Sample records for cna reactor

  1. Small-scale nuclear reactors for remote military operations: opportunities and challenges

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-08-25

    study – Report was published in March 2011  CNA study identified challenges to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) at a base – Identified First-of...forward operating bases. The availability of deployable, cost-effective, regulated, and secure small modular reactors with a modest output electrical...defense committees on the challenges, operational requirements, constraints, cost, and life cycle analysis for a small modular reactor of less than 10

  2. Helium sequestration at nanoparticle-matrix interfaces in helium + heavy ion irradiated nanostructured ferritic alloys

    DOE PAGES

    Parish, Chad M.; Unocic, Kinga A.; Tan, Lizhen; ...

    2016-10-24

    Here we irradiated four ferritic alloys with energetic Fe and He ions: one castable nanostructured alloy (CNA) containing Ti-W-Ta-carbides, and three nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs). The NFAs were: 9Cr containing Y-Ti-O nanoclusters, and two Fe-12Cr-5Al NFAs containing Y-Zr-O or Y-Hf-O clusters. All four were subjected to simultaneous dual-beam Fe + He ion implantation (650 °C, ~50 dpa, ~15 appm He/dpa), simulating fusion-reactor conditions. Examination using scanning/transmission electron microscopy (STEM) revealed high-number-density helium bubbles of ~8 nm, ~10 21 m -3 (CNA), and of ~3 nm, 10 23 m -3 (NFAs). STEM combined with multivariate statistical analysis data mining suggests thatmore » the precipitate-matrix interfaces in all alloys survived ~50 dpa at 650 °C and serve as effective helium trapping sites. All alloys appear viable structural material candidates for fusion or advanced fission energy systems. Finally, among these developmental alloys the NFAs appear to sequester the helium into smaller bubbles and away from the grain boundaries more effectively than the early-generation CNA.« less

  3. VisualCNA: a GUI for interactive constraint network analysis and protein engineering for improving thermostability.

    PubMed

    Rathi, Prakash Chandra; Mulnaes, Daniel; Gohlke, Holger

    2015-07-15

    Constraint network analysis (CNA) is a graph theory-based rigidity analysis approach for linking a biomolecule's structure, flexibility, (thermo)stability and function. Results from CNA are highly information-rich and require intuitive, synchronized and interactive visualization for a comprehensive analysis. We developed VisualCNA, an easy-to-use PyMOL plug-in that allows setup of CNA runs and analysis of CNA results linking plots with molecular graphics representations. From a practical viewpoint, the most striking feature of VisualCNA is that it facilitates interactive protein engineering aimed at improving thermostability. VisualCNA and its dependencies (CNA and FIRST software) are available free of charge under GPL and academic licenses, respectively. VisualCNA and CNA are available at http://cpclab.uni-duesseldorf.de/software; FIRST is available at http://flexweb.asu.edu. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  4. An application programming interface for CellNetAnalyzer.

    PubMed

    Klamt, Steffen; von Kamp, Axel

    2011-08-01

    CellNetAnalyzer (CNA) is a MATLAB toolbox providing computational methods for studying structure and function of metabolic and cellular signaling networks. In order to allow non-experts to use these methods easily, CNA provides GUI-based interactive network maps as a means of parameter input and result visualization. However, with the availability of high-throughput data, there is a need to make CNA's functionality also accessible in batch mode for automatic data processing. Furthermore, as some algorithms of CNA are of general relevance for network analysis it would be desirable if they could be called as sub-routines by other applications. For this purpose, we developed an API (application programming interface) for CNA allowing users (i) to access the content of network models in CNA, (ii) to use CNA's network analysis capabilities independent of the GUI, and (iii) to interact with the GUI to facilitate the development of graphical plugins. Here we describe the organization of network projects in CNA and the application of the new API functions to these projects. This includes the creation of network projects from scratch, loading and saving of projects and scenarios, and the application of the actual analysis methods. Furthermore, API functions for the import/export of metabolic models in SBML format and for accessing the GUI are described. Lastly, two example applications demonstrate the use and versatile applicability of CNA's API. CNA is freely available for academic use and can be downloaded from http://www.mpi-magdeburg.mpg.de/projects/cna/cna.html. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Carbon nanotube aerogel-CoS2 hybrid catalytic counter electrodes for enhanced photovoltaic performance dye-sensitized solar cells.

    PubMed

    Liu, Tao; Mai, Xianmin; Chen, Haijun; Ren, Jing; Liu, Zheting; Li, Yingxiang; Gao, Lina; Wang, Ning; Zhang, Jiaoxia; He, Hongcai; Guo, Zhanhu

    2018-03-01

    The carbon nanotube aerogel (CNA) with an ultra-low density, three-dimensional network nanostructure, superior electronic conductivity and large surface area is being widely employed as a catalytic electrode and catalytic support. Impressively, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) assembled with a CNA counter electrode (CE) achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.28%, which exceeded that of the conventional platinum (Pt)-based DSSC (7.20%) under the same conditions. Furthermore, highly dispersed CoS 2 nanoparticles endowed with excellent intrinsic catalytic activity were hydrothermally incorporated to form a CNA-supported CoS 2 (CNA-CoS 2 ) CE, which was due to the large number of catalytically active sites and sufficient connections between CoS 2 and the CNA. The electrocatalytic ability and stability were systematically evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and Tafel polarization, which confirmed that the resultant CNA-CoS 2 hybrid CE exhibited a remarkably higher electrocatalytic activity toward I 3 - reduction, and faster ion diffusion and electron transfer than the pure CNA CE. Such cost-effective DSSCs assembled with an optimized CNA-CoS 2 CE yielded an enhanced PCE of 8.92%, comparable to that of the cell fabricated with the CNA-Pt hybrid CE reported in our published literature (9.04%). These results indicate that the CNA-CoS 2 CE can be considered as a promising candidate for Pt-free CEs used in low-cost and high-performance DSSCs.

  6. Characterization of calcineurin from Cryptococcus humicola and the application of calcineurin in aluminum tolerance.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Jing-Jing; Liu, Shuai; Nian, Hong-Juan; Chen, Li-Mei

    2017-03-29

    Calcineurin (CaN) is a Ca 2+ - and calmodulin (CaM)-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase. Previous studies have found that CaN is involved in the regulation of the stress responses. In this study, the growth of Cryptococcus humicola was inhibited by the CaN inhibitor tacrolimus (FK506) under aluminum (Al) stress. The expression of CNA encoding a catalytic subunit A (CNA) and its interaction with CaM were upregulated when the concentration of Al was increased. A CaM-binding domain and key amino acids responsible for interaction with CaM were identified. ∆CNAb with a deletion from S454 to A639 was detected to bind to CaM, while ∆CNAa with a deletion from R436 to A639 showed no binding to CaM. The binding affinities of CNA1 and CNA2, in which I439 or I443 were replaced by Ala, were decreased relative to wild-type CNA. The phosphatase activities of ∆CNAa, CNA1 and CNA2 were lower than the wild-type protein. These results suggest that the region between R436 and S454 is essential for the interaction with CaM and I439, I443 are key amino acids in this region. The ability of the CNA transgenic yeast to develop resistance to Al was significantly higher than that of control yeast. Residual Al in the CNA transgenic yeast culture media was significantly lower than the amount of Al originally added to the media or the residual Al remaining in the control yeast culture media. These findings suggest that CNA confers Al tolerance, and the mechanism of Al tolerance may involve absorption of active Al. Al stress up-regulated the expression of CNA. CaM-binding domain and key amino acids responsible for interaction with CaM were identified and both are required for phosphatase activities. CNA conferred yeast Al resistance indicating that the gene has a potential to improve Al-tolerance through gene engineering.

  7. CNA-loaded PLGA nanoparticles improve humoral response againstS. aureus-mediated infections in a mouse model: subcutaneous vs. nasal administration strategy.

    PubMed

    Genta, Ida; Colonna, Claudia; Conti, Bice; Caliceti, Paolo; Salmaso, Stefano; Speziale, Pietro; Pietrocola, Giampiero; Chiesa, Enrica; Modena, Tiziana; Dorati, Rossella

    2016-12-01

    The aim of this work was the assessment of the "in vivo" immune response of a poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-based nanoparticulate adjuvant for a sub-unit vaccine, namely, a purified recombinant collagen-binding bacterial adhesion fragment (CNA19), against Staphylococcus aureus-mediated infections. "In vivo" immunogenicity studies were performed on mice: immunisation protocols encompassed subcutaneous and intranasal administration of CNA19 formulated as nanoparticles (NPs) and furthermore, CNA19-loaded NPs formulated in a set-up thermosetting chitosan-β-glycerolphosphate (chitosan-β-GP) solution for intranasal route in order to extend antigen exposure to nasal mucosa. CNA19 loaded NPs (mean size of about 195 nm, 9.04 ± 0.37μg/mg as CNA19 loading capacity) confirmed as suitable vaccine for subcutaneous administration with a more pronounced adjuvant effect (about 3-fold higher) with respect to aluminium, recognised as "reference" adjuvant. CNA19 loaded NPs formulated in an optimised thermogelling chitosan-β-GP solution showed promising results for eliciting an effective humoral response and a good chance as intranasal boosting dose.

  8. Rules of performance in the nursing home: A grounded theory of nurse-CNA communication.

    PubMed

    Madden, Connie; Clayton, Margaret; Canary, Heather E; Towsley, Gail; Cloyes, Kristin; Lund, Dale

    This study offers an initial theoretical understanding of nurse-CNA communication processes from the perspectives of nurses and CNAs who are providing direct care to residents in nursing homes. A grounded theory approach provided an understanding of nurse-CNA communication process within the complexities of the nursing home setting. Four themes (maintaining information flow, following procedure, fostering collegiality, and showing respect) describe the "rules of performance" that intertwine in nuanced relationships to guide nurse-CNA communication processes. Understanding how these rules of performance guide nurse-CNA communication processes, and how they are positively and negatively influenced, suggests that nurse-CNA communication during direct care of nursing home residents could be improved through policy and education that is specifically designed to be relevant and applicable to direct care providers in the nursing home environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. CNA web server: rigidity theory-based thermal unfolding simulations of proteins for linking structure, (thermo-)stability, and function.

    PubMed

    Krüger, Dennis M; Rathi, Prakash Chandra; Pfleger, Christopher; Gohlke, Holger

    2013-07-01

    The Constraint Network Analysis (CNA) web server provides a user-friendly interface to the CNA approach developed in our laboratory for linking results from rigidity analyses to biologically relevant characteristics of a biomolecular structure. The CNA web server provides a refined modeling of thermal unfolding simulations that considers the temperature dependence of hydrophobic tethers and computes a set of global and local indices for quantifying biomacromolecular stability. From the global indices, phase transition points are identified where the structure switches from a rigid to a floppy state; these phase transition points can be related to a protein's (thermo-)stability. Structural weak spots (unfolding nuclei) are automatically identified, too; this knowledge can be exploited in data-driven protein engineering. The local indices are useful in linking flexibility and function and to understand the impact of ligand binding on protein flexibility. The CNA web server robustly handles small-molecule ligands in general. To overcome issues of sensitivity with respect to the input structure, the CNA web server allows performing two ensemble-based variants of thermal unfolding simulations. The web server output is provided as raw data, plots and/or Jmol representations. The CNA web server, accessible at http://cpclab.uni-duesseldorf.de/cna or http://www.cnanalysis.de, is free and open to all users with no login requirement.

  10. CNA web server: rigidity theory-based thermal unfolding simulations of proteins for linking structure, (thermo-)stability, and function

    PubMed Central

    Krüger, Dennis M.; Rathi, Prakash Chandra; Pfleger, Christopher; Gohlke, Holger

    2013-01-01

    The Constraint Network Analysis (CNA) web server provides a user-friendly interface to the CNA approach developed in our laboratory for linking results from rigidity analyses to biologically relevant characteristics of a biomolecular structure. The CNA web server provides a refined modeling of thermal unfolding simulations that considers the temperature dependence of hydrophobic tethers and computes a set of global and local indices for quantifying biomacromolecular stability. From the global indices, phase transition points are identified where the structure switches from a rigid to a floppy state; these phase transition points can be related to a protein’s (thermo-)stability. Structural weak spots (unfolding nuclei) are automatically identified, too; this knowledge can be exploited in data-driven protein engineering. The local indices are useful in linking flexibility and function and to understand the impact of ligand binding on protein flexibility. The CNA web server robustly handles small-molecule ligands in general. To overcome issues of sensitivity with respect to the input structure, the CNA web server allows performing two ensemble-based variants of thermal unfolding simulations. The web server output is provided as raw data, plots and/or Jmol representations. The CNA web server, accessible at http://cpclab.uni-duesseldorf.de/cna or http://www.cnanalysis.de, is free and open to all users with no login requirement. PMID:23609541

  11. Retirement Choice 2015

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-11-01

    and Aline Quester November 2015 Copyright © 2015 CNA This document contains the best opinion of CNA at the time of issue. It does...RetirementChoiceCalculator.aspx. 3 The original paper was by Aline O. Quester and Lewis G. Lee, The Retirement Choice: FY 2006, CNA Research

  12. Retirement Choice 2015

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-11-01

    and Aline Quester November 2015 Copyright © 2015 CNA This document contains the best opinion of CNA at the time of issue. It does...by Aline O. Quester and Lewis G. Lee, The Retirement Choice: FY 2006, CNA Research Memorandum D0003713.A6/4REV, Oct. 2005. 2 First

  13. 75 FR 6682 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-02-10

    ... Information Collection: Comment Request; Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) AGENCY: Office of the Assistant.... This Notice also lists the following information: Title of Proposal: Capital Needs Assessment (CNA...-96001 Unit Survey Comprehensive Needs Assessment; Form HUD-96002 Project Profile Comprehensive Needs...

  14. 78 FR 40310 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-03

    ... Information Collection: Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer... Collection Title of Information Collection: Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA). OMB Approval Number: 2502... provide a copy to HUD. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: Collecting this...

  15. 78 FR 19509 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-01

    ... Information Collection: Comment Request; Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) AGENCY: Office of the Assistant... information: Title of Proposal: Capital Needs Assessment (CNA). OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2502-0505. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: Collecting this information is required for...

  16. Effect of drink flavor and NaCL on voluntary drinking and hydration in boys exercising in the heat.

    PubMed

    Wilk, B; Bar-Or, O

    1996-04-01

    This study was intended to assess the influence of drink flavor and composition on voluntary drinking and hydration status in children exercising intermittently at 35 +/- 1 degrees C and 45-50% relative humidity. Twelve boys (9-12 yr) performed three 3-h identical sessions (four 20-min cycling bouts at 50% maximal O2 uptake followed by 25-min rest). One of three beverages (chilled to 8-10 degrees C) was assigned to each session in a Latin-square sequence: unflavored water (W), grape-flavored water (FW), and grape-flavored water plus 6% carbohydrate and 18 mmol/l NaCl (CNa). Drinking was ad libitum. Body weight, heart rate, rectal and skin temperatures, and thirst and stomach fullness perceptions were monitored periodically. Total intake was 610, 882, and 1,157 g in W, FW, and CNa, respectively (CNa-W and CNa-FW; P < 0.05). Hypohydration was observed with W (-0.65% body wt) and FW (-0.32% body wt), but drinking CNa resulted in slight overhydration (+0.47% body wt, CNa-W, CNa-FW; P < 0.05). Other physiological and all perceptual variables were insignificantly different among trails. In conclusion, while flavoring of water reduces children's voluntary dehydration, further addition of 6% carbohydrates and 18 mmol/l NaCl prevents it altogether.

  17. Reasons for referral and findings of clinical neuropsychological assessment in youth with mental illness: A clinical file audit.

    PubMed

    Proffitt, Tina-Marie; Brewer, Warrick J; Parrish, Emma M; McGorry, Patrick D; Allott, Kelly A

    2018-01-01

    Study aims were to 1) determine the characteristics and reasons for referral for Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment (CNA) and 2) characterize the findings and recommendations contained in the CNA reports, of clients attending a youth mental health service. File audit of all CNA reports (N = 140) of youth attending a mental health service. Cognitive performances on neuropsychological tests that were administered to >50% of clients were examined. Referral reasons, findings, and recommendations for future treatment were coded and described from neuropsychological files. Age of clients referred for CNA ranged from 13-29, the majority were male (62.5%), referred primarily from the early psychosis clinic (63.2%), and had a mean number of 3.5 presenting problems. Cognitive performances ranged from extremely low to very superior. Mean number of reasons for referral was 2, with treatment recommendation (55%) and diagnostic clarification (50.7%) being the most common. Mean number of findings from CNA was 5.8; most commonly, a diagnosis of clinically meaningful cognitive impairment (85%), followed by a recommendations for additional services/investigations (77.1%). CNA provides diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations for youth receiving mental health treatment. Future studies should examine the cost-effectiveness, implementation, and objective impact of CNA in clinical practice.

  18. Constraint Network Analysis (CNA): a Python software package for efficiently linking biomacromolecular structure, flexibility, (thermo-)stability, and function.

    PubMed

    Pfleger, Christopher; Rathi, Prakash Chandra; Klein, Doris L; Radestock, Sebastian; Gohlke, Holger

    2013-04-22

    For deriving maximal advantage from information on biomacromolecular flexibility and rigidity, results from rigidity analyses must be linked to biologically relevant characteristics of a structure. Here, we describe the Python-based software package Constraint Network Analysis (CNA) developed for this task. CNA functions as a front- and backend to the graph-based rigidity analysis software FIRST. CNA goes beyond the mere identification of flexible and rigid regions in a biomacromolecule in that it (I) provides a refined modeling of thermal unfolding simulations that also considers the temperature-dependence of hydrophobic tethers, (II) allows performing rigidity analyses on ensembles of network topologies, either generated from structural ensembles or by using the concept of fuzzy noncovalent constraints, and (III) computes a set of global and local indices for quantifying biomacromolecular stability. This leads to more robust results from rigidity analyses and extends the application domain of rigidity analyses in that phase transition points ("melting points") and unfolding nuclei ("structural weak spots") are determined automatically. Furthermore, CNA robustly handles small-molecule ligands in general. Such advancements are important for applying rigidity analysis to data-driven protein engineering and for estimating the influence of ligand molecules on biomacromolecular stability. CNA maintains the efficiency of FIRST such that the analysis of a single protein structure takes a few seconds for systems of several hundred residues on a single core. These features make CNA an interesting tool for linking biomacromolecular structure, flexibility, (thermo-)stability, and function. CNA is available from http://cpclab.uni-duesseldorf.de/software for nonprofit organizations.

  19. CNA empowerment: effects on job performance and work attitudes.

    PubMed

    Cready, Cynthia M; Yeatts, Dale E; Gosdin, Melissa M; Potts, Helen F

    2008-03-01

    In this analysis, the effects of empowerment were examined among a sample of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) representing a wide range of empowerment levels. On the basis of survey responses from 298 CNAs and 136 nurses in five nursing homes where CNA-empowered work teams had been implemented and five nursing homes with more traditional management approaches, the results indicated that CNA empowerment had a variety of effects. CNAs with high empowerment and the nurses who worked with them tended to report better CNA performance and work-related attitudes. Both were also less likely to be thinking about leaving their jobs. With the help of lessons learned from new culture change initiatives, and with commitment, effort, and attention, nursing homes and other health care providers can reap the benefits associated with employee empowerment strategies, such as CNA-empowered work teams.

  20. Molecular mechanics of Staphylococcus aureus adhesin, CNA, and the inhibition of bacterial adhesion by stretching collagen

    PubMed Central

    Madani, Ali; Garakani, Kiavash

    2017-01-01

    Bacterial adhesion to collagen, the most abundant protein in humans, is a critical step in the initiation and persistence of numerous bacterial infections. In this study, we explore the collagen binding mechanism of the multi-modular cell wall anchored collagen adhesin (CNA) in Staphylococcus aureus and examine how applied mechanical forces can modulate adhesion ability. The common structural-functional elements and domain organization of CNA are present across over 50 genera of bacteria. Through the use of molecular dynamics models and normal mode analysis, we shed light on the CNA’s structural and conformational dynamics and its interactions with collagen that lead to collagen binding. Our results suggest that the linker region, CNA165-173, acts as a hinge exhibiting bending, extensional, and torsional modes of structural flexibility and its residues are key in the interaction of the CNA-collagen complex. Steered molecular dynamics simulations were conducted with umbrella sampling. During the course of these simulations, the ‘locking’ latch from the CNA N2 domain was dissociated from its groove in the CNA N1 domain, implying the importance of the latch for effective ligand binding. Finally, we observed that the binding efficiency of the CNA N1-N2 domains to collagen decreases greatly with increasing tensile force application to the collagen peptides. Thus, CNA and similar adhesins might preferentially bind to sites in which collagen fibers are cleaved, such as in wounded, injured, or inflamed tissues, or in which the collagenous tissue is less mature. As alternative techniques for control of bacterial infection are in-demand due to the rise of bacterial antibiotic resistance, results from our computational studies with respect to the mechanoregulation of the collagen binding site may inspire new therapeutics and engineering solutions by mechanically preventing colonization and/or further pathogenesis. PMID:28665944

  1. Combined treatment with cotylenin A and phenethyl isothiocyanate induces strong antitumor activity mainly through the induction of ferroptotic cell death in human pancreatic cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Kasukabe, Takashi; Honma, Yoshio; Okabe-Kado, Junko; Higuchi, Yusuke; Kato, Nobuo; Kumakura, Shunichi

    2016-08-01

    The treatment of pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal tract malignancies, with current chemotherapeutic drugs has had limited success due to its chemoresistance and poor prognosis. Therefore, the development of new drugs or effective combination therapies is urgently needed. Cotylenin A (CN-A) (a plant growth regulator) is a potent inducer of differentiation in myeloid leukemia cells and exhibits potent antitumor activities in several cancer cell lines. In the present study, we demonstrated that CN-A and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), an inducer of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a dietary anticarcinogenic compound, synergistically inhibited the proliferation of MIAPaCa-2, PANC-1 and gemcitabine-resistant PANC-1 cells. A combined treatment with CN-A and PEITC also effectively inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of these cancer cells. The combined treatment with CN-A and PEITC strongly induced cell death within 1 day at concentrations at which CN-A or PEITC alone did not affect cell viability. A combined treatment with synthetic CN-A derivatives (ISIR-005 and ISIR-042) or fusicoccin J (CN-A-related natural product) and PEITC did not have synergistic effects on cell death. The combined treatment with CN-A and PEITC synergistically induced the generation of ROS. Antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine and trolox), ferroptosis inhibitors (ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin), and the lysosomal iron chelator deferoxamine canceled the synergistic cell death. Apoptosis inhibitors (Z-VAD-FMK and Q-VD-OPH) and the necrosis inhibitor necrostatin-1s did not inhibit synergistic cell death. Autophagy inhibitors (3-metyladenine and chloroquine) partially prevented cell death. These results show that synergistic cell death induced by the combined treatment with CN-A and PEITC is mainly due to the induction of ferroptosis. Therefore, the combination of CN-A and PEITC has potential as a novel therapeutic strategy against pancreatic cancer.

  2. The U.S. Navy in the World (1991-2000): Context for U.S. Navy Capstone Strategies and Concepts

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-01

    D0026420.A2/Final March 2012 CNA ANALYSIS & SOLUTIONS CNA is a not-for-profit organization whose professional staff of over 700 provides in-depth...www.dtic.mil or contact CNA Document Control and Distribution Section at 703-824-2123. Copyright © 2012 CNA This work was created in the performance of...N00014-11-D-0323 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER N/A 6. AUTHOR(S) Swartz, Peter M. Duggan, Karin 5d. PROJECT NUMBER N/A 5e. TASK

  3. Alternating magnetic field-induced hyperthermia increases iron oxide nanoparticle cell association/uptake and flux in blood-brain barrier models.

    PubMed

    Dan, Mo; Bae, Younsoo; Pittman, Thomas A; Yokel, Robert A

    2015-05-01

    Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are being investigated for brain cancer therapy because alternating magnetic field (AMF) activates them to produce hyperthermia. For central nervous system applications, brain entry of diagnostic and therapeutic agents is usually essential. We hypothesized that AMF-induced hyperthermia significantly increases IONP blood-brain barrier (BBB) association/uptake and flux. Cross-linked nanoassemblies loaded with IONPs (CNA-IONPs) and conventional citrate-coated IONPs (citrate-IONPs) were synthesized and characterized in house. CNA-IONP and citrate-IONP BBB cell association/uptake and flux were studied using two BBB Transwell(®) models (bEnd.3 and MDCKII cells) after conventional and AMF-induced hyperthermia exposure. AMF-induced hyperthermia for 0.5 h did not alter CNA-IONP size but accelerated citrate-IONP agglomeration. AMF-induced hyperthermia for 0.5 h enhanced CNA-IONP and citrate-IONP BBB cell association/uptake. It also enhanced the flux of CNA-IONPs across the two in vitro BBB models compared to conventional hyperthermia and normothermia, in the absence of cell death. Citrate-IONP flux was not observed under these conditions. AMF-induced hyperthermia also significantly enhanced paracellular pathway flux. The mechanism appears to involve more than the increased temperature surrounding the CNA-IONPs. Hyperthermia induced by AMF activation of CNA-IONPs has potential to increase the BBB permeability of therapeutics for the diagnosis and therapy of various brain diseases.

  4. Needs Assessment Studies of Certified Nurse Assistants and Administrators. Volume XXII, No. 7.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fair, Lillian; And Others

    As part of an educational needs assessment, a survey was conducted by William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) in Palatine, Illinois, of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and of administrators at institutions known to employ CNA's. Survey instruments were mailed to two groups. The first group, 153 administrators at institutions employing CNA's, were…

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

    Tahvanainen, E.; Karila, E.; Kolehmainen, J.

    We recently assigned a gene for autosomal recessive cornea plana congenita (CNA2; MIM No. 217300) by linkage analysis to the approximately 3-cM interval between markers D12S82 and D12S327. Here, we extended these studies by exploiting the haplotype and linkage disequilibrium information that can be derived from the genetically isolated Finnish population and its subpopulations. By testing 32 independent families with 10 polymorphic markers in the CNA2 interval, strong allelic association between CNA2 and a set of markers with a peak at marker D12S351 was detected. Based on linkage disequilibrium analysis, the critical region for CNA2 could be narrowed to onlymore » 0.04-0.3 cM from marker D12S351, thus defining a critical interval 0.08-0.60 cM in length. These results provide a basis for highly focused positional cloning of CNA2. 18 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.« less

  6. Three Perspectives on Getting Data Right: An Introduction to CNA Education's IRC Paper Series

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Muller, Robert D.

    2011-01-01

    As a research and technical assistance organization, CNA Education would be the last to deny the importance of good data and the first to applaud efforts to improve the quality and scope of the data available. Solid data are critical to CNA's mission to further general understanding of the efficacy of specific education reform initiatives and to…

  7. CEQer: a graphical tool for copy number and allelic imbalance detection from whole-exome sequencing data.

    PubMed

    Piazza, Rocco; Magistroni, Vera; Pirola, Alessandra; Redaelli, Sara; Spinelli, Roberta; Redaelli, Serena; Galbiati, Marta; Valletta, Simona; Giudici, Giovanni; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Gambacorti-Passerini, Carlo

    2013-01-01

    Copy number alterations (CNA) are common events occurring in leukaemias and solid tumors. Comparative Genome Hybridization (CGH) is actually the gold standard technique to analyze CNAs; however, CGH analysis requires dedicated instruments and is able to perform only low resolution Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH) analyses. Here we present CEQer (Comparative Exome Quantification analyzer), a new graphical, event-driven tool for CNA/allelic-imbalance (AI) coupled analysis of exome sequencing data. By using case-control matched exome data, CEQer performs a comparative digital exonic quantification to generate CNA data and couples this information with exome-wide LOH and allelic imbalance detection. This data is used to build mixed statistical/heuristic models allowing the identification of CNA/AI events. To test our tool, we initially used in silico generated data, then we performed whole-exome sequencing from 20 leukemic specimens and corresponding matched controls and we analyzed the results using CEQer. Taken globally, these analyses showed that the combined use of comparative digital exon quantification and LOH/AI allows generating very accurate CNA data. Therefore, we propose CEQer as an efficient, robust and user-friendly graphical tool for the identification of CNA/AI in the context of whole-exome sequencing data.

  8. Isopeptide bonds of the major pilin protein BcpA influence pilus structure and bundle formation on the surface of Bacillus cereus

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

    Hendrickx, Antoni P.A.; Poor, Catherine B.; Jureller, Justin E.

    Bacillus cereus strains elaborate pili on their surface using a mechanism of sortase-mediated cross-linking of major and minor pilus components. Here we used a combination of electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to visualize these structures. Pili occur as single, double or higher order assemblies of filaments formed from monomers of the major pilin, BcpA, capped by the minor pilin, BcpB. Previous studies demonstrated that within assembled pili, four domains of BcpA -- CNA{sub 1}, CNA{sub 2}, XNA and CNA{sub 3} -- each acquire intramolecular lysine-asparagine isopeptide bonds formed via catalytic glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues. Here we showedmore » that mutants unable to form the intramolecular isopeptide bonds in the CNA2 or CNA3 domains retain the ability to form pilus bundles. A mutant lacking the CNA{sub 1} isopeptide bond assembled deformed pilin subunits that failed to associate as bundles. X-ray crystallography revealed that the BcpA variant Asp{sup 312}Ala, lacking an aspartyl catalyst, did not generate the isopeptide bond within the jelly-roll structure of XNA. The Asp{sup 312}Ala mutant was also unable to form bundles and promoted the assembly of deformed pili. Thus, structural integrity of the CNA{sub 1} and XNA domains are determinants for the association of pili into higher order bundle structures and determine native pilus structure.« less

  9. Genotoxic potential of montmorillonite clay mineral and alteration in the expression of genes involved in toxicity mechanisms in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

    PubMed

    Maisanaba, Sara; Hercog, Klara; Filipic, Metka; Jos, Ángeles; Zegura, Bojana

    2016-03-05

    Montmorillonite, also known as Cloisite(®)Na(+) (CNa(+)), is a natural clay with a wide range of well-documented and novel applications, such as pharmaceutical products or food packaging. Although considered a low toxic product, the expected increased exposure to CNa(+) arises concern on the potential consequences on human and environmental health especially as its genotoxicity has scarcely been investigated so far. Thus, we investigated, for the first time, the influence of non-cytotoxic concentrations of CNa(+) (15.65, 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL) on genomic instability of human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) by determining the formation of micronuclei (MNi), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (NBUDs) with the Cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome assay. Further on we studied the influence of CNa(+) on the expression of several genes involved in toxicity mechanisms using the real-time quantitative PCR. The results showed that CNa(+) increased the number of MNi, while the numbers of NBUDs and NPBs were not affected. In addition it deregulated genes in all the groups studied, mainly after longer time of exposure. These findings provide the evidence that CNa(+) is potentially genotoxic. Therefore further studies that will elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in toxic activity of CNa(+) are needed for hazard identification and human safety assessment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Population Representation in the Military Services: Fiscal Year 2015 Summary Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-01-24

    efficient. Major areas of research include health research and policy; energy and environment; manpower management; acquisition and cost; infrastructure...document shall be referred to CNA Document Center at inquiries@cna.org. January 2017 Anita Hattiangadi, Research Team Leader Resource...available online at https://www.cna.org/ research /pop-rep. 3 market, which, although improving in FY15, produced a prolonged period of historically

  11. X-ray crystal structures of Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin and sortases

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zong, Yinong

    For many gram-positive bacteria, adhesion to host tissues is the first critical step in developing an infection. The adhesion is mediated by a superfamily of bacterial surface proteins, called MSCRAMM (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules), which in most cases are covalently attached to the cell wall peptidoglycan. Collagen adhesin (CNA) from Staphylococcus aureus, one of the MSCRAMMs, is responsible for bacterial binding to collagen molecules. CNA and other MSCRAMMs are anchored to the cell wall by a transpeptidase, sortase. The knowledge about how bacterial surface proteins adhere to host molecules and how they are sorted onto the cell wall is crucial for the design of novel antibiotics against bacterial infections. The crystal structures of CNA31--344 (residue 31 to 334), a truncation of CNA's collagen binding region, and CNA31--344 in complex with a collagen peptide were determined. CNA31--344 contains two domains, and between them is a big hole formed by a loop connecting the two domains. In the structure of CNA31--344-collagen complex, the collagen peptide is locked in the hole formed by the two domains of CNA 31--344. We reason that the two domains of CNA31--344 are open in the physiological condition, and close up when binding to collagen. This binding mechanism may be common for other bacterial collagen adhesins. There are two known sortases in Staphylococcus aureus. Sortase A is responsible for anchoring most MSCRAMMs that have a LPXTG (X represents any amino acid) sorting motif and sortase B for a bacterial ion acquisition protein. The crystal structures of both sortases indicate that they share a common catalytic mechanism. Unlike typical cysteine transpeptidases, sortases may use a novel Cys-Arg catalytic dyad instead of a Cys-His pair. All other sortases found in gram-positive bacteria may have similar active site architecture and employ the same catalytic dyad because the critical residues are all conserved among them. The structures of sortases in complex with their substrates and inhibitors are also useful to explain their substrate specificity and catalytic kinetics.

  12. Ab initio investigation on the valence and dipole-bound states of CNa - and SiNa -

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalcher, Josef; Sax, Alexander F.

    2000-08-01

    CNa - and SiNa - have been studied by the CAS-ACPF method. The 3Σ- ground states have binding energies of 5420 and 7517 cm -1, respectively. The 5Σ- excited states are 494 and 1551 cm -1 above the respective ground states. The 1Δ , 3Π , and 1Π valence-excited states for SiNa - should be at least metastable. CNa - and SiNa - possess dipole-bound 5Σ- and 3Σ- states. Binding energies of these states in CNa - are 217 and 236 cm -1, respectively. SiNa - has two stable 5Σ- dipole-bound states, whose binding energies are 246 and 118 cm -1, respectively.

  13. CEQer: A Graphical Tool for Copy Number and Allelic Imbalance Detection from Whole-Exome Sequencing Data

    PubMed Central

    Piazza, Rocco; Magistroni, Vera; Pirola, Alessandra; Redaelli, Sara; Spinelli, Roberta; Redaelli, Serena; Galbiati, Marta; Valletta, Simona; Giudici, Giovanni; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Gambacorti-Passerini, Carlo

    2013-01-01

    Copy number alterations (CNA) are common events occurring in leukaemias and solid tumors. Comparative Genome Hybridization (CGH) is actually the gold standard technique to analyze CNAs; however, CGH analysis requires dedicated instruments and is able to perform only low resolution Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH) analyses. Here we present CEQer (Comparative Exome Quantification analyzer), a new graphical, event-driven tool for CNA/allelic-imbalance (AI) coupled analysis of exome sequencing data. By using case-control matched exome data, CEQer performs a comparative digital exonic quantification to generate CNA data and couples this information with exome-wide LOH and allelic imbalance detection. This data is used to build mixed statistical/heuristic models allowing the identification of CNA/AI events. To test our tool, we initially used in silico generated data, then we performed whole-exome sequencing from 20 leukemic specimens and corresponding matched controls and we analyzed the results using CEQer. Taken globally, these analyses showed that the combined use of comparative digital exon quantification and LOH/AI allows generating very accurate CNA data. Therefore, we propose CEQer as an efficient, robust and user-friendly graphical tool for the identification of CNA/AI in the context of whole-exome sequencing data. PMID:24124457

  14. Visualisation of Collagen in fixed skeletal muscle tissue using fluorescently tagged Collagen binding protein CNA35.

    PubMed

    Mohammadkhah, Melika; Simms, Ciaran K; Murphy, Paula

    2017-02-01

    Detection and visualisation of Collagen structure are important to understand the relationship between mechanical behaviour and microstructure in skeletal muscle since Collagen is the main structural protein in animal connective tissues, and is primarily responsible for their passive load-bearing properties. In the current study, the direct detection and visualization of Collagen using fluorescently tagged CNA35 binding protein (fused to EGFP or tdTomato) is reported for the first time on fixed skeletal muscle tissue. This Technical Note also establishes a working protocol by examining tissue preparation, dilution factor, exposure time etc. for sensitivity and specificity. Penetration of the binding protein into intact mature skeletal muscle was found to be very limited, but detection works well on tissue sections with higher sensitivity on wax embedded sections compared to frozen sections. CNA35 fused to tdTomato has a higher sensitivity than CNA35 fused to EGFP but both show specific detection. Best results were obtained with 15μm wax embedded sections, with blocking of non-specific binding in 1% BSA and antigen retrieval in Sodium Citrate. There was a play-off between dilution of the binding protein and time of incubation but both CNA35-tdTomato and CNA35-EGFP worked well with approximately 100μg/ml of purified protein with overnight incubation, while CNA35-tdTomato could be utilized at 5 fold less concentration. This approach can be applied to study the relationship between skeletal muscle micro-structure and to observe mechanical response to applied deformation. It can be used more broadly to detect Collagen in a variety of fixed tissues, useful for structure-functions studies, constitutive modelling, tissue engineering and assessment of muscle tissue pathologies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Oxytocin administration in the basolateral and central nuclei of amygdala moderately suppresses food intake.

    PubMed

    Klockars, Oscar A; Klockars, Anica; Levine, Allen S; Olszewski, Pawel K

    2018-04-11

    Oxytocin (OT) at acting central nuclei decreases meal size and reduces intake of palatable sweet solutions. It remains largely unclear as to which brain sites mediate OT's effect on palatability versus energy or the combination of those aspects of consumption. Here, we expanded the search for sites that mediate anorexigenic properties of OT by focusing on two subdivisions of the amygdala, its central (CNA) and basolateral (BLA) nuclei. We injected OT directly into the BLA or CNA in rats and assessed intake of standard chow induced by energy deprivation and intake of sweet solutions in nondeprived animals. We examined whether these effects are reversible by OT receptor (OTr) antagonism and whether OT presence in BLA or CNA induces taste aversion. We also determined the effect of energy deprivation and exposure to sweet saccharin on BLA and CNA expression of OTr mRNA. OT administration in BLA at 0.3 μg and in CNA at 1 μg reduced standard chow intake after deprivation by ~25%. Only administration of OT in BLA was effective in suppressing consumption of sucrose and saccharin solutions. The anorexigenic effects of OT in BLA and CNA were attenuated by OTr antagonist, L-368,899, pretreatment. OT at anorexigenic doses did not promote acquisition of taste aversion. BLA OTr mRNA expression was affected by exposure to palatable saccharin, whereas that of CNA OTr, by energy deprivation. OT in the amygdala moderately decreases food intake. The functional relationship between amygdalar OT and energy intake versus palatability-driven intake depends on the discrete localization of the OTr within this complex structure.

  16. Colorful protein-based fluorescent probes for collagen imaging.

    PubMed

    Aper, Stijn J A; van Spreeuwel, Ariane C C; van Turnhout, Mark C; van der Linden, Ardjan J; Pieters, Pascal A; van der Zon, Nick L L; de la Rambelje, Sander L; Bouten, Carlijn V C; Merkx, Maarten

    2014-01-01

    Real-time visualization of collagen is important in studies on tissue formation and remodeling in the research fields of developmental biology and tissue engineering. Our group has previously reported on a fluorescent probe for the specific imaging of collagen in live tissue in situ, consisting of the native collagen binding protein CNA35 labeled with fluorescent dye Oregon Green 488 (CNA35-OG488). The CNA35-OG488 probe has become widely used for collagen imaging. To allow for the use of CNA35-based probes in a broader range of applications, we here present a toolbox of six genetically-encoded collagen probes which are fusions of CNA35 to fluorescent proteins that span the visible spectrum: mTurquoise2, EGFP, mAmetrine, LSSmOrange, tdTomato and mCherry. While CNA35-OG488 requires a chemical conjugation step for labeling with the fluorescent dye, these protein-based probes can be easily produced in high yields by expression in E. coli and purified in one step using Ni2+-affinity chromatography. The probes all bind specifically to collagen, both in vitro and in porcine pericardial tissue. Some first applications of the probes are shown in multicolor imaging of engineered tissue and two-photon imaging of collagen in human skin. The fully-genetic encoding of the new probes makes them easily accessible to all scientists interested in collagen formation and remodeling.

  17. Stratification of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) genomes by gene-directed copy number alteration (CNA) analysis

    PubMed Central

    Thiesen, H.-J.; Steinbeck, F.; Maruschke, M.; Koczan, D.; Ziems, B.; Hakenberg, O. W.

    2017-01-01

    Tumorigenic processes are understood to be driven by epi-/genetic and genomic alterations from single point mutations to chromosomal alterations such as insertions and deletions of nucleotides up to gains and losses of large chromosomal fragments including products of chromosomal rearrangements e.g. fusion genes and proteins. Overall comparisons of copy number alterations (CNAs) presented in 48 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) genomes resulted in ratios of gene losses versus gene gains between 26 ccRCC Fuhrman malignancy grades G1 (ratio 1.25) and 20 G3 (ratio 0.58). Gene losses and gains of 15762 CNA genes were mapped to 795 chromosomal cytoband loci including 280 KEGG pathways. CNAs were classified according to their contribution to Fuhrman tumour gradings G1 and G3. Gene gains and losses turned out to be highly structured processes in ccRCC genomes enabling the subclassification and stratification of ccRCC tumours in a genome-wide manner. CNAs of ccRCC seem to start with common tumour related gene losses flanked by CNAs specifying Fuhrman grade G1 losses and CNA gains favouring grade G3 tumours. The appearance of recurrent CNA signatures implies the presence of causal mechanisms most likely implicated in the pathogenesis and disease-outcome of ccRCC tumours distinguishing lower from higher malignant tumours. The diagnostic quality of initial 201 genes (108 genes supporting G1 and 93 genes G3 phenotypes) has been successfully validated on published Swiss data (GSE19949) leading to a restricted CNA gene set of 171 CNA genes of which 85 genes favour Fuhrman grade G1 and 86 genes Fuhrman grade G3. Regarding these gene sets overall survival decreased with the number of G3 related gene losses plus G3 related gene gains. CNA gene sets presented define an entry to a gene-directed and pathway-related functional understanding of ongoing copy number alterations within and between individual ccRCC tumours leading to CNA genes of prognostic and predictive value. PMID:28486536

  18. Stratification of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) genomes by gene-directed copy number alteration (CNA) analysis.

    PubMed

    Thiesen, H-J; Steinbeck, F; Maruschke, M; Koczan, D; Ziems, B; Hakenberg, O W

    2017-01-01

    Tumorigenic processes are understood to be driven by epi-/genetic and genomic alterations from single point mutations to chromosomal alterations such as insertions and deletions of nucleotides up to gains and losses of large chromosomal fragments including products of chromosomal rearrangements e.g. fusion genes and proteins. Overall comparisons of copy number alterations (CNAs) presented in 48 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) genomes resulted in ratios of gene losses versus gene gains between 26 ccRCC Fuhrman malignancy grades G1 (ratio 1.25) and 20 G3 (ratio 0.58). Gene losses and gains of 15762 CNA genes were mapped to 795 chromosomal cytoband loci including 280 KEGG pathways. CNAs were classified according to their contribution to Fuhrman tumour gradings G1 and G3. Gene gains and losses turned out to be highly structured processes in ccRCC genomes enabling the subclassification and stratification of ccRCC tumours in a genome-wide manner. CNAs of ccRCC seem to start with common tumour related gene losses flanked by CNAs specifying Fuhrman grade G1 losses and CNA gains favouring grade G3 tumours. The appearance of recurrent CNA signatures implies the presence of causal mechanisms most likely implicated in the pathogenesis and disease-outcome of ccRCC tumours distinguishing lower from higher malignant tumours. The diagnostic quality of initial 201 genes (108 genes supporting G1 and 93 genes G3 phenotypes) has been successfully validated on published Swiss data (GSE19949) leading to a restricted CNA gene set of 171 CNA genes of which 85 genes favour Fuhrman grade G1 and 86 genes Fuhrman grade G3. Regarding these gene sets overall survival decreased with the number of G3 related gene losses plus G3 related gene gains. CNA gene sets presented define an entry to a gene-directed and pathway-related functional understanding of ongoing copy number alterations within and between individual ccRCC tumours leading to CNA genes of prognostic and predictive value.

  19. Growth of binary organic NLO crystals: m.NA-p.NA and m.NA-CNA system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Singh, N. B.; Henningsen, T.; Hopkins, R. H.; Mazelsky, R.

    1993-01-01

    Experiments were carried out to grow 3.Nitroaniline (m.NA) crystals doped with 4.Nitroaniline (p.NA) and 2.chloro 4.Nitroaniline (CNA). The measured undercooling for m.NA, p.NA, and CNA were 0.21 tm K, 0.23 tm K, and 0.35 tm K respectively, where tm represents the melting temperature of the pure component. Because of the crystals' large heat of fusion and large undercooling, it was not possible to grow good quality crystals with low thermal gradients. In the conventional two-zone Bridgman furnace we had to raise the temperature of the hot zone above the decomposition temperature of CNA, p.NA, and m.NA to achieve the desired thermal gradient. To avoid decomposition, we used an unconventional Bridgman furnace. Two immiscible liquids, silicone oil and ethylene glycol, were used to build a special two-zone Bridgman furnace. A temperature gradient of 18 K/cm was achieved without exceeding the decomposition temperature of the crystal. The binary crystals, m.NA-p.NA and m.NA-CNA, were grown in centimeter size in this furnace. X-ray and optical characterization showed good optical quality.

  20. Challenges for Navy Officer Personnel Management

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-04-01

    Aline Quester, Russell Beland, and William Mulligan. Ship Material Readiness. CNA Professional Paper 467 (Revised). Feb. 1991. 4825 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22311-1850 703-824-2000 www.cna.org DAB-2014-U-007152-Final-7

  1. Calcineurin plays key roles in the dimorphic transition and virulence of the human pathogenic zygomycete Mucor circinelloides.

    PubMed

    Lee, Soo Chan; Li, Alicia; Calo, Silvia; Heitman, Joseph

    2013-01-01

    Many pathogenic fungi are dimorphic and switch between yeast and filamentous states. This switch alters host-microbe interactions and is critical for pathogenicity. However, in zygomycetes, whether dimorphism contributes to virulence is a central unanswered question. The pathogenic zygomycete Mucor circinelloides exhibits hyphal growth in aerobic conditions but switches to multi-budded yeast growth under anaerobic/high CO₂ conditions. We found that in the presence of the calcineurin inhibitor FK506, Mucor exhibits exclusively multi-budded yeast growth. We also found that M. circinelloides encodes three calcineurin catalytic A subunits (CnaA, CnaB, and CnaC) and one calcineurin regulatory B subunit (CnbR). Mutations in the latch region of CnbR and in the FKBP12-FK506 binding domain of CnaA result in hyphal growth of Mucor in the presence of FK506. Disruption of the cnbR gene encoding the sole calcineurin B subunit necessary for calcineurin activity yielded mutants locked in permanent yeast phase growth. These findings reveal that the calcineurin pathway plays key roles in the dimorphic transition from yeast to hyphae. The cnbR yeast-locked mutants are less virulent than the wild-type strain in a heterologous host system, providing evidence that hyphae or the yeast-hyphal transition are linked to virulence. Protein kinase A activity (PKA) is elevated during yeast growth under anaerobic conditions, in the presence of FK506, or in the yeast-locked cnbR mutants, suggesting a novel connection between PKA and calcineurin. cnaA mutants lacking the CnaA catalytic subunit are hypersensitive to calcineurin inhibitors, display a hyphal polarity defect, and produce a mixture of yeast and hyphae in aerobic culture. The cnaA mutants also produce spores that are larger than wild-type, and spore size is correlated with virulence potential. Our results demonstrate that the calcineurin pathway orchestrates the yeast-hyphal and spore size dimorphic transitions that contribute to virulence of this common zygomycete fungal pathogen.

  2. Effect of dry heat and steam sterilization on load-deflection characteristics of β-titanium wires: An in vitro study

    PubMed Central

    Alavi, Shiva; Sinaee, Neda

    2012-01-01

    Background: Sterilization techniques could affect the characteristics of orthodontic wires. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of steam and dry heat sterilization techniques on load-deflection behavior of five types of β-titanium alloy wires. Materials and Methods: The samples consisted of 30 straight lengths of five types of β-titanium alloy wires: Titanium Molybdenum Alloy (TMA) Low Friction (TMAL), TMA Low Friction Colored (HONE), Resolve (RES), BetaForce (BETA), and BETA CNA (CNA). Thirty wire segments were divided into three groups of 10. Group 1 was the control group and the group 2 samples were sterilized by dry heat in an oven (60 minutes at 160°C) and group 3 by steam in an autoclave (15 minutes at 121°C). Then all the wire samples underwent a three-point bending test in a testing machine to evaluate load-deflection properties. Data was analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and Scheffé's test (α = 0.05). Results: The results showed that dry heat sterilization significantly increased force levels during both loading and unloading of CNA, BETA and RES and during loading of HONE (P < 0.05). Steam sterilization significantly increased force levels during both loading and unloading of BETA and during unloading of HONE (P < 0.05), with no effects on the load-deflection characteristics of TMAL, CNA and RES (P > 0.05). Conclusion: It appears dry heat sterilization increases stiffness of RES, BETA, CNA and HONE but autoclave sterilization did not have any effect on load-deflection characteristics of most of the β-titanium wires tested, indicating that clinicians who want to provide maximum safety for their patients can autoclave TMAL, RES and CNA before applying them. PMID:23559917

  3. 75 FR 27805 - Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-18

    ... Comprehensive Needs Assessment is a description of current and future needs and resources of certain multifamily...: Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA). OMB Approval Number: 2502-0505. Form Numbers: HUD-96001, HUD-96002, HUD..., sanitary, and in good repair. The Comprehensive Needs Assessment is a description of current and future...

  4. Trends in Operational Fuel Use

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-08-01

    Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Chow Test. Viewed July 18, 2016 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_test 8. CNA Research Memorandum CRM 86-178. Ship...Gren Landry and Gregory Suess. May 2006 10. CNA, CRM D0026186.A2/Final. Vessel Traffic in the Hawaii-Southern California and Atlantic Fleet Testing

  5. A Role for Community Colleges in Navy Training.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Golfin, Peggy A.; White, John D.; Curtin, Lisa A.

    This document from the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) discusses the role of community colleges in Navy training. CNA conducted a study to discover whether outsourcing courses such as air conditioning and refrigeration and information systems administration to community colleges was feasible and cost effective. Analyses focused on two community…

  6. Genomic copy number analysis of Chernobyl papillary thyroid carcinoma in the Ukrainian–American Cohort

    PubMed Central

    Selmansberger, Martin; Braselmann, Herbert; Hess, Julia; Bogdanova, Tetiana; Abend, Michael; Tronko, Mykola; Brenner, Alina; Zitzelsberger, Horst; Unger, Kristian

    2015-01-01

    One of the major consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl reactor accident was a dramatic increase in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) incidence, predominantly in patients exposed to the radioiodine fallout at young age. The present study is the first on genomic copy number alterations (CNAs) of PTCs of the Ukrainian–American cohort (UkrAm) generated by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of CNA profiles revealed a significant enrichment of a subgroup of patients with female gender, long latency (>17 years) and negative lymph node status. Further, we identified single CNAs that were significantly associated with latency, gender, radiation dose and BRAF V600E mutation status. Multivariate analysis revealed no interactions but additive effects of parameters gender, latency and dose on CNAs. The previously identified radiation-associated gain of the chromosomal bands 7q11.22-11.23 was present in 29% of cases. Moreover, comparison of our radiation-associated PTC data set with the TCGA data set on sporadic PTCs revealed altered copy numbers of the tumor driver genes NF2 and CHEK2. Further, we integrated the CNA data with transcriptomic data that were available on a subset of the herein analyzed cohort and did not find statistically significant associations between the two molecular layers. However, applying hierarchical clustering on a ‘BRAF-like/RAS-like’ transcriptome signature split the cases into four groups, one of which containing all BRAF-positive cases validating the signature in an independent data set. PMID:26320103

  7. The Energy Conversation: The First 3 Years

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-07-01

    Office of Naval Research CNA Robert J. Murray, CNA President and CEO Mitzi Wertheim, Director of The Energy Conversation Printed in the United States of... Mitzi Wertheim and flew out to Washington, DC to meet her for lunch. Wertheim had been Woolsey’s Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy. She is also the

  8. An Analysis of Female Representation and Marines Performance in Aviation and Logistics Occupations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-02-01

    Parcell, Ann D., Apriel K. Hodari, and Robert W. Shuford. 2003. Predictors of Officer Success. CNA Corporation. CRM D0007437.A2/Final. [18] Kraus...Shuford. 2007. Black and Hispanic Marines: Their Accessions, Representation, Success, and Retention in the Corps. CNA Corporation. CRM D0016910.A1/Final

  9. Life Satisfaction: The Richard Cory Syndrome.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gatz, Margaret; And Others

    This study of life satisfaction and competence was part of the Individual and Community Competence Project (Gatz and others, 1976). It included two groups of people, community workers (N=21) and non-workers (N=22), from each of two settings, Model Neighborhoods Areas (MNA) and Central Area (CNA). The MNA is a black area, while the CNA is a white…

  10. Bov-tA short interspersed nucleotide element sequences in circulating nucleic acids from sera of cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and sera of cattle exposed to BSE.

    PubMed

    Schütz, Ekkehard; Urnovitz, Howard B; Iakoubov, Leonid; Schulz-Schaeffer, Walter; Wemheuer, Wilhelm; Brenig, Bertram

    2005-07-01

    Circulating nucleic acids (CNA) are known to be enriched in repetitive DNA sequences in humans. Here, bovine sera CNA were analyzed to determine if cell stress-related short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINEs) could be detected in sera from cattle associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Nucleic acids were extracted, amplified, cloned, and sequenced from the sera of protease-resistant prion protein (PrP(res))-positive cattle (n = 2) and sera from BSE-cohort cows (n = 6); 150 out of 163 clones revealed the presence of, on average, an 80-bp sequence from the 3' region of Bov-tA SINE. A PCR protocol was developed that differentially identified SINE-associated CNA in BSE-exposed versus normal cattle. CNA were extracted from a serum vesicular fraction after controlled blood collection and processing procedures. Sera from four confirmed cases of BSE, 137 BSE-exposed cohort animals associated with eight confirmed BSE cases, and 845 healthy, PrP(res)-negative control cows were tested. All four sera from confirmed BSE cases were repeatedly reactive in the assay. BSE-exposed cohorts had a 100-fold higher occurrence of repeatedly reactive individuals per cohort (average = 63%; range = 33% to 91%), compared to healthy controls (average = 0.6%; P < 0.001). This study shows that BSE-confirmed and cohort animals possess a unique profile of SINE-associated serum CNA that can be utilized as a marker that highly correlates to BSE exposure.

  11. Bov-tA Short Interspersed Nucleotide Element Sequences in Circulating Nucleic Acids from Sera of Cattle with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Sera of Cattle Exposed to BSE

    PubMed Central

    Schütz, Ekkehard; Urnovitz, Howard B.; Iakoubov, Leonid; Schulz-Schaeffer, Walter; Wemheuer, Wilhelm; Brenig, Bertram

    2005-01-01

    Circulating nucleic acids (CNA) are known to be enriched in repetitive DNA sequences in humans. Here, bovine sera CNA were analyzed to determine if cell stress-related short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINEs) could be detected in sera from cattle associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Nucleic acids were extracted, amplified, cloned, and sequenced from the sera of protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres)-positive cattle (n = 2) and sera from BSE-cohort cows (n = 6); 150 out of 163 clones revealed the presence of, on average, an 80-bp sequence from the 3′ region of Bov-tA SINE. A PCR protocol was developed that differentially identified SINE-associated CNA in BSE-exposed versus normal cattle. CNA were extracted from a serum vesicular fraction after controlled blood collection and processing procedures. Sera from four confirmed cases of BSE, 137 BSE-exposed cohort animals associated with eight confirmed BSE cases, and 845 healthy, PrPres-negative control cows were tested. All four sera from confirmed BSE cases were repeatedly reactive in the assay. BSE-exposed cohorts had a 100-fold higher occurrence of repeatedly reactive individuals per cohort (average = 63%; range = 33% to 91%), compared to healthy controls (average = 0.6%; P < 0.001). This study shows that BSE-confirmed and cohort animals possess a unique profile of SINE-associated serum CNA that can be utilized as a marker that highly correlates to BSE exposure. PMID:16002628

  12. Pulsating aurora and cosmic noise absorption associated with growth-phase arcs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McKay, Derek; Partamies, Noora; Vierinen, Juha

    2018-01-01

    The initial stage of a magnetospheric substorm is the growth phase, which typically lasts 1-2 h. During the growth phase, an equatorward moving, east-west extended, optical auroral arc is observed. This is called a growth-phase arc. This work aims to characterize the optical emission and riometer absorption signatures associated with growth-phase arcs of isolated substorms. This is done using simultaneous all-sky camera and imaging riometer observations. The optical and riometric observations allow determination of the location of the precipitation within growth-phase arcs of low- (< 10 keV) and high- (> 10 keV) energy electrons, respectively. The observations indicate that growth-phase arcs have the following characteristics: 1. The peak of the cosmic noise absorption (CNA) arc is equatorward of the optical emission arc. This CNA is contained within the region of diffuse aurora on the equatorward side.2. Optical pulsating aurora are seen in the border region between the diffuse emission region on the equatorward side and the bright growth-phase arc on the poleward side. CNA is detected in the same region. 3. There is no evidence of pulsations in the CNA. 4. Once the equatorward drift starts, it proceeds at constant speed, with uniform separation between the growth-phase arc and CNA of 40 ± 10 km. Optical pulsating aurora are known to be prominent in the post-onset phase of a substorm. The fact that pulsations are also seen in a fairly localized region during the growth phase shows that the substorm expansion-phase dynamics are not required to closely precede the pulsating aurora.

  13. Probing the potential of CnaB-type domains for the design of tag/catcher systems

    PubMed Central

    Pröschel, Marlene; Kraner, Max E.; Horn, Anselm H. C.; Schäfer, Lena; Sonnewald, Uwe

    2017-01-01

    Building proteins into larger, post-translational assemblies in a defined and stable way is still a challenging task. A promising approach relies on so-called tag/catcher systems that are fused to the proteins of interest and allow a durable linkage via covalent intermolecular bonds. Tags and catchers are generated by splitting protein domains that contain intramolecular isopeptide or ester bonds that form autocatalytically under physiological conditions. There are already numerous biotechnological and medical applications that demonstrate the usefulness of covalent linkages mediated by these systems. Additional covalent tag/catcher systems would allow creating more complex and ultra-stable protein architectures and networks. Two of the presently available tag/catcher systems were derived from closely related CnaB-domains of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae proteins. However, it is unclear whether domain splitting is generally tolerated within the CnaB-family or only by a small subset of these domains. To address this point, we have selected a set of four CnaB domains of low sequence similarity and characterized the resulting tag/catcher systems by computational and experimental methods. Experimental testing for intermolecular isopeptide bond formation demonstrated two of the four systems to be functional. For these two systems length and sequence variations of the peptide tags were investigated revealing only a relatively small effect on the efficiency of the reaction. Our study suggests that splitting into tag and catcher moieties is tolerated by a significant portion of the naturally occurring CnaB-domains, thus providing a large reservoir for the design of novel tag/catcher systems. PMID:28654665

  14. The Current State of Human Performance Technology: A Citation Network Analysis of "Performance Improvement Quarterly," 1988-2010

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cho, Yonjoo; Jo, Sung Jun; Park, Sunyoung; Kang, Ingu; Chen, Zengguan

    2011-01-01

    This study conducted a citation network analysis (CNA) of human performance technology (HPT) to examine its current state of the field. Previous reviews of the field have used traditional research methods, such as content analysis, survey, Delphi, and citation analysis. The distinctive features of CNA come from using a social network analysis…

  15. The role of certified nursing assistants in nursing homes.

    PubMed

    Pennington, Karen; Scott, Jill; Magilvy, Kathy

    2003-11-01

    OBJECTIVE Pilot study to examine the experiences of the certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in Colorado nursing homes. CNAs provide 80% to 90% of the care to residents in nursing homes. Their reported turnover rate is as high as 400% in some studies, and the potential pool of CNAs is dwindling. As the demand for CNAs increases, their experiences must be understood to effectively address recruitment and retention issues. Minimally structured interviews of 12 CNAs in 6 Colorado nursing homes and observations of care provided were conducted. Atlas/Ti software was used as a data management tool for analyzing and coding data. The overriding theme that emerged from the interviews was "we love our jobs." Three patterns of thought and behavior emerged: attributes of the CNA, working conditions of the CNA, and future success of the CNA and the nursing home. Issues important to CNAs revolved around basic motivational factors, such as job enrichment opportunities, personal growth opportunities, recognition, responsibility, and sense of achievement. Leadership must become creative and build on that base, providing CNAs with job mobility, job enrichment opportunities, recognition, and increased job responsibility, producing positive outcomes not only for the CNA but also for the resident and the facility.

  16. [Copy number alterations in adult patients with mature B acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with specific immunochemotherapy].

    PubMed

    Ribera, Jordi; Zamora, Lurdes; García, Olga; Hernández-Rivas, Jesús-María; Genescà, Eulàlia; Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2016-12-02

    Unlike Burkitt lymphoma, molecular abnormalities other than C-MYC rearrangements have scarcely been studied in patients with mature B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency and prognostic significance of copy number alterations (CNA) in genes involved in lymphoid differentiation, cell cycle and tumor suppression in adult patients with B-ALL. We have analyzed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification the genetic material from bone marrow at diagnosis from 25 adult B-ALL patients treated with rituximab and specific chemotherapy. The most frequent CNA were alterations in the 14q32.33 region (11 cases, 44%) followed by alterations in the cell cycle regulator genes CDKN2A/B and RB1 (16%). No correlation between the presence of specific CNA and the clinical-biologic features or the response to therapy was found. The high frequency of CNA in the 14q32.33 region, CDKN2A/B and RB1 found in our study could contribute to the aggressiveness and invasiveness of mature B-ALL. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  17. First-principles investigation of the physical properties of cubic and orthorhombic phase Na3UO4

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Haichuan; Tian, Wenyan

    2017-11-01

    The anisotropic elastic properties, Vickers hardness, Debye temperature and the minimum thermal conductivity of c-Na3UO4 and o-Na3UO4 have been investigated by means of the first principles calculations. The lattice parameters are in good agreement with the available experimental data and the theoretical results. The elastic constants satisfy the mechanical stability criteria show that both of them are mechanically stable. The value of B / G and Cauchy pressure reveal that the c-Na3UO4 holds a ductile behavior while the o-Na3UO4 behaves a brittle manner. The elastic anisotropy of c-Na3UO4 is less weak than that of o-Na3UO4. The hardness shows that both of them can be classified as ;soft materials;. Finally, the Debye temperature is 452.6 K and 388.4 K, and the minimum thermal conductivities kmin is 0.883 W m-1 K-1 and 0.753 W m-1 K-1 of c-Na3UO4 and o-Na3UO4, respectively. Due to relatively lower thermal conductivity, and thereby they are suitable to be used as thermal insulating materials.

  18. 2002 CNA Code of Ethics: some recommendations.

    PubMed

    Kikuchi, June F

    2004-07-01

    The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) recently revised its 1997 Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses to reflect the context within which nurses practise today. Given the unprecedented changes that have taken place within the profession, healthcare and society, it was timely for the CNA to review and revise its Code. But the revisions were relatively minor; important problematic, substantive aspects of the Code were essentially left untouched and persist in the updated 2002 Code. In this paper, three of those aspects are examined and discussed: the 2002 Code's (a) definition of health and well-being, (b) notion of respect and (c) conception of justice. Recommendations are made. It is hoped that these comments will encourage nurse leaders in Canada to initiate discussion of the Code now, in preparation for its next planned revision in 2007.

  19. Are nursing home survey deficiencies higher in facilities with greater staff turnover.

    PubMed

    Lerner, Nancy B; Johantgen, Meg; Trinkoff, Alison M; Storr, Carla L; Han, Kihye

    2014-02-01

    To examine CNA and licensed nurse (RN+LPN/LVN) turnover in relation to numbers of deficiencies in nursing homes. A secondary data analysis of information from the National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) and contemporaneous data from the Online Survey, Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) database. Data were linked by facility as the unit of analysis to determine the relationship of CNA and licensed nurse turnover on nursing home deficiencies. The 2004 NNHS used a multistage sampling strategy to generate a final sample of 1174 nursing homes, which represent 16,100 NHs in the United States. This study focused on the 1151 NNHS facilities with complete deficiency data. Turnover was defined as the total CNAs/licensed nurse full-time equivalents (FTEs) who left during the preceding 3 months (full- and part-time) divided by the total FTE. NHs with high turnover were defined as those with rates above the 75th percentile (25.3% for CNA turnover and 17.9% for licensed nurse turnover) versus all other facilities. This study used selected OSCAR deficiencies from the Quality of Care, Quality of Life, and Resident Behavior categories, which are considered to be more closely related to nursing care. We defined NHs with high deficiencies as those with numbers of deficiencies above the 75th percentile versus all others. Using SUDAAN PROC RLOGIST, we included NNHS sampling design effects and examined associations of CNA/licensed nurse turnover with NH deficiencies, adjusting for staffing, skill mix, bed size, and ownership in binomial logistic regression models. High CNA turnover was associated with high numbers of Quality of Care (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.10-2.13), Resident Behavior (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.03-1.97) and total selected deficiencies (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.12-2.12). Licensed nurse turnover was significantly related to Quality of Care deficiencies (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.50-2.82) and total selected deficiencies (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.25-2.33). When both CNA turnover and licensed nurse turnover were included in the same model, high licensed nurse turnover was significantly associated with Quality of Care and total deficiencies, whereas CNA turnover was not associated with that category of deficiencies. Turnover in nursing homes for both licensed nurses and CNAs is associated with quality problems as measured by deficiencies. Copyright © 2014 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG): An Al-Qaeda Associate Case Study

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-01

    completed in August 2017. In order to conduct this assessment, CNA used a comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated...assessment, CNA used a comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated or associated with Al-Qaeda. These case studies ...Case Study P. Kathleen Hammerberg and Pamela G. Faber With contributions from Alexander Powell October 2017 This work was performed

  1. U.S. Navy Capstone Strategies and Concepts: Introduction, Background and Analyses

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-01

    Zumwalt  Jun 1974 ADM James Holloway  Jul 1978 ADM Thomas Hayward  Jun 1982 ADM James Watkins  Jul 1986 ADM Carlisle Trost  Jun 1990 ADM Frank...RDML Bill Center USN (Ret) • Dr. Eugene Cobble (CNA) • CAPT Bud Cole USN (Ret) • Mr. Tim Colton • Dr. Greg Cox (CNA) • Hon. Seth Cropsey • RDML

  2. Improving Naval Aviation Depot Responsiveness

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-01-01

    for Naval Analyses (CNA) has researched the construc- tion of AVCALs (Evanovich, 1987; Evanovich and Measell , 1986). It produced a readiness-based AVCAL...improvements, a finding that is consistent with the CNA findings on readiness-based sparing AVCALs (Evanovich and Measell , 1986; Evanovich et al., 1987).3...Aviation Components: Contractor vs. Organic Repair, RAND, N-2225-NAVY, March 1985. Evanovich, Peter J., and Barbara H. Measell , Full Airwing

  3. Engaging Cyber Communities

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-04-01

    technology centric operations such as computer network attack and computer network defense. 3 This leads to the question of whether the US military is... information and infrastructure. For the purpose of military operations, CNO are divided into CNA, CND, and computer network exploitation (CNE) enabling...of a CNA if they take undesirable action,” 21 and from a defensive stance in CND, “providing information about non-military threat to computers in

  4. An NRG Oncology/GOG study of molecular classification for risk prediction in endometrioid endometrial cancer

    PubMed Central

    Cosgrove, Casey M; Tritchler, David L; Cohn, David E; Mutch, David G; Rush, Craig M; Lankes, Heather A; Creasman, William T.; Miller, David S; Ramirez, Nilsa C; Geller, Melissa A; Powell, Matthew A; Backes, Floor J; Landrum, Lisa M; Timmers, Cynthia; Suarez, Adrian A; Zaino, Richard J; Pearl, Michael L; DiSilvestro, Paul A; Lele, Shashikant B; Goodfellow, Paul J

    2017-01-01

    Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of a simplified, clinically accessible classification system for endometrioid endometrial cancers combining Lynch syndrome screening and molecular risk stratification. Methods Tumors from NRG/GOG GOG210 were evaluated for mismatch repair defects (MSI, MMR IHC, and MLH1 methylation), POLE mutations, and loss of heterozygosity. TP53 was evaluated in a subset of cases. Tumors were assigned to four molecular classes. Relationships between molecular classes and clinicopathologic variables were assessed using contingency tests and Cox proportional methods. Results Molecular classification was successful for 982 tumors. Based on the NCI consensus MSI panel assessing MSI and loss of heterozygosity combined with POLE testing, 49% of tumors were classified copy number stable (CNS), 39% MMR deficient, 8% copy number altered (CNA) and 4% POLE mutant. Cancer-specific mortality occurred in 5% of patients with CNS tumors; 2.6% with POLE tumors; 7.6% with MMR deficient tumors and 19% with CNA tumors. The CNA group had worse progression-free (HR 2.31, 95%CI 1.53–3.49) and cancer-specific survival (HR 3.95; 95%CI 2.10–7.44). The POLE group had improved outcomes, but the differences were not statistically significant. CNA class remained significant for cancer-specific survival (HR 2.11; 95%CI 1.04–4.26) in multivariable analysis. The CNA molecular class was associated with TP53 mutation and expression status. Conclusions A simple molecular classification for endometrioid endometrial cancers that can be easily combined with Lynch syndrome screening provides important prognostic information. These findings support prospective clinical validation and further studies on the predictive value of a simplified molecular classification system. PMID:29132872

  5. The Cerefy Neuroradiology Atlas: a Talairach-Tournoux atlas-based tool for analysis of neuroimages available over the internet.

    PubMed

    Nowinski, Wieslaw L; Belov, Dmitry

    2003-09-01

    The article introduces an atlas-assisted method and a tool called the Cerefy Neuroradiology Atlas (CNA), available over the Internet for neuroradiology and human brain mapping. The CNA contains an enhanced, extended, and fully segmented and labeled electronic version of the Talairach-Tournoux brain atlas, including parcelated gyri and Brodmann's areas. To our best knowledge, this is the first online, publicly available application with the Talairach-Tournoux atlas. The process of atlas-assisted neuroimage analysis is done in five steps: image data loading, Talairach landmark setting, atlas normalization, image data exploration and analysis, and result saving. Neuroimage analysis is supported by a near-real-time, atlas-to-data warping based on the Talairach transformation. The CNA runs on multiple platforms; is able to process simultaneously multiple anatomical and functional data sets; and provides functions for a rapid atlas-to-data registration, interactive structure labeling and annotating, and mensuration. It is also empowered with several unique features, including interactive atlas warping facilitating fine tuning of atlas-to-data fit, navigation on the triplanar formed by the image data and the atlas, multiple-images-in-one display with interactive atlas-anatomy-function blending, multiple label display, and saving of labeled and annotated image data. The CNA is useful for fast atlas-assisted analysis of neuroimage data sets. It increases accuracy and reduces time in localization analysis of activation regions; facilitates to communicate the information on the interpreted scans from the neuroradiologist to other clinicians and medical students; increases the neuroradiologist's confidence in terms of anatomy and spatial relationships; and serves as a user-friendly, public domain tool for neuroeducation. At present, more than 700 users from five continents have subscribed to the CNA.

  6. Computer Network Attack: An Operational Tool?

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-01-17

    Spectrum of Conflict, Cyber Warfare , Preemptive Strike, Effects Based Targeting. 15. Abstract: Computer Network Attack (CNA) is defined as...great deal of attention as the world’s capabilities in cyber - warfare grow. 11 Although addressing the wide ranging legal aspects of CNA is beyond the...the notion of cyber - warfare has not yet developed to the point that international norms have been established.15 These norms will be developed in

  7. Evaluation of the Navys Sea/Shore Flow Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-06-01

    Std. Z39.18 i Abstract CNA developed an independent Discrete -Event Simulation model to evaluate and assess the effect of...a more steady manning level, but the variability remains, even if the system is optimized. In building a Discrete -Event Simulation model, we...steady-state model. In FY 2014, CNA developed a Discrete -Event Simulation model to evaluate the impact of sea/shore flow policy (the DES-SSF model

  8. Insurgency in Greater Baluchistan: A CNA Small Group Discussion, March 29, 2013

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-06-01

    Insurgency in Greater Baluchistan A CNA Small Group Discussion March 29, 2013 Cleared for public release DCP-2013-U-004988-Final... Baluchistan , one of the most remote and least developed areas of southwest Asia, stretches north from Karachi in Pakistan, along the arid and... Baluchistan and the implications for U.S. interests and regional stability. Bottom line up front  Successive generations of ethnic Baluch living along

  9. Copy number aberrations landscape of a breast tumor, connection with the efficiency of neoadjuvant chemotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibragimova, M. K.; Tsyganov, M. M.; Slonimskaya, E. M.; Litviakov, N. V.

    2017-09-01

    The research involved 80 patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BC). Each patient had their tumor biopsy material sampled before their treatment. We studied the tumor tissue using the CytoScan HD Array (Affymetrix, USA) microarray to evaluate the CNA landscape. We studied the frequency of segmental and numerical CNA occurrence, their association with the efficiency of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We found that the biggest number of amplifications (with frequency over 60%) were found on in the following locuses; 1q32.1 1q32.3, 1q42.13, 1q42.2, 1q43. The biggest frequency of deletions (more than in 58% of the patients) was found in these locuses: 16q21, 16q23.2, 16q23.3, 17p12, 17p13.1. However, we found the locuses with full absence of segmental chromosome anomalies. We observed trisomy most frequently in the 7, 8, 12, and 17 chromosomes, and monosomy in the 3, 4, 9, 11, 18, and X-chromosomes. We demonstrated the connection between the high frequency of cytobands with CNA in the patients' tumors and the efficiency of NAC. We also identified the cytobands, whose CNA are linked to the response to NAC.

  10. iGC-an integrated analysis package of gene expression and copy number alteration.

    PubMed

    Lai, Yi-Pin; Wang, Liang-Bo; Wang, Wei-An; Lai, Liang-Chuan; Tsai, Mong-Hsun; Lu, Tzu-Pin; Chuang, Eric Y

    2017-01-14

    With the advancement in high-throughput technologies, researchers can simultaneously investigate gene expression and copy number alteration (CNA) data from individual patients at a lower cost. Traditional analysis methods analyze each type of data individually and integrate their results using Venn diagrams. Challenges arise, however, when the results are irreproducible and inconsistent across multiple platforms. To address these issues, one possible approach is to concurrently analyze both gene expression profiling and CNAs in the same individual. We have developed an open-source R/Bioconductor package (iGC). Multiple input formats are supported and users can define their own criteria for identifying differentially expressed genes driven by CNAs. The analysis of two real microarray datasets demonstrated that the CNA-driven genes identified by the iGC package showed significantly higher Pearson correlation coefficients with their gene expression levels and copy numbers than those genes located in a genomic region with CNA. Compared with the Venn diagram approach, the iGC package showed better performance. The iGC package is effective and useful for identifying CNA-driven genes. By simultaneously considering both comparative genomic and transcriptomic data, it can provide better understanding of biological and medical questions. The iGC package's source code and manual are freely available at https://www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/iGC.html .

  11. Intramolecular amide bonds stabilize pili on the surface of bacilli

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

    Budzik, Jonathan M.; Poor, Catherine B.; Faull, Kym F.

    Gram-positive bacteria elaborate pili and do so without the participation of folding chaperones or disulfide bond catalysts. Sortases, enzymes that cut pilin precursors, form covalent bonds that link pilin subunits and assemble pili on the bacterial surface. We determined the x-ray structure of BcpA, the major pilin subunit of Bacillus cereus. The BcpA precursor encompasses 2 Ig folds (CNA{sub 2} and CNA{sub 3}) and one jelly-roll domain (XNA) each of which synthesizes a single intramolecular amide bond. A fourth amide bond, derived from the Ig fold of CNA{sub 1}, is formed only after pilin subunits have been incorporated into pili.more » We report that the domains of pilin precursors have evolved to synthesize a discrete sequence of intramolecular amide bonds, thereby conferring structural stability and protease resistance to pili.« less

  12. On the meaning of meaning when being mean: commentary on Berkowitz's "on the consideration of automatic as well as controlled psychological processes in aggression".

    PubMed

    Dodge, Kenneth A

    2008-01-01

    Berkowitz (this issue) makes a cogent case for his cognitive neo-associationist (CNA) model that some aggressive behaviors occur automatically, emotionally, and through conditioned association with other stimuli. He also proposes that they can occur without "processing," that is, without meaning. He contrasts his position with that of social information processing (SIP) models, which he casts as positing only controlled processing mechanisms for aggressive behavior. However, both CNA and SIP models posit automatic as well as controlled processes in aggressive behavior. Most aggressive behaviors occur through automatic processes, which are nonetheless rule governed. SIP models differ from the CNA model in asserting the essential role of meaning (often through nonconscious, automatic, and emotional processes) in mediating the link between a stimulus and an angry aggressive behavioral response. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  13. Solar flare induced cosmic noise absorption

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ogunmodimu, Olugbenga; Honary, Farideh; Rogers, Neil; Falayi, E. O.; Bolaji, O. S.

    2018-06-01

    Solar flare events are a major observing emphasis for space weather because they affect the ionosphere and can eject high-energy particles that can adversely affect Earth's technologies. In this study we model 38.2 MHz cosmic noise absorption (CNA) by utilising measurements from the Imaging Riometer for Ionospheric Studies (IRIS) at Kilpisjärvi, Finland obtained during solar cycle 23 (1996-2009). We utilised X-ray archive for the same period from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to study solar flare induced cosmic noise absorption. We identified the threshold of flare (M4 class) that could bear significant influence on CNA. Through epoch analysis, we show the magnitude of absorption that each class of flare could produce. Using the parameters of flare and absorption we present a model that could provide the basis for nowcast of CNA induced by M and X-class solar flares.

  14. CLImAT-HET: detecting subclonal copy number alterations and loss of heterozygosity in heterogeneous tumor samples from whole-genome sequencing data.

    PubMed

    Yu, Zhenhua; Li, Ao; Wang, Minghui

    2017-03-15

    Copy number alterations (CNA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) represent a large proportion of genetic structural variations of cancer genomes. These aberrations are continuously accumulated during the procedure of clonal evolution and patterned by phylogenetic branching. This invariably results in the emergence of multiple cell populations with distinct complement of mutational landscapes in tumor sample. With the advent of next-generation sequencing technology, inference of subclonal populations has become one of the focused interests in cancer-associated studies, and is usually based on the assessment of combinations of somatic single-nucleotide variations (SNV), CNA and LOH. However, cancer samples often have several inherent issues, such as contamination of normal stroma, tumor aneuploidy and intra-tumor heterogeneity. Addressing these critical issues is imperative for accurate profiling of clonal architecture. We present CLImAT-HET, a computational method designed for capturing clonal diversity in the CNA/LOH dimensions by taking into account the intra-tumor heterogeneity issue, in the case where a reference or matched normal sample is absent. The algorithm quantitatively represents the clonal identification problem using a factorial hidden Markov model, and takes an integrated analysis of read counts and allele frequency data. It is able to infer subclonal CNA and LOH events as well as the fraction of cells harboring each event. The results on simulated datasets indicate that CLImAT-HET has high power to identify CNA/LOH segments, it achieves an average accuracy of 0.87. It can also accurately infer proportion of each clonal population with an overall Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a mean absolute error of 0.02. CLImAT-HET shows significant advantages when compared with other existing methods. Application of CLImAT-HET to 5 primary triple negative breast cancer samples demonstrates its ability to capture clonal diversity in the CAN/LOH dimensions. It detects two clonal populations in one sample, and three clonal populations in one other sample. CLImAT-HET, a novel algorithm is introduced to infer CNA/LOH segments from heterogeneous tumor samples. We demonstrate CLImAT-HET's ability to accurately recover clonal compositions using tumor WGS data without a match normal sample.

  15. CNA’s Integrated Ship Database, Fourth Quarter 2011 Update

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-09-01

    CNA’s Integrated Ship Database Fourth Quarter 2011 Update Gregory N. Suess, Lynette A . McClain, and Rhea Stone CNA Interactive Software DIS-2012-U...194) during a replenishment at sea (RAS).” Navy.mil Official Website of the United States Navy, last accessed May 24, 2012, at http://www.navy.mil...that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if

  16. GeneBreak: detection of recurrent DNA copy number aberration-associated chromosomal breakpoints within genes.

    PubMed

    van den Broek, Evert; van Lieshout, Stef; Rausch, Christian; Ylstra, Bauke; van de Wiel, Mark A; Meijer, Gerrit A; Fijneman, Remond J A; Abeln, Sanne

    2016-01-01

    Development of cancer is driven by somatic alterations, including numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations. Currently, several computational methods are available and are widely applied to detect numerical copy number aberrations (CNAs) of chromosomal segments in tumor genomes. However, there is lack of computational methods that systematically detect structural chromosomal aberrations by virtue of the genomic location of CNA-associated chromosomal breaks and identify genes that appear non-randomly affected by chromosomal breakpoints across (large) series of tumor samples. 'GeneBreak' is developed to systematically identify genes recurrently affected by the genomic location of chromosomal CNA-associated breaks by a genome-wide approach, which can be applied to DNA copy number data obtained by array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) or by (low-pass) whole genome sequencing (WGS). First, 'GeneBreak' collects the genomic locations of chromosomal CNA-associated breaks that were previously pinpointed by the segmentation algorithm that was applied to obtain CNA profiles. Next, a tailored annotation approach for breakpoint-to-gene mapping is implemented. Finally, dedicated cohort-based statistics is incorporated with correction for covariates that influence the probability to be a breakpoint gene. In addition, multiple testing correction is integrated to reveal recurrent breakpoint events. This easy-to-use algorithm, 'GeneBreak', is implemented in R ( www.cran.r-project.org ) and is available from Bioconductor ( www.bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/GeneBreak.html ).

  17. The adherent abilities of Clostridium perfringens strains are critical for the pathogenesis of avian necrotic enteritis.

    PubMed

    Wade, Ben; Keyburn, Anthony L; Haring, Volker; Ford, Mark; Rood, Julian I; Moore, Robert J

    2016-12-25

    Necrotic enteritis of poultry is an emerging disease of substantial economic importance, but aspects of the pathogenesis of this multi-factorial disease are still unclear. We recently demonstrated that the ability of avian strains of the causative bacterium, Clostridium perfringens, to bind to specific collagen types correlated strongly with their virulence and we postulated that binding of the pathogen to collagen types IV and V and gelatin may involve the putative adhesin-encoding gene cnaA, which is found in the VR-10B locus. In this study we have used site-directed mutagenesis to demonstrate that disruption of the cnaA gene leads to a reduction in the expression of the three genes immediately downstream of cnaA and reduced adherence to collagen types IV and V and gelatin. In addition, a cnaA mutant of strain EHE-NE18 was no longer capable of causing necrotic enteritis in a chicken disease induction model and had a significantly reduced ability to colonise the chicken intestinal mucosa. These results were confirmed by generating and analysing a similar mutant in an independent necrotic enteritis causing C. perfringens strain. This study expands our understanding of the mechanisms involved in necrotic enteritis pathogenesis by demonstrating the importance of C. perfringens adherence to extracellular matrix proteins. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  18. Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Array-Based Karyotyping of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Gómez-Seguí, Inés; Sánchez-Izquierdo, Dolors; Barragán, Eva; Such, Esperanza; Luna, Irene; López-Pavía, María; Ibáñez, Mariam; Villamón, Eva; Alonso, Carmen; Martín, Iván; Llop, Marta; Dolz, Sandra; Fuster, Óscar; Montesinos, Pau; Cañigral, Carolina; Boluda, Blanca; Salazar, Claudia

    2014-01-01

    Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the t(15;17)(q22;q21), but additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA) and other rearrangements can contribute in the development of the whole leukemic phenotype. We hypothesized that some ACA not detected by conventional techniques may be informative of the onset of APL. We performed the high-resolution SNP array (SNP-A) 6.0 (Affymetrix) in 48 patients diagnosed with APL on matched diagnosis and remission sample. Forty-six abnormalities were found as an acquired event in 23 patients (48%): 22 duplications, 23 deletions and 1 Copy-Neutral Loss of Heterozygocity (CN-LOH), being a duplication of 8(q24) (23%) and a deletion of 7(q33-qter) (6%) the most frequent copy-number abnormalities (CNA). Four patients (8%) showed CNAs adjacent to the breakpoints of the translocation. We compared our results with other APL series and found that, except for dup(8q24) and del(7q33-qter), ACA were infrequent (≤3%) but most of them recurrent (70%). Interestingly, having CNA or FLT3 mutation were mutually exclusive events. Neither the number of CNA, nor any specific CNA was associated significantly with prognosis. This study has delineated recurrent abnormalities in addition to t(15;17) that may act as secondary events and could explain leukemogenesis in up to 40% of APL cases with no ACA by conventional cytogenetics. PMID:24959826

  19. Single-nucleotide polymorphism array-based karyotyping of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Gómez-Seguí, Inés; Sánchez-Izquierdo, Dolors; Barragán, Eva; Such, Esperanza; Luna, Irene; López-Pavía, María; Ibáñez, Mariam; Villamón, Eva; Alonso, Carmen; Martín, Iván; Llop, Marta; Dolz, Sandra; Fuster, Oscar; Montesinos, Pau; Cañigral, Carolina; Boluda, Blanca; Salazar, Claudia; Cervera, Jose; Sanz, Miguel A

    2014-01-01

    Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the t(15;17)(q22;q21), but additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA) and other rearrangements can contribute in the development of the whole leukemic phenotype. We hypothesized that some ACA not detected by conventional techniques may be informative of the onset of APL. We performed the high-resolution SNP array (SNP-A) 6.0 (Affymetrix) in 48 patients diagnosed with APL on matched diagnosis and remission sample. Forty-six abnormalities were found as an acquired event in 23 patients (48%): 22 duplications, 23 deletions and 1 Copy-Neutral Loss of Heterozygocity (CN-LOH), being a duplication of 8(q24) (23%) and a deletion of 7(q33-qter) (6%) the most frequent copy-number abnormalities (CNA). Four patients (8%) showed CNAs adjacent to the breakpoints of the translocation. We compared our results with other APL series and found that, except for dup(8q24) and del(7q33-qter), ACA were infrequent (≤3%) but most of them recurrent (70%). Interestingly, having CNA or FLT3 mutation were mutually exclusive events. Neither the number of CNA, nor any specific CNA was associated significantly with prognosis. This study has delineated recurrent abnormalities in addition to t(15;17) that may act as secondary events and could explain leukemogenesis in up to 40% of APL cases with no ACA by conventional cytogenetics.

  20. Interplay between calcineurin and the Slt2 MAP-kinase in mediating cell wall integrity, conidiation and virulence in the insect fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana.

    PubMed

    Huang, Shuaishuai; He, Zhangjiang; Zhang, Shiwei; Keyhani, Nemat O; Song, Yulin; Yang, Zhi; Jiang, Yahui; Zhang, Wenli; Pei, Yan; Zhang, Yongjun

    2015-10-01

    The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, is of environmental and economic importance as an insect pathogen, currently used for the biological control of a number of pests. Cell wall integrity and conidiation are critical parameters for the ability of the fungus to infect insects and for production of the infectious propagules. The contribution of calcineurin and the Slt2 MAP kinase to cell wall integrity and development in B. bassiana was investigated. Gene knockouts of either the calcineurin CNA1 subunit or the Slt2 MAP kinase resulted in decreased tolerance to calcofluor white and high temperature. In contrast, the Δcna1 strain was more tolerant to Congo red but more sensitive to osmotic stress (NaCl, sorbitol) than the wild type, whereas the Δslt2 strain had the opposite phenotype. Changes in cell wall structure and composition were seen in the Δslt2 and Δcna1 strains during growth under cell wall stress as compared to the wild type. Both Δslt2 and Δcna1 strains showed significant alterations in growth, conidiation, and viability. Elevation of intracellular ROS levels, and decreased conidial hydrophobicity and adhesion to hydrophobic surfaces, were also seen for both mutants, as well as decreased virulence. Under cell wall stress conditions, inactivation of Slt2 significantly repressed CN-mediated phosphatase activity suggesting some level of cross talk between the two pathways. Comparative transcriptome profiling of the Δslt2 and Δcna1 strains revealed alterations in the expression of distinct gene sets, with overlap in transcripts involved in cell wall integrity, stress response, conidiation and virulence. These data illustrate convergent and divergent phenotypes and targets of the calcineurin and Slt2 pathways in B. bassiana. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Integrated analysis of copy number alteration and RNA expression profiles of cancer using a high-resolution whole-genome oligonucleotide array.

    PubMed

    Jung, Seung-Hyun; Shin, Seung-Hun; Yim, Seon-Hee; Choi, Hye-Sun; Lee, Sug-Hyung; Chung, Yeun-Jun

    2009-07-31

    Recently, microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) has emerged as a very efficient technology with higher resolution for the genome-wide identification of copy number alterations (CNA). Although CNAs are thought to affect gene expression, there is no platform currently available for the integrated CNA-expression analysis. To achieve high-resolution copy number analysis integrated with expression profiles, we established human 30k oligoarray-based genome-wide copy number analysis system and explored the applicability of this system for integrated genome and transcriptome analysis using MDA-MB-231 cell line. We compared the CNAs detected by the oligoarray with those detected by the 3k BAC array for validation. The oligoarray identified the single copy difference more accurately and sensitively than the BAC array. Seventeen CNAs detected by both platforms in MDA-MB-231 such as gains of 5p15.33-13.1, 8q11.22-8q21.13, 17p11.2, and losses of 1p32.3, 8p23.3-8p11.21, and 9p21 were consistently identified in previous studies on breast cancer. There were 122 other small CNAs (mean size 1.79 mb) that were detected by oligoarray only, not by BAC-array. We performed genomic qPCR targeting 7 CNA regions, detected by oligoarray only, and one non-CNA region to validate the oligoarray CNA detection. All qPCR results were consistent with the oligoarray-CGH results. When we explored the possibility of combined interpretation of both DNA copy number and RNA expression profiles, mean DNA copy number and RNA expression levels showed a significant correlation. In conclusion, this 30k oligoarray-CGH system can be a reasonable choice for analyzing whole genome CNAs and RNA expression profiles at a lower cost.

  2. Tomorrow’s Handgun: Ensuring the Right Gun for All Military Law Enforcement Officers

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-02-01

    www.military.com/equipment/m9-pistol. 23 Ibid. 24 Russell, Sara M. Soldier Perspectives on Small Arms in Combat. Tech. no. CRM D0015259.A2. Alexandria...pistol-of- choice-1749620057. Russell, Sara M. Soldier Perspectives on Small Arms in Combat. Tech. no. CRM D0015259.A2. Alexandria, VA: CNA...Tech. no. CRM D0015259.A2. Alexandria, VA: CNA, 2006. Print. "The Avalon Project: Laws of War - Declaration on the Use of Bullets Which Expand or

  3. Effect of staff turnover on staffing: A closer look at registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and certified nursing assistants.

    PubMed

    Kash, Bita A; Castle, Nicholas G; Naufal, George S; Hawes, Catherine

    2006-10-01

    We examined the effects of facility and market-level characteristics on staffing levels and turnover rates for direct care staff, and we examined the effect of staff turnover on staffing levels. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 1,014 Texas nursing homes. Data were from the 2002 Texas Nursing Facility Medicaid Cost Report and the Area Resource File for 2003. After examining factors associated with staff turnover, we tested the significance and impact of staff turnover on staffing levels for registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). All three staff types showed strong dependency on resources, such as reimbursement rates and facility payor mix. The ratio of contracted to employed nursing staff as well as RN turnover increased LVN turnover rates. CNA turnover was reduced by higher administrative expenditures and higher CNA wages. Turnover rates significantly reduced staffing levels for RNs and CNAs. LVN staffing levels were not affected by LVN turnover but were influenced by market factors such as availability of LVNs in the county and women in the labor force. Staffing levels are not always associated with staff turnover. We conclude that staff turnover is a predictor of RN and CNA staffing levels but that LVN staffing levels are associated with market factors rather than turnover. Therefore, it is important to focus on management initiatives that help reduce CNA and RN turnover and ultimately result in higher nurse staffing levels in nursing homes.

  4. An evidential example of airborne bacteria in a crowded, underground public concourse in Tokyo

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seino, Kaoruko; Takano, Takehito; Nakamura, Keiko; Watanabe, Masafumi

    2005-01-01

    We examined airborne bacteria in an underground concourse in Tokyo and investigated conditions that influenced bacterial counts. Airborne bacteria were collected by using an impactor sampler. Colonies on plate count agar (PCA) and Columbia colistin-nalidixic acid agar with 5% sheep blood (CNA agar) were enumerated. The range, geometric mean, and 95% CI of the bacterial counts (CFU m-3) on PCA and CNA agar were 150-1380, 456, 382-550 and 50-990, 237, 182-309, respectively. Bacterial counts on PCA significantly correlated with number of the pedestrians (r=0.89), relative humidity (r=0.70) and airborne dust (PM5.0) (r=0.73). Results of a multiple regression indicated independent positive association between the number of pedestrians and bacterial counts on PCA (p<0.01) after excluding the influence of relative humidity and airborne dust. Similar results were obtained with the statistical analysis for the counts of bacteria on CNA agar. Gram-positive cocci were dominant on PCA and CNA agar. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus spp. were dominant among the 11 genera and 19 species identified in the present study. Considering the pattern of identified species and the significant independent association between number of pedestrians and bacterial counts, airborne bacteria in a crowded underground concourse were mostly originated from the pedestrians who were walking in the underground concourse. This study gave an evidential example of bacterial conditions in the air of an underground crowded public space in Tokyo.

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

    Tahvanainen, E.; Karila, E.; Ranta, S.

    We report the mapping of the locus for autosomal recessive cornea plana congenita (CNA2; MIM 217300) by linkage analysis to the approximately 10-cM interval between markers D12S82 and D12S327. The recessively inherited disorder studied here is more severe than dominant forms. Its main manifestations are reduced curvature and hazy limbus of the cornea, opacities in the corneal stroma, and marked corneal arcus at early age. Our results provide a starting point for the positional cloning of CNA2 and the elucidation of the pathogenesis of the disease. 20 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

  6. Global copy number profiling of cancer genomes | Office of Cancer Genomics

    Cancer.gov

    In this article, we introduce a robust and efficient strategy for deriving global and allele-specific copy number alternations (CNA) from cancer whole exome sequencing data based on Log R ratios and B-allele frequencies. Applying the approach to the analysis of over 200 skin cancer samples, we demonstrate its utility for discovering distinct CNA events and for deriving ancillary information such as tumor purity. Availability and implementation: https://github.com/xfwang/CLOSE CONTACT: xuefeng.wang@stonybrook.edu or michael.krauthammer@yale.edu. (Publication Abstract)

  7. Structure identification methods for atomistic simulations of crystalline materials

    DOE PAGES

    Stukowski, Alexander

    2012-05-28

    Here, we discuss existing and new computational analysis techniques to classify local atomic arrangements in large-scale atomistic computer simulations of crystalline solids. This article includes a performance comparison of typical analysis algorithms such as common neighbor analysis (CNA), centrosymmetry analysis, bond angle analysis, bond order analysis and Voronoi analysis. In addition we propose a simple extension to the CNA method that makes it suitable for multi-phase systems. Finally, we introduce a new structure identification algorithm, the neighbor distance analysis, which is designed to identify atomic structure units in grain boundaries.

  8. Significance of genomic instability in breast cancer in atomic bomb survivors: analysis of microarray-comparative genomic hybridization.

    PubMed

    Oikawa, Masahiro; Yoshiura, Koh-ichiro; Kondo, Hisayoshi; Miura, Shiro; Nagayasu, Takeshi; Nakashima, Masahiro

    2011-12-07

    It has been postulated that ionizing radiation induces breast cancers among atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors. We have reported a higher incidence of HER2 and C-MYC oncogene amplification in breast cancers from A-bomb survivors. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of A-bomb radiation exposure on genomic instability (GIN), which is an important hallmark of carcinogenesis, in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of breast cancer by using microarray-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Tumor DNA was extracted from FFPE tissues of invasive ductal cancers from 15 survivors who were exposed at 1.5 km or less from the hypocenter and 13 calendar year-matched non-exposed patients followed by aCGH analysis using a high-density oligonucleotide microarray. The total length of copy number aberrations (CNA) was used as an indicator of GIN, and correlation with clinicopathological factors were statistically tested. The mean of the derivative log ratio spread (DLRSpread), which estimates the noise by calculating the spread of log ratio differences between consecutive probes for all chromosomes, was 0.54 (range, 0.26 to 1.05). The concordance of results between aCGH and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER2 gene amplification was 88%. The incidence of HER2 amplification and histological grade was significantly higher in the A-bomb survivors than control group (P = 0.04, respectively). The total length of CNA tended to be larger in the A-bomb survivors (P = 0.15). Correlation analysis of CNA and clinicopathological factors revealed that DLRSpread was negatively correlated with that significantly (P = 0.034, r = -0.40). Multivariate analysis with covariance revealed that the exposure to A-bomb was a significant (P = 0.005) independent factor which was associated with larger total length of CNA of breast cancers. Thus, archival FFPE tissues from A-bomb survivors are useful for genome-wide aCGH analysis. Our results suggested that A-bomb radiation may affect the increased amount of CNA as a hallmark of GIN and, subsequently, be associated with a higher histologic grade in breast cancer found in A-bomb survivors.

  9. Significance of genomic instability in breast cancer in atomic bomb survivors: analysis of microarray-comparative genomic hybridization

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background It has been postulated that ionizing radiation induces breast cancers among atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors. We have reported a higher incidence of HER2 and C-MYC oncogene amplification in breast cancers from A-bomb survivors. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of A-bomb radiation exposure on genomic instability (GIN), which is an important hallmark of carcinogenesis, in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of breast cancer by using microarray-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Methods Tumor DNA was extracted from FFPE tissues of invasive ductal cancers from 15 survivors who were exposed at 1.5 km or less from the hypocenter and 13 calendar year-matched non-exposed patients followed by aCGH analysis using a high-density oligonucleotide microarray. The total length of copy number aberrations (CNA) was used as an indicator of GIN, and correlation with clinicopathological factors were statistically tested. Results The mean of the derivative log ratio spread (DLRSpread), which estimates the noise by calculating the spread of log ratio differences between consecutive probes for all chromosomes, was 0.54 (range, 0.26 to 1.05). The concordance of results between aCGH and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER2 gene amplification was 88%. The incidence of HER2 amplification and histological grade was significantly higher in the A-bomb survivors than control group (P = 0.04, respectively). The total length of CNA tended to be larger in the A-bomb survivors (P = 0.15). Correlation analysis of CNA and clinicopathological factors revealed that DLRSpread was negatively correlated with that significantly (P = 0.034, r = -0.40). Multivariate analysis with covariance revealed that the exposure to A-bomb was a significant (P = 0.005) independent factor which was associated with larger total length of CNA of breast cancers. Conclusions Thus, archival FFPE tissues from A-bomb survivors are useful for genome-wide aCGH analysis. Our results suggested that A-bomb radiation may affect the increased amount of CNA as a hallmark of GIN and, subsequently, be associated with a higher histologic grade in breast cancer found in A-bomb survivors. PMID:22152285

  10. Pressure ulcer prevention in long-term-care facilities: a pilot study implementing standardized nurse aide documentation and feedback reports.

    PubMed

    Horn, Susan D; Sharkey, Siobhan S; Hudak, Sandra; Gassaway, Julie; James, Roberta; Spector, William

    2010-03-01

    To design and facilitate implementation of practice-based evidence changes associated with decreases in pressure ulcer (PrU) development in long-term-care (LTC) facilities and promote these practices as part of routine care. Pre/post observational study. Frail older adult residents in 11 US LTC facilities. Project facilitators assisted frontline multidisciplinary teams (certified nurse aides [CNAs], nurses, and dietitians/dietary aides) to develop streamlined standardized CNA documentation and weekly reports to identify high-risk residents and to integrate clinical reports into day-to-day practice and clinical decision making. The program was called "Real-Time Optimal Care Plans for Nursing Home QI" (Real-Time). Prevalence of PrUs using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality measures (QMs), number of in-house-acquired PrUs, and number and completeness of CNA documentation forms. Seven study LTC facilities that reported data to CMS experienced a combined 33% (SD, 36.1%) reduction in the CMS high-risk PrU QM in 18 months and reduction in newly occurring PrUs (number of ulcers in the fourth quarter of 2003: range, 2-19; and in the third quarter of 2005: range, 1-6). Five of these LTC facilities that fully implemented Real-Time experienced a combined 48.1% (SD, 23.4%) reduction in the CMS high-risk PrU QM. Ten facilities reduced by an average of 2 to 5 their number of CNA documentation forms; CNA weekly documentation completeness reached a consistent level of 90% to 95%, and 8 facilities integrated the use of 2 to 4 weekly project reports in routine clinical decision making. Quality improvement efforts that provide access to focused and timely clinical information, facilitate change, and promote staff working together in multidisciplinary teams impacted clinical outcomes. Prevention of PrUs showed a trend of improvement in facilities that fully integrated tools to identify high-risk residents into day-to-day practice. CNA documentation facilitated better information for clinical decision making. More than 70 additional LTC facilities across the United States are implementing this QI program.

  11. Vitamin C and sodium bicarbonate enhance the antioxidant ability of H9C2 cells and induce HSPs to relieve heat stress.

    PubMed

    Yin, Bin; Tang, Shu; Sun, Jiarui; Zhang, Xiaohui; Xu, Jiao; Di, Liangjiao; Li, Zhihong; Hu, Yurong; Bao, Endong

    2018-02-13

    Heat stress is exacerbated by global warming and affects human and animal health, leading to heart damage caused by imbalances in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant system, acid-base chemistry, electrolytes and respiratory alkalosis. Vitamin C scavenges excess ROS, and sodium bicarbonate maintains acid-base and electrolyte balance, and alleviates respiratory alkalosis. Herein, we explored the ability of vitamin C alone and in combination with equimolar sodium bicarbonate (Vitamin C-Na) to stimulate endogenous antioxidants and heat shock proteins (HSPs) to relieve heat stress in H9C2 cells. Control, vitamin C (20 μg/ml vitamin C for 16 h) and vitamin C-Na (20 μg/ml vitamin C-Na for 16 h) groups were heat-stressed for 1, 3 or 5 h. Granular and vacuolar degeneration, karyopyknosis and damage to nuclei and mitochondria were clearly reduced in treatment groups, as were apoptosis, lactate dehydrogenase activity and ROS and malondialdehyde levels, while superoxide dismutase activity was increased. Additionally, CRYAB, Hsp27, Hsp60 and Hsp70 mRNA levels were upregulated at 3 h (p < 0.01), and protein levels were increased for CRYAB at 0 h (p < 0.05) and 1 h (p < 0.01), and for Hsp70 at 3 and 5 h (p < 0.01). Thus, pre-treatment with vitamin C or vitamin C-Na might protect H9C2 cells against heat damage by enhancing the antioxidant ability and upregulating CRYAB and Hsp70.

  12. Cnm is a major virulence factor of invasive Streptococcus mutans and part of a conserved three-gene locus

    PubMed Central

    Avilés-Reyes, A.; Miller, J.H.; Simpson-Haidaris, P.J.; Lemos, J.A.; Abranches, J.

    2014-01-01

    SUMMARY Cnm, a collagen- and laminin-binding protein present in a subset of Streptococcus mutans strains, mediates binding to extracellular matrices (ECM), intracellular invasion and virulence in the Galleria mellonella model. Antibodies raised against Cnm were used to confirm expression and the cell surface localization of Cnm in the highly invasive OMZ175 strain. Sequence analysis identified two additional genes (cnaB and cbpA) encoding putative surface proteins immediately upstream of cnm. Inactivation of cnaB and cbpA in OMZ175, individually or in combination, did not decrease the ability of this highly invasive and virulent strain to bind to different ECM proteins, invade human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC), or kill G. mellonella. Similarly, expression of cnaB and cbpA in the cnm− strain UA159 revealed that these genes did not enhance Cnmrelated phenotypes. However, integration of cnm in the chromosome of UA159 significantly increased its ability to bind to collagen and laminin, invade HCAEC, and kill G. mellonella. Moreover, the presence of antibodies against Cnm nearly abolished the ability of OMZ175 to bind to collagen and laminin and invade HCAEC, and significantly protected G. mellonella against OMZ175 infection. We concluded that neither CnaB nor CbpA is necessary for the expression of Cnm-related traits. We also provided definitive evidence that Cnm is an important virulence factor and a suitable target for the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to combat invasive S. mutans strains. PMID:24103776

  13. Comparison between POES energetic electron precipitation observations and riometer absorptions: Implications for determining true precipitation fluxes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodger, Craig J.; Kavanagh, Andrew J.; Clilverd, Mark A.; Marple, Steve R.

    2013-12-01

    electron precipitation (EEP) impacts the chemistry of the middle atmosphere with growing evidence of coupling to surface temperatures at high latitudes. To better understand this link, it is essential to have realistic observations to properly characterize precipitation and which can be incorporated into chemistry-climate models. The Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) detectors measure precipitating particles but only integral fluxes and only in a fraction of the bounce loss cone. Ground-based riometers respond to precipitation from the whole bounce loss cone; they measure the cosmic radio noise absorption (CNA), a qualitative proxy with scant direct information on the energy flux of EEP. POES observations should have a direct relationship with ΔCNA and comparing the two will clarify their utility in studies of atmospheric change. We determined ionospheric changes produced by the EEP measured by the POES spacecraft in ~250 overpasses of an imaging riometer in northern Finland. The ΔCNA modeled from the POES data is 10-15 times less than the observed ΔCNA when the >30 keV flux is reported as <106 cm-2 s-1 sr-1. Above this level, there is relatively good agreement between the space-based and ground-based measurements. The discrepancy occurs mostly during periods of low geomagnetic activity, and we contend that weak diffusion is dominating the pitch angle scattering into the bounce loss cone at these times. A correction to the calculation using measurements of the trapped flux considerably reduces the discrepancy and provides further support to our hypothesis that weak diffusion leads to underestimates of the EEP.

  14. TITAN: inference of copy number architectures in clonal cell populations from tumor whole-genome sequence data

    PubMed Central

    Roth, Andrew; Khattra, Jaswinder; Ho, Julie; Yap, Damian; Prentice, Leah M.; Melnyk, Nataliya; McPherson, Andrew; Bashashati, Ali; Laks, Emma; Biele, Justina; Ding, Jiarui; Le, Alan; Rosner, Jamie; Shumansky, Karey; Marra, Marco A.; Gilks, C. Blake; Huntsman, David G.; McAlpine, Jessica N.; Aparicio, Samuel

    2014-01-01

    The evolution of cancer genomes within a single tumor creates mixed cell populations with divergent somatic mutational landscapes. Inference of tumor subpopulations has been disproportionately focused on the assessment of somatic point mutations, whereas computational methods targeting evolutionary dynamics of copy number alterations (CNA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in whole-genome sequencing data remain underdeveloped. We present a novel probabilistic model, TITAN, to infer CNA and LOH events while accounting for mixtures of cell populations, thereby estimating the proportion of cells harboring each event. We evaluate TITAN on idealized mixtures, simulating clonal populations from whole-genome sequences taken from genomically heterogeneous ovarian tumor sites collected from the same patient. In addition, we show in 23 whole genomes of breast tumors that the inference of CNA and LOH using TITAN critically informs population structure and the nature of the evolving cancer genome. Finally, we experimentally validated subclonal predictions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and single-cell sequencing from an ovarian cancer patient sample, thereby recapitulating the key modeling assumptions of TITAN. PMID:25060187

  15. Single-cell sequencing deciphers a convergent evolution of copy number alterations from primary to circulating tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Gao, Yan; Ni, Xiaohui; Guo, Hua; Su, Zhe; Ba, Yi; Tong, Zhongsheng; Guo, Zhi; Yao, Xin; Chen, Xixi; Yin, Jian; Yan, Zhao; Guo, Lin; Liu, Ying; Bai, Fan; Xie, X Sunney; Zhang, Ning

    2017-08-01

    Copy number alteration (CNA) is a major contributor to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer. Here, we studied genomic alterations in single primary tumor cells and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the same patient. Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in single cells from both samples occurred sporadically, whereas CNAs among primary tumor cells emerged accumulatively rather than abruptly, converging toward the CNA in CTCs. Focal CNAs affecting the MYC gene and the PTEN gene were observed only in a minor portion of primary tumor cells but were present in all CTCs, suggesting a strong selection toward metastasis. Single-cell structural variant (SV) analyses revealed a two-step mechanism, a complex rearrangement followed by gene amplification, for the simultaneous formation of anomalous CNAs in multiple chromosome regions. Integrative CNA analyses of 97 CTCs from 23 patients confirmed the convergence of CNAs and revealed single, concurrent, and mutually exclusive CNAs that could be the driving events in cancer metastasis. © 2017 Gao et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

  16. CNA’s Integrated Ship Database: Third Quarter CY 2012 Update

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-11-01

    rogram!- -;OJ"’T’-" A "’K"C~¥-go"Shi"~P:----------------t---’~;;1~ ® T- AKR Veh icle-Car o 9 S T- ADT Tran rt 0i1er 1 9 Mitita.y Sealift Command (MSC). in...CNA’s Integrated Ship Database Third Quarter CY 2012 Update Gregory N. Suess • Lynette A . McClain • Linette O. Neal CNA Interactive Software DIS...law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB

  17. Tracing the origin of disseminated tumor cells in breast cancer using single-cell sequencing.

    PubMed

    Demeulemeester, Jonas; Kumar, Parveen; Møller, Elen K; Nord, Silje; Wedge, David C; Peterson, April; Mathiesen, Randi R; Fjelldal, Renathe; Zamani Esteki, Masoud; Theunis, Koen; Fernandez Gallardo, Elia; Grundstad, A Jason; Borgen, Elin; Baumbusch, Lars O; Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise; White, Kevin P; Kristensen, Vessela N; Van Loo, Peter; Voet, Thierry; Naume, Bjørn

    2016-12-09

    Single-cell micro-metastases of solid tumors often occur in the bone marrow. These disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) may resist therapy and lay dormant or progress to cause overt bone and visceral metastases. The molecular nature of DTCs remains elusive, as well as when and from where in the tumor they originate. Here, we apply single-cell sequencing to identify and trace the origin of DTCs in breast cancer. We sequence the genomes of 63 single cells isolated from six non-metastatic breast cancer patients. By comparing the cells' DNA copy number aberration (CNA) landscapes with those of the primary tumors and lymph node metastasis, we establish that 53% of the single cells morphologically classified as tumor cells are DTCs disseminating from the observed tumor. The remaining cells represent either non-aberrant "normal" cells or "aberrant cells of unknown origin" that have CNA landscapes discordant from the tumor. Further analyses suggest that the prevalence of aberrant cells of unknown origin is age-dependent and that at least a subset is hematopoietic in origin. Evolutionary reconstruction analysis of bulk tumor and DTC genomes enables ordering of CNA events in molecular pseudo-time and traced the origin of the DTCs to either the main tumor clone, primary tumor subclones, or subclones in an axillary lymph node metastasis. Single-cell sequencing of bone marrow epithelial-like cells, in parallel with intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity profiling from bulk DNA, is a powerful approach to identify and study DTCs, yielding insight into metastatic processes. A heterogeneous population of CNA-positive cells is present in the bone marrow of non-metastatic breast cancer patients, only part of which are derived from the observed tumor lineages.

  18. CNA’s Integrated Ship Database, Fourth Quarter 2011 Update

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-09-01

    AKR300 G T-AKR301 G T-AKR302 8 T-AKR303 A 8 T-AKR304 G T-AKR305 G T-AKR30S 8 T- AKR 31l R - G T- AKR 312 G T- AKR 313 8 T- AKR 314 G T- AKR 315...CNA’s Integrated Ship Database Fourth Quarter 2011 Update Gregory N. Suess, Lynette A . McClain, and Rhea Stone CNA Interactive Software DIS-2012-U...no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control

  19. Dioxaphosphorinane-constrained nucleic Acid dinucleotides as tools for structural tuning of nucleic acids.

    PubMed

    Catana, Dan-Andrei; Renard, Brice-Loïc; Maturano, Marie; Payrastre, Corinne; Tarrat, Nathalie; Escudier, Jean-Marc

    2012-01-01

    We describe a rational approach devoted to modulate the sugar-phosphate backbone geometry of nucleic acids. Constraints were generated by connecting one oxygen of the phosphate group to a carbon of the sugar moiety. The so-called dioxaphosphorinane rings were introduced at key positions along the sugar-phosphate backbone allowing the control of the six-torsion angles α to ζ defining the polymer structure. The syntheses of all the members of the D-CNA family are described, and we emphasize the effect on secondary structure stabilization of a couple of diastereoisomers of α,β-D-CNA exhibiting wether B-type canonical values or not.

  20. Assessment of immigrant certified nursing assistants' communication when responding to standardized care challenges.

    PubMed

    Massey, Meredith; Roter, Debra L

    2016-01-01

    Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide 80% of the hands-on care in US nursing homes; a significant portion of this work is performed by immigrants with limited English fluency. This study is designed to assess immigrant CNA's communication behavior in response to a series of virtual simulated care challenges. A convenience sample of 31 immigrant CNAs verbally responded to 9 care challenges embedded in an interactive computer platform. The responses were coded with the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS), CNA instructors rated response quality and spoken English was rated. CNA communication behaviors varied across care challenges and a broad repertoire of communication was used; 69% of response content was characterized as psychosocial. Communication elements (both instrumental and psychosocial) were significant predictors of response quality for 5 of 9 scenarios. Overall these variables explained between 13% and 36% of the adjusted variance in quality ratings. Immigrant CNAs responded to common care challenges using a variety of communication strategies despite fluency deficits. Virtual simulation-based observation is a feasible, acceptable and low cost method of communication assessment with implications for supervision, training and evaluation of a para-professional workforce. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. TITAN: inference of copy number architectures in clonal cell populations from tumor whole-genome sequence data.

    PubMed

    Ha, Gavin; Roth, Andrew; Khattra, Jaswinder; Ho, Julie; Yap, Damian; Prentice, Leah M; Melnyk, Nataliya; McPherson, Andrew; Bashashati, Ali; Laks, Emma; Biele, Justina; Ding, Jiarui; Le, Alan; Rosner, Jamie; Shumansky, Karey; Marra, Marco A; Gilks, C Blake; Huntsman, David G; McAlpine, Jessica N; Aparicio, Samuel; Shah, Sohrab P

    2014-11-01

    The evolution of cancer genomes within a single tumor creates mixed cell populations with divergent somatic mutational landscapes. Inference of tumor subpopulations has been disproportionately focused on the assessment of somatic point mutations, whereas computational methods targeting evolutionary dynamics of copy number alterations (CNA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in whole-genome sequencing data remain underdeveloped. We present a novel probabilistic model, TITAN, to infer CNA and LOH events while accounting for mixtures of cell populations, thereby estimating the proportion of cells harboring each event. We evaluate TITAN on idealized mixtures, simulating clonal populations from whole-genome sequences taken from genomically heterogeneous ovarian tumor sites collected from the same patient. In addition, we show in 23 whole genomes of breast tumors that the inference of CNA and LOH using TITAN critically informs population structure and the nature of the evolving cancer genome. Finally, we experimentally validated subclonal predictions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and single-cell sequencing from an ovarian cancer patient sample, thereby recapitulating the key modeling assumptions of TITAN. © 2014 Ha et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

  2. A safe and reliable neutralization assay based on pseudovirus to measure neutralizing antibody titer against poliovirus.

    PubMed

    Liu, Shaohua; Song, Dongmei; Bai, Han; Lu, Weiwei; Dai, Xinxian; Hao, Chunsheng; Zhang, Zhongyang; Guo, Huijie; Zhang, Yue; Li, Xiuling

    2017-12-01

    With the promotion of inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV) and live attenuated oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV), the global reported cases of poliomyelitis have reduced sharply from 0.35 million in 1988 to 74 in 2015. The Polio Eradication & Endgame Strategic Plan published by WHO in 2013 included the strategy of implementation of poliovirus safe handling and containment measures to minimize the risks of facility-associated reintroduction of virus into the polio-free community to prevent the re-import of poliovirus. Toward this strategy, we produced replication-incompetent pseudovirus of poliovirus type 1, 2, 3 attenuated strains by constructing poliovirus capsid expression vectors and poliovirus replicon then transfecting HEK293T cells and developed a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay (pNA) to determine neutralizing antibody titer which is more secure, time-saving and reliable than conventional neutralization assay (cNA). By using anti-poliovirus rat serum, we demonstrated excellent correlation between neutralizing antibody titers measured by cNA and pNA. It was concluded that pNA can be a potential alternative to replace cNA as a safe and time-saving system for titer determination after live poliovirus's safekeeping. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Comparison of different sampling techniques and of different culture methods for detection of group B streptococcus carriage in pregnant women.

    PubMed

    El Aila, Nabil A; Tency, Inge; Claeys, Geert; Saerens, Bart; Cools, Piet; Verstraelen, Hans; Temmerman, Marleen; Verhelst, Rita; Vaneechoutte, Mario

    2010-09-29

    Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) is a significant cause of perinatal and neonatal infections worldwide. To detect GBS colonization in pregnant women, the CDC recommends isolation of the bacterium from vaginal and anorectal swab samples by growth in a selective enrichment medium, such as Lim broth (Todd-Hewitt broth supplemented with selective antibiotics), followed by subculture on sheep blood agar. However, this procedure may require 48 h to complete. We compared different sampling and culture techniques for the detection of GBS. A total of 300 swabs was taken from 100 pregnant women at 35-37 weeks of gestation. For each subject, one rectovaginal, one vaginal and one rectal ESwab were collected. Plating onto Columbia CNA agar (CNA), group B streptococcus differential agar (GBSDA) (Granada Medium) and chromID Strepto B agar (CA), with and without Lim broth enrichment, were compared. The isolates were confirmed as S. agalactiae using the CAMP test on blood agar and by molecular identification with tDNA-PCR or by 16S rRNA gene sequence determination. The overall GBS colonization rate was 22%. GBS positivity for rectovaginal sampling (100%) was significantly higher than detection on the basis of vaginal sampling (50%), but not significantly higher than for rectal sampling (82%). Direct plating of the rectovaginal swab on CNA, GBSDA and CA resulted in detection of 59, 91 and 95% of the carriers, respectively, whereas subculturing of Lim broth yielded 77, 95 and 100% positivity, respectively. Lim broth enrichment enabled the detection of only one additional GBS positive subject. There was no significant difference between GBSDA and CA, whereas both were more sensitive than CNA. Direct culture onto GBSDA or CA (91 and 95%) detected more carriers than Lim broth enrichment and subculture onto CNA (77%). One false negative isolate was observed on GBSDA, and three false positives on CA. In conclusion, rectovaginal sampling increased the number GBS positive women detected, compared to vaginal and/or rectal sampling. Direct plating on CA and/or GBSDA provided rapid detection of GBS that was at least as sensitive and specific as the CDC recommended method of Lim broth subcultured onto non chromogenic agar.

  4. Clonal evolution and devolution after chemotherapy in adult acute myelogenous leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Parkin, Brian; Ouillette, Peter; Li, Yifeng; Keller, Jennifer; Lam, Cindy; Roulston, Diane; Li, Cheng; Shedden, Kerby

    2013-01-01

    The frequent occurrence of persistent or relapsed disease after induction chemotherapy in AML necessitates a better understanding of the clonal relationship of AML in various disease phases. In this study, we used SNP 6.0 array-based genomic profiling of acquired copy number aberrations (aCNA) and copy neutral LOH (cnLOH) together with sequence analysis of recurrently mutated genes to characterize paired AML genomes. We analyzed 28 AML sample pairs from patients who achieved complete remission with chemotherapy and subsequently relapsed and 11 sample pairs from patients with persistent disease after induction chemotherapy. Through review of aCNA/cnLOH and gene mutation profiles in informative cases, we demonstrate that relapsed AML invariably represents re-emergence or evolution of a founder clone. Furthermore, all individual aCNA or cnLOH detected at presentation persisted at relapse indicating that this lesion type is proximally involved in AML evolution. Analysis of informative paired persistent AML disease samples uncovered cases with 2 coexisting dominant clones of which at least one was chemotherapy sensitive and one resistant, respectively. These data support the conclusion that incomplete eradication of AML founder clones rather than stochastic emergence of fully unrelated novel clones underlies AML relapse and persistence with direct implications for clinical AML research. PMID:23175688

  5. A constructive nonlinear array (CNA) method for barely visible impact detection in composite materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Malfense Fierro, Gian Piero; Meo, Michele

    2017-04-01

    Currently there are numerous phased array techniques such as Full Matrix Capture (FMC) and Total Focusing Method (TFM) that provide good damage assessment for composite materials. Although, linear methods struggle to evaluate and assess low levels of damage, while nonlinear methods have shown great promise in early damage detection. A sweep and subtraction evaluation method coupled with a constructive nonlinear array method (CNA) is proposed in order to assess damage specific nonlinearities, address issues with frequency selection when using nonlinear ultrasound imaging techniques and reduce equipment generated nonlinearities. These methods were evaluated using multiple excitation locations on an impacted composite panel with a complex damage (barely visible impact damage). According to various recent works, damage excitation can be accentuated by exciting at local defect resonance (LDR) frequencies; although these frequencies are not always easily determinable. The sweep methodology uses broadband excitation to determine both local defect and material resonances, by assessing local defect generated nonlinearities using a laser vibrometer it is possible to assess which frequencies excite the complex geometry of the crack. The dual effect of accurately determining local defect resonances, the use of an image subtraction method and the reduction of equipment based nonlinearities using CNA result in greater repeatability and clearer nonlinear imaging (NIM).

  6. Neural network consistent empirical physical formula construction for density functional theory based nonlinear vibrational absorbance and intensity of 6-choloronicotinic acid molecule

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yildiz, Nihat; Karabacak, Mehmet; Kurt, Mustafa; Akkoyun, Serkan

    2012-05-01

    Being directly related to the electric charge distributions in a molecule, the vibrational spectra intensities are both experimentally and theoretically important physical quantities. However, these intensities are inherently highly nonlinear and of complex pattern. Therefore, in particular for unknown detailed spatial molecular structures, it is difficult to make ab initio intensity calculations to compare with new experimental data. In this respect, we very recently initiated entirely novel layered feedforward neural network (LFNN) approach to construct empirical physical formulas (EPFs) for density functional theory (DFT) vibrational spectra of some molecules. In this paper, as a new and far improved contribution to our novel molecular vibrational spectra LFNN-EPF approach, we constructed LFFN-EPFs for absorbances and intensities of 6-choloronicotinic acid (6-CNA) molecule. The 6-CNA data, borrowed from our previous study, was entirely different and much larger than the vibrational intensity data of our formerly used LFNN-EPF molecules. In line with our another previous work which theoretically proved the LFNN relevance to EPFs, although the 6-CNA DFT absorbance and intensity were inherently highly nonlinear and sharply fluctuating in character, still the optimally constructed train set LFFN-EPFs very successfully fitted the absorbances and intensities. Moreover, test set (i.e. yet-to-be measured experimental data) LFNN-EPFs consistently and successfully predicted the absorbance and intensity data. This simply means that the physical law embedded in the 6-CNA vibrational data was successfully extracted by the LFNN-EPFs. In conclusion, these vibrational LFNN-EPFs are of explicit form. Therefore, by various suitable operations of mathematical analysis, they can be used to estimate the electronic charge distributions of the unknown molecule of the significant complexity. Additionally, these estimations can be combined with those of theoretical DFT atomic polar tensor calculations to contribute to the identification of the molecule.

  7. Neural network consistent empirical physical formula construction for density functional theory based nonlinear vibrational absorbance and intensity of 6-choloronicotinic acid molecule.

    PubMed

    Yildiz, Nihat; Karabacak, Mehmet; Kurt, Mustafa; Akkoyun, Serkan

    2012-05-01

    Being directly related to the electric charge distributions in a molecule, the vibrational spectra intensities are both experimentally and theoretically important physical quantities. However, these intensities are inherently highly nonlinear and of complex pattern. Therefore, in particular for unknown detailed spatial molecular structures, it is difficult to make ab initio intensity calculations to compare with new experimental data. In this respect, we very recently initiated entirely novel layered feedforward neural network (LFNN) approach to construct empirical physical formulas (EPFs) for density functional theory (DFT) vibrational spectra of some molecules. In this paper, as a new and far improved contribution to our novel molecular vibrational spectra LFNN-EPF approach, we constructed LFFN-EPFs for absorbances and intensities of 6-choloronicotinic acid (6-CNA) molecule. The 6-CNA data, borrowed from our previous study, was entirely different and much larger than the vibrational intensity data of our formerly used LFNN-EPF molecules. In line with our another previous work which theoretically proved the LFNN relevance to EPFs, although the 6-CNA DFT absorbance and intensity were inherently highly nonlinear and sharply fluctuating in character, still the optimally constructed train set LFFN-EPFs very successfully fitted the absorbances and intensities. Moreover, test set (i.e. yet-to-be measured experimental data) LFNN-EPFs consistently and successfully predicted the absorbance and intensity data. This simply means that the physical law embedded in the 6-CNA vibrational data was successfully extracted by the LFNN-EPFs. In conclusion, these vibrational LFNN-EPFs are of explicit form. Therefore, by various suitable operations of mathematical analysis, they can be used to estimate the electronic charge distributions of the unknown molecule of the significant complexity. Additionally, these estimations can be combined with those of theoretical DFT atomic polar tensor calculations to contribute to the identification of the molecule. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Certified Nurse Aide scope of practice: state-by-state differences in allowable delegated activities.

    PubMed

    McMullen, Tara L; Resnick, Barbara; Chin-Hansen, Jennie; Geiger-Brown, Jeanne M; Miller, Nancy; Rubenstein, Robert

    2015-01-01

    To gain a better understanding of the state-by-state differences in allowable delegated activities for Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) working in long-term care settings, this exploratory descriptive study assessed what are the allowable tasks for CNAs based on findings from each state board of nursing. Specifically, findings from each state determined whether the care tasks allowed were consistent with those delineated by the 42 CFR § 483. This descriptive study included data drawn from all 50 states' regulatory offices or health care services agencies. Data were obtained from the regulations listed on each state's board of nursing, department of health, department of aging, department of health professions, department of commerce, and office of long-term care, among like agencies. The Code of Federal regulations (42 CFR § 483) listed 9 tasks that are allowable by each state. These tasks are identified as items 1 to 9: (1) personal care skills, (2) safety/emergency procedures, (3) basic nursing skills, (4) infection control, (5) communication and interpersonal skills, (6) care of cognitively impaired residents, (7) basic restorative care, (8) mental health and social service needs, and (9) residents' rights. Nine tasks delineated in the 42 CFR § 483 were identified as allowable in each state. On data analysis, it was found that 11 states noted that CNAs were able to perform workplace tasks that could be considered "expanded" care tasks, tasks beyond the basic care tasks listed in the 42 CFR § 483. Findings from this exploratory study aid in limiting the confusion around the application of workplace duties across states, providing a useful description of the care tasks CNAs are allowed to perform in an attempt to find uniformity state-by-state. Overall, states reported considering expanding the scope of practice or authorized duties for CNAs to strengthen patient care and safety. States may choose to expand CNA authorized duties so as to equip CNAs with specific training so that the CNA is able to provide a certain level of care when or if he or she is needed to do so. Without uniformity of CNA authorized duties, it is difficult to interpret whether expanding the scope of the CNA can result in outcomes such as improved patient care. State regulations vary and there were state boards of nursing that were not sure about the true extent of CNA workplace responsibilities. Copyright © 2015 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Clinical omics analysis of colorectal cancer incorporating copy number aberrations and gene expression data.

    PubMed

    Yoshida, Tsuyoshi; Kobayashi, Takumi; Itoda, Masaya; Muto, Taika; Miyaguchi, Ken; Mogushi, Kaoru; Shoji, Satoshi; Shimokawa, Kazuro; Iida, Satoru; Uetake, Hiroyuki; Ishikawa, Toshiaki; Sugihara, Kenichi; Mizushima, Hiroshi; Tanaka, Hiroshi

    2010-07-29

    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequently occurring cancers in Japan, and thus a wide range of methods have been deployed to study the molecular mechanisms of CRC. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of CRC, incorporating copy number aberration (CRC) and gene expression data. For the last four years, we have been collecting data from CRC cases and organizing the information as an "omics" study by integrating many kinds of analysis into a single comprehensive investigation. In our previous studies, we had experienced difficulty in finding genes related to CRC, as we observed higher noise levels in the expression data than in the data for other cancers. Because chromosomal aberrations are often observed in CRC, here, we have performed a combination of CNA analysis and expression analysis in order to identify some new genes responsible for CRC. This study was performed as part of the Clinical Omics Database Project at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of genetic instability in CRC by this combination of expression analysis and CNA, and to establish a new method for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. Comprehensive gene expression analysis was performed on 79 CRC cases using an Affymetrix Gene Chip, and comprehensive CNA analysis was performed using an Affymetrix DNA Sty array. To avoid the contamination of cancer tissue with normal cells, laser micro-dissection was performed before DNA/RNA extraction. Data analysis was performed using original software written in the R language. We observed a high percentage of CNA in colorectal cancer, including copy number gains at 7, 8q, 13 and 20q, and copy number losses at 8p, 17p and 18. Gene expression analysis provided many candidates for CRC-related genes, but their association with CRC did not reach the level of statistical significance. The combination of CNA and gene expression analysis, together with the clinical information, suggested UGT2B28, LOC440995, CXCL6, SULT1B1, RALBP1, TYMS, RAB12, RNMT, ARHGDIB, S1000A2, ABHD2, OIT3 and ABHD12 as genes that are possibly associated with CRC. Some of these genes have already been reported as being related to CRC. TYMS has been reported as being associated with resistance to the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil, and we observed a copy number increase for this gene. RALBP1, ARHGDIB and S100A2 have been reported as oncogenes, and we observed copy number increases in each. ARHGDIB has been reported as a metastasis-related gene, and our data also showed copy number increases of this gene in cases with metastasis. The combination of CNA analysis and gene expression analysis was a more effective method for finding genes associated with the clinicopathological classification of CRC than either analysis alone. Using this combination of methods, we were able to detect genes that have already been associated with CRC. We also identified additional candidate genes that may be new markers or targets for this form of cancer.

  10. Baroreceptors mask sympathetic responses to high intraocular pressure in dogs.

    PubMed

    Yahagi, Toru; Koyama, Shozo; Osaka, Kazumasa; Koyama, Haruhide

    2008-05-30

    These experiments were designed to investigate whether increasing intraocular pressure (IOP) in anesthetized dogs produces differential control of sympathetic nerve activities to various organs (heart, kidney, liver, and spleen) and if these sympathetic responses are modified by baroreceptors. We performed simultaneous multi-recordings of cardiac, renal, hepatic and splenic sympathetic nerve activities (CNA, RNA, HNA and SpNA, respectively) during 2 min of increasing IOP to a mean pressure of 30 mmHg. After increasing IOP in dogs with the intact baroreceptors, all of measured nerve activities did not change significantly throughout the experiment. In dogs with denervation of baroreceptors (cervical vagotomy with denervation of the carotid sinus and aortic nerves), only RNA and CNA showed significant increases in response to the increased IOP. However, time course changes in HNA and SpNA did not show any significant differences as compared with the baseline or that of the control group. These results indicate that systemic sympathetic nerve responses to increasing IOP are masked by systemic baroreceptors. As animals were denervated of their systemic baroreceptors, the unidirectional sympathoexcitatory responses to increased IOP were observed on CNA and RNA, but not on HNA and SpNA. These sympathetic outflow, when systemic baroreceptors are impaired as observed in old age, may play an important role in management of glaucoma attack with the use of adrenolytic drugs.

  11. Sparse representation and Bayesian detection of genome copy number alterations from microarray data.

    PubMed

    Pique-Regi, Roger; Monso-Varona, Jordi; Ortega, Antonio; Seeger, Robert C; Triche, Timothy J; Asgharzadeh, Shahab

    2008-02-01

    Genomic instability in cancer leads to abnormal genome copy number alterations (CNA) that are associated with the development and behavior of tumors. Advances in microarray technology have allowed for greater resolution in detection of DNA copy number changes (amplifications or deletions) across the genome. However, the increase in number of measured signals and accompanying noise from the array probes present a challenge in accurate and fast identification of breakpoints that define CNA. This article proposes a novel detection technique that exploits the use of piece wise constant (PWC) vectors to represent genome copy number and sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) to detect CNA breakpoints. First, a compact linear algebra representation for the genome copy number is developed from normalized probe intensities. Second, SBL is applied and optimized to infer locations where copy number changes occur. Third, a backward elimination (BE) procedure is used to rank the inferred breakpoints; and a cut-off point can be efficiently adjusted in this procedure to control for the false discovery rate (FDR). The performance of our algorithm is evaluated using simulated and real genome datasets and compared to other existing techniques. Our approach achieves the highest accuracy and lowest FDR while improving computational speed by several orders of magnitude. The proposed algorithm has been developed into a free standing software application (GADA, Genome Alteration Detection Algorithm). http://biron.usc.edu/~piquereg/GADA

  12. A struggle for equality: resistance to commissioning of male nurses in the Canadian military, 1952-1967.

    PubMed

    Care, D; Gregory, D; English, J; Venkatesh, P

    1996-01-01

    Historical research was conducted to explore and describe the forces of resistance that prevented male registered nurses from being employed and conferred officer status in the Nursing Division of the Canadian military. Prior to 1967, only female nurses were permitted to join the Nursing Division. A 25-year struggle by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), its Male Nurses Committee (MNC), and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) was required to change this discriminatory policy. The struggle for equality on behalf of Canadian male nurses was successfully resolved because of the united stand taken by the MNC, the RNAO, and the CNA. The study also demonstrates the need to move beyond matriarchal history perspectives in nursing to more completely understand the evolution of the profession in Canada.

  13. Superposed Epoch Studies of the Response of the High-Latitude Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System to Solar Wind High-Speed Stream Driving

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grandin, M.; Aikio, A. T.; Kozlovsky, A.; Ulich, T.; Raita, T.

    2016-12-01

    During the declining phase of the solar cycle, the Earth's magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system is mainly disturbed by solar wind high-speed streams (HSSs). Their ionospheric response, especially at high latitudes, is not fully understood yet. The perturbations in the ionosphere last for several days. We have examined the effect of HSS in two studies, which apply the superposed epoch method to data to reveal the statistical response in the ionospheric F, E and D regions to such perturbations. We use ionosonde, geomagnetic and cosmic noise absorption data obtained from Finnish stations during 95 high-speed stream events detected between 2006 and 2008. Results show a long-lasting decrease in the F layer critical frequency foF2 between 12 and 23 MLT in summer and equinox. This depletion of the F layer is interpreted as a result of enhanced electric fields inducing ion-neutral frictional heating in the auroral and subauroral regions. The response near noon is different, since foF2 is increased shortly upon arrival of the co-rotating stream interaction region (CIR), possibly because of precipitation of particles from the dayside plasma sheet provoked by the associated solar wind pressure pulse. In the morning sector, both foF2 and foEs show increases for several days, indicating particle precipitation having a soft component. In the study of cosmic noise absorption (CNA), we observe a different response depending on the L-value of the station. Within the auroral oval (L=5-6), CNA gets maximum values in the morning sector 0-12 MLT during the first and second day following the zero epoch. Values are greater during events with longer-lasting high solar wind speed. The CNA maximum shifts to later MLT at lower L values, and in JYV (L=3.8), the maximum takes place at 14 MLT during day 4. Substorm energization events dominate during the first days at 00-01 MLT. We also address the role of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations observed in association with CNA events. These results may contribute to improve nowcasting and forecasting of space weather activity during high-speed stream events.

  14. CYP2D6 polymorphisms as predictors of outcome in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen: expanded polymorphism coverage improves risk stratification.

    PubMed

    Schroth, Werner; Hamann, Ute; Fasching, Peter A; Dauser, Silke; Winter, Stefan; Eichelbaum, Michel; Schwab, Matthias; Brauch, Hiltrud

    2010-09-01

    This study aimed to validate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)/Taqman copy number assay (CNA) CYP2D6 genotyping by AmpliChip CYP450 Test for the prediction of tamoxifen metabolizer phenotypes in breast cancer, and to investigate the influence of CYP2D6 variant coverage on genotype-phenotype relationships and tamoxifen outcome. Hormone receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients (n = 492) treated with adjuvant tamoxifen, previously analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS/CNA, were reanalyzed by AmpliChip CYP450 Test and validated by independent methods. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) were calculated for recurrence of poor (PM) relative to extensive metabolizer (EM) phenotypes with increasing numbers of CYP2D6 variants. Kaplan-Meier distributions were calculated for different phenotype classifications. Concordance was 99.2% to 99.5% for CNA and 99.8% to 100% per CYP2D6 allele (*3, *4, *5, *9, *10, and *41). The prevalence of predicted phenotypes was 1.2% for ultrarapid metabolizer (UM), 37.2% for EM without variant, 43.5% for heterozygous EM, 9.7% for intermediate metabolizer (IM), and 8.3% for PM. Approximately, one third of patients were misclassified based on a *4 analysis only, but inclusion of all reduced-function alleles increased the PM-associated HR from 1.33 (P = 0.58) to 2.87 (P = 0.006). Kaplan-Meier analyses showed highest and lowest clinical benefit for UM and PM with respect to both the AmpliChip-based and a redefined phenotype assignment. The latter revealed significant allele-dose-dependent associations (P = 0.011) and largest effect size (HR(PM_EM) = 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-5.89). MALDI-TOF MS/CNA is suitable for accurate CYP2D6 genotyping. For tamoxifen pharmacogenetics, broad CYP2D6 allele coverage is recommended to reduce phenotype misclassification. Classification based on refined EM and reduced-function metabolizers is advisable. AACR.

  15. Changes in presynaptic release, but not reuptake, of bioamines induced by long-term antidepressant treatment

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

    Dolzhenko, A.T.; Komissarov, I.V.

    1986-10-01

    This paper describes an investigation into the effect of long-term administration of antidepressants on neuronal uptake of NA and 5-HT and on their release, induced by electrical stimulation, in rat brain slices. The effects of the test substances on neuronal uptake of /sup 14/C-NA and /sup 3/H-5-HT by the slices was investigated. Values of IC/sub 50/ and EC/sub 2/ were found and compared in the experiments and control. The inhibitory effect of clonidine (10/sup -4/ M) and of 5-HT (10/sup -5/ M) on presynaptic release of /sup 14/C-NA and /sup 3/H-5-HT also was studied in brain slices from intact ratsmore » and rats treated for two weeks with antidepressants.« less

  16. A network of epigenetic modifiers and DNA repair genes controls tissue-specific copy number alteration preference.

    PubMed

    Cramer, Dina; Serrano, Luis; Schaefer, Martin H

    2016-11-10

    Copy number alterations (CNAs) in cancer patients show a large variability in their number, length and position, but the sources of this variability are not known. CNA number and length are linked to patient survival, suggesting clinical relevance. We have identified genes that tend to be mutated in samples that have few or many CNAs, which we term CONIM genes (COpy Number Instability Modulators). CONIM proteins cluster into a densely connected subnetwork of physical interactions and many of them are epigenetic modifiers. Therefore, we investigated how the epigenome of the tissue-of-origin influences the position of CNA breakpoints and the properties of the resulting CNAs. We found that the presence of heterochromatin in the tissue-of-origin contributes to the recurrence and length of CNAs in the respective cancer type.

  17. A WUSCHEL-Independent Stem Cell Specification Pathway Is Repressed by PHB, PHV and CNA in Arabidopsis.

    PubMed

    Lee, Chunghee; Clark, Steven E

    2015-01-01

    The homeostatic maintenance of stem cells that carry out continuous organogenesis at the shoot meristem is crucial for plant development. Key known factors act to signal between the stem cells and an underlying group of cells thought to act as the stem cell niche. In Arabidopsis thaliana the homeodomain transcription factor WUSCHEL (WUS) is essential for stem cell initiation and maintenance at shoot and flower meristems. Recent data suggest that the WUS protein may move from the niche cells directly into the stem cells to maintain stem cell identity. Here we provide evidence for a second, previously unknown, pathway for stem cell specification at shoot and flower meristems that bypasses the requirement for WUS. We demonstrate that this novel stem cell specification pathway is normally repressed by the activity of the HD-zip III transcription factors PHABULOSA (PHB), PHAVOLUTA (PHV) and CORONA (CNA). When de-repressed, this second stem cell pathway leads to an accumulation of stem cells and an enlargement of the stem cell niche. When de-repressed in a wus mutant background, this second stem cell pathway leads to functional meristems with largely normal cell layering and meristem morphology, activation of WUS cis regulatory elements, and extensive, but not indeterminate, organogenesis. Thus, WUS is largely dispensable for stem cell specification and meristem function, suggesting a set of key stem cell specification factors, competitively regulated by WUS and PHB/PHV/CNA, remain unidentified.

  18. A WUSCHEL-Independent Stem Cell Specification Pathway Is Repressed by PHB, PHV and CNA in Arabidopsis

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Chunghee; Clark, Steven E.

    2015-01-01

    The homeostatic maintenance of stem cells that carry out continuous organogenesis at the shoot meristem is crucial for plant development. Key known factors act to signal between the stem cells and an underlying group of cells thought to act as the stem cell niche. In Arabidopsis thaliana the homeodomain transcription factor WUSCHEL (WUS) is essential for stem cell initiation and maintenance at shoot and flower meristems. Recent data suggest that the WUS protein may move from the niche cells directly into the stem cells to maintain stem cell identity. Here we provide evidence for a second, previously unknown, pathway for stem cell specification at shoot and flower meristems that bypasses the requirement for WUS. We demonstrate that this novel stem cell specification pathway is normally repressed by the activity of the HD-zip III transcription factors PHABULOSA (PHB), PHAVOLUTA (PHV) and CORONA (CNA). When de-repressed, this second stem cell pathway leads to an accumulation of stem cells and an enlargement of the stem cell niche. When de-repressed in a wus mutant background, this second stem cell pathway leads to functional meristems with largely normal cell layering and meristem morphology, activation of WUS cis regulatory elements, and extensive, but not indeterminate, organogenesis. Thus, WUS is largely dispensable for stem cell specification and meristem function, suggesting a set of key stem cell specification factors, competitively regulated by WUS and PHB/PHV/CNA, remain unidentified. PMID:26011610

  19. Medicaid payment rates, case-mix reimbursement, and nursing home staffing--1996-2004.

    PubMed

    Feng, Zhanlian; Grabowski, David C; Intrator, Orna; Zinn, Jacqueline; Mor, Vincent

    2008-01-01

    We examined the impact of state Medicaid payment rates and case-mix reimbursement on direct care staffing levels in US nursing homes. We used a recent time series of national nursing home data from the Online Survey Certification and Reporting system for 1996-2004, merged with annual state Medicaid payment rates and case-mix reimbursement information. A 5-category response measure of total staffing levels was defined according to expert recommended thresholds, and examined in a multinomial logistic regression model. Facility fixed-effects models were estimated separately for Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) staffing levels measured as average hours per resident day. Higher Medicaid payment rates were associated with increases in total staffing levels to meet a higher recommended threshold. However, these gains in overall staffing were accompanied by a reduction of RN staffing and an increase in both LPN and CNA staffing levels. Under case-mix reimbursement, the likelihood of nursing homes achieving higher recommended staffing thresholds decreased, as did levels of professional staffing. Independent of the effects of state, market, and facility characteristics, there was a significant downward trend in RN staffing and an upward trend in both LPN and CNA staffing. Although overall staffing may increase in response to more generous Medicaid reimbursement, it may not translate into improvements in the skill mix of staff. Adjusting for reimbursement levels and resident acuity, total staffing has not increased after the implementation of case-mix reimbursement.

  20. Investigations on the photoreactions of phenothiazine and phenoxazine in presence of 9-cyanoanthracene by using steady state and time resolved spectroscopic techniques.

    PubMed

    Bardhan, Munmun; Mandal, Paulami; Tzeng, Wen-Bih; Ganguly, Tapan

    2010-09-01

    By using electrochemical, steady state and time resolved (fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption) spectroscopic techniques, detailed investigations were made to reveal the mechanisms of charge separation or forward electron transfer reactions within the electron donor phenothiazine (PTZH) or phenoxazine (PXZH) and well known electron acceptor 9-cyanoanthracene (CNA). The transient absorption spectra suggest that the charge separated species formed in the excited singlet state resulted from intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer reactions within the donor PTZH (or PXZH) and CNA acceptor relaxes to the corresponding triplet state. Though alternative mechanisms of via formations of contact neutral radical by H-transfer reaction have been proposed but the observed results obtained from the time resolved measurements indicate that the regeneration of ground state reactants is primarily responsible due to direct recombination of triplet contact ion-pair (CIP) or solvent-separated ion-pair (SSIP).

  1. Radicals and molecular products from the gas-phase pyrolysis of lignin model compounds. Cinnamyl alcohol

    PubMed Central

    Khachatryan, Lavrent; Xu, Meng-xia; Wu, Ang-jian; Pechagin, Mikhail; Asatryan, Rubik

    2016-01-01

    The experimental results on detection and identification of intermediate radicals and molecular products from gas-phase pyrolysis of cinnamyl alcohol (CnA), the simplest non-phenolic lignin model compound, over the temperature range of 400–800 °C are reported. The low temperature matrix isolation – electron paramagnetic resonance (LTMI-EPR) experiments along with the theoretical calculations, provided evidences on the generation of the intermediate carbon and oxygen centered as well as oxygen-linked, conjugated radicals. A mechanistic analysis is performed based on density functional theory to explain formation of the major products from CnA pyrolysis; cinnamaldehyde, indene, styrene, benzaldehyde, 1-propynyl benzene, and 2-propenyl benzene. The evaluated bond dissociation patterns and unimolecular decomposition pathways involve dehydrogenation, dehydration, 1,3-sigmatropic H-migration, 1,2-hydrogen shift, C—O and C—C bond cleavage processes. PMID:28344372

  2. Building on what you know.

    PubMed

    Patry, Leslie Anne

    2006-02-01

    The author undertook a project to support nurses participating in study groups as part of their strategy to prepare for the Canadian Nurses Association certification exams. Feedback was obtained from CNA certified nurses, study group participants and facilitators and other key stakeholders to develop a study group resource manual. CNA certification is a voluntary national nursing specialty credential that offers Canadian nurses the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills by meeting eligibility criteria and successfully writing an examination. Initially, development of a study group manual was the principal aim of the project; however, nurses' insights into their study group experiences became the focal point. Nurses recognized that being part of a study group was an effective learning strategy and a valuable networking experience. The author highlights nurses' study group experiences, describes the use of a nursing leadership conceptual model to frame the project and discusses the concept of continuing competence.

  3. Recognizing and Responding to the "Toxic" Work Environment: Worker Safety, Patient Safety, and Abuse/Neglect in Nursing Homes.

    PubMed

    Pickering, Carolyn E Z; Nurenberg, Katie; Schiamberg, Lawrence

    2017-10-01

    This grounded theory study examined how the certified nursing assistant (CNA) understands and responds to bullying in the workplace. Constant comparative analysis was used to analyze data from in-depth telephone interviews with CNAs ( N = 22) who experienced bullying while employed in a nursing home. The result of the analysis is a multistep model describing CNA perceptions of how, over time, they recognized and responded to the "toxic" work environment. The strategies used in responding to the "toxic" environment affected their care provision and were attributed to the development of several resident and worker safety outcomes. The data suggest that the etiology of abuse and neglect in nursing homes may be better explained by institutional cultures rather than individual traits of CNAs. Findings highlight the relationship between worker and patient safety, and suggest worker safety outcomes may be an indicator of quality in nursing homes.

  4. Shortening of the Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGNJ1-64 AggLb Protein Switches Its Activity from Auto-aggregation to Biofilm Formation.

    PubMed

    Miljkovic, Marija; Bertani, Iris; Fira, Djordje; Jovcic, Branko; Novovic, Katarina; Venturi, Vittorio; Kojic, Milan

    2016-01-01

    AggLb is the largest (318.6 kDa) aggregation-promoting protein of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGNJ1-64 responsible for forming large cell aggregates, which causes auto-aggregation, collagen binding and pathogen exclusion in vitro. It contains an N-terminus leader peptide, followed by six successive collagen binding domains, 20 successive repeats (CnaB-like domains) and an LPXTG sorting signal at the C-terminus for cell wall anchoring. Experimental information about the roles of the domains of AggLb is currently unknown. To define the domain that confers cell aggregation and the key domains for interactions of specific affinity between AggLb and components of the extracellular matrix, we constructed a series of variants of the aggLb gene and expressed them in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis BGKP1-20 using a lactococcal promoter. All of the variants contained a leader peptide, an inter collagen binding-CnaB domain region (used to raise an anti-AggLb antibody), an anchor domain and a different number of collagen binding and CnaB-like domains. The role of the collagen binding repeats of the N-terminus in auto-aggregation and binding to collagen and fibronectin was confirmed. Deletion of the collagen binding repeats II, III, and IV resulted in a loss of the strong auto-aggregation, collagen and fibronectin binding abilities whereas the biofilm formation capability was increased. The strong auto-aggregation, collagen and fibronectin binding abilities of AggLb were negatively correlated to biofilm formation.

  5. Unraveling Gardnerella vaginalis Surface Proteins Using Cell Shaving Proteomics.

    PubMed

    Marín, Elvira; Haesaert, Annelies; Padilla, Laura; Adán, Jaume; Hernáez, María L; Monteoliva, Lucía; Gil, Concha

    2018-01-01

    Gardnerella vaginalis is one of the main etiologic agents of bacterial vaginosis (BV). This infection is responsible for a wide range of public health costs and is associated with several adverse outcomes during pregnancy. Improving our understanding of G. vaginalis protein cell surface will assist in BV diagnosis. This study represents the first proteomic approach that has analyzed the exposed proteins on G. vaginalis cell surface using a shaving approach. The 261 G. vaginalis proteins identified using this approach were analyzed with bioinformatic tools to detect characteristic motifs from surface-exposed proteins, such as signal peptides (36 proteins), lipobox domains (17 proteins), LPXTG motifs (5 proteins) and transmembrane alpha-helices (66 proteins). One third of the identified proteins were found to have at least one typical motif of surface-exposed proteins. Furthermore, the subcellular location was examined using two predictors (PSORT and Gpos-mPLoc). These bioinformatic tools classified 17% of the identified proteins as surface-associated proteins. Interestingly, we identified 13 members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily, which were mainly involved in the translocation of various substrates across membranes. To validate the location of the G. vaginalis surface-exposed proteins, an immunofluorescence assay with antibodies against Escherichia coli GroEL was performed to reveal the extracellular location of the moonlighting GroEL. In addition, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against G. vaginalis Cna protein were produced and used to validate the location of Cna on the surface of the G. vaginalis . These high affinity anti-Cna mAb represent a useful tool for the study of this pathogenic microorganism and the BV.

  6. Unraveling Gardnerella vaginalis Surface Proteins Using Cell Shaving Proteomics

    PubMed Central

    Marín, Elvira; Haesaert, Annelies; Padilla, Laura; Adán, Jaume; Hernáez, María L.; Monteoliva, Lucía; Gil, Concha

    2018-01-01

    Gardnerella vaginalis is one of the main etiologic agents of bacterial vaginosis (BV). This infection is responsible for a wide range of public health costs and is associated with several adverse outcomes during pregnancy. Improving our understanding of G. vaginalis protein cell surface will assist in BV diagnosis. This study represents the first proteomic approach that has analyzed the exposed proteins on G. vaginalis cell surface using a shaving approach. The 261 G. vaginalis proteins identified using this approach were analyzed with bioinformatic tools to detect characteristic motifs from surface-exposed proteins, such as signal peptides (36 proteins), lipobox domains (17 proteins), LPXTG motifs (5 proteins) and transmembrane alpha-helices (66 proteins). One third of the identified proteins were found to have at least one typical motif of surface-exposed proteins. Furthermore, the subcellular location was examined using two predictors (PSORT and Gpos-mPLoc). These bioinformatic tools classified 17% of the identified proteins as surface-associated proteins. Interestingly, we identified 13 members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily, which were mainly involved in the translocation of various substrates across membranes. To validate the location of the G. vaginalis surface-exposed proteins, an immunofluorescence assay with antibodies against Escherichia coli GroEL was performed to reveal the extracellular location of the moonlighting GroEL. In addition, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against G. vaginalis Cna protein were produced and used to validate the location of Cna on the surface of the G. vaginalis. These high affinity anti-Cna mAb represent a useful tool for the study of this pathogenic microorganism and the BV. PMID:29867878

  7. Genome analysis of Clostridium perfringens isolates from healthy and necrotic enteritis infected chickens and turkeys.

    PubMed

    Ronco, Troels; Stegger, Marc; Ng, Kim Lee; Lilje, Berit; Lyhs, Ulrike; Andersen, Paal Skytt; Pedersen, Karl

    2017-07-11

    Clostridium perfringens causes gastrointestinal diseases in both humans and domestic animals. Type A strains expressing the NetB toxin are the main cause of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, which has remarkable impact on animal welfare and production economy in the international poultry industry. Three pathogenicity loci NELoc-1, -2 and -3 and a collagen adhesion gene cnaA have been found to be associated with NE in chickens, whereas the presence of these has not been investigated in diseased turkeys. The purpose was to investigate the virulence associated genome content and the genetic relationship among 30 C. perfringens isolates from both healthy and NE infected chickens and turkeys, applying whole-genome sequencing. NELoc-1, -3, netB and cnaA were significantly associated with NE isolates from chickens, whereas only NELoc-2 was commonly observed in both diseased turkeys and chickens. A putative collagen adhesion gene that encodes a von Willebrand Factor (vWF) domain was identified in all diseased turkeys and designated as cnaD. The phylogenetic analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms showed that the isolates generally were not closely related. These results indicate that virulence factors and pathogenicity loci associated with NE in chickens are not important to the same extent in diseased turkeys except for NELoc-2. A putative collagen adhesion gene which potentially could be of importance in regard to the NE pathogenesis in turkeys was identified and need to be further investigated. Thus, the pathogenesis of NE in turkeys appears to be different from that of broiler chickens.

  8. Effects of solid-medium type on routine identification of bacterial isolates by use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Anderson, Neil W; Buchan, Blake W; Riebe, Katherine M; Parsons, Lauren N; Gnacinski, Stacy; Ledeboer, Nathan A

    2012-03-01

    Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid method for the identification of bacteria. Factors that may alter protein profiles, including growth conditions and presence of exogenous substances, could hinder identification. Bacterial isolates identified by conventional methods were grown on various media and identified using the MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA) using a direct smear method and an acid extraction method. Specimens included 23 Pseudomonas isolates grown on blood agar, Pseudocel (CET), and MacConkey agar (MAC); 20 Staphylococcus isolates grown on blood agar, colistin-nalidixic acid agar (CNA), and mannitol salt agar (MSA); and 25 enteric isolates grown on blood agar, xylose lysine deoxycholate agar (XLD), Hektoen enteric agar (HE), salmonella-shigella agar (SS), and MAC. For Pseudomonas spp., the identification rate to genus using the direct method was 83% from blood, 78% from MAC, and 94% from CET. For Staphylococcus isolates, the identification rate to genus using the direct method was 95% from blood, 75% from CNA, and 95% from MSA. For enteric isolates, the identification rate to genus using the direct method was 100% from blood, 100% from MAC, 100% from XLD, 92% from HE, and 87% from SS. Extraction enhanced identification rates. The direct method of MALDI-TOF analysis of bacteria from selective and differential media yields identifications of varied confidence. Notably, Staphylococci spp. from CNA exhibit low identification rates. Extraction enhances identification rates and is recommended for colonies from this medium.

  9. Genome-wide analysis of esophageal adenocarcinoma yields specific copy number aberrations that correlate with prognosis.

    PubMed

    Frankel, Adam; Armour, Nicola; Nancarrow, Derek; Krause, Lutz; Hayward, Nicholas; Lampe, Guy; Smithers, B Mark; Barbour, Andrew

    2014-04-01

    The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has been increasing rapidly for the past 3 decades in Western (Caucasian) populations. Curative treatment is based around esophagectomy, which has a major impact on quality of life. For those suitable for treatment with curative intent, 5-year survival is ∼30%. More accurate prognostic tools are therefore needed, and copy number aberrations (CNAs) may offer the ability to act as prospective biomarkers in this regard. We performed a genome-wide examination of CNAs in 54 samples of EAC using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. Our aims were to describe frequent regions of CNA, to define driver CNAs, and to identify CNAs that correlated with survival. Regions of frequent amplification included oncogenes such as EGFR, MYC, KLF12, and ERBB2, while frequently deleted regions included tumor suppressor genes such as CDKN2A/B, PTPRD, FHIT, and SMAD4. The genomic identification of significant targets in cancer (GISTIC) algorithm identified 24 regions of gain and 28 regions of loss that were likely to contain driver changes. We discovered 61 genes in five regions that, when stratified by CNA type (gain or loss), correlated with a statistically significant difference in survival. Pathway analysis of the genes residing in both the GISTIC and prognostic regions showed they were significantly enriched for cancer-related networks. Finally, we discovered that copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity is a frequent mechanism of CNA in genes currently targetable by chemotherapy, potentially leading to under-reporting of cases suitable for such treatment. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  10. The Relationship Between Colocation and Reenlistment in the Navy. Volume 1

    DTIC Science & Technology

    of a larger CNA project titled The Effects of Personnel Policy Changes on Budgets and Manpower Inventories sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)(ASN(FM and C)).

  11. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy on hair regrowth in dogs with noninflammatory alopecia: a pilot study.

    PubMed

    Olivieri, Lara; Cavina, Damiano; Radicchi, Giada; Miragliotta, Vincenzo; Abramo, Francesca

    2015-02-01

    Canine noninflammatory alopecia (CNA) is a heterogeneous group of skin diseases with different underlying pathogenesis. The therapeutic approach is challenging, and new options for treatment are desirable. To test the clinical efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on hair regrowth in CNA. Seven dogs of different ages, breeds and genders with a clinical and histopathological diagnosis of noninflammatory alopecia. Each dog was treated twice weekly for a maximum of 2 months with a therapeutic laser producing the following three different wavelengths emerging simultaneously from 21 foci: 13 × 16 mW, 470 nm; 4 × 50 mW, 685 nm; and 4 × 200 mW, 830 nm. The fluence given was 3 J/cm(2) , frequency 5 Hz, amplitude of the irradiated area was 25 cm(2) and application time was 1.34 min. A predetermined alopecic area was left untreated and served as a control area. From one dog, post-treatment biopsies of treated and untreated sites were obtained for histological evaluation of hair density and the percentage of haired and nonhaired follicles. At the end of the study, coat regrowth was greatly improved in six of seven animals and improved in one of seven. By morphometry, the area occupied by hair follicles was 18% in the treated sample and 11% in the untreated one (11%); haired follicles were (per area) 93% in the treated sample and only 9% in the control sample. Our clinical and histological data document promising effects of LLLT on hair regrowth in CNA. Further studies investigating the biological mechanism underlying the effect of LLLT on hair follicle cycling are warranted. © 2014 ESVD and ACVD.

  12. Clonal evolution in paired endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia/atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

    PubMed

    Russo, Mariano; Broach, James; Sheldon, Kathryn; Houser, Kenneth R; Liu, Dajiang J; Kesterson, Joshua; Phaeton, Rebecca; Hossler, Carrie; Hempel, Nadine; Baker, Maria; Newell, Jordan M; Zaino, Richard; Warrick, Joshua I

    2017-09-01

    Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AH) are histomorphologically defined precursors to endometrioid adenocarcinoma, which are unified as EIN/AH by the World Health Organization. EIN/AH harbors a constellation of molecular alterations similar to those found in endometrioid adenocarcinoma. However, the process of clonal evolution from EIN/AH to carcinoma is poorly characterized. To investigate, we performed next-generation sequencing, copy number alteration (CNA) analysis, and immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair protein expression on EIN/AH and endometrioid adenocarcinoma samples from 6 hysterectomy cases with spatially distinct EIN/AH and carcinoma. In evaluating all samples, EIN/AH and carcinoma did not differ in mutational burden, CNA burden, or specific genes mutated (all P>.1). All paired EIN/AH and carcinoma samples shared at least one identical somatic mutation, frequently in PI(3)K pathway members. Large CNAs (>10 genes in length) were identified in 83% of cases; paired EIN/AH and carcinoma samples shared at least one identical CNA in these cases. Mismatch repair protein expression matched in all paired EIN/AH and carcinoma samples. All paired EIN/AH and carcinoma samples had identical The Cancer Genome Atlas subtype, with 3 classified as "copy number low endometrioid" and 3 classified as "microsatellite instability hypermutated." Although paired EIN/AH and carcinoma samples were clonal, private mutations (ie, present in only one sample) were identified in EIN/AH and carcinoma in all cases, frequently in established cancer-driving genes. These findings indicate that EIN/AH gives rise to endometrioid adenocarcinoma by a complex process of subclone evolution, not a linear accumulation of molecular events. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Readiness Based Sparing: A Research Summary

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-07-01

    TIGER and SESAME. Retrieved from Defense Technical Information Center. (ADA283943) Geis, M. B., Camper, V. S., Measell , B. H., & Oi, J. S. (1995...Camper, V. S., & Measell , B. H. (1993). Aviation logistics support: Retail sparing issues. Retrieved from CNA. (2793002000) Kinskie, S. W. (1997). An

  14. Plasmonic and SERS performances of compound nanohole arrays fabricated by shadow sphere lithography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Skehan, Connor; Ai, Bin; Larson, Steven R.; Stone, Keenan M.; Dennis, William M.; Zhao, Yiping

    2018-03-01

    Several plasmonic compound nanohole arrays (CNAs), such as triangular nanoholes and fan-like nanoholes with multiple nanotips and nanogaps, are designed by a simple and efficient shadow sphere lithography technique by tuning the sphere mask size, the deposition and azimuthal angles, substrate temperature T S , and the number of deposition steps N. Compared with conventional circular nanohole arrays, the CNAs show more hot spots and exhibit new transmission speaks. Systematic finite-difference time-domain calculations indicate that different resonance modes excited by the various shaped and sized nanoholes are responsible for the enhanced plasmonic performances of CNAs. Compared to the CNA samples with only one circular hole in the unit cell, the Raman scattering intensity of the CNA with multiple triangular nanoholes, nanogaps, and nanotips can be enhanced up to 5-fold. These CNAs, due to the strong resonance due to the multiple structural features, are promising applications as optical filters, plasmonic sensors, and surface-enhanced spectroscopies.

  15. Cooling rate dependence and local structure in aluminum monatomic metallic glass

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kbirou, M.; Trady, S.; Hasnaoui, A.; Mazroui, M.

    2017-10-01

    The local atomic structure in aluminium monatomic metallic glass is studied using molecular dynamics simulations combined with the embedded atom method (EAM). We have used a variety of analytical methods to characterise the atomic configurations of our system: the Pair Distribution Function (PDF), the Common Neighbour Analysis (CNA) and the Voronoi Tessellation Analysis. CNA was used to investigate the order change from liquid to amorphous phases, recognising that the amount of icosahedral clusters increases with the decrease of temperature. The Voronoi analysis revealed that the icosahedral-like polyhedral are the predominant ones. It has been observed that the PDF function shows a splitting in the second peak, which cannot be attributed to the only ideal icosahedral polyhedron 〈0, 0, 12, 0〉, but also to the formation of other Voronoi polyhedra 〈0, 1, 10, 2〉 . Further, the PDFs were then integrated giving the cumulative coordination number in order to compute the fractal dimension (df).

  16. Cognitive and Noncognitive Improvements Among Cadets at the Washington Youth Academy (WYA)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-12-01

    including affecting one’s success in the labor market [6]. Other researchers have shown that noncognitive skills are also related to outcomes, such as...Robert Shuford. 2008. Variation in Participants and Policies Across ChalleNGe Programs. CNA Corporation. CRM D0016643.A2/Final. [10] Rosen, Jeffrey

  17. The Nine Planets Solar System Tour

    Science.gov Websites

    Astronomy news section which gives news, notes and general observations, we also have an interactive tour of ; Notes Astronomy picture of the day. For a full list of contents please see here. cna classes online Professional Astronomy research paper writing help can be found at AdvancedWriters.com. Solar system tour

  18. A Preliminary Qualitative Evaluation of the Virginia Gold Quality Improvement Program

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Craver, Gerald A.; Burkett, Amy K.

    2012-01-01

    Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) perform an important role in the long-term care system because they provide the majority of paid care to nursing facility residents. Unfortunately, annual CNA turnover often exceeds 100 percent nationally. Many factors account for this, including stressful working conditions, low pay, and limited benefits. The…

  19. Peer Mentoring in Long-Term Care: Rational, Design, and Retention

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hegeman, Carol; Hoskinson, Debi; Munro, Heather; Maiden, Patricia; Pillemer, Karl

    2007-01-01

    This article describes two successful peer-mentoring programs designed to improve the quality of care in nursing homes and retention rates among direct care staff. The first program, "Growing Strong Roots," examined CNA retention rates and the second program, "Peer Mentoring for Long Term Charge Nurses," examined RN and LPN retention rates. These…

  20. Collaborating for Success: Team Teaching the Engineering Technical Thesis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Keating, Terrence; Long, Mike

    2012-01-01

    This paper will examine the collaborative teaching process undertaken at College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) by Engineering and the Communication faculties to improve the overall quality of engineering students' capstone projects known as the Technical Thesis. The Technical Thesis is divided into two separate components: a proposal stage…

  1. Innovative Contextualized Curriculum for a CNA to LPN Bridge Course. Promising Practice

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Office of Community College Research and Leadership, 2010

    2010-01-01

    As a pilot site selected to participate in Illinois' Shifting Gears (SG) initiative in 2007, Oakton Community College (OCC) partnered with Presbyterian Homes to develop a bridge course to prepare a cadre of their employed Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to enter college-credit prerequisite courses to a Practical Nursing program. Oakton…

  2. Applying geo-spatial analysis in community needs assessment: Implications for planning and prioritizing based on data.

    PubMed

    Baig, Kamran; Shaw-Ridley, Mary; Munoz, Oscar J

    2016-10-01

    Colonias are sub standardized and unincorporated areas located along the US-Mexico border, with severely lacking infrastructure. Residents have poor health and limited availability, accessibility and/or utilization of healthcare services in the region. Using 2006-2007 community needs assessment (CNA) surveys collected by the Center for Housing and Urban Development of Texas A&M University, 410 randomly selected surveys from Hidalgo County, Texas were analyzed. Descriptive and spatial analyses were performed and Odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Out of 410 surveys, 333 were geo-coded to identify areas most in need of dental and vision care. Two hospitals existed within 5 miles radius of the mean centers for the two areas. Distance to health care facility was not statistically predictive of the need of dental care OR=0.96 (95% CI=0.855-1.078, p value=0.492) and vision care OR=1.083 (95% CI=0.968-1.212, p value=0.164). Integrating spatial analysis and CNA enhances planning to improve service accessibility and utilization in underserved areas. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Scalable whole-exome sequencing of cell-free DNA reveals high concordance with metastatic tumors.

    PubMed

    Adalsteinsson, Viktor A; Ha, Gavin; Freeman, Samuel S; Choudhury, Atish D; Stover, Daniel G; Parsons, Heather A; Gydush, Gregory; Reed, Sarah C; Rotem, Denisse; Rhoades, Justin; Loginov, Denis; Livitz, Dimitri; Rosebrock, Daniel; Leshchiner, Ignaty; Kim, Jaegil; Stewart, Chip; Rosenberg, Mara; Francis, Joshua M; Zhang, Cheng-Zhong; Cohen, Ofir; Oh, Coyin; Ding, Huiming; Polak, Paz; Lloyd, Max; Mahmud, Sairah; Helvie, Karla; Merrill, Margaret S; Santiago, Rebecca A; O'Connor, Edward P; Jeong, Seong H; Leeson, Rachel; Barry, Rachel M; Kramkowski, Joseph F; Zhang, Zhenwei; Polacek, Laura; Lohr, Jens G; Schleicher, Molly; Lipscomb, Emily; Saltzman, Andrea; Oliver, Nelly M; Marini, Lori; Waks, Adrienne G; Harshman, Lauren C; Tolaney, Sara M; Van Allen, Eliezer M; Winer, Eric P; Lin, Nancy U; Nakabayashi, Mari; Taplin, Mary-Ellen; Johannessen, Cory M; Garraway, Levi A; Golub, Todd R; Boehm, Jesse S; Wagle, Nikhil; Getz, Gad; Love, J Christopher; Meyerson, Matthew

    2017-11-06

    Whole-exome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) could enable comprehensive profiling of tumors from blood but the genome-wide concordance between cfDNA and tumor biopsies is uncertain. Here we report ichorCNA, software that quantifies tumor content in cfDNA from 0.1× coverage whole-genome sequencing data without prior knowledge of tumor mutations. We apply ichorCNA to 1439 blood samples from 520 patients with metastatic prostate or breast cancers. In the earliest tested sample for each patient, 34% of patients have ≥10% tumor-derived cfDNA, sufficient for standard coverage whole-exome sequencing. Using whole-exome sequencing, we validate the concordance of clonal somatic mutations (88%), copy number alterations (80%), mutational signatures, and neoantigens between cfDNA and matched tumor biopsies from 41 patients with ≥10% cfDNA tumor content. In summary, we provide methods to identify patients eligible for comprehensive cfDNA profiling, revealing its applicability to many patients, and demonstrate high concordance of cfDNA and metastatic tumor whole-exome sequencing.

  4. The somatic mutation profiles of 2,433 breast cancers refines their genomic and transcriptomic landscapes

    PubMed Central

    Pereira, Bernard; Chin, Suet-Feung; Rueda, Oscar M.; Vollan, Hans-Kristian Moen; Provenzano, Elena; Bardwell, Helen A.; Pugh, Michelle; Jones, Linda; Russell, Roslin; Sammut, Stephen-John; Tsui, Dana W. Y.; Liu, Bin; Dawson, Sarah-Jane; Abraham, Jean; Northen, Helen; Peden, John F.; Mukherjee, Abhik; Turashvili, Gulisa; Green, Andrew R.; McKinney, Steve; Oloumi, Arusha; Shah, Sohrab; Rosenfeld, Nitzan; Murphy, Leigh; Bentley, David R.; Ellis, Ian O.; Purushotham, Arnie; Pinder, Sarah E.; Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise; Earl, Helena M.; Pharoah, Paul D.; Ross, Mark T.; Aparicio, Samuel; Caldas, Carlos

    2016-01-01

    The genomic landscape of breast cancer is complex, and inter- and intra-tumour heterogeneity are important challenges in treating the disease. In this study, we sequence 173 genes in 2,433 primary breast tumours that have copy number aberration (CNA), gene expression and long-term clinical follow-up data. We identify 40 mutation-driver (Mut-driver) genes, and determine associations between mutations, driver CNA profiles, clinical-pathological parameters and survival. We assess the clonal states of Mut-driver mutations, and estimate levels of intra-tumour heterogeneity using mutant-allele fractions. Associations between PIK3CA mutations and reduced survival are identified in three subgroups of ER-positive cancer (defined by amplification of 17q23, 11q13–14 or 8q24). High levels of intra-tumour heterogeneity are in general associated with a worse outcome, but highly aggressive tumours with 11q13–14 amplification have low levels of intra-tumour heterogeneity. These results emphasize the importance of genome-based stratification of breast cancer, and have important implications for designing therapeutic strategies. PMID:27161491

  5. Integrated Analysis of Genome-wide Copy Number Alterations and Gene Expression in MSS, CIMP-negative Colon Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Loo, Lenora WM; Tiirikainen, Maarit; Cheng, Iona; Lum-Jones, Annette; Seifried, Ann; Church, James M; Gryfe, Robert; Weisenberger, Daniel J; Lindor, Noralane M; Gallinger, Steven; Haile, Robert W; Duggan, David J; Thibodeau, Stephen N; Casey, Graham; Le Marchand, Loïc

    2014-01-01

    Microsatellite stable (MSS), CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-negative colorectal tumors, the most prevalent molecular subtype of colorectal cancer, are associated with extensive copy number alteration (CNA) events and aneuploidy. We report on the identification of characteristic recurrent CNA (with frequency >25%) events and associated gene expression profiles for a total of 40 paired tumor and adjacent normal colon tissues using genome-wide microarrays. We observed recurrent CNAs, namely gains at 1q, 7p, 7q, 8p12-11, 8q, 12p13, 13q, 20p, 20q, Xp, and Xq and losses at 1p36, 1p31, 1p21, 4p15-12, 4q12-35, 5q21-22, 6q26, 8p, 14q, 15q11-12, 17p, 18p, 18q, 21q21-22, and 22q. Within these genomic regions we identified 356 genes with significant differential expression (P<0.0001 and ±1.5 fold change) in the tumor compared to adjacent normal tissue. Gene ontology and pathway analyses indicated that many of these genes were involved in functional mechanisms that regulate cell cycle, cell death, and metabolism. An amplicon present in >70% of the tumor samples at 20q11-20q13 contained several cancer-related genes (AHCY, POFUT1, RPN2, TH1L and PRPF6) that were up-regulated and demonstrated a significant linear correlation (P<0.05) for gene dosage and gene expression. Copy number loss at 8p, a CNA associated with adenocarcinoma and poor prognosis, was observed in >50% of the tumor samples and demonstrated a significant linear correlation for gene dosage and gene expression for two potential tumor suppressor genes, MTUS1 (8p22) and PPP2CB (8p12). The results from our integration analysis illustrate the complex relationship between genomic alterations and gene expression in colon cancer. PMID:23341073

  6. Evodiamine Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Rat Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy.

    PubMed

    He, Na; Gong, Qi-Hai; Zhang, Feng; Zhang, Jing-Yi; Lin, Shu-Xian; Hou, Hua-Hua; Wu, Qin; Sun, An-Sheng

    2018-05-01

    To investigate the effects of evodiamine (Evo), a component of Evodiaminedia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth, on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and further explore the potential mechanisms. Cardiomyocytes from neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were isolated and characterized, and then the cadiomyocyte cultures were randomly divided into control, model (Ang II 0.1 μmol/L), and Evo (0.03, 0.3, 3 μmol/L) groups. The cardiomyocyte surface area, protein level, intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) concentration, activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and content of nitric oxide (NO) were measured, respectively. The mRNA expressions of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), calcineurin (CaN), extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 (ERK-2), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) of cardiomyocytes were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction. The protein expressions of calcineurin catalytic subunit (CnA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) were detected by Western blot analysis. Compared with the control group, Ang II induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy, as evidenced by increased cardiomyocyte surface area, protein content, and ANF mRNA expression; increased intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) concentration and expressions of CaN mRNA, CnA protein, and ERK-2 mRNA, but decreased MKP-1 protein expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with Ang II, Evo (0.3, 3 μmol/L) significantly attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, decreased the [Ca 2+ ] i concentration and expressions of CaN mRNA, CnA protein, and ERK-2 mRNA, but increased MKP-1 protein expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Most interestingly, Evo increased the NOS activity and NO production, and upregulated the eNOS mRNA expression (P<0.05). Evo signifificantly attenuated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and this effect was partly due to promotion of NO production, reduction of [Ca 2+ ]i concentration, and inhibition of CaN and ERK-2 signal transduction pathways.

  7. Parity-Dependent Rotational Energy Transfer in CN(A2Π, ν = 4, jF1ε) + N2, O2, and CO2 Collisions

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    We report state-resolved total removal cross sections and state-to-state rotational energy transfer (RET) cross sections for collisions of CN(A2Π, ν = 4, jF1ε) with N2, O2, and CO2. CN(X2Σ+) was produced by 266 nm photolysis of ICN in a thermal bath (296 K) of the collider gas. A circularly polarized pulse from a dye laser prepared CN(A2Π, ν = 4) in a range of F1e rotational states, j = 2.5, 3.5, 6.5, 11.5, 13.5, and 18.5. These prepared states were monitored using the circularly polarized output of an external cavity diode laser by frequency-modulated (FM) spectroscopy on the CN(A–X)(4,2) band. The FM Doppler profiles were analyzed as a function of pump–probe delay to determine the time dependence of the population of the initially prepared states. Kinetic analysis of the resulting time dependences was used to determine total removal cross sections from the initially prepared levels. In addition, a range of j′ F1e and j′ F2f product states resulting from rotational energy transfer out of the j = 6.5 F1e initial state were probed, from which state-to-state RET cross sections were measured. The total removal cross sections lie in the order CO2 > N2 > O2, with evidence for substantial cross sections for electronic and/or reactive quenching of CN(A, ν = 4) to unobserved products with CO2 and O2. This is supported by the magnitude of the state-to-state RET cross sections, where a deficit of transferred population is apparent for CO2 and O2. A strong propensity for conservation of rotational parity in RET is observed for all three colliders. Spin–orbit-changing cross sections are approximately half of those of the respective conserving cross sections. These results are in marked disagreement with previous experimental observations with N2 as a collider but are in good agreement with quantum scattering calculations from the same study (Khachatrian et al. J. Phys. Chem. A2009, 113, 392219215110). Our results with CO2 as a collider are similarly in strong disagreement with a related experimental study (Khachatrian et al. J. Phys. Chem. A2009, 113, 1339019405498). We therefore propose that the previous experiments substantially underestimated the spin–orbit-changing cross sections for collisions with both N2 and CO2, suggesting that even approximate quantum scattering calculations may be more successful for such molecule–molecule systems than was previously concluded. PMID:24552624

  8. Nursing Assistants' Job Commitment: Effect of Nursing Home Organizational Factors and Impact on Resident Well-Being

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bishop, Christine E.; Weinberg, Dana Beth; Leutz, Walter; Dossa, Almas; Pfefferle, Susan G.; Zincavage, Rebekah M.

    2008-01-01

    Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate (a) whether certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are more committed to nursing home jobs when they perceive their jobs as enhanced (greater autonomy, use of knowledge, teamwork), and (b) whether CNA job commitment affects resident satisfaction. Design and Methods: A qualitative exploration of…

  9. CNA Maritime Asia Project. Workshop Two: Naval Developments in Asia

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-08-01

    exercises. 3 See for instance, VADM (ret.) Yoji Koda , “A New Carrier Race? Strategy, Force Planning, and JS Hyuga,” Naval War College Review 64, no...power to the country. 5 Yoji Koda , “The Emerging Republic of Korea Navy: A Japanese Perspective,” Naval War College Review 63, no. 2 (Spring 2010

  10. The Classroom "Is" the Newsroom: CNA: A Wire Service Journalism Training Model to Bridge the Theory versus Practice Dichotomy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tulloch, Christopher David; Mas i Manchon, Lluis

    2018-01-01

    Although recent journalism education literature has promoted constant innovation, creative curriculum design, and the adaptation of teaching methodologies to the requirements of a fiercely competitive media marketplace, the permanent face-off between the academy and the profession has often led to theoretical models distanced from real newsroom…

  11. Characteristics and Recruitment Paths of Certified Nursing Assistants in Rural and Urban Nursing Homes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Probst, Janice C.; Baek, Jong-Deuk; Laditka, Sarah B.

    2009-01-01

    Context: Most nursing home care is provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs), but little is known about rural CNAs. Purpose: To develop a representative geographic profile of the CNA workforce, focusing on paths leading to present job. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2004 National Nursing Assistant Survey (NNAS), a…

  12. Consequences of Empowered CNA Teams in Nursing Home Settings: A Longitudinal Assessment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yeatts, Dale E.; Cready, Cynthia M.

    2007-01-01

    Purpose: Recent studies have concluded that there is a lack of "patient-centered" care in nursing homes and subsequently a need for nursing home culture change. As a result, a variety of new, promising initiatives have been introduced, with most of these incorporating the use of "empowered" employees. The purpose of this study…

  13. Death and Dying Attitudes, Anxieties, and Fears of Certified Nursing Assistants: A Descriptive Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hamilton, Josephine A.

    2010-01-01

    The critical role of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to help elderly nursing home residents' move through declining conditions or diseases to death is salient. It is important for CNAs and nursing home leaders to understand CNAs' attitudes, fears, and anxieties toward death and dying. The quantitative study investigated CNA's…

  14. Joint Interagency Coordination Group - Cyber: Empowering the Combatant Commanders against the no-borders threat

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-05-04

    inconvenience and denial of Internet service, CNAs pose a threat to national security, if the right computer is hacked , to every day operations, if baking...expert J3: Current Operations Rep Private Sector/Civilian: cyber/CNA SME J5 Future Operations Rep Private Sector/Civilian: cyber/CND SME Table 2

  15. Navy Manpower Planning

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-03-31

    requirements based on valid, approved workload. • Link peacetime and mobilization manpower requirements. 16 Moreover, the purpose of the SMRD is to... research and policy; energy and environment; manpower management; acquisition and cost; infrastructure; and military readiness . CPP-2017 -U-015038-Final...CNA ANALYSIS & SOLUTIONS 31st March 2017 Subject: NAVY MANPOWER PLANNING MONOGRAPH Navy manpower planning is a rich and complex topic that has a

  16. Ground System Survivability Overview

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-27

    Avoidance Blast Mitigation Optimization Customer ILIR RDT&E Funding 5.0 % 0.5% GSS has a proven, technically proficient workforce that meets...Evaluation of Defensive-Aid Suites (ARMED) Common Automatic Fire Extinguishing System ( CAFES ) Transparent Armor Development Ground Combat Vehicle...Survey TRADOC (WFO, CNA, etc) Voice of the Customer Sy st em s En gi ne er in g Publish overarching MIL-STD, design guidelines, technical

  17. CNA Maritime Asia Project. Workshop One: The Yellow and East China Seas

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-01

    TEU) were all in the world’s top 25 ports.2 Shanghai, positioned at the crossroads of the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Yangtze River, is the...Sea, and Yangtze River, is the largest port in the world, shipping over 29 million TEU in 2011.4 Nearly 57% of China’s total trade volume emanates

  18. The Perception of "Training Availability" among Certified Nurse Aides: Relationship to CNA Performance, Turnover, Attitudes, Burnout, and Empowerment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yeatts, Dale E.; Cready, Cynthia; Swan, James; Shen, Yuying

    2010-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the certified nurse aides' (CNAs) perception that "training is always available when needed" and the CNAs' performance, turnover, attitudes, burnout, and empowerment. The data came from a larger study where a self-administered survey instrument was completed by 359 CNAs…

  19. Improving the U.S. Navy Riverine Capability: Lessons from the Colombian Experience

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-12-01

    29 A. EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSE TO THREATS .................................. 30 1. La Violencia ...and joint familiarity of terms within coordinating units.38 As defined in the CNA report, logistics might be affected by the type of medical...riverine transformation associated with each. Four specific events will be addressed: the period of La Violencia that took place from 1948 to 1957

  20. Spectrum of mutations in leiomyosarcomas identified by clinical targeted next-generation sequencing.

    PubMed

    Lee, Paul J; Yoo, Naomi S; Hagemann, Ian S; Pfeifer, John D; Cottrell, Catherine E; Abel, Haley J; Duncavage, Eric J

    2017-02-01

    Recurrent genomic mutations in uterine and non-uterine leiomyosarcomas have not been well established. Using a next generation sequencing (NGS) panel of common cancer-associated genes, 25 leiomyosarcomas arising from multiple sites were examined to explore genetic alterations, including single nucleotide variants (SNV), small insertions/deletions (indels), and copy number alterations (CNA). Sequencing showed 86 non-synonymous, coding region somatic variants within 151 gene targets in 21 cases, with a mean of 4.1 variants per case; 4 cases had no putative mutations in the panel of genes assayed. The most frequently altered genes were TP53 (36%), ATM and ATRX (16%), and EGFR and RB1 (12%). CNA were identified in 85% of cases, with the most frequent copy number losses observed in chromosomes 10 and 13 including PTEN and RB1; the most frequent gains were seen in chromosomes 7 and 17. Our data show that deletions in canonical cancer-related genes are common in leiomyosarcomas. Further, the spectrum of gene mutations observed shows that defects in DNA repair and chromosomal maintenance are central to the biology of leiomyosarcomas, and that activating mutations observed in other common cancer types are rare in leiomyosarcomas. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Do Medicaid Wage Pass-through Payments Increase Nursing Home Staffing?

    PubMed Central

    Feng, Zhanlian; Lee, Yong Suk; Kuo, Sylvia; Intrator, Orna; Foster, Andrew; Mor, Vincent

    2010-01-01

    Objective To assess the impact of state Medicaid wage pass-through policy on direct-care staffing levels in U.S. nursing homes. Data Sources Online Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) data, and state Medicaid nursing home reimbursement policies over the period 1996–2004. Study Design A fixed-effects panel model with two-step feasible-generalized least squares estimates is used to examine the effect of pass-through adoption on direct-care staff hours per resident day (HPRD) in nursing homes. Data Collection/Extraction Methods A panel data file tracking annual OSCAR surveys per facility over the study period is linked with annual information on state Medicaid wage pass-through and related policies. Principal Findings Among the states introducing wage pass-through over the study period, the policy is associated with between 3.0 and 4.0 percent net increases in certified nurse aide (CNA) HPRD in the years following adoption. No discernable pass-through effect is observed on either registered nurse or licensed practical nurse HPRD. Conclusions State Medicaid wage pass-through programs offer a potentially effective policy tool to boost direct-care CNA staffing in nursing homes, at least in the short term. PMID:20403054

  2. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis isolates are associated with clonal complex 30 genotype and a distinct repertoire of enterotoxins and adhesins.

    PubMed

    Nienaber, Juhsien J C; Sharma Kuinkel, Batu K; Clarke-Pearson, Michael; Lamlertthon, Supaporn; Park, Lawrence; Rude, Thomas H; Barriere, Steve; Woods, Christopher W; Chu, Vivian H; Marín, Mercedes; Bukovski, Suzana; Garcia, Patricia; Corey, G Ralph; Korman, Tony; Doco-Lecompte, Thanh; Murdoch, David R; Reller, L Barth; Fowler, Vance G

    2011-09-01

    Using multinational collections of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates from infective endocarditis (IE) and soft tissue infections (STIs), we sought to (1) validate the finding that S. aureus in clonal complex (CC) 30 is associated with hematogenous complications and (2) test the hypothesis that specific genetic characteristics in S. aureus are associated with infection severity. IE and STI isolates from 2 cohorts were frequency matched by geographic origin. Isolates underwent spa typing to infer CC and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for presence of virulence genes. 114 isolate pairs were genotyped. IE isolates were more likely to be CC30 (19.5% vs 6.2%; P = .005) and to contain 3 adhesins (clfB, cna, map/eap; P < .0001 for all) and 5 enterotoxins (tst, sea, sed, see, and sei; P ≤ .005 for all). CC30 isolates were more likely to contain cna, tst, sea, see, seg, and chp (P < .05 for all). MSSA IE isolates were significantly more likely to be CC30 and to possess a distinct repertoire of virulence genes than MSSA STI isolates from the same region. The genetic basis of this association requires further study.

  3. Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy: Opportunities and Challenges

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-01

    Cleared for Public Release Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy Opportunities and Challenges Andrew Ilachinski October 2017 Copyright © 2017 CNA... Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy Opportunities and 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER N00014-16-D-5003 Challenges 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 0605154N...conducted by unmanned and increasingly autonomous weapon systems. This exploratory study considers the state-of-the-art of artificial intelligence (AI

  4. The U.S. India Defense Relationship: Putting the Foundational Agreements in Perspective

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-02-01

    forces, and the benefits outweigh any incremental costs in providing the data feed. 65 For example, Siddharth Varadarajan argued in The Hindu that...Cleared for Public Release DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. The U.S.-India Defense...opinion of CNA at the time of issue. Distribution DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. PUBLIC  RELEASE

  5. The Education and Development of Strategic Planners in the Navy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-12-01

    MANAGEMENT .................. 23 C. SUBSEQUENT TOURS .......... .............. ....... 24 V. GRADUATE LEVEL EDUCATION FOR STRATEGIC PLANNERS .... 26 A...experience coded officers. A comparison was conducted in an attempt to determine any trends that may prove beneficial for creating better career management ...plans, which the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) manages for OP-07 (Director of Naval Warfare) [Ref. i] In addition to the master plans, the CNO has

  6. CNA Independent Assessment: Air Force Acquisition. Return to Excellence

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-02-01

    symptoms that indicate problems with its acquisition system and processes. Some of the most pressing of these symptoms have been: Numerous cost...indicate problems with its acquisition system and proc- esses. Some of the most pressing of these symptoms have been: Frequent cost-schedule performance...Military Deputy MS Milestone NAVAIR Naval Air Systems Command PAR Program Assessment Review PCO Principal Contracting Officer PDR

  7. "¡Puño en Alto!" The Nicaraguan Literacy Campaign and What It Means for Literacy Today

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bender-Slack, Delane

    2018-01-01

    Modern notions of literacy can be informed by past successes in the field of literacy. One of the most successful national literacy campaigns occurred in Nicaragua in 1980 and was called "Cruzada Nacional de Alfabetización" (CNA). The fight against illiteracy to provide a space for marginalized voices in Nicaragua is a story worth…

  8. The photochemistry of some possible cometary CN parent species

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Halpern, Joshua B.

    1987-01-01

    Laboratory work on the photochemistry of HC3N, C4N2, and CH3CN in relation to their possible role as CN parent molecules in comets is discussed. Photodissociation of HC3N, photolysis of C4N2, and quantum yields of excited CN(B) and CN(A) radicals from the VUV photolysis of CH3CN are considered.

  9. Genome-wide identification of significant aberrations in cancer genome.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Xiguo; Yu, Guoqiang; Hou, Xuchu; Shih, Ie-Ming; Clarke, Robert; Zhang, Junying; Hoffman, Eric P; Wang, Roger R; Zhang, Zhen; Wang, Yue

    2012-07-27

    Somatic Copy Number Alterations (CNAs) in human genomes are present in almost all human cancers. Systematic efforts to characterize such structural variants must effectively distinguish significant consensus events from random background aberrations. Here we introduce Significant Aberration in Cancer (SAIC), a new method for characterizing and assessing the statistical significance of recurrent CNA units. Three main features of SAIC include: (1) exploiting the intrinsic correlation among consecutive probes to assign a score to each CNA unit instead of single probes; (2) performing permutations on CNA units that preserve correlations inherent in the copy number data; and (3) iteratively detecting Significant Copy Number Aberrations (SCAs) and estimating an unbiased null distribution by applying an SCA-exclusive permutation scheme. We test and compare the performance of SAIC against four peer methods (GISTIC, STAC, KC-SMART, CMDS) on a large number of simulation datasets. Experimental results show that SAIC outperforms peer methods in terms of larger area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve and increased detection power. We then apply SAIC to analyze structural genomic aberrations acquired in four real cancer genome-wide copy number data sets (ovarian cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma). When compared with previously reported results, SAIC successfully identifies most SCAs known to be of biological significance and associated with oncogenes (e.g., KRAS, CCNE1, and MYC) or tumor suppressor genes (e.g., CDKN2A/B). Furthermore, SAIC identifies a number of novel SCAs in these copy number data that encompass tumor related genes and may warrant further studies. Supported by a well-grounded theoretical framework, SAIC has been developed and used to identify SCAs in various cancer copy number data sets, providing useful information to study the landscape of cancer genomes. Open-source and platform-independent SAIC software is implemented using C++, together with R scripts for data formatting and Perl scripts for user interfacing, and it is easy to install and efficient to use. The source code and documentation are freely available at http://www.cbil.ece.vt.edu/software.htm.

  10. Clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium exhibit strain-specific collagen binding mediated by Acm, a new member of the MSCRAMM family.

    PubMed

    Nallapareddy, Sreedhar R; Weinstock, George M; Murray, Barbara E

    2003-03-01

    A collagen-binding adhesin of Enterococcus faecium, Acm, was identified. Acm shows 62% similarity to the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin Cna over the entire protein and is more similar to Cna (60% and 75% similarity with Cna A and B domains respectively) than to the Enterococcus faecalis collagen-binding adhesin, Ace, which shares homology with Acm only in the A domain. Despite the detection of acm in 32 out of 32 E. faecium isolates, only 11 of these (all clinical isolates, including four vancomycin-resistant endocarditis isolates and seven other isolates) exhibited binding to collagen type I (CI). Although acm from three CI-binding vancomycin-resistant E. faecium clinical isolates showed 100% identity, analysis of acm genes and their promoter regions from six non-CI-binding strains identified deletions or mutations that introduced stop codons and/or IS elements within the gene or the promoter region in five out of six strains, suggesting that the presence of an intact functional acm gene is necessary for binding of E. faecium strains to CI. Recombinant Acm A domain showed specific and concentration-dependent binding to collagen, and this protein competed with E. faecium binding to immobilized CI. Consistent with the adherence phenotype and sequence data, probing with Acm-specific IgGs purified from anti-recombinant Acm A polyclonal rabbit serum confirmed the surface expression of Acm in three out of three collagen-binding clinical isolates of E. faecium tested, but in none of the strains with a non-functional pseudo acm gene. Introduction of a functional acm gene into two non-CI-binding natural acm mutant strains conferred a CI-binding phenotype, further confirming that native Acm is sufficient for the binding of E. faecium to CI. These results demonstrate that acm, which encodes a potential virulence factor, is functional only in certain infection-derived clinical isolates of E. faecium, and suggest that Acm is the primary adhesin responsible for the ability of E. faecium to bind collagen.

  11. Preparation of Optically Transparent Films of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and Montmorillonite

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-11-01

    methacrylate] [PMMA] and Montmorillonite DISTRIBUTION: Approved for public release, distribution unlimited This paper is part of the following report...Society V6.4 Preparation of Optically Transparent Films of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and Montmorillonite Elena Vasiliul, Chyi-Shan Wang"’ 2...exchanged with 1.40 meq/g of dimethyl dehydrogenated tallow ammonium from a sodium montmorillonite , Cloisite Na+ (CNa). Since the cation-exchange

  12. Littoral Combat Ship Open Ocean Anti-Submarine Warfare

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-06-01

    maintain stealth and its defense in order to properly conduct an attack on a surface vessel (Sternhell and Thorndike 2014, 102). This statement...its target, the surface combatants can counter by increasing their speed (Sternhell and Thorndike 2014). While the maximum speed of the current...120316_PS.pdf Sternhell, Charles M, and Alan M Thorndike . 2014. “Antisubmarine Warfare in World War II.” CNA Analysis & Solutions. Accessed April 14, 2014

  13. PRISM. Volume 2, Number 3, June 2011

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-06-01

    Institute (SIPRI) Background Paper (Stockholm: SIPRI, April 2009), 3, available at <http://books.sipri.org/files/misc/ SIPRIBP0904a.pdf>. 41 Martin ...Conflict (Washington, DC: CNA, 2010), 28. 46 Nenad Dimitrijevic and Petra Kovacs, “Managing Hatred and Distrust: Changes from the Bottom and the Top...Dimitrijevic and Petra Kovacs (Hungary: Open Society Institute, 2004), xxiv. 47 Simonsen, “Addressing Ethnic Divisions in Post-Conflict Institution-Building

  14. The U.S.-India Defense Relationship: Putting the Foundational Agreements in Perspective

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-02-01

    data feeds to other militaries to be interoperable with U.S. forces, and the benefits outweigh any incremental costs in providing the data feed. 65...Cleared for Public Release DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. The U.S.-India Defense...opinion of CNA at the time of issue. Distribution DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. PUBLIC  RELEASE

  15. Russia’s Approach to Cyber Warfare (1Rev)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-03-01

    Steinitz, CNA. Approved by: March 2017 Ken E. Gause, RTL International Affairs Group Center for Strategic Studies REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE...the help of information networks.”7 Russian military thinkers on information operations IO and asymmetric military tactics, Col. S.G. Chekinov (Res...adversaries, influence public opinion, and reduce an opponent’s will to resist.8 Cyber IO affords the Russian government covert means to achieve these

  16. Stayers, Leavers, and Switchers among Certified Nursing Assistants in Nursing Homes: A Longitudinal Investigation of Turnover Intent, Staff Retention, and Turnover

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rosen, Jules; Stiehl, Emily M.; Mittal, Vikas; Leana, Carrie R.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose: Studies of certified nursing assistant (CNA) turnover in nursing homes are typically cross-sectional and include full-time and part-time workers. We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate the job factors and work attitudes associated with just full-time staying or leaving. For those who did not stay, we assessed reasons for leaving…

  17. Synergistic Effect of Fluconazole and Calcium Channel Blockers against Resistant Candida albicans

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Shuyuan; Yue, Longtao; Gu, Wenrui; Li, Xiuyun; Zhang, Liuping; Sun, Shujuan

    2016-01-01

    Candidiasis has increased significantly recently that threatens patients with low immunity. However, the number of antifungal drugs on the market is limited in comparison to the number of available antibacterial drugs. This fact, coupled with the increased frequency of fungal resistance, makes it necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies. Combination drug therapy is one of the most widely used and effective strategy to alleviate this problem. In this paper, we were aimed to evaluate the combined antifungal effects of four CCBs (calcium channel blockers), amlodipine (AML), nifedipine (NIF), benidipine (BEN) and flunarizine (FNZ) with fluconazole against C. albicans by checkerboard and time-killing method. In addition, we determined gene (CCH1, MID1, CNA1, CNB1, YVC1, CDR1, CDR2 and MDR1) expression by quantitative PCR and investigated the efflux pump activity of resistant candida albicans by rhodamine 6G assay to reveal the potential mechanisms. Finally, we concluded that there was a synergy when fluconazole combined with the four tested CCBs against resistant strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) <0.5, but no interaction against sensitive strains (FICI = 0.56 ~ 2). The mechanism studies revealed that fluconazole plus amlodipine caused down-regulating of CNA1, CNB1 (encoding calcineurin) and YVC1 (encoding calcium channel protein in vacuole membrane). PMID:26986478

  18. TAGCNA: A Method to Identify Significant Consensus Events of Copy Number Alterations in Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Yuan, Xiguo; Zhang, Junying; Yang, Liying; Zhang, Shengli; Chen, Baodi; Geng, Yaojun; Wang, Yue

    2012-01-01

    Somatic copy number alteration (CNA) is a common phenomenon in cancer genome. Distinguishing significant consensus events (SCEs) from random background CNAs in a set of subjects has been proven to be a valuable tool to study cancer. In order to identify SCEs with an acceptable type I error rate, better computational approaches should be developed based on reasonable statistics and null distributions. In this article, we propose a new approach named TAGCNA for identifying SCEs in somatic CNAs that may encompass cancer driver genes. TAGCNA employs a peel-off permutation scheme to generate a reasonable null distribution based on a prior step of selecting tag CNA markers from the genome being considered. We demonstrate the statistical power of TAGCNA on simulated ground truth data, and validate its applicability using two publicly available cancer datasets: lung and prostate adenocarcinoma. TAGCNA identifies SCEs that are known to be involved with proto-oncogenes (e.g. EGFR, CDK4) and tumor suppressor genes (e.g. CDKN2A, CDKN2B), and provides many additional SCEs with potential biological relevance in these data. TAGCNA can be used to analyze the significance of CNAs in various cancers. It is implemented in R and is freely available at http://tagcna.sourceforge.net/. PMID:22815924

  19. Synergistic Effect of Fluconazole and Calcium Channel Blockers against Resistant Candida albicans.

    PubMed

    Liu, Shuyuan; Yue, Longtao; Gu, Wenrui; Li, Xiuyun; Zhang, Liuping; Sun, Shujuan

    2016-01-01

    Candidiasis has increased significantly recently that threatens patients with low immunity. However, the number of antifungal drugs on the market is limited in comparison to the number of available antibacterial drugs. This fact, coupled with the increased frequency of fungal resistance, makes it necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies. Combination drug therapy is one of the most widely used and effective strategy to alleviate this problem. In this paper, we were aimed to evaluate the combined antifungal effects of four CCBs (calcium channel blockers), amlodipine (AML), nifedipine (NIF), benidipine (BEN) and flunarizine (FNZ) with fluconazole against C. albicans by checkerboard and time-killing method. In addition, we determined gene (CCH1, MID1, CNA1, CNB1, YVC1, CDR1, CDR2 and MDR1) expression by quantitative PCR and investigated the efflux pump activity of resistant candida albicans by rhodamine 6G assay to reveal the potential mechanisms. Finally, we concluded that there was a synergy when fluconazole combined with the four tested CCBs against resistant strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) <0.5, but no interaction against sensitive strains (FICI = 0.56 ~ 2). The mechanism studies revealed that fluconazole plus amlodipine caused down-regulating of CNA1, CNB1 (encoding calcineurin) and YVC1 (encoding calcium channel protein in vacuole membrane).

  20. Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Endocarditis Isolates Are Associated With Clonal Complex 30 Genotype and a Distinct Repertoire of Enterotoxins and Adhesins

    PubMed Central

    Nienaber, Juhsien J.C.; Sharma Kuinkel, Batu K.; Clarke-Pearson, Michael; Lamlertthon, Supaporn; Park, Lawrence; Rude, Thomas H.; Barriere, Steve; Woods, Christopher W.; Chu, Vivian H.; Marín, Mercedes; Bukovski, Suzana; Garcia, Patricia; Corey, G.Ralph; Korman, Tony; Doco-Lecompte, Thanh; Murdoch, David R.; Reller, L. Barth

    2011-01-01

    Background. Using multinational collections of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates from infective endocarditis (IE) and soft tissue infections (STIs), we sought to (1) validate the finding that S. aureus in clonal complex (CC) 30 is associated with hematogenous complications and (2) test the hypothesis that specific genetic characteristics in S. aureus are associated with infection severity. Methods. IE and STI isolates from 2 cohorts were frequency matched by geographic origin. Isolates underwent spa typing to infer CC and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for presence of virulence genes. Results. 114 isolate pairs were genotyped. IE isolates were more likely to be CC30 (19.5% vs 6.2%; P = .005) and to contain 3 adhesins (clfB, cna, map/eap; P < .0001 for all) and 5 enterotoxins (tst, sea, sed, see, and sei; P ≤ .005 for all). CC30 isolates were more likely to contain cna, tst, sea, see, seg, and chp (P < .05 for all). Conclusions. MSSA IE isolates were significantly more likely to be CC30 and to possess a distinct repertoire of virulence genes than MSSA STI isolates from the same region. The genetic basis of this association requires further study. PMID:21844296

  1. Documentation and Testing of the WEAP Model for the Rio Grande/Bravo Basin

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-08-01

    border between Texas and the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas (Appendix B, Figure 32). There are four reservoirs of interest in this...Camargo - Ciudad Acuna - Ciudad Anhuac - Ciudad Juarez - Matamoros - Metropolitan Monterrey - Nuevo Laredo - Reynosa - Piedras Negras...Rivera, and Jorge A. Hidalgo. (2001). “Sistema de apoyo a la toma de decisions para el manejo integral del agua en cuencas.” IMTA/CNA, Proyecto

  2. Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS): An Al Qaeda Affiliate Case Study

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-01

    conduct this assessment, CNA used a comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated or associated with Al-Qaeda. These case...Case Study Pamela G. Faber and Alexander Powell October 2017 This work was performed under Federal Government Contract No. N00014-16-D-5003. Copyright...Director Center for Stability and Development Center for Strategic Studies REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden

  3. Japan’s Territorial Disputes: CNA Maritime Asia Project: Workshop Three

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-06-01

    strengthen, their exercise programs with the Japan Self -Defense Forces (JSDF). These exercises prepare both militaries to deter the use of force and, if...around the islands should be noted. After Lee’s visit, Korea mobilized its air defenses when it claimed a Japanese Self -Defense Force helicopter...lock incidents reported by Japan’s Maritime Self -Defense Force, the first against a destroyer-based helicopter and the second against the frigate

  4. Toward Efficient Military Retirement Accrual Charges

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-01-01

    benefited from reviews provided by Al Robbert of RAND and David Rodney of the CNA Corporation. 1 CHAPTER ONE Introduction Primary elements of the costs ...leaving the military. This report focuses on retirement benefits . Public Law (PL) 98–94, enacted in 1984 and implemented in fiscal year (FY) 1985...in the current budget the cost of future retirement benefits asso- ciated with current manning decisions. Under PL 98–94, DoD includes an accrual

  5. Water Scarcity: A Selected Bibliography

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-06-01

    2008-2009: The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2009. 402pp. (TD345 .G633 2009) Grosskruger, Paul L...www.securityandclimate.cna.org/report/ National%20Security%20and%20the%20Threat%20of%20Climate%20Change.pdf Sullivan, Paul J., and Natalie Nasrallah. Improving Natural...2010): 9-14. ProQuest Chen, Linus . "Deja Vu: ESA [Endangered Species Act] Water Clashes in Klamath & Southeast." Natural Resources & Environment 24

  6. Current Effects of Army Materiel Command Operation Order 16 189 at TACOM LCMC

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-05-25

    Alexandria, VA: CNA Corporation. 78 Creswell, J. W. (2015). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative...research and development that relate to military requirements and test and evaluation . (d)(3) The Secretary shall establish or designate a single office or...for research. 4. Collect data. 5. Analyze and interpret the data. 42 6. Report and evaluate the research. Step 4 of the research process is

  7. Life Cycle Cost Model for Very High Speed Integrated Circuits.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-09-01

    Intermediate CDFD =Cost to Ship $3.13 (CONUS) N/A All L/Global Tml. XXIX from Factory to $6.00 (Europe) Depot. Dollars/ $6.00 (Asia) * Pound/Trip CDID =Cost... ANALISIS -10%) 179360. 28. 634. 180021. 209 i. , . . - TITL EN~WURfG P1U1’V E PRM CNa TOAL 00g SIGAL P- M ’ASIC C2UP-BIKAR LMLI =MI~D MT2MSIS-10

  8. Evaluation of the Navys Sea/Shore Flow Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-06-01

    CNA developed an independent Discrete -Event Simulation model to evaluate and assess the effect of alternative sea/shore flow policies. In this study...remains, even if the system is optimized. In building a Discrete -Event Simulation model, we discovered key factors that should be included in the... Discrete -Event Simulation model to evaluate the impact of sea/shore flow policy (the DES-SSF model) and compared the results with the SSFM for one

  9. Optimizing Adversary Training and the Structure of the Navy Adversary Fleet

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-01

    ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OPNAV N98 2000 Navy Pentagon , Room 5C469 Washington DC, 20350...an overhaul of existing computers and encryption in the range operations centers (CDR R. Van Diepen, OPNAV Simulator Requirements Officer, personal...1.0. Using a simulated annealing heuristic algorithm in conjunction with the utility assignments, CNA found, in order of priority, that the following

  10. Application of a Uniform Price Quality Adjusted Discount Auction for Assigning Voluntary Separation Pay

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-03-01

    consistent with economic theory which suggested that younger individuals should discount income at a higher rate than older individuals ( Mankiw , 2004...http://www.cna.org Henderson, D. R. (2007). The concise encyclopedia of economics . Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund. Mankiw , N. G. (2004...survey data was used to estimate the effects of personal, professional and economic factors on a Marine officer’s decision to participate in a voluntary

  11. Work autonomy of certified nursing assistants in long-term care facilities: discrepant perceptions between nursing supervisors and certified nursing assistants.

    PubMed

    Liu, Li-Fan; Liu, Wei-Pei; Wang, Jong-Yi

    2011-09-01

    Despite increasing demand of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in long-term care (LTC) facilities, their work autonomy delegated by nursing supervisors remains ambiguous and varied. This study investigates the CNAs' role in LTC facilities by examining the degrees of work autonomy of CNAs from the perspectives of nursing supervisors and CNAs. Whether the characteristics of institutions including ownership of facilities, bed size, staffing levels, and the occupancy rate affected the CNAs' work autonomy and delegations was also examined. A stratified random sampling method was used to sample LTC facilities in Taiwan. A self-administered structured questionnaire was answered by a senior nursing supervisor and CNA in each sampled institution for their perception of work autonomy in the 5 main aspects of CNAs' job contents: personal care, affiliated nursing care, auxiliary medical service, social care, and administration services. Student t test and general linear models (GLM) were used to test the mean differences of CNAs' work autonomy and their relationship with the institutions' characteristics. Nursing supervisors and CNAs both rated the highest scores of work autonomy in the aspect of personal care, and the lowest scores in the aspect of affiliated nursing care. However, the nursing supervisors expected higher work autonomy of CNAs on the work items particularly in affiliated nursing care and auxiliary medical services than did the CNAs (P < .05). The institutional-level factors were significantly associated with perceptions of nursing supervisors toward CNAs' work autonomy. The ownership (hospital-based or freestanding homes), sizes (capacity), occupancy rates, CNA staff numbers of the long-term care facilities, and resident numbers were related to the CNAs' work autonomy as perceived by their nursing supervisors. No difference between the aspects of administration activities and social care was seen. There are discordance views towards CNAs' work autonomy both in nursing supervisors and CNAs across different settings in LTC institutions. The characteristics of institutions influence perceptions of CNAs' work autonomy as perceived by nursing supervisors. Clear and mandated regulation of CNA job contents is needed for their work identity and autonomy to improve the quality of care in LTC facilities. Copyright © 2011 American Medical Directors Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Impact of conventional or intensive milk replacer programs on Holstein heifer performance through six months of age and during first lactation.

    PubMed

    Raeth-Knight, M; Chester-Jones, H; Hayes, S; Linn, J; Larson, R; Ziegler, D; Ziegler, B; Broadwater, N

    2009-02-01

    The objectives were to evaluate the impact of conventional or intensive milk replacer (MR) feeding programs on heifer calf performance through 6 mo of age, age at first calving, and first lactation performance. At 3 (+/-1 d) d of age, 133 Holstein heifer calves from 3 commercial dairy farms were randomly assigned, within calf source, to a conventional [20% crude protein (CP), 20% fat] or intensive MR (28% CP, 18% fat). Milk replacer treatments and percent solids were 1) conventional nonacidified (CNA), 13.9%; 2) conventional acidified (CA), 13.9%; 3) modified intensive high solids (IHS), 16.7%; 4) modified intensive low solids (ILS), 12.5%; and 5) intensive high solids, high feeding (IHSHF), 16.7%. Calves were individually housed and remained on trial for 56 d. At 2 mo of age, heifers were grouped in pens by treatment with 6 heifers per pen (4 pens per treatment). An 18.1% CP grower concentrate mix (dry matter basis) was fed to heifers that received a conventional MR and a 21.2% CP grower concentrate mix was fed to heifers that received the intensive MR preweaning. Heifers were offered 2.45 kg/d (dry matter basis) of their respective grower concentrate mix for 112 d plus free access to hay and water. At approximately 24 wk of age, heifers were transported to a second-stage grower before returning to their respective farms approximately 1 mo before calving. First-lactation performance was determined using Dairy Herd Improvement Association records. The IHSHF treatment resulted in increased calf body weight and hip height during the preweaning and early postweaning (PEP) period and the postweaning heifer grower (PHG) period as compared with the conventional (CNA and CA) or modified intensive MR treatments (IHS and ILS). Calves receiving the IHS treatment were heavier at d 56 of the PEP period compared with the conventional or ILS treatments; however, this growth advantage was not maintained in the PHG period. Feed cost per kilogram of gain during the PEP period was lowest for CNA and CA, intermediate for IHS and ILS, and highest for the IHSHF treatment. There was no effect of MR feeding program on first-lactation performance; however, heifers that received the IHSHF MR preweaning calved 27.5 d earlier than those fed a conventional MR.

  13. The Tuareg: A Nation Without Borders? A CNA Strategic Studies Conference Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-05-01

    claim to “ethnic specificity.” An ethnic branch of the Berbers , the Tuareg are culturally and linguistically unique. Despite strong tribal and caste...The Tuareg are an ethnic branch of the Berbers but also have mem- bers of Arab and black African ancestry. Often referred to as the “Kurds of the...cluster of closely related dia- lects of a southern Berber language group (Tamasheq, Tamajeq, Tamahaq), which, while different, are mutually

  14. A Simulation Analysis of Work Based Navy Manpower Requirements

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-09-01

    Workweek is also the subject of greater discussion in the 2002 CNA study. At the time, the Navy Standard Workweek was 67 hours of...policies, states that the Navy Standard Workweek includes 8 hours of sleep a day (Navy, 2007). To properly model this while also treating...system during these non-scheduled hours . Figure 4 shows an example of a sailor’s schedule as built into Arena. The graph’s x-axis represents the

  15. American Grand Strategy and Seapower. Conference Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-11-01

    Senior Fellow, Watson  Institute for International Studies, Brown University  10 Speakers  The Honorable  Seth  Cropsey, Senior Advisor, CNA; Senior...and the anticipation of future security challenges based on past experiences. Connections between seapower and prosperity Dr. Seth Cropsey noted...Force, is a second-rate Air Force. 91 Participant biographies Seth Cropsey Dr. Seth Cropsey served as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for

  16. Assessing the Impact of and Needs for Navy Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Training

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-10-01

    Assessing the Impact of and Needs for Navy Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Training Neil B. Carey • Edward J. Schmitz • Zachary T...Francisco, CA, gives medication to a child during a medical & dental community assistance project (MEDCAP/DENCAP). Petty Officer Barker is stationed aboard...concerns about this questionnaire, please refer them to Neil Carey , Ph.D., at 703-824-2356 or careyn@cna.org. 77 78 Appendix D Appendix D

  17. CNA/The Institute for Statecraft Meeting on Evaluating and Countering the Threat from the Islamic State

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-08-10

    Charlie Hebdo.  Mastery of social media enables IS to exist as a virtual global caliphate. Islamic State: From Jihadi Movement to Potential Global...military skills but also in classic terror methods , in propaganda techniques, and in deception. As a conventional military, IS has demonstrated...Salafism, a strict constructionist , originalist interpretation of the core texts of Islam. Their intention is to reform Islam and return to what they

  18. Intra-Tumor Genetic Heterogeneity in Wilms Tumor: Clonal Evolution and Clinical Implications.

    PubMed

    Cresswell, George D; Apps, John R; Chagtai, Tasnim; Mifsud, Borbala; Bentley, Christopher C; Maschietto, Mariana; Popov, Sergey D; Weeks, Mark E; Olsen, Øystein E; Sebire, Neil J; Pritchard-Jones, Kathy; Luscombe, Nicholas M; Williams, Richard D; Mifsud, William

    2016-07-01

    The evolution of pediatric solid tumors is poorly understood. There is conflicting evidence of intra-tumor genetic homogeneity vs. heterogeneity (ITGH) in a small number of studies in pediatric solid tumors. A number of copy number aberrations (CNA) are proposed as prognostic biomarkers to stratify patients, for example 1q+ in Wilms tumor (WT); current clinical trials use only one sample per tumor to profile this genetic biomarker. We multisampled 20 WT cases and assessed genome-wide allele-specific CNA and loss of heterozygosity, and inferred tumor evolution, using Illumina CytoSNP12v2.1 arrays, a custom analysis pipeline, and the MEDICC algorithm. We found remarkable diversity of ITGH and evolutionary trajectories in WT. 1q+ is heterogeneous in the majority of tumors with this change, with variable evolutionary timing. We estimate that at least three samples per tumor are needed to detect >95% of cases with 1q+. In contrast, somatic 11p15 LOH is uniformly an early event in WT development. We find evidence of two separate tumor origins in unilateral disease with divergent histology, and in bilateral WT. We also show subclonal changes related to differential response to chemotherapy. Rational trial design to include biomarkers in risk stratification requires tumor multisampling and reliable delineation of ITGH and tumor evolution. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. 78 FR 9529 - National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-08

    ...This rule proposes to amend the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program regulations consistent with amendments made in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). The HHFKA requires that the Secretary promulgate proposed regulations to establish nutrition standards for foods sold in schools other than those foods provided under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA). The HHFKA amends the CNA, requiring that such standards shall be consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and that the Secretary shall consider authoritative scientific recommendations for nutrition standards; existing school nutrition standards, including voluntary standards for beverages and snack foods; current State and local standards; the practical application of the nutrition standards; and special exemptions for infrequent school-sponsored fundraisers (other than fundraising through vending machines, school stores, snack bars, a la carte sales and any other exclusions determined by the Secretary). The HHFKA also amended the NSLA to require that schools participating in the National School Lunch Program make potable water available to children at no charge in the place where lunches are served during the meal service. These proposed changes are intended to improve the health and well-being of the Nation's children, increase consumption of healthful foods during the school day and create an environment that reinforces the development of healthy eating habits.

  20. In vitro mutagenicity, NMR metabolite characterization of azo and triphenylmethanes dyes by adherents bacteria and the role of the "cna" adhesion gene in activated sludge.

    PubMed

    Ayed, Lamia; Bakir, Karima; Ben Mansour, Hedi; Hammami, Saousen; Cheref, Abdelkrim; Bakhrouf, Amina

    2017-02-01

    Staphylococcus aureus, showing the greatest decolorization ability, was further investigated for Methyl Red (MR) Congo Red (CR), Crystal Violet (CV) and Malachite Green (MG) decolorization using response surface methodology (RSM). The chemometric methods use, based on statistical design of experiments (DOEs) such as RSM is becoming increasingly widespread in several sciences such as analytical chemistry, engineering and environmental chemistry. Stapphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Stapphylococcus aureus (S1) and Stapphylococcus aureus (S2), were isolated from textile wastewater plant located in KsarHellal, Tunisia and were tested for their decolorization capacity. PCR technique was utilized to identify the 3 bacterial strains and to detect the adhesin gene "cna". Biodegradation of MR, CR, CV and MG (750 ppm), were investigated under shaking condition in Mineral Salt Medium (MSM) solution at pH 7.5 and temperature 30 °C, using a 3.7 × 10 5  CFU/ml as inoculum size. Our results showed that Staphylococcus aureus had a high decolorization capacity. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the biodegradation of dyes. The four dyes mutagenicity with the S9 metabolizing system decreased significantly after biodegradation and totally disappeared. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the biodegradation of dyes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Determining the Sensitivity of CAT-ASVAB (Computerized Adaptive Testing- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Scores to Changes in Item Response Curves with the Medium of Administration

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-08-01

    most examinees. Therefore it appears psychometrically ac - ceptable for the CAT -ASVAB project to proceed without item recalibration based on...MEMORANDUM DETERMINING THE SENSITIVITY OF CAT -ASVAB SCORES TO CHANGES IN ITEM RESPONSE CURVES WITH THE MEDIUM OF ADMINISTRATION D. R. Divgi...Subj: Center for Naval Analyses Research Memorandum 86-189 End: (1) CNA Research Memorandum 86-189, "Determining the Sensitivity of CAT -ASVAB

  2. U.S. Navy Capstone Strategy Policy, Vision and Concept Documents. What to Consider Before You Write One

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-03-01

    Richard M. Nixon was President of the United States and Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. was Chief of Naval Operations. The listing above captures only...Moreover, since the 1980s, and largely mandated by the U.S. Congress, a torrent of unclassified U.S. government strategy documents has been released...documents? (IV) CNA • Personalities change • 8 U.S. Presidents • 13 Secretaries of Defense • 11 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff • 15

  3. The U.S. Navy in the World (1981-1990): Context for U.S. Navy Capstone Strategies and Concepts

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-01

    shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1...NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a . REPORT unclassified b. ABSTRACT unclassified c. THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by...ANSI Std Z39-18 CNA is a not-for-profit organization whose professional staff of over 700 provides in-depth analysis and results-oriented solutions

  4. The Chemistry of Nitrogen Compounds in Combustion Processes.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-03-02

    the A levels above v - 5 do contribute to the spectrum. Thus, we tentatively conclude that multiphoton excitation is a major process in this system...populations of these six CN( A ) levels , as shown in Figure 8. There is a strong inversion with more than half of the CN(A) formed being in the v-2 level. It...apparent that the CN( A ) levels shown in Figure 7, all for v ) 3, represent only a few percent of the total excitation. The dynamics of the dissociation

  5. U.S. Naval Strategy in the 1980s: Selected Documents

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-12-01

    Linton Brooks, USN (Ret.), Commander Mitch Brown, USN (Ret.), Captain John Byron, USN (Ret.), Hon. Seth Cropsey (CNA), Colonel George M. Dallas (MCCDC...Secretary Lehman, Admiral James Watkins , General P. X. Kelley, and Admiral Carlisle A. H. Trost in the key articles published in Proceedings and that...Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, 1 July 1978–30 June 1982 Admiral James D. Watkins , 30 June 1982–30 June 1986 Admiral Carlisle A. H. Trost, 1 July 1986–29

  6. Deterrence and Influence: The Navy’s Role in Preventing War. Revision 1

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-03-01

    are designed to influence actors at the earliest phases of the conflict spectrum. Our objective is to analyze how U.S. non-nuclear capabilities can...34 Foreign Affairs (Fall 1991), pp. 66-82; Paul H. Nitze, "Is It Time to Junk Our Nukes?" Washington Post , 16 January 1994, p. Cl; Charles T. Allan...gain new insights and test our ideas. We consulted with SMEs from CNA, IDA, OPNAV, OSD, USSTRATCOM, academic institutions, and various think tanks

  7. Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Trends and Implications of Climate Change on National and International Security

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-10-01

    Propulsion Laboratory Dr. Diane Evans Jet Propulsion Laboratory CAPT Tim Gallaudet US Navy Task Force on Climate Change Mr. David Goldwyn State...Ashley Moran Strauss Center, University of Texas, Austin DOD’s (Minerva) Climate Change and African Political Stability Project CAPT Timothy ... Gallaudet Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy Navy’s Climate Change Task Force Dr. Sherri Goodman, Dr. Ralph Espach and Mr. Peter MacKenzie CNA

  8. U.S. Navy Capstone Strategies and Concepts (1991-2000): Strategy, Policy, Concept, and Vision Documents

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-01

    PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) CNA Corporation,4825 Mark Center Drive... industry & USMC OMFTS experience  Project Team created BPR “activity model” (Oct-Dec 1995) OPNAV N513, N812; HQMC Plans, PP&O; MCCDC; NDC; SRA...Alexandria,VA,22311 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) 11

  9. A Comparison of Services Utilized by Acupuncture and Non-Acupuncture Patients in the Military Health System

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-06-26

    three diagnoses of acupuncture patients within the MHS in FY08 were: (a) Lumbago, (b) Myalgia and Myositis unspecified, and (c) Cervicalgia. Table 1...of Total Diagnosis Description Encounters Lumbago Myalgia and Myositis unspecified Cervical gia Acute or chronic pain in the lumbar or sacral...Lumbago, Myalgia and Myositis unspecified, or Cervicalgia during FY08. This study is based off the CNA study of CAM usage in the MHS conducted by Jaditz

  10. Report of the Eleventh Seminar Conducted by CNA and ISKRAN on Russian-American Relations, December, 1998. Volume 2: Detailed Discussions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-02-01

    Grigory Raporta The View from the Russian Security Council . . . . . . . 95 Meeting with Ambassador Uspensky THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Eleventh...One can draw the unpleasant analogy that Russia, like Weimar Germany, must pay a kind of reparations for losing the Cold War. In this view , IMF assis...were difficult years for U.S.-Russian relations. Primakov did not always say "yes" like Mr. Kozyrev . But Primakov, while promoting Russia’s national

  11. Global analysis of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus exoproteins reveals molecules produced in vitro and during infection

    PubMed Central

    Burlak, Christopher; Hammer, Carl H; Robinson, Mary-Ann; Whitney, Adeline R; McGavin, Martin J; Kreiswirth, Barry N; DeLeo, Frank R

    2007-01-01

    Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a threat to human health worldwide. Although progress has been made, mechanisms of CA-MRSA pathogenesis are poorly understood and a comprehensive analysis of CA-MRSA exoproteins has not been conducted. To address that deficiency, we used proteomics to identify exoproteins made by MW2 (USA400) and LAC (USA300) during growth in vitro. Two hundred and fifty unique exoproteins were identified by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with automated direct infusion-tandem mass spectrometry (ADI-MS/MS) analysis. Eleven known virulence-related exoproteins differed in abundance between the strains, including alpha-haemolysin (Hla), collagen adhesin (Cna), staphylokinase (Sak), coagulase (Coa), lipase (Lip), enterotoxin C3 (Sec3), enterotoxin Q (Seq), V8 protease (SspA) and cysteine protease (SspB). Mice infected with MW2 or LAC produced antibodies specific for known or putative virulence factors, such as autolysin (Atl), Cna, Ear, ferritin (Ftn), Lip, 1-phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase (Plc), Sak, Sec3 and SspB, indicating the exoproteins are made during infection in vivo. We used confocal microscopy to demonstrate aureolysin (Aur), Hla, SspA and SspB are produced following phagocytosis by human neutrophils, thereby linking exoprotein production in vitro with that during host–pathogen interaction. We conclude that the exoproteins identified herein likely account in part for the success of CA-MRSA as a human pathogen. PMID:17217429

  12. A genomic copy number signature predicts radiation exposure in post-Chernobyl breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Wilke, Christina M; Braselmann, Herbert; Hess, Julia; Klymenko, Sergiy V; Chumak, Vadim V; Zakhartseva, Liubov M; Bakhanova, Elena V; Walch, Axel K; Selmansberger, Martin; Samaga, Daniel; Weber, Peter; Schneider, Ludmila; Fend, Falko; Bösmüller, Hans C; Zitzelsberger, Horst; Unger, Kristian

    2018-04-16

    Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide and besides life style, age and genetic risk factors, exposure to ionizing radiation is known to increase the risk for breast cancer. Further, DNA copy number alterations (CNAs), which can result from radiation-induced double-strand breaks, are frequently occurring in breast cancer cells. We set out to identify a signature of CNAs discriminating breast cancers from radiation-exposed and non-exposed female patients. We analyzed resected breast cancer tissues from 68 exposed female Chernobyl clean-up workers and evacuees and 68 matched non-exposed control patients for CNAs by array comparative genomic hybridization analysis (aCGH). Using a stepwise forward-backward selection approach a non-complex CNA signature, that is, less than ten features, was identified in the training data set, which could be subsequently validated in the validation data set (p value < 0.05). The signature consisted of nine copy number regions located on chromosomal bands 7q11.22-11.23, 7q21.3, 16q24.3, 17q21.31, 20p11.23-11.21, 1p21.1, 2q35, 2q35, 6p22.2. The signature was independent of any clinical characteristics of the patients. In all, we identified a CNA signature that has the potential to allow identification of radiation-associated breast cancer at the individual level. © 2018 UICC.

  13. Occurrence of genes coding for MSCRAMM and biofilm-associated protein Bap in Staphylococcus spp. isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis and relationship with somatic cell counts.

    PubMed

    Zuniga, Eveline; Melville, Priscilla A; Saidenberg, André B S; Laes, Marco A; Gonsales, Fernanda F; Salaberry, Sandra R S; Gregori, Fabio; Brandão, Paulo E; dos Santos, Franklin G B; Lincopan, Nilton E; Benites, Nilson R

    2015-12-01

    This study aimed to elucidate aspects of the epidemiology of bovine subclinical mastitis through the assessment of genes encoding MSCRAMM (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules - a group of adhesins) and protein Bap (implicated in biofilm formation), in coagulase-positive (CPS) and coagulase-negative (CNS) Staphylococcus isolated from subclinical mastitis. Milk samples were collected for microbiological exams, somatic cell count (SCC) and a survey of the genes coding for MSCRAMM (cna, eno, ebpS, fnbA, fnbB and fib) and biofilm-associated protein Bap (bap) in 106 Staphylococcus spp. isolates using PCR. The frequencies of occurrence of eno (82.1%), fnbA (72.6%), fib (71.7%) and bap (56.6%) were higher (P < 0.0001) compared with the other assessed genes (cna, ebpS and fnbB). The higher frequency of occurrence (P < 0.005) of the bap gene in CNS compared with CPS suggests that in these species biofilm formation is an important mechanism for the persistence of the infection. The medians of the SCCs in the samples where eno, fnbA, fib and bap genes were detected were higher compared with Staphylococcus without the assessed genes (P < 0.05) and negative samples (P < 0.01), which indicated that the presence of these MSCRAMM may be related to a higher intensity of the inflammatory process. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Environmental issues relevant to the preparation of USAID/Mozambique`s country program strategic plan

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

    NONE

    1994-01-01

    The present moment offers a unique opportunity to address Mozambique`s environmental problems, according to this assessment of Mozambique`s natural and environmental resources. Conducted to help USAID/M prepare its Country Program Strategic Plan (CPSP), the assessment covers: (1) the status of Mozambique`s natural resources (soil and land, water, vegetative cover, wildlife/biodiversity and nonrenewable resources), with emphasis on conservation and management of biological diversity and tropical forests; (2) shortcomings in the knowledge and management of these resources; (3) the efforts of other donors and NGOs to address natural resources degradation; and (4) recommendations. According to the report, while all three of themore » CPSP`s focus areas -- income generation, social services, the democratic governance -- can contribute notably to sustainable use of the environment, the income focus will have the most impact, as families who are struggling to survive often turn to destructive patterns of land use. The report cautions USAID/M not to neglect, in its emphasis on NGOs, the state agencies that will be responsible for guaranteeing security in areas such as land rights. In particular, the Mission should promote the policymaking and enforcement role of the National Commission for the Environment (CNA) and should involve the CNA in Mission environmental assessments. Appendices include a summary of donor environmental activities in Mozambique; a tabulated portrait of Mozambique`s forest resources and forestry sector; and a list of state agencies with responsibilities in Mozambique`s coastal zone.« less

  15. Tracing the Origin of Non-ferrous Oxides in Lamination Defects on Hot-Rolled Coils: Mold Slag Entrainment vs Submerged Entry Nozzle Reaction Products

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sengo, Sabri; Romano Triguero, Patricia; Zinngrebe, Enno; Mensonides, Fokko

    2017-06-01

    In this work, lamination defects (slivers) on hot-rolled coils of Ca-treated steel were investigated for microstructure and composition using optical and scanning electron microscopy combined with microanalysis (SEM/EDS). The goal was to identify possible origins for the observed defects which contain a complex assemblage of phases, such as different types of calcium aluminates (CA, CA2, CA6), melilite (C2AS), spinel (MA), and a newly identified phase, CNA2. Mold slag similar to that employed during the cast was absent. Analysis of the bulk composition of some of the defects indicated these to be too rich in alumina to be derived from mold slag through steel-slag redox exchange. In contrast, microstructural observation of the inner side of the submerged entry nozzles (SEN) used during casting showed deposits with compositions comparable to those of the defect material. Based on an estimation of the chemical evolution of mold slag interacting with steel, it is found that the defects are not likely to be entrained mold slag but remobilized SEN deposits, as supported by several microstructural and trace phase criteria. However, it should be noted that extensive reduction of mold slag by steel can lead to compositions rich in sodic-calcic aluminates (CNA2). Therefore, differentiation between specific locations of the defect materials within a casting system requires detailed analysis from the potential sources of origin as well as from the materials found in the defects.

  16. Copy number profiling of adult relapsed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals potential leukemia progression mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Ribera, Jordi; Zamora, Lurdes; Morgades, Mireia; Mallo, Mar; Solanes, Neus; Batlle, Montserrat; Vives, Susana; Granada, Isabel; Juncà, Jordi; Malinverni, Roberto; Genescà, Eulàlia; Guàrdia, Ramon; Mercadal, Santiago; Escoda, Lourdes; Martinez-Lopez, Joaquín; Tormo, Mar; Esteve, Jordi; Pratcorona, Marta; Martinez-Losada, Carmen; Solé, Francesc; Feliu, Evarist; Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2017-11-01

    The outcome of relapsed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains dismal despite new therapeutic approaches. Previous studies analyzing relapse samples have shown a high degree of heterogeneity regarding gene alterations without an evident relapse signature. Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from 31 adult B-cell precursor ALL patients at first relapse, and 21 paired diagnostic samples were analyzed by multiplex ligation probe-dependent amplification (MLPA). Nineteen paired diagnostic and relapse samples of these 21 patients were also analyzed by SNP arrays. A trend to acquire homozygous CDKN2A/B deletions and a significant increase in the number of copy number alterations (CNA) was observed from diagnosis to first relapse. Evolution from an ancestral clone was the main pattern of clonal evolution. Relapse samples were extremely heterogeneous regarding CNA frequencies. However, CDKN2A/B, PAX5, ETV6, ATM, IKZF1, VPREB1, and TP53 deletions and duplications of 1q, 8q, 17q, 21, X/Y PAR1, and Xp were frequently detected at relapse. Duplications of genes involved in cell proliferation, drug resistance and stem cell homeostasis regulation, as well as deletions of KDM6A and STAG2 genes emerged as specific alterations at relapse. Genomics of relapsed adult B-cell precursor ALL is highly heterogeneous, although some recurrent lesions involved in essential pathways deregulation were frequently observed. Selective and simultaneous targeting of these deregulated pathways may improve the results of current salvage therapies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Molecular diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid: comparison of primer sets for Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complex.

    PubMed

    Martins, Marilena dos Anjos; Brighente, Kate Bastos Santos; Matos, Terezinha Aparecida de; Vidal, Jose Ernesto; Hipólito, Daise Damaris Carnietto de; Pereira-Chioccola, Vera Lucia

    2015-01-01

    This study evaluated the use of polymerase chain reaction for cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis in clinical samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the methodology were evaluated using eight Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex reference strains and 165 cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with neurological diseases divided into two groups: 96 patients with cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS; and 69 patients with other neurological opportunistic diseases (CRL/AIDS). Two primer sets were tested (CN4-CN5 and the multiplex CNa70S-CNa70A/CNb49S-CNb-49A that amplify a specific product for C. neoformans and another for C. gattii). CN4-CN5 primer set was positive in all Cryptococcus standard strains and in 94.8% in DNA samples from cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS group. With the multiplex, no 448-bp product of C. gattii was observed in the clinical samples of either group. The 695bp products of C. neoformans were observed only in 64.6% of the cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS group. This primer set was negative for two standard strains. The specificity based on the negative samples from the CTL/AIDS group was 98.5% in both primer sets. These data suggest that the CN4/CN5 primer set was highly sensitive for the identification of C. neoformans/C. gattii species complex in cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with clinical suspicion of cryptococcal meningitis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  18. The Expanding Context of European and Mediterranean Security: A Joint Project Between the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) and Centro Militare di Studi Strategici (CeMiSS)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-04-01

    has deployed several police-type assistance missions. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has, in the broadest of senses, a "security...34 mandate, inasmuch as food shortages in the world ineluctably are a direct cause of insecurity, which, in turn, is likely to require response by...failure of international institutions, like the International Maritime Organization, to address the environmental and safety impacts of shipping on coastal

  19. The Expanding Context of European and Mediterranean Security: A Joint Project Between the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) and Centro Militare di Studi Strategici (CeMiSS)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-07-01

    deployed several police-type assistance missions. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has, in the broadest of senses, a "security" mandate...inasmuch as food shortages in the world ineluctably are a direct cause of insecurity, which, in turn, is likely to require response by "security... safety impacts of shipping on coastal states 5. Yale University Press (1962) 57 6.3 Modern challenges preventing achievement of desired end states * Flag

  20. The Collagen-Binding Adhesin Is a Virulence Factor in Staphylococcus aureus Keratitis

    PubMed Central

    Rhem, Marcus N.; Lech, Elizabeth M.; Patti, Joseph M.; McDevitt, Damien; Höök, Magnus; Jones, Dan B.; Wilhelmus, Kirk R.

    2000-01-01

    A collagen-binding strain of Staphylococcus aureus produced suppurative inflammation in a rabbit model of soft contact lens-associated bacterial keratitis more often than its collagen-binding-negative isogenic mutant. Reintroduction of the cna gene on a multicopy plasmid into the mutant helped it regain its corneal adherence and infectivity. The topical application of a collagen-binding peptide before bacterial challenge decreased S. aureus adherence to deepithelialized corneas. These data suggest that the collagen-binding adhesin is involved in the pathogenesis of S. aureus infection of the cornea. PMID:10816547

  1. Genomic profiling reveals extensive heterogeneity in somatic DNA copy number aberrations of canine hemangiosarcoma

    PubMed Central

    Thomas, Rachael; Borst, Luke; Rotroff, Daniel; Motsinger-Reif, Alison; Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin; Modiano, Jaime F.; Breen, Matthew

    2017-01-01

    Canine hemangiosarcoma is a highly aggressive vascular neoplasm associated with extensive clinical and anatomical heterogeneity and a grave prognosis. Comprehensive molecular characterization of hemangiosarcoma may identify novel therapeutic targets and advanced clinical management strategies, but there are no published reports of tumor-associated genome instability and disrupted gene dosage in this cancer. We performed genome-wide microarray-based somatic DNA copy number profiling of 75 primary intra-abdominal hemangiosarcomas from five popular dog breeds that are highly predisposed to this disease. The cohort exhibited limited global genomic instability, compared to other canine sarcomas studied to date, and DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs) were predominantly of low amplitude. Recurrent imbalances of several key cancer-associated genes were evident; however the global penetrance of any single CNA was low and no distinct hallmark aberrations were evident. Copy number gains of dog chromosomes 13, 24 and 31, and loss of chromosome 16, were the most recurrent CNAs involving large chromosome regions, but their relative distribution within and between cases suggests they most likely represent passenger aberrations. CNAs involving CDKN2A, VEGFA and the SKI oncogene were identified as potential driver aberrations of hemangiosarcoma development, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic modulation. CNA profiles were broadly conserved between the five breeds, although subregional variation was evident, including a near two-fold lower incidence of VEGFA gain in Golden Retrievers versus other breeds (22% versus 40%). These observations support prior transcriptional studies suggesting that the clinical heterogeneity of this cancer may reflect the existence of multiple, molecularly-distinct subtypes of canine hemangiosarcoma. PMID:24599718

  2. Genomic profiling reveals extensive heterogeneity in somatic DNA copy number aberrations of canine hemangiosarcoma.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Rachael; Borst, Luke; Rotroff, Daniel; Motsinger-Reif, Alison; Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin; Modiano, Jaime F; Breen, Matthew

    2014-09-01

    Canine hemangiosarcoma is a highly aggressive vascular neoplasm associated with extensive clinical and anatomical heterogeneity and a grave prognosis. Comprehensive molecular characterization of hemangiosarcoma may identify novel therapeutic targets and advanced clinical management strategies, but there are no published reports of tumor-associated genome instability and disrupted gene dosage in this cancer. We performed genome-wide microarray-based somatic DNA copy number profiling of 75 primary intra-abdominal hemangiosarcomas from five popular dog breeds that are highly predisposed to this disease. The cohort exhibited limited global genomic instability, compared to other canine sarcomas studied to date, and DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs) were predominantly of low amplitude. Recurrent imbalances of several key cancer-associated genes were evident; however, the global penetrance of any single CNA was low and no distinct hallmark aberrations were evident. Copy number gains of dog chromosomes 13, 24, and 31, and loss of chromosome 16, were the most recurrent CNAs involving large chromosome regions, but their relative distribution within and between cases suggests they most likely represent passenger aberrations. CNAs involving CDKN2A, VEGFA, and the SKI oncogene were identified as potential driver aberrations of hemangiosarcoma development, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic modulation. CNA profiles were broadly conserved between the five breeds, although subregional variation was evident, including a near twofold lower incidence of VEGFA gain in Golden Retrievers versus other breeds (22 versus 40 %). These observations support prior transcriptional studies suggesting that the clinical heterogeneity of this cancer may reflect the existence of multiple, molecularly distinct subtypes of canine hemangiosarcoma.

  3. Stayers, leavers, and switchers among certified nursing assistants in nursing homes: a longitudinal investigation of turnover intent, staff retention, and turnover.

    PubMed

    Rosen, Jules; Stiehl, Emily M; Mittal, Vikas; Leana, Carrie R

    2011-10-01

    Studies of certified nursing assistant (CNA) turnover in nursing homes are typically cross-sectional and include full-time and part-time workers. We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate the job factors and work attitudes associated with just full-time staying or leaving. For those who did not stay, we assessed reasons for leaving and satisfaction following job transition. A random sample of CNAs identified through the Pennsylvania Department of Health's CNA registry, working ≥ 30 hr weekly in a nursing facility was surveyed by telephone at baseline and 1 year later. Of the 620 responding to both surveys, 532 (85.8%) remained (stayers), 52 (8.4%) switched to another facility (switchers), and 36 (5.8%) left the industry (leavers). At baseline, switchers reported higher turnover intentions and fewer benefits compared with stayers and left for new opportunities. Leavers had lower job satisfaction and emotional well-being and left for health reasons. Turnover intentions were predicted by low job satisfaction and low emotional well-being. Actual turnover was predicted only by turnover intentions and by the absence of health insurance. Pay was not a predictor of turnover intent or turnover. There are two distinct groups of CNAs contributing to turnover. Attitudinal factors, such as job satisfaction and emotional well-being, are mediated via turnover intentions to effect actual turnover. Even accounting for methodological differences, this turnover rate is lower than previous studies, which use alternative methods and include part-time workers. This study should help nursing home administrators better understand the work-related factors associated with staff turnover.

  4. Renal and cardiovascular responses to water immersion in trained runners and swimmers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Convertino, V. A.; Tatro, D. L.; Rogan, R. B.

    1993-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine if fluid-electrolyte, renal, hormonal, and cardiovascular responses during and after multi-hour water immersion were associated with aerobic training. Additionally, we compared these responses in those who trained in a hypogravic versus a 1-g environment. Seventeen men comprised three similarly aged groups: six long-distance runners, five competitive swimmers, and six untrained control subjects. Each subject underwent 5 h of immersion in water [mean (SE)] 36.0 (0.5) degrees C to the neck. Immediately before and at each hour of immersion, blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed for sodium (Na), potassium, osmolality, and creatinine (Cr). Plasma antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone were also measured. Hematocrits were used to calculate relative changes in plasma volume (% delta Vpl). Heart rate response to submaximal cycle ergometer exercise (35% peak oxygen uptake) was measured before and after water immersion. Water immersion induced significant increases in urine flow, Na clearance (CNa), and a 3-5% decrease in Vpl. Urine flow during immersion was greater (P < 0.05) in runners [2.4 (0.4) ml.min-1] compared to controls [1.3 (0.1) ml.min-1]. However, % delta Vpl, CCr, CNa and CH2O during immersion were not different (P > 0.05) between runners, swimmers, and controls. After 5 h of immersion, there was an increase (P < 0.05) in submaximal exercise heart rate of 9 (3) and 10 (3) beats.min-1 in both runners and controls, respectively, but no change (P > 0.05) was observed in swimmers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).

  5. Genome-wide comparison of paired fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gliomas by custom BAC and oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization: facilitating analysis of archival gliomas.

    PubMed

    Mohapatra, Gayatry; Engler, David A; Starbuck, Kristen D; Kim, James C; Bernay, Derek C; Scangas, George A; Rousseau, Audrey; Batchelor, Tracy T; Betensky, Rebecca A; Louis, David N

    2011-04-01

    Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a powerful tool for detecting DNA copy number alterations (CNA). Because diffuse malignant gliomas are often sampled by small biopsies, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks are often the only tissue available for genetic analysis; FFPE tissues are also needed to study the intratumoral heterogeneity that characterizes these neoplasms. In this paper, we present a combination of evaluations and technical advances that provide strong support for the ready use of oligonucleotide aCGH on FFPE diffuse gliomas. We first compared aCGH using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) arrays in 45 paired frozen and FFPE gliomas, and demonstrate a high concordance rate between FFPE and frozen DNA in an individual clone-level analysis of sensitivity and specificity, assuring that under certain array conditions, frozen and FFPE DNA can perform nearly identically. However, because oligonucleotide arrays offer advantages to BAC arrays in genomic coverage and practical availability, we next developed a method of labeling DNA from FFPE tissue that allows efficient hybridization to oligonucleotide arrays. To demonstrate utility in FFPE tissues, we applied this approach to biphasic anaplastic oligoastrocytomas and demonstrate CNA differences between DNA obtained from the two components. Therefore, BAC and oligonucleotide aCGH can be sensitive and specific tools for detecting CNAs in FFPE DNA, and novel labeling techniques enable the routine use of oligonucleotide arrays for FFPE DNA. In combination, these advances should facilitate genome-wide analysis of rare, small and/or histologically heterogeneous gliomas from FFPE tissues.

  6. Identification of constrained cancer driver genes based on mutation timing.

    PubMed

    Sakoparnig, Thomas; Fried, Patrick; Beerenwinkel, Niko

    2015-01-01

    Cancer drivers are genomic alterations that provide cells containing them with a selective advantage over their local competitors, whereas neutral passengers do not change the somatic fitness of cells. Cancer-driving mutations are usually discriminated from passenger mutations by their higher degree of recurrence in tumor samples. However, there is increasing evidence that many additional driver mutations may exist that occur at very low frequencies among tumors. This observation has prompted alternative methods for driver detection, including finding groups of mutually exclusive mutations and incorporating prior biological knowledge about gene function or network structure. Dependencies among drivers due to epistatic interactions can also result in low mutation frequencies, but this effect has been ignored in driver detection so far. Here, we present a new computational approach for identifying genomic alterations that occur at low frequencies because they depend on other events. Unlike passengers, these constrained mutations display punctuated patterns of occurrence in time. We test this driver-passenger discrimination approach based on mutation timing in extensive simulation studies, and we apply it to cross-sectional copy number alteration (CNA) data from ovarian cancer, CNA and single-nucleotide variant (SNV) data from breast tumors and SNV data from colorectal cancer. Among the top ranked predicted drivers, we find low-frequency genes that have already been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis, as well as many new candidate drivers. The mutation timing approach is orthogonal and complementary to existing driver prediction methods. It will help identifying from cancer genome data the alterations that drive tumor progression.

  7. Identification of Constrained Cancer Driver Genes Based on Mutation Timing

    PubMed Central

    Sakoparnig, Thomas; Fried, Patrick; Beerenwinkel, Niko

    2015-01-01

    Cancer drivers are genomic alterations that provide cells containing them with a selective advantage over their local competitors, whereas neutral passengers do not change the somatic fitness of cells. Cancer-driving mutations are usually discriminated from passenger mutations by their higher degree of recurrence in tumor samples. However, there is increasing evidence that many additional driver mutations may exist that occur at very low frequencies among tumors. This observation has prompted alternative methods for driver detection, including finding groups of mutually exclusive mutations and incorporating prior biological knowledge about gene function or network structure. Dependencies among drivers due to epistatic interactions can also result in low mutation frequencies, but this effect has been ignored in driver detection so far. Here, we present a new computational approach for identifying genomic alterations that occur at low frequencies because they depend on other events. Unlike passengers, these constrained mutations display punctuated patterns of occurrence in time. We test this driver–passenger discrimination approach based on mutation timing in extensive simulation studies, and we apply it to cross-sectional copy number alteration (CNA) data from ovarian cancer, CNA and single-nucleotide variant (SNV) data from breast tumors and SNV data from colorectal cancer. Among the top ranked predicted drivers, we find low-frequency genes that have already been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis, as well as many new candidate drivers. The mutation timing approach is orthogonal and complementary to existing driver prediction methods. It will help identifying from cancer genome data the alterations that drive tumor progression. PMID:25569148

  8. In-Silico Integration Approach to Identify a Key miRNA Regulating a Gene Network in Aggressive Prostate Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Colaprico, Antonio; Bontempi, Gianluca; Castiglioni, Isabella

    2018-01-01

    Like other cancer diseases, prostate cancer (PC) is caused by the accumulation of genetic alterations in the cells that drives malignant growth. These alterations are revealed by gene profiling and copy number alteration (CNA) analysis. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that also microRNAs have an important role in PC development. Despite efforts to profile PC, the alterations (gene, CNA, and miRNA) and biological processes that correlate with disease development and progression remain partially elusive. Many gene signatures proposed as diagnostic or prognostic tools in cancer poorly overlap. The identification of co-expressed genes, that are functionally related, can identify a core network of genes associated with PC with a better reproducibility. By combining different approaches, including the integration of mRNA expression profiles, CNAs, and miRNA expression levels, we identified a gene signature of four genes overlapping with other published gene signatures and able to distinguish, in silico, high Gleason-scored PC from normal human tissue, which was further enriched to 19 genes by gene co-expression analysis. From the analysis of miRNAs possibly regulating this network, we found that hsa-miR-153 was highly connected to the genes in the network. Our results identify a four-gene signature with diagnostic and prognostic value in PC and suggest an interesting gene network that could play a key regulatory role in PC development and progression. Furthermore, hsa-miR-153, controlling this network, could be a potential biomarker for theranostics in high Gleason-scored PC. PMID:29562723

  9. Report on the Second KIMS-CNA Conference: The PLA Navys Build-Up and ROK-USN Cooperation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-02-01

    known as the “Military Combat Preparations” (junshi douzheng zhunbei; 军事斗 争 准备) 4) Strategic missions and objectives (zhanlue renwu he mubiao; 战 略任务和目标...junshi douzheng zhunbei; 军事斗 争 准备) 2) “Net-centric warfare” (wangluo zhongxin zhan; 网络中心 战 ), rather than combat platforms (zuozhan pingtai; 作 战 平台...Military Science Warfare Theory and Strategic Studies Department (zhanzheng lilun he zhanlue yanjiu bu; 战 争 理论和 战 略研究部). 20 security and MOOTW.66 The

  10. Report on the KIMS-CNA Conference (2nd): The PLA Navy’s Build-Up and ROK-USN Cooperation, Held in Seoul, Korea on 20 November 2008

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-02-01

    Kegan Paul International and The AEI Press, 1996), p. 274. See also his "China’s Push Through the South China Sea: The Interaction of Bureaucratic and...to " green /blue water" navy enable to secure its vast maritime territorial claims with modern combat capability. For long time, the Chinese navy...operational capability placed somewhat between "coastal defense" and "full ocean-going green water fleet." It is conceivable that the Chinese navy’s

  11. Using a Tandem Pelletron accelerator to produce a thermal neutron beam for detector testing purposes.

    PubMed

    Irazola, L; Praena, J; Fernández, B; Macías, M; Bedogni, R; Terrón, J A; Sánchez-Nieto, B; Arias de Saavedra, F; Porras, I; Sánchez-Doblado, F

    2016-01-01

    Active thermal neutron detectors are used in a wide range of measuring devices in medicine, industry and research. For many applications, the long-term stability of these devices is crucial, so that very well controlled neutron fields are needed to perform calibrations and repeatability tests. A way to achieve such reference neutron fields, relying on a 3 MV Tandem Pelletron accelerator available at the CNA (Seville, Spain), is reported here. This paper shows thermal neutron field production and reproducibility characteristics over few days. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. 3 GeV Booster Synchrotron Conceptual Design Report

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

    Wiedemann, Helmut

    2009-06-02

    Synchrotron light cna be produced from a relativistic particle beam circulating in a storage ring at extremely high intensity and brilliance over a large spectral region reaching from the far infrared regime to hard x-rays. The particles, either electrons or positrons, radiate as they are deflected in the fields of the storage ring bending magnets or of magnets specially optimized for the production of synchrotron light. The synchrotron light being very intense and well collimated in the forward direction has become a major tool in a large variety of research fields in physics, chemistry, material science, biology, and medicine.

  13. Handbook of Ballistic and Engineering Data for Ammunition. Volume 2. 76-1-42 to 105-1-314 Included

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1950-07-01

    PLaragraphs I General ------------------------------ 1 ITT Description ------------------------- 2- 4 Hm Interior balli3tic data --------------- 6 - 6 IV...Shot T33 be classified as limited standard; by item 30181 , it was made limited procurement type. a. Form factor (Proj Type 7). i, = 0.97. b. Ballistic...01 .90 7- 7 %PU .65 -4- 4w .80 go, PAN.,. II.W CNA PIS 4 ELEVATION MILS t I i f 1 1 1 1 1 1 ; i t 0 200 400 600 Goo 1000 1200 KOO 12 FOR SHELL. HM

  14. IDSA update from the city of brotherly love.

    PubMed

    Ghandi, R

    2000-01-01

    Data from a major new trial called START II (Selection of Thymidine Analog Therapy), was presented at this year's Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) conference. One trial compared d4T/ddI/IDV combination therapy with AZT/3TC/IDV in treatment-naive individuals. A second trial, CNA 3003, compared triple NRTI therapy with AZT/3TC/abacavir to dual therapy with AZT/3TC; patients who added abacavir to the treatment showed decreased viral loads. Additional clinical trials using 3TC are detailed. Drug resistance, investigational agents, HIV diagnostic testing, and opportunistic infections are also discussed.

  15. Genomic structures of dysplastic nodule and concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lee, Minho; Kim, Kyung; Kim, Shinn Young; Jung, Seung-Hyun; Yoon, Jonghwan; Kim, Min Sung; Park, Hyeon-Chun; Jung, Eun Sun; Chung, Yeun-Jun; Lee, Sug Hyung

    2018-06-24

    Although high-grade dysplastic nodule (HGDN) is a preneoplastic lesion that precedes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the genomic structures of HGDN in conjunction with HCC remain elusive. The objective of this study was to identify genomic alterations of HGDN and its difference from HCC that may drive HGDN progression to HCC. We analyzed 16 regions of paired HGDN and HCC from 6 patients using whole-exome sequencing to find somatic mutation and copy number alteration (CNA) profiles of HGDN and HCC. The number of mutations, driver mutations, and CNAs of HGDNs were not significantly different from those of HCCs. We identified that the CNA gain of 1q25.3-1q42.13 was predominant in the HCCs compared to that in the HGDNs. Two cases (one nodule-in-nodule case and another case with closely attached HCC and HGDN) showed several overlapped driver mutations (CTNNB1 and CEBPA) and CNAs (losses of CDKN2A, RB1 and TP53) between HGDNs and HCCs, suggesting their roles in the early HCC development. The other 4 cases with spatially separated HCCs and HGDNs showed few overlapped alterations between the paired HCCs and HGDNs. Mutations in ERBB2 and CCND1, and CNAs (gains of CTNNB1, MET and SMO and losses of PTEN, TP53 and SETD2) were identified as 'HCC-predominant', suggesting their roles in the progression of HGDN to HCC. Our data show that HCCs are direct descendants of HGDNs in some cases, but there is no direct evidence of such relationship in spatially separated cases. Genomic features of HGDN identified in this study provide a useful resource for dissecting clues for the genetic diagnosis of HGDN and HCC. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  16. Copy number losses define subgroups of dedifferentiated liposarcoma with poor prognosis and genomic instability.

    PubMed

    Crago, Aimee M; Socci, Nicholas D; DeCarolis, Penelope; O'Connor, Rachael; Taylor, Barry S; Qin, Li-Xuan; Antonescu, Cristina R; Singer, Samuel

    2012-03-01

    Molecular events underlying progression of well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLS) to dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS) are poorly defined. This study sought to identify copy number alterations (CNA) associated with dedifferentiation of WDLS, with DDLS morphology, and with patient outcomes. Fifty-five WDLS and 52 DDLS were analyzed using Agilent 244K comparative genomic hybridization and Affymetrix U133A expression arrays. CNAs were identified by RAE analysis. Thirty-nine of the DDLS specimens were categorized morphologically by a single pathologist. Nine regions of CNA were identified as recurrent in DDLS but not WDLS; 79% of DDLS had at least one of these CNAs. Loss of the chromosome segment 11q23-24, the most common event, was observed only in DDLS that morphologically resembled the genomically complex sarcomas, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and myxofibrosarcoma. 11q23-24 loss was itself associated with increased genomic complexity in DDLS. Loss of 19q13, but not 11q23-24, was associated with poor prognosis. Median disease-specific survival was shorter for patients with19q13 loss (27 months) than for patients with diploid 19q13 (>90 months; P < 0.0025), and 19q13 loss was associated with local recurrence (HR, 2.86; P = 0.013). Common copy number losses were associated with transcriptional downregulation of potential tumor suppressors and adipogenesis-related genes (e.g., EI24 and CEBPA). Dedifferentiation of WDLS is associated with recurrent CNAs in 79% of tumors. In DDLS, loss of 11q23-24 is associated with genomic complexity and distinct morphology whereas loss of 19q13 predicts poor prognosis. CNAs in liposarcoma improve risk stratification for patients and will help identify potential tumor suppressors driving liposarcoma progression.

  17. The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of childhood intracranial germinoma: long-term survival and late effects.

    PubMed

    Strojan, Primoz; Zadravec, Lorna Zaletel; Anzic, Jozica; Korenjak, Roman; Jereb, Berta

    2006-07-01

    The aim of the present report was to evaluate the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of childhood intracranial germinoma in view of long-term survival and functional outcome. Nine children with histologically verified intracranial germinomas treated in Slovenia between 1983 and 1995 were reviewed. The four boys and five girls were 8.8-16.9 years old (median, 11.3 years). Five tumors were suprasellar, three were in the pineal region, and one patient had bifocal disease. Two patients had disseminated tumor. All patients received radiotherapy: six to the tumor bed, one to the whole brain, and two to the whole central nervous axis (CNA). The doses to the tumor bed ranged from 30 to 46 Gy (median, 44 Gy) and to the CNA were 24 and 34.5 Gy. Five patients received neoadjuvant cyclophosphamide and three patients, all with beta-human chorionic gonadotropin secreting tumors, received neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Six patients are alive 12.8-21.8 years (median, 19 years) from diagnosis. The causes of death in three patients were disseminated disease, toxicity of salvage chemotherapy, and secondary etoposide-induced leukemia. All patients with suprasellar tumors presented with overt endocrinopathy. Results of psychological evaluation were subnormal in one out of five patients tested. Estimate of mental deterioration due to therapy ranged from 0% to 30% (median, 15%). Emotional disorder was registered in four patients and psycho-organic syndrome in three. Our results on long-term survival and functional outcome confirm the efficacy and relative safety of limited-field and reduced-dose radiotherapy for childhood intracranial germinoma when supplemented with chemotherapy. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  18. Prediction of outcome in newly diagnosed myeloma: a meta-analysis of the molecular profiles of 1905 trial patients

    PubMed Central

    Shah, V; Sherborne, A L; Walker, B A; Johnson, D C; Boyle, E M; Ellis, S; Begum, D B; Proszek, P Z; Jones, J R; Pawlyn, C; Savola, S; Jenner, M W; Drayson, M T; Owen, R G; Houlston, R S; Cairns, D A; Gregory, W M; Cook, G; Davies, F E; Jackson, G H; Morgan, G J; Kaiser, M F

    2018-01-01

    Robust establishment of survival in multiple myeloma (MM) and its relationship to recurrent genetic aberrations is required as outcomes are variable despite apparent similar staging. We assayed copy number alterations (CNA) and translocations in 1036 patients from the NCRI Myeloma XI trial and linked these to overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival. Through a meta-anlysis of these data with data from MRC Myeloma IX trial, totalling 1905 newly diagnosed MM patients (NDMM), we confirm the association of t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), del(17p) and gain(1q21) with poor prognosis with hazard ratios (HRs) for OS of 1.60 (P=4.77 × 10−7), 1.74 (P=0.0005), 1.90 (P=0.0089), 2.10 (P=8.86 × 10−14) and 1.68 (P=2.18 × 10−14), respectively. Patients with ‘double-hit’ defined by co-occurrence of at least two adverse lesions have an especially poor prognosis with HRs for OS of 2.67 (P=8.13 × 10−27) for all patients and 3.19 (P=1.23 × 10−18) for intensively treated patients. Using comprehensive CNA and translocation profiling in Myeloma XI we also demonstrate a strong association between t(4;14) and BIRC2/BIRC3 deletion (P=8.7 × 10−15), including homozygous deletion. Finally, we define distinct sub-groups of hyperdiploid MM, with either gain(1q21) and CCND2 overexpression (P<0.0001) or gain(11q25) and CCND1 overexpression (P<0.0001). Profiling multiple genetic lesions can identify MM patients likely to relapse early allowing stratification of treatment. PMID:28584253

  19. Stayers, Leavers, and Switchers Among Certified Nursing Assistants in Nursing Homes: A Longitudinal Investigation of Turnover Intent, Staff Retention, and Turnover

    PubMed Central

    Rosen, Jules

    2011-01-01

    Purpose: Studies of certified nursing assistant (CNA) turnover in nursing homes are typically cross-sectional and include full-time and part-time workers. We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate the job factors and work attitudes associated with just full-time staying or leaving. For those who did not stay, we assessed reasons for leaving and satisfaction following job transition. Design and Methods: A random sample of CNAs identified through the Pennsylvania Department of Health's CNA registry, working≥30 hr weekly in a nursing facility was surveyed by telephone at baseline and 1 year later. Results: Of the 620 responding to both surveys, 532 (85.8%) remained (stayers), 52 (8.4%) switched to another facility (switchers), and 36 (5.8%) left the industry (leavers). At baseline, switchers reported higher turnover intentions and fewer benefits compared with stayers and left for new opportunities. Leavers had lower job satisfaction and emotional well-being and left for health reasons. Turnover intentions were predicted by low job satisfaction and low emotional well-being. Actual turnover was predicted only by turnover intentions and by the absence of health insurance. Pay was not a predictor of turnover intent or turnover. Implications: There are two distinct groups of CNAs contributing to turnover. Attitudinal factors, such as job satisfaction and emotional well-being, are mediated via turnover intentions to effect actual turnover. Even accounting for methodological differences, this turnover rate is lower than previous studies, which use alternative methods and include part-time workers. This study should help nursing home administrators better understand the work-related factors associated with staff turnover. PMID:21498629

  20. Prognostic relevance of aberrant DNA methylation in g1 and g2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

    PubMed

    Stefanoli, Michele; La Rosa, Stefano; Sahnane, Nora; Romualdi, Chiara; Pastorino, Roberta; Marando, Alessandro; Capella, Carlo; Sessa, Fausto; Furlan, Daniela

    2014-01-01

    The occurrence and clinical relevance of DNA hypermethylation and global hypomethylation in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNETs) are still unknown. We evaluated the frequency of both epigenetic alterations in PanNETs to assess the relationship between methylation profiles and chromosomal instability, tumour phenotypes and prognosis. In a well-characterized series of 56 sporadic G1 and G2 PanNETs, methylation-sensitive multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification was performed to assess hypermethylayion of 33 genes and copy number alterations (CNAs) of 53 chromosomal regions. Long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) hypomethylation was quantified by pyrosequencing. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering allowed to identify a subset of 22 PanNETs (39%) exhibiting high frequency of gene-specific methylation and low CNA percentages. This tumour cluster was significantly associated with stage IV (p = 0.04) and with poor prognosis in univariable analysis (p = 0.004). LINE-1 methylation levels in PanNETs were significantly lower than in normal samples (p < 0.01) and were approximately normally distributed. 12 tumours (21%) were highly hypomethylated, showing variable levels of CNA. Interestingly, only 5 PanNETs (9%) were observed to show simultaneously LINE-1 hypomethylation and high frequency of gene-specific methylation. LINE-1 hypomethylation was strongly correlated with advanced stage (p = 0.002) and with poor prognosis (p < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, low LINE-1 methylation status and methylation clusters were the only independent significant predictors of outcome (p = 0.034 and p = 0.029, respectively). The combination of global DNA hypomethylation and gene hypermethylation analyses may be useful to define distinct subsets of PanNETs. Both alterations are common in PanNETs and could be directly correlated with tumour progression. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  1. Effects of Hafnium Additions on the Solidification Behavior of Directionally Solidified Superalloys.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-10-01

    h t (3-1) : where R is the instantaneous rate and h is the transient height. This transient was computed ahead of time on an IBM 370 interactive...form of thermocouple EMF output vs. time, taken at various positions serve as input parameters for the TCTEMP deck for the IBM 370. In its present...iuDv oWIiCNA u 41 S~Q 0 01 0, 0 0 0 % 00 .0 C) 1 0o u- I 0 o0 N 0N Itp 0 0 oitoain3 iuOOJ~d aflOA oian WUOied awnlOA S 1241 - 5 .A - _ A A - S

  2. Crystal growth of organics for nonlinear optical applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Singh, N. B.; Mazelsky, R.

    1993-01-01

    The crystal growth and characterization of organic and inorganic nonlinear optical materials were extensively studied. For example, inorganic crystals such as thallium arsenic selenide were studied in our laboratory for several years and crystals in sizes over 2.5 cm in diameter are available. Organic crystals are suitable for the ultraviolet and near infrared region, but are relatively less developed than their inorganic counterparts. Very high values of the second harmonic conversion efficiency and the electro-optic coefficient were reported for organic compounds. Single crystals of a binary organic alloy based on m.NA and CNA were grown and higher second harmonic conversion efficiency than the values reported for m.NA were observed.

  3. Genomic characterization of Imatinib resistance in CD34+ cell populations from chronic myeloid leukaemia patients.

    PubMed

    Joha, Sami; Dauphin, Véronique; Leprêtre, Frédéric; Corm, Sélim; Nicolini, Franck E; Roumier, Christophe; Nibourel, Olivier; Grardel, Nathalie; Maguer-Satta, Véronique; Idziorek, Thierry; Figeac, Martin; Laï, Jean-Luc; Quesnel, Bruno; Etienne, Gabriel; Guilhot, François; Lippert, Eric; Preudhomme, Claude; Roche-Lestienne, Catherine

    2011-04-01

    To ascertain genomic alterations associated with Imatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia, we performed high resolution genomic analysis of CD34(+) cells from 25 Imatinib (IM) resistant and 11 responders CML patients. Using patients' T-cells as reference, we found significant association between number of acquired cryptic copy number alterations (CNA) and disease phase (p=0.036) or loss of IM response for patients diagnosed in chronic phase (CP) (p=0.04). Recurrent cryptic losses were identified on chromosomes 7, 12 and 13. On chromosome 7, recurrent deletions of the IKZF1 locus were detected, for the first time, in 4 patients in CP. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. The shaping and functional consequences of the dosage effect landscape in multiple myeloma.

    PubMed

    Samur, Mehmet K; Shah, Parantu K; Wang, Xujun; Minvielle, Stéphane; Magrangeas, Florence; Avet-Loiseau, Hervé; Munshi, Nikhil C; Li, Cheng

    2013-10-02

    Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant proliferation of plasma B cells. Based on recurrent aneuploidy such as copy number alterations (CNAs), myeloma is divided into two subtypes with different CNA patterns and patient survival outcomes. How aneuploidy events arise, and whether they contribute to cancer cell evolution are actively studied. The large amount of transcriptomic changes resultant of CNAs (dosage effect) pose big challenges for identifying functional consequences of CNAs in myeloma in terms of specific driver genes and pathways. In this study, we hypothesize that gene-wise dosage effect varies as a result from complex regulatory networks that translate the impact of CNAs to gene expression, and studying this variation can provide insights into functional effects of CNAs. We propose gene-wise dosage effect score and genome-wide karyotype plot as tools to measure and visualize concordant copy number and expression changes across cancer samples. We find that dosage effect in myeloma is widespread yet variable, and it is correlated with gene expression level and CNA frequencies in different chromosomes. Our analysis suggests that despite the enrichment of differentially expressed genes between hyperdiploid MM and non-hyperdiploid MM in the trisomy chromosomes, the chromosomal proportion of dosage sensitive genes is higher in the non-trisomy chromosomes. Dosage-sensitive genes are enriched by genes with protein translation and localization functions, and dosage resistant genes are enriched by apoptosis genes. These results point to future studies on differential dosage sensitivity and resistance of pro- and anti-proliferation pathways and their variation across patients as therapeutic targets and prognosis markers. Our findings support the hypothesis that recurrent CNAs in myeloma are selected by their functional consequences. The novel dosage effect score defined in this work will facilitate integration of copy number and expression data for identifying driver genes in cancer genomics studies. The accompanying R code is available at http://www.canevolve.org/dosageEffect/.

  5. Chromosomal Minimal Critical Regions in Therapy-Related Leukemia Appear Different from Those of De Novo Leukemia by High-Resolution aCGH

    PubMed Central

    Itzhar, Nathalie; Dessen, Philippe; Toujani, Saloua; Auger, Nathalie; Preudhomme, Claude; Richon, Catherine; Lazar, Vladimir; Saada, Véronique; Bennaceur, Anelyse; Bourhis, Jean Henri; de Botton, Stéphane; Bernheim, Alain

    2011-01-01

    Therapy-related acute leukemia (t-AML), is a severe complication of cytotoxic therapy used for primary cancer treatment. The outcome of these patients is poor, compared to people who develop de novo acute leukemia (p-AML). Cytogenetic abnormalities in t-AML are similar to those found in p-AML but present more frequent unfavorable karyotypes depending on the inducting agent. Losses of chromosome 5 or 7 are observed after alkylating agents while balanced translocations are found after topoisomerase II inhibitors. This study compared t-AML to p-AML using high resolution array CGH in order to find copy number abnormalities (CNA) at a higher resolution than conventional cytogenetics. More CNAs were observed in 30 t-AML than in 36 p-AML: 104 CNAs were observed with 63 losses and 41 gains (mean number 3.46 per case) in t-AML, while in p-AML, 69 CNAs were observed with 32 losses and 37 gains (mean number of 1.9 per case). In primary leukemia with a previously “normal” karyotype, 18% exhibited a previously undetected CNA, whereas in the (few) t-AML with a normal karyotype, the rate was 50%. Several minimal critical regions (MCRs) were found in t-AML and p-AML. No common MCRs were found in the two groups. In t-AML a 40kb deleted MCR pointed to RUNX1 on 21q22, a gene coding for a transcription factor implicated in frequent rearrangements in leukemia and in familial thrombocytopenia. In de novo AML, a 1Mb MCR harboring ERG and ETS2 was observed from patients with complex aCGH profiles. High resolution cytogenomics obtained by aCGH and similar techniques already published allowed us to characterize numerous non random chromosome abnormalities. This work supports the hypothesis that they can be classified into several categories: abnormalities common to all AML; those more frequently found in t-AML and those specifically found in p-AML. PMID:21339820

  6. Chromosomal minimal critical regions in therapy-related leukemia appear different from those of de novo leukemia by high-resolution aCGH.

    PubMed

    Itzhar, Nathalie; Dessen, Philippe; Toujani, Saloua; Auger, Nathalie; Preudhomme, Claude; Richon, Catherine; Lazar, Vladimir; Saada, Véronique; Bennaceur, Anelyse; Bourhis, Jean Henri; de Botton, Stéphane; Bernheim, Alain

    2011-02-14

    Therapy-related acute leukemia (t-AML), is a severe complication of cytotoxic therapy used for primary cancer treatment. The outcome of these patients is poor, compared to people who develop de novo acute leukemia (p-AML). Cytogenetic abnormalities in t-AML are similar to those found in p-AML but present more frequent unfavorable karyotypes depending on the inducting agent. Losses of chromosome 5 or 7 are observed after alkylating agents while balanced translocations are found after topoisomerase II inhibitors. This study compared t-AML to p-AML using high resolution array CGH in order to find copy number abnormalities (CNA) at a higher resolution than conventional cytogenetics. More CNAs were observed in 30 t-AML than in 36 p-AML: 104 CNAs were observed with 63 losses and 41 gains (mean number 3.46 per case) in t-AML, while in p-AML, 69 CNAs were observed with 32 losses and 37 gains (mean number of 1.9 per case). In primary leukemia with a previously "normal" karyotype, 18% exhibited a previously undetected CNA, whereas in the (few) t-AML with a normal karyotype, the rate was 50%. Several minimal critical regions (MCRs) were found in t-AML and p-AML. No common MCRs were found in the two groups. In t-AML a 40 kb deleted MCR pointed to RUNX1 on 21q22, a gene coding for a transcription factor implicated in frequent rearrangements in leukemia and in familial thrombocytopenia. In de novo AML, a 1 Mb MCR harboring ERG and ETS2 was observed from patients with complex aCGH profiles. High resolution cytogenomics obtained by aCGH and similar techniques already published allowed us to characterize numerous non random chromosome abnormalities. This work supports the hypothesis that they can be classified into several categories: abnormalities common to all AML; those more frequently found in t-AML and those specifically found in p-AML.

  7. Tracking Sodium-Antimonide Phase Transformations in Sodium-Ion Anodes: Insights from Operando Pair Distribution Function Analysis and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

    DOE PAGES

    Allan, Phoebe K.; Griffin, John M.; Darwiche, Ali; ...

    2016-01-29

    We use operando pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and ex situ 23Na magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS ssNMR) spectroscopy to gain insight into the alloying mechanism of high-capacity antimony anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Subtraction of the PDF of crystalline Na xSb phases from the total PDF, an approach constrained by chemical phase information gained from 23Na ssNMR in reference to relevant model compounds, identifies two previously uncharacterized intermediate species formed electrochemically; a-Na 3–xSb (x ≈ 0.4–0.5), a structure locally similar to crystalline Na 3Sb (c-Na 3Sb) but with significant numbers of sodium vacancies and a limited correlation length,more » and a-Na1.7Sb, a highly amorphous structure featuring some Sb–Sb bonding. The first sodiation breaks down the crystalline antimony to form first a-Na 3–xSb and, finally, crystalline Na 3Sb. Desodiation results in the formation of an electrode formed of a composite of crystalline and amorphous antimony networks. We link the different reactivity of these networks to a series of sequential sodiation reactions manifesting as a cascade of processes observed in the electrochemical profile of subsequent cycles. The amorphous network reacts at higher voltages reforming a-Na 1.7Sb, then a-Na 3–xSb, whereas lower potentials are required for the sodiation of crystalline antimony, which reacts to form a-Na 3–xSb without the formation of a-Na 1.7Sb. a-Na 3–xSb is converted to crystalline Na 3Sb at the end of the second discharge. In the end, we find no evidence of formation of NaSb. Variable temperature 23Na NMR experiments reveal significant sodium mobility within c-Na 3Sb; this is a possible contributing factor to the excellent rate performance of Sb anodes.« less

  8. Tracking Sodium-Antimonide Phase Transformations in Sodium-Ion Anodes: Insights from Operando Pair Distribution Function Analysis and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Operando pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and ex situ 23Na magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS ssNMR) spectroscopy are used to gain insight into the alloying mechanism of high-capacity antimony anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Subtraction of the PDF of crystalline NaxSb phases from the total PDF, an approach constrained by chemical phase information gained from 23Na ssNMR in reference to relevant model compounds, identifies two previously uncharacterized intermediate species formed electrochemically; a-Na3–xSb (x ≈ 0.4–0.5), a structure locally similar to crystalline Na3Sb (c-Na3Sb) but with significant numbers of sodium vacancies and a limited correlation length, and a-Na1.7Sb, a highly amorphous structure featuring some Sb–Sb bonding. The first sodiation breaks down the crystalline antimony to form first a-Na3–xSb and, finally, crystalline Na3Sb. Desodiation results in the formation of an electrode formed of a composite of crystalline and amorphous antimony networks. We link the different reactivity of these networks to a series of sequential sodiation reactions manifesting as a cascade of processes observed in the electrochemical profile of subsequent cycles. The amorphous network reacts at higher voltages reforming a-Na1.7Sb, then a-Na3–xSb, whereas lower potentials are required for the sodiation of crystalline antimony, which reacts to form a-Na3–xSb without the formation of a-Na1.7Sb. a-Na3–xSb is converted to crystalline Na3Sb at the end of the second discharge. We find no evidence of formation of NaSb. Variable temperature 23Na NMR experiments reveal significant sodium mobility within c-Na3Sb; this is a possible contributing factor to the excellent rate performance of Sb anodes. PMID:26824406

  9. Trench-shaped binding sites promote multiple classes of interactions between collagen and the adherence receptors, alpha(1)beta(1) integrin and Staphylococcus aureus cna MSCRAMM.

    PubMed

    Rich, R L; Deivanayagam, C C; Owens, R T; Carson, M; Höök, A; Moore, D; Symersky, J; Yang, V W; Narayana, S V; Höök, M

    1999-08-27

    Most mammalian cells and some pathogenic bacteria are capable of adhering to collagenous substrates in processes mediated by specific cell surface adherence molecules. Crystal structures of collagen-binding regions of the human integrin alpha(2)beta(1) and a Staphylococcus aureus adhesin reveal a "trench" on the surface of both of these proteins. This trench can accommodate a collagen triple-helical structure and presumably represents the ligand-binding site (Emsley, J., King, S. L., Bergelson, J. M., and Liddington, R. C. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 28512-28517; Symersky, J., Patti, J. M., Carson, M., House-Pompeo, K., Teale, M., Moore, D., Jin, L., Schneider, A., DeLucas, L. J., Höök, M., and Narayana, S. V. L. (1997) Nat. Struct. Biol. 4, 833-838). We report here the crystal structure of the alpha subunit I domain from the alpha(1)beta(1) integrin. This collagen-binding protein also contains a trench on one face in which the collagen triple helix may be docked. Furthermore, we compare the collagen-binding mechanisms of the human alpha(1) integrin I domain and the A domain from the S. aureus collagen adhesin, Cna. Although the S. aureus and human proteins have unrelated amino acid sequences, secondary structure composition, and cation requirements for effective ligand binding, both proteins bind at multiple sites within one collagen molecule, with the sites in collagen varying in their affinity for the adherence molecule. We propose that (i) these evolutionarily dissimilar adherence proteins recognize collagen via similar mechanisms, (ii) the multisite, multiclass protein/ligand interactions observed in these two systems result from a binding-site trench, and (iii) this unusual binding mechanism may be thematic for proteins binding extended, rigid ligands that contain repeating structural motifs.

  10. The C2 Domain Protein Cts1 Functions in the Calcineurin Signaling Circuit during High-Temperature Stress Responses in Cryptococcus neoformans ▿ †

    PubMed Central

    Aboobakar, Eanas F.; Wang, Xuying; Heitman, Joseph; Kozubowski, Lukasz

    2011-01-01

    Calcineurin is a conserved calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase that acts in cell stress responses. Calcineurin is essential for growth at 37°C and for virulence of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, but its substrates remain unknown. The C2 domain-containing, phospholipid-binding protein Cts1 was previously identified as a multicopy suppressor of a calcineurin mutation in C. neoformans. Here we further characterize the function of Cts1 and the links between Cts1 and calcineurin. GFP-Cts1 localizes to cytoplasmic puncta and colocalizes with the endosomal marker FM4-64. The cts1Δ mutant shows a distinct FM4-64 staining pattern, suggesting involvement of Cts1 in endocytic trafficking. In large budded cells, GFP-Cts1 localizes transiently at the mother bud neck, as a single ring that undergoes contraction. mCherry-Cts1 colocalizes with the GFP-tagged calcineurin catalytic subunit Cna1 at sites of mRNA processing at 37°C, suggesting that Cts1 and calcineurin function coordinately during thermal stress. GFP-Cts1 exhibits slower electrophoretic mobility for cells grown at 37°C than for cells grown at 24°C, and the shift to a higher molecular weight is more pronounced in the presence of the calcineurin inhibitor FK506. In vitro treatment with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIP) restores faster electrophoretic mobility to GFP-Cts1, suggesting that Cts1 is phosphorylated at 37°C and may be dephosphorylated in a calcineurin-dependent manner. mCherry-Cts1 also coimmunoprecipitates with GFP-Cna1, with greater complex formation at 37°C than at 24°C. Taken together, these findings support potential roles for Cts1 in endocytic trafficking, mRNA processing, and cytokinesis and suggest that Cts1 is a substrate of calcineurin during high-temperature stress responses. PMID:22002655

  11. Global epigenetic profiling identifies methylation subgroups associated with recurrence-free survival in meningioma

    PubMed Central

    Olar, Adriana; Wani, Khalida M; Wilson, Charmaine D; Zadeh, Gelareh; DeMonte, Franco; Jones, David TW; Pfister, Stefan M; Sulman, Erik P; Aldape, Kenneth D

    2017-01-01

    Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor and carries a substantial risk of local recurrence. Methylation profiles of meningioma and their clinical implications are not well understood. We hypothesized that aggressive meningiomas have unique DNA methylation patterns that could be used to better stratify patient management. Samples (n=140) were profiled using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Unsupervised modeling on a training set (n=89) identified 2 molecular methylation subgroups of meningioma (MM) with significantly different recurrence free survival (RFS) times between the groups: a prognostically unfavorable subgroup (MM-UNFAV) and a prognostically favorable subgroup (MM-FAV). This finding was validated in the remaining 51 samples and led to a baseline meningioma methylation classifier (bMMC) defined by 283 CpG loci (283-bMMC). To further optimize a recurrence predictor, probes subsumed within the baseline classifier were subject to additional modeling using a similar training/validation approach, leading to a 64-CpG loci meningioma methylation predictor (64-MMP). After adjustment for relevant clinical variables [WHO grade, mitotic index, Simpson grade, sex, location, and copy number aberrations (CNA)] multivariable analyses for RFS showed that the baseline methylation classifier was not significant (p=0.0793). The methylation predictor however was significantly associated with tumor recurrence (p<0.0001). CNA were extracted from the 450k intensity profiles. Tumor samples in the MM-UNFAV subgroup showed an overall higher proportion of CNAs compared to the MM-FAV subgroup tumors and the CNAs were complex in nature. CNAs in the MM-UNFAV subgroup included recurrent losses of 1p, 6q, 14q and 18q, and gain of 1q, all of which were previously identified as indicators of poor outcome. In conclusion, our analyses demonstrate robust DNA methylation signatures in meningioma that correlate with CNAs and stratify patients by recurrence risk. PMID:28130639

  12. The roles of CYP6AY1 and CYP6ER1 in imidacloprid resistance in the brown planthopper: Expression levels and detoxification efficiency.

    PubMed

    Bao, Haibo; Gao, Hongli; Zhang, Yixi; Fan, Dongzhe; Fang, Jichao; Liu, Zewen

    2016-05-01

    Two P450 monooxygenase genes, CYP6AY1 and CYP6ER1, were reported to contribute importantly to imidacloprid resistance in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. Although recombinant CYP6AY1 could metabolize imidacloprid efficiently, the expression levels of CYP6ER1 gene were higher in most resistant populations. In the present study, three field populations were collected from different countries, and the bioassay, RNAi and imidacloprid metabolism were performed to evaluate the importance of two P450s in imidacloprid resistance. All three populations, DOT (Dongtai) from China, CNA (Chainat) from Thailand and HCM (Ho Chi Minh) from Vietnam, showed high resistance to imidacloprid (57.0-, 102.9- and 89.0-fold). CYP6AY1 and CYP6ER1 were both over expressed in three populations, with highest ratio of 13.2-fold for CYP6ER1 in HCM population. Synergism test and RNAi analysis confirmed the roles of both P450 genes in imidacloprid resistance. However, CYP6AY1 was indicated more important in CNA population, and CYP6AY1 and CYP6ER1 were equal in HCM population, although the expression level of CYP6ER1 (13.2-fold) was much higher than that of CYP6AY1 (4.11-fold) in HCM population. Although the recombinant proteins of both P450 genes could metabolize imidacloprid efficiently, the catalytic activity of CYP6AY1 (Kcat=3.627 pmol/min/pmol P450) was significantly higher than that of CYP6ER1 (Kcat=2.785 pmol/min/pmol P450). It was supposed that both P450 proteins were important for imidacloprid resistance, in which CYP6AY1 metabolized imidacloprid more efficiently and CYP6ER1 gene could be regulated by imidacloprid to a higher level. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Winery vermicomposts to control the leaching of diuron, imidacloprid and their metabolites: role of dissolved organic carbon content.

    PubMed

    Fernández-Bayo, Jesús D; Nogales, Rogelio; Romero, Esperanza

    2015-01-01

    Soil organic amendment addition is an effective practice in Mediterranean areas due to its associated high agricultural benefits and its potential to reduce the pesticide impact on water resources. However, their metabolites have received scarce attention, even when they may pose more risk than their parent compounds. Two winery vermicomposts obtained from spent grape marc (V1) and the mixture vine shoot-biosolid vinasses (V2) have been investigated as low cost organic amendments to minimize the leaching of diuron, imidacloprid and their metabolites in columns packed with a sandy loam (S1) and a silty-clay loam soil (S2) under steady state flow conditions. In the unamended soil columns, leached amounts of diuron were 75% and 53% in S1 and S2, respectively. Its metabolites (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea, DPMU; and 3,4-dichlorophenylurea, DPU) percolated less than 35% of the total applied amount. The amount of the metabolite 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) was 2% and 30% for S1 and S2, respectively. Leaching of imidacloprid was 79% and 96% for S1 and S2, respectively, while its metabolite 6-chloronicotinic acid (CNA) was entirely leached. In the vermicompost-amended columns, the leaching of diuron was reduced 2 to 3-fold. DPMU and DPU were also significantly reduced (more than 6-fold). DCA did not appear in any of the leachates of the amended soil columns. Imidacloprid leaching was reduced 1 to 2-folds in the amended columns. The amendments did not affect the transport of CNA. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the vermicomposts did not enhance pesticide transport throughout the soil in any case. This qualitative study presents these vermicomposts as an effective potential low-cost tool in reducing pesticide and metabolite leaching. The next step would be to test them under more realistic conditions.

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

    Allan, Phoebe K.; Griffin, John M.; Darwiche, Ali

    We use operando pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and ex situ 23Na magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS ssNMR) spectroscopy to gain insight into the alloying mechanism of high-capacity antimony anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Subtraction of the PDF of crystalline Na xSb phases from the total PDF, an approach constrained by chemical phase information gained from 23Na ssNMR in reference to relevant model compounds, identifies two previously uncharacterized intermediate species formed electrochemically; a-Na 3–xSb (x ≈ 0.4–0.5), a structure locally similar to crystalline Na 3Sb (c-Na 3Sb) but with significant numbers of sodium vacancies and a limited correlation length,more » and a-Na1.7Sb, a highly amorphous structure featuring some Sb–Sb bonding. The first sodiation breaks down the crystalline antimony to form first a-Na 3–xSb and, finally, crystalline Na 3Sb. Desodiation results in the formation of an electrode formed of a composite of crystalline and amorphous antimony networks. We link the different reactivity of these networks to a series of sequential sodiation reactions manifesting as a cascade of processes observed in the electrochemical profile of subsequent cycles. The amorphous network reacts at higher voltages reforming a-Na 1.7Sb, then a-Na 3–xSb, whereas lower potentials are required for the sodiation of crystalline antimony, which reacts to form a-Na 3–xSb without the formation of a-Na 1.7Sb. a-Na 3–xSb is converted to crystalline Na 3Sb at the end of the second discharge. In the end, we find no evidence of formation of NaSb. Variable temperature 23Na NMR experiments reveal significant sodium mobility within c-Na 3Sb; this is a possible contributing factor to the excellent rate performance of Sb anodes.« less

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

    Allan, Phoebe K.; Griffin, John M.; Darwiche, Ali

    Operando pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and ex situ Na-23 magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS ssNMR) spectroscopy are used to gain insight into the alloying mechanism of high-capacity antimony anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Subtraction of the PDF of crystalline NaxSb phases from the total PDF, an approach constrained by chemical phase information gained from Na-23 ssNMR in reference to relevant model compounds, identifies two previously uncharacterized intermediate species formed electro-chemically; a-Na3-xSb (x approximate to 0.4-0.5), a structure locally similar to crystalline Na3Sb (c-Na3Sb) but with significant numbers of sodium vacancies and a limited correlation length, and a-Na1.7Sb, amore » highly amorphous structure featuring some Sb-Sb bonding. The first sodiation breaks down the crystalline antimony to form first a-Na3-xSb and, finally, crystalline Na3Sb. Desodiation results in the formation of an electrode formed of a composite of crystalline and amorphous antimony networks. We link the different reactivity of these networks to a series of sequential sodiation reactions manifesting as a cascade of processes observed in the electrochemical profile of subsequent cycles. The amorphofis network reacts at higher voltages reforming a-Na1.7Sb, then a-Na3-xSb, whereas lower potentials are required for the sodiation of crystalline antimony, which reacts to form a-Na3-xSb without the formation of a-Na3-xSb. a-Na3-xSb is converted to crystalline Na3Sb at the end of the second discharge. We find no evidence of formation of NaSb. Variable temperature Na-23 NMR experiments reveal significant sodium mobility within c-Na3Sb; this is a possible contributing factor to the excellent rate performance of Sb anodes.« less

  16. Growth inhibition and ultrastructural alterations induced by Delta24(25)-sterol methyltransferase inhibitors in Candida spp. isolates, including non-albicans organisms.

    PubMed

    Ishida, Kelly; Rodrigues, Juliany Cola Fernandes; Ribeiro, Marcos Dornelas; Vila, Taíssa Vieira Machado; de Souza, Wanderley; Urbina, Julio A; Nakamura, Celso Vataru; Rozental, Sonia

    2009-04-20

    Although Candida species are commensal microorganisms, they can cause many invasive fungal infections. In addition, antifungal resistance can contribute to failure of treatment.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of inhibitors of Delta24(25)-sterol methyltransferase (24-SMTI), 20-piperidin-2-yl-5alpha-pregnan-3beta-20(R)-diol (AZA), and 24(R,S),25-epiminolanosterol (EIL), against clinical isolates of Candida spp., analysing the ultrastructural changes. AZA and EIL were found to be potent growth inhibitors of Candida spp. isolates. The median MIC50 was 0.5 microg.ml-1 for AZA and 2 microg.ml-1 for EIL, and the MIC90 was 2 microg.ml-1 for both compounds. All strains used in this study were susceptible to amphotericin B; however, some isolates were fluconazole- and itraconazole-resistant. Most of the azole-resistant isolates were Candida non-albicans (CNA) species, but several of them, such as C. guilliermondii, C. zeylanoides, and C. lipolytica, were susceptible to 24-SMTI, indicating a lack of cross-resistance. Reference strain C. krusei (ATCC 6258, FLC-resistant) was consistently susceptible to AZA, although not to EIL. The fungicidal activity of 24-SMTI was particularly high against CNA isolates. Treatment with sub-inhibitory concentrations of AZA and EIL induced several ultrastructural alterations, including changes in the cell-wall shape and thickness, a pronounced disconnection between the cell wall and cytoplasm with an electron-lucent zone between them, mitochondrial swelling, and the presence of electron-dense vacuoles. Fluorescence microscopy analyses indicated an accumulation of lipid bodies and alterations in the cell cycle of the yeasts. The selectivity of 24-SMTI for fungal cells versus mammalian cells was assessed by the sulforhodamine B viability assay. Taken together, these results suggest that inhibition of 24-SMT may be a novel approach to control Candida spp. infections, including those caused by azole-resistant strains.

  17. Growth inhibition and ultrastructural alterations induced by Δ24(25)-sterol methyltransferase inhibitors in Candida spp. isolates, including non-albicans organisms

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Background Although Candida species are commensal microorganisms, they can cause many invasive fungal infections. In addition, antifungal resistance can contribute to failure of treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of inhibitors of Δ24(25)-sterol methyltransferase (24-SMTI), 20-piperidin-2-yl-5α-pregnan-3β-20(R)-diol (AZA), and 24(R,S),25-epiminolanosterol (EIL), against clinical isolates of Candida spp., analysing the ultrastructural changes. Results AZA and EIL were found to be potent growth inhibitors of Candida spp. isolates. The median MIC50 was 0.5 μg.ml-1 for AZA and 2 μg.ml-1 for EIL, and the MIC90 was 2 μg.ml-1 for both compounds. All strains used in this study were susceptible to amphotericin B; however, some isolates were fluconazole- and itraconazole-resistant. Most of the azole-resistant isolates were Candida non-albicans (CNA) species, but several of them, such as C. guilliermondii, C. zeylanoides, and C. lipolytica, were susceptible to 24-SMTI, indicating a lack of cross-resistance. Reference strain C. krusei (ATCC 6258, FLC-resistant) was consistently susceptible to AZA, although not to EIL. The fungicidal activity of 24-SMTI was particularly high against CNA isolates. Treatment with sub-inhibitory concentrations of AZA and EIL induced several ultrastructural alterations, including changes in the cell-wall shape and thickness, a pronounced disconnection between the cell wall and cytoplasm with an electron-lucent zone between them, mitochondrial swelling, and the presence of electron-dense vacuoles. Fluorescence microscopy analyses indicated an accumulation of lipid bodies and alterations in the cell cycle of the yeasts. The selectivity of 24-SMTI for fungal cells versus mammalian cells was assessed by the sulforhodamine B viability assay. Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that inhibition of 24-SMT may be a novel approach to control Candida spp. infections, including those caused by azole-resistant strains. PMID:19379501

  18. Method of using 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(carboxyphenyl)porphine for detecting cancers of the lung

    DOEpatents

    Cole, Dean A.; Moody, III, David C.; Ellinwood, L. Edward; Klein, M. Gerard

    1992-01-01

    Method using tetra-aryl porphyrins for and, in particular, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine as a fluorescent tracer for cancers of the lung, and as a radiotracer therefor as a complex with .sup.67 Cu. The latter complex also provides a source of beta radiation for selective destruction of lung malignancies as well as gamma radiation useful for image analysis of the situs thereof by single photon emission computed tomography, as an example, both in vivo. Copper-64 may be substituted for the .sup.67 Cu if only radiotracer characteristics are of interest. This lighter isotope of copper is a positron emitter, and positron emission tomography techniques cna be used to locate the malignant tissue mass.

  19. Pseudo-Outbreak of Actinomyces graevenitzii Associated with Bronchoscopy

    PubMed Central

    Peaper, David R.; Havill, Nancy L.; Aniskiewicz, Michael; Callan, Deborah; Pop, Olivia; Towle, Dana

    2014-01-01

    Outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks of infection related to bronchoscopy typically involve Gram-negative bacteria, Mycobacterium species or Legionella species. We report an unusual bronchoscopy-related pseudo-outbreak due to Actinomyces graevenitzii. Extensive epidemiological and microbiological investigation failed to identify a common source. Strain typing revealed that the cluster was comprised of heterogeneous strains of A. graevenitzii. A change in laboratory procedures for Actinomyces cultures was coincident with the emergence of the pseudo-outbreak, and we determined that A. graevenitzii isolates more readily adopted a white, dry, molar tooth appearance on anaerobic colistin nalidixic acid (CNA) agar which likely facilitated its detection and identification in bronchoscopic specimens. This unusual pseudo-outbreak was related to frequent requests of bronchoscopists for Actinomyces cultures combined with a change in microbiology laboratory practices. PMID:25355767

  20. Radioactivity impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident on the atmosphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, W.; Chen, L.; Yu, W.; Ma, H.; Zeng, Z.; Lin, J.; Zeng, S.

    2015-02-01

    The Fukushima Nuclear Accident (FNA) resulted in a large amount of radionuclides released into the atmosphere and dispersed globally, which has greatly raised public concerns. The state of the art for source terms of 19 kinds of radionuclides derived from the FNA was comprehensively collected and compared with levels of the global fallout and the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident (CNA). The atmospheric impacts of the FNA were evaluated from three aspects including radioactive baseline of the atmosphere, the concentration limits in standards and radiological protection. The FNA should not impose significant radiological risk on the public members in the countries excluding Japan. A conceptual scheme of Fukushima-derived radionuclides with physical and physicochemical insights on different temporal-spatial timescales was discussed and illustrated to understand their fates in the atmosphere.

  1. Evaluation of chromogenic medium and direct latex agglutination test for detection of group B streptococcus in vaginal specimens from pregnant women in Lebanon and Kuwait.

    PubMed

    Ghaddar, Nahed; Alfouzan, Wadha; Anastasiadis, Elie; Al Jiser, Tamima; Itani, Saad Eddine; Dernaika, Racha; Eid, Toufic; Ghaddar, Ali; Charafeddine, Adib; Dhar, Rita; El Hajj, Hiba

    2014-10-01

    This study was undertaken to evaluate chromogenic medium and a direct latex agglutination test (DLA) for detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in the vaginal specimens of pregnant women, and to ascertain the prevalence of GBS in this population in Kuwait and Lebanon. Vaginal swabs, collected from women at 35-37 weeks of gestation, were cultured on 5 % sheep blood agar (SBA), colistin nalidixic acid agar (CNA), Strept B Select chromogenic agar (SBS) as well as Lim enrichment broth in 168 cases in Lebanon while only SBA was used for 1391 samples in Kuwait. In addition, vaginal samples from 102 GBS-positive and 20 GBS-negative women near the time of delivery were collected in Kuwait for evaluation of the DLA test. During the study period, the prevalence of GBS colonization was determined to be 20.7 % (288/1391) in Kuwait while 18.4 % (31) of 168 pregnant women in Lebanon had vaginal cultures positive for GBS. By direct plating of vaginal swabs on the three media used, the isolation rates of GBS were 51.6, 64.5 and 77.4 % on SBA, CNA and SBS, respectively, which increased to 90.35, 93.1 and 96.8 %, respectively, following subculture in Lim broth after 18 h of incubation. The sensitivity of the DLA test was found to be dependent on the density of GBS colonization, resulting in 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for heavy (>10(2) c.f.u. per swab) and moderately heavy (50-100 c.f.u. per swab) growth of GBS. However, for vaginal specimens yielding <50 c.f.u. per swab, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the DLA test were 100, 55.5, 63.6 and 100 %, respectively. In conclusion, a chromogenic agar, such as SBS, and a DLA test can be used for rapid detection of GBS in pregnant women. The DLA test, in particular, could prove to be a useful tool for immediate detection of GBS in women near delivery so that intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis can be initiated. © 2014 The Authors.

  2. Identification of Novel Genomic Aberrations in AML-M5 in a Level of Array CGH

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Rui; Lee, Ji-Yun; Wang, Xianfu; Xu, Weihong; Hu, Xiaoxia; Lu, Xianglan; Niu, Yimeng; Tang, Rurong; Li, Shibo; Li, Yan

    2014-01-01

    To assess the possible existence of unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities and delineate the characterization of copy number alterations (CNAs) of acute myeloid leukemia-M5 (AML-M5), R-banding karyotype, oligonucelotide array CGH and FISH were performed in 24 patients with AML-M5. A total of 117 CNAs with size ranging from 0.004 to 146.263 Mb was recognized in 12 of 24 cases, involving all chromosomes other than chromosome 1, 4, X and Y. Cryptic CNAs with size less than 5 Mb accounted for 59.8% of all the CNAs. 12 recurrent chromosomal alterations were mapped. Seven out of them were described in the previous AML studies and five were new candidate AML-M5 associated CNAs, including gains of 3q26.2-qter and 13q31.3 as well as losses of 2q24.2, 8p12 and 14q32. Amplication of 3q26.2-qter was the sole large recurrent chromosomal anomaly and the pathogenic mechanism in AML-M5 was possibly different from the classical recurrent 3q21q26 abnormality in AML. As a tumor suppressor gene, FOXN3, was singled out from the small recurrent CNA of 14q32, however, it is proved that deletion of FOXN3 is a common marker of myeloid leukemia rather than a specific marker for AML-M5 subtype. Moreover, the concurrent amplication of MLL and deletion of CDKN2A were noted and it might be associated with AML-M5. The number of CNA did not show a significant association with clinico-biological parameters and CR number of the 22 patients received chemotherapy. This study provided the evidence that array CGH served as a complementary platform for routine cytogenetic analysis to identify those cryptic alterations in the patients with AML-M5. As a subtype of AML, AML-M5 carries both common recurrent CNAs and unique CNAs, which may harbor novel oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Clarifying the role of these genes will contribute to the understanding of leukemogenic network of AML-M5. PMID:24727659

  3. Pseudo-outbreak of Actinomyces graevenitzii associated with bronchoscopy.

    PubMed

    Peaper, David R; Havill, Nancy L; Aniskiewicz, Michael; Callan, Deborah; Pop, Olivia; Towle, Dana; Boyce, John M

    2015-01-01

    Outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks of infection related to bronchoscopy typically involve Gram-negative bacteria, Mycobacterium species or Legionella species. We report an unusual bronchoscopy-related pseudo-outbreak due to Actinomyces graevenitzii. Extensive epidemiological and microbiological investigation failed to identify a common source. Strain typing revealed that the cluster was comprised of heterogeneous strains of A. graevenitzii. A change in laboratory procedures for Actinomyces cultures was coincident with the emergence of the pseudo-outbreak, and we determined that A. graevenitzii isolates more readily adopted a white, dry, molar tooth appearance on anaerobic colistin nalidixic acid (CNA) agar which likely facilitated its detection and identification in bronchoscopic specimens. This unusual pseudo-outbreak was related to frequent requests of bronchoscopists for Actinomyces cultures combined with a change in microbiology laboratory practices. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  4. From healing to witchcraft: on ritual speech and roboticization in the hospital.

    PubMed

    Pine, Adrienne

    2011-06-01

    Healthcare Information Technology (HIT), touted as a panacea by U.S. political actors ranging from Newt Gingrich to Barack Obama, is central to emerging forms of healthcare governance which Holmes et al.-in their critique of the institutionalization of magical thinking brought about by Orwellian techno-Newspeak-have provocatively labeled fascistic. Drawing from data collected over 3 years of working with and teaching continuing education (CE) courses for thousands of registered nurses as lead political educator for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), I argue that HIT is an integral component of a broader technological restructuring of healthcare and thus society, both of which are part of a social discourse that is tied to a transformative system of ritual speech, with profound implications for healthcare work, patient health, and democracy.

  5. Outsourcing veterans for long-term care: comparison of community and state veterans' nursing homes.

    PubMed

    Laberge, Alexandre; Weech-Maldonado, Robert; Johnson, Christopher E; Jia, Huanguang; Dewald, Lloyd

    2008-01-01

    This study compares the characteristics of state veterans' nursing homes and community nursing homes with VA per-diem residentes between 1999 - 2002. A structure, process, and outcome model was used to examine whether there was any difference in the multi-dimensional quality measures among the three types of community nursing homes (for profit, not-for-profit, and government) and state veterans' nursing homes. For profit community nursing homes were less likely to achieve nurse staffing standards while government facilities were more likely to achieve CNA staffing standards when compared to the state veterans' homes. All community nursing homes had a lower prevelance of tube feeds and catheterization when compared to state veterans' nursing homes. Only government community nursing homes had significantly lower quality of life deficiencies and pressure sore prevelance when compared to state veterans' nursing homes. Vigilant monitoring of all long-term care facilities utilized by veterans is needed.

  6. Determination of denudation rates by the measurement of meteoric 10Be in Guadiana river sediment samples (Spain) by low-energy AMS.

    PubMed

    Padilla, S; López-Gutiérrez, J M; Sampath, D M R; Boski, T; Nieto, J M; García-León, M

    2018-09-01

    The concentration of meteoric 10 Be in estuarine sediment samples has been measured by Spanish Accelerator for Radionuclides Analysis (SARA) at CNA and subsequently used to assess the denudation rate in Guadiana river basin together with the sediment budget method, on both sides of the frontier between Spain and Portugal. The two methods yielded coincident results. The estimation by the 10 Be method gave the denudation rate of (0.76 ± 0.10) × 10 -2  cm/y. After correcting for an approximate 80% attenuation of the sediment discharge into the ocean, caused by the river dams, the sediment budget method yielded the rate of (0.77 ± 0.17) × 10 -2  cm/y. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Conscientious objection: a call to nursing leadership.

    PubMed

    Ford, Natalie J; Fraser, Kimberly D; Marck, Patricia B

    2010-09-01

    In this paper we argue that nurse leaders need to work actively to create morally supportive environments for nurses in Canada that provide adequate room to exercise conscientious objection. Morally supportive environments engender a safe atmosphere to engage in open dialogue and action regarding conflict of conscience. The CNA's 2008 Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses has recognized the importance of conscientious objection in nursing and has created key guidelines for the registered nurse to follow when a conflict in conscience is being considered or declared. Nurse leaders need to further develop the understanding of conflicts of conscience through education, well-written guidelines for conscientious objection in workplaces and engagement in research to uncover underlying barriers to the enactment of conscientious objections. With advancements in technology, changing healthcare policies and increasing scope of practice, both reflection and dialogue on conscientious objection are critical for the continuing moral development of nurses in Canada.

  8. Close Vicinity of PrP Expressing Cells (FDC) with Noradrenergic Fibers in Healthy Sheep Spleen

    PubMed Central

    Lezmi, S.; Hunsmann, G.; Baron, T.

    2001-01-01

    In naturally and experimentally occurring scrapie in sheep, prions invade the immune system and replicate in lymphoid organs. Here we analysed immunohistochemically, in seven spleens of 6-month-old healthy sheep, the nature of the cells expressing prion protein (PrP) potentially supporting prion replication, as well as their relationship with autonomic innervation. PrP was identified using either RB1 rabbit antiserum or 4F2 monoclonal antibody directed against AA 108–123 portion of the bovine and AA 79–92 of human prion protein respectively. Using double labelling analysis, we demonstrated that PrPc is expressed by follicular dendritic cells using a specific monoclonal antibody (CNA42). We also showed the close vicinity of these PrP expressing cells with noradrenergic fibers, using a polyclonal tyrosine hydroxylase antibody. Our results may help the study of the cellular requirements for the possible neuroinvasion from the spleen. PMID:11785673

  9. Nurse assistant mental models, sensemaking, care actions, and consequences for nursing home residents.

    PubMed

    Anderson, Ruth A; Ammarell, Natalie; Bailey, Donald; Colón-Emeric, Cathleen; Corazzini, Kirsten N; Lillie, Melissa; Piven, Mary Lynn Scotton; Utley-Smith, Queen; McDaniel, Reuben R

    2005-10-01

    In a nursing home case study using observation and interview data, the authors described two mental models that guided certified nurse assistants (CNAs) in resident care. The Golden Rule guided CNAs to respond to residents as they would want someone to do for them. Mother wit guided CNAs to treat residents as they would treat their own children. These mental models engendered self-control and affection but also led to actions such as infantilization and misinterpretations about potentially undiagnosed conditions such as depression or pain. Furthermore, the authors found that CNAs were isolated from clinicians; little resident information was exchanged. They suggest ways to alter CNA mental models to give them a better basis for action and strategies for connecting CNAs and clinical professionals to improve information flow about residents. Study results highlight a critical need for registered nurses (RNs) to be involved in frontline care.

  10. Fast Decomposition of Three-Component Spectra of Fluorescence Quenching by White and Grey Methods of Data Modeling.

    PubMed

    Kałka, Andrzej J; Turek, Andrzej M

    2018-04-03

    'White' and 'grey' methods of data modeling have been employed to resolve the heterogeneous fluorescence from a fluorophore mixture of 9-cyanoanthracene (CNA), 10-chloro-9-cyanoanthracene (ClCNA) and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCNA) into component individual fluorescence spectra. The three-component spectra of fluorescence quenching in methanol were recorded for increasing amounts of lithium bromide used as a quencher. The associated intensity decay profiles of differentially quenched fluorescence of single components were modeled on the basis of a linear Stern-Volmer plot. These profiles are necessary to initiate the fitting procedure in both 'white' and 'grey' modeling of the original data matrices. 'White' methods of data modeling, called also 'hard' methods, are based on chemical/physical laws expressed in terms of some well-known or generally accepted mathematical equations. The parameters of these models are not known and they are estimated by least squares curve fitting. 'Grey' approaches to data modeling, also known as hard-soft modeling techniques, make use of both hard-model and soft-model parts. In practice, the difference between 'white' and 'grey' methods lies in the way in which the 'crude' fluorescence intensity decays of the mixture components are estimated. In the former case they are given in a functional form while in the latter as digitized curves which, in general, can only be obtained by using dedicated techniques of factor analysis. In the paper, the initial values of the Stern-Volmer constants of pure components were evaluated by both 'point-by-point' and 'matrix' versions of the method making use of the concept of wavelength dependent intensity fractions as well as by the rank annihilation factor analysis applied to the data matrices of the difference fluorescence spectra constructed in two ways: from the spectra recorded for a few excitation lines at the same concentration of a fluorescence quencher or classically from a series of the spectra measured for one selected excitation line but for increasing concentration of the quencher. The results of multiple curve resolution obtained by all types of the applied methods have been scrutinized and compared. In addition, the effect of inadequacy of sample preparation and increasing instrumental noise on the shape of the resolved spectral profiles has been studied on several datasets mimicking the measured data matrices. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

  11. Origins of the Human Genome Project

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

    Cook-Deegan, Robert

    1993-07-01

    The human genome project was borne of technology, grew into a science bureaucracy in the US and throughout the world, and is now being transformed into a hybrid academic and commercial enterprise. The next phase of the project promises to veer more sharply toward commercial application, harnessing both the technical prowess of molecular biology and the rapidly growing body of knowledge about DNA structure to the pursuit of practical benefits. Faith that the systematic analysis of DNA structure will prove to be a powerful research tool underlies the rationale behind the genome project. The notion that most genetic information ismore » embedded in the sequence of CNA base pairs comprising chromosomes is a central tenet. A rough analogy is to liken an organism's genetic code to computer code. The coal of the genome project, in this parlance, is to identify and catalog 75,000 or more files (genes) in the software that directs construction of a self-modifying and self-replicating system -- a living organism.« less

  12. Impact of lysozyme on stability mechanism of nanozirconia aqueous suspension

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Szewczuk-Karpisz, Katarzyna; Wiśniewska, Małgorzata

    2016-08-01

    The effect of lysozyme (LSZ) presence on the zirconium(IV) oxide (ZrO2) aqueous suspension stability was examined. The applied zirconia contains mesopores (with a diameter about 30 nm) and its mean particle size is about 100 nm. To determine the stability mechanism of ZrO2 suspension in the biopolymer presence, the adsorption and electrokinetic (surface charge density and zeta potential) measurements were performed in the pH range 3-10. The lysozyme adsorption on the nanozirconia surface proceeds mainly through electrostatic forces. Under solid-polymer repulsion conditions, there is no adsorption of lysozyme (pH < 6, CNaCl 0.01 mol/dm3). The increase of solution ionic strength to 0.2 mol/dm3 causes screening of unfavourable forces and biopolymer adsorption becomes possible. The LSZ addition to the ZrO2 suspension influences its stability. At pH 3, 4.6 and 7.6, slight improvement of the system stability was obtained. In turn, at pH 9 considerable destabilization of nanozirconia particles covered by polymeric layers occurs.

  13. Cadmium localization and quantification in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana using micro-PIXE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ager, F. J.; Ynsa, M. D.; Domínguez-Solís, J. R.; Gotor, C.; Respaldiza, M. A.; Romero, L. C.

    2002-04-01

    Remediation of metal-contaminated soils and waters poses a challenging problem due to its implications in the environment and the human health. The use of metal-accumulating plants to remove toxic metals, including Cd, from soil and aqueous streams has been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. The process of using plants for environmental restoration is termed phytoremediation. Cd is a particularly favourable target metal for this technology because it is readily transported and accumulated in the shoots of several plant species. This paper investigates the sites of metal localization within Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, when plants are grown in a cadmium-rich environment, by making use of nuclear microscopy techniques. Micro-PIXE, RBS and SEM analyses were performed on the scanning proton microprobe at the CNA in Seville (Spain), showing that cadmium is sequestered within the trichomes on the leaf surface. Additionally, regular PIXE analyses were performed on samples prepared by an acid digestion method in order to assess the metal accumulation of such plants.

  14. Copy Number Alterations and Methylation in Ewing's Sarcoma

    PubMed Central

    Jahromi, Mona S.; Jones, Kevin B.; Schiffman, Joshua D.

    2011-01-01

    Ewing's sarcoma is the second most common bone malignancy affecting children and young adults. The prognosis is especially poor in metastatic or relapsed disease. The cell of origin remains elusive, but the EWS-FLI1 fusion oncoprotein is present in the majority of cases. The understanding of the molecular basis of Ewing's sarcoma continues to progress slowly. EWS-FLI1 affects gene expression, but other factors must also be at work such as mutations, gene copy number alterations, and promoter methylation. This paper explores in depth two molecular aspects of Ewing's sarcoma: copy number alterations (CNAs) and methylation. While CNAs consistently have been reported in Ewing's sarcoma, their clinical significance has been variable, most likely due to small sample size and tumor heterogeneity. Methylation is thought to be important in oncogenesis and balanced karyotype cancers such as Ewing's, yet it has received only minimal attention in prior studies. Future CNA and methylation studies will help to understand the molecular basis of this disease. PMID:21437220

  15. Geriatric Training Academy: innovative education for certified nurse aides and charge nurses.

    PubMed

    Cherry, Barbara; Marshall-Gray, Paula; Laurence, Ann; Green, Alexia; Valadez, Ana; Scott-Tilley, Donna; Merritt, Pearl

    2007-03-01

    Quality care for the rapidly growing number of older Americans is a major challenge facing the health care industry today. With the baby-boom generation "coming of age"--older age-the need for quality long-term care workers is on the rise. It is estimated that the number of persons needing assisted or alternative living arrangements will increase from 15 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2003). In response to the rising demand for quality long-term care workers, the Geriatric Education and Training Academy (the Academy) was created at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) to provide advanced geriatric education and training for certified nurse aides (CNA), licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and registered nurses (RN) who work in long-term care facilities. This article describes how the Academy is addressing the need for the recruitment, education, and retention of long-term care workers for the expanding geriatric population in West Texas.

  16. In Vitro Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of 2',4'-Dihydroxychalcone against Aspergillus fumigatus

    PubMed Central

    Seo, Young Ho; Kim, Sung-Su

    2015-01-01

    2',4'-Dihydroxychalcone (2',4'-DHC) was identified from a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-targeting library as a compound with Hsp90 inhibitory and antifungal effects. In the presence of 2',4'-DHC (8 µg/mL), radial growth of Aspergillus fumigatus was inhibited 20% compared to the control, and green pigmentation was completely blocked. The expression of the conidiation-associated genes abaA, brlA, and wetA was significantly decreased (approximately 3- to 5-fold) by treatment with 2',4'-DHC. The expression of calcineurin signaling components, cnaA and crzA, was also significantly reduced. The inhibitory effects of 2',4'-DHC on metabolic activity and mycelial growth were significantly enhanced by combination treatment with itraconazole and caspofungin. Docking studies indicated that 2',4'-DHC bind to the ATPase domain of Hsp90. These results suggest that 2',4'-DHC act as an Hsp90-calcinurin pathway inhibitor. PMID:26190922

  17. In Vitro Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of 2',4'-Dihydroxychalcone against Aspergillus fumigatus.

    PubMed

    Seo, Young Ho; Kim, Sung-Su; Shin, Kwang-Soo

    2015-06-01

    2',4'-Dihydroxychalcone (2',4'-DHC) was identified from a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-targeting library as a compound with Hsp90 inhibitory and antifungal effects. In the presence of 2',4'-DHC (8 µg/mL), radial growth of Aspergillus fumigatus was inhibited 20% compared to the control, and green pigmentation was completely blocked. The expression of the conidiation-associated genes abaA, brlA, and wetA was significantly decreased (approximately 3- to 5-fold) by treatment with 2',4'-DHC. The expression of calcineurin signaling components, cnaA and crzA, was also significantly reduced. The inhibitory effects of 2',4'-DHC on metabolic activity and mycelial growth were significantly enhanced by combination treatment with itraconazole and caspofungin. Docking studies indicated that 2',4'-DHC bind to the ATPase domain of Hsp90. These results suggest that 2',4'-DHC act as an Hsp90-calcinurin pathway inhibitor.

  18. Origins of the Human Genome Project

    DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

    Cook-Deegan, Robert (Affiliation: Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences)

    1993-07-01

    The human genome project was borne of technology, grew into a science bureaucracy in the United States and throughout the world, and is now being transformed into a hybrid academic and commercial enterprise. The next phase of the project promises to veer more sharply toward commercial application, harnessing both the technical prowess of molecular biology and the rapidly growing body of knowledge about DNA structure to the pursuit of practical benefits. Faith that the systematic analysis of DNA structure will prove to be a powerful research tool underlies the rationale behind the genome project. The notion that most genetic information is embedded in the sequence of CNA base pairs comprising chromosomes is a central tenet. A rough analogy is to liken an organism's genetic code to computer code. The coal of the genome project, in this parlance, is to identify and catalog 75,000 or more files (genes) in the software that directs construction of a self-modifying and self-replicating system -- a living organism.

  19. Porous polycarbene-bearing membrane actuator for ultrasensitive weak-acid detection and real-time chemical reaction monitoring.

    PubMed

    Sun, Jian-Ke; Zhang, Weiyi; Guterman, Ryan; Lin, Hui-Juan; Yuan, Jiayin

    2018-04-30

    Soft actuators with integration of ultrasensitivity and capability of simultaneous interaction with multiple stimuli through an entire event ask for a high level of structure complexity, adaptability, and/or multi-responsiveness, which is a great challenge. Here, we develop a porous polycarbene-bearing membrane actuator built up from ionic complexation between a poly(ionic liquid) and trimesic acid (TA). The actuator features two concurrent structure gradients, i.e., an electrostatic complexation (EC) degree and a density distribution of a carbene-NH 3 adduct (CNA) along the membrane cross-section. The membrane actuator performs the highest sensitivity among the state-of-the-art soft proton actuators toward acetic acid at 10 -6  mol L -1 (M) level in aqueous media. Through competing actuation of the two gradients, it is capable of monitoring an entire process of proton-involved chemical reactions that comprise multiple stimuli and operational steps. The present achievement constitutes a significant step toward real-life application of soft actuators in chemical sensing and reaction technology.

  20. Light-Sensitive Ruthenium Complex-Loaded Cross-linked Polymeric Nanoassemblies for the Treatment of Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Dickerson, M; Howerton, B.; Bae, Y.; Glazer, E.

    2016-01-01

    This work focuses on improving the efficacy of photoactivatable Ru complexes for photodynamic therapy by employing cross-linked nanoassemblies (CNAs) as a delivery approach. The effects of complex photoactivation, hydrophobicity, and solution ionic strength and pH on complex loading and release from CNAs were analyzed. The cell cytotoxicity of CNA formulations was similar to free Ru complexes despite reduced or eliminated DNA interactions. The release rate and the amount of each Ru complex released (%) varied inversely with complex hydrophobicity, while the effect of solution ionic strength was dependent on complex hydrophobicity. Premature release of two photoactivatable prodrugs prior to irradiation was believed to account for higher activity in cells studies compared to DNA interaction studies; however, for photostable 1O2 generator-loaded CNAs this cannot explain the high cytotoxicity and lack of DNA interactions because release was incomplete after 48 hrs. The cause remains unclear, but among other possibilities, accelerated release in a cell culture environment may be responsible. PMID:26855780

  1. Integration of copy number and transcriptomics provides risk stratification in prostate cancer: A discovery and validation cohort study

    PubMed Central

    Ross-Adams, H.; Lamb, A.D.; Dunning, M.J.; Halim, S.; Lindberg, J.; Massie, C.M.; Egevad, L.A.; Russell, R.; Ramos-Montoya, A.; Vowler, S.L.; Sharma, N.L.; Kay, J.; Whitaker, H.; Clark, J.; Hurst, R.; Gnanapragasam, V.J.; Shah, N.C.; Warren, A.Y.; Cooper, C.S.; Lynch, A.G.; Stark, R.; Mills, I.G.; Grönberg, H.; Neal, D.E.

    2015-01-01

    Background Understanding the heterogeneous genotypes and phenotypes of prostate cancer is fundamental to improving the way we treat this disease. As yet, there are no validated descriptions of prostate cancer subgroups derived from integrated genomics linked with clinical outcome. Methods In a study of 482 tumour, benign and germline samples from 259 men with primary prostate cancer, we used integrative analysis of copy number alterations (CNA) and array transcriptomics to identify genomic loci that affect expression levels of mRNA in an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) approach, to stratify patients into subgroups that we then associated with future clinical behaviour, and compared with either CNA or transcriptomics alone. Findings We identified five separate patient subgroups with distinct genomic alterations and expression profiles based on 100 discriminating genes in our separate discovery and validation sets of 125 and 103 men. These subgroups were able to consistently predict biochemical relapse (p = 0.0017 and p = 0.016 respectively) and were further validated in a third cohort with long-term follow-up (p = 0.027). We show the relative contributions of gene expression and copy number data on phenotype, and demonstrate the improved power gained from integrative analyses. We confirm alterations in six genes previously associated with prostate cancer (MAP3K7, MELK, RCBTB2, ELAC2, TPD52, ZBTB4), and also identify 94 genes not previously linked to prostate cancer progression that would not have been detected using either transcript or copy number data alone. We confirm a number of previously published molecular changes associated with high risk disease, including MYC amplification, and NKX3-1, RB1 and PTEN deletions, as well as over-expression of PCA3 and AMACR, and loss of MSMB in tumour tissue. A subset of the 100 genes outperforms established clinical predictors of poor prognosis (PSA, Gleason score), as well as previously published gene signatures (p = 0.0001). We further show how our molecular profiles can be used for the early detection of aggressive cases in a clinical setting, and inform treatment decisions. Interpretation For the first time in prostate cancer this study demonstrates the importance of integrated genomic analyses incorporating both benign and tumour tissue data in identifying molecular alterations leading to the generation of robust gene sets that are predictive of clinical outcome in independent patient cohorts. PMID:26501111

  2. Kinetics of cisplatin binding to short r(GG) containing miRNA mimics - influence of Na(+)versus K(+), temperature and hydrophobicity on reactivity.

    PubMed

    Alshiekh, Alak; Clausén, Maria; Elmroth, Sofi K C

    2015-07-28

    Nucleic acids are well recognized targets for platinum-based anticancer drugs, with RNA and DNA being kinetically comparable. In the case of RNA, previous studies have shown that the reaction between small duplex RNAs (dsRNAs) and monoaquated cisplatin (cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl(OH2)(+), ) can be followed by the metal induced hyperchromicity occurring directly after addition of to e.g. microRNA mimics. In the present study, we have used this approach to compare thermal stability and reactivity between intracellularly- and extracellularly relevant salt concentration (CNa(+) and CK(+)ca. 0.1 M), and also as a function of increased hydrophobicity (10% v/v EtOH). In addition, reactivity was studied as a function of temperature in the interval ca. 5-20 °C below the respective dsRNA melting temperatures (Tms). Four different 13- to 20-mer dsRNAs with two different central sequence motifs were used as targets containing either a central r(GG)·r(CC)- or r(GG)·r(UAU)-sequence. The reactions exhibited half-lives in the minute- to hour range at 38 °C in the presence of excess in the μM range. Further, a linear dependence was found between C and the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants. The resulting apparent second-order rate constants were significantly larger for the lower melting r(GG)·r(UAU)-containing sequences compared with that of the fully complementary ones; the higher and lower reactivities represented by RNA-1-3 and RNA-1-1 with k2,appca. 30 and 8 M(-1) s(-1) respectively at CNa(+) = 122 mM. For all RNAs a common small, but significant, trend was observed with increased reactivity in the presence of K(+) compared with Na(+), and decreased reactivity in the presence of EtOH. Finally, the temperature dependence of k2,app was evaluated using the Eyring equation. The retrieved activation parameters reveal positive values for both ΔH(≠) and ΔS(≠) for all dsRNAs, in the range ca. 23-34 kcal mol(-1) and 22-57 cal K(-1) mol(-1) respectively. These values indicate solvational effects to be important for the rate determining step of the reaction, and thus in support of a structural change of the dsRNA to take place in parallel with the adduct formation step.

  3. Nuclear micro-probe analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ager, F. J.; Ynsa, M. D.; Domínguez-Solís, J. R.; López-Martín, M. C.; Gotor, C.; Romero, L. C.

    2003-09-01

    Phytoremediation is a cost-effective plant-based approach for remediation of soils and waters which takes advantage of the remarkable ability of some plants to concentrate elements and compounds from the environment and to metabolize various molecules in their tissues, such as toxic heavy metals and organic pollutants. Nowadays, phytoremediation technology is becoming of paramount importance when environmental decontamination is concerned, due to the emerging knowledge of its physiological and molecular mechanisms and the new biological and engineering strategies designed to optimize and improve it. In addition, the feasibility of using plants for environmental cleanup has been confirmed by many different trials around the world. Arabidopsis thaliana plants can be used for basic studies to improve the technology on phytoremediation. Making use of nuclear microscopy techniques, in this paper we study leaves of wild type and transgenic A. thaliana plants grown in a cadmium-rich environment under different conditions. Micro-PIXE, RBS and SEM analyses, performed on the scanning proton micro-probe at the CNA in Seville (Spain), prove that cadmium is preferentially sequestered in the central region of epidermal trichome and allow comparing the effects of genetic modifications.

  4. Electrode systems for in situ vitrification

    DOEpatents

    Buelt, James L.; Carter, John G.; Eschbach, Eugene A.; FitzPatrick, Vincent F.; Koehmstedt, Paul L.; Morgan, William C.; Oma, Kenton H.; Timmerman, Craig L.

    1990-01-01

    An electrode comprising a molybdenum rod is received within a conductive collar formed of graphite. The molybdenum rod and the graphite collar may be physically joined at the bottom. A pair of such electrodes are placed in soil containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the combination, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is suitably filled with a conductive ceramic powder that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquefies at operating temperatures. The center of the molybdenum rod, used with a collar of separately, can be hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquefies at operating temperatures. Connection to electrodes can be provided below ground level to avoid open circuit due to electrode deterioration, or sacrificial electrodes may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes cna be utilized to square up a vitrified area.

  5. Electron precipitation response to geomagnetic pulsations: Riometer revelation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Honary, Farideh; Kavanagh, Andrew

    Electron precipitation modulations by geomagnetic pulsation have been observed in cosmic noise absorption (CNA) as early as 1965 by widebeam riometers (Barcus and Rosenberg, 1965). The first observation of pulsation with high m-number was reported by Kikuchi et al.(1988) em-ploying a scanning narrow-beam riometer to investigate the spatial structure in one dimension with a high resolution. However, the advances in high spatial resolution imaging riometers has provided the ability to observe pulsating cosmic noise absorption with azimuthal wave numbers as high as 380 as well as providing the capability of mapping their structures. These waves are commonly observed during the morning and early afternoon and exhibit eastward propagation. In this presentation a complete generating mechanism for these high m-number waves is dis-cussed as a five step process, beginning with the solar wind as a source for the excitation of dayside magnetospheric cavity modes, mode conversion, energisation of drift-bounce protons by Landau damping, followed by inverse Landau damping as a driving mechanism for the high m number secondary waves that ultimately modulate the electron precipitation. This modulation is observed as pulsations in cosmic noise absorption.

  6. The imperative for new approaches for managing and leading in healthcare for the 21st century--observations from the Canadian Nurses Association's National Expert Commission Experience and Report.

    PubMed

    McTeer, Maureen

    2014-12-01

    The Canadian healthcare system must change to meet current and future realities, particularly to respond effectively to changing age and cultural demographics and new medical/scientific technologies. To meet its ongoing policy role, the Canadian Nurses Association established a National Expert Commission in 2011, mandated to prepare a report on healthcare reform and transformation, with a clear focus on the role individual nurses and the nursing profession generally could play in ensuring better health, better care and better value for Canadians. In this paper, Commission co-chair, health law specialist Maureen McTeer, outlines the key findings and recommendations of their final report, titled A Nursing Call to Action: The Health of our Nation, the Future of our Health System which she and co-chair Dr. Marlene Smadu presented originally at the CNA's biennial meeting in Vancouver, in June, 2012. The discussion focuses on the rationale behind the commission's recommendation for a new registered nursing education curriculum and approach to training.

  7. Genomic, Pathway Network, and Immunologic Features Distinguishing Squamous Carcinomas.

    PubMed

    Campbell, Joshua D; Yau, Christina; Bowlby, Reanne; Liu, Yuexin; Brennan, Kevin; Fan, Huihui; Taylor, Alison M; Wang, Chen; Walter, Vonn; Akbani, Rehan; Byers, Lauren Averett; Creighton, Chad J; Coarfa, Cristian; Shih, Juliann; Cherniack, Andrew D; Gevaert, Olivier; Prunello, Marcos; Shen, Hui; Anur, Pavana; Chen, Jianhong; Cheng, Hui; Hayes, D Neil; Bullman, Susan; Pedamallu, Chandra Sekhar; Ojesina, Akinyemi I; Sadeghi, Sara; Mungall, Karen L; Robertson, A Gordon; Benz, Christopher; Schultz, Andre; Kanchi, Rupa S; Gay, Carl M; Hegde, Apurva; Diao, Lixia; Wang, Jing; Ma, Wencai; Sumazin, Pavel; Chiu, Hua-Sheng; Chen, Ting-Wen; Gunaratne, Preethi; Donehower, Larry; Rader, Janet S; Zuna, Rosemary; Al-Ahmadie, Hikmat; Lazar, Alexander J; Flores, Elsa R; Tsai, Kenneth Y; Zhou, Jane H; Rustgi, Anil K; Drill, Esther; Shen, Ronglei; Wong, Christopher K; Stuart, Joshua M; Laird, Peter W; Hoadley, Katherine A; Weinstein, John N; Peto, Myron; Pickering, Curtis R; Chen, Zhong; Van Waes, Carter

    2018-04-03

    This integrated, multiplatform PanCancer Atlas study co-mapped and identified distinguishing molecular features of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from five sites associated with smoking and/or human papillomavirus (HPV). SCCs harbor 3q, 5p, and other recurrent chromosomal copy-number alterations (CNAs), DNA mutations, and/or aberrant methylation of genes and microRNAs, which are correlated with the expression of multi-gene programs linked to squamous cell stemness, epithelial-to-mesenchymal differentiation, growth, genomic integrity, oxidative damage, death, and inflammation. Low-CNA SCCs tended to be HPV(+) and display hypermethylation with repression of TET1 demethylase and FANCF, previously linked to predisposition to SCC, or harbor mutations affecting CASP8, RAS-MAPK pathways, chromatin modifiers, and immunoregulatory molecules. We uncovered hypomethylation of the alternative promoter that drives expression of the ΔNp63 oncogene and embedded miR944. Co-expression of immune checkpoint, T-regulatory, and Myeloid suppressor cells signatures may explain reduced efficacy of immune therapy. These findings support possibilities for molecular classification and therapeutic approaches. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  8. Single nucleotide polymorphism array karyotyping: a diagnostic and prognostic tool in myelodysplastic syndromes with unsuccessful conventional cytogenetic testing.

    PubMed

    Arenillas, Leonor; Mallo, Mar; Ramos, Fernando; Guinta, Kathryn; Barragán, Eva; Lumbreras, Eva; Larráyoz, María-José; De Paz, Raquel; Tormo, Mar; Abáigar, María; Pedro, Carme; Cervera, José; Such, Esperanza; José Calasanz, María; Díez-Campelo, María; Sanz, Guillermo F; Hernández, Jesús María; Luño, Elisa; Saumell, Sílvia; Maciejewski, Jaroslaw; Florensa, Lourdes; Solé, Francesc

    2013-12-01

    Cytogenetic aberrations identified by metaphase cytogenetics (MC) have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, in some MDS patients MC study is unsuccesful. Single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-A) based karyotyping could be helpful in these cases. We performed SNP-A in 62 samples from bone marrow or peripheral blood of primary MDS with an unsuccessful MC study. SNP-A analysis enabled the detection of aberrations in 31 (50%) patients. We used the copy number alteration information to apply the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and we observed differences in survival between the low/intermediate-1 and intermediate-2/high risk patients. We also saw differences in survival between very low/low/intermediate and the high/very high patients when we applied the revised IPSS (IPSS-R). In conclusion, SNP-A can be used successfully in PB samples and the identification of CNA by SNP-A improve the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of this group of MDS patients. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Gold and electrum jewellery in the strategic area of Gadir in Phoenician period

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ortega-Feliu, I.; Gómez-Tubío, B.; Ontalba Salamanca, M. Á.; Respaldiza, M. Á.; de la Bandera, M. L.; Ovejero Zappino, G.

    2007-07-01

    A set of ancient gold jewellery was found in Cádiz (formerly Gadir, south Spain) in tombs dated in Phoenician-Archaic period (VII-VI century BC), and nowadays is exhibited in the local Museum. The production of this strategic area is of great interest for the knowledge of the commercial routes along the Mediterranean Sea at that time. Part of this production has already been analyzed by the authors, finding compositional differences and identifying soldering procedures, thanks to the use of the external microbeam. Absolutely non destructive analysis was performed. For this work we have again employed PIXE spectrometry with 2.2 MeV protons from the 3 MV Pelletron accelerator at the CNA to characterize the metallic alloys and the manufacturing techniques. We have found an unusual composition characterized by around 50 wt.% gold, 50 wt.% silver and some copper, which can be identified as ELECTRUM. Few analytical data of this particular kind of alloy are reported in the bibliography. The study of these objects can help to follow the trade of metals in the Phoenician-colonial period.

  10. JPRS Report, Science & Technology, China: Energy.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-03-30

    breeder reactors should become...the primary type of reactors . In developing breeder reactors , we should follow the path of using metal fuel. Breeder reactors give us more time to...first reactor used for power generation was a fast reactor : the " Breeder 1" reactor at the Idaho National Reactor Test Center which was used to

  11. Biofilm reactors for industrial bioconversion processes: employing potential of enhanced reaction rates

    PubMed Central

    Qureshi, Nasib; Annous, Bassam A; Ezeji, Thaddeus C; Karcher, Patrick; Maddox, Ian S

    2005-01-01

    This article describes the use of biofilm reactors for the production of various chemicals by fermentation and wastewater treatment. Biofilm formation is a natural process where microbial cells attach to the support (adsorbent) or form flocs/aggregates (also called granules) without use of chemicals and form thick layers of cells known as "biofilms." As a result of biofilm formation, cell densities in the reactor increase and cell concentrations as high as 74 gL-1 can be achieved. The reactor configurations can be as simple as a batch reactor, continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), packed bed reactor (PBR), fluidized bed reactor (FBR), airlift reactor (ALR), upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, or any other suitable configuration. In UASB granular biofilm particles are used. This article demonstrates that reactor productivities in these reactors have been superior to any other reactor types. This article describes production of ethanol, butanol, lactic acid, acetic acid/vinegar, succinic acid, and fumaric acid in addition to wastewater treatment in the biofilm reactors. As the title suggests, biofilm reactors have high potential to be employed in biotechnology/bioconversion industry for viable economic reasons. In this article, various reactor types have been compared for the above bioconversion processes. PMID:16122390

  12. Control of reactor coolant flow path during reactor decay heat removal

    DOEpatents

    Hunsbedt, Anstein N.

    1988-01-01

    An improved reactor vessel auxiliary cooling system for a sodium cooled nuclear reactor is disclosed. The sodium cooled nuclear reactor is of the type having a reactor vessel liner separating the reactor hot pool on the upstream side of an intermediate heat exchanger and the reactor cold pool on the downstream side of the intermediate heat exchanger. The improvement includes a flow path across the reactor vessel liner flow gap which dissipates core heat across the reactor vessel and containment vessel responsive to a casualty including the loss of normal heat removal paths and associated shutdown of the main coolant liquid sodium pumps. In normal operation, the reactor vessel cold pool is inlet to the suction side of coolant liquid sodium pumps, these pumps being of the electromagnetic variety. The pumps discharge through the core into the reactor hot pool and then through an intermediate heat exchanger where the heat generated in the reactor core is discharged. Upon outlet from the heat exchanger, the sodium is returned to the reactor cold pool. The improvement includes placing a jet pump across the reactor vessel liner flow gap, pumping a small flow of liquid sodium from the lower pressure cold pool into the hot pool. The jet pump has a small high pressure driving stream diverted from the high pressure side of the reactor pumps. During normal operation, the jet pumps supplement the normal reactor pressure differential from the lower pressure cold pool to the hot pool. Upon the occurrence of a casualty involving loss of coolant pump pressure, and immediate cooling circuit is established by the back flow of sodium through the jet pumps from the reactor vessel hot pool to the reactor vessel cold pool. The cooling circuit includes flow into the reactor vessel liner flow gap immediate the reactor vessel wall and containment vessel where optimum and immediate discharge of residual reactor heat occurs.

  13. Neutron fluxes in test reactors

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

    Youinou, Gilles Jean-Michel

    Communicate the fact that high-power water-cooled test reactors such as the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) or the Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) cannot provide fast flux levels as high as sodium-cooled fast test reactors. The memo first presents some basics physics considerations about neutron fluxes in test reactors and then uses ATR, HFIR and JHR as an illustration of the performance of modern high-power water-cooled test reactors.

  14. Reactor engineering support of operations at the Davis-Besse nuclear power station

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

    Kelley, D.B.

    1995-12-31

    Reactor engineering functions differ greatly from unit to unit; however, direct support of the reactor operators during reactor startups and operational transients is common to all units. This paper summarizes the support the reactor engineers provide the reactor operators during reactor startups and power changes through the use of automated computer programs at the Davis-Besse nuclear power station.

  15. 10 CFR 2.337 - Evidence at a hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... chapter by the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or... the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director... the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director...

  16. Nuclear Reactors. Revised.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hogerton, John F.

    This publication is one of a series of information booklets for the general public published by the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Among the topics discussed are: How Reactors Work; Reactor Design; Research, Teaching, and Materials Testing; Reactors (Research, Teaching and Materials); Production Reactors; Reactors for Electric Power…

  17. 10 CFR 2.337 - Evidence at a hearing.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... chapter by the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or... the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director... the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director...

  18. Nuclear reactor construction with bottom supported reactor vessel

    DOEpatents

    Sharbaugh, John E.

    1987-01-01

    An improved liquid metal nuclear reactor construction has a reactor core and a generally cylindrical reactor vessel for holding a large pool of low pressure liquid metal coolant and housing the core within the pool. The reactor vessel has an open top end, a closed flat bottom end wall and a continuous cylindrical closed side wall interconnecting the top end and bottom end wall. The reactor also has a generally cylindrical concrete containment structure surrounding the reactor vessel and being formed by a cylindrical side wall spaced outwardly from the reactor vessel side wall and a flat base mat spaced below the reactor vessel bottom end wall. A central support pedestal is anchored to the containment structure base mat and extends upwardly therefrom to the reactor vessel and upwardly therefrom to the reactor core so as to support the bottom end wall of the reactor vessel and the lower end of the reactor core in spaced apart relationship above the containment structure base mat. Also, an annular reinforced support structure is disposed in the reactor vessel on the bottom end wall thereof and extends about the lower end of the core so as to support the periphery thereof. In addition, an annular support ring having a plurality of inward radially extending linear members is disposed between the containment structure base mat and the bottom end of the reactor vessel wall and is connected to and supports the reactor vessel at its bottom end on the containment structure base mat so as to allow the reactor vessel to expand radially but substantially prevent any lateral motions that might be imposed by the occurrence of a seismic event. The reactor construction also includes a bed of insulating material in sand-like granular form, preferably being high density magnesium oxide particles, disposed between the containment structure base mat and the bottom end wall of the reactor vessel and uniformly supporting the reactor vessel at its bottom end wall on the containment structure base mat so as to insulate the reactor vessel bottom end wall from the containment structure base mat and allow the reactor vessel bottom end wall to freely expand as it heats up while providing continuous support thereof. Further, a deck is supported upon the side wall of the containment structure above the top open end of the reactor vessel, and a plurality of serially connected extendible and retractable annular bellows extend between the deck and the top open end of the reactor vessel and flexibly and sealably interconnect the reactor vessel at its top end to the deck. An annular guide ring is disposed on the containment structure and extends between its side wall and the top open end of the reactor vessel for providing lateral support of the reactor vessel top open end by limiting imposition of lateral loads on the annular bellows by the occurrence of a lateral seismic event.

  19. Request for Naval Reactors Comment on Proposed Prometheus Space Flight Nuclear Reactor High Tier Reactor Safety Requirements and for Naval Reactors Approval to Transmit These Requirements to JPL

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

    D. Kokkinos

    2005-04-28

    The purpose of this letter is to request Naval Reactors comments on the nuclear reactor high tier requirements for the PROMETHEUS space flight reactor design, pre-launch operations, launch, ascent, operation, and disposal, and to request Naval Reactors approval to transmit these requirements to Jet Propulsion Laboratory to ensure consistency between the reactor safety requirements and the spacecraft safety requirements. The proposed PROMETHEUS nuclear reactor high tier safety requirements are consistent with the long standing safety culture of the Naval Reactors Program and its commitment to protecting the health and safety of the public and the environment. In addition, the philosophymore » on which these requirements are based is consistent with the Nuclear Safety Policy Working Group recommendations on space nuclear propulsion safety (Reference 1), DOE Nuclear Safety Criteria and Specifications for Space Nuclear Reactors (Reference 2), the Nuclear Space Power Safety and Facility Guidelines Study of the Applied Physics Laboratory.« less

  20. Heat transfer analysis of cylindrical anaerobic reactors with different sizes: a heat transfer model.

    PubMed

    Liu, Jiawei; Zhou, Xingqiu; Wu, Jiangdong; Gao, Wen; Qian, Xu

    2017-10-01

    The temperature is the essential factor that influences the efficiency of anaerobic reactors. During the operation of the anaerobic reactor, the fluctuations of ambient temperature can cause a change in the internal temperature of the reactor. Therefore, insulation and heating measures are often used to maintain anaerobic reactor's internal temperature. In this paper, a simplified heat transfer model was developed to study heat transfer between cylindrical anaerobic reactors and their surroundings. Three cylindrical reactors of different sizes were studied, and the internal relations between ambient temperature, thickness of insulation, and temperature fluctuations of the reactors were obtained at different reactor sizes. The model was calibrated by a sensitivity analysis, and the calibrated model was well able to predict reactor temperature. The Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient was used to assess the predictive power of heat transfer models. The Nash coefficients of the three reactors were 0.76, 0.60, and 0.45, respectively. The model can provide reference for the thermal insulation design of cylindrical anaerobic reactors.

  1. Solvent refined coal reactor quench system

    DOEpatents

    Thorogood, Robert M.

    1983-01-01

    There is described an improved SRC reactor quench system using a condensed product which is recycled to the reactor and provides cooling by evaporation. In the process, the second and subsequent reactors of a series of reactors are cooled by the addition of a light oil fraction which provides cooling by evaporation in the reactor. The vaporized quench liquid is recondensed from the reactor outlet vapor stream.

  2. Solvent refined coal reactor quench system

    DOEpatents

    Thorogood, R.M.

    1983-11-08

    There is described an improved SRC reactor quench system using a condensed product which is recycled to the reactor and provides cooling by evaporation. In the process, the second and subsequent reactors of a series of reactors are cooled by the addition of a light oil fraction which provides cooling by evaporation in the reactor. The vaporized quench liquid is recondensed from the reactor outlet vapor stream. 1 fig.

  3. Nuclear reactor neutron shielding

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

    Speaker, Daniel P; Neeley, Gary W; Inman, James B

    A nuclear reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel. The lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel is disposed in a reactor cavity. An annular neutron stop is located at an elevation above the uppermost elevation of the nuclear reactor core. The annular neutron stop comprises neutron absorbing material filling an annular gap between the reactor pressure vessel and the wall of the reactor cavity. The annular neutron stop may comprise an outer neutron stop ring attached to the wall of the reactormore » cavity, and an inner neutron stop ring attached to the reactor pressure vessel. An excore instrument guide tube penetrates through the annular neutron stop, and a neutron plug comprising neutron absorbing material is disposed in the tube at the penetration through the neutron stop.« less

  4. Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same

    DOEpatents

    Gels, John L; Keck, David J; Deaver, Gerald A

    2014-10-28

    Internal head vents are usable in nuclear reactors and include piping inside of the reactor pressure vessel with a vent in the reactor upper head. Piping extends downward from the upper head and passes outside of the reactor to permit the gas to escape or be forcibly vented outside of the reactor without external piping on the upper head. The piping may include upper and lowers section that removably mate where the upper head joins to the reactor pressure vessel. The removable mating may include a compressible bellows and corresponding funnel. The piping is fabricated of nuclear-reactor-safe materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and/or a Ni--Cr--Fe alloy. Methods install an internal head vent in a nuclear reactor by securing piping to an internal surface of an upper head of the nuclear reactor and/or securing piping to an internal surface of a reactor pressure vessel.

  5. Proposed Advanced Reactor Adaptation of the Standard Review Plan NUREG-0800 Chapter 4 (Reactor) for Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors and Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors

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

    Belles, Randy; Poore, III, Willis P.; Brown, Nicholas R.

    2017-03-01

    This report proposes adaptation of the previous regulatory gap analysis in Chapter 4 (Reactor) of NUREG 0800, Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR [Light Water Reactor] Edition. The proposed adaptation would result in a Chapter 4 review plan applicable to certain advanced reactors. This report addresses two technologies: the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) and the modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (mHTGR). SRP Chapter 4, which addresses reactor components, was selected for adaptation because of the possible significant differences in advanced non-light water reactor (non-LWR) technologies compared with the current LWR-basedmore » description in Chapter 4. SFR and mHTGR technologies were chosen for this gap analysis because of their diverse designs and the availability of significant historical design detail.« less

  6. 10 CFR 52.167 - Issuance of manufacturing license.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... proposed reactor(s) can be incorporated into a nuclear power plant and operated at sites having... design and manufacture the proposed nuclear power reactor(s); (5) The proposed inspections, tests... the construction of a nuclear power facility using the manufactured reactor(s). (2) A holder of a...

  7. A novel plant protection strategy for transient reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharyya, Samit K.; Lipinski, Walter C.; Hanan, Nelson A.

    A novel plant protection system designed for use in the TREAT Upgrade (TU) reactor is described. The TU reactor is designed for controlled transient operation in the testing of reactor fuel behavior under simulated reactor accident conditions. Safe operation of the reactor is of paramount importance and the Plant Protection System (PPS) had to be designed to exacting requirements. Researchers believe that the strategy developed for the TU has potential application to the multimegawatt space reactors and represents the state of the art in terrestrial transient reactor protection systems.

  8. Process and apparatus for adding and removing particles from pressurized reactors

    DOEpatents

    Milligan, John D.

    1983-01-01

    A method for adding and removing fine particles from a pressurized reactor is provided, which comprises connecting the reactor to a container, sealing the container from the reactor, filling the container with particles and a liquid material compatible with the reactants, pressurizing the container to substantially the reactor pressure, removing the seal between the reactor and the container, permitting particles to fall into or out of the reactor, and resealing the container from the reactor. An apparatus for adding and removing particles is also disclosed.

  9. Effects of imperfect mixing on low-density polyethylene reactor dynamics

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

    Villa, C.M.; Dihora, J.O.; Ray, W.H.

    1998-07-01

    Earlier work considered the effect of feed conditions and controller configuration on the runaway behavior of LDPE autoclave reactors assuming a perfectly mixed reactor. This study provides additional insight on the dynamics of such reactors by using an imperfectly mixed reactor model and bifurcation analysis to show the changes in the stability region when there is imperfect macroscale mixing. The presence of imperfect mixing substantially increases the range of stable operation of the reactor and makes the process much easier to control than for a perfectly mixed reactor. The results of model analysis and simulations are used to identify somemore » of the conditions that lead to unstable reactor behavior and to suggest ways to avoid reactor runaway or reactor extinction during grade transitions and other process operation disturbances.« less

  10. Startup of reactors for anoxic ammonium oxidation: experiences from the first full-scale anammox reactor in Rotterdam.

    PubMed

    van der Star, Wouter R L; Abma, Wiebe R; Blommers, Dennis; Mulder, Jan-Willem; Tokutomi, Takaaki; Strous, Marc; Picioreanu, Cristian; van Loosdrecht, Mark C M

    2007-10-01

    The first full-scale anammox reactor in the world was started in Rotterdam (NL). The reactor was scaled-up directly from laboratory-scale to full-scale and treats up to 750 kg-N/d. In the initial phase of the startup, anammox conversions could not be identified by traditional methods, but quantitative PCR proved to be a reliable indicator for growth of the anammox population, indicating an anammox doubling time of 10-12 days. The experience gained during this first startup in combination with the availability of seed sludge from this reactor, will lead to a faster startup of anammox reactors in the future. The anammox reactor type employed in Rotterdam was compared to other reactor types for the anammox process. Reactors with a high specific surface area like the granular sludge reactor employed in Rotterdam provide the highest volumetric loading rates. Mass transfer of nitrite into the biofilm is limiting the conversion of those reactor types that have a lower specific surface area. Now the first full-scale commercial anammox reactor is in operation, a consistent and descriptive nomenclature is suggested for reactors in which the anammox process is employed.

  11. A small, 1400 K, reactor for Brayton space power systems.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lantz, E.; Mayo, W.

    1972-01-01

    An investigation was conducted to determine minimum dimensions and minimum weight obtainable in a design for a reactor using uranium-233 nitride or plutonium-239 nitride as fuel. Such a reactor had been considered by Krasner et al. (1971). Present space power status is discussed, together with questions of reactor design and power distribution in the reactor. The characteristics of various reactor types are compared, giving attention also to a zirconium hydride reactor.

  12. Alternative approaches to fusion. [reactor design and reactor physics for Tokamak fusion reactors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roth, R. J.

    1976-01-01

    The limitations of the Tokamak fusion reactor concept are discussed and various other fusion reactor concepts are considered that employ the containment of thermonuclear plasmas by magnetic fields (i.e., stellarators). Progress made in the containment of plasmas in toroidal devices is reported. Reactor design concepts are illustrated. The possibility of using fusion reactors as a power source in interplanetary space travel and electric power plants is briefly examined.

  13. 10 CFR 50.46a - Acceptance criteria for reactor coolant system venting systems.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Acceptance criteria for reactor coolant system venting... criteria for reactor coolant system venting systems. Each nuclear power reactor must be provided with high point vents for the reactor coolant system, for the reactor vessel head, and for other systems required...

  14. 10 CFR 50.46a - Acceptance criteria for reactor coolant system venting systems.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Acceptance criteria for reactor coolant system venting... criteria for reactor coolant system venting systems. Each nuclear power reactor must be provided with high point vents for the reactor coolant system, for the reactor vessel head, and for other systems required...

  15. KINETICS OF TREAT USED AS A TEST REACTOR

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

    Dickerman, C.E.; Johnson, R.D.; Gasidlo, J.

    1962-05-01

    An analysis is presented concerning the reactor kinetics of TREAT used as a pulsed, engineering test reactor for fast reactor fuel element studies. A description of the reactor performance is given for a wide range of conditions associated with its use as a test reactor. Supplemental information on meltdown experimentation is included. (J.R.D.)

  16. Generating unstructured nuclear reactor core meshes in parallel

    DOE PAGES

    Jain, Rajeev; Tautges, Timothy J.

    2014-10-24

    Recent advances in supercomputers and parallel solver techniques have enabled users to run large simulations problems using millions of processors. Techniques for multiphysics nuclear reactor core simulations are under active development in several countries. Most of these techniques require large unstructured meshes that can be hard to generate in a standalone desktop computers because of high memory requirements, limited processing power, and other complexities. We have previously reported on a hierarchical lattice-based approach for generating reactor core meshes. Here, we describe efforts to exploit coarse-grained parallelism during reactor assembly and reactor core mesh generation processes. We highlight several reactor coremore » examples including a very high temperature reactor, a full-core model of the Korean MONJU reactor, a ¼ pressurized water reactor core, the fast reactor Experimental Breeder Reactor-II core with a XX09 assembly, and an advanced breeder test reactor core. The times required to generate large mesh models, along with speedups obtained from running these problems in parallel, are reported. A graphical user interface to the tools described here has also been developed.« less

  17. Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation

    DOEpatents

    Ekeroth, Douglas E.; Orr, Richard

    1993-01-01

    A nuclear reactor is provided having a generally cylindrical reactor vessel disposed within an opening in a primary shield. The opening in the primary shield is defined by a plurality of generally planar side walls forming a generally polyhedral-shaped opening. The reactor vessel is supported within the opening in the primary shield by reactor vessel supports which are in communication and aligned with central portions of some of the side walls. The reactor vessel is connected to the central portions of the reactor vessel supports. A thermal insulation polyhedron formed from a plurality of slidably insertable and removable generally planar insulation panels substantially surrounds at least a portion of the reactor vessel and is disposed between the reactor vessel and the side walls of the primary shield. The shape of the insulation polyhedron generally corresponds to the shape of the opening in the primary shield. Reactor monitoring instrumentation may be mounted in the corners of the opening in the primary shield between the side walls and the reactor vessel such that insulation is not disposed between the instrumentation and the reactor vessel.

  18. Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation

    DOEpatents

    Ekeroth, D.E.; Orr, R.

    1993-12-07

    A nuclear reactor is provided having a generally cylindrical reactor vessel disposed within an opening in a primary shield. The opening in the primary shield is defined by a plurality of generally planar side walls forming a generally polyhedral-shaped opening. The reactor vessel is supported within the opening in the primary shield by reactor vessel supports which are in communication and aligned with central portions of some of the side walls. The reactor vessel is connected to the central portions of the reactor vessel supports. A thermal insulation polyhedron formed from a plurality of slidably insertable and removable generally planar insulation panels substantially surrounds at least a portion of the reactor vessel and is disposed between the reactor vessel and the side walls of the primary shield. The shape of the insulation polyhedron generally corresponds to the shape of the opening in the primary shield. Reactor monitoring instrumentation may be mounted in the corners of the opening in the primary shield between the side walls and the reactor vessel such that insulation is not disposed between the instrumentation and the reactor vessel. 5 figures.

  19. Boiling water neutronic reactor incorporating a process inherent safety design

    DOEpatents

    Forsberg, C.W.

    1985-02-19

    A boiling-water reactor core is positioned within a prestressed concrete reactor vessel of a size which will hold a supply of coolant water sufficient to submerge and cool the reactor core by boiling for a period of at least one week after shutdown. Separate volumes of hot, clean (nonborated) water for cooling during normal operation and cool highly borated water for emergency cooling and reactor shutdown are separated by an insulated wall during normal reactor operation with contact between the two water volumes being maintained at interfaces near the top and bottom ends of the reactor vessel. Means are provided for balancing the pressure of the two water volumes at the lower interface zone during normal operation to prevent entry of the cool borated water into the reactor core region, for detecting the onset of excessive power to coolant flow conditions in the reactor core and for detecting low water levels of reactor coolant. Cool borated water is permitted to flow into the reactor core when low reactor coolant levels or excessive power to coolant flow conditions are encountered.

  20. Boiling water neutronic reactor incorporating a process inherent safety design

    DOEpatents

    Forsberg, Charles W.

    1987-01-01

    A boiling-water reactor core is positioned within a prestressed concrete reactor vessel of a size which will hold a supply of coolant water sufficient to submerge and cool the reactor core by boiling for a period of at least one week after shutdown. Separate volumes of hot, clean (non-borated) water for cooling during normal operation and cool highly borated water for emergency cooling and reactor shutdown are separated by an insulated wall during normal reactor operation with contact between the two water volumes being maintained at interfaces near the top and bottom ends of the reactor vessel. Means are provided for balancing the pressure of the two volumes at the lower interface zone during normal operation to prevent entry of the cool borated water into the reactor core region, for detecting the onset of excessive power to coolant flow conditions in the reactor core and for detecting low water levels of reactor coolant. Cool borated water is permitted to flow into the reactor core when low reactor coolant levels or excessive power to coolant flow conditions are encountered.

  1. Summary of NR Program Prometheus Efforts

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

    J Ashcroft; C Eshelman

    2006-02-08

    The Naval Reactors Program led work on the development of a reactor plant system for the Prometheus space reactor program. The work centered on a 200 kWe electric reactor plant with a 15-20 year mission applicable to nuclear electric propulsion (NEP). After a review of all reactor and energy conversion alternatives, a direct gas Brayton reactor plant was selected for further development. The work performed subsequent to this selection included preliminary nuclear reactor and reactor plant design, development of instrumentation and control techniques, modeling reactor plant operational features, development and testing of core and plant material options, and development ofmore » an overall project plan. Prior to restructuring of the program, substantial progress had been made on defining reference plant operating conditions, defining reactor mechanical, thermal and nuclear performance, understanding the capabilities and uncertainties provided by material alternatives, and planning non-nuclear and nuclear system testing. The mission requirements for the envisioned NEP missions cannot be accommodated with existing reactor technologies. Therefore concurrent design, development and testing would be needed to deliver a functional reactor system. Fuel and material performance beyond the current state of the art is needed. There is very little national infrastructure available for fast reactor nuclear testing and associated materials development and testing. Surface mission requirements may be different enough to warrant different reactor design approaches and development of a generic multi-purpose reactor requires substantial sacrifice in performance capability for each mission.« less

  2. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DIRECT-CYCLE NEUTRONIC REACTORS

    DOEpatents

    Reed, G.A.

    1961-01-10

    A control arrangement is offered for a boiling-water reactor. Boric acid is maintained in the water in the reactor and the amount in the reactor is controlled by continuously removing a portion of the water from the reactor, concentrating the boric acid by evaporating the water therefrom, returning a controlled amount of the acid to the reactor, and simultaneously controlling the water level by varying the rate of spent steam return to the reactor.

  3. Control Means for Reactor

    DOEpatents

    Manley, J. H.

    1961-06-27

    An apparatus for controlling a nuclear reactor includes a tank just below the reactor, tubes extending from the tank into the reactor, and a thermally expansible liquid neutron absorbent material in the tank. The liquid in the tank is exposed to a beam of neutrons from the reactor which heats the liquid causing it to expand into the reactor when the neutron flux in the reactor rises above a predetermincd danger point. Boron triamine may be used for this purpose.

  4. 10 CFR 2.621 - Acceptance and docketing of application for early review of site suitability issues in a combined...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will inform the... Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will accept for... New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, that they...

  5. 10 CFR 2.621 - Acceptance and docketing of application for early review of site suitability issues in a combined...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will inform the... Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will accept for... New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, that they...

  6. Low temperature pre-treatment of domestic sewage in an anaerobic hybrid or an anaerobic filter reactor.

    PubMed

    Elmitwalli, Tarek A; Sklyar, Vladimir; Zeeman, Grietje; Lettinga, Gatze

    2002-05-01

    The pre-treatment of domestic sewage for removal of suspended solids (SS) at a process temperature of 13 degrees C and an hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 h was investigated in an anaerobic filter (AF) and anaerobic hybrid (AH) reactor. The AF and the top of the AH reactor consisted of vertical sheets of reticulated polyurethane foam (RPF) with knobs. All biomass in the AF was only in attached form to avoid clogging and sludge washout. The AF reactor showed a significantly higher removal of total and suspended chemical oxygen demand (COD) than the AH reactor, respectively, 55% and 82% in the AF reactor and 34% and 53% in the AH reactor. Because the reactors were operated at a short HRT and low temperature, the hydrolysis, acidification and methanogenesis based on the influent COD were limited to, respectively, 12%, 21% and 23% for the AF reactor and 12%, 17% and 16% for the AH reactor. The excess sludge from the AH reactor was more stabilised and had a better settling capacity and dewaterability. However, the excess sludge from both the AH and AF reactors needed stabilisation. Therefore, the AF reactor is recommended for the pretreatment of domestic sewage at low temperatures.

  7. Nuclear reactor cavity floor passive heat removal system

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

    Edwards, Tyler A.; Neeley, Gary W.; Inman, James B.

    A nuclear reactor includes a reactor core disposed in a reactor pressure vessel. A radiological containment contains the nuclear reactor and includes a concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor. An ex vessel corium retention system includes flow channels embedded in the concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor, an inlet in fluid communication with first ends of the flow channels, and an outlet in fluid communication with second ends of the flow channels. In some embodiments the inlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiological containment at a first elevation and the outlet is in fluidmore » communication with the interior of the radiological containment at a second elevation higher than the first elevation. The radiological containment may include a reactor cavity containing a lower portion of the pressure vessel, wherein the concrete floor located underneath the nuclear reactor is the reactor cavity floor.« less

  8. Methods and apparatuses for deoxygenating pyrolysis oil

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

    Baird, Lance Awender; Brandvold, Timothy A.; Frey, Stanley Joseph

    Methods and apparatuses are provided for deoxygenating pyrolysis oil. A method includes contacting a pyrolysis oil with a deoxygenation catalyst in a first reactor at deoxygenation conditions to produce a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent has a first oxygen concentration and a first hydrogen concentration, based on hydrocarbons in the first reactor effluent, and the first reactor effluent includes an aromatic compound. The first reactor effluent is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst in a second reactor at conditions that deoxygenate the first reactor effluent while preserving the aromatic compound to produce a second reactor effluent. The second reactormore » effluent has a second oxygen concentration lower than the first oxygen concentration and a second hydrogen concentration that is equal to or lower than the first hydrogen concentration, where the second oxygen concentration and the second hydrogen concentration are based on the hydrocarbons in the second reactor effluent.« less

  9. Methanation assembly using multiple reactors

    DOEpatents

    Jahnke, Fred C.; Parab, Sanjay C.

    2007-07-24

    A methanation assembly for use with a water supply and a gas supply containing gas to be methanated in which a reactor assembly has a plurality of methanation reactors each for methanating gas input to the assembly and a gas delivery and cooling assembly adapted to deliver gas from the gas supply to each of said methanation reactors and to combine water from the water supply with the output of each methanation reactor being conveyed to a next methanation reactor and carry the mixture to such next methanation reactor.

  10. When Do Commercial Reactors Permanently Shut Down?

    EIA Publications

    2011-01-01

    For those wishing to obtain current data, the following resources are available: U.S. reactors, go to the Energy Information Administration's nuclear reactor shutdown list. (Note: As of April 30, 2010, the last U.S. reactor to permanently shut down was Big Rock Point in 1997.) Foreign Reactors, go to the Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) on the International Atomic Energy Agency's website.

  11. 10 CFR 140.11 - Amounts of financial protection for certain reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ...,000,000 for each nuclear reactor he is authorized to operate at a thermal power level not exceeding ten kilowatts; (2) In the amount of $1,500,000 for each nuclear reactor he is authorized to operate at... amount of $2,500,000 for each nuclear reactor other than a testing reactor or a reactor licensed under...

  12. 10 CFR 2.603 - Acceptance and docketing of application for early review of site suitability issues in a...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... Office of New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will... Office of New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will... Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, that they are...

  13. 10 CFR 140.11 - Amounts of financial protection for certain reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ...,000,000 for each nuclear reactor he is authorized to operate at a thermal power level not exceeding ten kilowatts; (2) In the amount of $1,500,000 for each nuclear reactor he is authorized to operate at... amount of $2,500,000 for each nuclear reactor other than a testing reactor or a reactor licensed under...

  14. 10 CFR 2.603 - Acceptance and docketing of application for early review of site suitability issues in a...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... Office of New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will... Office of New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, will... Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, that they are...

  15. 10 CFR 140.11 - Amounts of financial protection for certain reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ...,000,000 for each nuclear reactor he is authorized to operate at a thermal power level not exceeding ten kilowatts; (2) In the amount of $1,500,000 for each nuclear reactor he is authorized to operate at... amount of $2,500,000 for each nuclear reactor other than a testing reactor or a reactor licensed under...

  16. Determination of the Sensitivity of the Antineutrino Probe for Reactor Core Monitoring

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

    Cormon, S.; Fallot, M., E-mail: fallot@subatech.in2p3.fr; Bui, V.-M.

    This paper presents a feasibility study of the use of the detection of reactor-antineutrinos (ν{sup ¯}{sub e}) for non proliferation purpose. To proceed, we have started to study different reactor designs with our simulation tools. We use a package called MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution (MURE), initially developed by CNRS/IN2P3 labs to study Generation IV reactors. The MURE package has been coupled to fission product beta decay nuclear databases for studying reactor antineutrino emission. This method is the only one able to predict the antineutrino emission from future reactor cores, which don't use the thermal fission of {sup 235}U, {supmore » 239}Pu and {sup 241}Pu. It is also the only way to include off-equilibrium effects, due to neutron captures and time evolution of the fission product concentrations during a reactor cycle. We will present here the first predictions of antineutrino energy spectra from innovative reactor designs (Generation IV reactors). We will then discuss a summary of our results of non-proliferation scenarios involving the latter reactor designs, taking into account reactor physics constraints.« less

  17. Bioaugmentation of activated sludge towards 3-chloroaniline removal with a mixed bacterial population carrying a degradative plasmid.

    PubMed

    Bathe, Stephan; Schwarzenbeck, Norbert; Hausner, Martina

    2009-06-01

    A bioaugmentation approach combining several strategies was applied to achieve degradation of 3-chloroaniline (3CA) in semicontinuous activated sludge reactors. In a first step, a 3CA-degrading Comamonas testosteroni strain carrying the degradative plasmid pNB2 was added to a biofilm reactor, and complete 3CA degradation together with spread of the plasmid within the indigenous biofilm population was achieved. A second set of reactors was then bioaugmented with either a suspension of biofilm cells removed from the carrier material or with biofilm-containing carrier material. 3CA degradation was established rapidly in all bioaugmented reactors, followed by a slow adaptation of the non-bioaugmented control reactors. In response to variations in 3CA concentration, all reactors exhibited temporary performance breakdowns. Whereas duplicates of the control reactors deviated in their behaviour, the bioaugmented reactors appeared more reproducible in their performance and population dynamics. Finally, the carrier-bioaugmented reactors showed an improved performance in the presence of high 3CA influent concentrations over the suspension-bioaugmented reactors. In contrast, degradation in one control reactor failed completely, but was rapidly established in the remaining control reactor.

  18. A comparative study of thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and wheat straw: Process stability and microbial community structure shifts.

    PubMed

    Shi, Xuchuan; Guo, Xianglin; Zuo, Jiane; Wang, Yajiao; Zhang, Mengyu

    2018-05-01

    Renewable energy recovery from organic solid waste via anaerobic digestion is a promising way to provide sustainable energy supply and eliminate environmental pollution. However, poor efficiency and operational problems hinder its wide application of anaerobic digestion. The effects of two key parameters, i.e. temperature and substrate characteristics on process stability and microbial community structure were studied using two lab-scale anaerobic reactors under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions. Both the reactors were fed with food waste (FW) and wheat straw (WS). The organic loading rates (OLRs) were maintained at a constant level of 3 kg VS/(m 3 ·d). Five different FW:WS substrate ratios were utilized in different operational phases. The synergetic effects of co-digestion improved the stability and performance of the reactors. When FW was mono-digested, both reactors were unstable. The mesophilic reactor eventually failed due to volatile fatty acid accumulation. The thermophilic reactor had better performance compared to mesophilic one. The biogas production rate of the thermophilic reactor was 4.9-14.8% higher than that of mesophilic reactor throughout the experiment. The shifts in microbial community structures throughout the experiment in both thermophilic and mesophilic reactors were investigated. With increasing FW proportions, bacteria belonging to the phylum Thermotogae became predominant in the thermophilic reactor, while the phylum Bacteroidetes was predominant in the mesophilic reactor. The genus Methanosarcina was the predominant methanogen in the thermophilic reactor, while the genus Methanothrix remained predominant in the mesophilic reactor. The methanogenesis pathway shifted from acetoclastic to hydrogenotrophic when the mesophilic reactor experienced perturbations. Moreover, the population of lignocellulose-degrading microorganisms in the thermophilic reactor was higher than those in mesophilic reactor, which explained the better performance of the thermophilic reactor. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  19. Coupled reactor kinetics and heat transfer model for heat pipe cooled reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wright, Steven A.; Houts, Michael

    2001-02-01

    Heat pipes are often proposed as cooling system components for small fission reactors. SAFE-300 and STAR-C are two reactor concepts that use heat pipes as an integral part of the cooling system. Heat pipes have been used in reactors to cool components within radiation tests (Deverall, 1973); however, no reactor has been built or tested that uses heat pipes solely as the primary cooling system. Heat pipe cooled reactors will likely require the development of a test reactor to determine the main differences in operational behavior from forced cooled reactors. The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of a systems code capable of modeling the coupling between the reactor kinetics and heat pipe controlled heat transport. Heat transport in heat pipe reactors is complex and highly system dependent. Nevertheless, in general terms it relies on heat flowing from the fuel pins through the heat pipe, to the heat exchanger, and then ultimately into the power conversion system and heat sink. A system model is described that is capable of modeling coupled reactor kinetics phenomena, heat transfer dynamics within the fuel pins, and the transient behavior of heat pipes (including the melting of the working fluid). This paper focuses primarily on the coupling effects caused by reactor feedback and compares the observations with forced cooled reactors. A number of reactor startup transients have been modeled, and issues such as power peaking, and power-to-flow mismatches, and loading transients were examined, including the possibility of heat flow from the heat exchanger back into the reactor. This system model is envisioned as a tool to be used for screening various heat pipe cooled reactor concepts, for designing and developing test facility requirements, for use in safety evaluations, and for developing test criteria for in-pile and out-of-pile test facilities. .

  20. Technical Application of Nuclear Fission

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Denschlag, J. O.

    The chapter is devoted to the practical application of the fission process, mainly in nuclear reactors. After a historical discussion covering the natural reactors at Oklo and the first attempts to build artificial reactors, the fundamental principles of chain reactions are discussed. In this context chain reactions with fast and thermal neutrons are covered as well as the process of neutron moderation. Criticality concepts (fission factor η, criticality factor k) are discussed as well as reactor kinetics and the role of delayed neutrons. Examples of specific nuclear reactor types are presented briefly: research reactors (TRIGA and ILL High Flux Reactor), and some reactor types used to drive nuclear power stations (pressurized water reactor [PWR], boiling water reactor [BWR], Reaktor Bolshoi Moshchnosti Kanalny [RBMK], fast breeder reactor [FBR]). The new concept of the accelerator-driven systems (ADS) is presented. The principle of fission weapons is outlined. Finally, the nuclear fuel cycle is briefly covered from mining, chemical isolation of the fuel and preparation of the fuel elements to reprocessing the spent fuel and conditioning for deposit in a final repository.

  1. Optimally moderated nuclear fission reactor and fuel source therefor

    DOEpatents

    Ougouag, Abderrafi M [Idaho Falls, ID; Terry, William K [Shelley, ID; Gougar, Hans D [Idaho Falls, ID

    2008-07-22

    An improved nuclear fission reactor of the continuous fueling type involves determining an asymptotic equilibrium state for the nuclear fission reactor and providing the reactor with a moderator-to-fuel ratio that is optimally moderated for the asymptotic equilibrium state of the nuclear fission reactor; the fuel-to-moderator ratio allowing the nuclear fission reactor to be substantially continuously operated in an optimally moderated state.

  2. Flow rate analysis of wastewater inside reactor tanks on tofu wastewater treatment plant

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mamat; Sintawardani, N.; Astuti, J. T.; Nilawati, D.; Wulan, D. R.; Muchlis; Sriwuryandari, L.; Sembiring, T.; Jern, N. W.

    2017-03-01

    The research aimed to analyse the flow rate of the wastewater inside reactor tanks which were placed a number of bamboo cutting. The resistance of wastewater flow inside reactor tanks might not be occurred and produce biogas fuel optimally. Wastewater from eleven tofu factories was treated by multi-stages anaerobic process to reduce its organic pollutant and produce biogas. Biogas plant has six reactor tanks of which its capacity for waste water and gas dome was 18 m3 and 4.5 m3, respectively. Wastewater was pumped from collecting ponds to reactors by either serial or parallel way. Maximum pump capacity, head, and electrical motor power was 5m3/h, 50m, and 0.75HP, consecutively. Maximum pressure of biogas inside the reactor tanks was 55 mbar higher than atmosphere pressure. A number of 1,400 pieces of cutting bamboo at 50-60 mm diameter and 100 mm length were used as bacteria growth media inside each reactor tank, covering around 14,287 m2 bamboo area, and cross section area of inner reactor was 4,9 m2. In each reactor, a 6 inches PVC pipe was installed vertically as channel. When channels inside reactor were opened, flow rate of wastewater was 6x10-1 L.sec-1. Contrary, when channels were closed on the upper part, wastewater flow inside the first reactor affected and increased gas dome. Initially, wastewater flowed into each reactor by a gravity mode with head difference between the second and third reactor was 15x10-2m. However, head loss at the second reactor was equal to the third reactor by 8,422 x 10-4m. As result, wastewater flow at the second and third reactors were stagnant. To overcome the problem pump in each reactor should be installed in serial mode. In order to reach the output from the first reactor and the others would be equal, and biogas space was not filled by wastewater, therefore biogas production will be optimum.

  3. Operators in the Plum Brook Reactor Facility Control Room

    NASA Image and Video Library

    1970-03-21

    Donald Rhodes, left, and Clyde Greer, right, monitor the operation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Plum Brook Reactor Facility from the control room. The 60-megawatt test reactor, NASA’s only reactor, was the eighth largest test reactor in the world. The facility was built by the Lewis Research Center in the late 1950s to study the effects of radiation on different materials that could be used to construct nuclear propulsion systems for aircraft or rockets. The reactor went critical for the first time in 1961. For the next two years, two operators were on duty 24 hours per day working on the fission process until the reactor reached its full-power level in 1963. Reactor Operators were responsible for monitoring and controlling the reactor systems. Once the reactor was running under normal operating conditions, the work was relatively uneventful. Normally the reactor was kept at a designated power level within certain limits. Occasionally the operators had to increase the power for a certain test. The shift supervisor and several different people would get together and discuss the change before boosting the power. All operators were required to maintain a Reactor Operator License from the Atomic Energy Commission. The license included six months of training, an eight-hour written exam, a four-hour walkaround, and testing on the reactor controls.

  4. 10 CFR 50.70 - Inspections.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or Director, Office of New Reactors, as appropriate, provide... New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. All furniture, supplies and... construction permit holder (nuclear power reactor only) shall ensure that the arrival and presence of an NRC...

  5. 10 CFR 50.70 - Inspections.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or Director, Office of New Reactors, as appropriate, provide... New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. All furniture, supplies and... construction permit holder (nuclear power reactor only) shall ensure that the arrival and presence of an NRC...

  6. 10 CFR 50.70 - Inspections.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or Director, Office of New Reactors, as appropriate, provide... New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. All furniture, supplies and... construction permit holder (nuclear power reactor only) shall ensure that the arrival and presence of an NRC...

  7. 10 CFR 50.70 - Inspections.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or Director, Office of New Reactors, as appropriate, provide... New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. All furniture, supplies and... construction permit holder (nuclear power reactor only) shall ensure that the arrival and presence of an NRC...

  8. 10 CFR 50.70 - Inspections.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or Director, Office of New Reactors, as appropriate, provide... New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. All furniture, supplies and... construction permit holder (nuclear power reactor only) shall ensure that the arrival and presence of an NRC...

  9. 10 CFR 2.101 - Filing of application.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... Reactors, the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Director, Office of Nuclear Material... Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, Director, Office of Federal and State... be requested to: (i) Submit to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office...

  10. 10 CFR 2.101 - Filing of application.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... Reactors, the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Director, Office of Nuclear Material... Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, Director, Office of Federal and State... be requested to: (i) Submit to the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office...

  11. Weld monitor and failure detector for nuclear reactor system

    DOEpatents

    Sutton, Jr., Harry G.

    1987-01-01

    Critical but inaccessible welds in a nuclear reactor system are monitored throughout the life of the reactor by providing small aperture means projecting completely through the reactor vessel wall and also through the weld or welds to be monitored. The aperture means is normally sealed from the atmosphere within the reactor. Any incipient failure or cracking of the weld will cause the environment contained within the reactor to pass into the aperture means and thence to the outer surface of the reactor vessel where its presence is readily detected.

  12. Demonstration of Robustness and Integrated Operation of a Series-Bosch System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Abney, Morgan B.; Mansell, Matthew J.; Stanley, Christine; Barnett, Bill; Junaedi, Christian; Vilekar, Saurabh A.; Ryan, Kent

    2016-01-01

    Manned missions beyond low Earth orbit will require highly robust, reliable, and maintainable life support systems that maximize recycling of water and oxygen. Bosch technology is one option to maximize oxygen recovery, in the form of water, from metabolically-produced carbon dioxide (CO2). A two stage approach to Bosch, called Series-Bosch, reduces metabolic CO2 with hydrogen (H2) to produce water and solid carbon using two reactors: a Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS) reactor and a carbon formation (CF) reactor. Previous development efforts demonstrated the stand-alone performance of a NASA-designed RWGS reactor designed for robustness against carbon formation, two membrane separators intended to maximize single pass conversion of reactants, and a batch CF reactor with both transit and surface catalysts. In the past year, Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) developed and delivered a RWGS reactor for testing at NASA. The reactor design was based on their patented Microlith® technology and was first evaluated under a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) effort in 2010. The RWGS reactor was recently evaluated at NASA to compare its performance and operating conditions with NASA's RWGS reactor. The test results will be provided in this paper. Separately, in 2015, a semi-continuous CF reactor was designed and fabricated at NASA based on the results from batch CF reactor testing. The batch CF reactor and the semi-continuous CF reactor were individually integrated with an upstream RWGS reactor to demonstrate the system operation and to evaluate performance. Here, we compare the performance and robustness to carbon formation of both RWGS reactors. We report the results of the integrated operation of a Series-Bosch system and we discuss the technology readiness level.

  13. Reactor water cleanup system

    DOEpatents

    Gluntz, Douglas M.; Taft, William E.

    1994-01-01

    A reactor water cleanup system includes a reactor pressure vessel containing a reactor core submerged in reactor water. First and second parallel cleanup trains are provided for extracting portions of the reactor water from the pressure vessel, cleaning the extracted water, and returning the cleaned water to the pressure vessel. Each of the cleanup trains includes a heat exchanger for cooling the reactor water, and a cleaner for cleaning the cooled reactor water. A return line is disposed between the cleaner and the pressure vessel for channeling the cleaned water thereto in a first mode of operation. A portion of the cooled water is bypassed around the cleaner during a second mode of operation and returned through the pressure vessel for shutdown cooling.

  14. The role of nuclear reactors in space exploration and development

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

    Lipinski, R.J.

    2000-07-01

    The United States has launched more than 20 radioisotopic thermoelectric generators (RTGs) into space over the past 30 yr but has launched only one nuclear reactor, and that was in 1965. Russia has launched more than 30 reactors. The RTGs use the heat of alpha decay of {sup 238}Pu for power and typically generate <1 kW of electricity. Apollo, Pioneer, Voyager, Viking, Galileo, Ulysses, and Cassini all used RTGs. Space reactors use the fission energy of {sup 235}U; typical designs are for 100 to 1000 kW of electricity. The only US space reactor launch (SNAP-10A) was a demonstration mission. Onemore » reason for the lack of space reactor use by the United States was the lack of space missions that required high power. But, another was the assumed negative publicity that would accompany a reactor launch. The net result is that all space reactor programs after 1970 were terminated before an operating space reactor could be developed, and they are now many years from recovering the ability to build them. Two major near-term needs for space reactors are the human exploration of Mars and advanced missions to and beyond the orbit of Jupiter. To help obtain public acceptance of space reactors, one must correct some of the misconceptions concerning space reactors and convey the following facts to the public and to decision makers: Space reactors are 1000 times smaller in power and size than a commercial power reactor. A space reactor at launch is only as radioactive as a pile of dirt 60 m (200 ft) across. A space reactor contains no plutonium at launch. It does not become significantly radioactive until it is turned on, and it will be engineered so that no launch accident can turn it on, even if that means fueling it after launch. The reactor will not be turned on until it is in a high stable orbit or even on an earth-escape trajectory for some missions. The benefits of space reactors are that they give humanity a stairway to the planets and perhaps the stars. They open a new frontier for their children and their grandchildren. They pave the way for all life on earth to move out into the solar system. At one time, humans built and flew space reactors; it is time to do so again.« less

  15. Degradation of Acid Orange 7 Dye in Two Hybrid Plasma Discharge Reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shen, Yongjun; Lei, Lecheng; Zhang, Xingwang; Ding, Jiandong

    2014-11-01

    To get an optimized pulsed electrical plasma discharge reactor and to increase the energy utilization efficiency in the removal of pollutants, two hybrid plasma discharge reactors were designed and optimized. The reactors were compared via the discharge characteristics, energy transfer efficiency, the yields of the active species and the energy utilization in dye wastewater degradation. The results showed that under the same AC input power, the characteristics of the discharge waveform of the point-to-plate reactor were better. Under the same AC input power, the two reactors both had almost the same peak voltage of 22 kV. The peak current of the point-to-plate reactor was 146 A, while that of the wire-to-cylinder reactor was only 48.8 A. The peak powers of the point-to-plate reactor and the wire-to-cylinder reactor were 1.38 MW and 1.01 MW, respectively. The energy per pulse of the point-to-plate reactor was 0.2221 J, which was about 29.4% higher than that of the wire-to-cylinder reactor (0.1716 J). To remove 50% Acid Orange 7 (AO7), the energy utilizations of the point-to-plate reactor and the wire-to-cylinder reactor were 1.02 × 10-9 mol/L and 0.61 × 10-9 mol/L, respectively. In the point-to-plate reactor, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in pure water was 3.6 mmol/L after 40 min of discharge, which was higher than that of the wire-to-cylinder reactor (2.5 mmol/L). The concentration of liquid phase ozone in the point-to-plate reactor (5.7 × 10-2 mmol/L) was about 26.7% higher than that in the wire-to-cylinder reactor (4.5 × 10-2 mmol/L). The analysis results of the variance showed that the type of reactor and reaction time had significant impacts on the yields of the hydrogen peroxide and ozone. The main degradation intermediates of AO7 identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS) were acetic acid, maleic anhydride, p-benzoquinone, phenol, benzoic acid, phthalic anhydride, coumarin and 2-naphthol. Proposed degradation pathways were elucidated in light of the analyzed degradation products.

  16. 10 CFR 72.1 - Purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND REACTOR-RELATED GREATER THAN CLASS C WASTE General Provisions § 72.1 Purpose. The... receive, transfer, and possess power reactor spent fuel, power reactor-related Greater than Class C (GTCC... reactor spent fuel, high-level radioactive waste, power reactor-related GTCC waste, and other radioactive...

  17. 10 CFR 72.1 - Purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND REACTOR-RELATED GREATER THAN CLASS C WASTE General Provisions § 72.1 Purpose. The... receive, transfer, and possess power reactor spent fuel, power reactor-related Greater than Class C (GTCC... reactor spent fuel, high-level radioactive waste, power reactor-related GTCC waste, and other radioactive...

  18. Unmixed fuel processors and methods for using the same

    DOEpatents

    Kulkarni, Parag Prakash; Cui, Zhe

    2010-08-24

    Disclosed herein are unmixed fuel processors and methods for using the same. In one embodiment, an unmixed fuel processor comprises: an oxidation reactor comprising an oxidation portion and a gasifier, a CO.sub.2 acceptor reactor, and a regeneration reactor. The oxidation portion comprises an air inlet, effluent outlet, and an oxygen transfer material. The gasifier comprises a solid hydrocarbon fuel inlet, a solids outlet, and a syngas outlet. The CO.sub.2 acceptor reactor comprises a water inlet, a hydrogen outlet, and a CO.sub.2 sorbent, and is configured to receive syngas from the gasifier. The regeneration reactor comprises a water inlet and a CO.sub.2 stream outlet. The regeneration reactor is configured to receive spent CO.sub.2 adsorption material from the gasification reactor and to return regenerated CO.sub.2 adsorption material to the gasification reactor, and configured to receive oxidized oxygen transfer material from the oxidation reactor and to return reduced oxygen transfer material to the oxidation reactor.

  19. Thermionic switched self-actuating reactor shutdown system

    DOEpatents

    Barrus, Donald M.; Shires, Charles D.; Brummond, William A.

    1989-01-01

    A self-actuating reactor shutdown system incorporating a thermionic switched electromagnetic latch arrangement which is responsive to reactor neutron flux changes and to reactor coolant temperature changes. The system is self-actuating in that the sensing thermionic device acts directly to release (scram) the control rod (absorber) without reference or signal from the main reactor plant protective and control systems. To be responsive to both temperature and neutron flux effects, two detectors are used, one responsive to reactor coolant temperatures, and the other responsive to reactor neutron flux increase. The detectors are incorporated into a thermionic diode connected electrically with an electromagnetic mechanism which under normal reactor operating conditions holds the the control rod in its ready position (exterior of the reactor core). Upon reaching either a specified temperature or neutron flux, the thermionic diode functions to short-circuit the electromagnetic mechanism causing same to lose its holding power and release the control rod, which drops into the reactor core region under gravitational force.

  20. Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel

    DOEpatents

    Schreiber, R.B.; Fero, A.H.; Sejvar, J.

    1997-12-16

    The reactor vessel of a nuclear reactor installation which is suspended from the cold leg nozzles in a reactor cavity is provided with a lower thermal insulating barrier spaced from the reactor vessel to form a chamber which can be flooded with cooling water through passive valving to directly cool the reactor vessel in the event of a severe accident. The passive valving also includes bistable vents at the upper end of the thermal insulating barrier for releasing steam. A removable, modular neutron shield extending around the upper end of the reactor cavity below the nozzles forms with the upwardly and outwardly tapered transition on the outer surface of the reactor vessel, a labyrinthine channel which reduces neutron streaming while providing a passage for the escape of steam during a severe accident, and for the cooling air which is circulated along the reactor cavity walls outside the thermal insulating barrier during normal operation of the reactor. 8 figs.

  1. Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel

    DOEpatents

    Schreiber, Roger B.; Fero, Arnold H.; Sejvar, James

    1997-01-01

    The reactor vessel of a nuclear reactor installation which is suspended from the cold leg nozzles in a reactor cavity is provided with a lower thermal insulating barrier spaced from the reactor vessel to form a chamber which can be flooded with cooling water through passive valving to directly cool the reactor vessel in the event of a severe accident. The passive valving also includes bistable vents at the upper end of the thermal insulating barrier for releasing steam. A removable, modular neutron shield extending around the upper end of the reactor cavity below the nozzles forms with the upwardly and outwardly tapered transition on the outer surface of the reactor vessel, a labyrinthine channel which reduces neutron streaming while providing a passage for the escape of steam during a severe accident, and for the cooling air which is circulated along the reactor cavity walls outside the thermal insulating barrier during normal operation of the reactor.

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

    Soldevilla, M.; Salmons, S.; Espinosa, B.

    The new application BDDR (Reactor database) has been developed at CEA in order to manage nuclear reactors technological and operating data. This application is a knowledge management tool which meets several internal needs: -) to facilitate scenario studies for any set of reactors, e.g. non-proliferation assessments; -) to make core physics studies easier, whatever the reactor design (PWR-Pressurized Water Reactor-, BWR-Boiling Water Reactor-, MAGNOX- Magnesium Oxide reactor-, CANDU - CANada Deuterium Uranium-, FBR - Fast Breeder Reactor -, etc.); -) to preserve the technological data of all reactors (past and present, power generating or experimental, naval propulsion,...) in a uniquemore » repository. Within the application database are enclosed location data and operating history data as well as a tree-like structure containing numerous technological data. These data address all kinds of reactors features and components. A few neutronics data are also included (neutrons fluxes). The BDDR application is based on open-source technologies and thin client/server architecture. The software architecture has been made flexible enough to allow for any change. (authors)« less

  3. Editorial

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boerma, Dirk O.; Climent-Font, Aurelio; Respaldiza, Miguel Ángel

    2006-08-01

    The IBA conference has taken place in different countries from all over the world. It started in the United States in 1973, and since then has been held biennially without interruption, becoming the reference meeting on ion beam analysis and related methods and techniques. In its 17th edition, two Spanish laboratories, one from the Universidad de Sevilla and one from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid had the honour and responsibility of organizing the conference. These two laboratories are, so far, the only ones in the country equipped with accelerators dedicated to ion beam analysis; the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) in Seville and the Centro de Micro-Análisis de Materiales (CMAM) in Madrid. We took up this task enthusiastically, conscious that Spain has only very recently been equipped with IBA techniques and that this event would highlight to the scientific community of our country the importance and involvement of IBA techniques in new scientific and technological developments. The conference was held at the Melia Sevilla Hotel in Seville, Spain from 26 June-1 July 2005. This special issue of Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B contains the published proceedings of the conference.

  4. DR-Integrator: a new analytic tool for integrating DNA copy number and gene expression data.

    PubMed

    Salari, Keyan; Tibshirani, Robert; Pollack, Jonathan R

    2010-02-01

    DNA copy number alterations (CNA) frequently underlie gene expression changes by increasing or decreasing gene dosage. However, only a subset of genes with altered dosage exhibit concordant changes in gene expression. This subset is likely to be enriched for oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, and can be identified by integrating these two layers of genome-scale data. We introduce DNA/RNA-Integrator (DR-Integrator), a statistical software tool to perform integrative analyses on paired DNA copy number and gene expression data. DR-Integrator identifies genes with significant correlations between DNA copy number and gene expression, and implements a supervised analysis that captures genes with significant alterations in both DNA copy number and gene expression between two sample classes. DR-Integrator is freely available for non-commercial use from the Pollack Lab at http://pollacklab.stanford.edu/ and can be downloaded as a plug-in application to Microsoft Excel and as a package for the R statistical computing environment. The R package is available under the name 'DRI' at http://cran.r-project.org/. An example analysis using DR-Integrator is included as supplemental material. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

  5. Validated spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of clonazepam in pharmaceutical preparations.

    PubMed

    Ibrahim, Fawzia; El-Enany, Nahed; Shalan, Shereen; Elsharawy, Rasha

    2016-05-01

    A simple, highly sensitive and validated spectrofluorimetric method was applied in the determination of clonazepam (CLZ). The method is based on reduction of the nitro group of clonazepam with zinc/CaCl2, and the product is then reacted with 2-cyanoacetamide (2-CNA) in the presence of ammonia (25%) yielding a highly fluorescent product. The produced fluorophore exhibits strong fluorescence intensity at ʎ(em) = 383 nm after excitation at ʎ(ex) = 333 nm. The method was rectilinear over a concentration range of 0.1-0.5 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0057 ng/mL and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.017 ng/mL. The method was fully validated and successfully applied to the determination of CLZ in its tablets with a mean percentage recovery of 100.10 ± 0.75%. Method validation according to ICH Guidelines was evaluated. Statistical analysis of the results obtained using the proposed method was successfully compared with those obtained using a reference method, and there was no significance difference between the two methods in terms of accuracy and precision. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  6. A critical narrative analysis of shared decision-making in acute inpatient mental health care.

    PubMed

    Stacey, Gemma; Felton, Anne; Morgan, Alastair; Stickley, Theo; Willis, Martin; Diamond, Bob; Houghton, Philip; Johnson, Beverley; Dumenya, John

    2016-01-01

    Shared decision-making (SDM) is a high priority in healthcare policy and is complementary to the recovery philosophy in mental health care. This agenda has been operationalised within the Values-Based Practice (VBP) framework, which offers a theoretical and practical model to promote democratic interprofessional approaches to decision-making. However, these are limited by a lack of recognition of the implications of power implicit within the mental health system. This study considers issues of power within the context of decision-making and examines to what extent decisions about patients' care on acute in-patient wards are perceived to be shared. Focus groups were conducted with 46 mental health professionals, service users, and carers. The data were analysed using the framework of critical narrative analysis (CNA). The findings of the study suggested each group constructed different identity positions, which placed them as inside or outside of the decision-making process. This reflected their view of themselves as best placed to influence a decision on behalf of the service user. In conclusion, the discourse of VBP and SDM needs to take account of how differentials of power and the positioning of speakers affect the context in which decisions take place.

  7. AACSD: An atomistic analyzer for crystal structure and defects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Z. R.; Zhang, R. F.

    2018-01-01

    We have developed an efficient command-line program named AACSD (Atomistic Analyzer for Crystal Structure and Defects) for the post-analysis of atomic configurations generated by various atomistic simulation codes. The program has implemented not only the traditional filter methods like the excess potential energy (EPE), the centrosymmetry parameter (CSP), the common neighbor analysis (CNA), the common neighborhood parameter (CNP), the bond angle analysis (BAA), and the neighbor distance analysis (NDA), but also the newly developed ones including the modified centrosymmetry parameter (m-CSP), the orientation imaging map (OIM) and the local crystallographic orientation (LCO). The newly proposed OIM and LCO methods have been extended for all three crystal structures including face centered cubic, body centered cubic and hexagonal close packed. More specially, AACSD can be easily used for the atomistic analysis of metallic nanocomposite with each phase to be analyzed independently, which provides a unique pathway to capture their dynamic evolution of various defects on the fly. In this paper, we provide not only a throughout overview on various theoretical methods and their implementation into AACSD program, but some critical evaluations, specific testing and applications, demonstrating the capability of the program on each functionality.

  8. Two autonomous structural modules in the fimbrial shaft adhesin FimA mediate Actinomyces interactions with streptococci and host cells during oral biofilm development

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

    Mishra, Arunima; Devarajan, Bharanidharan; Reardon, Melissa E.

    2011-09-06

    By combining X-ray crystallography and modelling, we describe here the atomic structure of distinct adhesive moieties of FimA, the shaft fimbrillin of Actinomyces type 2 fimbriae, which uniquely mediates the receptor-dependent intercellular interactions between Actinomyces and oral streptococci as well as host cells during the development of oral biofilms. The FimA adhesin is built with three IgG-like domains, each of which harbours an intramolecular isopeptide bond, previously described in several Gram-positive pilins. Genetic and biochemical studies demonstrate that although these isopeptide bonds are dispensable for fimbrial assembly, cell-cell interactions and biofilm formation, they contribute significantly to the proteolytic stability ofmore » FimA. Remarkably, FimA harbours two autonomous adhesive modules, which structurally resemble the Staphylococcus aureus Cna B domain. Each isolated module can bind the plasma glycoprotein asialofetuin as well as the polysaccharide receptors present on the surface of oral streptococci and epithelial cells. Thus, FimA should serve as an excellent paradigm for the development of therapeutic strategies and elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between cellular receptors and Gram-positive fimbriae.« less

  9. Two Autonomous Structural Modules in the Fimbrial Shaft Adhesin FimA Mediate Actinomyces Interactions with Streptococci and Host Cells during Oral Biofilm Development

    PubMed Central

    Mishra, Arunima; Devarajan, Bharanidharan; Reardon, Melissa E.; Dwivedi, Prabhat; Krishnan, Vengadesan; Cisar, John O.; Das, Asis; Narayana, Sthanam V. L; Ton-That, Hung

    2011-01-01

    By combining X-ray crystallography and modeling, we describe here the atomic structure of distinct adhesive moieties of FimA, the shaft fimbrillin of Actinomyces type 2 fimbriae, which uniquely mediates the receptor-dependent intercellular interactions between Actinomyces and oral streptococci as well as host cells during the development of oral biofilms. The FimA adhesin is built with three IgG-like domains, each of which harbors an intramolecular isopeptide bond, previously described in several Gram-positive pilins. Genetic and biochemical studies demonstrate that although these isopeptide bonds are dispensable for fimbrial assembly, cell-cell interactions and biofilm formation, they contribute significantly to the proteolytic stability of FimA. Remarkably, FimA harbors two autonomous adhesive modules, which structurally resemble the Staphylococcus aureus Cna B domain. Each isolated module can bind the plasma glycoprotein asialofetuin as well as the polysaccharide receptors present on the surface of oral streptococci and epithelial cells. Thus, FimA should serve as an excellent paradigm for the development of therapeutic strategies and elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between cellular receptors and Gram-positive fimbriae. PMID:21696465

  10. Deciphering the associations between gene expression and copy number alteration using a sparse double Laplacian shrinkage approach

    PubMed Central

    Shi, Xingjie; Zhao, Qing; Huang, Jian; Xie, Yang; Ma, Shuangge

    2015-01-01

    Motivation: Both gene expression levels (GEs) and copy number alterations (CNAs) have important biological implications. GEs are partly regulated by CNAs, and much effort has been devoted to understanding their relations. The regulation analysis is challenging with one gene expression possibly regulated by multiple CNAs and one CNA potentially regulating the expressions of multiple genes. The correlations among GEs and among CNAs make the analysis even more complicated. The existing methods have limitations and cannot comprehensively describe the regulation. Results: A sparse double Laplacian shrinkage method is developed. It jointly models the effects of multiple CNAs on multiple GEs. Penalization is adopted to achieve sparsity and identify the regulation relationships. Network adjacency is computed to describe the interconnections among GEs and among CNAs. Two Laplacian shrinkage penalties are imposed to accommodate the network adjacency measures. Simulation shows that the proposed method outperforms the competing alternatives with more accurate marker identification. The Cancer Genome Atlas data are analysed to further demonstrate advantages of the proposed method. Availability and implementation: R code is available at http://works.bepress.com/shuangge/49/ Contact: shuangge.ma@yale.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:26342102

  11. Atomic Scale Investigation of Structural Properties and Glass Forming Ability of Ti100-x Al x Metallic Glasses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tahiri, M.; Hasnaoui, A.; Sbiaai, K.

    2018-03-01

    In this work, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study Ti-Al metallic glasses (MGs) using the embedded atom method (EAM) potential to model the atomic interaction with different compositions. The results showed evidence of the metallic glass formation induced by the split occurring in the second peak of the radial distribution function (RDF) curves implying both Ti and Al atoms. The common neighbor analysis (CNA) method confirmed the presence of the icosahedral clusters with a maximum amount observed for an alloy with 75 pct of Al. Analysis of coordination numbers (CNs) indicated that the total CNs are nearly unchanged in these systems. Finally, Voronoi tessellation analyses (VTA) showed a higher value of the number of icosahedral units at Ti25Al75 composition. This specific composition represents a nearby peritectic point localized at a low melting point in the Ti-Al binary phase diagram. The glass forming ability (GFA) becomes important when the fraction of Al increases by forming and connecting "icosahedral-like" clusters (12-coordinated <0, 0, 12, 0> and 13-coordinated <0, 1, 10, 2>) and by playing a main role in the structure stability of the Ti-Al MGs.

  12. A cryptographic hash function based on chaotic network automata

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Machicao, Jeaneth; Bruno, Odemir M.

    2017-12-01

    Chaos theory has been used to develop several cryptographic methods relying on the pseudo-random properties extracted from simple nonlinear systems such as cellular automata (CA). Cryptographic hash functions (CHF) are commonly used to check data integrity. CHF “compress” arbitrary long messages (input) into much smaller representations called hash values or message digest (output), designed to prevent the ability to reverse the hash values into the original message. This paper proposes a chaos-based CHF inspired on an encryption method based on chaotic CA rule B1357-S2468. Here, we propose an hybrid model that combines CA and networks, called network automata (CNA), whose chaotic spatio-temporal outputs are used to compute a hash value. Following the Merkle and Damgård model of construction, a portion of the message is entered as the initial condition of the network automata, so that the rest parts of messages are iteratively entered to perturb the system. The chaotic network automata shuffles the message using flexible control parameters, so that the generated hash value is highly sensitive to the message. As demonstrated in our experiments, the proposed model has excellent pseudo-randomness and sensitivity properties with acceptable performance when compared to conventional hash functions.

  13. Intense uniform precipitation of low-energy electrons over the polar cap

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

    Meng, C.; Kroehl, H.W.

    1977-06-01

    Analysis of precipitating electron data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) revealed significant enhancements (as large as two orders of magnitude) over the quiet time level of the low-energy electron flux over the polar cap during magnetic storms in September and October 1974. Strong asymmetry between the two polar caps was observed, and it may indicate that these electrons are of interplanetary (i.e., solar) origin and that their entry is influenced by the interplanetary magnetic field as illustrated by Yeager and Frank (1976) and Fennell et al., (1975). Energy spectra showing the spatial and temporal variations of the phenomenamore » are presented. There also is a region between the equatorward edge of the polar cap enhancement and the poleward edge of the evening auroral precipitation in which the electron flux drops down to the background level. If the observed intense polar cap precipitation is indeed of interplanetary origin, this void region implies that the poleward boundary of the auroral precipitation does not coincide with the equatorward boundary of the open field lines and that their separation cna be as wide as a few degrees in latitude.« less

  14. Cooperative autoinhibition and multi-level activation mechanisms of calcineurin

    PubMed Central

    Li, Sheng-Jie; Wang, Jue; Ma, Lei; Lu, Chang; Wang, Jie; Wu, Jia-Wei; Wang, Zhi-Xin

    2016-01-01

    The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin (CN), a heterodimer composed of a catalytic subunit A and an essential regulatory subunit B, plays critical functions in various cellular processes such as cardiac hypertrophy and T cell activation. It is the target of the most widely used immunosuppressants for transplantation, tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporin A. However, the structure of a large part of the CNA regulatory region remains to be determined, and there has been considerable debate concerning the regulation of CN activity. Here, we report the crystal structure of full-length CN (β isoform), which revealed a novel autoinhibitory segment (AIS) in addition to the well-known autoinhibitory domain (AID). The AIS nestles in a hydrophobic intersubunit groove, which overlaps the recognition site for substrates and immunosuppressant-immunophilin complexes. Indeed, disruption of this AIS interaction results in partial stimulation of CN activity. More importantly, our biochemical studies demonstrate that calmodulin does not remove AID from the active site, but only regulates the orientation of AID with respect to the catalytic core, causing incomplete activation of CN. Our findings challenge the current model for CN activation, and provide a better understanding of molecular mechanisms of CN activity regulation. PMID:26794871

  15. Atomic Scale Investigation of Structural Properties and Glass Forming Ability of Ti100- x Al x Metallic Glasses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tahiri, M.; Hasnaoui, A.; Sbiaai, K.

    2018-06-01

    In this work, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study Ti-Al metallic glasses (MGs) using the embedded atom method (EAM) potential to model the atomic interaction with different compositions. The results showed evidence of the metallic glass formation induced by the split occurring in the second peak of the radial distribution function (RDF) curves implying both Ti and Al atoms. The common neighbor analysis (CNA) method confirmed the presence of the icosahedral clusters with a maximum amount observed for an alloy with 75 pct of Al. Analysis of coordination numbers (CNs) indicated that the total CNs are nearly unchanged in these systems. Finally, Voronoi tessellation analyses (VTA) showed a higher value of the number of icosahedral units at Ti25Al75 composition. This specific composition represents a nearby peritectic point localized at a low melting point in the Ti-Al binary phase diagram. The glass forming ability (GFA) becomes important when the fraction of Al increases by forming and connecting "icosahedral-like" clusters (12-coordinated <0, 0, 12, 0> and 13-coordinated <0, 1, 10, 2>) and by playing a main role in the structure stability of the Ti-Al MGs.

  16. Propellant actuated nuclear reactor steam depressurization valve

    DOEpatents

    Ehrke, Alan C.; Knepp, John B.; Skoda, George I.

    1992-01-01

    A nuclear fission reactor combined with a propellant actuated depressurization and/or water injection valve is disclosed. The depressurization valve releases pressure from a water cooled, steam producing nuclear reactor when required to insure the safety of the reactor. Depressurization of the reactor pressure vessel enables gravity feeding of supplementary coolant water through the water injection valve to the reactor pressure vessel to prevent damage to the fuel core.

  17. NEUTRONIC REACTOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION

    DOEpatents

    West, J.M.; Weills, J.T.

    1960-03-15

    A method is given for operating a nuclear reactor having a negative coefficient of reactivity to compensate for the change in reactor reactivity due to the burn-up of the xenon peak following start-up of the reactor. When it is desired to start up the reactor within less than 72 hours after shutdown, the temperature of the reactor is lowered prior to start-up, and then gradually raised after start-up.

  18. Thermal-hydraulic interfacing code modules for CANDU reactors

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

    Liu, W.S.; Gold, M.; Sills, H.

    1997-07-01

    The approach for CANDU reactor safety analysis in Ontario Hydro Nuclear (OHN) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is presented. Reflecting the unique characteristics of CANDU reactors, the procedure of coupling the thermal-hydraulics, reactor physics and fuel channel/element codes in the safety analysis is described. The experience generated in the Canadian nuclear industry may be useful to other types of reactors in the areas of reactor safety analysis.

  19. 97. ARAIII. ML1 reactor has been moved into GCRE reactor ...

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

    97. ARA-III. ML-1 reactor has been moved into GCRE reactor building (ARA-608) for examination of corrosion on its underside and repair. May 24, 1963. Ineel photo no. 63-3485. - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Army Reactors Experimental Area, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  20. NEUTRONIC REACTOR MANIPULATING DEVICE

    DOEpatents

    Ohlinger, L.A.

    1962-08-01

    A cable connecting a control rod in a reactor with a motor outside the reactor for moving the rod, and a helical conduit in the reactor wall, through which the cable passes are described. The helical shape of the conduit prevents the escape of certain harmful radiations from the reactor. (AEC)

  1. 40 CFR 63.1406 - Reactor batch process vent provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Reactor batch process vent provisions... § 63.1406 Reactor batch process vent provisions. (a) Emission standards. Owners or operators of reactor... reactor batch process vent located at a new affected source shall control organic HAP emissions by...

  2. 78 FR 73898 - Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-09

    ... Reactors AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft NUREG; request for comment. SUMMARY: The U.S..., Revision 10, ``Operator Licensing Examination Standards for Power Reactors.'' DATES: Submit comments [email protected] . Both of the Office of New Reactors; or Timothy Kolb, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U...

  3. 76 FR 55718 - Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Materials...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-08

    ... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Materials, Metallurgy & Reactor Fuels The ACRS Subcommittee on Materials, Metallurgy & Reactor...'' for reactor coolant system (RCS) components, as mentioned in 10 CFR 50 Appendix A, GDC-4. The...

  4. 40 CFR 63.1406 - Reactor batch process vent provisions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Reactor batch process vent provisions... § 63.1406 Reactor batch process vent provisions. (a) Emission standards. Owners or operators of reactor... reactor batch process vent located at a new affected source shall control organic HAP emissions by...

  5. 75 FR 58449 - Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Materials...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-24

    ... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Materials, Metallurgy & Reactor Fuels The ACRS Subcommittee on Materials, Metallurgy & Reactor... would result in a major inconvenience. Dated: September 17, 2010. Antonio Dias, Chief, Reactor Safety...

  6. 151. ARAIII Reactor building (ARA608) Details of reactor pit and ...

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

    151. ARA-III Reactor building (ARA-608) Details of reactor pit and instrument plan. Aerojet-general 880-area/GCRE-608-T-19. Date: November 1958. Ineel index code no. 063-0608-25-013-102678. - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Army Reactors Experimental Area, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  7. 10 CFR 72.120 - General considerations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND REACTOR-RELATED GREATER THAN CLASS C WASTE General Design... reactor-related GTCC waste in an ISFSI or to store spent fuel, high-level radioactive waste, or reactor... be designed to store spent fuel and/or solid reactor-related GTCC waste. (1) Reactor-related GTCC...

  8. ADVANCED REACTIVITY MEASUREMENT FACILITY, TRA660, INTERIOR. REACTOR INSIDE TANK. METAL ...

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

    ADVANCED REACTIVITY MEASUREMENT FACILITY, TRA-660, INTERIOR. REACTOR INSIDE TANK. METAL WORK PLATFORM ABOVE. THE REACTOR WAS IN A SMALL WATER-FILLED POOL. INL NEGATIVE NO. 66-6373. Unknown Photographer, ca. 1966 - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Test Reactor Area, Materials & Engineering Test Reactors, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  9. 10 CFR 50.30 - Filing of application; oath or affirmation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and... Director, Office of New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, or the Director..., operating license, early site permit, combined license, or manufacturing license for a nuclear power reactor...

  10. 10 CFR 50.30 - Filing of application; oath or affirmation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and... Director, Office of New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, or the Director..., operating license, early site permit, combined license, or manufacturing license for a nuclear power reactor...

  11. 10 CFR 50.30 - Filing of application; oath or affirmation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and... Director, Office of New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, or the Director..., operating license, early site permit, combined license, or manufacturing license for a nuclear power reactor...

  12. 10 CFR 50.30 - Filing of application; oath or affirmation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, or Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and... Director, Office of New Reactors, or the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, or the Director..., operating license, early site permit, combined license, or manufacturing license for a nuclear power reactor...

  13. A Review of Gas-Cooled Reactor Concepts for SDI Applications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-08-01

    710 program .) Wire- Core Reactor (proposed by Rockwell). The wire- core reactor utilizes thin fuel wires woven between spacer wires to form an open...reactor is based on results of developmental studies of nuclear rocket propulsion systems. The reactor core is made up of annular fuel assemblies of...XE Addendum to Volume II. NERVA Fuel Development , Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory, TNR-230, July 15’ 1972. J I8- Rover Program Reactor Tests

  14. Computer study of emergency shutdowns of a 60-kilowatt reactor Brayton space power system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tew, R. C.; Jefferies, K. S.

    1974-01-01

    A digital computer study of emergency shutdowns of a 60-kWe reactor Brayton power system was conducted. Malfunctions considered were (1) loss of reactor coolant flow, (2) loss of Brayton system gas flow, (3)turbine overspeed, and (4) a reactivity insertion error. Loss of reactor coolant flow was the most serious malfunction for the reactor. Methods for moderating the reactor transients due to this malfunction are considered.

  15. Function of university reactors in operator licensing training for nuclear utilities

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

    Wicks, F.

    1985-11-01

    The director of the Division of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in generic letter 84-10, dated April 26, 1984, spoke the requirement that applicants for senior reactor operator licenses for power reactors shall have performed then reactor startups. Simulator startups were not acknowledged. Startups performed on a university reactor are acceptable. The content and results of a five-day program combining instruction and experiments with the Rensselaer reactor are summarized.

  16. Numerical Simulations of a 96-rod Polysilicon CVD Reactor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guoqiang, Tang; Cong, Chen; Yifang, Cai; Bing, Zong; Yanguo, Cai; Tihu, Wang

    2018-05-01

    With the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry, pressurized Siemens belljar-type polysilicon CVD reactors have been enlarged from 24 rods to 96 rods in less than 10 years aimed at much greater single-reactor productivity. A CFD model of an industry-scale 96-rod CVD reactor was established to study the internal temperature distribution and the flow field of the reactor. Numerical simulations were carried out and compared with actual growth results from a real CVD reactor. Factors affecting polysilicon depositions such as inlet gas injections, flow field, and temperature distribution in the CVD reactor are studied.

  17. Reactor water cleanup system

    DOEpatents

    Gluntz, D.M.; Taft, W.E.

    1994-12-20

    A reactor water cleanup system includes a reactor pressure vessel containing a reactor core submerged in reactor water. First and second parallel cleanup trains are provided for extracting portions of the reactor water from the pressure vessel, cleaning the extracted water, and returning the cleaned water to the pressure vessel. Each of the cleanup trains includes a heat exchanger for cooling the reactor water, and a cleaner for cleaning the cooled reactor water. A return line is disposed between the cleaner and the pressure vessel for channeling the cleaned water thereto in a first mode of operation. A portion of the cooled water is bypassed around the cleaner during a second mode of operation and returned through the pressure vessel for shutdown cooling. 1 figure.

  18. Characteristics and Dose Levels for Spent Reactor Fuels

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

    Coates, Cameron W

    2007-01-01

    Current guidance considers highly radioactive special nuclear materials to be those materials that, unshielded, emit a radiation dose [rate] measured at 1 m which exceeds 100 rem/h. Smaller, less massive fuel assemblies from research reactors can present a challenge from the point of view of self protection because of their size (lower dose, easier to handle) and the desirability of higher enrichments; however, a follow-on study to cross-compare dose trends of research reactors and power reactors was deemed useful to confirm/verify these trends. This paper summarizes the characteristics and dose levels of spent reactor fuels for both research reactors andmore » power reactors and extends previous studies aimed at quantifying expected dose rates from research reactor fuels worldwide.« less

  19. Comparing the new generation accelerator driven subcritical reactor system (ADS) to traditional critical reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kemah, Elif; Akkaya, Recep; Tokgöz, Seyit Rıza

    2017-02-01

    In recent years, the accelerator driven subcritical reactors have taken great interest worldwide. The Accelerator Driven System (ADS) has been used to produce neutron in subcritical state by the external proton beam source. These reactors, which are hybrid systems, are important in production of clean and safe energy and conversion of radioactive waste. The ADS with the selection of reliability and robust target materials have been the new generation of fission reactors. In addition, in the ADS Reactors the problems of long-lived radioactive fission products and waste actinides encountered in the fission process of the reactor during incineration can be solved, and ADS has come to the forefront of thorium as fuel for the reactors.

  20. Reactor operation environmental information document

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

    Haselow, J.S.; Price, V.; Stephenson, D.E.

    1989-12-01

    The Savannah River Site (SRS) produces nuclear materials, primarily plutonium and tritium, to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense. These products have been formed in nuclear reactors that were built during 1950--1955 at the SRS. K, L, and P reactors are three of five reactors that have been used in the past to produce the nuclear materials. All three of these reactors discontinued operation in 1988. Currently, intense efforts are being extended to prepare these three reactors for restart in a manner that protects human health and the environment. To document that restarting the reactors will have minimalmore » impacts to human health and the environment, a three-volume Reactor Operations Environmental Impact Document has been prepared. The document focuses on the impacts of restarting the K, L, and P reactors on both the SRS and surrounding areas. This volume discusses the geology, seismology, and subsurface hydrology. 195 refs., 101 figs., 16 tabs.« less

  1. Auxiliary reactor for a hydrocarbon reforming system

    DOEpatents

    Clawson, Lawrence G.; Dorson, Matthew H.; Mitchell, William L.; Nowicki, Brian J.; Bentley, Jeffrey M.; Davis, Robert; Rumsey, Jennifer W.

    2006-01-17

    An auxiliary reactor for use with a reformer reactor having at least one reaction zone, and including a burner for burning fuel and creating a heated auxiliary reactor gas stream, and heat exchanger for transferring heat from auxiliary reactor gas stream and heat transfer medium, preferably two-phase water, to reformer reaction zone. Auxiliary reactor may include first cylindrical wall defining a chamber for burning fuel and creating a heated auxiliary reactor gas stream, the chamber having an inlet end, an outlet end, a second cylindrical wall surrounding first wall and a second annular chamber there between. The reactor being configured so heated auxiliary reactor gas flows out the outlet end and into and through second annular chamber and conduit which is disposed in second annular chamber, the conduit adapted to carry heat transfer medium and being connectable to reformer reaction zone for additional heat exchange.

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

    Lister, Tedd E; Parkman, Jacob A; Diaz Aldana, Luis A

    A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anodemore » of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.« less

  3. High-intensity power-resolved radiation imaging of an operational nuclear reactor.

    PubMed

    Beaumont, Jonathan S; Mellor, Matthew P; Villa, Mario; Joyce, Malcolm J

    2015-10-09

    Knowledge of the neutron distribution in a nuclear reactor is necessary to ensure the safe and efficient burnup of reactor fuel. Currently these measurements are performed by in-core systems in what are extremely hostile environments and in most reactor accident scenarios it is likely that these systems would be damaged. Here we present a compact and portable radiation imaging system with the ability to image high-intensity fast-neutron and gamma-ray fields simultaneously. This system has been deployed to image radiation fields emitted during the operation of a TRIGA test reactor allowing a spatial visualization of the internal reactor conditions to be obtained. The imaged flux in each case is found to scale linearly with reactor power indicating that this method may be used for power-resolved reactor monitoring and for the assay of ongoing nuclear criticalities in damaged nuclear reactors.

  4. Exploratory study of several advanced nuclear-MHD power plant systems.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Williams, J. R.; Clement, J. D.; Rosa, R. J.; Yang, Y. Y.

    1973-01-01

    In order for efficient multimegawatt closed cycle nuclear-MHD systems to become practical, long-life gas cooled reactors with exit temperatures of about 2500 K or higher must be developed. Four types of nuclear reactors which have the potential of achieving this goal are the NERVA-type solid core reactor, the colloid core (rotating fluidized bed) reactor, the 'light bulb' gas core reactor, and the 'coaxial flow' gas core reactor. Research programs aimed at developing these reactors have progressed rapidly in recent years so that prototype power reactors could be operating by 1980. Three types of power plant systems which use these reactors have been analyzed to determine the operating characteristics, critical parameters and performance of these power plants. Overall thermal efficiencies as high as 80% are projected, using an MHD turbine-compressor cycle with steam bottoming, and slightly lower efficiencies are projected for an MHD motor-compressor cycle.

  5. High-intensity power-resolved radiation imaging of an operational nuclear reactor

    PubMed Central

    Beaumont, Jonathan S.; Mellor, Matthew P.; Villa, Mario; Joyce, Malcolm J.

    2015-01-01

    Knowledge of the neutron distribution in a nuclear reactor is necessary to ensure the safe and efficient burnup of reactor fuel. Currently these measurements are performed by in-core systems in what are extremely hostile environments and in most reactor accident scenarios it is likely that these systems would be damaged. Here we present a compact and portable radiation imaging system with the ability to image high-intensity fast-neutron and gamma-ray fields simultaneously. This system has been deployed to image radiation fields emitted during the operation of a TRIGA test reactor allowing a spatial visualization of the internal reactor conditions to be obtained. The imaged flux in each case is found to scale linearly with reactor power indicating that this method may be used for power-resolved reactor monitoring and for the assay of ongoing nuclear criticalities in damaged nuclear reactors. PMID:26450669

  6. Design and manufacture of a D-shape coil-based toroid-type HTS DC reactor using 2nd generation HTS wire

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Kwangmin; Go, Byeong-Soo; Sung, Hae-Jin; Park, Hea-chul; Kim, Seokho; Lee, Sangjin; Jin, Yoon-Su; Oh, Yunsang; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun

    2014-09-01

    This paper describes the design specifications and performance of a real toroid-type high temperature superconducting (HTS) DC reactor. The HTS DC reactor was designed using 2G HTS wires. The HTS coils of the toroid-type DC reactor magnet were made in the form of a D-shape. The target inductance of the HTS DC reactor was 400 mH. The expected operating temperature was under 20 K. The electromagnetic performance of the toroid-type HTS DC reactor magnet was analyzed using the finite element method program. A conduction cooling method was adopted for reactor magnet cooling. Performances of the toroid-type HTS DC reactor were analyzed through experiments conducted under the steady-state and charge conditions. The fundamental design specifications and the data obtained from this research will be applied to the design of a commercial-type HTS DC reactor.

  7. A comparison of the technological effectiveness of dairy wastewater treatment in anaerobic UASB reactor and anaerobic reactor with an innovative design.

    PubMed

    Jedrzejewska-Cicinska, M; Kozak, K; Krzemieniewski, M

    2007-10-01

    The present research was an investigation of the influence of an innovative design of reactor filled with polyethylene (PE) granulate on model dairy wastewater treatment efficiency under anaerobic conditions compared to that obtained in a typical UASB reactor. The experiment was conducted at laboratory scale. An innovative reactor was designed with the reaction chamber inclined 30 degrees in relation to the ground with upward waste flow and was filled with PE granular material. Raw model dairy wastewater was fed to two anaerobic reactors of different design at the organic loading rate of 4 kg COD m(-3)d(-1). Throughout the experiment, a higher removal efficiency of organic compounds was observed in the reactor with an innovative design and it was higher by 7.1% on average than in the UASB reactor. The total suspended solids was lower in the wastewater treated in the anaerobic reactor with the innovative design. Applying a PE granulated filling in the chamber of the innovative reactor contributed to an even distribution of sludge biomass in the reactor, reducing washout of anaerobic sludge biomass from the reaction chamber and giving a higher organic compounds removal efficiency.

  8. Thorium Fuel Utilization Analysis on Small Long Life Reactor for Different Coolant Types

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Permana, Sidik

    2017-07-01

    A small power reactor and long operation which can be deployed for less population and remote area has been proposed by the IAEA as a small and medium reactor (SMR) program. Beside uranium utilization, it can be used also thorium fuel resources for SMR as a part of optimalization of nuclear fuel as a “partner” fuel with uranium fuel. A small long-life reactor based on thorium fuel cycle for several reactor coolant types and several power output has been evaluated in the present study for 10 years period of reactor operation. Several key parameters are used to evaluate its effect to the reactor performances such as reactor criticality, excess reactivity, reactor burnup achievement and power density profile. Water-cooled types give higher criticality than liquid metal coolants. Liquid metal coolant for fast reactor system gives less criticality especially at beginning of cycle (BOC), which shows liquid metal coolant system obtains almost stable criticality condition. Liquid metal coolants are relatively less excess reactivity to maintain longer reactor operation than water coolants. In addition, liquid metal coolant gives higher achievable burnup than water coolant types as well as higher power density for liquid metal coolants.

  9. Development of toroid-type HTS DC reactor series for HVDC system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Kwangmin; Go, Byeong-Soo; Park, Hea-chul; Kim, Sung-kyu; Kim, Seokho; Lee, Sangjin; Oh, Yunsang; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun

    2015-11-01

    This paper describes design specifications and performance of a toroid-type high-temperature superconducting (HTS) DC reactor. The first phase operation targets of the HTS DC reactor were 400 mH and 400 A. The authors have developed a real HTS DC reactor system during the last three years. The HTS DC reactor was designed using 2G GdBCO HTS wires. The HTS coils of the toroid-type DC reactor magnet were made in the form of a D-shape. The electromagnetic performance of the toroid-type HTS DC reactor magnet was analyzed using the finite element method program. A conduction cooling method was adopted for reactor magnet cooling. The total system has been successfully developed and tested in connection with LCC type HVDC system. Now, the authors are studying a 400 mH, kA class toroid-type HTS DC reactor for the next phase research. The 1500 A class DC reactor system was designed using layered 13 mm GdBCO 2G HTS wire. The expected operating temperature is under 30 K. These fundamental data obtained through both works will usefully be applied to design a real toroid-type HTS DC reactor for grid application.

  10. Experiences in utilization of research reactors in Yugoslavia

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

    Copic, M.; Gabrovsek, Z.; Pop-Jordanov, J.

    1971-06-15

    The nuclear institutes in Yugoslavia possess three research reactors. Since 1958, two heavy-water reactors have been in operation at the 'Boris Kidric' Institute, a zero-power reactor RB and a 6. 5-MW reactor RA. At the Jozef Stefan Institute, a 250-kW TRIGA Mark II reactor has been operating since 1966. All reactors are equipped with the necessary experimental facilities. The main activities based on these reactors are: (1) fundamental research in solid-state and nuclear physics; (2) R and D activities related to nuclear power program; and (3) radioisotope production. In fundamental physics, inelastic neutron scattering and diffraction phenomena are studied bymore » means of the neutron beam tubes and applied to investigations of the structures of solids and liquids. Valuable results are also obtained in n - γ reaction studies. Experiments connected with the fuel -element development program, owing to the characteristics of the existing reactors, are limited to determination of the fuel element parameters, to studies on the purity of uranium, and to a small number of capsule irradiations. All three reactors are also used for the verification of different methods applied in the analysis of power reactors, particularly concerning neutron flux distributions, the optimization of reactor core configurations and the shielding effects. An appreciable irradiation space in the reactors is reserved for isotope production. Fruitful international co-operation has been established in all these activities, on the basis of either bilateral or multilateral arrangements. The paper gives a critical analysis of the utilization of research reactors in a developing country such as Yugoslavia. The investments in and the operational costs of research reactors are compared with the benefits obtained in different areas of reactor application. The impact on the general scientific, technological and educational level in the country is also considered. In particular, an attempt is made ro envisage the role of research reactors in the promotion of nuclear power programs in relation to the size of the program, the competence of domestic industries and the degree of independence where fuel supply is concerned. (author)« less

  11. Nuclear Reactor Physics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stacey, Weston M.

    2001-02-01

    An authoritative textbook and up-to-date professional's guide to basic and advanced principles and practices Nuclear reactors now account for a significant portion of the electrical power generated worldwide. At the same time, the past few decades have seen an ever-increasing number of industrial, medical, military, and research applications for nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactor physics is the core discipline of nuclear engineering, and as the first comprehensive textbook and reference on basic and advanced nuclear reactor physics to appear in a quarter century, this book fills a large gap in the professional literature. Nuclear Reactor Physics is a textbook for students new to the subject, for others who need a basic understanding of how nuclear reactors work, as well as for those who are, or wish to become, specialists in nuclear reactor physics and reactor physics computations. It is also a valuable resource for engineers responsible for the operation of nuclear reactors. Dr. Weston Stacey begins with clear presentations of the basic physical principles, nuclear data, and computational methodology needed to understand both the static and dynamic behaviors of nuclear reactors. This is followed by in-depth discussions of advanced concepts, including extensive treatment of neutron transport computational methods. As an aid to comprehension and quick mastery of computational skills, he provides numerous examples illustrating step-by-step procedures for performing the calculations described and chapter-end problems. Nuclear Reactor Physics is a useful textbook and working reference. It is an excellent self-teaching guide for research scientists, engineers, and technicians involved in industrial, research, and military applications of nuclear reactors, as well as government regulators who wish to increase their understanding of nuclear reactors.

  12. SELF-REGULATING BOILING-WATER NUCLEAR REACTORS

    DOEpatents

    Ransohoff, J.A.; Plawchan, J.D.

    1960-08-16

    A boiling-water reactor was designed which comprises a pressure vessel containing a mass of water, a reactor core submerged within the water, a reflector tank disposed within the reactor, the reflector tank being open at the top to the interior of the pressure vessel, and a surge tank connected to the reflector tank. In operation the reflector level changes as a function of the pressure witoin the reactor so that the reactivity of the reactor is automatically controlled.

  13. REACTOR-FLASH BOILER-FLYWHEEL POWER PLANT

    DOEpatents

    Loeb, E.

    1961-01-17

    A power generator in the form of a flywheel with four reactors positioned about its rim is described. The reactors are so positioned that steam, produced in the reactor, exists tangentially to the flywheel, giving it a rotation. The reactors are incompletely moderated without water. The water enters the flywheel at its axis, under sufficient pressure to force it through the reactors, where it is converted to steam. The fuel consists of parallel twisted ribbons assembled to approximate a cylinder.

  14. System and method for air temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor

    DOEpatents

    Kelly, Sean M

    2016-09-27

    A system and method for air temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor is provided. The system and method involves introducing a specific quantity of cooling air or trim air in between stages in a multistage oxygen transport membrane based reactor or furnace to maintain generally consistent surface temperatures of the oxygen transport membrane elements and associated reactors. The associated reactors may include reforming reactors, boilers or process gas heaters.

  15. System and method for temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor

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

    Kelly, Sean M.

    A system and method for temperature control in an oxygen transport membrane based reactor is provided. The system and method involves introducing a specific quantity of cooling air or trim air in between stages in a multistage oxygen transport membrane based reactor or furnace to maintain generally consistent surface temperatures of the oxygen transport membrane elements and associated reactors. The associated reactors may include reforming reactors, boilers or process gas heaters.

  16. Navy Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-09-29

    to design a smaller scale version of a naval pressurized water reactor , or to design a new reactor type potentially using a thorium liquid salt...integrated nuclear power system capable of use on destroyer- sized vessels either using a pressurized water reactor or a thorium liquid salt reactor ...nuclear reactors for Navy surface ships. The text of Section 246 is as follows: SEC. 246. STUDY ON THORIUM -LIQUID FUELED REACTORS FOR NAVAL FORCES

  17. Laboratory instrumentation modernization at the WPI Nuclear Reactor Facility

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

    Not Available

    1995-01-01

    With partial funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) University Reactor Instrumentation Program several laboratory instruments utilized by students and researchers at the WPI Nuclear Reactor Facility have been upgraded or replaced. Designed and built by General Electric in 1959, the open pool nuclear training reactor at WPI was one of the first such facilities in the nation located on a university campus. Devoted to undergraduate use, the reactor and its related facilities have been since used to train two generations of nuclear engineers and scientists for the nuclear industry. The low power output of the reactor and an ergonomicmore » facility design make it an ideal tool for undergraduate nuclear engineering education and other training. The reactor, its control system, and the associate laboratory equipment are all located in the same room. Over the years, several important milestones have taken place at the WPI reactor. In 1969, the reactor power level was upgraded from 1 kW to 10 kW. The reactor`s Nuclear Regulatory Commission operating license was renewed for 20 years in 1983. In 1988, under DOE Grant No. DE-FG07-86ER75271, the reactor was converted to low-enriched uranium fuel. In 1992, again with partial funding from DOE (Grant No. DE-FG02-90ER12982), the original control console was replaced.« less

  18. Modification of UASB reactor by using CFD simulations for enhanced treatment of municipal sewage.

    PubMed

    Das, Suprotim; Sarkar, Supriya; Chaudhari, Sanjeev

    2018-02-01

    Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) has been in use since last few decades for the treatment of organic wastewaters. However, the performance of UASB reactor is quite low for treatment of low strength wastewaters (LSWs) due to less biogas production leading to poor mixing. In the present research work, a modification was done in the design of UASB to improve mixing of reactor liquid which is important to enhance the reactor performance. The modified UASB (MUASB) reactor was designed by providing a slanted baffle along the height of the reactor having an angle of 5.7° with the vertical wall. A two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of three phase gas-liquid-solid flow in MUASB reactor was performed and compared with conventional UASB reactor. The CFD study indicated better mixing in terms of vorticity magnitude in MUASB reactor as compared to conventional UASB, which was reflected in the reactor performance. The performance of MUASB was compared with conventional UASB reactor for the onsite treatment of domestic sewage as LSW. Around 16% higher total chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency was observed in MUASB reactor as compared to conventional UASB during this study. Therefore, this MUASB model demonstrates a qualitative relationship between mixing and performance during the treatment of LSW. From the study, it seems that MUASB holds promise for field applications.

  19. 10 CFR 50.60 - Acceptance criteria for fracture prevention measures for lightwater nuclear power reactors for...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... lightwater nuclear power reactors for normal operation. 50.60 Section 50.60 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY... lightwater nuclear power reactors for normal operation. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, all light-water nuclear power reactors, other than reactor facilities for which the...

  20. 10 CFR 73.60 - Additional requirements for physical protection at nonpower reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... nonpower reactors. 73.60 Section 73.60 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) PHYSICAL PROTECTION... requirements for physical protection at nonpower reactors. Each nonpower reactor licensee who, pursuant to the... nonpower reactors licensed to operate at or above a power level of 2 megawatts thermal. [38 FR 35430, Dec...

  1. 10 CFR 50.60 - Acceptance criteria for fracture prevention measures for lightwater nuclear power reactors for...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... lightwater nuclear power reactors for normal operation. 50.60 Section 50.60 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY... lightwater nuclear power reactors for normal operation. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, all light-water nuclear power reactors, other than reactor facilities for which the...

  2. 10 CFR 73.60 - Additional requirements for physical protection at nonpower reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... nonpower reactors. 73.60 Section 73.60 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) PHYSICAL PROTECTION... requirements for physical protection at nonpower reactors. Each nonpower reactor licensee who, pursuant to the... nonpower reactors licensed to operate at or above a power level of 2 megawatts thermal. [38 FR 35430, Dec...

  3. 78 FR 26811 - Dow Chemical Company, Dow TRIGA Research Reactor; License Renewal for the Dow Chemical TRIGA...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-08

    ... Research Reactor; License Renewal for the Dow Chemical TRIGA Research Reactor; Supplemental Information and... 20, 2012 (77 FR 42771), ``License Renewal for the Dow Chemical TRIGA Research Reactor,'' to inform... Chemical Company which would authorize continued operation of the Dow TRIGA Research Reactor. The notice...

  4. 10 CFR 140.12 - Amount of financial protection required for other reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Amount of financial protection required for other reactors... reactors. (a) Each licensee is required to have and maintain financial protection for each nuclear reactor... of financial protection required for any nuclear reactor under this section be less than $4,500,000...

  5. 10 CFR 140.12 - Amount of financial protection required for other reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Amount of financial protection required for other reactors... reactors. (a) Each licensee is required to have and maintain financial protection for each nuclear reactor... of financial protection required for any nuclear reactor under this section be less than $4,500,000...

  6. PBF Reactor Building (PER620). Camera faces north into highbay/reactor pit ...

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

    PBF Reactor Building (PER-620). Camera faces north into high-bay/reactor pit area. Inside from for reactor enclosure is in place. Photographer: John Capek. Date: March 15, 1967. INEEL negative no. 67-1769 - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, SPERT-I & Power Burst Facility Area, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  7. Reactor safety method

    DOEpatents

    Vachon, Lawrence J.

    1980-03-11

    This invention relates to safety means for preventing a gas cooled nuclear reactor from attaining criticality prior to start up in the event the reactor core is immersed in hydrogenous liquid. This is accomplished by coating the inside surface of the reactor coolant channels with a neutral absorbing material that will vaporize at the reactor's operating temperature.

  8. 155. ARAIII Reactor building (ARA608) Details of reactor pit showing ...

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

    155. ARA-III Reactor building (ARA-608) Details of reactor pit showing tray supports and fuel element storage rack. Aerojet-general 880-area/GCRE-608-MS-2. Date: November 1958. Ineel index code no. 063-0608-40-013-102625. - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Army Reactors Experimental Area, Scoville, Butte County, ID

  9. World Energy Data System (WENDS). Volume XI. Nuclear fission program summaries

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

    Not Available

    1979-06-01

    Brief management and technical summaries of nuclear fission power programs are presented for nineteen countries. The programs include the following: fuel supply, resource recovery, enrichment, fuel fabrication, light water reactors, heavy water reactors, gas cooled reactors, breeder reactors, research and test reactors, spent fuel processing, waste management, and safety and environment. (JWR)

  10. Breeder Reactors, Understanding the Atom Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mitchell, Walter, III; Turner, Stanley E.

    The theory of breeder reactors in relationship to a discussion of fission is presented. Different kinds of reactors are characterized by the cooling fluids used, such as liquid metal, gas, and molten salt. The historical development of breeder reactors over the past twenty-five years includes specific examples of reactors. The location and a brief…

  11. 10 CFR 140.12 - Amount of financial protection required for other reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... reactors. (a) Each licensee is required to have and maintain financial protection for each nuclear reactor... of financial protection required for any nuclear reactor under this section be less than $4,500,000... chapter to operate two or more nuclear reactors at the same location, the total financial protection...

  12. 10 CFR 2.103 - Action on applications for byproduct, source, special nuclear material, facility and operator...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ..., Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, Director, Office of Federal and..., Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, Director, Office of Nuclear... of this chapter, see § 2.106(d). (b) If the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director...

  13. 10 CFR 140.12 - Amount of financial protection required for other reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... reactors. (a) Each licensee is required to have and maintain financial protection for each nuclear reactor... of financial protection required for any nuclear reactor under this section be less than $4,500,000... chapter to operate two or more nuclear reactors at the same location, the total financial protection...

  14. 10 CFR 140.12 - Amount of financial protection required for other reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... reactors. (a) Each licensee is required to have and maintain financial protection for each nuclear reactor... of financial protection required for any nuclear reactor under this section be less than $4,500,000... chapter to operate two or more nuclear reactors at the same location, the total financial protection...

  15. 10 CFR 2.103 - Action on applications for byproduct, source, special nuclear material, facility and operator...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ..., Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, Director, Office of Federal and..., Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director, Office of New Reactors, Director, Office of Nuclear... of this chapter, see § 2.106(d). (b) If the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Director...

  16. Computer model of catalytic combustion/Stirling engine heater head

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chu, E. K.; Chang, R. L.; Tong, H.

    1981-01-01

    The basic Acurex HET code was modified to analyze specific problems for Stirling engine heater head applications. Specifically, the code can model: an adiabatic catalytic monolith reactor, an externally cooled catalytic cylindrical reactor/flat plate reactor, a coannular tube radiatively cooled reactor, and a monolithic reactor radiating to upstream and downstream heat exchangers.

  17. Analysis of the Gas Core Actinide Transmutation Reactor (GCATR)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Clement, J. D.; Rust, J. H.

    1977-01-01

    Design power plant studies were carried out for two applications of the plasma core reactor: (1) As a breeder reactor, (2) As a reactor able to transmute actinides effectively. In addition to the above applications the reactor produced electrical power with a high efficiency. A reactor subsystem was designed for each of the two applications. For the breeder reactor, neutronics calculations were carried out for a U-233 plasma core with a molten salt breeding blanket. A reactor was designed with a low critical mass (less than a few hundred kilograms U-233) and a breeding ratio of 1.01. The plasma core actinide transmutation reactor was designed to transmute the nuclear waste from conventional LWR's. The spent fuel is reprocessed during which 100% of Np, Am, Cm, and higher actinides are separated from the other components. These actinides are then manufactured as oxides into zirconium clad fuel rods and charged as fuel assemblies in the reflector region of the plasma core actinide transmutation reactor. In the equilibrium cycle, about 7% of the actinides are directly fissioned away, while about 31% are removed by reprocessing.

  18. MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS OF PERIODIC PULSED REACTOR WITH MOVING GEOMETRY PARTS

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

    Cao, Yan; Gohar, Yousry

    2015-11-01

    In a periodic pulsed reactor, the reactor state varies periodically from slightly subcritical to slightly prompt supercritical for producing periodic power pulses. Such periodic state change is accomplished by a periodic movement of specific reactor parts, such as control rods or reflector sections. The analysis of such reactor is difficult to perform with the current reactor physics computer programs. Based on past experience, the utilization of the point kinetics approximations gives considerable errors in predicting the magnitude and the shape of the power pulse if the reactor has significantly different neutron life times in different zones. To accurately simulate themore » dynamics of this type of reactor, a Monte Carlo procedure using the transfer function TRCL/TR of the MCNP/MCNPX computer programs is utilized to model the movable reactor parts. In this paper, two algorithms simulating the geometry part movements during a neutron history tracking have been developed. Several test cases have been developed to evaluate these procedures. The numerical test cases have shown that the developed algorithms can be utilized to simulate the reactor dynamics with movable geometry parts.« less

  19. Pressurized fluidized bed reactor

    DOEpatents

    Isaksson, J.

    1996-03-19

    A pressurized fluid bed reactor power plant includes a fluidized bed reactor contained within a pressure vessel with a pressurized gas volume between the reactor and the vessel. A first conduit supplies primary gas from the gas volume to the reactor, passing outside the pressure vessel and then returning through the pressure vessel to the reactor, and pressurized gas is supplied from a compressor through a second conduit to the gas volume. A third conduit, comprising a hot gas discharge, carries gases from the reactor, through a filter, and ultimately to a turbine. During normal operation of the plant, pressurized gas is withdrawn from the gas volume through the first conduit and introduced into the reactor at a substantially continuously controlled rate as the primary gas to the reactor. In response to an operational disturbance of the plant, the flow of gas in the first, second, and third conduits is terminated, and thereafter the pressure in the gas volume and in the reactor is substantially simultaneously reduced by opening pressure relief valves in the first and third conduits, and optionally by passing air directly from the second conduit to the turbine. 1 fig.

  20. Pressurized fluidized bed reactor

    DOEpatents

    Isaksson, Juhani

    1996-01-01

    A pressurized fluid bed reactor power plant includes a fluidized bed reactor contained within a pressure vessel with a pressurized gas volume between the reactor and the vessel. A first conduit supplies primary gas from the gas volume to the reactor, passing outside the pressure vessel and then returning through the pressure vessel to the reactor, and pressurized gas is supplied from a compressor through a second conduit to the gas volume. A third conduit, comprising a hot gas discharge, carries gases from the reactor, through a filter, and ultimately to a turbine. During normal operation of the plant, pressurized gas is withdrawn from the gas volume through the first conduit and introduced into the reactor at a substantially continuously controlled rate as the primary gas to the reactor. In response to an operational disturbance of the plant, the flow of gas in the first, second, and third conduits is terminated, and thereafter the pressure in the gas volume and in the reactor is substantially simultaneously reduced by opening pressure relief valves in the first and third conduits, and optionally by passing air directly from the second conduit to the turbine.

  1. Reactor vibration reduction based on giant magnetostrictive materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rongge, Yan; Weiying, Liu; Yuechao, Wu; Menghua, Duan; Xiaohong, Zhang; Lihua, Zhu; Ling, Weng; Ying, Sun

    2017-05-01

    The vibration of reactors not only produces noise pollution, but also affects the safe operation of reactors. Giant magnetostrictive materials can generate huge expansion and shrinkage deformation in a magnetic field. With the principle of mutual offset between the giant magnetostrictive force produced by the giant magnetostrictive material and the original vibration force of the reactor, the vibration of the reactor can be reduced. In this paper, magnetization and magnetostriction characteristics in silicon steel and the giant magnetostrictive material are measured, respectively. According to the presented magneto-mechanical coupling model including the electromagnetic force and the magnetostrictive force, reactor vibration is calculated. By comparing the vibration of the reactor with different inserted materials in the air gaps between the reactor cores, the vibration reduction effectiveness of the giant magnetostrictive material is validated.

  2. Preliminary analysis of loss-of-coolant accident in Fukushima nuclear accident

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

    Su'ud, Zaki; Anshari, Rio

    Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) especially on Fukushima Nuclear Accident will be discussed in this paper. The Tohoku earthquake triggered the shutdown of nuclear power reactors at Fukushima Nuclear Power station. Though shutdown process has been completely performed, cooling process, at much smaller level than in normal operation, is needed to remove decay heat from the reactor core until the reactor reach cold-shutdown condition. If LOCA happen at this condition, it will cause the increase of reactor fuel and other core temperatures and can lead to reactor core meltdown and exposure of radioactive material to the environmentmore » such as in the Fukushima Dai Ichi nuclear accident case. In this study numerical simulation has been performed to calculate pressure composition, water level and temperature distribution on reactor during this accident. There are two coolant regulating system that operational on reactor unit 1 at this accident, Isolation Condensers (IC) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV) system. Average mass flow of steam to the IC system in this event is 10 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 3,2 hours and fully uncovered in 4,7 hours later. There are two coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 2, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) System and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of coolant that correspond this event is 20 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 73 hours and fully uncovered in 75 hours later. There are three coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 3, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) system, High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of water that correspond this event is 15 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 37 hours and fully uncovered in 40 hours later.« less

  3. Preliminary analysis of loss-of-coolant accident in Fukushima nuclear accident

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Su'ud, Zaki; Anshari, Rio

    2012-06-01

    Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LOCA) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) especially on Fukushima Nuclear Accident will be discussed in this paper. The Tohoku earthquake triggered the shutdown of nuclear power reactors at Fukushima Nuclear Power station. Though shutdown process has been completely performed, cooling process, at much smaller level than in normal operation, is needed to remove decay heat from the reactor core until the reactor reach cold-shutdown condition. If LOCA happen at this condition, it will cause the increase of reactor fuel and other core temperatures and can lead to reactor core meltdown and exposure of radioactive material to the environment such as in the Fukushima Dai Ichi nuclear accident case. In this study numerical simulation has been performed to calculate pressure composition, water level and temperature distribution on reactor during this accident. There are two coolant regulating system that operational on reactor unit 1 at this accident, Isolation Condensers (IC) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV) system. Average mass flow of steam to the IC system in this event is 10 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 3,2 hours and fully uncovered in 4,7 hours later. There are two coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 2, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) System and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of coolant that correspond this event is 20 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 73 hours and fully uncovered in 75 hours later. There are three coolant regulating system at operational on reactor unit 3, Reactor Core Isolation Condenser (RCIC) system, High Pressure Coolant Injection (HPCI) system and Safety Relief Valves (SRV). Average mass flow of water that correspond this event is 15 kg/s and could keep reactor core from uncovered about 37 hours and fully uncovered in 40 hours later.

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

    Wichman, K.; Tsao, J.; Mayfield, M.

    The regulatory application of leak before break (LBB) for operating and advanced reactors in the U.S. is described. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the application of LBB for six piping systems in operating reactors: reactor coolant system primary loop piping, pressurizer surge, safety injection accumulator, residual heat removal, safety injection, and reactor coolant loop bypass. The LBB concept has also been applied in the design of advanced light water reactors. LBB applications, and regulatory considerations, for pressurized water reactors and advanced light water reactors are summarized in this paper. Technology development for LBB performed by the NRCmore » and the International Piping Integrity Research Group is also briefly summarized.« less

  5. Solution of heat removal from nuclear reactors by natural convection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zitek, Pavel; Valenta, Vaclav

    2014-03-01

    This paper summarizes the basis for the solution of heat removal by natural convection from both conventional nuclear reactors and reactors with fuel flowing coolant (such as reactors with molten fluoride salts MSR).The possibility of intensification of heat removal through gas lift is focused on. It might be used in an MSR (Molten Salt Reactor) for cleaning the salt mixture of degassed fission products and therefore eliminating problems with iodine pitting. Heat removal by natural convection and its intensification increases significantly the safety of nuclear reactors. Simultaneously the heat removal also solves problems with lifetime of pumps in the primary circuit of high-temperature reactors.

  6. Imaging Fukushima Daiichi reactors with muons

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

    Miyadera, Haruo; Borozdin, Konstantin N.; Greene, Steve J.

    2013-05-15

    A study of imaging the Fukushima Daiichi reactors with cosmic-ray muons to assess the damage to the reactors is presented. Muon scattering imaging has high sensitivity for detecting uranium fuel and debris even through thick concrete walls and a reactor pressure vessel. Technical demonstrations using a reactor mockup, detector radiation test at Fukushima Daiichi, and simulation studies have been carried out. These studies establish feasibility for the reactor imaging. A few months of measurement will reveal the spatial distribution of the reactor fuel. The muon scattering technique would be the best and probably the only way for Fukushima Daiichi tomore » make this determination in the near future.« less

  7. Imaging Fukushima Daiichi reactors with muons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyadera, Haruo; Borozdin, Konstantin N.; Greene, Steve J.; Lukić, Zarija; Masuda, Koji; Milner, Edward C.; Morris, Christopher L.; Perry, John O.

    2013-05-01

    A study of imaging the Fukushima Daiichi reactors with cosmic-ray muons to assess the damage to the reactors is presented. Muon scattering imaging has high sensitivity for detecting uranium fuel and debris even through thick concrete walls and a reactor pressure vessel. Technical demonstrations using a reactor mockup, detector radiation test at Fukushima Daiichi, and simulation studies have been carried out. These studies establish feasibility for the reactor imaging. A few months of measurement will reveal the spatial distribution of the reactor fuel. The muon scattering technique would be the best and probably the only way for Fukushima Daiichi to make this determination in the near future.

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

    Fitzpatrick, F.C.; Gray, D.D.; Hyndman, J.R.

    The thermal, ecological, and social impacts of a 40-reactor NEC are compared to impacts from four 10-reactor NECs and ten 4-reactor power plants. The comparison was made for surrogate sites in western Tennessee. The surrogate site for the 40-reactor NEC is located on Kentucky Lake. A layout is postulated for ten clusters of four reactors each with 2.5-mile spacing between clusters. The plants use natural-draft cooling towers. A transmission system is proposed for delivering the power (48,000 MW) to five load centers. Comparable transmission systems are proposed for the 10-reactor NECs and the 4-reactor dispersed sites delivering power to themore » same load centers. (auth)« less

  9. Digital computer study of nuclear reactor thermal transients during startup of 60-kWe Brayton power conversion system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jefferies, K. S.; Tew, R. C.

    1974-01-01

    A digital computer study was made of reactor thermal transients during startup of the Brayton power conversion loop of a 60-kWe reactor Brayton power system. A startup procedure requiring the least Brayton system complication was tried first; this procedure caused violations of design limits on key reactor variables. Several modifications of this procedure were then found which caused no design limit violations. These modifications involved: (1) using a slower rate of increase in gas flow; (2) increasing the initial reactor power level to make the reactor respond faster; and (3) appropriate reactor control drum manipulation during the startup transient.

  10. Hybrid adsorptive membrane reactor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tsotsis, Theodore T. (Inventor); Sahimi, Muhammad (Inventor); Fayyaz-Najafi, Babak (Inventor); Harale, Aadesh (Inventor); Park, Byoung-Gi (Inventor); Liu, Paul K. T. (Inventor)

    2011-01-01

    A hybrid adsorbent-membrane reactor in which the chemical reaction, membrane separation, and product adsorption are coupled. Also disclosed are a dual-reactor apparatus and a process using the reactor or the apparatus.

  11. Hybrid adsorptive membrane reactor

    DOEpatents

    Tsotsis, Theodore T [Huntington Beach, CA; Sahimi, Muhammad [Altadena, CA; Fayyaz-Najafi, Babak [Richmond, CA; Harale, Aadesh [Los Angeles, CA; Park, Byoung-Gi [Yeosu, KR; Liu, Paul K. T. [Lafayette Hill, PA

    2011-03-01

    A hybrid adsorbent-membrane reactor in which the chemical reaction, membrane separation, and product adsorption are coupled. Also disclosed are a dual-reactor apparatus and a process using the reactor or the apparatus.

  12. Neutron Fluence And DPA Rate Analysis In Pebble-Bed HTR Reactor Vessel Using MCNP

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hamzah, Amir; Suwoto; Rohanda, Anis; Adrial, Hery; Bakhri, Syaiful; Sunaryo, Geni Rina

    2018-02-01

    In the Pebble-bed HTR reactor, the distance between the core and the reactor vessel is very close and the media inside are carbon and He gas. Neutron moderation capability of graphite material is theoretically lower than that of water-moderated reactors. Thus, it is estimated much more the fast neutrons will reach the reactor vessel. The fast neutron collisions with the atoms in the reactor vessel will result in radiation damage and could be reducing the vessel life. The purpose of this study was to obtain the magnitude of neutron fluence in the Pebble-bed HTR reactor vessel. Neutron fluence calculations in the pebble-bed HTR reactor vessel were performed using the MCNP computer program. By determining the tally position, it can be calculated flux, spectrum and neutron fluence in the position of Pebble-bed HTR reactor vessel. The calculations results of total neutron flux and fast neutron flux in the reactor vessel of 1.82x108 n/cm2/s and 1.79x108 n/cm2/s respectively. The fast neutron fluence in the reactor vessel is 3.4x1017 n/cm2 for 60 years reactor operation. Radiation damage in stainless steel material caused by high-energy neutrons (> 1.0 MeV) will occur when it has reached the neutron flux level of 1.0x1024 n/cm2. The neutron fluence results show that there is no radiation damage in the Pebble-bed HTR reactor vessel, so it is predicted that it will be safe to operate at least for 60 years.

  13. Reactor performances and microbial communities of biogas reactors: effects of inoculum sources.

    PubMed

    Han, Sheng; Liu, Yafeng; Zhang, Shicheng; Luo, Gang

    2016-01-01

    Anaerobic digestion is a very complex process that is mediated by various microorganisms, and the understanding of the microbial community assembly and its corresponding function is critical in order to better control the anaerobic process. The present study investigated the effect of different inocula on the microbial community assembly in biogas reactors treating cellulose with various inocula, and three parallel biogas reactors with the same inoculum were also operated in order to reveal the reproducibility of both microbial communities and functions of the biogas reactors. The results showed that the biogas production, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, and pH were different for the biogas reactors with different inocula, and different steady-state microbial community patterns were also obtained in different biogas reactors as reflected by Bray-Curtis similarity matrices and taxonomic classification. It indicated that inoculum played an important role in shaping the microbial communities of biogas reactor in the present study, and the microbial community assembly in biogas reactor did not follow the niche-based ecology theory. Furthermore, it was found that the microbial communities and reactor performances of parallel biogas reactors with the same inoculum were different, which could be explained by the neutral-based ecology theory and stochastic factors should played important roles in the microbial community assembly in the biogas reactors. The Bray-Curtis similarity matrices analysis suggested that inoculum affected more on the microbial community assembly compared to stochastic factors, since the samples with different inocula had lower similarity (10-20 %) compared to the samples from the parallel biogas reactors (30 %).

  14. A novel plant protection strategy for transient reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharyya, Samit K.; Lipinski, Walter C.; Hanan, Nelson A.

    The present plant protection system (PPS) has been defined for use in the TREAT-upgrade (TU) reactor for controlled transient operation of reactor-fuel behavior testing under simulated reactor-accident conditions. A PPS with energy-dependent trip set points lowered worst-case clad temperatures by as much as 180 K, relative to the use of conventional fixed-level trip set points. The multilayered multilevel protection strategy represents the state-of-the-art in terrestrial transient reactor protection systems, and should be applicable to multi-MW space reactors.

  15. Nuclear Energy Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-12-10

    Small Modular Reactors Rising cost estimates for large conventional nuclear power plants—widely projected to be $6 billion or more—have contributed to growing interest in proposals for smaller, modular reactors. Ranging from about 40 to 350 megawatts of electrical capacity, such reactors would be only a fraction of the size of current commercial reactors. Several modular reactors would be installed together to make up a power block with a single control room, under most concepts. Modular reactor concepts would use a variety of technologies,

  16. Research and proposal on selective catalytic reduction reactor optimization for industrial boiler.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yiming; Li, Jian; He, Hong

    2017-08-24

    The advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software STAR-CCM+ was used to simulate a denitrification (De-NOx) project for a boiler in this paper, and the simulation result was verified based on a physical model. Two selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactors were developed: reactor 1 was optimized and reactor 2 was developed based on reactor 1. Various indicators, including gas flow field, ammonia concentration distribution, temperature distribution, gas incident angle, and system pressure drop were analyzed. The analysis indicated that reactor 2 was of outstanding performance and could simplify developing greatly. Ammonia injection grid (AIG), the core component of the reactor, was studied; three AIGs were developed and their performances were compared and analyzed. The result indicated that AIG 3 was of the best performance. The technical indicators were proposed for SCR reactor based on the study. Flow filed distribution, gas incident angle, and temperature distribution are subjected to SCR reactor shape to a great extent, and reactor 2 proposed in this paper was of outstanding performance; ammonia concentration distribution is subjected to ammonia injection grid (AIG) shape, and AIG 3 could meet the technical indicator of ammonia concentration without mounting ammonia mixer. The developments above on the reactor and the AIG are both of great application value and social efficiency.

  17. REACTOR PHYSICS MODELING OF SPENT RESEARCH REACTOR FUEL FOR TECHNICAL NUCLEAR FORENSICS

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

    Nichols, T.; Beals, D.; Sternat, M.

    2011-07-18

    Technical nuclear forensics (TNF) refers to the collection, analysis and evaluation of pre- and post-detonation radiological or nuclear materials, devices, and/or debris. TNF is an integral component, complementing traditional forensics and investigative work, to help enable the attribution of discovered radiological or nuclear material. Research is needed to improve the capabilities of TNF. One research area of interest is determining the isotopic signatures of research reactors. Research reactors are a potential source of both radiological and nuclear material. Research reactors are often the least safeguarded type of reactor; they vary greatly in size, fuel type, enrichment, power, and burn-up. Manymore » research reactors are fueled with highly-enriched uranium (HEU), up to {approx}93% {sup 235}U, which could potentially be used as weapons material. All of them have significant amounts of radiological material with which a radioactive dispersal device (RDD) could be built. Therefore, the ability to attribute if material originated from or was produced in a specific research reactor is an important tool in providing for the security of the United States. Currently there are approximately 237 operating research reactors worldwide, another 12 are in temporary shutdown and 224 research reactors are reported as shut down. Little is currently known about the isotopic signatures of spent research reactor fuel. An effort is underway at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to analyze spent research reactor fuel to determine these signatures. Computer models, using reactor physics codes, are being compared to the measured analytes in the spent fuel. This allows for improving the reactor physics codes in modeling research reactors for the purpose of nuclear forensics. Currently the Oak Ridge Research reactor (ORR) is being modeled and fuel samples are being analyzed for comparison. Samples of an ORR spent fuel assembly were taken by SRNL for analytical and radiochemical analysis. The fuel assembly was modeled using MONTEBURNS(MCNP5/ ORIGEN2.2) and MCNPX/CINDER90. The results from the models have been compared to each other and to the measured data.« less

  18. 10 CFR Appendix A to Part 110 - Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC... List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority Note—A nuclear reactor basically includes the items within or attached directly to the reactor vessel, the equipment which controls the...

  19. 78 FR 20959 - Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Advanced...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-08

    ... NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS); Meeting of the ACRS Subcommittee on Advanced Boiling Water Reactor The ACRS Subcommittee on Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR... Committee on Reactor Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2013-08131 Filed 4-5-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ...

  20. 10 CFR Appendix A to Part 110 - Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC... List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority Note—A nuclear reactor basically includes the items within or attached directly to the reactor vessel, the equipment which controls the...

  1. 10 CFR 50.46 - Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... light-water nuclear power reactors. 50.46 Section 50.46 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOMESTIC... reactors. (a)(1)(i) Each boiling or pressurized light-water nuclear power reactor fueled with uranium oxide... behavior of the reactor system during a loss-of-coolant accident. Comparisons to applicable experimental...

  2. NEUTRONIC REACTOR

    DOEpatents

    Fermi, E.; Zinn, W.H.; Anderson, H.L.

    1958-09-16

    Means are presenied for increasing the reproduction ratio of a gaphite- moderated neutronic reactor by diminishing the neutron loss due to absorption or capture by gaseous impurities within the reactor. This means comprised of a fluid-tight casing or envelope completely enclosing the reactor and provided with a valve through which the casing, and thereby the reactor, may be evacuated of atmospheric air.

  3. 76 FR 70331 - List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: MAGNASTOR ® System, Revision 2

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-14

    ... various boron-10 areal densities for use with Pressurized Water Reactor and Boiling Water Reactor baskets... add various boron-10 areal densities for use with Pressurized Water Reactor and Boiling Water Reactor....1.1 to add various boron-10 areal densities for use with Pressurized Water Reactor and Boiling Water...

  4. 10 CFR 50.46 - Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... light-water nuclear power reactors. 50.46 Section 50.46 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOMESTIC... reactors. (a)(1)(i) Each boiling or pressurized light-water nuclear power reactor fueled with uranium oxide... evaluation model. This section does not apply to a nuclear power reactor facility for which the...

  5. 10 CFR Appendix A to Part 110 - Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC... List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority Note: A nuclear reactor... core of a nuclear reactor and capable of withstanding the operating pressure of the primary coolant. (2...

  6. 10 CFR 50.46 - Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... light-water nuclear power reactors. 50.46 Section 50.46 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOMESTIC... reactors. (a)(1)(i) Each boiling or pressurized light-water nuclear power reactor fueled with uranium oxide... evaluation model. This section does not apply to a nuclear power reactor facility for which the...

  7. 10 CFR 50.46 - Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems for light-water nuclear power reactors.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... light-water nuclear power reactors. 50.46 Section 50.46 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOMESTIC... reactors. (a)(1)(i) Each boiling or pressurized light-water nuclear power reactor fueled with uranium oxide... evaluation model. This section does not apply to a nuclear power reactor facility for which the...

  8. NEUTRONIC REACTOR

    DOEpatents

    Wigner, E.P.

    1958-04-22

    A nuclear reactor for isotope production is described. This reactor is designed to provide a maximum thermal neutron flux in a region adjacent to the periphery of the reactor rather than in the center of the reactor. The core of the reactor is generally centrally located with respect tn a surrounding first reflector, constructed of beryllium. The beryllium reflector is surrounded by a second reflector, constructed of graphite, which, in tune, is surrounded by a conventional thermal shield. Water is circulated through the core and the reflector and functions both as a moderator and a coolant. In order to produce a greatsr maximum thermal neutron flux adjacent to the periphery of the reactor rather than in the core, the reactor is designed so tbat the ratio of neutron scattering cross section to neutron absorption cross section averaged over all of the materials in the reflector is approximately twice the ratio of neutron scattering cross section to neutron absorption cross section averaged over all of the material of the core of the reactor.

  9. Next generation fuel irradiation capability in the High Flux Reactor Petten

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fütterer, Michael A.; D'Agata, Elio; Laurie, Mathias; Marmier, Alain; Scaffidi-Argentina, Francesco; Raison, Philippe; Bakker, Klaas; de Groot, Sander; Klaassen, Frodo

    2009-07-01

    This paper describes selected equipment and expertise on fuel irradiation testing at the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, The Netherlands. The reactor went critical in 1961 and holds an operating license up to at least 2015. While HFR has initially focused on Light Water Reactor fuel and materials, it also played a decisive role since the 1970s in the German High Temperature Reactor (HTR) development program. A variety of tests related to fast reactor development in Europe were carried out for next generation fuel and materials, in particular for Very High Temperature Reactor (V/HTR) fuel, fuel for closed fuel cycles (U-Pu and Th-U fuel cycle) and transmutation, as well as for other innovative fuel types. The HFR constitutes a significant European infrastructure tool for the development of next generation reactors. Experimental facilities addressed include V/HTR fuel tests, a coated particle irradiation rig, and tests on fast reactor, transmutation and thorium fuel. The rationales for these tests are given, results are provided and further work is outlined.

  10. Using thermal balance model to determine optimal reactor volume and insulation material needed in a laboratory-scale composting reactor.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yongjiang; Pang, Li; Liu, Xinyu; Wang, Yuansheng; Zhou, Kexun; Luo, Fei

    2016-04-01

    A comprehensive model of thermal balance and degradation kinetics was developed to determine the optimal reactor volume and insulation material. Biological heat production and five channels of heat loss were considered in the thermal balance model for a representative reactor. Degradation kinetics was developed to make the model applicable to different types of substrates. Simulation of the model showed that the internal energy accumulation of compost was the significant heat loss channel, following by heat loss through reactor wall, and latent heat of water evaporation. Lower proportion of heat loss occurred through the reactor wall when the reactor volume was larger. Insulating materials with low densities and low conductive coefficients were more desirable for building small reactor systems. Model developed could be used to determine the optimal reactor volume and insulation material needed before the fabrication of a lab-scale composting system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Utilization of Stop-flow Micro-tubing Reactors for the Development of Organic Transformations.

    PubMed

    Toh, Ren Wei; Li, Jie Sheng; Wu, Jie

    2018-01-04

    A new reaction screening technology for organic synthesis was recently demonstrated by combining elements from both continuous micro-flow and conventional batch reactors, coined stop-flow micro-tubing (SFMT) reactors. In SFMT, chemical reactions that require high pressure can be screened in parallel through a safer and convenient way. Cross-contamination, which is a common problem in reaction screening for continuous flow reactors, is avoided in SFMT. Moreover, the commercially available light-permeable micro-tubing can be incorporated into SFMT, serving as an excellent choice for light-mediated reactions due to a more effective uniform light exposure, compared to batch reactors. Overall, the SFMT reactor system is similar to continuous flow reactors and more superior than batch reactors for reactions that incorporate gas reagents and/or require light-illumination, which enables a simple but highly efficient reaction screening system. Furthermore, any successfully developed reaction in the SFMT reactor system can be conveniently translated to continuous-flow synthesis for large scale production.

  12. Employing ISRU Models to Improve Hardware Design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Linne, Diane L.

    2010-01-01

    An analytical model for hydrogen reduction of regolith was used to investigate the effects of several key variables on the energy and mass performance of reactors for a lunar in-situ resource utilization oxygen production plant. Reactor geometry, reaction time, number of reactors, heat recuperation, heat loss, and operating pressure were all studied to guide hardware designers who are developing future prototype reactors. The effects of heat recuperation where the incoming regolith is pre-heated by the hot spent regolith before transfer was also investigated for the first time. In general, longer reaction times per batch provide a lower overall energy, but also result in larger and heavier reactors. Three reactors with long heat-up times results in similar energy requirements as a two-reactor system with all other parameters the same. Three reactors with heat recuperation results in energy reductions of 20 to 40 percent compared to a three-reactor system with no heat recuperation. Increasing operating pressure can provide similar energy reductions as heat recuperation for the same reaction times.

  13. NEUTRONIC REACTOR SYSTEM

    DOEpatents

    Treshow, M.

    1959-02-10

    A reactor system incorporating a reactor of the heterogeneous boiling water type is described. The reactor is comprised essentially of a core submerged adwater in the lower half of a pressure vessel and two distribution rings connected to a source of water are disposed within the pressure vessel above the reactor core, the lower distribution ring being submerged adjacent to the uppcr end of the reactor core and the other distribution ring being located adjacent to the top of the pressure vessel. A feed-water control valve, responsive to the steam demand of the load, is provided in the feedwater line to the distribution rings and regulates the amount of feed water flowing to each distribution ring, the proportion of water flowing to the submerged distribution ring being proportional to the steam demand of the load. This invention provides an automatic means exterior to the reactor to control the reactivity of the reactor over relatively long periods of time without relying upon movement of control rods or of other moving parts within the reactor structure.

  14. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Support of Non-light Water Reactor Technologies: Capabilities Assessment for NRC Near-term Implementation Action Plans for Non-light Water Reactors

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

    Belles, Randy; Jain, Prashant K.; Powers, Jeffrey J.

    The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has a rich history of support for light water reactor (LWR) and non-LWR technologies. The ORNL history involves operation of 13 reactors at ORNL including the graphite reactor dating back to World War II, two aqueous homogeneous reactors, two molten salt reactors (MSRs), a fast-burst health physics reactor, and seven LWRs. Operation of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) has been ongoing since 1965. Expertise exists amongst the ORNL staff to provide non-LWR training; support evaluation of non-LWR licensing and safety issues; perform modeling and simulation using advanced computational tools; run laboratory experiments usingmore » equipment such as the liquid salt component test facility; and perform in-depth fuel performance and thermal-hydraulic technology reviews using a vast suite of computer codes and tools. Summaries of this expertise are included in this paper.« less

  15. The IRIS Spool-Type Reactor Coolant Pump

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

    Kujawski, J.M.; Kitch, D.M.; Conway, L.E.

    2002-07-01

    IRIS (International Reactor Innovative and Secure) is a light water cooled, 335 MWe power reactor which is being designed by an international consortium as part of the US DOE NERI Program. IRIS features an integral reactor vessel that contains all the major reactor coolant system components including the reactor core, the coolant pumps, the steam generators and the pressurizer. This integral design approach eliminates the large coolant loop piping, and thus eliminates large loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs) as well as the individual component pressure vessels and supports. In addition, IRIS is being designed with a long life core and enhanced safetymore » to address the requirements defined by the US DOE for Generation IV reactors. One of the innovative features of the IRIS design is the adoption of a reactor coolant pump (called 'spool' pump) which is completely contained inside the reactor vessel. Background, status and future developments of the IRIS spool pump are presented in this paper. (authors)« less

  16. 10 CFR 171.3 - Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... holding an operating license for a power reactor, test reactor or research reactor issued under part 50 of... authorizes operation of a power reactor. The regulations in this part also apply to any person holding a...

  17. Advanced Test Reactor Tour

    ScienceCinema

    Miley, Don

    2017-12-21

    The Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory is the foremost nuclear materials test reactor in the world. This virtual tour describes the reactor, how experiments are conducted, and how spent nuclear fuel is handled and stored.

  18. Looking Southwest at Reactor Box Furnaces With Reactor Boxes and ...

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

    Looking Southwest at Reactor Box Furnaces With Reactor Boxes and Repossessed Uranium in Recycle Recovery Building - Hematite Fuel Fabrication Facility, Recycle Recovery Building, 3300 State Road P, Festus, Jefferson County, MO

  19. Development of a high-temperature durable catalyst for use in catalytic combustors for advanced automotive gas turbine engines

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tong, H.; Snow, G. C.; Chu, E. K.; Chang, R. L. S.; Angwin, M. J.; Pessagno, S. L.

    1981-09-01

    Durable catalytic reactors for advanced gas turbine engines were developed. Objectives were: to evaluate furnace aging as a cost effective catalytic reactor screening test, measure reactor degradation as a function of furnace aging, demonstrate 1,000 hours of combustion durability, and define a catalytic reactor system with a high probability of successful integration into an automotive gas turbine engine. Fourteen different catalytic reactor concepts were evaluated, leading to the selection of one for a durability combustion test with diesel fuel for combustion conditions. Eight additional catalytic reactors were evaluated and one of these was successfully combustion tested on propane fuel. This durability reactor used graded cell honeycombs and a combination of noble metal and metal oxide catalysts. The reactor was catalytically active and structurally sound at the end of the durability test.

  20. Moving bed reactor setup to study complex gas-solid reactions.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Puneet; Velazquez-Vargas, Luis G; Valentine, Charles; Fan, Liang-Shih

    2007-08-01

    A moving bed scale reactor setup for studying complex gas-solid reactions has been designed in order to obtain kinetic data for scale-up purpose. In this bench scale reactor setup, gas and solid reactants can be contacted in a cocurrent and countercurrent manner at high temperatures. Gas and solid sampling can be performed through the reactor bed with their composition profiles determined at steady state. The reactor setup can be used to evaluate and corroborate model parameters accounting for intrinsic reaction rates in both simple and complex gas-solid reaction systems. The moving bed design allows experimentation over a variety of gas and solid compositions in a single experiment unlike differential bed reactors where the gas composition is usually fixed. The data obtained from the reactor can also be used for direct scale-up of designs for moving bed reactors.

  1. Development of a high-temperature durable catalyst for use in catalytic combustors for advanced automotive gas turbine engines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tong, H.; Snow, G. C.; Chu, E. K.; Chang, R. L. S.; Angwin, M. J.; Pessagno, S. L.

    1981-01-01

    Durable catalytic reactors for advanced gas turbine engines were developed. Objectives were: to evaluate furnace aging as a cost effective catalytic reactor screening test, measure reactor degradation as a function of furnace aging, demonstrate 1,000 hours of combustion durability, and define a catalytic reactor system with a high probability of successful integration into an automotive gas turbine engine. Fourteen different catalytic reactor concepts were evaluated, leading to the selection of one for a durability combustion test with diesel fuel for combustion conditions. Eight additional catalytic reactors were evaluated and one of these was successfully combustion tested on propane fuel. This durability reactor used graded cell honeycombs and a combination of noble metal and metal oxide catalysts. The reactor was catalytically active and structurally sound at the end of the durability test.

  2. Spinning fluids reactor

    DOEpatents

    Miller, Jan D; Hupka, Jan; Aranowski, Robert

    2012-11-20

    A spinning fluids reactor, includes a reactor body (24) having a circular cross-section and a fluid contactor screen (26) within the reactor body (24). The fluid contactor screen (26) having a plurality of apertures and a circular cross-section concentric with the reactor body (24) for a length thus forming an inner volume (28) bound by the fluid contactor screen (26) and an outer volume (30) bound by the reactor body (24) and the fluid contactor screen (26). A primary inlet (20) can be operatively connected to the reactor body (24) and can be configured to produce flow-through first spinning flow of a first fluid within the inner volume (28). A secondary inlet (22) can similarly be operatively connected to the reactor body (24) and can be configured to produce a second flow of a second fluid within the outer volume (30) which is optionally spinning.

  3. Plum Brook Reactor Facility Control Room during Facility Startup

    NASA Image and Video Library

    1961-02-21

    Operators test the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Plum Brook Reactor Facility systems in the months leading up to its actual operation. The “Reactor On” signs are illuminated but the reactor core was not yet ready for chain reactions. Just a couple weeks after this photograph, Plum Brook Station held a media open house to unveil the 60-megawatt test reactor near Sandusky, Ohio. More than 60 members of the print media and radio and television news services met at the site to talk with community leaders and representatives from NASA and Atomic Energy Commission. The Plum Brook reactor went critical for the first time on the evening of June 14, 1961. It was not until April 1963 that the reactor reached its full potential of 60 megawatts. The reactor control room, located on the second floor of the facility, was run by licensed operators. The operators manually operated the shim rods which adjusted the chain reaction in the reactor core. The regulating rods could partially or completely shut down the reactor. The control room also housed remote area monitoring panels and other monitoring equipment that allowed operators to monitor radiation sensors located throughout the facility and to scram the reactor instantly if necessary. The color of the indicator lights corresponded with the elevation of the detectors in the various buildings. The reactor could also shut itself down automatically if the monitors detected any sudden irregularities.

  4. Research Program of a Super Fast Reactor

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

    Oka, Yoshiaki; Ishiwatari, Yuki; Liu, Jie

    2006-07-01

    Research program of a supercritical-pressure light water cooled fast reactor (Super Fast Reactor) is funded by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) in December 2005 as one of the research programs of Japanese NERI (Nuclear Energy Research Initiative). It consists of three programs. (1) development of Super Fast Reactor concept; (2) thermal-hydraulic experiments; (3) material developments. The purpose of the concept development is to pursue the advantage of high power density of fast reactor over thermal reactors to achieve economic competitiveness of fast reactor for its deployment without waiting for exhausting uranium resources. Design goal is notmore » breeding, but maximizing reactor power by using plutonium from spent LWR fuel. MOX will be the fuel of the Super Fast Reactor. Thermal-hydraulic experiments will be conducted with HCFC22 (Hydro chlorofluorocarbons) heat transfer loop of Kyushu University and supercritical water loop at JAEA. Heat transfer data including effect of grid spacers will be taken. The critical flow and condensation of supercritical fluid will be studied. The materials research includes the development and testing of austenitic stainless steel cladding from the experience of PNC1520 for LMFBR. Material for thermal insulation will be tested. SCWR (Supercritical-Water Cooled Reactor) of GIF (Generation-4 International Forum) includes both thermal and fast reactors. The research of the Super Fast Reactor will enhance SCWR research and the data base. The research period will be until March 2010. (authors)« less

  5. Experiment for search for sterile neutrino at SM-3 reactor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Serebrov, A. P.; Ivochkin, V. G.; Samoylov, R. M.; Fomin, A. K.; Zinoviev, V. G.; Neustroev, P. V.; Golovtsov, V. L.; Gruzinsky, N. V.; Solovey, V. A.; Cherniy, A. V.; Zherebtsov, O. M.; Martemyanov, V. P.; Zinoev, V. G.; Tarasenkov, V. G.; Aleshin, V. I.; Petelin, A. L.; Pavlov, S. V.; Izhutov, A. L.; Sazontov, S. A.; Ryazanov, D. K.; Gromov, M. O.; Afanasiev, V. V.; Matrosov, L. N.; Matrosova, M. Yu.

    2016-11-01

    In connection with the question of possible existence of sterile neutrino the laboratory on the basis of SM-3 reactor was created to search for oscillations of reactor antineutrino. A prototype of a neutrino detector with scintillator volume of 400 l can be moved at the distance of 6-11 m from the reactor core. The measurements of background conditions have been made. It is shown that the main experimental problem is associated with cosmic radiation background. Test measurements of dependence of a reactor antineutrino flux on the distance from a reactor core have been made. The prospects of search for oscillations of reactor antineutrino at short distances are discussed.

  6. Zirconium Hydride Space Power Reactor design.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Asquith, J. G.; Mason, D. G.; Stamp, S.

    1972-01-01

    The Zirconium Hydride Space Power Reactor being designed and fabricated at Atomics International is intended for a wide range of potential applications. Throughout the program a series of reactor designs have been evaluated to establish the unique requirements imposed by coupling with various power conversion systems and for specific applications. Current design and development emphasis is upon a 100 kilowatt thermal reactor for application in a 5 kwe thermoelectric space power generating system, which is scheduled to be fabricated and ground tested in the mid 70s. The reactor design considerations reviewed in this paper will be discussed in the context of this 100 kwt reactor and a 300 kwt reactor previously designed for larger power demand applications.

  7. A document review to characterize Atomic International SNAP fuels shipped to INEL 1966--1973

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

    Wahnschaffe, S.D.; Lords, R.E.; Kneff, D.W.

    1995-09-01

    This report provides the results of a document search and review study to obtain information on the spent fuels for the following six Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) reactor cores now stored at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL): SNAP-2 Experimental Reactor, SNAP-2 Development Reactor, SNAP-10A Ground Test Reactor, SNAP-8 Experimental Reactor, SNAP-8 Development Reactor, and Shield Test Reactor. The report also covers documentation on SNAP fuel materials from four in-pile materials tests: NAA-82-1, NAA-115-2, NAA-117-1, and NAA-121. Pieces of these fuel materials are also stored at INEL as part of the SNAP fuel shipments.

  8. A Roadmap of Innovative Nuclear Energy System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sekimoto, Hiroshi

    2017-01-01

    Nuclear is a dense energy without CO2 emission. It can be used for more than 100,000 years using fast breeder reactors with uranium from the sea. However, it raises difficult problems associated with severe accidents, spent fuel waste and nuclear threats, which should be solved with acceptable costs. Some innovative reactors have attracted interest, and many designs have been proposed for small reactors. These reactors are considered much safer than conventional large reactors and have fewer technical obstructions. Breed-and-burn reactors have high potential to solve all inherent problems for peaceful use of nuclear energy. However, they have some technical problems with materials. A roadmap for innovative reactors is presented herein.

  9. SNAP 10A FS-3 reactor performance

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

    Hawley, J.P.; Johnson, R.A.

    1966-08-15

    SNAP 10FS-3 was the first flight-qualified SNAP reactor system to be operated in a simulated space environment. Prestart-up qualification testing, automatic start-up, endurance period performance, extended operation test and reactor shutdown are described as they affected, or were affected by, overall reactor performance. Performance of the reactor control system and the diagnostic instrumentation is critically evaluted.

  10. 10 CFR Appendix A to Part 110 - Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC... List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority Note—A nuclear reactor basically... nuclear reactor and capable of withstanding the operating pressure of the primary coolant. (2) On-line (e...

  11. 10 CFR Appendix A to Part 110 - Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Illustrative List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC... List of Nuclear Reactor Equipment Under NRC Export Licensing Authority Note—A nuclear reactor basically... nuclear reactor and capable of withstanding the operating pressure of the primary coolant. (2) On-line (e...

  12. Method for passive cooling liquid metal cooled nuclear reactors, and system thereof

    DOEpatents

    Hunsbedt, Anstein; Busboom, Herbert J.

    1991-01-01

    A liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor having a passive cooling system for removing residual heat resulting from fuel decay during reactor shutdown. The passive cooling system comprises a plurality of partitions surrounding the reactor vessel in spaced apart relation forming intermediate areas for circulating heat transferring fluid which remove and carry away heat from the reactor vessel.

  13. 10 CFR 2.621 - Acceptance and docketing of application for early review of site suitability issues in a combined...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... Director of the Office of New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as...) The Director of the Office of New Reactors or the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation... of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, as appropriate, that they are complete. (c) If part one of the...

  14. High yields of hydrogen production from methanol steam reforming with a cross-U type reactor

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Shubin; Chen, Junyu; Zhang, Xuelin; Liu, Xiaowei

    2017-01-01

    This paper presents a numerical and experimental study on the performance of a methanol steam reformer integrated with a hydrogen/air combustion reactor for hydrogen production. A CFD-based 3D model with mass and momentum transport and temperature characteristics is established. The simulation results show that better performance is achieved in the cross-U type reactor compared to either a tubular reactor or a parallel-U type reactor because of more effective heat transfer characteristics. Furthermore, Cu-based micro reformers of both cross-U and parallel-U type reactors are designed, fabricated and tested for experimental validation. Under the same condition for reforming and combustion, the results demonstrate that higher methanol conversion is achievable in cross-U type reactor. However, it is also found in cross-U type reactor that methanol reforming selectivity is the lowest due to the decreased water gas shift reaction under high temperature, thereby carbon monoxide concentration is increased. Furthermore, the reformed gas generated from the reactors is fed into a high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In the test of discharging for 4 h, the fuel cell fed by cross-U type reactor exhibits the most stable performance. PMID:29121067

  15. High yields of hydrogen production from methanol steam reforming with a cross-U type reactor.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Shubin; Zhang, Yufeng; Chen, Junyu; Zhang, Xuelin; Liu, Xiaowei

    2017-01-01

    This paper presents a numerical and experimental study on the performance of a methanol steam reformer integrated with a hydrogen/air combustion reactor for hydrogen production. A CFD-based 3D model with mass and momentum transport and temperature characteristics is established. The simulation results show that better performance is achieved in the cross-U type reactor compared to either a tubular reactor or a parallel-U type reactor because of more effective heat transfer characteristics. Furthermore, Cu-based micro reformers of both cross-U and parallel-U type reactors are designed, fabricated and tested for experimental validation. Under the same condition for reforming and combustion, the results demonstrate that higher methanol conversion is achievable in cross-U type reactor. However, it is also found in cross-U type reactor that methanol reforming selectivity is the lowest due to the decreased water gas shift reaction under high temperature, thereby carbon monoxide concentration is increased. Furthermore, the reformed gas generated from the reactors is fed into a high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In the test of discharging for 4 h, the fuel cell fed by cross-U type reactor exhibits the most stable performance.

  16. Pressurized fluidized bed reactor and a method of operating the same

    DOEpatents

    Isaksson, J.

    1996-02-20

    A pressurized fluid bed reactor power plant includes a fluidized bed reactor contained within a pressure vessel with a pressurized gas volume between the reactor and the vessel. A first conduit supplies primary gas from the gas volume to the reactor, passing outside the pressure vessel and then returning through the pressure vessel to the reactor, and pressurized gas is supplied from a compressor through a second conduit to the gas volume. A third conduit, comprising a hot gas discharge, carries gases from the reactor, through a filter, and ultimately to a turbine. During normal operation of the plant, pressurized gas is withdrawn from the gas volume through the first conduit and introduced into the reactor at a substantially continuously controlled rate as the primary gas to the reactor. In response to an operational disturbance of the plant, the flow of gas in the first, second, and third conduits is terminated, and thereafter the pressure in the gas volume and in the reactor is substantially simultaneously reduced by opening pressure relief valves in the first and third conduits, and optionally by passing air directly from the second conduit to the turbine. 1 fig.

  17. Pressurized fluidized bed reactor and a method of operating the same

    DOEpatents

    Isaksson, Juhani

    1996-01-01

    A pressurized fluid bed reactor power plant includes a fluidized bed reactor contained within a pressure vessel with a pressurized gas volume between the reactor and the vessel. A first conduit supplies primary gas from the gas volume to the reactor, passing outside the pressure vessel and then returning through the pressure vessel to the reactor, and pressurized gas is supplied from a compressor through a second conduit to the gas volume. A third conduit, comprising a hot gas discharge, carries gases from the reactor, through a filter, and ultimately to a turbine. During normal operation of the plant, pressurized gas is withdrawn from the gas volume through the first conduit and introduced into the reactor at a substantially continuously controlled rate as the primary gas to the reactor. In response to an operational disturbance of the plant, the flow of gas in the first, second, and third conduits is terminated, and thereafter the pressure in the gas volume and in the reactor is substantially simultaneously reduced by opening pressure relief valves in the first and third conduits, and optionally by passing air directly from the second conduit to the turbine.

  18. Operating characteristic analysis of a 400 mH class HTS DC reactor in connection with a laboratory scale LCC type HVDC system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Sung-Kyu; Kim, Kwangmin; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun; Lee, Sangjin

    2015-11-01

    High temperature superconducting (HTS) devices are being developed due to their advantages. Most line commutated converter based high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems for long-distance transmission require large inductance of DC reactor; however, generally, copper-based reactors cause a lot of electrical losses during the system operation. This is driving researchers to develop a new type of DC reactor using HTS wire. The authors have developed a 400 mH class HTS DC reactor and a laboratory scale test-bed for line-commutated converter type HVDC system and applied the HTS DC reactor to the HVDC system to investigate their operating characteristics. The 400 mH class HTS DC reactor is designed using a toroid type magnet. The HVDC system is designed in the form of a mono-pole system with thyristor-based 12-pulse power converters. In this paper, the investigation results of the HTS DC reactor in connection with the HVDC system are described. The operating characteristics of the HTS DC reactor are analyzed under various operating conditions of the system. Through the results, applicability of an HTS DC reactor in an HVDC system is discussed in detail.

  19. Potential of Electric Power Production from Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) in Evapotranspiration Reactor for Leachate Treatment Using Alocasia macrorrhiza Plant and Eleusine indica Grass

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaman, Badrus; Wardhana, Irawan Wisnu

    2018-02-01

    Microbial fuel cell is one of attractive electric power generator from nature bacterial activity. While, Evapotranspiration is one of the waste water treatment system which developed to eliminate biological weakness that utilize the natural evaporation process and bacterial activity on plant roots and plant media. This study aims to determine the potential of electrical energy from leachate treatment using evapotranspiration reactor. The study was conducted using local plant, namely Alocasia macrorrhiza and local grass, namely Eleusine Indica. The system was using horizontal MFC by placing the cathodes and anodes at different chamber (i.e. in the leachate reactor and reactor with plant media). Carbon plates was used for chatode-anodes material with size of 40 cm x 10 cm x1 cm. Electrical power production was measure by a digital multimeter for 30 days reactor operation. The result shows electric power production was fluctuated during reactor operation from all reactors. The electric power generated from each reactor was fluctuated, but from the reactor using Alocasia macrorrhiza plant reach to 70 μwatt average. From the reactor using Eleusine Indica grass was reached 60 μwatt average. Electric power production fluctuation is related to the bacterial growth pattern in the soil media and on the plant roots which undergo the adaptation process until the middle of the operational period and then in stable growth condition until the end of the reactor operation. The results indicate that the evapotranspiration reactor using Alocasia macrorrhiza plant was 60-95% higher electric power potential than using Eleusine Indica grass in short-term (30-day) operation. Although, MFC system in evapotranspiration reactor system was one of potential system for renewable electric power generation.

  20. Assessment of the Technical Maturity of Generation IV Concepts for Test or Demonstration Reactor Applications, Revision 2

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

    Gougar, Hans David

    2015-10-01

    The United States Department of Energy (DOE) commissioned a study the suitability of different advanced reactor concepts to support materials irradiations (i.e. a test reactor) or to demonstrate an advanced power plant/fuel cycle concept (demonstration reactor). As part of the study, an assessment of the technical maturity of the individual concepts was undertaken to see which, if any, can support near-term deployment. A Working Group composed of the authors of this document performed the maturity assessment using the Technical Readiness Levels as defined in DOE’s Technology Readiness Guide . One representative design was selected for assessment from of each ofmore » the six Generation-IV reactor types: gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), molten salt reactor (MSR), supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR), sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), and very high temperature reactor (VHTR). Background information was obtained from previous detailed evaluations such as the Generation-IV Roadmap but other technical references were also used including consultations with concept proponents and subject matter experts. Outside of Generation IV activity in which the US is a party, non-U.S. experience or data sources were generally not factored into the evaluations as one cannot assume that this data is easily available or of sufficient quality to be used for licensing a US facility. The Working Group established the scope of the assessment (which systems and subsystems needed to be considered), adapted a specific technology readiness scale, and scored each system through discussions designed to achieve internal consistency across concepts. In general, the Working Group sought to determine which of the reactor options have sufficient maturity to serve either the test or demonstration reactor missions.« less

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