Control of aperture closure during reach-to-grasp movements in parkinson’s disease

PubMed Central

Rand, M. K.; Smiley-Oyen, A. L.; Shimansky, Y. P.; Bloedel, J. R.; Stelmach, G. E.

2007-01-01

This study examined whether the pattern of coordination between arm-reaching toward an object (hand transport) and the initiation of aperture closure for grasping is different between PD patients and healthy individuals, and whether that pattern is affected by the necessity to quickly adjust the reach-to-grasp movement in response to an unexpected shift of target location. Subjects reached for and grasped a vertical dowel, the location of which was indicated by illuminating one of the three dowels placed on a horizontal plane. In control conditions, target location was fixed during the trial. In perturbation conditions, target location was shifted instantaneously by switching the illumination to a different dowel during the reach. The hand distance from the target at which the subject initiated aperture closure (aperture closure distance) was similar for both the control and perturbation conditions within each group of subjects. However, that distance was significantly closer to the target in the PD group than in the control group. The timing of aperture closure initiation varied considerably across the trials in both groups of subjects. In contrast, aperture closure distance was relatively invariant, suggesting that aperture closure initiation was determined by spatial parameters of arm kinematics rather than temporal parameters. The linear regression analysis of aperture closure distance showed that the distance was highly predictable based on the following three parameters: the amplitude of maximum grip aperture, hand velocity, and hand acceleration. This result implies that a control law, the arguments of which include the above parameters, governs the initiation of aperture closure. Further analysis revealed that the control law was very similar between the subject groups under each condition as well as between the control and perturbation conditions for each group. Consequently, the shorter aperture closure distance observed in PD patients apparently is a result of the hypometria of their grip aperture and bradykinesia of hand transport movement, rather than a consequence of a deficit in transport-grasp coordination. It is also concluded that the perturbation of target location does not disrupt the transport-grasp coordination in either healthy individuals or PD patients. PMID:16307233

Control of aperture closure during reach-to-grasp movements in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Rand, M K; Smiley-Oyen, A L; Shimansky, Y P; Bloedel, J R; Stelmach, G E

2006-01-01

This study examined whether the pattern of coordination between arm-reaching toward an object (hand transport) and the initiation of aperture closure for grasping is different between PD patients and healthy individuals, and whether that pattern is affected by the necessity to quickly adjust the reach-to-grasp movement in response to an unexpected shift of target location. Subjects reached for and grasped a vertical dowel, the location of which was indicated by illuminating one of the three dowels placed on a horizontal plane. In control conditions, target location was fixed during the trial. In perturbation conditions, target location was shifted instantaneously by switching the illumination to a different dowel during the reach. The hand distance from the target at which the subject initiated aperture closure (aperture closure distance) was similar for both the control and perturbation conditions within each group of subjects. However, that distance was significantly closer to the target in the PD group than in the control group. The timing of aperture closure initiation varied considerably across the trials in both groups of subjects. In contrast, aperture closure distance was relatively invariant, suggesting that aperture closure initiation was determined by spatial parameters of arm kinematics rather than temporal parameters. The linear regression analysis of aperture closure distance showed that the distance was highly predictable based on the following three parameters: the amplitude of maximum grip aperture, hand velocity, and hand acceleration. This result implies that a control law, the arguments of which include the above parameters, governs the initiation of aperture closure. Further analysis revealed that the control law was very similar between the subject groups under each condition as well as between the control and perturbation conditions for each group. Consequently, the shorter aperture closure distance observed in PD patients apparently is a result of the hypometria of their grip aperture and bradykinesia of hand transport movement, rather than a consequence of a deficit in transport-grasp coordination. It is also concluded that the perturbation of target location does not disrupt the transport-grasp coordination in either healthy individuals or PD patients.

Intra-operative device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect without cardiopulmonary bypass under guidance of trans-epicardial echocardiography: a single center experience.

PubMed

Sun, Yong; Zhu, Peng; Zhou, Pengyu; Guo, Yilong; Zheng, Shao-Yi

2016-05-27

Intraoperative device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect(VSD) through a lower mini-sternotomy is safe, less invasive, and has excellent surgical and cosmetic outcomes. Our study is to evaluate the feasibility of closing VSD under guidance of trans-epicardial echocardiography. We reviewed the clinical course of 41 patients referred to our institution for minimally invasive closure of perimembranous VSD. The trans-epicardial echocardiography(TEE) was used to monitor the whole procedure to guide the positioning of device and evaluate the operative effect instantly after operation. The procedure was successfully done in 38 patients(92.6 %) with mean age of 1.2 ± 1.5 years(range 0.5-6.1 years),mean weight of 10.78 ± 6.87 kg(range 5.2 ~ 26 kg) and VSD size of 5.1 ± 1.13 mm(range 5 ~ 10 mm). Three cases failed, including two cases whose guide-wires could not pass through VSDs and one case whose occluder could not repair VSD well. Three patients had tiny residual shunts because of the shifting of occluders. There were no major complications such as arrhythmia, valve regurgitation and the failure of occluder during follow-up(Mean 2.3 ± 1.2 years). TEE provided superior imaging of shapes and surrounding structures of the VSDs, and guide-wires passing through VSDs. Intraoperative device closure of perimembranous VSD through a lower mini-sternotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass appears to be a safe and effective procedure. The use of trans-epicardial echocardiography provides useful information for intraoperative device closure of VSD.

Positive Catch & Economic Benefits of Periodic Octopus Fishery Closures: Do Effective, Narrowly Targeted Actions 'Catalyze' Broader Management?

PubMed

Oliver, Thomas A; Oleson, Kirsten L L; Ratsimbazafy, Hajanaina; Raberinary, Daniel; Benbow, Sophie; Harris, Alasdair

2015-01-01

Eight years of octopus fishery records from southwest Madagascar reveal significant positive impacts from 36 periodic closures on: (a) fishery catches and (b) village fishery income, such that (c) economic benefits from increased landings outweigh costs of foregone catch. Closures covered ~20% of a village's fished area and lasted 2-7 months. Octopus landings and catch per unit effort (CPUE) significantly increased in the 30 days following a closure's reopening, relative to the 30 days before a closure (landings: +718%, p<0.0001; CPUE: +87%, p<0.0001; n = 36). Open-access control sites showed no before/after change when they occurred independently of other management ("no ban", n = 17/36). On the other hand, open-access control sites showed modest catch increases when they extended a 6-week seasonal fishery shutdown ("ban", n = 19/36). The seasonal fishery shutdown affects the entire region, so confound all potential control sites. In villages implementing a closure, octopus fishery income doubled in the 30 days after a closure, relative to 30 days before (+132%, p<0.001, n = 28). Control villages not implementing a closure showed no increase in income after "no ban" closures and modest increases after "ban" closures. Villages did not show a significant decline in income during closure events. Landings in closure sites generated more revenue than simulated landings assuming continued open-access fishing at that site (27/36 show positive net earnings; mean +$305/closure; mean +57.7% monthly). Benefits accrued faster than local fishers' time preferences during 17-27 of the 36 closures. High reported rates of illegal fishing during closures correlated with poor economic performance. We discuss the implications of our findings for broader co-management arrangements, particularly for catalyzing more comprehensive management.

Self-closing shielded container for use with radioactive materials

DOEpatents

Smith, J.E.

1984-10-16

A container is described for storage of radioactive material comprising a container body and a closure member. The closure member being coupled to the container body to enable the closure body to move automatically from a first position (e.g., closed) to a second position (open). 1 fig.

System for closure of a physical anomaly

DOEpatents

Bearinger, Jane P; Maitland, Duncan J; Schumann, Daniel L; Wilson, Thomas S

2014-11-11

Systems for closure of a physical anomaly. Closure is accomplished by a closure body with an exterior surface. The exterior surface contacts the opening of the anomaly and closes the anomaly. The closure body has a primary shape for closing the anomaly and a secondary shape for being positioned in the physical anomaly. The closure body preferably comprises a shape memory polymer.

Positive Catch & Economic Benefits of Periodic Octopus Fishery Closures: Do Effective, Narrowly Targeted Actions ‘Catalyze’ Broader Management?

PubMed Central

Oliver, Thomas A.; Oleson, Kirsten L. L.; Ratsimbazafy, Hajanaina; Raberinary, Daniel; Benbow, Sophie; Harris, Alasdair

2015-01-01

Overview Eight years of octopus fishery records from southwest Madagascar reveal significant positive impacts from 36 periodic closures on: (a) fishery catches and (b) village fishery income, such that (c) economic benefits from increased landings outweigh costs of foregone catch. Closures covered ~20% of a village’s fished area and lasted 2-7 months. Fishery Catches from Each Closed Site Octopus landings and catch per unit effort (CPUE) significantly increased in the 30 days following a closure’s reopening, relative to the 30 days before a closure (landings: +718%, p<0.0001; CPUE: +87%, p<0.0001; n = 36). Open-access control sites showed no before/after change when they occurred independently of other management (“no ban”, n = 17/36). On the other hand, open-access control sites showed modest catch increases when they extended a 6-week seasonal fishery shutdown (“ban”, n = 19/36). The seasonal fishery shutdown affects the entire region, so confound all potential control sites. Fishery Income in Implementing Villages In villages implementing a closure, octopus fishery income doubled in the 30 days after a closure, relative to 30 days before (+132%, p<0.001, n = 28). Control villages not implementing a closure showed no increase in income after “no ban” closures and modest increases after “ban” closures. Villages did not show a significant decline in income during closure events. Net Economic Benefits from Each Closed Site Landings in closure sites generated more revenue than simulated landings assuming continued open-access fishing at that site (27/36 show positive net earnings; mean +$305/closure; mean +57.7% monthly). Benefits accrued faster than local fishers’ time preferences during 17-27 of the 36 closures. High reported rates of illegal fishing during closures correlated with poor economic performance. Broader Co-Management We discuss the implications of our findings for broader co-management arrangements, particularly for catalyzing more comprehensive management. PMID:26083862

Sugar beet growth in a changing climate: past, present and future trends in southwest Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kremer, Pascal; Fuchs, Hans-Joachim; Lang, Christian

2017-04-01

In the study, single factors and their impact on sugar beet cultivation against the background of past and projected climate change are being analyzed. The database consists of climate data by the German Weather Service and 1x1 km interpolated INTERMET raster data. Impact models were run to assess possible future trends using climate projection data of the REgional MOdel (REMO), emission scenario A1B, Run 1, data stream 2 for Germany, daily resolution, without bias correction, 10x10 km raster (n=150) (MPI on behalf of UBA 2006). Compared periods were: B:1971 2000; K:2021-2050; L:2071-2100. Agronomic data were collected from the field books of regional trials from 1974 2014 (n=448). Moreover, a business survey of regional farmers was carried out and evaluated. Impact models to predict timing for sowing, the date of field emergence and row closure, were derived from these data. The ontogenesis was simulated using a linear, temperature-based leaf-growth model. Sowing shifted forward by 7,3 days in regional field trials from 1974 2014. Progress-oriented, risk-tolerant farmers start sowing 10-14 days earlier compared to 1980. Recently, sowing is being conducted on average on 21 March in southwest Germany. For period K, 17 March, and for period L, 2 March is being projected as the average future sowing date while the same late frost risk applies compared to present climatic conditions. Shifting forward the sowing date with spring warming and, thus, exploiting the associated yield potential is the most promising agronomic adaptation strategy to the projected climate change on the farm level. In connection to earlier sowing, the field emergence tendentially shifted forward by 14 days in the field trials. Assuming sowing on 15 March, projection results show an advance of field emergence form 7 April in period B to 3 April in period L. Row closure in field trials in average shifted forward by 19,6 days. For period L, 29 May and thus, an earlier row closure of 9 days compared to K, is being projected. In period L, 20-leaf-stage is being projected 7,8 days, and 40-leaf-stage 11,2 days earlier compared to period K. All previously mentioned trends positively influence the yield potential of sugar beets due to the increasing use efficiency of photosynthetically active radiation. Running a correlation analysis, the height of the yield variance reconnaissance ratio of the main weather-related growth factors, temperature and precipitation, was determined. During the main growth phase from June-September, the precipitation sum explains 76%, the daily average temperature sum from April-October in the range of 3°C-19°C explains 64% of the yield variance of Mainz from 1991-2012. For both parameters, a decrease is being projected for the second half of the 21st century, which would influence the regional yield potential negatively. Summarizing, climate change had positive as well as negative impacts on regional sugar beet cultivation. Based on the REMO data, past trends continue prospectively. Due to that, it is important to fully use positive effects for yield formation. Furthermore, adaption to negative climatic changes and research are crucial to guarantee a high-yielding, sustainable sugar beet growth in future.

Bloodstain pattern classification: Accuracy, effect of contextual information and the role of analyst characteristics.

PubMed

Osborne, Nikola K P; Taylor, Michael C; Healey, Matthew; Zajac, Rachel

2016-03-01

It is becoming increasingly apparent that contextual information can exert a considerable influence on decisions about forensic evidence. Here, we explored accuracy and contextual influence in bloodstain pattern classification, and how these variables might relate to analyst characteristics. Thirty-nine bloodstain pattern analysts with varying degrees of experience each completed measures of compliance, decision-making style, and need for closure. Analysts then examined a bloodstain pattern without any additional contextual information, and allocated votes to listed pattern types according to favoured and less favoured classifications. Next, if they believed it would assist with their classification, analysts could request items of contextual information - from commonly encountered sources of information in bloodstain pattern analysis - and update their vote allocation. We calculated a shift score for each item of contextual information based on vote reallocation. Almost all forms of contextual information influenced decision-making, with medical findings leading to the highest shift scores. Although there was a small positive association between shift scores and the degree to which analysts displayed an intuitive decision-making style, shift scores did not vary meaningfully as a function of experience or the other characteristics measured. Almost all of the erroneous classifications were made by novice analysts. Copyright © 2016 The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association of land use and its change with beach closure in ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Land use and its change have great influences on water quality. However, their impacts on microbial contamination of beach water have been rarely investigated and their relationship with beach closure is still unknown. Here, we analyzed beach closure data obtained from 2004 to 2013 for more than 500 beaches in the United States, and examined their associations with land use around beaches in 2006 and 2011, respectively, as well as the land use change between 2011 and 2006. The results show that the number of beach closures is negatively associated with the percentages of forest, barren land, grassland and wetland, while positively associated with the percentage of urban area. The results from multi-level models also indicate the negative association with forest area but positive association with urban area and agriculture. The examination of the change of land use and the number of beach closures between 2011 and 2006 indicates that the increase in the number of beach closures is positively associated with the increase in urban (β=1.612, p<0.05) and agricultural area including pasture (β=0.098, p<0.05), but negatively associated with the increase in forest area (β= -1.789, p<0.05). The study suggests that urbanization and agriculture development near beaches have adverse effects on beach microbial water quality, while afforestation may protect beach water quality and reduce the number of beach closures. To compare differences in beach closures across the US u

Reynolds Stress Closure for Inertial Frames and Rotating Frames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petty, Charles; Benard, Andre

2017-11-01

In a rotating frame-of-reference, the Coriolis acceleration and the mean vorticity field have a profound impact on the redistribution of kinetic energy among the three components of the fluctuating velocity. Consequently, the normalized Reynolds (NR) stress is not objective. Furthermore, because the Reynolds stress is defined as an ensemble average of a product of fluctuating velocity vector fields, its eigenvalues must be non-negative for all turbulent flows. These fundamental properties (realizability and non-objectivity) of the NR-stress cannot be compromised in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of turbulent flows in either inertial frames or in rotating frames. The recently developed universal realizable anisotropic prestress (URAPS) closure for the NR-stress depends explicitly on the local mean velocity gradient and the Coriolis operator. The URAPS-closure is a significant paradigm shift from turbulent closure models that assume that dyadic-valued operators associated with turbulent fluctuations are objective.

A Foot-Mounted Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Positioning Algorithm Based on Magnetic Constraint

PubMed Central

Zou, Jiaheng

2018-01-01

With the development of related applications, indoor positioning techniques have been more and more widely developed. Based on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and geomagnetism, indoor positioning techniques often rely on the physical location of fingerprint information. The focus and difficulty of establishing the fingerprint database are in obtaining a relatively accurate physical location with as little given information as possible. This paper presents a foot-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) positioning algorithm under the loop closure constraint based on magnetic information. It can provide relatively reliable position information without maps and geomagnetic information and provides a relatively accurate coordinate for the collection of a fingerprint database. In the experiment, the features extracted by the multi-level Fourier transform method proposed in this paper are validated and the validity of loop closure matching is tested with a RANSAC-based method. Moreover, the loop closure detection results show that the cumulative error of the trajectory processed by the graph optimization algorithm is significantly suppressed, presenting a good accuracy. The average error of the trajectory under loop closure constraint is controlled below 2.15 m. PMID:29494542

A Foot-Mounted Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) Positioning Algorithm Based on Magnetic Constraint.

PubMed

Wang, Yan; Li, Xin; Zou, Jiaheng

2018-03-01

With the development of related applications, indoor positioning techniques have been more and more widely developed. Based on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and geomagnetism, indoor positioning techniques often rely on the physical location of fingerprint information. The focus and difficulty of establishing the fingerprint database are in obtaining a relatively accurate physical location with as little given information as possible. This paper presents a foot-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) positioning algorithm under the loop closure constraint based on magnetic information. It can provide relatively reliable position information without maps and geomagnetic information and provides a relatively accurate coordinate for the collection of a fingerprint database. In the experiment, the features extracted by the multi-level Fourier transform method proposed in this paper are validated and the validity of loop closure matching is tested with a RANSAC-based method. Moreover, the loop closure detection results show that the cumulative error of the trajectory processed by the graph optimization algorithm is significantly suppressed, presenting a good accuracy. The average error of the trajectory under loop closure constraint is controlled below 2.15 m.

Neurophysiological Correlates of Musical and Prosodic Phrasing: Shared Processing Mechanisms and Effects of Musical Expertise

PubMed Central

Steinhauer, Karsten; DePriest, John; Koelsch, Stefan

2016-01-01

The processing of prosodic phrase boundaries in language is immediately reflected by a specific event-related potential component called the Closure Positive Shift (CPS). A component somewhat reminiscent of the CPS in language has also been reported for musical phrases (i.e., the so-called ‘music CPS’). However, in previous studies the quantification of the music-CPS as well as its morphology and timing differed substantially from the characteristics of the language-CPS. Therefore, the degree of correspondence between cognitive mechanisms of phrasing in music and in language has remained questionable. Here, we probed the shared nature of mechanisms underlying musical and prosodic phrasing by (1) investigating whether the music-CPS is present at phrase boundary positions where the language-CPS has been originally reported (i.e., at the onset of the pause between phrases), and (2) comparing the CPS in music and in language in non-musicians and professional musicians. For the first time, we report a positive shift at the onset of musical phrase boundaries that strongly resembles the language-CPS and argue that the post-boundary ‘music-CPS’ of previous studies may be an entirely distinct ERP component. Moreover, the language-CPS in musicians was found to be less prominent than in non-musicians, suggesting more efficient processing of prosodic phrases in language as a result of higher musical expertise. PMID:27192560

Neurophysiological Correlates of Musical and Prosodic Phrasing: Shared Processing Mechanisms and Effects of Musical Expertise.

PubMed

Glushko, Anastasia; Steinhauer, Karsten; DePriest, John; Koelsch, Stefan

2016-01-01

The processing of prosodic phrase boundaries in language is immediately reflected by a specific event-related potential component called the Closure Positive Shift (CPS). A component somewhat reminiscent of the CPS in language has also been reported for musical phrases (i.e., the so-called 'music CPS'). However, in previous studies the quantification of the music-CPS as well as its morphology and timing differed substantially from the characteristics of the language-CPS. Therefore, the degree of correspondence between cognitive mechanisms of phrasing in music and in language has remained questionable. Here, we probed the shared nature of mechanisms underlying musical and prosodic phrasing by (1) investigating whether the music-CPS is present at phrase boundary positions where the language-CPS has been originally reported (i.e., at the onset of the pause between phrases), and (2) comparing the CPS in music and in language in non-musicians and professional musicians. For the first time, we report a positive shift at the onset of musical phrase boundaries that strongly resembles the language-CPS and argue that the post-boundary 'music-CPS' of previous studies may be an entirely distinct ERP component. Moreover, the language-CPS in musicians was found to be less prominent than in non-musicians, suggesting more efficient processing of prosodic phrases in language as a result of higher musical expertise.

Relationship between relative lens position and appositional closure in eyes with narrow angles.

PubMed

Otori, Yasumasa; Tomita, Yuki; Hamamoto, Ayumi; Fukui, Kanae; Usui, Shinichi; Tatebayashi, Misako

2011-03-01

To investigate the relationship between relative lens position (RLP) and appositional closure in eyes with narrow angles. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was used to measure anterior chamber depth (ACD) and lens thickness (LT), and the IOLMaster to measure axial length (AL). The number of quadrants with appositional closure was assessed by UBM under dark conditions. The RLP was calculated thus: RLP = 10 × (ACD + 0.5 LT) /AL. This study comprised 30 consecutive patients (30 eyes) with narrow-angle eyes defined as Shaffer grade 2 or lower and without peripheral anterior synechiae (24 women, 6 men; mean age ± SD, 67.3 ± 10.4 years; range, 42-87 years). Under dark conditions, 66.7% of the eyes with narrow angles showed appositional closure in at least one quadrant. Of the various ocular biometric parameters, only the RLP significantly decreased with appositional closure in at least one quadrant (P = 0.005). A decrease in the RLP can be predictive of appositional closure for narrow-angle eyes under dark conditions.

Valve for controlling solids flow

DOEpatents

Feldman, David K.

1980-01-01

A fluidized solids control valve is disclosed that is particularly well adapted for use with a flow of coal or char that includes both large particles and fines. The particles may or may not be fluidized at various times during the operation. The valve includes a tubular body that terminates in a valve seat covered by a normally closed closure plate. The valve body at the seat and the closure plate is provided with aligned longitudinal slots that receive a pivotally supported key plate. The key plate is positionable by an operator in inserted, intermediate and retracted positions respecting the longitudinal slot in the valve body. The key plate normally closes the slot within the closure plate but is shaped and aligned obliquely to the longitudinal slot within the valve body to provide progressively increasing slot openings between the inserted and retracted positions. Transfer members are provided between the operator, key plate and closure plate to move the closure plate into an open position only when the key plate is retracted from the longitudinal slot within the valve body.

The Political Self: How Identity Aligns Preferences With Epistemic Needs.

PubMed

Federico, Christopher M; Ekstrom, Pierce D

2018-06-01

Numerous studies have indicated that the need for closure predicts political preferences. We examined a potential moderator of this relationship: political-identity centrality, or the extent to which individuals' political preferences are central to their self-concept. We tested three hypotheses. First, we predicted that need for closure would be more strongly related to political identity (symbolic ideology and party identification; Hypothesis 1) and issue positions (operational ideology; Hypothesis 2) among individuals who see their political preferences as more self-central. Then we predicted that the stronger relationship between need for closure and issue positions among individuals high in centrality would be accounted for by stronger relationships between need for closure and political identity and between political identity and issue positions (Hypothesis 3). Data from a nationally representative survey provide evidence for these hypotheses, suggesting that the relationship between epistemic needs and political preferences differs as a function of how self-relevant politics is.

The effect of tourniquet and knee position during wound closure after total knee arthroplasty on early recovery of range of motion: a prospective, randomized study.

PubMed

Şükür, Erhan; Öztürkmen, Yusuf; Akman, Yunus Emre; Senel, Ahmet; Azboy, İbrahim

2016-12-01

There is no consensus on the position of the knee joint while performing wound closure after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Further, there are no studies focusing on the association between early functional outcomes and different wound closure strategies. Therefore, we investigated the effects of tourniquet and knee position during wound closure on early recovery of range of motion (ROM) after primary TKA. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the influence of both tourniquet and knee position during wound closure in primary TKA. One hundred-twenty eligible patients were consecutively enrolled in this study and randomly divided into four groups according to wound closure strategy. Wound closure was either performed with the knee in flexion at 90° or in full extension, with the combination of an inflated or deflated tourniquet. Visual analogue score (VAS), knee ROM, ROM recovery, knee society score (KSS), and wound complications were evaluated in the early postoperative period. After the first postoperative week, ROM recovery in the group with knee in extension and inflated tourniquet was significantly lesser than the two groups with deflated tourniquets. Between the first and fourth postoperative weeks, ROM recovery in the group with knee inflection and deflated tourniquet was significantly higher than the two groups with knee in extension. After the first postoperative week, the visual analog score (VAS) for pain in the group with knee inflection and deflated tourniquet was significantly lesser than the two groups with inflated tourniquets. The differences in the outcomes between the four groups were not significant after the fourth postoperative week. The incidence of wound complications and KSS were not significantly different between the four groups. Following TKA, wound closure with the knee in flexion and after deflating the tourniquet significantly decreased postoperative pain and promoted the recovery of ROM in the early postoperative period.

The Influence of Closing Poor Performing Primary Schools on the Educational Attainment of Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Witte, Kristof; Van Klaveren, Chris

2014-01-01

This paper examines whether the closure of poor performing primary schools improved students' educational attainment. It is believed that school closure affects children's educational outcomes positively because children switch to better primary schools. At the same time, school closure creates a social disturbance such that educational outcomes…

Impaired alertness and performance driving home from the night shift: a driving simulator study.

PubMed

Akerstedt, Torbjörn; Peters, Björn; Anund, Anna; Kecklund, Göran

2005-03-01

Driving in the early morning is associated with increased accident risk affecting not only professional drivers but also those who commute to work. The present study used a driving simulator to investigate the effects of driving home from a night shift. Ten shift workers participated after a normal night shift and after a normal night sleep. The results showed that driving home from the night shift was associated with an increased number of incidents (two wheels outside the lane marking, from 2.4 to 7.6 times), decreased time to first accident, increased lateral deviation (from 18 to 43 cm), increased eye closure duration (0.102 to 0.143 s), and increased subjective sleepiness. The results indicate severe postnight shift effects on sleepiness and driving performance.

Ocular Measures of Sleepiness Are Increased in Night Shift Workers Undergoing a Simulated Night Shift Near the Peak Time of the 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Rhythm

PubMed Central

Ftouni, Suzanne; Sletten, Tracey L.; Nicholas, Christian L.; Kennaway, David J.; Lockley, Steven W.; Rajaratnam, Shantha M.W.

2015-01-01

Study Objectives: The study examined the relationship between the circadian rhythm of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) and ocular measures of sleepiness and neurobehavioral performance in shift workers undergoing a simulated night shift. Methods: Twenty-two shift workers (mean age 33.4, SD 11.8 years) were tested at approximately the beginning (20:00) and the end (05:55) of a simulated night shift in the laboratory. At the time point corresponding to the end of the simulated shift, 14 participants were classified as being within range of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) acrophase— defined as 3 hours before or after aMT6s peak—and 8 were classified as outside aMT6s acrophase range. Participants completed the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and the auditory psychomotor vigilance task (aPVT). Waking electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded and infrared reflectance oculography was used to collect ocular measures of sleepiness: positive and negative amplitude/velocity ratio (PosAVR, NegAVR), mean blink total duration (BTD), the percentage of eye closure (%TEC), and a composite score of sleepiness levels (Johns Drowsiness Scale; JDS). Results: Participants who were tested within aMT6s acrophase range displayed higher levels of sleepiness on ocular measures (%TEC, BTD, PosAVR, JDS), objective sleepiness (EEG delta power frequency band), subjective ratings of sleepiness, and neurobehavioral performance, compared to those who were outside aMT6s acrophase range. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that objective ocular measures of sleepiness are sensitive to circadian rhythm misalignment in shift workers. Citation: Ftouni S, Sletten TL, Nicholas CL, Kennaway DJ, Lockley SW, Rajaratnam SM. Ocular measures of sleepiness are increased in night shift workers undergoing a simulated night shift near the peak time of the 6-sulfatoxymelatonin rhythm. J Clin Sleep Med 2015;11(10):1131–1141. PMID:26094925

Development of a score and probability estimate for detecting angle closure based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Nongpiur, Monisha E; Haaland, Benjamin A; Perera, Shamira A; Friedman, David S; He, Mingguang; Sakata, Lisandro M; Baskaran, Mani; Aung, Tin

2014-01-01

To develop a score along with an estimated probability of disease for detecting angle closure based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS OCT) imaging. Cross-sectional study. A total of 2047 subjects 50 years of age and older were recruited from a community polyclinic in Singapore. All subjects underwent standardized ocular examination including gonioscopy and imaging by AS OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec). Customized software (Zhongshan Angle Assessment Program) was used to measure AS OCT parameters. Complete data were available for 1368 subjects. Data from the right eyes were used for analysis. A stepwise logistic regression model with Akaike information criterion was used to generate a score that then was converted to an estimated probability of the presence of gonioscopic angle closure, defined as the inability to visualize the posterior trabecular meshwork for at least 180 degrees on nonindentation gonioscopy. Of the 1368 subjects, 295 (21.6%) had gonioscopic angle closure. The angle closure score was calculated from the shifted linear combination of the AS OCT parameters. The score can be converted to an estimated probability of having angle closure using the relationship: estimated probability = e(score)/(1 + e(score)), where e is the natural exponential. The score performed well in a second independent sample of 178 angle-closure subjects and 301 normal controls, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94. A score derived from a single AS OCT image, coupled with an estimated probability, provides an objective platform for detection of angle closure. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

77 FR 19055 - Morgan Olson, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-29

... noncompliance is that the affected vehicles do not contain a primary door latch system or door closure warning... for either a primary door latch system or door closure warning system applied only to its vehicles... latched position. Nor are these vehicles equipped with a door closure warning system. Rule text: Paragraph...

Variation in stop consonant voicing in two regional varieties of American English

PubMed Central

Jacewicz, Ewa; Fox, Robert Allen; Lyle, Samantha

2010-01-01

This study is an acoustic investigation of the nature and extent of consonant voicing of the stop /b/ in two dialectal varieties of American English spoken in south-central Wisconsin and western North Carolina. The stop /b/ occurred at the juncture of two words such as small bids, in a position between two voiced sonorants, i.e. the liquid /l/ and a vowel. Twenty women participated, ten representing the Wisconsin and ten the North Carolina variety, respectively. Significant dialectal differences were found in the voicing patterns. The Wisconsin stop closures were usually not fully voiced and terminated in a complete silence followed by a closure release whereas North Carolina speakers produced mostly fully voiced closures. Further dialectal differences included the proportion of closure voicing as a function of word emphasis. For Wisconsin speakers, the proportion of closure voicing was smallest when the word was emphasized and it was greatest in non-emphatic positions. For North Carolina speakers, the degree of word emphasis did not have an effect on the proportion of closure voicing. The results suggest different mechanisms by which closure voicing is maintained in these two dialects, pointing to active articulatory maneuvers in North Carolina speakers and passive in Wisconsin speakers. PMID:20198112

Online Work Force Analyzes Social Media to Identify Consequences of an Unplanned School Closure - Using Technology to Prepare for the Next Pandemic.

PubMed

Rainey, Jeanette J; Kenney, Jasmine; Wilburn, Ben; Putman, Ami; Zheteyeva, Yenlik; O'Sullivan, Megan

During an influenza pandemic, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may recommend school closures. These closures could have unintended consequences for students and their families. Publicly available social media could be analyzed to identify the consequences of an unplanned school closure. As a proxy for an unplanned, pandemic-related school closure, we used the district-wide school closure due to the September 10-18, 2012 teachers' strike in Chicago, Illinois. We captured social media posts about the school closure using the Radian6 social media-monitoring platform. An online workforce from Amazon Mechanical Turk categorized each post into one of two groups. The first group included relevant posts that described the impact of the closure on students and their families. The second group included irrelevant posts that described the political aspects of the strike or topics unrelated to the school closure. All relevant posts were further categorized as expressing a positive, negative, or neutral sentiment. We analyzed patterns of relevant posts and sentiment over time and compared our findings to household surveys conducted after other unplanned school closures. We captured 4,546 social media posts about the district-wide school closure using our search criteria. Of these, 930 (20%) were categorized as relevant by the online workforce. Of the relevant posts, 619 (67%) expressed a negative sentiment, 51 (5%) expressed a positive sentiment, and 260 (28%) were neutral. The number of relevant posts, and especially those with a negative sentiment, peaked on day 1 of the strike. Negative sentiment expressed concerns about childcare, missed school lunches, and the lack of class time for students. This was consistent with findings from previously conducted household surveys. Social media are publicly available and can readily provide information on the impact of an unplanned school closure on students and their families. Using social media to assess the impact of an unplanned school closure due to a public health event would be informative. An online workforce can effectively assist with the review process.

Online Work Force Analyzes Social Media to Identify Consequences of an Unplanned School Closure – Using Technology to Prepare for the Next Pandemic

PubMed Central

Rainey, Jeanette J.; Kenney, Jasmine; Wilburn, Ben; Putman, Ami; Zheteyeva, Yenlik; O’Sullivan, Megan

2016-01-01

Background During an influenza pandemic, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may recommend school closures. These closures could have unintended consequences for students and their families. Publicly available social media could be analyzed to identify the consequences of an unplanned school closure. Methods As a proxy for an unplanned, pandemic-related school closure, we used the district-wide school closure due to the September 10–18, 2012 teachers’ strike in Chicago, Illinois. We captured social media posts about the school closure using the Radian6 social media-monitoring platform. An online workforce from Amazon Mechanical Turk categorized each post into one of two groups. The first group included relevant posts that described the impact of the closure on students and their families. The second group included irrelevant posts that described the political aspects of the strike or topics unrelated to the school closure. All relevant posts were further categorized as expressing a positive, negative, or neutral sentiment. We analyzed patterns of relevant posts and sentiment over time and compared our findings to household surveys conducted after other unplanned school closures. Results We captured 4,546 social media posts about the district-wide school closure using our search criteria. Of these, 930 (20%) were categorized as relevant by the online workforce. Of the relevant posts, 619 (67%) expressed a negative sentiment, 51 (5%) expressed a positive sentiment, and 260 (28%) were neutral. The number of relevant posts, and especially those with a negative sentiment, peaked on day 1 of the strike. Negative sentiment expressed concerns about childcare, missed school lunches, and the lack of class time for students. This was consistent with findings from previously conducted household surveys. Conclusion Social media are publicly available and can readily provide information on the impact of an unplanned school closure on students and their families. Using social media to assess the impact of an unplanned school closure due to a public health event would be informative. An online workforce can effectively assist with the review process. PMID:27655229

Impact of bootstrap current and Landau-fluid closure on ELM crashes and transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, J. G.; Xu, X. Q.; Ma, C. H.; Lei, Y. A.

2018-05-01

Results presented here are from 6-field Landau-Fluid simulations using shifted circular cross-section tokamak equilibria on BOUT++ framework. Linear benchmark results imply that the collisional and collisionless Landau resonance closures make a little difference on linear growth rate spectra which are quite close to the results with the flux limited Spitzer-Härm parallel flux. Both linear and nonlinear simulations show that the plasma current profile plays dual roles on the peeling-ballooning modes that it can drive the low-n peeling modes and stabilize the high-n ballooning modes. For fixed total pressure and current, as the pedestal current decreases due to the bootstrap current which becomes smaller when the density (collisionality) increases, the operational point is shifted downwards vertically in the Jped - α diagram, resulting in threshold changes of different modes. The bootstrap current can slightly increase radial turbulence spreading range and enhance the energy and particle transports by increasing the perturbed amplitude and broadening cross-phase frequency distribution.

Energy budget above a high-elevation subalpine forest in complex topography

USGS Publications Warehouse

Turnipseed, A.A.; Blanken, P.D.; Anderson, D.E.; Monson, Russell K.

2002-01-01

Components of the energy budget were measured above a subalpine coniferous forest over two complete annual cycles. Sensible and latent heat fluxes were measured by eddy covariance. Bowen ratios ranged from 0.7 to 2.5 in the summer (June-September) depending upon the availability of soil water, but were considerably higher (???3-6) during winter (December-March). Energy budget closure averaged better than 84% on a half-hourly basis in both seasons with slightly greater closure during the winter months. The energy budget showed a dependence on friction velocity (u*), approaching complete closure at u* values greater than 1 m s-1. The dependence of budget closure on u* explained why energy balance was slightly better in the winter as opposed to summer, since numerous periods of high turbulence occur in winter. It also explained the lower degree of energy closure (???10% less) during easterly upslope flow since these periods were characterized by low wind speeds (U < 4 m s-1) and friction velocities (u* < 0.5 m s-1). Co-spectral analysis suggests a shift of flux density towards higher frequencies under conditions where closure was obtained. It is suggested that low frequency contributions to the flux and advection were responsible for the lack of day-time energy budget closure. These effects were reduced at high friction velocities observed at our site. Our ability to close the energy budget at night was also highly dependent on friction velocity, approaching near closure (???90%) at u* values between 0.7 and 1.1 m s-1. Below this range, the airflow within the canopy becomes decoupled with the flow above. Above this range, insufficient temperature resolution of the sonic anemometer obscured the small temperature fluctuations, rendering measurements intractable. ?? 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Transition and closeout of the Fernald Closure Project

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

Bilson, H.E.; Terry, T.; Reising, J.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Fluor Fernald have completed the majority of the cleanup of the Fernald Site. The over 1,000 acre complex for processing uranium has been demolished and soil contamination has been remediated. With acres of wetlands and prairies replacing the buildings and waste pits. At the end of the project the focus shifted to developing demonstrating the completion of the project and the contract, as well as ensuring a smooth transition of the facility from the DOE's Environmental Management (EM) Program to the DOE's Legacy Management (LM) Program. Working with the DOE, each portion ofmore » the closure contract was examined for specific closure definition. From this negotiation effort the Comprehensive Exit and Transition Plan (CE/T Plan) was written. The CE/T Plan is intended to assist DOE in the analysis that the site is ready for transfer into long-term stewardship (LTS) (also referred to as legacy management) and that Fluor Fernald, Inc. has satisfactorily completed the closure contract statement of work elements. Following the Lessons Learned from the closure of the Rocky Flats Site, the DOE's Legacy Management Program created a matrix of Transition Elements required to ensure adequate information was in place to allow the new prime contractor to perform the Legacy Management scope of work. The transition plan included over 1,000 elements broken down into functional areas and relied on specific Fernald Responsibility Transition Packages (RTPs) for detailed transition actions. The template for Closure and Transition Planning used at the Fernald Site was developed using the best Lessons Learned from across the DOE Complex. The template could be used for other sites, and lessons learned from this closure and transition will be appropriate for all closure projects. (authors)« less

The impact of primary packaging on the quality of parenteral products.

PubMed

Solomun, Ljiljana; Ibric, Svetlana; Boltic, Zorana; Djuric, Zorica; Stupar, Biljana

2008-11-04

The unique approach in manufacturing of pharmaceutical dosage forms of active substances known to be unstable in aqueous solution is the introduction of lyophilization process. Nevertheless, these products must be reconstituted using the diluent from a separate container before application. The possible solution for this problem is the application of dual chamber vials comprising the freeze-dried product in a lower compartment of the vial and the solution for reconstitution in the upper chamber. The main issue in development of such product is the choice of contact packaging (rubber closures, glass vials and the container closure system as a whole). The most important parameter used for evaluation of the influence of contact material on product quality was the pH value. The results have shown that the type of vials (moulded or tubular glass) has no impact on pH shift of the solution for reconstitution (tested solution-TS), while significant differences in pH value of the TS were observed depending on the rubber closures formulation used (with some formulations, the pH shift during the test was 6.5-9.14). Benzyl alcohol assay during the tests remained unchanged. Integrity tests of the container closure system (CCS) have demonstrated the adequacy of the selected packaging system. The quality of the CCS of choice was confirmed in the course of stability studies, only parameters directly influenced by CCS being presented in this work: loss on drying and pH value. On the basis of these results, no changes in loss on drying were connected to CCS, and the pH value of the reconstituted solution remains unchanged in samples tested both ex-tempore and after in-use period of 48 h.

Stratifying photo plots into volume classes...by crown closure comparator

Treesearch

Robert C. Aldrich

1967-01-01

As an aid to aerial photo interpretation, a Crown Closure Comparator has been developed. Printed as a positive film transparency, this device shows tree crowns as open dots on a black background. The Comparator is used to stratify I-acre plots into broad volume classes on single aerial photos using 4 crown-diameter and 9 crown-closure classes. It can also be used for...

Self-testing security sensor for monitoring closure of vault doors and the like

DOEpatents

Cawthorne, Duane C.

1997-05-27

A self-testing device is provided for a monitoring system for monitoring whether a closure member such as a door or window is closed. The monitoring system includes a switch unit mounted on the frame of the closure member being monitored and including magnetically biased switches connected in one or more electrical monitoring circuits, and a door magnet unit mounted on the closure member being monitored. The door magnet includes one or more permanent magnets that produce a magnetic field which, when the closure member is closed, cause said switches to assume a first state. When the closure member is opened, the switches switch to a second, alarm state. The self-testing device is electrically controllable from a remote location and produces a canceling or diverting magnetic field which simulates the effect of movement of the closure member from the closed position thereof without any actual movement of the member.

Self-testing security sensor for monitoring closure of vault doors and the like

DOEpatents

Cawthorne, D.C.

1997-05-27

A self-testing device is provided for a monitoring system for monitoring whether a closure member such as a door or window is closed. The monitoring system includes a switch unit mounted on the frame of the closure member being monitored and including magnetically biased switches connected in one or more electrical monitoring circuits, and a door magnet unit mounted on the closure member being monitored. The door magnet includes one or more permanent magnets that produce a magnetic field which, when the closure member is closed, cause said switches to assume a first state. When the closure member is opened, the switches switch to a second, alarm state. The self-testing device is electrically controllable from a remote location and produces a canceling or diverting magnetic field which simulates the effect of movement of the closure member from the closed position thereof without any actual movement of the member. 5 figs.

Need for closure and heuristic information processing: the moderating role of the ability to achieve the need for closure.

PubMed

Kossowska, Małgorzata; Bar-Tal, Yoram

2013-11-01

In contrast to the ample research that shows a positive relationship between the need for closure (NFC) and heuristic information processing, this research examines the hypothesis that this relationship is moderated by the ability to achieve closure (AAC), that is, the ability to use information-processing strategies consistent with the level of NFC. Three different operationalizations of heuristic information processing were used: recall of information consistent with the impression (Study 1); pre-decisional information search (Study 2); and stereotypic impression formation (Study 3). The results of the studies showed that there were positive relationships between NFC and heuristic information processing when participants assessed themselves as being able to use cognitive strategies consistent with their level of NFC (high AAC). For individuals with low AAC, the relationships were negative. Our data show that motivation-cognition interactions influence the information-processing style. © 2012 The British Psychological Society.

The Effect on Somatic Growth of Surgical and Catheter Treatment of Secundum Atrial Septal Defects.

PubMed

Chlebowski, Meghan M; Dai, Hongying; Kaine, Stephen F

2017-10-01

Historical studies suggest an association between atrial septal defect (ASD) and impaired growth with inconsistent improvement following closure. Limited data exist regarding the impact on growth in the era of transcatheter therapy. To evaluate the effect of closure on growth, we conducted a retrospective review of patients undergoing surgical or transcatheter closure during two time periods. Four hundred patients with isolated secundum ASD were divided into three cohorts: early surgical, contemporary surgical, and transcatheter. Data collected included demographics; height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) percentiles; catheterization hemodynamics; and co-morbidities. For all cohorts, there was no significant change in height or weight percentiles during two years after ASD closure. Age at repair was later for contemporary surgical and transcatheter cohorts (p < 0.0001). In the transcatheter cohort, mean Qp:Qs was 1.65 ± 0.54, but there was no correlation between greater Qp:Qs and decreased somatic growth. Subgroup analysis for patients with any initial growth percentile <5th percentile demonstrated a significant change in weight and BMI percentiles in the first two years after closure (p < 0.0004). The advent of transcatheter therapy shifted institutional practice to later age at repair for both surgical and transcatheter closure. There was no significant change in weight and height percentiles during two years after closure. Only patients with initial weight and BMI <5th percentile had improved growth after treatment. Concern for impaired growth should not generally be an indication for early ASD repair. However, early repair may be indicated in children with existing significant growth failure.

Co-activated yet disconnected-Neural correlates of eye closures when trying to stay awake.

PubMed

Ong, Ju Lynn; Kong, Danyang; Chia, Tiffany T Y; Tandi, Jesisca; Thomas Yeo, B T; Chee, Michael W L

2015-09-01

Spontaneous eye-closures that herald sleep onset become more frequent when we are sleep deprived. Although these are typically associated with decreased responsiveness to external stimuli, it is less clear what occurs in the brain at these transitions to drowsiness and light sleep. To investigate this, task-free fMRI of sleep-deprived participants was acquired. BOLD activity associated with periods of spontaneously occurring eye closures were marked and analyzed. We observed concurrent and extensive hypnagogic co-activation of the extrastriate visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortices as well as the default mode network, consistent with internal sensory activity without external stimulation. Co-activation of fronto-parietal areas known to mediate attentional control could correspond with participants resisting sleep or additional engagement of mental imagery. This constellation of signal changes differed from those elicited by cued eye closures of similar duration and distribution in the same, rested participants. They also differ from signal changes associated with mind-wandering and consolidated light sleep. Concurrent with the observed event-related changes, eye closures elicited additional reduction in functional connectivity within nodes of the DMN and DAN, superposed on already reduced connectivity associated with sleep deprivation. There was concurrent deactivation of the thalamus during eye-closure during the sleep-deprived state but almost similar changes occurred in the well-rested state that may also be relevant. These findings highlight the dynamic shifts in brain activity and connectivity at border between wakefulness and sleep. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Cavity closure arrangement for high pressure vessels

DOEpatents

Amtmann, Hans H.

1981-01-01

A closure arrangement for a pressure vessel such as the pressure vessel of a high temperature gas-cooled reactor wherein a liner is disposed within a cavity penetration in the reactor vessel and defines an access opening therein. A closure is adapted for sealing relation with an annular mounting flange formed on the penetration liner and has a plurality of radially movable locking blocks thereon having outer serrations adapted for releasable interlocking engagement with serrations formed internally of the upper end of the penetration liner so as to effect high strength closure hold-down. In one embodiment, ramping surfaces are formed on the locking block serrations to bias the closure into sealed relation with the mounting flange when the locking blocks are actuated to locking positions.

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Lessons learned after 200 cases.

PubMed

Abellán Morcillo, Israel; Qurashi, Kamran; Abrisqueta Carrión, Jesús; Martinez Isla, Alberto

2014-05-01

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is a reliable, reproducible and cost-effective treatment for common bile duct stones. Several techniques have been described for choledochotomy closure. To present our experience and the lessons learned in more than 200 cases of LCBDE. Between January 1999 and July 2012, 206 patients with common bile duct stones underwent LCBDE. At the beginning of the series, we performed the closure of the CBD over a T-tube (36 patients), subsequently we favoured closure over an antegrade stent (133 patients) but due to a high incidence of acute pancreatitis in the last 16 patients we have performed primary closure. The 3 closure groups were matched for age and sex. Jaundice was the most frequent presentation. A total of 185 (88,5%) patients underwent choledochotomy whereas in 17 (8,7%) patients the transcystic route was used. The group that underwent choledochotomy had a larger size of stones compared to the transcystic group (9,7 vs 7,6mm). In the stented group we found an 11,6% incidence of pancreatitis and 26,1% of hyperamylasemia. In the primary closure group we found a clear improvement of complications and hospital stay. The increased experience of the surgeon and age (younger than 75) had a positive impact on mortality and morbidity. Primary closure of the common bile duct after LCBDE seems to be superior to closure over a T tube and stents. The learning curve seems to have a positive impact on the outcomes making it a safe and reproducible technique especially for patients aged under 75. Copyright © 2013 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Prospective experimental study of transrectal viscerotomy closure using transanal endoscopic suture vs. circular stapler: a step toward NOTES.

PubMed

Diana, M; Leroy, J; Wall, J; De Ruijter, V; Lindner, V; Dhumane, P; Mutter, D; Marescaux, J

2012-06-01

Endoluminal full-thickness closure of the rectal wall is critical in emerging procedures including endoscopic submucosal dissection and transrectal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). This study aimed to compare manual suture using the transanal endoscopic operation platform (TEO; Karl Storz, Tüttlingen, Germany) with the end-to-end anastomosis hemorrhoid circular stapler (EEA; Covidien, Dublin, Ireland) for closure of the rectal viscerotomy during transrectal NOTES segmental colectomy. A total of 12 swine underwent transrectal hybrid NOTES partial colectomies. Animals were divided into two groups according to the viscerotomy closure technique: 1) TEO manual suture; 2) EEA circular stapler closure. Mean (± SD) viscerotomy closure time was 67.5 ± 59.5 minutes and 31.5 ± 19.6 minutes for TEO and EEA, respectively. There was one conversion to laparoscopy in the TEO group and a misfiring in the EEA group that required a TEO salvage suture. There was one positive air-leak test in each group. Peritoneal fluid collected at the end of the procedure tested positive for bacterial contamination in all cases. A mild stenosis was present in 4 /6 viscerotomies (67 %) in the TEO group and in 1/6 (17 %) in the EEA group on endoscopic control. Inflammatory changes were mild in 3/5 (60 %) and 4/5 (80 %) viscerotomies in the TEO and EEA groups, respectively, whereas severe inflammation was found in 2/5 (TEO) and 1 /5 (EEA). Transrectal viscerotomy closure using the EEA circular stapler technique is feasible, easy to perform, and histologically comparable to suture closure through a TEO platform. It may offer an attractive alternative for NOTES segmental colectomies and endoscopic resections. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Closure and ratio correlation analysis of lunar chemical and grain size data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butler, J. C.

1976-01-01

Major element and major element plus trace element analyses were selected from the lunar data base for Apollo 11, 12 and 15 basalt and regolith samples. Summary statistics for each of the six data sets were compiled, and the effects of closure on the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient were investigated using the Chayes and Kruskal approximation procedure. In general, there are two types of closure effects evident in these data sets: negative correlations of intermediate size which are solely the result of closure, and correlations of small absolute value which depart significantly from their expected closure correlations which are of intermediate size. It is shown that a positive closure correlation will arise only when the product of the coefficients of variation is very small (less than 0.01 for most data sets) and, in general, trace elements in the lunar data sets exhibit relatively large coefficients of variation.

Method of well testing

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

Ringgenberg, P.D.; Burris, W.J.

1988-06-28

A method is described of flow testing a formation in a wellbore, comprising: providing a testing string including at least one annulus pressure responsive tool bore closure valve; providing a packer and setting the packer in the wellbore to seal thereacross; running the testing string into the wellbore with the tool bore closure valve in an open position; stinging into the set packer with the bottom of the testing string; increasing pressure a first time in the wellbore annulus around the testing string and above the set packer without cycling the tool bore closure valve; reducing pressure in the wellboremore » annulus; closing the tool bore closure valve responsive to the pressure reduction; increasing pressure a second time in the wellbore annulus; reopening the tool bore closure valve responsive to the second increase; and flowing fluids from the formation through the reopened tool bore closure valve.« less

Fatigue Crack Closure Analysis Using Digital Image Correlation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leser, William P.; Newman, John A.; Johnston, William M.

2010-01-01

Fatigue crack closure during crack growth testing is analyzed in order to evaluate the critieria of ASTM Standard E647 for measurement of fatigue crack growth rates. Of specific concern is remote closure, which occurs away from the crack tip and is a product of the load history during crack-driving-force-reduction fatigue crack growth testing. Crack closure behavior is characterized using relative displacements determined from a series of high-magnification digital images acquired as the crack is loaded. Changes in the relative displacements of features on opposite sides of the crack are used to generate crack closure data as a function of crack wake position. For the results presented in this paper, remote closure did not affect fatigue crack growth rate measurements when ASTM Standard E647 was strictly followed and only became a problem when testing parameters (e.g., load shed rate, initial crack driving force, etc.) greatly exceeded the guidelines of the accepted standard.

Beyond NIMBYs and NOOMBYs: what can wind farm controversies teach us about public involvement in hospital closures?

PubMed

Stewart, Ellen; Aitken, Mhairi

2015-12-01

Many policymakers, researchers and commentators argue that hospital closures are necessary as health systems adapt to new technological and financial contexts, and as population health needs in developed countries shift. However closures are often unpopular with local communities. Previous research has characterised public opposition as an obstacle to change. Public opposition to the siting of wind farms, often described as NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard), is a useful comparator issue to the perceived NOOMBYism (Not Out Of My Back Yard) of hospital closure protestors. The analysis of public attitudes to wind farms has moved from a fairly crude characterisation of the 'attitude-behaviour gap' between publics who support the idea of wind energy, but oppose local wind farms, to empirical, often qualitative, studies of public perspectives. These have emphasised the complexity of public attitudes, and revealed some of the 'rational' concerns which lie beneath protests. Research has also explored processes of community engagement within the wind farm decision-making process, and the crucial role of trust between communities, authorities, and developers. Drawing on what has been learnt from studies of opposition to wind farms, we suggest a range of questions and approaches to explore public perspectives on hospital closure more thoroughly. Understanding the range of public responses to service change is an important first step in resolving the practical dilemma of effecting health system transformation in a democratic fashion.

Alpine forest-tundra ecotone response to temperature change,Sayan Mountains, Siberia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ranson, K Jon; Kharuk, Vyetcheslav I.

2007-01-01

Models of climate change predict shifts of vegetation zones. Tree response to climate trends is most likely observable in the forest-tundra ecotone, where temperature mainly limits tree growth. There is evidence of vegetation change on the northern treeline However, observations on alpine tree line response are controversial. In this NEESPI related study we show that during the past three decades in the forest-tundra ecotone of the Sayan Mountains, Siberia, there was an increase in forest stand crown closure, regeneration propagation into the alpine tundra, and transformation of prostrate Siberian pine and fir into arboreal forms. We found that these changes occurred since the mid 1980s, and strongly correlates with positive temperature (and to a lesser extent, precipitation) trends. Improving climate for forest growth( i.e., warmer temperatures and increased precipitation) provides competitive advantages to Siberian pine in the alpine forest-tundra ecotone, as well as in areas typically dominated by larch, where it has been found to be forming a secondary canopy layer. Substitution of deciduous conifer, larch, for evergreen conifers, decreases albedo and provides positive feedback for temperature increase.

40 CFR 63.1046 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... vapor leakage could occur) on the cover and associated closure devices shall be checked. Potential leak... test, the cover and closure devices shall be secured in the closed position. (3) The detection... constituent. (4) The detection instrument shall be calibrated before use on each day of its use by the...

Randomized clinical trial of intestinal ostomy takedown comparing pursestring wound closure vs conventional closure to eliminate the risk of wound infection.

PubMed

Camacho-Mauries, Daniel; Rodriguez-Díaz, José Luis; Salgado-Nesme, Noel; González, Quintín H; Vergara-Fernández, Omar

2013-02-01

The use of temporary stomas has been demonstrated to reduce septic complications, especially in high-risk anastomosis; therefore, it is necessary to reduce the number of complications secondary to ostomy takedowns, namely wound infection, anastomotic leaks, and intestinal obstruction. To compare the rates of superficial wound infection and patient satisfaction after pursestring closure of ostomy wound vs conventional linear closure. Patients undergoing colostomy or ileostomy closure between January 2010 and February 2011 were randomly assigned to linear closure (n = 30) or pursestring closure (n = 31) of their ostomy wound. Wound infection within 30 days of surgery was defined as the presence of purulent discharge, pain, erythema, warmth, or positive culture for bacteria. Patient satisfaction, healing time, difficulty managing the wound, and limitation of activities were analyzed with the Likert questionnaire. The infection rate for the control group was 36.6% (n = 11) vs 0% in the pursestring closure group (p < 0.0001). Healing time was 5.9 weeks in the linear closure group and 3.8 weeks in the pursestring group (p = 0.0002). Seventy percent of the patients with pursestring closure were very satisfied in comparison with 20% in the other group (p = 0.0001). This study was limited by the heterogeneity in the type of stoma in both groups. The pursestring method resulted in the absence of infection after ostomy wound closure (shorter healing time and improved patient satisfaction).

Biometric parameters in different stages of primary angle closure using low-coherence interferometry.

PubMed

Yazdani, Shahin; Akbarian, Shadi; Pakravan, Mohammad; Doozandeh, Azadeh; Afrouzifar, Mohsen

2015-03-01

To compare ocular biometric parameters using low-coherence interferometry among siblings affected with different degrees of primary angle closure (PAC). In this cross-sectional comparative study, a total of 170 eyes of 86 siblings from 47 families underwent low-coherence interferometry (LenStar 900; Haag-Streit, Koeniz, Switzerland) to determine central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth (ACD), aqueous depth (AD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous depth, and axial length (AL). Regression coefficients were applied to show the trend of the measured variables in different stages of angle closure. To evaluate the discriminative power of the parameters, receiver operating characteristic curves were used. Best cutoff points were selected based on the Youden index. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicative values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic accuracy were determined for each variable. All biometric parameters changed significantly from normal eyes to PAC suspects, PAC, and PAC glaucoma; there was a significant stepwise decrease in central corneal thickness, ACD, AD, vitreous depth, and AL, and an increase in LT and LT/AL. Anterior chamber depth and AD had the best diagnostic power for detecting angle closure; best levels of sensitivity and specificity were obtained with cutoff values of 3.11 mm for ACD and 2.57 mm for AD. Biometric parameters measured by low-coherence interferometry demonstrated a significant and stepwise change among eyes affected with various degrees of angle closure. Although the current classification scheme for angle closure is based on anatomical features, it has excellent correlation with biometric parameters.

Attitudes of Community Developmental Services Agency Staff toward Issues of Inclusion for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Jessica; Ouellette-Kuntz, Helene; Vilela, Tania; Brown, Hilary

2008-01-01

In many countries, the shift in policy surrounding intellectual disabilities (ID) from segregation to inclusion has resulted in the closure of large-scale institutions in favor of integrated community programs and living accommodations. Because the success of the community inclusion movement lies in the hands of the staff who implement these…

49 CFR 173.24a - Additional general requirements for non-bulk packagings and packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... design. Except as provided in § 172.312 of this subchapter: (1) Inner packaging closures. A combination... packed, secured and cushioned to prevent their breakage or leakage and to control their shifting within... Group I packaging may be used for a Packing Group II material with a specific gravity not exceeding the...

49 CFR 173.24a - Additional general requirements for non-bulk packagings and packages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... design. Except as provided in § 172.312 of this subchapter: (1) Inner packaging closures. A combination... packed, secured and cushioned to prevent their breakage or leakage and to control their shifting within... Group I packaging may be used for a Packing Group II material with a specific gravity not exceeding the...

Evaluation of muscle hyperactivity of the grimacing muscles by unilateral tight eyelid closure and stapedius muscle tone.

PubMed

Shiba, Masato; Matsuo, Kiyoshi; Ban, Ryokuya; Nagai, Fumio

2012-10-01

Muscle hyperactivity of grimacing muscles, including the orbicularis oculi and corrugator supercilii muscles that cause crow's feet and a glabellar frown line with ageing, cannot be accurately evaluated by surface observation. In 71 subjects, this study investigated the extent to which grimacing muscles are innervated by the bilateral motor cortices, whether the corticofacial projection to the grimacing muscles affects the facially innervated stapedius muscle tone by measuring static compliance of the tympanic membrane, and whether unilateral tight eyelid closure with contraction of the grimacing muscles changes static compliance. Unilateral tight eyelid closure and its subsequent change in the contralateral vertical medial eyebrow position revealed that motor neurons of the orbicularis oculi and corrugator supercilii muscles were innervated by the bilateral motor cortices with weak-to-strong contralateral dominance. The orbicularis oculi, corrugator supercilii, and stapedius muscles innervated by the bilateral motor cortices had increased muscle hyperactivity, which lowered the vertical medial eyebrow position and decreased the static compliance of the tympanic membrane more than those innervated by the unilateral motor cortex. Unilateral enhanced tight eyelid closure with contraction of the grimacing muscles in certain subjects ipsilaterally decreased the static compliance with increased contraction of the stapedius muscle, which probably occurs to immobilise the tympanic membrane and protect the inner ear from loud sound. Evaluation of unilateral tight eyelid closure and the subsequent change in the contralateral vertical medial eyebrow position as well as a measurement of the static compliance for the stapedius muscle tone has revealed muscle hyperactivity of grimacing muscles.

78 FR 11097 - Artificial Island Anchorage No. 2 Partial Closure, Delaware River; Salem, NJ

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

... 1625-AA00 Artificial Island Anchorage No. 2 Partial Closure, Delaware River; Salem, NJ AGENCY: Coast... safety zone around the southern portion of Anchorage 2 (Artificial Island Anchorage) below position 39... will cross the closed portion of the anchorage. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety...

Echocardiographic Follow-Up of Patent Foramen Ovale and the Factors Affecting Spontaneous Closure.

PubMed

Yildirim, Ali; Aydin, Alperen; Demir, Tevfik; Aydin, Fatma; Ucar, Birsen; Kilic, Zubeyir

2016-11-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the echocardiographic follow-up of patent foramen ovale, which is considered a potential etiological factor in various diseases, and to determine the factors affecting spontaneous closure. Between January 2000 and June 2012, records of 918 patients with patent foramen ovale were retrospectively reviewed. Patency of less than 3 mm around the fossa ovalis is called patent foramen ovale. Patients with cyanotic congenital heart diseases, severe heart valve disorders and severe hemodynamic left to right shunts were excluded from the study. The patients were divided into three groups based on age; 1 day-1 month in group 1, 1 month-12 months in group 2, and more than 12 months in group 3. Of the 918 patients, 564 (61.4%) had spontaneous closure, 328 (35.8%) had patent foramen ovale continued, 15 (1.6%) patients had patent foramen ovale enlarged to 3-5 mm, 6 patients were enlarged to 5-8 mm, and in one patient patent foramen ovale reached to more than 8 mm size. Defect was spontaneously closed in 65.9% of the patients in group 1, 66.7% of the patients in group 2, and 52.3% of the patients in group 3. There was a negative correlation between the age of diagnosis and spontaneous closure (p < 0.05). Gender, prematurity and coexisting malformations such as patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal aneurysm did not have any effect on spontaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (p > 0.05). However, ventricular septal defect and spontaneous closure of patent foramen ovale had a positive correlation (p < 0.01). No correlation was noted between the existence of atrial septal aneurysm, prematurity, and maturity of the patients. The present study demonstrated that spontaneous closure rate of patent foramen ovale is high. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between spontaneous closure of patent foramen ovale with early diagnosis and small defect size.

Unilateral angle-closure glaucoma with ciliochoroidal effusion after the consumption of cannabis: a case report.

PubMed

Hanna, Rana; Tiosano, Beatrice; Dbayat, Noora; Gaton, Dan

2014-01-01

A 35-year-old male patient, diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma, did not improve despite intensive treatment with antiglaucoma medications. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a ciliochoroidal effusion. Due to his past history of drug abuse, a urine test was analyzed and found to be positive for cannabis. After topical cycloplegia and oral steroid therapy, his symptoms improved substantially. The present case highlights the role of ultrasound biomicroscopy in evaluating patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma and the role of cannabis abuse in the development of ciliochoroidal effusion.

Dramatic increase in the relative abundance of large male dungeness crabs Cancer magister following closure of commercial fishing in Glacier Bay, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Taggart, S. James; Shirley, Thomas C.; O'Clair, Charles E.; Mondragon, Jennifer

2004-01-01

The size structure of the population of the Dungeness crab Cancer magister was studied at six sites in or near Glacier Bay, Alaska, before and after the closure of commercial fishing. Seven years of preclosure and 4 years of postclosure data are presented. After the closure of Glacier Bay to commercial fishing, the number and size of legal-sized male Dungeness crabs increased dramatically at the experimental sites. Female and sublegal-sized male crabs, the portions of the population not directly targeted by commercial fishing, did not increase in size or abundance following the closure. There was not a large shift in the size-abundance distribution of male crabs at the control site that is still open to commercial fishing. Marine protected areas are being widely promoted as effective tools for managing fisheries while simultaneously meeting marine conservation goals and maintaining marine biodiversity. Our data demonstrate that the size of male Dungeness crabs can markedly increase in a marine reserve, which supports the concept that marine reserves could help maintain genetic diversity in Dungeness crabs and other crab species subjected to size-limit fisheries and possibly increase the fertility of females. ?? 2004 by the American Fisheries Society.

Cranial Suture Closure in Domestic Dog Breeds and Its Relationships to Skull Morphology.

PubMed

Geiger, Madeleine; Haussman, Sinah

2016-04-01

Bulldog-type brachycephalic domestic dog breeds are characterized by a relatively short and broad skull with a dorsally rotated rostrum (airorhynchy). Not much is known about the association between a bulldog-type skull conformation and peculiar patterns of suture and synchondrosis closure in domestic dogs. In this study, we aim to explore breed-specific patterns of cranial suture and synchondrosis closure in relation to the prebasial angle (proxy for airorhynchy and thus bulldog-type skull conformation) in domestic dogs. For this purpose, we coded closure of 18 sutures and synchondroses in 26 wolves, that is, the wild ancestor of all domestic dogs, and 134 domestic dogs comprising 11 breeds. Comparisons of the relative amount of closing and closed sutures and synchondroses (closure scores) in adult individuals showed that bulldog-type breeds have significantly higher closure scores than non-bulldog-type breeds and that domestic dogs have significantly higher closure scores than the wolf. We further found that the prebasial angle is significantly positively correlated with the amount of closure of the basispheno-presphenoid synchondrosis and sutures of the nose (premaxillo-nasal and maxillo-nasal) and the palate (premaxillo-maxillary and interpalatine). Our results show that there is a correlation between patterns of suture and synchondrosis closure and skull shape in domestic dogs, although the causal relationships remain elusive. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Analysis of Mining-induced Valley Closure Movements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, C.; Mitra, R.; Oh, J.; Hebblewhite, B.

2016-05-01

Valley closure movements have been observed for decades in Australia and overseas when underground mining occurred beneath or in close proximity to valleys and other forms of irregular topographies. Valley closure is defined as the inward movements of the valley sides towards the valley centreline. Due to the complexity of the local geology and the interplay between several geological, topographical and mining factors, the underlying mechanisms that actually cause this behaviour are not completely understood. A comprehensive programme of numerical modelling investigations has been carried out to further evaluate and quantify the influence of a number of these mining and geological factors and their inter-relationships. The factors investigated in this paper include longwall positional factors, horizontal stress, panel width, depth of cover and geological structures around the valley. It is found that mining in a series passing beneath the valley dramatically increases valley closure, and mining parallel to valley induces much more closure than other mining orientations. The redistribution of horizontal stress and influence of mining activity have also been recognised as important factors promoting valley closure, and the effect of geological structure around the valley is found to be relatively small. This paper provides further insight into both the valley closure mechanisms and how these mechanisms should be considered in valley closure prediction models.

Citizen Contributions to the Closure of High-Level Waste (HLW) Tanks 18 and 19 at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) - 13448

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

Lawless, W.F.

2013-07-01

Citizen involvement in DOE's decision-making for the environmental cleanup from DOE's management of its nuclear wastes across the DOE complex has had a positive effect on the cleanup of its SRS site, characterized by an acceleration of cleanup not only for the Transuranic wastes at SRS, but also for DOE's first two closures of HLW tanks, both of which occurred at SRS. The Citizens around SRS had pushed successfully for the closures of Tanks 17 and 20 in 1997, becoming the first closures of HLW tanks under regulatory guidance in the USA. However, since then, HLW tank closures ceased duemore » to a lawsuit, the application of new tank clean-up technology, interagency squabbling between DOE and NRC over tank closure criteria, and finally and almost fatally, from budget pressures. Despite an agreement with its regulators for the closure of Tanks 18 and 19 by the end of calendar year 2012, the outlook in Fall 2011 to close these two tanks had dimmed. It was at this point that the citizens around SRS became reengaged with tank closures, helping DOE to reach its agreed upon milestone. (authors)« less

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome in the elderly treated by percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure: a case series and literature review.

PubMed

Blanche, Coralie; Noble, Stéphane; Roffi, Marco; Testuz, Ariane; Müller, Hajo; Meyer, Philippe; Bonvini, John M; Bonvini, Robert F

2013-12-01

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare clinical phenomenon, associating normal oxygen saturation in a supine position and arterial hypoxemia in an upright position. This pathology can be secondary to an intracardiac shunt, a pulmonary vascular shunt or a ventilation-perfusion mismatch. Cardiac POS occurs in the presence of a right-to-left cardiac shunt, most commonly through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). From our single-center prospective database of percutaneous PFO closure we identified five patients (4 females, mean age: 77 ± 11 years) out of 224 (2.2%) patients with a PFO who presented with a POS of cardiac origin. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiographic examinations revealed the underlying mechanisms of POS and the diagnosis was confirmed by right-and-left cardiac catheterization (RLC) and by measuring serial blood oxygen saturation in the pulmonary veins and left atrium in supine and upright positions. PFO was associated with atrial septal aneurysm and a persistent prominent Eustachian valve in 3 patients. All patients underwent a successful percutaneous PFO closure without any immediate or subsequent complications (mean follow-up of 24 ± 18 months). Immediately after the procedure, mean arterial oxygen saturation improved from 83% ± 3 to 93% ± 2 in an upright position and symptoms disappeared. POS is a rare and under-diagnosed pathology that must be actively investigated in the presence of position-dependent hypoxemia. The diagnostic work-up must exclude other causes of hypoxemia and confirm the intracardiac shunt using either contrast echocardiography or RLC. For cardiac POS, percutaneous PFO closure is a safe and effective technique that immediately relieves orthodeoxia and patient symptoms. © 2013.

Ancient plate kinematics derived from the deformation pattern of continental crust: Paleo- and Neo-Tethys opening coeval with prolonged Gondwana-Laurussia convergence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroner, Uwe; Roscher, Marco; Romer, Rolf L.

2016-06-01

The formation and destruction of supercontinents requires prolonged convergent tectonics between particular plates, followed by intra-continental extension during subsequent breakup stages. A specific feature of the Late Paleozoic supercontinent Pangea is the prolonged and diachronous formation of the collisional belts of the Rheic suture zone coeval with recurrent continental breakup and subsequent formation of the mid-ocean ridge systems of the Paleo- and Neo-Tethys oceans at the Devonian and Permian margins of the Gondwana plate, respectively. To decide whether these processes are causally related or not, it is necessary to accurately reconstruct the plate motion of Gondwana relative to Laurussia. Here we propose that the strain pattern preserved in the continental crust can be used for the reconstruction of ancient plate kinematics. We present Euler pole locations for the three fundamental stages of the Late Paleozoic assembly of Pangea and closure of the Rheic Ocean: (I) Early Devonian (ca. 400 Ma) collisional tectonics affected Gondwana at the Armorican Spur north of western Africa and at the promontory of the South China block/Australia of eastern Gondwana, resulting in the Variscan and the Qinling orogenies, respectively. The Euler pole of the rotational axis between Gondwana and Laurussia is positioned east of Gondwana close to Australia. (II) Continued subduction of the western Rheic Ocean initiates the clockwise rotation of Gondwana that is responsible for the separation of the South China block from Gondwana and the opening of Paleo-Tethys during the Late Devonian. The position of the rotational axis north of Africa reveals a shift of the Euler pole to the west. (III) The terminal closure of the Rheic Ocean resulted in the final tectonics of the Alleghanides, the Mauritanides and the Ouachita-Sonora-Marathon belt, occurred after the cessation of the Variscan orogeny in Central Europe, and is coeval with the formation of the Central European Extensional Province and the opening of Neo-Tethys at ca. 300 Ma. The Euler pole for the final closure of the Rheic Ocean is positioned near Oslo (Laurussia). Thus, the concomitant formation of convergent and divergent plate boundaries during the assembly of Pangea is due to the relocation of the particular rotational axis. From a geodynamic point of view, coupled collisional (western Pangea) and extensional tectonics (eastern Pangea) due to plate tectonic reorganization is fully explained by slab pull and ridge push forces.

Ectomycorrhizal fungal succession coincides with shifts in organic nitrogen availability and canopy closure in post-wildfire jack pine forests

Treesearch

Stephen D. LeDuc; Erik A. Lilleskov; Thomas R. Horton; David E. Rothstein

2013-01-01

Successional changes in belowground ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities have been observed with increasing forest stand age; however, mechanisms behind this change remain unclear. It has been hypothesized that declines of inorganic nitrogen (N) and increases of organic N influence changes in EMF taxa over forest development. In a post-wildfire chronosequence of...

Preliminary Assessment of the Proposed Closure of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS): A Report to the President and the Congress.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horton, Forest Woody, Ed.; Kadec, Sarah T., Ed.

This document reports on an NCLIS (National Commission on Libraries and Information Science) study of the proposal to close NTIS (National Technical Information Service) and shift its paper, microfiche, digital archives, and bibliographic database to the Library of Congress. The report documents the results of research, interviews, public…

77 FR 24915 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revising the Proposed Special Rule for the Utah...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-26

..., recreational sports fields, nursing homes, schools), or disturbing the sanctity of a significant human cultural... populations with seasonal shooting closures of March 14 to June 15 show positive population growths and low to negligible risk of extirpation (Colorado Division of Wildlife 2007, p. 135). These seasonal shooting closure...

Goose-neck snare-assisted transcatheter ASD closure: A safety procedure for large and complex ASDs.

PubMed

Butera, Gianfranco; Lovin, Nicusor; Basile, Domenica Paola; Carminati, Mario

2016-04-01

To report on a new technique that increases the safety of percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure using a goose-neck snare system. ASD transcatheter closure is a widespread procedure. However, in some cases, ASDs may be large and with soft rims. In these situation, a potential risk exists for device malposition or embolization. When transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) evaluation and balloon sizing showed large defects with floppy rims the chosen Amplatzer device was implanted in a standard way. In large defects with floppy rims, before release a 5-mm goose-neck snare with its 4 Fr catheter was placed across the delivery cable and fixed to catch the screwing mechanism of implanted Amplatzer device. The delivery cable was unscrewed and the device reached its final position without any tension. If the position was considered satisfactory the device was released from the goose-neck snare. Thirteen patients had a snare-assisted ASD transcatheter closure. Median device size was 24 mm (range 14-38 mm). Retrieval or repositioning of the device using the goose-neck snare was performed in four cases: in three patients, because of device malposition after delivery cable release and in one patient, because of unsuitability of closure of a second significant defect. Furthermore, in two subjects with multiple ASDs, a second fenestration looked quite significant with the device still attached to the delivery cable while it appeared smaller after release. Snare-assisted Amplatzer ASD device placement is a new method for ASD percutaneous closure and adds safety to the procedure. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Secure closure of the tracheal incision after natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery with a surgical sealant (CoSeal).

PubMed

Liu, Yun-Hen; Wu, Yi-Cheng; Chen, Tzu-Ping; Ko, Po-Jen

2011-09-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical sealant (CoSeal) in sealing the tracheal assess sites after transtracheal thoracoscopy. Two dogs underwent transtracheal thoracic exploration and pericardial window creation. The thoracic cavity was approached with flexible bronchoscope through a 9-mm tracheal incision. The pericardial window was performed with a needle knife via the working channel of the bronchoscope, and the tracheal assess site was closed with CoSeal using a rubber catheter. The integrity of tracheal healing was evaluated under positive pressure ventilation. Transtracheal creation of pericardial window and closure of tracheal incision with CoSeal was successfully performed in both dogs. There was no evidence of air leaks from the chest tube during positive pressure ventilation. Autopsy revealed no injury to the mediastinum and intrathoracic structure. Endoscopic closure of tracheal access site of NOTES with CoSeal appears to be a feasible technique.

Public expectations about access fees and road closures on public lands

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cline, K.; Lamb, B.L.; Ponds, P.D.

2006-01-01

It is sometimes suggested that land managers could better communicate with the general public by relying on people who are active in community affairs to frame the message. By comparing responses from the 'attentive' and general public on the Colorado Plateau in the USA, this study investigated the expected effects of using recreation access fees or road closures to manage recreation on public lands. Although neither the attentive nor general public strongly anticipated benefits from the two management options, the attentive public was more likely than the general public to report positive expectations. Those more likely to expect fewer benefits from the management options do so because of factors that are outside the influence of managers (e.g., socio-demographics and value orientation). The results point out challenges for building public support through mobilizing the attentive public to develop a positive management atmosphere with fees and road closures. ?? 2006 University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Experimental study on visual detection for fatigue of fixed-position staff.

PubMed

Nie, Baisheng; Huang, Xin; Chen, Yang; Li, Anjin; Zhang, Ruming; Huang, Jinxin

2017-11-01

Fatigue can lead to decreased work performance and poorer safety and health condition. Fatigue is ubiquitous in production and in life, while the research on it is mainly concentrated in the automotive driving, aircraft piloting and other fields, and it is insufficient to study on the fatigue of fixed-position staff. This paper puts forward a non-contact visual image method, which can monitor the extent of fatigue of fixed-position staff. Fatigue threshold used in judgment is obtained by processing the recorded data of visual images of the experimental subjects when fatiguing and by analyzing eye closure time, percentage of eyelid closure (PERCLOS) value, frequency and number of blinks. The results show that there is significant difference among the four indicators before and after experiment subjects undergo fatigue. The fatigue of experimental subjects is obvious when eye closure time is 3.5 s/min, PERCLOS value 6%, and blink frequency 0.4 times/s. This provides a reference for a wider range of detection of fatigue and a method for avoiding mistakes and accidents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A theoretical DFT study on the structural parameters and azide-tetrazole equilibrium in substituted azidothiazole systems.

PubMed

Abu-Eittah, Rafie H; El-Kelany, Khaled E

2012-12-01

Azido-tetrazole equilibrium is sensitive to: substitution, solvent, temperature and phase. In this work, the effects of the type and position of substitution on the thiazole ring of azidothiazoles on its structural parameters and on the azido-tetrazole equilibrium have been theoretically investigated using the density functional procedures at the B3LYP/6-311G(∗∗) level of theory. This study includes the investigation of the equilibrium geometry, the transformation of the trans-conformer to the cis one then the ring closure to the tetrazole isomer. The transition states of the two steps were located, confirmed and the structural parameters were calculated. In all the steps of calculations, geometry optimization was considered. The results obtained indicate that substitution by: -NO(2) and -CN group shifts the equilibrium to the azide side and in some cases the tetrazole isomer is not obtained. On the other hand, substitution by: -NH(2) and -OH groups shifts the equilibrium to the tetrazole side and in some cases the azide isomer is not obtained and if formed changes spontaneously to the tetrazole isomer. The decisive parameters which determine the position of the equilibrium are: charge density on atoms N3 and N8, rearrangement of bond length and bond angles during the process of cyclization and variation of dipole moment as a result of cyclization. Results of this work indicate that substitution on C5 is more efficient than substitution on C4 of the thiazole ring. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Unilateral Angle-Closure Glaucoma with Ciliochoroidal Effusion after the Consumption of Cannabis: A Case Report

PubMed Central

Hanna, Rana; Tiosano, Beatrice; Dbayat, Noora; Gaton, Dan

2014-01-01

A 35-year-old male patient, diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma, did not improve despite intensive treatment with antiglaucoma medications. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a ciliochoroidal effusion. Due to his past history of drug abuse, a urine test was analyzed and found to be positive for cannabis. After topical cycloplegia and oral steroid therapy, his symptoms improved substantially. The present case highlights the role of ultrasound biomicroscopy in evaluating patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma and the role of cannabis abuse in the development of ciliochoroidal effusion. PMID:25606036

Contamination of injectable solutions with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole leached from rubber closures.

PubMed

Reepmeyer, J C; Juhl, Y H

1983-11-01

An impurity, discovered in a sample of digoxin injectable solution commercially packaged in a syringe for single-dose delivery, was found to originate from the rubber closure of the syringe and was identified as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, a common accelerator for rubber vulcanization. Several similarly packaged injectable solutions of a variety of drugs from various manufacturers were examined and over half contained 2-mercaptobenzothiazole. The compound was identified by UV spectrophotometry (including a pH-dependent shift in its absorbance maximum), by mass spectrometry, and by comparison with standard 2-mercaptobenzothiazole using silica gel and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The presence of this impurity in injectable solutions may have implications with regard to toxicity and may interfere with the assay of digoxin injectable solution by HPLC.

The end of the asylum (town): community responses to the depopulation and closure of the Saskatchewan Hospital, Weyburn.

PubMed

Dooley, Chris

2011-01-01

Never is the fraught relationship between the state-run custodial mental hospital and its host community clearer than during the period of rapid deinstitutionalization, when communities, facing the closure of their mental health facilities, inserted themselves into debates about the proper configuration of the mental health care system. Using the case of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, site in the 1960s of one of Canada's earliest and most radical experiments in rapid institutional depopulation, this article explores the government of Saskatchewan's management of the conflict between the latent functions of the old-line mental hospital as a community institution, an employer, and a generator of economic activity with its manifest function as a site of care made obsolete by the shift to community models of care.

Ageism against Older U.S. College Students: A View from Social Closure Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simi, Demi; Matusitz, Jonathan

2016-01-01

This paper examines ageism among older students in U.S. higher education. Ageism involves any uncalled-for reaction to any age and does not require racism and sexism to exist. Social closure theory is the research framework used in this analysis. The theory posits that specific parties (i.e., in-groups) gain benefits by closing off favorable…

Keyhole Fracture of the Skull

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 Keyhole Fracture of the Skull irrigation and drainage of the penetrating...skull injury without craniotomy , and repair of the laceration via advancement flap Fig. 3. Diagram of forces involved in creation of keyhole...midline shift was noted. Helical CT scan performed the following day after debridement, irrigation, drainage , and closure of the gunshot wound showed

Agricultural Intensification as a Mechanism of Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kyle, P.; Calvin, K. V.; le Page, Y.; Patel, P.; West, T. O.; Wise, M. A.

2015-12-01

The research, policy, and NGO communities have devoted significant attention to the potential for agricultural intensification, or closure of "yield gaps," to alleviate future global hunger, poverty, climate change impacts, and other threats. However, because the research to this point has focused on biophysically attainable yields—assuming optimal choices under ideal conditions—the presently available work has not yet addressed the likely responses of the agricultural sector to real-world conditions in the future. This study investigates endogenous agricultural intensification in response to global climate change impacts—that is, intensification independent of policies or other exogenous interventions to promote yield gap closure. The framework for the analysis is a set of scenarios to 2100 in the GCAM global integrated assessment model, enhanced to include endogenous irrigation, fertilizer application, and yields, in each of 283 land use regions, with maximum yields based on the 95th percentile of attainable yields in a recent global assessment. We assess three levels of agricultural climate impacts, using recent global gridded crop model datasets: none, low (LPJmL), and high (Pegasus). Applying formulations for decomposition of climate change impacts response developed in prior AgMIP work, we find that at the global level, availability of high-yielding technologies mitigates price shocks and shifts the agricultural sector's climate response modestly towards intensification, away from cropland expansion and reduced production. At the regional level, the behavior is more complex; nevertheless, availability of high-yielding production technologies enhances the inter-regional shifts in agricultural production that are induced by climate change, complemented by commensurate changes in trade patterns. The results highlight the importance of policies to facilitate yield gap closure and inter-regional trade as mechanisms for adapting to climate change

Dynamic behaviour of the soft palate during nasal positive pressure ventilation under anaesthesia and paralysis: comparison between patients with and without obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

PubMed

Okuyama, M; Kato, S; Sato, S; Okazaki, J; Kitamura, Y; Ishikawa, T; Sato, Y; Isono, S

2018-01-01

Difficult mask ventilation is common and is known to be associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). It is our hypothesis that the incidence of expiratory retropalatal (RP) airway closure (primary outcome) during nasal positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is more frequent in patients with SDB (apnea hypopnea index ≥5 h -1 ) than non-SDB subjects. The severity of SDB was assessed before surgery using a portable sleep monitor. In anaesthetized and paralysed patients with (n=11) and without SDB (n=9), we observed the behaviour of the RP airway endoscopically during nasal PPV with the mouth closed and determined the dynamic RP closing pressure, which was defined as the highest airway pressure above which the RP airway closure was reversed. The static RP closing pressure was obtained during cessation of mechanical ventilation in patients with dynamic RP closure during nasal PPV. The expiratory RP airway closure accompanied by expiratory flow limitation occurred more frequently in SDB patients (9/11, 82%) than in non-SDB subjects (2/9, 22%; exact logistic regression analysis: P=0.022, odds ratio 3.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-15.4). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated AHI >10h -1 and presence of habitual snoring as clinically useful predictors for the occurrence of RP closure during PPV. Dynamic RP closing pressure was greater than the static RP closing pressure by approximately 4-5 cm H 2 O. Valve-like dynamic RP closure that limits expiratory flow during nasal PPV occurs more frequently in SDB patients. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Relationship of Financial Pressures and Community Characteristics to Closure of Private Safety Net Clinics.

PubMed

Li, Suhui; Dor, Avi; Pines, Jesse M; Zocchi, Mark S; Hsia, Renee Y

2016-10-01

In order to better understand what threatens vulnerable populations' access to primary care, it is important to understand the factors associated with closing safety net clinics. This article examines how a clinic's financial position, productivity, and community characteristics are associated with its risk of closure. We examine patterns of closures among private-run primary care clinics (PCCs) in California between 2006 and 2012. We use a discrete-time proportional hazard model to assess relative hazard ratios of covariates, and a random-effect hazard model to adjust for unobserved heterogeneity among PCCs. We find that lower net income from patient care, smaller amount of government grants, and lower productivity were associated with significantly higher risk of PCC closure. We also find that federally qualified health centers and nonfederally qualified health centers generally faced the same risk factors of closure. These results underscore the critical role of financial incentives in the long-term viability of safety net clinics. © The Author(s) 2015.

Predictors of Premature Match Closure in Youth Mentoring Relationships.

PubMed

Kupersmidt, Janis B; Stump, Kathryn N; Stelter, Rebecca L; Rhodes, Jean E

2017-03-01

Although mentoring is a popular and effective means of intervention with youth, the positive effects of mentoring can be diminished by premature match closure of relationships. Program, mentor, and mentee characteristics were examined as predictors of premature match closure. Secondary data analyses were conducted on a large national database of mentoring programs consisting of match and youth risk information from 170 mentoring programs and 6468 matches from across the U.S. Premature closure was associated with mentee age at match inception and 19 individual mentee characteristics. The set of mentee characteristics were examined as part of a cumulative risk index encompassing seven conceptually combined categories including family background characteristics, school functioning problems, engagement in risky health behaviors, self-regulation difficulties, engagement in illegal or criminal activities, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Both the age of mentees when matched and the cumulative risk index score significantly predicted premature closure. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research and suggestions for enhancing mentoring program practices. © Society for Community Research and Action 2017.

Interactions between gaze-evoked blinks and gaze shifts in monkeys.

PubMed

Gandhi, Neeraj J

2012-02-01

Rapid eyelid closure, or a blink, often accompanies head-restrained and head-unrestrained gaze shifts. This study examines the interactions between such gaze-evoked blinks and gaze shifts in monkeys. Blink probability increases with gaze amplitude and at a faster rate for head-unrestrained movements. Across animals, blink likelihood is inversely correlated with the average gaze velocity of large-amplitude control movements. Gaze-evoked blinks induce robust perturbations in eye velocity. Peak and average velocities are reduced, duration is increased, but accuracy is preserved. The temporal features of the perturbation depend on factors such as the time of blink relative to gaze onset, inherent velocity kinematics of control movements, and perhaps initial eye-in-head position. Although variable across animals, the initial effect is a reduction in eye velocity, followed by a reacceleration that yields two or more peaks in its waveform. Interestingly, head velocity is not attenuated; instead, it peaks slightly later and with a larger magnitude. Gaze latency is slightly reduced on trials with gaze-evoked blinks, although the effect was more variable during head-unrestrained movements; no reduction in head latency is observed. Preliminary data also demonstrate a similar perturbation of gaze-evoked blinks during vertical saccades. The results are compared with previously reported effects of reflexive blinks (evoked by air-puff delivered to one eye or supraorbital nerve stimulation) and discussed in terms of effects of blinks on saccadic suppression, neural correlates of the altered eye velocity signals, and implications on the hypothesis that the attenuation in eye velocity is produced by a head movement command.

Analysis on influence of guide vanes closure laws of pump-turbine on load rejection transient process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Z.; Bi, H. L.; Huang, Q. S.; Li, Z. J.; Wang, Z. W.

2013-12-01

In load rejection transient process, the sudden shut down of guide vanes may cause units speed rise and a sharp increase in water hammer pressure of diversion system, which endangers the safety operation of the power plant. Adopting reasonable guide vane closure law is a kind of economic and effective measurement to reduce the water hammer pressure and limit rotational speed increases. In this paper, combined with Guangzhou Pumped Storage Power Station plant A, the load rejection condition under different guide vanes closure laws is calculated and the key factor of guide vanes closure laws on the impact of the load rejection transition process is analyzed. The different inflection points, which are the closure modes, on the impact of unit speed change, water level fluctuation of surge tank, and the pressure fluctuation of volute inlet and draft tube inlet are further discussed. By compared with the calculation results, a reasonable guide vanes inflection point position can be determined according to security requirements and a reasonable guide vanes closure law can be attained to effectively coordinate the unit speed rise and the rapid pressure change in the load rejection transient process.

Structural basis for profilin-mediated actin nucleotide exchange

PubMed Central

Porta, Jason C.; Borgstahl, Gloria E.O.

2015-01-01

Actin is a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein that is responsible for cellular scaffolding, motility and division. The ability of actin to form a helical filament is the driving force behind these cellular activities. Formation of a filament is dependent the successful exchange of actin’s ADP for ATP. Mammalian profilin is a small actin binding protein that catalyzes the exchange of nucleotide and facilitates the addition of an actin monomer to a growing filament. Here, crystal structures of profilin:actin have been determined showing an actively exchanging ATP. The structural analysis shows how the binding of profilin to the barbed end of actin causes a rotation of the small domain relative to the large domain. This conformational change is propagated to the ATP site and causes a shift in the nucleotide loops which in turn causes a repositioning of Ca2+ to its canonical position as the cleft closes around ATP. Reversing the solvent exposure of Trp-356 is also involved in cleft closure. In addition, secondary calcium binding sites were identified. PMID:22366544

The Ketene-Surrogate Coupling: Catalytic Conversion of Aryl Iodides to Aryl Ketenes via Ynol Ethers**

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wenhan; Ready, Joseph M.

2014-01-01

tert-Butoxyacetylene is shown to undergo Sonogashira coupling with aryl iodides to yield aryl-substituted tert-butyl ynol ethers. These intermediates participate in a [1,5]-hydride shift, which results in the extrusion of isobutylene and the generation of aryl ketenes. The ketenes are trapped in situ with multiple nucleophiles or undergoelectrocyclic ring closure to yield hydroxynaphthalenes and quinolines. PMID:24975840

Contrasting dynamics of leaf potential and gas exchange during progressive drought cycles and recovery in Amorpha fruticosa and Robinia pseudoacacia.

PubMed

Yan, Weiming; Zheng, Shuxia; Zhong, Yangquanwei; Shangguan, Zhouping

2017-06-30

Leaf gas exchange is closely associated with water relations; however, less attention has been given to this relationship over successive drought events. Dynamic changes in gas exchange and water potential in the seedlings of two woody species, Amorpha fruticosa and Robinia pseudoacacia, were monitored during recurrent drought. The pre-dawn leaf water potential declined in parallel with gas exchange in both species, and sharp declines in gas exchange occurred with decreasing water potential. A significant correlation between pre-dawn water potential and gas exchange was observed in both species and showed a right shift in R. pseudoacacia in the second drought. The results suggested that stomatal closure in early drought was mediated mainly by elevated foliar abscisic acid (ABA) in R. pseudoacacia, while a shift from ABA-regulated to leaf-water-potential-driven stomatal closure was observed in A. fruticosa. After re-watering, the pre-dawn water potential recovered quickly, whereas stomatal conductance did not fully recover from drought in R. pseudoacacia, which affected the ability to tightly control transpiration post-drought. The dynamics of recovery from drought suggest that stomatal behavior post-drought may be restricted mainly by hydraulic factors, but non-hydraulic factors may also be involved in R. pseudoacacia.

Ferroelectric Fluid Flow Control Valve

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jalink, Antony, Jr. (Inventor); Hellbaum, Richard F. (Inventor); Rohrbach, Wayne W. (Inventor)

1999-01-01

An active valve is controlled and driven by external electrical actuation of a ferroelectric actuator to provide for improved passage of the fluid during certain time periods and to provide positive closure of the valve during other time periods. The valve provides improved passage in the direction of flow and positive closure in the direction against the flow. The actuator is a dome shaped internally prestressed ferroelectric actuator having a curvature, said dome shaped actuator having a rim and an apex. and a dome height measured from a plane through said rim said apex that varies with an electric voltage applied between an inside and an outside surface of said dome shaped actuator.

Orthodontic space closure without contralateral extraction through mesial movement of lower molars in patients with aplastic lower second premolars.

PubMed

Zimmer, B; Guitard, Y

2001-09-01

A method is presented that allows unilateral space closure in patients with aplastic lower second premolars. Based on a straight-wire appliance, space closure was achieved with a combination of "push mechanics" using the second molar as an anchorage unit and Class II "pull mechanics", thus avoiding the application of any distalizing force on the lower incisors. The results from 13 consecutively treated subjects (five boys, eight girls, mean age 12 years and 6 months) were analyzed. Complete bodily space closure was achieved in all 13 cases within a mean treatment time of 2 years and 7 months. The desired Angle Class III molar relationship of one premolar width (+/- 1/4 premolar width) on the aplastic side was successful in eleven patients, an additional 4.7 mm of space being created for the third molar on the aplastic side compared with the contralateral side (p < or = 0.01). However, adverse effects could be kept to a minimum, with no method-dependent side effects being recorded with regard to canine and molar relationships on the contralateral side, or to overbite, overjet, or upper and lower incisor inclination. The mean lower midline shift of 0.8 mm was in accordance with the mean distal canine relationship of 1/3 premolar width on the aplastic side. These results confirm that orthodontic space closure in cases of unilateral aplastic lower second premolars can be performed successfully with the presented treatment method without the need for additional premolar extractions, prosthodontic treatment or implants. Furthermore, the prognosis for the lower wisdom tooth on the aplastic side is improved.

Positioning In Macular hole Surgery (PIMS): statistical analysis plan for a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Bell, Lauren; Hooper, Richard; Bunce, Catey; Pasu, Saruban; Bainbridge, James

2017-06-13

The treatment of idiopathic full-thickness macular holes involves surgery to close the hole. Some surgeons advise patients to adopt a face-down position to increase the likelihood of successful macular hole closure. However, patients often find the face-down positioning arduous. There is a lack of conclusive evidence that face-down positioning improves the outcome. The 'Positioning In Macular hole Surgery' (PIMS) trial will assess whether advice to position face-down after surgery improves the surgical success rate for the closure of large (≥400 μm) macular holes. The PIMS trial is a multicentre, parallel-group, superiority clinical trial with 1:1 randomisation. Patients (n = 192) with macular holes (≥400 μm) will be randomised after surgery to either face-down positioning or face-forward positioning for at least 8 h (which can be either consecutive or nonconsecutive) a day, for 5 days following surgery. Inclusion criteria are: presence of an idiopathic full-thickness macular hole ≥400 μm in diameter, as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans, on either or both eyes; patients electing to have surgery for a macular hole, with or without simultaneous phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implant; ability and willingness to position face-down or in an inactive face-forward position; a history of visual loss suggesting a macular hole of 12 months' or less duration. The primary outcome is successful macular hole closure at 3 months post surgery. The treatment effect will be reported as an odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, adjusted for size of macular hole and phakic lens status at baseline. Secondary outcome measures at 3 months are: further surgery for macular holes performed or planned (of those with unsuccessful closure); patient-reported experience of positioning; whether patients report they would still have elected to have the operation given what they know at follow-up; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured using Snellen charts at a standard distance of 6 m; patient-reported health and quality of life assessed using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). The PIMS trial is the first multicentre randomised control trial to investigate the value of face-down positioning following macular hole standardised surgery. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number registry, ID: ISRCTN12410596. Registered on 11 February 2015. United Kingdom Clinical Research Network, ID: UKCRN17966 . Registered on 26 November 2014.

Transcatheter closure of post-operative residual ventricular septal defect using a patent ductus arteriosus closure device in an adult: a case report.

PubMed

Djer, Mulyadi M; Idris, Nikmah S; Alwi, Idrus; Wijaya, Ika P

2014-07-01

Transcatheter closure of perimembranous and muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) has been performed widely and it has more advantages compare to surgery. However, transcatheter closure of residual VSD post operation of complex congenital heart disease is still challenging because of the complexity of anatomy and concern about device stability, so the operator should meticulously choose the most appropriate technique and device. We would like to report a case of transcatheter closure of residual VSD post Rastelli operation in a patient with double outlet right ventricle (DORV), sub-aortic VSD, severe infundibulum pulmonary stenosis (PS) and single coronary artery. The patient had undergone operations for four times, but he still had intractable heart failure that did not response to medications. On the first attempt. we closed the VSD using a VSD occluder, unfortunately the device embolized into the descending aorta, but fortunately we was able to snare it out. Then we decided to close the VSD using a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA occluder). On transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and angiography evaluation, the device position was stable. Post transcatheter VSD closure, the patient clinical condition improved significantly and he could finally be discharged after a long post-surgery hospitalization. Based on this experience we concluded that the transcatheter closure of residual VSD in complex CHD using PDA occluder could be an effective alternative treatment.

iLid: Low-power Sensing of Fatigue and Drowsiness Measures on a Computational Eyeglass

PubMed Central

ROSTAMINIA, SOHA; MAYBERRY, ADDISON; GANESAN, DEEPAK; MARLIN, BENJAMIN; GUMMESON, JEREMY

2018-01-01

The ability to monitor eye closures and blink patterns has long been known to enable accurate assessment of fatigue and drowsiness in individuals. Many measures of the eye are known to be correlated with fatigue including coarse-grained measures like the rate of blinks as well as fine-grained measures like the duration of blinks and the extent of eye closures. Despite a plethora of research validating these measures, we lack wearable devices that can continually and reliably monitor them in the natural environment. In this work, we present a low-power system, iLid, that can continually sense fine-grained measures such as blink duration and Percentage of Eye Closures (PERCLOS) at high frame rates of 100fps. We present a complete solution including design of the sensing, signal processing, and machine learning pipeline; implementation on a prototype computational eyeglass platform; and extensive evaluation under many conditions including illumination changes, eyeglass shifts, and mobility. Our results are very encouraging, showing that we can detect blinks, blink duration, eyelid location, and fatigue-related metrics such as PERCLOS with less than a few percent error. PMID:29417956

Frizzled 1 and frizzled 2 genes function in palate, ventricular septum and neural tube closure: general implications for tissue fusion processes

PubMed Central

Yu, Huimin; Smallwood, Philip M.; Wang, Yanshu; Vidaltamayo, Roman; Reed, Randall; Nathans, Jeremy

2010-01-01

The closure of an open anatomical structure by the directed growth and fusion of two tissue masses is a recurrent theme in mammalian embryology, and this process plays an integral role in the development of the palate, ventricular septum, neural tube, urethra, diaphragm and eye. In mice, targeted mutations of the genes encoding frizzled 1 (Fz1) and frizzled 2 (Fz2) show that these highly homologous integral membrane receptors play an essential and partially redundant role in closure of the palate and ventricular septum, and in the correct positioning of the cardiac outflow tract. When combined with a mutant allele of the planar cell polarity gene Vangl2 (Vangl2Lp), Fz1 and/or Fz2 mutations also cause defects in neural tube closure and misorientation of inner ear sensory hair cells. These observations indicate that frizzled signaling is involved in diverse tissue closure processes, defects in which account for some of the most common congenital anomalies in humans. PMID:20940229

Phase closure nulling: Theory and practice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chelli, A.; Duvert, G.; Malbet, F.; Kern, P.

2009-11-01

We provide a complete theory of the phase closure of a binary system in which a small, feeble, and unresolved companion acts as a perturbing parameter on the spatial frequency spectrum of a dominant, bright, resolved source. We demonstrate that the influence of the companion can be measured with precision by measuring the phase closure of the system near the nulls of the primary visibility function. In these regions of phase closure nulling, frequency intervals always exist where the phase closure signature of the companion is larger than any systematic error and can thus be measured. We show that this technique allows retrieval of many astrophysically relevant properties of faint and close companions such as flux, position, and in favorable cases, spectrum. As a proof of concept, using the AMBER/VLTI instrument with 3 auxiliary telescopes of 1.8 m and only 15 minutes of on-sky integration, we detected the five magnitudes fainter companion of HD 59717 at only 3.5 stellar radii distance from the primary. This is one of the highest contrast detected by interferometry between a companion and its parent star. We conclude by a rapid study of the potentialities of phase closure nulling observations with current interferometers and explore the requirements for a new type of dedicated instrument.

Frictionless segmented mechanics for controlled space closure

PubMed Central

Andrade, Ildeu

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Extraction spaces may be needed to achieve specific orthodontic goals of positioning the dentition in harmony with the craniofacial complex. However, the fundamental reality that determines the occlusion final position is the control exerted by the orthodontist while closing the extraction spaces. A specific treatment objective may require the posterior teeth to remain in a constant position anteroposteriorly as well as vertically, while the anterior teeth occupy the entire extraction site. Another treatment objective may require the opposite, or any number of intentional alternatives of extraction site closure. The present case report describes a simple controlled segmented mechanic system that permitted definable and predictable force systems to be applied and allowed to predict the treatment outcome with confidence. This case was presented to the Brazilian Board of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (BBO) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Diplomate certification. PMID:28444016

Non-destructive vacuum decay method for pre-filled syringe closure integrity testing compared with dye ingress testing and high-voltage leak detection.

PubMed

Simonetti, Andrea; Amari, Filippo

2015-01-01

In reaction to the limitations of the traditional sterility test methods, in 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the guidance "Container and Closure System Integrity Testing in Lieu of Sterility Testing as a Component of the Stability Protocol for Sterile Products" encouraging sterile drug manufacturers to use properly validated physical methods, apart from conventional microbial challenge testing, to confirm container closure integrity as part of the stability protocol. The case study presented in this article investigated the capability of four container closure integrity testing methods to detect simulated defects of different sizes and types on glass syringes, prefilled both with drug product intended for parenteral administration and sterile water. The drug product was a flu vaccine (Agrippal, Novartis Vaccines, Siena, Italy). Vacuum decay, pharmacopoeial dye ingress test, Novartis specific dye ingress test, and high-voltage leak detection were, in succession, the methods involved in the comparative studies. The case study execution was preceded by the preparation of two independent sets of reference prefilled syringes, classified, respectively, as examples of conforming to closure integrity requirements (negative controls) and as defective (positive controls). Positive controls were, in turn, split in six groups, three of with holes laser-drilled through the prefilled syringe glass barrel, while the other three with capillary tubes embedded in the prefilled syringe plunger. These reference populations were then investigated by means of validated equipment used for container closure integrity testing of prefilled syringe commercial production; data were collected and analyzed to determine the detection rate and the percentage of false results. Results showed that the vacuum decay method had the highest performance in terms of detection sensitivity and also ensured the best reliability and repeatability of measurements. An innovative technical solution, preventing possible prefilled syringe plunger movement during container closure integrity testing execution, is presented as well. The growing need to meet sterile drug products' regulatory, quality, and safety expectations has progressively driven new developments and improvements both in container closure integrity testing methods and in the respective equipment, over the last years. Indeed, container closure integrity testing establishes the container closure system capability to provide required protection to the drug product and to demonstrate maintenance of product sterility over its shelf life. This article describes the development of four container closure integrity testing approaches for the evaluation of glass prefilled syringe closure integrity, including two destructive (pharmacopoeial and Novartis specific dye ingress test) and two non-destructive (vacuum decay and high-voltage leak detection) methods. The important finding from the validation of comparative studies was that the vacuum decay method resulted in the most effective, reliable and repeatable detection of defective samples, whether the defect was exposed to sterile water, to drug product, or to air. Complete sets of known defects were created for this purpose (5 μm, 10 μm, 20 μm certified leakages by laser drilled holes and capillary tubes). All investigations and studies were conducted at Bonfiglioli Engineering S.r.l. (Vigarano Pieve, Ferrara, Italy) and at Novartis Vaccines (Sovicille, Siena, Italy). © PDA, Inc. 2015.

[Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer® device: 15 years of experience].

PubMed

Zabal-Cerdeira, Carlos; García-Montes, José Antonio; Sandoval-Jones, Juan Pablo; Calderón-Colmenero, Juan; Patiño-Bahena, Emilia; Juanico-Enríquez, Antonio; Buendía-Hernández, Alfonso

2014-01-01

Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects is an alternative to surgical treatment. We report the results of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer(®) device. We include patients taken to the catheterization laboratory from September 1997 to December 2011. We proceeded with defect closure in 721 patients and in 85 the defect was considered not suitable for closure. The stretched diameter of the defect was 23±6.7mm (limits, 5-42). All devices were positioned successfully. In 15 cases (2.1%) the device was changed due to instability and in 6 (0.8%) the device embolized within the first 24h, 4 were retrieved and repositioned (final success with intention to treat 719/806-89.2%). Immediate control showed complete closure in 247 patients (34.3%), leak through the device in 395 (54.9%), mild residual leak in 75 (10.4%) and moderate in 2 (0.3%). We have follow-up in 626 patients (87.1%) for 33±27.5 months, with headache in 54 (8.6%), new supraventricular arrhythmia in 10 (1.6%), puncture site complications in 4 (0.6%), and stroke in one (0.1%). The design of the Amplatzer(®) device allows effective closure of atrial septal defects with a simple technique and patient safety. Copyright © 2013 Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

PIMS (Positioning In Macular hole Surgery) trial - a multicentre interventional comparative randomised controlled clinical trial comparing face-down positioning, with an inactive face-forward position on the outcome of surgery for large macular holes: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Pasu, Saruban; Bunce, Catey; Hooper, Richard; Thomson, Ann; Bainbridge, James

2015-11-17

Idiopathic macular holes are an important cause of blindness. They have an annual incidence of 8 per 100,000 individuals, and prevalence of 0.2 to 3.3 per 1000 individuals with visual impairment. The condition occurs more frequently in adults aged 75 years or older. Macular holes can be repaired by surgery in which the causative tractional forces in the eye are released and a temporary bubble of gas is injected. To promote successful hole closure individuals may be advised to maintain a face-down position for up to 10 days following surgery. The aim of this study is to determine whether advice to position face-down improves the surgical success rate of closure of large (>400 μm) macular holes, and thereby reduces the need for further surgery. This will be a multicentre interventional, comparative randomised controlled clinical trial comparing face-down positioning with face-forward positioning. At the conclusion of standardised surgery across all sites, participants still eligible for inclusion will be allocated randomly 1:1 to 1 of the 2 treatment arms stratified by site, using random permuted blocks of size 4 or 6 in equal proportions. We will recruit 192 participants having surgery for large macular holes (>400 μm); 96 in each of the 2 arms of the study. The primary objective is to determine the impact of face-down positioning on the likelihood of closure of large (≥400 μm) full-thickness macular holes following surgery. This will be the first multicentre randomised control trial to investigate the value of face-down positioning following macular hole standardised surgery. UK CRN: 17966 (date of registration 26 November 2014).

Evaluation of Super Voxel Methods for Early Video Processing (Author’s Manuscript)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-26

supervoxels in space- time [22]. This property embodies many of the basic Gestalt principles—proximity, continuation, closure, and symmetry—and helps...streaming approach. The mean shift algorithm used in our paper is presented by Paris and Durand [29], who introduce Morse theory to interpret mean...maximum 86 fpv. This data set allows us to evaluate the supervoxel methods against human perception . The third data set is from Grundman et al. [15

Functional and esthetic outcome enhancement of periodontal surgery by application of plastic surgery principles.

PubMed

Hürzeler, M B; Weng, D

1999-02-01

The closure of surgical wounds in a layer-by-layer fashion, a common principle of plastic surgery, is applied in this article to the field of periodontal surgery with the introduction of a new flap design. The suggested technique is indicated with all periodontal procedures that aim for hard and soft tissue augmentation (guided bone regeneration, mucogingival surgery, or plastic periodontal surgery) where passive, tension-free wound closure is fundamental for wound healing and a successful functional and esthetic outcome. By means of a series of incisions, buccal and lingual flaps are split several times; this results in a double-partial thickness flap and a coronally positioned palatal sliding flap, respectively. Thus, several tissue layers are obtained and the passive advancement of flaps becomes possible for the coverage of augmented areas. Wound closure with microsurgical suture material is accomplished in a multilayer approach, which ensures adaptation and closure of the outer tissue layers without any tension. Two case reports demonstrate the new plastic periodontal approach.

Automated closure system for nuclear reactor fuel assemblies

DOEpatents

Christiansen, David W.; Brown, William F.

1985-01-01

A welder for automated closure of fuel pins by a pulsed magnetic process in which the open end of a length of cladding is positioned within a complementary tube surrounded by a pulsed magnetic welder. Seals are provided at each end of the tube, which can be evacuated or can receive tag gas for direct introduction to the cladding interior. Loading of magnetic rings and end caps is accomplished automatically in conjunction with the welding steps carried out within the tube.

Do we need a femoral artery route for transvenous PDA closure in children with ADO-I?

PubMed

Baykan, Ali; Narin, Nazmi; Özyurt, Abdullah; Argun, Mustafa; Pamukçu, Özge; Onan, Sertaç H; Sezer, Sadettin; Baykan, Zeynep; Üzüm, Kazım

2015-03-01

The standard procedure in percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Amplatzer duct occluder-I (ADO-I) is transvenous closure guided by aortic access through femoral artery. The current study aims to compare the procedures for PDA closure with ADO-I: only transvenous access with the standard procedure. This study was designed retrospectively and 101 pediatric patients were included. PDA closure was done by only femoral venous access in 19 of them (group 1), arterial and venous access used in 92 patients (group 2) between 2004 to 2012 years. The position of the device and residual shunt in group1 was evaluated by the guidance of the aortogram obtained during the return phase of the pulmonary artery injection and guidance of transthoracic echocardiography. Shapiro-Wilk's test, Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared tests were used for statistical comparison. The procedure was successful in 18 (95%) patients in group 1 and 90 (98%) patients in group 2. Complications including the pulmonary artery embolization (n=1), protrusion to pulmonary artery (n=1), inguinal hematoma (n=3), bleeding (n=2) were only detected in group 2. In other words, while complications were observed in 7 (7.2%) patients in group 2, no minor/major complication was observed in group 1. Complete closure in group 1 was: in catheterization room 14 (77.8%), at 24th hour in 2 (11.1%), at first month in 2 (11.1%). Complete closure in group 2 was: 66 (73.4%) patients in the catheterization room, 21 (23.3%) at 24th hour, 3 (3.3%) at first month, complete closure occurred at the end of first month. In percutaneouse PDA closure via ADO-I, this technique can be a choice for patients whose femoral artery could not be accessed, or access is impossible/contraindicated. But for the reliability and validity of this method, randomized multicenter clinical studies are necessary.

Do we need a femoral artery route for transvenous PDA closure in children with ADO-I?

PubMed Central

Baykan, Ali; Narin, Nazmi; Özyurt, Abdullah; Argun, Mustafa; Pamukçu, Özge; Onan, Sertaç H.; Sezer, Sadettin; Baykan, Zeynep; Üzüm, Kazım

2015-01-01

Objective: The standard procedure in percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Amplatzer duct occluder-I (ADO-I) is transvenous closure guided by aortic access through femoral artery. The current study aims to compare the procedures for PDA closure with ADO-I: only transvenous access with the standard procedure. Methods: This study was designed retrospectively and 101 pediatric patients were included. PDA closure was done by only femoral venous access in 19 of them (group 1), arterial and venous access used in 92 patients (group 2) between 2004 to 2012 years. The position of the device and residual shunt in group1 was evaluated by the guidance of the aortogram obtained during the return phase of the pulmonary artery injection and guidance of transthoracic echocardiography. Shapiro-Wilk’s test, Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared tests were used for statistical comparison. Results: The procedure was successful in 18 (95%) patients in group 1 and 90 (98%) patients in group 2. Complications including the pulmonary artery embolization (n=1), protrusion to pulmonary artery (n=1), inguinal hematoma (n=3), bleeding (n=2) were only detected in group 2. In other words, while complications were observed in 7 (7.2%) patients in group 2, no minor/major complication was observed in group 1. Complete closure in group 1 was: in catheterization room 14 (77.8%), at 24th hour in 2 (11.1%), at first month in 2 (11.1%). Complete closure in group 2 was: 66 (73.4%) patients in the catheterization room, 21 (23.3%) at 24th hour, 3 (3.3%) at first month, complete closure occurred at the end of first month. Conclusion: In percutaneouse PDA closure via ADO-I, this technique can be a choice for patients whose femoral artery could not be accessed, or access is impossible/contraindicated. But for the reliability and validity of this method, randomized multicenter clinical studies are necessary. PMID:25333978

In vivo carotid artery closure by laser activation of hyaluronan-embedded gold nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matteini, Paolo; Ratto, Fulvio; Rossi, Francesca; Rossi, Giacomo; Esposito, Giuseppe; Puca, Alfredo; Albanese, Alessio; Maira, Giulio; Pini, Roberto

2010-07-01

We prove the first application of near-infrared-absorbing gold nanorods (GNRs) for in vivo laser closure of a rabbit carotid artery. GNRs are first functionalized with a biopolymeric shell and then embedded in hyaluronan, which gives a stabilized and handy laser-activable formulation. Four rabbits undergo closure of a 3-mm longitudinal incision performed on the carotid artery by means of a 810-nm diode laser in conjunction with the topical application of the GNRs composite. An effective surgery is obtained by using a 40-W/cm2 laser power density. The histological and electron microscopy evaluation after a 30-day follow-up demonstrates complete healing of the treated arteries with full re-endothelization at the site of GNRs application. The absence of microgranuloma formation and/or dystrophic calcification is evidence that no host reaction to nanoparticles interspersed through the vascular tissue occurred. The observation of a reshaping and associated blue shift of the NIR absorption band of GNRs after laser treatment supports the occurrence of a self-terminating process, and thus of additional safety of the minimally invasive laser procedure. This study underlines the feasibility of using GNRs for in vivo laser soldering applications, which represents a step forward toward the introduction of nanotechnology-based therapies in minimally invasive clinical practices.

Jam proof closure assembly for lidded pressure vessels

DOEpatents

Cioletti, Olisse C.

1992-01-01

An expendable closure assembly is provided for use (in multiple units) with a lockable pressure vessel cover along its rim, such as of an autoclave. This assembly is suited to variable compressive contact and locking with the vessel lid sealing gasket. The closure assembly consists of a thick walled sleeve insert for retention in the under bores fabricated in the cover periphery and the sleeve is provided with internal threading only. A snap serves as a retainer on the underside of the sleeve, locking it into an under bore retention channel. Finally, a standard elongate externally threaded bolt is sized for mating cooperation with the so positioned sleeve, whereby the location of the bolt shaft in the cover bore hole determines its compressive contact on the underlying gasket.

Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Quinolines via Ketenimine or Carbodiimide Intermediates.

PubMed

Zhao, Hongyang; Xing, Yanpeng; Lu, Ping; Wang, Yanguang

2016-10-10

Cyclopenta[b]quinolines and cyclohexa[b]quinolines were prepared via the reactions of α-diazo ketones with N-(2-cyclopropylidenemethylphenyl)phosphanimines and N-(2-cyclobutylidenemethylphenyl) phosphanimine, respectively. The reaction proceeds in a cascade involving ketenimine formation, 6 π-electron ring closure, and 1,3-alkyl shift. A similar approach was developed for the synthesis of dihydropyrrolo-[2,3-b]quinolines from N-(2-cyclopropylidenemethylphenyl)phosphanimines and isocyanates. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Invisible Cost Effective Mechanics for Anterior Space Closure.

PubMed

Jumle, Aatish Vinod; Bagrecha, Saurabh; Gharat, Ninad; Misal, Abhijit; Toshniwal, N G

2015-01-01

The shifting paradigm towards invisible orthodontic treatment and also awareness in patients has allured their focus towards the most esthetic treatment approach. Also the lingual treatment is proved successful and is very well accepted by the patients. The problem that persist is its high expenses, which is not affordable by all patients. This article is a effort to treat a simple Class I malocclusion with anterior spacing using a simple, esthetic, Cost effective approach with acceptable results when esthetics plays a priority role.

Tympanoplasty for Chronic Tympanic Membrane Perforation in Children: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Hardman, John; Muzaffar, Jameel; Nankivell, Paul; Coulson, Chris

2015-06-01

To study the effectiveness of Type 1 tympanoplasty for chronic tympanic membrane perforations in the pediatric age group and to investigate factors influencing its success. Searches were conducted of the MEDLINE database and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews using terms focused around tympanoplasty and children. Searches were performed on June 23, 2014 and limited to English language entries since January 1, 1997. Studies reporting tympanoplasty closure rates in children 18 years and younger, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, were included. Studies focusing on more advanced forms of tympanoplasty and revision surgery were excluded. Five hundred sixty-four articles were screened identifying 2,609 cases from 45 eligible studies. Data were collected by consensus of the first two authors with the third author arbitrating disparities of opinion. Success was taken as the closure rate at 12 months where possible. Forest plots with Mantel-Haenszel analyses were used to compare closure rates with respect to perforation size, adenoidectomy, status of contralateral ear, Eustachian tube function, active infection, and graft position. Linear regression and Fisher's exact were used to analyze closure rate with respect to age. The mean weighted closure rate for pediatric tympanoplasty was 83.4%. Subgroup analysis found age not to be a significant factor affecting the closure rate. Tympanoplasties performed on larger perforations or in children with abnormal contralateral ear findings were more likely to fail. Surgery may be best delayed until contralateral otitis media with effusion has settled.

Managing hospitals in turbulent times: do organizational changes improve hospital survival?

PubMed Central

Lee, S Y; Alexander, J A

1999-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To examine (1) the degree to which organizational changes affected hospital survival; (2) whether core and peripheral organizational changes affected hospital survival differently; and (3) how simultaneous organizational changes affected hospital survival. DATA SOURCES: AHA Hospital Surveys, the Area Resource File, and the AHA Hospital Guides, Part B: Multihospital Systems. STUDY DESIGN: The study employed a longitudinal panel design. We followed changes in all community hospitals in the continental United States from 1981 through 1994. The dependent variable, hospital closure, was examined as a function of multiple changes in a hospital's core and peripheral structures as well as the hospital's organizational and environmental characteristics. Cox regression models were used to test the expectations that core changes increased closure risk while peripheral changes decreased such risk, and that simultaneous core and peripheral changes would lead to higher risk of closure. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Results indicated more peripheral than core changes in community hospitals. Overall, findings contradicted our expectations. Change in specialty, a core change, was beneficial for hospitals, because it reduced closure risk. The two most frequent peripheral changes, downsizing and leadership change, were positively associated with closure. Simultaneous organizational changes displayed a similar pattern: multiple core changes reduced closure risk, while multiple peripheral changes increased the risk. These patterns held regardless of the level of uncertainty in hospital environments. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational changes are not all beneficial for hospitals, suggesting that hospital leaders should be both cautious and selective in their efforts to turn their hospitals around. PMID:10536977

Economic and health risk trade-offs of swim closures at a Lake Michigan beach

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rabinovici, Sharyl M.; Bernknopf, Richard L.; Wein, Anne M.; Coursey, Don L.; Whitman, Richard L.

2004-01-01

This paper presents a framework for analyzing the economic, health, and recreation implications of swim closures related to high fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) levels. The framework utilizes benefit transfer policy analysis to provide a practical procedure for estimating the effectiveness of recreational water quality policies. Evaluation criteria include the rates of intended and unintended management outcomes, whether the chosen protocols generate closures with positive net economic benefits to swimmers, and the number of predicted illnesses the policy is able to prevent. We demonstrate the framework through a case study of a Lake Michigan freshwater beach using existing water quality and visitor data from 1998 to 2001. We find that a typical closure causes a net economic loss among would-be swimmers totaling $1274-37 030/ day, depending on the value assumptions used. Unnecessary closures, caused by high indicator variability and a 24-h time delay between when samples are taken and the management decision can be made, occurred on 14 (12%) out of 118 monitored summer days. Days with high FIB levels when the swim area is open are also common but do relatively little economic harm in comparison. Also, even if the closure policy could be implemented daily and perfectly without error, only about 42% of predicted illnesses would be avoided. These conclusions were sensitive to the relative values and risk preferences that swimmers have for recreation access and avoiding health effects, suggesting a need for further study of the impacts of recreational water quality policies on individuals.

Method Development for Container Closure Integrity Evaluation via Headspace Gas Ingress by Using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Victor, Ken G; Levac, Lauren; Timmins, Michael; Veale, James

2017-01-01

USP <1207.1> Section 3.5 states that "A deterministic leak test method having the ability to detect leaks at the product's maximum allowable leakage limit is preferred when establishing the inherent integrity of a container-closure system." Ideally, container closure integrity of parenteral packaging would be evaluated by measuring a physical property that is sensitive to the presence of any package defect that breaches package integrity by increasing its leakage above its maximum allowable leakage limit. The primary goals of the work presented herein were to demonstrate the viability of the nondestructive, deterministic method known as laser-based gas headspace analysis for evaluating container closure integrity and to provide a physical model for predicting leak rates for a variety of container volumes, headspace conditions, and defect sizes. The results demonstrate that laser-based headspace analysis provides sensitive, accurate, and reproducible measurements of the gas ingress into glass vial-stopper package assemblies that are under either diffusive or effusive leak conditions. Two different types of positive controls were examined. First, laser-drilled micro-holes in thin metal disks that were crimped on top of 15R glass vials served as positive controls with a well-characterized defect geometry. For these, a strong correlation was observed between the measured ingress parameter and the size of the defect for both diffusive and effusive conditions. Second, laser-drilled holes in the wall of glass vials served as controls that more closely simulate real-world defects. Due to their complex defect geometries, their diffusive and effusive ingress parameters did not necessarily correlate; this is an important observation that has significant implications for standardizing the characterization of container defects. Regardless, laser-based headspace analysis could readily differentiate positive and negative controls for all leak conditions, and the results provide a guide for method development of container closure integrity tests. LAY ABSTRACT: The new USP 39 <1207>, "Package Integrity Evaluation-Sterile Products", states in section 3.4.1: "tracer gas tests performed using … laser-based gas headspace analysis [have] been shown to be sensitive enough to quantitatively analyze leakage through the smallest leak paths found to pose the smallest chance of liquid leakage or microbial ingress in rigid packaging." In addition, USP <1207> also states that "for such methods, the limit of detection can be mathematically predicted on the basis of gas flow kinetics." Using the above statements as a foundation, this paper presents a theoretical basis for predicting the gas ingress through well-defined defects in product vials sealed under a variety of headspace conditions. These calculated predictions were experimentally validated by comparing them to measurements of changes in the headspace oxygen content or total pressure for several different positive controls using laser-based headspace analysis. The results demonstrated that laser-based headspace analysis can, by readily differentiating between negative controls and positive controls with a range of defect sizes on the micron scale, be used to assess container closure integrity. The work also demontrated that caution must be used when attempting to correlate a leak rate to an idealized defect-size parameter. © PDA, Inc. 2017.

[Intracardiac echocardiography during percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale].

PubMed

Brochet, E; Habib, G

2005-06-01

Intracardiac echocardiography is a new technique based on the use of ultrasonic diagnostic catheters. The most significant current experience has been obtained with the AcuNav catheter, with a "phased array" high frequency (5.5 to 10 mHz) detector, which obtains bidimensional echocardiographic views, coupled to pulsed and colour Doppler. Image acquisition is made from an intracardiac position, usually the right atrium. This review touches on the technical aspects of this method, applied to the examination of the intra-atrial septum, as well as the results currently obtained during inter-atrial communication and patent foramen ovale closure procedures. In effect it is in this field of application that intracardiac ultrasound has now found its niche, providing equivalent information to the reference technique of transoesophageal echocardiography. Intracardiac echocardiography allows complete examination of the inter-atrial septum and septal defects, as well as accurate surveillance of the positioning of percutaneous closure devices. An important advantage of intracardiac echocardiography is the possibility of avoiding a general anaesthetic, usually necessary with the transoesophageal route. At present, the main limiting factor to its systematic use is its high cost, linked to the single use catheters.

From the Journal archives: Airway closure and lung volumes in surgical positions.

PubMed

Grocott, Hilary P

2014-04-01

Douglas B. Craig, W.M. Wahba, Hillary Don Can Anaesth Soc J 1971; 18: 92-9. Surgery and anesthesia expose patients to moderate and sometimes extreme positioning changes that are often unphysiological. The purpose of this article is to highlight and contextualize a seminal study from the Journal archives that explores the effect of several commonly utilized surgical positions (supine, Trendelenburg and lithotomy) and age on basic lung volumes as well as the volume at which small airway closure (AC) (also known as closing volume [CV]) occurs. These factors were examined with the aim of determining which patient position variables could be of clinical significance to gas exchange in the perioperative period. This work showed that supine positioning, when compared with the seated position, results in a decrease of all lung volumes and capacities, including functional residual capacity (FRC) and CV. Trendelenburg positioning further decreases FRC, with no further changes induced by lithotomy positioning. Age is a clinically important factor in AC, occurring within the tidal volume range at a lower age when supine as compared with the seated position. The work of Drs. D. Craig et al. published in the Journal more than 40 years ago was seminal to our understanding of how patient positioning has an important influence on lung volumes and on the age-related relationship between FRC and CV.

Cleft closure and undersizing annuloplasty improve mitral repair in atrioventricular canal defects

PubMed Central

Padala, Muralidhar; Vasilyev, Nikolay V.; Owen, James W.; Jimenez, Jorge H.; Dasi, Lakshmi P.; del Nido, Pedro J.; Yoganathan, Ajit P.

2009-01-01

Objective Reoperation rates to correct left atrioventricular valve regurgitation after primary repair of atrioventricular canal defects remain relatively high. The causes of valvular regurgitation are likely multifactorial, and simple cleft closure is often insufficient to prevent recurrence. Methods To elucidate the mechanisms leading to regurgitation, we conducted hemodynamic studies using isolated native mitral valves. Anatomy of these valves was altered to mimic atrioventricular canal type valves and studied under pediatric hemodynamic conditions. The impact of subvalvular geometry, cleft closure, annular dilatation, and annular undersizing on regurgitation were investigated. Results Papillary muscle position did not have a significant effect on regurgitation. Cleft closure had a significant impact on valvular competence, with reduction in regurgitation volume with increased cleft closure. Regurgitation volume decreased from 12.5 ± 2.4 mL/beat for an open cleft to 4.9 ± 1.9 mL/beat for a partially closed cleft and to 1.4 ± 1.6 mL/beat when the cleft was completely closed. Annular dilatation had a significant impact on regurgitation even after cleft closure. A 40% increase in annular size increased regurgitation by 59% for a partially closed cleft and by 84% for a fully closed cleft. Reducing the annular size by 20% from the physiologic level decreased the regurgitation volume by 12% for a fully open cleft and by 58% for the partially closed cleft case. Conclusions Annular dilatation after primary repair has a potentially significant role in the recurrence of atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Reducing the annular size and restricting dilatation as an adjunct to cleft closure is a promising surgical approach in such valve anatomies. PMID:19026810

Orthotopic bladder substitution in men revisited: identification of continence predictors.

PubMed

Koraitim, M M; Atta, M A; Foda, M K

2006-11-01

We determined the impact of the functional characteristics of the neobladder and urethral sphincter on continence results, and determined the most significant predictors of continence. A total of 88 male patients 29 to 70 years old underwent orthotopic bladder substitution with tubularized ileocecal segment (40) and detubularized sigmoid (25) or ileum (23). Uroflowmetry, cystometry and urethral pressure profilometry were performed at 13 to 36 months (mean 19) postoperatively. The correlation between urinary continence and 28 urodynamic variables was assessed. Parameters that correlated significantly with continence were entered into a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model to determine the most significant predictors of continence. Maximum urethral closure pressure was the only parameter that showed a statistically significant correlation with diurnal continence. Nocturnal continence had not only a statistically significant positive correlation with maximum urethral closure pressure, but also statistically significant negative correlations with maximum contraction amplitude, and baseline pressure at mid and maximum capacity. Three of these 4 parameters, including maximum urethral closure pressure, maximum contraction amplitude and baseline pressure at mid capacity, proved to be significant predictors of continence on multivariate analysis. While daytime continence is determined by maximum urethral closure pressure, during the night it is the net result of 2 forces that have about equal influence but in opposite directions, that is maximum urethral closure pressure vs maximum contraction amplitude plus baseline pressure at mid capacity. Two equations were derived from the logistic regression model to predict the probability of continence after orthotopic bladder substitution, including Z1 (diurnal) = 0.605 + 0.0085 maximum urethral closure pressure and Z2 (nocturnal) = 0.841 + 0.01 [maximum urethral closure pressure - (maximum contraction amplitude + baseline pressure at mid capacity)].

Accuracy of GPS time transfer verified by closure around the world

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewandowski, Wlodimierz W.; Petit, Gerard; Thomas, Claudine

1992-01-01

The precision of time transfer over intercontinental distances by the Global Positioning System common-view method, using measurements of ionospheric delays, precise ephemerides provided by the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) and a consistent set of antenna coordinates, reaches 3 to 4 ns for a single 13-minute measurement, and decreases to 2 ns when averaging several measurements over the period of one day. It is thought that even this level of precision can be bettered by improving the ionospheric measurements, the ephemerides of satellites, and the antenna coordinates. In the same conditions, an estimation of the accuracy is attained by using three intercontinental links encircling the Earth to establish a closure condition; the three independent links should add to zero. We have computed such a closure condition over a period of 13 months using data recorded at the Paris Observatory, at the Communications Research Laboratory in Tokyo, and at the National Institute for Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado. The closure condition is verified to within a few nanoseconds, but a bias, varying with time, can be detected.

[Closure of wide patent ductus arteriosus using a fenestrated muscular VSD occluder device in a pediatric patient with Down syndrome and pulmonary hypertension].

PubMed

Güvenç, Osman; Saygı, Murat; Demir, İbrahim Halil; Ödemiş, Ender

2017-06-01

Patients with wide patent ductus arteriosus and significant pulmonary hypertension not treated in time constitute a significant problem for cardiologists. For these patients, tests that could aid in decision-making for further planning include reversibility and balloon occlusion tests performed in the catheterization laboratory. Devices developed for the closure of ductus as well as different devices with off-label use may be employed in patients scheduled for transcatheter occlusion. When result of reversibility test is borderline positive, the use of fenestrated device may be applicable for selected patients. Presently described is case of a 10-year-old patient with Down syndrome who had a wide ductus and systemic pulmonary hypertension. Transcatheter closure procedure was performed with off-label use of a fenestrated muscular ventricular septal defect occluder device.

49 CFR 173.187 - Pyrophoric solids, metals or alloys, n.o.s.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... (4C1, 4C2, 4D, or 4F) with inner metal receptacles which have a positive (not friction) means of... receptacles which have a positive (not friction) means of closure and contain not more than 7.5 kg (17 pounds...) In plywood drums (1D) with inner metal receptacles which have a positive (not friction) means of...

49 CFR 173.187 - Pyrophoric solids, metals or alloys, n.o.s.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... (4C1, 4C2, 4D, or 4F) with inner metal receptacles which have a positive (not friction) means of... receptacles which have a positive (not friction) means of closure and contain not more than 7.5 kg (17 pounds...) In plywood drums (1D) with inner metal receptacles which have a positive (not friction) means of...

Smoke Extract Impairs Adenosine Wound Healing. Implications of Smoke-Generated Reactive Oxygen Species

PubMed Central

Zimmerman, Matthew C.; Zhang, Hui; Castellanos, Glenda; O’Malley, Jennifer K.; Alvarez-Ramirez, Horacio; Kharbanda, Kusum; Sisson, Joseph H.; Wyatt, Todd A.

2013-01-01

Adenosine concentrations are elevated in the lungs of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where it balances between tissue repair and excessive airway remodeling. We previously demonstrated that the activation of the adenosine A2A receptor promotes epithelial wound closure. However, the mechanism by which adenosine-mediated wound healing occurs after cigarette smoke exposure has not been investigated. The present study investigates whether cigarette smoke exposure alters adenosine-mediated reparative properties via its ability to induce a shift in the oxidant/antioxidant balance. Using an in vitro wounding model, bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to 5% cigarette smoke extract, were wounded, and were then stimulated with either 10 μM adenosine or the specific A2A receptor agonist, 5′-(N-cyclopropyl)–carboxamido–adenosine (CPCA; 10 μM), and assessed for wound closure. In a subset of experiments, bronchial epithelial cells were infected with adenovirus vectors encoding human superoxide dismutase and/or catalase or control vector. In the presence of 5% smoke extract, significant delay was evident in both adenosine-mediated and CPCA-mediated wound closure. However, cells pretreated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a nonspecific antioxidant, reversed smoke extract–mediated inhibition. We found that cells overexpressing mitochondrial catalase repealed the smoke extract inhibition of CPCA-stimulated wound closure, whereas superoxide dismutase overexpression exerted no effect. Kinase experiments revealed that smoke extract significantly reduced the A2A-mediated activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate–dependent protein kinase. However, pretreatment with NAC reversed this effect. In conclusion, our data suggest that cigarette smoke exposure impairs A2A-stimulated wound repair via a reactive oxygen species–dependent mechanism, thereby providing a better understanding of adenosine signaling that may direct the development of pharmacological tools for the treatment of chronic inflammatory lung disorders. PMID:23371060

Positive attitudinal shifts with the Physics by Inquiry curriculum across multiple implementations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindsey, Beth A.; Hsu, Leonardo; Sadaghiani, Homeyra; Taylor, Jack W.; Cummings, Karen

2012-06-01

Recent publications have documented positive attitudinal shifts on the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) among students enrolled in courses with an explicit epistemological focus. We now report positive attitudinal shifts in classes using the Physics by Inquiry (PbI) curriculum, which has only an implicit focus on student epistemologies and nature of science issues. These positive shifts have occurred in several different implementations of the curriculum, across multiple institutions and multiple semesters. In many classes, students experienced significant attitudinal shifts in the problem-solving categories of the CLASS, despite the conceptual focus of most PbI courses.

Delayed unlatching mechanism

DOEpatents

Bzorgi, Fariborz M.

2015-05-19

In various embodiments an apparatus is presented for securing a structure such as a door, window, hatch, or gate that moves between an open and a closed position relative to a fixed structure to provide or deny access to a compartment, a room, an outdoor area, or a facility. Various embodiments provide a delay in opening the closure of sufficient duration to frustrate a rapid activation that might be desired by a person who is attempting to pass through the closure for some illicit purpose. Typically, hydraulics are used to activate the apparatus and no electrical energy or electronic signals are employed. In one embodiment, a plurality of actuations of a hand lever operates a hydraulic pump that moves a locking bolt from a first position in which a locking bolt is engaged with a recess in the fixed structure (preventing opening of a gate) to a second position in which the locking bolt is disengaged from the recess to permit opening of the gate.

A dynamic ocean management tool to reduce bycatch and support sustainable fisheries.

PubMed

Hazen, Elliott L; Scales, Kylie L; Maxwell, Sara M; Briscoe, Dana K; Welch, Heather; Bograd, Steven J; Bailey, Helen; Benson, Scott R; Eguchi, Tomo; Dewar, Heidi; Kohin, Suzy; Costa, Daniel P; Crowder, Larry B; Lewison, Rebecca L

2018-05-01

Seafood is an essential source of protein for more than 3 billion people worldwide, yet bycatch of threatened species in capture fisheries remains a major impediment to fisheries sustainability. Management measures designed to reduce bycatch often result in significant economic losses and even fisheries closures. Static spatial management approaches can also be rendered ineffective by environmental variability and climate change, as productive habitats shift and introduce new interactions between human activities and protected species. We introduce a new multispecies and dynamic approach that uses daily satellite data to track ocean features and aligns scales of management, species movement, and fisheries. To accomplish this, we create species distribution models for one target species and three bycatch-sensitive species using both satellite telemetry and fisheries observer data. We then integrate species-specific probabilities of occurrence into a single predictive surface, weighing the contribution of each species by management concern. We find that dynamic closures could be 2 to 10 times smaller than existing static closures while still providing adequate protection of endangered nontarget species. Our results highlight the opportunity to implement near real-time management strategies that would both support economically viable fisheries and meet mandated conservation objectives in the face of changing ocean conditions. With recent advances in eco-informatics, dynamic management provides a new climate-ready approach to support sustainable fisheries.

Age and the balance of emotions.

PubMed

Ross, Catherine E; Mirowsky, John

2008-06-01

With age, the quality of emotions may shift from negative in tone to positive, but also from active to passive. The shift from negative to positive is consistent with the age as maturity perspective. The shift from active to passive supports the age as decline perspective. If these generalities are correct, then they should apply to positive emotions as well as negative emotions. We should see a shift in positive emotions from active (excitement) to passive (serenity), as well as in the negative emotions (from the agitation of anxiety and anger to the lethargy of depression). In order to accurately portray the shifts in emotional tone, age may best be considered as simultaneously indicating maturity and decline. This paper examines results from the emotions module of the 1996 U.S. General Social Survey and finds support for the idea that age is associated with a shift from negative to positive and from active to passive emotions.

Feasibility of Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry to Develop a Sensitive Dye Immersion Method for Container Closure Integrity Testing of Prefilled Syringes.

PubMed

Lu, Xujin; Lloyd, David K; Klohr, Steven E

2016-01-01

A feasibility study was conducted for a sensitive and robust dye immersion method for the measurement of container closure integrity of unopened prefilled syringes using fluorescence spectrophotometry as the detection method. A Varian Cary Eclipse spectrofluorometer was used with a custom-made sample holder to position the intact syringe in the sample compartment for fluorescence measurements. Methylene blue solution was initially evaluated as the fluorophore in a syringe with excitation at 607 nm and emission at 682 nm, which generated a limit of detection of 0.05 μg/mL. Further studies were conducted using rhodamine 123, a dye with stronger fluorescence. Using 480 nm excitation and 525 nm emission, the dye in the syringe could be easily detected at levels as low as 0.001 μg/mL. The relative standard deviation for 10 measurements of a sample of 0.005 μg/mL (with repositioning of the syringe after each measurement) was less than 1.1%. A number of operational parameters were optimized, including the photomultiplier tube voltage, excitation, and emission slit widths. The specificity of the testing was challenged by using marketed drug products and a protein sample, which showed no interference to the rhodamine detection. Results obtained from this study demonstrated that using rhodamine 123 for container closure integrity testing with in-situ (in-syringe) fluorescence measurements significantly enhanced the sensitivity and robustness of the testing and effectively overcame limitations of the traditional methylene blue method with visual or UV-visible absorption detection. Ensuring container closure integrity of injectable pharmaceutical products is necessary to maintain quality throughout the shelf life of a sterile drug product. Container closure integrity testing has routinely been used to evaluate closure integrity during product development and production line qualification of prefilled syringes, vials, and devices. However, container closure integrity testing has recently gained industry attention due to increased regulatory agency scrutiny regarding the analytical rigor of container closure integrity testing methods and expectations to use container closure integrity testing in lieu of sterility tests in stability programs. Methylene blue dye is often used for dye ingress testing of container closure integrity, but we found it unsuitable for reliable detection of small breaches in prefilled syringes of drug product. This work describes the suitability and advantages of using a fluorescent dye and spectroscopic detection for a robust, sensitive, and quality control-friendly container closure integrity testing method for prefilled syringes. © PDA, Inc. 2016.

Composite Materials with Improved Properties in Compression: Synthesis of 3-Methylene-1,1-Dichlorosilacyclobutane and 1,1-Dichlorosilacyclopent-3-ene

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-09

reagents may in fact be involved. Of synthetic interest, V undergoes intramolecular Grignard ring closure to yield III (10%). While the yield of III is low...VII) as the major product along with 1,4-bis(trichlorosilyl)- cis-2-butene (VIII). VII undergoes cyclization by an intramolec- ular Grignard ring...addition of methyl Grignard to III. The 1H 8 am NMR chemical shifts of I in diethyl ether are consistently about 0.4 ppm downfield from those previously

Detecting the limits of bronchial closure methods in an animal model.

PubMed

Tezel, C; Urek, S; Keles, M; Kiral, H; Koşar, A; Dudu, C; Arman, B

2006-04-01

Bronchopleural fistula is a serious complication of major lung resections that may lead to mortality. An experimental animal model was designed to find out the safest bronchial closure method by comparing leakage rates under pressure. The tracheobronchial trees of 50 freshly dead sheep were prepared for either manual closure or closure with a stapler. After left pneumonectomy, the specimens were divided into five groups (n = 10); 3/0 Premilene suture was used with two "u" sutures + interrupted sutures in Group I; in Group II, 3/0 Premilene sutures with continuous horizontal mattress + over-over continuous sutures were used. In Group III and IV the same techniques were used with 3/0 Vicryl. A stapler was used in Group V. Specimens were intubated with an endotracheal tube, connected to a sphygmomanometer, and subsequently positioned under water. The pressure level at which we detected air bubbles indicated the limits of the technique. The median leakage pressure resistance was significantly lower in Group III (135 mm Hg) ( P = 0.001). The best results were achieved by using the continuous horizontal mattress + over-over continuous suture technique. No statistical significance difference was found between the stapler group, Groups I, II, and IV in terms of median leakage pressures. This trial suggests that manual suture closure using an appropriate technique and monofilament materials is as safe as the stapler.

Dynamics of hERG closure allow novel insights into hERG blocking by small molecules.

PubMed

Schmidtke, Peter; Ciantar, Marine; Theret, Isabelle; Ducrot, Pierre

2014-08-25

Today, drug discovery routinely uses experimental assays to determine very early if a lead compound can yield certain types of off-target activity. Among such off targets is hERG. The ion channel plays a primordial role in membrane repolarization and altering its activity can cause severe heart arrhythmia and sudden death. Despite routine tests for hERG activity, rather little information is available for helping medicinal chemists and molecular modelers to rationally circumvent hERG activity. In this article novel insights into the dynamics of hERG channel closure are described. Notably, helical pairwise closure movements have been observed. Implications and relations to hERG inactivation are presented. Based on these dynamics novel insights on hERG blocker placement are presented, compared to literature, and discussed. Last, new evidence for horizontal ligand positioning is shown in light of former studies on hERG blockers.

Goos-Hänchen shifts of partially coherent light beams from a cavity with a four-level Raman gain medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziauddin; Lee, Ray-Kuang; Qamar, Sajid

2016-09-01

We theoretically investigate spatial and angular Goos-Hänchen (GH) shifts (both negative and positive) in the reflected light for a partial coherent light incident on a cavity. A four-level Raman gain atomic medium is considered in a cavity. The effects of spatial coherence, beam width, and mode index of partial coherent light fields on spatial and angular GH shifts are studied. Our results reveal that a large magnitude of negative and positive GH shifts in the reflected light is achievable with the introduction of partial coherent light fields. Furthermore, the amplitude of spatial (negative and positive) GH shifts are sharply affected by the partial coherent light beam as compared to angular (negative and positive) GH shifts in the reflected light.

Positive Attitudinal Shifts with the Physics by Inquiry Curriculum across Multiple Implementations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsey, Beth A.; Hsu, Leonardo; Sadaghiani, Homeyra; Taylor, Jack W.; Cummings, Karen

2012-01-01

Recent publications have documented positive attitudinal shifts on the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) among students enrolled in courses with an explicit epistemological focus. We now report positive attitudinal shifts in classes using the "Physics by Inquiry" ("PbI") curriculum, which has only an…

Membrane Assisted Palatal Fistula Closure in a Cleft Palate Patient: A Novel Technique.

PubMed

Reddy, G Siva Prasad; Reddy, G Venkateshwara; Sree, P Karuna; Reddy, K Sravan Kumar; Reddy, P Amarnath

2016-03-01

Palatal fistula following cleft palate repair, is one of the considerable complications and remains a challenging problem to the surgeons. The reported recurrence rate of the fistula is between 33% to 37%. Due to fibrosis and poor vascularity of adjacent tissues, high recurrence rates are typical. Closure of palatal fistulas can be achieved by different surgical techniques like local, regional and distant flaps, local turnover flaps, pedicled flaps from oral mucosa, buccal fat pad flaps, inter-positional cartilage grafts can be utilized for management of small fistulas. For larger fistualas, tongue flaps, temporalis muscle flaps, musculomucosal flaps, nasal septal flaps and free flaps can be used. These procedures are often cumbersome and leave a raw nasal or oral surface, which may increase the incidence of postoperative problems or some flaps can be bulky and may require a second-stage procedure. Different synthetic materials such as alloderm, Poly-D and L-Lactic Acid or "PdLLA" and collagen membrane are used in multilayer repair represented by the nasal mucosa, the inter-positional graft and oral mucosa. These interpositional grafts provide a scaffold for in growth of tissues, revascularization and mucosal epithelialization. We present a case of closure of an oronasal fistula, using resorbable collagen membrane in three layered repair to avoid recurrence.

Multi-Material Closure Model for High-Order Finite Element Lagrangian Hydrodynamics

DOE PAGES

Dobrev, V. A.; Kolev, T. V.; Rieben, R. N.; ...

2016-04-27

We present a new closure model for single fluid, multi-material Lagrangian hydrodynamics and its application to high-order finite element discretizations of these equations [1]. The model is general with respect to the number of materials, dimension and space and time discretizations. Knowledge about exact material interfaces is not required. Material indicator functions are evolved by a closure computation at each quadrature point of mixed cells, which can be viewed as a high-order variational generalization of the method of Tipton [2]. This computation is defined by the notion of partial non-instantaneous pressure equilibration, while the full pressure equilibration is achieved bymore » both the closure model and the hydrodynamic motion. Exchange of internal energy between materials is derived through entropy considerations, that is, every material produces positive entropy, and the total entropy production is maximized in compression and minimized in expansion. Results are presented for standard one-dimensional two-material problems, followed by two-dimensional and three-dimensional multi-material high-velocity impact arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian calculations. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.« less

Multi-Material Closure Model for High-Order Finite Element Lagrangian Hydrodynamics

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

Dobrev, V. A.; Kolev, T. V.; Rieben, R. N.

We present a new closure model for single fluid, multi-material Lagrangian hydrodynamics and its application to high-order finite element discretizations of these equations [1]. The model is general with respect to the number of materials, dimension and space and time discretizations. Knowledge about exact material interfaces is not required. Material indicator functions are evolved by a closure computation at each quadrature point of mixed cells, which can be viewed as a high-order variational generalization of the method of Tipton [2]. This computation is defined by the notion of partial non-instantaneous pressure equilibration, while the full pressure equilibration is achieved bymore » both the closure model and the hydrodynamic motion. Exchange of internal energy between materials is derived through entropy considerations, that is, every material produces positive entropy, and the total entropy production is maximized in compression and minimized in expansion. Results are presented for standard one-dimensional two-material problems, followed by two-dimensional and three-dimensional multi-material high-velocity impact arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian calculations. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.« less

Bayesian Divergence-Time Estimation with Genome-Wide SNP Data of Sea Catfishes (Ariidae) Supports Miocene Closure of the Panamanian Isthmus.

PubMed

Stange, Madlen; Sánchez-Villagra, Marcelo R; Salzburger, Walter; Matschiner, Michael

2018-01-27

The closure of the Isthmus of Panama has long been considered to be one of the best defined biogeographic calibration points for molecular divergence-time estimation. However, geological and biological evidence has recently cast doubt on the presumed timing of the initial isthmus closure around 3 Ma but has instead suggested the existence of temporary land bridges as early as the Middle or Late Miocene. The biological evidence supporting these earlier land bridges was based either on only few molecular markers or on concatenation of genome-wide sequence data, an approach that is known to result in potentially misleading branch lengths and divergence times, which could compromise the reliability of this evidence. To allow divergence-time estimation with genomic data using the more appropriate multi-species coalescent model, we here develop a new method combining the SNP-based Bayesian species-tree inference of the software SNAPP with a molecular clock model that can be calibrated with fossil or biogeographic constraints. We validate our approach with simulations and use our method to reanalyze genomic data of Neotropical army ants (Dorylinae) that previously supported divergence times of Central and South American populations before the isthmus closure around 3 Ma. Our reanalysis with the multi-species coalescent model shifts all of these divergence times to ages younger than 3 Ma, suggesting that the older estimates supporting the earlier existence of temporary land bridges were artifacts resulting at least partially from the use of concatenation. We then apply our method to a new RAD-sequencing data set of Neotropical sea catfishes (Ariidae) and calibrate their species tree with extensive information from the fossil record. We identify a series of divergences between groups of Caribbean and Pacific sea catfishes around 10 Ma, indicating that processes related to the emergence of the isthmus led to vicariant speciation already in the Late Miocene, millions of years before the final isthmus closure. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists.

49 CFR 173.418 - Authorized packages-pyrophoric Class 7 (radioactive) materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... must not be fissile unless excepted by § 173.453; (b) Contained in sealed and corrosion resistant receptacles with positive closures (friction or slip-fit covers or stoppers are not authorized); (c) Free of...

Effects of S-containing ligands on the structure and electronic properties of CdnSen/CdnTen nanoparticles (n = 3, 4, 6, and 9)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Emmanuel; Kuznetsov, Aleksey E.; Beratan, David N.

2012-10-01

To understand ligand capping effects on the structure and electronic properties of CdnXn (X = Se, Te; n = 3, 4, 6, and 9) species, we performed density functional theory studies of SCH2COOH-, SCH2CH2CO2H-, and SCH2CH2NH2-capped nanoparticles. CdnXn capping with all three capping groups was found to produce significant NP distortions. All three ligands destabilize the NP HOMOs and either stabilize or destabilize their LUMOs, leading to closure of the HOMO/LUMO gaps for all of the capped species, because the HOMO destabilization effect is generally large than the LUMO destabilization effect. The calculated absorption spectra of bare and capped NPs, exemplified by CdnXn with n = 4 and 6, show that all capping groups cause noticeable red shifts for n = 4 and mostly blue shifts for n = 6.

DFT, FT-IR, FT-Raman and NMR studies of 4-(substituted phenylazo)-3,5-diacetamido-1H-pyrazoles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kınalı, Selin; Demirci, Serkan; Çalışır, Zühre; Kurt, Mustafa; Ataç, Ahmet

2011-05-01

We present a detailed analysis of the structural and vibrational spectra of some novel azo dyes. 2-(Substituted phenylazo)malononitriles were synthesized by the coupling reaction of the diazonium salts, which were prepared with the use of various aniline derivatives with malononitrile, and then 4-(substituted phenylazo)-3,5-diamino-1H-pyrazole azo dyes were obtained via the ring closure of the azo compounds with hydrazine monohydrate. The experimental and theoretical vibrational spectra of azo dyes were studied. The structural and spectroscopic analysis of the molecules were carried out by using Becke's three-parameters hybrid functional (B3LYP) and density functional harmonic calculations. The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the azo dye molecules were calculated using the gauge-invariant-atomic orbital (GIAO) method. The calculated vibrational wavenumbers and chemical shifts were compared with the experimental data of the molecules.

Fishing-gear restrictions and biomass gains for coral reef fishes in marine protected areas.

PubMed

Campbell, Stuart J; Edgar, Graham J; Stuart-Smith, Rick D; Soler, German; Bates, Amanda E

2018-04-01

Considerable empirical evidence supports recovery of reef fish populations with fishery closures. In countries where full exclusion of people from fishing may be perceived as inequitable, fishing-gear restrictions on nonselective and destructive gears may offer socially relevant management alternatives to build recovery of fish biomass. Even so, few researchers have statistically compared the responses of tropical reef fisheries to alternative management strategies. We tested for the effects of fishery closures and fishing gear restrictions on tropical reef fish biomass at the community and family level. We conducted 1,396 underwater surveys at 617 unique sites across a spatial hierarchy within 22 global marine ecoregions that represented 5 realms. We compared total biomass across local fish assemblages and among 20 families of reef fishes inside marine protected areas (MPAs) with different fishing restrictions: no-take, hook-and-line fishing only, several fishing gears allowed, and sites open to all fishing gears. We included a further category representing remote sites, where fishing pressure is low. As expected, full fishery closures, (i.e., no-take zones) most benefited community- and family-level fish biomass in comparison with restrictions on fishing gears and openly fished sites. Although biomass responses to fishery closures were highly variable across families, some fishery targets (e.g., Carcharhinidae and Lutjanidae) responded positively to multiple restrictions on fishing gears (i.e., where gears other than hook and line were not permitted). Remoteness also positively affected the response of community-level fish biomass and many fish families. Our findings provide strong support for the role of fishing restrictions in building recovery of fish biomass and indicate important interactions among fishing-gear types that affect biomass of a diverse set of reef fish families. © 2017 Society for Conservation Biology.

Doxycycline reduces the migration of tuberous sclerosis complex-2 null cells - effects on RhoA-GTPase and focal adhesion kinase

PubMed Central

Ng, Ho Yin; Oliver, Brian Gregory George; Burgess, Janette Kay; Krymskaya, Vera P; Black, Judith Lee; Moir, Lyn M

2015-01-01

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is associated with dysfunction of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) leading to enhanced cell proliferation and migration. This study aims to examine whether doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, can inhibit the enhanced migration of TSC2-deficient cells, identify signalling pathways through which doxycycline works and to assess the effectiveness of combining doxycycline with rapamycin (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 inhibitor) in controlling cell migration, proliferation and wound closure. TSC2-positive and TSC2-negative mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), 323-TSC2-positive and 323-TSC2-null MEF and Eker rat uterine leiomyoma (ELT3) cells were treated with doxycycline or rapamycin alone, or in combination. Migration, wound closure and proliferation were assessed using a transwell migration assay, time-lapse microscopy and manual cell counts respectively. RhoA-GTPase activity, phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in TSC2-negative MEF treated with doxycycline were examined using ELISA and immunoblotting techniques. The enhanced migration of TSC2-null cells was reduced by doxycycline at concentrations as low as 20 pM, while the rate of wound closure was reduced at 2–59 μM. Doxycycline decreased RhoA-GTPase activity and phosphorylation of FAK in these cells but had no effect on the phosphorylation of p70S6K, ERK1/2 or AKT. Combining doxycycline with rapamycin significantly reduced the rate of wound closure at lower concentrations than achieved with either drug alone. This study shows that doxycycline inhibits TSC2-null cell migration. Thus doxycycline has potential as an anti-migratory agent in the treatment of diseases with TSC2 dysfunction. PMID:26282580

Science-Driven Management of Protected Areas: A Philippine Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallari, Neil Aldrin D.; Collar, Nigel J.; McGowan, Philip J. K.; Marsden, Stuart J.

2013-06-01

The lack of scientific baseline information hinders appropriate design and management of protected areas. To illustrate the value of science to management, we consider five scenarios for the 202.0 km² Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines: (1) closure to human activities, (2) and (3) two levels of increase in unplanned human activities, (4) creation of a forest corridor and (5) additional allocation of land for permanent or shifting agriculture. We then use habitat-specific bird density estimates to simulate the net effect of each scenario on 18 focal bird populations. Closure has significant benefits—populations of five species are predicted to increase by >50 % and nine by >25 %, but two secondary forest flycatchers, including the endemic and `Vulnerable' Palawan flycatcher, decline dramatically, while the creation of a 4.0 km² forest corridor yields average increases across species of 2 ± 4 % (SD). In contrast, heavier unplanned park usage produces declines in all but a few species, while the negative effects of an extra 2.0 km² of shifting cultivation are 3-5 times higher than for a similar area of permanent agriculture and affect species whose densities are highest in primary habitats. Relatively small changes within the park, especially those associated with agricultural expansion, has serious predicted implications for local bird populations. Our models do not take into account the full complexities of bird ecology at a site, but they do provide park managers with an evidence base from which to make better decisions relating to biodiversity conservation obligations which their parks are intended to meet.

Science-driven management of protected areas: a Philippine case study.

PubMed

Mallari, Neil Aldrin D; Collar, Nigel J; McGowan, Philip J K; Marsden, Stuart J

2013-06-01

The lack of scientific baseline information hinders appropriate design and management of protected areas. To illustrate the value of science to management, we consider five scenarios for the 202.0 km² Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines: (1) closure to human activities, (2) and (3) two levels of increase in unplanned human activities, (4) creation of a forest corridor and (5) additional allocation of land for permanent or shifting agriculture. We then use habitat-specific bird density estimates to simulate the net effect of each scenario on 18 focal bird populations. Closure has significant benefits-populations of five species are predicted to increase by >50 % and nine by >25 %, but two secondary forest flycatchers, including the endemic and 'Vulnerable' Palawan flycatcher, decline dramatically, while the creation of a 4.0 km² forest corridor yields average increases across species of 2 ± 4 % (SD). In contrast, heavier unplanned park usage produces declines in all but a few species, while the negative effects of an extra 2.0 km² of shifting cultivation are 3-5 times higher than for a similar area of permanent agriculture and affect species whose densities are highest in primary habitats. Relatively small changes within the park, especially those associated with agricultural expansion, has serious predicted implications for local bird populations. Our models do not take into account the full complexities of bird ecology at a site, but they do provide park managers with an evidence base from which to make better decisions relating to biodiversity conservation obligations which their parks are intended to meet.

Skills, Positional Good or Social Closure? The Role of Education across Structural-Institutional Labour Market Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van de Werfhorst, Herman G.

2011-01-01

A theoretical approach is formulated that connects various theories of why education has an effect on labour market outcomes with institutional settings in which such theories provide the most likely mechanism. Three groups of mechanisms are distinguished: education as an indicator of productive skills, as a positional good and as a means for…

Effect of spinal anaesthesia on the lower urinary tract in continent women.

PubMed

Haeusler, G; Sam, C; Chiari, A; Tempfer, C; Hanzal, E; Koelbl, H

1998-01-01

To evaluate the effect of spinal anaesthesia on the bladder neck position and the urethral closure function in the resting state and during clinical stress test in healthy, continent women. Controlled clinical trial. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Vienna University Medical School. Fourteen continent women, of which seven were nulliparous and seven parous, underwent minor gynaecological procedures under spinal anaesthesia. Urodynamics and ultrasound investigations were performed before and during spinal anaesthesia. Changes in the bladder neck position and the urethral closure function before and during spinal anaesthesia. Bladder neck position was found to be lower and more posterior during spinal anaesthesia as compared with pre-operative assessment. The posterior urethrovesical angle increased significantly both at rest and during maximum straining. We observed a significant increase in bladder compliance, and all parameters of the urethral pressure profile decreased significantly. While none of the nulliparous women had a positive clinical stress test during spinal anaesthesia, 4/7 parous women demonstrated leakage (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.003). Blockage of nerve supply to the pelvic floor muscles in continent women is associated with a significant loss of support of the bladder neck region confirming the theory of an active mechanism of muscular elements providing continence.

Percutaneous closure of secundum type atrial septal defects: More than 5-year follow-up

PubMed Central

Snijder, Roel JR; Suttorp, Maarten J; Berg, Jurriën M Ten; Post, Martijn C

2015-01-01

AIM: To investigate long-term efficacy of two different devices more than five years after percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in adults. METHODS: All patients who underwent percutaneous closure of an ASD in the St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands, between February 1998 and December 2006 were included. Percutaneous closure took place under general anaesthesia and transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed 24 h post-procedure to visualize the device position and to look for residual shunting using color Doppler. All complications were registered. All patients were invited for an outpatient visit and contrast TTE more than 5-years after closure. Efficacy was based on the presence of a residual right-to-left shunt (RLS), graded as minimal, moderate or severe. The presence of a residual left-to-right shunt (LRS) was diagnosed using color Doppler, and was not graded. Descriptive statistics were used for patients’ characteristics. Univariate analysis was used to identify predictors for residual shunting. RESULTS: In total, 104 patients (mean age 45.5 ± 17.1 years) underwent percutaneous ASD closure using an Amplatzer device (ASO) in 76 patients and a Cardioseal/Starflex device (CS/SF) in 28 patients. The mean follow-up was 6.4 ± 3.4 years. Device migration occurred in 4 patients of whom two cases occurred during the index hospitalization (1 ASO, 1 CS/SF). The other 2 cases of device migration occurred during the first 6 mo of follow-up (2 CS/SF). The recurrent thrombo-embolic event rate was similar in both groups: 0.4% per follow-up year. More than 12 mo post-ASD closure and latest follow-up, new-onset supraventricular tachyarrhythmia’s occurred in 3.9% and 0% for the ASO and CS/SF group, respectively. The RLS rate at latest follow-up was 17.4% (minimal 10.9%, moderate 2.2%, severe 4.3%) and 45.5% (minimal 27.3%, moderate 18.2%, severe 0%) for the ASO- and CS/SF groups, respectively. There was no residual LRS in both groups. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ASD closure has good long-term safety and efficacy profiles. The residual RLS rate seems to be high more than 5 years after closure, especially in the CS/SF. Residual LRS was not observed. PMID:25810815

Storage depot for radioactive material

DOEpatents

Szulinski, Milton J.

1983-01-01

Vertical drilling of cylindrical holes in the soil, and the lining of such holes, provides storage vaults called caissons. A guarded depot is provided with a plurality of such caissons covered by shielded closures preventing radiation from penetrating through any linear gap to the atmosphere. The heat generated by the radioactive material is dissipated through the vertical liner of the well into the adjacent soil and thus to the ground surface so that most of the heat from the radioactive material is dissipated into the atmosphere in a manner involving no significant amount of biologically harmful radiation. The passive cooling of the radioactive material without reliance upon pumps, personnel, or other factor which might fail, constitutes one of the most advantageous features of this system. Moreover this system is resistant to damage from tornadoes or earthquakes. Hermetically sealed containers of radioactive material may be positioned in the caissons. Loading vehicles can travel throughout the depot to permit great flexibility of loading and unloading radioactive materials. Radioactive material can be shifted to a more closely spaced caisson after ageing sufficiently to generate much less heat. The quantity of material stored in a caisson is restricted by the average capacity for heat dissipation of the soil adjacent such caisson.

Perception of hierarchical boundaries in music and its modulation by expertise.

PubMed

Zhang, Jingjing; Jiang, Cunmei; Zhou, Linshu; Yang, Yufang

2016-10-01

Hierarchical structure with units of different timescales is a key feature of music. For the perception of such structures, the detection of each boundary is crucial. Here, using electroencephalography (EEG), we explore the perception of hierarchical boundaries in music, and test whether musical expertise modifies such processing. Musicians and non-musicians were presented with musical excerpts containing boundaries at three hierarchical levels, including section, phrase and period boundaries. Non-boundary was chosen as a baseline condition. Recordings from musicians showed CPS (closure positive shift) was evoked at all the three boundaries, and their amplitude increased as the hierarchical level became higher, which suggest that musicians could represent music events at different timescales in a hierarchical way. For non-musicians, the CPS was only elicited at the period boundary and undistinguishable negativities were induced at all the three boundaries. The results indicate that a different and less clear way was used by non-musicians in boundary perception. Our findings reveal, for the first time, an ERP correlate of perceiving hierarchical boundaries in music, and show that the phrasing ability could be enhanced by musical expertise. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus in small infants with significant lung disease may offer faster recovery of respiratory function when compared to surgical ligation.

PubMed

Abu Hazeem, Anas A; Gillespie, Matthew J; Thun, Haley; Munson, David; Schwartz, Matthew C; Dori, Yoav; Rome, Jonathan J; Glatz, Andrew C

2013-10-01

To describe our experience with percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in small infants and compare outcomes to matched surgical patients. Ligation via thoracotomy has been used to close PDAs in small infants, but has been associated with respiratory and hemodynamic compromise. We hypothesized that percutaneous closure would offer faster recovery of respiratory function. Patients <4 kg requiring positive pressure ventilation who underwent percutaneous PDA closure between January 2000 and April 2012 were reviewed and matched to contemporary surgical patients on gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), procedure weight (WT), and ventilation mode. Patients returned to baseline respiratory status when the product of mean airway pressure and FiO2 returned to pre-procedural levels. Eight matched pairs were included. Median BW, GA, and WT were 1.43 kg (0.52-2.97), 29.8 weeks (24-39), and 2.8 kg (2.2-3.9) for catheter patients and 1.55 kg (0.48-3.04), 29 weeks (23-37), and 2.75 kg (2.3-4.2) for surgical patients. Complete PDA closure occurred in all. The median time to return to baseline respiratory status was significantly shorter in the percutaneous group (17 hr (range 0-113) vs. 53 hr (range 13-219), P < 0.05). In the percutaneous group, two patients developed mild aortic coarctation, one mild left pulmonary artery stenosis, and four femoral vascular thromboses which all resolved with medical therapy. Surgical complications included significant respiratory and cardiac compromise, rib fractures and urinary retention. Percutaneous closure of PDA in small infants on respiratory support is equivalent in safety and efficacy and may offer shorter recovery time than surgical ligation. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of coil closure of patent ductus arteriosus on left anterior descending coronary artery blood flow using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

PubMed

Harada, Kenji; Toyono, Manotomo; Tamura, Masamichi

2004-06-01

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography provides noninvasive measurements of coronary blood flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). This method has the potential to show the effects of acute changes in loading conditions on blood flow. Coil closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a model of acute changes in blood pressure and left ventricular (LV) preload that influences coronary blood flow. We applied this technique to assess the coronary blood flow changes for patients with PDA before and immediately after PDA coil closure. We examined 9 patients (1.8 +/- 1.1 years) with simple PDA and 8 age-matched healthy children. LV dimensions and LV mass were measured. Maximum peak flow velocity and flow volume in the LAD were measured. Pulmonary to systemic flow ratios (Qp/Qs) were obtained by cardiac catheterization. After PDA coil closure, LV end-diastolic dimension decreased, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased significantly. The maximum peak flow velocity, LAD flow volume, and the ratio of LAD flow volume to LV mass increased significantly. The changes in maximum peak flow velocity and the ratio of LAD flow volume to LV mass (F/M) correlated positively with the changes in diastolic pressure and Qp/Qs. In 5 patients who had Qp/Qs > 1.5, the mean F/M was significantly lower compared with control subjects, but they increased to normal values after coil closure of PDA. PDA coil closure increases diastolic pressure and decreases Qp/Qs, resulting in improvement of myocardial perfusion. These findings provide new insights into the relationship between cardiac function and coronary circulation in pediatric patients with heart diseases associated with PDA.

Does vaginal closure force differ in the supine and standing positions?

PubMed

Morgan, Daniel M; Kaur, Gurpreet; Hsu, Yvonne; Fenner, Dee E; Guire, Kenneth; Miller, Janis; Ashton-Miller, James A; Delancey, John O L

2005-05-01

This study was undertaken to quantify resting vaginal closure force (VCF(REST)), maximum vaginal closure force (VCF(MAX)), and augmentation of vaginal closure force augmentation (VCF(AUG)) when supine and standing and to determine whether the change in intra-abdominal pressure associated with change in posture accounts for differences in VCF. Thirty-nine asymptomatic, continent women were recruited to determine, when supine and standing, the vaginal closure force (eg, the force closing the vagina in the mid-sagittal plane) and bladder pressures at rest and at maximal voluntary contraction. VCF was measured with an instrumented vaginal speculum and bladder pressure was determined with a microtip catheter. VCF(REST) was the resting pelvic floor tone, and VCF(MAX) was the peak pelvic floor force during a maximal voluntary contraction. VCF(AUG) was the difference between VCF(MAX) and VCF(REST). T tests and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for analysis. VCF(REST) when supine was 3.6 +/- 0.8 N and when standing was 6.9 +/- 1.5 N--a 92% difference (P < .001). The VCF(MAX) when supine was 7.5 +/- 2.9 N and when standing was 10.1 +/- 2.4 N--a 35% difference (P < .001). Bladder pressure when supine (10.5 +/- 4.7 cm H2O) was significantly less (P < .001) than when standing (31.0 +/- 6.4 cm H2O). The differences in bladder pressure when either supine or standing did not correlate with the corresponding differences in VCF at rest or at maximal voluntary contraction. The supine VCF(AUG) of 3.9 +/- 2.7 N, was significantly greater than the standing VCF(AUG) of 3.3+/-1.9 N. With change in posture, vaginal closure force increases because of higher intra-abdominal pressure and greater resistance in the pelvic floor muscles.

Is repetitive intraoperative splash basin use a source of bacterial contamination in total joint replacement?

PubMed

Glait, Sergio A; Schwarzkopf, Ran; Gould, Steven; Bosco, Joseph; Slover, James

2011-09-09

Splash basins are used in arthroplasty cases to wash instruments. Several studies in the literature have shown these basins being a potential source of bacterial infection. This study assesses the risk of contamination of intraoperative splash basins used to wash and store instruments. A total of 46 random clean primary arthroplasty cases (32 hips, 13 knees, and 1 unicondylar knee) were studied by taking cultures of sterile splash basins as soon as they are opened (controls) and again at wound closure after instruments and debris have come into contact with the sterile water. All cultures were taken with sterile culture swabs and sent to the laboratory for aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal culture. Outcome measured was any positive culture. A total of 92 cultures from 46 cases were tested. Only 1 (2.17%) control culture, which grew Streptococcus viridans, was positive for bacterial growth. One of 46 samples (2.17%) taken at wound closure was positive for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Mean time between basin opening and wound closure was 180±45 minutes. For the 1 infected sample taken at the conclusion of the case, it was 240 minutes. Previous studies show contamination rates as high as 74% for splash basins used intraoperatively. Our study contradicts the belief that splash basins are a high source of infection, with only 2.17% of basins showing contamination. Splash basins can be a potential source of contamination, but the risk is not as high as previously cited in the orthopedic literature. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.

Patient-specific catheter shaping for the minimally invasive closure of the left atrial appendage.

PubMed

Graf, Eva C; Ott, Ilka; Praceus, Julian; Bourier, Felix; Lueth, Tim C

2018-06-01

The minimally invasive closure of the left atrial appendage is a promising alternative to anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. One of the challenges of this procedure is the correct positioning and the coaxial alignment of the tip of the catheter sheath to the implant landing zone. In this paper, a novel preoperative planning system is proposed that allows patient-individual shaping of catheters to facilitate the correct positioning of the catheter sheath by offering a patient-specific catheter shape. Based on preoperative three-dimensional image data, anatomical points and the planned implant position are marked interactively and a patient-specific catheter shape is calculated if the standard catheter is not considered as suitable. An approach to calculate a catheter shape with four bends by maximization of the bending radii is presented. Shaping of the catheter is supported by a bending form that is automatically generated in the planning program and can be directly manufactured by using additive manufacturing methods. The feasibility of the planning and shaping of the catheter could be successfully shown using six data sets. The patient-specific catheters were tested in comparison with standard catheters by physicians on heart models. In four of the six tested models, the participating physicians rated the patient-individual catheters better than the standard catheter. The novel approach for preoperatively planned and shaped patient-specific catheters designed for the minimally invasive closure of the left atrial appendage could be successfully implemented and a feasibility test showed promising results in anatomies that are difficult to access with the standard catheter.

Drake passage and central american seaway controls on the distribution of the oceanic carbon reservoir

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

Fyke, Jeremy G.; D'Orgeville, Marc; Weaver, Andrew J.

2015-05-01

A coupled carbon/climate model is used to explore the impact of Drake Passage opening and Central American Seaway closure on the distribution of carbon in the global oceans. We find that gateway evolution likely played an important role in setting the modern day distribution of oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), which is currently characterized by relatively low concentrations in the Atlantic ocean, and high concentrations in the Southern, Indian, and Pacific oceans. In agreement with previous studies, we find a closed Drake Passage in the presence of an open Central American Seaway results in suppressed Atlantic meridional overturning and enhancedmore » southern hemispheric deep convection. Opening of the Drake Passage triggers Antarctic Circumpolar Current flow and a weak Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Subsequent Central American Seaway closure reinforces the AMOC while also stagnating equatorial Pacific subsurface waters. These gateway-derived oceanographic changes are reflected in large shifts to the global distribution of DIC. An initially closed Drake Passage results in high DIC concentrations in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, and lower DIC concentrations in the Pacific/Indian/Southern oceans. Opening Drake Passage reverses this gradient by lowering mid-depth Atlantic and Arctic DIC concentrations and raising deep Pacific/Indian/Southern Ocean DIC concentrations. Central American Seaway closure further reinforces this trend through additional Atlantic mid-depth DIC decreases, as well as Pacific mid-depth DIC concentration increases, with the net effect being a transition to a modern distribution of oceanic DIC.« less

Round window closure affects cochlear responses to suprathreshold stimuli.

PubMed

Cai, Qunfeng; Whitcomb, Carolyn; Eggleston, Jessica; Sun, Wei; Salvi, Richard; Hu, Bo Hua

2013-12-01

The round window acts as a vent for releasing inner ear pressure and facilitating basilar membrane vibration. Loss of this venting function affects cochlear function, which leads to hearing impairment. In an effort to identify functional changes that might be used in clinical diagnosis of round window atresia, the current investigation was designed to examine how the cochlea responds to suprathreshold stimuli following round window closure. Prospective, controlled, animal study. A rat model of round window occlusion (RWO) was established. With this model, the thresholds of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and the input/output (IO) functions of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and acoustic startle responses were examined. Round window closure caused a mild shift in the thresholds of the auditory brainstem response (13.5 ± 9.1 dB). It also reduced the amplitudes of the distortion product otoacoustic emissions and the slope of the input/output functions. This peripheral change was accompanied by a significant reduction in the amplitude, but not the threshold, of the acoustic startle reflex, a motor response to suprathreshold sounds. In addition to causing mild increase in the threshold of the auditory brainstem response, round window occlusion reduced the slopes of both distortion product otoacoustic emissions and startle reflex input/output functions. These changes differ from those observed for typical conductive or sensory hearing loss, and could be present in patients with round window atresia. However, future clinical observations in patients are needed to confirm these findings. Copyright © 2013 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

On the interactions among tropospheric ozone levels and typical environmental stresses challenging Mediterranean crops.

PubMed

Fagnano, Massimo; Maggio, Albino

2018-03-01

The main environmental stresses of Italian croplands are discussed in relation to their interactions with ozone effects on crops. Water deficit and salinization are frequent in Mediterranean environments during spring-summer causing a decrease of soil water potential and water uptake by roots and consequently stomatal closure. These stresses also stimulate secondary metabolism and antioxidant accumulation, which also serves as a stress protection mechanism. High concentrations of tropospheric ozone are common all over Italy during the spring-summer season. Ozone injuries to vegetation are related to its penetration into plant tissues, mostly via stomatal uptake, rather than to tropospheric concentrations per se. In several crops, closure of stomata due to drought/salinization reduces ozone entering into leaf tissues and counteracts possible ozone damages. Furthermore, the stimulation of antioxidant synthesis as a response to environmental stresses can represent a further protection factor from ozone injuries for Mediterranean crops.The co-existence of stress-induced stomatal closure and high ozone levels during spring-summer in Mediterranean environments implies that models that do not take into account physiological responses of crops to drought and salinity stress may overestimate ozone damages when stress responses overlap with seasonal ozone peaks. The shift from concentration-based to flux-based approaches has improved the accuracy of models to assess ozone effects on agricultural crops. It is, however, necessary to further refine the flux concept with respect to the plant abiotic stress defense capacity that can differ among genotypes, climatic conditions, and physiological states.

Does centralisation of acute obstetric care reduce intrapartum and first-week mortality? An empirical study of over 1 million births in the Netherlands.

PubMed

Poeran, Jashvant; Borsboom, Gerard J J M; de Graaf, Johanna P; Birnie, Erwin; Steegers, Eric A P; Mackenbach, Johan P; Bonsel, Gouke J

2014-07-01

In this hypothetical analysis with retrospective cohort data (1,160,708 hospital births) we estimated outcome of centralisation of acute obstetric care, i.e., closure of 10 hospitals (out of 99) in The Netherlands. The main outcome was predicted intrapartum and first-week mortality (further referred to as neonatal mortality) for several subgroups of patients affected by two centralisation scenarios: (1) closure of the 10 smallest hospitals; (2) closure of the 10 smallest hospitals, but avoiding adjacent closures. Predictions followed from regression coefficients from a multilevel logistic regression model. Scenario 1 resulted in doubled travel time, and 10% increased mortality (210 [0.34%] to 231 [0.38%] cases). Scenario 2 showed less effect on mortality (268 [0.33%] to 259 [0.32%] cases) and travel time. Heterogeneity in hospital organisational features caused simultaneous improvement and deterioration of predicted neonatal mortality. Consequences vary for subgroups. We demonstrate that (in The Netherlands) centralisation of acute obstetric care according to the 'closure-of-the-smallest-rule' yields suboptimal outcomes. In order to develop an optimal strategy one would need to consider all positive and negative effects, e.g., organisational heterogeneity of closing and surviving hospitals, differential effects for patient subgroups, increased travel time, and financial aspects. The provided framework may be beneficial for other countries considering centralisation of acute obstetric care. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The interplay between the kinetic nonlinear frequency shift and the flowing gradient in stimulated Brillouin scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Q.; Y Zheng, C.; Liu, Z. J.; Xiao, C. Z.; Feng, Q. S.; Zhang, H. C.; He, X. T.

2018-02-01

The effect of the kinetic nonlinear frequency shift (KNFS) on backward stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in homogeneous plasmas and inhomogeneous flowing plasmas is investigated by three-wave coupled-mode equations. When the positive contribution to the KNFS from electrons as well as the negative contribution from ions is included, the net KNFS can become positive at a large electron-ion temperature ratio {{ZT}}e/{T}i. In homogeneous plasmas, KNFS can greatly reduce the SBS reflectivity at low or large {{ZT}}e/{T}i but has a weak effect on SBS at {{ZT}}e/{T}i where the positive frequency shifts from electrons almost cancels out the negative shifts from ions. In inhomogeneous plasmas, the net negative frequency shift can enhance the backward SBS reflectivity for the negative gradient of the plasma flowing, and can suppress the reflectivity for the positive case. On the contrary, the net positive frequency can suppress the reflectivity for the negative case of the flowing gradient and enhance the reflectivity for the positive case. This indicates that the SBS in inhomogeneous flowing plasmas can be controlled by changing the sign of the nonlinear frequency shift.

Implementing a night-shift clinical nurse specialist.

PubMed

Becker, Dawn Marie

2013-01-01

Night-shift nurses receive fewer educational opportunities and less administrative support than do day-shift staff, tend to be newer, with less experience and fewer resources, and experience greater turnover rates, stress, and procedural errors. In an attempt to bridge the gap between day- and night-shift nursing, a night-shift clinical nurse specialist (CNS) position was created in a midsized, community teaching hospital. The goal was to provide an advanced practice presence to improve patient outcomes, communication, education, and cost-effectiveness. The night-shift CNS participated in nursing education and skill certifications, communicated new procedures and information, and created a communication committee specifically for night-shift nurses. Through regular rounding and on-call notification, the CNS was available to every area of the hospital for consultation and clinical assistance and assisted with rapid responses, codes, and traumas. Providing education during night shift reduced overtime costs and increased morale, positively affecting turnover rates. The night-shift CNS position has improved morale and equalized support for night-shift nurses. More research, most notably in specific night-shift metrics, is necessary, and with the implementation of the role in additional facilities, more can be understood about improving patient care and nursing staff satisfaction during night shift.

The affective shift model of work engagement.

PubMed

Bledow, Ronald; Schmitt, Antje; Frese, Michael; Kühnel, Jana

2011-11-01

On the basis of self-regulation theories, the authors develop an affective shift model of work engagement according to which work engagement emerges from the dynamic interplay of positive and negative affect. The affective shift model posits that negative affect is positively related to work engagement if negative affect is followed by positive affect. The authors applied experience sampling methodology to test the model. Data on affective events, mood, and work engagement was collected twice a day over 9 working days among 55 software developers. In support of the affective shift model, negative mood and negative events experienced in the morning of a working day were positively related to work engagement in the afternoon if positive mood in the time interval between morning and afternoon was high. Individual differences in positive affectivity moderated within-person relationships. The authors discuss how work engagement can be fostered through affect regulation. (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved.

Do grief self-help books convey contemporary perspectives on grieving?

PubMed

Dennis, Michael Robert

2012-01-01

Grief therapy and psychology literatures of the modern Western world conceptualized bereavement and grief as processes to be "worked through" so that other relationships could be pursued. In the last decade or so, however, grief theorists have endorsed the value of attaining new meaning(s) and continuing bonds with our lost loved ones instead of "moving on from," "letting go of" or "achieving closure from" them. This article tracks the evolution of thought pertaining to this shift and examines its relevance to grief self-help books that may offer Americans guidance in the ways of grieving.

Two stage kickdown control system for a motor vehicle automatic transmission

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

Higashi, H.; Waki, K.; Fukuiri, M.

This patent describes a vehicle automatic transmission including a hydraulic torque converter and a transmission gear mechanism connected with the torque converter and having at least three gear stages of different gear ratios for forward drive. A principal feature of this system as described is a friction means for selecting one of the gear stages as well as a kickdown control means consisting of the first shift down circuit means for control of the friction means so that the transmission gear mechanism is shifted downward. A solenoid kick down means within the modality of the first shift down circuit andmore » a kick down switch means actuated by an engine control member when it is moved to a full power position provides control of the kick down solenoid and the effecting of a down shift. The shift down control means is composed of a second shift down circuit means for controlling the friction means so shift down occurs. The shift down solenoid contained in the second shift down circuit means in conjunction with a shift down switch actuated by engine control member movement to a position spaced a predetermined distance from the full power position control the shift down solenoid to effect a shift down. Thus this mechanism is actuated earlier than the kickdown switch means when the engine control member is moved toward the full power position. A time delay means from the time of actuation of the shift down switch means and controlling kickdown switch activation is also described.« less

76 FR 37001 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW), Atlantic City, NJ

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to vessels requiring an opening to accommodate heavy... closure has been requested to ensure the safety of the heavy volumes of vehicular traffic that would be...

Spool valve cycles at controlled frequency

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Charlton, K. W.; Van Arnam, D. E.

1966-01-01

Spool valve accurately controls the cycle of a pneumatically-actuated system over long periods. Regulation of pressure from the external source, positioning of the adjusting plugs, and magnet selection, together afford wide variation in cyclic timing and speed of closure in either direction.

At the dawn of delegation? Experiences and attitudes of general practitioners in Germany - a questionnaire survey.

PubMed

Goetz, Katja; Kornitzky, Anna; Mahnkopf, Janis; Steinhäuser, Jost

2017-12-19

In the future, 'delegation' as task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to non-physicians will be important in primary care. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes towards the concept of task shifting and to identify predictors of a positive attitude towards task shifting from the perspective of GPs. This cross-sectional questionnaire study analysed attitudes towards the concept of task shifting and delegated tasks from the perspective of GPs who were recruited in the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Descriptive statistics and binary regression analyses were computed to identify potential predictors of a positive attitude towards task shifting. Out of 1538 questionnaires distributed, 577 GP questionnaires were returned (response rate: 37.5%). A total of 53.2% of the respondents were male, and 37.3% were female. A positive attitude regarding task shifting was shown by 49% of the participating GPs. The highest level of agreement (95.2%) was found for time savings with task shifting, and a lower agreement (39%) was found regarding the lack of clarity concerning the responsibilities and legal aspects with regards to task shifting. The most frequently delegated tasks were recording electrocardiograms and measuring blood glucose levels. A positive attitude towards task shifting was positively associated with higher job satisfaction and a need for qualified staff. Our sample of GPs for this study was very open-minded towards the concept of task shifting. Germany is just beginning this delegation, but the implementation of task shifting depends on different aspects, such as legal requirements, adequate payment and qualified staff. Finally, there is a need for continuing professional development in primary care teams, especially for non-clinical practice staff.

Tandem pseudopericyclic reactions: [1,5]-X sigmatropic shift/6pi-electrocyclic ring closure converting N-(2-X-carbonyl)phenyl ketenimines into 2-X-quinolin-4(3H)-ones.

PubMed

Alajarín, Mateo; Ortín, María-Mar; Sanchez-Andrada, Pilar; Vidal, Angel

2006-10-13

N-(2-X-Carbonyl)phenyl ketenimines undergo, under mild thermal conditions, [1,5]-migration of the X group from the carbonyl carbon to the electron-deficient central carbon atom of the ketenimine fragment, followed by a 6pi-electrocyclic ring closure of the resulting ketene to provide 2-X-substituted quinolin-4(3H)-ones in a sequential one-pot manner. The X groups tested are electron-donor groups, such as alkylthio, arylthio, arylseleno, aryloxy, and amino. When involving alkylthio, arylthio, and arylseleno groups, the complete transformation takes place in refluxing toluene, whereas for aryloxy and amino groups the starting ketenimines must be heated at 230 degrees C in a sealed tube in the absence of solvent. The mechanism for the conversion of these ketenimines into quinolin-4(3H)-ones has been studied by ab initio and DFT calculations, using as model compounds N-(2-X-carbonyl)vinyl ketenimines bearing different X groups (X = F, Cl, OH, SH, NH(2), and PH(2)) converting into 4(3H)-pyridones. This computational study afforded two general reaction pathways for the first step of the sequence, the [1,5]-X shift, depending on the nature of X. When X is F, Cl, OH, or SH, the migration occurs in a concerted mode, whereas when X is NH(2) or PH(2), it involves a two-step sequence. The order of migratory aptitudes of the X substituents at the acyl group is predicted to be PH(2) > Cl > SH > NH(2) > F> OH. The second step of the full transformation, the 6pi-electrocyclic ring closure, is calculated to be concerted and with low energy barriers in all the cases. We have included in the calculations an alternative mode of cyclization of the N-(2-X-carbonyl)vinyl ketenimines, the 6pi-electrocyclic ring closure leading to 1,3-oxazines that involves its 1-oxo-5-aza-1,3,5-hexatrienic system. Additionally, the pseudopericyclic topology of the transition states for some of the [1,5]-X migrations (X = F, Cl, OH, SH), for the 6pi-electrocyclization of the ketene intermediates to the 4(3H)-pyridones, and for the 6pi-electrocyclization of the starting ketenimines into 1,3-oxazines could be established on the basis of their geometries, natural bond orbital analyses, and magnetic properties. The calculations predict that the 4(3H)-pyridones are the thermodynamically controlled products and that the 1,3-oxazines should be the kinetically controlled ones.

Iberia versus Europe - Effects of continental break-up and round-up on hydrocarbon habitat

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

Bourrouilh, R.; Zolnai, G.

1988-08-01

Based on the continuity of foldbelts and the positions of intermountain continental nuclei and transcontinental megashears, a close Pangea fit is proposed for the central and north Atlantic borderlands. The Variscan arch segment missing between Brittany and Galicia in the Gulf of Gascony (Biscaye) can tentatively be identified with the Flemish Cap block off Newfoundland. At the same time the northwest African-Gondwana border (central Morocco) was located some 800 km farther to the west-northwest, as compared to its present position in southwestern Europe (Iberia). During the opening of the central and northern segments of the Atlantic Ocean (Jurassic and Cretaceous)more » and during the closure of the western Mediterranean basin, i.e., the thrust of Africa toward southern Europe (Tertiary), the European continental mass underwent deformation in the transtensive and transpressive modes, which reactivated parts of its inherited structural network. The trailing south European continental margin was partially dismembered into loosely bound continental blocks, to be assembled again during the subsequent Alpine orogenic cycle. These events can be compared with processes known in the northernmost and western segments of the North American continent. Mechanisms are proposed for the formation and deformation of inter- and intraplate basins by way of moderate shifts (wrenching) and slight rotations, the direction of which changed during the Mesozoic-Tertiary according to the global stress field. The above evolution and mechanisms had multiple and decisive effects on hydrocarbon generation, habitat, and accumulation.« less

Use of national pneumonia surveillance to describe influenza A(H7N9) virus epidemiology, China, 2004-2013.

PubMed

Xiang, Nijuan; Havers, Fiona; Chen, Tao; Song, Ying; Tu, Wenxiao; Li, Leilei; Cao, Yang; Liu, Bo; Zhou, Lei; Meng, Ling; Hong, Zhiheng; Wang, Rui; Niu, Yan; Yao, Jianyi; Liao, Kaiju; Jin, Lianmei; Zhang, Yanping; Li, Qun; Widdowson, Marc-Alain; Feng, Zijian

2013-11-01

In mainland China, most avian influenza A(H7N9) cases in the spring of 2013 were reported through the pneumonia of unknown etiology (PUE) surveillance system. To understand the role of possible underreporting and surveillance bias in assessing the epidemiology of subtype H7N9 cases and the effect of live-poultry market closures, we examined all PUE cases reported from 2004 through May 3, 2013. Historically, the PUE system was underused, reporting was inconsistent, and PUE reporting was biased toward A(H7N9)-affected provinces, with sparse data from unaffected provinces; however, we found no evidence that the older ages of persons with A(H7N9) resulted from surveillance bias. The absolute number and the proportion of PUE cases confirmed to be A(H7N9) declined after live-poultry market closures (p<0.001), indicating that market closures might have positively affected outbreak control. In China, PUE surveillance needs to be improved.

Calcium Pumps and Interacting BON1 Protein Modulate Calcium Signature, Stomatal Closure, and Plant Immunity1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Bao, Yongmei; Yang, Ziyuan; Yu, Huiyun; Li, Yun; Wang, Shu; Zou, Baohong; Xu, Dachao; Ma, Zhiqi

2017-01-01

Calcium signaling is essential for environmental responses including immune responses. Here, we provide evidence that the evolutionarily conserved protein BONZAI1 (BON1) functions together with autoinhibited calcium ATPase10 (ACA10) and ACA8 to regulate calcium signals in Arabidopsis. BON1 is a plasma membrane localized protein that negatively regulates the expression of immune receptor genes and positively regulates stomatal closure. We found that BON1 interacts with the autoinhibitory domains of ACA10 and ACA8, and the aca10 loss-of-function (LOF) mutants have an autoimmune phenotype similar to that of the bon1 LOF mutants. Genetic evidences indicate that BON1 positively regulates the activities of ACA10 and ACA8. Consistent with this idea, the steady level of calcium concentration is increased in both aca10 and bon1 mutants. Most strikingly, cytosolic calcium oscillation imposed by external calcium treatment was altered in aca10, aca8, and bon1 mutants in guard cells. In addition, calcium- and pathogen-induced stomatal closure was compromised in the aca10 and bon1 mutants. Taken together, this study indicates that ACA10/8 and BON1 physically interact on plasma membrane and function in the generation of cytosol calcium signatures that are critical for stomatal movement and impact plant immunity. PMID:28701352

Device for temporarily closing duct-formers in well completion apparatus

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

Zandmer, H.M.; Zandmer, S.M.

A duct-forming device is disclosed for use in a well completion apparatus of the kind, wherein a bore hole casing is positioned in a bore hole and duct-forming devices of alkali- and acid resistant metal-such as steel-are secured at spaced levels to the casing in alignment with holes machined in the casing wall. In accordance with the invention, a closure device is arranged within the duct-forming device which permits flow of predetermined amounts of liquid, such as acid, from the interior of the casing through the duct-forming device and into the producing formation, while gradually being moved by the liquidmore » into a position in which such fluid flow is prevented. After the fluid flow has been stopped by the closure device and when the formation pressure exceeds the pressure within the duct-forming device and the casing, fluid from the formation then forces the closure device toward and into the casing space to permit thereafter free flow of formation fluid into the duct-forming device and the casing or of pressurized treatment liquid from the casing into the formation. The inventive arrangement permits inter alia the establishment of a sufficient and substantially uniform feeding rate of treatment liquid, such as acid, from the casing into the producing formation through all the duct-formers in preparation for subsequent acidification or other treatments, such as sand fracking.« less

Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Ruptured Mitral Chordae Tendineae.

PubMed

Toma, Milan; Bloodworth, Charles H; Pierce, Eric L; Einstein, Daniel R; Cochran, Richard P; Yoganathan, Ajit P; Kunzelman, Karyn S

2017-03-01

The chordal structure is a part of mitral valve geometry that has been commonly neglected or simplified in computational modeling due to its complexity. However, these simplifications cannot be used when investigating the roles of individual chordae tendineae in mitral valve closure. For the first time, advancements in imaging, computational techniques, and hardware technology make it possible to create models of the mitral valve without simplifications to its complex geometry, and to quickly run validated computer simulations that more realistically capture its function. Such simulations can then be used for a detailed analysis of chordae-related diseases. In this work, a comprehensive model of a subject-specific mitral valve with detailed chordal structure is used to analyze the distinct role played by individual chordae in closure of the mitral valve leaflets. Mitral closure was simulated for 51 possible chordal rupture points. Resultant regurgitant orifice area and strain change in the chordae at the papillary muscle tips were then calculated to examine the role of each ruptured chorda in the mitral valve closure. For certain subclassifications of chordae, regurgitant orifice area was found to trend positively with ruptured chordal diameter, and strain changes correlated negatively with regurgitant orifice area. Further advancements in clinical imaging modalities, coupled with the next generation of computational techniques will enable more physiologically realistic simulations.

Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Ruptured Mitral Chordae Tendineae

PubMed Central

Toma, Milan; Bloodworth, Charles H.; Pierce, Eric L.; Einstein, Daniel R.; Cochran, Richard P.; Yoganathan, Ajit P.; Kunzelman, Karyn S.

2016-01-01

The chordal structure is a part of mitral valve geometry that has been commonly neglected or simplified in computational modeling due to its complexity. However, these simplifications cannot be used when investigating the roles of individual chordae tendineae in mitral valve closure. For the first time, advancements in imaging, computational techniques, and hardware technology make it possible to create models of the mitral valve without simplifications to its complex geometry, and to quickly run validated computer simulations that more realistically capture its function. Such simulations can then be used for a detailed analysis of chordae-related diseases. In this work, a comprehensive model of a subject-specific mitral valve with detailed chordal structure is used to analyze the distinct role played by individual chordae in closure of the mitral valve leaflets. Mitral closure was simulated for 51 possible chordal rupture points. Resultant regurgitant orifice area and strain change in the chordae at the papillary muscle tips were then calculated to examine the role of each ruptured chorda in the mitral valve closure. For certain subclassifications of chordae, regurgitant orifice area was found to trend positively with ruptured chordal diameter, and strain changes correlated negatively with regurgitant orifice area. Further advancements in clinical imaging modalities, coupled with the next generation of computational techniques will enable more physiologically realistic simulations. PMID:27624659

Bayesian inference reveals positive but subtle effects of experimental fishery closures on marine predator demographics

PubMed Central

Barham, Barbara J.; Barham, Peter J.; Campbell, Kate J.; Crawford, Robert J. M.; Grigg, Jennifer; Horswill, Cat; Morris, Taryn L.; Pichegru, Lorien; Steinfurth, Antje; Weller, Florian; Winker, Henning

2018-01-01

Global forage-fish landings are increasing, with potentially grave consequences for marine ecosystems. Predators of forage fish may be influenced by this harvest, but the nature of these effects is contentious. Experimental fishery manipulations offer the best solution to quantify population-level impacts, but are rare. We used Bayesian inference to examine changes in chick survival, body condition and population growth rate of endangered African penguins Spheniscus demersus in response to 8 years of alternating time–area closures around two pairs of colonies. Our results demonstrate that fishing closures improved chick survival and condition, after controlling for changing prey availability. However, this effect was inconsistent across sites and years, highlighting the difficultly of assessing management interventions in marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, modelled increases in population growth rates exceeded 1% at one colony; i.e. the threshold considered biologically meaningful by fisheries management in South Africa. Fishing closures evidently can improve the population trend of a forage-fish-dependent predator—we therefore recommend they continue in South Africa and support their application elsewhere. However, detecting demographic gains for mobile marine predators from small no-take zones requires experimental time frames and scales that will often exceed those desired by decision makers. PMID:29343602

Redundant electronic circuit provides fail-safe control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Archer, J. W.

1970-01-01

Circuit using dual control amplifiers and dual position demand potentiometers powered from separate sources is used for reliable hydraulic valve controller that prevents closure of valve when control circuits fail, and maintains valve control to close tolerance for more common modes of controller failure.

RCRA, superfund and EPCRA hotline training module. Introduction to: Closure/post-closure (40 cfr parts 264/265, subpart g) updated July 1996

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

NONE

1996-07-01

The module explains the difference between closure and post-closure. It lists the types of facilities that are subject to closure/post-closures and defines the difference between partial and final closure. It specifies who submits a closure plan and when a closure plan must be submitted, lists the steps in the process, and states the time frame for submittal. It identifies when and how a closure must be amended. It explains the time frame for notification of closure and the deadlines for beginning and completing closure. It specifies which facilities need contingent post-closure plans and lists and the elements of post-closure andmore » cites the requirements. It specifies the conditions and timing for amending a post-closure plan and states who must certify closure/post-closure.« less

Body position-dependent shift in odor percept present only for perithreshold odors.

PubMed

Lundström, Johan N; Boyle, Julie A; Jones-Gotman, Marilyn

2008-01-01

We recently demonstrated that a supine position causes a decrease in olfactory sensitivity compared with an upright position. We pursued that initial finding in 3 separate experiments in which we explored the extent of, and mechanism underlying, this phenomenon. In Experiment 1, we replicated the decrease in olfactory sensitivity when in a supine compared with an upright position. In Experiment 2, we measured body position-dependent shifts in physiological variables and sniff measures while smelling suprathreshold odorants and performing a perithreshold odor intensity discrimination task. Olfactory performances were reduced while supine. However, no relationships between the shift in olfactory performances and either the physiological variables or sniff measures were found. In Experiment 3, we determined that there were no position-dependent shifts in ability to discriminate or identify suprathreshold odors or rate them for pleasantness, intensity, or familiarity. However, a drop in scores was observed, and performance was slowed, on a cognitive skill while supine. These results demonstrate a body position-dependent shift in olfactory sensitivity only for perithreshold odors that appears to be mediated by cognitive rather than physiological factors. Implications for olfactory imaging studies are discussed.

The impact of shifting vantage perspective when recalling and imagining positive events.

PubMed

Vella, Nicholas C; Moulds, Michelle L

2014-01-01

The vantage perspective from which memories are recalled influences their emotional impact. To date, however, the impact of vantage perspective on the emotions elicited by positive memories and images of positive future events has been minimally explored. We experimentally manipulated the vantage perspective from which a sample of undergraduate students (n =80) recalled positive memories and imagined positive future events. Participants who naturally recalled their positive memories from a field perspective reported decreased vividness and positive affect (i.e., happiness, optimism, hopefulness) when they were instructed to shift to an observer perspective. The same pattern of emotionality ratings was observed when participants' vantage perspective of imagined future events was manipulated. In contrast, shifting participants from observer to field perspective recall of positive memories did not result in changes in ratings of memory-related emotion, although we found an unexpected trend towards reduced vividness. For positive future events, shifting from an observer to a field perspective resulted in decreased vividness but did not lead to any changes in positive emotion. Our findings confirm that vantage perspective plays a key role in determining the emotional impact of positive memories, and demonstrate that this relationship is also evident for images of future positive events.

[Open-wedge osteotomy of the glenoid for treatment of posterior shoulder instability with increased glenoid retroversion].

PubMed

Pogorzelski, J; Braun, S; Imhoff, A B; Beitzel, K

2016-12-01

Treatment of posterior shoulder instability with increased retroversion of the glenoid using open-wedge osteotomy of the glenoid neck stabilized with an autologous bone block. Symptomatic, atraumatic posterior shoulder instability with increased retroversion (>20°) of the glenoid and previously failed conservative or surgical treatment. General contraindications against surgery. Relative contraindications: osteoporosis, nicotine abuse, or suspected patient noncompliance. Posterior approach with a 7 cm long incision starting medial of the posterolateral corner of the acromion heading to the posterior axillary fold and subsequent preparation of the deltoid muscle and the infraspinatus muscle. The posterior glenohumeral capsule is incised by performing a capsular T‑shift. The osteotomy is performed intracapsulary medial to the genoid rim. The wedge bone graft, harvested from spina scapulae or iliac spine, is placed "press fit" in position. Additional fixation of the graft is not necessary if the anterior cortex is intact. For reinforcing the posterior capsule, a posterior capsule shift should be performed. Insertion of extracapsular wound drainage. Successive wound closure. Postoperative immobilization in a 0° shoulder orthesis for 6 weeks; avoidance of horizontal abduction for 8 weeks. After removing the wound drainage, start of limited active-assisted range of motion. Over-head sports after 6 months. From 2009-2015, 6 posterior open wedge glenoid osteotomies were performed. Postoperative retroversion of the glenoid was 11.2 ± 9.4° compared to 26.0 ± 8.6° before surgery. Of 6 shoulders, 2 showed postoperative signs of persistent posterior instability; the other 4 shoulders were free of complaints. No revision surgery was needed.

The effect of three low-cost engineering treatments on driver fatigue: A driving simulator study.

PubMed

Merat, Natasha; Jamson, A Hamish

2013-01-01

Three engineering treatments were implemented in a driving simulator study to assess the effect of road-based measures on alleviating the symptoms of fatigue. Using results from previous research on the effect of circadian rhythms on fatigue-related crashes, two groups of male drivers were recruited for this study: young shift workers under the age of 35, who attended immediately after their night shift, and older drivers over the age of 45, who completed the study during the 'post lunch dip' period, after consuming lunch. Eye tracking (PERCLOS) and lateral driver performance measures were used to assess whether baseline measures of fatigue changed after drivers experienced each of the three treatments, which included variable message signs, chevrons and rumble strips. Results showed a marked difference in these measures between drivers' baseline (not fatigued) and experimental (fatigued) visits. There were also some reductions in lateral deviation and eye closure (as measured by PERCLOS) when the treatments were encountered, but no marked difference between the three treatments. These results suggest that in addition to driver- and vehicle-based methods currently employed to mitigate the effects of fatigue, the inclusion of such engineering measures may help alleviate fatigue-related impairments in driving, particularly if such treatments are implemented during long stretches of straight monotonous roads which are known to be associated with fatigue-related crashes. However, positive effects of the treatments were short lived, prompting the need for further investigations on their optimal frequency of presentation and combination to achieve maximum impact from these low-cost, road-based treatments. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nasal symptoms and clinical findings in adult patients treated for unilateral cleft lip and palate.

PubMed

Morén, Staffan; Mani, Maria; Lundberg, Kristina; Holmström, Mats

2013-10-01

The aim of the study was to investigate self-experienced nasal symptoms among adults treated for UCLP and the association to clinical findings, and to evaluate whether palate closure in one-stage or two-stages affected the symptoms or clinical findings. All people with UCLP born between 1960-1987, treated at Uppsala University Hospital, were considered for participation in this cross-sectional population study with long-term follow-up. Eighty-three patients (76% participation rate) participated, a mean of 37 years after the first operation. Fifty-two patients were treated with one-stage palate closure and 31 with two-stage palate closure. An age-matched group of 67 non-cleft controls completed the same study protocol, which included a questionnaire regarding nasal symptoms, nasal inspection, anterior rhinoscopy, and nasal endoscopy. Patients reported a higher frequency of nasal symptoms compared with the control group, e.g., nasal obstruction (81% compared with 60%) and mouth breathing (20% compared with 5%). Patients also rated their nasal symptoms as having a more negative impact on their daily life and physical activities than controls. Nasal examination revealed higher frequencies of nasal deformities among patients. No positive correlation was found between nasal symptoms and severity of findings at nasal examination. No differences were identified between patients treated with one-stage and two-stage palate closure regarding symptoms or nasal findings. Adult patients treated for UCLP suffer from more nasal symptoms than controls. However, symptoms are not associated with findings at clinical nasal examination or method of palate closure.

Streamflow and streambed scour in 2010 at bridge 339, Copper River, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Conaway, Jeffrey S.; Brabets, Timothy P.

2011-01-01

The distribution of the Copper River's discharge through the bridges was relatively stable until sometime between 1969-70 and 1982-85. The majority of the total Copper River discharge in 1969-70 passed through three bridges on the western side of the delta, but by 1982-1985, 25 to 62 percent of the flow passed through bridge 342 on the eastern side of the Copper River Delta. In 2004, only 8 percent of the flow passed through the western bridges, while 90 percent of the discharge flowed through two bridges on the eastern side of the delta. Migration of the river across the delta and redistribution of discharge has resulted in streambed scour at some bridges, overtopping of the road during high flows, prolonged highway closures, and formation of new channels through forests. Scour monitoring at the eastern bridges has recorded as much as 44 feet of fill at one pier and 33 feet of scour at another. In 2009, flow distribution began to shift from the larger bridge 342 to bridge 339. In 2010, flow in excess of four times the design discharge scoured the streambed at bridge 339 to a level such that constant on-site monitoring was required to evaluate the potential need for bridge closure. In 2010, instantaneous flow through bridge 339 was never less than 30 percent and was as high as 49 percent of the total Copper River discharge. The percentage of flow through bridge 339 decreased when the overall Copper River discharge increased. The increased discharge through bridge 339 is attributed to a shift in the approach channel 3,500 feet upstream. Bridge channel alignment and analysis of flow distribution as of October 2010 indicate these hydrologic hazards will persist in 2011.

Effect of rotopositioning on the growth and maturation of mandibular bone in immobilized Rhesus monkeys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simmons, D. J.; Parvin, C.; Smith, K. C.; France, P.; Kazarian, L.

1986-01-01

The rates of bone formation and mineralization in the mandibular cortex of juvenile Rhesus monkeys exposed to immobilization/rotopositioning are evaluated. The monkeys were restrained in a supine position and rotated 90 deg every 30 minutes through a full 360 deg for 14 days. The microscopic distribution of mineral densities in osteonal bone and the porosity of cortical bone are studied using microradiographs, and osteon closure rates are assessed using tetracycline labeling; normal distributions of osteons of different mineral density and cortical bone porosity values are observed. It is concluded that 14 days of immobilization/rotopositioning did not cause abnormal changes in osteon mineralization, cortical porosity, and osteon closure rates.

40 CFR 265.310 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 265.310... DISPOSAL FACILITIES Landfills § 265.310 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At final closure of the landfill... subsoils present. (b) After final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

40 CFR 265.310 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 265.310... DISPOSAL FACILITIES Landfills § 265.310 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At final closure of the landfill... subsoils present. (b) After final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

40 CFR 265.310 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 265.310... DISPOSAL FACILITIES Landfills § 265.310 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At final closure of the landfill... subsoils present. (b) After final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

Effective time closures: quantifying the conservation benefits of input control for the Pacific chub mackerel fishery.

PubMed

Ichinokawa, Momoko; Okamura, Hiroshi; Watanabe, Chikako; Kawabata, Atsushi; Oozeki, Yoshioki

2015-09-01

Restricting human access to a specific wildlife species, community, or ecosystem, i.e., input control, is one of the most popular tools to control human impacts for natural resource management and wildlife conservation. However, quantitative evaluations of input control are generally difficult, because it is unclear how much human impacts can actually be reduced by the control. We present a model framework to quantify the effectiveness of input control using day closures to reduce actual fishing impact by considering the observed fishery dynamics. The model framework was applied to the management of the Pacific stock of the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) fishery, in which fishing was suspended for one day following any day when the total mackerel catch exceeded a threshold level. We evaluated the management measure according to the following steps: (1) we fitted the daily observed catch and fishing effort data to a generalized linear model (GLM) or generalized autoregressive state-space model (GASSM), (2) we conducted population dynamics simulations based on annual catches randomly generated from the parameters estimated in the first step, (3) we quantified the effectiveness of day closures by comparing the results of two simulation scenarios with and without day closures, and (4) we conducted additional simulations based on different sets of explanatory variables and statistical models (sensitivity analysis). In the first step, we found that the GASSM explained the observed data far better than the simple GLM. The model parameterized with the estimates from the GASSM demonstrated that the day closures implemented from 2004 to 2009 would have decreased exploitation fractions by ~10% every year and increased the 2009 stock biomass by 37-46% (median), relative to the values without day closures. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the effectiveness of day closures was particularly influenced by autoregressive processes in the fishery data and by positive relationships between fishing effort and total biomass. Those results indicated the importance of human behavioral dynamics under input control in quantifying the conservation benefit of natural resource management and the applicability of our model framework to the evaluation of the input controls that are actually implemented.

An Establishment-Level Test of the Statistical Discrimination Hypothesis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomaskovic-Devey, Donald; Skaggs, Sheryl

1999-01-01

Analysis of a sample of 306 workers shows that neither the gender nor racial composition of the workplace is associated with productivity. An alternative explanation for lower wages of women and minorities is social closure--the monopolizing of desirable positions by advantaged workers. (SK)

Gas tungsten arc welder

DOEpatents

Christiansen, D.W.; Brown, W.F.

A welder for automated closure of fuel pins by a gas tungsten arc process in which a rotating length of cladding is positioned adjacent a welding electrode in a sealed enclosure. An independently movable axial grinder is provided in the enclosure for refurbishing the used electrode between welds.

40 CFR 264.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 264.228... Surface Impoundments § 264.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner or operator must... materials are left in place at final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

40 CFR 264.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 264.228... Surface Impoundments § 264.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner or operator must... materials are left in place at final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

40 CFR 264.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 264.228... Surface Impoundments § 264.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner or operator must... materials are left in place at final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

40 CFR 264.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 264.228... Surface Impoundments § 264.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner or operator must... materials are left in place at final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

40 CFR 264.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 264.228... Surface Impoundments § 264.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner or operator must... materials are left in place at final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure...

Microelectromechanical safing and arming apparatus

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

Koehler, David R; Hoke, Darren A; Weichman, Louis S

2006-05-30

A two-stage acceleration sensing apparatus is disclosed which has applications for use in a fuze assembly for a projected munition. The apparatus, which can be formed by bulk micromachining or LIGA, can sense acceleration components along two orthogonal directions to enable movement of a shuttle from an "as-fabricated" position to a final position and locking of the shuttle in the final position. With the shuttle moved to the final position, the apparatus can perform one or more functions including completing an explosive train or an electrical switch closure, or allowing a light beam to be transmitted through the device.

Microelectromechanical safing and arming apparatus

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

Koehler, David R; Hoke, Darren A; Weichman, Louis S

2008-06-10

A two-stage acceleration sensing apparatus is disclosed which has applications for use in a fuze assembly for a projected munition. The apparatus, which can be formed by bulk micromachining or LIGA, can sense acceleration components along two orthogonal directions to enable movement of a shuttle from an "as-fabricated" position to a final position and locking of the shuttle in the final position. With the shuttle moved to the final position, the apparatus can perform one or more functions including completing an explosive train or an electrical switch closure, or allowing a light beam to be transmitted through the device.

49 CFR 173.196 - Category A infectious substances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... heat seal, skirted stopper, or metal crimp seal. If screw caps are used, they must be secured by positive means, such as with adhesive tape, paraffin sealing tape, or manufactured locking closure... ampoules or rubber-stoppered glass vials fitted with metal seals. (2) Infectious substances shipped...

Gas tungsten arc welder with electrode grinder

DOEpatents

Christiansen, David W.; Brown, William F.

1984-01-01

A welder for automated closure of fuel pins by a gas tungsten arc process in which a rotating length of cladding is positioned adjacent a welding electrode in a sealed enclosure. An independently movable axial grinder is provided in the enclosure for refurbishing the used electrode between welds.

Reach-to-grasp movement as a minimization process.

PubMed

Yang, Fang; Feldman, Anatol G

2010-02-01

It is known that hand transport and grasping are functionally different but spatially coordinated components of reach-to-grasp (RTG) movements. As an extension of this notion, we suggested that body segments involved in RTG movements are controlled as a coherent ensemble by a global minimization process associated with the necessity for the hand to reach the motor goal. Different RTG components emerge following this process without pre-programming. Specifically, the minimization process may result from the tendency of neuromuscular elements to diminish the spatial gap between the actual arm-hand configuration and its virtual (referent) configuration specified by the brain. The referent configuration is specified depending on the object shape, localization, and orientation. Since the minimization process is gradual, it can be interrupted and resumed following mechanical perturbations, at any phase during RTG movements, including hand closure. To test this prediction of the minimization hypothesis, we asked subjects to reach and grasp a cube placed within the reach of the arm. Vision was prevented during movement until the hand returned to its initial position. As predicted, by arresting wrist motion at different points of hand transport in randomly selected trials, it was possible to halt changes in hand aperture at any phase, not only during hand opening but also during hand closure. Aperture changes resumed soon after the wrist was released. Another test of the minimization hypothesis was made in RTG movements to an object placed beyond the reach of the arm. It has previously been shown (Rossi et al. in J Physiol 538:659-671, 2002) that in such movements, the trunk motion begins to contribute to hand transport only after a critical phase when the shifts in the referent arm configuration have finished (at about the time when hand velocity is maximal). The minimization rule suggests that when the virtual contribution of the arm to hand transport is completed, guidance of hand aperture switches from the arm to the trunk control system. As a consequence, hand aperture changes can be halted by trunk arrests but only if they are prolonged beyond a critical phase. As predicted, hand transport and hand aperture in RTG movements beyond the reach of the arm were halted by trunk arrests only if they were prolonged beyond the time of peak hand velocity. Hand motion and aperture changes resumed only when the trunk was released. While supporting the minimization hypothesis, our findings imply that not only spatial but also temporal characteristics of each component, including the shortest, hand closure component of RTG movements, are controlled in a flexible, task-specific way.

Doxycycline reduces the migration of tuberous sclerosis complex-2 null cells - effects on RhoA-GTPase and focal adhesion kinase.

PubMed

Ng, Ho Yin; Oliver, Brian Gregory George; Burgess, Janette Kay; Krymskaya, Vera P; Black, Judith Lee; Moir, Lyn M

2015-11-01

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is associated with dysfunction of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) leading to enhanced cell proliferation and migration. This study aims to examine whether doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, can inhibit the enhanced migration of TSC2-deficient cells, identify signalling pathways through which doxycycline works and to assess the effectiveness of combining doxycycline with rapamycin (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 inhibitor) in controlling cell migration, proliferation and wound closure. TSC2-positive and TSC2-negative mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), 323-TSC2-positive and 323-TSC2-null MEF and Eker rat uterine leiomyoma (ELT3) cells were treated with doxycycline or rapamycin alone, or in combination. Migration, wound closure and proliferation were assessed using a transwell migration assay, time-lapse microscopy and manual cell counts respectively. RhoA-GTPase activity, phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in TSC2-negative MEF treated with doxycycline were examined using ELISA and immunoblotting techniques. The enhanced migration of TSC2-null cells was reduced by doxycycline at concentrations as low as 20 pM, while the rate of wound closure was reduced at 2-59 μM. Doxycycline decreased RhoA-GTPase activity and phosphorylation of FAK in these cells but had no effect on the phosphorylation of p70S6K, ERK1/2 or AKT. Combining doxycycline with rapamycin significantly reduced the rate of wound closure at lower concentrations than achieved with either drug alone. This study shows that doxycycline inhibits TSC2-null cell migration. Thus doxycycline has potential as an anti-migratory agent in the treatment of diseases with TSC2 dysfunction. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

Anterior Segment Morphology in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy

PubMed Central

Balakrishna, Nagalla

2017-01-01

Aim To evaluate the configuration of the anterior chamber angle quantitatively and study the morphological changes in the eye with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) patients after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Materials and methods A total of 185 eyes of 185 PACG patients post-LPI and 126 eyes of 126 normal subjects were included in this prospective study. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, A-scan biometry, and UBM. The anterior segment and angle parameters were measured quantitatively and compared in both groups using Student’s t-test. Results The PACG patients had shorter axial length, shallower central anterior chamber depth anterior chamber depth (ACD), and anteriorly located lens when compared with normal subjects. Trabecular iris angle (TIA) was significantly narrow (5.73 ± 7.76°) in patients with PACG when compared with normal subjects (23.75 ± 9.38°). The angle opening distance at 500 pm from scleral spur (AOD 500), trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD), iris-ciliary process distance (ICPD), and iris-zonule distance (IZD) were significantly shorter in patients with PACG than in normal subjects (p < 0.0001). The iris lens angle (ILA), scleral-iris angle (SIA), and scleral-ciliary process angle (SCPA) were significantly narrower in patients with PACG than in normal subjects (p < 0.0001). The iris-lens contact distance (ILCD) was greater in PACG group than in normal (p = 0.001). Plateau iris was seen in 57/185 (30.8%) of the eyes. Anterior positioned ciliary processes were seen in 130/185 eyes (70.3%) of eyes. Conclusion In PACG patients, persistent apposition angle closure is common even after LPI, which could be due to anterior rotation of ciliary body and plateau iris and overcrowding of anterior segment due to shorter axial length and relative anterior lens position. How to cite this article: Mansoori T, Balakrishna N. Anterior Segment Morphology in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(3):86-91. PMID:29151682

40 CFR 265.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 265.228... DISPOSAL FACILITIES Surface Impoundments § 265.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner... impoundment and provide post-closure care for a landfill under subpart G and § 265.310, including the...

40 CFR 265.228 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 265.228... DISPOSAL FACILITIES Surface Impoundments § 265.228 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner... impoundment and provide post-closure care for a landfill under subpart G and § 265.310, including the...

Contingent negative variation (CNV) associated with sensorimotor timing error correction.

PubMed

Jang, Joonyong; Jones, Myles; Milne, Elizabeth; Wilson, Daniel; Lee, Kwang-Hyuk

2016-02-15

Detection and subsequent correction of sensorimotor timing errors are fundamental to adaptive behavior. Using scalp-recorded event-related potentials (ERPs), we sought to find ERP components that are predictive of error correction performance during rhythmic movements. Healthy right-handed participants were asked to synchronize their finger taps to a regular tone sequence (every 600 ms), while EEG data were continuously recorded. Data from 15 participants were analyzed. Occasional irregularities were built into stimulus presentation timing: 90 ms before (advances: negative shift) or after (delays: positive shift) the expected time point. A tapping condition alternated with a listening condition in which identical stimulus sequence was presented but participants did not tap. Behavioral error correction was observed immediately following a shift, with a degree of over-correction with positive shifts. Our stimulus-locked ERP data analysis revealed, 1) increased auditory N1 amplitude for the positive shift condition and decreased auditory N1 modulation for the negative shift condition; and 2) a second enhanced negativity (N2) in the tapping positive condition, compared with the tapping negative condition. In response-locked epochs, we observed a CNV (contingent negative variation)-like negativity with earlier latency in the tapping negative condition compared with the tapping positive condition. This CNV-like negativity peaked at around the onset of subsequent tapping, with the earlier the peak, the better the error correction performance with the negative shifts while the later the peak, the better the error correction performance with the positive shifts. This study showed that the CNV-like negativity was associated with the error correction performance during our sensorimotor synchronization study. Auditory N1 and N2 were differentially involved in negative vs. positive error correction. However, we did not find evidence for their involvement in behavioral error correction. Overall, our study provides the basis from which further research on the role of the CNV in perceptual and motor timing can be developed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular Docking and NMR Binding Studies to Identify Novel Inhibitors of Human Phosphomevalonate Kinase

PubMed Central

Boonsri, Pornthip; Neumann, Terrence S.; Olson, Andrew L.; Cai, Sheng; Herdendorf, Timothy J.; Miziorko, Henry M.; Hannongbua, Supa; Sem, Daniel S.

2012-01-01

Phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK) phosphorylates mevalonate-5-phosphate (M5P) in the mevalonate pathway, which is the sole source of isoprenoids and steroids in humans. We have identified new PMK inhibitors with virtual screening, using Autodock. Promising hits were verified and their affinity measured using NMR-based 1H-15N Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence (HSQC) chemical shift perturbation and fluorescence titrations. Chemical shift changes were monitored, plotted, and fitted to obtain dissociation constants (Kd). Tight binding compounds with Kd’s ranging from 6–60 µM were identified. These compounds tended to have significant polarity and negative charge, similar to the natural substrates (M5P and ATP). HSQC crosspeak changes suggest that binding induces a global conformational change, such as domain closure. Compounds identified in this study serve as chemical genetic probes of human PMK, to explore pharmacology of the mevalonate pathway, as well as starting points for further drug development. PMID:23146631

Unravelling the tunable exchange bias-like effect in magnetostatically-coupled two dimensional hybrid (hard/soft) composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hierro-Rodriguez, A.; Teixeira, J. M.; Rodriguez-Rodriguez, G.; Rubio, H.; Vélez, M.; Álvarez-Prado, L. M.; Martín, J. I.; Alameda, J. M.

2015-06-01

Hybrid 2D hard-soft composites have been fabricated by combining soft (Co73Si27) and hard (NdCo5) magnetic materials with in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropies, respectively. They have been microstructured in a square lattice of CoSi anti-dots with NdCo dots within the holes. The magnetic properties of the dots allow us to introduce a magnetostatic stray field that can be controlled in direction and sense by their last saturating magnetic field. The magnetostatic interactions between dot and anti-dot layers induce a completely tunable exchange bias-like shift in the system’s hysteresis loops. Two different regimes for this shift are present depending on the lattice parameter of the microstructures. For large parameters, dipolar magnetostatic decay is observed, while for the smaller one, the interaction between the adjacent anti-dot’s characteristic closure domain structures enhances the exchange bias-like effect as clarified by micromagnetic simulations.

Methodology to reduce 6D patient positional shifts into a 3D linear shift and its verification in frameless stereotactic radiotherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Biplab; Ray, Jyotirmoy; Ganesh, Tharmarnadar; Manikandan, Arjunan; Munshi, Anusheel; Rathinamuthu, Sasikumar; Kaur, Harpreet; Anbazhagan, Satheeshkumar; Giri, Upendra K.; Roy, Soumya; Jassal, Kanan; Kalyan Mohanti, Bidhu

2018-04-01

The aim of this article is to derive and verify a mathematical formulation for the reduction of the six-dimensional (6D) positional inaccuracies of patients (lateral, longitudinal, vertical, pitch, roll and yaw) to three-dimensional (3D) linear shifts. The formulation was mathematically and experimentally tested and verified for 169 stereotactic radiotherapy patients. The mathematical verification involves the comparison of any (one) of the calculated rotational coordinates with the corresponding value from the 6D shifts obtained by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The experimental verification involves three sets of measurements using an ArcCHECK phantom, when (i) the phantom was not moved (neutral position: 0MES), (ii) the position of the phantom shifted by 6D shifts obtained from CBCT (6DMES) from neutral position and (iii) the phantom shifted from its neutral position by 3D shifts reduced from 6D shifts (3DMES). Dose volume histogram and statistical comparisons were made between ≤ft< TPSCAL{\\text -}0MES \\right> and ≤ft< 3DMES{\\text -6DMES} \\right> . The mathematical verification was performed by a comparison of the calculated and measured yaw (γ°) rotation values, which gave a straight line, Y  =  1X with a goodness of fit as R 2  =  0.9982. The verification, based on measurements, gave a planning target volume receiving 100% of the dose (V100%) as 99.1  ±  1.9%, 96.3  ±  1.8%, 74.3  ±  1.9% and 72.6  ±  2.8% for the calculated treatment planning system values TPSCAL, 0MES, 3DMES and 6DMES, respectively. The statistical significance (p-values: paired sample t-test) of V100% were found to be 0.03 for the paired sample ≤ft< 3DMES{\\text -6DMES} \\right> and 0.01 for ≤ft< 0MES{\\text -TPSCAL} \\right> . In this paper, a mathematical method to reduce 6D shifts to 3D shifts is presented. The mathematical method is verified by using well-matched values between the measured and calculated γ°. Measurements done on the ArcCHECK phantom also proved that the proposed methodology is correct. The post-correction of the table position condition introduces a minimal spatial dose delivery error in the frameless stereotactic system, using a 6D motion enabled robotic couch. This formulation enables the reduction of 6D positional inaccuracies to 3D linear shifts, and hence allows the treatment of patients with frameless stereotactic radiosurgery by using only a 3D linear motion enabled couch.

Methodology to reduce 6D patient positional shifts into a 3D linear shift and its verification in frameless stereotactic radiotherapy.

PubMed

Sarkar, Biplab; Ray, Jyotirmoy; Ganesh, Tharmarnadar; Manikandan, Arjunan; Munshi, Anusheel; Rathinamuthu, Sasikumar; Kaur, Harpreet; Anbazhagan, Satheeshkumar; Giri, Upendra K; Roy, Soumya; Jassal, Kanan; Mohanti, Bidhu Kalyan

2018-03-22

The aim of this article is to derive and verify a mathematical formulation for the reduction of the six-dimensional (6D) positional inaccuracies of patients (lateral, longitudinal, vertical, pitch, roll and yaw) to three-dimensional (3D) linear shifts. The formulation was mathematically and experimentally tested and verified for 169 stereotactic radiotherapy patients. The mathematical verification involves the comparison of any (one) of the calculated rotational coordinates with the corresponding value from the 6D shifts obtained by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The experimental verification involves three sets of measurements using an ArcCHECK phantom, when (i) the phantom was not moved (neutral position: 0MES), (ii) the position of the phantom shifted by 6D shifts obtained from CBCT (6DMES) from neutral position and (iii) the phantom shifted from its neutral position by 3D shifts reduced from 6D shifts (3DMES). Dose volume histogram and statistical comparisons were made between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. The mathematical verification was performed by a comparison of the calculated and measured yaw (γ°) rotation values, which gave a straight line, Y  =  1X with a goodness of fit as R 2   =  0.9982. The verification, based on measurements, gave a planning target volume receiving 100% of the dose (V100%) as 99.1  ±  1.9%, 96.3  ±  1.8%, 74.3  ±  1.9% and 72.6  ±  2.8% for the calculated treatment planning system values TPSCAL, 0MES, 3DMES and 6DMES, respectively. The statistical significance (p-values: paired sample t-test) of V100% were found to be 0.03 for the paired sample [Formula: see text] and 0.01 for [Formula: see text]. In this paper, a mathematical method to reduce 6D shifts to 3D shifts is presented. The mathematical method is verified by using well-matched values between the measured and calculated γ°. Measurements done on the ArcCHECK phantom also proved that the proposed methodology is correct. The post-correction of the table position condition introduces a minimal spatial dose delivery error in the frameless stereotactic system, using a 6D motion enabled robotic couch. This formulation enables the reduction of 6D positional inaccuracies to 3D linear shifts, and hence allows the treatment of patients with frameless stereotactic radiosurgery by using only a 3D linear motion enabled couch.

Developing a Strategic Plan for Transitioning to Healthcare Knowledge Services Centers (HKSCs)

PubMed Central

Goldstein, H. Mark; Coletti, Margaret H.

2012-01-01

Facing a negative trend in the form of downsizing, layoffs, and closures, a small committee of hospital librarians in New England was formed in 2004 to provide library advocacy. Between 2008 and 2010, 23 hospital libraries closed in New England. In 2010, the committee shifted its focus from advocacy to a platform for change. This resulted in the creation of the Healthcare Knowledge Services Center (HKSC) Template. The Template is the basis for a 3-phased, 5-year strategic plan to establish several regional pilots, transitioning traditional hospital libraries to healthcare knowledge services centers. This article focuses on Phase One of the strategic plan, Development. PMID:23125551

40 CFR 264.146 - Use of a mechanism for financial assurance of both closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... assurance of both closure and post-closure care. 264.146 Section 264.146 Protection of Environment... mechanism for financial assurance of both closure and post-closure care. An owner or operator may satisfy the requirements for financial assurance for both closure and post-closure care for one or more...

Response of Coastal Fishes to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster

PubMed Central

Fodrie, F. Joel; Heck, Kenneth L.

2011-01-01

The ecosystem-level impacts of the Deepwater Horizon disaster have been largely unpredictable due to the unique setting and magnitude of this spill. We used a five-year (2006–2010) data set within the oil-affected region to explore acute consequences for early-stage survival of fish species inhabiting seagrass nursery habitat. Although many of these species spawned during spring-summer, and produced larvae vulnerable to oil-polluted water, overall and species-by-species catch rates were high in 2010 after the spill (1,989±220 fishes km-towed−1 [μ ± 1SE]) relative to the previous four years (1,080±43 fishes km-towed−1). Also, several exploited species were characterized by notably higher juvenile catch rates during 2010 following large-scale fisheries closures in the northern Gulf, although overall statistical results for the effects of fishery closures on assemblage-wide CPUE data were ambiguous. We conclude that immediate, catastrophic losses of 2010 cohorts were largely avoided, and that no shifts in species composition occurred following the spill. The potential long-term impacts facing fishes as a result of chronic exposure and delayed, indirect effects now require attention. PMID:21754992

Mega Scale Constructions and Art on Deep Gulf of Mexico Sonar Images Reveal Extensive Very Ancient Civilizations. Radical Holocene Climate Changes May Relate to Large Shifts in Gulf Surface Areas.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allen, R. L.

2017-12-01

Enhanced images from subsea sonar scanning of the Western Gulf of Mexico have revealed quite large temples (4 km. in length), ruins of cities (14 km. by 11 km.), pyramids, amphitheaters, and many other structures. Some human faces have beards implying much earlier migrations of Europeans or North Africans. Several temples have paleo astronomy alignments and similarities to Stone Henge. Southern and Southwestern USA satellite land images display characteristics in common with several subsea designs. Water depths indicate that many structures go back about as far as the late Ice Age and are likely to be over ten thousand years old. Chronologies of civilizations, especially in North America will need to be seriously reconsidered. Greatly rising sea levels and radical climate changes must have helped to destroy relatively advanced cultures. Suprisingly deep water depths of many architectures provide evidence for closures within the Gulf of Mexico to open seas. Closures and openings may have influenced ancient radical climate swings between warmth and cooling as Gulf contributions to water temperatures contracted or expanded. These creations of very old and surprisingly advanced civilizations need protection.

Hybrid LES/RANS Simulation of Transverse Sonic Injection into a Mach 2 Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boles, John A.; Edwards, Jack R.; Baurle, Robert A.

2008-01-01

A computational study of transverse sonic injection of air and helium into a Mach 1.98 cross-flow is presented. A hybrid large-eddy simulation / Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (LES/RANS) turbulence model is used, with the two-equation Menter baseline (Menter-BSL) closure for the RANS part of the flow and a Smagorinsky-type model for the LES part of the flow. A time-dependent blending function, dependent on modeled turbulence variables, is used to shift the closure from RANS to LES. Turbulent structures are initiated and sustained through the use of a recycling / rescaling technique. Two higher-order discretizations, the Piecewise Parabolic Method (PPM) of Colella and Woodward, and the SONIC-A ENO scheme of Suresh and Huyhn are used in the study. The results using the hybrid model show reasonably good agreement with time-averaged Mie scattering data and with experimental surface pressure distributions, even though the penetration of the jet into the cross-flow is slightly over-predicted. The LES/RANS results are used to examine the validity of commonly-used assumptions of constant Schmidt and Prandtl numbers in the intense mixing zone downstream of the injection location.

Transesophageal echocardiography and intracardiac echocardiography differently predict potential technical challenges or failures of interatrial shunts catheter-based closure.

PubMed

Rigatelli, Gianluca; Rigateli, Gianluca; Cardaioli, Paolo; Braggion, Gabriele; Aggio, Silvio; Giordan, Massimo; Magro, Beatrice; Nascimben, Alberto; Favaro, Alberto; Roncon, Loris; Rincon, Loris

2007-02-01

We sought to prospectively assess the role of transesophageal (TEE) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in detecting potential technical difficulties or failures in patients submitted to interatrial shunts percutaneous closure. We prospectively enrolled 46 consecutive patients (mean age 35+/-28, 8 years, 30 female) referred to our center for catheter-based closure of interatrial shunts. All patients were screened with TEE before the intervention. Patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent ICE study before the closure attempt (40 patients). TEE detected potential technical difficulties in 22.5% (9/40) patients, whereas ICE detected technical difficulties in 32.5% (13/40 patients). In patients with positive TEE/ICE the procedural success (92.4% versus 100% and, P = ns) and follow-up failure rate (7.7% versus 0%, P = ns) were similar to patients with negative TEE/ICE, whereas the fluoroscopy time (7 +/- 1.2 versus 5 +/- 0.7 minutes, P < 0.03), the procedural time (41 +/- 4.1 versus 30 +/- 8.2 minutes, P +/- 0.03), and technical difficulties rate (23.1% versus 0%, P = 0.013) were higher. Differences between ICE and TEE in the evaluation of rims, measurement of ASD or fossa ovalis, and detection of venous valve and embryonic septal membrane remnants impacted on technical challenges and on procedural and fluoroscopy times but did not influence the success rate and follow-up failure rate.

Case Report: Use of reinforced buccal mucosa graft over gracilis muscle flap in management of post high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) rectourethral fistula.

PubMed

Jai, Shrikant; Ganpule, Arvind; Singh, Abhishek; Vijaykumar, Mohankumar; Bopaiah, Vinod; Sabnis, Ravindra; Desai, Mahesh

2016-01-01

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has come forward as alternative treatment for carcinoma of the prostate. Though minimally invasive,HIFUhas potential side effects. Urethrorectal fistula is one such rare side effect. Management of these fistulas has been described by Vanni et al. This case report describes points of technique that will help successful management of resilient rectourethral fistula. Urinary and faecal diversion in the form of suprapubic catheter and colostomy is vital. Adequate time between stoma formation, fistula closure and then finally stoma closure is needed. Lithotomy position and perineal approach gives best exposure to the fistula. The rectum should be dissected 2cm above the fistula; this aids in tension free closure of the rectal defect. Similarly buccal mucosal graft was used on the urethra to achieve tension free closure. A good vascular pedicle gracilis muscle flap is used to interpose between the two repairs. This not only provides a physical barrier but also provides a vascular bed for BMG uptake. Perfect haemostasis is essential, as any collection may become a site of infection thus compromising results.  We strongly recommend rectourethral fistula be directly repaired with gracilis muscle flap with reinforced buccal mucosa graft without attempting any less invasive repairs because the "first chance is the best chance".

Case Report: Use of reinforced buccal mucosa graft over gracilis muscle flap in management of post high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) rectourethral fistula

PubMed Central

Jai, Shrikant; Ganpule, Arvind; Singh, Abhishek; Vijaykumar, Mohankumar; Bopaiah, Vinod; Sabnis, Ravindra; Desai, Mahesh

2017-01-01

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has come forward as alternative treatment for carcinoma of the prostate. Though minimally invasive,HIFUhas potential side effects. Urethrorectal fistula is one such rare side effect. Management of these fistulas has been described by Vanni et al. This case report describes points of technique that will help successful management of resilient rectourethral fistula. Urinary and faecal diversion in the form of suprapubic catheter and colostomy is vital. Adequate time between stoma formation, fistula closure and then finally stoma closure is needed. Lithotomy position and perineal approach gives best exposure to the fistula. The rectum should be dissected 2cm above the fistula; this aids in tension free closure of the rectal defect. Similarly buccal mucosal graft was used on the urethra to achieve tension free closure. A good vascular pedicle gracilis muscle flap is used to interpose between the two repairs. This not only provides a physical barrier but also provides a vascular bed for BMG uptake. Perfect haemostasis is essential, as any collection may become a site of infection thus compromising results.  We strongly recommend rectourethral fistula be directly repaired with gracilis muscle flap with reinforced buccal mucosa graft without attempting any less invasive repairs because the “first chance is the best chance”. PMID:28299181

TIBIAL SHAFT FRACTURES.

PubMed

Kojima, Kodi Edson; Ferreira, Ramon Venzon

2011-01-01

The long-bone fractures occur most frequently in the tibial shaft. Adequate treatment of such fractures avoids consolidation failure, skewed consolidation and reoperation. To classify these fractures, the AO/OTA classification method is still used, but it is worthwhile getting to know the Ellis classification method, which also includes assessment of soft-tissue injuries. There is often an association with compartmental syndrome, and early diagnosis can be achieved through evaluating clinical parameters and constant clinical monitoring. Once the diagnosis has been made, fasciotomy should be performed. It is always difficult to assess consolidation, but the RUST method may help in this. Radiography is assessed in two projections, and points are scored for the presence of the fracture line and a visible bone callus. Today, the dogma of six hours for cleaning the exposed fracture is under discussion. It is considered that an early start to intravenous antibiotic therapy and the lesion severity are very important. The question of early or late closure of the lesion in an exposed fracture has gone through several phases: sometimes early closure has been indicated and sometimes late closure. Currently, whenever possible, early closure of the lesion is recommended, since this diminishes the risk of infection. Milling of the canal when the intramedullary nail is introduced is still a controversial subject. Despite strong personal positions in favor of milling, studies have shown that there may be some advantage in relation to closed fractures, but not in exposed fractures.

A candidate for the Global Stratotype Section and Point at the base of the Serpukhovian in the South Urals, Russia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richards, B. C.; Nikolaeva, S. V.; Kulagina, E. I.; Alekseev, A. S.; Gorozhanina, E. N.; Gorozhanin, V. M.; Konovalova, V. A.; Goreva, N. V.; Joachimski, M. M.; Gatovsky, Y. A.

2017-12-01

The Verkhnyaya Kardailovka section is one of the best candidates for the GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) at the base of the Stage (Mississippian). For boundary definition, the first appearance of the conodont Lochriea ziegleri Nemirovskaya, Perret et Meischner, 1994 in the lineage Lochriea nodosa (Bischoff, 1957)- L. ziegleri is used. L. ziegleri appears in the Venevian Substage somewhat below the base of the Serpukhovian in the Moscow Basin. The position of the FAD of L. ziegleri within the Hypergoniatites- Ferganoceras Genozone is confirmed and lies between 19.53 and 19.63 m above the section's base. Before 2010, deep-water stylonodular limestone containing the boundary in unnamed formation C at Kardailovka was well exposed but only 3 m of Viséan strata cropped out immediately below. Recent trenching exposed another 10 m of underlying Viséan carbonates in formation C and older Viséan siliciclastics and volcanics in unnamed formation B. The contact between formation B and underlying crinoidal limestones in unnamed formation A representing the middle Viséan Zhukovian (Tulian) regional Substage was excavated. The boundary succession, situated in the Magnitogorsk tectonic zone above the Devonian Magnitogorsk arc and Mississippian magmatic and sedimentary rift succession, was deposited west of the Kazakhstanian continent during closure of the Ural Ocean. In the lower part of the section, Viséan tuffaceous siliciclastics and volcanics of formation B record rapid deepening after deposition of neritic middle Viséan crinoid lime grainstone of formation A and subsequent subaerial exposure. The overlying condensed upper Viséan to Serpukhovian succession in formation C comprises deep-water limestone deposited in a sediment-starved basin recording minor turbidite influx and carbonate-mound development. The δ13Ccarb plot shows a positive shift of 1‰ V-PDB (from +2 to +3‰) between 17.0 and 17.75 m (3.05 and 1.97 m below FAD L. ziegleri). The δ18Oapatite graph displays a prominent upward shift from 19.9 to 21.1‰ V-SMOW (at 19.15 to 19.51 m) in the nodosa Zone below FAD of Lochriea ziegleri.

Structure of isocitrate dehydrogenase with alpha-ketoglutarate at 2.7-A resolution: conformational changes induced by decarboxylation of isocitrate.

PubMed

Stoddard, B L; Koshland, D E

1993-09-14

The structure of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) complex with bound alpha-ketoglutarate, Ca2+, and NADPH was solved at 2.7-A resolution. The alpha-ketoglutarate binds in the active site at the same position and orientation as isocitrate, with a difference between the two bound molecules of about 0.8 A. The Ca2+ metal is coordinated by alpha-ketoglutarate, three conserved aspartate residues, and a pair of water molecules. The largest motion in the active site relative to the isocitrate enzyme complex is observed for tyrosine 160, which originally forms a hydrogen bond to the labile carboxyl group of isocitrate and moves to form a new hydrogen bond to Asp 307 in the complex with alpha-ketoglutarate. This triggers a number of significant movements among several short loops and adjoining secondary structural elements in the enzyme, most of which participate in dimer stabilization and formation of the active-site cleft. These rearrangements are similar to the ligand-binding-induced movements observed in globins and insulin and serve as a model for an enzymatic mechanism which involves local shifts of secondary structural elements during turnover, rather than large-scale domain closures or loop transitions induced by substrate binding such as those observed in hexokinase or triosephosphate isomerase.

Source inversion of the 1570 Ferrara earthquake and definitive diversion of the Po River (Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sirovich, L.; Pettenati, F.

2015-08-01

An 11-parameter, kinematic-function (KF) model was used to retrieve the approximate geometrical and kinematic characteristics of the fault source of the 1570 Mw 5.8 Ferrara earthquake in the Po Plain, including the double-couple orientation (strike angle 127 ± 16°, dip 28 ± 7°, and rake 77 ± 16°). These results are compatible with either the outermost thrust fronts of the northern Apennines, which are buried beneath the Po Plain's alluvial deposits, or the blind crustal-scale thrust. The 1570 event developed to the ENE of the two main shocks on 20 May 2012 (M 6.1) and 29 May 2012 (M 5.9). The three earthquakes had similar kinematics and are found 20-30 km from each other en echelon in the buried chain. Geomorphological and historical evidence exist which suggest the following: (i) the long-lasting uplift of the buried Apenninic front shifted the central part of the course of the Po River approximately 20 km northward in historical times and (ii) the 1570 earthquake marked the definitive diversion of the final part of the Po River away from Ferrara and the closure of the Po delta 40 km south of its present position.

Phonological abilities in literacy-impaired children: Brain potentials reveal deficient phoneme discrimination, but intact prosodic processing.

PubMed

Männel, Claudia; Schaadt, Gesa; Illner, Franziska K; van der Meer, Elke; Friederici, Angela D

2017-02-01

Intact phonological processing is crucial for successful literacy acquisition. While individuals with difficulties in reading and spelling (i.e., developmental dyslexia) are known to experience deficient phoneme discrimination (i.e., segmental phonology), findings concerning their prosodic processing (i.e., suprasegmental phonology) are controversial. Because there are no behavior-independent studies on the underlying neural correlates of prosodic processing in dyslexia, these controversial findings might be explained by different task demands. To provide an objective behavior-independent picture of segmental and suprasegmental phonological processing in impaired literacy acquisition, we investigated event-related brain potentials during passive listening in typically and poor-spelling German school children. For segmental phonology, we analyzed the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) during vowel length discrimination, capturing automatic auditory deviancy detection in repetitive contexts. For suprasegmental phonology, we analyzed the Closure Positive Shift (CPS) that automatically occurs in response to prosodic boundaries. Our results revealed spelling group differences for the MMN, but not for the CPS, indicating deficient segmental, but intact suprasegmental phonological processing in poor spellers. The present findings point towards a differential role of segmental and suprasegmental phonology in literacy disorders and call for interventions that invigorate impaired literacy by utilizing intact prosody in addition to training deficient phonemic awareness. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Landsat-based Analysis of Mountain Forest-tundra Ecotone Response to Climate Trends in Sayan Mountains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kharuk, Viatcheslav I.; Im, Sergey T.; Ranson, K. Jon

2007-01-01

observations of temperatures Siberia has shown a several degree warming over the past 30 years. It is expected that forest will respond to warming at high latitudes through increased tree growth and northward or upward slope migration. migration. Tree response to climate trends is most likely observable in the forest-tundra ecotone, where temperature mainly limits tree growth. Making repeated satellite observations over several decades provides an opportunity to track vegetation response to climate change. Based on Landsat data of the Sayan Mountains, Siberia, there was an increase in forest stand crown closure and an upward tree-line shift in the of the forest-tundra ecotone during the last quarter of the 2oth century,. On-ground observations, supporting these results, also showed regeneration of Siberian pine in the alpine tundra, and the transformation of prostrate Siberian pine and fir into arboreal (upright) forms. During this time period sparse stands transformed into closed stands, with existing closed stands increasing in area at a rate of approx. 1 %/yr, and advancing their upper border at a vertical rate of approx. 1.0 m/yr. In addition, the vertical rate of regeneration propagation is approx. 5 m/yr. It was also found that these changes correlated positively with temperature trends

Language and music phrase boundary processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ERP study.

PubMed

DePriest, John; Glushko, Anastasia; Steinhauer, Karsten; Koelsch, Stefan

2017-10-31

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with communicative impairment, regardless of intelligence level or mental age. Impairment of prosodic processing in particular is a common feature of ASD. Despite extensive overlap in neural resources involved in prosody and music processing, music perception seems to be spared in this population. The present study is the first to investigate prosodic phrasing in ASD in both language and music, combining event-related brain potential (ERP) and behavioral methods. We tested phrase boundary processing in language and music in neuro-typical adults and high-functioning individuals with ASD. We targeted an ERP response associated with phrase boundary processing in both language and music - i.e., the Closure Positive Shift (CPS). While a language-CPS was observed in the neuro-typical group, for ASD participants a smaller response failed to reach statistical significance. In music, we found a boundary-onset music-CPS for both groups during pauses between musical phrases. Our results support the view of preserved processing of musical cues in ASD individuals, with a corresponding prosodic impairment. This suggests that, despite the existence of a domain-general processing mechanism (the CPS), key differences in the integration of features of language and music may lead to the prosodic impairment in ASD.

Effects of cooperating and conflicting prosody in spoken English garden path sentences: ERP evidence for the boundary deletion hypothesis.

PubMed

Pauker, Efrat; Itzhak, Inbal; Baum, Shari R; Steinhauer, Karsten

2011-10-01

In reading, a comma in the wrong place can cause more severe misunderstandings than the lack of a required comma. Here, we used ERPs to demonstrate that a similar effect holds for prosodic boundaries in spoken language. Participants judged the acceptability of temporarily ambiguous English "garden path" sentences whose prosodic boundaries were either in line or in conflict with the actual syntactic structure. Sentences with incongruent boundaries were accepted less than those with missing boundaries and elicited a stronger on-line brain response in ERPs (N400/P600 components). Our results support the notion that mentally deleting an overt prosodic boundary is more costly than postulating a new one and extend previous findings, suggesting an immediate role of prosody in sentence comprehension. Importantly, our study also provides new details on the profile and temporal dynamics of the closure positive shift (CPS), an ERP component assumed to reflect prosodic phrasing in speech and music in real time. We show that the CPS is reliably elicited at the onset of prosodic boundaries in English sentences and is preceded by negative components. Its early onset distinguishes the speech CPS in adults both from prosodic ERP correlates in infants and from the "music CPS" previously reported for trained musicians.

40 CFR 265.146 - Use of a mechanism for financial assurance of both closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... assurance of both closure and post-closure care. 265.146 Section 265.146 Protection of Environment... Use of a mechanism for financial assurance of both closure and post-closure care. An owner or operator may satisfy the requirements for financial assurance for both closure and post-closure care for one or...

Percutaneous closure of a hemodynamically significant connection between the inferior vena cava and the left atrium.

PubMed

Wiebe, Jens; Rixe, Johannes; Nef, Holger

2015-10-01

A connection between the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the left atrium (LA) can occur as a rare complication after surgical atrial septum defect (ASD) repair. We demonstrate the first case of a percutaneous closure of this connection. A 67-year-old female was admitted to hospital due to exertional dyspnea. A history of a surgical ASD repair in 1960 and 1966 with a residual shunt was already known. Transesophageal echocardiography and a CT scan revealed a hemodynamically significant drainage of the IVC into the LA. This connection was successfully closed percutaneously with an AMPLATEZR Duct Occluder I (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN). Post-procedural CT-scan and transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a stable position and there was also no evidence of a residual shunt. The patient reported a significant reduction of exertional dyspnea. Percutaneous closure of an IVC to LA connection in this case was safe and feasible. The decision about which device is optimal must be made on an individual basis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Wound closure in flexion versus extension following total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review.

PubMed

Smith, Toby O; Davies, Leigh; Hing, Caroline B

2010-06-01

Optimising knee range of motion following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is important for patient satisfaction, functional outcome and early rehabilitation to promote accelerated discharge. Historically, wound closure following TKA has been performed in extension. It has been suggested that knee position during wound closure may influence range of motion and clinical outcomes following TKA. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TKA wounds should be closed in flexion or extension. An electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and AMED databases was made in addition to a review of unpublished material. All included papers were critically appraised using a modified PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) critical appraisal tool. Three papers were eligible, assessing 237 TKAs. On analysis, patients with TKA wounds closed in flexion had greater flexion range of motion and required less domiciliary physiotherapy compared to those with wounds closed in full extension. The specific degree of knee flexion used when closing total knee replacement wounds may be an important variable to clinical outcome. However, the present evidence-base is limited in both size and methodological quality.

Staged Transcatheter Treatment of Portal Hypoplasia and Congenital Portosystemic Shunts in Children

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

Bruckheimer, Elchanan, E-mail: elchananb@bezeqint.net; Dagan, Tamir; Atar, Eli

2013-12-15

Purpose: Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) with portal venous hypoplasia cause hyperammonemia. Acute shunt closure results in portal hypertension. A transcatheter method of staged shunt reduction to afford growth of portal vessels followed by shunt closure is reported. Methods: Pressure measurements and angiography in the CPSS or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during temporary occlusion of the shunt were performed. If vessels were diminutive and the pressure was above 18 mmHg, a staged approach was performed, which included implantation of a tailored reducing stent to reduce shunt diameter by {approx}50 %. Recatheterization was performed approximately 3 months later. If the portal pressuremore » was below 18 mmHg and vessels had developed, the shunt was closed with a device. Results: Six patients (5 boys, 1 girl) with a median age of 3.3 (range 0.5-13) years had CPSS portal venous hypoplasia and hyperammonemia. Five patients underwent staged closure. One patient tolerated acute closure. One patient required surgical shunt banding because a reducing stent could not be positioned. At median follow-up of 3.8 (range 2.2-8.4) years, a total of 21 procedures (20 transcatheter, 1 surgical) were performed. In all patients, the shunt was closed with a significant reduction in portal pressure (27.7 {+-} 11.3 to 10.8 {+-} 1.8 mmHg; p = 0.016), significant growth of the portal vessels (0.8 {+-} 0.5 to 4.0 {+-} 2.4 mm; p = 0.037), and normalization of ammonia levels (202.1 {+-} 53.6 to 65.7 {+-} 9.6 {mu}mol/L; p = 0.002) with no complications. Conclusion: Staged CPSS closure is effective in causing portal vessel growth and treating hyperammonemia.« less

Direct Percutaneous Left Ventricular Access and Port Closure

PubMed Central

Barbash, Israel M.; Saikus, Christina E.; Faranesh, Anthony Z.; Ratnayaka, Kanishka; Kocaturk, Ozgur; Chen, Marcus Y.; Bell, Jamie A.; Virmani, Renu; Schenke, William H.; Hansen, Michael S.; Slack, Michael C.; Lederman, Robert J.

2012-01-01

Objectives This study sought to evaluate feasibility of nonsurgical transthoracic catheter-based left ventricular (LV) access and closure. Background Implanting large devices, such as mitral or aortic valve prostheses, into the heart requires surgical exposure and repair. Reliable percutaneous direct transthoracic LV access and closure would allow new nonsurgical therapeutic procedures. Methods Percutaneous direct LV access was performed in 19 swine using real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and an “active” MRI needle antenna to deliver an 18-F introducer sheath. The LV access ports were closed percutaneously using a commercial ventricular septal defect occluder and an “active” MRI delivery cable for enhanced visibility. We used “permissive pericardial tamponade” (temporary fluid instillation to separate the 2 pericardial layers) to avoid pericardial entrapment by the epicardial disk. Techniques were developed in 8 animals, and 11 more were followed up to 3 months by MRI and histopathology. Results Imaging guidance allowed 18-F sheath access and closure with appropriate positioning of the occluder inside the transmyocardial tunnel. Of the survival cohort, immediate hemostasis was achieved in 8 of 11 patients. Failure modes included pericardial entrapment by the epicardial occluder disk (n = 2) and a true-apex entry site that prevented hemostatic apposition of the endocardial disk (n = 1). Reactive pericardial effusion (192 ± 118 ml) accumulated 5 ± 1 days after the procedure, requiring 1-time drainage. At 3 months, LV function was preserved, and the device was endothelialized. Conclusions Direct percutaneous LV access and closure is feasible using real-time MRI. A commercial occluder achieved hemostasis without evident deleterious effects on the LV. Having established the concept, further clinical development of this approach appears realistic. PMID:22192372

Staged transcatheter treatment of portal hypoplasia and congenital portosystemic shunts in children.

PubMed

Bruckheimer, Elchanan; Dagan, Tamir; Atar, Eli; Schwartz, Michael; Kachko, Ludmila; Superina, Riccardo; Amir, Gabriel; Shapiro, Rivka; Birk, Einat

2013-12-01

Congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) with portal venous hypoplasia cause hyperammonemia. Acute shunt closure results in portal hypertension. A transcatheter method of staged shunt reduction to afford growth of portal vessels followed by shunt closure is reported. Pressure measurements and angiography in the CPSS or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during temporary occlusion of the shunt were performed. If vessels were diminutive and the pressure was above 18 mmHg, a staged approach was performed, which included implantation of a tailored reducing stent to reduce shunt diameter by ~50 %. Recatheterization was performed approximately 3 months later. If the portal pressure was below 18 mmHg and vessels had developed, the shunt was closed with a device. Six patients (5 boys, 1 girl) with a median age of 3.3 (range 0.5-13) years had CPSS portal venous hypoplasia and hyperammonemia. Five patients underwent staged closure. One patient tolerated acute closure. One patient required surgical shunt banding because a reducing stent could not be positioned. At median follow-up of 3.8 (range 2.2-8.4) years, a total of 21 procedures (20 transcatheter, 1 surgical) were performed. In all patients, the shunt was closed with a significant reduction in portal pressure (27.7 ± 11.3 to 10.8 ± 1.8 mmHg; p = 0.016), significant growth of the portal vessels (0.8 ± 0.5 to 4.0 ± 2.4 mm; p = 0.037), and normalization of ammonia levels (202.1 ± 53.6 to 65.7 ± 9.6 μmol/L; p = 0.002) with no complications. Staged CPSS closure is effective in causing portal vessel growth and treating hyperammonemia.

Traction-assisted Internal Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Bridging Retention Sutures to Facilitate Staged Closure of High-risk Wounds Under Tension.

PubMed

DeFazio, Michael V; Economides, James M; Anghel, Ersilia L; Mathis, Ryan K; Barbour, John R; Attinger, Christopher E

2017-10-01

Loss of domain often complicates attempts at delayed wound closure in regions of high tension. Wound temporization with traction-assisted internal negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), using bridging retention sutures, can minimize the effects of edema and elastic recoil that contribute to progressive tissue retraction over time. The investigators evaluated the safety and efficacy of this technique for complex wound closure. Between May 2015 and November 2015, 18 consecutive patients underwent staged reconstruction of complex and/or contaminated soft tissue defects utilizing either conventional NPWT or modified NPWT with instillation and continuous dermatotraction via bridging retention sutures. Instillation of antimicrobial solution was reserved for wounds containing infected/exposed hardware or prosthetic devices. Demographic data, wound characteristics, reconstructive outcomes, and complications were reviewed retrospectively. Eighteen wounds were treated with traction-assisted internal NPWT using the conventional (n = 11) or modified instillation (n = 7) technique. Defects involved the lower extremity (n = 14), trunk (n = 3), and proximal upper extremity (n = 1), with positive cultures identified in 12 wounds (67%). Therapy continued for 3 to 8 days (mean, 4.3 days), resulting in an average wound surface area reduction of 78% (149 cm² vs. 33 cm²) at definitive closure. Seventeen wounds (94%) were closed directly, whereas the remaining defect required coverage with a local muscle flap and skin graft. At final follow-up (mean, 12 months), 89% of wounds remained closed. In 2 patients with delayed, recurrent periprosthetic infection (mean, 7.5 weeks), serial debridement/hardware removal mandated free tissue transfer for composite defect reconstruction. Traction-assisted internal NPWT provides a safe and effective alternative to reduce wound burden and facilitate definitive closure in cases where delayed reconstruction of high-tension wounds is planned.

49 CFR 173.196 - Category A infectious substances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

.... Positive means of ensuring a leakproof seal must be provided, such as heat seal, skirted stopper, or metal..., paraffin sealing tape, or manufactured locking closure. Lyophilized substances may also be transported in primary receptacles that are flame-sealed with glass ampoules or rubber-stoppered glass vials fitted with...

49 CFR 173.196 - Category A infectious substances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

.... Positive means of ensuring a leakproof seal must be provided, such as heat seal, skirted stopper, or metal..., paraffin sealing tape, or manufactured locking closure. Lyophilized substances may also be transported in primary receptacles that are flame-sealed with glass ampoules or rubber-stoppered glass vials fitted with...

Coherent control of the Goos-Hänchen shift via Fano interference

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

Liu, Shaopeng; Yang, Wen-Xing, E-mail: wenxingyang@seu.edu.cn; Zhu, Zhonghu

2016-04-14

A scheme of enhanced Goos-Hänchen (GH) shifts in reflected and transmitted light beams is exploited in a cavity, where an asymmetric double AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well structure with resonant tunneling to a common continuum is employed as the intracavity medium. With the help of Fano-type interference induced by resonant tunneling, the generated GH shifts that contain a negative lateral shift in reflected light beam and a positive lateral shift in transmitted light beam are found to be significantly enhanced. More interestingly, these GH shifts in reflected and transmitted light beams are modulated by means of a control beam and external biasmore » voltage, in which maximum negative shift of 1.86 mm and positive shift of 0.37 mm are achievable.« less

The use of titanium miniscrews for molar protraction in extraction treatment.

PubMed

Giancotti, Aldo; Greco, Mario; Mampieri, Gianluca; Arcuri, Claudio

2004-01-01

Orthodontic space closure in the mandibular arch by protraction of the mandibular second molars, after the extraction of first molars, may sometimes result in loss of incisor anchorage when using conventional orthodontic procedures. The introduction of miniscrews for immediate loading as orthodontic anchorage, has enlarged treatment possibilities. The authors illustrate their clinical experience in an adult patient treated with the extraction of mandibular first molars and the protraction of second and third molars into the extraction sites. Anchorage control was achieved with the surgical insertion of titanium miniscrews for immediate loading in the cortical bone distal to second bicuspids. Space closure was achieved by means of sliding mechanics according to Bidimensional Technique. The position of lower incisors was maintained preventing any detrimental facial effect.

Discrepancy and Disliking Do Not Induce Negative Opinion Shifts

PubMed Central

Flache, Andreas; Mäs, Michael

2016-01-01

Both classical social psychological theories and recent formal models of opinion differentiation and bi-polarization assign a prominent role to negative social influence. Negative influence is defined as shifts away from the opinion of others and hypothesized to be induced by discrepancy with or disliking of the source of influence. There is strong empirical support for the presence of positive social influence (a shift towards the opinion of others), but evidence that large opinion differences or disliking could trigger negative shifts is mixed. We examine positive and negative influence with controlled exposure to opinions of other individuals in one experiment and with opinion exchange in another study. Results confirm that similarities induce attraction, but results do not support that discrepancy or disliking entails negative influence. Instead, our findings suggest a robust positive linear relationship between opinion distance and opinion shifts. PMID:27333160

Pilot randomised controlled trial of face-down positioning following macular hole surgery.

PubMed

Lange, C A K; Membrey, L; Ahmad, N; Wickham, L; Maclaren, R E; Solebo, L; Xing, W; Bunce, C; Ezra, E; Charteris, D; Aylward, B; Yorston, D; Gregor, Z; Zambarakji, H; Bainbridge, J W

2012-02-01

This was a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effect of post-operative face-down positioning on the outcome of macular hole surgery and to inform the design of a larger definitive study. In all, 30 phakic eyes of 30 subjects with idiopathic full-thickness macular holes underwent vitrectomy with dye-assisted peeling of the ILM and 14% perfluoropropane gas. Subjects were randomly allocated to posture face down for 10 days (posturing group) or to avoid a face-up position only (non-posturing group). The primary outcome was anatomical hole closure. Macular holes closed in 14 of 15 eyes (93.3%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 68-100%) in the posturing group and in 9 of 15 (60%; 95% CI 32-84%) in the non-posturing group. In a subgroup analysis of outcome according to macular hole size, all holes smaller than 400 μm closed regardless of posturing (100%). In contrast, holes larger than 400 μm closed in 10 of 11 eyes (91%; 95% CI 58-99%) in the posturing group and in only 4 of 10 eyes (40%; 95% CI 12-74%) in the non-posturing group (Fisher's exact test P=0.02). Post-operative face-down positioning may improve the likelihood of macular hole closure, particularly for holes larger than 400 μm. These results support the case for a RCT.

Type I and II β-turns prediction using NMR chemical shifts.

PubMed

Wang, Ching-Cheng; Lai, Wen-Chung; Chuang, Woei-Jer

2014-07-01

A method for predicting type I and II β-turns using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts is proposed. Isolated β-turn chemical-shift data were collected from 1,798 protein chains. One-dimensional statistical analyses on chemical-shift data of three classes β-turn (type I, II, and VIII) showed different distributions at four positions, (i) to (i + 3). Considering the central two residues of type I β-turns, the mean values of Cο, Cα, H(N), and N(H) chemical shifts were generally (i + 1) > (i + 2). The mean values of Cβ and Hα chemical shifts were (i + 1) < (i + 2). The distributions of the central two residues in type II and VIII β-turns were also distinguishable by trends of chemical shift values. Two-dimensional cluster analyses on chemical-shift data show positional distributions more clearly. Based on these propensities of chemical shift classified as a function of position, rules were derived using scoring matrices for four consecutive residues to predict type I and II β-turns. The proposed method achieves an overall prediction accuracy of 83.2 and 84.2% with the Matthews correlation coefficient values of 0.317 and 0.632 for type I and II β-turns, indicating that its higher accuracy for type II turn prediction. The results show that it is feasible to use NMR chemical shifts to predict the β-turn types in proteins. The proposed method can be incorporated into other chemical-shift based protein secondary structure prediction methods.

Mercury Trapped Ion Frequency Standard for Ultra-Stable Reference Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larsen, Kameron (Inventor); Burt, Eric A. (Inventor); Tjoelker, Robert L. (Inventor); Hamell, Robert L. (Inventor); Tucker, Blake C. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

An atomic clock including an ion trap assembly, a C-field coil positioned for generating a first magnetic field in the interrogation region of the ion trap assembly, a compensation coil positioned for generating a second magnetic field in the interrogation region, wherein the combination of the first and second magnetic fields produces an ion number-dependent second order Zeeman shift (Zeeman shift) in the resonance frequency that is opposite in sign to an ion number-dependent second order Doppler shift (Doppler shift) in the resonance frequency, the C-field coil has a radius selected using data indicating how changes in the radius affect an ion-number-dependent shift in the resonance frequency, such that a difference in magnitude between the Doppler shift and the Zeeman shift is controlled or reduced, and the resonance frequency, including the adjustment by the Zeeman shift, is used to obtain the frequency standard.

Solvation effects on chemical shifts by embedded cluster integral equation theory.

PubMed

Frach, Roland; Kast, Stefan M

2014-12-11

The accurate computational prediction of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) parameters like chemical shifts represents a challenge if the species studied is immersed in strongly polarizing environments such as water. Common approaches to treating a solvent in the form of, e.g., the polarizable continuum model (PCM) ignore strong directional interactions such as H-bonds to the solvent which can have substantial impact on magnetic shieldings. We here present a computational methodology that accounts for atomic-level solvent effects on NMR parameters by extending the embedded cluster reference interaction site model (EC-RISM) integral equation theory to the prediction of chemical shifts of N-methylacetamide (NMA) in aqueous solution. We examine the influence of various so-called closure approximations of the underlying three-dimensional RISM theory as well as the impact of basis set size and different treatment of electrostatic solute-solvent interactions. We find considerable and systematic improvement over reference PCM and gas phase calculations. A smaller basis set in combination with a simple point charge model already yields good performance which can be further improved by employing exact electrostatic quantum-mechanical solute-solvent interaction energies. A larger basis set benefits more significantly from exact over point charge electrostatics, which can be related to differences of the solvent's charge distribution.

29 CFR 1918.24 - Fixed and portable ladders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., and be positively secured or held against shifting or slipping. When conditions are such that a... strength shall be furnished and positively secured or held against shifting or slipping while in use. Steps... securely positioned on a level and firm base. (2) Ladders shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and/or...

29 CFR 1918.24 - Fixed and portable ladders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., and be positively secured or held against shifting or slipping. When conditions are such that a... strength shall be furnished and positively secured or held against shifting or slipping while in use. Steps... securely positioned on a level and firm base. (2) Ladders shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and/or...

29 CFR 1918.24 - Fixed and portable ladders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., and be positively secured or held against shifting or slipping. When conditions are such that a... strength shall be furnished and positively secured or held against shifting or slipping while in use. Steps... securely positioned on a level and firm base. (2) Ladders shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and/or...

29 CFR 1918.24 - Fixed and portable ladders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., and be positively secured or held against shifting or slipping. When conditions are such that a... strength shall be furnished and positively secured or held against shifting or slipping while in use. Steps... securely positioned on a level and firm base. (2) Ladders shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and/or...

29 CFR 1918.24 - Fixed and portable ladders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., and be positively secured or held against shifting or slipping. When conditions are such that a... strength shall be furnished and positively secured or held against shifting or slipping while in use. Steps... securely positioned on a level and firm base. (2) Ladders shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and/or...

Genome-wide analysis of aquaporin gene family and their responses to water-deficit stress conditions in cassava.

PubMed

Putpeerawit, Pattaranit; Sojikul, Punchapat; Thitamadee, Siripong; Narangajavana, Jarunya

2017-12-01

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important economic crop in tropical countries. Although cassava is considered a drought-tolerant crop that can grow in arid areas, the impact of drought can significantly reduce the growth and yield of cassava storage roots. The discovery of aquaporin molecules (AQPs) in plants has resulted in a paradigm shift in the understanding of plant-water relationships, whereas the relationship between aquaporin and drought resistance in cassava still remains elusive. To investigate the potential role of aquaporin in cassava under water-deficit conditions, 45 putative MeAQPs were identified in the cassava genome. Six members of MeAQPs, containing high numbers of water stress-responsive motifs in their promoter regions, were selected for a gene expression study. Two cassava cultivars, which showed different degrees of responses to water-deficit stress, were used to test in in vitro and potted plant systems. The differential expression of all candidate MeAQPs were found in only leaves from the potted plant system were consistent with the relative water content and with the stomatal closure profile of the two cultivars. MePIP2-1 and MePIP2-10 were up-regulated and this change in their expression might regulate a special signal for water efflux out of guard cells, thus inducing stomatal closure under water-deficit conditions. In addition, the expression profiles of genes in the ABA-dependent pathway revealed an essential correlation with stomatal closure. The potential functions of MeAQPs and candidate ABA-dependent pathway genes in response to water deficit in the more tolerant cassava cultivar were discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Tectono-stratigraphy of the Orhaniye Basin, Turkey: Implications for collision chronology and Paleogene biogeography of central Anatolia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Licht, A.; Coster, P.; Ocakoğlu, F.; Campbell, C.; Métais, G.; Mulch, A.; Taylor, M.; Kappelman, John; Beard, K. Christopher

2017-08-01

Located along the İzmir-Ankara-Erzincan Suture (IAES), the Maastrichtian - Paleogene Orhaniye Basin has yielded a highly enigmatic -yet poorly dated- Paleogene mammal fauna, the endemic character of which has suggested high faunal provincialism associated with paleogeographic isolation of the Anatolian landmass during the early Cenozoic. Despite its biogeographic significance, the tectono-stratigraphic history of the Orhaniye Basin has been poorly documented. Here, we combine sedimentary, magnetostratigraphic, and geochronological data to infer the chronology and depositional history of the Orhaniye Basin. We then assess how our new data and interpretations for the Orhaniye Basin impact (1) the timing and mechanisms of seaway closure along the IAES and (2) the biogeographic evolution of Anatolia. Our results show that the Orhaniye Basin initially developed as a forearc basin during the Maastrichtian, before shifting to a retroarc foreland basin setting sometime between the early Paleocene and 44 Ma. This chronology supports a two-step scenario for the assemblage of the central Anatolian landmass, with incipient collision during the Paleocene - Early Eocene and final seaway retreat along the IAES during the earliest Late Eocene after the last marine incursion into the foreland basin. Our dating for the Orhaniye mammal fauna (44-43 Ma) indicates the persistence of faunal endemism in northern Anatolia until at least the late Lutetian despite the advanced stage of IAES closure. The tectonic evolution of dispersal corridors linking northern Anatolia with adjacent parts of Eurasia was not directly associated with IAES closure and consecutive uplifts, but rather with the build-up of continental bridges on the margins of Anatolia, in the Alpine and Tibetan-Himalayan orogens.

Intrafractional Baseline Shift or Drift of Lung Tumor Motion During Gated Radiation Therapy With a Real-Time Tumor-Tracking System.

PubMed

Takao, Seishin; Miyamoto, Naoki; Matsuura, Taeko; Onimaru, Rikiya; Katoh, Norio; Inoue, Tetsuya; Sutherland, Kenneth Lee; Suzuki, Ryusuke; Shirato, Hiroki; Shimizu, Shinichi

2016-01-01

To investigate the frequency and amplitude of baseline shift or drift (shift/drift) of lung tumors in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), using a real-time tumor-tracking radiation therapy (RTRT) system. Sixty-eight patients with peripheral lung tumors were treated with SBRT using the RTRT system. One of the fiducial markers implanted near the tumor was used for the real-time monitoring of the intrafractional tumor motion every 0.033 seconds by the RTRT system. When baseline shift/drift is determined by the system, the position of the treatment couch is adjusted to compensate for the shift/drift. Therefore, the changes in the couch position correspond to the baseline shift/drift in the tumor motion. The frequency and amount of adjustment to the couch positions in the left-right (LR), cranio-caudal (CC), and antero-posterior (AP) directions have been analyzed for 335 fractions administered to 68 patients. The average change in position of the treatment couch during the treatment time was 0.45 ± 2.23 mm (mean ± standard deviation), -1.65 ± 5.95 mm, and 1.50 ± 2.54 mm in the LR, CC, and AP directions, respectively. Overall the baseline shift/drift occurs toward the cranial and posterior directions. The incidence of baseline shift/drift exceeding 3 mm was 6.0%, 15.5%, 14.0%, and 42.1% for the LR, CC, AP, and for the square-root of sum of 3 directions, respectively, within 10 minutes of the start of treatment, and 23.0%, 37.6%, 32.5%, and 71.6% within 30 minutes. Real-time monitoring and frequent adjustments of the couch position and/or adding appropriate margins are suggested to be essential to compensate for possible underdosages due to baseline shift/drift in SBRT for lung cancers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Management of hidradenitis suppurativa wounds with an internal vacuum-assisted closure device.

PubMed

Chen, Y Erin; Gerstle, Theodore; Verma, Kapil; Treiser, Matthew D; Kimball, Alexandra B; Orgill, Dennis P

2014-03-01

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, debilitating disease that is difficult to treat. Once medical management fails, wide local excision offers the best chance for cure. However, the resultant wound often proves too large or contaminated for immediate closure. The authors performed a retrospective chart review of hidradenitis cases managed surgically between 2005 and 2010. Data collected included patient characteristics, management method, and outcomes. Approximately half of the patients received internal vacuum-assisted closure therapy using the vacuum-assisted closure system and delayed closure and half of the patients received immediate primary closure at the time of their excision. Delayed closure consisted of closing the majority of the wound in a linear fashion following internal vacuum-assisted closure while accepting healing by means of secondary intention for small wound areas. Patients managed with internal vacuum-assisted closure had wounds on average four times larger in area than patients managed without internal vacuum-assisted closure. In both groups, all wounds were eventually closed primarily. Healing times averaged 2.2 months with internal vacuum-assisted closure and 2.7 months without. At an average follow-up time of 2.3 months, all patients with internal vacuum-assisted closure had no recurrence of their local disease. Severe hidradenitis presents a treatment challenge, as surgical excisions are often complicated by difficult closures and unsatisfactory recurrence rates. This study demonstrates that wide local excision with reasonable outcomes can be achieved using accelerated delayed primary closure. This method uses internal vacuum-assisted closure as a bridge between excision and delayed primary closure, facilitating closure without recurrence in large, heavily contaminated wounds. Therapeutic, III.

Real time simulation of computer-assisted sequencing of terminal area operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dear, R. G.

1981-01-01

A simulation was developed to investigate the utilization of computer assisted decision making for the task of sequencing and scheduling aircraft in a high density terminal area. The simulation incorporates a decision methodology termed Constrained Position Shifting. This methodology accounts for aircraft velocity profiles, routes, and weight classes in dynamically sequencing and scheduling arriving aircraft. A sample demonstration of Constrained Position Shifting is presented where six aircraft types (including both light and heavy aircraft) are sequenced to land at Denver's Stapleton International Airport. A graphical display is utilized and Constrained Position Shifting with a maximum shift of four positions (rearward or forward) is compared to first come, first serve with respect to arrival at the runway. The implementation of computer assisted sequencing and scheduling methodologies is investigated. A time based control concept will be required and design considerations for such a system are discussed.

Anomalous positive flatband voltage shifts in metal gate stacks containing rare-earth oxide capping layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caraveo-Frescas, J. A.; Hedhili, M. N.; Wang, H.; Schwingenschlögl, U.; Alshareef, H. N.

2012-03-01

It is shown that the well-known negative flatband voltage (VFB) shift, induced by rare-earth oxide capping in metal gate stacks, can be completely reversed in the absence of the silicon overlayer. Using TaN metal gates and Gd2O3-doped dielectric, we measure a ˜350 mV negative shift with the Si overlayer present and a ˜110 mV positive shift with the Si overlayer removed. This effect is correlated to a positive change in the average electrostatic potential at the TaN/dielectric interface which originates from an interfacial dipole. The dipole is created by the replacement of interfacial oxygen atoms in the HfO2 lattice with nitrogen atoms from TaN.

Charge injection from gate electrode by simultaneous stress of optical and electrical biases in HfInZnO amorphous oxide thin film transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Dae Woong; Kim, Jang Hyun; Chang, Ji Soo; Kim, Sang Wan; Sun, Min-Chul; Kim, Garam; Kim, Hyun Woo; Park, Jae Chul; Song, Ihun; Kim, Chang Jung; Jung, U. In; Park, Byung-Gook

2010-11-01

A comprehensive study is done regarding stabilities under simultaneous stress of light and dc-bias in amorphous hafnium-indium-zinc-oxide thin film transistors. The positive threshold voltage (Vth) shift is observed after negative gate bias and light stress, and it is completely different from widely accepted phenomenon which explains that negative-bias stress results in Vth shift in the left direction by bias-induced hole-trapping. Gate current measurement is performed to explain the unusual positive Vth shift under simultaneous application of light and negative gate bias. As a result, it is clearly found that the positive Vth shift is derived from electron injection from gate electrode to gate insulator.

Inflatable O-ring seal would ease closing of hatch cover plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neary, K. J.

1966-01-01

Inflatable O-ring seal provides positive sealing means that does not require the manual exertion of a large compressive force during opening or closing of a rotary-type hatch cover plate. The O-ring is deflated during opening and closing and inflated after closure by a gas pressure source.

Fixing a Fatal Flaw in "U.S. News" Rankings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manion, Andrew P.

2007-01-01

The closure of Barat College's operations in 2004 is similar to the accounts of other small, tuition-driven institutions such as Ambassador University, Bradford College, Marymount College, and Trinity College of Vermont. All institutions were small and in tight financial positions, and all ended up closing their doors. They also shared another…

Good Transitions = Great Starts!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Our Children: The National PTA Magazine, 2012

2012-01-01

The smooth transition of outgoing and incoming board members and officers is of vital importance and can determine the PTA's success for years to come. The transition process is the responsibility of both incoming and outgoing officers and board members. It gives closure to those leaving their positions and allows those coming in to be properly…

Maintaining Positive Educator Morale during Consolidation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appalachia Educational Lab., Charleston, WV.

The flight of middle class families from the cities to the suburbs has left many cities hard pressed to continue services at former levels. Falling enrollments and revenues have led to mergers of city and county school districts or closures of city districts followed by county takeover. This report documents educators' experience of city-county…

Forest Floor Characteristics in Southwestern Wisconsin

Treesearch

M. Dean Knighton

1970-01-01

Percent slope, aspect, topographic position, and crown closure were found to have no significant influence on forest floor depth in southwestern Wisconsin. However, a significant decrease in forest floor depth and an increase in soil compaction were found on currently grazed slopes. Yet when grazing is stopped recovery is apperently quick with no permanent damage....

Glaciological and marine geological controls on terminus dynamics of Hubbard Glacier, southeast Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stearns, Leigh A.; Hamilton, Gordon S.; van der Veen, C. J.; Finnegan, D. C.; O'Neel, Shad; Scheick, J. B.; Lawson, D. E.

2015-01-01

Hubbard Glacier, located in southeast Alaska, is the world's largest non-polar tidewater glacier. It has been steadily advancing since it was first mapped in 1895; occasionally, the advance creates an ice or sediment dam that blocks a tributary fjord (Russell Fiord). The sustained advance raises the probability of long-term closure in the near-future, which will strongly impact the ecosystem of Russell Fiord and the nearby community of Yakutat. Here, we examine a 43-year record of flow speeds and terminus position to understand the large-scale dynamics of Hubbard Glacier. Our long-term record shows that the rate of terminus advance has increased slightly since 1895, with the exception of a slowed advance between approximately 1972 and 1984. The short-lived closure events in 1986 and 2002 were not initiated by perturbations in ice velocity or environmental forcings, but were likely due to fluctuations in sedimentation patterns at the terminus. This study points to the significance of a coupled system where short-term velocity fluctuations and morainal shoal development control tidewater glacier terminus position.

Association between rotating night shift work and metabolic syndrome in Korean workers: differences between 8-hour and 12-hour rotating shift work.

PubMed

Oh, Jae-Il; Yim, Hyeon Woo

2018-02-07

This study aimed to analyze the association between the shift work schedule and metabolic syndrome (MetS). This is a retrospective longitudinal study based on the 2015 health checkup data of 2,090 workers evaluated for MetS in 2010 at a general hospital in Korea. The participants were divided according to their shift work schedule into daytime, three-shift (8-h rotation), and two-shift (12-h rotation) workers. The index that indicates the association between the shift work schedule and MetS is the odds ratio (OR) calculated using multivariate logistic regression. The analysis for the entire group of workers indicated that there was positive association between two-shift rotation and MetS (OR=1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 2.29). In the analysis of rotating night-shift workers, the years of rotating night shifts, frequency of night-shift work, and sleep disturbance were added to the confounding variables, and two-shift work remained positively associated with MetS (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.70). The risk of MetS differs based on the shift work schedules they engage in. Hence, structural changes to the shift work schedules are required to prevent MetS in night-shift workers.

Association between rotating night shift work and metabolic syndrome in Korean workers: differences between 8-hour and 12-hour rotating shift work

PubMed Central

OH, Jae-Il; YIM, Hyeon Woo

2017-01-01

This study aimed to analyze the association between the shift work schedule and metabolic syndrome (MetS). This is a retrospective longitudinal study based on the 2015 health checkup data of 2,090 workers evaluated for MetS in 2010 at a general hospital in Korea. The participants were divided according to their shift work schedule into daytime, three-shift (8-h rotation), and two-shift (12-h rotation) workers. The index that indicates the association between the shift work schedule and MetS is the odds ratio (OR) calculated using multivariate logistic regression. The analysis for the entire group of workers indicated that there was positive association between two-shift rotation and MetS (OR=1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 2.29). In the analysis of rotating night-shift workers, the years of rotating night shifts, frequency of night-shift work, and sleep disturbance were added to the confounding variables, and two-shift work remained positively associated with MetS (OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.70). The risk of MetS differs based on the shift work schedules they engage in. Hence, structural changes to the shift work schedules are required to prevent MetS in night-shift workers. PMID:29046489

EVALUATION OF PRESENTATION OF SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT AFTER EPIPHYSIOLYSIS OF THE PROXIMAL FEMUR.

PubMed

Krüger, Fábio Peng; de Britto, Paulo Sérgio Gérzon; Neto, Lauro Machado; Schwartsmann, Carlos Roberto

2011-01-01

The long-bone fractures occur most frequently in the tibial shaft. Adequate treatment of such fractures avoids consolidation failure, skewed consolidation and reoperation. To classify these fractures, the AO/OTA classification method is still used, but it is worthwhile getting to know the Ellis classification method, which also includes assessment of soft-tissue injuries. There is often an association with compartmental syndrome, and early diagnosis can be achieved through evaluating clinical parameters and constant clinical monitoring. Once the diagnosis has been made, fasciotomy should be performed. It is always difficult to assess consolidation, but the RUST method may help in this. Radiography is assessed in two projections, and points are scored for the presence of the fracture line and a visible bone callus. Today, the dogma of six hours for cleaning the exposed fracture is under discussion. It is considered that an early start to intravenous antibiotic therapy and the lesion severity are very important. The question of early or late closure of the lesion in an exposed fracture has gone through several phases: sometimes early closure has been indicated and sometimes late closure. Currently, whenever possible, early closure of the lesion is recommended, since this diminishes the risk of infection. Milling of the canal when the intramedullary nail is introduced is still a controversial subject. Despite strong personal positions in favor of milling, studies have shown that there may be some advantage in relation to closed fractures, but not in exposed fractures.

New results on the realizability of Reynolds stress turbulence closures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Speziale, Charles G.; Abid, Ridha; Durbin, Paul A.

1993-01-01

The realizability of Reynolds stress models in homogeneous turbulence is critically assessed from a theoretical standpoint. It is proven that a well known second-order closure formulated by Shih and Lumley using the strong realizability constraints of Schumann is, in fact, not a realizable model. The problem arises from the failure to properly satisfy the necessary positive second time derivative constraint when a principal Reynolds stress vanishes - a fatal flaw that becomes apparent when the non-analytic terms in their model are made single-valued as required on physical grounds. It is furthermore shown that the centrifugal acceleration generated by rotations of the principal axes of the Reynolds stress tensor can make the second derivative singular at the most extreme limits of realizable turbulence. This previously overlooked effect appears to make it impossible to identically satisfy the strong form of realizability in any version of the present generation of second-order closures. On the other hand, models properly formulated to satisfy the weak form of realizability - wherein states of one or two component turbulence are not accessible in finite time are found to be realizable. However, unlike the simpler and more commonly used second order closures, these models can be ill-behaved near the extreme limits of realizable turbulence due to the way that higher-degree nonlinearities are often unnecessarily introduced to satisfy realizability. Illustrative computations of homogeneous shear flows are presented to demonstrate these points which can have important implications for turbulence modeling.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects type 2 in children under 3 years of age.

PubMed

Knop, Mateusz T; Białkowski, Jacek; Szkutnik, Małgorzata; Fiszer, Roland; Smerdziński, Sebastian; Gałeczka, Michał; Litwin, Linda

2018-06-04

Atrial septal defect type II (ASD), according to current standards, is closed percutaneously usually after the child has reached the age of 4-5 years. There are limited data regarding such treatment in smaller infants. To evaluate feasibility, safety and efficacy of percutaneous ASD closure in children under 3 years of age. Overall group of 149 children < 3 years with hemodynamically significant ASD, who underwent effective transcatheter ASD closure in one tertiary center between 1999 and 2014 were included. Mean procedural age of treated children was 2,2 years and weight 12,5 kg. In all nitinol wire mesh devices were applied (mostly Amplatzer Septal Occluders). ASD was closed by standard technique (except few cases when left disc of implant was inserted initially into right pulmonary vein to prevent oblique position of the device). Complications related to the procedure were divided into major and minor ones. There were 97 children with a single ASD and 52 with double/multiple ASD. No death, no implant embolization, and one major complications occurred during procedure and in follow-up. ASD was completely closed in all but 8 patients with double/multiple ASD. Right ventricle diameter normalization occurred in all during 1 year follow-up. In majority of the patients in follow-up an acceleration of physical development and resolution of accompanying morbidity was observed. Percutaneous ASD device closure can be performer safely in children below 3 years of age with low risk of complication during and after the procedure.

Can Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Silently Travel From the Gut to the Wound and Cause Postoperative Infection? Modeling the "Trojan Horse Hypothesis".

PubMed

Krezalek, Monika A; Hyoju, Sanjiv; Zaborin, Alexander; Okafor, Emeka; Chandrasekar, Laxmi; Bindokas, Vitas; Guyton, Kristina; Montgomery, Christopher P; Daum, Robert S; Zaborina, Olga; Boyle-Vavra, Susan; Alverdy, John C

2018-04-01

To determine whether intestinal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be the source of surgical site infections (SSIs). We hypothesized that gut-derived MRSA may cause SSIs via mechanisms in which circulating immune cells scavenge MRSA from the gut, home to surgical wounds, and cause infection (Trojan Horse Hypothesis). MRSA gut colonization was achieved by disrupting the microbiota with antibiotics, imposing a period of starvation and introducing MRSA via gavage. Next, mice were subjected to a surgical injury (30% hepatectomy) and rectus muscle injury and ischemia before skin closure. All wounds were cultured before skin closure. To control for postoperative wound contamination, reiterative experiments were performed in mice in which the closed wound was painted with live MRSA for 2 consecutive postoperative days. To rule out extracellular bacteremia as a cause of wound infection, MRSA was injected intravenously in mice subjected to rectus muscle ischemia and injury. All wound cultures were negative before skin closure, ruling out intraoperative contamination. Out of 40 mice, 4 (10%) developed visible abscesses. Nine mice (22.5%) had MRSA positive cultures of the rectus muscle without visible abscesses. No SSIs were observed in mice injected intravenously with MRSA. Wounds painted with MRSA after closure did not develop infections. Circulating neutrophils from mice captured by flow cytometry demonstrated MRSA in their cytoplasm. Immune cells as Trojan horses carrying gut-derived MRSA may be a plausible mechanism of SSIs in the absence of direct contamination.

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery gastrotomy closure with an over-the-endoscope clip: a randomized, controlled porcine study (with videos).

PubMed

von Renteln, Daniel; Schmidt, Arthur; Vassiliou, Melina C; Gieselmann, Maria; Caca, Karel

2009-10-01

Secure endoscopic closure of transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) access is of paramount importance. The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) system has previously been shown to be effective for NOTES gastrotomy closure. To compare OTSC gastrotomy closure with surgical closure. Randomized, controlled animal study. Animal facility laboratory. Thirty-six female domestic pigs. Gastrotomies were created by using a needle-knife and an 18-mm balloon. The animals were subsequently randomized to either open surgical repair with interrupted sutures or endoscopic repair with 12-mm OTSCs. In addition, pressurized leak tests were performed in ex vivo specimens of 18-mm scalpel incisions closed with suture (n = 14) and of intact stomachs (n = 10). The mean time for endoscopic closure was 9.8 minutes (range 3-22, SD 5.5). No complications occurred during either type of gastrotomy closure. At necropsy, examination of all OTSC and surgical closures demonstrated complete sealing of gastrotomy sites without evidence of injury to adjacent organs. Pressurized leak tests showed a mean burst pressure of 83 mm Hg (range 30-140, SD 27) for OTSC closures and 67 mm Hg (range 30-130, SD 27.7) for surgical sutures. Ex vivo hand-sewn sutures of 18-mm gastrotomies (n = 14) exhibited a mean burst pressure of 65 mm Hg (range 20-140, SD 31) and intact ex vivo stomachs (n = 10) had a mean burst pressure of 126 mm Hg (range 90-170, SD 28). The burst pressure of ex vivo intact stomachs was significantly higher compared with OTSC closures (P < .01), in vivo surgical closures (P < .01), and ex vivo hand-sewn closures (P < .01). There was a trend toward higher burst pressures in the OTSC closures compared with surgical closures (P = .063) and ex vivo hand-sewn closures (P = .094). In vivo surgical closures demonstrated similar burst pressures compared with ex vivo hand-sewn closures (P = .848). Nonsurvival setting. Endoscopic closure by using the OTSC system is comparable to surgical closure in a nonsurvival porcine model. This technique is easy to perform and is suitable for NOTES gastrotomy closure.

29 CFR 825.216 - Limitations on an employee's right to reinstatement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... slated for lay-off when the employee's original position is not would not meet the requirements of an equivalent position. (2) If a shift has been eliminated, or overtime has been decreased, an employee would..., if a position on, for example, a night shift has been filled by another employee, the employee is...

A study examining the impact of 12-hour shifts on critical care staff.

PubMed

Richardson, Annette; Turnock, Christopher; Harris, Liz; Finley, Alison; Carson, Sarah

2007-11-01

Twelve-hour shifts contribute to flexible patterns of work, but the effects on delivery of direct care and staff fatigue are important topics for deeper examination. To examine the impact and implications of 12-hour shifts on critical care staff. A staged dual approach using two focus groups (n = 16) and questionnaires (n = 147) with critical care staff from three critical care units. Positive effects were found with planning and prioritizing care, improved relationships with patients/relatives, good-quality time off work and ease of travelling to work. Less favourable effects were with caring for patients in isolation cubicles and the impact on staff motivation and tiredness. Acceptable patterns of work were suggested for 'numbers of consecutive shifts' and 'rest periods between shifts'. Most participants believed 12-hour shifts should continue. The challenge is to ensure existing systems and practices develop to improve on the less positive effects of working 12-hour shifts. This study provides nurse managers with important and relevant staff views on the impact of working 12-hour shifts. In particular to those working within a critical care environment and suggests the challenge is to ensure existing systems and practices develop to improve on the less encouraging effects of working 12-hour shifts. It adds an understanding of the senior nurse's view on the positive and negative effects of managing and organizing staff off duty to safely run a department with 12-hour shifts.

Small Scale Response and Modeling of Periodically Forced Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bos, Wouter; Clark, Timothy T.; Rubinstein, Robert

2007-01-01

The response of the small scales of isotropic turbulence to periodic large scale forcing is studied using two-point closures. The frequency response of the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate, and the phase shifts between production, energy and dissipation are determined as functions of Reynolds number. It is observed that the amplitude and phase of the dissipation exhibit nontrivial frequency and Reynolds number dependence that reveals a filtering effect of the energy cascade. Perturbation analysis is applied to understand this behavior which is shown to depend on distant interactions between widely separated scales of motion. Finally, the extent to which finite dimensional models (standard two-equation models and various generalizations) can reproduce the observed behavior is discussed.

Data-driven non-Markovian closure models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondrashov, Dmitri; Chekroun, Mickaël D.; Ghil, Michael

2015-03-01

This paper has two interrelated foci: (i) obtaining stable and efficient data-driven closure models by using a multivariate time series of partial observations from a large-dimensional system; and (ii) comparing these closure models with the optimal closures predicted by the Mori-Zwanzig (MZ) formalism of statistical physics. Multilayer stochastic models (MSMs) are introduced as both a generalization and a time-continuous limit of existing multilevel, regression-based approaches to closure in a data-driven setting; these approaches include empirical model reduction (EMR), as well as more recent multi-layer modeling. It is shown that the multilayer structure of MSMs can provide a natural Markov approximation to the generalized Langevin equation (GLE) of the MZ formalism. A simple correlation-based stopping criterion for an EMR-MSM model is derived to assess how well it approximates the GLE solution. Sufficient conditions are derived on the structure of the nonlinear cross-interactions between the constitutive layers of a given MSM to guarantee the existence of a global random attractor. This existence ensures that no blow-up can occur for a broad class of MSM applications, a class that includes non-polynomial predictors and nonlinearities that do not necessarily preserve quadratic energy invariants. The EMR-MSM methodology is first applied to a conceptual, nonlinear, stochastic climate model of coupled slow and fast variables, in which only slow variables are observed. It is shown that the resulting closure model with energy-conserving nonlinearities efficiently captures the main statistical features of the slow variables, even when there is no formal scale separation and the fast variables are quite energetic. Second, an MSM is shown to successfully reproduce the statistics of a partially observed, generalized Lotka-Volterra model of population dynamics in its chaotic regime. The challenges here include the rarity of strange attractors in the model's parameter space and the existence of multiple attractor basins with fractal boundaries. The positivity constraint on the solutions' components replaces here the quadratic-energy-preserving constraint of fluid-flow problems and it successfully prevents blow-up.

WASTE PACKAGE REMEDIATION SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT

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

N.D. Sudan

2000-06-22

The Waste Package Remediation System remediates waste packages (WPs) and disposal containers (DCs) in one of two ways: preparation of rejected DC closure welds for repair or opening of the DC/WP. DCs are brought to the Waste Package Remediation System for preparation of rejected closure welds if testing of the closure weld by the Disposal Container Handling System indicates an unacceptable, but repairable, welding flaw. DC preparation of rejected closure welds will require removal of the weld in such a way that the Disposal Container Handling System may resume and complete the closure welding process. DCs/WPs are brought to themore » Waste Package Remediation System for opening if the Disposal Container Handling System testing of the DC closure weld indicates an unrepairable welding flaw, or if a WP is recovered from the subsurface repository because suspected damage to the WP or failure of the WP has occurred. DC/WP opening will require cutting of the DC/WP such that a temporary seal may be installed and the waste inside the DC/WP removed by another system. The system operates in a Waste Package Remediation System hot cell located in the Waste Handling Building that has direct access to the Disposal Container Handling System. One DC/WP at a time can be handled in the hot cell. The DC/WP arrives on a transfer cart, is positioned within the cell for system operations, and exits the cell without being removed from the cart. The system includes a wide variety of remotely operated components including a manipulator with hoist and/or jib crane, viewing systems, machine tools for opening WPs, and equipment used to perform pressure and gas composition sampling. Remotely operated equipment is designed to facilitate DC/WP decontamination and hot cell equipment maintenance, and interchangeable components are provided where appropriate. The Waste Package Remediation System interfaces with the Disposal Container Handling System for the receipt and transport of WPs and DCs. The Waste Handling Building System houses the system, and provides the facility, safety, and auxiliary systems required to support operations. The system receives power from the Waste Handling Building Electrical System. The system also interfaces with the various DC systems.« less

Evaluation of the Momentum Closure Schemes in MPAS-Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Shimei; Liu, Yudi; Liu, Wei

2018-04-01

In order to compare and evaluate the performances of the Laplacian viscosity closure, the biharmonic viscosity closure, and the Leith closure momentum schemes in the MPAS-Ocean model, a variety of physical quantities, such as the relative reference potential energy (RPE) change, the RPE time change rate (RPETCR), the grid Reynolds number, the root mean square (RMS) of kinetic energy, and the spectra of kinetic energy and enstrophy, are calculated on the basis of results of a 3D baroclinic periodic channel. Results indicate that: 1) The RPETCR demonstrates a saturation phenomenon in baroclinic eddy tests. The critical grid Reynolds number corresponding to RPETCR saturation differs between the three closures: the largest value is in the biharmonic viscosity closure, followed by that in the Laplacian viscosity closure, and that in the Leith closure is the smallest. 2) All three closures can effectively suppress spurious dianeutral mixing by reducing the grid Reynolds number under sub-saturation conditions of the RPETCR, but they can also damage certain physical processes. Generally, the damage to the rotation process is greater than that to the advection process. 3) The dissipation in the biharmonic viscosity closure is strongly dependent on scales. Most dissipation concentrates on small scales, and the energy of small-scale eddies is often transferred to large-scale kinetic energy. The viscous dissipation in the Laplacian viscosity closure is the strongest on various scales, followed by that in the Leith closure. Note that part of the small-scale kinetic energy is also transferred to large-scale kinetic energy in the Leith closure. 4) The characteristic length scale L and the dimensionless parameter D in the Leith closure are inherently coupled. The RPETCR is inversely proportional to the product of D and L. When the product of D and L is constant, both the simulated RPETCR and the inhibition of spurious dianeutral mixing are the same in all tests using the Leith closure. The dissipative scale in the Leith closure depends on the parameter L, and the dissipative intensity depends on the parameter D. 5) Although optimal results may not be achieved by using the optimal parameters obtained from the 2D barotropic model in the 3D baroclinic simulation, the total energies are dissipative in all three closures. Dissipation is the strongest in the biharmonic viscosity closure, followed by that in the Leith closure, and that in the Laplacian viscosity closure is the weakest. Mesoscale eddies develop the fastest in the biharmonic viscosity closure after the baroclinic adjustment process finishes, and the kinetic energy reaches its maximum, which is attributed to the smallest dissipation of enstrophy in the biharmonic viscosity closure. Mesoscale eddies develop the slowest, and the kinetic energy peak value is the smallest in the Laplacian viscosity closure. Results in the Leith closure are between that in the biharmonic viscosity closure and the Laplacian viscosity closure.

40 CFR 264.151 - Wording of the instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... assurance for closure or post-closure care is demonstrated through the financial test specified in subpart H... parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimates covered by such a test are... CFR parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimate covered by the test are...

40 CFR 264.151 - Wording of the instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... assurance for closure or post-closure care is demonstrated through the financial test specified in subpart H... parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimates covered by such a test are... CFR parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimate covered by the test are...

40 CFR 264.151 - Wording of the instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... assurance for closure or post-closure care is demonstrated through the financial test specified in subpart H... parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimates covered by such a test are... CFR parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimate covered by the test are...

40 CFR 264.118 - Post-closure plan; amendment of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... days after an unexpected event has occurred which has affected the post-closure plan. An owner or... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Post-closure plan; amendment of plan... FACILITIES Closure and Post-Closure § 264.118 Post-closure plan; amendment of plan. (a) Written Plan. The...

40 CFR 264.118 - Post-closure plan; amendment of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... days after an unexpected event has occurred which has affected the post-closure plan. An owner or... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Post-closure plan; amendment of plan... FACILITIES Closure and Post-Closure § 264.118 Post-closure plan; amendment of plan. (a) Written Plan. The...

40 CFR 264.118 - Post-closure plan; amendment of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... days after an unexpected event has occurred which has affected the post-closure plan. An owner or... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Post-closure plan; amendment of plan... FACILITIES Closure and Post-Closure § 264.118 Post-closure plan; amendment of plan. (a) Written Plan. The...

40 CFR 264.118 - Post-closure plan; amendment of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... days after an unexpected event has occurred which has affected the post-closure plan. An owner or... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Post-closure plan; amendment of plan... FACILITIES Closure and Post-Closure § 264.118 Post-closure plan; amendment of plan. (a) Written Plan. The...

40 CFR 264.118 - Post-closure plan; amendment of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... days after an unexpected event has occurred which has affected the post-closure plan. An owner or... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Post-closure plan; amendment of plan... FACILITIES Closure and Post-Closure § 264.118 Post-closure plan; amendment of plan. (a) Written Plan. The...

Ontogenetic shifts of heart position in snakes.

PubMed

Lillywhite, Harvey B; Lillywhite, Steven M

2017-08-01

Heart position relative to total body length (TL) varies among snakes, with anterior hearts in arboreal species and more centrally located hearts in aquatic or ground-dwelling species. Anterior hearts decrease the cardiac work associated with cranial blood flow and minimize drops in cranial pressure and flow during head-up climbing. Here, we investigate whether heart position shifts intraspecifically during ontogenetic increases in TL. Insular Florida cottonmouth snakes, Agkistrodon conanti, are entirely ground-dwelling and have a mean heart position that is 33.32% TL from the head. In contrast, arboreal rat snakes, Pantherophis obsoleta, of similar lengths have a mean heart position that is 17.35% TL from the head. In both species, relative heart position shifts craniad during ontogeny, with negative slopes = -.035 and -.021% TL/cm TL in Agkistrodon and Pantherophis, respectively. Using a large morphometric data set available for Agkistrodon (N = 192 individuals, 23-140 cm TL), we demonstrate there is an anterior ontogenetic shift of the heart position within the trunk (= 4.56% trunk length from base of head to cloacal vent), independent of head and tail allometry which are both negative. However, in longer snakes > 100 cm, the heart position reverses and shifts caudally in longer Agkistrodon but continues toward the head in longer individuals of Pantherophis. Examination of data sets for two independent lineages of fully marine snakes (Acrochordus granulatus and Hydrophis platurus), which do not naturally experience postural gravity stress, demonstrate both ontogenetic patterns for heart position that are seen in the terrestrial snakes. The anterior migration of the heart is greater in the terrestrial species, even if TL is standardized to that of the longer P. obsoleta, and compensates for about 5 mmHg gravitational pressure head if they are fully upright. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Self-definition, defensive processing, and influence: the normative impact of majority and minority groups.

PubMed

Wood, W; Pool, G J; Leck, K; Purvis, D

1996-12-01

Past research has found that recipients agree with majority group positions and resist minority group positions on direct measures of influence. The authors suggest that these attitude shifts reflect normative pressures to align with valued majorities and to differentiate from derogated minorities. In support of this idea, participants who considered a majority group relevant to their own self-definitions (but not those who judged it irrelevant), on learning that the group held a counterattitudinal position, shifted their attitudes to agree with the source. In a second study, recipients who judged a minority group (negatively) self-relevant, on learning that the group held a similar attitude to their own, shifted their attitudes to diverge from the source. These shifts in attitudes were based on participants' interpretations of the attitude issues.

40 CFR 261.151 - Wording of the instruments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... assurance for closure or post-closure care is demonstrated through the financial test specified in subpart H... parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure cost estimates covered by such a test are... financial test specified in subpart H of 40 CFR parts 264 and 265. The current closure and/or post-closure...

50 CFR 660.360 - Recreational fishery-management measures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... authorized for recreational fishing are hook-and-line and spear. Spears may be propelled by hand or by... when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed... when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed...

50 CFR 660.360 - Recreational fishery-management measures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... authorized for recreational fishing are hook-and-line and spear. Spears may be propelled by hand or by... when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed... when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed...

Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Frozen Storage Drug Products.

PubMed

Nieto, Alejandra; Roehl, Holger; Brown, Helen; Nikoloff, Jonas; Adler, Michael; Mahler, Hanns-Christian

2016-01-01

Sometimes, drug product for parenteral administration is stored in a frozen state (e.g., -20 °C or -80 °C), particularly during early stages of development of some biotech molecules in order to provide sufficient stability. Shipment of frozen product could potentially be performed in the frozen state, yet possibly at different temperatures, for example, using dry ice (-80 °C). Container closure systems of drug products usually consist of a glass vial, rubber stopper, and an aluminum crimped cap. In the frozen state, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of commonly used rubber stoppers is between -55 and -65 °C. Below their Tg, rubber stoppers are known to lose their elastic properties and become brittle, and thus potentially fail to maintain container closure integrity in the frozen state. Leaks during frozen temperature storage and transportation are likely to be transient, yet, can possibly risk container closure integrity and lead to microbial contamination. After thawing, the rubber stopper is supposed to re-seal the container closure system. Given the transient nature of the possible impact on container closure integrity in the frozen state, typical container closure integrity testing methods (used at room temperature conditions) are unable to evaluate and thus confirm container closure integrity in the frozen state. Here we present the development of a novel method (thermal physical container closure integrity) for direct assessment of container closure integrity by a physical method (physical container closure integrity) at frozen conditions, using a modified He leakage test. In this study, different container closure systems were evaluated with regard to physical container closure integrity in the frozen state to assess the suitability of vial/stopper combinations and were compared to a gas headspace method. In summary, the thermal physical container closure integrity He leakage method was more sensitive in detecting physical container closure integrity impact than gas headspace and aided identification of an unsuitable container closure system. Sometimes, drug product for parenteral administration is stored in a frozen state (e.g., -20 °C or -80 °C), particularly during early stages of development of some biotech molecules in order to provide sufficient stability. Container closure systems for drug products usually consist of a glass vial, rubber stopper, and an aluminum crimped cap. In the frozen state, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of commonly used rubber stoppers is between -55 and -65 °C. Leaks during frozen temperature storage and transportation are likely to be transient, yet they can possibly risk container closure integrity and lead to microbial contamination and sterility breach. After thawing, the rubber stopper is expected to re-seal the container closure system. Given the transient nature of the possible impact on container closure integrity in the frozen state, typical container closure integrity testing methods (used at room temperature conditions) are unable to evaluate and thus confirm container closure integrity in the frozen state. Here we present the development of a novel method (thermal container closure integrity) for direct measurement of container closure integrity by a physical method (physical container closure integrity) at frozen conditions, using a modified He leakage test. In this study, we found that the thermal container closure integrity He leakage method was more sensitive in detecting physical container closure integrity impact than gas headspace and aided identification of an unsuitable container closure system. © PDA, Inc. 2016.

The AAA+ ATPase TRIP13 remodels HORMA domains through N-terminal engagement and unfolding

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

Ye, Qiaozhen; Kim, Dong Hyun; Dereli, Ihsan

Proteins of the conserved HORMA domain family, including the spindle assembly checkpoint protein MAD2 and the meiotic HORMADs, assemble into signaling complexes by binding short peptides termed “closure motifs”. The AAA+ ATPase TRIP13 regulates both MAD2 and meiotic HORMADs by disassembling these HORMA domain–closure motif complexes, but its mechanisms of substrate recognition and remodeling are unknown. Here, we combine X-ray crystallography and crosslinking mass spectrometry to outline how TRIP13 recognizes MAD2 with the help of the adapter protein p31comet. We show that p31comet binding to the TRIP13 N-terminal domain positions the disordered MAD2 N-terminus for engagement by the TRIP13 “poremore » loops”, which then unfold MAD2 in the presence of ATP. N-terminal truncation of MAD2 renders it refractory to TRIP13 action in vitro, and in cells causes spindle assembly checkpoint defects consistent with loss of TRIP13 function. Similar truncation of HORMAD1 in mouse spermatocytes compromises its TRIP13-mediated removal from meiotic chromosomes, highlighting a conserved mechanism for recognition and disassembly of HORMA domain–closure motif complexes by TRIP13.« less

Multistep Approach for Improved Aesthetic and Functional Outcomes for Lower Extremity Wound Closure After Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

PubMed

Kiwanuka, Elizabeth; Cruz, Antonio P

2017-05-01

Lower extremity wounds present a major clinical challenge. This paper introduces a new multistep approach for improved aesthetic and functional outcome for lower extremity wound closure after Mohs micrographic surgery. In this prospective case series, 12 consecutive patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery for cutaneous malignancies of the lower extremities underwent closure assisted by elastic bandages, proper positioning with 45° flexion of the knee, buried vertical mattress sutures, and careful eversion, using a premium angled stapler. Assessment of cosmetic outcome was performed by 2 blinded observers, using the Hollander Wound Evaluation Scale. The mean age was 73 ± 9 years with most patients having at least one comorbidity. Six patients (50%) underwent resection of a basal cell carcinoma and 5 patients (42%) underwent resection of a squamous cell carcinoma and 1 patient (8%) underwent resection of a keratoacanthomatous carcinoma. There were no wound complications, and at the 3- to 6-month follow-up, 11 of the 12 wounds (92%) had an optimal Hollander Wound Evaluation Scale score of 6. This new approach to lower extremity wounds provides excellent cosmetic outcome with no reported complications.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act closure report: Area 2 Bitcutter and Postshot Containment Shops Injection Wells, Correction Action Unit 90

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

NONE

This Closure Report provides documentation of the activities conducted during the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) closure of the Bitcutter and Postshot Containment Shops Injection Wells located in Area 2 of the Nevada Test Site (NTS), Oak Spring Quadrangle (USGS, 1986), Township 10 South, Range 53 East, Nye County, Nevada. This report discusses the Bitcutter Shop Inside Injection Well (CAU 90-A) closure-in-place and the Bitcutter Shop Outside Injection Well (CAU 90-B) and Postshot Containment Shop Injection Well (CAU 90-C) clean closures. This Closure Report provides background information about the unit, the results of the characterization activities and actions conductedmore » to determine the closure design. It also provides a discussion of the drainage analysis, preliminary closure activities, final closure activities, waste management activities, and the Post-Closure Care requirements.« less

Linearly exact parallel closures for slab geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Jeong-Young; Held, Eric D.; Jhang, Hogun

2013-08-01

Parallel closures are obtained by solving a linearized kinetic equation with a model collision operator using the Fourier transform method. The closures expressed in wave number space are exact for time-dependent linear problems to within the limits of the model collision operator. In the adiabatic, collisionless limit, an inverse Fourier transform is performed to obtain integral (nonlocal) parallel closures in real space; parallel heat flow and viscosity closures for density, temperature, and flow velocity equations replace Braginskii's parallel closure relations, and parallel flow velocity and heat flow closures for density and temperature equations replace Spitzer's parallel transport relations. It is verified that the closures reproduce the exact linear response function of Hammett and Perkins [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 3019 (1990)] for Landau damping given a temperature gradient. In contrast to their approximate closures where the vanishing viscosity coefficient numerically gives an exact response, our closures relate the heat flow and nonvanishing viscosity to temperature and flow velocity (gradients).

Observations on early and delayed colostomy closure.

PubMed

Tade, A O; Salami, B A; Ayoade, B A

2011-06-01

Traditional treatment of a variety of colorectal pathologies had included a diverting colostomy that was closed eight or more weeks later during a readmission. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the outcomes of early colostomy closure and delayed colostomy closure in patients with temporary colostomies following traumatic and non-traumatic colorectal pathologies. In this study early colostomy closure was the closure of a colostomy within three weeks of its construction, while delayed colostomy closure referred to closure after 3 weeks. Complete records of the 37 adult patients who had temporary colostomy constructed and closed between Jan. 1997 December 2003 for various colorectal pathologies were studied. Fourteen patients had early colostomy closure while 23 had delayed closure. In the early colostomy closure group there were 10 men and 4 women. The mean age of the patients was 28yr with a range of 18-65yr. Colostomies were closed 9-18 days after initial colostomy construction. There was no mortality. Morbidity rate 28.6% (4 out of 14). There were two faecal fistulas (14.3%). Twenty-three patients had delayed colostomy closure 8 weeks to 18 months after initial colostomy construction. These were patients unfit for early surgery after initial colostomy construction because of carcinoma, significant weight loss, or sepsis. There was no mortality. Morbidity rate was 26.1%. There were 3 faecal fistulas (13.2%). Outcomes following early colostomy closure and delayed closure were comparable. Patients fit for surgery should have early closure whilst patients who may have compromised health should have delayed closure.

Stapler vs suture closure of pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Zhou, Wei; Lv, Ran; Wang, Xianfa; Mou, Yiping; Cai, Xiujun; Herr, Ingrid

2010-10-01

Suture closure and stapler closure of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy are the techniques used most often. The ideal choice remains a matter of debate. Five bibliographic databases covering 1970 to July 2009 were searched. Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Stapler closure was performed in 671 patients, while suture closure was conducted in 1,615 patients. The pancreatic fistula rate ranged from 0% to 40.0% for stapler closure of the pancreatic stump and from 9.3% to 45.7% for the suture closure technique. There were no significant difference between the stapler and suture closure groups with respect to the pancreatic fistula formation rate (22.1% vs 31.2%; odds ratio, .85; 95% confidence interval, .66-1.08), although there was a trend toward favoring stapler closure. In 4 studies including 437 patients, stapler closure was associated with a trend (not statistically significant) toward a reduction in intra-abdominal abscess (odds ratio, .53; 95% confidence interval, .24-1.15). No significant differences occur between suture and stapler closure with respect to the pancreatic fistula or intra-abdominal abscess after distal pancreatectomy, though there is a trend favoring stapler closure. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The current status of emergency operations at a high-volume cancer center.

PubMed

Komori, Koji; Kimura, Kenya; Kinoshita, Takashi; Ito, Seiji; Abe, Tetsuya; Senda, Yoshiki; Misawa, Kazunari; Ito, Yuichi; Uemura, Norihisa; Natsume, Seiji; Kawai, Ryosuke; Kawakami, Jiro; Asano, Tomonari; Iwata, Yoshinori; Kurahashi, Shintaro; Tsutsuyama, Masayuki; Shigeyoshi, Itaru; Shimizu, Yasuhiro

2014-01-01

This study aimed to assess the pathogenic causes, clinical conditions, surgical procedures, in-hospital mortality, and operative death associated with emergency operations at a high-volume cancer center. Although many reports have described the contents, operative procedures, and prognosis of elective surgeries in high-volume cancer centers, emergency operations have not been studied in sufficient detail. We retrospectively enrolled 28 consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgery. Cases involving operative complications were excluded. The following surgical procedures were performed during emergency operations: closure in 3 cases (10.7%), diversion in 22 cases (78.6%), ileus treatment in 2 cases (7.1%), and hemostasis in 1 case (3.6%). Closure alone was performed only once for peritonitis. Diversion was performed in 17 cases (77.3%) of peritonitis, 4 cases (18.2%) of stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract, and 1 case (4.5%) of bleeding. There was a significant overall difference (P = 0.001). The frequency of emergency operations was very low at a high-volume cancer center. However, the recent shift in treatment approaches toward nonoperative techniques may enhance the status of emergency surgical procedures. The results presented in this study will help prepare for emergency situations and resolve them as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Central Metabolic Responses to Ozone and Herbivory Affect Photosynthesis and Stomatal Closure1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Khaling, Eliezer; Lassueur, Steve

2016-01-01

Plants have evolved adaptive mechanisms that allow them to tolerate a continuous range of abiotic and biotic stressors. Tropospheric ozone (O3), a global anthropogenic pollutant, directly affects living organisms and ecosystems, including plant-herbivore interactions. In this study, we investigate the stress responses of Brassica nigra (wild black mustard) exposed consecutively to O3 and the specialist herbivore Pieris brassicae. Transcriptomics and metabolomics data were evaluated using multivariate, correlation, and network analyses for the O3 and herbivory responses. O3 stress symptoms resembled those of senescence and phosphate starvation, while a sequential shift from O3 to herbivory induced characteristic plant defense responses, including a decrease in central metabolism, induction of the jasmonic acid/ethylene pathways, and emission of volatiles. Omics network and pathway analyses predicted a link between glycerol and central energy metabolism that influences the osmotic stress response and stomatal closure. Further physiological measurements confirmed that while O3 stress inhibited photosynthesis and carbon assimilation, sequential herbivory counteracted the initial responses induced by O3, resulting in a phenotype similar to that observed after herbivory alone. This study clarifies the consequences of multiple stress interactions on a plant metabolic system and also illustrates how omics data can be integrated to generate new hypotheses in ecology and plant physiology. PMID:27758847

The Ticket to Retention: A Classroom Assessment Technique Designed to Improve Student Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Divoll, Kent A.; Browning, Sandra T.; Vesey, Winona M.

2012-01-01

Classroom assessment techniques (CATs) or other closure activities are widely promoted for use in college classrooms. However, research on whether CATs improve student learning are mixed. The authors posit that the results are mixed because CATs were designed to "help teachers find out what students are learning in the classroom and how well…

Macroanatomy and compartmentalization of recent fire scars in three North American conifers

Treesearch

Kevin T. Smith; Estelle Arbellay; Donald A. Falk; Elaine Kennedy Sutherland

2016-01-01

Fire scars are initiated by cambial necrosis caused by localized lethal heating of the tree stem. Scars develop as part of the linked survival processes of compartmentalization and wound closure. The position of scars within dated tree ring series is the basis for dendrochronological reconstruction of fire history. Macroanatomical features were described for western...

40 CFR 63.3168 - What are the requirements for continuous parameter monitoring system installation, operation, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the atmosphere. (ii) Car-seal or lock-and-key valve closures. Secure any bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration. You must visually inspect the seal... sensor. (vii) At least monthly, inspect components for integrity and electrical connections for...

40 CFR 63.9306 - What are my continuous parameter monitoring system (CPMS) installation, operation, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... device to the atmosphere. (ii) Car-seal or lock-and-key valve closures. Secure any bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration. You must visually inspect... components for integrity and electrical connections for continuity, oxidation, and galvanic corrosion. (d...

40 CFR 63.3168 - What are the requirements for continuous parameter monitoring system installation, operation, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the atmosphere. (ii) Car-seal or lock-and-key valve closures. Secure any bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration. You must visually inspect the seal... sensor. (vii) At least monthly, inspect components for integrity and electrical connections for...

75 FR 7370 - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Door Locks and Door Retention Components

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-19

... at (202) 366-2990. For legal issues, contact Ms. Sarah Alves, Office of the Chief Counsel, by... have secondary latching positions and to remove the option for a visual door closure warning system... test plates; and, S4, to reinstate an exclusion of doors equipped with wheelchair lift systems. This...

Stump closure of a thick pancreas using stapler closure increases pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy.

PubMed

Kawai, Manabu; Tani, Masaji; Okada, Ken-ichi; Hirono, Seiko; Miyazawa, Motoki; Shimizu, Astusi; Kitahata, Yuji; Yamaue, Hiroki

2013-09-01

The appropriate surgical stump closure after distal pancreatectomy (DP) is still controversial. This study investigated the benefits and risks of stapler closure during DP. The risk factors of pancreatic fistulas were investigated in 122 DPs among 3 types of stump closure: hand-sewn suture (n = 32), bipolar scissors (n = 45), and stapler closure (n = 45). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pancreatic fistula between the 3 types of stump closure (hand-sewn suture [44%] vs bipolar scissors [37.7%] vs stapler closure [35.5%]). By using receiver operating characteristics curves, 12 mm was the best cutoff value of the thickness of the pancreas for pancreatic fistulas after DP using stapler closure. Three factors (ie, male sex, body mass index >25 kg/m(2), and stapler closure) were independent risk factors of pancreatic fistulas after DP with a pancreas thicker than 12 mm. A pancreas thicker than 12 mm significantly increased the incidence of pancreatic fistulas after DP using stapler closure. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 264.258 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Waste Piles § 264.258 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At closure, the owner or operator must remove... that apply to landfills (§ 264.310). (c)(1) The owner or operator of a waste pile that does not comply...(c) or § 264.251(b), must: (i) Include in the closure plan for the pile under § 264.112 both a plan...

The Effect of Rural Hospital Closures on Community Economic Health

PubMed Central

Holmes, George M; Slifkin, Rebecca T; Randolph, Randy K; Poley, Stephanie

2006-01-01

Objective To examine the effect of rural hospital closures on the local economy. Data Sources U.S. Census Bureau, OSCAR, Medicare Cost Reports, and surveys of individuals knowledgeable about local hospital closures. Study Design Economic data at the county level for 1990–2000 were combined with information on hospital closures. The study sample was restricted to rural counties experiencing a closure during the sample period. Longitudinal regression methods were used to estimate the effect of hospital closure on per-capita income, unemployment rate, and other community economic measures. Models included both leading and lagged closure terms allowing a preclosure economic downturn as well as time for the closure to be fully realized by the community. Data Collection Information on closures was collected by contacting every state hospital association, reconciling information gathered with that contained in the American Hospital Association file and OIG reports. Principal Findings Results indicate that the closure of the sole hospital in the community reduces per-capita income by $703 (p<0.05) or 4 percent (p<0.05) and increases the unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points (p<0.01). Closures in communities with alternative sources of hospital care had no long-term economic impact, although income decreased for 2 years following the closure. Conclusions The local economic effects of a hospital closure should be considered when regulations that affect hospitals' financial well-being are designed or changed. PMID:16584460

Lace Up for Healthy Feet: The Impact of Shoe Closure on Plantar Stress Response.

PubMed

Rahemi, Hadi; Armstrong, David G; Enriquez, Ana; Owl, Joshua; Talal, Talal K; Najafi, Bijan

2017-07-01

This study examined the impact of shoe closure on plantar thermal stress response (TSR), which is known to be a surrogate of shear stress and skin perfusion. It is aimed to explore potential impact of shoe closure on increasing risk factors associated with plantar ulcers in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Fifteen eligible subjects were enrolled. The left foot was used as a reference and fitted to a self-adjusted and habitual lace-tightening method by each subject. The right foot was used as a test closure and fitted into three lace closure conditions: loose, tight, and preset optimal closure (reel clutch, BOA technology). Thermal images were taken after 5 minutes of acclimatization (pre-trial) and immediately after 200 walking steps in each shoe closure condition (post-trial). TSR was calculated from the thermal images. TSR was significantly higher in the test closure with loose (70.24%, P = .000) and tight (66.85%, P = .007) and lower (-206.53%, P = .000) in the preset optimal closure when compared to the reference closure. Only lace closure conditions affected TSR with no significant impact from age, BMI, and gender in our sample in a multivariable regression model. The results from this study suggest that shoelace closure technique can have a profound effect on TSR. It therefore stands to reason that optimal lace closure may have an impact in reducing risk of plantar ulcers in people with DPN. Interestingly, results revealed that even a self-adjusted lace closure may not be necessarily optimal and a preset closure setting like reel clutch might ultimately be recommended to minimize risk. Further study is warranted to confirm or refute these interesting results.

[Factors influencing the prognosis of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants].

PubMed

Wang, Chen-Hong; Shi, Li-Ping; Ma, Xiao-Lu; Luo, Fang; Chen, Zheng; Lin, Hui-Jia; DU, Li-Zhong

2016-08-01

To investigate the factors influencing the prognosis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. A total of 194 VLBW infants who were admitted from January 2012 to December 2014 were enrolled as study subjects. According to cardiac ultrasound findings and treatment outcome, these infants were divided into non-PDA group, spontaneous closure group, pharmaceutical closure group, and surgical closure group. Their clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed. The spontaneous closure rate of PDA was 58.7%. The spontaneous closure group showed significantly higher gestational age, birth weight, and proportion of small-for-gestational-age infants than the pharmaceutical and surgical closure groups (P<0.05). The pharmaceutical and surgical closure groups had a significantly higher incidence rate of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and a significantly higher proportion of infants who were given pulmonary surfactant (PS) than the spontaneous closure group (P<0.05). During different periods of time, the spontaneous closure group had a significantly smaller ductus arteriosus diameter than the pharmaceutical and surgical closure groups (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, application of PS, and ductus arteriosus diameter at 48 hours were significantly associated with the prognosis of PDA. The major transductal flow pattern in the spontaneous closure group was closing pattern, while in the pharmaceutical and surgical closure groups, the main flow patterns were pulmonary hypertension and growing patterns within 48 hours and growing pattern on days 4 and 7. The VLBW infants have a high spontaneous closure rate of PDA. A decreased closure rate of PDA is associated with the lower gestational age and the application of PS. PDA with a large ductus arteriosus diameter and a growing or pulsatile flow pattern cannot easily achieve spontaneous closure.

A POSITIONAL DATA SYSTEM

DOEpatents

Forster, G.A.

1963-09-24

between master and slave synchros is described. A threephase a-c power source is connected to the stators of the synchros and an error detector is connected to the rotors of the synchros to measure the phasor difference therebetween. A phase shift network shifts the phase of one of the rotors 90 degrees and a demodulator responsive thereto causes the phasor difference signal of the rotors to shift phase 180 degrees whenever the 90 degree phase shifted signal goes negative. The phase shifted difference signal has a waveform which, with the addition of small values of resistance and capacitance, gives a substantially pure d-c output whose amplitude and polarity is proportional to the magnitude and direction of the difference in the angular positions of the synchro's rotors. (AEC)

40 CFR 264.280 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Section 264.280 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES Land Treatment § 264.280 Closure and post-closure care. (a) During the closure period the owner or...

40 CFR 264.280 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Section 264.280 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES Land Treatment § 264.280 Closure and post-closure care. (a) During the closure period the owner or...

40 CFR 264.280 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Section 264.280 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES Land Treatment § 264.280 Closure and post-closure care. (a) During the closure period the owner or...

40 CFR 264.280 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Section 264.280 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES Land Treatment § 264.280 Closure and post-closure care. (a) During the closure period the owner or...

Transcatheter Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients with Platypnea-Orthodeoxia: Results of a Multicentric French Registry

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

Guerin, P.; Lambert, V.; Godart, F.

Background. Dyspnea and the decrease in arterial saturation in the upright position in elderly subjects is described as platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS). POS is secondary to the occurrence of an atrial right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods. This French multicentric study reports on 78 patients (mean age 67 {+-} 11.3 years) with POS who had transcatheter closure of the PFO; frequently associated diseases were pneumonectomy (n = 36) and an ascending aortic aneurysm (n = 11). In all patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by transthoracic or/and transesophageal echocardiography. Five different closure devices were used: Amplatz (n = 45),more » Cardioseal (n = 13), Sideris (n = 11), Das Angel Wings (n = 8) and Starflex (n = 1). Closure was successful in 76 patients (97%). Results. Oxygen saturation increased immediately after occlusion from 84.6 {+-} 10.7% to 95.1 {+-} 6.4% (p < 0.001) and dyspnea improved from grade 2.7 {+-} 0.7 to grade 1 {+-} 1 (p < 0.001). A small residual shunt was immediately observed in 5 patients (3 with the Cardioseal device, 1 with the Sideris and 1 with the Amplatz) leading to the implantation of a second device in one case (Cardioseal). Two early deaths occurred unrelated to the procedure (one due to sepsis probably related to pneumonectomy, another due to respiratory insufficiency). Other complications were: a small shunt between the aorta and the left atrium, two atrial fibrillations and a left-sided thrombus which disappeared with anticoagulant therapy. At a mean follow-up of 15 {+-} 12 months, there were 7 late deaths related to the underlying disease. Conclusion. Percutaneous occlusion of the foramen ovale is safe and gives excellent results thanks to continuing improvement in available devices. This technique enables some patients in an unstable condition to avoid a surgical closure.« less

Metalloproteinase Expression is Associated with Traumatic Wound Failure

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-01

Traumatic amputation- no.(%) 15 Size of wound (cm3 )* Associated vascular injury- no.(%) 7 Wound closure method no.(%) Suture 29 Skin graft 9 Number...definitive closure or coverage with skin graft . Im- paired wound healing included delayed wound closure or wound dehiscence after closure or coverage...closure time period of 10 d. Dehiscence was defined as spontaneous partial or com- plete wound disruption after primary closure or > 90% skin graft loss

Novel application of polyelectrolyte multilayers as nanoscopic closures with hermetic sealing.

PubMed

Marcott, Stephanie A; Ada, Sena; Gibson, Phillip; Camesano, Terri A; Nagarajan, R

2012-03-01

Closure systems for personnel protection applications, such as protective clothing or respirator face seals, should provide effective permeation barrier to toxic gases. Currently available mechanical closure systems based on the hook and loop types (example, Velcro) do not provide adequate barrier to gas permeation. To achieve hermetic sealing, we propose a nonmechanical, nanoscopic molecular closure system based on complementary polyelectrolyte multilayers, one with a polycation outermost layer and the other with a polyanion outermost layer. The closure surfaces were prepared by depositing polyelectrolyte multilayers under a variety of deposition conditions, on conformable polymer substrates (thin films of polyethylene teraphthalate, PET or polyimide, PI). The hermetic sealing property of the closures was evaluated by measuring the air flow resistance using the dynamic moisture permeation cell (DMPC) at different humidity conditions. The DMPC measurements show that the polyelectrolyte multilayer closures provide significantly large resistance to air flow, approximately 20-800 times larger than that possible with conventional hook and loop type closure systems, at all humidity levels (from 5 to 95% relative humidity). Hence, from the point of view of providing a hermetic seal against toxic gas permeation, the polyelectrolyte multilayer closures are viable candidates for further engineering development. However, the adhesive strength of the multilayer closures measured by atomic force microscopy suggests that the magnitude of adhesion is much smaller than what is possible with mechanical closures. Therefore, we envisage the development of a composite closure system combining the mechanical closure to provide strong adhesion and the multilayer closure to provide hermetic sealing. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Reproducibility of Centric Relation Techniques by means of Condyle Position Analysis

PubMed Central

Galeković, Nikolina Holen; Fugošić, Vesna; Braut, Vedrana

2017-01-01

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the reproducibility of clinical centric relation (CR) registration techniques (bimanual manipulation, chin point guidance and Roth's method) by means of condyle position analysis. Material and methods Thirty two fully dentate asymptomatic subjects (16 female and 16 male) with normal occlusal relations (Angle class I) participated in the study (mean age, 22.6 ± 4.7 years). The mandibular position indicator (MPI) was used to analyze the three-dimensional (anteroposterior (ΔX), superoinferior (ΔZ), mediolateral (ΔY)) condylar shift generated by the difference between the centric relation position (CR) and the maximal intercuspation position (MI) observed in dental arches. Results The mean value and standard deviation of three-dimensional condylar shift of the tested clinical CR techniques was 0.19 ± 0.34 mm. Significant differences within the tested clinical CR registration techniques were found for anteroposterior condylar shift on the right side posterior (Δ Xrp; P ≤ 0.012); and superoinferior condylar shift on the left side inferior (Δ Zli; P ≤ 0.011), whereas between the tested CR registration techniques were found for anteroposterior shift on the right side posterior (ΔXrp, P ≤ 0.037) and superoinferior shift on the right side inferior (ΔZri, P ≤ 0.004), on the left side inferior (ΔZli, P ≤ 0.005) and on the left side superior (ΔZls, P ≤ 0.007). Conclusion Bimanual manipulation, chin point guidance and Roth's method are clinical CR registration techniques of equal accuracy and reproducibility in asymptomatic subjects with normal occlusal relationship. PMID:28740266

Reproducibility of Centric Relation Techniques by means of Condyle Position Analysis.

PubMed

Galeković, Nikolina Holen; Fugošić, Vesna; Braut, Vedrana; Ćelić, Robert

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to determine the reproducibility of clinical centric relation (CR) registration techniques (bimanual manipulation, chin point guidance and Roth's method) by means of condyle position analysis. Thirty two fully dentate asymptomatic subjects (16 female and 16 male) with normal occlusal relations (Angle class I) participated in the study (mean age, 22.6 ± 4.7 years). The mandibular position indicator (MPI) was used to analyze the three-dimensional (anteroposterior (ΔX), superoinferior (ΔZ), mediolateral (ΔY)) condylar shift generated by the difference between the centric relation position (CR) and the maximal intercuspation position (MI) observed in dental arches. The mean value and standard deviation of three-dimensional condylar shift of the tested clinical CR techniques was 0.19 ± 0.34 mm. Significant differences within the tested clinical CR registration techniques were found for anteroposterior condylar shift on the right side posterior (Δ Xrp; P ≤ 0.012); and superoinferior condylar shift on the left side inferior (Δ Zli; P ≤ 0.011), whereas between the tested CR registration techniques were found for anteroposterior shift on the right side posterior (ΔXrp, P ≤ 0.037) and superoinferior shift on the right side inferior (ΔZri, P ≤ 0.004), on the left side inferior (ΔZli, P ≤ 0.005) and on the left side superior (ΔZls, P ≤ 0.007). Bimanual manipulation, chin point guidance and Roth's method are clinical CR registration techniques of equal accuracy and reproducibility in asymptomatic subjects with normal occlusal relationship.

32 CFR 989.25 - Base closure and realignment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 32 National Defense 6 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Base closure and realignment. 989.25 Section 989... PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS PROCESS (EIAP) § 989.25 Base closure and realignment. Base closure or realignment may entail special requirements for environmental analysis. The permanent base closure...

32 CFR 989.25 - Base closure and realignment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 32 National Defense 6 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Base closure and realignment. 989.25 Section 989... PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS PROCESS (EIAP) § 989.25 Base closure and realignment. Base closure or realignment may entail special requirements for environmental analysis. The permanent base closure...

Reference hypernetted chain theory for ferrofluid bilayer: Distribution functions compared with Monte Carlo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyakov, Evgeny A.; Vorontsov-Velyaminov, Pavel N.

2014-08-01

Properties of ferrofluid bilayer (modeled as a system of two planar layers separated by a distance h and each layer carrying a soft sphere dipolar liquid) are calculated in the framework of inhomogeneous Ornstein-Zernike equations with reference hypernetted chain closure (RHNC). The bridge functions are taken from a soft sphere (1/r12) reference system in the pressure-consistent closure approximation. In order to make the RHNC problem tractable, the angular dependence of the correlation functions is expanded into special orthogonal polynomials according to Lado. The resulting equations are solved using the Newton-GRMES algorithm as implemented in the public-domain solver NITSOL. Orientational densities and pair distribution functions of dipoles are compared with Monte Carlo simulation results. A numerical algorithm for the Fourier-Hankel transform of any positive integer order on a uniform grid is presented.

Lagrangian averages, averaged Lagrangians, and the mean effects of fluctuations in fluid dynamics.

PubMed

Holm, Darryl D.

2002-06-01

We begin by placing the generalized Lagrangian mean (GLM) equations for a compressible adiabatic fluid into the Euler-Poincare (EP) variational framework of fluid dynamics, for an averaged Lagrangian. This is the Lagrangian averaged Euler-Poincare (LAEP) theorem. Next, we derive a set of approximate small amplitude GLM equations (glm equations) at second order in the fluctuating displacement of a Lagrangian trajectory from its mean position. These equations express the linear and nonlinear back-reaction effects on the Eulerian mean fluid quantities by the fluctuating displacements of the Lagrangian trajectories in terms of their Eulerian second moments. The derivation of the glm equations uses the linearized relations between Eulerian and Lagrangian fluctuations, in the tradition of Lagrangian stability analysis for fluids. The glm derivation also uses the method of averaged Lagrangians, in the tradition of wave, mean flow interaction. Next, the new glm EP motion equations for incompressible ideal fluids are compared with the Euler-alpha turbulence closure equations. An alpha model is a GLM (or glm) fluid theory with a Taylor hypothesis closure. Such closures are based on the linearized fluctuation relations that determine the dynamics of the Lagrangian statistical quantities in the Euler-alpha equations. Thus, by using the LAEP theorem, we bridge between the GLM equations and the Euler-alpha closure equations, through the small-amplitude glm approximation in the EP variational framework. We conclude by highlighting a new application of the GLM, glm, and alpha-model results for Lagrangian averaged ideal magnetohydrodynamics. (c) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Household responses to school closure resulting from outbreak of influenza B, North Carolina.

PubMed

Johnson, April J; Moore, Zack S; Edelson, Paul J; Kinnane, Lynda; Davies, Megan; Shay, David K; Balish, Amanda; McCarron, Meg; Blanton, Lenee; Finelli, Lyn; Averhoff, Francisco; Bresee, Joseph; Engel, Jeffrey; Fiore, Anthony

2008-07-01

School closure is a proposed strategy for reducing influenza transmission during a pandemic. Few studies have assessed how families respond to closures, or whether other interactions during closure could reduce this strategy's effect. Questionnaires were administered to 220 households (438 adults and 355 children) with school-age children in a North Carolina county during an influenza B virus outbreak that resulted in school closure. Closure was considered appropriate by 201 (91%) households. No adults missed work to solely provide childcare, and only 22 (10%) households required special childcare arrangements; 2 households incurred additional costs. Eighty-nine percent of children visited at least 1 public location during the closure despite county recommendations to avoid large gatherings. Although behavior and attitudes might differ during a pandemic, these results suggest short-term closure did not cause substantial hardship for parents. Pandemic planning guidance should address the potential for transmission in public areas during school closure.

Seven-year follow-up of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale.

PubMed

Mirzada, Naqibullah; Ladenvall, Per; Hansson, Per-Olof; Johansson, Magnus Carl; Furenäs, Eva; Eriksson, Peter; Dellborg, Mikael

2013-12-01

Observational studies favor percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) over medical treatment to reduce recurrent stroke while randomized trials fail to demonstrate significant superiority of percutaneous PFO closure. Few long-term studies are available post PFO closure. This study reports long-term clinical outcomes after percutaneous PFO closure. Between 1997 and 2006, 86 consecutive eligible patients with cerebrovascular events, presumably related to PFO, underwent percutaneous PFO closure. All 86 patients were invited to a long-term follow-up, which was carried out during 2011 and 2012. Percutaneous PFO closure was successfully performed in 85 of 86 patients. The follow-up rate was 100%. No cardiovascular or cerebrovascular deaths occurred. Two patients (both women) died from lung cancer during follow-up. Follow-up visits were conducted for 64 patients and the remaining 20 patients were followed up by phone. The mean follow-up time was 7.3 years (5 to 12.4 years). Mean age at PFO closure was 49 years. One patient had a minor stroke one month after PFO closure and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) two years afterwards. One other patient suffered from a TIA six years after closure. No long-term device-related complications were observed. Percutaneous PFO closure was associated with very low risk of recurrent stroke and is suitable in most patients. We observed no mortality and no long-term device-related complications related to PFO closure, indicating that percutaneous PFO closure is a safe and efficient treatment even in the long term.

Revising the link between microsaccades and the spatial cueing of voluntary attention.

PubMed

Meyberg, Susann; Sinn, Petra; Engbert, Ralf; Sommer, Werner

2017-04-01

Microsaccades - i.e., small fixational saccades generated in the superior colliculus (SC) - have been linked to spatial attention. While maintaining fixation, voluntary shifts of covert attention toward peripheral targets result in a sequence of attention-aligned and attention-opposing microsaccades. In most previous studies the direction of the voluntary shift is signaled by a spatial cue (e.g., a leftwards pointing arrow) that presents the most informative part of the cue (e.g., the arrowhead) in the to-be attended visual field. Here we directly investigated the influence of cue position and tested the hypothesis that microsaccades align with cue position rather than with the attention shift. In a spatial cueing task, we presented the task-relevant part of a symmetric cue either in the to-be attended visual field or in the opposite field. As a result, microsaccades were still weakly related to the covert attention shift; however, they were strongly related to the position of the cue even if that required a movement opposite to the cued attention shift. Moreover, if microsaccades aligned with cue position, we observed stronger cueing effects on manual response times. Our interpretation of the data is supported by numerical simulations of a computational model of microsaccade generation that is based on SC properties, where we explain our findings by separate attentional mechanisms for cue localization and the cued attention shift. We conclude that during cueing of voluntary attention, microsaccades are related to both - the overt attentional selection of the task-relevant part of the cue stimulus and the subsequent covert attention shift. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extending positive CLASS results across multiple instructors and multiple classes of Modeling Instruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brewe, Eric; Traxler, Adrienne; de la Garza, Jorge; Kramer, Laird H.

2013-12-01

We report on a multiyear study of student attitudes measured with the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey in calculus-based introductory physics taught with the Modeling Instruction curriculum. We find that five of six instructors and eight of nine sections using Modeling Instruction showed significantly improved attitudes from pre- to postcourse. Cohen’s d effect sizes range from 0.08 to 0.95 for individual instructors. The average effect was d=0.45, with a 95% confidence interval of (0.26-0.64). These results build on previously published results showing positive shifts in attitudes from Modeling Instruction classes. We interpret these data in light of other published positive attitudinal shifts and explore mechanistic explanations for similarities and differences with other published positive shifts.

SU-F-J-125: Effects of Couch Position Variability On Dosimetric Accuracy with An MRI-Guided Co-60 Radiation Therapy Machine

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

Chow, P; Thomas, D; Agazaryan, N

2016-06-15

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance in radiation therapy brings real-time imaging and adaptive planning into the treatment vault where it can account for interfraction and intrafraction movement of soft tissue. The only commercially-available MRI-guided radiation therapy device is a three-head 60Co and MRI system with an integrated treatment planning system (TPS). An up to 20% attenuation of the beam by the couch is well modeled in the TPS. However, variations in the patient’s day-to-day position introduce discrepancies in the actual couch position relative its location as modeled in the treatment plan. For this reason, our institution avoids plans withmore » beams that pass through or near the couch edges. This study looks at plans without restriction on beam angles and investigates the effects of couch shift by simulating shifts of the couch relative to the patient, in order to determine whether couch edge avoidance restrictions can be lifted. Methods: A total of 27 plans from 23 patients were investigated. Couch shifts of 1 and 2 cm were introduced in combinations of lateral and vertical direction to simulate variations in patient positioning on the couch giving 16 shifted plans per reference plan. The shift values of 1 and 2 cm were based on shifts recorded in 320 treatment fractions. Results: Measured couch attenuation versus TPS modeled agreed within 2.1%. Planning Target Volume (PTV) D95 changed less than 1% for 1 and 2 cm couch shifts in only the x-direction and less than 3% for all directions. Conclusion: The dosimetry of all plans with shifts up to ±2 cm was within reasonable clinical tolerances. Robustness of a plan to couch shifts can be tested in the TPS. Inclusion of beams traversing the couch edges should be considered if an improvement in plan quality or delivery time can be achieved.« less

Accurate evaluation of fast threshold voltage shift for SiC MOS devices under various gate bias stress conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sometani, Mitsuru; Okamoto, Mitsuo; Hatakeyama, Tetsuo; Iwahashi, Yohei; Hayashi, Mariko; Okamoto, Dai; Yano, Hiroshi; Harada, Shinsuke; Yonezawa, Yoshiyuki; Okumura, Hajime

2018-04-01

We investigated methods of measuring the threshold voltage (V th) shift of 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) under positive DC, negative DC, and AC gate bias stresses. A fast measurement method for V th shift under both positive and negative DC stresses revealed the existence of an extremely large V th shift in the short-stress-time region. We then examined the effect of fast V th shifts on drain current (I d) changes within a pulse under AC operation. The fast V th shifts were suppressed by nitridation. However, the I d change within one pulse occurred even in commercially available SiC MOSFETs. The correlation between I d changes within one pulse and V th shifts measured by a conventional method is weak. Thus, a fast and in situ measurement method is indispensable for the accurate evaluation of I d changes under AC operation.

Patent foramen ovale closure and medical treatments for secondary stroke prevention: a systematic review of observational and randomized evidence.

PubMed

Kitsios, Georgios D; Dahabreh, Issa J; Abu Dabrh, Abd Moain; Thaler, David E; Kent, David M

2012-02-01

Patients discovered to have a patent foramen ovale in the setting of a cryptogenic stroke may be treated with percutaneous closure, antiplatelet therapy, or anticoagulants. A recent randomized trial (CLOSURE I) did not detect any benefit of closure over medical treatment alone; the optimal medical therapy is also unknown. We synthesized the available evidence on secondary stroke prevention in patients with patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke. A MEDLINE search was performed for finding longitudinal studies investigating medical treatment or closure, meta-analysis of incidence rates (IR), and IR ratios of recurrent cerebrovascular events. Fifty-two single-arm studies and 7 comparative nonrandomized studies and the CLOSURE I trial were reviewed. The summary IR of recurrent stroke was 0.36 events (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.56) per 100 person-years with closure versus 2.53 events (95% CI, 1.91-3.35) per 100 person-years with medical therapy. In comparative observational studies, closure was superior to medical therapy (IR ratio=0.19; 95% CI, 0.07-0.54). The IR for the closure arm of the CLOSURE I trial was higher than the summary estimate from observational studies; there was no significant benefit of closure over medical treatment (P=0.002 comparing efficacy estimates between observational studies and the trial). Observational and randomized data (9 studies) comparing medical therapies were consistent and suggested that anticoagulants are superior to antiplatelets for preventing stroke recurrence (IR ratio=0.42; 95% CI, 0.18-0.98). Although further randomized trial data are needed to precisely determine the effects of closure on stroke recurrence, the results of CLOSURE I challenge the credibility of a substantial body of observational evidence strongly favoring mechanical closure over medical therapy.

Eyewitness identification in simultaneous and sequential lineups: an investigation of position effects using receiver operating characteristics.

PubMed

Meisters, Julia; Diedenhofen, Birk; Musch, Jochen

2018-04-20

For decades, sequential lineups have been considered superior to simultaneous lineups in the context of eyewitness identification. However, most of the research leading to this conclusion was based on the analysis of diagnosticity ratios that do not control for the respondent's response criterion. Recent research based on the analysis of ROC curves has found either equal discriminability for sequential and simultaneous lineups, or higher discriminability for simultaneous lineups. Some evidence for potential position effects and for criterion shifts in sequential lineups has also been reported. Using ROC curve analysis, we investigated the effects of the suspect's position on discriminability and response criteria in both simultaneous and sequential lineups. We found that sequential lineups suffered from an unwanted position effect. Respondents employed a strict criterion for the earliest lineup positions, and shifted to a more liberal criterion for later positions. No position effects and no criterion shifts were observed in simultaneous lineups. This result suggests that sequential lineups are not superior to simultaneous lineups, and may give rise to unwanted position effects that have to be considered when conducting police lineups.

Relational interaction in occupational therapy: Conversation analysis of positive feedback.

PubMed

Weiste, Elina

2018-01-01

The therapeutic relationship is an important factor for good therapy outcomes. The primary mediator of a beneficial therapy relationship is clinician-client interaction. However, few studies identify the observable interactional attributes of good quality relational interactions, e.g. offering the client positive feedback. The present paper aims to expand current understanding of relational interaction by analyzing the real-time interactional practices therapists use for offering positive feedback, an important value in occupational therapy. The analysis is based on the conversation analysis of 15 video-recorded occupational therapy encounters in psychiatric outpatient clinics. Two types of positive feedback were identified. In aligning feedback, therapists encouraged and complimented clients' positive perspectives on their own achievements in adopting certain behaviour, encouraging and supporting their progress. In redirecting feedback, therapists shifted the perspective from clients' negative experiences to their positive experiences. This shift was interactionally successful if they laid the foundation for the shift in perspective and attuned their expressions to the clients' emotional states. Occupational therapists routinely provide their clients with positive feedback. Awareness of the interactional attributes related to positive feedback is critically important for successful relational interaction.

Closure Report for Corrective Action Unit 127: Areas 25 and 26 Storage Tanks, Nevada Test Site, Nevada

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

NSTec Environmental Restoration

CAU 127, Areas 25 and 26 Storage Tanks, consists of twelve CASs located in Areas 25 and 26 of the NTS. The closure alternatives included no further action, clean closure, and closure in place with administrative controls. The purpose of this Closure Report is to provide a summary of the completed closure activities, documentation of waste disposal, and analytical data to confirm that the remediation goals were met.

40 CFR 265.1202 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... post-closure care. (a) At closure of a magazine or unit which stored hazardous waste under this subpart... estimates for closure, and financial responsibility for magazines or units must meet all of the requirements... as long as it remains in service as a munitions or explosives magazine or storage unit. (b) If, after...

77 FR 24147 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Mile 359.4, Missouri River, Kansas City, MO

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-23

... eight wire rope lifting cables that operate the lift span. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position while the lift cables are replaced. DATES: This deviation is effective from 10 p.m... cables that operate the lift span are replaced. The closure period will start at 10 p.m. on or about May...

77 FR 28488 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Upper Mississippi River, Hannibal, MO

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-15

... lifting cables that operate the lift span. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position while the lift cables are replaced. DATES: This deviation is effective from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on or... wire rope lifting cables that operate the lift span are replaced. The closure period will be from 9 a.m...

Shock-operated valve would automatically protect fluid systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Branum, L. W.; Wells, G. H.

1966-01-01

Glandless valve shuts down high-pressure fluid systems when severe shock from an explosion or earthquake occurs. The valve uses a pendulum to support the valve closure plug in the open position. When jarred, the valve body is moved relative to the pendulum and the plug support is displaced, allowing the plug to seat and be held by spring pressure.

A prospective study of two methods of closing surgical scalp wounds.

PubMed

Adeolu, A A; Olabanji, J K; Komolafe, E O; Ademuyiwa, A O; Awe, A O; Oladele, A O

2012-02-01

Scalp wounds are commonly closed in two layers, although single layer closure is feasible. This study prospectively compared the two methods of closing scalp wounds. Patients with non-traumatic scalp wounds were allocated to either the single layer closure group or the multilayer closure group. We obtained relevant data from the patients. The primary outcome measures were wound edge related complications, rate of suturing and cost of sutures used for suturing. Thirty-one wounds were in the single layer closure group and 30 were in the multilayer closure group. Age range was 1-80 years. The most common indication for making a scalp incision was subdural hematoma, representing 27.8% of all the indications. The most common surgery was burr hole drainage of subdural hematoma. Polyglactin acid suture was used for the inner layer and polyamide -00- for the final layer in the multilayer closure group. Only the latter suture was used for the single layer closure method. Total cost of suturing per wound in the single layer closure group was N= 100 (0.70USD) and N= 800 (5.30USD) in the multilayer group. The mean rate of closure was 0.39 ± 1.89 mm/sec for single layer closure and 0.23 ± 0.89 mm/sec in multilayer closure. The difference was statistically significant. Wound edge related complication rate was 19.35% in the single layer closure group and 16.67% in the multilayer closure method group. The difference was not statistically significant (z: 0.00, p value: 1.000; Pearson chi-squared (DF = 1)= 0.0075, p = 0.0785). The study shows that closing the scalp in one layer is much faster and more cost effective compared to the multilayer closure method. We did not observe significant difference in the complication rates in the two methods of closure. Long-term outcome, especially cosmetic outcome, remains to be determined in this preliminary study.

Evaluation of left ventricular function by tissue Doppler and speckle-derived strain rate echocardiography after percutaneous ductus closure.

PubMed

Amoogzar, Hamid; Shakiba, Ali Mohammad; Derakhshan, Dorna; Ajami, Gholamhossein; Cheriki, Sirous; Borzouee, Mohammad; Edraki, Mohammad Reza; Mehdizadegan, Nima

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function before and after transcatheter percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. 21 children (age >6 months old) diagnosed with hemodynamically significant PDA underwent percutaneous PDA closure. Conventional, Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging and speckled-derived strain rate echocardiography were done at pre-closure, 1 day (early) and 1 month (late) post-closure. Mean age of the patients (female/male: 1.3) was 17.54 ± 24.7 months with the mean PDA diameter of 3.6 ± 0.8 mm. Systolic measures (ejection fraction, shortening fraction) reduced significantly early after PDA closure (P < 0.05). After 1 month, both improved significantly; ultimately, after 1 month no change was observed in systolic function measures compared with the pre-closure status. Early and late diastolic flow velocities of mitral (E M and A M) reduced considerably in early and late post-closure time (P < 0.05). Both early tissue Doppler early velocity of lateral mitral annulus (E'M) and early to late velocity ratio (E'M/A'M) of lateral mitral annulus decreased significantly (P = 0.02) in early post-closure. After 1 month, E'M increased considerably. (P = 0.01) but E'M/A'M had an insignificant rise (P > 0.05). E M/E'M ratio did not change in early post-closure but it had a considerable reduction in the subsequent month compared with the pre- and early post-closure (P < 0.001 for both occasions). Global and segmental longitudinal strain measures reduced significantly early after PDA closure (P < 0.05) but it improved remarkably in the subsequent month. Transcatheter PDA closure causes a significant decrease in left ventricular performance early after PDA closure which recovers completely within 1 month. Also PDA size can affect post-closure left ventricular function.

Primary closure versus delayed closure for non bite traumatic wounds within 24 hours post injury.

PubMed

Eliya-Masamba, Martha C; Banda, Grace W

2013-10-22

Acute traumatic wounds are one of the common reasons why people present to the emergency department. Primary closure has traditionally been reserved for traumatic wounds presenting within six hours of injury and considered 'clean' by the attending surgeon, with the rest undergoing delayed primary closure as a means of controlling wound infection. Primary closure has the potential benefit of rapid wound healing but poses the potential threat of increased wound infection. There is currently no evidence to guide clinical decision-making on the best timing for closure of traumatic wounds. To determine the effect on time to healing of primary closure versus delayed closure for non bite traumatic wounds presenting within 24 hours post injury. To explore the adverse effects of primary closure compared with delayed closure for non bite traumatic wounds presenting within 24 hours post injury. In May 2013, for this first update we searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library); Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid EMBASE; and EBSCO CINAHL. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting. Randomised controlled trials comparing primary closure with delayed closure of non bite traumatic wounds. Two review authors independently evaluated the results of the searches against the inclusion criteria. No studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Since no studies met the inclusion criteria, neither a meta-analysis nor a narrative description of studies was possible. There is currently no systematic evidence to guide clinical decision-making regarding the timing for closure of traumatic wounds. There is a need for robust research to investigate the effect of primary closure compared with delayed closure for non bite traumatic wounds presenting within 24 hours of injury.

Relationships between of Sea Urchins Abundance, Macroalgae and Coral Closure on the Cemara Kecil island

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryanti, Suryanti; Ain, Churun; Latifah, Nurul

2018-05-01

Sea urchins are one of the key species for coral reef communities because have the capability for controlling populations of microalgae. The existence of sea urchins in an waters ecosystem influenced by abiotic and biotic environmental factors such as intraspecific or intraspecific interactions. This study aims to determine the relationship between the abundance of Sea Urchins, Macroalga on massive coral, and coral cover on Cemara Kecil Island by PCA analysis. The study was conducted in May 2017 in Cemara Kecil Island. Method of research with Haphazard sampling technique. The results indicate that numbers of sea urchins found ranges from 78-130 ind/m2, an abundance of macroalgae found are Sargassum sp 1.36%, Caulerpa sp.7.43% and Padina sp 91.21%. The results of substrate cover are living coral 47,21%, dead coral 23.33%, other fauna 2.85% and abiotic element 26,61%. Based on the results of PCA analysis that Sea Urchin abundance has a positive correlation with the closure of Coral Reef and Caulerpa sp. While the Padina sp and Sargassum sp have a positive correlation as well as abiotic factors, dead coral, and other fauna.

Finite element analysis of the effect of force directions on tooth movement in extraction space closure with miniscrew sliding mechanics.

PubMed

Kojima, Yukio; Kawamura, Jun; Fukui, Hisao

2012-10-01

Miniscrews placed in bone have been used as orthodontic anchorage in extraction space closure with sliding mechanics. The movement patterns of the teeth depend on the force directions. To move the teeth in a desired pattern, the appropriate direction of force must be selected. The purpose of this article is to clarify the relationship between force directions and movement patterns. By using the finite element method, orthodontic movements were simulated based on the remodeling law of the alveolar bone. The power arm length and the miniscrew position were varied to change the force directions. When the power arm was lengthened, rotation of the entire maxillary dentition decreased. The posterior teeth were effective for preventing rotation of the anterior teeth through an archwire. In cases of a high position of a miniscrew, bodily tooth movement was almost achieved. The vertical component of the force produced intrusion or extrusion of the entire dentition. Within the limits of the method, the mechanical simulations demonstrated the effect of force direction on movement patterns. Copyright © 2012 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Adaptive multiphoton endomicroscopy through a dynamically deformed multicore optical fiber using proximal detection.

PubMed

Warren, Sean C; Kim, Youngchan; Stone, James M; Mitchell, Claire; Knight, Jonathan C; Neil, Mark A A; Paterson, Carl; French, Paul M W; Dunsby, Chris

2016-09-19

This paper demonstrates multiphoton excited fluorescence imaging through a polarisation maintaining multicore fiber (PM-MCF) while the fiber is dynamically deformed using all-proximal detection. Single-shot proximal measurement of the relative optical path lengths of all the cores of the PM-MCF in double pass is achieved using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer read out by a scientific CMOS camera operating at 416 Hz. A non-linear least squares fitting procedure is then employed to determine the deformation-induced lateral shift of the excitation spot at the distal tip of the PM-MCF. An experimental validation of this approach is presented that compares the proximally measured deformation-induced lateral shift in focal spot position to an independent distally measured ground truth. The proximal measurement of deformation-induced shift in focal spot position is applied to correct for deformation-induced shifts in focal spot position during raster-scanning multiphoton excited fluorescence imaging.

Myosin phosphatase Fine-tunes Zebrafish Motoneuron Position during Axonogenesis

PubMed Central

Granato, Michael

2016-01-01

During embryogenesis the spinal cord shifts position along the anterior-posterior axis relative to adjacent tissues. How motor neurons whose cell bodies are located in the spinal cord while their axons reside in adjacent tissues compensate for such tissue shift is not well understood. Using live cell imaging in zebrafish, we show that as motor axons exit from the spinal cord and extend through extracellular matrix produced by adjacent notochord cells, these cells shift several cell diameters caudally. Despite this pronounced shift, individual motoneuron cell bodies stay aligned with their extending axons. We find that this alignment requires myosin phosphatase activity within motoneurons, and that mutations in the myosin phosphatase subunit mypt1 increase myosin phosphorylation causing a displacement between motoneuron cell bodies and their axons. Thus, we demonstrate that spinal motoneurons fine-tune their position during axonogenesis and we identify the myosin II regulatory network as a key regulator. PMID:27855159

CLOSURE REPORT FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION UNIT 528: POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS CONTAMINATION NEVADA TEST SITE, NEVADA

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

BECHTEL NEVADA

2006-09-01

This Closure Report (CR) describes the closure activities performed at CAU 528, Polychlorinated Biphenyls Contamination, as presented in the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP)-approved Corrective Action Plan (CAP) (US. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office [NNSAINSO], 2005). The approved closure alternative was closure in place with administrative controls. This CR provides a summary of the completed closure activities, documentation of waste disposal, and analytical data to confirm that the remediation goals were met.

Visual attention shifting in autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Richard, Annette E; Lajiness-O'Neill, Renee

2015-01-01

Abnormal visual attention has been frequently observed in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Abnormal shifting of visual attention is related to abnormal development of social cognition and has been identified as a key neuropsychological finding in ASD. Better characterizing attention shifting in ASD and its relationship with social functioning may help to identify new targets for intervention and improving social communication in these disorders. Thus, the current study investigated deficits in attention shifting in ASD as well as relationships between attention shifting and social communication in ASD and neurotypicals (NT). To investigate deficits in visual attention shifting in ASD, 20 ASD and 20 age- and gender-matched NT completed visual search (VS) and Navon tasks with attention-shifting demands as well as a set-shifting task. VS was a feature search task with targets defined in one of two dimensions; Navon required identification of a target letter presented at the global or local level. Psychomotor and processing speed were entered as covariates. Relationships between visual attention shifting, set shifting, and social functioning were also examined. ASD and NT showed comparable costs of shifting attention. However, psychomotor and processing speed were slower in ASD than in NT, and psychomotor and processing speed were positively correlated with attention-shifting costs on Navon and VS, respectively, for both groups. Attention shifting on VS and Navon were correlated among NT, while attention shifting on Navon was correlated with set shifting among ASD. Attention-shifting costs on Navon were positively correlated with restricted and repetitive behaviors among ASD. Relationships between attention shifting and psychomotor and processing speed, as well as relationships between measures of different aspects of visual attention shifting, suggest inefficient top-down influences over preattentive visual processing in ASD. Inefficient attention shifting may be related to restricted and repetitive behaviors in these disorders.

Umbilical hernia following gastroschisis closure: a common event?

PubMed

Tullie, L G C; Bough, G M; Shalaby, A; Kiely, E M; Curry, J I; Pierro, A; De Coppi, P; Cross, K M K

2016-08-01

To assess incidence and natural history of umbilical hernia following sutured and sutureless gastroschisis closure. With audit approval, we undertook a retrospective clinical record review of all gastroschisis closures in our institution (2007-2013). Patient demographics, gastroschisis closure method and umbilical hernia occurrence were recorded. Data, presented as median (range), underwent appropriate statistical analysis. Fifty-three patients were identified, gestation 36 weeks (31-38), birth weight 2.39 kg (1-3.52) and 23 (43 %) were male. Fourteen patients (26 %) underwent sutureless closure: 12 primary, 2 staged; and 39 (74 %) sutured closure: 19 primary, 20 staged. Sutured closure was interrupted sutures in 24 patients, 11 pursestring and 4 not specified. Fifty patients were followed-up over 53 months (10-101) and 22 (44 %) developed umbilical hernias. There was a significantly greater hernia incidence following sutureless closure (p = 0.0002). In sutured closure, pursestring technique had the highest hernia rate (64 %). Seven patients underwent operative hernia closure; three secondary to another procedure. Seven patients had their hernias resolve. One patient was lost to follow-up and seven remain under observation with no reported complications. There is a significant umbilical hernia incidence following sutureless and pursestring sutured gastroschisis closure. This has not led to complications and the majority have not undergone repair.

Problem of intraoperative anatomical shift in image-guided surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nauta, Haring J.; Bonnen, J. G.

1998-06-01

Experience with image guided, frameless stereotactic neurosurgery shows that intraoperative brain position shifts can be large enough to be problematic, and can occur in different directions at different directions at different stages of an operation. An understanding of the behavior of shifts will allow the surgeon to make the most appropriate use of the image guidance by first minimizing the shift itself, and then anticipating and compensating for any influence the remaining shift will have on the accuracy of the guidance. Three types of shift are described. Type I shift is a local outward bulging that occurs after the skull and dura are opened but before a mass lesion is resected. Type II shift is a local collapse of the brain tissue into the space previously occupied by the tumor. Type III shift is related to loss of cerebrospinal fluid or brain dehydration and is a generalized, more symmetric loss of brain volume. Strategies to minimize these types of shift include appropriate use of medical measures to reduce brain swelling early in the procedure without producing so much brain dehydration that Type II shift is accentuated later in the procedure. Other strategies include mechanical stabilization of brain position with retractors. Anticipating shift, the neurosurgeon should use the guidance as far as possible to map key boundaries early in the procedure before shift becomes more pronounced. Ultimately, however, the correction for the problem of intraoperative brain shift will require the ability to update the imaging data during the surgery.

Static roll-tilt over 5 minutes locally distorts the internal estimate of direction of gravity.

PubMed

Tarnutzer, A A; Bockisch, C J; Straumann, D; Marti, S; Bertolini, G

2014-12-01

The subjective visual vertical (SVV) indicates perceived direction of gravity. Even in healthy human subjects, roll angle-dependent misestimations, roll overcompensation (A-effect, head-roll > 60° and <135°) and undercompensation (E-effect, head-roll < 60°), occur. Previously, we demonstrated that, after prolonged roll-tilt, SVV estimates when upright are biased toward the preceding roll position, which indicates that perceived vertical (PV) is shifted by the prior tilt (Tarnutzer AA, Bertolini G, Bockisch CJ, Straumann D, Marti S. PLoS One 8: e78079, 2013). Hypothetically, PV in any roll position could be biased toward the previous roll position. We asked whether such a "global" bias occurs or whether the bias is "local". The SVV of healthy human subjects (N = 9) was measured in nine roll positions (-120° to +120°, steps = 30°) after 5 min of roll-tilt in one of two adaptation positions (±90°) and compared with control trials without adaptation. After adapting, adjustments were shifted significantly (P < 0.05) toward the previous adaptation position for nearby roll-tilted positions (±30°, ±60°) and upright only. We computationally simulated errors based on the sum of a monotonically increasing function (producing roll undercompensation) and a mixture of Gaussian functions (representing roll overcompensation centered around PV). In combination, the pattern of A- and E-effects could be generated. By shifting the function representing local overcompensation toward the adaptation position, the experimental postadaptation data could be fitted successfully. We conclude that prolonged roll-tilt locally distorts PV rather than globally shifting it. Short-term adaptation of roll overcompensation may explain these shifts and could reflect the brain's strategy to optimize SVV estimates around recent roll positions. Thus postural stability can be improved by visually-mediated compensatory responses at any sustained body-roll orientation. Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.

Identification of Selected Child-Resistant Closures (Continuous Thread, Lug-Bayonet, and Snap Closures).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gross, Rosalind L.; White, Harry E.

This publication describes a selected group of child-resistant closures used in packaging five categories of medicine and household products. The material in the document was collected to train survey personnel to identify closures for a planned household study of the effectiveness of child-resistant packaging. The 39 closures described are of…

Did a brief nap break have positive benefits on information processing among nurses working on the first 8-h night shift?

PubMed

Chang, Yu-San; Wu, Yu-Hsuan; Lu, Mei Rou; Hsu, Chung-Yao; Liu, Ching-Kuan; Hsu, Chin

2015-05-01

Shift workers frequently experience acute sleep deprivation on first night shift. This study compared the efficacy of 30-min nap (between 2 and 3 a.m.) on the visual attention ability of the nurses working at first 8-h night shift at the time of maximum fatigue (between 3 and 4 a.m.). In addition, we measured cognitive function (between 9 and 10 a.m.) in nurses working on daytime shift, which we defined as baseline wakefulness. The results showed that working on the night shift groups was associated with sleep loss, leading to a decrease in visual attention performance compared to the daytime shift group. There was no statistically significant difference in the visual attention performance between those taking and not taking a nap during the night shift, however the effect size was medium in the information process. It was still needed increase sample size to draw the conclusion regarding a 30-min nap break have positive benefits on perceptual speed during the first night shift. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Exploring social support and job satisfaction among associate degree program directors in California.

PubMed

Mintz-Binder, Ronda D; Fitzpatrick, Joyce J

2009-01-01

A troubling trend noted in California has been an increase in the number of open positions for program directors of associate degree registered nursing (ADRN) programs. Positions remain open for extended periods of time, and the number of qualified applicants for such positions is insufficient. The loss of and ensuing slow replacement of ADRN program directors can put these programs in jeopardy of student admission suspension, or, worse yet, closure by the state nursing board. In this exploratory study, variables of social support and job satisfaction were studied. Variables were found to be limited opportunities for peer interaction, expressed discontent, and retention concerns. A significant positive relationship between job satisfaction and social support was noted. Recommendations for future research are offered.

Investigation of an anomalous hump phenomenon in via-type amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistors under positive bias temperature stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jianwen; Liao, Po-Yung; Chang, Ting-Chang; Chen, Bo-Wei; Huang, Hui-Chun; Su, Wan-Ching; Chiang, Hsiao-Cheng; Zhang, Qun

2017-04-01

Amorphous InGaZnO thin film transistors (a-IGZO TFTs) with an etching-stop layer (ESL) exhibit an anomalous negative shift of threshold voltage (Vth) under positive bias temperature stress. TFTs with wider and shorter channels show a clear hump phenomenon, resulting from the existence of both main channels and parasitic channels. The electrons trapped in the gate insulator are responsible for the positive shift in the main channel characteristics. The electrons trapped near the IGZO edges and the holes injected into the ESL layer above InGaZnO (IGZO) jointly determine the shift of the parasitic TFT performance.

27 CFR 26.136 - Affixing closures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS LIQUORS AND ARTICLES FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Closures for Distilled Spirits From Puerto Rico § 26.136 Affixing closures. Closures or other devices shall be securely...

27 CFR 26.136 - Affixing closures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... OF THE TREASURY ALCOHOL LIQUORS AND ARTICLES FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Closures for Distilled Spirits From Puerto Rico § 26.136 Affixing closures. Closures or other devices shall be securely...

27 CFR 26.136 - Affixing closures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS LIQUORS AND ARTICLES FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Closures for Distilled Spirits From Puerto Rico § 26.136 Affixing closures. Closures or other devices shall be securely...

27 CFR 26.136 - Affixing closures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... OF THE TREASURY ALCOHOL LIQUORS AND ARTICLES FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Closures for Distilled Spirits From Puerto Rico § 26.136 Affixing closures. Closures or other devices shall be securely...

27 CFR 26.136 - Affixing closures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS LIQUORS AND ARTICLES FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Closures for Distilled Spirits From Puerto Rico § 26.136 Affixing closures. Closures or other devices shall be securely...

Platelets contribute to postnatal occlusion of the ductus arteriosus.

PubMed

Echtler, Katrin; Stark, Konstantin; Lorenz, Michael; Kerstan, Sandra; Walch, Axel; Jennen, Luise; Rudelius, Martina; Seidl, Stefan; Kremmer, Elisabeth; Emambokus, Nikla R; von Bruehl, Marie-Luise; Frampton, Jon; Isermann, Berend; Genzel-Boroviczény, Orsolya; Schreiber, Christian; Mehilli, Julinda; Kastrati, Adnan; Schwaiger, Markus; Shivdasani, Ramesh A; Massberg, Steffen

2010-01-01

The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a fetal shunt vessel between the pulmonary artery and the aorta that closes promptly after birth. Failure of postnatal DA closure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality particularly in preterm neonates. The events leading to DA closure are incompletely understood. Here we show that platelets have an essential role in DA closure. Using intravital microscopy of neonatal mice, we observed that platelets are recruited to the luminal aspect of the DA during closure. DA closure is impaired in neonates with malfunctioning platelet adhesion or aggregation or with defective platelet biogenesis. Defective DA closure resulted in a left-to-right shunt with increased pulmonary perfusion, pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy. Our findings indicate that platelets are crucial for DA closure by promoting thrombotic sealing of the constricted DA and by supporting luminal remodeling. A retrospective clinical study revealed that thrombocytopenia is an independent predictor for failure of DA closure in preterm human newborns, indicating that platelets are likely to contribute to DA closure in humans.

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

PubMed

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

2016-01-01

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

[Mandible function in taking construction bite for activator].

PubMed

Irie, M

1989-06-01

Functional effects of construction bite for activator (Andresen type) especially on lateral pterygoid muscle, as well as the positional changes of the mandible, hyoid bone and surface EMGs from bilateral anterior temporal (TA) and masseter (MM) muscle, were studied on the electric force scale, MKG, EMG and cephalometric radiographs in 14 subjects with anterior cross bite in mixed dentition. The cephalometric radiographs were taken at the start of each patient's treatment. One was taken with the mandible in the intercuspal position and one was also taken with the activator in the mouth at the overjet improvement. The activator patients were divided into two groups because of differences in the direction of movement of the hyoid bone in the FH plane. In group O (7 patients), the movement of the hyoid bone was at an oblique angle to the FH plane, while in group D (7 patients) the movement ot the hyoid bone with nearly direct below angle to FH plane. The patients were further divided into three types because of differences in the distance between the hyoid bone and mental spine, and combined with the groups OA (3 patients), OB (2 patients), OC (2 patients), DA (5 patients), DB (2 patients) and DC (Naught). The results obtained were as follows: The forces for the construction bite for groups O and D were 2.71 Kg and 2.72 kg, respectively. Type OC required significantly heavier force. (p less than 0.05) In the condylar test, O group was significantly smaller at the start of treatment, but not after overjet improvement. Type OA and OB were also significantly smaller at the start of treatment. (p less than 0.05) Velocity of opening for group D was significantly (p less than 0.05) faster at the start of treatment, but not after that. There was no significant difference in EMGs between the groups, with activator in the mouse D group much increased as it EMGs. The EMGs M/T ratio for both groups was approximately 100% at the start of treatment for overjet improvement. In cases with no or slight lateral shift in the recorded path of closure or in the incisal region, no large differences were recorded laterally. Large EMGs differences were recorded with lateral shift in the incisal region, especially when taking the construction bite.

Regional neural tube closure defined by the Grainy head-like transcription factors.

PubMed

Rifat, Yeliz; Parekh, Vishwas; Wilanowski, Tomasz; Hislop, Nikki R; Auden, Alana; Ting, Stephen B; Cunningham, John M; Jane, Stephen M

2010-09-15

Primary neurulation in mammals has been defined by distinct anatomical closure sites, at the hindbrain/cervical spine (closure 1), forebrain/midbrain boundary (closure 2), and rostral end of the forebrain (closure 3). Zones of neurulation have also been characterized by morphologic differences in neural fold elevation, with non-neural ectoderm-induced formation of paired dorso-lateral hinge points (DLHP) essential for neural tube closure in the cranial and lower spinal cord regions, and notochord-induced bending at the median hinge point (MHP) sufficient for closure in the upper spinal region. Here we identify a unifying molecular basis for these observations based on the function of the non-neural ectoderm-specific Grainy head-like genes in mice. Using a gene-targeting approach we show that deletion of Grhl2 results in failed closure 3, with mutants exhibiting a split-face malformation and exencephaly, associated with failure of neuro-epithelial folding at the DLHP. Loss of Grhl3 alone defines a distinct lower spinal closure defect, also with defective DLHP formation. The two genes contribute equally to closure 2, where only Grhl gene dosage is limiting. Combined deletion of Grhl2 and Grhl3 induces severe rostral and caudal neural tube defects, but DLHP-independent closure 1 proceeds normally in the upper spinal region. These findings provide a molecular basis for non-neural ectoderm mediated formation of the DLHP that is critical for complete neuraxis closure. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Xing, Y; Macq, B; Bondar, L

Purpose: To quantify the accuracy in predicting the Bragg peak position using simulated in-room measurements of prompt gamma (PG) emissions for realistic treatment error scenarios that combine several sources of errors. Methods: Prompt gamma measurements by a knife-edge slit camera were simulated using an experimentally validated analytical simulation tool. Simulations were performed, for 143 treatment error scenarios, on an anthropomorphic phantom and a pencil beam scanning plan for nasal cavity. Three types of errors were considered: translation along each axis, rotation around each axis, and CT-calibration errors with magnitude ranging respectively, between −3 and 3 mm, −5 and 5 degrees,more » and between −5 and +5%. We investigated the correlation between the Bragg peak (BP) shift and the horizontal shift of PG profiles. The shifts were calculated between the planned (reference) position and the position by the error scenario. The prediction error for one spot was calculated as the absolute difference between the PG profile shift and the BP shift. Results: The PG shift was significantly and strongly correlated with the BP shift for 92% of the cases (p<0.0001, Pearson correlation coefficient R>0.8). Moderate but significant correlations were obtained for all cases that considered only CT-calibration errors and for 1 case that combined translation and CT-errors (p<0.0001, R ranged between 0.61 and 0.8). The average prediction errors for the simulated scenarios ranged between 0.08±0.07 and 1.67±1.3 mm (grand mean 0.66±0.76 mm). The prediction error was moderately correlated with the value of the BP shift (p=0, R=0.64). For the simulated scenarios the average BP shift ranged between −8±6.5 mm and 3±1.1 mm. Scenarios that considered combinations of the largest treatment errors were associated with large BP shifts. Conclusion: Simulations of in-room measurements demonstrate that prompt gamma profiles provide reliable estimation of the Bragg peak position for complex error scenarios. Yafei Xing and Luiza Bondar are funded by BEWARE grants from the Walloon Region. The work presents simulations results for a prompt gamma camera prototype developed by IBA.« less

A physiological frequency-position map of the chinchilla cochlea.

PubMed

Müller, Marcus; Hoidis, Silvi; Smolders, Jean W T

2010-09-01

Accumulating evidence indicates that mammalian cochlear frequency-position maps (location of maximum vibration of the basilar membrane as a function of frequency) depend on the physiological condition of the inner ear. Cochlear damage desensitizes the ear, after the damage the original location of maximum vibration is tuned to a lower sound frequency. This suggests that frequency-position maps, derived from such desensitized ears, are shifted to lower frequencies, corresponding to a shift of the basilar membrane vibration pattern towards the base for a given stimulus frequency. To test this hypothesis, we re-mapped the cochlear frequency-position map in the chinchilla. We collected frequency-position data from chinchillas in normal physiological condition ("physiological map") and compared these to data previously established from sound overexposed ears ("anatomical map"). The characteristic frequency (CF) of neurons in the cochlear nucleus was determined. Horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) or biocytin (BCT) were injected iontophoretically to trace auditory nerve fibers towards their innervation site in the organ of Corti. The relationship between distance from the base (d, percent) and frequency (f, kHz) was described best by a simple exponential function: d = 61.2 - 42.2 x log(f). The slope of the function was 2.55 mm/octave. Compared to the "anatomical map", the "physiological map" was shifted by about 0.3 octaves to higher frequencies corresponding to a shift of the basilar membrane vibration pattern of 0.8 mm towards the apex for a given stimulus frequency. Our findings affirm that frequency-position maps in the mammalian cochlea depend on the condition of the inner ear. Damage-induced desensitization in mammalian inner ears results in similar shifts of CF (about 0.5 octaves) but different shifts of the maximum of the vibration pattern towards the base at given frequencies, dependent on the mapping constant of the species, longer basilar membranes showing a larger basal shift. Furthermore, the results substantiate the notion that "crowding" at lower frequencies appears to be a specialization rather than a general feature. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Avoiding Accountability: How Charter Operators Evade Ohio's Automatic Closure Law. K-12 Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DePaoli, Jennifer; van Lier, Piet

2013-01-01

Ohio's charter-closure law is touted as one of the toughest in the nation because it requires the automatic closure of charter schools that consistently fail to meet academic standards. Ohio's charter-closure law, which became effective in 2008 and was revised in 2011, calls for automatic closure of schools rated in Academic Emergency for at least…

77 FR 75186 - Notice of Closure, Target Shooting Public Safety Closure on the Lake Mountains in Utah County, UT

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-19

... Closure, Target Shooting Public Safety Closure on the Lake Mountains in Utah County, UT AGENCY: Bureau of... Lake Mountains in Utah County, Utah, to recreational target shooting to protect public safety. This... shooting closure within the described area will remain in effect no longer than two years from December 19...

76 FR 20633 - Record of Decision (ROD) for the Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) 2005 Actions at Fort...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-13

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Record of Decision (ROD) for the Base Closure and... decision on how to implement property disposal in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (the Base Closure Act), Public Law 101-510, as amended, following the closure of Fort...

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

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-13

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

Real time, TV-based, point-image quantizer and sorter

DOEpatents

Case, Arthur L.; Davidson, Jackson B.

1976-01-01

A device is provided for improving the vertical resolution in a television-based, two-dimensional readout for radiation detection systems such as are used to determine the location of light or nuclear radiation impinging a target area viewed by a television camera, where it is desired to store the data indicative of the centroid location of such images. In the example embodiment, impinging nuclear radiation detected in the form of a scintillation occurring in a crystal is stored as a charge image on a television camera tube target. The target is scanned in a raster and the image position is stored according to a corresponding vertical scan number and horizontal position number along the scan. To determine the centroid location of an image that may overlap a number of horizontal scan lines along the vertical axis of the raster, digital logic circuits are provided with at least four series-connected shift registers, each having 512 bit positions according to a selected 512 horizontal increment of resolutions along a scan line. The registers are shifted by clock pulses at a rate of 512 pulses per scan line. When an image or portion thereof is detected along a scan, its horizontal center location is determined and the present front bit is set in the first shift register and shifted through the registers one at a time for each horizontal scan. Each register is compared bit-by-bit with the preceding register to detect coincident set bit positions until the last scan line detecting a portion of the image is determined. Depending on the number of shift registers through which the first detection of the image is shifted, circuitry is provided to store the vertical center position of the event according to the number of shift registers through which the first detection of the event is shifted. Interpolation circuitry is provided to determine if the event centroid is between adjacent scan lines and stored in a vertical address accordingly. The horizontal location of the event is stored in a separate address memory.

Percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defect results in very early and sustained changes of right and left heart function.

PubMed

Monfredi, Oliver; Luckie, Matthew; Mirjafari, Hoda; Willard, Terence; Buckley, Helen; Griffiths, Linda; Clarke, Bernard; Mahadevan, Vaikom S

2013-08-20

To investigate the echocardiographic effects of percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in adults and assess which pre-closure parameters predict good response to closure. ASD is a common congenital heart disease often undiscovered until adulthood. ASD closure has been revolutionized by the use of percutaneous devices. The effects of these procedures on echocardiographic parameters are not well characterized. Patients undergoing percutaneous device closure of ASD between June 2007 and June 2009 had 3 sequential echocardiograms reviewed: pre-procedure, immediate post-procedure (24 hours) and 6-8 weeks post-procedure. Significant changes from baseline were investigated using paired t-test/1-way ANOVA. Pearson correlation (2-tailed) tests were used to categorize patients as 'good responders' to closure in terms of selected parameters. 129 echocardiograms in 43 consecutive patients were included. Remodeling of both ventricles occurred immediately following ASD closure and was sustained. Right ventricular (RV) diameter in diastole decreased by 13.5% and 19.3% compared to baseline at 24 hours and 6-8 weeks post-closure, respectively (p<0.05); Left ventricular (LV) diameter in diastole increased by 8.5% and 15.6%, respectively (p<0.05). Functional parameters of the RV also demonstrated early and sustained decreases (TAPSE decreased by 8.3% and 17% compared to baseline at 24 hours and 6-8 weeks post-closure, respectively (p<0.05)). Smaller RV baseline diameter appeared to predict good response to closure. Percutaneous ASD closure has immediate, sustained benefits on multiple echocardiographic parameters. Good responders have smaller RV at baseline, suggesting early closure is preferable. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 264.1202 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... FACILITIES Hazardous Waste Munitions and Explosives Storage § 264.1202 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At... it remains in service as a munitions or explosives magazine or storage unit. (b) If, after removing...

40 CFR 264.1202 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... FACILITIES Hazardous Waste Munitions and Explosives Storage § 264.1202 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At... it remains in service as a munitions or explosives magazine or storage unit. (b) If, after removing...

40 CFR 264.1202 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... FACILITIES Hazardous Waste Munitions and Explosives Storage § 264.1202 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At... it remains in service as a munitions or explosives magazine or storage unit. (b) If, after removing...

40 CFR 264.1202 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... FACILITIES Hazardous Waste Munitions and Explosives Storage § 264.1202 Closure and post-closure care. (a) At... it remains in service as a munitions or explosives magazine or storage unit. (b) If, after removing...

The relationship between an orientation to the future and an orientation to the past: The role of future clarity.

PubMed

Moss, Simon A; Wilson, Samuel G; Irons, Melanie; Naivalu, Carmen

2017-12-01

Some research shows that people who often contemplate their future tend to be healthier. Yet the burgeoning literature on mindfulness demonstrates that people who are more attuned to their immediate experiences also enjoy many benefits. To reconcile these principles, many scholars recommend that people should distribute their attention, somewhat evenly, across the past, present, and future-but have not clarified how people should achieve this goal. We test the possibility that people who perceive their future as vivid and certain, called future clarity, might be able to both orient their attention to the future as well as experience mindfulness. Specifically, future clarity could diminish the inclination of people to reach decisions prematurely and dismiss information that contradicts these decisions, called need for closure-tendencies that diminish consideration of future consequences and mindfulness, respectively. In this cross-sectional study, 194 participants completed measures of mindfulness, consideration of future consequences, need for closure, and future clarity. Consistent with hypotheses, future clarity was positively associated with both mindfulness and consideration of future consequences. Need for closure partly mediated these relationships. Accordingly, interventions that empower people to shape and to clarify their future might generate the benefits of both mindfulness and a future orientation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hiatal hernia repair with gore bio-a tissue reinforcement: our experience.

PubMed

Antonino, Agrusa; Giorgio, Romano; Giuseppe, Frazzetta; Giovanni, De Vita; Silvia, Di Giovanni; Daniela, Chianetta; Giuseppe, Di Buono; Vincenzo, Sorce; Gaspare, Gulotta

2014-01-01

Type I hiatal hernia is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 50-90% of cases. Several trials strongly support surgery as an effective alternative to medical therapy. Today, laparoscopic fundoplication is considered as the procedure of choice. However, primary laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair is associated with upto 42% recurrence rate. Mesh reinforcement of the crural closure decreases the recurrence but can lead to complications, above all nonabsorbable ones. We experiment a new totally absorbable mesh by Gore. Case. We present a case of a 65-year-old female patient with a 6-year classic history of GERD. Endoscopy revealed a large hiatal hernia and esophagitis. pH study was positive for acid reflux; esophageal manometry revealed LES intrathoracic dislocation. With laparoscopic approach, the hiatal hernia defect was identified and primarily repaired, by crural closure. Gore Bio-A Tissue Reinforcement was trimmed to fit the defect accommodating the esophagus. Nissen fundoplication was performed. Result. Bio-A mesh was easily placed laparoscopically. It has good handling and could be cut and tailored intraoperatively for optimal adaptation. There were no short-term complications. Conclusion. Crural closure reinforcement can be done readily with this new totally absorbable mesh replaced by soft tissue over six months. However, further data and studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Hiatal Hernia Repair with Gore Bio-A Tissue Reinforcement: Our Experience

PubMed Central

Antonino, Agrusa; Giorgio, Romano; Giuseppe, Frazzetta; Giovanni, De Vita; Silvia, Di Giovanni; Daniela, Chianetta; Giuseppe, Di Buono; Vincenzo, Sorce; Gaspare, Gulotta

2014-01-01

Type I hiatal hernia is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 50–90% of cases. Several trials strongly support surgery as an effective alternative to medical therapy. Today, laparoscopic fundoplication is considered as the procedure of choice. However, primary laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair is associated with upto 42% recurrence rate. Mesh reinforcement of the crural closure decreases the recurrence but can lead to complications, above all nonabsorbable ones. We experiment a new totally absorbable mesh by Gore. Case. We present a case of a 65-year-old female patient with a 6-year classic history of GERD. Endoscopy revealed a large hiatal hernia and esophagitis. pH study was positive for acid reflux; esophageal manometry revealed LES intrathoracic dislocation. With laparoscopic approach, the hiatal hernia defect was identified and primarily repaired, by crural closure. Gore Bio-A Tissue Reinforcement was trimmed to fit the defect accommodating the esophagus. Nissen fundoplication was performed. Result. Bio-A mesh was easily placed laparoscopically. It has good handling and could be cut and tailored intraoperatively for optimal adaptation. There were no short-term complications. Conclusion. Crural closure reinforcement can be done readily with this new totally absorbable mesh replaced by soft tissue over six months. However, further data and studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes. PMID:24864221

The role of community, family, peer, and school factors in group bullying: implications for school-based intervention.

PubMed

Mann, Michael J; Kristjansson, Alfgeir L; Sigfusdottir, Inga Dora; Smith, Megan L

2015-07-01

Although an ecological perspective suggests the importance of multiple levels of intervention, most bullying research has emphasized individual- and school-focused strategies. This study investigated community and family factors that influence school efforts to reduce odds of group bullying behavior and victimization. We used multilevel logistic regression to analyze data from the 2009 Youth in Iceland population school survey (N = 7084, response rate: 83.5%, 50.8% girls). Parental support and time spent with parents were protective against group bullying behavior while worsening relationships with teachers and disliking school increased the likelihood of such behavior. Knowing kids in the area increased the likelihood of group bullying while intergenerational closure was a protective factor. Normlessness was consistently positively related to group bullying. We found no indication of higher-level relationships across the bullying models. Parental support was protective against victimization. Disliking school, intergenerational closure, and anomie/normlessness were strongly and negatively related to victimization. We found some indication of multilevel relationships for victimization. Findings support efforts to increase family and community connection, closure, and support as a part of school-based intervention. These factors become more important as young people participate in or experience greater odds of group bullying behavior and victimization. © 2015, American School Health Association.

Time to contact and the control of manual prehension.

PubMed

Watson, M K; Jakobson, L S

1997-11-01

In the present study, a kinematic analysis was made of unconstrained, natural prehension movements directed toward an object approaching the observer on a conveyor belt at one of three constant velocities, from one of three different directions (head-on or along the fronto-parallel plane coming either from the subject's left or right). Subjects were required to grasp the object when it reached a target located 20 cm directly in front of the hand's start position. The kinematic analysis revealed that both the transport and grasp components of the movement changed in response to the experimental manipulations, but did so in a manner that guaranteed that, for objects approaching from a given direction, hand closure would begin at a constant time prior to object contact (regardless of the object's approach speed). The kinematic analysis also revealed, however, that the onset of hand closure began earlier with objects approaching from the right than from other directions -- an effect which would not be predicted if time to contact was the key variable controlling the onset of hand closure. These results, then, lend only partial support to the theory that temporal coordination between the transport and grasp components of prehension is ensured through their common dependence on time to contact information.

Analytical and Experimental Study of Near-Threshold Interactions Between Crack Closure Mechanisms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, John A.; Riddell, William T.; Piascik, Robert S.

2003-01-01

The results of an analytical closure model that considers contributions and interactions between plasticity-, roughness-, and oxide-induced crack closure mechanisms are presented and compared with experimental data. The analytical model is shown to provide a good description of the combined influences of crack roughness, oxide debris, and plasticity in the near-threshold regime. Furthermore, analytical results indicate that closure mechanisms interact in a non-linear manner such that the total amount of closure is not the sum of closure contributions for each mechanism.

A comparison of two endoscopic closures: over-the-scope clip (OTSC) versus KING closure (endoloop + clips) in a randomized long-term experimental study.

PubMed

Dolezel, R; Ryska, O; Kollar, M; Juhasova, J; Kalvach, J; Ryska, M; Martinek, J

2016-11-01

Both over-the-scope clip (OTSC) and KING (endoloop + clips) closures provide reliable and safe full-thickness endoscopic closure. Nevertheless, OTSC clip demonstrated significantly inferior histological healing in the short-term follow-up. To compare OTSC versus KING closure of a perforation with regard to long-term effectiveness and macroscopic and histological quality of healing. We performed a randomized experimental study with 16 mini-pigs (mean weight 43.2 ± 11.2 kg). A standardized perforation was performed on the anterior sigmoid wall. KING closure (n = 8) was attained by approximation of an endoloop fixed to the margins of a perforation with endoclips. OTSC closure (n = 8) was performed by deploying OTSC (OVESCO) over the defect. Pigs underwent a control sigmoidoscopy 8 months after the closure to assess the macroscopic quality of healing. Then, autopsy was performed and the rectosigmoid was sent for histopathological assessment. All closures were completed successfully without air leaks. The duration of closure was similar in both techniques (OTSC 17.8 ± 7.6 min vs. KING 19.6 ± 8.8 min). At autopsy, all KING closures (100 %) were healed with a flat scar without signs of leakage. Microscopically, no inflammatory changes were observed after KING closure. In the OTSC group, microscopic ulcers were present in two pigs (25 %), cryptal abscesses in three pigs (38 %) and significant neutrophil accumulation in all eight pigs (P < 0.01). Giant cell granulomas, dysplasia or abundant scarification was not observed in either group. Both OTSC and KING closures offer a long-term reliable seal of a gastrointestinal perforation without stenosis or fistulas. KING closure provides long-term histologically superior healing.

The TopClosure® 3S System, for skin stretching and a secure wound closure.

PubMed

Topaz, Moris; Carmel, Narin-Nard; Silberman, Adi; Li, Ming Sen; Li, Yong Zhong

2012-07-01

The principle of stretching wound margins for primary wound closure is commonly practiced and used for various skin defects, leading at times to excessive tension and complications during wound closure. Different surgical techniques, skin stretching devices and tissue expanders have been utilized to address this issue. Previously designed skin stretching devices resulted in considerable morbidity. They were invasive by nature and associated with relatively high localized tissue pressure, frequently leading to necrosis, damage and tearing of skin at the wound margins. To assess the clinical effectiveness and performance and, to determine the safety of TopClosure® for gradual, controlled, temporary, noninvasive and invasive applications for skin stretching and secure wound closing, the TopClosure® device was applied to 20 patients for preoperative skin lesion removal and to secure closure of a variety of wound sizes. TopClosure® was reinforced with adhesives, staples and/or surgical sutures, depending on the circumstances of the wound and the surgeon's judgment. TopClosure® was used prior to, during and/or after surgery to reduce tension across wound edges. No significant complications or adverse events were associated with its use. TopClosure® was effectively used for preoperative skin expansion in preparation for dermal resection (e.g., congenital nevi). It aided closure of large wounds involving significant loss of skin and soft tissue by mobilizing skin and subcutaneous tissue, thus avoiding the need for skin grafts or flaps. Following surgery, it was used to secure closure of wounds under tension, thus improving wound aesthetics. A sample case study will be presented. We designed TopClosure®, an innovative device, to modify the currently practiced concept of wound closure by applying minimal stress to the skin, away from damaged wound edges, with flexible force vectors and versatile methods of attachment to the skin, in a noninvasive or invasive manner.

Substantial Impact of School Closure on the Transmission Dynamics during the Pandemic Flu H1N1-2009 in Oita, Japan

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Background School closure is considered as an effective measure to prevent pandemic influenza. Although Japan has implemented many class, grade, and whole school closures during the early stage of the pandemic 2009, the effectiveness of such a school closure has not been analysed appropriately. In addition, analysis based on evidence or data from a large population has yet to be performed. We evaluated the preventive effect of school closure against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and examined efficient strategies of reactive school closure. Materials and Methods Data included daily reports of reactive school closures and the number of infected students in the pandemic in Oita City, Japan. We used a regression model that incorporated a time delay to analyse the daily data of school closure based on a time continuous susceptible-exposed-infected-removed model of infectious disease spread. The delay was due to the time-lag from transmission to case reporting. We simulated the number of students infected daily with and without school closure and evaluated the effectiveness. Results The model with a 3-day delay from transmission to reporting yielded the best fit using R 2 (the coefficient of determination). This result suggests that the recommended period of school closure is more than 4 days. Moreover, the effect of school closure in the simulation of school closure showed the following: the number of infected students decreased by about 24% at its peak, and the number of cumulative infected students decreased by about 8.0%. Conclusions School closure was an effective intervention for mitigating the spread of influenza and should be implemented for more than 4 days. School closure has a remarkable impact on decreasing the number of infected students at the peak, but it does not substantially decrease the total number of infected students. PMID:26669757

Type of closure prevents microbial contamination of cosmetics during consumer use.

PubMed Central

Brannan, D K; Dille, J C

1990-01-01

The dispensing closure used for containers plays an important role in protecting cosmetics from in-use microbial contamination. This hypothesis was tested by aseptically packing unpreserved shampoo and skin lotion into containers with three different closure types which provided various degrees of protection against consumer and environmental microbial insults. Shampoo was packed in containers with slit-cap (n = 25), flip-cap (n = 25), or screw-cap (n = 28) closures. Skin lotion was packed in containers with pump-top (n = 21), flip-cap (n = 18), or screw-cap (n = 21) closures. The products were then used by volunteers under actual in-use conditions for 3 (shampoo) or 2 (skin lotion) weeks. After use, the products were evaluated for microbial contamination by using standard methods for enumeration and identification. The standard screw-cap closure provided only minimal protection against microbial contamination of both the shampoo (29% contamination incidence) and the skin lotion (71%). The slit-cap closure on the shampoo container and the flip-cap closure on the skin lotion container provided slightly enhanced degrees of protection (21 and 39% contamination incidence, respectively). The greatest amount of protection (i.e., lowest contamination incidence) was provided by the flip-cap closure for the shampoo container (0%) and the pump-top closure for the skin lotion container (10%). As a result, closure type plays an important role in protecting poorly preserved products from in-use microbial contamination. Images PMID:2339896

Reducing the risk of contamination of sterile parenteral products via ready-to-use closure components.

PubMed

Curry, Wayne; Conway, Samuel; Goodfield, Clara; Miller, Kimberly; Mueller, Ronald L; Polini, Eugene

2010-12-01

The preparation of sterile parenteral products requires careful control of all ingredients, materials, and processes to ensure the final product has the identity and strength, and meets the quality and purity characteristics that it purports to possess. Contamination affecting these critical properties of parenteral products can occur in many ways and from many sources. The use of closures supplied by manufacturers in a ready-to-use state can be an effective method for reducing the risk of contamination and improving the quality of the drug product. This article will address contamination attributable to elastomeric container closure components and the regulatory requirements associated with container closure systems. Possible contaminants, including microorganisms, endotoxins, and chemicals, along with the methods by which these contaminants can enter the product will be reviewed. Such methods include inappropriate material selection, improper closure preparation processes, compromised container closure integrity, degradation of closures, and leaching of compounds from the closures.

Avoiding Accountability: How Charter Operators Evade Ohio's Automatic Closure Law. K-12 Education. Executive Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DePaoli, Jennifer; van Lier, Piet

2013-01-01

Ohio's charter-closure law is touted as one of the toughest in the nation because it requires the automatic closure of charter schools that consistently fail to meet academic standards. Ohio's charter-closure law, which became effective in 2008 and was revised in 2011, calls for automatic closure of schools rated in Academic Emergency for at least…

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect with Occlutech Duct Occluder.

PubMed

Atik-Ugan, Sezen; Saltik, Irfan Levent

2018-04-01

Patent ductus arteriosus occluders are used for transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects, as well as for closure of patent ductus arteriosus. The Occlutech Duct Occluder is a newly introduced device for transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus. Here, we present a case in which the Occlutech Duct Occluder was successfully used on a patient for the closure of a perimembraneous ventricular septal defect.

Historical biogeography of Eastern Asian-Eastern North American disjunct Melaphidina aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae) on Rhus hosts (Anacardiaceae).

PubMed

Ren, Zhumei; Zhong, Yang; Kurosu, Utako; Aoki, Shigeyuki; Ma, Enbo; von Dohlen, Carol D; Wen, Jun

2013-12-01

Intercontinental biotic disjunctions have been documented and analyzed in numerous Holarctic taxa. Patterns previously synthesized for animals compared to plants suggest that the timing of animal disjunctions are mostly Early Tertiary and were generated by migration and vicariance events occurring in the North Atlantic, while plant disjunctions are mostly Mid-Late Tertiary and imply migration and vicariance over Beringia. Melaphidina aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Fordini) exhibit host-alternating life cycles comprising an obligate seasonal shift between Rhus subgenus Rhus species (Anacardiaceae) and mosses (Bryophyta). Similar to their Rhus hosts, melaphidines are distributed disjunctly between Eastern Asia and Eastern North America. We examined evolutionary relationships within Melaphidina to determine the position of the North American lineage, date its divergence from Asian relatives, and compare these results to a previous historical biogeographic study of Rhus. We sampled nine species and three subspecies representing all six genera of Melaphidina. Data included sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II+leucine tRNA, cytochrome b, and nuclear elongation factor 1α genes. Phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian, maximum-likelihood, parsimony) of the combined data (3282 bp) supported the monophyly of all genera except Nurudea and Schlechtendalia, due to the position of N. ibofushi. While the exact position of the North American Melaphis was not well resolved, there was high support for a derived position within Asian taxa. The divergence of Melaphis from Asian relatives centered on the Eocene-Oligocene boundary (~33-35Ma), which coincides with closure of Beringian Land Bridge I. This also corresponded to the Asian-North American disjunction previously estimated for subgenus Rhus spp. We suggest the late-Eocene Bering Land Bridge as the most likely migration route for Melaphis ancestors, as was also hypothesized for North American Rhus ancestors. Results for the Melaphidina disjunction depart from the modal pattern in animal lineages, and present a case where insect and host-plant taxa apparently responded similarly to Tertiary climate change. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Theory of strong turbulence by renormalization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tchen, C. M.

1981-01-01

The hydrodynamical equations of turbulent motions are inhomogeneous and nonlinear in their inertia and force terms and will generate a hierarchy. A kinetic method was developed to transform the hydrodynamic equations into a master equation governing the velocity distribution, as a function of the time, the position and the velocity as an independent variable. The master equation presents the advantage of being homogeneous and having fewer nonlinear terms and is therefore simpler for the investigation of closure. After the closure by means of a cascade scaling procedure, the kinetic equation is derived and possesses a memory which represents the nonMarkovian character of turbulence. The kinetic equation is transformed back to the hydrodynamical form to yield an energy balance in the cascade form. Normal and anomalous transports are analyzed. The theory is described for incompressible, compressible and plasma turbulence. Applications of the method to problems relating to sound generation and the propagation of light in a nonfrozen turbulence are considered.

Bottom-up effects of a no-take zone on endangered penguin demographics.

PubMed

Sherley, Richard B; Winker, Henning; Altwegg, Res; van der Lingen, Carl D; Votier, Stephen C; Crawford, Robert J M

2015-07-01

Marine no-take zones can have positive impacts for target species and are increasingly important management tools. However, whether they indirectly benefit higher order predators remains unclear. The endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) depends on commercially exploited forage fish. We examined how chick survival responded to an experimental 3-year fishery closure around Robben Island, South Africa, controlling for variation in prey biomass and fishery catches. Chick survival increased by 18% when the closure was initiated, which alone led to a predicted 27% higher population compared with continued fishing. However, the modelled population continued to decline, probably because of high adult mortality linked to poor prey availability over larger spatial scales. Our results illustrate that small no-take zones can have bottom-up benefits for highly mobile marine predators, but are only one component of holistic, ecosystem-based management regimes. © 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Effect of top gate potential on bias-stress for dual gate amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin film transistor

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

Chun, Minkyu; Um, Jae Gwang; Park, Min Sang

We report the abnormal behavior of the threshold voltage (V{sub TH}) shift under positive bias Temperature stress (PBTS) and negative bias temperature stress (NBTS) at top/bottom gate in dual gate amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). It is found that the PBTS at top gate shows negative transfer shift and NBTS shows positive transfer shift for both top and bottom gate sweep. The shift of bottom/top gate sweep is dominated by top gate bias (V{sub TG}), while bottom gate bias (V{sub BG}) is less effect than V{sub TG}. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profile provides the evidence of Inmore » metal diffusion to the top SiO{sub 2}/a-IGZO and also the existence of large amount of In{sup +} under positive top gate bias around top interfaces, thus negative transfer shift is observed. On the other hand, the formation of OH{sup −} at top interfaces under the stress of negative top gate bias shows negative transfer shift. The domination of V{sub TG} both on bottom/top gate sweep after PBTS/NBTS is obviously occurred due to thin active layer.« less

Effect of lower-body positive pressure on postural fluid shifts in men

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinghofer-Szalkay, H.; Kravik, S. E.; Greenleaf, J. E.

1988-01-01

The effect of the lower-body positive pressure (LBPP) on the orthostatic fluid and protein shifts were investigated in five men during combined tilt-table/antigravity suit inflation and deflation experiments. Changes in the mass densities of venous blood and plasma were measured and the values were used to calculate the densities of erythrocytes, whole-body blood, and shifted fluid. It was found that the application of 60 mm Hg LBPP during 60-deg head-up tilt prevented about half of the postural hemoconcentration occurring during passive head-up tilt.

Model-Based Comprehensive Analysis of School Closure Policies for Mitigating Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics

PubMed Central

Fumanelli, Laura; Ajelli, Marco; Merler, Stefano; Ferguson, Neil M.; Cauchemez, Simon

2016-01-01

School closure policies are among the non-pharmaceutical measures taken into consideration to mitigate influenza epidemics and pandemics spread. However, a systematic review of the effectiveness of alternative closure policies has yet to emerge. Here we perform a model-based analysis of four types of school closure, ranging from the nationwide closure of all schools at the same time to reactive gradual closure, starting from class-by-class, then grades and finally the whole school. We consider policies based on triggers that are feasible to monitor, such as school absenteeism and national ILI surveillance system. We found that, under specific constraints on the average number of weeks lost per student, reactive school-by-school, gradual, and county-wide closure give comparable outcomes in terms of optimal infection attack rate reduction, peak incidence reduction or peak delay. Optimal implementations generally require short closures of one week each; this duration is long enough to break the transmission chain without leading to unnecessarily long periods of class interruption. Moreover, we found that gradual and county closures may be slightly more easily applicable in practice as they are less sensitive to the value of the excess absenteeism threshold triggering the start of the intervention. These findings suggest that policy makers could consider school closure policies more diffusely as response strategy to influenza epidemics and pandemics, and the fact that some countries already have some experience of gradual or regional closures for seasonal influenza outbreaks demonstrates that logistic and feasibility challenges of school closure strategies can be to some extent overcome. PMID:26796333

Model-Based Comprehensive Analysis of School Closure Policies for Mitigating Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics.

PubMed

Fumanelli, Laura; Ajelli, Marco; Merler, Stefano; Ferguson, Neil M; Cauchemez, Simon

2016-01-01

School closure policies are among the non-pharmaceutical measures taken into consideration to mitigate influenza epidemics and pandemics spread. However, a systematic review of the effectiveness of alternative closure policies has yet to emerge. Here we perform a model-based analysis of four types of school closure, ranging from the nationwide closure of all schools at the same time to reactive gradual closure, starting from class-by-class, then grades and finally the whole school. We consider policies based on triggers that are feasible to monitor, such as school absenteeism and national ILI surveillance system. We found that, under specific constraints on the average number of weeks lost per student, reactive school-by-school, gradual, and county-wide closure give comparable outcomes in terms of optimal infection attack rate reduction, peak incidence reduction or peak delay. Optimal implementations generally require short closures of one week each; this duration is long enough to break the transmission chain without leading to unnecessarily long periods of class interruption. Moreover, we found that gradual and county closures may be slightly more easily applicable in practice as they are less sensitive to the value of the excess absenteeism threshold triggering the start of the intervention. These findings suggest that policy makers could consider school closure policies more diffusely as response strategy to influenza epidemics and pandemics, and the fact that some countries already have some experience of gradual or regional closures for seasonal influenza outbreaks demonstrates that logistic and feasibility challenges of school closure strategies can be to some extent overcome.

Relationship between shift work and the onset of rheumatoid arthritis

PubMed Central

Hedström, Anna Karin; Åkerstedt, Torbjörn; Klareskog, Lars; Alfredsson, Lars

2017-01-01

Background Environmental factors play a prominent role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) aetiology. Shift work has previously been associated with increased RA risk in females. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association, including a dose–response association, between permanent night shift work, rotating shift work and day-oriented shift work and risk of developing anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA)-positive and ACPA-negative RA. Methods The present report is based on a population-based, case–control study with incident cases of RA (1951 cases and 2225 controls matched by age, gender and residential area). Using logistic regression, occurrence of RA among subjects who have been exposed to different kinds of shift work was compared with that among those who have never been exposed by calculating the OR with a 95% CI. Results Rotating shift work and day-oriented shift work increased the risk of developing ACPA-positive RA (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.7 and OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.6), but not ACPA-negative RA. Permanent night shift work appeared to be a protective factor both against ACPA-positive RA (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.9) and ACPA-negative RA (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0). For both subsets of RA, significant trends showed a lower risk of developing RA with increasing duration of permanent night shift work (p value for trend 0.002 vs 0.04). Conclusions Sleep restriction as a consequence of shift work is associated with several biological effects among which changes in melatonin production may be involved. The present epidemiological findings of a complex relationship between sleep patterns and different forms of RA may be of importance for increasing the understanding of the pathophysiology of RA. PMID:29225920

Technical Note: Dosimetric effects of couch position variability on treatment plan quality with an MRI-guided Co-60 radiation therapy machine

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

Chow, Phillip E., E-mail: pechow@mednet.ucla.edu

2016-08-15

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance in radiation therapy brings real-time imaging and adaptive planning into the treatment vault where it can account for interfraction and intrafraction movement of soft tissue. The only commercially available MRI-guided radiation therapy device is a three-head {sup 60}Co and MRI system with an integrated treatment planning system (TPS). Couch attenuation of the beam of up to 20% is well modeled in the TPS. Variations in the patient’s day-to-day position introduce discrepancies in the actual couch attenuation as modeled in the treatment plan. For this reason, the authors’ institution avoids plans with beams that passmore » through or near the couch edges. This study investigates the effects of differential beam attenuation by the couch due to couch shifts in order to determine whether couch edge avoidance restrictions can be lifted. Couch shifts were simulated using a Monte Carlo treatment planning system and ion chamber measurements performed for validation. Methods: A total of 27 plans from 23 patients were investigated. Couch shifts of 1 and 2 cm were introduced in combinations of lateral and vertical directions to simulate patient position variations giving 16 shifted plans per reference plan. The 1 and 2 cm shifts were based on shifts recorded in 320 treatment fractions. Results: Following TG176 recommendations for measurement methods, couch attenuation measurements agreed with TPS modeled attenuation to within 2.1%. Planning target volume D95 changed less than 1% for 1 and 2 cm couch shifts in only the x-direction and less than 3% for all directions. Conclusions: Dosimetry of all plans tested was robust to couch shifts up to ±2 cm. In general, couch shifts resulted in clinically insignificant dosimetric deviations. It is conceivable that in certain cases with large systematic couch shifts and plans that are particularly sensitive to shifts, dosimetric changes might rise to a clinically significant level.« less

3718-F Alkali Metal Treatment and Storage Facility Closure Plan

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

None

Since 1987, Westinghouse Hanford Company has been a major contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy-Richland Operations Office and has served as co-operator of the 3718-F Alkali Metal Treatment and Storage Facility, the waste management unit addressed in this closure plan. The closure plan consists of a Part A Dangerous waste Permit Application and a RCRA Closure Plan. An explanation of the Part A Revision (Revision 1) submitted with this document is provided at the beginning of the Part A section. The closure plan consists of 9 chapters and 5 appendices. The chapters cover: introduction; facility description; process information; wastemore » characteristics; groundwater; closure strategy and performance standards; closure activities; postclosure; and references.« less

Closure of hazardous and mixed radioactive waste management units at DOE facilities. [Contains glossary

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

Not Available

This is document addresses the Federal regulations governing the closure of hazardous and mixed waste units subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements. It provides a brief overview of the RCRA permitting program and the extensive RCRA facility design and operating standards. It provides detailed guidance on the procedural requirements for closure and post-closure care of hazardous and mixed waste management units, including guidance on the preparation of closure and post-closure plans that must be submitted with facility permit applications. This document also provides guidance on technical activities that must be conducted both during and after closure ofmore » each of the following hazardous waste management units regulated under RCRA.« less

A novel one-shot circular stapler closure for atrial septal defect in a beating-heart porcine model.

PubMed

Tarui, Tatsuya; Tomita, Shigeyuki; Ishikawa, Norihiko; Ohtake, Hiroshi; Watanabe, Go

2015-02-01

In surgical atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, there are no techniques or devices that can close the ASD accurately in a short time under a beating heart. We have developed a simple and automatic ASD closure technique using a circular stapler. This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a new circular stapler closure for ASD. Under a continuous beating heart, hand-sewn patch plasty ASD closure was performed in 6 pigs (group A) and circular stapler ASD closure was performed in 6 pigs (group B). The time to close the ASD and the effectiveness of the closure were compared. Closure was significantly faster in group B (10.5 ± 1.0 seconds) than in group A (664 ± 10 seconds; p < 0.05). There was no leakage at the closure site, and sufficient tolerance was confirmed. A circular stapler can be used to treat ASD faster than hand-sewn patch plasty, with sufficient pressure tolerance in a beating heart porcine model. Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impulse position control algorithms for nonlinear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sesekin, A. N.; Nepp, A. N.

2015-11-01

The article is devoted to the formalization and description of impulse-sliding regime in nonlinear dynamical systems that arise in the application of impulse position controls of a special kind. The concept of trajectory impulse-sliding regime formalized as some limiting network element Euler polygons generated by a discrete approximation of the impulse position control This paper differs from the previously published papers in that it uses a definition of solutions of systems with impulse controls, it based on the closure of the set of smooth solutions in the space of functions of bounded variation. The need for the study of such regimes is the fact that they often arise when parry disturbances acting on technical or economic control system.

Do mood and the receipt of work-based support influence nurse perceived quality of care delivery? A behavioural diary study.

PubMed

Jones, Martyn C; Johnston, Derek

2013-03-01

To examine the effect of nurse mood in the worst event of shift (negative affect, positive affect), receipt of work-based support from managers and colleagues, colleague and patient involvement on perceived quality of care delivery. While the effect of the work environment on nurse mood is well documented, little is known about the effects of the worst event of shift on the quality of care delivered by nurses. This behavioural diary study employed a within-subject and between-subject designs incorporating both cross-sectional and longitudinal elements. One hundred and seventy-one nurses in four large district general hospitals in England completed end-of-shift computerised behavioural diaries over three shifts to explore the effects of the worst clinical incident of shift. Diaries measured negative affect, positive affect, colleague involvement, receipt of work-based support and perceived quality of care delivery. Analysis used multilevel modelling (MLWIN 2.19; Centre for Multi-level Modelling, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK). High levels of negative affect and low levels of positive affect reported in the worst clinical incident of shift were associated with reduced perceived quality of care delivery. Receipt of managerial support and its interaction with negative affect had no relationship with perceived quality of care delivery. Perceived quality of care delivery deteriorated the most when the nurse reported a combination of high negative affect and no receipt of colleague support in the worst clinical incident of shift. Perceived quality of care delivery was also particularly influenced when the nurse reported low positive affect and colleague actions contributed to the problem. Receipt of colleague support is particularly salient in protecting perceived quality of care delivery, especially if the nurse also reports high levels of negative affect in the worst event of shift. The effect of work-based support on care delivery is complex and requires further investigation. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Systemic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials Comparing Primary vs Delayed Primary Skin Closure in Contaminated and Dirty Abdominal Incisions

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-26

Chatwiriyacharoen14 Betadine gauze Unclear 5 Unclear Until suitable for suture Purulent dis- charge or mate- rial or surround- ing cellulitis Unclear Reopened and...Opened McGreal et al20 Povidone-io- dine (1%)- soaked wick Subcuticu- lar suture 4 Unclear Steri-Strips on day 4 Cellulitis , cul- ture-positive

The contribution of red wood ants to soil C and N pools and CO2 emissions in subalpine forests

Treesearch

Anita C. Risch; Martin F. Jurgensen; Martin Schutz; Deborah S. Page-Dumroese

2005-01-01

Little information is available regarding red wood ant (RWA; Formica rufa group) impacts on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in forest ecosystems. We found that RWA mound density (number per ha) was linked to forest tree species composition, slope aspect, and canopy closure. The size of RWA mounds was positively correlated with successional...

Helicopter Air-to-Air Combat Test 4 (AACT 4) Maneuverability Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-01

histories during fuselage tail boom skin fatigue dam age ............................................................. 145 x LIST OF FIGURES (Continued...concerning X -Y-Z relative aircraft positions, velocities, headings, relative bearings, slant ranges (distance between aircraft), and closure rates. This...real-time hit feedback system such as a flashing aiming reticle would permit the pilot to assess the actual effort required to put hits on target

The biometric study in different stages of primary angle-closure glaucoma

PubMed Central

Chen, Y-Y; Chen, Y-Y; Sheu, S-J; Chou, P

2013-01-01

Purpose This study compared the general and ocular biometric characteristics of normal, primary angle closure (PAC), and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients to better understand the possible relationship between differences in ocular parameters that might predict risk for PACG in PAC patients. Methods One hundred normal, 90 PAC, and 90 PACG eyes were retrospectively reviewed. General characteristics such as age, gender, body height, body weight, blood pressure, pulse, systemic diseases, and education level were recorded. Ocular findings included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, refraction, cup to disc ratio, and ocular biometry. Ocular biometry was obtained by A-scan ultrasonography (Digital A/B scan 5500; Sonomed Inc., Lake Success, NY, USA). The parameters recorded were anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), axial length (AXL), lens/axial length factor (LAF), and relative lens position (RLP). Results Although the controls, PAC group, and PACG group were found to be significantly different in age (62.7±9.8; 65.3±7.5; and 66.0±7.4, respectively), there were no gender differences. With regard to ocular parameters, the ACD tended to decrease and the LT and LAF tended to increase from normal to PAC to PACG. The eyes of the PACG group had significantly shallower ACD (P<0.001) and thicker lens (P<0.001) than those of the PAC group. While PAC had similar lens position to the control group, PACG had more anteriorly positioned lens than the PAC group (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis found a significant association between a decrease in ACD and increased risk of PACG (odds ratio (OR)=3.59 for 0.2 mm decrease in ACD) as well as a significant association between an increase in LT and increased risk of PACG (OR=1.30). Conclusions In addition to LT, a shallower ACD owing to a change in RLP may have a role in the progression from PAC to PACG. Owing to the differences of certain biometric characteristics between PAC and PACG, A-scan ultrasonography might potentially be used for the early detection of PACG in PAC eyes. PMID:23788204

Validity evidence for procedural competency in virtual reality robotic simulation, establishing a credible pass/fail standard for the vaginal cuff closure procedure.

PubMed

Hovgaard, Lisette Hvid; Andersen, Steven Arild Wuyts; Konge, Lars; Dalsgaard, Torur; Larsen, Christian Rifbjerg

2018-03-30

The use of robotic surgery for minimally invasive procedures has increased considerably over the last decade. Robotic surgery has potential advantages compared to laparoscopic surgery but also requires new skills. Using virtual reality (VR) simulation to facilitate the acquisition of these new skills could potentially benefit training of robotic surgical skills and also be a crucial step in developing a robotic surgical training curriculum. The study's objective was to establish validity evidence for a simulation-based test for procedural competency for the vaginal cuff closure procedure that can be used in a future simulation-based, mastery learning training curriculum. Eleven novice gynaecological surgeons without prior robotic experience and 11 experienced gynaecological robotic surgeons (> 30 robotic procedures) were recruited. After familiarization with the VR simulator, participants completed the module 'Guided Vaginal Cuff Closure' six times. Validity evidence was investigated for 18 preselected simulator metrics. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and a composite score was calculated based on metrics with significant discriminative ability between the two groups. Finally, a pass/fail standard was established using the contrasting groups' method. The experienced surgeons significantly outperformed the novice surgeons on 6 of the 18 metrics. The internal consistency was 0.58 (Cronbach's alpha). The experienced surgeons' mean composite score for all six repetitions were significantly better than the novice surgeons' (76.1 vs. 63.0, respectively, p < 0.001). A pass/fail standard of 75/100 was established. Four novice surgeons passed this standard (false positives) and three experienced surgeons failed (false negatives). Our study has gathered validity evidence for a simulation-based test for procedural robotic surgical competency in the vaginal cuff closure procedure and established a credible pass/fail standard for future proficiency-based training.

Clinical significance of incomplete tricuspid valve closure seen on two-dimensional echocardiography.

PubMed

Gibson, T C; Foale, R A; Guyer, D E; Weyman, A E

1984-11-01

Incomplete closure of the tricuspid valve without apparent cusp disease was noted on two-dimensional echocardiography in 31 patients. This abnormality was defined as a failure of the tricuspid valve leaflet tips to reach the plane of the tricuspid valve anulus by at least 1 cm in the standard apical four chamber view at the point of maximal systolic closure. This resulted in a final systolic leaflet position deeper within the right ventricular cavity than is normally seen. The finding was present in the following diagnostic subgroups: Group A, pulmonary hypertension (11 patients); Group B, rheumatic heart disease (4 patients); Group C, dilated cardiomyopathy (9 patients) and Group D, previous myocardial infarction (7 patients). Right atrial, right ventricular and tricuspid anulus measurements were made and compared with those from a group of 67 normal subjects. The results were as follows: right atrial endsystolic area = 27.2 +/- 8.6 cm2 (normal = 13.4 +/- 2.0); right ventricular end-systolic area = 25.6 +/- 8.7 cm2 (normal = 10.9 +/- 2.9); right ventricular end-diastolic area = 31.5 +/- 9.1 cm2 (normal = 20.1 +/- 4.9) and tricuspid valve anular end-systolic dimension = 4.0 +/- 0.6 cm (normal = 2.2 +/- 0.3). The differences from the normal data were all statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Incomplete closure of the tricuspid valve, although a nonspecific diagnostic finding, is primarily associated with right-sided chamber enlargement. Tricuspid regurgitation may be present. The mechanism could be related to geometric changes in valve apparatus dynamics secondary to right-sided cardiac enlargement and tricuspid valve anular dilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

THE SOURCE STRUCTURE OF 0642+449 DETECTED FROM THE CONT14 OBSERVATIONS

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

Xu, Ming H.; Wang, Guang L.; Heinkelmann, Robert

2016-11-01

The CONT14 campaign with state-of-the-art very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) data has observed the source 0642+449 with about 1000 observables each day during a continuous observing period of 15 days, providing tens of thousands of closure delays—the sum of the delays around a closed loop of baselines. The closure delay is independent of the instrumental and propagation delays and provides valuable additional information about the source structure. We demonstrate the use of this new “observable” for the determination of the structure in the radio source 0642+449. This source, as one of the defining sources in the second realization of themore » International Celestial Reference Frame, is found to have two point-like components with a relative position offset of −426 microarcseconds ( μ as) in R.A. and −66 μ as in decl. The two components are almost equally bright, with a flux-density ratio of 0.92. The standard deviation of closure delays for source 0642+449 was reduced from 139 to 90 ps by using this two-component model. Closure delays larger than 1 ns are found to be related to the source structure, demonstrating that structure effects for a source with this simple structure could be up to tens of nanoseconds. The method described in this paper does not rely on a priori source structure information, such as knowledge of source structure determined from direct (Fourier) imaging of the same observations or observations at other epochs. We anticipate our study to be a starting point for more effective determination of the structure effect in VLBI observations.« less

Anatomy of emotion: a 3D study of facial mimicry.

PubMed

Ferrario, V F; Sforza, C

2007-01-01

Alterations in facial motion severely impair the quality of life and social interaction of patients, and an objective grading of facial function is necessary. A method for the non-invasive detection of 3D facial movements was developed. Sequences of six standardized facial movements (maximum smile; free smile; surprise with closed mouth; surprise with open mouth; right side eye closure; left side eye closure) were recorded in 20 healthy young adults (10 men, 10 women) using an optoelectronic motion analyzer. For each subject, 21 cutaneous landmarks were identified by 2-mm reflective markers, and their 3D movements during each facial animation were computed. Three repetitions of each expression were recorded (within-session error), and four separate sessions were used (between-session error). To assess the within-session error, the technical error of the measurement (random error, TEM) was computed separately for each sex, movement and landmark. To assess the between-session repeatability, the standard deviation among the mean displacements of each landmark (four independent sessions) was computed for each movement. TEM for the single landmarks ranged between 0.3 and 9.42 mm (intrasession error). The sex- and movement-related differences were statistically significant (two-way analysis of variance, p=0.003 for sex comparison, p=0.009 for the six movements, p<0.001 for the sex x movement interaction). Among four different (independent) sessions, the left eye closure had the worst repeatability, the right eye closure had the best one; the differences among various movements were statistically significant (one-way analysis of variance, p=0.041). In conclusion, the current protocol demonstrated a sufficient repeatability for a future clinical application. Great care should be taken to assure a consistent marker positioning in all the subjects.

Changes in ocular biometry and anterior chamber parameters after pharmacologic mydriasis and peripheral iridotomy in primary angle closure suspects.

PubMed

Razeghinejad, Mohammad Reza; Lashkarizadeh, Hamid; Nowroozzadeh, Mohammad Hossein; Yazdanmehr, Mohammad

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pharmacologic mydriasis and Peripheral Iridotomy (PI) on ocular biometry and anterior chamber parameters in primary angle closure suspects. In this prospective interventional case series, 21 primary angle closure suspects were enrolled. Intraocular pressure, refraction, ocular biometry (Lenstar, LS900), and anterior chamber parameters (Pentacam HR) were measured at four occasions: before PI (before and after mydriasis with phenylephrine) and two weeks after PI (before and after mydriasis). The study was conducted on both eyes and only one eye per patient, in random, was included in the analysis. The mean age of the participants was 60±7 years and 17 (81%) were female. There were no significant differences in intraocular pressure, refraction, keratometry, biometric and anterior chamber parameters between groups, except for anterior chamber volume, which showed increments with PI and mydriasis. The corresponding values for anterior chamber volume were as follows: 88.2±13.7mm(3) before PI, undilated; 106.3±18.8 before PI, dilated; 99.0±14.6 after PI, undilated, and 107.4±16.5 after PI, dilated (P<0.001). This study showed no change in the ocular biometric and anterior chamber parameters including iridocorneal angle after PI and/or pharmacologic mydriasis except for increments in anterior chamber volume. This factor has the potential to be used as a numerical proxy for iris position in evaluating and monitoring patients with primary angle closure suspects after PI. Copyright © 2016 Spanish General Council of Optometry. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Primary limited lumbar discectomy with an annulus closure device: one-year clinical and radiographic results from a prospective, multi-center study.

PubMed

Lequin, Michiel B; Barth, Martin; Thomė, Claudius; Bouma, Gerrit J

2012-12-01

Discectomy as a treatment for herniated lumbar discs results in outcomes after surgery that are not uniformly positive. Surgeons face the dilemma between limited nucleus removal which is associated with a higher risk of recurrence, or more aggressive nucleus removal which may lead to disc height loss and persistent back-pain. annulus closure devices may allow for the benefits of limited nucleus removal without the increased risk of recurrence. This is an interim report of an ongoing 24-month post-marketing study of the Barricaid® annulus closure device, consisting of a flexible polymer mesh that blocks the defect, held in place by a titanium bone anchor. We prospectively enrolled 45 patients at four hospitals, and implanted the Barricaid® after a limited discectomy. annulus defect size and volume of removed nucleus were recorded. Reherniations were reported, pain and function were monitored and imaging was performed at regular intervals during 24 months of follow-up. At 12 months postsurgery, pain and function were significantly improved, comparing favorably to reported results from limited discectomy. Disc height has been well maintained. One reherniation has occurred (2.4%), which was associated with a misplaced device. No device fracture, subsidence or migration has been observed. The use of an annulus closure device may provide a reduction in reherniation rate for lumbar discectomy patients with large annulus defects who are at the greatest risk of recurrence. Using such a device should provide the surgeon increased confidence in minimizing nucleus removal, which, in turn, may preserve disc height and biomechanics, reducing degeneration and associated poor clinical outcomes in the long-term. A randomized multicenter study evaluating limited discectomy with and without the Barricaid® is currently underway, and will provide a higher level of evidence.

Hybrid approach for closure of muscular ventricular septal defects

PubMed Central

Haponiuk, Ireneusz; Chojnicki, Maciej; Jaworski, Radoslaw; Steffek, Mariusz; Juscinski, Jacek; Sroka, Mariusz; Fiszer, Roland; Sendrowska, Aneta; Gierat-Haponiuk, Katarzyna; Maruszewski, Bohdan

2013-01-01

Background The complexity of ventricular septal defects in early infancy led to development of new mini-invasive techniques based on collaboration of cardiac surgeons with interventional cardiologists, called hybrid procedures. Hybrid therapies aim to combine the advantages of surgical and interventional techniques in an effort to reduce the invasiveness. The aim of this study was to present our approach with mVSD patients and initial results in the development of a mini-invasive hybrid procedure in the Gdansk Hybrid Heartlink Programme (GHHP) at the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pomeranian Centre of Traumatology in Gdansk, Poland. Material/Methods The group of 11 children with mVSDs was enrolled in GHHP and 6 were finally qualified to hybrid trans-ventricular mVSD device closure. Mean age at time of hybrid procedure was 8.22 months (range: from 2.7 to 17.8 months, SD=5.1) and mean body weight was 6.3 kg (range: from 3.4 to 7.5 kg, SD=1.5). Results The implants of choice were Amplatzer VSD Occluder and Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (AGA Med. Corp, USA). The position of the implants was checked carefully before releasing the device with both transesophageal echocardiography and epicardial echocardiography. All patients survived and their general condition improved. No complications occurred. The closure of mVSD was complete in all children. Conclusions Hybrid procedures of periventricular muscular VSD closure appear feasible and effective for patients with septal defects with morphology unsuitable for classic surgical or interventional procedures. The modern strategy of joint cardiac surgical and interventional techniques provides the benefits of close cooperation between cardiac surgeon and interventional cardiologist for selected patients in difficult clinical settings. PMID:23892911

Longitudinal evaluation of P-wave dispersion and P-wave maximum in children after transcatheter device closure of secundum atrial septal defect.

PubMed

Grignani, Robert Teodoro; Tolentino, Kim Martin; Rajgor, Dimple Dayaram; Quek, Swee Chye

2015-06-01

Transcatheter device closure of the secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in children prevents atrial arrhythmias in older age. However, the benefits of favourable atrial electrocardiographic markers in these children remain elusive. We aimed to review the electrocardiographic markers of atrial activity in a longitudinal fashion. We retrospectively reviewed longitudinal data of all children who underwent transcatheter device closure at the National University Hospital between 2004 and 2013. The inclusion criteria included the presence of a secundum-type ASD with left to right shunt and evidence of increased right ventricular volume load (Q p/Q s ratio >1.5 and/or right ventricular dilatation). A total of 25 patients with a mean follow-up of 44.7 ± 33.47 (7.3-117.4) months were included. P maximum and P dispersion decreased at 2 months, P amplitude at 1 week and remained so until last follow-up. A positive trend was seen with a correlation coefficient of +0.12 for P maximum, +0.08 for P dispersion and 0.34 for P amplitude. There was a higher baseline P amplitude and P dispersion in patients who were older than 10 years and a non-significant trend to support an increase in both P maximum (71.0 ± 8.8 vs. 73.2 ± 12.7), P dispersion (17.0 ± 6.5 vs. 22.0 ± 11.3) and P amplitude (0.88 ± 0.25 vs. 1.02 ± 0.23) in patients with an ASD more than 15 mm compared with an ASD <15 mm. There is reduction in both P maximum and P dispersion as early as 2 months, which persisted on follow-up. Earlier closure may result in more favourable electrocardiographic results.

Meloxicam, 15 mg/day, spares platelet function in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

de Meijer, A; Vollaard, H; de Metz, M; Verbruggen, B; Thomas, C; Novakova, I

1999-10-01

To study the influence of meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) preferential nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on serum thromboxane and platelet function in healthy volunteers with use of the maximum recommended daily dosage of 15 mg/day. This study used an open, randomized crossover design. Indomethacin (INN, indometacin) was given as a positive control for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced inhibition of platelet function. The following variables were recorded: thromboxane B2 serum concentrations by radioimmunoassay, platelet aggregation by whole blood aggregometry in response to collagen 1.1 microg/L and to arachidonic acid 0.35 mmol/L, and closure time with use of the PFA-100. Serum thromboxane B2 at baseline was 535+/-233 nmol/L (mean +/- SD) and was reduced for 95% by indomethacin to 26+/-19 nmol/L (P < .001) and for 66% by meloxicam to 183+/-62 nmol/L (P < .001). Maximal platelet aggregation in response to collagen at baseline was 18.7+/-1.6 ohms (ohms). It was reduced by indomethacin to 7.3+/-4.5 ohms (P < .001), but not by meloxicam (19+/-2.5 ohms). Platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid at baseline was 12.2+/-2.0 ohms. It was reduced by indomethacin in all subjects to 0 ohms, but not by meloxicam (11+/-2.4 ohms). Closure time at baseline was 128+/-24 seconds and was prolonged by indomethacin to 286+/-38 seconds (P < .001). Meloxicam caused a minor prolongation of the closure time (141+/-32 seconds; P < .05). Meloxicam, 15 mg/day caused a major reduction of maximum thromboxane production but no reduction in collagen- or arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation and only minor increase of the closure time.

75 FR 21039 - Notice of Temporary Road Closure of Coal Pit Spring-Cave Gulch Road (6287-0-B0), Within the Cave...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-22

... stabilization. The BLM posted signs at main entry points to the temporary closure area. Maps of the closed roads...; HAG10-0046] Notice of Temporary Road Closure of Coal Pit Spring--Cave Gulch Road (6287-0-B0), Within the... closure. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a temporary road closure to public access, use, or occupancy...

Missed detection of significant positive and negative shifts in gentamicin assay: implications for routine laboratory quality practices.

PubMed

Koerbin, Gus; Liu, Jiakai; Eigenstetter, Alex; Tan, Chin Hon; Badrick, Tony; Loh, Tze Ping

2018-02-15

A product recall was issued for the Roche/Hitachi Cobas Gentamicin II assays on 25 th May 2016 in Australia, after a 15 - 20% positive analytical shift was discovered. Laboratories were advised to employ the Thermo Fisher Gentamicin assay as an alternative. Following the reintroduction of the revised assay on 12 th September 2016, a second reagent recall was made on 20 th March 2017 after the discovery of a 20% negative analytical shift due to erroneous instrument adjustment factor. The practices of an index laboratory were examined to determine how the analytical shifts evaded detection by routine internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assurance (EQA) systems. The ability of the patient result-based approaches, including moving average (MovAvg) and moving sum of outliers (MovSO) approaches in detecting these shifts were examined. Internal quality control data of the index laboratory were acceptable prior to the product recall. The practice of adjusting IQC target following a change in assay method resulted in the missed negative shift when the revised Roche assay was reintroduced. While the EQA data of the Roche subgroup showed clear negative bias relative to other laboratory methods, the results were considered as possible 'matrix effect'. The MovAvg method detected the positive shift before the product recall. The MovSO did not detect the negative shift in the index laboratory but did so in another laboratory 5 days before the second product recall. There are gaps in current laboratory quality practices that leave room for analytical errors to evade detection.

100-D Ponds closure plan. Revision 1

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

Petersen, S.W.

1997-09-01

The 100-D Ponds is a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) unit on the Hanford Facility that received both dangerous and nonregulated waste. This Closure Plan (Rev. 1) for the 100-D Ponds TSD unit consists of a RCRA Part A Dangerous Waste Permit Application (Rev. 3), a RCRA Closure Plan, and supporting information contained in the appendices to the plan. The closure plan consists of eight chapters containing facility description, process information, waste characteristics, and groundwater monitoring data. There are also chapters containing the closure strategy and performance standards. The strategy for the closure of the 100-D Ponds TSD unit ismore » clean closure. Appendices A and B of the closure plan demonstrate that soil and groundwater beneath 100-D Ponds are below cleanup limits. All dangerous wastes or dangerous waste constituents or residues associated with the operation of the ponds have been removed, therefore, human health and the environment are protected. Discharges to the 100-D Ponds, which are located in the 100-DR-1 operable unit, were discontinued in June 1994. Contaminated sediment was removed from the ponds in August 1996. Subsequent sampling and analysis demonstrated that there is no contamination remaining in the ponds, therefore, this closure plan is a demonstration of clean closure.« less

Assessment of a simple, novel endoluminal method for gastrotomy closure in NOTES.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Soo; Oelschlager, Brant K; Wright, Andrew S; Soares, Renato V; Sinan, Huseyin; Montenovo, Martin I; Hwang, Joo Ha

2011-10-01

A reliable method for gastrotomy closure in NOTES will be essential for NOTES to become viable clinically. However, methods using existing and widely available endoscopic accessories have been ineffective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new simple method for gastric closure (retracted clip-assisted loop closure) that uses existing endoscopic accessories with minor modifications. The retracted clip-assisted loop closure technique involves deploying 3-4 Resolution(®) clips (modified by attaching a 90-cm length of suture to the end of each clip) along the margin of the gastrotomy with one jaw on the serosal surface and the other jaw on the mucosal surface. The suture strings are threaded through an endoloop. Traction is then applied to the strings causing the gastric wall to tent. The endoloop is secured below the tip of the clips, completing a full-thickness gastrotomy closure. The main outcome measures were feasibility, efficacy, and safety of the new retracted clip-assisted loop closure technique for NOTES gastrotomy closure. An air-tight seal was achieved in 100% (n = 9) of stomachs. The mean leak pressure was 116.3 (±19.4) mmHg. The retracted clip-assisted loop closure technique can be used to perform NOTES gastrotomy closure by using existing endoscopic accessories with minor modifications.

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus: past, present and future.

PubMed

Baruteau, Alban-Elouen; Hascoët, Sébastien; Baruteau, Julien; Boudjemline, Younes; Lambert, Virginie; Angel, Claude-Yves; Belli, Emre; Petit, Jérôme; Pass, Robert

2014-02-01

This review aims to describe the past history, present techniques and future directions in transcatheter treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Transcatheter PDA closure is the standard of care in most cases and PDA closure is indicated in any patient with signs of left ventricular volume overload due to a ductus. In cases of left-to-right PDA with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, closure may be performed under specific conditions. The management of clinically silent or very tiny PDAs remains highly controversial. Techniques have evolved and the transcatheter approach to PDA closure is now feasible and safe with current devices. Coils and the Amplatzer Duct Occluder are used most frequently for PDA closure worldwide, with a high occlusion rate and few complications. Transcatheter PDA closure in preterm or low-bodyweight infants remains a highly challenging procedure and further device and catheter design development is indicated before transcatheter closure is the treatment of choice in this delicate patient population. The evolution of transcatheter PDA closure from just 40 years ago with 18F sheaths to device delivery via a 3F sheath is remarkable and it is anticipated that further improvements will result in better safety and efficacy of transcatheter PDA closure techniques. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus in children: Immediate and short-term changes in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

PubMed

Gupta, Saurabh Kumar; Krishnamoorthy, Km; Tharakan, Jaganmohan A; Sivasankaran, S; Sanjay, G; Bijulal, S; Anees, T

2011-07-01

To evaluate the effect of percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in children. Limited studies are available on alteration in LV hemodynamics, especially diastolic function, after PDA closure. Thirty-two consecutive children with isolated PDA treated by trans-catheter closure were studied. The LV systolic and diastolic function were assessed by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging 1 day before the PDA closure, on day 1, and on follow-up. At baseline, none of the patients had LV systolic dysfunction. On day 1 post-PDA closure, 8 (25%) children developed LV systolic dysfunction. The baseline LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV end-systolic dimension (LVESD), and PDA diastolic gradient predicted the post-closure LVEF. Patients who developed post-closure LV systolic dysfunction had poorer LV diastolic function than those who did not. LV diastolic properties improved after PDA closure; however, the improvement in LV diastolic properties lagged behind the improvement in the LV systolic function. All children were asymptomatic and had normal LVEF on follow up of >3 months. Percutaneous closure of PDA is associated with the reversible LV systolic dysfunction. Improvement in the LV diastolic function lags behind that in the LV systolic function.

Drugs and People: Repertory Grid Structure and the Construal of Two Different Kinds of Target.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leenaars, Antoon A.

1981-01-01

Investigated comparisons of perceptions of drugs with perceptions of people, using the repertory grid technique. A significant result was finding a shift from seeing people as less positive and drugs as more positive when subjects shifted from a normal state of consciousness to a simulated altered state of consciousness. (Author)

Right Hand Presence Modulates Shifts of Exogenous Visuospatial Attention in Near Perihand Space

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lloyd, Donna M.; Azanon, Elena; Poliakoff, Ellen

2010-01-01

To investigate attentional shifting in perihand space, we measured performance on a covert visual orienting task under different hand positions. Participants discriminated visual shapes presented on a screen and responded using footpedals placed under their right foot. With the right hand positioned by the right side of the screen, mean cueing…

The Development of a National Agenda for College Faculty: "McDonaldizing" Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Lara A.; Miller, Michael

By analyzing contemporary literature, this paper posits a federal role in what is seen as a trend toward "normalizing" college faculty positions and shifting control away from state and local jurisdictions. Three factors are seen as contributing to this shift. The first is the government's role in funding the hard sciences which has, in…

Does clinical incident seriousness and receipt of work-based support influence mood experienced by nurses at work? A behavioural diary study.

PubMed

Jones, Martyn C; Johnston, Derek W

2012-08-01

While the relationship between general perceptions of the work environment and negative mood is well detailed, little is known about the effect of specific clinical incident characteristics on the mood experienced at work by nurses. This study examines the effect of incident seriousness and receipt of work-based support in the worst event of a shift from managers and colleagues on the Negative and Positive Affect experienced by nurses at work. We approached the total cohort of medical and surgical nurses in 4 large district general hospitals in England, 17% volunteered. Some 171 nurses filled end of shift and standard entry (every 90 min) computerised behavioural diaries over three consecutive shifts. The diaries measured Incident Seriousness, Receipt of Managerial and Co-worker Support, Negative Affect and Positive Affect. Results were analysed using multilevel modelling (MLwiN 2.19). Following the worst clinical incident of a shift, nurses reported higher Negative Affect (β=1.28, [95%CI: 0.12, 2.45], z=2.17, p<.05) and lower Positive Affect (β=-2.39, [95%CI: -3.96, -0.82], z=2.99, p<.005) which persisted for the remainder of the shift. Most critically, Negative Affect was more elevated after serious incidents (β=0.07, [95%CI: 0.04, 0.10], z=3.5, p<.005). Nurses who reported Receipt of Managerial Support following an incident reported significantly lower levels of Positive Affect compared to those reporting no such contact (β=-5.30, [95%CI: -9.51, -1.09], z=2.47, p<.05). The interaction between Incident and the Receipt of Work-Based Support on NA was not significant (β=2.34 [95%CI: -0.82, 3.95], z=1.45, p>.05). Receipt of Colleague Support had no relationship with Negative Affect or Positive Affect. Free text reports mainly revealed the negative impact of managerial support, although there were instances of contact with managers which were sought following exposure to difficult clinical situations. Serious clinical incidents have enduring effects on Negative Affect and Positive Affect for the remainder of the shift. Nurse Positive Affect was significantly worse following the worst clinical incident of shift when managerial support was received. Further research is required to determine the positive and negative effects of managerial support on the mood experienced by nurses at work. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distribution of mean Doppler shift, spectral width, and skewness of coherent 50-MHz auroral radar backscatter

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

Watermann, J.; McNamara, A.G.; Sofko, G.J.

Some 7,700 radio aurora spectra obtained from a six link 50-MHz CW radar network set up on the Canadian prairies were analyzed with respect to the distributions of mean Doppler shift, spectral width and skewness. A comparison with recently published SABRE results obtained at 153 MHz shows substantial differences in the distributions which are probably due to different experimental and geophysical conditions. The spectra are mostly broad with mean Doppler shifts close to zero (type II spectra). The typical groupings of type I and type III spectra are clearly identified. All types appear to be in general much more symmetricmore » than those recorded with SABRE, and the skewness is only weakly dependent on the sign of the mean Doppler shift. Its distribution peaks near zero and shows a weak positive correlation with the type II Doppler shifts while the mostly positive type I Doppler shifts are slightly negatively correlated with the skewness.« less

The characterization of GH shifts of surface plasmon resonance in a waveguide using the FDTD method.

PubMed

Oh, Geum-Yoon; Kim, Doo Gun; Choi, Young-Wan

2009-11-09

We have explicated the Goos-Hänchen (GH) shift in a mum-order Kretchmann-Raether configuration embedded in an optical waveguide structure by using the finite-difference time-domain method. For optical waveguide-type surface plasmon resonance (SPR) devices, the precise derivation of the GH shift has become critical. Artmann's equation, which is accurate enough for bulk optics, is difficult to apply to waveguide-type SPR devices. This is because Artmann's equation, based on the differentiation of the phase shift, is inaccurate at the critical and resonance angles where drastic phase changes occur. In this study, we accurately identified both the positive and the negative GH shifts around the incidence angle of resonance. In a waveguide-type Kretchmann-Raether configuration with an Au thin film of 50 nm, positive and negative lateral shifts of -0.75 and + 1.0 microm are obtained on the SPR with the incident angles of 44.4 degrees and 47.5 degrees, respectively, at a wavelength of 632.8 nm.

Quantifying the performance of in vivo portal dosimetry in detecting four types of treatment parameter variations

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

Bojechko, C.; Ford, E. C., E-mail: eford@uw.edu

Purpose: To quantify the ability of electronic portal imaging device (EPID) dosimetry used during treatment (in vivo) in detecting variations that can occur in the course of patient treatment. Methods: Images of transmitted radiation from in vivo EPID measurements were converted to a 2D planar dose at isocenter and compared to the treatment planning dose using a prototype software system. Using the treatment planning system (TPS), four different types of variability were modeled: overall dose scaling, shifting the positions of the multileaf collimator (MLC) leaves, shifting of the patient position, and changes in the patient body contour. The gamma passmore » rate was calculated for the modified and unmodified plans and used to construct a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve to assess the detectability of the different parameter variations. The detectability is given by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). The TPS was also used to calculate the impact of the variations on the target dose–volume histogram. Results: Nine intensity modulation radiation therapy plans were measured for four different anatomical sites consisting of 70 separate fields. Results show that in vivo EPID dosimetry was most sensitive to variations in the machine output, AUC = 0.70 − 0.94, changes in patient body habitus, AUC = 0.67 − 0.88, and systematic shifts in the MLC bank positions, AUC = 0.59 − 0.82. These deviations are expected to have a relatively small clinical impact [planning target volume (PTV) D{sub 99} change <7%]. Larger variations have even higher detectability. Displacements in the patient’s position and random variations in MLC leaf positions were not readily detectable, AUC < 0.64. The D{sub 99} of the PTV changed by up to 57% for the patient position shifts considered here. Conclusions: In vivo EPID dosimetry is able to detect relatively small variations in overall dose, systematic shifts of the MLC’s, and changes in the patient habitus. Shifts in the patient’s position which can introduce large changes in the target dose coverage were not readily detected.« less

DETERMINATION OF CENTRAL ENGINE POSITION AND ACCRETION DISK STRUCTURE IN NGC 4261 BY CORE SHIFT MEASUREMENTS

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

Haga, Takafumi; Doi, Akihiro; Murata, Yasuhiro

2015-07-01

We report multifrequency phase-referenced observations of the nearby radio galaxy NGC 4261, which has prominent two-sided jets, using the Very Long Baseline Array at 1.4–43 GHz. We measured radio core positions showing observing frequency dependences (known as “core shift”) in both approaching jets and counterjets. The limit of the core position as the frequency approaches infinity, which suggests a jet base, is separated by 82 ± 16 μas upstream in projection, corresponding to (310 ± 60)R{sub s} (R{sub s}: Schwarzschild radius) as a deprojected distance, from the 43 GHz core in the approaching jet. In addition, the innermost component atmore » the counterjet side appeared to approach the same position at infinity of the frequency, indicating that cores on both sides are approaching the same position, suggesting a spatial coincidence with the central engine. Applying a phase-referencing technique, we also obtained spectral index maps, which indicate that emission from the counterjet is affected by free–free absorption (FFA). The result of the core shift profile on the counterjet also requires FFA because the core positions at 5–15 GHz cannot be explained by a simple core shift model based on synchrotron self-absorption (SSA). Our result is apparently consistent with the SSA core shift with an additional disk-like absorber over the counterjet side. Core shift and opacity profiles at the counterjet side suggest a two-component accretion: a radiatively inefficient accretion flow at the inner region and a truncated thin disk in the outer region. We proposed a possible solution about density and temperature profiles in the outer disk on the basis of the radio observation.« less

Post-Closure Monitoring Report for Corrective Action Unit 98, Frenchman Flat, Underground Test Area, Nevada National Security Site, Nevada for Calendar Year 2016 (January 2016–December 2016), Revision 0

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

Farnham, Irene

Corrective Action Unit (CAU) 98: Frenchman Flat on the Nevada National Security Site was the location of 10 underground nuclear tests. CAU 98 underwent a series of investigations and actions in accordance with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order to assess contamination of groundwater by radionuclides from the tests. A Closure Report completed that process in 2016 and called for long-term monitoring, use restrictions (URs), and institutional controls to protect the public and environment from potential exposure to contaminated groundwater. Three types of monitoring are performed for CAU 98: water quality, water level, and institutional control. These are evaluatedmore » to determine whether the UR boundaries remain protective of human health and the environment, and to ensure that the regulatory boundary objectives are being met. Additionally, monitoring data are used to evaluate consistency with the groundwater flow and contaminant transport models because the contaminant boundaries (CBs) calculated with the models are the primary basis of the UR boundaries. In summary, the monitoring results from 2016 indicate the regulatory controls on the closure of CAU 98 remain effective in protection of human health and the environment. Recommendations resulting from this first year of monitoring activities include formally incorporating wells UE-5 PW-1, UE-5 PW-2, and UE-5 PW-3 into the groundwater-level monitoring network given their strategic location in the basin; and early development of a basis for trigger levels for the groundwater-level monitoring given the observed trends. Additionally, it is recommended to improve the Real Estate/Operations Permit process for capturing information important for evaluating the impact of activities on groundwater resources, and to shift the reporting requirement for this annual report from the second quarter of the federal fiscal year (end of March) to the second quarter of the calendar year (end of June).« less

Nearshore distribution and abundance of Dungeness crabs in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

O'Clair, Charles E.; Freese, J. Lincoln; Stone, Robert P.; Shirley, Thomas C.; Leder, Erica H.; Taggart, S. James; Kruse, Gordon H.; Engstrom, Daniel R.

1995-01-01

As part of an ongoing, multi-agency study to determine the effects of closure of the commercial fishery for Dungeness crabs, Cancer magister, on crab population structure we examined patterns of distribution and abundance of crabs in nearshore habitats at five locations in and near Glacier Bay National Park. Sampling was conducted in April and September 1992 and April 1993 prior to the anticipated closure of the fishery in the park. Divers censused crabs by sex and reproductive state (ovigerous/nonovigerous females) along belt transects (2m x 100m) laid perpendicular to shore in the depth range 0 m (mean lower low water) to 18 m.Preliminary results from the first three sampling periods revealed that the average densities of Dungeness crabs at the five locations ranged from 78 to 2012 crabs/ha. Crab densities differed between populations depending on sex, reproductive state of females and sampling period. Male crabs showed reduced densities at Gustavus Flats in April 1992 (P<0.01) and 1993 (P<0.001). Ovigerous females had greater density at Bartlett Cove in April 1993 (P<0.001). Sex ratios were frequently skewed toward females. At Bartlett Cove and Gustavus Flats females outnumbered males in April 1992 and 1993 (P<0.001). Most of the females at Bartlett Cove and Gustavus Flats in April 1992 and 1993 were ovigerous (P-0.001). Males tended to occupy greater depths than females in April 1992 (P<0.05) but not April 1993 (P-005). The mean depth of males shifted from deeper to shallower water between April and September 1992 (P<0.001). The depth distribution of ovigerous crabs did not differ from that of nonovigerous female crabs. Future research prior to the anticipated closure of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Glacier Bay will include a tagging study to determine the extent of crab movement and further study of the temporal as well as the spatial variability observed in the structure of these populations.

Characterization of the Minimum Energy Paths for the Ring Closure Reactions of C4H3 with Acetylene

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walch, Stephen P.

1995-01-01

The ring closure reaction of C4H3 with acetylene to give phenyl radical is one proposed mechanism for the formation of the first aromatic ring in hydrocarbon combustion. There are two low-lying isomers of C4H3; 1-dehydro-buta-l-ene-3-yne (n-C4H3) and 2-dehydro-buta-l-ene-3-yne (iso-C4H3). It has been proposed that only n-C4H3 reacts with acetylene to give phenyl radical, and since iso-C4H3 is more stable than n-C4H3, formation of phenyl radical by this mechanism is unlikely. We report restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) plus singles and doubles configuration interaction calculations with a Davidson's correction (RHF+1+2+Q) using the Dunning correlation consistent polarized valence double zeta basis set (cc-pVDZ) for stationary point structures along the reaction pathway for the reactions of n-C4H3 and iso-C4H3 with acetylene. n-C4H3 plus acetylene (9.4) has a small entrance channel barrier (17.7) (all energetics in parentheses are in kcal/mol with respect to iso-C4H3 plus acetylene) and the subsequent closure steps leading to phenyl radical (-91.9) are downhill with respect to the entrance channel barrier. Iso-C4H3 Plus acetylene also has an entrance channel barrier (14.9) and there is a downhill pathway to 1-dehydro-fulvene (-55.0). 1-dehydro-fulvene can rearrange to 6-dehydro-fulvene (-60.3) by a 1,3-hydrogen shift over a barrier (4.0), which is still below the entrance channel barrier, from which rearrangement to phenyl radical can occur by a downhill pathway. Thus, both n-C4H3 and iso-C4H3 can react with acetylene to give phenyl radical with small barriers.

The open abdomen and temporary abdominal closure systems--historical evolution and systematic review.

PubMed

Quyn, A J; Johnston, C; Hall, D; Chambers, A; Arapova, N; Ogston, S; Amin, A I

2012-08-01

Several techniques for temporary abdominal closure have been developed. We systematically review the literature on temporary abdominal closure to ascertain whether the method can be tailored to the indication. Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and relevant meeting abstracts until December 2009 were searched using the following headings: open abdomen, laparostomy, VAC (vacuum assisted closure), TNP (topical negative pressure), fascial closure, temporary abdominal closure, fascial dehiscence and deep wound dehiscence. The data were analysed by closure technique and aetiology. The primary end-points included delayed fascial closure and in-hospital mortality. The secondary end-points were intra-abdominal complications. The search identified 106 papers for inclusion. The techniques described were VAC (38 series), mesh/sheet (30 series), packing (15 series), Wittmann patch (eight series), Bogotá bag (six series), dynamic retention sutures (three series), zipper (15 series), skin only and locking device (one series each). The highest facial closure rates were seen with the Wittmann patch (78%), dynamic retention sutures (71%) and VAC (61%). Temporary abdominal closure has evolved from simple packing to VAC based systems. In the absence of sepsis Wittmann patch and VAC offered the best outcome. In its presence VAC had the highest delayed primary closure and the lowest mortality rates. However, due to data heterogeneity only limited conclusions can be drawn from this analysis. © 2012 The Authors. Colorectal Disease © 2012 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

32 CFR 989.25 - Base closure and realignment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS PROCESS (EIAP) § 989.25 Base closure and realignment. Base closure or realignment may entail special requirements for environmental analysis. The permanent base closure... frequently contain provisions limiting the extent of environmental analysis required for actions taken under...

32 CFR 989.25 - Base closure and realignment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS PROCESS (EIAP) § 989.25 Base closure and realignment. Base closure or realignment may entail special requirements for environmental analysis. The permanent base closure... frequently contain provisions limiting the extent of environmental analysis required for actions taken under...

Direct measurement of the Goos-Hänchen shift using a scanning quadrant detector and a polarization maintaining fiber.

PubMed

Yallapragada, Venkata Jayasurya; Mulay, Gajendra L; Rao, Ch N; Ravishankar, Ajith P; Achanta, Venu Gopal

2016-10-01

High precision measurements of optical beam shifts are important in various fields including sensing, atomic force microscopy, and measuring beam shifts at interfaces. Sub-micron shifts are generally measured by indirect techniques such as weak measurements. We demonstrate a straightforward and robust measurement scheme for the shift, based on a scanning quadrant photodiode (QPD) that is biased using a low noise electronic circuit. The shift is measured with respect to a reference beam that is co-propagating with the signal beam. Thus, the shift of the signal beam is readout directly as the difference between the x-intercepts of the QPD scan plot of the signal and reference beams versus the position of the detector. To measure the beam shift, we use polarization multiplexing scheme where the p-polarized signal and s-polarized reference beams are modulated at two different frequencies and co-launched into a polarization-maintaining fiber. Both the signal and reference beam positions are readout by two lock-in amplifiers simultaneously. In order to demonstrate the utility of this method, we perform a direct measurement of Goos-Hänchen shift of a beam that is reflected from a plane gold surface. Accuracy of 150 nm is achieved using this technique.

Direct measurement of the Goos-Hänchen shift using a scanning quadrant detector and a polarization maintaining fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yallapragada, Venkata Jayasurya; Mulay, Gajendra L.; Rao, Ch. N.; Ravishankar, Ajith P.; Achanta, Venu Gopal

2016-10-01

High precision measurements of optical beam shifts are important in various fields including sensing, atomic force microscopy, and measuring beam shifts at interfaces. Sub-micron shifts are generally measured by indirect techniques such as weak measurements. We demonstrate a straightforward and robust measurement scheme for the shift, based on a scanning quadrant photodiode (QPD) that is biased using a low noise electronic circuit. The shift is measured with respect to a reference beam that is co-propagating with the signal beam. Thus, the shift of the signal beam is readout directly as the difference between the x-intercepts of the QPD scan plot of the signal and reference beams versus the position of the detector. To measure the beam shift, we use polarization multiplexing scheme where the p-polarized signal and s-polarized reference beams are modulated at two different frequencies and co-launched into a polarization-maintaining fiber. Both the signal and reference beam positions are readout by two lock-in amplifiers simultaneously. In order to demonstrate the utility of this method, we perform a direct measurement of Goos-Hänchen shift of a beam that is reflected from a plane gold surface. Accuracy of 150 nm is achieved using this technique.

Closure of colostomy.

PubMed Central

Beck, P H; Conklin, H B

1975-01-01

We analyzed the records of 77 cases of loop colostomy closure in Vietnam War Casualties. All records were complete from the date of injury to discharge following colostomy closure. Simple of the loop colostomy was performed in 44 patients and resection of the stoma and reanastomosis of bowel segments was performed in 33 patients. Average operating time for simple closure of the loop was 70 minutes compared to 115 minutes for resection and anastomosis. Nasogastric suction was used less frequently and for a shorter time with simple loop closure. The total postoperative complication rate was 9% with simple loop closure as compared to 24% for resection and anastomosis. Simple closure of the loop described in this report is technically easier and as safe as resection of the stoma and reanastomosis. Images Fig. 1. PMID:1094967

Silicone absorption of elastomeric closures--an accelerated study.

PubMed

Degrazio, F L; Hlobik, T; Vaughan, S

1998-01-01

There is a trend in the parenteral industry to move from the use of elastomeric closures which are washed, siliconized, dried and sterilized in-house at the pharmaceutical manufacturers' site to pre-prepared closures purchased from the closure supplier. This preparation can consist of washing to reduce particle-load and bioburden, siliconization, placement in ready-to-sterilize bags and may eventually extend to sterilization by steam autoclave or gamma irradiation. Since silicone oil lubrication is critical to the processability/machinability of closures, research was designed to investigate this phenomenon in closures prepared using the Westar RS (Ready-to-Sterilize) process. This paper presents the data gathered in a study of the characteristic of silicone absorption into elastomeric closures under accelerated conditions. Variables such as silicone viscosity, rubber formulation, effect of sterilization and others are considered.

Canceling the Gravity Gradient Phase Shift in Atom Interferometry.

PubMed

D'Amico, G; Rosi, G; Zhan, S; Cacciapuoti, L; Fattori, M; Tino, G M

2017-12-22

Gravity gradients represent a major obstacle in high-precision measurements by atom interferometry. Controlling their effects to the required stability and accuracy imposes very stringent requirements on the relative positioning of freely falling atomic clouds, as in the case of precise tests of Einstein's equivalence principle. We demonstrate a new method to exactly compensate the effects introduced by gravity gradients in a Raman-pulse atom interferometer. By shifting the frequency of the Raman lasers during the central π pulse, it is possible to cancel the initial position- and velocity-dependent phase shift produced by gravity gradients. We apply this technique to simultaneous interferometers positioned along the vertical direction and demonstrate a new method for measuring local gravity gradients that does not require precise knowledge of the relative position between the atomic clouds. Based on this method, we also propose an improved scheme to determine the Newtonian gravitational constant G towards the 10 ppm relative uncertainty.

Canceling the Gravity Gradient Phase Shift in Atom Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Amico, G.; Rosi, G.; Zhan, S.; Cacciapuoti, L.; Fattori, M.; Tino, G. M.

2017-12-01

Gravity gradients represent a major obstacle in high-precision measurements by atom interferometry. Controlling their effects to the required stability and accuracy imposes very stringent requirements on the relative positioning of freely falling atomic clouds, as in the case of precise tests of Einstein's equivalence principle. We demonstrate a new method to exactly compensate the effects introduced by gravity gradients in a Raman-pulse atom interferometer. By shifting the frequency of the Raman lasers during the central π pulse, it is possible to cancel the initial position- and velocity-dependent phase shift produced by gravity gradients. We apply this technique to simultaneous interferometers positioned along the vertical direction and demonstrate a new method for measuring local gravity gradients that does not require precise knowledge of the relative position between the atomic clouds. Based on this method, we also propose an improved scheme to determine the Newtonian gravitational constant G towards the 10 ppm relative uncertainty.

Influence of glottal closure configuration on vocal efficacy in young normal-speaking women.

PubMed

Schneider, Berit; Bigenzahn, Wolfgang

2003-12-01

Posterior closure insufficiency of the glottis is often mentioned in connection with permanent voice disorders. Recently published studies have revealed that an incomplete closure of the glottis can be found also in normal-speaking voices, especially in women. However, the effect of glottal closure configuration on vocal efficacy is not sufficiently clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of glottal closure configuration on singing and speaking voice characteristics. Overall, 520 young female normal-speaking subjects were examined by videostroboscopy for different phonation conditions in the combination of soft, loud, low, and/or high phonation and by voice range profile measurements. According to the videostroboscopic analysis, the subjects were subdivided into four groups: complete closure of the vocal folds already in soft phonation (group 1), closure of the vocal fold with increasing intensity (group 2), persistent closure insufficiencies despite increasing intensity (group 3), and hourglass-shaped closure in subjects with vocal nodules (group 4). Subjects in which the glottal closure could not be evaluated sufficiently were subclassified into group 5 (missing values). Selected criteria of the singing and speaking voice were evaluated and statistically processed according to the mentioned subclassification. Group 1 reached significantly the highest sound pressure levels (SPLmax) for the singing voice as well as for the shouting voice. Group 3 showed a limited capacity to increase the intensity of the singing and speaking voice. The results gathered in this study objectify the relationship of insufficient glottal closure and reduced vocal capabilities. As long as no conclusive data on long-term consequences of insufficient glottal closure are available, a prophylactic improvement of the laryngeal situation especially in female professional voice users by voice therapy should be recommended.

Endoscopic closure of duodenal perforations by using an over-the-scope clip: a randomized, controlled porcine study.

PubMed

von Renteln, Daniel; Rudolph, Hans-Ulrich; Schmidt, Arthur; Vassiliou, Melina C; Caca, Karel

2010-01-01

Duodenal perforations during diagnostic upper endoscopy are rare; however, when therapeutic techniques are performed, the reported incidence is as great as 2.8%. Surgical repair is usually mandated, but it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To compare closure of duodenal perforations by using an over-the-scope clip (OTSC) with a surgical closure. Randomized, controlled animal study. Animal facility laboratory. Domestic pigs (24 females). Large (10-mm) duodenal perforations were created by using an endoscopic needle-knife. The animals were randomly assigned to either open surgical repair (n=12) or endoscopic closure by using the OTSC system (n=12). Pressurized leak tests were performed during necropsy. One major bleed occurred because of a liver injury during creation of the duodenotomy. Mean time for endoscopic closure was 5 minutes (range, 3-8 min; SD +/- 2). No complications occurred during any of the closure procedures. At necropsy, all OTSC and surgical closures demonstrated complete sealing of duodenotomy sites. Pressurized leak tests demonstrated a mean burst pressure of 166 mm Hg (range, 80-260; SD +/- 65) for OTSC closures and 143 mm Hg (range, 30-300, SD +/- 83) for surgical sutures. Ex vivo intact duodenal specimens exhibited a mean burst pressure of 247 mm Hg (range, 200-300; SD +/- 35), which was significantly higher compared with in vivo OTSC and surgical closures (P < .01). There were no significant differences between burst pressures of OTSC and surgical closures (P = .461). Nonsurvival setting. Endoscopic closure of duodenal perforations by using the OTSC system is comparable with surgical closure in a nonsurvival porcine model. This technique is easy to perform and seems suitable for repairing duodenal perforations. 2010 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

School closure as an influenza mitigation strategy: how variations in legal authority and plan criteria can alter the impact.

PubMed

Potter, Margaret A; Brown, Shawn T; Cooley, Phillip C; Sweeney, Patricia M; Hershey, Tina B; Gleason, Sherrianne M; Lee, Bruce Y; Keane, Christopher R; Grefenstette, John; Burke, Donald S

2012-11-14

States' pandemic influenza plans and school closure statutes are intended to guide state and local officials, but most faced a great deal of uncertainty during the 2009 influenza H1N1 epidemic. Questions remained about whether, when, and for how long to close schools and about which agencies and officials had legal authority over school closures. This study began with analysis of states' school-closure statutes and pandemic influenza plans to identify the variations among them. An agent-based model of one state was used to represent as constants a population's demographics, commuting patterns, work and school attendance, and community mixing patterns while repeated simulations explored the effects of variations in school closure authority, duration, closure thresholds, and reopening criteria. The results show no basis on which to justify statewide rather than school-specific or community-specific authority for school closures. Nor do these simulations offer evidence to require school closures promptly at the earliest stage of an epidemic. More important are criteria based on monitoring of local case incidence and on authority to sustain closure periods sufficiently to achieve epidemic mitigation. This agent-based simulation suggests several ways to improve statutes and influenza plans. First, school closure should remain available to state and local authorities as an influenza mitigation strategy. Second, influenza plans need not necessarily specify the threshold for school closures but should clearly define provisions for early and ongoing local monitoring. Finally, school closure authority may be exercised at the statewide or local level, so long as decisions are informed by monitoring incidence in local communities and schools.

Surgical impact and speech outcome at 2.5 years after one- or two-stage cleft palate closure.

PubMed

Randag, Anna C; Dreise, Marieke M; Ruettermann, Mike

2014-11-01

In the ongoing discussion about timing of palate closure, it is said that early closure is favorable for speech development, but can interfere with maxillary growth. On the other hand, beneficial results on both after one-stage palate closure have also been presented. The assumption that one-stage palate closure leads to less surgical impact on the child probably contributed to the choice for this procedure in most cleft centers. However, no previous research has verified this assumption. The aim of the present study is to compare surgical impact and speech outcome at 2.5 years of age between children who underwent either one- or early two-stage palate closure. Patients underwent either one-stage palate closure between 2007 and 2010 at a median age of 10.8 months (group 1, n=24) or early two-stage closure before 2007 at median ages of 10.4 and 18.2 months, respectively (group 2, n=24). Surgical impact was compared between the two groups by means of duration of surgery, length of hospital stay and number of post-operative complications. Speech outcome was compared by means of resonance problems, nasal air emission, articulation and intelligibility, all assessed at a median age of 2.5 years. The one-stage closure group showed significantly shorter duration of surgery and length of hospital stay (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively) and significantly better articulation (p=0.029) than the early two-stage closure group. One-stage palate closure is preferable over early two-stage palate closure with regard to surgical impact and speech development. More extensive, prospective studies, in which maxillary growth is taken into account, should be conducted. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Poster - Thur Eve - 26: Interfraction reproducibility of heart position during breast irradiation using Active Breathing Control.

PubMed

Comsa, D; Zhang, B; Mosely, D; Yeung, I

2012-07-01

The moderate deep-inspiration breath hold (mDIBH) technique using the Active Breathing Coordinator (ABC) from Elekta is used in our clinic to lower the heart dose during left breast irradiations. The purpose of this work was to investigate the interfraction reproducibility of the heart to chest distance during these treatments and to evaluate the dosimetric effect of any changes in the heart position. Daily CBCT images were available for 5 patients who had been treated with ABC tangents and a cavity boost. On these images, one-dimensional measurements of the distance between the heart and the chest wall were taken at two anatomical locations corresponding roughly with the location where the radiation field most likely intercepts the heart. The average change in this distance was interpreted as a shift of the heart position. To assess the effect of this shift on the delivered heart dose, the heart contours in the clinical plans of the corresponding patients were shifted towards the treatment field using standard Pinnacle tools. Although the ABC device allows good reproducibility of the volume of air held, this does not warrant reproducibility of heart position for all patients during treatment. The largest average heart shift extracted from CBCT images in this study was 6.2mm. The heart dose reconstructed using this shift for the corresponding patient also showed the largest effect. However, even in the presence of a systematic heart shift of this magnitude, the ABC plan still showed superior heart dose reduction compared to the free-breathing plan. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Intrafractional Baseline Shift or Drift of Lung Tumor Motion During Gated Radiation Therapy With a Real-Time Tumor-Tracking System

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

Takao, Seishin; Miyamoto, Naoki; Matsuura, Taeko

2016-01-01

Purpose: To investigate the frequency and amplitude of baseline shift or drift (shift/drift) of lung tumors in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), using a real-time tumor-tracking radiation therapy (RTRT) system. Methods and Materials: Sixty-eight patients with peripheral lung tumors were treated with SBRT using the RTRT system. One of the fiducial markers implanted near the tumor was used for the real-time monitoring of the intrafractional tumor motion every 0.033 seconds by the RTRT system. When baseline shift/drift is determined by the system, the position of the treatment couch is adjusted to compensate for the shift/drift. Therefore, the changes in the couch positionmore » correspond to the baseline shift/drift in the tumor motion. The frequency and amount of adjustment to the couch positions in the left-right (LR), cranio-caudal (CC), and antero-posterior (AP) directions have been analyzed for 335 fractions administered to 68 patients. Results: The average change in position of the treatment couch during the treatment time was 0.45 ± 2.23 mm (mean ± standard deviation), −1.65 ± 5.95 mm, and 1.50 ± 2.54 mm in the LR, CC, and AP directions, respectively. Overall the baseline shift/drift occurs toward the cranial and posterior directions. The incidence of baseline shift/drift exceeding 3 mm was 6.0%, 15.5%, 14.0%, and 42.1% for the LR, CC, AP, and for the square-root of sum of 3 directions, respectively, within 10 minutes of the start of treatment, and 23.0%, 37.6%, 32.5%, and 71.6% within 30 minutes. Conclusions: Real-time monitoring and frequent adjustments of the couch position and/or adding appropriate margins are suggested to be essential to compensate for possible underdosages due to baseline shift/drift in SBRT for lung cancers.« less

Rotating shift work associated with obesity in men from northeastern Ontario

PubMed Central

Anne, Grundy; Michelle, Cotterchio; Victoria A., Kirsh; Victoria, Nadalin; Nancy, Lightfoot; Loretta, Ryan; Nancy, Kreiger

2017-01-01

Abstract Introduction: While some studies have suggested associations between shift work and obesity, few have been population-based or considered multiple shift schedules. Since obesity is linked with several chronic health conditions, understanding which types of shift work influence obesity is important and additional work with more detailed exposure assessment of shift work is warranted. Methods: Using multivariate polytomous logistic regression, we investigated the associations between shift work (evening/night, rotating and other shift schedules) and overweight and obesity as measured by body mass index cross-sectionally among 1561 men. These men had previously participated as population controls in a prostate cancer case-control study conducted in northeastern Ontario from 1995 to 1999. We obtained information on work history (including shift work), height and weight from the existing self-reported questionnaire data. Results: We observed an association for ever (vs. never) having been employed in rotating shift work for both the overweight (OR [odds ratio] = 1.34; 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.05–1.73) and obese (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.12–2.21) groups. We also observed nonsignificant associations for ever (vs. never) having been employed in permanent evening/night shifts. In addition, we found a significant trend of increased risk for both overweight and obesity with increasing duration of rotating shift work. Conclusion: Both the positive association between rotating shift work and obesity and the suggested positive association for permanent evening/night shift work in this study are consistent with previous findings. Future population-based research that is able to build on our results while examining additional shift work characteristics will further clarify whether some shift patterns have a greater impact on obesity than others. PMID:28800293

Rotating shift work associated with obesity in men from northeastern Ontario.

PubMed

Grundy, Anne; Cotterchio, Michelle; Kirsh, Victoria A; Nadalin, Victoria; Lightfoot, Nancy; Kreiger, Nancy

2017-08-01

While some studies have suggested associations between shift work and obesity, few have been population-based or considered multiple shift schedules. Since obesity is linked with several chronic health conditions, understanding which types of shift work influence obesity is important and additional work with more detailed exposure assessment of shift work is warranted. Using multivariate polytomous logistic regression, we investigated the associations between shift work (evening/night, rotating and other shift schedules) and overweight and obesity as measured by body mass index cross-sectionally among 1561 men. These men had previously participated as population controls in a prostate cancer case-control study conducted in northeastern Ontario from 1995 to 1999. We obtained information on work history (including shift work), height and weight from the existing self-reported questionnaire data. We observed an association for ever (vs. never) having been employed in rotating shift work for both the overweight (OR [odds ratio] = 1.34; 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.05-1.73) and obese (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.12-2.21) groups. We also observed nonsignificant associations for ever (vs. never) having been employed in permanent evening/night shifts. In addition, we found a significant trend of increased risk for both overweight and obesity with increasing duration of rotating shift work. Both the positive association between rotating shift work and obesity and the suggested positive association for permanent evening/night shift work in this study are consistent with previous findings. Future population-based research that is able to build on our results while examining additional shift work characteristics will further clarify whether some shift patterns have a greater impact on obesity than others.

No evidence that manual closure of the bronchial stump has a lower failure rate than mechanical stapler closure following anatomical lung resection.

PubMed

Zakkar, Mustafa; Kanagasabay, Robin; Hunt, Ian

2014-04-01

A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether manual closure of the bronchial stump is safer with lower failure rates than mechanical closure using a stapling device following anatomical lung resection. One hundred and twenty-nine papers were identified using the search below. Eight papers presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question as they included sufficient number of patients to reach conclusions regarding the issues of interest for this review. Complications, complication rates and operation time were included in the assessment. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of the papers are tabulated. When looking at manual vs mechanical staples, it was noted that stapler failure can occur in around 4% of cases. The rate of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) development varied more in patients who underwent manual closure (1.5-12.5%) than in patients who underwent mechanical closure (1-5.7%). Although most of the studies reviewed showed no statistical differences between manual and mechanical closure in terms of BPF development, one study, however, showed that manual closure was significantly associated with lower numbers of postoperative BPF, while another study showed that mechanical closure is significantly associated with lower incidence of BPF. When looking at the role of the learning curve and training opportunities, it seems that the surgeon's inexperience when using mechanical staples can contribute to BPF development. A surgeon's experience can play a major role in the prevention of BPF development in patients having manual closure. Manual closure can provide a cheap and reliable technique when compared with costs incurred from using staplers, it is applicable in all situations and can be taught to surgeons in training with an acceptable risk. However, there is a lack of evidence to suggest that manual closure is better than mechanical stapler closure following anatomical lung resection.

Anterior Segment Imaging Predicts Incident Gonioscopic Angle Closure.

PubMed

Baskaran, Mani; Iyer, Jayant V; Narayanaswamy, Arun K; He, Yingke; Sakata, Lisandro M; Wu, Renyi; Liu, Dianna; Nongpiur, Monisha E; Friedman, David S; Aung, Tin

2015-12-01

To investigate the incidence of gonioscopic angle closure after 4 years in subjects with gonioscopically open angles but varying degrees of angle closure detected on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS OCT; Visante; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) at baseline. Prospective, observational study. Three hundred forty-two subjects, mostly Chinese, 50 years of age or older, were recruited, of whom 65 were controls with open angles on gonioscopy and AS OCT at baseline, and 277 were cases with baseline open angles on gonioscopy but closed angles (1-4 quadrants) on AS OCT scans. All subjects underwent gonioscopy and AS OCT at baseline (horizontal and vertical single scans) and after 4 years. The examiner performing gonioscopy was masked to the baseline and AS OCT data. Angle closure in a quadrant was defined as nonvisibility of the posterior trabecular meshwork by gonioscopy and visible iridotrabecular contact beyond the scleral spur in AS OCT scans. Gonioscopic angle closure in 2 or 3 quadrants after 4 years. There were no statistically significant differences in age, ethnicity, or gender between cases and controls. None of the control subjects demonstrated gonioscopic angle closure after 4 years. Forty-eight of the 277 subjects (17.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.8-23; P < 0.0001) with at least 1 quadrant of angle closure on AS OCT at baseline demonstrated gonioscopic angle closure in 2 or more quadrants, whereas 28 subjects (10.1%; 95% CI, 6.7-14.6; P < 0.004) demonstrated gonioscopic angle closure in 3 or more quadrants after 4 years. Individuals with more quadrants of angle closure on baseline AS OCT scans had a greater likelihood of gonioscopic angle closure developing after 4 years (P < 0.0001, chi-square test for trend for both definitions of angle closure). Anterior segment OCT imaging at baseline predicts incident gonioscopic angle closure after 4 years among subjects who have gonioscopically open angles and iridotrabecular contact on AS OCT at baseline. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 264.197 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Section 264.197 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES... as hazardous waste, unless § 261.3(d) of this chapter applies. The closure plan, closure activities...

Catheter-based closure of the patent ductus arteriosus in lower weight infants.

PubMed

Pavlek, Leeann R; Slaughter, Jonathan L; Berman, Darren P; Backes, Carl H

2018-06-13

Risks associated with drug therapy and surgical ligation have led health care providers to consider alternative strategies for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. Catheter-based PDA closure is the procedure of choice for ductal closure in adults, children, and infants ≥6kg. Given evidence among older counterparts, interest in catheter-based closure of the PDA in lower weight (<6kg) infants is growing. Among these smaller infants, the goals of this review are to: (1) provide an overview of the procedure; (2) review the types of PDA closure devices; (3) review the technical success (feasibility); (4) review the risks (safety profile); (5) discuss the quality of evidence on procedural efficacy; (6) consider areas for future research. The review provided herein suggests that catheter-based PDA closure is technically feasible, but the lack of comparative trials precludes determination of the optimal strategy for ductal closure in this subgroup of infants. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A canonical correlation analysis based EMG classification algorithm for eliminating electrode shift effect.

PubMed

Zhe Fan; Zhong Wang; Guanglin Li; Ruomei Wang

2016-08-01

Motion classification system based on surface Electromyography (sEMG) pattern recognition has achieved good results in experimental condition. But it is still a challenge for clinical implement and practical application. Many factors contribute to the difficulty of clinical use of the EMG based dexterous control. The most obvious and important is the noise in the EMG signal caused by electrode shift, muscle fatigue, motion artifact, inherent instability of signal and biological signals such as Electrocardiogram. In this paper, a novel method based on Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) was developed to eliminate the reduction of classification accuracy caused by electrode shift. The average classification accuracy of our method were above 95% for the healthy subjects. In the process, we validated the influence of electrode shift on motion classification accuracy and discovered the strong correlation with correlation coefficient of >0.9 between shift position data and normal position data.

A novel phase retrieval method from three-wavelength in-line phase-shifting interferograms based on positive negative 2π phase shifts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiaoqing; Wang, Yawei; Ji, Ying; Xu, Yuanyuan; Xie, Ming

2018-01-01

A new method to extract quantitative phases for each wavelength from three-wavelength in-line phase-shifting interferograms is proposed. Firstly, seven interferograms with positive negative 2π phase shifts are sequentially captured by using the phase-shifting technique. Secondly, six dc-term suppressed intensities can be achieved by the use of the algebraic algorithm. Finally, the wrapped phases at the three wavelengths can be acquired simultaneously from these six interferograms add-subtracting by employing the trigonometric function method. The surface morphology with increased ambiguity-free range at synthetic beat wavelength can be obtained, while maintaining the low noise precision of the single wavelength measurement, by combining this method with three-wavelength phase unwrapping method. We illustrate the principle of this algorithm, and the simulated experiments of the spherical cap and the HeLa cell are conducted to prove our proposed method, respectively.

Positive focal shift of gallium nitride high contrast grating focusing reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Shumin; Wang, Zhenhai; Liu, Qifa

2016-09-01

We design a type of metasurfaces capable of serving as a visible-light focusing reflector based on gallium nitride (GaN) high contrast gratings (HCGs). The wavefront of the reflected light is precisely manipulated by spatial variation of the grating periods along the subwavelength ridge array to achieve light focusing. Different from conventional negative focal shift effect, a positive focal shift is observed in such focusing reflectors. Detailed investigations of the influence of device size on the focusing performance, especially the focal length, are preformed via a finite element method . The results show that all performance parameters are greatly affected by the reflector size. A more concentrated focal point, or a better focusing capability, can be achieved by larger size. With increasing reflector size, the achieved focal length decreases and gradually approaches to the design, thus the corresponding positive focal shift decreases. Our results are helpful for understanding the visible-light control of the planar HCG-based focusing reflectors.

The impact of alcohol-related presentations on a New Zealand hospital emergency department.

PubMed

Stewart, Rebecca; Das, Manidipa; Ardagh, Michael; Deely, Joanne M; Dodd, Stuart; Bartholomew, Nadia; Pearson, Scott; Spearing, Ruth; Williams, Tracey; Than, Martin

2014-08-29

To determine the impact of alcohol-related presentations on the Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department (ED). Over 42 8-hour shifts (2 weeks) between 15 November 2013 and 9 December 2013, patients attending the ED with recent alcohol consumption were classified as screen-positive (consumed alcohol in the 4 hours prior to presentation) or not. A subset of screen-positive patients was classified as impact-positive (alcohol consumption clearly contributed to the reason for presenting). Data were analysed in relation to days/shifts for gender, age, disruptive behaviour, medical reasons for presenting, and completeness of ED records. Of the 3619 patients screened in the study, 268 (7.4%) and 182 (5%) were screen-positive and impact-positive, respectively. Most patients attended the ED on the weekends (58%: 105/182), particularly on Saturday night (31%; 56/182). More males (118) than females (64) were impact-positive. Of the impact-positive males, most were 16-25 years old (37%; 44/118) or 41-61 years old (32%; 38/118), attended the ED on weekend night shifts (24%; 28/118), and sought treatment for non- interpersonal trauma (38%; 45/118) or interpersonal trauma due to violence (17%; 20/118). Of the female impact-positive patients, most were 16-25 years old (41%; 26/64) or 41-60 years old (33%; 21/64), and presented for deliberate self-harm (36%; 23/64) or non-interpersonal trauma (27%; 17/64). Of the 182 impact-positive patients, 86% (156) were recorded in the ED computer system. Alcohol-related presentations had a significant impact on the ED, particularly on weekends. Teenagers, young adults and middle-aged adults contributed to the alcohol-related patient impact on weekends. Male patients were a significant burden on Saturday evening and night shifts.

Final closure plan for the high-explosives open burn treatment facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Experimental Test Site 300

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

Mathews, S.

This document addresses the interim status closure of the HE Open Bum Treatment Facility, as detailed by Title 22, Division 4.5, Chapter 15, Article 7 of the Califonia Code of Regulations (CCR) and by Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 265, Subpart G, ``Closure and Post Closure.`` The Closure Plan (Chapter 1) and the Post- Closure Plan (Chapter 2) address the concept of long-term hazard elimination. The Closure Plan provides for capping and grading the HE Open Bum Treatment Facility and revegetating the immediate area in accordance with applicable requirements. The Closure Plan also reflects careful consideration ofmore » site location and topography, geologic and hydrologic factors, climate, cover characteristics, type and amount of wastes, and the potential for contaminant migration. The Post-Closure Plan is designed to allow LLNL to monitor the movement, if any, of pollutants from the treatment area. In addition, quarterly inspections will ensure that all surfaces of the closed facility, including the cover and diversion ditches, remain in good repair, thus precluding the potential for contaminant migration.« less

Improvement of tricuspid regurgitation after transcatheter ASD closure in older patients.

PubMed

Chen, L; Shen, J; Shan, X; Wang, F; Kan, T; Tang, X; Zhao, X; Qin, Y

2017-07-19

Adult patients with undiagnosed atrial septal defect (ASD) may have right heart cavity enlargement and functional tricuspid valve insufficiency. Moderate or more severe tricuspid regurgitation has been associated with a worse prognosis, and more serious complications are typically seen in older patients. This study aimed to evaluate the improvement in functional tricuspid regurgitation and heart geometry after transcatheter ASD closure in older patients. The data of 111 patients over 60 years of age with moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation before ASD closure were analyzed. At the 1‑month and 6‑month follow-up after closure, both tricuspid regurgitation jet area and right atrial volume decreased significantly. Right ventricular volume decreased 1 month after closure, showing a further decrease at the end of the 6‑month follow-up. However, 24 patients (21.6%) still had persistent severe tricuspid regurgitation after the procedure. Multivariate analysis revealed that patient age at ASD closure and pulmonary artery systolic pressure determined by echocardiography before closure were predictors of persistent tricuspid regurgitation after closure. Transcatheter ASD closure in older patients could significantly decrease tricuspid regurgitation and improve right heart geometry.

Contact, Travel, and Transmission: The Impact of Winter Holidays on Influenza Dynamics in the United States

PubMed Central

Ewing, Anne; Lee, Elizabeth C.; Viboud, Cécile

2017-01-01

Abstract Background. The seasonality of influenza is thought to vary according to environmental factors and human behavior. During winter holidays, potential disease-causing contact and travel deviate from typical patterns. We aim to understand these changes on age-specific and spatial influenza transmission. Methods. We characterized the changes to transmission and epidemic trajectories among children and adults in a spatial context before, during, and after the winter holidays among aggregated physician medical claims in the United States from 2001 to 2009 and among synthetic data simulated from a deterministic, age-specific spatial metapopulation model. Results. Winter holidays reduced influenza transmission and delayed the trajectory of influenza season epidemics. The holiday period was marked by a shift in the relative risk of disease from children toward adults. Model results indicated that holidays delayed epidemic peaks and synchronized incidence across locations, and that contact reductions from school closures, rather than age-specific mixing and travel, produced these observed holiday influenza dynamics. Conclusions. Winter holidays delay seasonal influenza epidemic peaks and shift disease risk toward adults because of changes in contact patterns. These findings may inform targeted influenza information and vaccination campaigns during holiday periods. PMID:28031259

10 CFR 61.29 - Post-closure observation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Post-closure observation and maintenance. 61.29 Section 61.29 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Licenses § 61.29 Post-closure observation and maintenance. Following completion of closure...

10 CFR 61.29 - Post-closure observation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Post-closure observation and maintenance. 61.29 Section 61.29 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Licenses § 61.29 Post-closure observation and maintenance. Following completion of closure...

10 CFR 61.29 - Post-closure observation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Post-closure observation and maintenance. 61.29 Section 61.29 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Licenses § 61.29 Post-closure observation and maintenance. Following completion of closure...

10 CFR 61.29 - Post-closure observation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Post-closure observation and maintenance. 61.29 Section 61.29 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Licenses § 61.29 Post-closure observation and maintenance. Following completion of closure...

10 CFR 61.29 - Post-closure observation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Post-closure observation and maintenance. 61.29 Section 61.29 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Licenses § 61.29 Post-closure observation and maintenance. Following completion of closure...

Validity of Forced Eyelid Closure Test: A Novel Clinical Screening Test for Ocular Myasthenia Gravis.

PubMed

Apinyawasisuk, Supanut; Zhou, Xinkai; Tian, Jack J; Garcia, Giancarlo A; Karanjia, Rustum; Sadun, Alfredo A

2017-09-01

Forced eyelid closure test (FECT) is a clinical screening test developed from the original Cogan lid twitch (CLT) sign to assist in the diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG), We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of FECT compared with CLT and benchmarked to standard diagnostic tests. This study was a retrospective chart review of 48 patients using electronic medical records of those that presented with ptosis and/or diplopia at Doheny Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles between February 2015 and April 2016. Patients without FECT testing were excluded. FECT and CLT results, and final diagnosis were recorded. To perform FECT, the patient was asked to squeeze his or her eyelids shut for 5-10 seconds then open quickly and fixate in primary position. The excessive upward overshoot of eyelids movement indicated a positive FECT. The test was performed by a neuro-ophthalmologist before establishing the diagnosis. Patients who had equivocal test results and/or inconclusive final diagnosis were excluded. Of the 48 patients studied, 18 patients (37.5%) had positive FECT; 15 of whom had a final diagnosis of OMG (83.3%). Of the 30 patients with negative FECT, 1 had OMG (3.3%). Of the 48 patients, 35 patients also had a documented CLT result (72.9%). CLT was positive in 11 of these 35 patients (31.4%), and 9 of these 11 had OMG (81.8%). Of the 24 patients with negative CLT, 2 of them had OMG (8.3%). Sensitivity and specificity of FECT were 94% and 91% (joint 95% confidence region: sensitivity × specificity = [0.70, 1] × [0.75, 1]). The relative true-positive fraction (rTPF) between FECT and CLT was 1.15; the relative false-positive fraction was 1.31. FECT is a simple clinical screening test with good sensitivity and specificity for OMG.

Simulating school closure policies for cost effective pandemic decision making

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Around the globe, school closures were used sporadically to mitigate the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. However, such closures can detrimentally impact economic and social life. Methods Here, we couple a decision analytic approach with a mathematical model of influenza transmission to estimate the impact of school closures in terms of epidemiological and cost effectiveness. Our method assumes that the transmissibility and the severity of the disease are uncertain, and evaluates several closure and reopening strategies that cover a range of thresholds in school-aged prevalence (SAP) and closure durations. Results Assuming a willingness to pay per quality adjusted life-year (QALY) threshold equal to the US per capita GDP ($46,000), we found that the cost effectiveness of these strategies is highly dependent on the severity and on a willingness to pay per QALY. For severe pandemics, the preferred strategy couples the earliest closure trigger (0.5% SAP) with the longest duration closure (24 weeks) considered. For milder pandemics, the preferred strategies also involve the earliest closure trigger, but are shorter duration (12 weeks for low transmission rates and variable length for high transmission rates). Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of obtaining early estimates of pandemic severity and provide guidance to public health decision-makers for effectively tailoring school closures strategies in response to a newly emergent influenza pandemic. PMID:22713694

Closure Plan for the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site at the Nevada Test Site

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

NSTec Environmental Management

The Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RMWS) at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) is managed and operated by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO). This document is the first update of the preliminary closure plan for the Area 5 RWMS at the NTS that was presented in the Integrated Closure and Monitoring Plan (DOE, 2005a). The major updates to the plan include a new closure schedule, updated closure inventory, updated site and facility characterization data, the Title II engineering cover design, and the closure processmore » for the 92-Acre Area of the RWMS. The format and content of this site-specific plan follows the Format and Content Guide for U.S. Department of Energy Low-Level Waste Disposal Facility Closure Plans (DOE, 1999a). This interim closure plan meets closure and post-closure monitoring requirements of the order DOE O 435.1, manual DOE M 435.1-1, Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 191, 40 CFR 265, Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 444.743, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements as incorporated into NAC 444.8632. The Area 5 RWMS accepts primarily packaged low-level waste (LLW), low-level mixed waste (LLMW), and asbestiform low-level waste (ALLW) for disposal in excavated disposal cells.« less

Bilateral phacomorphic angle-closure glaucoma in a highly myopic patient secondary to isolated spherophakia.

PubMed

Sowka, Joseph; Girgis, Nadine

2010-09-01

Angle closure most commonly occurs in older hyperopic patients as a result of primary relative pupil block. Less frequently, angle closure occurs in highly myopic patients with conditions other than primary relative pupil block. This report presents the diagnosis, pathophysiologic mechanism, and management of a patient with both high myopia and bilateral advanced phacomorphic angle-closure glaucoma caused by isolated spherophakia. A 40-year-old asymptomatic man with very high myopic astigmatism presented with chronic angle closure and an intraocular pressure of 42 mmHg in both eyes. Additionally there was a nonmyopic fundus and 24-mm axial length, with a clear crystalline lens protruding through the pupillary plane in each eye, confirmed by B-scan ultrasonography. Gonioscopy and A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography identified the pathogenesis of intraocular pressure elevation, angle closure, and high myopia to be lenticular in origin. Initial medical therapy and subsequent laser iridotomy relieved the pupil block angle closure and successfully lowered intraocular pressure. Angle closure can occur in highly myopic eyes. Careful gonioscopy and ultrasonography can lead to the correct diagnosis and tailored management for these eyes. Phacomorphic angle-closure glaucoma from spherophakia is associated with Weill-Marchesani syndrome as well as a few other uncommon syndromes. Isolated pseudophakia is a rarely reported cause of phacomorphic angle closure. Copyright 2010 American Optometric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Particulate contamination from siliconized rubber closures for freeze drying.

PubMed

Gebhardt, U; Grumbridge, N A; Knoch, A

1996-01-01

It can be shown that siliconized closures for freeze drying may cause the opalescence and turbidity observed in freeze-dried products after reconstitution. Closures of different rubber composition show different intensities of turbidity when treated identically with the same quantity and type of silicone oil. Clear solutions are obtained after reconstitution if ETFE-coated closures are used instead of siliconized closures. Samples stored at 4 degrees C for up to 6 months show no change in the intensity of turbidity, while the turbidity of samples manufactured with siliconized closures and stored at higher temperatures increase with time. Samples with ETFE-coated closures show clear solutions when stored at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C for up to 6 months and at 45 degrees C for 3 months. After 6 months only a very weak opalescence could be observed in these samples.

[Epidemiologic and economic effectiveness of school closure during influenza epidemics and pandemics].

PubMed

Gendon, Iu Z; Vasil'ev, Iu M

2012-01-01

Epidemiologic and economic effectiveness of school closure during influenza epidemics and pandemics is discussed. Optimal effect of school closure is observed when this measure is taken at the start of the epidemic or pandemic and for a sufficiently long time. School closure during high morbidity among schoolchildren, in the middle (at the peak) and by the end of epidemic or pandemic does not influence significantly the spread of influenza or morbidity. Significant economic losses and other negative consequences of school closure are noted. School closure may be the most appropriate during the emergence of influenza pandemic when the pandemic vaccine is not yet available, however timely mass immunization of schoolchildren against influenza may be a more appropriate measure than school closure for the reduction of influenza morbidity and spread during seasonal influenza epidemics.

Modeling the Interactions Between Multiple Crack Closure Mechanisms at Threshold

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, John A.; Riddell, William T.; Piascik, Robert S.

2003-01-01

A fatigue crack closure model is developed that includes interactions between the three closure mechanisms most likely to occur at threshold; plasticity, roughness, and oxide. This model, herein referred to as the CROP model (for Closure, Roughness, Oxide, and Plasticity), also includes the effects of out-of plane cracking and multi-axial loading. These features make the CROP closure model uniquely suited for, but not limited to, threshold applications. Rough cracks are idealized here as two-dimensional sawtooths, whose geometry induces mixed-mode crack- tip stresses. Continuum mechanics and crack-tip dislocation concepts are combined to relate crack face displacements to crack-tip loads. Geometric criteria are used to determine closure loads from crack-face displacements. Finite element results, used to verify model predictions, provide critical information about the locations where crack closure occurs.

Evidence for positive, but not negative, behavioral contrast with wheel-running reinforcement on multiple variable-ratio schedules.

PubMed

Belke, Terry W; Pierce, W David

2016-12-01

Rats responded on a multiple variable-ratio (VR) 10 VR 10 schedule of reinforcement in which lever pressing was reinforced by the opportunity to run in a wheel for 30s in both the changed (manipulated) and unchanged components. To generate positive contrast, the schedule of reinforcement in the changed component was shifted to extinction; to generate negative contrast, the schedule was shifted to VR 3. With the shift to extinction in the changed component, wheel-running and local lever-pressing rates increased in the unchanged component, a result supporting positive contrast; however, the shift to a VR 3 schedule in the changed component showed no evidence of negative contrast in the unaltered setting, only wheel running decreased in the unchanged component. Changes in wheel-running rates across components were consistent in showing a compensation effect, depending on whether the schedule manipulation increased or decreased opportunities for wheel running in the changed component. These findings are the first to demonstrate positive behavioral contrast on a multiple schedule with wheel running as reinforcement in both components. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Single-site neural tube closure in human embryos revisited.

PubMed

de Bakker, Bernadette S; Driessen, Stan; Boukens, Bastiaan J D; van den Hoff, Maurice J B; Oostra, Roelof-Jan

2017-10-01

Since the multi-site closure theory was first proposed in 1991 as explanation for the preferential localizations of neural tube defects, the closure of the neural tube has been debated. Although the multi-site closure theory is much cited in clinical literature, single-site closure is most apparent in literature concerning embryology. Inspired by Victor Hamburgers (1900-2001) statement that "our real teacher has been and still is the embryo, who is, incidentally, the only teacher who is always right", we decided to critically review both theories of neural tube closure. To verify the theories of closure, we studied serial histological sections of 10 mouse embryos between 8.5 and 9.5 days of gestation and 18 human embryos of the Carnegie collection between Carnegie stage 9 (19-21 days) and 13 (28-32 days). Neural tube closure was histologically defined by the neuroepithelial remodeling of the two adjoining neural fold tips in the midline. We did not observe multiple fusion sites in neither mouse nor human embryos. A meta-analysis of case reports on neural tube defects showed that defects can occur at any level of the neural axis. Our data indicate that the human neural tube fuses at a single site and, therefore, we propose to reinstate the single-site closure theory for neural tube closure. We showed that neural tube defects are not restricted to a specific location, thereby refuting the reasoning underlying the multi-site closure theory. Clin. Anat. 30:988-999, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Biomechanical Testing and Histologic Examination of Intradermal Skin Closure in Dogs Using Barbed Suture Device and Non-Barbed Monofilament Suture.

PubMed

Law, Andy Y; Butler, James R; Patnaik, Sourav S; Cooley, James A; Elder, Steven H

2017-01-01

To compare the biomechanical strength and histologic features of 3-0 Glycomer™ 631 barbed suture (V-LOC™ 90 Absorbable Wound Closure Device, Covidien, Mansfield, MA) to non-barbed 3-0 Glycomer™ 631 suture (Biosyn™, Covidien) for intradermal skin wound closure in the dog. Randomized, factorial, in vivo. Eighteen purpose-bred, mature male, and female hound dogs. Eighteen adult hound dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups designated by postoperative day of assessment. Six skin incisions were made along the dorsum in the thoracolumbar region of each dog with an equal number (n=3) randomly assigned to closure with barbed or non-barbed suture. Six dogs were euthanatized on postoperative days 3, 10, and 14, respectively. Two additional incisions were made on each dog after euthanasia for baseline data (Day 0). The skin incision specimens were harvested for biomechanical testing and histologic evaluation. Non-barbed closure had significantly higher maximum load at failure (P<.001) and stiffness (P<.001) than barbed closure regardless of day. The average tissue reaction score was significantly higher for barbed closure (P=.008), regardless of day. Suturing time for barbed closures was significantly shorter. There was no significant difference in frequency of complications between closures. Barbed Glycomer™ 631 closures had a significantly lower maximum load at failure and stiffness, and higher average tissue reaction scores, but showed no difference in short term outcome for intradermal closure of dorsally located skin incisions in dogs. © 2016 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Rapid Healing of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by High-Frequency Electrocauterization and Hydrogel Wound Care with or without DAC N-055: A Randomized Controlled Phase IIa Trial in Kabul

PubMed Central

Steiner, Reto; Wentker, Pia; Mahfuz, Farouq; Stahl, Hans-Christian; Amin, Faquir Mohammad; Bogdan, Christian; Stahl, Kurt-Wilhelm

2014-01-01

Background Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania (L.) tropica infection is a chronic, frequently disfiguring skin disease with limited therapeutic options. In endemic countries healing of ulcerative lesions is often delayed by bacterial and/or fungal infections. Here, we studied a novel therapeutic concept to prevent superinfections, accelerate wound closure, and improve the cosmetic outcome of ACL. Methodology/Principal Findings From 2004 to 2008 we performed a two-armed, randomized, double-blinded, phase IIa trial in Kabul, Afghanistan, with patients suffering from L. tropica CL. The skin lesions were treated with bipolar high-frequency electrocauterization (EC) followed by daily moist-wound-treatment (MWT) with polyacrylate hydrogel with (group I) or without (group II) pharmaceutical sodium chlorite (DAC N-055). Patients below age 5, with facial lesions, pregnancy, or serious comorbidities were excluded. The primary, photodocumented outcome was the time needed for complete lesion epithelialization. Biopsies for parasitological and (immuno)histopathological analyses were taken prior to EC (1st), after wound closure (2nd) and after 6 months (3rd). The mean duration for complete wound closure was short and indifferent in group I (59 patients, 43.1 d) and II (54 patients, 42 d; p = 0.83). In patients with Leishmania-positive 2nd biopsies DAC N-055 caused a more rapid wound epithelialization (37.2 d vs. 58.3 d; p = 0.08). Superinfections occurred in both groups at the same rate (8.8%). Except for one patient, reulcerations (10.2% in group I, 18.5% in group II; p = 0.158) were confined to cases with persistent high parasite loads after healing. In vitro, DAC N-055 showed a leishmanicidal effect on pro- and amastigotes. Conclusions/Significance Compared to previous results with intralesional antimony injections, the EC plus MWT protocol led to more rapid wound closure. The tentatively lower rate of relapses and the acceleration of wound closure in a subgroup of patients with parasite persistence warrant future studies on the activity of DAC N-055. Trial Registration ClinicalTrails.gov NCT00947362 PMID:24551257

Management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to congenital heart disease: recent advances and future directions.

PubMed

Blok, Ilja M; van Riel, Annelieke C M J; Mulder, Barbara J M; Bouma, Berto J

2015-12-01

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a serious complication of adult congenital heart disease associated with systemic-to-pulmonary shunts. Although early shunt closure restricts development of pulmonary arterial hypertension, patients remain at risk even after repair. The development of pulmonary arterial hypertension is associated with a markedly increased morbidity and mortality. It is important to identify patients with a poor prognosis using disease specific markers. Echocardiography and biomarkers arise as practical tools to determine the risk of mortality. Although pulmonary arterial hypertension cannot be cured, four classes of disease-targeting therapies are currently available and several promising therapies are being studied. There is a shift in drug studies towards more clinically relevant endpoints such as time to clinical worsening and morbidity and mortality events.

40 CFR 265.117 - Post-closure care and use of property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

.... 265.117 Section 265.117 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID.... (a)(1) Post-closure care for each hazardous waste management unit subject to the requirements of... this part. (2) Any time preceding closure of a hazardous waste management unit subject to post-closure...

Gestalt concept of closure: a construct without closure.

PubMed

Wasserstein, Jeanette

2002-12-01

This comment reviews the original Gestalt literature which introduced the concept of 'closure'. It is argued that the meaning of 'closure' was confounded in the source literature and, thus, the term connotes more than it denotes. Research based on different measures of this ambiguous construct inevitably may not always converge.

40 CFR 267.143 - Financial assurance for closure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Financial assurance for closure. 267... PERMIT Financial Requirements § 267.143 Financial assurance for closure. The owner or operator must establish financial assurance for closure of each storage or treatment unit that he owns or operates. In...

40 CFR 264.280 - Closure and post-closure care.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Closure and post-closure care. 264.280 Section 264.280 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES... § 264.278, except that soil-pore liquid monitoring may be terminated 90 days after the last application...

Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debehets, J.; Homm, P.; Menghini, M.; Chambers, S. A.; Marchiori, C.; Heyns, M.; Locquet, J. P.; Seo, J. W.

2018-05-01

In this paper, changes in surface Fermi-level of Si and GaAs, caused by doping and cleaning, are investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the Auger voltage contrast, we compared the Auger transition peak energy but with higher accuracy by using a more accurate analyzer and an improved peak position determination method. For silicon, a peak shift as large as 0.46 eV was detected when comparing a cleaned p-type and n-type wafer, which corresponds rather well with the theoretical difference in Fermi-levels. If no cleaning was applied, the peak position did not differ significantly for both wafer types, indicating Fermi-level pinning in the band gap. For GaAs, peak shifts were detected after cleaning with HF and (NH4)2S-solutions in an inert atmosphere (N2-gas). Although the (NH4)2S-cleaning in N2 is very efficient in removing the oxygen from the surface, the observed Ga- and As-peak shifts are smaller than those obtained after the HF-cleaning. It is shown that the magnitude of the shift is related to the surface composition. After Si-deposition on the (NH4)2S-cleaned surface, the Fermi-level shifts back to a similar position as observed for an as-received wafer, indicating that this combination is not successful in unpinning the Fermi-level of GaAs.

Three dimensional imaging detector employing wavelength-shifting optical fibers

DOEpatents

Worstell, William A.

1997-01-01

A novel detector element structure and method for its use is provided. In a preferred embodiment, one or more inorganic scintillating crystals are coupled through wavelength shifting optical fibers (WLSFs) to position sensitive photomultipliers (PS-PMTs). The superior detector configuration in accordance with this invention is designed for an array of applications in high spatial resolution gamma ray sensing with particular application to SPECT, PET and PVI imaging systems. The design provides better position resolution than prior art devices at a lower total cost. By employing wavelength shifting fibers (WLSFs), the sensor configuration of this invention can operate with a significant reduction in the number of photomultipliers and electronics channels, while potentially improving the resolution of the system by allowing three dimensional reconstruction of energy deposition positions.

Three dimensional imaging detector employing wavelength-shifting optical fibers

DOEpatents

Worstell, W.A.

1997-02-04

A novel detector element structure and method for its use is provided. In a preferred embodiment, one or more inorganic scintillating crystals are coupled through wavelength shifting optical fibers (WLSFs) to position sensitive photomultipliers (PS-PMTs). The superior detector configuration in accordance with this invention is designed for an array of applications in high spatial resolution gamma ray sensing with particular application to SPECT, PET and PVI imaging systems. The design provides better position resolution than prior art devices at a lower total cost. By employing wavelength shifting fibers (WLSFs), the sensor configuration of this invention can operate with a significant reduction in the number of photomultipliers and electronics channels, while potentially improving the resolution of the system by allowing three dimensional reconstruction of energy deposition positions. 11 figs.

13C chemical-shift anisotropy of alkyl-substituted aromatic carbon in anthracene derivatives.

PubMed

Hoop, Cody L; Iuliucci, Robbie J

2013-06-01

The (13)C chemical-shift anisotropy in anthracene derivatives (9,10-dimethylanthracene, 9,10-dihydroanthracene, dianthracene, and triptycene) has been measured by the 2D FIREMAT timed pulse sequence and the corresponding set of principal values has been determined by the TIGER processing method. These molecules expand the data base of (13)C CSA measurements of fused aromatic rings some bridged by sp(3) carbon resulting in an unusual bonding configuration, which leads to distinctive aromatic (13)C CSA values. Crystal lattice distortions to the CSA were observed to change the isotropic shift by 2.5 to 3.3 ppm and changes as large as 8.3 ppm in principal components. Modeling of the CSA data by GIPAW DFT (GGA-PBE/ultrafine) shielding calculations resulted in an rms chemical-shift distance of 2.8 ppm after lattice including geometry optimization of the diffraction structures by the GIPAW method at GGA-PBE/ultrafine level. Attention is given to the substituted aromatic carbon in the phenyl groups (here forth referred to as the α-carbon) with respect to CSA modeling with electronic methods. The (13)C CSA of this position is accurately determined due to its spectral isolation of the isotropic shift that limits overlap in the FIREMAT spectrum. In cases where the bridging ring is sp(3) carbon, the current density is reduced from extending beyond the peripheral phenyl groups; this plays a significant role in the magnetic shielding of the α-position. Nuclear independent chemical-shift calculations based on GIAO DFT (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) shielding calculations were used to model the intramolecular π-interactions in dianthracene and triptycene. These NICS results estimate the isotropic shift of the α-position in dianthracene to be insignificantly affected by the presence of the neighboring aromatic rings. However, a notable change in isotropic shielding, Δσ(iso)=-2.1 ppm, is predicted for the α- position of triptycene. Experimentally, the δ22 principal component at the α-position for both dianthracene and triptycene increases by at least 12 ppm compared to 9,10-dihydroanthracene. To rationalize this change, shielding calculations in idealized structures are explored. The spatial position of the bicyclic scaffolding of the bridging ring plays a key role in the large increase in δ22 for the α-carbon. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pressure Seal For Frequently Opened Hatch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kennedy, Steven E.; Kramer, Joel M.

1994-01-01

Pressure-assisted seal for frequently opened hatch includes two sealing rings retained positively so not pulled out during opening. Seal makes contact with hatch well before hatch starts to squeeze rings extending distance over which seal becomes engaged. Improvements include more-secure mounting, redundancy, and better initial sealing action. Also minimizes loss of gas during closure by deflecting inward and closing gap. This action helps differential pressure to force hatch closed.

40 CFR 63.5150 - If I use a control device to comply with the emission standards, what monitoring must I do?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... line that could divert the exhaust stream away from the control device to the atmosphere. (ii) Car-seal or lock-and-key valve closures. Secure any bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal... thermocouple or temperature sensor in the combustion chamber at a location in the combustion zone. (iii) For a...

40 CFR 63.5150 - If I use a control device to comply with the emission standards, what monitoring must I do?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... line that could divert the exhaust stream away from the control device to the atmosphere. (ii) Car-seal or lock-and-key valve closures. Secure any bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal... thermocouple or temperature sensor in the combustion chamber at a location in the combustion zone. (iii) For a...

Complaints as starting point for vicious cycles in customer-employee-interactions.

PubMed

Traut-Mattausch, Eva; Wagner, Sara; Pollatos, Olga; Jonas, Eva

2015-01-01

A ring-model of vicious cycles in customer-employee-interaction is proposed: service employees perceive complaints as a threat to their self-esteem resulting in defense responses such as an increased need for cognitive closure, a devaluation of the customer and their information and degrading service behavior. Confronted with such degrading service behavior, customers react defensively as well, by devaluing the employee for example with regard to his/her competence and by reducing repurchase and positive word-of-mouth (WOM). Three studies investigated each link in this ring-model. In study 1, participants were confronted with an aggressive or neutral customer complaint. Results show that motivated closed-mindedness (one aspect of the need for cognitive closure) increases after an aggressive complaint leading to a devaluation of the customer and their information, and in turn to a degrading service reaction. In study 2, participants were confronted with a degrading or favorable service reaction. Results show that they devaluate the employees' competence after receiving a degrading service reaction and thus reduce their intention to repurchase. In study 3, we finally examined our predictions investigating real customer-employee-interactions: we analyzed data from an evaluation study in which mystery callers tested the service hotline of an airline. Results show that the employees' competence is devaluated after degrading behavior and thus reduces positive WOM.

The Effect of Surface Electrical Stimulation on Vocal Fold Position

PubMed Central

Humbert, Ianessa A.; Poletto, Christopher J.; Saxon, Keith G.; Kearney, Pamela R.; Ludlow, Christy L.

2008-01-01

Objectives/Hypothesis Closure of the true and false vocal folds is a normal part of airway protection during swallowing. Individuals with reduced or delayed true vocal fold closure can be at risk for aspiration and benefit from intervention to ameliorate the problem. Surface electrical stimulation is currently used during therapy for dysphagia, despite limited knowledge of its physiological effects. Design Prospective single effects study. Methods The immediate physiological effect of surface stimulation on true vocal fold angle was examined at rest in 27 healthy adults using ten different electrode placements on the submental and neck regions. Fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopic recordings during passive inspiration were used to measure change in true vocal fold angle with stimulation. Results Vocal fold angles changed only to a small extent during two electrode placements (p ≤ 0.05). When two sets of electrodes were placed vertically on the neck the mean true vocal fold abduction was 2.4 degrees; while horizontal placements of electrodes in the submental region produced a mean adduction of 2.8 degrees (p=0.03). Conclusions Surface electrical stimulation to the submental and neck regions does not produce immediate true vocal fold adduction adequate for airway protection during swallowing and one position may produce a slight increase in true vocal fold opening. PMID:18043496

The experience of being a shift-leader in a hospital ward.

PubMed

Goldblatt, Hadass; Granot, Michal; Admi, Hanna; Drach-Zahavy, Anat

2008-07-01

This paper is a report of a study to explore the experience of being a shift-leader, and how these nurses view the management of their shift. Professional demands on skilled and capable shift-leaders, who competently handle multi-disciplinary staff and patients, as well as operations and information, call for the development of efficient nursing leadership roles. Nevertheless, knowledge of shift-leaders' perspectives concerning their task management and leadership styles is relatively limited. Twenty-eight Registered Nurses working in an Israeli medical centre participated in this qualitative study. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews conducted in two phases between February and October 2005: three focus group interviews (phase 1) followed by seven individual interviews (phase 2). Content analysis revealed two major themes which constitute the essence of being a shift-leader: (1) a burden of responsibility, where the shift-leader moves between positions of maximum control and delegating some responsibility to other nurses; (2) the role's temporal dimension, expressed as a strong desire to reach the end of the shift safely, and taking managerial perspectives beyond the boundaries of the specific shift. The core of the shift-leader's position is an immense sense of responsibility. However, this managerial role is transient and therefore lacks an established authority. A two-dimensional taxonomy of these themes reveals four types of potential and actual coping among shift-leaders, indicating the need to train them in leadership skills and systemic thinking. Interventions to limit the potential stress hazards should be focused simultaneously on shift-leaders themselves and on job restructuring.

Influence of fatigue crack wake length and state of stress on crack closure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Telesman, J.; Fisher, D. M.

1986-01-01

The location of crack closure with respect to crack wake and specimen thickness under different loading conditions was determined. The rate of increase of K sub CL in the crack wake was found to be significantly higher for plasticity induced closure in comparison to roughness induced closure. Roughness induced closure was uniform throughout the thickness of the specimen while plasticity induced closure levels were 50 percent higher in the near surface region than in the midthickness. The influence of state of stress on low-high load interaction effects was also examined. Load interaction effects differed depending upon the state of stress and were explained in terms of delta K sub eff.

Influence of fatigue crack wake length and state of stress on crack closure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Telesman, Jack; Fisher, Douglas M.

1988-01-01

The location of crack closure with respect to crack wake and specimen thickness under different loading conditions was determined. The rate of increase of K sub CL in the crack wake was found to be significantly higher for plasticity induced closure in comparison to roughness induced closure. Roughness induced closure was uniform throughout the thickness of the specimen while plasticity induced closure levels were 50 percent higher in the near surface region than in the midthickness. The influence of state of stress on low-high load interaction effects was also examined. Load interaction effects differed depending upon the state of stress and were explained in terms of delta K sub eff.