the disease has been reported in returned travelers in Europe. We reviewed the English-language literature on neurognathostomiasis and analyzed epidemiology and geographic distribution, mode of central nervous system invasion, pathophysiology, clinical features, neuroimaging data, and treatment options. On the basis of epidemiologic data, clinical signs, neuroimaging, and laboratory findings, we propose diagnostic criteria for neurognathostomiasis.

OLT-centralized sampling frequency offset compensation scheme for OFDM-PON.

PubMed

Chen, Ming; Zhou, Hui; Zheng, Zhiwei; Deng, Rui; Chen, Qinghui; Peng, Miao; Liu, Cuiwei; He, Jing; Chen, Lin; Tang, Xionggui

2017-08-07

We propose an optical line terminal (OLT)-centralized sampling frequency offset (SFO) compensation scheme for adaptively-modulated OFDM-PON systems. By using the proposed SFO scheme, the phase rotation and inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by SFOs between OLT and multiple optical network units (ONUs) can be centrally compensated in the OLT, which reduces the complexity of ONUs. Firstly, the optimal fast Fourier transform (FFT) size is identified in the intensity-modulated and direct-detection (IMDD) OFDM system in the presence of SFO. Then, the proposed SFO compensation scheme including phase rotation modulation (PRM) and length-adaptive OFDM frame has been experimentally demonstrated in the downlink transmission of an adaptively modulated optical OFDM with the optimal FFT size. The experimental results show that up to ± 300 ppm SFO can be successfully compensated without introducing any receiver performance penalties.

System and method for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation with acoustic sources generating coded signals

DOEpatents

Vu, Cung Khac; Nihei, Kurt; Johnson, Paul A; Guyer, Robert; Ten Cate, James A; Le Bas, Pierre-Yves; Larmat, Carene S

2014-12-30

A system and a method for investigating rock formations includes generating, by a first acoustic source, a first acoustic signal comprising a first plurality of pulses, each pulse including a first modulated signal at a central frequency; and generating, by a second acoustic source, a second acoustic signal comprising a second plurality of pulses. A receiver arranged within the borehole receives a detected signal including a signal being generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first-and-second acoustic signal in a non-linear mixing zone within the intersection volume. The method also includes-processing the received signal to extract the signal generated by the non-linear mixing process over noise or over signals generated by a linear interaction process, or both.

The calibration of an HF radar used for ionospheric research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

From, W. R.; Whitehead, J. D.

1984-02-01

The HF radar on Bribie Island, Australia, uses crossed-fan beams produced by crossed linear transmitter and receiver arrays of 10 elements each to simulate a pencil beam. The beam points vertically when all the array elements are in phase, and is steerable by up to 20 deg off vertical at the central one of the three operating frequencies. Phase and gain changes within the transmitters and receivers are compensated for by an automatic system of adjustment. The 10 transmitting antennas are, as nearly as possible, physically identical as are the 10 receiving antennas. Antenna calibration using high flying aircraft or satellites is not possible. A method is described for using the ionospheric reflections to measure the polar diagram and also to correct for errors in the direction of pointing.

Identification of Distant Metastatic Disease in Uterine Cervical and Endometrial Cancers with FDG PET/CT: Analysis from the ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233 Multicenter Trial.

PubMed

Gee, Michael S; Atri, Mostafa; Bandos, Andriy I; Mannel, Robert S; Gold, Michael A; Lee, Susanna I

2018-04-01

Purpose To assess the accuracy of staging positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in detecting distant metastasis in patients with local-regionally advanced cervical and high-risk endometrial cancer in the clinical trial by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) and the Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG) (ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233) and to compare central and institutional reader performance. Materials and Methods In this prospective multicenter trial, PET/CT and clinical data were reviewed for patients enrolled in ACRIN 6671/GOG 0233. Two central readers, blinded to site read and reference standard, reviewed PET/CT images for distant metastasis. Central review was then compared with institutional point-of-care interpretation. Reference standard was pathologic and imaging follow-up. Test performance for central and site reviews of PET/CT images was calculated and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. Generalized estimating equations and nonparametric bootstrap procedure for clustered data were used to assess statistical significance. Results There were 153 patients with cervical cancer and 203 patients with endometrial cancer enrolled at 28 sites. Overall prevalence of distant metastasis was 13.7% (21 of 153) for cervical cancer and 11.8% (24 of 203) for endometrial cancer. Central reader PET/CT interpretation demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value of 54.8%, 97.7%, 79.3%, and 93.1% for cervical cancer metastasis versus 64.6%, 98.6%, 86.1%, and 95.4% for endometrial cancer, respectively. By comparison, local institutional review demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and negative predictive value of 47.6%, 93.9%, 55.6%, and 91.9% for cervical cancer metastasis and 66.7%, 93.9%, 59.3%, and 95.5% for endometrial cancer, respectively. For central readers, the specificity and PPV of PET/CT detection of cervical and endometrial cancer metastases were all significantly higher compared with that of local institutional review (P < .05). Central reader area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values were 0.78 and 0.89 for cervical and endometrial cancer, respectively; these were not significantly different from local institutional AUC values (0.75 and 0.84, respectively; P > .05 for both). Conclusion FDG PET/CT demonstrates high specificity and PPV for detecting distant metastasis in cervical and endometrial cancer and should be included in the staging evaluation. Blinded central review of imaging provides improved specificity and PPV for the detection of metastases and should be considered for future oncologic imaging clinical trials. © RSNA, 2017.

Features of central serous chorioretinopathy presenting at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore.

PubMed

Jamil, Ahmad Zeeshan; Mirza, Khurram Azam; Qazi, Zaheer Uddin Aqil; Iqbal, Wasim; Khaliq, Javed; Fawad-ur-Rahman; Ahmed, Arslan

2013-04-01

To evaluate the clinical, angiographic and optical coherence tomographic features of central serous chorioretinopathy in patients presenting at a tertiary care centre in Lahore. The observational study was conducted at the Layton Rehmatulla Benevolent Trust Eye and Cancer Hospital Lahore from July 15, 2010 to December 15, 2011. Patients who had received prior treatment for the condition and allergy to fluorescein were excluded. There were 86 eyes of 64 adult patients with central serous chorioretinopathy. The following data was recorded: history, signs and symptoms, best corrected visual acuity, fundus fluorescein angiography, and central macular thickness measurement with optical coherence tomography. Data was analyzed using SPSS 17. Mean age of patients who presented during the study duration was 39.52 +/- 8.85 years.There were 53 (82.8%) males and 11(17.2%) females. Of the total, 42 (65.6%) cases had unilateral and 22 (34.4%) cases had bilateral involvement. Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy was seen in 27 (42.2%) cases while 37 (57.8%) cases were acute presentations. Retinal pigment epithelial detachment was observed in 29 (45.3%) cases. On fundus fluorescein angiography, there were 62 (72.1%) eyes that showed ink blot pattern. Median visual acuity at presentation was 0.25. Median central macular thickness at presentation was 550.5micro. Central serous chorioretinopathy in the study sample was associated with pigment epithelial detachment, bilateral involvement, and presence of systemic diseases.

The association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and central pulse pressure after an oral glucose tolerance test.

PubMed

Lee, I-Te; Chen, Chen-Huan; Wang, Jun-Sing; Fu, Chia-Po; Lee, Wen-Jane; Liang, Kae-Woei; Lin, Shih-Yi; Sheu, Wayne Huey-Herng

2018-01-01

Arterial stiffening blunts postprandial vasodilatation. We hypothesized that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may modulate postprandial central pulse pressure, a surrogate marker for arterial stiffening. A total of 82 non-diabetic subjects received a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after overnight fasting. Serum BDNF concentrations were determined at 0, 30, and 120min to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). Brachial and central blood pressures were measured using a noninvasive central blood pressure monitor before blood withdrawals at 0 and 120min. With the median AUC of BDNF of 45(ng/ml)∗h as the cutoff value, the central pulse pressure after glucose intake was significantly higher in the subjects with a low BDNF than in those with a high BDNF (63±16 vs. 53±11mmHg, P=0.003), while the brachial pulse pressure was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P=0.099). In a multivariate linear regression model, a lower AUC of BDNF was an independent predictor of a higher central pulse pressure after oral glucose intake (linear regression coefficient-0.202, 95% confidence interval-0.340 to -0.065, P=0.004). After oral glucose challenge, a lower serum BDNF response is significantly associated with a higher central pulse pressure. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Organizational models of educational technology in U.S. and Canadian medical schools.

PubMed

Souza, Kevin H; Kamin, Carol; O'Sullivan, Patricia; Moses, Anna; Heestand, Diane

2008-07-01

To examine the organizational structure of educational technology units within U.S. and Canadian medical schools in order to (1) identify organization models that support educational technology, (2) describe key attributes of these models, and (3) discuss the strengths and challenges associated with these models. The authors distributed a survey to 88 schools that had previously provided information on their educational technology services and infrastructure. The authors developed the survey through a series of pilots and, then, from the data for each respondent school, created concept maps, which were used to identify organizational models. The authors conducted analyses to determine differences among models. The authors coded the comments about organizational models and identified themes. The authors received adequate data for analysis from 61 schools (69%). Four models for educational technology organizations emerged: (1) centralized units located in the school of medicine, (2) centralized units located at the health science center, (3) centralized units at the comprehensive university, and (4) no centralized unit (Dispersed Model). The majority (75%) of schools relied on some type of centralized organization. Whereas few organization attributes proved to be statistically significant, the centralized models have more resources devoted to educational technology and a closer alignment with the academic mission than the Dispersed Model. Medical schools primarily use central models. The authors recommend that schools structuring their educational technology resources consider exploration of a central model because of its focused use of resources to improve teaching and learning.

Long-term changes in retinal vascular diameter and cognitive impairment in type 1 diabetes.

PubMed

Nunley, Karen A; Metti, Andrea L; Klein, Ronald; Klein, Barbara E; Saxton, Judith A; Orchard, Trevor J; Costacou, Tina; Aizenstein, Howard J; Rosano, Caterina

2018-05-01

To assess associations between cognitive impairment and longitudinal changes in retinal microvasculature, over 18 years, in adults with type 1 diabetes. Participants of the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study received ≥3 fundus photographs between baseline (1986-1988) and time of cognitive assessment (2010-2015: N = 119; 52% male; mean age and type 1 diabetes duration 43 and 34 years, respectively). Central retinal arteriolar equivalent and central retinal venular equivalent were estimated via computer-based methods; overall magnitude and speed of narrowing were quantified as cumulative average and slope, respectively. Median regression models estimated associations of central retinal arteriolar equivalent and central retinal venular equivalent measures with cognitive impairment status, adjusted for type 1 diabetes duration. Interactions with HbA1c, proliferative retinopathy and white matter hyperintensities were assessed. Compared with participants without cognitive impairment, those with clinically relevant cognitive impairment experienced 1.8% greater and 31.1% faster central retinal arteriolar equivalent narrowing during prior years (t = -2.93, p = 0.004 and t = -3.97, p < 0.0001, respectively). Interactions with HbA1c, proliferative retinopathy and white matter hyperintensities were not significant. No associations were found between central retinal arteriolar equivalent at baseline, at time of cognitive testing, or any central retinal venular equivalent measures, and cognitive impairment. Long-term arterial retinal changes could indicate type 1 diabetes-related cognitive impairment. Studies examining longitudinal central retinal arteriolar equivalent changes as early biomarkers of cognitive impairment risk are warranted.

Network centrality and seasonality interact to predict lice load in a social primate

PubMed Central

Duboscq, Julie; Romano, Valeria; Sueur, Cédric; MacIntosh, Andrew J.J.

2016-01-01

Lice are socially-transmitted ectoparasites. Transmission depends upon their host’s degree of contact with conspecifics. While grooming facilitates ectoparasite transmission via body contact, it also constrains their spread through parasite removal. We investigated relations between parasite burden and sociality in female Japanese macaques following two opposing predictions: i) central females in contact/grooming networks harbour more lice, related to their numerous contacts; ii) central females harbour fewer lice, related to receiving more grooming. We estimated lice load non-invasively using the conspicuous louse egg-picking behaviour performed by macaques during grooming. We tested for covariation in several centrality measures and lice load, controlling for season, female reproductive state and dominance rank. Results show that the interaction between degree centrality (number of partners) and seasonality predicted lice load: females interacting with more partners had fewer lice than those interacting with fewer partners in winter and summer, whereas there was no relationship between lice load and centrality in spring and fall. This is counter to the prediction that increased contact leads to greater louse burden but fits the prediction that social grooming limits louse burden. Interactions between environmental seasonality and both parasite and host biology appeared to mediate the role of social processes in louse burden. PMID:26915589

Network centrality and seasonality interact to predict lice load in a social primate.

PubMed

Duboscq, Julie; Romano, Valeria; Sueur, Cédric; MacIntosh, Andrew J J

2016-02-26

Lice are socially-transmitted ectoparasites. Transmission depends upon their host's degree of contact with conspecifics. While grooming facilitates ectoparasite transmission via body contact, it also constrains their spread through parasite removal. We investigated relations between parasite burden and sociality in female Japanese macaques following two opposing predictions: i) central females in contact/grooming networks harbour more lice, related to their numerous contacts; ii) central females harbour fewer lice, related to receiving more grooming. We estimated lice load non-invasively using the conspicuous louse egg-picking behaviour performed by macaques during grooming. We tested for covariation in several centrality measures and lice load, controlling for season, female reproductive state and dominance rank. Results show that the interaction between degree centrality (number of partners) and seasonality predicted lice load: females interacting with more partners had fewer lice than those interacting with fewer partners in winter and summer, whereas there was no relationship between lice load and centrality in spring and fall. This is counter to the prediction that increased contact leads to greater louse burden but fits the prediction that social grooming limits louse burden. Interactions between environmental seasonality and both parasite and host biology appeared to mediate the role of social processes in louse burden.

Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse Annual Report. May 1987-June 30, 1988.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oregon State Library, Salem. Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse.

Established in May 1987 by the Oregon State Library to serve as a central clearinghouse for the collection of reports about challenges against library materials, the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse received a total of 17 formal challenges against library materials during its first year of operation. Of these, 10 challenges were received…

Due Process Hearing Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bateman, David F.

2009-01-01

Marnie is a resident of an unnamed School District ("the District"). In January 2000 at the age of 13, Marnie was involved in a bicycle accident that severely damaged her central nervous system, leaving her without use of her legs or left hand and cognitively impaired. She had not received special education previously. By September 2001,…

Social Science Theories on Adolescent Risk-Taking: The Relevance of Behavioral Inhibition and Activation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vermeersch, Hans; T'Sjoen, Guy; Kaufman, Jean-Marc; Van Houtte, Mieke

2013-01-01

The major social science theories on adolescent risk-taking--strain, social control, and differential association theories--have received substantial empirical support. The relationships between variables central to these theories and individual differences in temperament related to risk-taking, however, have not been adequately studied. In a…

Regeneration results using two-aged management

Treesearch

Arlyn W. Perkey; Gary W. Miller; Thomas M. Schuler

1999-01-01

Two-aged management is receiving increasing consideration by central Appalachian hardwood managers as a tool to accomplish multiple landowner goals. On non-industrial private forests where aesthetics are often important, two-aged management has the attribute of retaining some relatively large trees on the area at all times. For many landowners this is critical....

77 FR 3471 - Combined Notice of Filings #2

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-24

...: J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation, Triton Power Michigan LLC, BE Allegheny LLC, BE CA LLC, BE Ironwood LLC, BE KJ LLC, BE Rayle LLC, BE Alabama LLC, BE Louisiana LLC, Cedar Brakes I LLC, Central Power... that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER10-2319-002; ER10...

77 FR 5503 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-03

... Contract Funding, L.L.C., Central Power & Lime LLC, Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C., J.P. Morgan Commodities Canada..., L.L.C., et al.--Supplement to Updated Market Power Analysis for the Northeast Region. Filed Date: 1... that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER08-1056-005...

Ozone exposure, uptake, and response of different-sized black cherry trees

Treesearch

Todd S. Frederickson; John M. Skelly; Kim C. Steiner; Thomas E. Kolb

1996-01-01

Differences in exposure, uptake and relative sensitivity to ozone between seedling, sapling, and canopy black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) trees were characterized during two growing seasons in north central Pennsylvania. Open-grown trees of all sizes received a similar amount of ozone exposure. Seedlings had greater foliar ozone injury, expressed...

Practising What We Preach: Towards a Student-Centred Definition of Feedback

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scott, Shirley V.

2014-01-01

Students appear to have an almost insatiable appetite for receiving feedback and the scholarly literature has acknowledged its central importance for learning. And yet there is no widely accepted definition of feedback, most definitions reflecting the perspective of the teacher rather than student. When staff at the University of New South Wales…

Kenneth Wilson and Renormalization

Science.gov Websites

of the Renormalization Group (RG) into a central tool in physics. ... He received a doctorate from one of the most amazing experiences of my life," says Peskin. "He was saying, 'I see the big actually the data you need to move from one scale to another. ... RG theory implies that, with enough

Library Bulletin [International Planned Parenthood Federation], July 1972.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Planned Parenthood Federation, London (England).

This quarterly accessions list of books received and catalogued in the library of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Central Office in London is concerned mainly with such subject areas as family life and sex education, child care and health, demography, and education. Books only are included and are arranged in classified…

2. West portal of Tunnel 1, view to northeast, 135mm ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

2. West portal of Tunnel 1, view to northeast, 135mm lens. Like the new tunnels built during this period, Tunnel 1 received a new concrete portal face with granite masonry voussoirs and coping. - Central Pacific Transcontinental Railroad, Tunnel No. 1, Milepost 164.34, Blue Canyon, Placer County, CA

75 FR 81574 - Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From India: Preliminary Results of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-28

... Statistics (IMF Statistics) for SRF. SRF received exemptions from import duties and central sales taxes (CST... Territory Sales Tax Exemption program, we have used SRF's total sales of subject merchandise as the... were certified by an accountant. The total values of the GOI redemption document reflect the import and...

Challenge and Retention in Games

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Debeauvais, Thomas

2016-01-01

Game designers and researchers agree that the main motivation for starting playing a game is challenge. It is only a small step to say that when the game becomes too difficult, players can become frustrated and quit. While extensive work shows that challenge is central in player enjoyment, its influence on player retention has received little…

Immigrant Spanish as Liability or Asset? Generational Diversity in Language Ideologies at School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allard, Elaine; Mortimer, Katherine; Gallo, Sarah; Link, Holly; Wortham, Stanton

2014-01-01

Latino students' educational success is central to America's prosperity--in traditional immigrant destinations and in New Latino Diaspora locations, previously unfamiliar with Latinos. Implicated in this success is the reception young immigrants receive, especially the ways in which they are identified in schools. We describe findings from 6 years…

Examining Primary Pre-Service Teachers' Perspectives on Teaching Practice Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basturk, Savas

2016-01-01

The courses "school experience" and "teaching practice" are undoubtedly among the central courses to be received by pre-service teachers who will be future teachers. Through them, pre-service teachers obtain the realistic information about their profession. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine pre-service teachers'…

41 CFR 101-5.104-5 - Designating agency representatives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... each agency receiving a GSA notice regarding a scheduled feasibility study will be requested to designate one or more officials at the location where the study will be made who may consult with authorized... review of the feasibility of the proposed centralized service shall be made available to GSA through the...

41 CFR 101-5.104-5 - Designating agency representatives.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... each agency receiving a GSA notice regarding a scheduled feasibility study will be requested to designate one or more officials at the location where the study will be made who may consult with authorized... review of the feasibility of the proposed centralized service shall be made available to GSA through the...

Fostering Personal Meaning and Self-Relevance: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Internalization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vansteenkiste, Maarten; Aelterman, Nathalie; De Muynck, Gert-Jan; Haerens, Leen; Patall, Erika; Reeve, Johnmarshall

2018-01-01

Central to self-determination theory (SDT) is the notion that autonomously motivated learning relates to greater learning benefits. While learners' intrinsic motivation has received substantial attention, learners also display volitional learning when they come to endorse the personal meaning or self-relevance of the learning task. In Part I of…

Aligning the SEA's Compliance Responsibilities and Performance Objectives. Benchmark. No. 3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nafziger, D.; Jochim, A.

2013-01-01

Assuring that state and local agencies comply with the requirements of Federal and state programs has been a central feature of SEAs. The purposes of compliance requirements--ensuring both fiscal integrity and that targeted groups receive intended benefits--are important. While such requirements are often well-intentioned, too often they can act…

Effectiveness of a School HIV/AIDS Prevention Program for Spanish Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Espada, Jose P.; Orgiles, Mireia; Morales, Alexandra; Ballester, Rafael; Huedo-Medina, Tania B.

2012-01-01

Due to a lack of controlled studies on HIV prevention interventions among Spanish adolescents, COMPAS, a five-session behavioral intervention, was developed and tested on Spanish adolescents aged 15-18. Participants included 827 adolescents from central, east and north Spain. Six hundred and seven students (M = 15.71 years) received the…

Education and Selfhood: A Phenomenological Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bonnett, Michael

2009-01-01

Although effectively the idea of selfhood receives scant attention in much current educational policy, it is an idea that is central to understanding education in the Western tradition. This paper evaluates the implications of a growing movement in educational philosophy and theory to see the self as relational to the extent that it possesses…

Long-term venous access using a subcutaneous implantable drug delivery system.

PubMed Central

Soo, K. C.; Davidson, T. I.; Selby, P.; Westbury, G.

1985-01-01

To facilitate long-term venous access in patients receiving chemotherapy, a subcutaneous totally implantable system (Port-a-Cath, Phamacia) has been used in 14 patients. The method of implantation and the advantages over conventional central venous catheters are discussed. The expense of the system necessitates careful patient selection. PMID:4037644

"Come and See": An Existential Approach to Received Wisdom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frendo, Anthony J.

2007-01-01

Experience and community have always played a central role in the construction of knowledge. It is upon reflecting on everyday life experiences, and sharing these experiences and reflections with one's community, that knowledge is filtered and transformed into wisdom. The same acts of reflection and sharing are part of human's capacity to…

76 FR 69281 - Notice of Public Meeting; Central Montana Resource Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-08

..., Lewistown Field Office, 920 NE Main, Lewistown, MT 59457, (406) 538-1900, [email protected] . Persons who... (FIRS) at 1-(800) 677-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is... receive a reply during normal business hours. Cynthia Staszak, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2011-28860...

A Comparison of Kinetic Energy and Momentum in Special Relativity and Classical Mechanics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riggs, Peter J.

2016-01-01

Kinetic energy and momentum are indispensable dynamical quantities in both the special theory of relativity and in classical mechanics. Although momentum and kinetic energy are central to understanding dynamics, the differences between their relativistic and classical notions have not always received adequate treatment in undergraduate teaching.…

77 FR 76477 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Quartzsite Solar...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-28

... traditional steam turbine generators. The Project would contain the central receiver or tower, a solar field... the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Quartzsite Solar Energy Project and the Yuma Field...: Notice of Availability. SUMMARY: Quartzsite Solar Energy (QSE) has requested to interconnect the...

Progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome induced by clebopride.

PubMed

Campdelacreu, Jaume; Kumru, Hatice; Tolosa, Eduard; Valls-Solé, Josep; Benabarre, Antoni

2004-04-01

We report on a patient who presented with a progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) syndrome while receiving clebopride (CLB), a prokinetic drug with central antidopaminergic properties. The clinical and neurophysiological signs progressively disappeared after CLB withdrawal. To our knowledge, this is the first published PSP-like syndrome attributable to an antidopaminergic drug. Copyright 2003 Movement Disorder Society

Designing an Online Writing System: Learning with Support

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuo, Chih-Hua

2008-01-01

The potential of online language learning has received much attention recently. This paper reports the design of an online writing system featuring learning support for non-native students during their writing process. The central premise is that in the online writing situation, students are in great need of writing aids. The proposed system…

Gender and Student Reception of a Seminary's Dominant Messages

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lincoln, Timothy D.

2012-01-01

Theological schools seek to educate both women and men to serve the church and promote the study of religion. This education involves constant messaging through multiple channels. This article explores the central messages received by theological students at one free-standing Presbyterian seminary in the United States. Women commonly reported two…

Postsecondary Transitions of Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Scholarship Program Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlyle, Gregory A.; Thompson, Nicole L.; Hare, R. Dwight; Miller, Nicole C.; Purvis, Leslie

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore the postsecondary education transition experiences of graduates of Choctaw Central High School (CCHS) who received support from the tribal scholarship program (TSP), to better understand the barriers to successful postsecondary completion and means of overcoming barriers. A total of 87 TSP-supported…

Theodore Roosevelt High School: Project TEACH, 1984-1985. OEA Evaluation Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York City Board of Education, Brooklyn. Office of Educational Assessment.

Project TEACH completed the first year of a three-year program serving 190 newly arrived limited English proficient (LEP) students from the Caribbean, Central America and Cambodia. Virtually all students belonged to low-income families and many had received little formal education in their native countries. The primary goal was to facilitate…

Elevated Childhood Serotonergic Function Protects against Adolescent Aggression in Disruptive Boys

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halperin, Jeffrey M.; Kalmar, Jessica H.; Schulz, Kurt P.; Marks, David J.; Sharma, Vanshdeep; Newcorn, Jeffrey H.

2006-01-01

Objective: This longitudinal study examined whether responsiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) in childhood predicts adolescent aggression. Method: Boys (N = 33) with disruptive behavior disorders who received assessments of central 5-HT function via the prolactin response to fenfluramine between 1990 and 1994 when they were 7 to 11…

Reading Aloud: Spelling-Sound Translation Uses Central Attention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Malley, Shannon; Reynolds, Michael G.; Stolz, Jennifer A.; Besner, Derek

2008-01-01

Contrary to the received view that reading aloud reflects processes that are "automatic," recent evidence suggests that some of these processes require a form of attention. This issue was investigated further by examining the effect of a prior presentation of exception words (words whose spelling-sound translation are atypical, such as pint as…

Certified organic farming research and demonstration project by Oklahoma State University and USDA's Agricultural Research Service at Lane, Oklahoma

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In 2003, Oklahoma State University and USDA, Agricultural Research Service, South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory received organic certification for 8 acres at the Lane Agricultural Center, Lane, OK. The certified organic land was used to develop a cooperative project with a diversity of a...

Diabetes and Adult Day Health Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dabelko, Holly I.; DeCoster, Vaughn A.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study is to provide a profile of individuals with diabetes who receive services in adult day centers. This exploratory study uses an administrative data set (N = 280) from five programs in central Ohio to examine four areas: demographics, health and mental health, financial and social resources, and disenrollment status. Older…

Modeling Cooperation in an Address-Register-Based Telephone/Face-to-Face Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lipps, Oliver

2016-01-01

I analyze the effects of household sociodemography, interviewer performance in the current survey, and fieldwork characteristics on cooperation in a central telephone survey, where households with no publicly listed landline number receive face-to-face visits. Using the 2013 refreshment sample of the Swiss Household Panel, I employ…

Learning Mathematics in English at Basic Schools in Ghana: A Benefit or Hindrance?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fredua-Kwarteng, Eric; Ahia, Francis

2015-01-01

Facilitating effective mathematics learning and higher mathematics achievement have long been recognized as a key to the scientific and technological advancement of the African continent. While the central role that language proficiency plays in mathematics teaching and learning has received an overwhelming research attention in the literature…

Molten salt thermal energy storage subsystem for solar thermal central receiver plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, P. B.; Nassopoulos, G. P.

1982-02-01

The development of a low cost thermal energy storage subsystem for large solar plants is described. Molten nitrate salt is used as both the solar plant working fluid and the storage medium. The storage system consists of a specially designed hot tank to hold salt at a storage temperature of 839K (1050 deg F) and a separate carbon steel cold tank to hold the salt after its thermal energy has been extracted to generate steam. The hot tank is lined with insulating firebrick to reduce the shell temperature to 561K (550 deg F) so that a low cost carbon steel shell is used. The internal insulation is protected from the hot salt by a unique metal liner with orthogonal corrugations to allow for numerous cycles of thermal expansion and contraction. A preliminary design for a large commercial size plant (1200 MWh sub +), a laboratory test program for the critical components, and the design, construction, and test of a small scale (7 MWH sub t) research experiment at the Central Receiver Test Facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico is described.

Severe Central Sleep Apnea Associated With Chronic Baclofen Therapy: A Case Series.

PubMed

Olivier, Pierre-Yves; Joyeux-Faure, Marie; Gentina, Thibaut; Launois, Sandrine H; d'Ortho, Marie Pia; Pépin, Jean-Louis; Gagnadoux, Frédéric

2016-05-01

Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid-B agonist with muscle-relaxant properties, is widely used in patients with severe spasticity. In animals, baclofen has been shown to decrease respiratory drive. In humans, however, use of baclofen at the standard dose did not significantly impair sleep-disordered breathing in a susceptible population of snorers. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the role of baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence. We describe severe central sleep apnea (CSA) in four patients with none of the conditions commonly associated with CSA who were receiving chronic baclofen therapy for alcohol withdrawal. In one patient, baclofen withdrawal was associated with a complete resolution of CSA. Three patients were treated by adaptive servo-ventilation while continuing their treatment with baclofen. Given the increasing number of patients receiving baclofen for alcohol withdrawal treatment, physicians should be aware that these patients might be affected by severe CSA. Future studies are required to determine the mechanisms, prevalence, and treatment modalities of sleep-disordered breathing associated with baclofen usage. Copyright © 2016 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lung Cancer Brain Metastases.

PubMed

Goldberg, Sarah B; Contessa, Joseph N; Omay, Sacit B; Chiang, Veronica

2015-01-01

Brain metastases are common among patients with lung cancer and have been associated with significant morbidity and limited survival. However, the treatment of brain metastases has evolved as the field has advanced in terms of central nervous system imaging, surgical technique, and radiotherapy technology. This has allowed patients to receive improved treatment with less toxicity and more durable benefit. In addition, there have been significant advances in systemic therapy for lung cancer in recent years, and several treatments including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy exhibit activity in the central nervous system. Utilizing systemic therapy for treating brain metastases can avoid or delay local therapy and often allows patients to receive effective treatment for both intracranial and extracranial disease. Determining the appropriate treatment for patients with lung cancer brain metastases therefore requires a clear understanding of intracranial disease burden, tumor histology, molecular characteristics, and overall cancer prognosis. This review provides updates on the current state of surgery and radiotherapy for the treatment of brain metastases, as well as an overview of systemic therapy options that may be effective in select patients with intracranial metastases from lung cancer.

Clinical presentation and manual therapy for upper quadrant musculoskeletal conditions

PubMed Central

Isabel de-la-Llave-Rincón, Ana; Puentedura, Emilio J; Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César

2011-01-01

In recent years, increased knowledge of the pathogenesis of upper quadrant pain syndromes has translated to better management strategies. Recent studies have demonstrated evidence of peripheral and central sensitization mechanisms in different local pain syndromes of the upper quadrant such as idiopathic neck pain, lateral epicondylalgia, whiplash-associated disorders, shoulder impingement, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Therefore, a treatment-based classification approach where subjects receive matched interventions has been developed and, it has been found that these patients experience better outcomes than those receiving non-matched interventions. There is evidence suggesting that the cervical and thoracic spine is involved in upper quadrant pain. Spinal manipulation has been found to be effective for patients with elbow pain, neck pain, or cervicobrachial pain. Additionally, it is known that spinal manipulative therapy exerts neurophysiological effects that can activate pain modulation mechanisms. This paper exposes some manual therapies for upper quadrant pain syndromes, based on a nociceptive pain rationale for modulating central nervous system including trigger point therapy, dry needling, mobilization or manipulation, and cognitive pain approaches. PMID:23115473

Effects of waste-disposal practices on ground-water quality at five poultry (broiler) farms in north-central Florida, 1992-93

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hatzell, H.H.

1995-01-01

Waste-disposal areas such as chicken-house floors, litter stockpiles, fields that receive applications of litter, and dead-chicken pits are potential sources of nitrates and other chemical constituents in downward-percolating recharge water. Broiler- farms in north-central Florida are concentrated in a region where the Upper Floridan aquifer is unconfined and susceptible to contamination. Eighteen monitoring wells installed at five sites were sampled quarterly from March 1992 through January 1993. Increases in median concentrations of constituents relative to an upgradient well were used to determine the source of the nitrate at two sites. At these sites, increases in the median concentrations of nitrate as nitrogen in ground water in the vicinity of waste-disposal areas at these sites were: 5.4 mg/L for one chicken house; 9.0 mg/L for a second chicken house; 2.0 mg/L for a fallow field that received an application of litter; and, 2.0 mg/L for a dead-chicken pit. At the three remaining sites where the direction of local ground-water flow could not be ascertained, the sources of concentrations of nitrate and other constituents could not be determined. However, median nitrate concentrations in the vicinity of waste-disposal areas at these sites were: 45.5 mg/L for a set of two chicken houses; 3.0 mg/L for a stockpile area; and 2.1 mg/L for a hayfield that received an application of litter. The nitrate concentration in ground water in the vicinity of a field that had previously received heavy applications of litter increased from 3.0 mg/L to 105 mg/L approximately 4 months after receiving an application of commercial fertilizer. Increases in concentrations of organic nitrogen in ground water in the vicinity of waste-disposal areas may be related to the decomposition of litter and subsequent movement with downward percolating recharge water.(USGS)

Management of Pediatric Perforated Appendicitis: Comparing Outcomes Using Early Appendectomy Versus Solely Medical Management.

PubMed

Bonadio, William; Rebillot, Katie; Ukwuoma, Onyinyechi; Saracino, Christine; Iskhakov, Arthur

2017-10-01

There is controversy regarding whether children with perforated appendicitis should receive early appendectomy (EA) versus medical management (MM) with antibiotics and delayed interval appendectomy. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of children with perforated appendicitis who receive EA versus MM. Case review of consecutive children <18 years of age with perforated appendicitis who received either EA or MM during an 8-year period. Criteria for hospital discharge included patient being afebrile for at least 24 hours, pain-free and able to tolerate oral intake. Of 203 patients diagnosed with perforated appendicitis, 122 received EA and 81 received MM. All received parenteral antibiotic therapy initiated in the emergency department and continued during hospitalization. There were no significant differences between groups in mean patient age, mean complete blood count total white blood cells count, gender distribution, rates of emergency department fever or rates of intra-abdominal infection (abscess or phlegmon) identified on admission. Compared with patients receiving MM, those receiving EA experienced significantly fewer (1) days of hospitalization, parenteral antibiotic therapy and in-hospital fever; (2) radiographic studies, percutaneous drainage procedures and placement of central venous catheters performed; (3) post admission intra-abdominal complications and (4) unscheduled repeat hospitalizations after hospital discharge. Only 1 EA-managed patient developed a postoperative wound infection. Children with perforated appendicitis who receive EA experience significantly less morbidity and complications versus those receiving MM. The theoretical concern for enhanced morbidity associated with EA management of perforated appendicitis is not supported by our analysis.

Neurotoxicity Associated With Dimethyl Sulfoxide Used in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

PubMed

Ataseven, Eda; Tüfekçi, Özlem; Yilmaz, Şebnem; Güleryüz, Handan; Ören, Hale

2017-07-01

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a cryoprotective agent used in storage of frozen stem cells in stem cell transplantation. Central nervous system side effects of DMSO such as epileptic seizures, stroke, transient global amnesia, and temporary leucoencephalopathy are rarely seen. Here, we report a pediatric patient who developed seizures after DMSO-cryopreserved stem cell infusion and whose magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated parietal and occipital focal cortical T2-signal intensity increase. DMSO toxicity should be kept in mind in patients who received cryopreserved stem cell infusion and magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in differential diagnosis of central nervous system involvement.

Monostotic Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in a child with central diabetes insipidus.

PubMed

Soares, Eduardo Costa Studart; Quidute, Ana Rosa Pinto; Costa, Fábio Wildson Gurgel; Gurgel, Maria Helane Costa; Alves, Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes; Fonteles, Cristiane Sá Roriz

2012-01-01

Langerhans'cell histiocytosis (LCH) comprises a rare group of reticuloendothelial system disorders that can produce focal or systemic manifestations. Diabetes insipidus is considered to be an important indicator of serious underlying diseases in children, including LCH. We report the case of a young patient with monostotic LCH confined to the mandibular ramus, who was diagnosed with the disease after presenting symptoms of central diabetes insipidus and was satisfactorily treated with multi-agent chemotherapy. Additionally, we discuss the clinical, radiographic, histological and immunohistochemical findings, as well as the multidisciplinary approach of this important disease, which should receive attention by dental practitioners, especially when it occurs in children.

Intravenous subhypnotic propofol in central pain: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

PubMed

Canavero, S; Bonicalzi, V

2004-01-01

To validate IV subhypnotic propofol, a gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA-A) agonist, as a diagnostic test for central pain. The efficacy of systemic propofol (0.2 mg/kg IV bolus) was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover fashion on both spontaneous ongoing pain and allodynia in 44 patients with chronic central pain of both brain and cord origin. Propofol was significantly superior to the placebo (Intralipid, Kabi Pharmacia) in reducing the intensity of spontaneous ongoing pain for up to 1 hour after the injection: 24 of 44 patients (55%) receiving propofol showed a significant reduction in spontaneous pain, whereas only 6 patients showed this after the placebo. Propofol also significantly reduced the intensity of both mechanical and cold allodynia. In a few cases, only the evoked components were abolished but not the spontaneous pain. In general, the side effects were minimal and consisted mainly of transitory burning upon injection of both propofol and placebo and slight lightheadedness in a few cases. Systemic propofol induces analgesic effects on all studied components of central pain and highlights the key role of GABA modulation in central pain.

Vascular resistance of central retinal artery is reduced in postmenopausal women after use of estrogen.

PubMed

Faria, Alice Fátima Melgaço; de Souza, Marco Aurélio Martins; Geber, Selmo

2011-08-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of estrogen on the vascular resistance of the central retinal artery in postmenopausal women, compared with placebo, using transorbital ultrasound with Doppler velocimetry. We performed a prospective, randomized, triple-blinded placebo-controlled study. A total of 51 healthy postmenopausal women (follicle-stimulating hormone, >40 IU/L) with a mean (SD) age of 53.6 (4.8) years were studied. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: placebo (n = 23) and estrogen (0.625 mg conjugated estrogens; n = 28). Transorbital Doppler velocimetric ultrasound was performed before and after treatment in sitting and supine positions. The mean age was similar in both groups. The pulsatility index of the central retinal arteries had a significant decrease after the use of estrogen, when women were evaluated in the sitting position. Women who received placebo did not show any difference in pulsatility index of the central retinal arteries after treatment. When the same comparison was done with participants in the supine position, no difference was observed in either group. Our study demonstrates that estrogen reduces the vascular resistance of the central retinal artery in postmenopausal women because of a vasodilatory effect.

Hearing loss and the central auditory system: Implications for hearing aids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frisina, Robert D.

2003-04-01

Hearing loss can result from disorders or damage to the ear (peripheral auditory system) or the brain (central auditory system). Here, the basic structure and function of the central auditory system will be highlighted as relevant to cases of permanent hearing loss where assistive devices (hearing aids) are called for. The parts of the brain used for hearing are altered in two basic ways in instances of hearing loss: (1) Damage to the ear can reduce the number and nature of input channels that the brainstem receives from the ear, causing plasticity of the central auditory system. This plasticity may partially compensate for the peripheral loss, or add new abnormalities such as distorted speech processing or tinnitus. (2) In some situations, damage to the brain can occur independently of the ear, as may occur in cases of head trauma, tumors or aging. Implications of deficits to the central auditory system for speech perception in noise, hearing aid use and future innovative circuit designs will be provided to set the stage for subsequent presentations in this special educational session. [Work supported by NIA-NIH Grant P01 AG09524 and the International Center for Hearing & Speech Research, Rochester, NY.

Ultrasound as a Screening Tool for Central Venous Catheter Positioning and Exclusion of Pneumothorax.

PubMed

Amir, Rabia; Knio, Ziyad O; Mahmood, Feroze; Oren-Grinberg, Achikam; Leibowitz, Akiva; Bose, Ruma; Shaefi, Shahzad; Mitchell, John D; Ahmed, Muneeb; Bardia, Amit; Talmor, Daniel; Matyal, Robina

2017-07-01

Although real-time ultrasound guidance during central venous catheter insertion has become a standard of care, postinsertion chest radiograph remains the gold standard to confirm central venous catheter tip position and rule out associated lung complications like pneumothorax. We hypothesize that a combination of transthoracic echocardiography and lung ultrasound is noninferior to chest radiograph when used to accurately assess central venous catheter positioning and screen for pneumothorax. All operating rooms and surgical and trauma ICUs at the institution. Single-center, prospective noninferiority study. Patients receiving ultrasound-guided subclavian or internal jugular central venous catheters. During ultrasound-guided central venous catheter placement, correct positioning of central venous catheter was accomplished by real-time visualization of the guide wire and positive right atrial swirl sign using the subcostal four-chamber view. After insertion, pneumothorax was ruled out by the presence of lung sliding and seashore sign on M-mode. Data analysis was done for 137 patients. Chest radiograph ruled out pneumothorax in 137 of 137 patients (100%). Lung ultrasound was performed in 123 of 137 patients and successfully screened for pneumothorax in 123 of 123 (100%). Chest radiograph approximated accurate catheter tip position in 136 of 137 patients (99.3%). Adequate subcostal four-chamber views could not be obtained in 13 patients. Accurate positioning of central venous catheter with ultrasound was then confirmed in 121 of 124 patients (97.6%) as described previously. Transthoracic echocardiography and lung ultrasound are noninferior to chest x-ray for screening of pneumothorax and accurate central venous catheter positioning. Thus, the point of care use of ultrasound can reduce central venous catheter insertion to use time, exposure to radiation, and improve patient safety.

Global funding trends for malaria research in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic analysis.

PubMed

Head, Michael G; Goss, Sian; Gelister, Yann; Alegana, Victor; Brown, Rebecca J; Clarke, Stuart C; Fitchett, Joseph R A; Atun, Rifat; Scott, J Anthony G; Newell, Marie-Louise; Padmadas, Sabu S; Tatem, Andrew J

2017-08-01

Total domestic and international funding for malaria is inadequate to achieve WHO global targets in burden reduction by 2030. We describe the trends of investments in malaria-related research in sub-Saharan Africa and compare investment with national disease burden to identify areas of funding strength and potentially neglected populations. We also considered funding for malaria control. Research funding data related to malaria for 1997-2013 were sourced from existing datasets, from 13 major public and philanthropic global health funders, and from funding databases. Investments (reported in US$) were considered by geographical area and compared with data on parasite prevalence and populations at risk in sub-Saharan Africa. 45 sub-Saharan African countries were ranked by amount of research funding received. We found 333 research awards totalling US$814·4 million. Public health research covered $308·1 million (37·8%) and clinical trials covered $275·2 million (33·8%). Tanzania ($107·8 million [13·2%]), Uganda ($97·9 million [12·0%]), and Kenya ($92·9 million [11·4%]) received the highest sum of research investment and the most research awards. Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda remained highly ranked after adjusting for national gross domestic product. Countries with a reasonably high malaria burden that received little research investment or funding for malaria control included Central African Republic (ranked 40th) and Sierra Leone (ranked 35th). Congo (Brazzaville) and Guinea had reasonably high malaria mortality, yet Congo (Brazzaville) ranked 38th and Guinea ranked 25th, thus receiving little investment. Some countries receive reasonably large investments in malaria-related research (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda), whereas others receive little or no investments (Sierra Leone, Central African Republic). Research investments are typically highest in countries where funding for malaria control is also high. Investment strategies should consider more equitable research and operational investments across countries to include currently neglected and susceptible populations. Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Effect of calcium and vitamin D on growth, rickets and Kashin-Beck disease in 0- to 5-year-old children in a rural area of central Tibet.

PubMed

Rooze, Shancy; Mathieu, Françoise; Claus, William; Yangzom, Tashi; Yangzom, Dikki; Goyens, Philippe; de Maertelaer, Viviane

2016-06-01

To evaluate the effect of calcium (15 mmol/day) and vitamin D (625 μg/month), as single supplement or in combination, vs. no supplement on growth, clinical signs of rickets and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and dental health. Prospective controlled trial involving children aged 0-5 years living in four groups of villages in a KBD-endemic rural area of central Tibet who received either calcium and/or vitamin D or no supplement. The cohort was followed over 3 years. Primary outcome was the impact of the different supplementation regimes on KBD, rickets and growth; secondary outcomes were impact on urinary levels of calcium and phosphorus, biomarkers of bone and cartilage turnover, and dental health. No difference was observed between the four groups with regard to anthropometric data, rickets, KBD, urinary levels of CrossLaps(®) and CartiLaps(®) . Weight for height or age, mid-upper arm circumference and skinfold thickness decreased in the four groups. Height for age increased and the prevalence of KBD fell in the four groups. Dental health was better in the group receiving calcium and vitamin D. Urinary calcium levels increased after 3 years of follow-up in all groups; the group receiving vitamin D had a higher increase (P-value: 0.044). The same global increase was observed for urinary phosphorus levels; the group receiving calcium had a higher increase (P-value: 0.01). Calcium and vitamin D failed to improve growth and bone metabolism of children living in a KBD-endemic rural area. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation improved dental health. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Caries experience and use of dental services in rural and urban adults and older adults from central Chile.

PubMed

Quinteros, Maria E; Cáceres, Dante D; Soto, Alex; Mariño, Rodrigo J; Giacaman, Rodrigo A

2014-10-01

To determine whether there is a relationship between the use of dental services and caries experience in adults and older adults from central Chile. A sample of 453 adults, 35-44 years of age, and 438 older adults, 65-74 years of age, was interviewed and examined using World Health Organisation (WHO) methods. Sociodemographic variables were also registered. Caries experience was assessed using the Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth (DMFT) index. Multiple linear regression models were used to determine whether there was an association between the independent variables and caries experience. Caries prevalence was 99.6% for adults [DMFT score = 14.89 (±6.16)] and 99.8% for older adults [DMFT score = 25.68 (±6.49)]. Less than half of the population - 41.7% of adults and 31.5% of older adults - received dental care. Regardless of the age group, there were no differences in the DMFT score between those who received and those who did not receive attention (P > 0.05). When the DMFT findings were analysed in greater detail, people who received dental care and urban participants had more fillings (P < 0.05) than did those who were not provided with attention or lived in rural areas, who, in turn, had more missing teeth (P < 0.05). A higher educational level was associated with a decrease of 1.15 DMFT points (P = 0.003) in the group of older adults. Adults and older adults from the Maule Region showed severe dental damage from caries. Although rurality and use of services do not seem to affect caries experience, they are associated with differences in fillings and missing teeth. © 2014 FDI World Dental Federation.

IL-13 is a central mediator of chemical-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice

PubMed Central

Devos, Fien C.; Pollaris, Lore; Cremer, Jonathan; Seys, Sven; Hoshino, Tomoaki; Ceuppens, Jan; Talavera, Karel; Nemery, Benoit; Hoet, Peter H. M.

2017-01-01

Background While the importance of the Th2 cytokine IL-13 as a central mediator of airway hyperreactivity (AHR) has been described in allergic protein-induced asthma, this has never been investigated in chemical-induced asthma. Objective We examined the importance of IL-13 in a mouse model of chemical-induced AHR, using toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). Methods In a first set-up, wild type (WT) and IL-13 knockout (KO) C57Bl/6 mice were dermally treated on days 1 and 8 with 1% TDI or vehicle (acetone/olive oil) on both ears. On day 15, mice received an intranasal instillation with 0.1% TDI or vehicle. In a second set-up, WT mice sensitized with 1% TDI or vehicle, received i.v. either anti-IL-13 or control antibody prior to the intranasal challenge. Results TDI-sensitized and TDI-challenged WT mice showed AHR to methacholine, in contrast to TDI-sensitized and TDI-challenged IL-13 KO mice, which also showed lower levels of total serum IgE. TDI-sensitized and TDI-challenged IL-13 KO mice had lower numbers of T-cells in the auricular lymph nodes. TDI-treated WT mice, receiving anti-IL-13, showed no AHR, in contrast to those receiving control antibody, despite increased levels of IgE. Anti-IL-13 treatment in TDI-treated WT mice resulted in lower levels of serum IL-13, but did not induce changes in T- and B-cell numbers, and in the cytokine production profile. Conclusion and clinical relevance We conclude that IL-13 plays a critical role in the effector phase of chemical-induced, immune-mediated AHR. This implicates that anti-IL-13 treatment could have a beneficial effect in patients with this asthma phenotype. PMID:28704401

Efficacy and safety of etanercept in patients from Latin America, Central Europe and Asia with early non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

PubMed

Wei, James Cheng-Chung; Tsai, Wen-Chan; Citera, Gustavo; Kotak, Sameer; Llamado, Lyndon

2016-11-11

To evaluate etanercept in patients from Latin America, Central/Eastern Europe, and Asia with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). A subset analysis was performed on nr-axSpA patients from Argentina, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia and Taiwan who were enrolled in EMBARK (NCT01258738). Patients received either etanercept 50 mg or placebo once weekly. The primary endpoint was proportion of patients achieving 40% improvement from baseline based on Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. Secondary endpoints included other efficacy assessments, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and safety. Of the 117 patients in this subset, 59 were treated with etanercept and 58 received placebo. At week 12, numerically greater improvements from baseline were observed for all efficacy endpoints in etanercept-treated patients compared with those receiving placebo. Statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups were observed for proportion of patients achieving ASAS40 (P = 0.0413, at week 8), ASAS5/6 (P = 0.0126), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score - C-reactive protein (CRP) inactive disease (P = 0.0093), Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada magnetic resonance imaging of sacroiliac joint scores (P = 0.0014), high-sensitivity CRP (P=0.032), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.0082). Statistically significant improvements in the etanercept-treated group compared with placebo group were observed for nocturnal back pain (P = 0.040), total back pain (P = 0.025), physician global assessment of disease (P = 0.023), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire percent impairment while working (P = 0.047). Adverse events were similar between the two treatment groups. In this subset of patients with nr-axSpA from Latin America, Central/Eastern Europe, and Asia, treatment with etanercept, compared with placebo, resulted in improved disease symptoms and patient HRQoL. Etanercept was well tolerated. © 2016 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

United States Department of Energy solar receiver technology development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klimas, P. C.; Diver, R. B.; Chavez, J. M.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE), through Sandia National Laboratories, has been conducting a Solar Thermal Receiver Technology Development Program, which maintains a balance between analytical modeling, bench and small scale testing, and experimentation conducted at scales representative of commercially-sized equipment. Central receiver activities emphasize molten salt-based systems on large scales and volumetric devices in the modeling and small scale testing. These receivers are expected to be utilized in solar power plants rated between 100 and 200 MW. Distributed receiver research focuses on liquid metal refluxing devices. These are intended to mate parabolic dish concentrators with Stirling cycle engines in the 5 to 25 kW(sub e) power range. The effort in the area of volumetric receivers is less intensive and highly cooperative in nature. A ceramic foam absorber of Sandia design was successfully tested on the 200 kW(sub t) test bed at Plataforma Solar during 1989. Material integrity during the approximately 90-test series was excellent. Significant progress has been made with parabolic dish concentrator-mounted receivers using liquid metals (sodium or a potassium/sodium mixture) as heat transport media. Sandia has successfully solar-tested a pool boiling reflux receiver sized to power a 25 kW Stirling engine. Boiling stability and transient operation were both excellent. This document describes these activities in detail and will outline plans for future development.

Multi-objective thermodynamic optimisation of supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles integrated with solar central receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasquez Padilla, Ricardo; Soo Too, Yen Chean; Benito, Regano; McNaughton, Robbie; Stein, Wes

2018-01-01

In this paper, optimisation of the supercritical CO? Brayton cycles integrated with a solar receiver, which provides heat input to the cycle, was performed. Four S-CO? Brayton cycle configurations were analysed and optimum operating conditions were obtained by using a multi-objective thermodynamic optimisation. Four different sets, each including two objective parameters, were considered individually. The individual multi-objective optimisation was performed by using Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm. The effect of reheating, solar receiver pressure drop and cycle parameters on the overall exergy and cycle thermal efficiency was analysed. The results showed that, for all configurations, the overall exergy efficiency of the solarised systems achieved at maximum value between 700°C and 750°C and the optimum value is adversely affected by the solar receiver pressure drop. In addition, the optimum cycle high pressure was in the range of 24.2-25.9 MPa, depending on the configurations and reheat condition.

Experiences of older women with cancer receiving hospice care: significance for physical therapy.

PubMed

Mackey, K M; Sparling, J W

2000-05-01

The number of older adults with cancer is growing, increasing the need for professionals who are able to meet these patients' special needs. In palliative care settings, physical therapists strive to promote quality of life. Minimal research exists, however, to guide therapists working with patients with terminal illness. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge that can be used by physical therapists to more effectively assess and treat older people with cancer receiving hospice care. A qualitative single-case study with replication was conducted with 3 older women with cancer who were receiving hospice care. Interview data were analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Four themes emerged as central to the experience of the informants: social relationships, spirituality, outlook on mortality, and meaningful physical activity. In addition to maintaining physical function, physical therapists, who attend to nonphysical as well as physical aspects of care, may foster social cohesion, help maximize life's meaning, and support stabilizing strategies of older women with cancer who receive hospice care.

Stabilization of Phase of a Sinusoidal Signal Transmitted Over Optical Fiber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DAddario, Larry R.; Trink, Joseph T.

2010-01-01

In the process of connecting widely distributed antennas into a coherent array, it is necessary to synchronize the timing of signals at the various locations. This can be accomplished by distributing a common reference signal from a central source, usually over optical fiber. A high-frequency (RF or microwave) tone is a good choice for the reference. One difficulty is that the effective length of the optical fiber changes with temperature and mechanical stress, leading to phase instability in the received tone. This innovation provides a new way to stabilize the phase of the received tone, in spite of variations in the electrical length of the fiber. Stabilization is accomplished by two-way transmission in which part of the received signal is returned to the transmitting end over an identical fiber. The returned signal is detected and used to close an electrical servo loop whose effect is to keep constant the phase of the tone at the receiving end.

Centralization vs. decentralization in medical school libraries.

PubMed

Crawford, H

1966-07-01

Does the medical school library in the United States operate more commonly under the university library or the medical school administration? University-connected medical school libraries were asked to indicate (a) the source of their budgets, whether from the central library or the medical school, and (b) the responsibility for their acquisitions and cataloging. Returns received from sixtyeight of the seventy eligible institutions showed decentralization to be much the most common: 71 percent of the libraries are funded by their medical schools; 79 percent are responsible for their own acquisitions and processing. The factor most often associated with centralization of both budget and operation is public ownership. Decentralization is associated with service to one or two rather than three or more professional schools. Location of the medical school in a different city from the university is highly favorable to autonomy. Other factors associated with these trends are discussed.

Centralization vs. Decentralization in Medical School Libraries

PubMed Central

Crawford, Helen

1966-01-01

Does the medical school library in the United States operate more commonly under the university library or the medical school administration? University-connected medical school libraries were asked to indicate (a) the source of their budgets, whether from the central library or the medical school, and (b) the responsibility for their acquisitions and cataloging. Returns received from sixtyeight of the seventy eligible institutions showed decentralization to be much the most common: 71 percent of the libraries are funded by their medical schools; 79 percent are responsible for their own acquisitions and processing. The factor most often associated with centralization of both budget and operation is public ownership. Decentralization is associated with service to one or two rather than three or more professional schools. Location of the medical school in a different city from the university is highly favorable to autonomy. Other factors associated with these trends are discussed. PMID:5945568

Apparatuses for interaction with a subterranean formation, and methods of use thereof

DOEpatents

Clark, Don T.; Jones, Richard L.; Turner, Terry D.; Hubbell, Joel M.; Sisson, James B.

2007-12-25

An access casing assembly structured for placement at least partially within a subterranean formation by forcing the access casing assembly thereinto, comprising a plurality of casing sections operably coupled to form a central elongated cavity for providing access to the subterranean region is disclosed. Further, a tip portion of the access casing assembly may include a porous filter through which liquid or gas may communicate with the central elongated cavity. Also, a receiving member or at least one engagement hub may form a portion of the central elongated cavity and may include an engagement feature configured for selectively and lockingly engaging a locking structure of a device to be positioned within the access casing assembly. Methods of use are disclosed. A tensiometer is disclosed including a chamber structured for allowing at least partially filling with a fluid subsequent to contact therewith.

Transformational leadership and group interaction as climate antecedents: a social network analysis.

PubMed

Zohar, Dov; Tenne-Gazit, Orly

2008-07-01

In order to test the social mechanisms through which organizational climate emerges, this article introduces a model that combines transformational leadership and social interaction as antecedents of climate strength (i.e., the degree of within-unit agreement about climate perceptions). Despite their longstanding status as primary variables, both antecedents have received limited empirical research. The sample consisted of 45 platoons of infantry soldiers from 5 different brigades, using safety climate as the exemplar. Results indicate a partially mediated model between transformational leadership and climate strength, with density of group communication network as the mediating variable. In addition, the results showed independent effects for group centralization of the communication and friendship networks, which exerted incremental effects on climate strength over transformational leadership. Whereas centralization of the communication network was found to be negatively related to climate strength, centralization of the friendship network was positively related to it. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

System and method for generating micro-seismic events and characterizing properties of a medium with non-linear acoustic interactions

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

Vu, Cung Khac; Nihei, Kurt; Johnson, Paul A.

2015-12-29

A method and system includes generating a first coded acoustic signal including pulses each having a modulated signal at a central frequency; and a second coded acoustic signal each pulse of which includes a modulated signal a central frequency of which is a fraction d of the central frequency of the modulated signal for the corresponding pulse in the first plurality of pulses. A receiver detects a third signal generated by a non-linear mixing process in the mixing zone and the signal is processed to extract the third signal to obtain an emulated micro-seismic event signal occurring at the mixingmore » zone; and to characterize properties of the medium or creating a 3D image of the properties of the medium, or both, based on the emulated micro-seismic event signal.« less

Broadband network on-line data acquisition system with web based interface for control and basic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polkowski, Marcin; Grad, Marek

2016-04-01

Passive seismic experiment "13BB Star" is operated since mid 2013 in northern Poland and consists of 13 broadband seismic stations. One of the elements of this experiment is dedicated on-line data acquisition system comprised of both client (station) side and server side modules with web based interface that allows monitoring of network status and provides tools for preliminary data analysis. Station side is controlled by ARM Linux board that is programmed to maintain 3G/EDGE internet connection, receive data from digitizer, send data do central server among with additional auxiliary parameters like temperatures, voltages and electric current measurements. Station side is controlled by set of easy to install PHP scripts. Data is transmitted securely over SSH protocol to central server. Central server is a dedicated Linux based machine. Its duty is receiving and processing all data from all stations including auxiliary parameters. Server side software is written in PHP and Python. Additionally, it allows remote station configuration and provides web based interface for user friendly interaction. All collected data can be displayed for each day and station. It also allows manual creation of event oriented plots with different filtering abilities and provides numerous status and statistic information. Our solution is very flexible and easy to modify. In this presentation we would like to share our solution and experience. National Science Centre Poland provided financial support for this work via NCN grant DEC-2011/02/A/ST10/00284.

Effects of three highway-runoff detention methods on water quality of the surficial aquifer system in central Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schiffer, D.M.

1989-01-01

Water quality of the surficial aquifer system in central Florida was evaluated at one exfiltration pipe, two ponds (detention and retention), and two swales in central Florida, representing three runoff-detention methods, to detect any effect from infiltrating highway runoff. Concentrations of major ions, metals, and nutrients in groundwater and bottom sediments were measured from 1984 through 1986. At each study area, constituent concentrations in groundwater near the structure were compared to concentrations in groundwater from an upgradient control site. Groundwater quality data were also pooled by detention method and statistically compared to detect any significant differences between methods. Significantly greater mean phosphorus concentrations in groundwater near the exfiltration pipe than those in the control well was the only evidence of increasing constituent concentrations in groundwater near structures. The quality of water was more variable, and had greater constituent concentrations in the unsaturated zone than in the saturated zone near the exfiltration pipe. Values of water quality variables measured in groundwater at all study areas generally were within State drinking water standards. The main exception was dissolved iron, which commonly exceeded 300 micrograms/L at one swale and the detention pond. Results of the study indicate that natural processes occurring in soils attenuate inorganic constituent concentrations prior to reaching the receiving groundwater. However, organic compounds detected in bottom sediments at the retention pond indicate a potential problem that may eventually affect the quality of the receiving groundwater. (USGS)

Development of the central nervous system functions in rat pups prenatally exposed to alcohol (study on the behavioural teratology of ethanol in CFY rat pups).

PubMed

Lehotzky, K; Ungváry, G; Szeberényi, J M; Kiss, A

1988-01-01

As a model of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) the rate of the maturation of the functions of the central nervous system was studied in the offspring of pregnant CFY rats receiving (from the 7th-15th day of gestation) either oral ethanol treatment or liquid diet containing ethanol. Both types of exposure caused numerous behavioural impairments, besides high perinatal mortality also the opening of the eyes and ears, and the appearance of postural reflexes were delayed. The newborn rats could be characterized by hyperactivity and weak motor coordination. The learning capacity, the avoidance conditioned reflexes was the poorest in the case of the offspring of mothers kept on liquid diet, containing alcohol, the latency of the conditioned response was significantly lenghtened. During reconditioning, in the case of the sexually already mature pups, the weakest performance was observed in the offspring of mothers having received oral alcohol treatment. This findings indicated, on one hand, that the retardation ceased and, on the other, that the learning and memory impairments caused by oral alcohol exposure was persistent. Following prenatal alcohol exposure carried out by different methods the neurotoxic effect, the retardation of the rate of maturation of the central nervous functions, and the adaptive mechanisms were all affected to different extent. Besides alcohol exposure also other factors (relative protein insufficiency, malnutrition) may be involved in the pathomechanism of the above mentioned phenomena.

Recent clinically relevant highlights from the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network.

PubMed

Krick, Tracy W; Bressler, Neil M

2018-05-01

To present some recent clinically relevant results from Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Network trials that may guide management of diabetic macular edema (DME) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Among eyes with DME and visual acuity 20/50 or worse, aflibercept, on average, had greater improvement in visual acuity over 2 years compared with bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Aflibercept is associated with higher rates of improvements in diabetic retinopathy severity among eyes with PDR and vision-impairing DME at baseline compared with bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Among eyes with persistent central-involved DME after at least six antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, no difference in mean visual acuity improvement was observed between eyes that received continued ranibizumab and sham injections versus ranibizumab and intravitreous sustained dexamethasone drug-delivery system, especially for phakic eyes. For eyes with PDR, ranibizumab was associated with lower rates of developing PDR-worsening events compared with panretinal photocoagulation, especially among eyes that did not receive ranibizumab for central-involved DME at baseline. Ranibizumab is cost-effective for PDR for eyes with, not without, vision-impairing central-involved DME, highlighting challenges when safety and efficacy results are at odds with cost-effectiveness results. Aflibercept for DME, in certain circumstances, is more likely to have superior visual acuity and anatomical outcomes compared with bevacizumab or ranibizumab. No vision benefits are apparent, especially for phakic eyes, by adding intravitreous corticosteroids for persistent DME following anti-VEGF injections.

Slump stretching in the management of non-radicular low back pain: a pilot clinical trial.

PubMed

Cleland, Joshua A; Childs, John D; Palmer, Jessica A; Eberhart, Sarah

2006-11-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if slump stretching results in improvements in pain, centralization of symptoms, and disability in patients with non-radicular low back pain (LBP) with likely mild to moderate neural mechanosensitivity. Thirty consecutive patients referred to physical therapy by their primary care physician for LBP who met all eligibility criteria including a positive slump test but who had a negative straight-leg-raise test (SLR) agreed to participate in the study. All patients completed several self-report measures including a body diagram, numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), and the modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Patients were randomized to receive lumbar spine mobilization and exercise (n = 14) or lumbar spine mobilization, exercise, and slump stretching (n = 16). All patients were treated in physical therapy twice weekly for 3 weeks for a total of 6 visits. Upon discharge, outcome measures were re-assessed. Independent t-tests were used to assess differences between groups at baseline and discharge. No baseline differences existed between the groups (P > .05). At discharge, patients who received slump stretching demonstrated significantly greater improvements in disability (9.7 points on the ODI, P < .001), pain (.93 points on the NPRS, P = .001), and centralization of symptoms (P < .01) than patients who did not. The results suggest that slump stretching is beneficial for improving short-term disability, pain, and centralization of symptoms. Future studies should examine whether these benefits are maintained at a longer-term follow-up.

A Comparison of Taste and Odor Perception in Pediatric Patients Receiving a 0.9% Sodium Chloride Flush From 2 Different Brands of Prefilled 0.9% Sodium Chloride Syringes.

PubMed

Hamze, Benjamin; Vaillancourt, Régis; Sharp, Diane; Villarreal, Gilda

2016-01-01

The aim of this randomized single-blind study is to compare taste and odor disturbances in patients receiving 0.9% sodium chloride flushes from 2 brands. Seventy-five patients from 6 to 18 years of age received intravenous 0.9% sodium chloride infusions, and 50 healthy volunteers who tasted the 2 brands of 0.9% sodium chloride from prefilled syringes were assessed for taste and/or odor disturbances. Taste or odor disturbances were equally present in patients flushed with MedXL and Becton-Dickinson 0.9% sodium chloride. Disturbances are more frequent when 0.9% sodium chloride is flushed through central venous access devices than through peripheral catheters. No difference between the brands was found when healthy volunteers tasted it orally.

Acoustic transducer in system for gas temperature measurement in gas turbine engine

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

DeSilva, Upul P.; Claussen, Heiko

An apparatus for controlling operation of a gas turbine engine including at least one acoustic transmitter/receiver device located on a flow path boundary structure. The acoustic transmitter/receiver device includes an elongated sound passage defined by a surface of revolution having opposing first and second ends and a central axis extending between the first and second ends, an acoustic sound source located at the first end, and an acoustic receiver located within the sound passage between the first and second ends. The boundary structure includes an opening extending from outside the boundary structure to the flow path, and the second endmore » of the surface of revolution is affixed to the boundary structure at the opening for passage of acoustic signals between the sound passage and the flow path.« less

Disaster warning satellite study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1971-01-01

The Disaster Warning Satellite System is described. It will provide NOAA with an independent, mass communication system for the purpose of warning the public of impending disaster and issuing bulletins for corrective action to protect lives and property. The system consists of three major segments. The first segment is the network of state or regional offices that communicate with the central ground station; the second segment is the satellite that relays information from ground stations to home receivers; the third segment is composed of the home receivers that receive information from the satellite and provide an audio output to the public. The ground stations required in this system are linked together by two, separate, voice bandwidth communication channels on the Disaster Warning Satellites so that a communications link would be available in the event of disruption of land line service.

A 10-MWe solar-thermal central-receiver pilot plant: Solar facilities design integration. Plant operating/training manual (RADL-Item 2-36)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1982-07-01

Plant and system level operating instructions are provided for the Barstow Solar Pilot Plant. Individual status instructions are given that identify plant conditions, process controller responsibilities, process conditions and control accuracies, operating envelopes, and operator cautions appropriate to the operating condition. Transition operating instructions identify the sequence of activities to be carried out to accomplish the indicated transition. Most transitions involve the startup or shutdown of an individual flowpath. Background information is provided on collector field operations, and the heliostat groupings and specific commands used in support receiver startup are defined.

Pethidine-associated seizure in a healthy adolescent receiving pethidine for postoperative pain control.

PubMed

Kussman, B D; Sethna, N F

1998-01-01

A healthy 17-year-old male received standard intermittent doses of pethidine via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for management of postoperative pain control. Twenty-three h postoperatively he developed a brief self-limited seizure. Both plasma pethidine and norpethidine were elevated in the range associated with clinical manifestations of central nervous system excitation. No other risk factors for CNS toxicity were identified. This method allowed frequent self-dosing of pethidine at short time intervals and rapid accumulation of pethidine and norpethidine. The routine use of pethidine via PCA even for a brief postoperative analgesia should be reconsidered.

Surveillance and medical therapy following endovascular treatment of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

PubMed

Forbes, Thomas L; Harris, Jeremy R; Kribs, Stewart W

2012-06-01

The debate regarding the possible link between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and multiple sclerosis (MS) is continuously becoming more and more contentious due to the current lack of level 1 evidence from randomized trials. Regardless of this continued uncertainty surrounding the safety and efficacy of this therapy, MS patients from Canada, and other jurisdictions, are traveling abroad to receive central venous angioplasty and, unfortunately, some also receive venous stents. They often return home with few instructions regarding follow-up or medical therapy. In response we propose some interim, practical recommendations for post-procedural surveillance and medical therapy, until further information is available.

Flow through in situ reactors with suction lysimeter sampling capability and methods of using

DOEpatents

Radtke, Corey W [Idaho Falls, ID; Blackwelder, D Brad [Blackfoot, ID; Hubbell, Joel M [Idaho Falls, ID

2009-11-17

An in situ reactor for use in a geological strata includes a liner defining a centrally disposed passageway and a sampling conduit received within the passageway. The sampling conduit may be used to receive a geological speciment derived from geological strata therein and a lysimeter is disposed within the sampling conduit in communication with the geological specimen. Fluid may be added to the geological specimen through the passageway defined by the liner, between an inside surface of the liner and an outside surface of the sampling conduit. A distal portion of the sampling conduit may be in fluid communication with the passageway.

Handbook for Local Coordinators: Value-Added, Compact Disk, Union Catalog Test Phase.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Townley, Charles

In 1988, the Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania received a grant to create a value-added, compact disk, union catalog from the U.S. Department of Education's College Library Technology and Cooperative Grants Program, Title II of the Higher Education Act. Designed to contain, in time, 2,000,830 records from 17 member library…

78 FR 7425 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-01

... Allegheny LLC, BE CA LLC, BE Ironwood LLC, BE KJ LLC, BE Louisiana LLC, BE Rayle LLC, Cedar Brakes I, L.L.C., Cedar Brakes II, L.L.C., Central Power & Lime LLC, Triton Power Michigan LLC, Utility Contract Funding... that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER10-1707-002; ER11...

Institutional Planning as a Participative Process: A Community College Self Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sturtz, Alan J.

In 1981, South Central Community College received funding to develop a long-range planning process. The process was to be modeled on the 3-year planning cycle developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and to use the college's existing organizational structure. Since November 1981, the planning process at the college…

Meeting Our Standards for Educational Justice: Doing Our Best with the Evidence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joyce, Kathryn E.; Cartwright, Nancy

2018-01-01

The United States considers educating all students to a threshold of adequate outcomes to be a central goal of educational justice. The No Child Left Behind Act introduced evidence-based policy and accountability protocols to ensure that all students receive an education that enables them to meet adequacy standards. Unfortunately, evidence-based…

Helpful Components Involved in the Cognitive-Experiential Model of Dream Work

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tien, Hsiu-Lan Shelley; Chen, Shuh-Chi; Lin, Chia-Huei

2009-01-01

The purpose of the study was to examine the helpful components involved in the Hill's cognitive-experiential dream work model. Participants were 27 volunteer clients from colleges and universities in northern and central parts of Taiwan. Each of the clients received 1-2 sessions of dream interpretations. The cognitive-experiential dream work model…

AN ECOSYSTEM MODEL OF A RIVER-DOMINATED PACIFIC NORTHWEST ESTUARY: ROLES OF SALT MARSH-, RIVER- AND OCEAN-DERIVED MATERIALS

EPA Science Inventory

The Salmon River estuary on the central Oregon coast is river-dominated, with hydraulic residence times ranging from <1 day during winter high flows to a week during low flows. The estuary receives organic matter and nutrients from the river, the coastal ocean, and a bordering s...

Everybody Eats: Using Hunger Banquets to Teach about Issues of Global Hunger and Inequality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Deborah A.; Harris, Whitney M.; Fondren, Kristi M.

2015-01-01

Experiential and active learning exercises can benefit students in sociology courses, particularly, courses in which issues of inequality are central. In this paper, we describe using hunger banquets-an active learning exercise where participants are randomly stratified into three global classes and receive food based upon their class position-to…

Discrete Resource Allocation in Visual Working Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barton, Brian; Ester, Edward F.; Awh, Edward

2009-01-01

Are resources in visual working memory allocated in a continuous or a discrete fashion? On one hand, flexible resource models suggest that capacity is determined by a central resource pool that can be flexibly divided such that items of greater complexity receive a larger share of resources. On the other hand, if capacity in working memory is…

[Long-term evolution of a patient diagnosed of small lung cancer with extension to the central nervous system].

PubMed

Barrado Los Arcos, M; Rico Osés, M; Errasti Viader, M; Campo Vargas, M; Zelaya Huerta, M V; Martínez López, E

2016-01-01

Cell lung cancer is the principal cause of cancer death in men and women. We report the case of a man diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, metastatic from the outset. The disease is stable at present, forty-seven months from dia-gnosis, after receiving different treatment modalities.

Assessment Moderation in an Australian Context: Processes, Practices, and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beutel, Denise; Adie, Lenore; Lloyd, Margaret

2017-01-01

Moderation is a quality assurance process that plays a central role in the teaching, learning, and assessment cycle in higher education. While there is a growing body of research globally on teaching, learning, and, to a lesser degree, assessment in higher education, the process of moderation of assessment has received even less attention. In a…

ABU MANSUR ON AYURVEDA

PubMed Central

Fatimi, S. O.

1981-01-01

Abu Mansur's Al-Abniya a pioneering work on pharmacological treatise in Persian language, has not received the attention that it richly deserves. This work provides as a starting point to probe into the hitherto neglected field of study regarding the relationship of medical systems prevalent in Central, West and South Asia-Greco-Syriac, Iranian and Ayurvedic medical sciences. PMID:22556459

Technical Vocational Education and Training for Micro-Enterprise Development in Ethiopia: A Solution or Part of the Problem?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gondo, Tendayi; Dafuleya, Gift

2010-01-01

Technical vocational education and training (TVET) programmes have recently received increased attention as an area of priority for stimulating growth in developed and developing countries. This paper considers the situation in Ethiopia where the promotion of micro and small-sized enterprises (MSEs) has been central to the development and…

Export of detritus and invertebrate from headwater streams: linking mountaintop removal and valley fill coal mining to downstream receiving waters

EPA Science Inventory

Mountaintop removal and valley fill (MTR/VF) coal mining has resulted in large scale alteration of the topography, reduced forest productivity, and burial of headwater streams in the U.S. Central Appalachians. Although MTR/VF coal mining has occurred for several decades and the ...

Synthesis of lower treeline limber pine (Pinus flexilis) woodland knowledge, research needs, and management considerations

Treesearch

Robert E. Means

2011-01-01

Lower treeline limber pine woodlands have received little attention in peer-reviewed literature and in management strategies. These ecologically distinct systems are thought to be seed repositories between discontinuous populations in the northern and central Rocky Mountains, serving as seed sources for bird dispersal between distinct mountain ranges. Their position on...

The Perception Levels of Secondary Education Students Regarding the Concept of Village: The Case of Çanakkale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tezcan, Saban

2014-01-01

This study mainly aimed to determine the perceptions and definitions of the secondary education students receiving education in three different secondary education institutions located in the central district of Çanakkale Province in the 2012-2013 academic year regarding the concept of "village" through metaphors. Another aim of the…

76 FR 52968 - Notice of Public Meeting; Central Montana Resource Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-24

..., Montana 59457, (406) 538-1900, [email protected] . Persons who use a telecommunications device for the... individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours...

77 FR 75445 - Notice of Public Meeting; Central Montana Resource Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-20

..., Lewistown, MT 59457, (406) 538-1900, [email protected] . Persons who use a telecommunications device for the... individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours...

Beyond Buses, Boilers, and Books: Instructional Support Takes Center Stage for Principal Supervisors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Syed, Sarosh

2014-01-01

Denver Public Schools, one of 14 districts that receive funding from The Wallace Foundation to improve principal effectiveness, is also one of a number of districts around the country emphasizing the development of principals' managers in the central office. The principal's job has changed over the last decade, going from a role that revolved…

76 FR 47608 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Rice Solar Energy, LLC...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-05

... on privately owned land, would contain the power block, a central receiver or tower, a solar field... Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Rice Solar Energy, LLC Rice Solar Energy... Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment for the Rice Solar Energy Project (RSEP) in Riverside...

76 FR 70125 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Solar Reserve...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-10

... central receiver or tower, a solar field consisting of mirrors or heliostats to reflect the sun's energy... Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Solar Reserve LLC Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, La Paz County... (DEIS) for the proposed Quartzsite Solar Energy Project (Project), in La Paz County, Arizona, and the...

Speech and Language Disorders in Children: Implications for the Social Security Administration's Supplemental Security Income Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosenbaum, Sara, Ed.; Simon, Patti, Ed.

2016-01-01

Speech and language are central to the human experience; they are the vital means by which people convey and receive knowledge, thoughts, feelings, and other internal experiences. Acquisition of communication skills begins early in childhood and is foundational to the ability to gain access to culturally transmitted knowledge, organize and share…

Nutrient budgets of two watersheds on the Fernow Experimental Forest

Treesearch

M. B. Adams; J. N. Kochenderfer; T. R. Angradi; P. J. Edwards

1995-01-01

Acidic deposition is an important non-point source pollutant in the Central Appalachian region that is responsible for elevated nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) inputs to forest ecosystems. Nitrogen and calcium (Ca) budgets and plant tissue concentrations were compared for two watersheds, one that received three years of an artificial acidification treatment and an adjacent...

Self-Management, Perceived Control, and Subjective Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bishop, Malachy; Frain, Michael P.; Tschopp, Molly K.

2008-01-01

Self-management has been shown to increase perceived control over both illness and nonillness aspects of life among people with chronic conditions but has not received significant research attention among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on relationships proposed in the illness intrusiveness and disability centrality models, this study…

78 FR 21100 - Low Enriched Uranium From France: Final Results of the Expedited Second Sunset Review of the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-09

... received no response from the respondent interested parties, i.e., French uranium producers and exporters... Centralized Electronic Service System (IA ACCESS). IA ACCESS is available to registered users at http... the Internet at http://trade.gov/ia/ . The signed Decision Memorandum and electronic versions of the...

AN ECOSYSTEM MODEL OF A RIVER-DOMINATED PACIFIC NORTHWEST ESTURARY: ROLES OF SALT MARSH-, RIVER-, AND OCEAN-DERIVED MATERIALS

EPA Science Inventory

The Salmon River estuary on the central Oregon coast is river-dominated, with hydraulic residence times ranging from <1 day during winter high flows to a week during low flows. The estuary receives organic matter and nutrients from the river, the coastal ocean, and a bordering s...

A Simple Method to Measure the Twist Elastic Constant of a Nematic Liquid Crystal

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

for measuring the twist elastic constant (K22) of a nematic liquid crystal (LC). By adding some chiral dopant to an LC host, the LC directors rotate......of Optics and Photonics , University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA (Received 14 June 2015; accepted 6 July 2015) We demonstrate a simple method

Creating Conversations: An Inclusive Approach to the International Networking of Knowledge about Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miles, Susie

2015-01-01

Networking has been central to human communication and social engagement for centuries, but has changed dramatically with the advent of new technology. However, the practice of networking has received little academic attention and tends to be undertheorised. This paper considers the impact of the global digital and communication divide, and the…

Effect of Neurofeedback on Hemispheric Word Recognition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnea, A.; Rassis, A.; Zaidel, E.

2005-01-01

We applied SMR/theta neurofeedback (NF) training at central sites of 20 Israeli children aged 10-12 years, half boys and half girls. Half of the subjects received C3 training and the other half C4 training, consisting of 20 half-hour sessions. We assessed the effects of training on lateralized lexical decision in Hebrew. The lateralized lexical…

Spatial Variations In The Fate And Transport Of Metals In A Mining-Influenced Stream, North Fork Clear Creek, Colorado

EPA Science Inventory

North Fork Clear Creek (NFCC) receives acid-mine drainage (AMD) from multiple abandoned mines in the Clear Creek Watershed. Point sources of AMD originate In the Black Hawk/Central City region of the stream. Water chemistry also is influenced by several non-point sources of AMD,...

Mentoring for Quality Improvement: A Case Study of a Mentor Teacher in the Reform Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryan, Sharon; Hornbeck, Amy

2004-01-01

As qualified teachers are central to children receiving a high-quality preschool education, many policy initiatives aimed at improving program quality are thwarted when insufficient attention is paid to the professional development of the workforce. One response to this issue has been to create teacher leadership roles so that teachers mentor…