Estimating spatial travel times using automatic vehicle identification data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

Prepared ca. 2001. The paper describes an algorithm that was developed for estimating reliable and accurate average roadway link travel times using Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) data. The algorithm presented is unique in two aspects. First, ...

Agouti signaling protein stimulates cell division in "viable yellow" (A vy/a) mouse liver

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Enhanced linear growth, hyperplasia, and tumorigenesis are well-known characteristics of "viable yellow" agouti Avy/- mice (1); however, the functional basis for this aspect of the phenotype is unknown. In the present study, we ascertained whether agouti signaling protein (ASIP) levels in Avy/a or a...

BD LSRFortessa for Tulane DoD ID and Cancer Projects

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-21

Influenza Antivirals" PI: Patrick Iversen, AVI BioPharma DTRA-TMTI (Subcontract) "Rapid Development of Dengue Antivirals" PI: Patrick Iversen, AVI... BioPharma (PI) Lisa Morici, PhD: Defense Threat Reduction Agency HDTRA 1-13-C-0002 "Outer membrane vesicle vaccine-mediated protection against

Safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers with activity against ebola virus and marburg virus: results of two single-ascending-dose studies.

PubMed

Heald, Alison E; Iversen, Patrick L; Saoud, Jay B; Sazani, Peter; Charleston, Jay S; Axtelle, Tim; Wong, Michael; Smith, William B; Vutikullird, Apinya; Kaye, Edward

2014-11-01

Two identical single-ascending-dose studies evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of AVI-6002 and AVI-6003, two experimental combinations of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers with positive charges (PMOplus) that target viral mRNA encoding Ebola virus and Marburg virus proteins, respectively. Both AVI-6002 and AVI-6003 were found to suppress disease in virus-infected nonhuman primates in previous studies. AVI-6002 (a combination of AVI-7537 and AVI-7539) or AVI-6003 (a combination of AVI-7287 and AVI-7288) were administered as sequential intravenous (i.v.) infusions of a 1:1 fixed dose ratio of the two subcomponents. In each study, 30 healthy male and female subjects between 18 and 50 years of age were enrolled in six-dose escalation cohorts of five subjects each and received a single i.v. infusion of active study drug (0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 mg/kg per component) or placebo in a 4:1 ratio. Both AVI-6002 and AVI-6003 were safe and well tolerated at the doses studied. A maximum tolerated dose was not observed in either study. The four chemically similar PMOplus components exhibited generally similar PK profiles. The mean peak plasma concentration and area under the concentration-time curve values of the four components exhibited dose-proportional PK. The estimated plasma half-life of all four components was 2 to 5 h. The safety of the two combinations and the PK of the four components were similar, regardless of the target RNA sequence. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Efficient and versatile one-step affinity purification of in vivo biotinylated proteins: Expression, characterization and structure analysis of recombinant human glutamate carboxypeptidase II

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

Tykvart, J.; Sacha, P.; Barinka, C.

2012-02-07

Affinity purification is a useful approach for purification of recombinant proteins. Eukaryotic expression systems have become more frequently used at the expense of prokaryotic systems since they afford recombinant eukaryotic proteins with post-translational modifications similar or identical to the native ones. Here, we present a one-step affinity purification set-up suitable for the purification of secreted proteins. The set-up is based on the interaction between biotin and mutated streptavidin. Drosophila Schneider 2 cells are chosen as the expression host, and a biotin acceptor peptide is used as an affinity tag. This tag is biotinylated by Escherichia coli biotin-protein ligase in vivo.more » We determined that localization of the ligase within the ER led to the most effective in vivo biotinylation of the secreted proteins. We optimized a protocol for large-scale expression and purification of AviTEV-tagged recombinant human glutamate carboxypeptidase II (Avi-GCPII) with milligram yields per liter of culture. We also determined the 3D structure of Avi-GCPII by X-ray crystallography and compared the enzymatic characteristics of the protein to those of its non-tagged variant. These experiments confirmed that AviTEV tag does not affect the biophysical properties of its fused partner. Purification approach, developed here, provides not only a sufficient amount of highly homogenous protein but also specifically and effectively biotinylates a target protein and thus enables its subsequent visualization or immobilization.« less

75 FR 51180 - Safety Zone; AVI September Fireworks Display, Laughlin, Nevada, NV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-19

...-AA00 Safety Zone; AVI September Fireworks Display, Laughlin, Nevada, NV AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS... waters of the lower Colorado River, Laughlin, NV, in support of a fireworks display near the AVI Resort... Zone; AVI September Fireworks Display; Laughlin, Nevada, NV in the Federal Register (75 FR 23206). We...

The formation of Anthocyanic Vacuolar Inclusions in Arabidopsis thaliana and implications for the sequestration of anthocyanin pigments.

PubMed

Pourcel, Lucille; Irani, Niloufer G; Lu, Yuhua; Riedl, Ken; Schwartz, Steve; Grotewold, Erich

2010-01-01

Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments that accumulate in the large central vacuole of most plants. Inside the vacuole, anthocyanins can be found uniformly distributed or as part of sub-vacuolar pigment bodies, the Anthocyanic Vacuolar Inclusions (AVIs). Using Arabidopsis seedlings grown under anthocyanin-inductive conditions as a model to understand how AVIs are formed, we show here that the accumulation of AVIs strongly correlates with the formation of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) and derivatives. Arabidopsis mutants that fail to glycosylate anthocyanidins at the 5-O position (5gt mutant) accumulate AVIs in almost every epidermal cell of the cotyledons, as compared to wild-type seedlings, where only a small fraction of the cells show AVIs. A similar phenomenon is observed when seedlings are treated with vanadate. Highlighting a role for autophagy in the formation of the AVIs, we show that various mutants that interfere with the autophagic process (atg mutants) display lower numbers of AVIs, in addition to a reduced accumulation of anthocyanins. Interestingly, vanadate increases the numbers of AVIs in the atg mutants, suggesting that several pathways might participate in AVI formation. Taken together, our results suggest novel mechanisms for the formation of sub-vacuolar compartments capable of accumulating anthocyanin pigments.

The role of repeating optimization of atrioventricular interval during interim and long-term follow-up after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

PubMed

Zhang, Qing; Fung, Jeffrey Wing-Hong; Chan, Yat-Sun; Chan, Hamish Chi-Kin; Lin, Hong; Chan, Skiva; Yu, Cheuk-Man

2008-02-29

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective therapy for heart failure patients with electromechanical delay. Optimization of atrioventricular interval (AVI) is a cardinal component for the benefits. However, it is unknown if the AVI needs to be re-optimized during long-term follow-up. Thirty-one patients (66+/-11 years, 20 males) with sinus rhythm who received CRT underwent serial optimization of AVI at day 1, 3-month and during long-term follow-up by pulse Doppler echocardiography (PDE). At long-term follow-up, the optimal AVI and cardiac output (CO) estimated by non-invasive impedance cardiography (ICG) were compared with those by PDE. The follow-up was 16+/-11 months. There was no significant difference in the mean optimal AVI when compared between any 2 time points among day 1 (99+/-30 ms), 3-month (97+/-28 ms) and long-term follow-up (94+/-28 ms). However, in individual patient, the optimal AVI remained unchanged only in 14 patients (44%), and was shortened in 12 (38%) and lengthened in 6 patients (18%). During long-term follow-up, although the mean optimal AVIs obtained by PDE or ICG (94+/-28 vs. 92+/-29 ms) were not different, a discrepancy was found in 14 patients (45%). For the same AVI, the CO measured by ICG was systematically higher than that by PDE (3.5+/-0.8 Vs. 2.7+/-0.6 L/min, p<0.001). Optimization of AVI after CRT appears necessary during follow-up as it was readjusted in 55% of patients. Although AVI optimization by ICG was feasible, further studies are needed to confirm its role in optimizing AVI after CRT.

Marriage and Family Therapists Working with Family Violence: Strained Bedfellows or Compatible Partners?: A Commentary on Avis, Kaufman, and Bograd.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meth, Richard L.

1992-01-01

Responds to previous articles by Avis, Kaufman, and Bograd on role of marital and family therapists in dealing with family violence among clients. Comments on presentation style of earlier articles and then discusses points of agreement and disagreement with each of the three authors. Concludes by urging therapists to learn more so they can…

Cloning of an avilamycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces viridochromogenes Tü57.

PubMed Central

Gaisser, S; Trefzer, A; Stockert, S; Kirschning, A; Bechthold, A

1997-01-01

A 65-kb region of DNA from Streptomyces viridochromogenes Tü57, containing genes encoding proteins involved in the biosynthesis of avilamycins, was isolated. The DNA sequence of a 6.4-kb fragment from this region revealed four open reading frames (ORF1 to ORF4), three of which are fully contained within the sequenced fragment. The deduced amino acid sequence of AviM, encoded by ORF2, shows 37% identity to a 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase from Penicillium patulum. Cultures of S. lividans TK24 and S. coelicolor CH999 containing plasmids with ORF2 on a 5.5-kb PstI fragment were able to produce orsellinic acid, an unreduced version of 6-methylsalicylic acid. The amino acid sequence encoded by ORF3 (AviD) is 62% identical to that of StrD, a dTDP-glucose synthase from S. griseus. The deduced amino acid sequence of AviE, encoded by ORF4, shows 55% identity to a dTDP-glucose dehydratase (StrE) from S. griseus. Gene insertional inactivation experiments of aviE abolished avilamycin production, indicating the involvement of aviE in the biosynthesis of avilamycins. PMID:9335272

Genotype-Specific Regulation of Oral Innate Immunity by T2R38 Taste Receptor

PubMed Central

Gil, Sucheol; Coldwell, Susan; Drury, Jeanie L.; Arroyo, Fabiola; Phi, Tran; Saadat, Sanaz; Kwong, Danny; Chung, Whasun Oh

2015-01-01

The bitter taste receptor T2R38 has been shown to regulate mucosal innate immune responses in the upper airway epithelium. Furthermore, SNPs in T2R38 influence the sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and are associated with caries risk/protection. However, no study has been reported on the role of T2R38 in the innate immune responses to oral bacteria. We hypothesize that T2R38 regulates oral innate immunity and that this regulation is genotype-specific. Primary gingival epithelial cells carrying three common genotypes, PAV/PAV (PROP super-taster), AVI/PAV (intermediate) and AVI/AVI (non-taster) were stimulated with cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans, periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis or non-pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum. QRT-PCR analyzed T2R38 mRNA, and T2R38-specific siRNA and ELISA were utilized to evaluate induction of hBD-2 (antimicrobial peptide), IL-1α and IL-8 in various donor-lines. Experiments were set up in duplicate and repeated three times. T2R38 mRNA induction in response to S. mutans was highest in PAV/PAV (4.3-fold above the unstimulated controls; p<0.05), while lowest in AVI/AVI (1.2-fold). In PAV/PAV, hBD-2 secretion in response to S. mutans was decreased by 77% when T2R38 was silenced. IL-1α secretion was higher in PAV/PAV compared to AVI/PAV or AVI/AVI with S. mutans stimulation, but it was reduced by half when T2R38 was silenced (p<0.05). In response to P. gingivalis, AVI/AVI showed 4.4-fold increase (p<0.05) in T2R38 expression, whereas the levels in PAV/PAV and AVI/PAV remained close to that of the controls. Secretion levels of IL-1α and IL-8 decreased in AVI/AVI in response to P. gingivalis when T2R38 was silenced (p<0.05), while the changes were not significant in PAV/PAV. Our data suggest that the regulation of gingival innate immunity by T2R38 is genotype-dependent and that the ability to induce a high level of hBD-2 by PAV/PAV carriers may be a reason for protection against caries in this group. PMID:26552761

Early-life lead exposure results in dose- and sex-specific effects on weight and epigenetic gene regulation in weanling mice

PubMed Central

Faulk, Christopher; Barks, Amanda; Liu, Kevin; Goodrich, Jaclyn M; Dolinoy, Dana C

2013-01-01

Aims Epidemiological and animal data suggest that the development of adult chronic conditions is influenced by early-life exposure-induced changes to the epigenome. This study investigates the effects of perinatal lead (Pb) exposure on DNA methylation and bodyweight in weanling mice. Materials & methods Viable yellow agouti (Avy) mouse dams were exposed to 0, 2.1, 16 and 32 ppm Pb acetate before conception through weaning. Epigenetic effects were evaluated by scoring coat color of Avy/a offspring and quantitative bisulfite sequencing of two retrotransposon-driven (Avy and CDK5 activator-binding protein intracisternal A particle element) and two imprinted (Igf2 and Igf2r) loci in tail DNA. Results Maternal blood Pb levels were below the limit of detection in controls, and 4.1, 25.1 and 32.1 μg/dl for each dose, respectively. Pb exposure was associated with a trend of increased wean bodyweight in males (p = 0.03) and altered coat color in Avy/a offspring. DNA methylation at Avy and the CDK5 activator-binding protein intracisternal A-particle element was significantly different from controls following a cubic trend (p = 0.04; p = 0.01), with male-specific effects at the Avy locus. Imprinted genes did not shift in methylation across exposures. Conclusion Dose- and sex-specific responses in bodyweight and DNA methylation indicate that Pb acts on the epigenome in a locus-specific fashion, dependent on the genomic feature hosting the CpG site of interest, and that sex is a factor in epigenetic response. PMID:24059796

Prevalence of E/A wave fusion and A wave truncation in DDD pacemaker patients with complete AV block under nominal AV intervals.

PubMed

Poller, Wolfram C; Dreger, Henryk; Schwerg, Marius; Melzer, Christoph

2015-01-01

Optimization of the AV-interval (AVI) in DDD pacemakers improves cardiac hemodynamics and reduces pacemaker syndromes. Manual optimization is typically not performed in clinical routine. In the present study we analyze the prevalence of E/A wave fusion and A wave truncation under resting conditions in 160 patients with complete AV block (AVB) under the pre-programmed AVI. We manually optimized sub-optimal AVI. We analyzed 160 pacemaker patients with complete AVB, both in sinus rhythm (AV-sense; n = 129) and under atrial pacing (AV-pace; n = 31). Using Doppler analyses of the transmitral inflow we classified the nominal AVI as: a) normal, b) too long (E/A wave fusion) or c) too short (A wave truncation). In patients with a sub-optimal AVI, we performed manual optimization according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography. All AVB patients with atrial pacing exhibited a normal transmitral inflow under the nominal AV-pace intervals (100%). In contrast, 25 AVB patients in sinus rhythm showed E/A wave fusion under the pre-programmed AV-sense intervals (19.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 12.6-26.2%). A wave truncations were not observed in any patient. All patients with a complete E/A wave fusion achieved a normal transmitral inflow after AV-sense interval reduction (mean optimized AVI: 79.4 ± 13.6 ms). Given the rate of 19.4% (CI 12.6-26.2%) of patients with a too long nominal AV-sense interval, automatic algorithms may prove useful in improving cardiac hemodynamics, especially in the subgroup of atrially triggered pacemaker patients with AV node diseases.

Exon skipping and dystrophin restoration in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy after systemic phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer treatment: an open-label, phase 2, dose-escalation study

PubMed Central

Cirak, Sebahattin; Arechavala-Gomeza, Virginia; Guglieri, Michela; Feng, Lucy; Torelli, Silvia; Anthony, Karen; Abbs, Stephen; Garralda, Maria Elena; Bourke, John; Wells, Dominic J; Dickson, George; Wood, Matthew JA; Wilton, Steve D; Straub, Volker; Kole, Ryszard; Shrewsbury, Stephen B; Sewry, Caroline; Morgan, Jennifer E; Bushby, Kate; Muntoni, Francesco

2011-01-01

Summary Background We report clinical safety and biochemical efficacy from a dose-ranging study of intravenously administered AVI-4658 phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Method We undertook an open-label, phase 2, dose-escalation study (0·5, 1·0, 2·0, 4·0, 10·0, and 20·0 mg/kg bodyweight) in ambulant patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 5–15 years with amenable deletions in DMD. Participants had a muscle biopsy before starting treatment and after 12 weekly intravenous infusions of AVI-4658. The primary study objective was to assess safety and tolerability of AVI-4658. The secondary objectives were pharmacokinetic properties and the ability of AVI-4658 to induce exon 51 skipping and dystrophin restoration by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunoblotting. The study is registered, number NCT00844597. Findings 19 patients took part in the study. AVI-4658 was well tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events. AVI-4658 induced exon 51 skipping in all cohorts and new dystrophin protein expression in a significant dose-dependent (p=0·0203), but variable, manner in boys from cohort 3 (dose 2 mg/kg) onwards. Seven patients responded to treatment, in whom mean dystrophin fluorescence intensity increased from 8·9% (95% CI 7·1–10·6) to 16·4% (10·8–22·0) of normal control after treatment (p=0·0287). The three patients with the greatest responses to treatment had 21%, 15%, and 55% dystrophin-positive fibres after treatment and these findings were confirmed with western blot, which showed an increase after treatment of protein levels from 2% to 18%, from 0·9% to 17%, and from 0% to 7·7% of normal muscle, respectively. The dystrophin-associated proteins α-sarcoglycan and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were also restored at the sarcolemma. Analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate indicated a reduction of cytotoxic T cells in the post-treatment muscle biopsies in the two high-dose cohorts. Interpretation The safety and biochemical efficacy that we present show the potential of AVI-4658 to become a disease-modifying drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Funding UK Medical Research Council; AVI BioPharma. PMID:21784508

In-hospital outcome of transcatheter vs. surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic valve stenosis: complete dataset of patients treated in 2013 in Germany.

PubMed

Möllmann, Helge; Bestehorn, Kurt; Bestehorn, Maike; Papoutsis, Konstantinos; Fleck, Eckart; Ertl, Georg; Kuck, Karl-Heinz; Hamm, Christian

2016-06-01

Transvascular (TV-AVI) or transapical (TA-AVI) aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a treatment option for patients with aortic stenosis being at high or prohibitive risk for surgical aortic valve implantation (SAVR). Randomized data demonstrated that these subgroups can safely been treated with TAVI. However, a comparison of SAVR and TAVI in intermediate and low-risk patients is missing. Therefore, the aim of the analysis was to compare TAVI and SAVR in all patients who were treated for aortic valve stenosis in Germany throughout 1 year. The mandatory quality assurance collects data on the in-hospital outcome from all patients (n = 20,340) undergoing either SAVR or TAVI in Germany. In order to compare the different treatment approaches patients were categorized into four risk groups using the logistic EuroScore I (ES). In-hospital mortality and peri- and postprocedural complications were analyzed. The in-hospital mortality did not differ between TV-AVI and SAVR in the low risk group (ES <10 %: TV-AVI 2.4 %, SAVR 2.0 %, p = 0.302) and was significantly higher for SAVR in all other risk groups (ES 10-20 %: TV-AVI 3.5 %, SAVR 5.3 %; p = 0.025; ES 20-30 %: TV-AVI 5.5 %, SAVR 12.2 %, p < 0.001; ES >30 %: TV-AVI 6.5 %, SAVR 12.9 %, p = 0.008). TA-AVI had a significantly higher mortality in all risk groups compared to TV-AVI. In comparison to SAVR, TA-AVI had a higher mortality in patients with ES <10, comparable mortality in ES 10-20 %, and lower mortality in patients with an ES >20 %. The overall stroke rate was 2.3 %. It occurred more frequently in patients with an ES <10 % treated with a transapical approach (SAVR 1.8 %, TV-AVI 1.9 %, TA-AVI 3.1 %, p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in all other comparisons. This study demonstrates that TAVI provides excellent outcomes in all risk categories. Compared with SAVR, TV-TAVI yields similar in-hospital mortality among low-risk patients and lower in-hospital mortality among intermediate and high-risk patient populations.

An Implantable Device for Manipulation of the in vivo Tumor Microenvironment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, James K.

In the past decade, it has become increasingly recognized that interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulate metastasis. One such interaction is the paracrine loop between macrophages and cancer cells which drives metastatic invasion in mammary tumors. Tumor associated macrophages release epidermal growth factor (EGF), a chemoattractant which induces the migration of cancer cells toward the blood vessels. The cancer cells reciprocate by releasing a macrophage chemoattractant, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), resulting in the co-migration of both cell types and subsequent intravasation. In this work, a new technology has been developed for studying the mechanisms by which invasive tumor cells migrate in vivo toward gradients of EGF. Conventional in vitro methods used for studying tumor cell migration lack the complexity found in the TME and are therefore of limited relevance to in vivo metastasis. The Nano Intravital Device (NANIVID) has been designed as an implantable tool to manipulate the TME through the generation of soluble factor gradients. The NANIVID consists of two etched glass substrates, loaded with a hydrogel containing EGF, and sealed together using a polymer membrane. When implanted in vivo, the hydrogel will swell and release the entrapped EGF, forming a diffusion gradient in the tumor over many hours. The NANIVID design has been optimized for use with multiphoton-based intravital imaging, to monitor migration toward the device at single-cell resolution. Stabilization techniques have been developed to minimize imaging artifacts caused by breathing and specimen movement over the course of the experiment. The NANIVID has been validated in vivo using a mouse model of metastasis. When implanted in MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors grown in SCID mice, chemotaxis of tumor cells was induced by the EGF gradient generated by the device. Cell motility parameters including velocity, directionality, and chemotactic index were calculated by tracking the migrating cells. Many additional chemicals and proteins are compatible with the NANIVID, providing a platform to initiate controlled changes in the TME that were not possible using conventional methods. Additionally, a one-dimensional (1D) cell migration assay was developed using electrospun nanofibers to mimic the collagen fibers associated with invasive breast tumors. Collagen fibers provide a substrate for cancer cells to migrate upon in vivo, serving as a connection to the blood vessels, to promote metastasis. Development of the migration assay enabled a low cost, versatile platform as a model system for the investigation of the motility processes used by tumor cells while constrained to 1D. The following supplemental material was submitted with this work and is available in the online version of this dissertation: Supp. Movie 1. Specimen Drift in Non-Fixtured Tumor.avi; Supp. Movie 2. Specimen Drift in Fixtured Tumor.avi; Supp. Movie 3. MDA-Mb-231 Cell Chemotaxis in vivo Toward 2 uM EGF NANIVID.avi; Supp. Movie 4. MDA-Mb-231 Cell Background Motility- Control NANIVID.avi; Supp. Movie 5. BAC Macrophage Chemotaxis- 300k U-ml hCSF-1 NANIVID.avi; Supp. Movie 6. BAC Macrophage Control Migration.avi; Supp. Movie 7. MTLn3 cells on Nanofiber-PVA Substrates.avi; Supp. Movie 8. MTLn3 cells on Nanofiber-Glass Substrates.avi.

Maternal ethanol consumption alters the epigenotype and the phenotype of offspring in a mouse model.

PubMed

Kaminen-Ahola, Nina; Ahola, Arttu; Maga, Murat; Mallitt, Kylie-Ann; Fahey, Paul; Cox, Timothy C; Whitelaw, Emma; Chong, Suyinn

2010-01-15

Recent studies have shown that exposure to some nutritional supplements and chemicals in utero can affect the epigenome of the developing mouse embryo, resulting in adult disease. Our hypothesis is that epigenetics is also involved in the gestational programming of adult phenotype by alcohol. We have developed a model of gestational ethanol exposure in the mouse based on maternal ad libitum ingestion of 10% (v/v) ethanol between gestational days 0.5-8.5 and observed changes in the expression of an epigenetically-sensitive allele, Agouti viable yellow (A(vy)), in the offspring. We found that exposure to ethanol increases the probability of transcriptional silencing at this locus, resulting in more mice with an agouti-colored coat. As expected, transcriptional silencing correlated with hypermethylation at A(vy). This demonstrates, for the first time, that ethanol can affect adult phenotype by altering the epigenotype of the early embryo. Interestingly, we also detected postnatal growth restriction and craniofacial dysmorphology reminiscent of fetal alcohol syndrome, in congenic a/a siblings of the A(vy) mice. These findings suggest that moderate ethanol exposure in utero is capable of inducing changes in the expression of genes other than A(vy), a conclusion supported by our genome-wide analysis of gene expression in these mice. In addition, offspring of female mice given free access to 10% (v/v) ethanol for four days per week for ten weeks prior to conception also showed increased transcriptional silencing of the A(vy) allele. Our work raises the possibility of a role for epigenetics in the etiology of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and it provides a mouse model that will be a useful resource in the continued efforts to understand the consequences of gestational alcohol exposure at the molecular level.

Life-threatening hemothorax due to azygos vein rupture after chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

PubMed

Yang, Euiseok; Jeong, WonJoon; Lee, JunWan; Kim, SeungWhan

2014-11-01

Hemothorax is not an uncommon cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)–related complication. But hemothorax related to azygos vein injury (AVI) is a rare condition following blunt chest trauma, with no report of CPR-related AVI in the literature. We present a case of azygosve in rupture in a middle-aged woman after repeated chest compression during 1 hour of CPR. She eventually presented with massive hemothorax due to azygos vein rupture diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). When faced with a patient with massive hemothorax after chest compression, azygos vein rupture should be considered as a complication.

Exploring the Landscape of Diazabicyclooctane (DBO) Inhibition: Avibactam Inactivation of PER-2 β-Lactamase.

PubMed

Ruggiero, Melina; Papp-Wallace, Krisztina M; Taracila, Magdalena A; Mojica, Maria F; Bethel, Christopher R; Rudin, Susan D; Zeiser, Elise T; Gutkind, Gabriel; Bonomo, Robert A; Power, Pablo

2017-06-01

PER β-lactamases are an emerging family of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) found in Gram-negative bacteria. PER β-lactamases are unique among class A enzymes as they possess an inverted omega (Ω) loop and extended B3 β-strand. These singular structural features are hypothesized to contribute to their hydrolytic profile against oxyimino-cephalosporins (e.g., cefotaxime and ceftazidime). Here, we tested the ability of avibactam (AVI), a novel non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor to inactivate PER-2. Interestingly, the PER-2 inhibition constants (i.e., k 2 / K = 2 × 10 3 ± 0.1 × 10 3 M -1 s -1 , where k 2 is the rate constant for acylation (carbamylation) and K is the equilibrium constant) that were obtained when AVI was tested were reminiscent of values observed testing the inhibition by AVI of class C and D β-lactamases (i.e., k 2 / K range of ≈10 3 M -1 s -1 ) and not class A β-lactamases (i.e., k 2 / K range, 10 4 to 10 5 M -1 s -1 ). Once AVI was bound, a stable complex with PER-2 was observed via mass spectrometry (e.g., 31,389 ± 3 atomic mass units [amu] → 31,604 ± 3 amu for 24 h). Molecular modeling of PER-2 with AVI showed that the carbonyl of AVI was located in the oxyanion hole of the β-lactamase and that the sulfate of AVI formed interactions with the β-lactam carboxylate binding site of the PER-2 β-lactamase (R220 and T237). However, hydrophobic patches near the PER-2 active site (by Ser70 and B3-B4 β-strands) were observed and may affect the binding of necessary catalytic water molecules, thus slowing acylation ( k 2 / K ) of AVI onto PER-2. Similar electrostatics and hydrophobicity of the active site were also observed between OXA-48 and PER-2, while CTX-M-15 was more hydrophilic. To demonstrate the ability of AVI to overcome the enhanced cephalosporinase activity of PER-2 β-lactamase, we tested different β-lactam-AVI combinations. By lowering MICs to ≤2 mg/liter, the ceftaroline-AVI combination could represent a favorable therapeutic option against Enterobacteriaceae expressing bla PER-2 Our studies define the inactivation of the PER-2 ESBL by AVI and suggest that the biophysical properties of the active site contribute to determining the efficiency of inactivation. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

Exploring the Landscape of Diazabicyclooctane (DBO) Inhibition: Avibactam Inactivation of PER-2 β-Lactamase

PubMed Central

Ruggiero, Melina; Papp-Wallace, Krisztina M.; Taracila, Magdalena A.; Mojica, Maria F.; Bethel, Christopher R.; Rudin, Susan D.; Zeiser, Elise T.; Gutkind, Gabriel

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT PER β-lactamases are an emerging family of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) found in Gram-negative bacteria. PER β-lactamases are unique among class A enzymes as they possess an inverted omega (Ω) loop and extended B3 β-strand. These singular structural features are hypothesized to contribute to their hydrolytic profile against oxyimino-cephalosporins (e.g., cefotaxime and ceftazidime). Here, we tested the ability of avibactam (AVI), a novel non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor to inactivate PER-2. Interestingly, the PER-2 inhibition constants (i.e., k2/K = 2 × 103 ± 0.1 × 103 M−1 s−1, where k2 is the rate constant for acylation (carbamylation) and K is the equilibrium constant) that were obtained when AVI was tested were reminiscent of values observed testing the inhibition by AVI of class C and D β-lactamases (i.e., k2/K range of ≈103 M−1 s−1) and not class A β-lactamases (i.e., k2/K range, 104 to 105 M−1 s−1). Once AVI was bound, a stable complex with PER-2 was observed via mass spectrometry (e.g., 31,389 ± 3 atomic mass units [amu] → 31,604 ± 3 amu for 24 h). Molecular modeling of PER-2 with AVI showed that the carbonyl of AVI was located in the oxyanion hole of the β-lactamase and that the sulfate of AVI formed interactions with the β-lactam carboxylate binding site of the PER-2 β-lactamase (R220 and T237). However, hydrophobic patches near the PER-2 active site (by Ser70 and B3-B4 β-strands) were observed and may affect the binding of necessary catalytic water molecules, thus slowing acylation (k2/K) of AVI onto PER-2. Similar electrostatics and hydrophobicity of the active site were also observed between OXA-48 and PER-2, while CTX-M-15 was more hydrophilic. To demonstrate the ability of AVI to overcome the enhanced cephalosporinase activity of PER-2 β-lactamase, we tested different β-lactam–AVI combinations. By lowering MICs to ≤2 mg/liter, the ceftaroline-AVI combination could represent a favorable therapeutic option against Enterobacteriaceae expressing blaPER-2. Our studies define the inactivation of the PER-2 ESBL by AVI and suggest that the biophysical properties of the active site contribute to determining the efficiency of inactivation. PMID:28348157

CpG methylation of a silent controlling element in the murine Avy allele is incomplete and unresponsive to methyl donor supplementation.

PubMed

Cropley, Jennifer E; Suter, Catherine M; Beckman, Kenneth B; Martin, David I K

2010-02-04

The viable yellow allele of agouti (A(vy)) is remarkable for its unstable and partially heritable epigenetic state, which produces wide variation in phenotypes of isogenic mice. In the A(vy) allele an inserted intracisternal A particle (IAP) acts as a controlling element which deregulates expression of agouti by transcription from the LTR of the IAP; the phenotypic state has been linked to CpG methylation of the LTR. Phenotypic variation between A(vy) mice indicates that the epigenetic state of the IAP is unstable in the germline. We have made a detailed examination of somatic methylation of the IAP using bisulphite allelic sequencing, and find that the promoter is incompletely methylated even when it is transcriptionally silent. In utero exposure to supplementary methyl donors, which alters the spectrum of A(vy) phenotypes, does not increase the density of CpG methylation in the silent LTR. Our findings suggest that, contrary to previous supposition, methyl donor supplementation acts through an indirect mechanism to silence A(vy). The incomplete cytosine methylation we observe at the somatically silent A(vy) allele may reflect its unstable germline state, and the influence of epigenetic modifications underlying CpG methylation.

CpG Methylation of a Silent Controlling Element in the Murine Avy Allele Is Incomplete and Unresponsive to Methyl Donor Supplementation

PubMed Central

Cropley, Jennifer E.; Suter, Catherine M.; Beckman, Kenneth B.; Martin, David I. K.

2010-01-01

Background The viable yellow allele of agouti (Avy) is remarkable for its unstable and partially heritable epigenetic state, which produces wide variation in phenotypes of isogenic mice. In the Avy allele an inserted intracisternal A particle (IAP) acts as a controlling element which deregulates expression of agouti by transcription from the LTR of the IAP; the phenotypic state has been linked to CpG methylation of the LTR. Phenotypic variation between Avy mice indicates that the epigenetic state of the IAP is unstable in the germline. Principal Findings We have made a detailed examination of somatic methylation of the IAP using bisulphite allelic sequencing, and find that the promoter is incompletely methylated even when it is transcriptionally silent. In utero exposure to supplementary methyl donors, which alters the spectrum of Avy phenotypes, does not increase the density of CpG methylation in the silent LTR. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, contrary to previous supposition, methyl donor supplementation acts through an indirect mechanism to silence Avy. The incomplete cytosine methylation we observe at the somatically silent Avy allele may reflect its unstable germline state, and the influence of epigenetic modifications underlying CpG methylation. PMID:20140227

The effect of auditory verbal imagery on signal detection in hallucination-prone individuals

PubMed Central

Moseley, Peter; Smailes, David; Ellison, Amanda; Fernyhough, Charles

2016-01-01

Cognitive models have suggested that auditory hallucinations occur when internal mental events, such as inner speech or auditory verbal imagery (AVI), are misattributed to an external source. This has been supported by numerous studies indicating that individuals who experience hallucinations tend to perform in a biased manner on tasks that require them to distinguish self-generated from non-self-generated perceptions. However, these tasks have typically been of limited relevance to inner speech models of hallucinations, because they have not manipulated the AVI that participants used during the task. Here, a new paradigm was employed to investigate the interaction between imagery and perception, in which a healthy, non-clinical sample of participants were instructed to use AVI whilst completing an auditory signal detection task. It was hypothesized that AVI-usage would cause participants to perform in a biased manner, therefore falsely detecting more voices in bursts of noise. In Experiment 1, when cued to generate AVI, highly hallucination-prone participants showed a lower response bias than when performing a standard signal detection task, being more willing to report the presence of a voice in the noise. Participants not prone to hallucinations performed no differently between the two conditions. In Experiment 2, participants were not specifically instructed to use AVI, but retrospectively reported how often they engaged in AVI during the task. Highly hallucination-prone participants who retrospectively reported using imagery showed a lower response bias than did participants with lower proneness who also reported using AVI. Results are discussed in relation to prominent inner speech models of hallucinations. PMID:26435050

Local restoration of dystrophin expression with the morpholino oligomer AVI-4658 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a single-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation, proof-of-concept study

PubMed Central

Kinali, Maria; Arechavala-Gomeza, Virginia; Feng, Lucy; Cirak, Sebahattin; Hunt, David; Adkin, Carl; Guglieri, Michela; Ashton, Emma; Abbs, Stephen; Nihoyannopoulos, Petros; Garralda, Maria Elena; Rutherford, Mary; Mcculley, Caroline; Popplewell, Linda; Graham, Ian R; Dickson, George; Wood, Matthew JA; Wells, Dominic J; Wilton, Steve D; Kole, Ryszard; Straub, Volker; Bushby, Kate; Sewry, Caroline; Morgan, Jennifer E; Muntoni, Francesco

2009-01-01

Summary Background Mutations that disrupt the open reading frame and prevent full translation of DMD, the gene that encodes dystrophin, underlie the fatal X-linked disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Oligonucleotides targeted to splicing elements (splice switching oligonucleotides) in DMD pre-mRNA can lead to exon skipping, restoration of the open reading frame, and the production of functional dystrophin in vitro and in vivo, which could benefit patients with this disorder. Methods We did a single-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study in patients with DMD recruited nationally, to assess the safety and biochemical efficacy of an intramuscular morpholino splice-switching oligonucleotide (AVI-4658) that skips exon 51 in dystrophin mRNA. Seven patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with deletions in the open reading frame of DMD that are responsive to exon 51 skipping were selected on the basis of the preservation of their extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle seen on MRI and the response of cultured fibroblasts from a skin biopsy to AVI-4658. AVI-4658 was injected into the EDB muscle; the contralateral muscle received saline. Muscles were biopsied between 3 and 4 weeks after injection. The primary endpoint was the safety of AVI-4658 and the secondary endpoint was its biochemical efficacy. This trial is registered, number NCT00159250. Findings Two patients received 0·09 mg AVI-4658 in 900 μL (0·9%) saline and five patients received 0·9 mg AVI-4658 in 900 μL saline. No adverse events related to AVI-4658 administration were reported. Intramuscular injection of the higher-dose of AVI-4658 resulted in increased dystrophin expression in all treated EDB muscles, although the results of the immunostaining of EDB-treated muscle for dystrophin were not uniform. In the areas of the immunostained sections that were adjacent to the needle track through which AVI-4658 was given, 44–79% of myofibres had increased expression of dystrophin. In randomly chosen sections of treated EDB muscles, the mean intensity of dystrophin staining ranged from 22% to 32% of the mean intensity of dystrophin in healthy control muscles (mean 26·4%), and the mean intensity was 17% (range 11–21%) greater than the intensity in the contralateral saline-treated muscle (one-sample paired t test p=0·002). In the dystrophin-positive fibres, the intensity of dystrophin staining was up to 42% of that in healthy muscle. We showed expression of dystrophin at the expected molecular weight in the AVI-4658-treated muscle by immunoblot. Interpretation Intramuscular AVI-4658 was safe and induced the expression of dystrophin locally within treated muscles. This proof-of-concept study has led to an ongoing systemic clinical trial of AVI-4658 in patients with DMD. Funding UK Department of Health. PMID:19713152

75 FR 23206 - Safety Zone; AVI September Fireworks Display, Laughlin, NV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-03

...-AA00 Safety Zone; AVI September Fireworks Display, Laughlin, NV AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION... the lower Colorado River, Laughlin, NV, in support of a fireworks display near the AVI Resort and... navigable waters of the Lower Colorado River in support of a fireworks show in the navigation channel of the...

75 FR 29427 - Safety Zone; AVI May Fireworks Display, Laughlin, NV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-26

...-AA00 Safety Zone; AVI May Fireworks Display, Laughlin, NV AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Temporary... Colorado River, Laughlin, NV, in support of a fireworks display near the AVI Resort and Casino. This safety... Fireworks Display; Laughlin, Nevada, NV in the Federal Register (75 FR 9370). We received 0 comments on the...

Response to "Methyl donors change the germline epigenetic state of the A(vy) allele"

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We appreciate the explanation offered by Cropley et al. for what they perceive is a discrepancy between their results showing an effect of methyl supplementation on the germline epigenetic state of Avy and ours showing that diet-induced hypermethylation at Avy is not inherited transgenerationally. D...

Biotin-avidin mediates the binding of adipose-derived stem cells to a porous β-tricalcium phosphate scaffold: Mandibular regeneration

PubMed Central

FENG, ZIHAO; LIU, JIAQI; SHEN, CONGCONG; LU, NANHANG; ZHANG, YONG; YANG, YANWEN; QI, FAZHI

2016-01-01

The present study aimed to investigate the properties of a promising bone scaffold for bone repair, which consisted of a novel composite of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) attached to a porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffold with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The β-TCP powder was synthesized and its composition was determined using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The surface morphology and microstructure of the fabricated porous β-TCP scaffold samples were analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy, and their porosity and compressive strength were also evaluated. In addition, the viability of rabbit ADSCs incubated with various concentrations of the β-TCP extraction fluid was analyzed. The rate of attachment and the morphology of biotinylated ADSCs (Bio-ADSCs) on avidin-coated β-TCP (Avi-β-TCP), and untreated ADSCs on β-TCP, were compared. Furthermore, in vivo bone-forming abilities were determined following the implantation of group 1 (Bio-ADSCs/Avi-β-TCP) and group 2 (Bio-ADSCs/Avi-β-TCP/PRP) constructs using computed tomography, and histological osteocalcin (OCN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression analyses in a rabbit model of mandibulofacial defects. The β-TCP scaffold exhibited a high porosity (71.26±0.28%), suitable pore size, and good mechanical strength (7.93±0.06 MPa). Following incubation with β-TCP for 72 h, 100% of viable ADSCs remained. The avidin-biotin binding system significantly increased the initial attachment rate of Bio-ADSCs to Avi-β-TCP in the first hour (P<0.01). Following the addition of PRP, group 2 exhibited a bony-union and mandibular body shape, newly formed bone and increased expression levels of OCN and ALP in the mandibulofacial defect area, as compared with group 1 (P<0.05). The results of the present study suggested that the novel Bio-ADSCs/Avi-β-TCP/PRP composite may have potential application in bone repair and bone tissue engineering. PMID:26997987

75 FR 9370 - Safety Zone; AVI May Fireworks Display, Colorado River, Laughlin, NV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-02

...-AA00 Safety Zone; AVI May Fireworks Display, Colorado River, Laughlin, NV AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS... waters of the lower Colorado River, Laughlin, NV, in support of a fireworks display near the AVI Resort... navigable waters of the Lower Colorado River in support of a fireworks show near Laughlin, NV. The fireworks...

A glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor produced in a novel protein production system (AVI-014) in healthy subjects: a first-in human, single dose, controlled study

PubMed Central

Varki, Roslyn; Pequignot, Ed; Leavitt, Mark C; Ferber, Andres; Kraft, Walter K

2009-01-01

Background AVI-014 is an egg white-derived, recombinant, human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). This healthy volunteer study is the first human investigation of AVI-014. Methods 24 male and female subjects received a single subcutaneous injection of AVI-014 at 4 or 8 mcg/kg. 16 control subjects received 4 or 8 mcg/kg of filgrastim (Neupogen, Amgen) in a partially blinded, parallel fashion. Results The Geometric Mean Ratio (GMR) (90% CI) of 4 mcg/kg AVI-014/filgrastim AUC(0–72 hr) was 1.00 (0.76, 1.31) and Cmax was 0.86 (0.66, 1.13). At the 8 mcg/kg dose, the AUC(0–72) GMR was 0.89 (0.69, 1.14) and Cmax was 0.76 (0.58, 0.98). A priori pharmacokinetic bioequivalence was defined as the 90% CI of the GMR bounded by 0.8–1.25. Both the white blood cell and absolute neutrophil count area under the % increase curve AUC(0–9 days) and Cmax (maximal % increase from baseline)GMR at 4 and 8 mcg/kg fell within the 0.5–2.0 a priori bound set for pharmacodynamic bioequivalence. The CD 34+ % increase curve AUC(0–9 days) and Cmax GMR for both doses was ~1, but 90% confidence intervals were large due to inherent variance, and this measure did not meet pharmacodynamic bioequivalence. AVI-014 demonstrated a side effect profile similar to that of filgrastim. Conclusion AVI-014 has safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties comparable to filgrastim at an equal dose in healthy volunteers. These findings support further investigation in AVI-014. PMID:19175929

Structures of the orthosomycin antibiotics avilamycin and evernimicin in complex with the bacterial 70S ribosome

PubMed Central

Arenz, Stefan; Graf, Michael; Nguyen, Fabian; Huter, Paul; Polikanov, Yury S.; Blanchard, Scott C.; Wilson, Daniel N.

2016-01-01

The ribosome is one of the major targets for therapeutic antibiotics; however, the rise in multidrug resistance is a growing threat to the utility of our current arsenal. The orthosomycin antibiotics evernimicin (EVN) and avilamycin (AVI) target the ribosome and do not display cross-resistance with any other classes of antibiotics, suggesting that they bind to a unique site on the ribosome and may therefore represent an avenue for development of new antimicrobial agents. Here we present cryo-EM structures of EVN and AVI in complex with the Escherichia coli ribosome at 3.6- to 3.9-Å resolution. The structures reveal that EVN and AVI bind to a single site on the large subunit that is distinct from other known antibiotic binding sites on the ribosome. Both antibiotics adopt an extended conformation spanning the minor grooves of helices 89 and 91 of the 23S rRNA and interacting with arginine residues of ribosomal protein L16. This binding site overlaps with the elbow region of A-site bound tRNA. Consistent with this finding, single-molecule FRET (smFRET) experiments show that both antibiotics interfere with late steps in the accommodation process, wherein aminoacyl-tRNA enters the peptidyltransferase center of the large ribosomal subunit. These data provide a structural and mechanistic rationale for how these antibiotics inhibit the elongation phase of protein synthesis. PMID:27330110

Germ-line epigenetic modification of the murine Avy allele by nutritional supplementation

PubMed Central

Cropley, Jennifer E.; Suter, Catherine M.; Beckman, Kenneth B.; Martin, David I. K.

2006-01-01

Environmental effects on phenotype can be mediated by epigenetic modifications. The epigenetic state of the murine Avy allele is highly variable, and determines phenotypic effects that vary in a mosaic spectrum that can be shifted by in utero exposure to methyl donor supplementation. We have asked if methyl donor supplementation affects the germ-line epigenetic state of the Avy allele. We find that the somatic epigenetic state of Avy is affected by in utero methyl donor supplementation only when the allele is paternally contributed. Exposure to methyl donor supplementation during midgestation shifts Avy phenotypes not only in the mice exposed as fetuses, but in their offspring. This finding indicates that methyl donors can change the epigenetic state of the Avy allele in the germ line, and that the altered state is retained through the epigenetic resetting that takes place in gametogenesis and embryogenesis. Thus a mother's diet may have an enduring influence on succeeding generations, independent of later changes in diet. Although other reports have suggested such heritable epigenetic changes, this study demonstrates that a specific mammalian gene can be subjected to germ-line epigenetic change. PMID:17101998

The German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY): in-hospital outcome

PubMed Central

Hamm, Christian W.; Möllmann, Helge; Holzhey, David; Beckmann, Andreas; Veit, Christof; Figulla, Hans-Reiner; Cremer, J.; Kuck, Karl-Heinz; Lange, Rüdiger; Zahn, Ralf; Sack, Stefan; Schuler, Gerhard; Walther, Thomas; Beyersdorf, Friedhelm; Böhm, Michael; Heusch, Gerd; Funkat, Anne-Kathrin; Meinertz, Thomas; Neumann, Till; Papoutsis, Konstantinos; Schneider, Steffen; Welz, Armin; Mohr, Friedrich W.

2014-01-01

Background Aortic stenosis is a frequent valvular disease especially in elderly patients. Catheter-based valve implantation has emerged as a valuable treatment approach for these patients being either at very high risk for conventional surgery or even deemed inoperable. The German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY) provides data on conventional and catheter-based aortic procedures on an all-comers basis. Methods and results A total of 13 860 consecutive patients undergoing repair for aortic valve disease [conventional surgery and transvascular (TV) or transapical (TA) catheter-based techniques] have been enrolled in this registry during 2011 and baseline, procedural, and outcome data have been acquired. The registry summarizes the results of 6523 conventional aortic valve replacements without (AVR) and 3464 with concomitant coronary bypass surgery (AVR + CABG) as well as 2695 TV AVI and 1181 TA interventions (TA AVI). Patients undergoing catheter-based techniques were significantly older and had higher risk profiles. The stroke rate was low in all groups with 1.3% (AVR), 1.9% (AVR + CABG), 1.7% (TV AVI), and 2.3% (TA AVI). The in-hospital mortality was 2.1% (AVR) and 4.5% (AVR + CABG) for patients undergoing conventional surgery, and 5.1% (TV AVI) and AVI 7.7% (TA AVI). Conclusion The in-hospital outcome results of this registry show that conventional surgery yields excellent results in all risk groups and that catheter-based aortic valve replacements is an alternative to conventional surgery in high risk and elderly patients. PMID:24022003

The correlation of TAS2R38 gene variants with higher risk for chronic rhinosinusitis in Polish patients.

PubMed

Dżaman, Karolina; Zagor, Mariola; Sarnowska, Elżbieta; Krzeski, Antoni; Kantor, Ireneusz

2016-10-31

Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs), especially T2R38s appear as innovative regulators of innate immunity in the respiratory system. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TAS2R38 gene may contribute to individual differences in susceptibility to respiratory infections especially chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). TAS2R38 genotypes distribution varies by geographic region, race and ethnicity. The aim of the preliminary study was the identification of SNPs in TAS2R38 encoding genes in Polish patients with CRS and finding potential correlation with CRS phenotypes. The preliminary study contained 20 CRS patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Fresh sinus mucosa (SM) was obtained during FESS in CRS patients. Patients were genotyped for TAS2R38 using Sanger method and the genotype occurrences of the clinically recalcitrant CRS cohort was evaluated. Analysis of TAS2R38 expression in SM of CRS patients was performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). T2R38 was highly expressed in SM of CRS patients. Patients with CRS demonstrated both common genotypes PAV, AVI. The heterozygotes frequency (AVI/PAV) was the highest. The protective genotype (PAV/PAV) was noticed in the lowest frequency and connected with lower average value of CT score compare to AVI/AVI genotypes (p=0.01). The work presented in this study provides the hypothesis that airway bitter T2Rs are an innovative sphere of human respiratory innate protection. TAS2R38 polymorphism may influence the susceptibility to CRS. The AVI haplotypes are an independent risk factors for CRS. Additionally, the bitter taste receptors and related signalling pathways might create an unique group of therapeutic targets to treat CRS.

A voice coil actuator driven active vibration isolation system with the consideration of flexible modes.

PubMed

Park, Kyihwan; Choi, Dongyoub; Ozer, Abdullah; Kim, Sangyoo; Lee, Yongkwan; Joo, Dongik

2008-06-01

We develop a four-mount active vibration isolation system (AVIS) using voice coil actuators. The flexible body modes in the upper plate of the AVIS can cause an instability problem due to control signal whose frequency is close to the resonant frequency of the flexible modes. The loop shaping technique is applied to reduce the amplitude of the control signal. We investigate the performances of the active vibration isolation system proposed in the word in the time domain and frequency domain by comparing to the passive isolation system.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation transapical: step by step.

PubMed

Walther, Thomas; Möllmann, Helge; van Linden, Arnaud; Kempfert, Jörg

2011-01-01

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (T-AVI) has been introduced into clinical practice to treat high-risk elderly patients with aortic stenosis. T-AVI can be performed by using a retrograde transfemoral (TF), transsubclavian, transaortic, and/or antegrade transapical (TA) approach. For TA-AVI, CE mark approval was granted in 2008 for the Edwards SAPIEN (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) prosthesis with the Ascendra delivery system and in 2010 for the second-generation Edwards SAPIEN XT prosthesis and the Ascendra II delivery system, with 23-mm and 26-mm valves. In 2011, CE mark approval has been granted for TA-AVI by using the SAPIEN XT 29-mm prosthesis. Several other devices from different companies (Jenavalve, Jena Valve Inc, Munich, Germany; Embracer, Medtronic Inc, Guilford, CT; Accurate, Symetis Inc, Geneva, Switzerland) have passed "first in man trials" successfully and are being evaluated within multicenter pivotal studies. In this article we will focus on specific aspects of the TA technique for AVI. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Crystal structure of the avilamycin resistance-conferring methyltransferase AviRa from Streptomyces viridochromogenes.

PubMed

Mosbacher, Tanja G; Bechthold, Andreas; Schulz, Georg E

2003-05-23

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is a widespread problem in contemporary medical practice and drug design. It is therefore important to elucidate the underlying mechanism in each case. The methyltransferase AviRa from Streptomyces viridochromogenes mediates resistance to the antibiotic avilamycin, which is closely related to evernimicin, an oligosaccharide antibiotic that has been used in medical studies. The structure of AviRa was determined by X-ray diffraction at 1.5A resolution. Phases were obtained from one selenomethionine residue introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. The chain-fold is similar to that of most methyltransferases, although AviRa contains two additional helices as a specific feature. A putative-binding site for the cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine was derived from homologous structures. It agrees with the conserved pattern of interacting amino acid residues. AviRa methylates a specific guanine base within the peptidyltransferase loop of the 23S ribosomal RNA. Guided by the target, the enzyme was docked to the cognate ribosomal surface, where it fit well into a deep cleft without contacting any ribosomal protein. The two additional alpha-helices of AviRa filled a depression in the surface. Since the transferred methyl group of the cofactor is in a pocket beneath the enzyme surface, the targeted guanine base has to flip out for methylation.

Automated visual imaging interface for the plant floor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wutke, John R.

1991-03-01

The paper will provide an overview of the challenges facing a user of automated visual imaging (" AVI" ) machines and the philosophies that should be employed in designing them. As manufacturing tools and equipment become more sophisticated it is increasingly difficult to maintain an efficient interaction between the operator and machine. The typical user of an AVI machine in a production environment is technically unsophisticated. Also operator and machine ergonomics are often a neglected or poorly addressed part of an efficient manufacturing process. This paper presents a number of man-machine interface design techniques and philosophies that effectively solve these problems.

Gene-Specific Countermeasures Against Ebola Virus Based on Antisense Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomers

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-01

Bavari 1* 1 US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America, 2 AVI BioPharma ...used as controls in these experiments. The PMOs were synthesized by AVI BioPharma , (Corvallis, Oregon, United States), as previously described [35]. In...interests. RB, DAS, and PLI have financial interest in AVI BioPharma , the company that supplied the PMO compounds for these studies. & References 1

VP35 Knockdown Inhibits Ebola Virus Amplification and Protects Against Lethal Infection in Mice

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702-50112; and AVI BioPharma Inc., Corvallis, Oregon3 Received 29 June...target nucleotides within the EBOV genome or antigenome (Table 1). All PMO were synthesized and purified by AVI BioPharma Inc. (Cor- vallis, OR), as...technical assistance. We are also grateful to the Chemistry Department at AVI BioPharma Inc. for expert synthesis, purification, and analysis of all PMO

Anthocyanin Vacuolar Inclusions Form by a Microautophagy Mechanism

PubMed Central

Chanoca, Alexandra; Ueda, Takashi; Grotewold, Erich

2015-01-01

Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments synthesized in the cytoplasm and stored inside vacuoles. Many plant species accumulate densely packed, 3- to 10-μm diameter anthocyanin deposits called anthocyanin vacuolar inclusions (AVIs). Despite their conspicuousness and importance in organ coloration, the origin and nature of AVIs have remained controversial for decades. We analyzed AVI formation in cotyledons of different Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes grown under anthocyanin inductive conditions and in purple petals of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiorum). We found that cytoplasmic anthocyanin aggregates in close contact with the vacuolar surface are directly engulfed by the vacuolar membrane in a process reminiscent of microautophagy. The engulfed anthocyanin aggregates are surrounded by a single membrane derived from the tonoplast and eventually become free in the vacuolar lumen like an autophagic body. Neither endosomal/prevacuolar trafficking nor the autophagy ATG5 protein is involved in the formation of AVIs. In Arabidopsis, formation of AVIs is promoted by both an increase in cyanidin 3-O-glucoside derivatives and by depletion of the glutathione S-transferase TT19. We hypothesize that this novel microautophagy mechanism also mediates the transport of other flavonoid aggregates into the vacuole. PMID:26342015

Magnetic force driven six degree-of-freedom active vibration isolation system using a phase compensated velocity sensor.

PubMed

Kim, Yongdae; Kim, Sangyoo; Park, Kyihwan

2009-04-01

A six-axis active vibration isolation system (AVIS) is developed using voice coil actuators. Point contact configuration is employed to have an easy assembly of eight voice coil actuators to an upper and a base plates. The velocity sensor, using an electromagnetic principle that is commonly used in the vibration control, is investigated since its phase lead characteristic causes an instability problem for a low frequency vibration. The performances of the AVIS are investigated in the frequency domain and finally validated by comparing with the passive isolation system using the atomic force microscope images.

Human Signatures for Personnel Detection

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-14

work\\ TESIS \\prueba.avi’); switch videoinfo.ImageType case ’truecolor’ video=aviread(’C:\\MATLAB\\R2006a\\work\\ TESIS \\prueba.avi’); case...8217indexed’ video=aviread(’C:\\MATLAB\\R2006a\\work\\ TESIS \\prueba.avi’); video=ind2rgb(video); end 4.1.2 Color to Grayscale Converter The conversion from...algorithm. • Maximum errors for both GTSig and the lattice Boltzmann method were confined to the corners where fthe temperature is ill de ined Numerical

Transmit: An Advanced Traffic Management System

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-11-27

TRANSCOM'S SYSTEM FOR MANAGING INCIDENTS AND TRAFFIC, KNOWN AS TRANSMIT, WAS INITIATED TO ESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF USING AUTOMATIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION (AVI) EQUIPMENT FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND SURVEILLANCE APPLICATIONS. AVI TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS...

Le programme de sciences de la nature. Avis a la ministre de l'enseignement superieur et de la science (The Natural Sciences Program. Advisory to the Minister of Higher Education and Science).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conseil des Colleges, Quebec (Quebec).

A series of recommendations developed by the Council of Colleges of the Colleges of General and Professional Education (CEGEP) in Quebec (Canada) are presented in this report to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science for redesigning the CEGEP's natural sciences curriculum. The proposed reforms are designed to meet legislative requirements…

A Novel Virus-Like Particle Based Vaccine Platform Displaying the Placental Malaria Antigen VAR2CSA.

PubMed

Thrane, Susan; Janitzek, Christoph M; Agerbæk, Mette Ø; Ditlev, Sisse B; Resende, Mafalda; Nielsen, Morten A; Theander, Thor G; Salanti, Ali; Sander, Adam F

2015-01-01

Placental malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is a major cause of mortality and severe morbidity. Clinical testing of a soluble protein-based vaccine containing the parasite ligand, VAR2CSA, has been initiated. VAR2CSA binds to the human receptor chondroitin sulphate A (CSA) and is responsible for sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes in the placenta. It is imperative that a vaccine against malaria in pregnancy, if administered to women before they become pregnant, can induce a strong and long lasting immune response. While most soluble protein-based vaccines have failed during clinical testing, virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccines (e.g., the licensed human papillomavirus vaccines) have demonstrated high efficacy, suggesting that the spatial assembly of the vaccine antigen is a critical parameter for inducing an optimal long-lasting protective immune response. We have developed a VLP vaccine display platform by identifying regions of the HPV16 L1 coat protein where a biotin acceptor site (AviTagTM) can be inserted without compromising VLP-assembly. Subsequent biotinylation of Avi-L1 VLPs allow us to anchor monovalent streptavidin (mSA)-fused proteins to the biotin, thereby obtaining a dense and repetitive VLP-display of the vaccine antigen. The mSA-VAR2CSA antigen was delivered on the Avi-L1 VLP platform and tested in C57BL/6 mice in comparison to two soluble protein-based vaccines consisting of naked VAR2CSA and mSA-VAR2CSA. The mSA-VAR2CSA Avi-L1 VLP and soluble mSA-VAR2CSA vaccines induced higher antibody titers than the soluble naked VAR2CSA vaccine after three immunizations. The VAR2CSA Avi-L1 VLP vaccine induced statistically significantly higher endpoint titres compared to the soluble mSA-VAR2CSA vaccine, after 1st and 2nd immunization; however, this difference was not statistically significant after 3rd immunization. Importantly, the VLP-VAR2CSA induced antibodies were functional in inhibiting the binding of parasites to CSA. This study demonstrates that the described Avi-L1 VLP-platform may serve as a versatile system for facilitating optimal VLP-display of large and complex vaccine antigens.

Expression and purification of E. coli BirA biotin ligase for in vitro biotinylation.

PubMed

Li, Yifeng; Sousa, Rui

2012-03-01

The extremely tight binding between biotin and avidin or streptavidin makes labeling proteins with biotin a useful tool for many applications. BirA is the Escherichia coli biotin ligase that site-specifically biotinylates a lysine side chain within a 15-amino acid acceptor peptide (also known as Avi-tag). As a complementary approach to in vivo biotinylation of Avi-tag-bearing proteins, we developed a protocol for producing recombinant BirA ligase for in vitro biotinylation. The target protein was expressed as both thioredoxin and MBP fusions, and was released from the corresponding fusion by TEV protease. The liberated ligase was separated from its carrier using HisTrap HP column. We obtained 24.7 and 27.6 mg BirA ligase per liter of culture from thioredoxin and MBP fusion constructs, respectively. The recombinant enzyme was shown to be highly active in catalyzing in vitro biotinylation. The described protocol provides an effective means for making BirA ligase that can be used for biotinylation of different Avi-tag-bearing substrates. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design and control of six degree-of-freedom active vibration isolation table.

PubMed

Hong, Jinpyo; Park, Kyihwan

2010-03-01

A six-axis active vibration isolation system (AVIS) is designed by using the direct driven guide and ball contact mechanisms in order to have no cross-coupling between actuators. The point contact configuration gives an advantage of having an easy assembly of eight voice coil actuators to an upper and a base plate. A voice coil actuator is used since it can provide a large displacement and sufficient bandwidth required for vibration control. The AVIS is controlled considering the effect of flexible vibration mode in the upper plate and velocity sensor dynamics. A loop shaping technique and phase margin condition are applied to design a vibration controller. The performances of the AVIS are investigated in the frequency domain and finally validated by comparing with the passive isolation system. The scanning profiles of the specimen are compared together by using the atomic force microscope. The robustness of the AVIS is verified by showing the impulse response.

Design and control of six degree-of-freedom active vibration isolation table

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Jinpyo; Park, Kyihwan

2010-03-01

A six-axis active vibration isolation system (AVIS) is designed by using the direct driven guide and ball contact mechanisms in order to have no cross-coupling between actuators. The point contact configuration gives an advantage of having an easy assembly of eight voice coil actuators to an upper and a base plate. A voice coil actuator is used since it can provide a large displacement and sufficient bandwidth required for vibration control. The AVIS is controlled considering the effect of flexible vibration mode in the upper plate and velocity sensor dynamics. A loop shaping technique and phase margin condition are applied to design a vibration controller. The performances of the AVIS are investigated in the frequency domain and finally validated by comparing with the passive isolation system. The scanning profiles of the specimen are compared together by using the atomic force microscope. The robustness of the AVIS is verified by showing the impulse response.

Arterial Stiffness Measured with the Cuff Oscillometric Method Is Predictive of Exercise Capacity in Patients with Cardiac Diseases.

PubMed

Tazawa, Yasushi; Mori, Nobuyoshi; Ogawa, Yoshiko; Ito, Osamu; Kohzuki, Masahiro

2016-06-01

Arterial stiffness is widely used in assessing arteriosclerosis in the background of increased cardiovascular events. Arteriosclerosis also causes reduction in exercise capacity, which is a most important prognostic factor in patients with cardiovascular disease; however, data on the association between arterial stiffness and exercise capacity are limited. Therefore, a simple and noninvasive measurement of arterial stiffness that reflects the central circulation and exercise capacity is needed. The arterial velocity pulse index (AVI) is a parameter of arterial stiffness measurable with the cuff oscillometric method; however, the clinical utility of this method is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the trend of AVI in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the association between AVI and exercise capacity. A cross-sectional study of 116 patients with cardiac disease (34 CAD and 82 non-CAD patients) was performed. Non-CAD patients were those with any cardiac diseases who did not have proven CAD. The results showed that the AVI was significantly higher in CAD patients than non-CAD patients (P < 0.05, analysis of covariance). The AVI was inversely correlated with peakVO2 (r = -0.239, P < 0.05) and was a significant explanatory variable for peakVO2 in stepwise regression analysis (β = -14.62, t = -2.5, P < 0.05). These results indicate that the AVI is strongly associated with CAD and predictive of the exercise capacity in patients with cardiac diseases. We, therefore, propose that the cuff oscillometric method is clinically useful in evaluating arterial stiffness in patients with cardiac diseases, especially CAD.

Frequency assessment of spatially distributed generations of flood scenarios: an application on Italian territory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lomazzi, M.; Roth, G.; Rudari, R.; Taramasso, A. C.; Ghizzoni, T.; Benedetti, R.; Espa, G.; Terpessi, C.

2009-12-01

The flooding risk impact on society cannot be understated: it influences land use and territorial planning and development at both physical and regulatory levels. To cope with it, a variety of actions can be put in place, involving multidisciplinary competences. Mitigation measures goes from the improvement of monitoring systems to the development of hydraulic structures, throughout land use restrictions, civil protection and insurance plans. All of those options present social and economic impacts, either positive or negative, whose proper estimate should rely on the assumption of appropriate - present and future - scenarios, i.e. quantitative event descriptions in terms of i) the flood hazard, with its probability of occurrence, extension, intensity, and duration, ii) the exposed values and iii) their vulnerability. At present, initial attention has been devoted to the design of flood scenarios, or ensembles of them, and to the evaluation of their frequency of occurrence. In the present work, a model for spatially distributed flood scenarios generation and frequency assessment is proposed and applied to the Italian territory. The study area has been divided into homogeneous regions according to their hydrologic, orographic and meteoclimatic characteristics. A statistical model for flood scenarios simulation has been implemented throughout a conditional approach based on MCMC simulations by using i) a historical flood events catalogue; ii) a homogeneous regions correlation matrix; and iii) an auxiliary variables data set. In this framework, the role of the information stored in the historical flood events catalogue "Aree Vulnerate Italiane" (AVI, http://avi.gndci.cnr.it/), produced by the Italian National Research Council, is of crucial importance.

Possibility of relationship between the yellow sand and the foot-and-mouth disease in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan in March 2010 by using MODIS images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kato, Yoshinobu

2014-11-01

In Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, the O-type foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) appeared and spread from March to July, 2010. The first infected livestock by FMD virus was detected on March 26, 2010 at Tsuno Town in Miyazaki Prefecture. The O-type FMD was found on March 14 at the suburb of Lanzhou City in Gansu, and on March 25, 2010 in Shanxi, China. The duration of FMD virus incubation is 2 to 8 days. Maki et al. (2011, 2012) presumed the cause of the first FMD in Miyazaki as follows: The yellow sand adhered with FMD virus was transported from Gansu to Miyazaki by global westerly winds. In this paper, we investigate whether the yellow sand generated in Gansu flew to Miyazaki in March, 2010 by using MODIS data of Terra and Aqua satellites. True-color mosaic images, AVI mosaic images and T11 mosaic images from China to Japan are made and examined. The aerosol vapor index (AVI) is defined as AVI=T12-T11, where T12 and T11 are the brightness temperatures at 12μm and 11μm wavelength, respectively. The AVI can detect the dust and sandstorms (DSS, i.e., yellow sands) in satellite images both at daytime and night. AVI values are classified into six levels from 0 to 5. From AVI images, DSS existed in the vicinity of Lanzhou on March 19, and in the south area of Shanxi on March 20, and in the vicinity of Tsuno Town on March 21. If Maki et al. are right, the cause of the first FMD in Miyazaki in March 2010 is that DSS generated in Gansu on March 19 flew to Miyazaki on March 21.

Sensitivity and specificity of the Akena Visual Depression Inventory (AViDI-18) in Kampala (Uganda) and Cape Town (South Africa).

PubMed

Akena, Dickens; Joska, John; Stein, Dan J

2018-05-01

Visual scales may be particularly useful in screening for depression in patients with low literacy. However, few have been validated and none are in common use.AimModification and validation of a visual scale to screen for depression in low literacy settings. We assessed the validity, reliability and factor loading of a 28-item visual depression inventory using pictorial items depicting depression signs and symptoms. We validated a revised scale comprised of 18 items known as the Akena Visual Depression Inventory (AViDI-18) against a structured diagnostic interview (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Inventory) in 343 patients in Kampala (Uganda) and Cape Town (South Africa). The 18 pictorial items had acceptable validity and reliability. The area under the curve (AUC) score of the AViDI-18 was 0.9. AUC scores were not significantly associated with sociodemographic variables. The AViDI-18 is a valid screen for depression in patients with low literacy.Declaration of interestNone.

Selecting Optimal Random Forest Predictive Models: A Case Study on Predicting the Spatial Distribution of Seabed Hardness

PubMed Central

Li, Jin; Tran, Maggie; Siwabessy, Justy

2016-01-01

Spatially continuous predictions of seabed hardness are important baseline environmental information for sustainable management of Australia’s marine jurisdiction. Seabed hardness is often inferred from multibeam backscatter data with unknown accuracy and can be inferred from underwater video footage at limited locations. In this study, we classified the seabed into four classes based on two new seabed hardness classification schemes (i.e., hard90 and hard70). We developed optimal predictive models to predict seabed hardness using random forest (RF) based on the point data of hardness classes and spatially continuous multibeam data. Five feature selection (FS) methods that are variable importance (VI), averaged variable importance (AVI), knowledge informed AVI (KIAVI), Boruta and regularized RF (RRF) were tested based on predictive accuracy. Effects of highly correlated, important and unimportant predictors on the accuracy of RF predictive models were examined. Finally, spatial predictions generated using the most accurate models were visually examined and analysed. This study confirmed that: 1) hard90 and hard70 are effective seabed hardness classification schemes; 2) seabed hardness of four classes can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy; 3) the typical approach used to pre-select predictive variables by excluding highly correlated variables needs to be re-examined; 4) the identification of the important and unimportant predictors provides useful guidelines for further improving predictive models; 5) FS methods select the most accurate predictive model(s) instead of the most parsimonious ones, and AVI and Boruta are recommended for future studies; and 6) RF is an effective modelling method with high predictive accuracy for multi-level categorical data and can be applied to ‘small p and large n’ problems in environmental sciences. Additionally, automated computational programs for AVI need to be developed to increase its computational efficiency and caution should be taken when applying filter FS methods in selecting predictive models. PMID:26890307

Selecting Optimal Random Forest Predictive Models: A Case Study on Predicting the Spatial Distribution of Seabed Hardness.

PubMed

Li, Jin; Tran, Maggie; Siwabessy, Justy

2016-01-01

Spatially continuous predictions of seabed hardness are important baseline environmental information for sustainable management of Australia's marine jurisdiction. Seabed hardness is often inferred from multibeam backscatter data with unknown accuracy and can be inferred from underwater video footage at limited locations. In this study, we classified the seabed into four classes based on two new seabed hardness classification schemes (i.e., hard90 and hard70). We developed optimal predictive models to predict seabed hardness using random forest (RF) based on the point data of hardness classes and spatially continuous multibeam data. Five feature selection (FS) methods that are variable importance (VI), averaged variable importance (AVI), knowledge informed AVI (KIAVI), Boruta and regularized RF (RRF) were tested based on predictive accuracy. Effects of highly correlated, important and unimportant predictors on the accuracy of RF predictive models were examined. Finally, spatial predictions generated using the most accurate models were visually examined and analysed. This study confirmed that: 1) hard90 and hard70 are effective seabed hardness classification schemes; 2) seabed hardness of four classes can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy; 3) the typical approach used to pre-select predictive variables by excluding highly correlated variables needs to be re-examined; 4) the identification of the important and unimportant predictors provides useful guidelines for further improving predictive models; 5) FS methods select the most accurate predictive model(s) instead of the most parsimonious ones, and AVI and Boruta are recommended for future studies; and 6) RF is an effective modelling method with high predictive accuracy for multi-level categorical data and can be applied to 'small p and large n' problems in environmental sciences. Additionally, automated computational programs for AVI need to be developed to increase its computational efficiency and caution should be taken when applying filter FS methods in selecting predictive models.

Origin of the color of Cv. rhapsody in blue rose and some other so-called "blue" roses.

PubMed

Gonnet, Jean-François

2003-08-13

Flowers of the rose cultivar Rhapsody in Blue display unusual colors, changing as they age, from a vivid red-purple to a lighter and duller purple, which are based on tonalities corresponding to hue angles between 340 and 320 degrees in the CIELAB scale. Unexpectedly, the chemical basis of these colors is among the simplest, featuring cyanin (cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside), the most frequent anthocyanin in flowers, as the sole pigment and quercetin kaempferol glycosides as copigments at a relatively low copigment/pigment ratio (about 3/1), which usually produces magenta or red shades in roses. This color shift to bluer shades is coupled with the progressive accumulation of cyanin into vacuolar anthocyanic inclusions (AVIs), the occurrence of which increases as the petals grow older. In addition to the normal lambda(max) of cyanin at approximately 545 nm, the transmission spectra of live petals and of epidermal cells exhibit a second lambda(max) in the 620-625 nm range, the relative importance increasing with the presence of AVIs. In petals of fully opened flowers, the only pigmented structures in the vacuoles of epidermal cells are AVIs; their intense and massive absorption in the 520-640 nm area produces a much darker and bluer color than measured for the vacuolar solution present at the very first opening stage. Cyanin is probably "trapped" into AVIs at higher concentrations than would be possible in a vacuolar solution and in quinonoidal form, appearing purple-blue because of additional absorption in the 580-630 nm area. Quite similar pigmentation features were found in very ancient rose cultivars (cv. L'Evêque or Bleu Magenta), also displaying this type of so-called "blue" color.

Thermal tolerant avicelase from Acidothermus cellulolyticus

DOEpatents

Ding, Shi-You [Golden, CO; Adney, William S [Golden, CO; Vinzant, Todd B [Golden, CO; Himmel, Michael E [Littleton, CO

2008-04-29

The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.

Thermal tolerant avicelase from Acidothermus cellulolyticus

DOEpatents

Ding, Shi-You [Golden, CO; Adney, William S [Golden, CO; Vinzant, Todd B [Golden, CO; Himmel, Michael E [Littleton, CO

2009-05-26

The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.

Rapid real-time PCR methods to distinguish Salmonella Enteritidis wildtype field isolates from vaccine strains Salmovac SE/Gallivac SE and AviPro SALMONELLA VAC E.

PubMed

Maurischat, Sven; Szabo, Istvan; Baumann, Beatrice; Malorny, Burkhard

2015-05-01

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a major non-typhoid Salmonella serovar causing human salmonellosis mainly associated with the consumption of poultry and products thereof. To reduce infections in poultry, S. Enteritidis live vaccine strains AviPro SALMONELLA VAC E and Salmovac SE/Gallivac SE have been licensed and used in several countries worldwide. To definitively diagnose a S. Enteritidis contamination in vaccinated herds a reliable and fast method for the differentiation between vaccine and wildtype field isolates is required. In this study, we developed and validated real-time PCR (qPCR) assays to distinguish those variants genetically. Suitable target sequences were identified by whole genome sequencing (WGS) using the Illumina MiSeq system. SNP regions in kdpA and nhaA proved to be most useful for differentiation of AviPro SALMONELLA VAC E and Salmovac SE/Gallivac SE, respectively, from wildtype strains. For each vaccine strain one TaqMan-qPCR assay and one alternative approach using High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis was designed. All 30 Salmovac SE and 7 AviPro SALMONELLA VAC E vaccine strain reisolates tested were correctly identified by both approaches (100% inclusivity). Furthermore, all 137 (TaqMan) and 97 (HRM) Salmonella non-vaccine and related Enterobacteriaceae strains tested were excluded (100% exclusivity). The analytical detection limits were determined to be approx. 10(2) genome copies/reaction for the TaqMan and 10(4) genome copies/reaction for the HRM approach. The real-time PCR assays proved to be a reliable and fast alternative to the cultural vaccine strain identification tests helping decision makers in control measurements to take action within a shorter period of time. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Academic Visual Identity (AVI): An Act of Symbolic Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masiki, Trent

2011-01-01

Extensive scholarship exists on both symbolic leadership and corporate visual identity (CVI), yet little scholarly attention has been focused on the intersection of these two bodies of knowledge. In the field of education, that intersection is known as academic visual identity (AVI). The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that AVI…

Soy protein isolate reduces hepatosteatosis in yellow Avy/a mice without altering coat color phenotype

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Agouti (Avy/a) mice fed an AIN-93G diet containing the soy isoflavone genistein (GEN) prior to and during pregnancy were reported to shift coat color and body composition phenotypes from obese-yellow towards lean pseudoagouti, suggesting epigenetic programming. Human consumption of purified GEN is r...

Methods of using thermal tolerant avicelase from Acidothermus cellulolyticus

DOEpatents

Adney, William S [Golden, CO; Vinzant, Todd B [Golden, CO; Ding, Shih-You [Golden, CO; Himmel, Michael E [Golden, CO

2011-04-26

The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.

The penetrance of an epigenetic trait in mice is progressively yet reversibly increased by selection and environment.

PubMed

Cropley, Jennifer E; Dang, Thurston H Y; Martin, David I K; Suter, Catherine M

2012-06-22

Natural selection acts on variation that is typically assumed to be genetic in origin. But epigenetic mechanisms, which are interposed between the genome and its environment, can create diversity independently of genetic variation. Epigenetic states can respond to environmental cues, and can be heritable, thus providing a means by which environmentally responsive phenotypes might be selectable independent of genotype. Here, we have tested the possibility that environment and selection can act together to increase the penetrance of an epigenetically determined phenotype. We used isogenic A(vy) mice, in which the epigenetic state of the A(vy) allele is sensitive to dietary methyl donors. By combining methyl donor supplementation with selection for a silent A(vy) allele, we progressively increased the prevalence of the associated phenotype in the population over five generations. After withdrawal of the dietary supplement, the shift persisted for one generation but was lost in subsequent generations. Our data provide the first demonstration that selection for a purely epigenetic trait can result in cumulative germline effects in mammals. These results present an alternative to the paradigm that natural selection acts only on genetic variation, and suggest that epigenetic changes could underlie rapid adaptation of species in response to natural environmental fluctuations.

The penetrance of an epigenetic trait in mice is progressively yet reversibly increased by selection and environment

PubMed Central

Cropley, Jennifer E.; Dang, Thurston H. Y.; Martin, David I. K.; Suter, Catherine M.

2012-01-01

Natural selection acts on variation that is typically assumed to be genetic in origin. But epigenetic mechanisms, which are interposed between the genome and its environment, can create diversity independently of genetic variation. Epigenetic states can respond to environmental cues, and can be heritable, thus providing a means by which environmentally responsive phenotypes might be selectable independent of genotype. Here, we have tested the possibility that environment and selection can act together to increase the penetrance of an epigenetically determined phenotype. We used isogenic Avy mice, in which the epigenetic state of the Avy allele is sensitive to dietary methyl donors. By combining methyl donor supplementation with selection for a silent Avy allele, we progressively increased the prevalence of the associated phenotype in the population over five generations. After withdrawal of the dietary supplement, the shift persisted for one generation but was lost in subsequent generations. Our data provide the first demonstration that selection for a purely epigenetic trait can result in cumulative germline effects in mammals. These results present an alternative to the paradigm that natural selection acts only on genetic variation, and suggest that epigenetic changes could underlie rapid adaptation of species in response to natural environmental fluctuations. PMID:22319121

Studies and projections of hydraulic conductivity of Devonian Plavinu and Daugava carbonate aquifers in Latvia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perkone, E.; Delina, A.; Saks, T.; Raga, B.; Jātnieks, J.; Klints, I.; Popovs, K.; Babre, A.; Bikše, J.; Kalvāns, A.; Retike, I.; Ukass, J.

2012-04-01

Carbonate aquifers show a very wide range of hydrogeological characteristics. Carbonate rock hydrogeology display two extremes: on one hand hydrogeological properties of the carbonates are governed by the pathways of the preferential groundwater flow typical in karstic regions, on the other - some carbonate aquifers behave almost like a homogeneous, isotropic, porous medium. Most lie between these extremes, but these case variations complicates the study of carbonate aquifer properties. In this study the results of the hydraulic conductivity in carbonate aquifers measurements, hydraulic conductivity correlation between sediments lithology and the aquifer surface depth and fractures research is presented. Upper Devonian Frasnian stage Pļaviņu and Daugava carbonate aquifers in the Latvian part of the Baltic basin is considered. The aim of this research is to elaborate characteristic hydraulic conductivity values for each aquifer based on existing data of the pumping test results and other aquifer properties. Pļaviņu and Daugava carbonate aquifers mainly consist of jointed dolomite with intermediate layers of dolomitic marlstone, limestone, clays and gypsum. These aquifers are prevalent in most of the study area, except Northern and South - Eastern parts of the territory. In geological structure Daugava aquifer lies above Pļaviņu aquifer. Daugava aquifer depth changes from 10 - 20 and even less meters in Eastern part to 250 - 300 m in South - West part of study area, but thickness varies from few meters to 30 m. Pļaviņu aquifer surface depth varies from 20 - 30 m, but in uplands surface depth reaches more than 120 m, in Eastern part to more than 300 m in South - West part of study area. Aquifer average thickness varies from 20 - 40 m, but in areas with buried valleys thickness can be less than 10 meters. Outcrops of these sediments are occurring in banks of largest rivers and in some areas aquifers are karstified. In studies of the carbonate aquifers it is very important to take into account the fact that groundwater flow in carbonate aquifers is often almost entirely dependent on jointing and concomitant joint enlargement by dissolution. In this study pumping test results provide a wide range of hydraulic conductivity values, for example in Pļaviņu aquifer hydraulic conductivity varies from 0,03 - 266 m/day but in Daugava aquifer values range from 0,06 - 735 m/day. Pumping test results is provided by Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. Studying average values of hydraulic conductivity there exists a correlation between K and aquifer flat depth - Daugava aquifer, which in geological structure, is located above the Pļaviņu aquifer has higher average K value - 32 m/day, in Pļaviņu aquifer - 27 m/day. Correlative study of the depth and hydraulic conductivity allowed to characterize the mean values as function of the aquifer depth for the regional groundwater flow modelling. This study is supported by the European Social Fund project No. 2009/0212/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/060

General Aviation Activity and Avionics Survey (Annual Summary Report - 1986 Data)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1987-12-01

This report presents the results and description of the 1986 General Aviation Activity and Avionics Survey. The survey was conducted during 1987 by the FAA to obtain information on the activity and avionics of the United States registered general avi...

Design and optimization of voice coil actuator for six degree of freedom active vibration isolation system using Halbach magnet array.

PubMed

Kim, MyeongHyeon; Kim, Hyunchang; Gweon, Dae-Gab

2012-10-01

This paper describes the design, modeling, optimization, and validation of an active vibration isolation system using a voice coil motor. The active vibration isolating method was constructed with a passive isolator and an active isolator. A spring was used for passive isolating; an actuator was used for active isolating. The proposed active vibration isolation system (AVIS) can isolate disturbances for many kinds of instruments. Until now, developed AVIS were able to isolate a six degree-of-freedom disturbance effectively. This paper proposes the realization of such a six degree-of-freedom active vibration isolation system that can work as a bench top device for precision measuring machines such as atomic force microscope, scanning probe microscope, etc.

Applicability of avidin protein coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles as drug carriers in the lung

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Rijt, S. H.; Bölükbas, D. A.; Argyo, C.; Wipplinger, K.; Naureen, M.; Datz, S.; Eickelberg, O.; Meiners, S.; Bein, T.; Schmid, O.; Stoeger, T.

2016-04-01

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) exhibit unique drug delivery properties and are thus considered as promising candidates for next generation nano-medicines. In particular, inhalation into the lungs represents a direct, non-invasive delivery route for treating lung disease. To assess MSN biocompatibility in the lung, we investigated the bioresponse of avidin-coated MSNs (MSN-AVI), as well as aminated (uncoated) MSNs, after direct application into the lungs of mice. We quantified MSN distribution, clearance rate, cell-specific uptake, and inflammatory responses to MSNs within one week after instillation. We show that amine-functionalized (MSN-NH2) particles are not taken up by lung epithelial cells, but induced a prolonged inflammatory response in the lung and macrophage cell death. In contrast, MSN-AVI co-localized with alveolar epithelial type 1 and type 2 cells in the lung in the absence of sustained inflammatory responses or cell death, and showed preferential epithelial cell uptake in in vitro co-cultures. Further, MSN-AVI particles demonstrated uniform particle distribution in mouse lungs and slow clearance rates. Thus, we provide evidence that avidin functionalized MSNs (MSN-AVI) have the potential to serve as versatile biocompatible drug carriers for lung-specific drug delivery.Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) exhibit unique drug delivery properties and are thus considered as promising candidates for next generation nano-medicines. In particular, inhalation into the lungs represents a direct, non-invasive delivery route for treating lung disease. To assess MSN biocompatibility in the lung, we investigated the bioresponse of avidin-coated MSNs (MSN-AVI), as well as aminated (uncoated) MSNs, after direct application into the lungs of mice. We quantified MSN distribution, clearance rate, cell-specific uptake, and inflammatory responses to MSNs within one week after instillation. We show that amine-functionalized (MSN-NH2) particles are not taken up by lung epithelial cells, but induced a prolonged inflammatory response in the lung and macrophage cell death. In contrast, MSN-AVI co-localized with alveolar epithelial type 1 and type 2 cells in the lung in the absence of sustained inflammatory responses or cell death, and showed preferential epithelial cell uptake in in vitro co-cultures. Further, MSN-AVI particles demonstrated uniform particle distribution in mouse lungs and slow clearance rates. Thus, we provide evidence that avidin functionalized MSNs (MSN-AVI) have the potential to serve as versatile biocompatible drug carriers for lung-specific drug delivery. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis of MSN particles. Characterisation of MSN particles (Fig. S1 and S2), DLS measurements of MSNs over time, lymphocyte and PMN cell count after MSN exposure (Fig. S3). Toxicity in BAL cytospins controls, phalloidin staining on BAL cytospins of MSN-NH2 exposed mice (Fig. S4), nanoparticle distribution in lung cryo-slices of Balb/c mice exposed to 100 μg MSNs (Fig. S5). Balb/c mice cryo-slices exposed to MSN-AVI for 1 or 7 days, co-stained with alveolar epithelial cell type 1 marker or with alveolar epithelial cell type 2 marker (Fig. S6), DiD selective labeling in a co-culture set-up (Fig. S7). See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr04119h

National Research and Development Plan for Aviation Safety, Security, Efficiency and Environmental Compatibility.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-11-01

This plan describes coordinated long-term research initiatives to bring about advances in aviation that will be required in the opening decades of the next century. The White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security and the National Civil Avi...

National Research and Development Plan For Aviation Safety, Security, Efficiency, and Environmental Compatibility

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-11-01

This plan describes coordinated long-term research initiatives to bring about advances in aviation that will be required in the opening decades of the next century. The White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security and the National Civil Avi...

An Alternative Laboratory Designed to Address Ethical Concerns Associated with Traditional "TAS2R38" Student Genotyping

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaBonte, Michelle L.; Beers, Melissa A.

2015-01-01

The "TAS2R38" alleles that code for the PAV/AVI T2R38 proteins have long been viewed as benign taste receptor variants. However, recent studies have demonstrated an expanding and medically relevant role for "TAS2R38." The AVI variant of T2R38 is associated with an increased risk of both colorectal cancer and "Pseudomonas…

Delayed Time-to-Treatment of an Antisense Morpholino Oligomer Is Effective against Lethal Marburg Virus Infection in Cynomolgus Macaques.

PubMed

Warren, Travis K; Whitehouse, Chris A; Wells, Jay; Welch, Lisa; Charleston, Jay S; Heald, Alison; Nichols, Donald K; Mattix, Marc E; Palacios, Gustavo; Kugleman, Jeffrey R; Iversen, Patrick L; Bavari, Sina

2016-02-01

Marburg virus (MARV) is an Ebola-like virus in the family Filovirdae that causes sporadic outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate as high as 90%. AVI-7288, a positively charged antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMOplus) targeting the viral nucleoprotein gene, was evaluated as a potential therapeutic intervention for MARV infection following delayed treatment of 1, 24, 48, and 96 h post-infection (PI) in a nonhuman primate lethal challenge model. A total of 30 cynomolgus macaques were divided into 5 groups of 6 and infected with 1,830 plaque forming units of MARV subcutaneously. AVI-7288 was administered by bolus infusion daily for 14 days at 15 mg/kg body weight. Survival was the primary endpoint of the study. While none (0 of 6) of the saline group survived, 83-100% of infected monkeys survived when treatment was initiated 1, 24, 48, or 96 h post-infection (PI). The antisense treatment also reduced serum viremia and inflammatory cytokines in all treatment groups compared to vehicle controls. The antibody immune response to virus was preserved and tissue viral antigen was cleared in AVI-7288 treated animals. These data show that AVI-7288 protects NHPs against an otherwise lethal MARV infection when treatment is initiated up to 96 h PI.

Avi Purkayastha | NREL

Science.gov Websites

Austin, from 2001 to 2007. There he was principal in HPC applications and user support, as well as in research and development in large-scale scientific applications and different HPC systems and technologies Interests HPC applications performance and optimizations|HPC systems and accelerator technologies|Scientific

Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2), Substitutions at Ambler Position Asp179, and Resistance to Ceftazidime-Avibactam: Unique Antibiotic-Resistant Phenotypes Emerge from β-Lactamase Protein Engineering.

PubMed

Barnes, Melissa D; Winkler, Marisa L; Taracila, Magdalena A; Page, Malcolm G; Desarbre, Eric; Kreiswirth, Barry N; Shields, Ryan K; Nguyen, Minh-Hong; Clancy, Cornelius; Spellberg, Brad; Papp-Wallace, Krisztina M; Bonomo, Robert A

2017-10-31

The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs), β-lactamases that inactivate "last-line" antibiotics such as imipenem, represents a major challenge to contemporary antibiotic therapies. The combination of ceftazidime (CAZ) and avibactam (AVI), a potent β-lactamase inhibitor, represents an attempt to overcome this formidable threat and to restore the efficacy of the antibiotic against Gram-negative bacteria bearing KPCs. CAZ-AVI-resistant clinical strains expressing KPC variants with substitutions in the Ω-loop are emerging. We engineered 19 KPC-2 variants bearing targeted mutations at amino acid residue Ambler position 179 in Escherichia coli and identified a unique antibiotic resistance phenotype. We focus particularly on the CAZ-AVI resistance of the clinically relevant Asp179Asn variant. Although this variant demonstrated less hydrolytic activity, we demonstrated that there was a prolonged period during which an acyl-enzyme intermediate was present. Using mass spectrometry and transient kinetic analysis, we demonstrated that Asp179Asn "traps" β-lactams, preferentially binding β-lactams longer than AVI owing to a decreased rate of deacylation. Molecular dynamics simulations predict that (i) the Asp179Asn variant confers more flexibility to the Ω-loop and expands the active site significantly; (ii) the catalytic nucleophile, S70, is shifted more than 1.5 Å and rotated more than 90°, altering the hydrogen bond networks; and (iii) E166 is displaced by 2 Å when complexed with ceftazidime. These analyses explain the increased hydrolytic profile of KPC-2 and suggest that the Asp179Asn substitution results in an alternative complex mechanism leading to CAZ-AVI resistance. The future design of novel β-lactams and β-lactamase inhibitors must consider the mechanistic basis of resistance of this and other threatening carbapenemases. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is emerging at unprecedented rates and threatens to reach crisis levels. One key mechanism of resistance is the breakdown of β-lactam antibiotics by β-lactamase enzymes. KPC-2 is a β-lactamase that inactivates carbapenems and β-lactamase inhibitors (e.g., clavulanate) and is prevalent around the world, including in the United States. Resistance to the new antibiotic ceftazidime-avibactam, which was designed to overcome KPC resistance, had already emerged within a year. Using protein engineering, we uncovered a mechanism by which resistance to this new drug emerges, which could arm scientists with the ability to forestall such resistance to future drugs. Copyright © 2017 Barnes et al.

Exposure to Soy Protein Isolate From Conception Fails to Induce Epigenetic Changes in Viable Yellow Agouti (Avy/a) Mice, But Partially Blocks Hepatosteatosis and Altered Body Composition in Mice and Rats

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Both beneficial and adverse health effects have been attributed to soy food consumption. Epigenetic programming through hypermethlylation of CpG sites on promoter regions may be a potential mechanism. Virgin a/a female and Avy/a male mice were fed AIN-93G diets made with either casein or soy protein...

The Future of American Defense Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

16-44. Sharma, Avi. "Who Leads in a G-Zero World? Multi-Nationals, Sustainable Development, and Corporate Social Responsibility in a Changing...Policies in the U.S. & Western Europe." Public Finance & Management 7, no. 3(September 2007): 295-339. Tiltiņš, Alekss and Baiba Šavriņa. "Alternative

46 CFR 11.202 - STCW endorsements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 7SR, England, telephone: + 44 (0)20 7735 7611, http://www.imo.org. (3) Each candidate presenting a... original MMC is issued, renewed, upgraded, or otherwise modified, the OCMI will determine whether the... (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102). (3) Elementary first aid as set out in table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW...

Avis de l’ANSES/Rapport d’expertise collective: Analyse de risque phytosanitaire express Halyomorpha halys – la punaise diabolique

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

[translation: ANSES Phytosanitary Expert Pest Risk Assessment for Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug, in France] Halyomorpha halys is now present in France in Alsace and in several neighboring countries (Switzerland and Italy). The potential risk of invasion of H. halys throughout Fr...

Assessment of intracranial venous blood flow after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a new approach to diagnose vasospasm with transcranial color-coded duplex sonography.

PubMed

Connolly, Florian; Schreiber, Stephan J; Leithner, Christoph; Bohner, Georg; Vajkoczy, Peter; Valdueza, José M

2017-12-15

OBJECTIVE Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) is a reliable tool that is used to assess vasospasm in the M 1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A distinct increase in blood flow velocity (BFV) is the principal criterion for vasospasm. The MCA/internal carotid artery (ICA) index (Lindegaard Index) is also widely used to distinguish between vasospasm and cerebral hyperperfusion. However, extracranial ultrasonography assessment of the neck vessels might be difficult in an intensive care unit. Therefore, the authors evaluated whether the relationship of intracranial arterial to venous BFV might indicate vasospasm with similar or even better accuracy. METHODS Patients who presented between 2008 and 2015 with aneurysmal SAH were prospectively enrolled in the study. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and TCCS were performed within 24 hours of each other to assess vasospasm 8-10 days after SAH. The following different TCCS parameters were analyzed to assess vasospasm in the MCA and were compared with the gold-standard DSA parameters: 1) mean time-averaged maximum BFV (V mean ) of the MCA, 2) peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the MCA, 3) the Lindegaard Index using V mean as well as PSV, and 4) a new arteriovenous index (AVI) between the MCA and the basal vein of Rosenthal using V mean and PSV. The best cutoff values for these parameters to distinguish vasospasm from normal perfusion or hyperperfusion were calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value as well as the overall accuracy for each cutoff value were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 102 patients (mean age 52 ± 12 years) were evaluated. Bilateral MCA assessment by TCCS was successful in all patients. In 6 cases (3%), the BFV of the basal vein of Rosenthal could not be analyzed. The AVI could not be calculated in 50 of 204 cases (25%) because the insonation quality was very low in one of the ICAs. An AVI > 10 for V mean and an AVI > 12 for systolic velocity provided the highest accuracies of 87% and 86%, respectively. Regarding the Lindegaard Index, the accuracy was highest using a threshold of > 3 for the mean BFV (84%) as well as systolic BFV (80%). BFVs in the MCA of ≥ 120 cm/sec (V mean ) and ≥ 200 cm/sec (PSV) predicted vasospasm with accuracies of 84% and 83%, respectively. A combined analysis of the MCA BFV and the AVI led to a slight increase in specificity (V mean , 94%; PSV, 93%) and positive predictive value (V mean , 88%; PSV 86%) without further improvement in accuracy (V mean , 88%; PSV, 84%). CONCLUSIONS The intracranial AVI is a reliable parameter that can be used to assess vasospasm after SAH. Its reliability for differentiating vasospasm and hyperperfusion is slightly higher than that for the established Lindegaard Index, and this method has the additional advantage of a remarkably lower failure rate.

Complications of the access during aortic valve implantation through transfemoral access.

PubMed

Alsac, Jean-Marc; Zegdi, Rachid; Blanchard, Didier; Achouh, Paul; Cholley, Bernard; Berrebi, Alain; Julia, Pierre; Fabiani, Jean-Noël

2011-08-01

Aortic valve implantation (AVI) is a booming therapeutic option in high-risk patients with calcific aortic stenosis. Retrograde femoral approach drawbacks include vascular complications owing to the size of the introduction system (22- and 24-F).The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the incidence and the treatment of vascular complications in the first 2 years of transfemoral AVI experience with the first generation of Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valves. Since December 2007, AVI has been performed in 71 patients, 21 times by the transapical route and 50 times by the transfemoral route through an inguinal approach with the first generation of Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valves (23 and 26 mm). The incidence and the treatment of vascular complications were evaluated as main criteria for transfemoral AVI. All the procedures could be successfully performed by a femoral route, except for three cases when the introducing device could not be fixed on the thoracic aorta because of vascular access problems. Vascular access-related complications occurred in nine patients (18%), including three iliac dissections, two aortic dissections, three femoral lesions, and one thoracic aorta rupture. These complications were treated either in a conservative way (n = 2), or in an endovascular way using a contralateral approach (n = 3), or surgically through an inguinal approach (n = 3). A traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta resulted in the death of a female patient. In our experience, transfemoral AVI gives a satisfying technical success rate in the selected patients. The incidence of complications involving the vascular access remains an important limitation of this new technique. Although a conservative or endovascular treatment can be applied in most cases, improving the introduction devices is highly expected because it would reduce the complications rate of vascular access. Copyright © 2011 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

TAS2R38 and CA6 genetic polymorphisms, frequency of bitter food intake, and blood biomarkers among elderly woman.

PubMed

Mikołajczyk-Stecyna, Joanna; Malinowska, Anna M; Chmurzynska, Agata

2017-09-01

Taste sensitivity is one of the most important biological determinants of food choice. Three SNPs of the TAS2R38 gene (rs713598, rs1726866, and rs10246939) give rise to two common haplotypes: PAV and AVI. These haplotypes, as well as an SNP within the CA6 gene (rs2274333) that encodes carbonic anhydrase VI (CA6), correlate with bitterness perception. The extent of consumption of bitter food may influence some health outcomes. The aim of this study is thus to investigate the impact of the TAS2R38 and CA6 genetic polymorphisms on the choice of bitter food, BMI, blood lipoprotein, and glucose concentrations as well as systemic inflammation in elderly women. The associations between the TAS2R38 diplotype, CA6 genotype, and the intake of bitter-tasting foods were studied in a group of 118 Polish women over 60 years of age. The intake of Brassica vegetables, grapefruit, and coffee was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical parameters were measured using the spectrophotometric method. Genotyping was performed using the high resolution melting method. We found a correlation between lipid profile, glucose and CRP levels, and frequency of bitter food intake. The AVI/AVI subjects drank coffee more frequently than did the PAV/PAV homozygotes, as did the A carriers of CA6 in comparison with the GG homozygotes. We also observed that simultaneous carriers of the PAV haplotype and A allele of TAS2R38 and CA6, respectively, choose white cabbage more frequent and had lower plasma levels of CRP and glucose than did AVI/AVI and GG homozygotes. In elderly women, the TAS2R38 and CA6 polymorphisms may affect the frequency of consumption of coffee and white cabbage, but not of other bitter-tasting foods. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

F-35 Force Development Evaluation and Weapons School Beddown Environmental Impact Statement

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-01

deficiencias encontradas después del despliegue del sistema; ♦ explora medios no materiales (por ejemplo, tácticas) para satisfacer requisitos...del adecuado desempeño del avión en combate al proporcionar entrenamiento, información sobre las capacidades operativas y nuevos requisitos. Además

Independent Media, Youth Agency, and the Promise of Media Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Poyntz, Stuart R.

2006-01-01

Through a discussion of two videos--The Take (Naomi Klein & Avi Lewis, 2004), and a student project--I argue that media education can further the role of youth as critically engaged, democratic citizens most effectively when educators develop students' capacity for reflection and self-expression through engagement with those power structures that…

Navy Technical Information Presentation System (NTIPS) Test and Implementation Strategy

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-12-01

IC AROEROCK I NAOI S ~ i P RF R M N C AVI AT OIO N A N DDEPARTMENT STIPRUCTRMNES COMPUATIONAN DEPARTMENT -MATHEMATICS AND 17 LOGISTICS DEPARTMENT leI...and Subtitle) S . TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED NAVY TECHNICAL INFORMATION PRESENTATION Final SYSTEM (NTIPS) TEST AND IMPLEMENTATION 6. PERFORMING...CLASSIFICATION OP THIS PAGE (1nor. Data Enteed) ock 20 continued) system operation, training, maintenance, and logistics support. This system was

Successful use of a left ventricular apical access and closure device for second-generation transapical aortic valve implantation.

PubMed

Conradi, Lenard; Seiffert, Moritz; Shimamura, Kazuo; Schirmer, Johannes; Blankenberg, Stefan; Reichenspurner, Hermann; Diemert, Patrick; Treede, Hendrik

2014-09-01

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become routine for the treatment of high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. We assessed safety and feasibility of a left ventricular apical access and closure device combined with second-generation transapical (TA) TAVI transcatheter heart valves (THV). Three elderly, comorbid patients (logEuroSCORE I 13.0-31.1%) received transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) via the Apica ASC device (Apica Cardiovascular Ltd., Galway, Ireland) using second-generation THV (Medtronic Engager [Medtronic 3F Therapeutics, Santa Ana, California, United States], JenaValve [JenaValve Technology GmbH, Munich, Germany], Symetis Acurate [Symetis S.A., Ecublens, Switzerland]). Access was gained using a non-rib-spreading technique and a novel access and closure device. THV deployment was successful with excellent hemodynamic outcome (no PVL, n = 2; trace PVL, n = 1; mean transvalvular gradients, 5-19 mm Hg) and complete apical hemostasis. No periprocedural major adverse events occurred and Valve Academic Research Consortium-2-defined composite end point of device success was met in all cases. Safety and feasibility of TA-AVI using the ASC device with second-generation THV was demonstrated. Combining latest available technology is a major step toward improved functional outcome and decreased surgical trauma in TA-AVI. Potentially, technical enhancements may eventually pave the way toward a fully percutaneous TA-AVI procedure. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

The SOURCE Registry: what is the learning curve in trans-apical aortic valve implantation?

PubMed

Wendler, Olaf; Walther, Thomas; Schroefel, Holger; Lange, Rüdiger; Treede, Hendrik; Fusari, Melissa; Rubino, Paolo; Thomas, Martyn

2011-06-01

Trans-apical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) has been shown to be a reproducible technique. Early results from the SAPIEN Aortic Bioprosthesis European Outcome (SOURCE) Registry identified major access complications associated with high 30-day mortality. Using the SOURCE Registry, we analyze the learning curve for TA-AVI over the first 2 years after commercialization. The SOURCE Registry gathered data for 2 consecutive years at European centers following commercialization of the Edwards SAPIEN bioprosthesis, totaling 2339 patients (1038 in COHORT 1 and 1301 in COHORT 2). Only data from centers that provided all of their consecutively treated patients were included in this study. We compared the 30-day results of TA-AVI from COHORT 1 (C-1: January/2008-January/2009) with the 30-day results of COHORT 2 (C-2: February/2009-January/2010). This analysis is based on a total number of 575 TA-AVIs in C-1 and 819 TA-AVIs in C-2. Mean age (C-1: 80.7 years, C-2: 80.5 years) and logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) (C-1: 29.1%, C-2 27.3%) were not significantly different. Valve malposition (C-1: 1.6%, C-2: 1.2%), valve migration/embolization (C-1: 0.5%, C-2: 1.0%), and major access complications (C-1: 2.1%, C-2: 1.8%) were in total less frequent, but not statistically significant lower in C-2. However, the reduction of aortic regurgitation >2+ immediately following the procedure (C-1: 4.52%, C-2: 2.1%, p=0.011) and conversion rate to open surgery (C-1: 3.7%, C-2: 1.5%, p=0.0315) reached statistical significance. Postoperative complications included dialysis (C-1: 7.0%, C-2: 5.7%, p=ns), pacemaker implantation (C-2: 7.7%, C-2: 6.7%, p=ns), stroke (C-1: 2.4%, C-2: 2.6%, p=ns), and myocardial infarct (C-1: 0.7%, C-2: 0.4%, p=ns). The total 30-day mortality was 10.8% and not significantly different between the two groups (C-1: 10.8%, C-2: 10.7%, p=ns). Although the incidence of technical intra procedural complications has trended downward, reflecting the learning curve for TA-AVI, 30-day mortality was unchanged, likely due to patient co-morbidities not captured by preoperative risk variables. Copyright © 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

XML-based scripting of multimodality image presentations in multidisciplinary clinical conferences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratib, Osman M.; Allada, Vivekanand; Dahlbom, Magdalena; Marcus, Phillip; Fine, Ian; Lapstra, Lorelle

2002-05-01

We developed a multi-modality image presentation software for display and analysis of images and related data from different imaging modalities. The software is part of a cardiac image review and presentation platform that supports integration of digital images and data from digital and analog media such as videotapes, analog x-ray films and 35 mm cine films. The software supports standard DICOM image files as well as AVI and PDF data formats. The system is integrated in a digital conferencing room that includes projections of digital and analog sources, remote videoconferencing capabilities, and an electronic whiteboard. The goal of this pilot project is to: 1) develop a new paradigm for image and data management for presentation in a clinically meaningful sequence adapted to case-specific scenarios, 2) design and implement a multi-modality review and conferencing workstation using component technology and customizable 'plug-in' architecture to support complex review and diagnostic tasks applicable to all cardiac imaging modalities and 3) develop an XML-based scripting model of image and data presentation for clinical review and decision making during routine clinical tasks and multidisciplinary clinical conferences.

A comparison of techniques to assess cervicovaginal irritation and evaluation of the variability between two observers.

PubMed

Ballagh, Susan A; Mauck, Christine K; Henry, Deborah; Archer, David F; Abercrombie, Theresa; Callahan, Marianne M; Gabelnick, Henry L

2004-09-01

Colposcopy is used to evaluate effects of new vaginal products on cervicovaginal epithelium as part of the US Food and Drug Administration-mandated product approval process, yet few aspects of its use have been investigated. To determine the effect of the colposcopic examination itself on the number and type of findings seen, to compare colposcopy with the AviScope hand-held device and the naked eye and to compare the findings reported by two examiners during a single visit. Fourteen healthy women volunteered for five paired examinations in random order: (1) naked eye inspection plus colposcopy done twice by a single examiner; (2) naked eye inspection plus AviScope examination, then naked eye inspection plus colposcopy by a single examiner; (3) Examination 2 repeated with the order of device reversed; (4) naked eye inspection plus colposcopy done by two examiners; (5) Examination 4 repeated with the order of examiner reversed. The colposcopic examinations were done per published standards but were limited to the areas visible without manipulation of the speculum. Length of colposcopic examination averaged 7 min. The number of colposcopic findings found when the examination was done twice by the same clinician was not statistically different (p = 0.12), suggesting that the examination itself did not induce findings. More findings were seen using magnification than naked eye. A similar number of findings were seen by AviScope compared to the colposcope (p = 0.99), but clinically significant findings were "undercalled" or "overcalled" by the AviScope. A weighted kappa score of the "worst" colposcopic finding was 0.32 (SE 0.10, p = 0.00), indicating moderate agreement between examiners. The colposcopic examination is not burdensome nor does it induce findings. If naked eye observation were used alone in practice, these data suggest that half the colposcopically detected findings would be missed. Using the naked eye observation for screening would minimally reduce the number of magnified observations carried out. For detecting epithelial changes, the colposcope seems to be the most sensitive technique, followed by the AviScope.

Isolation of amylolytic, xylanolytic, and cellulolytic microorganisms extracted from the gut of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis by means of a micro-aerobic atmosphere.

PubMed

Tarayre, Cédric; Brognaux, Alison; Bauwens, Julien; Brasseur, Catherine; Mattéotti, Christel; Millet, Catherine; Destain, Jacqueline; Vandenbol, Micheline; Portetelle, Daniel; De Pauw, Edwin; Eric, Haubruge; Francis, Frédéric; Thonart, Philippe

2014-05-01

The aim of this work was to isolate enzyme-producing microorganisms from the tract of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis. The microorganisms were extracted from the guts and anaerobic (CO₂ or CO₂/H₂) and micro-aerobic atmospheres were used to stimulate growth. Three different strategies were tried out. First, the sample was spread on Petri dishes containing solid media with carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose or cellobiose. This technique allowed us to isolate two bacteria: Streptomyces sp. strain ABGxAviA1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain ABGxCellA. The second strategy consisted in inoculating a specific liquid medium containing carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or cellobiose. The samples were then spread on Petri dishes with the same specific medium containing carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or cellobiose. This led to the isolation of the mold Aspergillus sp. strain ABGxAviA2. Finally, the third strategy consisted in heating the first culture and spreading samples on agar plates containing rich medium. This led to the isolation of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis strain ABGx. All those steps were achieved in controlled atmospheres. The four enzyme-producing strains which were isolated were obtained by using a micro-aerobic atmosphere. Later, enzymatic assays were performed on the four strains. Streptomyces sp. strain ABGxAviA1 was found to produce only amylase, while Pseudomonas sp. strain ABGxCellA was found to produce β-glucosidase as well. Aspergillus sp. strain ABGxAviA2 showed β-glucosidase, amylase, cellulase, and xylanase activities. Finally, B. subtilis strain ABGx produced xylanase and amylase.

High Rates of Nonsusceptibility to Ceftazidime-avibactam and Identification of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase Production in Enterobacteriaceae Bloodstream Infections at a Major Cancer Center.

PubMed

Aitken, Samuel L; Tarrand, Jeffrey J; Deshpande, Lalitagauri M; Tverdek, Frank P; Jones, Anne L; Shelburne, Samuel A; Prince, Randall A; Bhatti, Micah M; Rolston, Kenneth V I; Jones, Ronald N; Castanheira, Mariana; Chemaly, Roy F

2016-10-01

Resistance to the novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has infrequently been reported in the United States. We report unexpectedly high rates of resistance to CAZ-AVI in CRE bloodstream isolates at our institution associated with the nonoutbreak spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase in diverse Enterobacteriaceae species. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.

4DCAPTURE: a general purpose software package for capturing and analyzing two- and three-dimensional motion data acquired from video sequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walton, James S.; Hodgson, Peter; Hallamasek, Karen; Palmer, Jake

2003-07-01

4DVideo is creating a general purpose capability for capturing and analyzing kinematic data from video sequences in near real-time. The core element of this capability is a software package designed for the PC platform. The software ("4DCapture") is designed to capture and manipulate customized AVI files that can contain a variety of synchronized data streams -- including audio, video, centroid locations -- and signals acquired from more traditional sources (such as accelerometers and strain gauges.) The code includes simultaneous capture or playback of multiple video streams, and linear editing of the images (together with the ancilliary data embedded in the files). Corresponding landmarks seen from two or more views are matched automatically, and photogrammetric algorithms permit multiple landmarks to be tracked in two- and three-dimensions -- with or without lens calibrations. Trajectory data can be processed within the main application or they can be exported to a spreadsheet where they can be processed or passed along to a more sophisticated, stand-alone, data analysis application. Previous attempts to develop such applications for high-speed imaging have been limited in their scope, or by the complexity of the application itself. 4DVideo has devised a friendly ("FlowStack") user interface that assists the end-user to capture and treat image sequences in a natural progression. 4DCapture employs the AVI 2.0 standard and DirectX technology which effectively eliminates the file size limitations found in older applications. In early tests, 4DVideo has streamed three RS-170 video sources to disk for more than an hour without loss of data. At this time, the software can acquire video sequences in three ways: (1) directly, from up to three hard-wired cameras supplying RS-170 (monochrome) signals; (2) directly, from a single camera or video recorder supplying an NTSC (color) signal; and (3) by importing existing video streams in the AVI 1.0 or AVI 2.0 formats. The latter is particularly useful for high-speed applications where the raw images are often captured and stored by the camera before being downloaded. Provision has been made to synchronize data acquired from any combination of these video sources using audio and visual "tags." Additional "front-ends," designed for digital cameras, are anticipated.

Linguistic experience and audio-visual perception of non-native fricatives.

PubMed

Wang, Yue; Behne, Dawn M; Jiang, Haisheng

2008-09-01

This study examined the effects of linguistic experience on audio-visual (AV) perception of non-native (L2) speech. Canadian English natives and Mandarin Chinese natives differing in degree of English exposure [long and short length of residence (LOR) in Canada] were presented with English fricatives of three visually distinct places of articulation: interdentals nonexistent in Mandarin and labiodentals and alveolars common in both languages. Stimuli were presented in quiet and in a cafe-noise background in four ways: audio only (A), visual only (V), congruent AV (AVc), and incongruent AV (AVi). Identification results showed that overall performance was better in the AVc than in the A or V condition and better in quiet than in cafe noise. While the Mandarin long LOR group approximated the native English patterns, the short LOR group showed poorer interdental identification, more reliance on visual information, and greater AV-fusion with the AVi materials, indicating the failure of L2 visual speech category formation with the short LOR non-natives and the positive effects of linguistic experience with the long LOR non-natives. These results point to an integrated network in AV speech processing as a function of linguistic background and provide evidence to extend auditory-based L2 speech learning theories to the visual domain.

PREVAIL TRANSAPICAL: multicentre trial of transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the newly designed bioprosthesis (SAPIEN-XT) and delivery system (ASCENDRA-II).

PubMed

Walther, Thomas; Thielmann, Matthias; Kempfert, Joerg; Schroefel, Holger; Wimmer-Greinecker, Gerhard; Treede, Hendrik; Wahlers, Thorsten; Wendler, Olaf

2012-08-01

Transapical (TA) aortic valve implantation (AVI) has evolved as an alternative procedure for high-risk patients. We evaluated the second-generation SAPIEN XT™ prosthesis in a prospective multicentre clinical trial. A total of 150 patients (age: 81.6 ± 5.8 years; 40.7% female) were included. Prosthetic valves (diameter: 23 mm (n = 36), 26 mm (n = 57) and 29 mm (n = 57)) were implanted. The ASCENDRA-II™ modified delivery system was used in the smaller sizes. Mean logistic EuroSCORE was 24.3 ± 7.0%, and mean STS score 7.5 ± 4.4%. All patients gave written informed consent. Off-pump AVI was performed using femoral arterial and venous access wires as a safety net. All but two patients received TA-AVI, as planned. The 29-mm valve showed similar function as the values of two other diameters did. Three patients (2%) required temporary cardiopulmonary bypass support. Postoperative complications included renal failure requiring long-term dialysis in four, bleeding requiring rethoracotomy in four, respiratory complication requiring reintubation in eight and sepsis in four patients, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 13 (8.7%) for the total cohort and 2/57 (3.5%) for patients receiving the 29-mm valve, respectively. Echocardiography at discharge showed none or trivial aortic incompetence (AI) in 71% and mild-AI in 22% of the patients. Post-implantation AI was predominantly paravalvular and ≥ 2+ in 7% of patients. One patient required reoperation for AI within 30 days. The PREVAIL TA multicentre trial demonstrates good functionality and good outcomes for TA-AVI, using the SAPIEN XT™ prosthesis and its second-generation ASCENDRA-II™ delivery system, as well successful introduction of the 29-mm SAPIEN XT™ valve for the benefit of high-risk elderly patients.

Transapical Aortic Valve Replacement under Real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guidance: Experimental Results with Balloon-Expandable and Self-Expanding Stents

PubMed Central

Horvath, Keith A.; Mazilu, Dumitru; Kocaturk, Ozgur; Li, Ming

2010-01-01

Objective Aortic valves have been implanted on self-expanding (SE) and balloon-expandable (BE) stents minimally invasively. We have demonstrated the advantages of transapical aortic valve implantation (tAVI) under real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) guidance. Whether there are different advantages to SE or BE stents is unknown. We report rtMRI guided tAVI in a porcine model using both SE and BE stents, and compare the differences between the stents. Methods Twenty-two Yucatan pigs (45-57kgs.) underwent tAVI. Commercially available stentless bioprostheses (21-25mm) were mounted on either BE platinum-iridium stents or SE nitinol stents. rtMRI guidance was employed as the intraoperative imaging. Markers on both types of stents were used to enhance the visualization in rtMRI. Pigs were allowed to survive and had follow-up MRI scans and echocardiography at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results rtMRI provided excellent visualization of the aortic valve implantation mounted on both stent types. The implantation times were shorter with the SE stents (60±14 seconds) than BE (74±18s), (p=0.027). Total procedure time was 31 and 37 minutes respectively (p=0.12). It was considerably easier to manipulate the SE stent during deployment without hemodynamic compromise. This was not always the case with the BE stent and its placement occasionally resulted in coronary obstruction and death. Long-term results demonstrated stability of the implants with preservation of myocardial perfusion and function over time for both stents. Conclusions SE stents were easier to position and deploy thus leading to fewer complications during tAVI. Future optimization of SE stent design should improve clinical results. PMID:20971017

High sensitivity to multisensory conflicts in agoraphobia exhibited by virtual reality.

PubMed

Viaud-Delmon, Isabelle; Warusfel, Olivier; Seguelas, Angeline; Rio, Emmanuel; Jouvent, Roland

2006-10-01

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of auditory feedback in a VR system planned for clinical use and to address the different factors that should be taken into account in building a bimodal virtual environment (VE). We conducted an experiment in which we assessed spatial performances in agoraphobic patients and normal subjects comparing two kinds of VEs, visual alone (Vis) and auditory-visual (AVis), during separate sessions. Subjects were equipped with a head-mounted display coupled with an electromagnetic sensor system and immersed in a virtual town. Their task was to locate different landmarks and become familiar with the town. In the AVis condition subjects were equipped with the head-mounted display and headphones, which delivered a soundscape updated in real-time according to their movement in the virtual town. While general performances remained comparable across the conditions, the reported feeling of immersion was more compelling in the AVis environment. However, patients exhibited more cybersickness symptoms in this condition. The result of this study points to the multisensory integration deficit of agoraphobic patients and underline the need for further research on multimodal VR systems for clinical use.

Explaining and predicting individually experienced liking of berry fractions by the hTAS2R38 taste receptor genotype.

PubMed

Laaksonen, Oskar; Ahola, Johanna; Sandell, Mari

2013-02-01

The roles of taste and astringent properties, food choice motives and health concerns in liking of bilberry and crowberry samples were studied using a sensory panel prescreened for the hTAS2R38 taste receptor genotype. The subjects rated the intensity of sourness, bitterness and two astringent properties (soft, velvety and rough, puckering) of all berry samples. They also scored the liking of juice fractions and completed a food choice motive and health concern questionnaire. Regression models were used to combine different data sets and to predict liking of the extracts. Sourness contributed positively to the liking of berry fractions, and bitterness and rough astringency were negative factors. The hTAS2R38 genotype affected the liking of polyphenol-rich extracts, which were significantly bitter and astringent. Based on the genotype grouping of subjects, PAV homozygotes gave lower ratings to the attributes than AVI homozygotes. In contrast, PAV homozygotes were predicted to dislike the extracts notably more than AVI homozygotes. Health concern and food choice motives related to health and weight control had significant roles in individual liking of juice fractions. Our results indicate that mood was more important to the PAV homozygotes than to the AVI homozygotes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Converting laserdisc video to digital video: a demonstration project using brain animations.

PubMed

Jao, C S; Hier, D B; Brint, S U

1995-01-01

Interactive laserdiscs are of limited value in large group learning situations due to the expense of establishing multiple workstations. The authors implemented an alternative to laserdisc video by using indexed digital video combined with an expert system. High-quality video was captured from a laserdisc player and combined with waveform audio into an audio-video-interleave (AVI) file format in the Microsoft Video-for-Windows environment (Microsoft Corp., Seattle, WA). With the use of an expert system, a knowledge-based computer program provided random access to these indexed AVI files. The program can be played on any multimedia computer without the need for laserdiscs. This system offers a high level of interactive video without the overhead and cost of a laserdisc player.

Real-time portable system for fabric defect detection using an ARM processor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandez-Gallego, J. A.; Yañez-Puentes, J. P.; Ortiz-Jaramillo, B.; Alvarez, J.; Orjuela-Vargas, S. A.; Philips, W.

2012-06-01

Modern textile industry seeks to produce textiles as little defective as possible since the presence of defects can decrease the final price of products from 45% to 65%. Automated visual inspection (AVI) systems, based on image analysis, have become an important alternative for replacing traditional inspections methods that involve human tasks. An AVI system gives the advantage of repeatability when implemented within defined constrains, offering more objective and reliable results for particular tasks than human inspection. Costs of automated inspection systems development can be reduced using modular solutions with embedded systems, in which an important advantage is the low energy consumption. Among the possibilities for developing embedded systems, the ARM processor has been explored for acquisition, monitoring and simple signal processing tasks. In a recent approach we have explored the use of the ARM processor for defects detection by implementing the wavelet transform. However, the computation speed of the preprocessing was not yet sufficient for real time applications. In this approach we significantly improve the preprocessing speed of the algorithm, by optimizing matrix operations, such that it is adequate for a real time application. The system was tested for defect detection using different defect types. The paper is focused in giving a detailed description of the basis of the algorithm implementation, such that other algorithms may use of the ARM operations for fast implementations.

Error analysis regarding the calculation of nonlinear force-free field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, S.; Zhang, H. Q.; Su, J. T.

2012-02-01

Magnetic field extrapolation is an alternative method to study chromospheric and coronal magnetic fields. In this paper, two semi-analytical solutions of force-free fields (Low and Lou in Astrophys. J. 352:343, 1990) have been used to study the errors of nonlinear force-free (NLFF) fields based on force-free factor α. Three NLFF fields are extrapolated by approximate vertical integration (AVI) Song et al. (Astrophys. J. 649:1084, 2006), boundary integral equation (BIE) Yan and Sakurai (Sol. Phys. 195:89, 2000) and optimization (Opt.) Wiegelmann (Sol. Phys. 219:87, 2004) methods. Compared with the first semi-analytical field, it is found that the mean values of absolute relative standard deviations (RSD) of α along field lines are about 0.96-1.19, 0.63-1.07 and 0.43-0.72 for AVI, BIE and Opt. fields, respectively. While for the second semi-analytical field, they are about 0.80-1.02, 0.67-1.34 and 0.33-0.55 for AVI, BIE and Opt. fields, respectively. As for the analytical field, the calculation error of <| RSD|> is about 0.1˜0.2. It is also found that RSD does not apparently depend on the length of field line. These provide the basic estimation on the deviation of extrapolated field obtained by proposed methods from the real force-free field.

Quasi-Square Hole with Optimum Shape in an Infinite Plate Subjected to In-Plane Loading. Optimization of Inner and Outer Boundaries of Beams and Plates with Holes,

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-01

Division 045 Administracion Naval Ship Resarc; and Development 14114 (Technical Library) Structures Research Division Center Langley Research Center...Virginia 23607 university of California. San Diego Dr. J. L. Swedlow Department of Applied Mechanics Carnegie-Mellon University La Jolla, California...Batdorf Keman AviDyne Suite 220 University of California Division of Kaman La Jolla, California 92037 School of Engineering Sciences Corporation and

2011 Joint Service Power Expo. Volume 2. Video Files

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-05

Untitled Document 2011power.html[3/22/2016 1:21:48 PM] Files are in Adobe, AVCHD Video (.m2ts), .avi format, MPEG-4 Movie (.mp4), and Windows Media...Development, ABSL Power Solutions Inc. 12799 - “Utilization of a Ducted Wind Turbine in a Trailer -Mounted Renewable Energy Micro-grid”, Mr. Mark Matthews, VP...of Sales and Marketing, WindTamer Corporation and Mr. Adeeb Saba WindTamer MPEG-4 Movie (.mp4) SESSION 16 On-Board Vehicle Power (OBVP) 1

Aviation Careers Series: Airline Non-Flying Careers

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-01-01

TRAVLINK demonstrated the use of Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), ComputerAided dispatch (CAD), and Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems on Metropolitan Council Transit Operations (MCTO) buses in Minneapolis, Minnesota and western suburbs,...

Influence of Background Genome on Enzymatic Characteristics of Yellow (Ay/-, Avy/-) Mice

PubMed Central

Wolff, George L.; Pitot, Henry C.

1973-01-01

Identification of the fundamental polypeptide difference between yellow (Ay/-, Avy/-) and non-yellow mice is important for biomedical research because of the influence of the yellow genotype on normal and neoplastic growth and obesity. The complexity of the "yellow mouse syndrome" makes attainment of this objective dependent on the separation of those pleiotropic enzyme differences which are secondary, and depend on the background genome, from those which are primary, and depend primarily on the agouti locus genotype.—Four of nine hepatic enzyme activities assayed simultaneously differed between eight-week-old yellow (Ay/-, Avy/-) and non-yellow (A/-, a/a) male inbred and F1 hybrid mice. Among these four, only cytoplasmic malic enzyme activity was elevated in all yellow mice, as compared with the non-yellow sibs, regardless of background genome. Glucokinase, serine dehydratase, and tyrosine α-ketoglutarate transaminase activities were also changed in yellow mice, but these alterations depended on the background genome.—The ratio of malic enzyme activity to citrate-cleavage enzyme activity, possibly related to the altered fat metabolism of yellow mice, was influenced by background genome as well as by the yellow genotype.——Significant deviations of enzyme activities from mid-parent values among F1 hybrids were associated with particular background genomes; the number of such deviations was larger among yellow mice than among non-yellows and this difference was greater among C3H F1 hybrids than among C57BL/6 F1 hybrids. PMID:4405752

77 FR 28343 - Insurer Reporting Requirements; List of Insurers Required To File Reports

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-14

.... Each of the remaining five companies (including franchisees and licensees) listed in Appendix C are... Franchisees) Subject to the Reporting Requirements of Part 544 Avis Budget Group (subsidiary of Cendant...

46 CFR 12.15-3 - General requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... practical demonstration of skills and abilities, of having achieved or maintained within the previous 5... first aid as set out in table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW Code. (4) Personal safety and social responsibilities...

Introduction To ITS/CVO Participant Manual, Course 1

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-08-01

WEIGH-IN-MOTION OR WIM, COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND NETWORK OR CVISN, AUTOMATIC VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION OR AVI, AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION OR AVL, ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE OR EDI, GLOCAL POSITIONING SYSTEM OR GPS, INTERNET OR WORD W...

46 CFR 12.05-3 - General requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... assessment of a practical demonstration of skills and abilities, of having achieved or maintained within the...) Elementary first aid as set out in table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW Code. (4) Personal safety and social...

Fundamental study of compression for movie files of coronary angiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ando, Takekazu; Tsuchiya, Yuichiro; Kodera, Yoshie

2005-04-01

When network distribution of movie files was considered as reference, it could be useful that the lossy compression movie files which has small file size. We chouse three kinds of coronary stricture movies with different moving speed as an examination object; heart rate of slow, normal and fast movies. The movies of MPEG-1, DivX5.11, WMV9 (Windows Media Video 9), and WMV9-VCM (Windows Media Video 9-Video Compression Manager) were made from three kinds of AVI format movies with different moving speeds. Five kinds of movies that are four kinds of compression movies and non-compression AVI instead of the DICOM format were evaluated by Thurstone's method. The Evaluation factors of movies were determined as "sharpness, granularity, contrast, and comprehensive evaluation." In the virtual bradycardia movie, AVI was the best evaluation at all evaluation factors except the granularity. In the virtual normal movie, an excellent compression technique is different in all evaluation factors. In the virtual tachycardia movie, MPEG-1 was the best evaluation at all evaluation factors expects the contrast. There is a good compression form depending on the speed of movies because of the difference of compression algorithm. It is thought that it is an influence by the difference of the compression between frames. The compression algorithm for movie has the compression between the frames and the intra-frame compression. As the compression algorithm give the different influence to image by each compression method, it is necessary to examine the relation of the compression algorithm and our results.

Determination of the optimal atrioventricular interval in sick sinus syndrome during DDD pacing.

PubMed

Kato, Masaya; Dote, Keigo; Sasaki, Shota; Goto, Kenji; Takemoto, Hiroaki; Habara, Seiji; Hasegawa, Daiji; Matsuda, Osamu

2005-09-01

Although the AAI pacing mode has been shown to be electromechanically superior to the DDD pacing mode in sick sinus syndrome (SSS), there is evidence suggesting that during AAI pacing the presence of natural ventricular activation pattern is not enough for hemodynamic benefit to occur. Myocardial performance index (MPI) is a simply measurable Doppler-derived index of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial performance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether AAI pacing mode is electromechanically superior to the DDD mode in patients with SSS by using Doppler-derived MPI. Thirty-nine SSS patients with dual-chamber pacing devices were evaluated by using Doppler echocardiography in AAI mode and DDD mode. The optimal atrioventricular (AV) interval in DDD mode was determined and atrial stimulus-R interval was measured in AAI mode. The ratio of the atrial stimulus-R interval to the optimal AV interval was defined as relative AV interval (rAVI) and the ratio of MPI in AAI mode to that in DDD mode was defined as relative MPI (rMPI). The rMPI was significantly correlated with atrial stimulus-R interval and rAVI (r = 0.57, P = 0.0002, and r = 0.67, P < 0.0001, respectively). A cutoff point of 1.73 for rAVI provided optimum sensitivity and specificity for rMPI >1 based on the receiver operator curves. Even though the intrinsic AV conduction is moderately prolonged, some SSS patients with dual-chamber pacing devices benefit from the ventricular pacing with optimal AV interval. MPI is useful to determine the optimal pacing mode in acute experiment.

Roadway system assessment using bluetooth-based automatic vehicle identification travel time data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-12-01

This monograph is an exposition of several practice-ready methodologies for automatic vehicle identification (AVI) data collection : systems. This includes considerations in the physical setup of the collection system as well as the interpretation of...

Understanding ITS/CVO Technology Applications, Student Manual, Course 3

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

WEIGHT-IN-MOTION OR WIM, COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND NETWORK OR CVISN, AUTOMATIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION OR AVI, AUTOMATIC LOCATION OR AVL, ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE OR EDI, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM OR GPS, INTERNET OR WORLD WIDE WEB...

Electronic Toll And Traffic Management Systems, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Synthesis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1993-01-01

ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION OR ETC AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OR ETTM, AUTOMATIC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION OR AVI : ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (ETTM) SYSTEMS ARE NOT A FUTURISTIC DREAM, THEY ARE OPERATING OR ARE BEING TESTED TODAY I...

PCC Airfield Pavement Response During Thaw-Weakening Periods: A Field Study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-05-01

This investigation is part of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory's (CRREL) on-going characterization of pavement performance in seasonal frost areas. As part of the research, CRREL conducted several field studies for the Federal Avi...

Evaluation of LVA Full-Scale Hydrodynamic Vehicle Motion Effects on Personnel Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-04-01

by F. A. Muckler 041 so"i C3 Approved by ""loAIoI James .. Regan fl ific" JSIIV IM............... "’"" ’.Technical Director i MAY ]7 i• ! s ...34, ~~Dizdibtfiob Uliý:m Navy Personnel Research and Development Center San Diego, California 92152 Best Available Copy U S avy CLA51"FiCATION OF THIS PAGW lR De...force ships, the LVJ viii1 transnort troops a-t relatively high spoked (25 mph or more) to beach or inland combat sp* s otios. The LVA will eventually

A framework for visualization of battlefield network behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perzov, Yury; Yurcik, William

2006-05-01

An extensible network simulation application was developed to study wireless battlefield communications. The application monitors node mobility and depicts broadcast and unicast traffic as expanding rings and directed links. The network simulation was specially designed to support fault injection to show the impact of air strikes on disabling nodes. The application takes standard ns-2 trace files as an input and provides for performance data output in different graphical forms (histograms and x/y plots). Network visualization via animation of simulation output can be saved in AVI format that may serve as a basis for a real-time battlefield awareness system.

Environmental Assessment: Hurricane Katrina Recovery and Installation Development at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

ly Sweeney Jef fe rso n D avi s Ze ro M a u villa Foulois Fe che t Cabell Esposito Percy Thunderbolt James Ar nol d Pine Lawn Monroe W all Bilm arsan... Jackson counties in Mississippi. These three counties encompass 1,785 square miles of land area and comprise the entire coastline of Mississippi along the...24.2% Hancock County 46,711 11.6% 15.7% 23.4% Harrison County 193,810 29.8% 16.5% 25.7% Jackson County 135,940 27.6% 15.0% 25.8% Biloxi MSA 376,461

46 CFR 12.05-3 - General requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... applicant must: (1) Be at least 18 years of age; (2) Pass the prescribed physical and medical examination in... § 12.01-3). (2) Fire prevention and fire-fighting as set out in table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code. (3...

46 CFR 12.05-3 - General requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... applicant must: (1) Be at least 18 years of age; (2) Pass the prescribed physical and medical examination in... § 12.01-3). (2) Fire prevention and fire-fighting as set out in table A-VI/1-2 of the STCW Code. (3...

One-year multicentre outcomes of transapical aortic valve implantation using the SAPIEN XT™ valve: the PREVAIL transapical study.

PubMed

Walther, Thomas; Thielmann, Matthias; Kempfert, Joerg; Schroefel, Holger; Wimmer-Greinecker, Gerhard; Treede, Hendrik; Wahlers, Thorsten; Wendler, Olaf

2013-05-01

The study aimed to evaluate 1-year outcomes of the multicentre PREVAIL transapical (TA) study of TA-aortic valve implantation (AVI) in high-risk patients. From September 2009 to August 2010, a total of 150 patients, aged 81.6 ± 5.8 years, 40.7% female, were included at 12 European TA-AVI experienced sites. Patients received 23 (n = 36), 26 (n = 57) and 29 mm (n = 57) second-generation SAPIEN XT™ (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) valves. The mean logistic EuroSCORE was 24.3 ± 7.0, and mean Society Thoracic Surgeons score was 7.5 ± 4.4%. Survival was 91.3% at 30 days and 77.9% at 1 year. Subgroup analysis revealed survivals of 91.7/88.9, 86.0/70.2, 96.55/91.2% for patients receiving 23-, 26- and 29-mm valves at 30 days and at 1 year, respectively. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and low gradients. Aortic incompetence was none in 41/48, trace 30/36, mild 22/12 and moderate in 7/4% at discharge and 1 year. Walking distance increased from 221 (postimplant) to 284 m (at 1 year, P = 0.0004). Three patients required reoperation due to increasing aortic incompetence during follow-up. Causes of mortality at 1 year were cardiac (n = 7), stroke (n = 1) and others (n = 5). The European PREVAIL multicentre trial demonstrates good functionality and good outcomes for TA-AVI using the second-generation SAPIEN XT prosthesis and the ASCENDRA-II delivery system. The 29-mm SAPIEN XT valve was successfully introduced and showed excellent results.

Vegetable Intake in College-Aged Adults Is Explained by Oral Sensory Phenotypes and TAS2R38 Genotype

PubMed Central

Hayes, John E.; Davidson, Andrew C.; Kidd, Judith R.; Kidd, Kenneth K.; Bartoshuk, Linda M.

2010-01-01

Taste and oral sensations vary in humans. Some of this variation has a genetic basis, and two commonly measured phenotypes are the bitterness of propylthiouracil (PROP) and the number of fungiform papillae on the anterior tongue. While the genetic control of fungiform papilla is unclear, PROP bitterness associates with allelic variation in the taste receptor gene, TAS2R38. The two common alleles are AVI and PAV (proline, alanine, valine, and isoleucine); AVI/AVI homozygotes taste PROP as less bitter than heterozygous or homozygous PAV carriers. In this laboratory-based study, we determined whether taste of a bitter probe (quinine) and vegetable intake varied by taste phenotypes and TAS2R38 genotype in healthy adults (mean age=26 years). Vegetable intake was assessed via two validated, complementary methods: food records (Food Pyramid servings standardized to energy intake) and food frequency questionnaire (general intake question and composite vegetable groups). Quinine bitterness varied with phenotypes but not TAS2R38; quinine was more bitter to those who tasted PROP as more bitter or had more papillae. Nontasters by phenotype or genotype reported greater consumption of vegetables, regardless of type (i.e., the effect generalized to all vegetables and was not restricted to those typically thought of as being bitter). Furthermore, nontasters with more papillae reported greater vegetable consumption than nontasters with fewer papillae, suggesting that when bitterness does not predominate, more papillae enhance vegetable liking. These findings suggest that genetic variation in taste, measured by multiple phenotypes or TAS2R38 genotype, can explain differences in overall consumption of vegetables, and this was not restricted to vegetables that are predominantly bitter. PMID:21157576

78 FR 48043 - Safety Zone; AVI Resort and Casino Labor Day Fireworks Display; Colorado River

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-07

... the Local Notice to Mariners and local advertising by the event sponsor. If the Captain of the Port... need not be enforced for the full duration stated on this notice, he or she may use a Broadcast Notice...

Sonic Boom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hurtig, Brent

1998-01-01

Reviews and evaluates Pro Tools 4.1, a multitrack digital audio workstation (DAWs) that imports and synchronizes to QuickTime or AVI digital movies. Audio-for-picture editors lock their digital audio workstations to linear videotape recorders, using complex, expensive time code synchronizers. Highlights Macintosh and Windows based alternatives.…

Ancient horizontal transfers of retrotransposons between birds and ancestors of human pathogenic nematodes

PubMed Central

Suh, Alexander; Witt, Christopher C.; Menger, Juliana; Sadanandan, Keren R.; Podsiadlowski, Lars; Gerth, Michael; Weigert, Anne; McGuire, Jimmy A.; Mudge, Joann; Edwards, Scott V.; Rheindt, Frank E.

2016-01-01

Parasite host switches may trigger disease emergence, but prehistoric host ranges are often unknowable. Lymphatic filariasis and loiasis are major human diseases caused by the insect-borne filarial nematodes Brugia, Wuchereria and Loa. Here we show that the genomes of these nematodes and seven tropical bird lineages exclusively share a novel retrotransposon, AviRTE, resulting from horizontal transfer (HT). AviRTE subfamilies exhibit 83–99% nucleotide identity between genomes, and their phylogenetic distribution, paleobiogeography and invasion times suggest that HTs involved filarial nematodes. The HTs between bird and nematode genomes took place in two pantropical waves, >25–22 million years ago (Myr ago) involving the Brugia/Wuchereria lineage and >20–17 Myr ago involving the Loa lineage. Contrary to the expectation from the mammal-dominated host range of filarial nematodes, we hypothesize that these major human pathogens may have independently evolved from bird endoparasites that formerly infected the global breadth of avian biodiversity. PMID:27097561

A Database of Historical Information on Landslides and Floods in Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzzetti, F.; Tonelli, G.

2003-04-01

For the past 12 years we have maintained and updated a database of historical information on landslides and floods in Italy, known as the National Research Council's AVI (Damaged Urban Areas) Project archive. The database was originally designed to respond to a specific request of the Minister of Civil Protection, and was aimed at helping the regional assessment of landslide and flood risk in Italy. The database was first constructed in 1991-92 to cover the period 1917 to 1990. Information of damaging landslide and flood event was collected by searching archives, by screening thousands of newspaper issues, by reviewing the existing technical and scientific literature on landslides and floods in Italy, and by interviewing landslide and flood experts. The database was then updated chiefly through the analysis of hundreds of newspaper articles, and it now covers systematically the period 1900 to 1998, and non-systematically the periods 1900 to 1916 and 1999 to 2002. Non systematic information on landslide and flood events older than 20th century is also present in the database. The database currently contains information on more than 32,000 landslide events occurred at more than 25,700 sites, and on more than 28,800 flood events occurred at more than 15,600 sites. After a brief outline of the history and evolution of the AVI Project archive, we present and discuss: (a) the present structure of the database, including the hardware and software solutions adopted to maintain, manage, use and disseminate the information stored in the database, (b) the type and amount of information stored in the database, including an estimate of its completeness, and (c) examples of recent applications of the database, including a web-based GIS systems to show the location of sites historically affected by landslides and floods, and an estimate of geo-hydrological (i.e., landslide and flood) risk in Italy based on the available historical information.

Crescent Evaluation : appendix F : state-line beacon project : user case studies

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-02-01

The essence of the AVI "Beacon" concept as it applies to the HELP organization would be to provide location, date, and tune information from the roadside to the on-board computer (OBC). A roadside transmit beacon would be located on the state lines a...

Analysis of Low Frequency Ground Motions Induced by Near-Surface and Atmospheric Explosions.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

Library S-CUBED ATTN: J. Murphy Institute for Defense Analyses ATTN: Classified Library Science Applications, Inc ATTN: Technical Library Kaman...AviDyne ATTN: Library Science Applications, Inc ATTN: N. Hobbs ATTN: D. Maxwell ATTN: D. Bernstein Kaman Sciences Corp ATTN: Library Science Applications

Advanced Visual and Instruction Systems for Maintenance Support (AVIS-MS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

Hayashi , "Augmentable Reality: Situated Communication through Physical and Digital Spaces," Proc. 2nd Int’l Symp. Wearable Computers, IEEE CS Press...H. Ohno , "An Optical See-through Display for Mutual Occlusion of Real and Virtual Environments," Proc. Int’l Symp. Augmented Reality 2000 (ISARO0

Cotton 2K-Management tools for irrigated cotton

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The use of simulation models to manage crops was a concept introduced in the 1980’s. For example, the cotton simulation model known as GOSSYM was made available in 1989 and was used by both producers and consultants to manage cotton in real time. More recently, Dr. Avi Marani, Professor Emeritus, Sc...

An obesity-dependent lactation defect in the viable yellow agouti mouse is associated with mammary inflammation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Maternal obesity is known to delay lactogenesis in breast-feeding women, as well as negatively impact lactation in other species. Obesity is also understood to be associated with inflammation. Work with the viable yellow agouti (Avy) mouse in our laboratory has documented a lactation defect in obese...

30 CFR 950.15 - Approval of Wyoming regulatory program amendments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...), (ba), 3(b)(i); Ch II, §§ 3(a)(vi)(E), (M), (b)(xvi)(D), (xx), (v)(C); Ch IV, §§ 3(d)(vii), (e)(i)(H..., 2009 Chapter 11, Section 2(a)(vii)(A). [62 FR 9958, Mar. 5, 1997, as amended at 64 FR 53208, Oct. 1...

26 CFR 1.1361-1 - S corporation defined.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... section 1361(c)(2)(A)(vi), the individual for whose benefit the trust was created shall be treated as the... it, each beneficiary who is a member of the family; (D) The individual for whose benefit a trust... individual for whose benefit the trust was created shall be treated as the shareholder. (ii) Exceptions. See...

Visual rehabilitation: visual scanning, multisensory stimulation and vision restoration trainings

PubMed Central

Dundon, Neil M.; Bertini, Caterina; Làdavas, Elisabetta; Sabel, Bernhard A.; Gall, Carolin

2015-01-01

Neuropsychological training methods of visual rehabilitation for homonymous vision loss caused by postchiasmatic damage fall into two fundamental paradigms: “compensation” and “restoration”. Existing methods can be classified into three groups: Visual Scanning Training (VST), Audio-Visual Scanning Training (AViST) and Vision Restoration Training (VRT). VST and AViST aim at compensating vision loss by training eye scanning movements, whereas VRT aims at improving lost vision by activating residual visual functions by training light detection and discrimination of visual stimuli. This review discusses the rationale underlying these paradigms and summarizes the available evidence with respect to treatment efficacy. The issues raised in our review should help guide clinical care and stimulate new ideas for future research uncovering the underlying neural correlates of the different treatment paradigms. We propose that both local “within-system” interactions (i.e., relying on plasticity within peri-lesional spared tissue) and changes in more global “between-system” networks (i.e., recruiting alternative visual pathways) contribute to both vision restoration and compensatory rehabilitation, which ultimately have implications for the rehabilitation of cognitive functions. PMID:26283935

Comparison of anthropometric indices for predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome and its components in Chinese adults: a prospective, longitudinal study

PubMed Central

Wang, Haoyu; Liu, Aihua; Zhao, Tong; Gong, Xun; Pang, Tianxiao; Zhou, Yingying; Xiao, Yue; Yan, Yumeng; Fan, Chenling; Teng, Weiping; Lai, Yaxin; Shan, Zhongyan

2017-01-01

Objectives Our study aimed to distinguish the ability of anthropometric indices to assess the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Shenyang, China. Participants A total of 379 residents aged between 40 and 65 were enrolled. 253 of them were free of MetS and had been followed up for 4.5 years. Methods At baseline, all the participants underwent a thorough medical examination. A variety of anthropometric parameters were measured and calculated, including waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index, body roundness index, conicity index, waist-to-hip ratio and visceral adiposity index (VAI). After 4.5 year follow-up, we re-examined whether participants were suffering from MetS. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to examine the potential of the above indices to identify the status and risk of MetS. Outcomes Occurrence of MetS. Results At baseline, 33.2% participants suffered from MetS. All of the anthropometric indices showed clinical significance, and VAI was superior to the other indices as it was found to have the largest area under the ROC curve. After a 4.5 year follow-up, 37.8% of men and 23.9% of women developed MetS. ROC curve analysis suggested that baseline BMI was the strongest predictor of MetS for men (0.77 (0.68–0.85)), and AVI was the strongest for women (0.72 (0.64–0.79)). However, no significant difference was observed between WC and both indices. In contrast, the baseline ABSI did not predict MetS in both genders. Conclusions The present study indicated that these different indices derived from anthropometric parameters have different discriminatory abilities for MetS. Although WC did not have the largest area under the ROC curve for diagnosing and predicting MetS, it may remain a better index of MetS status and risk because of its simplicity and wide use. PMID:28928179

Flavones modulate respiratory epithelial innate immunity: Anti-inflammatory effects and activation of the T2R14 receptor

PubMed Central

Hariri, Benjamin M.; McMahon, Derek B.; Chen, Bei; Freund, Jenna R.; Mansfield, Corrine J.; Doghramji, Laurel J.; Adappa, Nithin D.; Palmer, James N.; Kennedy, David W.; Reed, Danielle R.; Jiang, Peihua

2017-01-01

Chronic rhinosinusitis has a significant impact on patient quality of life, creates billions of dollars of annual healthcare costs, and accounts for ∼20% of adult antibiotic prescriptions in the United States. Because of the rise of resistant microorganisms, there is a critical need to better understand how to stimulate and/or enhance innate immune responses as a therapeutic modality to treat respiratory infections. We recently identified bitter taste receptors (taste family type 2 receptors, or T2Rs) as important regulators of sinonasal immune responses and potentially important therapeutic targets. Here, we examined the immunomodulatory potential of flavones, a class of flavonoids previously demonstrated to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Some flavones are also T2R agonists. We found that several flavones inhibit Muc5AC and inducible NOS up-regulation as well as cytokine release in primary and cultured airway cells in response to several inflammatory stimuli. This occurs at least partly through inhibition of protein kinase C and receptor tyrosine kinase activity. We also demonstrate that sinonasal ciliated epithelial cells express T2R14, which closely co-localizes (<7 nm) with the T2R38 isoform. Heterologously expressed T2R14 responds to multiple flavones. These flavones also activate T2R14-driven calcium signals in primary cells that activate nitric oxide production to increase ciliary beating and mucociliary clearance. TAS2R38 polymorphisms encode functional (PAV: proline, alanine, and valine at positions 49, 262, and 296, respectively) or non-functional (AVI: alanine, valine, isoleucine at positions 49, 262, and 296, respectively) T2R38. Our data demonstrate that T2R14 in sinonasal cilia is a potential therapeutic target for upper respiratory infections and that flavones may have clinical potential as topical therapeutics, particularly in T2R38 AVI/AVI individuals. PMID:28373278

Variability of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in different animal species.

PubMed

Ninfali, P; Aluigi, G

1998-11-01

The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was measured both in whole (ORAC-T) and deproteinized (ORAC-AS) plasma samples of human, pig, cow, rabbit, dog, cat, sheep, horse, dolphin, turkey, guinea-hen and chicken. In the 12 species, ORAC-T data, expressed as micromoles of peroxyl radicals trapped by 11 of sample, were found scattered between 8,600 and 23,000 micromol/l. The species with the highest ORAC-T values were cat among mammals and chicken among avies. ORAC-AS values ranged between 600 and 2000 micromol/l, with the highest values found in dolphin and sheep among mammals, while chicken was first among avies. In the 12 species, the relative contribution of ORAC-AS in relation to ORAC-T ranged from 5% to 20%. Protein SH-groups and uric acid were measured in plasma of all species, but no significant correlation was found between thiols and ORAC-T values or between uric acid and ORAC-AS values. Our results show that: (1) the ORAC method is reproducible and sensitive enough to be used in the comparison of the peroxyl-radical absorbance capacity of protein and non-protein plasma components in different animal species; (2) both in mammals and in avies, there is a deep intra-class heterogeneity of ORAC-T and ORAC-AS values; (3) by considering most species, plasma proteins and lipoproteins account for about 85-90% of the overall peroxyl-radical trapping capacity. In the dolphin only, the protein contribution decreases to 80%; (4) uric acid accounts for about one-half of the ORAC-AS value in human, guinea-hen and for about one-third in chicken, while it provides a very limited contribution in other species. We conclude that species with the highest ORAC-T, like cat and chicken, or with the highest ORAC-AS, like dolphin, are interesting models to study the reasons of such a marked antioxidant defense in the plasma.

Intelligent Adaptive Interfaces: Summary Report on Design, Development, and Evaluation of Intelligent Adaptive Interfaces for the Control of Multiple UAVs from an Airborne Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

gestion de la masse d’informations nécessaires pour appuyer la prise de décision efficace. De l’avis des opérateurs d’engins télépilotés...opérateurs d’engins télépilotés risque de croître exponentiellement, de sorte que de fortes contraintes seront imposées au personnel exécutant les missions...commande réelle des engins télépilotés que la gestion des données, y compris la conversion de ces données en information et l’acheminement

When Teachers Must Let Education Hurt: Rousseau and Nietzsche on Compassion and the Educational Value of Suffering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jonas, Mark E.

2010-01-01

Avi Mintz (2008) has recently argued that Anglo-American educators have a tendency to alleviate student suffering in the classroom. According to Mintz, this tendency can be detrimental because certain kinds of suffering actually enhance student learning. While Mintz compellingly describes the effects of educator's desires to alleviate suffering in…

46 CFR 12.15-3 - General requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... years the minimum standards of competence for the following 4 areas of basic safety: (1) Personal... first aid as set out in table A-VI/1-3 of the STCW Code. (4) Personal safety and social responsibilities... of competence set out in STCW Regulation III/4 and Section A-III/4 of the STCW Code (incorporated by...

75 FR 20799 - Safety Zone; AVI July Fireworks Display, Laughlin, NV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-21

..., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hand...-0019'' in the ``Keyword'' box. Click ``Search'' then click on the balloon shape in the ``Actions... ``Actions'' column. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of...

What We Talk about When We Don't Talk about Grades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Connor, John S.; Lessing, Avi D.

2017-01-01

In this article, John O'Connor and Avi Lessing discuss their decision to create gradeless classrooms. They reached this decision by witnessing the profound cost grades hold for students and teachers alike. Grades threaten to reduce students to mere scores and teachers to bookkeepers, both groups focused more on grades than learning. By eliminating…

Innovative methods for knowledge transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goanta, A. M.

2015-11-01

At this time, learning takes place, either with classic books on paper support or using books scanned or drawn and further converted into PDF or PPT files that are printed on type support CD / DVD. The latter modern means of learning, the study adds live on the Internet using search engines and not least e-learning method, which allows the study of bibliographic related materials in PDF or PPT, stacked and grouped on the basis of a curriculum imposed which can be accessed on a website via a user name and password. Innovative methods come to successfully use other file types than those mentioned above. The graphics in teaching technical subjects such as descriptive geometry can be achieved using animated PowerPoint files, allowing for visualization of steps to be taken, in the case of solving by drawing a descriptive geometry. Another innovative method relies on the use of HTML files, inspired by related sites help design software packages that can be used when teaching descriptive geometry that the technical design. Through this work, the author has proposed to present a new innovative method, which is inspired by the methods listed above, but involves using AVI files to teaching of computer-assisted type graphics or info graphics. In general this new author's method lends itself particularly well to the teaching of the use of software packages because the student actually see the place from where the delivered command is accessed and contextual options of right button of the mouse. These laboratory courses or mentoring can be freestanding cards support CD / DVD or can be posted on websites with restricted access based on user name and password. Practically paper presents the methodology of creating courses and tutorials in AVI format, and how to monitor the degree of accessing the website, on which there were posted mentioned teaching materials, using the tools offered by Google Analytics. The results consist of graphical work, about the degree of access to educational materials, made on the basis of various criteria, such as the: time of access, access location, age of those who accessed, chapters accessed, etc. Finally the author presents his findings on the benefits of this method.

Maternal obesity in the agouti viable yellow (Avy) mouse produces defective secretory activation that is associated with mammary inflammation and activation of adrenocorticosteroid-dependent gene expression

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Maternal obesity is known to interfere with normal lactation in women, rodents, and dairy animals. Obesity is also correlated with profound changes in an array of endocrine factors and is causally linked with inflammation and insulin resistance. Recent work suggests that elevated aldosterone actin...

Factors Influencing Health Care Access in Rural Health Professional Shortage Areas

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-08-01

CRA&I DTIC TAB1 9 UnannouncedS~~Just f~jpn_ ..__" l• By Distribution /93- 04772 Avi adom a..,.Availability Codes Avail and orDist Special •~-0 1S𔄃...profession. Large group and staff-model Health Maintenance Rural Health 16 Organizations [HMOs) usually provide care at primary HMO sites ald employ NPs

Menuing and Scrolling as Alternative Information Management Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-01

Reef Inhabitant Angelfish Parrotfish[ Cardinalfish Scorpionfish INSECT Carnivorous r Cicada Killer Lacewing LFlea Mosquito Herbivorous r Chinch Bug...Ayt -Ave 20 0 Bow f in 20 4 Bunt ing 20 1 1 0 Carrion Beetle 20 7 5 2 C avy 20 0 0 Chamoi s 20 i 1 0 Chinch Bug 20 4 2 Cicada Kilter 20 4 3 1 Earwig

Time to Dream: "Reflections on Paul Diederich and the Progressive American High School"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Connor, John S.; Lessing, Avi D.

2015-01-01

In this essay, John S. O'Connor and Avi D. Lessing discuss the increasingly reductive and routinized nature of contemporary schools and the costs such an approach holds for students and teachers alike. The current approach is especially troublesome in light of the rich history of progressive voices, such as Paul Diederich, who have cautioned…

Value recovery from two mechanized bucking operations in the southeastern United States

Treesearch

Kevin Boston; Glen. Murphy

2003-01-01

The value recovered from two mechanized bucking operations in the southeastern United States was compared with the optimal value computed using an individual-stem log optimization program, AVIS. The first operation recovered 94% of the optimal value. The main cause for the value loss was a failure to capture potential sawlog volume; logs were bucked to a larger average...

Budget Scoring of Alternative Financing Methods for Defense Requirements

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

28 Table 3. Public vs . Private Operating Lease Determination ..........................................32 xii...asset to another party (lessee). For example, the rental of an automobile from Avis implies no ownership . However, leases can be structured in an... Ownership of the asset remains with the lessor during the term of the lease and is not transferred to the Government at or shortly after the end of

Fiches pratiques: Les comparatifs lavent plus blanc; Signe particulier: Belier; Avis de recherche; Mont de piete (Comparatively Speaking; The Sign of Aries; Missing Persons; Pawnshop).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bourdet, Jean-Francois; And Others

1992-01-01

Four activities for the French language classroom are described. These include helping students discover comparative expressions by using advertisements; using horoscopes for teaching vocabulary; using a missing persons report as a source for intermediate to advanced level discussion, collective writing, and questions; and a video designed to…

76 FR 33392 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-08

... received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified... SWPC routing strategy to Rule 11.9(b)(3)(q). \\4\\ See SR-EDGX-2011-15 (May 5, 2011). SWPC is a routing... strategies set forth in NASDAQ Rule 4758(a)(1)(A)(vi) (``NASDAQ's ``MOPP'' strategy) and BATS BZX/BYX...

Site-directed immobilization of a genetically engineered anti-methotrexate antibody via an enzymatically introduced biotin label significantly increases the binding capacity of immunoaffinity columns.

PubMed

Davenport, Kaitlynn R; Smith, Christopher A; Hofstetter, Heike; Horn, James R; Hofstetter, Oliver

2016-05-15

In this study, the effect of random vs. site-directed immobilization techniques on the performance of antibody-based HPLC columns was investigated using a single-domain camelid antibody (VHH) directed against methotrexate (MTX) as a model system. First, the high flow-through support material POROS-OH was activated with disuccinimidyl carbonate (DSC), and the VHH was bound in a random manner via amines located on the protein's surface. The resulting column was characterized by Frontal Affinity Chromatography (FAC). Then, two site-directed techniques were explored to increase column efficiency by immobilizing the antibody via its C-terminus, i.e., away from the antigen-binding site. In one approach, a tetra-lysine tail was added, and the antibody was immobilized onto DSC-activated POROS. In the second site-directed approach, the VHH was modified with the AviTag peptide, and a biotin-residue was enzymatically incorporated at the C-terminus using the biotin ligase BirA. The biotinylated antibody was subsequently immobilized onto NeutrAvidin-derivatized POROS. A comparison of the FAC analyses, which for all three columns showed excellent linearity (R(2)>0.999), revealed that both site-directed approaches yield better results than the random immobilization; the by far highest efficiency, however, was determined for the immunoaffinity column based on AviTag-biotinylated antibody. As proof of concept, all three columns were evaluated for quantification of MTX dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Validation using UV-detection showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.04-12μM (R(2)>0.993). The lower limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were found to be independent of the immobilization strategy and were 40nM and 132nM, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision was below 11.6%, and accuracy was between 90.7% and 112%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the AviTag-system in chromatography, and the first application of immunoaffinity chromatography for the analysis of MTX. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effectiveness and user perception of 3-dimensional digital human anatomy in an online undergraduate anatomy laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilbelink, Amy Joanne

2007-12-01

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of implementing desktop 3-dimensional (3D) stereo images of human anatomy into an undergraduate human anatomy distance laboratory. User perceptions of 2D and 3D images were gathered via questionnaire in order to determine ease of use and level of satisfaction associated with the 3D software in the online learning environment. Mayer's (2001, p. 184) principles of design were used to develop the study materials that consisted of PowerPoint presentations and AVI files accessed via Blackboard. The research design employed a mixed-methods approach. Volunteers each were administered a demographic survey and were then stratified into groups based upon pre-test scores. A total sample size of 62 pairs was available for combined data analysis. Quantitative research questions regarding the effectiveness of 2D versus the 3D treatment were analyzed using a doubly-multivariate repeated measures (Doubly-MANOVA) design. Paired test scores achieved by undergraduates on a laboratory practical of identification and spatial relationships of the bones and features of a human skull were used in the analysis. The questionnaire designed to gather user perceptions consisted of quantitative and qualitative questions. Response frequencies were analyzed for the two groups and common themes were noted. Results revealed a statistically significant difference in group means for the main effect of the treatment groups 2D and 3D and for the variables of identification and relationship with the 3D group outperforming the 2D group on both dependent variables. Effect sizes were determined to be small, 0.215 for the identification variable and 0.359 for the relationship variable. Overall, all students liked the convenience of using PowerPoint and AVI files online. The 3D group felt their PowerPoint was more realistic than did the 2D group and both groups appreciated the detailed labeling of the online images. One third of the volunteers in the 3D group indicated that "eye strain" was what they liked least about working with the 3D images. Results indicate that desktop, stereo imaging may be incorporated effectively into online anatomy and physiology courses, but that more work needs to be done to ensure less eye strain.

77 FR 10581 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-22

... quantity as close to zero as possible. The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 123C(4)(a)(vi) to add that LOC... ``plus'' or ``zero plus'' tick, and is not lower than the last sale plus the minimal fractional change in the stock if the last sale was a ``minus'' or ``zero minus'' tick. The purpose of a Sell Plus order is...

47 CFR 15.251 - Operation within the bands 2.9-3.26 GHz, 3.267-3.332 GHz, 3.339-3.3458 GHz, and 3.358-3.6 GHz.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., and 3.358-3.6 GHz. (a) Operation under the provisions of this section is limited to automatic vehicle identification systems (AVIS) which use swept frequency techniques for the purpose of automatically identifying transportation vehicles. (b) The field strength anywhere within the frequency range swept by the signal shall not...

47 CFR 15.251 - Operation within the bands 2.9-3.26 GHz, 3.267-3.332 GHz, 3.339-3.3458 GHz, and 3.358-3.6 GHz.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

..., and 3.358-3.6 GHz. (a) Operation under the provisions of this section is limited to automatic vehicle identification systems (AVIS) which use swept frequency techniques for the purpose of automatically identifying transportation vehicles. (b) The field strength anywhere within the frequency range swept by the signal shall not...

47 CFR 15.251 - Operation within the bands 2.9-3.26 GHz, 3.267-3.332 GHz, 3.339-3.3458 GHz, and 3.358-3.6 GHz.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

..., and 3.358-3.6 GHz. (a) Operation under the provisions of this section is limited to automatic vehicle identification systems (AVIS) which use swept frequency techniques for the purpose of automatically identifying transportation vehicles. (b) The field strength anywhere within the frequency range swept by the signal shall not...

47 CFR 15.251 - Operation within the bands 2.9-3.26 GHz, 3.267-3.332 GHz, 3.339-3.3458 GHz, and 3.358-3.6 GHz.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

..., and 3.358-3.6 GHz. (a) Operation under the provisions of this section is limited to automatic vehicle identification systems (AVIS) which use swept frequency techniques for the purpose of automatically identifying transportation vehicles. (b) The field strength anywhere within the frequency range swept by the signal shall not...

Towards Long-Time Simulation of Soft Tissue Simulant Penetration

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

materials involved in testing. Experiments, for instance firing high speed bullets at steel plates of different thicknesses (see [2]), reveal large...L’ shaped beam against a rigid wall using AVI and the almost exact en- ergy conservation of the system . With traditional time integrators, the time...and avoiding ill-conditioning issues is often non trivial. Likewise, Lagrange multipliers have also been used to impose the contact con- straint at

Application Guidelines for Quality Assurance Procedures for Hybrid Microcircuits.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-01

INSPECTION LIMITS SYMBOL TEST CONDITIONS UNITS SUBGROUP 6 TC = -55 DEGREES C AVI0 1 SAME AS SUBGROUP 5 -0.1 5 Vpp VOS SAME AS SUBGROUP 4 50 m%LC V0 2 ... 1 . Line Certification 2 . Fabrication Techniques and Material Qualification Procedures 3. Design Guidelines e. Application Guidelines. Items a through... 1 2 . GENERAL ................... ......... ................. 3 2.1 Summary of documents generated ........................ 3 2.2 Contract objectives

Emerging Targets and Novel Approaches to Ebola Virus Prophylaxis and Treatment

PubMed Central

Choi, Jin Huk; Croyle, Maria A.

2013-01-01

Ebola is a highly virulent pathogen causing severe hemorrhagic fever with a high case fatality rate in humans and non-human primates (NHPs). Although safe and effective vaccines or other medicinal agents to block Ebola infection are currently unavailable, a significant effort has been put forth to identify several promising candidates for the treatment and prevention of Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Among these, recombinant-virus based vectors have been identified as potent vaccine candidates with some affording both pre- and post-exposure protection from the virus. Recently, Investigational New Drug (IND) applications have been approved by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Phase I clinical trials initiated for two small molecule therapeutics, 1) anti-sense phosphorodiamidate morphino oligomers (PMOs: AVI-6002, AVI-6003), and 2) lipid-nanoparticle/small interfering RNA (LNP/siRNA: TKM-Ebola). These potential alternatives to vector-based vaccines require multiple doses to achieve therapeutic efficacy which is not ideal with regard to patient compliance and outbreak scenarios. These concerns have fueled a quest for even better vaccination and treatment strategies. Here, we summarize recent advances in vaccines or post-exposure therapeutics for prevention of Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The utility of novel pharmaceutical approaches to refine and overcome barriers associated with the most promising therapeutic platforms will also be discussed. PMID:23813435

Accomplishing the genotype-specific serodiagnosis of single and dual Trypanosoma cruzi infections by flow cytometry Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a.

PubMed

Alessio, Glaucia Diniz; de Araújo, Fernanda Fortes; Sales Júnior, Policarpo Ademar; Gomes, Matheus de Souza; Amaral, Laurence Rodrigues do; Pascoal Xavier, Marcelo Antônio; Teixeira-Carvalho, Andréa; de Lana, Marta; Martins-Filho, Olindo Assis

2018-02-01

The methods currently available for genotype-specific diagnosis of T. cruzi infection still present relevant limitations, especially to identify mixed infection. In the present investigation, we have evaluated the performance of Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a test for early and late differential diagnosis of single and dual genotype-specific T. cruzi infections. Serum samples from Swiss mice at early and late stages of T. cruzi infection were assayed in parallel batches for genotype-specific diagnosis of single (TcI, TcVI or TcII) and dual (TcI+TcVI, TcVI+TcII or TcII+TcI) infections. The intrinsic reactivity to TcI, TcVI and TcII target antigens, including amastigote (AI/AVI/AII), trypomastigote-(TI/TVI/TII) and epimastigote (EI/EVI/EII), at specific reverse of serum dilutions (500 to 64,000), was employed to provide reliable decision-trees for "early" vs "late", "single vs "dual" and "genotype-specific" serology. The results demonstrated that selective set of attributes "EII 500/EI 2,000/AII 500" were able to provide high-quality accuracy (81%) to segregate early and late stages of T. cruzi infection. The sets "TI 2,000/AI 1,000/EII 1,000" and "TI 8,000/AII 32,000" presented expressive scores to discriminate single from dual T. cruzi infections at early (85%) and late stages (84%), respectively. Moreover, the attributes "TI 4,000/TVI 500/TII 1,000", "TI 16,000/EI 2,000/EII 2,000/AI 500/TVI 500" showed good performance for genotype-specific diagnosis at early stage of single (72%) and dual (80%) T. cruzi infections, respectively. In addition, the attributes "TI 4,000/AII 1,000/EVI 1,000", "TI 64,000/AVI 500/AI 2,000/AII 1,000/EII 4,000" showed moderate performance for genotype-specific diagnosis at late stage of single (69%) and dual (76%) T. cruzi infections, respectively. The sets of decision-trees were assembled to construct a sequential algorithm with expressive accuracy (81%) for serological diagnosis of T. cruzi infection. These findings engender new perspectives for the application of Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a method for genotype-specific diagnosis in humans, with relevant contributions for epidemiological surveys as well as clinical and post-therapeutic monitoring of Chagas disease.

Putting Automated Visual Inspection Systems To Work On The Factory Floor: What's Missing?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waltz, Frederick M.; Snyder, Michael A.; Batchelor, Bruce G.

1990-02-01

Machine vision systems and other automated visual inspection (AVI) systems have been proving their usefulness in factories for more than a decade. In spite of this, the number of installed systems is far below the number that could profitably be employed. In the opinion of the authors, the primary reason for this is the high cost of customizing vision systems to meet applications requirements. A three-part approach to this problem has proven to be useful: 1. A multi-phase paradigm for customer interaction, system specification, system development, and system installation; 2. A powerful and easy-to-use system development environment, including a a flexible laboratory lighting setup, plus software-based tools to assist in the design of image acquisition systems, b. an image processing environment with a very large repertoire of image processing and feature extraction operations and an easy-to-use command interpreter having macro capabilities, and c. an image analysis environment with high-level constructs, a flexible and powerful syntax, and a "seamless" interface to the image processing level; and 3. A moderately-priced high-speed "target" system fully compatible with the development environment, so that algorithms developed thereon can be transferred directly to the factory environment without further development costs or reprogramming. Items 1 and 2 are covered in other papers1,23,4,5 and are touched on here only briefly. Item 3 is the main subject of this paper. Our major motivation in presenting this paper is to offer suggestions to vendors developing commercial boards and systems, in hopes that the special needs of industrial inspection can be met.

An object oriented fully 3D tomography visual toolkit.

PubMed

Agostinelli, S; Paoli, G

2001-04-01

In this paper we present a modern object oriented component object model (COMM) C + + toolkit dedicated to fully 3D cone-beam tomography. The toolkit allows the display and visual manipulation of analytical phantoms, projection sets and volumetric data through a standard Windows graphical user interface. Data input/output is performed using proprietary file formats but import/export of industry standard file formats, including raw binary, Windows bitmap and AVI, ACR/NEMA DICOMM 3 and NCSA HDF is available. At the time of writing built-in implemented data manipulators include a basic phantom ray-tracer and a Matrox Genesis frame grabbing facility. A COMM plug-in interface is provided for user-defined custom backprojector algorithms: a simple Feldkamp ActiveX control, including source code, is provided as an example; our fast Feldkamp plug-in is also available.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy drugs face tough path to approval.

PubMed

Hodgkinson, L; Sorbera, L; Graul, A I

2016-03-01

Highly anticipated as new disease-modifying treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), therapeutics by BioMarin Pharmaceutical (Kyndrisa™; drisapersen) and Sarepta Therapeutics (eteplirsen; AVI-4658) both recently received negative FDA reviews and are now facing battles for approval in the U.S. At present, BioMarin is committed to working with the FDA to forge a pathway to approval following the failure of its NDA, while Sarepta awaits the formal decision on its NDA, which is expected by late May 2016. Despite the critical nature of both reviews, analysts consider that there is still a narrow possibility of approval of both drugs. According to Consensus forecasts from Thomson Reuters Cortellis for Competitive Intelligence, Kyndrisa is forecast to achieve sales of USD 533.71 million in 2021. Copyright 2016 Prous Science, S.A.U. or its licensors. All rights reserved.

30 CFR 950.15 - Approval of Wyoming regulatory program amendments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...), (ba), 3(b)(i); Ch II, §§ 3(a)(vi)(E), (M), (b)(xvi)(D), (xx), (v)(C); Ch IV, §§ 3(d)(vii), (e)(i)(H...(am);Chap. 1, Section 2(ao); Chap. 1, Section 2(ap); Chap. 1, Section 2(as); Chap. 1, Section 2(az... relocated rules. [62 FR 9958, Mar. 5, 1997, as amended at 64 FR 53208, Oct. 1, 1999; 67 FR 67547, Nov. 6...

Expandable Shelter/Container Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-06-01

transportability , offers limited work space, and because it requIres a ded i cated tractor, imposes an additiona l maintenance and logistica l burden on...Porta bl e, Avi ation Maintenance (SPNI) studied the requirements of transportability and f l oor space, and also consi dered costs I nvolved In...shop configuration of the ES/C , w hi ch was the only configurat ion that MASSTER was tasked to evaluate, prov i des adequate space for the

RDT&E/Acquisition Management Guide. Revision.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-01-01

libraries s , that rIaincd librai staff comprehensive, coordinated Scientif k, and lekh- ca.n assist RI)!& pets n~rnc, I e ri nical Information Program ( S ...A179 010 RDTAE/ACOUISITIOi MNAGEMENT GUIDE REVISIOI(U) 1/ N S --5-RDEPARTMENT OF THE AVY WASHINGTON DC JAN 87 UNCLASSIFIED F/ 5/ UL mmhhmmhhmhhhlm...DCASR Defense Contract Administration Sersices ASN (R.E& S ) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Region Engineering, and Systems) DCNO (- Deputy

The Budget Scoring Alternatives Financing Methods for Defense Requirements

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-30

The government grants a franchise to a private partner to finance, design, build and operate a facility for a specific period of time. Ownership of...of an automobile from Avis implies no ownership . However, leases can be structured in an almost limitless number of complex arrangements in which...satisfy the following stringent criteria: Ownership of the asset remains with the lessor during the term of the lease and is not transferred to the

SJA Deskbook

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-10-01

34any officer or person in command or charge" of the military installation concerned. United States v. Ramirez Seijo, 281 F. Supp. 708, 710 (D.C. Puerto...for the bar letter. In United States v. Ramirez Seijo, supra, knowledge was not established where the defendant’s father signed the registered- mail...N.AViNSGEN will v:,c case involving a substantiated allegation until action is taken ani ,-p,. rua 6433 GENERAL PROVISIONS A. Betntionof Doc,.n-nt

Time-Series Photographs of the Sea Floor in Western Massachusetts Bay: June 1998 to May 1999

USGS Publications Warehouse

Butman, Bradford; Alexander, P. Soupy; Bothner, Michael H.

2004-01-01

This report presents time-series photographs of the sea floor obtained from an instrumented tripod deployed at Site A in western Massachusetts Bay (42? 22.6' N., 70? 47.0' W., 30 m water depth, figure 1) from June 1998 through May 1999. Site A is approximately 1 km south of an ocean outfall that began discharging treated sewage effluent from the Boston metropolitan area into Massachusetts Bay in September 2000. Time-series photographs and oceanographic observations were initiated at Site A in December 1989 and are anticipated to continue to September 2005. This one of a series of reports that present these images in digital form. The objective of these reports is to enable easy and rapid viewing of the photographs and to provide a medium-resolution digital archive. The images, obtained every 4 hours, are presented as a movie (in .avi format, which may be viewed using an image viewer such as QuickTime or Windows Media Player) and as individual images (.tif format). The images provide time-series observations of changes of the sea floor and near-bottom water properties.

Opportunities for exercise during pullet rearing, Part II: Long-term effects on bone characteristics of adult laying hens at the end-of-lay.

PubMed

Casey-Trott, T M; Korver, D R; Guerin, M T; Sandilands, V; Torrey, S; Widowski, T M

2017-08-01

Osteoporosis in laying hens has been a production and welfare concern for several decades. The objective of this study was to determine whether differing opportunities for exercise during pullet rearing influences long-term bone quality characteristics in end-of-lay hens. A secondary objective was to assess whether differing opportunities for exercise in adult housing systems alters bone quality characteristics in end-of-lay hens. Four flock replicates of 588 Lohmann Selected Leghorn-Lite pullets were reared in either conventional cages (Conv) or an aviary rearing system (Avi) and placed into conventional cages (CC), 30-bird furnished cages (FC-S), or 60-bird furnished cages (FC-L) for adult housing. Wing and leg bones were collected at the end-of-lay to quantify bone composition and strength using quantitative computed tomography and bone breaking strength (BBS). At the end-of-lay, Avi hens had greater total and cortical cross-sectional area (P < 0.05) for the radius and tibia, greater total bone mineral content of the radius (P < 0.001), and greater tibial cortical bone mineral content (P = 0.029) than the Conv hens; however, total bone mineral density of the radius (P < 0.001) and cortical bone mineral density of the radius and tibia (P < 0.001) were greater in the Conv hens. Hens in the FC-L had greater total bone mineral density for the radius and tibia (P < 0.05) and greater trabecular bone mineral density for the radius (P = 0.027), compared to hens in the FC-S and CC. Total bone mineral content of the tibia (P = 0.030) and cortical bone mineral content of the radius (P = 0.030) and tibia (P = 0.013) were greater in the FC-L compared to the CC. The humerus of Conv hens had greater BBS than the Avi hens (P < 0.001), and the tibiae of FC-L and FC-S hens had greater BBS than CC hens (P = 0.006). Increased opportunities for exercise offered by the aviary rearing system provided improved bone quality characteristics lasting through to the end-of-lay. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Poultry Science Association.

Impact of Aortic Valve Calcification, as Measured by MDCT, on Survival in Patients With Aortic Stenosis

PubMed Central

Clavel, Marie-Annick; Pibarot, Philippe; Messika-Zeitoun, David; Capoulade, Romain; Malouf, Joseph; Aggarval, Shivani; Araoz, Phillip A.; Michelena, Hector I.; Cueff, Caroline; Larose, Eric; Miller, Jordan D.; Vahanian, Alec; Enriquez-Sarano, Maurice

2014-01-01

BACKGROUND Aortic valve calcification (AVC) load measures lesion severity in aortic stenosis (AS) and is useful for diagnostic purposes. Whether AVC predicts survival after diagnosis, independent of clinical and Doppler echocardiographic AS characteristics, has not been studied. OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the impact of AVC load, absolute and relative to aortic annulus size (AVCdensity), on overall mortality in patients with AS under conservative treatment and without regard to treatment. METHODS In 3 academic centers, we enrolled 794 patients (mean age, 73 ± 12 years; 274 women) diagnosed with AS by Doppler echocardiography who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) within the same episode of care. Absolute AVC load and AVCdensity (ratio of absolute AVC to cross-sectional area of aortic annulus) were measured, and severe AVC was separately defined in men and women. RESULTS During follow-up, there were 440 aortic valve implantations (AVIs) and 194 deaths (115 under medical treatment). Univariate analysis showed strong association of absolute AVC and AVCdensity with survival (both, p < 0.0001) with a spline curve analysis pattern of threshold and plateau of risk. After adjustment for age, sex, coronary artery disease, diabetes, symptoms, AS severity on hemodynamic assessment, and LV ejection fraction, severe absolute AVC (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 2.92; p = 0.03) or severe AVCdensity (adjusted HR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.37 to 4.37; p = 0.002) independently predicted mortality under medical treatment, with additive model predictive value (all, p ≤ 0.04) and a net reclassification index of 12.5% (p = 0.04). Severe absolute AVC (adjusted HR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.62; p = 0.01) and severe AVCdensity (adjusted HR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.40 to 3.52; p = 0.001) also independently predicted overall mortality, even with adjustment for time-dependent AVI. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale, multicenter outcomes study of quantitative Doppler echocardiographic and MDCT assessment of AS shows that measuring AVC load provides incremental prognostic value for survival beyond clinical and Doppler echocardiographic assessment. Severe AVC independently predicts excess mortality after AS diagnosis, which is greatly alleviated by AVI. Thus, measurement of AVC by MDCT should be considered for not only diagnostic but also risk-stratification purposes in patients with AS. PMID:25236511

47 CFR 15.251 - Operation within the bands 2.9-3.26 GHz, 3.267-3.332 GHz, 3.339-3.3458 GHz, and 3.358-3.6 GHz.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... exceed 3000 microvolts/meter/MHz at 3 meters in any direction. Further, an AVIS, when in its operating position, shall not produce a field strength greater than 400 microvolts/meter/MHz at 3 meters in any... maximum of 100 microvolts/meter/MHz at 3 meters, measured from 30 MHz to 20 GHz for the complete system...

Budget Scoring: An Impediment to Alternative Financing

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-06

from Avis implies no ownership . However, leases can be structured in an almost limitless number of complex arrangements in which all terms are... Ownership of the asset remains with the lessor during the term of the lease and is not transferred to the Government at or shortly after the end of...not built to unique specification for the Government as lessee. 6) There is a private-sector market for the asset. 7) Risks of ownership of the

Les programmes revises: Amenagement forestier, interpretation theatrale. Avis a la ministre de l'Enseignement superieur et de la Science (Revised Programs: Forest Management, Theater Arts. Advisory to the Minister of Higher Education and Science).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conseil des Colleges, Quebec (Quebec).

This two-part report contains an analyses conducted by the Council of Colleges, in Quebec, of proposed revisions to programs in Forestry Management and Theater Arts offered by the province's public colleges. First, the report considers existing and proposed forestry programs in terms of their relationship to the current practices in the forestry…

Summary and Review of the Tectonic Structure of Eurasia. Part 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-05

DTIC TAB Just tIcjat DIstrju1j D it i AVi Dis a2 INTRODUCTION An extensive search of the available geologic and geo- physical literature dealing...with the crust and upper mantle properties of the U.S.S.R. and Eurasia has been conducted. During the past 25 years a vast amount of deep seismic...boundaries for these provinces were drawn after considering geologic evolution. Seismic activity, heat flow, Moho properties , crustal properties

Effects of Long-term Physical Training on the Bearers of a Float during the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival.

PubMed

Shibata, Shigemori; Kawano, Hiroaki; Maemura, Koji

Objective The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Nagasaki. The bearers the floats that are used in this festival undergo long-term training for the performance. However, there have not been any studies on the effects of this training on the health of the float bearers. Methods Thirty-four men ranging in age from 20 to 49 years (mean age: 35.77.6 years) were included in the study. We examined the following parameters before and after the training: body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, muscle volume, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate (PR), pulse pressure (PP), bearing power, arterial pressure volume index (API), and arterial velocity pulse index (AVI). Results For all participants, the BW, BMI, body fat percentage, and PR were significantly decreased, and the muscle volume and bearing power were significantly increased after the training; however, there were no significant changes in the SBP, DBP, PP, API, or AVI. In the participants with hypertension, in addition to decreases in BW, BMI, body fat percentage, PR, and PP, the SBP, DBP, and API were significantly decreased after the training. Conclusion Training for bearing a float during Nagasaki Kunchi effectively improved the body structure of all participants and reduced the BP and API in participants with hypertension.

Effects of Long-term Physical Training on the Bearers of a Float during the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

PubMed Central

Shibata, Shigemori; Kawano, Hiroaki; Maemura, Koji

2017-01-01

Objective The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Nagasaki. The bearers the floats that are used in this festival undergo long-term training for the performance. However, there have not been any studies on the effects of this training on the health of the float bearers. Methods Thirty-four men ranging in age from 20 to 49 years (mean age: 35.7±7.6 years) were included in the study. We examined the following parameters before and after the training: body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, muscle volume, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate (PR), pulse pressure (PP), bearing power, arterial pressure volume index (API), and arterial velocity pulse index (AVI). Results For all participants, the BW, BMI, body fat percentage, and PR were significantly decreased, and the muscle volume and bearing power were significantly increased after the training; however, there were no significant changes in the SBP, DBP, PP, API, or AVI. In the participants with hypertension, in addition to decreases in BW, BMI, body fat percentage, PR, and PP, the SBP, DBP, and API were significantly decreased after the training. Conclusion Training for bearing a float during Nagasaki Kunchi effectively improved the body structure of all participants and reduced the BP and API in participants with hypertension. PMID:28049988

A Pixel Correlation Technique for Smaller Telescopes to Measure Doubles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiley, E. O.

2013-04-01

Pixel correlation uses the same reduction techniques as speckle imaging but relies on autocorrelation among captured pixel hits rather than true speckles. A video camera operating at speeds (8-66 milliseconds) similar to lucky imaging to capture 400-1,000 video frames. The AVI files are converted to bitmap images and analyzed using the interferometric algorithms in REDUC using all frames. This results in a series of corellograms from which theta and rho can be measured. Results using a 20 cm (8") Dall-Kirkham working at f22.5 are presented for doubles with separations between 1" to 5.7" under average seeing conditions. I conclude that this form of visualizing and analyzing visual double stars is a viable alternative to lucky imaging that can be employed by telescopes that are too small in aperture to capture a sufficient number of speckles for true speckle interferometry.

L'enseignement de l'anglais dans les colleges anglophones. Avis au ministre de l'enseignement superieur et de la science (English Instruction in English-Speaking Colleges. Advisory to the Minister of Higher Education and Science).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conseil des Colleges, Quebec (Quebec).

The quality of language is a matter of concern in numerous educational systems throughout the world. In Quebec, questions of the health of both the French and English languages take on particular importance. This report makes a series of proposals to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science designed to ensure the coherence and quality of…

Solar Energy Enhancement Using Down-converting Particles: A Rigorous Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-06

Solar energy enhancement using down-converting particles: A rigorous approach Ze’ev R. Abrams,1,2 Avi Niv ,2 and Xiang Zhang2,3,a) 1Applied Science...System 1. 114905-2 Abrams, Niv , and Zhang J. Appl. Phys. 109, 114905 (2011) [This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AIP...This increase per band-gap is displayed in 114905-3 Abrams, Niv , and Zhang J. Appl. Phys. 109, 114905 (2011) [This article is copyrighted as indicated

Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Military Testing Association (19th), 17-21 October 1977, San Antonio, Texas

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-11-01

to-?ir kills, especially since we will probably be atle to field only a relatively small number of fighter pilots in future wars. Fighter pilots have...Education and Training, Information, And Legal, too many colonel positlons were allocated. Overall, many jobs wer found to be undergraded, especially at the...t preparing the final eppmntice progress/status report, 4e avy C :-vs educacion specialist will regard previous work experience as distri±xtnd

Near Real Time VHF Telemetry of Near Shore Oceanographic Data

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-01

drecktion. but can also measure temperature , pressure ’ind coniductnit:\\ N1 ic ,- ttd w tXt.i uuall have sevecral recording current meters Nverticalix sPaICed...hich can comne fr-om other transmiissions, man-made static. atmo~lteic s tic c cni emsions and receiver temperature -inducedl noise. NI oiatonschieme...Sea Surface Temperature (SSTL DNISP Microwave Imcer iSS!I I) and Advanced Vern Ilih Resolution Radiometer (AVI RR). NIPRFs’ interest is to provide the

Oligonucleotide Antiviral Therapeutics: Antisense and RNA Interference for Highly Pathogenic RNA Viruses

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

siRNA delivery method in his animal model, it remains to be studied whether this general pproach is safe in humans. Often cited as an advantage of siRNAs...way studying the intravenous delivery f ASO drug candidates targeting Bcl-2 (Genasense®, Genta) nd c-myc (Resten-NG®, AVI BioPharma), while completed... studies have been published investigating MOs as a treatment for EBOV infection, with both showing fficacy in animal models. PMOs were designed to

Evaluation of a native vegetation masking technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kinsler, M. C.

1984-01-01

A crop masking technique based on Ashburn's vegetative index (AVI) was used to evaluate native vegetation as an indicator of crop moisture condition. A mask of the range areas (native vegetation) was generated for each of thirteen Great Plains LANDSAT MSS sample segments. These masks were compared to the digitized ground truth and accuracies were computed. An analysis of the types of errors indicates a consistency in errors among the segments. The mask represents a simple quick-look technique for evaluating vegetative cover.

Innovative teaching: Use of Screencast in the Agronomist Engineer High School of the UPM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mediola, Maria Angeles; Aguado, Pedro Luis; Espejo, Rafael

2013-04-01

In the last academic courses, the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) has supported the use of multimedia materials and methods in education and learning processes to improve the efficiency and impact obtained by faculty and students. With this aim during 2011-2012 course the multimedia method titled "Screencast" has been implemented in the subject "Plantas de Interés Agroalimentario" included in the curricula of the Agronomist Engineer High School. Next year will be apply in the subject "Soil Science" in the new degree. The Screencast tools allow record digital videos with sound directly into a computer so lecture and class can be recorded directly. The videos can be edited after including narrations, special effects as zoom, notes, images, etc. Screencast tools are simple use tools which are easy made tutorials, manuals, presentations and shows that help to students with different processes that are very hard to understand for students (1) (2). There are different Screencast tools in the market and after an evaluation process the most suitable for our need has been BB FlashBack Express (3) because is easy use, free and compatible with WEBCAM. This software allows export to Flash and AVI video formats. In our case the format chosen was the Flash format because the file sizes obtained were smaller than in AVI format. The use of BB FlashBack Express of the studied subject allowed make easy self-learning multimedia material and testing different methodologies and procedures for the use of this multimedia source in Internet. The BB FlashBack Express software was used during the course by teachers and students of this subject achieving a good improvement in the education and learning processes. The evaluation of the results obtained in the application of this method had shown that ability of students to use new technologies and spread their ideas has been increased as much into as outside classrooms. The materials made in this work had been joined to different learning platforms of the UPM as UPM Educational Channel in YouTube and others video-conference applications developed by UPM. There is possible to export the recorded material to SCORM format which can be included in Moodle (Learning Virtual Environment) and be used by students when they needed it. Bibliography: [1] Lloyd, S., Robertson, C. (2012). Screencast Tutorials Enhance Student Learning of Statistics. Journal of Teaching and Psychology. January 2012. vol. 39 (1). pp. 67-71.

Accomplishing the genotype-specific serodiagnosis of single and dual Trypanosoma cruzi infections by flow cytometry Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a

PubMed Central

Alessio, Glaucia Diniz; de Araújo, Fernanda Fortes; Sales Júnior, Policarpo Ademar; Gomes, Matheus de Souza; do Amaral, Laurence Rodrigues; Pascoal Xavier, Marcelo Antônio; Teixeira-Carvalho, Andréa; de Lana, Marta

2018-01-01

The methods currently available for genotype-specific diagnosis of T. cruzi infection still present relevant limitations, especially to identify mixed infection. In the present investigation, we have evaluated the performance of Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a test for early and late differential diagnosis of single and dual genotype-specific T. cruzi infections. Serum samples from Swiss mice at early and late stages of T. cruzi infection were assayed in parallel batches for genotype-specific diagnosis of single (TcI, TcVI or TcII) and dual (TcI+TcVI, TcVI+TcII or TcII+TcI) infections. The intrinsic reactivity to TcI, TcVI and TcII target antigens, including amastigote (AI/AVI/AII), trypomastigote-(TI/TVI/TII) and epimastigote (EI/EVI/EII), at specific reverse of serum dilutions (500 to 64,000), was employed to provide reliable decision-trees for “early” vs “late”, “single vs “dual” and “genotype-specific” serology. The results demonstrated that selective set of attributes “EII 500/EI 2,000/AII 500” were able to provide high-quality accuracy (81%) to segregate early and late stages of T. cruzi infection. The sets “TI 2,000/AI 1,000/EII 1,000” and “TI 8,000/AII 32,000” presented expressive scores to discriminate single from dual T. cruzi infections at early (85%) and late stages (84%), respectively. Moreover, the attributes “TI 4,000/TVI 500/TII 1,000”, “TI 16,000/EI 2,000/EII 2,000/AI 500/TVI 500” showed good performance for genotype-specific diagnosis at early stage of single (72%) and dual (80%) T. cruzi infections, respectively. In addition, the attributes “TI 4,000/AII 1,000/EVI 1,000”, “TI 64,000/AVI 500/AI 2,000/AII 1,000/EII 4,000” showed moderate performance for genotype-specific diagnosis at late stage of single (69%) and dual (76%) T. cruzi infections, respectively. The sets of decision-trees were assembled to construct a sequential algorithm with expressive accuracy (81%) for serological diagnosis of T. cruzi infection. These findings engender new perspectives for the application of Chagas-Flow ATE-IgG2a method for genotype-specific diagnosis in humans, with relevant contributions for epidemiological surveys as well as clinical and post-therapeutic monitoring of Chagas disease. PMID:29462135

Impact of aortic valve calcification, as measured by MDCT, on survival in patients with aortic stenosis: results of an international registry study.

PubMed

Clavel, Marie-Annick; Pibarot, Philippe; Messika-Zeitoun, David; Capoulade, Romain; Malouf, Joseph; Aggarval, Shivani; Araoz, Phillip A; Michelena, Hector I; Cueff, Caroline; Larose, Eric; Miller, Jordan D; Vahanian, Alec; Enriquez-Sarano, Maurice

2014-09-23

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) load measures lesion severity in aortic stenosis (AS) and is useful for diagnostic purposes. Whether AVC predicts survival after diagnosis, independent of clinical and Doppler echocardiographic AS characteristics, has not been studied. This study evaluated the impact of AVC load, absolute and relative to aortic annulus size (AVCdensity), on overall mortality in patients with AS under conservative treatment and without regard to treatment. In 3 academic centers, we enrolled 794 patients (mean age, 73 ± 12 years; 274 women) diagnosed with AS by Doppler echocardiography who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) within the same episode of care. Absolute AVC load and AVCdensity (ratio of absolute AVC to cross-sectional area of aortic annulus) were measured, and severe AVC was separately defined in men and women. During follow-up, there were 440 aortic valve implantations (AVIs) and 194 deaths (115 under medical treatment). Univariate analysis showed strong association of absolute AVC and AVCdensity with survival (both, p < 0.0001) with a spline curve analysis pattern of threshold and plateau of risk. After adjustment for age, sex, coronary artery disease, diabetes, symptoms, AS severity on hemodynamic assessment, and LV ejection fraction, severe absolute AVC (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04 to 2.92; p = 0.03) or severe AVCdensity (adjusted HR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.37 to 4.37; p = 0.002) independently predicted mortality under medical treatment, with additive model predictive value (all, p ≤ 0.04) and a net reclassification index of 12.5% (p = 0.04). Severe absolute AVC (adjusted HR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.62; p = 0.01) and severe AVCdensity (adjusted HR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.40 to 3.52; p = 0.001) also independently predicted overall mortality, even with adjustment for time-dependent AVI. This large-scale, multicenter outcomes study of quantitative Doppler echocardiographic and MDCT assessment of AS shows that measuring AVC load provides incremental prognostic value for survival beyond clinical and Doppler echocardiographic assessment. Severe AVC independently predicts excess mortality after AS diagnosis, which is greatly alleviated by AVI. Thus, measurement of AVC by MDCT should be considered for not only diagnostic but also risk-stratification purposes in patients with AS. Copyright © 2014 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diversity, abundance, and host relationships of avian malaria and related haemosporidians in New Mexico pine forests.

PubMed

Marroquin-Flores, Rosario A; Williamson, Jessie L; Chavez, Andrea N; Bauernfeind, Selina M; Baumann, Matthew J; Gadek, Chauncey R; Johnson, Andrew B; McCullough, Jenna M; Witt, Christopher C; Barrow, Lisa N

2017-01-01

Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites (genera Haemoproteus , Plasmodium , and Leucocytozoon ) affect bird demography, species range limits, and community structure, yet they remain unsurveyed in most bird communities and populations. We conducted a community-level survey of these vector-transmitted parasites in New Mexico, USA, to describe their diversity, abundance, and host associations. We focused on the breeding-bird community in the transition zone between piñon-juniper woodland and ponderosa pine forests (elevational range: 2,150-2,460 m). We screened 186 birds representing 49 species using both standard PCR and microscopy techniques to detect infections of all three avian haemosporidian genera. We detected infections in 68 out of 186 birds (36.6%), the highest proportion of which were infected with Haemoproteus (20.9%), followed by Leucocytozoon (13.4%), then Plasmodium (8.0%). We sequenced mtDNA for 77 infections representing 43 haplotypes (25 Haemoproteus , 12 Leucocytozoon , 6 Plasmodium ). When compared to all previously known haplotypes in the MalAvi and GenBank databases, 63% (27) of the haplotypes we recovered were novel. We found evidence for host specificity at the avian clade and species level, but this specificity was variable among parasite genera, in that Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon were each restricted to three avian groups (out of six), while Plasmodium occurred in all groups except non-passerines. We found striking variation in infection rate among host species, with nearly universal infection among vireos and no infection among nuthatches. Using rarefaction and extrapolation, we estimated the total avian haemosporidian diversity to be 70 haplotypes (95% CI [43-98]); thus, we may have already sampled ∼60% of the diversity of avian haemosporidians in New Mexico pine forests. It is possible that future studies will find higher diversity in microhabitats or host species that are under-sampled or unsampled in the present study. Fortunately, this study is fully extendable via voucher specimens, frozen tissues, blood smears, parasite images, and documentation provided in open-access databases (MalAvi, GenBank, and ARCTOS).

Novel modes and adaptive block scanning order for intra prediction in AV1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadar, Ofer; Shleifer, Ariel; Mukherjee, Debargha; Joshi, Urvang; Mazar, Itai; Yuzvinsky, Michael; Tavor, Nitzan; Itzhak, Nati; Birman, Raz

2017-09-01

The demand for streaming video content is on the rise and growing exponentially. Networks bandwidth is very costly and therefore there is a constant effort to improve video compression rates and enable the sending of reduced data volumes while retaining quality of experience (QoE). One basic feature that utilizes the spatial correlation of pixels for video compression is Intra-Prediction, which determines the codec's compression efficiency. Intra prediction enables significant reduction of the Intra-Frame (I frame) size and, therefore, contributes to efficient exploitation of bandwidth. In this presentation, we propose new Intra-Prediction algorithms that improve the AV1 prediction model and provide better compression ratios. Two (2) types of methods are considered: )1( New scanning order method that maximizes spatial correlation in order to reduce prediction error; and )2( New Intra-Prediction modes implementation in AVI. Modern video coding standards, including AVI codec, utilize fixed scan orders in processing blocks during intra coding. The fixed scan orders typically result in residual blocks with high prediction error mainly in blocks with edges. This means that the fixed scan orders cannot fully exploit the content-adaptive spatial correlations between adjacent blocks, thus the bitrate after compression tends to be large. To reduce the bitrate induced by inaccurate intra prediction, the proposed approach adaptively chooses the scanning order of blocks according to criteria of firstly predicting blocks with maximum number of surrounding, already Inter-Predicted blocks. Using the modified scanning order method and the new modes has reduced the MSE by up to five (5) times when compared to conventional TM mode / Raster scan and up to two (2) times when compared to conventional CALIC mode / Raster scan, depending on the image characteristics (which determines the percentage of blocks predicted with Inter-Prediction, which in turn impacts the efficiency of the new scanning method). For the same cases, the PSNR was shown to improve by up to 7.4dB and up to 4 dB, respectively. The new modes have yielded 5% improvement in BD-Rate over traditionally used modes, when run on K-Frame, which is expected to yield 1% of overall improvement.

Diversity, abundance, and host relationships of avian malaria and related haemosporidians in New Mexico pine forests

PubMed Central

Marroquin-Flores, Rosario A.; Williamson, Jessie L.; Chavez, Andrea N.; Bauernfeind, Selina M.; Baumann, Matthew J.; Gadek, Chauncey R.; Johnson, Andrew B.; McCullough, Jenna M.

2017-01-01

Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites (genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon) affect bird demography, species range limits, and community structure, yet they remain unsurveyed in most bird communities and populations. We conducted a community-level survey of these vector-transmitted parasites in New Mexico, USA, to describe their diversity, abundance, and host associations. We focused on the breeding-bird community in the transition zone between piñon-juniper woodland and ponderosa pine forests (elevational range: 2,150–2,460 m). We screened 186 birds representing 49 species using both standard PCR and microscopy techniques to detect infections of all three avian haemosporidian genera. We detected infections in 68 out of 186 birds (36.6%), the highest proportion of which were infected with Haemoproteus (20.9%), followed by Leucocytozoon (13.4%), then Plasmodium (8.0%). We sequenced mtDNA for 77 infections representing 43 haplotypes (25 Haemoproteus, 12 Leucocytozoon, 6 Plasmodium). When compared to all previously known haplotypes in the MalAvi and GenBank databases, 63% (27) of the haplotypes we recovered were novel. We found evidence for host specificity at the avian clade and species level, but this specificity was variable among parasite genera, in that Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon were each restricted to three avian groups (out of six), while Plasmodium occurred in all groups except non-passerines. We found striking variation in infection rate among host species, with nearly universal infection among vireos and no infection among nuthatches. Using rarefaction and extrapolation, we estimated the total avian haemosporidian diversity to be 70 haplotypes (95% CI [43–98]); thus, we may have already sampled ∼60% of the diversity of avian haemosporidians in New Mexico pine forests. It is possible that future studies will find higher diversity in microhabitats or host species that are under-sampled or unsampled in the present study. Fortunately, this study is fully extendable via voucher specimens, frozen tissues, blood smears, parasite images, and documentation provided in open-access databases (MalAvi, GenBank, and ARCTOS). PMID:28828279

Reliability of the U.S. Army Ambulatory Care Data Base (ACDB) Study: Methodology and Clinical Findings

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-02-01

medical record as Flu Symptoms and Inflammation of Mucous Membrane of the Nose. In such cases, the Principal Investigator, in consultation with staff...Nonavailability could have been caused by a patient’s clinical appointment or relocation, personal retention of records, selection of the record for a quality...8217, TENITtlS 233𔃻 CIS VULVA 6141 H1IONIC SAIPINGITIS/OOPHORITIS 2 i-.- 1 Nip"- HYEI;AVI, k 213 SYPILIS 𔃻 4CONSYLOMAIA 6201 CORPiiS LUTEUM CYST ,*N2’. f

Atlas/State Data Abstract for the United States, Fiscal Year 1982

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

Fiorida (FL) 12 28 Georgia (GA) 13 30 Hawaii (HI) 14 32 Idaho 0Ui)) 15 34 Illinois (IL) 16 36 Indiana (IN) 17 38 Iowa (IA) 18 40 Kansas (KS) 19 42... IDAHO 0 25 50 75 100 I I I I’ Sc.I. in Mies ®BOISE * IDAHO FALLS NAVAL NUCLEAR POWER r TRAINING UNIT MOUNTAIN HOME AFB 48 • NAT. GUARD LINCOLN...INDUSTRIAL OTHER (NHO. @ 9 < TRAINING; ETC.) DEPOT&SUPPLY D ɠ> 34 IDAHO FISCAL YEAR 1982 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) I N avy. I Other Personnel/Expenditures

Proceedings of the Symposium on the Effect of the Ionosphere on Space and Terrestrial Systems (1978) Held on January 24 - 26 1978

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-01-01

experimental avi- of the Institute of Navigaton Ar ospaco dence selative to the stability of group velocity eeting, Denver, Colorado, April .3-14, 1977. to the...data groups correlated but nevertheless indicates that. magnetic activity is a stronger control than solar activity at these high latitudes, perhaps by... groups . The first esters T and p are ottained by performing a involves gecerel results that pertain to the log-Itneer. least-equares fit to the phase

The Pattern of Soviet Conduct in the Third World, Review and Preview. Part 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-07

be quoted or copied without approval from OSD/Net Assessment. Aooession For DTIC TAB El Dit I-’I t Y " c•doi ;Avi.- ± end/or L i :itst I pc l 4•al IA...successcors have stooc, y that cecision. (Moscow odes riot recconioze tnis action.) Alth•cuph revolutionary Iran has i nioroved or estaolisned relations...far nesw tne world rar.et ievel and oepat, repotiaiions for a orice increase of roucniv t0w oercenz. ? y marc- I5d. witm the Soviets’ best otfer stiil

Historical hydrology and database on flood events (Apulia, southern Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lonigro, Teresa; Basso, Alessia; Gentile, Francesco; Polemio, Maurizio

2014-05-01

Historical data about floods represent an important tool for the comprehension of the hydrological processes, the estimation of hazard scenarios as a basis for Civil Protection purposes, as a basis of the rational land use management, especially in karstic areas, where time series of river flows are not available and the river drainage is rare. The research shows the importance of the improvement of existing flood database with an historical approach, finalized to collect past or historical floods event, in order to better assess the occurrence trend of floods, in the case for the Apulian region (south Italy). The main source of records of flood events for Apulia was the AVI (the acronym means Italian damaged areas) database, an existing Italian database that collects data concerning damaging floods from 1918 to 1996. The database was expanded consulting newspapers, publications, and technical reports from 1996 to 2006. In order to expand the temporal range further data were collected searching in the archives of regional libraries. About 700 useful news from 17 different local newspapers were found from 1876 to 1951. From a critical analysis of the 700 news collected since 1876 to 1952 only 437 were useful for the implementation of the Apulia database. The screening of these news showed the occurrence of about 122 flood events in the entire region. The district of Bari, the regional main town, represents the area in which the great number of events occurred; the historical analysis confirms this area as flood-prone. There is an overlapping period (from 1918 to 1952) between old AVI database and new historical dataset obtained by newspapers. With regard to this period, the historical research has highlighted new flood events not reported in the existing AVI database and it also allowed to add more details to the events already recorded. This study shows that the database is a dynamic instrument, which allows a continuous implementation of data, even in real time. More details on previous results of this research activity were recently published (Polemio, 2010; Basso et al., 2012; Lonigro et al., 2013) References Basso A., Lonigro T. and Polemio M. (2012) "The improvement of historical database on damaging hydrogeological events in the case of Apulia (Southern Italy)". Rendiconti online della Società Geologica Italiana, 21: 379-380; Lonigro T., Basso A. and Polemio M. (2013) "Historical database on damaging hydrogeological events in Apulia region (Southern Italy)". Rendiconti online della Società Geologica Italiana, 24: 196-198; Polemio M. (2010) "Historical floods and a recent extreme rainfall event in the Murgia karstic environment (Southern Italy)". Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 54(2): 195-219.

Aptamer-phage reporters for ultrasensitive lateral flow assays

PubMed Central

Adhikari, Meena; Strych, Ulrich; Kim, Jinsu; Goux, Heather; Dhamane, Sagar; Poongavanam, Mohan-Vivekanandan; Hagström, Anna E. V.; Kourentzi, Katerina; Conrad, Jacinta C.; Willson, Richard C.

2015-01-01

We introduce the modification of bacteriophage particles with aptamers for the use as bioanalytical reporters, and demonstrate the use of these particles in ultrasensitive lateral flow assays. M13 phage displaying an in vivo biotinylatable peptide (AviTag) genetically fused to the phage tail protein pIII were used as reporter particle scaffolds, with biotinylated aptamers attached via avidin-biotin linkages, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reporter enzymes covalently attached to the pVIII coat protein. These modified viral nanoparticles were used in immunochromatographic sandwich assays for the direct detection of IgE and of the penicillin-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus (PBP2a). We also developed an additional lateral flow assay for IgE, in which the analyte is sandwiched between immobilized anti-IgE antibodies and aptamer-bearing reporter phage modified with HRP. The limit of detection of this LFA was 0.13 ng/mL IgE, ~100 times lower than those of previously reported IgE assays. PMID:26456715

Aptamer-Phage Reporters for Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Assays.

PubMed

Adhikari, Meena; Strych, Ulrich; Kim, Jinsu; Goux, Heather; Dhamane, Sagar; Poongavanam, Mohan-Vivekanandan; Hagström, Anna E V; Kourentzi, Katerina; Conrad, Jacinta C; Willson, Richard C

2015-12-01

We introduce the modification of bacteriophage particles with aptamers for use as bioanalytical reporters, and demonstrate the use of these particles in ultrasensitive lateral flow assays. M13 phage displaying an in vivo biotinylatable peptide (AviTag) genetically fused to the phage tail protein pIII were used as reporter particle scaffolds, with biotinylated aptamers attached via avidin-biotin linkages, and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reporter enzymes covalently attached to the pVIII coat protein. These modified viral nanoparticles were used in immunochromatographic sandwich assays for the direct detection of IgE and of the penicillin-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus (PBP2a). We also developed an additional lateral flow assay for IgE, in which the analyte is sandwiched between immobilized anti-IgE antibodies and aptamer-bearing reporter phage modified with HRP. The limit of detection of this LFA was 0.13 ng/mL IgE, ∼100 times lower than those of previously reported IgE assays.

Time-series photographs of the sea floor in western Massachusetts Bay: June 1997 to June 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Butman, Bradford; Alexander, P. Soupy; Bothner, Michael H.

2004-01-01

This report presents time-series photographs of the sea floor obtained from an instrumented tripod deployed at Site A in western Massachusetts Bay (42° 22.6' N., 70? 47.0' W., 30 m water depth, from June 1997 through June 1998. Site A is approximately 1 km south of an ocean outfall that began discharging treated sewage effluent from the Boston metropolitan area into Massachusetts Bay in September 2000. Time-series photographs and oceanographic observations were initiated at Site A in December 1989 and are anticipated to continue to September 2005. This is the first in a series of reports planned to summarize and distribute these images in digital form. The objective of these reports is to enable easy and rapid viewing of the photographs and to provide a medium-resolution digital archive. The images, obtained every 4 hours, are presented as a movie (in .avi format, which may be viewed using an image viewer such as QuickTime or Windows Media Player) and as individual images (.tif format). The images provide time-series observations of changes of the sea floor and near-bottom water properties.

Time-series photographs of the sea floor in western Massachusetts Bay: May 1999 to September 1999; May 2000 to September 2000; and October 2001 to February 2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Butman, Bradford; Alexander, P. Soupy; Bothner, Michael H.

2004-01-01

This report presents time-series photographs of the sea floor obtained from an instrumented tripod deployed at Site A in western Massachusetts Bay (42° 22.6' N., 70° 47.0' W., 30 m water depth) from May 1999 to September 1999; May 2000 to September 2000; and October 2001 to February 2002. Site A is approximately 1 km south of an ocean outfall that began discharging treated sewage effluent from the Boston metropolitan area into Massachusetts Bay in September 2000. Time-series photographs and oceanographic observations were initiated at Site A in December 1989 and are anticipated to continue to September 2005. This one of a series of reports that present these images in digital form. The objective of these reports is to enable easy and rapid viewing of the photographs and to provide a medium-resolution digital archive. The images, obtained every 4 hours, are presented as a movie (in .avi format, which may be viewed using an image viewer such as QuickTime or Windows Media Player) and as individual images (.tif format). The images provide time-series observations of changes of the sea floor and near-bottom water properties.

Differential bitterness in capsaicin, piperine, and ethanol associates with polymorphisms in multiple bitter taste receptor genes.

PubMed

Nolden, Alissa A; McGeary, John E; Hayes, John E

2016-03-15

To date, the majority of research exploring associations with genetic variability in bitter taste receptors has understandably focused on compounds and foods that are predominantly or solely perceived as bitter. However, other chemosensory stimuli are also known to elicit bitterness as a secondary sensation. Here we investigated whether TAS2R variation explains individual differences in bitterness elicited by chemesthetic stimuli, including capsaicin, piperine and ethanol. We confirmed that capsaicin, piperine and ethanol elicit bitterness in addition to burning/stinging sensations. Variability in perceived bitterness of capsaicin and ethanol were significantly associated with TAS2R38 and TAS2R3/4/5 diplotypes. For TAS2R38, PAV homozygotes perceived greater bitterness from capsaicin and ethanol presented on circumvallate papillae, compared to heterozygotes and AVI homozygotes. For TAS2R3/4/5, CCCAGT homozygotes rated the greatest bitterness, compared to heterozygotes and TTGGAG homozygotes, for both ethanol and capsaicin when presented on circumvallate papillae. Additional work is needed to determine how these and other chemesthetic stimuli differ in bitterness perception across concentrations and presentation methods. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to determine which TAS2R receptors are activated in vitro by chemesthetic compounds. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Differential bitterness in capsaicin, piperine, and ethanol associates with polymorphisms in multiple bitter taste receptor genes

PubMed Central

Nolden, Alissa A.; McGeary, John E.; Hayes, John E.

2016-01-01

To date, the majority of research exploring associations with genetic variability in bitter taste receptors has understandably focused on compounds and foods that are predominantly or solely perceived as bitter. However, other chemosensory stimuli are also known to elicit bitterness as a secondary sensation. Here we investigated whether TAS2R variation explains individual differences in bitterness elicited by chemesthetic stimuli, including capsaicin, piperine and ethanol. We confirmed that capsaicin, piperine and ethanol elicit bitterness in addition to burning/stinging sensations. Variability in perceived bitterness of capsaicin and ethanol were significantly associated with TAS2R38 and TAS2R3/4/5 diplotypes. For TAS2R38, PAV homozygotes perceived greater bitterness from capsaicin and ethanol presented on circumvallate papillae, compared to heterozygotes and AVI homozygotes. For TAS2R3/4/5, CCCAGT homozygotes rated the greatest bitterness, compared to heterozygotes and TTGGAG homozygotes, for both ethanol and capsaicin when presented on circumvallate papillae. Additional work is needed to determine how these and other chemesthetic stimuli differ in bitterness perception across concentrations and presentation methods. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to determine which TAS2R receptors are activated in vitro by chemesthetic compounds. PMID:26785164

A simple and robust approach to immobilization of antibody fragments.

PubMed

Ikonomova, Svetlana P; He, Ziming; Karlsson, Amy J

2016-08-01

Antibody fragments, such as the single-chain variable fragment (scFv), have much potential in research and diagnostics because of their antigen-binding ability similar to a full-sized antibody and their ease of production in microorganisms. Some applications of antibody fragments require immobilization on a surface, and we have established a simple immobilization method that is based on the biotin-streptavidin interaction and does not require a separate purification step. We genetically fused two biotinylation tags-the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) or the AviTag minimal sequence-to six different scFvs (scFv13R4, scFvD10, scFv26-10, scFv3, scFv5, and scFv12) for site-specific biotinylation in vivo by endogenous biotin ligases produced by Escherichia coli. The biotinylated scFvs were immobilized onto streptavidin-coated plates directly from cell lysates, and immobilization was detected through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. All scFvs fusions were successfully immobilized, and scFvs biotinylated via the BCCP tag tended to immobilize better than those biotinylated via the AviTag, even when biotinylation efficiency was improved with the biotin ligase BirA. The ability of immobilized scFvs to bind antigens was confirmed using scFv13R4 and scFvD10 with their respective targets β-galactosidase and bacteriophage lambda head protein D (gpD). The immobilized scFv13R4 bound to β-galactosidase at the same level for both biotinylation tags when the surface was saturated with the scFv, and immobilized scFvs retained their functionality for at least 100days after immobilization. The simplicity and robustness of our method make it a promising approach for future applications that require antibody fragment immobilization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Perspective on Multiaccess Channels

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-09-01

packets that arrived between T and T+ are transmitted. The parameter v is determined by all each transmitter based on the history of the feedback up to time...t. The transmitters also calculate T based on the feedback history . It is helpful to view the packet arrivals in ETt) as being in a distributed queue...Cambridge, MA. 4T TO. JC-N~g 4f aAviE. I -w l 2.1 WPr IfCI’YIL 2. ICA 6-- e NO.Yt4 Z/ ’) eqp~ ~ 46 5AZw’ I.q e L 1!x;Y :r/; YFv (1.~i 21 V4 Gf~~ .. 2 15 5.5

Ebola Virus Infection: a review on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs considered for testing in human efficacy trials

PubMed Central

Madelain, Vincent; Nguyen, Thi Huyen Tram; Olivo, Anaelle; De Lamballerie, Xavier; Guedj, Jeremie; Taburet, Anne-Marie; Mentré, France

2016-01-01

The 2014–2015 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) is the largest epidemic to date in terms of number of cases, of death and affected areas. In October 2015, no antiviral agents had proven an antiviral efficacy in patients. However in September 2014 WHO inventoried and regularly updated since then a list of potential drug candidates with demonstrated antiviral efficacy in vitro or in animal models. This includes agents belonging to various therapeutic classes, namely direct antiviral agents (favipiravir and BCX4430), combination of antibodies (ZMapp), type I interferons, RNA interference-based drugs (TKM-Ebola and AVI-7537) and anticoagulant drug (rNAPc2). Here, we review the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information that are presently available on these drugs, using data obtained in healthy volunteers for pharmacokinetics and data obtained in human clinical trials or animal models for pharmacodynamics. Future studies evaluating these drugs in clinical trials will be critical to confirm their efficacy in humans, propose appropriate doses and evaluate the possibility of treatment combinations. PMID:26798032

Aviso: altimetry products and services in 2013

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosmorduc, Vinca; Bronner, Emilie; Maheu, Caroline; Mertz, Françoise

2013-04-01

Since the launch of Topex/Poseidon, more than 20 years ago, satellite altimetry has evolved in parallel with the user community and oceanography. As a result of this evolution, we now have: - A bigger choice of products, more and more easy-to-use, spanning complete GDRs to pre-computed sea level anomalies and gridded datasets and indicators such as MSL index or ENSO index. - a mature approach, combining altimetric data from various satellites and merging data acquired using different observation techniques, including altimetry, to give us a global view of the ocean; - data available in real or near-real time for operational use. Different services are available either to choose between the various datasets, or to download, extract or even visualize the data. An Ipad-Iphone application, AvisOcean has also been opened in September 2012, for information about the data and their updates. 2013 will see major changes in Aviso data distribution, both in data products themselves and in their distribution, including an online extraction tool in preparation (Online Data Extraction Service). An overview of available products & services, how to access them today, will be presented.

FNV: light-weight flash-based network and pathway viewer.

PubMed

Dannenfelser, Ruth; Lachmann, Alexander; Szenk, Mariola; Ma'ayan, Avi

2011-04-15

Network diagrams are commonly used to visualize biochemical pathways by displaying the relationships between genes, proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, metabolites, regulatory DNA elements, diseases, viruses and drugs. While there are several currently available web-based pathway viewers, there is still room for improvement. To this end, we have developed a flash-based network viewer (FNV) for the visualization of small to moderately sized biological networks and pathways. Written in Adobe ActionScript 3.0, the viewer accepts simple Extensible Markup Language (XML) formatted input files to display pathways in vector graphics on any web-page providing flexible layout options, interactivity with the user through tool tips, hyperlinks and the ability to rearrange nodes on the screen. FNV was utilized as a component in several web-based systems, namely Genes2Networks, Lists2Networks, KEA, ChEA and PathwayGenerator. In addition, FVN can be used to embed pathways inside pdf files for the communication of pathways in soft publication materials. FNV is available for use and download along with the supporting documentation and sample networks at http://www.maayanlab.net/FNV. avi.maayan@mssm.edu.

Word Frequency Analysis. MOS: 45K. Skill Levels 1 & 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-05-01

ACCESSION No. 3. RECIPIENT’S CATALOG 14UMBER 4. TITLE...change. Accession For DTIC TAB [ Ux~amo~ed []Just iriction D_.st ribution, pYAvai labilit 7 codt.s A o Avi ado S* HEADQUARTERS DATA CONTROL NMEIII m...6 (’N "N 6 . "!4 ON Cf c4:’i 6 Cu-L /’Uc.RE" L ~u:ir 6 6 Z72 : SS7 2 t N 6’vy \\ .C.1F? 6 H% ’ e y N ’CIo6’ 6 A fg; 6 l~ 14 6 r I 5’J 6 ’~1!6 ’",13P 6

Skyrmion dynamics in a chiral magnet driven by periodically varying spin currents*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Rui; Zhang, Yin-Yan

2016-12-01

In this work, we investigated the spin dynamics in a slab of chiral magnets induced by an alternating (ac) spin current. Periodic trajectories of the skyrmion in real space are discovered under the ac current as a result of the Magnus and viscous forces, which originate from the Gilbert damping, the spin transfer torque, and the β-nonadiabatic torque effects. The results are obtained by numerically solving the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation and can be explained by the Thiele equation characterizing the skyrmion core motion. Supplementary material in the form of one avi file available from the Journal web page at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2016-70467-9

Visualization assisted by parallel processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lange, B.; Rey, H.; Vasques, X.; Puech, W.; Rodriguez, N.

2011-01-01

This paper discusses the experimental results of our visualization model for data extracted from sensors. The objective of this paper is to find a computationally efficient method to produce a real time rendering visualization for a large amount of data. We develop visualization method to monitor temperature variance of a data center. Sensors are placed on three layers and do not cover all the room. We use particle paradigm to interpolate data sensors. Particles model the "space" of the room. In this work we use a partition of the particle set, using two mathematical methods: Delaunay triangulation and Voronoý cells. Avis and Bhattacharya present these two algorithms in. Particles provide information on the room temperature at different coordinates over time. To locate and update particles data we define a computational cost function. To solve this function in an efficient way, we use a client server paradigm. Server computes data and client display this data on different kind of hardware. This paper is organized as follows. The first part presents related algorithm used to visualize large flow of data. The second part presents different platforms and methods used, which was evaluated in order to determine the better solution for the task proposed. The benchmark use the computational cost of our algorithm that formed based on located particles compared to sensors and on update of particles value. The benchmark was done on a personal computer using CPU, multi core programming, GPU programming and hybrid GPU/CPU. GPU programming method is growing in the research field; this method allows getting a real time rendering instates of a precompute rendering. For improving our results, we compute our algorithm on a High Performance Computing (HPC), this benchmark was used to improve multi-core method. HPC is commonly used in data visualization (astronomy, physic, etc) for improving the rendering and getting real-time.

A second prosthesis as a procedural rescue option in trans-apical aortic valve implantation.

PubMed

Kempfert, Jörg; Rastan, Ardawan J; Schuler, Gerhard; Linke, Axel; Holzhey, David; van Linden, Arnaud; Mohr, Friedrich-W; Walther, Thomas

2011-07-01

Trans-apical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) using the Edwards SAPIEN™ prosthesis has evolved to a routine procedure for selected high-risk elderly patients. In rare cases, misplacement of the SAPIEN™ valve (too low a position), dysfunction of the leaflets or perforation of the interventricular septum (ventricular septal defect, VSD) occurs and requires immediate implantation of a second prosthesis within the first one. Results of this 'bailout' maneuver have not been reported yet. Of 305 TA-AVI procedures, 15 patients required a second prosthesis due to dysfunctional leaflets (n = 6), low position (n = 7), or VSD (n = 2). Mean age was 82.5 ± 1.3 years, mean logistic EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) was 45.5 ± 5.4, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Score was 13.5 ± 1.5. All second SAPIEN™ valves could be implanted successfully within the first one. The second prosthesis solved leaflet dysfunction, sealed the VSD (lower position of the second prosthesis), or corrected the initial misplacement (higher position of the second prosthesis) in all patients. Within 30 days, four patients died (low cardiac output n = 3, all with preoperative ejection fraction (EF) <35%; intestinal ischemia n = 1). Intra-operative echocardiogram and angiogram revealed mild paravalvular leak in three and none/trace in 12 patients. Transvalvular gradients were low despite the implantation of the second valve (P(max)/mean 13.7 ± 4.3/6.4 ± 2.0). Placement of a second SAPIEN™ valve is a valuable 'bailout' technique in case of VSD, dysfunctional leaflets, or too low placement of the first prosthesis. The technique leads to an excellent functional result with low transvalvular gradients. The simple, straight, tubular stent design of the SAPIEN™ prosthesis may be the ideal design for such valve-in-valve procedures. Copyright © 2011 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Data files from the Grays Harbor Sediment Transport Experiment Spring 2001

USGS Publications Warehouse

Landerman, Laura A.; Sherwood, Christopher R.; Gelfenbaum, Guy; Lacy, Jessica; Ruggiero, Peter; Wilson, Douglas; Chisholm, Tom; Kurrus, Keith

2005-01-01

This publication consists of two DVD-ROMs, both of which are presented here. This report describes data collected during the Spring 2001 Grays Harbor Sediment Transport Experiment, and provides additional information needed to interpret the data. Two DVDs accompany this report; both contain documentation in html format that assist the user in navigating through the data. DVD-ROM-1 contains a digital version of this report in .pdf format, raw Aquatec acoustic backscatter (ABS) data in .zip format, Sonar data files in .avi format, and coastal processes and morphology data in ASCII format. ASCII data files are provided in .zip format; bundled coastal processes ASCII files are separated by deployment and instrument; bundled morphology ASCII files are separated into monthly data collection efforts containing the beach profiles collected (or extracted from the surface map) at that time; weekly surface maps are also bundled together. DVD-ROM-2 contains a digital version of this report in .pdf format, the binary data files collected by the SonTek instrumentation, calibration files for the pressure sensors, and Matlab m-files for loading the ABS data into Matlab and cleaning-up the optical backscatter (OBS) burst time-series data.

Innovative methods of knowledge transfer by multimedia library

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goanta, A. M.

2016-08-01

The present situation of teaching and learning new knowledge taught in the classroom is highly variable depending on the specific topics concerned. If we analyze the manifold ways of teaching / learning at university level, we can notice a very good combination between classical and modern methods. The first category includes the classic chalk blackboard teaching, followed by the also classical learning based on paper reference material. The second category includes books published in PDF or PPT [1], which are printed on the type backing CD / DVD. Since 2006 the author was concerned about the transfer of information and knowledge through video files like AVI, FLV or MPEG using various means of transfer, from the free ones (via Internet) and continuing with those involving minimal costs, i.e. on CD / DVD support. Encouraged by the students’ interest in this kind of teaching material as proved by monitoring [2] the site http://www.cursuriuniversitarebraila.ugal.ro, the author has managed to publish with ISBN the first video book in Romania, which has a non conformist content in that the chapters are located not by paging but by the hour or minutes of shooting when they were made.

Aviso: altimetry products & services in 2013

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mertz, F.; Bronner, E.; Rosmorduc, V.; Maheu, C.

2013-12-01

Since the launch of Topex/Poseidon, more than 20 years ago, satellite altimetry has evolved in parallel with the user community and oceanography. As a result of this evolution, we now have: - a wide range of products, more and more easy-to-use, spanning complete GDRs to pre-computed sea level anomalies, gridded datasets and indicators such as MSL index or ENSO index. - a wide range of applications in the oceanographic community: ocean observation, biology, climate, ... - a mature approach, combining altimetric data from various satellites and merging data acquired using different observation techniques, including altimetry, to give us a global view of the ocean; - data available in real or near-real time for operational use. Different services are available either to choose between the various datasets, or to download, extract or even visualize the data. An Ipad-Iphone application, AvisOcean has also been opened in September 2012, for information about the data and their updates. 2013 has seen major changes in Aviso data distribution, both in data products themselves and in their distribution, including an online extraction tool in preparation (Online Data Extraction Service). An overview of available products & services, how to access them today, will be presented.

Mapping protease substrates using a biotinylated phage substrate library.

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

Scholle, M. D.; Kriplani, U.; Pabon, A.

We describe a bacteriophage M13 substrate library encoding the AviTag (BirA substrate) and combinatorial heptamer peptides displayed at the N terminus of the mature form of capsid protein III. Phages are biotinylated efficiently (> or = 50%) when grown in E. coli cells coexpressing BirA, and such viral particles can be immobilized on a streptavidin-coated support and released by protease cleavage within the combinatorial peptide. We have used this library to map the specificity of human Factor Xa and a neuropeptidase, neurolysin (EC3.4.24.16). Validation by analysis of isolated peptide substrates has revealed that neurolysin recognizes the motif hydrophobic-X-Pro-Arg-hydrophobic, where Arg-hydrophobicmore » is the scissile bond.« less

Classification of antibiotics by neural network analysis of optical resonance data of whispering gallery modes in dielectric microspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saetchnikov, Vladimir A.; Tcherniavskaia, Elina A.; Schweiger, Gustav; Ostendorf, Andreas

2012-04-01

A novel emerging technique for the label-free analysis of nanoparticles and biomolecules in liquid fluids using optical micro cavity resonance of whispering-gallery-type modes is being developed.A scheme based on polymer microspheres fixed by adhesive on the evanescence wave coupling element has been used. We demonstrated that the only spectral shift can't be used for identification of biological agents by developed approach. So neural network classifier for biological agents and micro/nano particles classification has been developed. The developed technique is the following. While tuning the laser wavelength images were recorded as avi-file. All sequences were broken into single frames and the location of the resonance was allocated in each frame. The image was filtered for noise reduction and integrated over two coordinates for evaluation of integrated energy of a measured signal. As input data normalized resonance shift of whispering-gallery modes and the relative efficiency of whispering-gallery modes excitation were used. Other parameters such as polarization of excited light, "center of gravity" of a resonance spectra etc. are also tested as input data for probabilistic neural network. After network designing and training we estimated the accuracy of classification. The classification of antibiotics such as penicillin and cephasolin have been performed with the accuracy of not less 97 %. Developed techniques can be used for lab-on-chip sensor based diagnostic tools as for identification of different biological molecules, e.g. proteins, oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides, lipids, small molecules, viral particles, cells and for dynamics of a delivery of medicines to bodies.

Emerging genetic therapies to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy

PubMed Central

Nelson, Stanley F.; Crosbie, Rachelle H.; Miceli, M. Carrie; Spencer, Melissa J.

2010-01-01

Purpose of review Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle degenerative disease caused by dystrophin mutations. The purpose of this review is to highlight two emerging therapies designed to repair the primary genetic defect, called `exon skipping' and `nonsense codon suppression'. Recent findings A drug, PTC124, was identified that suppresses nonsense codon translation termination. PTC124 can lead to restoration of some dystrophin expression in human Duchenne muscular dystrophy muscles with mutations resulting in premature stops. Two drugs developed for exon skipping, PRO051 and AVI-4658, result in the exclusion of exon 51 from mature mRNA. They can restore the translational reading frame to dystrophin transcripts from patients with a particular subset of dystrophin gene deletions and lead to some restoration of dystrophin expression in affected boys' muscle in vivo. Both approaches have concluded phase I trials with no serious adverse events. Summary These novel therapies that act to correct the primary genetic defect of dystrophin deficiency are among the first generation of therapies tailored to correct specific mutations in humans. Thus, they represent paradigm forming approaches to personalized medicine with the potential to lead to life changing treatment for those affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PMID:19745732

Proposed patient motion monitoring system using feature point tracking with a web camera.

PubMed

Miura, Hideharu; Ozawa, Shuichi; Matsuura, Takaaki; Yamada, Kiyoshi; Nagata, Yasushi

2017-12-01

Patient motion monitoring systems play an important role in providing accurate treatment dose delivery. We propose a system that utilizes a web camera (frame rate up to 30 fps, maximum resolution of 640 × 480 pixels) and an in-house image processing software (developed using Microsoft Visual C++ and OpenCV). This system is simple to use and convenient to set up. The pyramidal Lucas-Kanade method was applied to calculate motions for each feature point by analysing two consecutive frames. The image processing software employs a color scheme where the defined feature points are blue under stable (no movement) conditions and turn red along with a warning message and an audio signal (beeping alarm) for large patient movements. The initial position of the marker was used by the program to determine the marker positions in all the frames. The software generates a text file that contains the calculated motion for each frame and saves it as a compressed audio video interleave (AVI) file. We proposed a patient motion monitoring system using a web camera, which is simple and convenient to set up, to increase the safety of treatment delivery.

TAS2R38 bitter taste genetics, dietary vitamin C, and both natural and synthetic dietary folic acid predict folate status, a key micronutrient in the pathoaetiology of adenomatous polyps.

PubMed

Lucock, Mark; Ng, Xiaowei; Boyd, Lyndell; Skinner, Virginia; Wai, Ron; Tang, Sa; Naylor, Charlotte; Yates, Zoë; Choi, Jeong-Hwa; Roach, Paul; Veysey, Martin

2011-08-01

Taste perception may influence dietary preferences and nutrient intakes contributing to diet-related disease susceptibility. This study examined bitter taste genetics and whether variation in the TAS2R38 gene at three polymorphic loci (A49P, V262A and I296V) could alter dietary and systemic folate levels and dietary vitamin C intake, and whether a nutrigenetic circuit existed that might link bitter taste, folate/antioxidant status and risk for a colonic adenomatous polyp. TAS2R38 diplotype predicted bitter taste (PROP) phenotype (p value <0.00001) and red cell folate status (p=0.0179) consistent with the diplotype that has the broadest range of bitter perception (AVI/PAV) also possessing the highest average red cell folate value. However, TAS2R38 diplotype did not predict dietary intake of methylfolic acid, pteroylmonoglutamic acid or total folic acid. Neither did it predict dietary intake of vitamin C. Despite this, intake of dietary folate predicts red cell folate with analysis pointing to a key nutrient-nutrient interaction between vitamin C intake and systemic folate status. Analysis of 38 patients with an adenomatous polyp and 164 controls showed that individually, dietary nutrient intake, nutrient status and taste diplotype did not influence polyp risk. However, red cell folate status (in individuals below the population median value) did interact with bitter taste diplotype (AVI/PAV) to predict polyp risk (p=0.0145). Furthermore, synthetic folic acid (below median intake) was statistically associated with adenoma occurrence (p=0.0215); individuals with adenomatous polyps had a 1.77× higher intake than controls. Additionally, stepwise regression taking account of all dietary nutrients showed a tight relationship between methylfolic acid (but not pteroylmonoglutamic acid) intake and red cell folate level in those with a low folate status and occurrence of an adenomatous polyp (p=0.0039). These findings point to a role for folate in the pathoaetiology of adenomatous polyps, with the natural and synthetic vitamers not necessarily having the same biological effect. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

Dietary protection against free radicals: a case for multiple testing to establish structure-activity relationships for antioxidant potential of anthocyanic plant species.

PubMed

Philpott, Martin; Lim, Chiara Cheng; Ferguson, Lynnette R

2009-03-01

DNA damage by reactive species is associated with susceptibility to chronic human degenerative disorders. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring antioxidants, that may prevent or reverse such damage. There is considerable interest in anthocyanic food plants as good dietary sources, with the potential for reducing susceptibility to chronic disease. While structure-activity relationships have provided guidelines on molecular structure in relation to free hydroxyl-radical scavenging, this may not cover the situation in food plants where the anthocyanins are part of a complex mixture, and may be part of complex structures, including anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs). Additionally, new analytical methods have revealed new structures in previously-studied materials. We have compared the antioxidant activities of extracts from six anthocyanin-rich edible plants (red cabbage, red lettuce, blueberries, pansies, purple sweetpotato skin, purple sweetpotato flesh and Maori potato flesh) using three chemical assays (DPPH, TRAP and ORAC), and the in vitro Comet assay. Extracts from the flowering plant, lisianthus, were used for comparison. The extracts showed differential effects in the chemical assays, suggesting that closely related structures have different affinities to scavenge different reactive species. Integration of anthocyanins to an AVI led to more sustained radical scavenging activity as compared with the free anthocyanin. All but the red lettuce extract could reduce endogenous DNA damage in HT-29 colon cancer cells. However, while extracts from purple sweetpotato skin and flesh, Maori potato and pansies, protected cells against subsequent challenge by hydrogen peroxide at 0 degrees C, red cabbage extracts were pro-oxidant, while other extracts had no effect. When the peroxide challenge was at 37 degrees C, all of the extracts appeared pro-oxidant. Maori potato extract, consistently the weakest antioxidant in all the chemical assays, was more effective in the Comet assays. These results highlight the dangers of generalising to potential health benefits, based solely on identification of high anthocyanic content in plants, results of a single antioxidant assay and traditional approaches to structure activity relationships. Subsequent studies might usefully consider complex mixtures and a battery of assays.

Characterization of a novel hepadnavirus in the white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) from the Great Lakes Region of the USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hahn, Cassidy M.; Iwanowicz, Luke R.; Cornman, Robert S.; Conway, Carla M.; Winton, James R.; Blazer, Vicki S.

2015-01-01

The white sucker Catostomus commersonii is a freshwater teleost often utilized as a resident sentinel. Here, we sequenced the full genome of a hepatitis B-like virus that infects white suckers from the Great Lakes Region of the USA. Dideoxysequencing confirmed the white sucker hepatitis B virus (WSHBV) has a circular genome (3542 bp) with the prototypical codon organization of hepadnaviruses. Electron microscopy demonstrated that complete virions of approximately 40 nm were present in the plasma of infected fish. Compared to avi- and orthohepadnaviruses, sequence conservation of the core, polymerase and surface proteins was low and ranged from 16-27% at the amino acid level. An X protein homologue common to the orthohepadnaviruses was not present. The WSHBV genome included an atypical, presumptively non-coding region absent in previously described hepadnaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed WSHBV as distinct from previously documented hepadnaviruses. The level of divergence in protein sequences between WSHBV other hepadnaviruses, and the identification of an HBV-like sequence in an African cichlid provide evidence that a novel genus of the family Hepadnaviridae may need to be established that includes these hepatitis B-like viruses in fishes. Viral transcription was observed in 9.5% (16 of 169) of white suckers evaluated. The prevalence of hepatic tumors in these fish was 4.9%, of which only 2.4% were positive for both virus and hepatic tumors. These results are not sufficient to draw inferences regarding the association of WSHBV and carcinogenesis in white sucker.

The twin cell model and its excellence in determining the glass transition temperature of thin film metallic glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanjilal, Baishali; Iram, Samreen; Das, Atreyee; Chakrabarti, Haimanti

2018-05-01

This work reports a novel two dimensional approach to the theoretical computation of the glass transition temperature in simple hypothetical icosahedral packed structures based on Thin Film metallic glasses using liquid state theories in the realm of transport properties. The model starts from Navier-Stokes equation and evaluates the statistical average velocity of each different species of atom under the condition of ensemble equality to compute diffusion lengths and the diffusion coefficients as a function of temperature. The additional correction brought in is that of the limited states due to tethering of one nodule vis -a-vis the others. The movement of the molecules use our Twin Cell Model a typical model pertinent for modeling chain motions. A temperature viscosity correction by Cohen and Grest is included through the temperature dependence of the relaxation times for glass formers.

Defining defect specifications to optimize photomask production and requalification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiekowsky, Peter

2006-10-01

Reducing defect repairs and accelerating defect analysis is becoming more important as the total cost of defect repairs on advanced masks increases. Photomask defect specs based on printability, as measured on AIMS microscopes has been used for years, but the fundamental defect spec is still the defect size, as measured on the photomask, requiring the repair of many unprintable defects. ADAS, the Automated Defect Analysis System from AVI is now available in most advanced mask shops. It makes the use of pure printability specs, or "Optimal Defect Specs" practical. This software uses advanced algorithms to eliminate false defects caused by approximations in the inspection algorithm, classify each defect, simulate each defect and disposition each defect based on its printability and location. This paper defines "optimal defect specs", explains why they are now practical and economic, gives a method of determining them and provides accuracy data.

No-signaling, perfect bipartite dichotomic correlations and local randomness

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

Seevinck, M. P.

2011-03-28

The no-signaling constraint on bi-partite correlations is reviewed. It is shown that in order to obtain non-trivial Bell-type inequalities that discern no-signaling correlations from more general ones, one must go beyond considering expectation values of products of observables only. A new set of nontrivial no-signaling inequalities is derived which have a remarkably close resemblance to the CHSH inequality, yet are fundamentally different. A set of inequalities by Roy and Singh and Avis et al., which is claimed to be useful for discerning no-signaling correlations, is shown to be trivially satisfied by any correlation whatsoever. Finally, using the set of newlymore » derived no-signaling inequalities a result with potential cryptographic consequences is proven: if different parties use identical devices, then, once they have perfect correlations at spacelike separation between dichotomic observables, they know that because of no-signaling the local marginals cannot but be completely random.« less

Prime Contract Awards Alphabetically by Contractor, by State or Country, and Place, FY 88. Part 4. (Burnside-Ott Avi. Training Ctr.-Colcom, Inc.)

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-01

AD-.A207 773 D DCMNAI 773I Form Approved DOCUMENTATION PAG . OMB No. 0704-0188 la . REPORT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION lb. RESIH CTIVE MARKINGS T1TneI1...CK00 dx co00 ~00 ~0w 06300-4 Iwo 6Ŕ L-4-0 W-4 W001 La IO000 W,4 wo woo WNCI wo WO00-4 I -JO -JO _300 -1.JW -.1N -acOO -a00 -JO _aOO -JO -J.O WO.J 3 0...30 300 I 3= I LA . I.. 0 1300 300I ( IlL. :40" IN (D 000 (0 -IN t-N PN00 NW) V Ch(0 N N0 WN NN- n 44൰cN N.o 0 0) WNal anW m&o W*00W 0)0 40 Nat 0)(to c

Exposure to an environment containing the aromatic red cedar, Juniperus virginiana: procarcinogenic, enzyme-inducing and insecticidal effects.

PubMed

Sabine, J R

1975-11-01

(1) Shavings from the Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) were examined for three diverse biological properties, i.e. enzyme induction, procarcinogenicity and insecticidal activity. (2) The ability of a cedar environment to stimulate liver drug-metabolizing enzymes in mice was confirmed by lowered values for barbiturate sleeping time. (3) In susceptible strains of mice (C3H-Avy, C3H-AvyfB and CBA/J) the use of cedar shavings as bedding increased significantly the incidence of spontaneous tumors of the liver and mammary gland, and also reduced the average time at which tumors appeared. (4) Cedar and some of its derivatives (Oil of Cedarwood, cedrene, cedrol) disrupted the reproductive and developmental cycle of a number of insects, including the Peanut Trash Bug (Elasmolomus sordidus), the Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) and the Forage Mite (Tyrophagus putrescentiae).

Analyse experimentale des performances d'une batterie au lithium pour l'aeronautique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonnin, Romain

Ce memoire a pour objectif d'identifier et d'etudier les performances necessaires pour qu'une batterie au lithium puisse etre utilisee dans le secteur de l'aeronautique. C'est pourquoi dans le cadre de notre recherche, nous allons proposer une procedure de tests permettant d'analyser et de determiner si la batterie au lithium peut etre implantee dans un avion. En vue de repondre a l'analyse des performances, une etude des fonctionnalites demandees par l'avion ainsi que des normes preexistantes vont etre effectuees. Suite a cette etape, nous allons elaborer un banc d'essais. Une fois le banc d'essais acheve, nous allons tester une batterie au lithium qui est supposee disposer de toutes les caracteristiques techniques requises pour etre implantee dans un avion. Ces tests nous permettront donc d'emettre un avis sur l'utilisation des batteries au lithium dans le domaine de l'aeronautique.

A novel mycovirus associated to Alternaria alternata comprises a distinct lineage in Partitiviridae.

PubMed

Xavier, André da Silva; Barros, Ana Paula Oliveira de; Godinho, Márcio Tadeu; Zerbini, Francisco Murilo; Souza, Flávia de Oliveira; Bruckner, Fernanda Prieto; Alfenas-Zerbini, Poliane

2018-01-15

In the present work, we report a novel mycovirus that infects Alternaria alternata. The mycovirus has isometric particles of approximately 30nm and the genome consists of two molecules of dsRNA, dsRNA1 with 1833bp, encoding a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and dsRNA2, with 1680bp in length, encoding the putative capsid protein (CP). RdRp analysis revealed low amino acid identity with RdRps with species in the genus Gammapartitivirus, and the alignment of the RdRp revealed all the six conserved motifs present in members of Partitiviridae. The putative coat protein (CP) analysis revealed similarity with the putative CP of Botryosphaeria dothidea partitivirus 1 (BdPV1), a divergent partitivirus. We propose that Alternaria alternata partitivirus 1 (AtPV1) is a novel species and comprises a distinct lineage related to genus Gammapartitivirus in the family Partitiviridae, apparently on the threshold of radiation of a new genus, together with BdPV1. Vertical transmission tests showed that AtPV1 was transmitted to 100% conidial progeny and standard curing was unable to eliminate it from the host, characterizing it as a persistent virus. The absence of a virus-free isogenic lineage prevented us from accessing the details of the interaction between AtPV1 and A. alternata. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the morphological plasticity observed or the inability of the A. alternata isolate AVi1 to cause disease in plants is associated with AtPV1 infection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydroacoustic Evaluation of Fish Passage Through Bonneville Dam in 2005

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

Ploskey, Gene R.; Weiland, Mark A.; Zimmerman, Shon A.

2006-12-04

The Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested that the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conduct fish-passage studies at Bonneville Dam in 2005. These studies support the Portland District's goal of maximizing fish-passage efficiency (FPE) and obtaining 95% survival for juvenile salmon passing Bonneville Dam. Major passage routes include 10 turbines and a sluiceway at Powerhouse 1 (B1), an 18-bay spillway, and eight turbines and a sluiceway at Powerhouse 2 (B2). In this report, we present results of two studies related to juvenile salmonid passage at Bonneville Dam. The studies were conducted between April 16 and Julymore » 15, 2005, encompassing most of the spring and summer migrations. Studies included evaluations of (1) Project fish passage efficiency and other major passage metrics, and (2) smolt approach and fate at B1 Sluiceway Outlet 3C from the B1 forebay. Some of the large appendices are only presented on the compact disk (CD) that accompanies the final report. Examples include six large comma-separated-variable (.CSV) files of hourly fish passage, hourly variances, and Project operations for spring and summer from Appendix E, and large Audio Video Interleave (AVI) files with DIDSON-movie clips of the area upstream of B1 Sluiceway Outlet 3C (Appendix H). Those video clips show smolts approaching the outlet, predators feeding on smolts, and vortices that sometimes entrained approaching smolts into turbines. The CD also includes Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Files (PDF) of the entire report and appendices.« less

Working hours associated with unintentional sleep at work among airline pilots.

PubMed

Marqueze, Elaine Cristina; Nicola, Ana Carolina B; Diniz, Dag Hammarskjoeld M D; Fischer, Frida Marina

2017-06-26

Tto identify factors associated with unintentional sleep at work of airline pilots. This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with 1,235 Brazilian airline pilots, who work national or international flights. Data collection has been performed online. We carried out a bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis, having as dependent variable unintentional sleep at work. The independent variables were related to biodemographic data, characteristics of the work, lifestyle, and aspects of sleep. The prevalence of unintentional sleep while flying the airplane was 57.8%. The factors associated with unintentional sleep at work were: flying for more than 65 hours a month, frequent technical delays, greater need for recovery after work, work ability below optimal, insufficient sleep, and excessive sleepiness. The occurrence of unintentional sleep at work of airline pilots is associated with factors related to the organization of the work and health. Identificar fatores associados aos cochilos não intencionais durante as jornadas de trabalho de pilotos da aviação regular. Estudo epidemiológico transversal conduzido com 1.235 pilotos brasileiros de avião do transporte aéreo regular, que realizavam voos nacionais ou internacionais, sendo a coleta de dados realizada on-line. Foi realizada análise de regressão logística bivariada e múltipla, tendo como variável dependente o cochilo não intencional durante o horário de trabalho. As variáveis independentes foram relacionadas a dados biodemográficos, características do trabalho, estilo de vida e aspectos do sono. A prevalência do cochilo não intencional enquanto pilotava o avião foi de 57,8%. Os fatores associados ao cochilo não intencional foram: voar por mais de 65 horas por mês, atrasos técnicos frequentes, maior necessidade de recuperação após o trabalho, capacidade para o trabalho inferior à ótima, sono insuficiente e sonolência excessiva. A ocorrência do cochilo não intencional durante a jornada de trabalho de pilotos da aviação regular está associada a fatores relacionados à organização do trabalho e à saúde.

Genetic Variation in the TAS2R38 Bitter Taste Receptor and Gastric Cancer Risk in Koreans.

PubMed

Choi, Jeong-Hwa; Lee, Jeonghee; Choi, Il Ju; Kim, Young-Woo; Ryu, Keun Won; Kim, Jeongseon

2016-06-01

The human TAS2R38 gene encodes a bitter taste receptor that regulates the bitterness perception and differentiation of ingested nutritional/poisonous compounds in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. TAS2R38 gene variants are associated with alterations in individual sensitivity to bitter taste and food intake; hence, these genetic variants may modify the risk for diet-related diseases, including cancer. However, little is known about the association between TAS2R38 polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility. The present case-control study examined the influence of TAS2R38 polymorphisms on food intake and determined whether they predict gastric cancer risk in Koreans. A total of 1,580 subjects, including 449 gastric cancer cases, were genotyped for TAS2R38 A49P, V262A, I296V and diplotypes. Dietary data were analysed to determine the total consumption of energy, fibre, vegetables, fruits, sweets, fats, alcohol and cigarettes. TAS2R38 diplotype was not associated with food, alcohol or cigarette consumption, either independent or dependent of gastric cancer phenotype. However, the PAV/AVI diplotype significantly increased gastric cancer risk (adjusted odds ratio: 1.513; 95% confidence interval: 1.148-1.994) independent of dietary intake. Findings suggest that TAS2R38 may be associated with the risk for gastric cancer in Koreans, although the TAS2R38 diplotype did not influence dietary intake.

A host-specific biological control of grape crown gall by Agrobacterium vitis strain F2/5: its regulation and population dynamics.

PubMed

Kaewnum, Supaporn; Zheng, Desen; Reid, Cheryl L; Johnson, Kameka L; Gee, Jodi C; Burr, Thomas J

2013-05-01

Nontumorigenic Agrobacterium vitis strain F2/5 is able to prevent crown gall caused by tumorigenic A. vitis on grape but not on other plant species such as tobacco. Mutations in a quorum-sensing transcription factor, aviR, and in caseinolytic protease (clp) component genes clpA and clpP1 resulted in reduced or loss of biological control. All mutants were complemented; however, restoration of biological control by complemented clpA and clpP1 mutants was dependent on the copy number of vector that was used as well as timing of application of the complemented mutants to grape wounds in relation to inoculation with pathogen. Mutations in other quorum-sensing and clp genes and in a gene associated with polyketide synthesis did not affect biological control. It was determined that, although F2/5 inhibits transformation by tumorigenic A. vitis strains on grape, it does not affect growth of the pathogen in wounded grape tissue over time.

Preliminary assessment of contaminants in the sediment and organisms of the Swartkops Estuary, South Africa.

PubMed

Nel, L; Strydom, N A; Bouwman, H

2015-12-30

Urban estuaries are susceptible to metal and organic pollution, yet most remain understudied in South Africa with respect to the presence, concentrations and distribution of contaminants. Metal and organic chemical concentrations were assessed in sediment and organisms from different trophic levels in the lower reaches of the Swartkops Estuary. Species sampled included Upogebia africana (Malacostraca: Upogebiidae), Gilchristella aestuaria (Clupeidae), Psammogobius knysnaensis (Gobiidae), Mugil cephalus (Mugilidae), Lichia amia (Carangidae), Argyrosomus japonicus (Sciaenidae), Pomadasys commersonnii (Haemulidae) and Larus dominicanus (Avis: Laridae). This study is one of the most comprehensive studies to date assessing pollution levels in a food web in estuaries in South Africa. Due to biomagnification, higher concentrations of Arsenic, Lead, Mercury and Cadmium were found in the juveniles stages of popular angling fishes. High concentrations of Cadmium and Arsenic were recorded in the liver of L. amia, A. japonicus and P. commersonnii which exceed international quality food guidelines. Eggs from the gull, L. dominicanus, showed detectable concentrations of PCBs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of a video tampering dataset for forensic investigation.

PubMed

Ismael Al-Sanjary, Omar; Ahmed, Ahmed Abdullah; Sulong, Ghazali

2016-09-01

Forgery is an act of modifying a document, product, image or video, among other media. Video tampering detection research requires an inclusive database of video modification. This paper aims to discuss a comprehensive proposal to create a dataset composed of modified videos for forensic investigation, in order to standardize existing techniques for detecting video tampering. The primary purpose of developing and designing this new video library is for usage in video forensics, which can be consciously associated with reliable verification using dynamic and static camera recognition. To the best of the author's knowledge, there exists no similar library among the research community. Videos were sourced from YouTube and by exploring social networking sites extensively by observing posted videos and rating their feedback. The video tampering dataset (VTD) comprises a total of 33 videos, divided among three categories in video tampering: (1) copy-move, (2) splicing, and (3) swapping-frames. Compared to existing datasets, this is a higher number of tampered videos, and with longer durations. The duration of every video is 16s, with a 1280×720 resolution, and a frame rate of 30 frames per second. Moreover, all videos possess the same formatting quality (720p(HD).avi). Both temporal and spatial video features were considered carefully during selection of the videos, and there exists complete information related to the doctored regions in every modified video in the VTD dataset. This database has been made publically available for research on splicing, Swapping frames, and copy-move tampering, and, as such, various video tampering detection issues with ground truth. The database has been utilised by many international researchers and groups of researchers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Avian comparisons between Kingman and Kenilworth Marshes: Final report 2001-2004

USGS Publications Warehouse

Paul, M.; Krafft, C.; Hammerschlag, D.

2006-01-01

In 2001 avi-fauna was added as a parameter to be monitored as an indicator of the status and relative success of the two reconstructed freshwater tidal wetlands residing in the Anacostia River estuary in Washington, D.C. at that time. They were Kenilworth Marsh which was reconstructed in 1993 and Kingman Marsh seven years later in 2000. Other studies were already underway looking at vegetation, seeds, soils and contaminants. Even though these new wetlands were relatively small, together about 70 acres, it was felt this might be sufficient area to sustain and attract birds to the habitat. Birds have been used elsewhere as wetland indicators and we hoped they could prove useful here especially in terms of numbers and species richness. The study was conducted for almost four years (2001-2004) and was designed to ascertain if the recently reconstructed Kingman Marsh evolved similarly with respect to the avi fauna as Kenilworth which had the seven year head start. Twelve observation points were established, six at each marsh, which were to be used weekly so as to alternate the high and low tidal regimes and the observation start times. Additional notations were recorded for species while walking between observation points. The course of the study became interrupted with the incursion of resident Canada geese particularly upon the Kingman Marsh site. Goose herbivory coupled with lowered sediment elevations reduced vegetation cover at Kingman Marsh to less than one-third its intended scope while Kenilworth was barely affected. The result was actually much less impact on the bird populations than on the vegetation. In fact the additional mudflat area at Kingman may have actually helped attract some birds. Together 177 species were identified at the marshes comprising 14 taxonomic orders and 16 families, 137 species at Kingman and 164 at Kenilworth. However, Kingman actually attracted more birds than Kenilworth, whether or not Canada Geese were included. At both wetlands winter usage was significantly greater than at other seasons; however, there were more species in the spring and summer. Three functional guilds were looked at in particular: wetland users, freshwater marsh users and mudflat/shore users. Mudflat users were greatest during the winter while marsh users were greater in the fall. Additional useful data was collected relative to the Canada Goose impacts. The interruption in marsh evolution at Kingman driven by the goose herbivory precluded the opportunity to use the avifauna as an indicator of marsh restoration success.

Time-series photographs of the sea floor in western Massachusetts Bay, version 2, 1989-1993

USGS Publications Warehouse

Butman, Bradford; Dalyander, P. Soupy; Bothner, Michael H.; Lange, William N.

2008-01-01

Time-series photographs of the sea floor were obtained from an instrumented tripod deployed in western Massachusetts Bay at LT-A (42° 22.6' N, 70° 47.0' W; nominal water depth of 32 m; fig. 1) from December 1989 through September 2005. The photographs provide time-series observations of physical changes of the sea floor, near-bottom water turbidity, and life on the sea floor. Several reports present these photographs in digital form (table 1). This report, U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 265, Version 2.0, contains the photographs obtained from December 1989 to October 1996, adding to (and replacing) Version 1 of Data Series 265 (Butman and others, 2007a) that contained photographs from 1989 through 1993. Data Series 266 (Butman and others, 2008b) contains photographs obtained from October 1996 through September 2005. The photographs are published in separate reports because the data files are too large for distribution on a single DVD. These reports present the photographs, originally collected on 35-mm film, in digital form to enable easy viewing and to provide a medium-resolution digital archive. The photographs, obtained every 4 or every 6 hours, are presented as individual photographs (in .png format) and as a movie (in .avi format). The time-series photographs taken at LT-A were collected as part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study to understand the transport and fate of sediments and associated contaminants in Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay (Bothner and Butman, 2007). This long-term study was carried out by the USGS in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) (http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/) and with logistical support from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Long-term oceanographic observations help to identify the processes causing bottom sediment resuspension and transport and provide data for developing and testing numerical models. The observations document seasonal and interannual changes in currents, hydrography, suspended-matter concentration, and the importance of infrequent catastrophic events, such as major storms, in sediment resuspension and transport. LT-A is approximately 1 km south of the ocean outfall that began discharging treated sewage effluent from the Boston metropolitan area into Massachusetts Bay in September 2000. See Butman and others (2004d) for a description of the oceanographic measurements at LT-A, and Butman and others (2007c) and Warner and others (2008) for discussion of sediment transport in Massachusetts Bay.

Parasite Prevalence Corresponds to Host Life History in a Diverse Assemblage of Afrotropical Birds and Haemosporidian Parasites

PubMed Central

Lutz, Holly L.; Hochachka, Wesley M.; Engel, Joshua I.; Bell, Jeffrey A.; Tkach, Vasyl V.; Bates, John M.; Hackett, Shannon J.; Weckstein, Jason D.

2015-01-01

Avian host life history traits have been hypothesized to predict rates of infection by haemosporidian parasites. Using molecular techniques, we tested this hypothesis for parasites from three haemosporidian genera (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) collected from a diverse sampling of birds in northern Malawi. We found that host life history traits were significantly associated with parasitism rates by all three parasite genera. Nest type and nest location predicted infection probability for all three parasite genera, whereas flocking behavior is an important predictor of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus infection and habitat is an important predictor of Leucocytozoon infection. Parasite prevalence was 79.1% across all individuals sampled, higher than that reported for comparable studies from any other region of the world. Parasite diversity was also exceptionally high, with 248 parasite cytochrome b lineages identified from 152 host species. A large proportion of Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon parasite DNA sequences identified in this study represent new, previously undocumented lineages (n = 201; 81% of total identified) based on BLAST queries against the avian malaria database, MalAvi. PMID:25853491

Hippocampus minor and man's place in nature: a case study in the social construction of neuroanatomy.

PubMed

Gross, C G

1993-10-01

In mid-19th century Britain the possibility of evolution and particularly the evolution of man from apes was vigorously contested. Among the leading antievolutionists was the celebrated anatomist and paleontologist Richard Owen and among the leading defenders of evolution was Thomas Henry Huxley. The central dispute between them on human evolution was whether or not man's brain was fundamentally unique in having a hippocampus minor (known today as the calcar avis), a posterior horn in the lateral ventricle, and a posterior lobe. The author considers the background of this controversy, the origin and fate of the term hippocampus minor, why this structure became central to the question of human evolution, and how Huxley used it to support both Darwinism and the political ascendancy of Darwinians. The use of ventricular structures to distinguish humans from other animals appears to reflect an importance given to the ventricles that stretches back to ancient Greek medicine. This account illustrates both the extraordinary persistence of ideas in biology and the role of the political and social matrix in the study of the brain.

PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and partial rRNA gene sequencing: a rational approach to identifying mycobacteria.

PubMed Central

Patel, S; Yates, M; Saunders, N A

1997-01-01

A PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for amplification and rapid identification of mycobacterial DNA coding for 16S rRNA was developed. The PCR selectively targeted and amplified part of the 16S rRNA gene from all mycobacteria while simultaneously labelling one strand of the amplified product with a 5' fluorescein-labelled primer. The identity of the labelled strand was subsequently determined by hybridization to a panel of mycobacterial species-specific capture probes, which were immobilized via their 5' biotin ends to a streptavidin-coated microtiter plate. Specific hybridization of a 5' fluorescein-labelled strand to a species probe was detected colorimetrically with an anti-fluorescein enzyme conjugate. The assay was able to identify 10 Mycobacterium spp. A probe able to hybridize to all Mycobacterium species (All1) was also included. By a heminested PCR, the assay was sensitive enough to detect as little as 10 fg of DNA, which is equivalent to approximately three bacilli. The assay was able to detect and identify mycobacteria directly from sputa. The specificities of the capture probes were assessed by analysis of 60 mycobacterial strains corresponding to 18 species. Probes Avi1, Int1, Kan1, Xen1, Che1, For1, Mal1, Ter1, and Gor1 were specific. The probe Tbc1 cross-hybridized with the Mycobacterium terrae amplicon. Analysis of 35 strains tested blind resulted in 34 strains being correctly identified. This method could be used for rapid identification of early cultures and may be suitable for the detection and concurrent identification of mycobacteria within clinical specimens. PMID:9276419

Indicators of Moderate and Severe Preeclampsia in Correlation with Maternal IL10

PubMed Central

Markova, Ana Daneva; Hadži-Lega, Marija; Mijakoski, Dragan

2016-01-01

AIM: The purpose of the actual study was to evaluate the relationship between the formation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10 and several indicators of moderate and severe preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examination of the indicators of preeclampsia and maternal IL10 levels was conducted in 50 women with pregnancies complicated by varying degrees of preeclampsia in the third trimester of gestation as well as in 50 normotensive patients, hospitalized at the University Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. The levels of IL10 were determined with a commercial test developed by Orgenium Laboratories (Finland), using reagents from AviBion ELISA research kits. Patients with preeclampsia were categorized into moderate and severe preeclampsia group according to the degree of preeclampsia. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictive value of different parameters for the occurrence of severe preeclampsia. Odds ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated in order to quantify independent associations. RESULTS: The regression analysis detected systolic blood pressure (160 mmHg or higher), diastolic blood pressure (100 mmHg or higher), persistent proteinuria in pregnancy, serum LDH concentration (450 U/L or higher) and reduced serum concentrations of IL10 as significant predictors of severe preeclampsia in pregnant women after adjusting for age. CONCLUSION: The findings of significantly lower serum IL10 concentrations in patients with severe preeclampsia in comparison with respective concentrations in patients with moderate preeclampsia can be considered as major pathognomonic laboratory sign of severe preeclampsia. PMID:27335593

Fuel Efficient Stoves for Darfur Camps of Internally DisplacedPersons - Report of Field Trip to North and South Darfur, Nov. 16 -Dec.17, 2005

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

Galitsky, Christina; Gadgil, Ashok; Jacobs, Mark

Approximately 2.2 million internally displaced persons (''IDPs'') in Darfur are living in dense camps scattered in arid areas with low fuelwood productivity. Unsustainable harvesting of fuelwood by the IDPs has created ever increasing zones of denudation, that now (in November 2005) have reached several kilometers from the camp boundaries. Leaving the safety of the camps to fetch fuelwood from farther and farther away imposes great risk and hardship on the IDP women. Three different metal fuel efficient stove (''FES'') designs were tested in Darfur IDP camps for their suitability to substantially reduce the fuelwood needs of IDPs. The mud-and-dung ''ITDG''more » stoves being promoted under the current FES program were also examined and tested. A modified design of the ITDG mud-and-dung stove, ''Avi'', was developed, built and tested. Systematic informal surveys of IDP households were undertaken in North and South Darfur to understand the household parameters related to family size, food, fuel, cooking habits, cooking pots, expenditure on fuel, and preferences related to alternative ways to spend time/money if fuel could be saved. Surveys found that a significant fraction of families are missing meals for lack of fuel (50% in South Darfur, and 90% in the North Darfur camps visited by the mission). About 60% of women in South Darfur, and about 90% of women in North Darfur camps purchase fuelwood. Selling some of the food rations to purchase fuel to cook meals was significant (40%) in South Darfur and has become common (80%) in North Darfur. The LBNL mission found that two of the metal stoves and the mud-and-dung Avi can significantly reduce fuelwood consumption using the same fuel, pot, cooking methods, and food ingredients used by Darfur IDPs. The most suitable design for Darfur conditions would be a modified ''Tara'' stove. With training of the cooks in tending the fire, this stove can save 50% fuel for the IDPs. The stove costs less than $10 (US) to produce in Darfur, and saves fuelwood worth $160 annually at local market prices. For programmatic and administrative reasons, the LBNL mission do not recommend a mud-and-dung stove, for which control of quality and dimensional accuracy is expensive and cumbersome to administer, particularly in a rapid large rollout effort. A light metal stove, on the other hand, can be rapidly produced in large numbers locally in Darfur, with good quality control exercised on the material and dimensions of the stoves right at the workshop where it is produced. LBNL mission also recommends immediate trials of 50 Tara stoves in a pilot technical rollout, 500 Tara stoves in a pilot social rollout, in parallel with a technical effort to modify the Tara design to make it better suited for Darfur camp conditions. The mission also recommends a program for manufacturing, disseminating the metal stoves, and educating the IDPs in fuel-efficient cooking practices. Monitoring of the stove quality, dissemination effort and training should be an integral part of the program, with systematic summaries planned with 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 stoves have been disseminated. In the above pilot rollouts as well as in the final implementation, it is important to continue to pay attention to training of the cooks in tending the cooking fire in the stoves, and offer continued social reinforcement to this training (e.g., through periodic competitions to cook normal meals with the least fuelwood use.)« less

The Children's Report of Sleep Patterns (CRSP): A Self-Report Measure of Sleep for School-Aged Children

PubMed Central

Meltzer, Lisa J.; Avis, Kristin T.; Biggs, Sarah; Reynolds, Amy C.; Crabtree, Valerie McLaughlin; Bevans, Katherine B.

2013-01-01

Study Objectives: (1) Present preliminary psychometrics for the Children's Report of Sleep Patterns (CRSP), a three-module measure of Sleep Patterns, Sleep Hygiene, and Sleep Disturbance; and (2) explore whether the CRSP provides information about a child's sleep above and beyond parental report. Methods: A multi-method, multi-reporter approach was used to validate the CRSP with 456 children aged 8-12 years (inclusive). Participants were recruited from pediatricians' offices, sleep clinics/laboratories, children's hospitals, schools, and the general population. Participants completed measures of sleep habits, sleep hygiene, anxiety, and sleepiness, with actigraphy and polysomnography used to provide objective measures of child sleep. Results: The CRSP demonstrated good reliability and validity. Differences in sleep hygiene and sleep disturbances were found for children presenting to a sleep clinic/laboratory (vs. community population); for younger children (vs. older children); and for children who slept less than 8 hours or had a sleep onset later than 22:00 on actigraphy. Further, significant associations were found between the CRSP and child-reported anxiety or sleepiness. Notably, approximately 40% of parents were not aware of child reported difficulties with sleep onset latency, night wakings, or poor sleep quality. Conclusions: The three modules of the CRSP can be used together or independently, providing a reliable and valid self-report measure of sleep patterns, sleep hygiene, and sleep disturbances for children ages 8-12 years. Children not only provide valid information about their sleep, but may provide information that would not be otherwise captured in both clinical and research settings if relying solely on parental report. Citation: Meltzer LJ; Avis KT; Biggs S; Reynolds AC; Crab-tree VM; Bevans KB. The Children's Report of Sleep Patterns (CRSP): a self-report measure of sleep for school-aged children. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(3):235-245. PMID:23493949

Nitrate contamination risk assessment in groundwater at regional scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniela, Ducci

2016-04-01

Nitrate groundwater contamination is widespread in the world, due to the intensive use of fertilizers, to the leaking from the sewage network and to the presence of old septic systems. This research presents a methodology for groundwater contamination risk assessment using thematic maps derived mainly from the land-use map and from statistical data available at the national institutes of statistic (especially demographic and environmental data). The potential nitrate contamination is considered as deriving from three sources: agricultural, urban and periurban. The first one is related to the use of fertilizers. For this reason the land-use map is re-classified on the basis of the crop requirements in terms of fertilizers. The urban source is the possibility of leaks from the sewage network and, consequently, is linked to the anthropogenic pressure, expressed by the population density, weighted on the basis of the mapped urbanized areas of the municipality. The periurban sources include the un-sewered areas, especially present in the periurban context, where illegal sewage connections coexist with on-site sewage disposal (cesspools, septic tanks and pit latrines). The potential nitrate contamination map is produced by overlaying the agricultural, urban and periurban maps. The map combination process is very easy, being an algebraic combination: the output values are the arithmetic average of the input values. The groundwater vulnerability to contamination can be assessed using parametric methods, like DRASTIC or easier, like AVI (that involves a limited numbers of parameters). In most of cases, previous documents produced at regional level can be used. The pollution risk map is obtained by combining the thematic maps of the potential nitrate contamination map and the groundwater contamination vulnerability map. The criterion for the linkages of the different GIS layers is very easy, corresponding to an algebraic combination. The methodology has been successfully applied in a large flat area of southern Italy, with high concentrations in NO3.

Light-induced morphological alteration in anthocyanin-accumulating vacuoles of maize cells

PubMed Central

Irani, Niloufer G; Grotewold, Erich

2005-01-01

Background Plant pigmentation is affected by a variety of factors. Light, an important plant developmental signal, influences the accumulation of anthocyanins primarily through the activation of the transcription factors that regulate the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. In this study, we utilized maize Black Mexican Sweet (BMS) cells expressing the R and C1 regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis from a light-insensitive promoter as a means to investigate the existence of additional levels of control of pigmentation by light. Results BMS cells expressing the R and C1 regulators from the CaMV 35S constitutive promoter accumulate anthocyanins when grown in complete darkness, suggesting that the transcription factors R and C1 are sufficient for the transcription of the genes corresponding to the structural enzymes of the pathway, with no requirement for additional light-induced regulators. Interestingly, light induces a "darkening" in the color of the purple anthocyanin pigmentation of transgenic BMS cells expressing R and C1. This change in the pigment hue is not associated with a variation in the levels or types of anthocyanins present, or with an alteration of the transcript levels of several flavonoid biosynthetic genes. However, cytological observations show that light drives unexpected changes in the morphology and distribution of the anthocyanins-containing vacuolar compartments. Conclusion By uncoupling the effect of light on anthocyanin accumulation, we have found light to induce the fusion of anthocyanin-containing vacuoles, the coalescence of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusion (AVI)-like structures contained, and the spread of anthocyanins from the inclusions into the vacuolar sap. Similar light-induced alterations in vacuolar morphology are also evident in the epidermal cells of maize floral whorls accumulating anthocyanins. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for the action of light on the vacuolar storage of anthocyanin. PMID:15907203

Psychosocial Characteristics of Children with Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence Versus Matched Healthy Children

PubMed Central

Avis, Kristin T.; Shen, Jiabin; Weaver, Patrick; Schwebel, David C.

2015-01-01

Background: Hypersomnia of central origin from narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia (IHS) is characterized by pathological levels of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Central hypersomnia has historically been underdiagnosed and poorly understood, especially with respect to its impact on daytime functioning and quality of life in children. Objective: Describe the psychosocial adjustment of children treated for narcolepsy or IHS on school performance, quality of life, and physical/extracurricular activities. Methods: Using a matched case control design, we compared child self- and parent-reported data from thirty-three 8- to 16-year-olds with an established diagnosis of narcolepsy or IHS, according to ICSD-2 criteria, to that of 33 healthy children matched by age, race/ethnicity, gender, and household income. Assessments evaluated academic performance, quality of life and wellness, sleepiness, and participation in extracurricular activities. Results: Compared to healthy controls, children with central hypersomnia had poorer daytime functioning in multiple domains. Children with hypersomnia missed more days of school and had lower grades than healthy controls. Children with hypersomnia had poorer quality of life by both parent and child report. Children with hypersomnia were significantly sleepier, had higher BMI, and were more likely to report a history of recent injury. Finally, children with hypersomnia engaged in fewer after-school activities than healthy controls. Conclusions: A range of significant psychosocial consequences are reported in children with hypersomnia even after a diagnosis has been made and treatments initiated. Health care professionals should be mindful of the psychosocial problems that may present in children with hypersomnia over the course of treatment. Citation: Avis KT, Shen J, Weaver P, Schwebel DC. Psychosocial characteristics of children with central disorders of hypersomnolence versus matched healthy children. J Clin Sleep Med 2015;11(11):1281–1288. PMID:26285115

Time-Series Photographs of the Sea Floor in Western Massachusetts Bay, 1996 - 2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Butman, Bradford; Dalyander, P. Soupy; Bothner, Michael H.; Lange, William N.

2008-01-01

Time-series photographs of the sea floor were obtained from an instrumented tripod deployed in western Massachusetts Bay at LT-A (42? 22.6' N, 70? 47.0' W; 32 m water depth; fig. 1) from December 1989 through September 2005. The photographs provide time-series observations of physical changes of the sea floor, near-bottom water turbidity, and life on the sea floor. Two reports present these photographs in digital form (table 1) and chronological order. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 265 (Butman and others, 2008a) contains the photographs obtained from December 1989 to October 1996. This report, U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 266 (Butman and others, 2008b), contains photographs obtained from October 1996 through September 2005. The photographs are published in separate reports because the data files are too large for distribution on a single DVD. This report also contains photographs that were published previously in an uncompressed format (Butman and others 2004a, b, and c; table 1); they have been compressed and included in this publication so that all of the photographs are available in the same format. The photographs, obtained every 4 or every 6 hours, are presented as individual photographs (in .png format, each accessible through a page of thumbnails) and as a movie (in .avi format). The time-series photographs taken at LT-A were collected as part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study to understand the transport and fate of sediments and associated contaminants in Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay (Bothner and Butman, 2007). This long-term study was carried out by the USGS in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) (http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/) and with logistical support from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Long-term oceanographic observations help to identify the processes causing bottom sediment resuspension and transport and provide data for developing and testing numerical models. The observations document seasonal and interannual changes in currents, hydrography, suspended-matter concentration, and the importance of infrequent catastrophic events, such as major storms, in sediment resuspension and transport. LT-A is approximately 1 km south of the ocean outfall that began discharging treated sewage effluent from the Boston metropolitan area into Massachusetts Bay in September 2000. See Butman and others (2004d) and Butman and others (2007a) for a description of the oceanographic measurements at LT-A. See Butman and others (2007c) and Warner and others (2008) for discussion of sediment transport in Massachusetts Bay.

Report on Project Action Sheet PP05 task 3 between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MEST).

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

Snell, Mark Kamerer

2013-01-01

This report documents the results of Task 3 of Project Action Sheet PP05 between the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MEST) for Support with Review of an ROK Risk Evaluation Process. This task was to have Sandia National Laboratories collaborate with the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control (KINAC) on several activities concerning how to determine the Probability of Neutralization, PN, and the Probability of System Effectiveness, PE, to include: providing descriptions on how combat simulations are used to determine PN and PE; comparisons of themore » strengths and weaknesses of two neutralization models (the Neutralization.xls spreadsheet model versus the Brief Adversary Threat-Loss Estimator (BATLE) software); and demonstrating how computer simulations can be used to determine PN. Note that the computer simulation used for the demonstration was the Scenario Toolkit And Generation Environment (STAGE) simulation, which is a stand-alone synthetic tactical simulation sold by Presagis Canada Incorporated. The demonstration is provided in a separate Audio Video Interleave (.AVI) file.« less

Video approach to chemiluminescence detection using a low-cost complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-based camera: determination of paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations.

PubMed

Lahuerta-Zamora, Luis; Mellado-Romero, Ana M

2017-06-01

A new system for continuous flow chemiluminescence detection, based on the use of a simple and low-priced lens-free digital camera (with complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology) as a detector, is proposed for the quantitative determination of paracetamol in commercial pharmaceutical formulations. Through the camera software, AVI video files of the chemiluminescence emission are captured and then, using friendly ImageJ public domain software (from National Institutes for Health), properly processed in order to extract the analytical information. The calibration graph was found to be linear over the range 0.01-0.10 mg L -1 and over the range 1.0-100.0 mg L -1 of paracetamol, the limit of detection being 10 μg L -1 . No significative interferences were found. Paracetamol was determined in three different pharmaceutical formulations: Termalgin®, Efferalgan® and Gelocatil®. The obtained results compared well with those declared on the formulation label and with those obtained through the official analytical method of British Pharmacopoeia. Graphical abstract Abbreviated scheme of the new chemiluminescence detection system proposed in this paper.

Drought Analysis of the Haihe River Basin Based on GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage

PubMed Central

Wang, Jianhua; Jiang, Dong; Huang, Yaohuan; Wang, Hao

2014-01-01

The Haihe river basin (HRB) in the North China has been experiencing prolonged, severe droughts in recent years that are accompanied by precipitation deficits and vegetation wilting. This paper analyzed the water deficits related to spatiotemporal variability of three variables of the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) derived terrestrial water storage (TWS) data, precipitation, and EVI in the HRB from January 2003 to January 2013. The corresponding drought indices of TWS anomaly index (TWSI), precipitation anomaly index (PAI), and vegetation anomaly index (AVI) were also compared for drought analysis. Our observations showed that the GRACE-TWS was more suitable for detecting prolonged and severe droughts in the HRB because it can represent loss of deep soil water and ground water. The multiyear droughts, of which the HRB has sustained for more than 5 years, began in mid-2007. Extreme drought events were detected in four periods at the end of 2007, the end of 2009, the end of 2010, and in the middle of 2012. Spatial analysis of drought risk from the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2012 showed that human activities played an important role in the extent of drought hazards in the HRB. PMID:25202732

Drought analysis of the Haihe river basin based on GRACE terrestrial water storage.

PubMed

Wang, Jianhua; Jiang, Dong; Huang, Yaohuan; Wang, Hao

2014-01-01

The Haihe river basin (HRB) in the North China has been experiencing prolonged, severe droughts in recent years that are accompanied by precipitation deficits and vegetation wilting. This paper analyzed the water deficits related to spatiotemporal variability of three variables of the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) derived terrestrial water storage (TWS) data, precipitation, and EVI in the HRB from January 2003 to January 2013. The corresponding drought indices of TWS anomaly index (TWSI), precipitation anomaly index (PAI), and vegetation anomaly index (AVI) were also compared for drought analysis. Our observations showed that the GRACE-TWS was more suitable for detecting prolonged and severe droughts in the HRB because it can represent loss of deep soil water and ground water. The multiyear droughts, of which the HRB has sustained for more than 5 years, began in mid-2007. Extreme drought events were detected in four periods at the end of 2007, the end of 2009, the end of 2010, and in the middle of 2012. Spatial analysis of drought risk from the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2012 showed that human activities played an important role in the extent of drought hazards in the HRB.

A simple method for the detection of PM2.5 air pollutions using MODIS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kato, Yoshinobu

2016-05-01

In recent years, PM2.5 air pollution is a social and transboundary environmental issue with the rapid economic growth in many countries. As PM2.5 is small and includes various ingredients, the detection of PM2.5 air pollutions by using satellite data is difficult compared with the detection of dust and sandstorms. In this paper, we examine various images (i.e., single-band images, band-difference images, RGB composite color images) to find a good method for detecting PM2.5 air pollutions by using MODIS data. A good method for the detection of PM2.5 air pollution is {R, G, B = band10, band9, T11}, where T11 is the brightness temperature of band31. In this composite color image, PM2.5 air pollutions are represented by light purple or pink color. This proposed method is simpler than the method by Nagatani et al. (2013), and is useful to grasp the distribution of PM2.5 air pollutions in the wide area (e.g., from China and India to Japan). By comparing AVI image with the image by proposed method, DSS and PM2.5 air pollutions can be classified.

Installation of an artificial vegetating island in oligomesotrophic Lake Paro, Korea.

PubMed

Seo, Eun-Young; Kwon, Oh-Byung; Choi, Seung-Ik; Kim, Ji-Ho; Ahn, Tae-Seok

2013-01-01

After cut off of inflowing water, Lake Paro, an oligomesotrophic lake lost littoral zone, an important region for the aquatic ecosystem. For the first step of restoration, the artificial vegetation island was installed. The concentration of nutrients in lake water was not sufficient for the growth of macrophyte as total phosphate was ranged from 58 to 83 μg L(-1). In order to overcome this problem, the hydrophobic substratum for bacterial attachment was selected as buoyant mat material of the artificial vegetation island. In this medium, total phosphate and total nitrogen were ranged from 190 to 1,060 μg L(-1) and from 4.9 to 9.1 mg L(-1), respectively. These concentrations were high enough for macrophytes growth. After launching 1,800 m(2) of AVI in Lake Paro, the macrophytes, Iris pseudoacorus and Iris ensata, grew well after five years of launching without the addition of fertilizer. Furthermore, fishes were plentiful under the artificial vegetation island, and ducks were observed on the artificial vegetation island. Bacteria using sunlight as energy source and self-designed ecotechnology can be used as an alternative method for the restoration of disturbed littoral zone in oligo-mesotrophic lakes.

Installation of an Artificial Vegetating Island in Oligomesotrophic Lake Paro, Korea

PubMed Central

Seo, Eun-Young; Kwon, Oh-Byung; Choi, Seung-Ik; Kim, Ji-Ho; Ahn, Tae-Seok

2013-01-01

After cut off of inflowing water, Lake Paro, an oligomesotrophic lake lost littoral zone, an important region for the aquatic ecosystem. For the first step of restoration, the artificial vegetation island was installed. The concentration of nutrients in lake water was not sufficient for the growth of macrophyte as total phosphate was ranged from 58 to 83 μg L−1. In order to overcome this problem, the hydrophobic substratum for bacterial attachment was selected as buoyant mat material of the artificial vegetation island. In this medium, total phosphate and total nitrogen were ranged from 190 to 1,060 μg L−1 and from 4.9 to 9.1 mg L−1, respectively. These concentrations were high enough for macrophytes growth. After launching 1,800 m2 of AVI in Lake Paro, the macrophytes, Iris pseudoacorus and Iris ensata, grew well after five years of launching without the addition of fertilizer. Furthermore, fishes were plentiful under the artificial vegetation island, and ducks were observed on the artificial vegetation island. Bacteria using sunlight as energy source and self-designed ecotechnology can be used as an alternative method for the restoration of disturbed littoral zone in oligo-mesotrophic lakes. PMID:23935437

Characterization of a Novel Hepadnavirus in the White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) from the Great Lakes Region of the United States.

PubMed

Hahn, Cassidy M; Iwanowicz, Luke R; Cornman, Robert S; Conway, Carla M; Winton, James R; Blazer, Vicki S

2015-12-01

The white sucker Catostomus commersonii is a freshwater teleost often utilized as a resident sentinel. Here, we sequenced the full genome of a hepatitis B-like virus that infects white suckers from the Great Lakes Region of the United States. Dideoxy sequencing confirmed that the white sucker hepatitis B virus (WSHBV) has a circular genome (3,542 bp) with the prototypical codon organization of hepadnaviruses. Electron microscopy demonstrated that complete virions of approximately 40 nm were present in the plasma of infected fish. Compared to avi- and orthohepadnaviruses, sequence conservation of the core, polymerase, and surface proteins was low and ranged from 16 to 27% at the amino acid level. An X protein homologue common to the orthohepadnaviruses was not present. The WSHBV genome included an atypical, presumptively noncoding region absent in previously described hepadnaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed WSHBV as distinct from previously documented hepadnaviruses. The level of divergence in protein sequences between WSHBV and other hepadnaviruses and the identification of an HBV-like sequence in an African cichlid provide evidence that a novel genus of the family Hepadnaviridae may need to be established that includes these hepatitis B-like viruses in fishes. Viral transcription was observed in 9.5% (16 of 169) of white suckers evaluated. The prevalence of hepatic tumors in these fish was 4.9%, and only 2.4% of fish were positive for both virus and hepatic tumors. These results are not sufficient to draw inferences regarding the association of WSHBV and carcinogenesis in white sucker. We report the first full-length genome of a hepadnavirus from fishes. Phylogenetic analysis of this genome indicates divergence from genomes of previously described hepadnaviruses from mammalian and avian hosts and supports the creation of a novel genus. The discovery of this novel virus may better our understanding of the evolutionary history of hepatitis B-like viruses of other hosts. In fishes, knowledge of this virus may provide insight regarding possible risk factors associated with hepatic neoplasia in the white sucker. This may also offer another model system for mechanistic research. Copyright © 2015 Hahn et al.

Characterization of a Novel Hepadnavirus in the White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) from the Great Lakes Region of the United States

PubMed Central

Hahn, Cassidy M.; Cornman, Robert S.; Conway, Carla M.; Winton, James R.; Blazer, Vicki S.

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT The white sucker Catostomus commersonii is a freshwater teleost often utilized as a resident sentinel. Here, we sequenced the full genome of a hepatitis B-like virus that infects white suckers from the Great Lakes Region of the United States. Dideoxy sequencing confirmed that the white sucker hepatitis B virus (WSHBV) has a circular genome (3,542 bp) with the prototypical codon organization of hepadnaviruses. Electron microscopy demonstrated that complete virions of approximately 40 nm were present in the plasma of infected fish. Compared to avi- and orthohepadnaviruses, sequence conservation of the core, polymerase, and surface proteins was low and ranged from 16 to 27% at the amino acid level. An X protein homologue common to the orthohepadnaviruses was not present. The WSHBV genome included an atypical, presumptively noncoding region absent in previously described hepadnaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed WSHBV as distinct from previously documented hepadnaviruses. The level of divergence in protein sequences between WSHBV and other hepadnaviruses and the identification of an HBV-like sequence in an African cichlid provide evidence that a novel genus of the family Hepadnaviridae may need to be established that includes these hepatitis B-like viruses in fishes. Viral transcription was observed in 9.5% (16 of 169) of white suckers evaluated. The prevalence of hepatic tumors in these fish was 4.9%, and only 2.4% of fish were positive for both virus and hepatic tumors. These results are not sufficient to draw inferences regarding the association of WSHBV and carcinogenesis in white sucker. IMPORTANCE We report the first full-length genome of a hepadnavirus from fishes. Phylogenetic analysis of this genome indicates divergence from genomes of previously described hepadnaviruses from mammalian and avian hosts and supports the creation of a novel genus. The discovery of this novel virus may better our understanding of the evolutionary history of hepatitis B-like viruses of other hosts. In fishes, knowledge of this virus may provide insight regarding possible risk factors associated with hepatic neoplasia in the white sucker. This may also offer another model system for mechanistic research. PMID:26378165

Conflicts between urbanization and agricultural activity in the outlying districts of Beni Mellal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kehal, Driss; El makssoudi, Aziz

2017-04-01

On 13 May 2016, the IRD and the AviTem - Villa Méditerranée organized an international meeting in Marseilles, within the framework of "villes en question". This innovative pedagogical project has mobilized high school students from both sides of the Mediterranean (France, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). Accompanied by researchers, mediators and their teachers, they were introduced throughout the school year to the scientific approach. Their objective: to carry out surveys to decipher social links in the neighborhoods of their city. Highlight of the project, the international meeting, labeled by the Grand Tour, is held at the Villa Méditerranée. It enabled the 180 participants (high school students, teachers, researchers, partners) to discuss the question of how urban residents live together, a key issue for our urban societies in the 21st century. This international meeting on social ties in neighborhoods in the Mediterranean was an opportunity for high school students to present their surveys and share their experiences. They also exchanged views with a jury made up of representatives from the world of research and education, who awarded the "Villes en question" prize, which was again in favor of the health and environment club of Al Amria high school for the second consecutive year. The topic we discussed is: "Conflicts between urbanization and agricultural activity in the outlying districts of Beni Mellal". Six scrupulously selected science students traveled to Marseilles with 2 life sciences and earth teachers. Indeed, Béni Mellal, a city in central Morocco, has experienced in recent years the phenomenon of urbanization which has resulted in an expansion of the territory of the city to the peripheral zones in which there remain agricultural areas. How is this coexistence and this evolution experienced by the inhabitants? Students conducted on-site investigations. They were particularly interested in the representations, perceptions and practices of the inhabitants. They also interviewed a number of administrative and political leaders. They presented their research work in the form of an illustrated 180-second slideshow.

Cost and Performance Comparison of an Earth-Orbiting Optical Communication Relay Transceiver and a Ground-Based Optical Receiver Subnet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, K. E.; Wright, M.; Cesarone, R.; Ceniceros, J.; Shea, K.

2003-01-01

Optical communications can provide high-data-rate telemetry from deep-space probes with subsystems that have lower mass, consume less power, and are smaller than their radio frequency (RF) counterparts. However, because optical communication is more a.ected by weather than is RF communication, it requires groundstation site diversity to mitigate the adverse e.ects of inclement weather on the link. An optical relay satellite is not a.ected by weather and can provide 24-hour coverage of deep-space probes. Using such a relay satellite for the deep-space link and an 8.4-GHz (X-band) link to a ground station would support high-data-rate links from small deep-space probes with very little link loss due to inclement weather. We have reviewed past JPL-funded work on RF and optical relay satellites, and on proposed clustered and linearly dispersed optical subnets. Cost comparisons show that the life cycle costs of a 7-m optical relay station based on the heritage of the Next Generation Space Telescope is comparable to that of an 8-station subnet of 10- m optical ground stations. This makes the relay link an attractive option vis- a-vis a ground-station network.

Drug/Cell-line Browser: interactive canvas visualization of cancer drug/cell-line viability assay datasets.

PubMed

Duan, Qiaonan; Wang, Zichen; Fernandez, Nicolas F; Rouillard, Andrew D; Tan, Christopher M; Benes, Cyril H; Ma'ayan, Avi

2014-11-15

Recently, several high profile studies collected cell viability data from panels of cancer cell lines treated with many drugs applied at different concentrations. Such drug sensitivity data for cancer cell lines provide suggestive treatments for different types and subtypes of cancer. Visualization of these datasets can reveal patterns that may not be obvious by examining the data without such efforts. Here we introduce Drug/Cell-line Browser (DCB), an online interactive HTML5 data visualization tool for interacting with three of the recently published datasets of cancer cell lines/drug-viability studies. DCB uses clustering and canvas visualization of the drugs and the cell lines, as well as a bar graph that summarizes drug effectiveness for the tissue of origin or the cancer subtypes for single or multiple drugs. DCB can help in understanding drug response patterns and prioritizing drug/cancer cell line interactions by tissue of origin or cancer subtype. DCB is an open source Web-based tool that is freely available at: http://www.maayanlab.net/LINCS/DCB CONTACT: avi.maayan@mssm.edu Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Information Hiding In Digital Video Using DCT, DWT and CvT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abed Shukur, Wisam; Najah Abdullah, Wathiq; Kareem Qurban, Luheb

2018-05-01

The type of video that used in this proposed hiding a secret information technique is .AVI; the proposed technique of a data hiding to embed a secret information into video frames by using Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Curvelet Transform (CvT). An individual pixel consists of three color components (RGB), the secret information is embedded in Red (R) color channel. On the receiver side, the secret information is extracted from received video. After extracting secret information, robustness of proposed hiding a secret information technique is measured and obtained by computing the degradation of the extracted secret information by comparing it with the original secret information via calculating the Normalized cross Correlation (NC). The experiments shows the error ratio of the proposed technique is (8%) while accuracy ratio is (92%) when the Curvelet Transform (CvT) is used, but compared with Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), the error rates are 11% and 14% respectively, while the accuracy ratios are (89%) and (86%) respectively. So, the experiments shows the Poisson noise gives better results than other types of noises, while the speckle noise gives worst results compared with other types of noises. The proposed technique has been established by using MATLAB R2016a programming language.

Urbanization, Agricultural Intensification, and Habitat Alteration in Vietnam: Modeling Transitional Development and Emerging Infectious Diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, J.; Saksena, S.; Spencer, J.; Finucane, M.; Sultana, N.

2012-12-01

Our overarching hypothesis is that new risks, in this case the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, emerge during transitions between stages of development. Moreover, these risks are not coincidental but occur precisely because of the in-between nature of the coupled human-natural system at the point when things are neither traditional nor modern but resemble the state of chaos, release and reorganization. We are testing this hypothesis in Vietnam using demographic, social, economic, and environmental data collected in national censuses and analyzed at commune and district levels to identify communes and districts that are traditional, modern, and transitional (peri-urban). Using data from the 2006 agricultural census that capture both the changing nature of the built environment (types of sanitation systems) and the loss of and diversification of agriculture systems (percent of households whose major source of income is from agriculture, and percent of land under agriculture, forests, and aquaculture), and a normalized difference vegetation index from 2006 Landsat images we created a national scale urbanicity map for Vietnam. Field work in the summer of 2011 showed this map to be an accurate (approximately 85%) approximation of traditional (rural), transitional (periurban), and modern (urban) communes. Preliminary results suggest that over 7% of the country's land area and roughly 15% of its population resides in periurban neighborhoods, and that these areas do have a statistically significant greater incidence of AVI as measured in chicken deaths than traditional and modern communes (Table 1). Transitional neighborhoods such as these force planners to ask two questions. To what extent does the dichotomy of urban/rural makes sense in the context of Vietnam, when large areas and parts of the population are caught between the two? Second, how can planners and policy makers effectively provide for basic public goods and services in these contexts?Classification of places in Vietnam based on agricultural income, toilets and land under agriculture, forests and aqua (homes and enterprises) and NDVIσ In general denser vegetation canopies have higher NDVI valueφ Simpson's index, a value of 0 indicates no diversity and a value of 1 indicated infinite diversity

ciliaFA: a research tool for automated, high-throughput measurement of ciliary beat frequency using freely available software

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Analysis of ciliary function for assessment of patients suspected of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and for research studies of respiratory and ependymal cilia requires assessment of both ciliary beat pattern and beat frequency. While direct measurement of beat frequency from high-speed video recordings is the most accurate and reproducible technique it is extremely time consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a freely available automated method of ciliary beat frequency analysis from digital video (AVI) files that runs on open-source software (ImageJ) coupled to Microsoft Excel, and to validate this by comparison to the direct measuring high-speed video recordings of respiratory and ependymal cilia. These models allowed comparison to cilia beating between 3 and 52 Hz. Methods Digital video files of motile ciliated ependymal (frequency range 34 to 52 Hz) and respiratory epithelial cells (frequency 3 to 18 Hz) were captured using a high-speed digital video recorder. To cover the range above between 18 and 37 Hz the frequency of ependymal cilia were slowed by the addition of the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin. Measurements made directly by timing a given number of individual ciliary beat cycles were compared with those obtained using the automated ciliaFA system. Results The overall mean difference (± SD) between the ciliaFA and direct measurement high-speed digital imaging methods was −0.05 ± 1.25 Hz, the correlation coefficient was shown to be 0.991 and the Bland-Altman limits of agreement were from −1.99 to 1.49 Hz for respiratory and from −2.55 to 3.25 Hz for ependymal cilia. Conclusions A plugin for ImageJ was developed that extracts pixel intensities and performs fast Fourier transformation (FFT) using Microsoft Excel. The ciliaFA software allowed automated, high throughput measurement of respiratory and ependymal ciliary beat frequency (range 3 to 52 Hz) and avoids operator error due to selection bias. We have included free access to the ciliaFA plugin and installation instructions in Additional file 1 accompanying this manuscript that other researchers may use. PMID:23351276

Phytoplankton variability in relation to some environmental factors in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf, Egypt.

PubMed

Nassar, Mohamed Z; El-Din, Nihal G Shams; Gharib, Samiha M

2015-10-01

Water samples were seasonally collected from 12 stations of the eastern coast of Suez Gulf during autumn of 2012 and winter, spring, and summer of 2013 in order to investigate phytoplankton community structure in relation to some physicochemical parameters. The study area harbored a diversified phytoplankton community (138 species), belonging to 67 genera. Four algal groups were represented and classified as Bacillariophyceae (90 species), Dinophyceae (28 species), Cyanophyceae (16 species), and Chlorophyceae (4 species). The results indicated a relative high occurrence of some species namely.; Pleurotaenium trabecula of green algae; Chaetoceros lorenzianus, Proboscia alata var. gracillima, Pseudosolenia calcar-avis, and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens of diatoms; Trichodesmium erythraeum and Pseudoanabaena limnetica of cyanophytes. Most of other algal species were fairly distributed at the selected stations of the study area. The total abundance of phytoplankton was relatively low (average of 2989 unit/L) in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf, as compared its western coast and the northern part of the Red Sea. The diversity of phytoplankton species was relatively high (2.35-3.82 nats) with an annual average of 3.22 nats in the present study. The results concluded that most of eastern coast of Suez Gulf is still healthy, relatively unpolluted, and oligotrophic area, which is clearly achieved by the low values of dissolved phosphate (0.025-0.3 μM), nitrate (0.18-1.26 μM), and dissolved ammonium (0.81-5.36 μM). Even if the occurrence of potentially harmful algae species was low, the study area should be monitored continuously. The dissolved oxygen ranged between 1.77 and 8.41 mg/L and pH values between 7.6 and 8.41. The multiple regression analysis showed that the dissolved nitrate and pH values were the most effective factors that controlled the seasonal fluctuations of phytoplankton along the eastern coast of Suez Gulf during 2012-2013.

Imprinted genes and transpositions: epigenomic targets for low dose radiation effects. Final report

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

Jirtle, Randy L.

2012-10-11

The overall hypothesis of this grant application is that low dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) elicits adaptive responses in part by causing heritable DNA methylation changes in the epigenome. This novel postulate was tested by determining if the level of DNA methylation at the Agouti viable yellow (A{sup vy}) metastable locus is altered, in a dose-dependent manner, by low dose radiation exposure (<10 cGy) during early gestation. This information is particularly important to ascertain given the increased use of CT scans in disease diagnosis, increased number of people predicted to live and work in space, and the present concern about radiologicalmore » terrorism. We showed for the first time that LDIR significantly increased DNA methylation at the A{sup vy} locus in a sex-specific manner (p=0.004). Average DNA methylation was significantly increased in male offspring exposed to doses between 0.7 cGy and 7.6 cGy with maximum effects at 1.4 cGy and 3.0 cGy (p<0.01). Offspring coat color was concomitantly shifted towards pseudoagouti (p<0.01). Maternal dietary antioxidant supplementation mitigated both the DNA methylation changes and coat color shift in the irradiated offspring (p<0.05). Thus, LDIR exposure during gestation elicits epigenetic alterations that lead to positive adaptive phenotypic changes that are negated with antioxidants, indicating they are mediated in part by oxidative stress. These findings provide evidence that in the isogenic Avy mouse model epigenetic alterations resulting from LDIR play a role in radiation hormesis, bringing into question the assumption that every dose of radiation is harmful. Our findings not only have significant implications concerning the mechanism of hormesis, but they also emphasize the potential importance of this phenomenon in determining human risk at low radiation doses. Since the epigenetic regulation of genes varies markedly between species, the effect of LDIR on other epigenetically labile genes (e.g. imprinted genes) in animals and humans needs to be defined.« less

A modified SINTACS method for groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment in highly anthropized regions based on NO3- and SO42- concentrations.

PubMed

Busico, Gianluigi; Kazakis, Nerantzis; Colombani, Nicolò; Mastrocicco, Micòl; Voudouris, Konstantinos; Tedesco, Dario

2017-12-31

Groundwater vulnerability and risk assessment are worldwide tools in supporting groundwater protection and land planning. In this study, we used three of these different methodologies applied to the Campanian Plain located in southern Italy: SINTACS, AVI and LOS. However, their capability to describe the observed chemical pollution of the area has resulted quite poor. For such a reason, a modified SINTACS method has been then implemented in the area in order to get a more reliable view of groundwater vulnerability. NO 3 - and SO 4 2- from more than 400 monitoring wells were used for specific vulnerability assessment. Land use was chosen as key parameter to infer the risk of groundwater pollution in our area. The new methodology seems to show a higher correlation with observed NO 3 - concentrations and a more reliable identification of aquifer's pollution hot spots. The main sources of NO 3 - were found in sub-urban areas, where vulnerability and risk are higher than in other areas. Otherwise due to reducing conditions triggered by the presence of elevated sedimentary organic matter and peat, concentrations below agricultural areas were lower than in sub-urban areas. The SO 4 2- specific vulnerability map showed a positive correlation with observed concentrations, due to geogenic and anthropogenic SO 4 2- sources present in the area. The combination of both NO 3 - and SO 4 2- derived risk maps becomes essential to improve the conceptual model of aquifer pollution in this severely anthropized area. The application of this new and original approach shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of each of the described previous methods and clearly showed how anthropogenic activities have to be taken into account in the assessment process. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization and origin of spongillite-hosting sediment from João Pinheiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almeida, A. C. S.; Varajão, A. F. D. C.; Gomes, N. S.; Varajão, C. A. C.; Volkmer-Ribeiro, C.

2010-03-01

Spongillite from João Pinheiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil is mainly known for its use in brick production and in the refractory industry. Very few studies have focused on its geological context. Spongillite-rich deposits occur in shallow ponds on a karstic planation surface developed on rocks of the Neoproterozoic São Francisco Supergroup. Cenozoic siliciclastic sediments are related to this surface. A field study of these deposits and analysis of multispectral images showed a SE-NW preferential drainage system at SE, suggesting that Mesozoic Areado Group sandstones were the source area of the spongillite-hosting sediments. Mineralogical and textural characterization by optical microscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential and gravimetric thermal analysis (DTA-GTA), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of seven open-pit spongillite-rich deposits (Avião, Carvoeiro, Vânio, Preguiça, Divisa, Severino, Feijão) showed a sedimentological similarity between the deposits. They are lens-shaped and are characterized at the bottom by sand facies, in the middle by spicules-rich muddy-sand facies and at the top by organic matter-rich muddy-sand facies. Petrographically, the spongillite-hosting sediments and the siliclastic sediments of the Areado Group show detrital phases with similar mineralogical and textural features, such as the presence of well-sorted quartz grains and surface features of abrasion typical of aeolian reworking that occurred in the depositional environment in which the sandstones of the Areado Group were formed. Detrital heavy minerals, such as staurolite, zircon, tourmaline, and clay minerals, such as kaolinite, low amounts of illite, scarce chlorite and mixed-layer chlorite/smectite and illite/smectite occur in the spongillite-hosting sediments and in sandstones from the Areado Group. In both formations, staurolite has similar chemical composition. These mineralogical and textural features show that the sediments of the Areado Group constitute the main source of the pond sediments that host spongillite.

Dual-Layer Video Encryption using RSA Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chadha, Aman; Mallik, Sushmit; Chadha, Ankit; Johar, Ravdeep; Mani Roja, M.

2015-04-01

This paper proposes a video encryption algorithm using RSA and Pseudo Noise (PN) sequence, aimed at applications requiring sensitive video information transfers. The system is primarily designed to work with files encoded using the Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) codec, although it can be easily ported for use with Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) encoded files. The audio and video components of the source separately undergo two layers of encryption to ensure a reasonable level of security. Encryption of the video component involves applying the RSA algorithm followed by the PN-based encryption. Similarly, the audio component is first encrypted using PN and further subjected to encryption using the Discrete Cosine Transform. Combining these techniques, an efficient system, invulnerable to security breaches and attacks with favorable values of parameters such as encryption/decryption speed, encryption/decryption ratio and visual degradation; has been put forth. For applications requiring encryption of sensitive data wherein stringent security requirements are of prime concern, the system is found to yield negligible similarities in visual perception between the original and the encrypted video sequence. For applications wherein visual similarity is not of major concern, we limit the encryption task to a single level of encryption which is accomplished by using RSA, thereby quickening the encryption process. Although some similarity between the original and encrypted video is observed in this case, it is not enough to comprehend the happenings in the video.

Diversity, distribution and antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus spp. recovered from tomatoes, leaves, water and soil on U.S. Mid-Atlantic farms.

PubMed

Micallef, Shirley A; Goldstein, Rachel E Rosenberg; George, Ashish; Ewing, Laura; Tall, Ben D; Boyer, Marc S; Joseph, Sam W; Sapkota, Amy R

2013-12-01

Antibiotic-resistant enterococci are important opportunistic pathogens and have been recovered from retail tomatoes. However, it is unclear where and how tomatoes are contaminated along the farm-to-fork continuum. Specifically, the degree of pre-harvest contamination with enterococci is unknown. We evaluated the prevalence, diversity and antimicrobial susceptibilities of enterococci collected from tomato farms in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Tomatoes, leaves, groundwater, pond water, irrigation ditch water, and soil were sampled and tested for enterococci using standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Sensititre microbroth dilution system. Enterococcus faecalis isolates were characterized using amplified fragment length polymorphism to assess dispersal potential. Enterococci (n = 307) occurred in all habitats and colonization of tomatoes was common. Seven species were identified: Enterococcus casseliflavus, E. faecalis, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus avis, Enterococcus hirae and Enterococcus raffinosus. E. casseliflavus predominated in soil and on tomatoes and leaves, and E. faecalis predominated in pond water. On plants, distance from the ground influenced presence of enterococci. E. faecalis from samples within a farm were more closely related than those from samples between farms. Resistance to rifampicin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin was prevalent. Consumption of raw tomatoes as a potential exposure risk for antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus spp. deserves further attention. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using confirmatory factor analysis to validate the Chamberlin affective instrument for mathematical problem solving with academically advanced students.

PubMed

Chamberlin, Scott A; Moore, Alan D; Parks, Kelly

2017-09-01

Student affect plays a considerable role in mathematical problem solving performance, yet is rarely formally assessed. In this manuscript, an instrument and its properties are discussed to enable educational psychologists the opportunity to assess student affect. The study was conducted to norm the CAIMPS (instrument) with gifted students. In so doing, educational psychologists are informed of the process and the instrument's properties. The sample was comprised of 160 middle-grade (7 and 8) students, identified as gifted, in the United States. After completing one of four model-eliciting activities (MEAs), all participants completed the CAIMPS (Chamberlin Affective Instrument for Mathematical Problem Solving). Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis to ascertain the number of factors in the instrument. The normed fit index (0.6939), non-normed fit index (0.8072), and root mean square error approximation (.076) were at or near the acceptable levels. Alpha levels for factors were also robust (.637-.923). Data suggest that the instrument was a good fit for use with mathematics students in middle grades when solving problems. Perhaps the most impressive characteristic of the instrument was that the four factors (AVI: anxiety, value, and interest), SS (self-efficacy and self-esteem), ASP (aspiration), and ANX (anxiety) did not correlate highly with one another, which defies previous hypotheses in educational psychology. © 2017 The British Psychological Society.

Introductory Earth science education by near real time animated visualization of seismic wave propagation across Transportable Array of USArray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Attanayake, J.; Ghosh, A.; Amosu, A.

2010-12-01

Students of this generation are markedly different from their predecessors because they grow up and learn in a world of visual technology populated by touch screens and smart boards. Recent studies have found that the attention span of university students whose medium of instruction is traditional teaching methods is roughly fifteen minutes and that there is a significant drop in the number of students paying attention over time in a lecture. On the other hand, when carefully segmented and learner-paced, animated visualizations can enhance the learning experience. Therefore, the instructors are faced with the difficult task of designing more complex teaching environments to improve learner productivity. We have developed an animated visualization of earthquake wave propagation across a generic transect of the Transportable Array of the USArray from a magnitude 6.9 event that occurred in the Gulf of California on August 3rd 2009. Despite the fact that the proto-type tool is built in MATLAB - one of the most popular programming environments among the seismology community, the movies can be run as a standalone stream with any built-in media player that supports .avi file format. We infer continuous ground motion along the transect through a projection and interpolation mechanism based on data from stations within 100 km of the transect. In the movies we identify the arrival of surface waves that have high amplitudes. However, over time, although typical Rayleigh type ground motion can be observed, the motion at any given point becomes complex owing to interference of different wave types and different seismic properties of the subsurface. This clearly is different from simple representations of seismic wave propagation in most introductory textbooks. Further, we find a noisy station that shows unusually high amplitude. We refrain from deleting this station in order to demonstrate that in a real world experiment, generally, there will be complexities arising from unexpected behavior of instruments and/or the system under investigation. Explaining such behavior and exploring ways to minimize biases arising from it is an important lesson to learn in introductory science classes. This program can generate visualizations of ground motion from events in the Gulf of California in near real time and with little further development, from events elsewhere.

Web-based, virtual course units as a didactic concept for medical teaching.

PubMed

Schultze-Mosgau, Stefan; Zielinski, Thomas; Lochner, Jürgen

2004-06-01

The objective was to develop a web-based, virtual series of lectures for evidence-based, standardized knowledge transfer independent of location and time with possibilities for interactive participation and a concluding web-based online examination. Within the framework of a research project, specific Intranet and Internet capable course modules were developed together with a concluding examination. The concept of integrating digital and analogue course units supported by sound was based on FlashCam (Nexus Concepts), Flash MX (Macromedia), HTML and JavaScript. A Web server/SGI Indigo Unix server was used as a platform by the course provider. A variety of independent formats (swf, avi, mpeg, DivX, etc.) were integrated in the individual swf modules. An online examination was developed to monitor the learning effect. The examination papers are automatically forwarded by email after completion. The results are also returned to the user automatically after they have been processed by a key program and an evaluation program. The system requirements for the user PC have deliberately been kept low (Internet Explorer 5.0, Flash-Player 6, 56 kbit/s modem, 200 MHz PC). Navigation is intuitive. Users were provided with a technical online introduction and a FAQ list. Eighty-two students of dentistry in their 3rd to 5th years of study completed a questionnaire to assess the course content and the user friendliness (SPSS V11) with grades 1 to 6 (1 = 'excellent' and 6 = 'unsatisfactory'). The course units can be viewed under the URL: http://giga.rrze.uni-erlangen.de/movies/MKG/trailer and URL: http://giga.rrze.uni-erlangen.de/movies/MKG/demo/index. Some 89% of the students gave grades 1 (excellent) and 2 (good) for accessibility independent of time and 83% for access independent of location. Grades 1 and 2 were allocated for an objectivization of the knowledge transfer by 67% of the students and for the use of video sequences for demonstrating surgical techniques by 91% of the students. The course units were used as an optional method of studying by 87% of the students; 76% of the students made use of this facility from home; 83% of the students used Internet Explorer as a browser; 60% used online streaming and 35% downloading as the preferred method for data transfer. The course units contribute to an evidence-based objectivization of multimedia knowledge transfer independent of time and location. Online examinations permit automatic monitoring and evaluation of the learning effect. The modular structure permits easy updating of course contents. Hyperlinks with literature sources facilitate study.

An analysis of dental patient safety incidents in a patient complaint and healthcare supervisory database in Finland.

PubMed

Hiivala, Nora; Mussalo-Rauhamaa, Helena; Tefke, Hanna-Leena; Murtomaa, Heikki

2016-01-01

Few studies of patient harm and harm-prevention methods in dentistry exist. This study aimed to identify and characterize dental patient safety incidents (PSIs) in a national sample of closed dental cases reported to the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVIs) and the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) in Finland. The sample included all available fully resolved dental cases (n = 948) during 2000-2012 (initiated by the end of 2011). Cases included both patient and next of kin complaints and notifications from other authorities, employers, pharmacies, etc. The cases analyzed concerned both public and private dentistry and included incident reports lodged against dentists and other dental-care professionals. Data also include the most severe cases since these are reported to Valvira. PSIs were categorized according to common incident types and preventability and severity assessments were based on expert opinions in the decisions from closed cases. Most alleged PSIs were proven valid and evaluated as potentially preventable. PSIs were most often related to different dental treatment procedures or diagnostics. More than half of all PSIs were assessed as severe, posing severe risk or as causing permanent or long-lasting harm to patients. The risk for PSI was highest among male general dental practitioners with recurring complaints and notifications. Despite some limitations, this register-based study identifies new perspectives on improving safety in dental care. Many PSIs could be prevented through the proper and more systematic use of already available error-prevention methods.

Expanding the versatility of phage display I: efficient display of peptide-tags on protein VII of the filamentous phage.

PubMed

Løset, Geir Åge; Bogen, Bjarne; Sandlie, Inger

2011-02-24

Phage display is a platform for selection of specific binding molecules and this is a clear-cut motivation for increasing its performance. Polypeptides are normally displayed as fusions to the major coat protein VIII (pVIII), or the minor coat protein III (pIII). Display on other coat proteins such as pVII allows for display of heterologous peptide sequences on the virions in addition to those displayed on pIII and pVIII. In addition, pVII display is an alternative to pIII or pVIII display. Here we demonstrate how standard pIII or pVIII display phagemids are complemented with a helper phage which supports production of virions that are tagged with octa FLAG, HIS(6) or AviTag on pVII. The periplasmic signal sequence required for pIII and pVIII display, and which has been added to pVII in earlier studies, is omitted altogether. Tagging on pVII is an important and very useful add-on feature to standard pIII and pVII display. Any phagemid bearing a protein of interest on either pIII or pVIII can be tagged with any of the tags depending simply on choice of helper phage. We show in this paper how such tags may be utilized for immobilization and separation as well as purification and detection of monoclonal and polyclonal phage populations.

Oxidative cyclizations in orthosomycin biosynthesis expand the known chemistry of an oxygenase superfamily

DOE PAGES

McCulloch, Kathryn M.; McCranie, Emilianne K.; Smith, Jarrod A.; ...

2015-08-03

Orthosomycins are oligosaccharide antibiotics that include avilamycin, everninomicin, and hygromycin B and are hallmarked by a rigidifying interglycosidic spirocyclic ortho-δ-lactone (orthoester) linkage between at least one pair of carbohydrates. A subset of orthosomycins additionally contain a carbohydrate capped by a methylenedioxy bridge. The orthoester linkage is necessary for antibiotic activity but rarely observed in natural products. Orthoester linkage and methylenedioxy bridge biosynthesis require similar oxidative cyclizations adjacent to a sugar ring. In this paper, we have identified a conserved group of nonheme iron, α-ketoglutarate–dependent oxygenases likely responsible for this chemistry. High-resolution crystal structures of the EvdO1 and EvdO2 oxygenases ofmore » everninomicin biosynthesis, the AviO1 oxygenase of avilamycin biosynthesis, and HygX of hygromycin B biosynthesis show how these enzymes accommodate large substrates, a challenge that requires a variation in metal coordination in HygX. Excitingly, the ternary complex of HygX with cosubstrate α-ketoglutarate and putative product hygromycin B identified an orientation of one glycosidic linkage of hygromycin B consistent with metal-catalyzed hydrogen atom abstraction from substrate. These structural results are complemented by gene disruption of the oxygenases evdO1 and evdMO1 from the everninomicin biosynthetic cluster, which demonstrate that functional oxygenase activity is critical for antibiotic production. Finally, our data therefore support a role for these enzymes in the production of key features of the orthosomycin antibiotics.« less

Cholesterol binding, efflux, and a PDZ-interacting domain of scavenger receptor–BI mediate HDL-initiated signaling

PubMed Central

Assanasen, Chatchawin; Mineo, Chieko; Seetharam, Divya; Yuhanna, Ivan S.; Marcel, Yves L.; Connelly, Margery A.; Williams, David L.; de la Llera-Moya, Margarita; Shaul, Philip W.; Silver, David L.

2005-01-01

The binding of HDL to scavenger receptor–BI (SR-BI) mediates cholesterol movement. HDL also induces multiple cellular signals, which in endothelium occur through SR-BI and converge to activate eNOS. To determine the molecular basis of a signaling event induced by HDL, we examined the proximal mechanisms in HDL activation of eNOS. In endothelial cells, HDL and methyl-β-cyclodextrin caused comparable eNOS activation, whereas cholesterol-loaded methyl-β-cyclodextrin had no effect. Phosphatidylcholine-loaded HDL caused greater stimulation than native HDL, and blocking antibody against SR-BI, which prevents cholesterol efflux, prevented eNOS activation. In a reconstitution model in COS-M6 cells, wild-type SR-BI mediated eNOS activation by both HDL and small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), whereas the SR-BI mutant AVI, which is incapable of efflux to SUV, transmitted signal by only HDL. In addition, eNOS activation by methyl-β-cyclodextrin was SR-BI dependent. Studies of mutant and chimeric class B scavenger receptors revealed that the C-terminal cytoplasmic PDZ-interacting domain and the C-terminal transmembrane domains of SR-BI are both necessary for HDL signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrated direct binding of cholesterol to the C-terminal transmembrane domain using a photoactivated derivative of cholesterol. Thus, HDL signaling requires cholesterol binding and efflux and C-terminal domains of SR-BI, and SR-BI serves as a cholesterol sensor on the plasma membrane. PMID:15841181

Molecular analyses on host-seeking black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) reveal a diverse assemblage of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemospororida) parasites in an alpine ecosystem.

PubMed

Murdock, Courtney C; Adler, Peter H; Frank, Jared; Perkins, Susan L

2015-06-25

Molecular studies have suggested that the true diversity of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemospororida) species well exceeds the approximately 35 currently described taxa. Further, the degree of host-specificity may vary substantially among lineages. Parasite distribution can be influenced by the ability of the parasite to infect a host, vector preferences for certain avian hosts, or other factors such as microhabitat requirements that increase the probability that vertebrate hosts and vectors are in frequent contact with each other. Whereas most studies of haemosporidians have focused on passerine hosts, sampling vectors in the same habitats may allow the detection of other lineages affecting other hosts. We sampled abundant, ornithophilic black flies (Simuliidae) across a variety of sites and habitats in the Colorado Rocky Mountains throughout the summer of 2007. Black flies were screened with PCR using Leucocytozoon-specific primers that amplify a portion of the cytochrome b gene, and the sequences were compared to the haplotypes in the MalAvi database. Infections of Leucocytozoon from birds sampled in the same area were also included. We recovered 33 unique haplotypes from the black flies in this study area, which represented a large phylogenetic diversity of Leucocytozoon parasites. However, there were no clear patterns of avian host species or geography for the distribution of Leucocytozoon haplotypes in the phylogeny. Sampling host-seeking vectors is a useful way to obtain a wide variety of avian haemosporidian haplotypes from a given area and may prove useful for understanding the global patterns of host, parasite, and vector associations of these ubiquitous and diverse parasites.

Promiscuous Pathogenicity Islands and Phylogeny of Pathogenic Streptomyces spp.

PubMed

Zhang, Yucheng; Bignell, Dawn R D; Zuo, Ran; Fan, Qiurong; Huguet-Tapia, Jose C; Ding, Yousong; Loria, Rosemary

2016-08-01

Approximately 10 Streptomyces species cause disease on underground plant structures. The most economically important of these is potato scab, and the most studied of these pathogens is Streptomyces scabiei (syn. S. scabies). The main pathogenicity determinant of scab-causing Streptomyces species is a nitrated diketopiperazine, known as thaxtomin A (ThxA). In the pathogenic species Streptomyces turgidiscabies, ThxA biosynthetic genes reside on a mobile pathogenicity island (PAI). However, the mobilization of PAIs in other Streptomyces species remains uncharacterized. Here, we investigated the mobilization of the PAI of S. scabiei 87-22. Based on whole genome sequences, we inferred the evolutionary relationships of pathogenic Streptomyces species and discovered that Streptomyces sp. strain 96-12, a novel pathogenic species isolated from potatoes in Egypt, was phylogenetically grouped with nonpathogenic species rather than with known pathogenic species. We also found that Streptomyces sp. strain 96-12 contains a PAI that is almost identical to the PAI in S. scabiei 87-22, despite significant differences in their genome sequences. This suggested direct or indirect in vivo mobilization of the PAI between S. scabiei and nonpathogenic Streptomyces species. To test whether the S. scabiei 87-22 PAI could, indeed, be mobilized, S. scabiei 87-22 deletion mutants containing antibiotic resistance markers in the PAI were mated with Streptomyces diastatochromogenes, a nonpathogenic species. The PAI of S. scabiei was site-specifically inserted into the aviX1 gene of S. diastatochromogenes and conferred pathogenicity in radish seedling assays. Our results demonstrated that S. scabiei, the earliest described Streptomyces pathogen, could be the source of a PAI responsible for the emergence of novel pathogenic species.

Non-contact Real-time heart rate measurements based on high speed circuit technology research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jizhe; Liu, Xiaohua; Kong, Lingqin; Shi, Cong; Liu, Ming; Hui, Mei; Dong, Liquan; Zhao, Yuejin

2015-08-01

In recent years, morbidity and mortality of the cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, which threaten human health greatly, increased year by year. Heart rate is an important index of these diseases. To address this status, the paper puts forward a kind of simple structure, easy operation, suitable for large populations of daily monitoring non-contact heart rate measurement. In the method we use imaging equipment video sensitive areas. The changes of light intensity reflected through the image grayscale average. The light change is caused by changes in blood volume. We video the people face which include the sensitive areas (ROI), and use high-speed processing circuit to save the video as AVI format into memory. After processing the whole video of a period of time, we draw curve of each color channel with frame number as horizontal axis. Then get heart rate from the curve. We use independent component analysis (ICA) to restrain noise of sports interference, realized the accurate extraction of heart rate signal under the motion state. We design an algorithm, based on high-speed processing circuit, for face recognition and tracking to automatically get face region. We do grayscale average processing to the recognized image, get RGB three grayscale curves, and extract a clearer pulse wave curves through independent component analysis, and then we get the heart rate under the motion state. At last, by means of compare our system with Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, result show the system can realize a more accurate measurement, the error is less than 3 pats per minute.

LISA 8 Science Organizing Committee and Local Organizing Committee LISA 8 Science Organizing Committee and Local Organizing Committee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2011-05-01

Science Organising Committee (SOC) Tom Abel, Stanford University Odylio Aguiar, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais Tal Alexander, Wizemann Institute Peter Bender, University of Colorado Pierre Binetruy, APC - College de France Sasha Buchman, Stanford University Robert Byer, Stanford University Manuela Campanelli, University of Texas Joan Centrella, NASA/Goddard Massimo Cerdonio, University of Padova Eugenio Coccia, University of Roma-2 Neil Cornish, Montana State University Michael Cruise, University of Birmingham Curt Cutler, NASA/JPL Karsten Danzmann, University of Hannover Sam Finn, Penn State University Jens Gundlach, NPL Gerhard Heinzel, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Gravitationsphysik Craig Hogan, University of Washington Jim Hough, University of Glasgow Scott Hughes, MIT Oliver Jennrich, ESTEC Philippe Jetzer, University Zurich Seiji Kawamura, National Observatory, Japan Alberto Lobo, ICE-CSIC and IEEC Avi Loeb, Harvard University Piero Madau, Lick Observatory Yannick Mellier, IAP, Paris Peter Michelson, Stanford University Guido Mueller, University of Florida Sterl Phinney, Caltech Tom Prince, NASA/JPL Doug Richstone, University of Michigan Bernard Schutz, AEI Potsdam Tuck Stebbins, NASA/Goddard Tim Sumner, Imperial College, London Ke-Xun Sun, Stanford University Kip Thorne, Caltech Michele Vallisneri, NASA/JPL Alberto Vecchio, University of Birmingham Jean-Yves Vinet, OCA, Nice Stefano Vitale, University of Trento Rai Weiss, MIT Nick White, NASA/Goddard Local Organising Committee (LOC) Sasha Buchman (Stanford University) Robert Byer (Stanford University) Sara Charbonneau-Lefort (Stanford University) Nancy Christianson (Stanford University) John Conklin (Stanford University) Dan DeBra (Stanford University) Jan Goebel (Stanford University) Vivian Drew (Stanford University) Ke-Xun Sun (Stanford University) Lucy Zhou (Stanford University) Andrea Zoellner (Stanford University)

Gateways to clinical trials.

PubMed

Tomillero, A; Moral, M A

2010-01-01

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate, Abafungin, ACE-031, Adapalene/benzoyl peroxide, AE-37, Aflibercept, AGS-003, Albiglutide, Alemtuzumab, Aliskiren fumarate, ALT-801, AN-2728, Anacetrapib, API, Aprepitant, ARQ-197, Ascorbic acid, Atazanavir sulfate, ATN-224, AVI-4658, Azacitidine, Azelnidipine; Belinostat, Bevacizumab, BI-2536, Biphasic insulin aspart, Bortezomib, Bovine lactoferrin, Bryostatin 1, Budesonide/formoterol fumarate; cAC10, Canfosfamide hydrochloride, Cediranib, Clofarabine, Cocaine conjugate vaccine; Darbepoetin alfa, Dasatinib, Denosumab, Disomotide, Doripenem, Dovitinib Lactate, Dronedarone hydrochloride, Drospirenone/estradiol, Dutasteride; Ecogramostim, Entinostat, Enzastaurin hydrochloride, Erlotinib hydrochloride, Everolimus, Exenatide, Ezetimibe, Ezetimibe/simvastatin; Fampridine, Fenretinide LXS, FFR-factor VIIa, Fingolimod hydrochloride, Frovatriptan; Gefitinib, Gimatecan, GP-2/GM-CSF; Iloperidone, Imatinib mesylate, Indibulin, Ipilimumab, Ivabradine hydrochloride; Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lapatinib ditosylate, LC-07, Lenalidomide, Linifanib, Liposomal doxorubicin, Liposomal vincristine, Litenimod, Lutein; M-118, MDX-1401, MEDI-528, Midostaurin, Miglustat, MK-0657; Natalizumab, Nesiritide, NGR-TNF, Niacin/simvastatin; Obatoclax mesylate, Olaparib, Omacetaxine mepesuccinate; Paclitaxel nanoparticles, Paclitaxel-eluting stent, Palonosetron hydrochloride, Pazopanib hydrochloride, Pegfilgrastim, Pemetrexed disodium, PER.C-flu, Perifosine, PF-02341066, Pimecrolimus, Pitrakinra, Plerixafor hydrochloride, Posaconazole; Rasburicase, Recombinant human relaxin H2, ReoT3D, Retaspimycin hydrochloride, Riferminogene pecaplasmid, Rindopepimut, Romiplostim, Ronacaleret hydrochloride, Rosuvastatin calcium, Rotigotine; Sagopilone, sALP-FcD10, SAR-245409, SCH-697243, Selumetinib, Sirolimus-eluting stent, SIR-Spheres, Sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate, Sitaxentan sodium, Sorafenib, Sunitinib malate; Tadalafil, Tandutinib, Tasimelteon, Temsirolimus, Teriparatide, Tiotropium bromide, TIV, Trabectedin, Tremelimumab, TRU-016; Vadimezan, Val8-GLP-1(7-37)OH, Vandetanib, Vernakalant hydrochloride, Voreloxin, Voriconazole, Vorinostat, Yttrium 90 (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan; Zeaxanthin, Ziprasidone hydrochloride, Zosuquidar trihydrochloride. Copyright 2010 Prous Science, S.A.U. or its licensors. All rights reserved.

Effect of weekly high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on serum cholecalciferol concentrations in pregnant women.

PubMed

Dimitris, Michelle C; Perumal, Nandita; Craig-Barnes, Hayley A; Leadley, Michael; Mahmud, Abdullah A; Baqui, Abdullah H; Roth, Daniel E

2016-04-01

Vitamin D status is conventionally defined by the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. However, it has been proposed that the serum cholecalciferol concentration (D3) also determines functional vitamin D sufficiency. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of weekly high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on inter-dose serum D3 in pregnant women. We conducted a sub-study of a completed randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 (35,000 IU/week) supplementation in late pregnancy (AViDD trial) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study included pregnant women enrolled at 26-29 weeks gestation who fully adhered to the prenatal supplement intervention for ≥8 consecutive weeks and for whom serum samples were available for D3 analysis (n=65). Serum D3 was uniformly low at enrolment. Mean D3 increased and was maximal at 1 day after vitamin D dose administration (152.09nmol/L, SD 25.11nmol/L) and remained significantly higher in VitD vs. Pl at 7 days (29.59nmol/L vs. 1.92nmol/L, p=0.007). Daily average of the group mean D3 during the week following dosing was 66.97nmol/L in VitD versus 2.13nmol/L in Pl. In conclusion, serum D3 remained significantly elevated throughout the week following ≥8 consecutive weekly doses of 35,000 IU D3 in pregnant women. However, the clinically significant minimum threshold of serum D3 remains to be established. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PALP: A Package for Analysing Lattice Polytopes with applications to toric geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreuzer, Maximilian; Skarke, Harald

2004-02-01

We describe our package PALP of C programs for calculations with lattice polytopes and applications to toric geometry, which is freely available on the internet. It contains routines for vertex and facet enumeration, computation of incidences and symmetries, as well as completion of the set of lattice points in the convex hull of a given set of points. In addition, there are procedures specialized to reflexive polytopes such as the enumeration of reflexive subpolytopes, and applications to toric geometry and string theory, like the computation of Hodge data and fibration structures for toric Calabi-Yau varieties. The package is well tested and optimized in speed as it was used for time consuming tasks such as the classification of reflexive polyhedra in 4 dimensions and the creation and manipulation of very large lists of 5-dimensional polyhedra. While originally intended for low-dimensional applications, the algorithms work in any dimension and our key routine for vertex and facet enumeration compares well with existing packages. Program summaryProgram obtainable form: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland Title of program: PALP Catalogue identifier: ADSQ Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADSQ Computer for which the program is designed: Any computer featuring C Computers on which it has been tested: PCs, SGI Origin 2000, IBM RS/6000, COMPAQ GS140 Operating systems under which the program has been tested: Linux, IRIX, AIX, OSF1 Programming language used: C Memory required to execute with typical data: Negligible for most applications; highly variable for analysis of large polytopes; no minimum but strong effects on calculation time for some tasks Number of bits in a word: arbitrary Number of processors used: 1 Has the code been vectorised or parallelized?: No Number of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 138 098 Distribution format: tar gzip file Keywords: Lattice polytopes, facet enumeration, reflexive polytopes, toric geometry, Calabi-Yau manifolds, string theory, conformal field theory Nature of problem: Certain lattice polytopes called reflexive polytopes afford a combinatorial description of a very large class of Calabi-Yau manifolds in terms of toric geometry. These manifolds play an essential role for compactifications of string theory. While originally designed to handle and classify reflexive polytopes, with particular emphasis on problems relevant to string theory applications [M. Kreuzer and H. Skarke, Rev. Math. Phys. 14 (2002) 343], the package also handles standard questions (facet enumeration and similar problems) about arbitrary lattice polytopes very efficiently. Method of solution: Much of the code is straightforward programming, but certain key routines are optimized with respect to calculation time and the handling of large sets of data. A double description method (see, e.g., [D. Avis et al., Comput. Geometry 7 (1997) 265]) is used for the facet enumeration problem, lattice basis reduction for extended gcd and a binary database structure for tasks involving large numbers of polytopes, such as classification problems. Restrictions on the complexity of the program: The only hard limitation comes from the fact that fixed integer arithmetic (32 or 64 bit) is used, allowing for input data (polytope coordinates) of roughly up to 10 9. Other parameters (dimension, numbers of points and vertices, etc.) can be set before compilation. Typical running time: Most tasks (typically: analysis of a four dimensional reflexive polytope) can be perfomed interactively within milliseconds. The classification of all reflexive polytopes in four dimensions takes several processor years. The facet enumeration problem for higher (e.g., 12-20) dimensional polytopes varies strongly with the dimension and structure of the polytope; here PALP's performance is similar to that of existing packages [Avis et al., Comput. Geometry 7 (1997) 265]. Unusual features of the program: None

Geoportal "READY:Prepare, Prevent, Stay Informed"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sole, Aurelia; Albano, Raffaele; Giuzio, Luciana; Manfreda, Salvatore; Maggio, Massimo; Presta, Aldo; Albano, Giovanni

2014-05-01

Information, communication, and training at all levels of a hydrogeological risk prevention culture is useful and necessary to develop the awareness among the people; this awareness can only lead to the correct application of the rules and correct behaviours that reduce the risk. A territorial system is more vulnerable to a calamitous event if there is little risk knowledge, in terms of knowledge of phenomenology of the event itself, of its own way to manifest and of the actions needed to mitigate their harmful effects. So, the Geoportal "READY: Prepare, Prevent, Stay Informed," developed by the School of Engineering at the University of Basilicata in collaboration with Paesit srl and Wat-TUBE, a spin-off of University of Basilicata, aims to inform people in an easy and correct way. This can improve the knowledge of the territory in order to promote the consciousness and awareness of the risks affecting the territory, in geo-localized form, even through using the memory of past disasters and precise directions on what to do for a tangible reduction of the risk. The Geoportal stores and dynamically integrates a series of layers that, individually, have a lower utility, but integrated into the web-based platform represent, for the prevention of the risks of the citizens, the anatomy for medicine. In fact, it makes the data not only available but concretely accessible. It is created on the "MapServer" platform, an open source web mapping suggested by the European Directives in the field of geographic database publication, and covers the Italian territory. It is designed to increase the knowledge of the areas at potential flood and landslide risk, delineated by the Authorities in the "P.A.I. (Piano di Assetto Idrogeologico"), and the elements which could possibly be involved in potential events with a particular attention to the critical infrastructures, such as bridges, railways and so on, and relevant structures, such as schools and hospitals. It permits the visualization and the interrogation of other layers important to the knowledge of the phenomena, such as lakes, dams and rivers, the most important river basins and watersheds, lithological, geological and geomorphological maps. The "AVI (Aree Vulnerate Italiane)" database, a census of all the areas affected by landslide and flood events from 1918 to 2000 built by the GNDCI - CNR, is usable and geo-localized in the software in all its sections. The AVI database stores data about the typology and characteristics of the selected event, the causes, and the direct and indirect damage with an estimation of the economic and population loss. Knowledge of past events could be the key in creating awareness among the population on future risks. The Geoportal has other ad-hoc tools to greatly improve the flood and landslide risk knowledge. For example, it can geo-localize a land parcel to check if it is in area at potential flood or landslide risk and its land coverage, and to highlight how many potential people and workers are involved (ISTAT database). The user can also drag and drop their own layers in the Geoportal. For example, the user could upload in the map a single building to check if it is in area at potential risk. The measure tools could help understand the amount of the building areas at risk or the distance between the building and the risk area. Finally, the print tool allows the user to store any maps created. The software could highlight the criticality of the territory and, hence, inform the people working or living within the risk area. The geocoding tool permits the search by address. This could be useful to check the geo-position of a building or a bridge. Adjunctive layers give us the information about the effect of a possible scenario on this bridge. The "Street View" Tool permits navigating, for example, in the proximity of the bridge or in the area at risk. The coverage of this kind of data is now available only to a potion of the Italian territory but the software will publish data for all the Italy as soon as possible, and take into account other natural risks. The aim of the project is also to implement some of the available emergency plans in the territory in the portal. Finally, the portal gives us information on the behavior in case of alert in order to increase the auto-protection culture. In fact, it highlights the safety actions and the areas to avoid in case of an alert during the flood or landslide event and before the events are taken to prevent it. It is communicated by a system of graph symbols designed ad-hoc. It could contribute to the standardization of a system of symbols in the field of risk communication. The software also will be implemented in a mobile version with an interface which is quicker and easy to use. The software could be utilized, in the future, as a support tool in the coordination of emergency actions of the civil protection workers through vehicle monitoring and the management of the best route in an emergency phase.

The impact of deposition site on vaccination efficiency of a live bacterial poultry vaccine.

PubMed

Evans, J D; Leigh, S A; Purswell, J L; Collier, S D; Kim, E J; Boykin, D L; Branton, S L

2015-08-01

Vaccines are utilized within the poultry industry to minimize disease-associated losses and spray vaccination is a commonly utilized means for the mass application of poultry vaccines. During this process, vaccine-laden particles are deposited upon target areas (e.g., eyes, nares, and oral cavity) resulting in the direct internalization of the vaccine. However, particles are also deposited on nontarget areas such as the exterior of the subject and its surrounding environment. To better determine the fate of particles deposited upon nontarget areas and the impact of deposition site on the efficiency of vaccine application, a live bacterial poultry vaccine (AviPro(®) MG F) was applied via spray using a spray cabinet with a slotted partition allowing for head-only, body-only, and whole-bird spray application. At 11 wk age, Hy-Line(®) W-36 pullets (n = 280) were allocated equally among 7 treatments including: nonvaccinated controls, pullets spray-vaccinated at the manufacturer's recommended dose (1X) in a site-specific manner (head-only, body-only, and whole-bird), pullets spray-vaccinated at 5X the recommended level (body-only), pullets vaccinated by manual eye-drop application (1X), and pullets eye-drop vaccinated at a level approximating that achieved during the spray vaccination process (1/700X). At 6 to 7 wk postvaccination, vaccination efficiency was assessed via serological-based assays [serum plate agglutination (SPA) and ELISA] and the detection of vaccine-derived in vivo populations. Results indicate an additive contribution of the vaccine deposited on the body to the overall vaccination efficiency of this live bacterial live poultry vaccine. © 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Polymorphisms in TAS2R38 and the taste bud trophic factor, gustin gene co-operate in modulating PROP taste phenotype.

PubMed

Calò, Carla; Padiglia, Alessandra; Zonza, Andrea; Corrias, Laura; Contu, Paolo; Tepper, Beverly J; Barbarossa, Iole Tomassini

2011-10-24

The PROP taste phenotype varies greatly among individuals, influencing eating behavior and therefore may play a role in body composition. This variation is associated with polymorphisms in the bitter receptor gene TAS2R38 and the taste-bud trophic factor gustin gene. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between TAS2R38 haplotypes and the gustin gene polymorphism rs2274333 in modulating PROP taste phenotype. PROP phenotype was determined in seventy-six volunteers (29 males, 47 females, age 25±3 y) by scaling methods and threshold measurements. TAS2R38 and gustin gene genotyping was performed using PCR techniques. The lowest responsiveness in PROP nontasters is strongly associated with the AVI nontasting TAS2R38 variant and the highest responsiveness in supertasters is strongly associated to allele A and genotype AA of the gustin gene. These data support the hypothesis that the greater sensitivity of supertasters could be mediated by a greater taste-bud density. Polymorphisms in TAS2R38 and gustin gene, together, accounted for up to 60% of the phenotypic variance in PROP bitterness and to 40% in threshold values. These data, suggest that other unidentified factors may be more relevant for detecting low concentrations of PROP. Moreover, the presence of the PAV variant receptor may be important for detecting high concentrations of PROP, whereas the presence of allele A in gustin polymorphism may be relevant for perceiving low concentrations. These data show how the combination of the TAS2R38 and gustin gene genotypes modulate PROP phenotype, providing an additional tool for the evaluation of human eating behavior and nutritional status. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perinatal Lead Exposure Alters Gut Microbiota Composition and Results in Sex-specific Bodyweight Increases in Adult Mice

PubMed Central

Wu, Jianfeng; Wen, Xiaoquan William; Faulk, Christopher; Boehnke, Kevin; Zhang, Huapeng; Dolinoy, Dana C.; Xi, Chuanwu

2016-01-01

Heavy metal pollution is a principle source of environmental contamination. Epidemiological and animal data suggest that early life lead (Pb) exposure results in critical effects on epigenetic gene regulation and child and adult weight trajectories. Using a mouse model of human-relevant exposure, we investigated the effects of perinatal Pb exposure on gut microbiota in adult mice, and the link between gut microbiota and bodyweight changes. Following Pb exposure during gestation and lactation via maternal drinking water, bodyweight in Avy strain wild-type non-agouti (a/a) offspring was tracked through adulthood. Gut microbiota of adult mice were characterized by deep DNA sequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Data analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for litter effects. A Bayesian variable selection algorithm was used to analyze associations between bacterial operational taxonomic units and offspring adult bodyweight. Perinatal Pb exposure was associated with increased adult bodyweight in male (P < .05) but not in female offspring (P = .24). Cultivable aerobes decreased and anaerobes increased in Pb-exposed offspring (P < .005 and P < .05, respectively). Proportions of the 2 predominant phyla (Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes) shifted inversely with Pb exposure, and whole bacterial compositions were significantly different (analysis of molecular variance, P < .05) by Pb exposure without sex bias. In males, changes in gut microbiota were highly associated with adult bodyweight (P = .028; effect size = 2.59). Thus, perinatal Pb exposure results in altered adult gut microbiota regardless of sex, and these changes are highly correlated with increased bodyweight in males. Adult gut microbiota can be shaped by early exposures and may contribute to disease risks in a sex-specific manner. PMID:26962054

Does Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Affect Children's Pedestrian Safety?

PubMed Central

Avis, Kristin T.; Gamble, Karen L.; Schwebel, David C.

2014-01-01

Study Objectives: Many cognitive factors contribute to unintentional pedestrian injury, including reaction time, impulsivity, risk-taking, attention, and decision-making. These same factors are negatively influenced by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which may place children with EDS at greater risk for pedestrian injury. Design, Participants, and Methods: Using a case-control design, 33 children age 8 to 16 y with EDS from an established diagnosis of narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia (IHS) engaged in a virtual reality pedestrian environment while unmedicated. Thirty-three healthy children matched by age, race, sex, and household income served as controls. Results: Children with EDS were riskier pedestrians than healthy children. They were twice as likely to be struck by a virtual vehicle in the virtual pedestrian environment than healthy controls. Attentional skills of looking at oncoming traffic were not impaired among children with EDS, but decision-making for when to cross the street safely was significantly impaired. Conclusions: Results suggest excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) from the clinical sleep disorders known as the hypersomnias of central origin may have significant consequences on children's daytime functioning in a critical domain of personal safety, pedestrian skills. Cognitive processes involved in safe pedestrian crossings may be impaired in children with EDS. In the pedestrian simulation, children with EDS appeared to show a pattern consistent with inattentional blindness, in that they “looked but did not process” information in their pedestrian environment. Results highlight the need for heightened awareness of potentially irreversible consequences of untreated sleep disorders and identify a possible target for pediatric injury prevention. Citation: Avis KT; Gamble KL; Schwebel DC. Does excessive daytime sleepiness affect children's pedestrian safety? SLEEP 2014;37(2):283-287. PMID:24497656

[Dissemination of medical knowledge to the public in Iceland by a country doctor 1782-1834].

PubMed

Bjarnason, Orn

2011-05-01

Jón Pétursson (1733-1801) was an apprentice af the first Chief Medical Officer of Iceland. In 1765 Pétursson enrolled in the Medical Faculty at the University of Copenhagen. In 1769 with the Faculties approval he published a monograph on the so called Icelandic Scurvy. In 1770-71 Pétursson served as ship's surgeon in the Royal Danish Navy on an expedition to the Mediterranean. In 1772-1775 he served as an assistant to the Chief Medical Officer and the newly appointed apothecary, who shared premises at Nes, Reykjavík. In 1775 he was appointed surgeon (chirurgeon) to the Northern District. Pétursson wrote two medical book while serving his district, both being prepared now for republication. A. The Lækningabók fyrir almúga (Leechbook for common people) published posthumously 1834, edited by Sveinn Pálsson surgeon. It was undoubtedly inspired by the Swiss physician Tissot and his book Avis au peuple sur sa santé ou traité des maladies plus fréquentes 1761. B. A treatise on rheumatism or dirorder of the joints (Stutt ágrip um iktsýki edur lidaveiki, 1782). In Scand J Rheumatol 1996: 25; 134-7 the authors point out that Péturssons description of what he calls arthritis vaga encompasses these essential features: It is common, chronic, destructive, inflammatory polyarthritis, sometimes with systemic manifestations. It affects peope of all ages and has a female preponderance. They state that only rheumatoid arthritis fulfills these specifications. They conclude that medical history should give Pétursson credit for the first definite description of rheumatoid arthritis.

Biotin-tagged proteins: Reagents for efficient ELISA-based serodiagnosis and phage display-based affinity selection

PubMed Central

Verma, Vaishali; Kaur, Charanpreet; Grover, Payal; Gupta, Amita

2018-01-01

The high-affinity interaction between biotin and streptavidin has opened avenues for using recombinant proteins with site-specific biotinylation to achieve efficient and directional immobilization. The site-specific biotinylation of proteins carrying a 15 amino acid long Biotin Acceptor Peptide tag (BAP; also known as AviTag) is effected on a specific lysine either by co-expressing the E. coli BirA enzyme in vivo or by using purified recombinant E. coli BirA enzyme in the presence of ATP and biotin in vitro. In this paper, we have designed a T7 promoter-lac operator-based expression vector for rapid and efficient cloning, and high-level cytosolic expression of proteins carrying a C-terminal BAP tag in E. coli with TEV protease cleavable N-terminal deca-histidine tag, useful for initial purification. Furthermore, a robust three-step purification pipeline integrated with well-optimized protocols for TEV protease-based H10 tag removal, and recombinant BirA enzyme-based site-specific in vitro biotinylation is described to obtain highly pure biotinylated proteins. Most importantly, the paper demonstrates superior sensitivities in indirect ELISA with directional and efficient immobilization of biotin-tagged proteins on streptavidin-coated surfaces in comparison to passive immobilization. The use of biotin-tagged proteins through specific immobilization also allows more efficient selection of binders from a phage-displayed naïve antibody library. In addition, for both these applications, specific immobilization requires much less amount of protein as compared to passive immobilization and can be easily multiplexed. The simplified strategy described here for the production of highly pure biotin-tagged proteins will find use in numerous applications, including those, which may require immobilization of multiple proteins simultaneously on a solid surface. PMID:29360877

Biotin-tagged proteins: Reagents for efficient ELISA-based serodiagnosis and phage display-based affinity selection.

PubMed

Verma, Vaishali; Kaur, Charanpreet; Grover, Payal; Gupta, Amita; Chaudhary, Vijay K

2018-01-01

The high-affinity interaction between biotin and streptavidin has opened avenues for using recombinant proteins with site-specific biotinylation to achieve efficient and directional immobilization. The site-specific biotinylation of proteins carrying a 15 amino acid long Biotin Acceptor Peptide tag (BAP; also known as AviTag) is effected on a specific lysine either by co-expressing the E. coli BirA enzyme in vivo or by using purified recombinant E. coli BirA enzyme in the presence of ATP and biotin in vitro. In this paper, we have designed a T7 promoter-lac operator-based expression vector for rapid and efficient cloning, and high-level cytosolic expression of proteins carrying a C-terminal BAP tag in E. coli with TEV protease cleavable N-terminal deca-histidine tag, useful for initial purification. Furthermore, a robust three-step purification pipeline integrated with well-optimized protocols for TEV protease-based H10 tag removal, and recombinant BirA enzyme-based site-specific in vitro biotinylation is described to obtain highly pure biotinylated proteins. Most importantly, the paper demonstrates superior sensitivities in indirect ELISA with directional and efficient immobilization of biotin-tagged proteins on streptavidin-coated surfaces in comparison to passive immobilization. The use of biotin-tagged proteins through specific immobilization also allows more efficient selection of binders from a phage-displayed naïve antibody library. In addition, for both these applications, specific immobilization requires much less amount of protein as compared to passive immobilization and can be easily multiplexed. The simplified strategy described here for the production of highly pure biotin-tagged proteins will find use in numerous applications, including those, which may require immobilization of multiple proteins simultaneously on a solid surface.

The AViKA (Adding Value in Knee Arthroplasty) postoperative care navigation trial: rationale and design features.

PubMed

Losina, Elena; Collins, Jamie E; Daigle, Meghan E; Donnell-Fink, Laurel A; Prokopetz, Julian J Z; Strnad, Doris; Lerner, Vladislav; Rome, Benjamin N; Ghazinouri, Roya; Skoniecki, Debra J; Katz, Jeffrey N; Wright, John

2013-10-12

Utilization of total knee arthroplasty is increasing rapidly. A substantial number of total knee arthroplasty recipients have persistent pain after surgery. Our objective was to design a randomized controlled trial to establish the efficacy of a motivational-interviewing-based telephone intervention aimed at improving patient outcomes and satisfaction following total knee arthroplasty. The study was conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The study focused on individuals 40 years or older with a primary diagnosis of osteoarthritis who were scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. The study compared two management strategies over the first six months postoperatively: 1) enhanced postoperative care with frequent follow-up by a care navigator; 2) usual postoperative care. Those who were randomized into the enhanced postoperative care arm received ten calls from a trained non-clinician care navigator over the first six postoperative months. The navigator used motivational interviewing techniques to engage patients in discussions related to their rehabilitation goals, including patient's plans for and confidence in achieving those goals. Patients in the usual care arm received standard postoperative management and received no navigator phone calls. Patients in both arms were assessed at baseline, three months, and six months postoperatively. The primary outcome of the study was improvement in function as measured by the difference in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index function score between preoperative (baseline) status and six months postoperatively. Data were collected to identify factors that may be related to total knee arthroplasty outcomes, including preoperative pain, pain catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depression. A formal economic analysis is also planned to determine the cost-effectiveness of the care navigator as a component of total knee arthroplasty care. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01540851.

A Bayesian ridge regression analysis of congestion's impact on urban expressway safety.

PubMed

Shi, Qi; Abdel-Aty, Mohamed; Lee, Jaeyoung

2016-03-01

With the rapid growth of traffic in urban areas, concerns about congestion and traffic safety have been heightened. This study leveraged both Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) system and Microwave Vehicle Detection System (MVDS) installed on an expressway in Central Florida to explore how congestion impacts the crash occurrence in urban areas. Multiple congestion measures from the two systems were developed. To ensure more precise estimates of the congestion's effects, the traffic data were aggregated into peak and non-peak hours. Multicollinearity among traffic parameters was examined. The results showed the presence of multicollinearity especially during peak hours. As a response, ridge regression was introduced to cope with this issue. Poisson models with uncorrelated random effects, correlated random effects, and both correlated random effects and random parameters were constructed within the Bayesian framework. It was proven that correlated random effects could significantly enhance model performance. The random parameters model has similar goodness-of-fit compared with the model with only correlated random effects. However, by accounting for the unobserved heterogeneity, more variables were found to be significantly related to crash frequency. The models indicated that congestion increased crash frequency during peak hours while during non-peak hours it was not a major crash contributing factor. Using the random parameter model, the three congestion measures were compared. It was found that all congestion indicators had similar effects while Congestion Index (CI) derived from MVDS data was a better congestion indicator for safety analysis. Also, analyses showed that the segments with higher congestion intensity could not only increase property damage only (PDO) crashes, but also more severe crashes. In addition, the issues regarding the necessity to incorporate specific congestion indicator for congestion's effects on safety and to take care of the multicollinearity between explanatory variables were also discussed. By including a specific congestion indicator, the model performance significantly improved. When comparing models with and without ridge regression, the magnitude of the coefficients was altered in the existence of multicollinearity. These conclusions suggest that the use of appropriate congestion measure and consideration of multicolilnearity among the variables would improve the models and our understanding about the effects of congestion on traffic safety. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Perinatal Lead Exposure Alters Gut Microbiota Composition and Results in Sex-specific Bodyweight Increases in Adult Mice.

PubMed

Wu, Jianfeng; Wen, Xiaoquan William; Faulk, Christopher; Boehnke, Kevin; Zhang, Huapeng; Dolinoy, Dana C; Xi, Chuanwu

2016-06-01

Heavy metal pollution is a principle source of environmental contamination. Epidemiological and animal data suggest that early life lead (Pb) exposure results in critical effects on epigenetic gene regulation and child and adult weight trajectories. Using a mouse model of human-relevant exposure, we investigated the effects of perinatal Pb exposure on gut microbiota in adult mice, and the link between gut microbiota and bodyweight changes. Following Pb exposure during gestation and lactation via maternal drinking water, bodyweight in A(vy) strain wild-type non-agouti (a/a) offspring was tracked through adulthood. Gut microbiota of adult mice were characterized by deep DNA sequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Data analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for litter effects. A Bayesian variable selection algorithm was used to analyze associations between bacterial operational taxonomic units and offspring adult bodyweight. Perinatal Pb exposure was associated with increased adult bodyweight in male (P < .05) but not in female offspring (P = .24). Cultivable aerobes decreased and anaerobes increased in Pb-exposed offspring (P < .005 and P < .05, respectively). Proportions of the 2 predominant phyla (Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes) shifted inversely with Pb exposure, and whole bacterial compositions were significantly different (analysis of molecular variance, P < .05) by Pb exposure without sex bias. In males, changes in gut microbiota were highly associated with adult bodyweight (P = .028; effect size = 2.59). Thus, perinatal Pb exposure results in altered adult gut microbiota regardless of sex, and these changes are highly correlated with increased bodyweight in males. Adult gut microbiota can be shaped by early exposures and may contribute to disease risks in a sex-specific manner. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Traitement chirurgical initial des brûlures de la main de l’enfant. Revue

PubMed Central

Goffinet, L.; Breton, A.; Gavillot, C.; Barbary, S.; Journeau, P.; Lascombes, P.; Dautel, G.

2015-01-01

Summary Trente cinq revues concernant la prise en charge chirurgicale de la main brûlée de l’enfant sont indexées dans Pub- Med. Elles portent sur l’indication de la cicatrisation dirigée versus chirurgie, les techniques et délais d’instauration des traitements par excision-greffe, le calendrier et la nature du traitement de réadaptation et la surveillance. L’enfant présente un risque accru de brides cicatricielles, nécessitant un suivi médico-chirurgical attentif et prolongé. L’objet de cet article est de rapporter les spécificités chirurgicales de la prise en charge de ces brûlures. Cette revue de la littérature, réalisée au moyen de la base PubMed (publication entre 2005 et 2011) à partir des mots-clés « hand AND/OR child AND/OR burn » retrouve 67 publications utiles au sein de 171 références. Les données rapportées ont été comparées aux ouvrages de références français et américains. Des données contradictoires sont rapportées concernant la délai de l’excision et de la greffe, avec seulement deux études comparatives comportant de nombreux biais. L’état de la science n’apporte pas d’éléments de preuve suffisant en raison d’un manque de puissance statistique des études, mais de nombreux avis d’expert explorant chaque type d’indication permet d’établir une stratégie claire, guidant les indications thérapeutiques. Il apparaît donc indispensable de réaliser des études prospectives incluant ces patients depuis le suivi initial jusqu’au suivi à long terme, pour augmenter le niveau de preuve de cette stratégie. PMID:27279807

TAS2R38 and Its Influence on Smoking Behavior and Glucose Homeostasis in the German Sorbs

PubMed Central

Keller, Maria; Liu, Xuanshi; Wohland, Tobias; Rohde, Kerstin; Gast, Marie-Therese; Stumvoll, Michael; Kovacs, Peter; Tönjes, Anke; Böttcher, Yvonne

2013-01-01

Background Genetic variants within the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are associated with sensitivity to bitter taste and are related to eating behavior in the Amish population. Sensitivity to bitter taste is further related to anthropometric traits in an genetically isolated Italian population. We tested whether the TAS2R38 variants (rs713598; rs1726866 and rs10246939) may be related to eating behavior, anthropometric parameters, metabolic traits and consumer goods intake in the German Sorbs. Materials and Methods The three SNPs were genotyped in a total cohort of 1007 individuals (male/female: 405/602). The German version of the three-factor eating questionnaire was completed by 548 individuals. Genetic association analyses for smoking behavior, alcohol and coffee intake, eating behavior factors (restraint, disinhibition and hunger) and other metabolic traits were analyzed. Further, by combining the three SNPs we applied comparative haplotype analyses categorizing PAV (proline-alanine-valine) carriers (tasters) vs. homozygous AVI (alanin-valine-isoleucine) carriers (non-tasters). Results Significant associations of genetic variants within TAS2R38 were identified with percentage of body fat, which were driven by associations in women. In men, we observed significant associations with 30 min plasma glucose, and area under the curve for plasma glucose (0–120 min) (all adjusted P≤0.05). Further, we found that carriers of at least one PAV allele show significantly lower cigarette smoking per day (P = 0.002) as well as, albeit non-significant, lower alcohol intake. We did not confirm previously reported associations between genetic variants of TAS2R38 and eating behavior. Conclusion Our data suggest that genetic variation in TAS2R38 is related to individual body composition measures and may further influence consumer goods intake in the Sorbs possibly via individual sensitivity to bitter taste. PMID:24312479

Pre-Vaccination Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Carriage in a Nigerian Population: Epidemiology and Population Biology

PubMed Central

Adetifa, Ifedayo M. O.; Antonio, Martin; Okoromah, Christy A. N.; Ebruke, Chinelo; Inem, Victor; Nsekpong, David; Bojang, Abdoulie; Adegbola, Richard A.

2012-01-01

Background Introduction of pneumococcal vaccines in Nigeria is a priority as part of the Accelerated Vaccine Introduction Initiative (AVI) of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). However, country data on the burden of pneumococcal disease (IPD) is limited and coverage by available conjugate vaccines is unknown. This study was carried out to describe the pre vaccination epidemiology and population biology of pneumococcal carriage in Nigeria. Methods This was a cross sectional survey. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were obtained from a population sample in 14 contiguous peri-urban Nigerian communities. Data on demographic characteristics and risk factor for carriage were obtained from all study participants. Pneumococci isolated from NPS were characterised by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility and Multi Locus Sequencing Typing (MLST). Results The prevalence of pneumococcal carriage was 52.5%. Carriage was higher in children compared to adults (67.4% vs. 26%), highest (≈90%) in infants aged <9 months and reduced significantly with increasing age (P<0.001). Serotypes 19F (18.6%) and 6A (14.4%) were most predominant. Potential vaccine coverage was 43.8%, 45.0% and 62% for PCV-7, PCV-10 and PCV-13 respectively. There were 16 novel alleles, 72 different sequence types (STs) from the isolates and 3 Sequence Types (280, 310 and 5543) were associated with isolates of more than one serotype indicative of serotype switching. Antimicrobial resistance was high for cotrimoxazole (93%) and tetracycline (84%), a third of isolates had intermediate resistance to penicillin. Young age was the only risk factor significantly associated with carriage. Conclusions Pneumococcal carriage and serotype diversity is highly prevalent in Nigeria especially in infants. Based on the coverage of serotypes in this study, PCV-13 is the obvious choice to reduce disease burden and prevalence of drug resistant pneumococci. However, its use will require careful monitoring. Our findings provide sound baseline data for impact assessment following vaccine introduction in Nigeria. PMID:22291984

Pre-vaccination nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage in a Nigerian population: epidemiology and population biology.

PubMed

Adetifa, Ifedayo M O; Antonio, Martin; Okoromah, Christy A N; Ebruke, Chinelo; Inem, Victor; Nsekpong, David; Bojang, Abdoulie; Adegbola, Richard A

2012-01-01

Introduction of pneumococcal vaccines in Nigeria is a priority as part of the Accelerated Vaccine Introduction Initiative (AVI) of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). However, country data on the burden of pneumococcal disease (IPD) is limited and coverage by available conjugate vaccines is unknown. This study was carried out to describe the pre vaccination epidemiology and population biology of pneumococcal carriage in Nigeria. This was a cross sectional survey. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were obtained from a population sample in 14 contiguous peri-urban Nigerian communities. Data on demographic characteristics and risk factor for carriage were obtained from all study participants. Pneumococci isolated from NPS were characterised by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility and Multi Locus Sequencing Typing (MLST). The prevalence of pneumococcal carriage was 52.5%. Carriage was higher in children compared to adults (67.4% vs. 26%), highest (≈90%) in infants aged <9 months and reduced significantly with increasing age (P<0.001). Serotypes 19F (18.6%) and 6A (14.4%) were most predominant. Potential vaccine coverage was 43.8%, 45.0% and 62% for PCV-7, PCV-10 and PCV-13 respectively. There were 16 novel alleles, 72 different sequence types (STs) from the isolates and 3 Sequence Types (280, 310 and 5543) were associated with isolates of more than one serotype indicative of serotype switching. Antimicrobial resistance was high for cotrimoxazole (93%) and tetracycline (84%), a third of isolates had intermediate resistance to penicillin. Young age was the only risk factor significantly associated with carriage. Pneumococcal carriage and serotype diversity is highly prevalent in Nigeria especially in infants. Based on the coverage of serotypes in this study, PCV-13 is the obvious choice to reduce disease burden and prevalence of drug resistant pneumococci. However, its use will require careful monitoring. Our findings provide sound baseline data for impact assessment following vaccine introduction in Nigeria.

GEO2Enrichr: browser extension and server app to extract gene sets from GEO and analyze them for biological functions.

PubMed

Gundersen, Gregory W; Jones, Matthew R; Rouillard, Andrew D; Kou, Yan; Monteiro, Caroline D; Feldmann, Axel S; Hu, Kevin S; Ma'ayan, Avi

2015-09-15

Identification of differentially expressed genes is an important step in extracting knowledge from gene expression profiling studies. The raw expression data from microarray and other high-throughput technologies is deposited into the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and served as Simple Omnibus Format in Text (SOFT) files. However, to extract and analyze differentially expressed genes from GEO requires significant computational skills. Here we introduce GEO2Enrichr, a browser extension for extracting differentially expressed gene sets from GEO and analyzing those sets with Enrichr, an independent gene set enrichment analysis tool containing over 70 000 annotated gene sets organized into 75 gene-set libraries. GEO2Enrichr adds JavaScript code to GEO web-pages; this code scrapes user selected accession numbers and metadata, and then, with one click, users can submit this information to a web-server application that downloads the SOFT files, parses, cleans and normalizes the data, identifies the differentially expressed genes, and then pipes the resulting gene lists to Enrichr for downstream functional analysis. GEO2Enrichr opens a new avenue for adding functionality to major bioinformatics resources such GEO by integrating tools and resources without the need for a plug-in architecture. Importantly, GEO2Enrichr helps researchers to quickly explore hypotheses with little technical overhead, lowering the barrier of entry for biologists by automating data processing steps needed for knowledge extraction from the major repository GEO. GEO2Enrichr is an open source tool, freely available for installation as browser extensions at the Chrome Web Store and FireFox Add-ons. Documentation and a browser independent web application can be found at http://amp.pharm.mssm.edu/g2e/. avi.maayan@mssm.edu. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Regulation of Long-Chain N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactones in Agrobacterium vitis

PubMed Central

Hao, Guixia; Burr, Thomas J.

2006-01-01

Homologs of quorum-sensing luxR and luxI regulatory genes, avsR and avsI, were identified in Agrobacterium vitis strain F2/5. Compared to other LuxI proteins from related species, the deduced AvsI shows the greatest identity to SinI (71%) from Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021. AvsR possesses characteristic autoinducer binding and helix-turn-helix DNA binding domains and shares a high level of identity with SinR (38%) from Rm1021. Site-directed mutagenesis of avsR and avsI was performed, and both genes are essential for hypersensitive-like response (HR) and necrosis. Two hypothetical proteins (ORF1 and ORF2) that are positioned downstream of avsR-avsI are also essential for the phenotypes. Profiles of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) isolated from the wild type and mutants revealed that disruption of avsI, ORF1, or ORF2 abolished the production of long-chain AHLs. Disruption of avsR reduces long-chain AHLs. Expression of a cloned avsI gene in A. tumefaciens strain NT1 resulted in synthesis of long-chain AHLs. The necrosis and HR phenotypes of the avsI and avsR mutants were fully complemented with cloned avsI. The addition of synthetic AHLs (C16:1 and 3-O-C16:1) complemented grape necrosis in the avsR, avsI, ORF1, and ORF2 mutants. It was determined by reverse transcriptase PCR that the expression level of avsI is regulated by avsR but not by aviR or avhR, two other luxR homologs which were previously shown to be associated with induction of a tobacco hypersensitive response and grape necrosis. We further verified that avsR regulates avsI by measuring the expression of an avsI::lacZ fusion construct. PMID:16513747

Comparative study of anti-drift nozzles' wear.

PubMed

Bolly, G; Huyghebaert, B; Mostade, O; Oger, R

2002-01-01

When spraying, the drift is a restricting factor which reduces the efficiency of pesticides treatments and increases their impact on the environment. The use of anti-drift nozzles is the most common technique to reduce the drift effect. The basic principle of all anti-drift nozzles is to produce bigger droplets (Imag DLO, 1999) being less sensitive to the wind. The increase of the droplets' size is possible whether by reducing the spraying pressure (anti-drift fan nozzle) or by injecting air in the nozzle (air injection nozzles). This study aims at comparing the performances of the main anti-drift nozzles available on the Belgian market (Teejet DG and AI, Albuz ADI and AVI, Hardi ISO LD et AI). The study made it possible to compare thirteen different nozzles' sets according to their trademark, type and material. The study is based on the analysis of macroscopic parameters (flowrate, transversal distribution and individual distribution) as well as on the analysis of microscopic parameters (spraying deposit on artificial target). The evolution of these parameters is analysed according to the nozzle's wear. The wear is carried out artificially according to the "ISO 5682-1" standard (ISO 5682-1, 1996). The results confirmed the major influence of the manufacturing material on the nozzles' wear, ceramic being the most resistant material. Macroscopic as well as microscopic parameters variated according to the utilization time without any direct correlation. Indeed, most parameters variate in an uncertain way. It was however possible to establish a correlation between the wear time and the recovering rate and flowrate parameters. The utilization length is different depending on the type of nozzle, air injection nozzles being more resistant. At last, the analysis of microscopic parameters (spraying deposit) (Degré A., 1999), shows that the number of impacts is stable depending on the wear, while the size of impacts and the recovering rate increase.

MATERIALS DEGRADATION ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT TO ENABLE ULTRA LOW COST, WEB-PROCESSED WHITE P-OLED FOR SSL

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

DR. DEVIN MACKENZIE

2011-12-13

Progress over Phase II of DE-FG02-07ER86293 'Materials Degradation Analysis and Development to Enable Ultra Low Cost, Web-Processed White P-OLED for SSL' was initially rapid in terms of device performance improvements. We exceeded our device luminance lifetime goals for printed flexible white OLEDs as laid out in our project proposal. Our Phase II performance target was to demonstrate >1500 hours luminance lifetime at 100 Cd/m2 from a printed flexible device. We now have R&D devices well in excess of 8000 hrs lifetime at 100 Cd/m2, tested in air. We also were able to produce devices which met the voltage target ofmore » >1500 hours below 15V operation. After completing the initial performance milestones, we went on to focus on color-related degradation issues which were cited as important to commercialization of the technology by our manufacturing partners. We also put additional focus on cathode work as the active material development that occurred over the STTR time period required an adaptation of the cathode from the original cathode formulations which were developed based on previous generation active layer materials. We were able to improve compatibility of the cathode with some of the newer generation active layer materials and improve device yield and voltage behavior. An additional objective of the initial Phase II was to further develop the underlying manufacturing technology and real-life product specifications. This is a key requirement that must be met to ensure eventual commercialization of this DOE-funded technology. The link between commercial investment for full commercialization and R&D efforts in OLED solid State Lighting is often a large one. Add-Vision's lower cost, printed OLED manufacturing approach is an attraction, but close engagement with manufacturing partners and addressing customer specifications is a very important link. Manufacturing technology encompasses development of moisture reduction encapsulation technology, improved cost performance, and reductions in operating voltage through thinner and higher uniformity active device layers. We have now installed a pilot encapsulation system at AVI for controlled, high throughput lamination encapsulation of flexible OLEDs in a novel process. Along with this, we have developed, with our materials supply partners, adhesives, barrier films and other encapsulation materials and we are showing total air product lifetimes in the 2-4 years range from a process consistent with our throughput goals of {approx}1M device per month ({approx}30,000 sq. ft. of processed OLEDs). Within the last year of the project, we have been working to introduce the manufacturing improvements made in our LEP deposition and annealing process to our commercial partners. Based on the success of this, a pilot scale-up program was begun. During this process, Add-Vision was acquired by a strategic partner, in no small part, because of the promise of future success of the technology as evidenced by our commercial partners pilot scale-up plans. Overall, the performance, manufacturing and product work in this project has been successful. Additional analysis and device work at LBL has also shown a unique adhesion change with device bias stressing which may result from active layer polymer cross-linking during bias stressing of device. It was shown that even small bias stresses, as a fraction of a full device lifetime stress period, result in measurable chemical change in the device. Further work needs to be conducted to fully understand the chemical nature of this interaction. Elucidation of this effect would enable doped OLED formulation to be engineered to suppress this effect and further extend lifetimes and reduce voltage climb.« less

Validation Relaxation: A Quality Assurance Strategy for Electronic Data Collection.

PubMed

Kenny, Avi; Gordon, Nicholas; Griffiths, Thomas; Kraemer, John D; Siedner, Mark J

2017-08-18

The use of mobile devices for data collection in developing world settings is becoming increasingly common and may offer advantages in data collection quality and efficiency relative to paper-based methods. However, mobile data collection systems can hamper many standard quality assurance techniques due to the lack of a hardcopy backup of data. Consequently, mobile health data collection platforms have the potential to generate datasets that appear valid, but are susceptible to unidentified database design flaws, areas of miscomprehension by enumerators, and data recording errors. We describe the design and evaluation of a strategy for estimating data error rates and assessing enumerator performance during electronic data collection, which we term "validation relaxation." Validation relaxation involves the intentional omission of data validation features for select questions to allow for data recording errors to be committed, detected, and monitored. We analyzed data collected during a cluster sample population survey in rural Liberia using an electronic data collection system (Open Data Kit). We first developed a classification scheme for types of detectable errors and validation alterations required to detect them. We then implemented the following validation relaxation techniques to enable data error conduct and detection: intentional redundancy, removal of "required" constraint, and illogical response combinations. This allowed for up to 11 identifiable errors to be made per survey. The error rate was defined as the total number of errors committed divided by the number of potential errors. We summarized crude error rates and estimated changes in error rates over time for both individuals and the entire program using logistic regression. The aggregate error rate was 1.60% (125/7817). Error rates did not differ significantly between enumerators (P=.51), but decreased for the cohort with increasing days of application use, from 2.3% at survey start (95% CI 1.8%-2.8%) to 0.6% at day 45 (95% CI 0.3%-0.9%; OR=0.969; P<.001). The highest error rate (84/618, 13.6%) occurred for an intentional redundancy question for a birthdate field, which was repeated in separate sections of the survey. We found low error rates (0.0% to 3.1%) for all other possible errors. A strategy of removing validation rules on electronic data capture platforms can be used to create a set of detectable data errors, which can subsequently be used to assess group and individual enumerator error rates, their trends over time, and categories of data collection that require further training or additional quality control measures. This strategy may be particularly useful for identifying individual enumerators or systematic data errors that are responsive to enumerator training and is best applied to questions for which errors cannot be prevented through training or software design alone. Validation relaxation should be considered as a component of a holistic data quality assurance strategy. ©Avi Kenny, Nicholas Gordon, Thomas Griffiths, John D Kraemer, Mark J Siedner. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 18.08.2017.

Definition of rainfall thresholds for shallow landslide early warning in Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cancelliere, A.; Peres, D. J.

2011-12-01

Extreme rainfall is the main cause of shallow landslides. For risk mitigation, landslide early warning systems can be implemented, on the basis of rainfall monitoring and forecasting, and the use of a landslide triggering model. Several empirical, also referred to as statistical, rainfall-landslide triggering models have been proposed in the scientific literature, and used for early warning systems activated worldwide. Nonetheless, it is not clear how effective are landslide warning systems, and it is difficult to quantify the induced benefits for the implemented ones. Many rainfall thresholds have been determined through the statistical analysis of the rainfall events that have been the cause of past landslides only, thus neglecting the cases of true negatives and false positives, with negative effects on the robustness of the proposed threshold and, probably, on the effectiveness of the warning system. In the present work we address the issue of establishing warning thresholds, which, although in an approximate way, account for the related benefits. We propose the maximization of an objective function, that measures the trade-off between true and false warning issues. A ratio between the disadvantages of false positive and false negatives, not greater than one, is introduced in the function. The effect of this ratio on the determination of the thresholds is analysed. The proposed method is based on the availability of a continuous rainfall time series. In Italy, continuous rainfall time series are available from the 1920s, but practical difficulties arise for using them, as they are not published in the Hydrological Annual Reports, by the Servizio Idrografico e Mareografico Nazionale (National Hydrologic and Oceanographic Service), the manager of the most important rainfall monitoring network in Italy. However, it is possible to have a good approximation of the most intense rainfall events, in terms total rainfall, by using the data of annual maxima of precipitation for given durations, which are available in those Reports. The National Research Council's AVI database, the most complete systematic inventory of landslides events occurred in the past century in Italy, can be exploited to determine the thresholds. Hence the method has applicability for whole Italy, and uses large datasets of easy availability. As the method is based on the analysis of subdaily data, it is reliable for shallow landslides, for which low influence of antecedent precipitation on landslide triggering can be supposed. The method is illustrated through its application to case study areas in Sicily, for which there is high interest for activating early warning systems, after that the 1st October 2009 debris flow caused the loss of 37 lives and severe damage to nearby urban areas in the Peloritan Mountains.

Physico-chemical properties of late-incubation egg amniotic fluid and a potential in ovo feed supplement

PubMed Central

Omede, A. A.; Bhuiyan, M. M.; lslam, A. F.; Iji, P. A.

2017-01-01

Objective This study explored the physico-chemical properties of late-incubation egg amniotic fluid and a potential in ovo feed (IOF) supplement. Methods Amniotic fluid was collected from broiler breeders (Ross 308, 51 weeks and Cobb 500, 35 weeks) on day 17 after incubation. A mixture of high-quality soy protein supplement – Hamlet Protein AviStart (HPA) was serially diluted in MilliQ water to obtain solutions ranging from 150 to 9.375 mg/mL. The mixtures were heat-treated (0, 30, 60 minutes) in a waterbath (80°C) and then centrifuged to obtain supernatants. The amniotic fluid and HPA supernatants were analysed for their physico-chemical properties. Results Only viscosity and K+ were significantly (p<0.05) different in both strains. Of all essential amino acids, leucine and lysine were in the highest concentration in both strains. The osmolality, viscosity and pCO2 of the supernatants decreased (p<0.05) with decreasing HPA concentration. Heat treatment significantly (p<0.05) affected osmolality, pH, and pCO2, of the supernatants. The interactions between HPA concentration and heat treatment were significant with regards to osmolality (p<0.01), pH (p<0.01), pCO2 (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05), lactate (p<0.01) and acid-base status (p<0.01) of HPA solutions. The Ca2+, K+, glucose, and lactate increased with increasing concentration of HPA solution. The protein content of HPA solutions decreased (p<0.05) with reduced HPA solution concentrations. The supernatant from 150 mg/mL HPA solution was richest in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine and lysine. Amino acids concentrations were reduced (p<0.05) with each serial dilution but increased with longer heating. Conclusion The values obtained in the primary solution (highest concentration) are close to the profiles of high-protein ingredients. This supplement, as a solution, hence, may be suitable for use as an IOF supplement and should be tested for this potential. PMID:28183170

Comparison of a Commercial Accelerometer with Polysomnography and Actigraphy in Children and Adolescents

PubMed Central

Meltzer, Lisa J.; Hiruma, Laura S.; Avis, Kristin; Montgomery-Downs, Hawley; Valentin, Judith

2015-01-01

Study Objectives: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the commercially available Fitbit Ultra (2012) accelerometer compared to polysomnography (PSG) and two different actigraphs in a pediatric sample. Design and Setting: All subjects wore the Fitbit Ultra while undergoing overnight clinical polysomnography in a sleep laboratory; a randomly selected subset of participants also wore either the Ambulatory Monitoring Inc. Motionlogger Sleep Watch (AMI) or Phillips-Respironics Mini-Mitter Spectrum (PRMM). Participants: 63 youth (32 females, 31 males), ages 3–17 years (mean 9.7 years, SD 4.6 years). Measurements: Both “Normal” and “Sensitive” sleep-recording Fitbit Ultra modes were examined. Outcome variables included total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE). Primary analyses examined the differences between Fitbit Ultra and PSG using repeated-measures ANCOVA, with epoch-by-epoch comparisons between Fitbit Ultra and PSG used to determine sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Intra-device reliability, differences between Fitbit Ultra and actigraphy, and differences by both developmental age group and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) status were also examined. Results: Compared to PSG, the Normal Fitbit Ultra mode demonstrated good sensitivity (0.86) and accuracy (0.84), but poor specificity (0.52); conversely, the Sensitive Fitbit Ultra mode demonstrated adequate specificity (0.79), but inadequate sensitivity (0.70) and accuracy (0.71). Compared to PSG, the Fitbit Ultra significantly overestimated TST (41 min) and SE (8%) in Normal mode, and underestimated TST (105 min) and SE (21%) in Sensitive mode. Similar differences were found between Fitbit Ultra (both modes) and both brands of actigraphs. Conclusions: Despite its low cost and ease of use for consumers, neither sleep-recording mode of the Fitbit Ultra accelerometer provided clinically comparable results to PSG. Further, pediatric sleep researchers and clinicians should be cautious about substituting these devices for validated actigraphs, with a significant risk of either overestimating or underestimating outcome data including total sleep time and sleep efficiency. Citation: Meltzer LJ, Hiruma LS, Avis K, Montgomery-Downs H, Valentin J. Comparison of a commercial accelerometer with polysomnography and actigraphy in children and adolescents. SLEEP 2015;38(8):1323–1330. PMID:26118555

Historical phytoplankton data from Helgoland Roads: Can they be linked to modern time series data?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraberg, Alexandra C.; Rodriguez, Natalia; Salewski, Christian R.

2015-07-01

The Helgoland Roads phytoplankton data set is one of the longest and most detailed phytoplankton time series data sets in the world. The time series has been initiated in 1962 and based on the resulting counts a taxon list of 261 taxa has been assembled, 93 of which are diatoms. However, plankton research has been carried out at the site since the 19th century although many old records were lost during the World War II. Here we describe a small historic data set that was recovered from the Wadden Sea Station Sylt and placed in the AWI's own archive, the Archive for German Polar Research (Archiv für deutsche Polarforschung - AdP). This data set is unique in that it contains species specific diatom data from the period 1906-1908. As the data set itself contained only little direct metadata linking it to the phytoplankton monitoring site Helgoland Roads ('Helgoland Reede' in German), further research of the available literature and additional searches of material in the AWI archive were carried out before it could be ascertained that the documents recovered from Sylt really contained data from the Biological Institute on the island of Helgoland. Following this the data in the original data set underwent taxonomic checks to establish that all species were valid species or older synonyms of currently accepted taxon names. The resulting data set was then compared to the Helgoland Roads taxon list and the most current published checklist for Helgoland Roads. Of the 6 pennate and 59 centric diatoms recorded between 1906 and 1908 most are also found in the current taxon lists, only 7 were not found in either the checklist or Helgoland Roads taxon list. However, there are exceptions, most notably the centric diatom Pseudosolenia calcar-avis, which only occurred in the historic records of 1906-1908 and has not been reported from the North Sea in any modern records. While only semi-quantitative, these data are nevertheless an important complement to the Helgoland Roads phytoplankton data set, providing a historic basis for documenting long-term changes in the diatom community at Helgoland Roads.

Genetic variations in taste perception modify alcohol drinking behavior in Koreans.

PubMed

Choi, Jeong-Hwa; Lee, Jeonghee; Yang, Sarah; Kim, Jeongseon

2017-06-01

The sensory components of alcohol affect the onset of individual's drinking. Therefore, variations in taste receptor genes may lead to differential sensitivity for alcohol taste, which may modify an individual's drinking behavior. This study examined the influence of genetic variants in the taste-sensing mechanism on alcohol drinking behavior and the choice of alcoholic beverages. A total of 1829 Koreans were analyzed for their alcohol drinking status (drinker/non-drinker), total alcohol consumption (g/day), heavy drinking (≥30 g/day) and type of regularly consumed alcoholic beverages. Twenty-one genetic variations in bitterness, sweetness, umami and fatty acid sensing were also genotyped. Our findings suggested that multiple genetic variants modified individuals' alcohol drinking behavior. Genetic variations in the T2R bitterness receptor family were associated with overall drinking behavior. Subjects with the TAS2R38 AVI haplotype were less likely to be a drinker [odds ratio (OR): 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59-0.95], and TAS2R5 rs2227264 predicted the level of total alcohol consumption (p = 0.01). In contrast, the T1R sweet and umami receptor family was associated with heavy drinking. TAS1R3 rs307355 CT carriers were more likely to be heavy drinkers (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.06-2.19). The genetic variants were also associated with the choice of alcoholic beverages. The homo-recessive type of TAS2R4 rs2233998 (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.11-2.37) and TAS2R5 rs2227264 (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.14-2.58) were associated with consumption of rice wine. However, TAS1R2 rs35874116 was associated with wine drinking (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43-0.98) and the consumption level (p = 0.04). These findings suggest that multiple genetic variations in taste receptors influence drinking behavior in Koreans. Genetic variations are also responsible for the preference of particular alcoholic beverages, which may contribute to an individual's alcohol drinking behavior. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation de la formation des résidents en chirurgie générale et digestive en Tunisie

PubMed Central

Mahmoudi, Ammar; Noomen, Faouzi; Nasr, Mohamed; Zouari, Khadija; Hamdi, Abdelaziz

2015-01-01

Introduction De nombreux moyens sont mis à disposition des résidents en chirurgie générale et digestive pour assurer leur formation théorique et pratique. Cependant, le niveau d'utilisation de ces différents outils et leur impact sur la formation des résidents n'ont jamais été évalués. L'objectif de notre étude était d’étudier l’état des lieux des moyens de formation utilisés par les résidents pour évaluer leurs degrés de satisfaction et leurs propositions en vue d'améliorer leur formation. Méthodes Un questionnaire anonyme a été distribué aux résidents de chirurgie générale et digestive de l'année 2012-2013. Ce questionnaire portait sur les caractéristiques démographiques, les ressources pédagogiques, ainsi que le cursus médical et universitaire. Une évaluation de la formation ainsi qu'un recueil des propositions faites en vue d'améliorer leurs formations étaient réalisées. Résultats Cinquante résidents sur 83 ont répondu au questionnaire. L'orientation de carrière la plus fréquente était l'hospitalo-universitaire dans 70% des cas. La pratique quotidienne et l'internet étaient les deux ressources pédagogiques les plus utilisées. La formation chirurgicale était jugée satisfaisante par seulement 10% des répondants. Parmi l'ensemble des propositions faites, l'apprentissage sur simulateur chirurgical, l'existence d'un ouvrage national de référence, et l'institution d'un tutorat par un chirurgien senior recueillaient plus de 80% d'avis favorable. Conclusion La majorité des résidents jugent leur formation non satisfaisante. Une meilleure information sur les ressources déjà existantes, un renforcement du compagnonnage et un accès plus large à un apprentissage sur simulateur chirurgical permettraient de diminuer ce sentiment d'insatisfaction. PMID:26587174

Trans-apical aortic valve implantation using a new self-expandable bioprosthesis: initial outcomes.

PubMed

Kempfert, Jörg; Rastan, Ardawan J; Beyersdorf, Friedhelm; Schönburg, Markus; Schuler, Gerhard; Sorg, Stefan; Mohr, Friedrich-W; Walther, Thomas

2011-11-01

Trans-apical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) has evolved into a standard approach for high-risk, elderly patients using the balloon-expandable Edwards SAPIEN™ prosthesis. As an alternative device, a self-expanding sub-coronary trans-apical bioprosthesis was evaluated. The Symetis Acurate™ trans-catheter heart valve is composed of a porcine biologic valve attached to a self-expandable nitinol stent. It allows for anatomical orientation, and facilitates intuitive implantation providing tactile feedback. Three valves sizes were available to treat patients with an annular diameter between 21 and 27mm. Since November 2009, a total of 40 patients have been treated at three sites. Patient age was 82.8±4 years, 60% were female, logistic EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation) was 21.5±10.9% and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Score was 9.0±4.6%. All implants were delivered successfully in the intra-annular and sub-coronary position off pump. One patient was converted to conventional surgery due to coronary impingement; post-dilatation was performed in 45% of patients; and two patients required the SAPIEN™ valve in valve implantation. Echocardiographic and angiographic control revealed no/trivial aortic incompetence (AI) in 59%, mild AI in 33.3%, and moderate AI in 7.7% of the patients. Three patients died within 30 days from a non-valve-related cause (respiratory), the patient converted did not recover from right-heart failure, and one patient died on day 19 due to unclear reasons. There was one incidence of new-onset atrioventricular (AV) block requiring pacemaker implantation. Two patients suffered a stroke (one secondary and the other intraprocedural). Transvalvular gradients were maximum 29.4±10.7mmHg and mean 14.3±6.8mmHg. The initial clinical results indicate a relatively straightforward implantation procedure and good functional results after trans-apical implantation of the Symetis Acurate™ device. Copyright © 2011 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Safety Aboard the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mintz, Shauna M.

2004-01-01

As with any task that NASA takes on, safety is of utmost importaqce. There are pages of safety codes and procedures that must be followed before any idea can be brought to life. Unfortunately, the International Space Station s (ISS) safety regulations and procedures are based on lg standards rather than on Og. To aide in making this space age home away from home a less hazardous environment, I worked on several projects revolving around the dangers of flammable items in microgravity. The first task I was assigned was to track flames. This involves turning eight millimeter video recordings, of tests run in the five second drop tower, into avi format on the computer. The footage is then compressed and altered so that the flame can be seen more clearly. Using another program called Spotlight, line profiles were used to collect data describing the luminescence of the flame at different points. These raw data are saved as text files and run trough a macro so that a Matlab program can analyze it. By fitting the data to a curve and determining the areas of brightest luminescence, the behavior of the flame can be recorded numerically. After entering the data into a database, researchers can come back later and easily get information on flames resulting from different gas and liquid mixtures in microgravity. I also worked on phase two of the FATE project, which deals with safety aboard the ISS. This phase involves igniting projected droplets and determining how they react with secondary materials. Such simulations represent, on a small scale, the spread of onboard fires due to the effervescence of burning primary materials. I set up existing hardware to operate these experiments and ran tests with it, photographing the results. I also made CAD drawings of the apparatus and the area available on the (SF)2 rig for it to fit into. The experiment will later be performed on the KC-135, and the results gathered will be used to reanalyze current safety standards for the ISS, including the distance of required separation for flammable materials. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

An experimental investigation of the effects of spiral angle on the evaporation heat transfer coefficients in microfin tubes with visualization technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Se-Yoon

A smooth tube and five microfin tubes were tested, and evaporation heat transfer coefficients were measured and compared for mass fluxes, 50, 100 and 200 kg/m2 s, and heat fluxes, 5, 10 and 20 kW/m 2, with Refrigerant 134a as a working fluid. The evaporation heat transfer coefficients at quality 0.5 were compared among the smooth and five microfin tubes with spiral angles 6, 12, 18, 25 and 44 degrees. The effect of the spiral angle on the heat transfer coefficients was examined. It was found that the optimal spiral angle where the maximum heat transfer coefficient occurs, mainly depends on mass flux. The optimal spiral angle was 18 degrees for G=50 kg/m2 s, and 6 degrees for G=100 and 200 kg/m 2 s. A borescope was used to visualize the flow on the inside wall of test tubes. The purpose was to find out the effect of the grooves on the liquid flow in microfin tubes and to explain the mechanism of heat transfer enhancement. Temperatures on the tube wall were measured at the same axial location as the imaging sensor of the borescope, and were related to the behavior of the liquid flow on the inside wall of the tubes. The liquid flow in the grooves on the wall was found to be the most important factor in enhancing heat transfer coefficients. The liquid flowed upward along the grooves and covered the upper inside wall of the microfin tubes at G=50 kg/m2 s. When heat flux increases, the liquid flow was found at a higher position. Both liquid viscosity and surface tension decrease, when temperature increases. Thus, the lower viscosity at higher heat flux facilitated the upward motion of the liquid flow in the grooves, so that the momentum force as well as the capillary effect was found to push the liquid along the grooves.* *A CD is included with dissertation containing video clips in avi format which can be viewed with media player.

Orbital experiment ``Gravisensor'': phototropic reactions of the moss Physcomitrella patens to different types of LED lighting.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikitin, Vladimir; Berkovich, Yuliy A.; Skripnikov, Alexander; Zyablova, Natalya; Mukhoyan, Makar; Emelianov, Grigory

The experiment was conducted on Russian Biological Satelite Bion-M #1 19.04-19.05 2013. Five transparent plastic cultural flasks were placed in five light isolated sections of Biocont-B2 cylindrical container with inner diameter of 120 mm and height of 230 mm. In four sections the flasks could be illuminated by top or side LED with wavelength of 458 nm, 630 nm, 730 nm, and white (color temperature 5000° K, peaks 453, 559 nm). Photon flux in each variant was 15 umol/(m2c). In the fifth section the flask with the shoots was in conditions of constant dark. Each section was equipped with its own video camera module. Cameras, video recorder and lighting were managed by micro controller. 12 days before launch, 5 tips of the moss shoots were explanted at each of the five flasks on the agar medium with nutrient components and were cultivated under white fluorescent lamps at 12 hour photo period till the launch. After entering the orbit and during next 14 days of flight top LEDs were turned on above the flasks. Then for the following 14 days of flight the side LEDs of similar wavelength were turned on. The moss gametophores were cultivated at 12-h photoperiod. During the experiment on an hourly basis a video recording of the moss was performed. Similar equipment was used for ground control. After the experiment video files were used to produce separate time-lapse films for each flask using AviSynth program. In flight the shoots demonstrated the maximum growth speed with far red lighting and slower speed with white lighting. With blue and red lighting after switching to side light stimuli the growth of shoots almost stopped. In the dark the shoots continued to grow until the 13 day after launch of the satellite, then their growth stopped. In ground control the relation of growth rate with various LEDs remained basically the same, with the exception of side blue lighting, where the shoots demonstrated considerable vertical growth. In flight the angle of inclination towards the light source was maximal (about 90º) with white lighting, and somewhat smaller with 730 nm. Under red and blue light the angle of phototropic inclination was difficult to measure due to poor growth of the shoots.In ground control the growth rate under blue light was several times higher, than in flight and final degree of inclination of the shoot tip came to about 10º. In ground control under side red lighting the growth was weak, while demonstrating a pronounced phototropic bend of 90º. In ground control in the dark a vertical growth of one shoot was observed with the rate somewhat larger, than in flight variant. Data on the dynamics of inclination of experimental and control plants are presented. The acquired data will be used to analyse the mechanisms of phototropic growth changes of moss shoots.

An integrated modeling framework for real-time irrigation scheduling: the benefit of spectroscopy and weather forecasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brook, Anna; Polinova, Maria; Housh, Mashor

2016-04-01

Agriculture and agricultural landscapes are increasingly under pressure to meet the demands of a constantly increasing human population and globally changing food patterns. At the same time, there is rising concern that climate change and food security will harm agriculture in many regions of the world (Nelson et al., 2009). Facing those treats, majority of Mediterranean countries had chosen irrigated agriculture. For crop plants water is one of the most important inputs, as it is responsible for crop growth, production and it ensures the efficiency of other inputs (e.g. seeds, fertilizers and pesticide) but its use is in competition with other local sectors (e.g. industry, urban human use). Thus, well-timed availability of water is vital to agriculture for ensured yields. The increasing demand for irrigation has necessitated the need for optimal irrigation scheduling techniques that coordinate the timing and amount of irrigation to optimally manage the water use in agriculture systems. The irrigation scheduling problem can be challenging as farmers try to deal with different conflicting objectives of maximizing their yield while minimizing irrigation water use. Another challenge in the irrigation scheduling problem is attributed to the uncertain factors involved in the plant growth process during the growing season. Most notable, the climatic factors such as evapotranspiration and rainfall, these uncertain factors add a third objective to the farmer perspective, namely, minimizing the risk associated with these uncertain factors. Nevertheless, advancements in weather forecasting reduced the uncertainty level associated with future climatic data. Thus, climatic forecasts can be reliably employed to guide optimal irrigation schedule scheme when coupled with stochastic optimization models (Housh et al., 2012). Many studies have concluded that optimal irrigation decisions can provide substantial economic value over conventional irrigation decisions (Wang and Cai 2009). These studies have only incorporated short-term (weekly) forecasts, missing the potential benefit of the mid-term (seasonal) climate forecasts The latest progress in new data acquisition technologies (mainly in the field of Earth observation by remote sensing and imaging spectroscopy systems) as well as the state-of-the-art achievements in the fields of geographical information systems (GIS), computer science and climate and climate impact modelling enable to develop both integrated modelling and realistic spatial simulations. The present method is the use of field spectroscopy technology to keep constant monitoring of the field. The majority of previously developed decision support systems use satellite remote sensing data that provide very limited capabilities (conventional and basic parameters). The alternative is to use a more progressive technology of hyperspectral airborne or ground-based imagery data that provide an exhaustive description of the field. Nevertheless, this alternative is known to be very costly and complex. As such, we will present a low-cost imaging spectroscopy technology supported by detailed and fine-resolution field spectroscopy as a cost effective option for near field real-time monitoring tool. In order to solve the soil water balance and to predict the water irrigation volume a pedological survey is realized in the evaluation study areas.The remote sensing and field spectroscopy were applied to integrate continuous feedbacks from the field (e.g. soil moisture, organic/inorganic carbon, nitrogen, salinity, fertilizers, sulphur acid, texture; crop water-stress, plant stage, LAI , chlorophyll, biomass, yield prediction applying PROSPECT+SILT ; Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation FAPAR) estimated based on remote sensing information to minimize the errors associated with crop simulation process. A stochastic optimization model will be formulated that take into account both mid-term seasonal probabilistic climate prediction and short-term weekly forecasts. In order to optimize the water resource use, the irrigation scheduling will be defined by use a simulation model of soil-plant and atmosphere system (e.g. SWAP model, Van Dam et al., 2008). The use of this tool is necessary to: i) take into account the soil spatial variability; ii) to predict the system behaviour under the forecasted climate; iii) define the optimized irrigation water volumes. Given this knowledge in the three domains of optimization under uncertainty, spectroscopy/remote sensing and climate forecasting, we will be presented as an integrated framework for deriving optimal irrigation decisions. References Nelson, Gerald C., et al. Climate change: Impact on agriculture and costs of adaptation. Vol. 21. Intl Food Policy Res Inst, 2009. Housh, Mashor, Avi Ostfeld, and Uri Shamir. "Seasonal multi-year optimal management of quantities and salinities in regional water supply systems." Environmental Modelling & Software 37 (2012): 55-67. Wang, Dingbao, and Ximing Cai. "Irrigation scheduling - Role of weather forecasting and farmers' behavior." Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 135.5 (2009): 364-372. Van Dam, J. C., et al. SWAP version 3.2: Theory description and user manual. No. 1649. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Alterra, 2008.

Groundwater vulnerability mapping in Guadalajara aquifers system (Western Mexico)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rizo-Decelis, L. David; Marín, Ana I.; Andreo, Bartolomé

2016-04-01

Groundwater vulnerability mapping is a practical tool to implement strategies for land-use planning and sustainable socioeconomic development coherent with groundwater protection. The objective of vulnerability mapping is to identify the most vulnerable zones of catchment areas and to provide criteria for protecting the groundwater used for drinking water supply. The delineation of protection zones in fractured aquifers is a challenging task due to the heterogeneity and anisotropy of hydraulic conductivities, which makes difficult prediction of groundwater flow organization and flow velocities. Different methods of intrinsic groundwater vulnerability mapping were applied in the Atemajac-Toluquilla groundwater body, an aquifers system that covers around 1300 km2. The aquifer supplies the 30% of urban water resources of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara (Mexico), where over 4.6 million people reside. Study area is located in a complex neotectonic active volcanic region in the Santiago River Basin (Western Mexico), which influences the aquifer system underneath the city. Previous works have defined the flow dynamics and identified the origin of recharge. In addition, the mixture of fresh groundwater with hydrothermal and polluted waters have been estimated. Two main aquifers compose the multilayer system. The upper aquifer is unconfined and consists of sediments and pyroclastic materials. Recharge of this aquifer comes from rainwater and ascending vertical fluids from the lower aquifer. The lower aquifer consists of fractured basalts of Pliocene age. Formerly, the main water source has been the upper unit, which is a porous and unconsolidated unit, which acts as a semi-isotropic aquifer. Intense groundwater usage has resulted in lowering the water table in the upper aquifer. Therefore, the current groundwater extraction is carried out from the deeper aquifer and underlying bedrock units, where fracture flow predominates. Pollution indicators have been reported in some monitoring wells, which have been related to anthropogenic activity. Vulnerability maps were produced using different parametric methods (e.g.: DRASTIC, GOD, DISCO, AVI), then the results are compared and assessed. Since each one of these methods use different number of parameters and weights, relatively different results were obtained, although the results have been evaluated with common cartographic inputs. The comparison between selected methods shows that the GOD method results are more correlated with the other methods and produces vulnerability maps comparable with them. Even though groundwater vulnerability is a critical issue around the world, no protection zones have been delineated in Guadalajara city, one of the biggest in Latin America. The groundwater contamination in the study area poses a serious risk for a large population and the environment. This work aims to propose an approach for groundwater protection cartography, based on the application and the comparison of results from different contamination vulnerability methods. These outcomes may assist water authorities to identify the higher vulnerable zones of the aquifers, in order to improving and adapting the land planning and management according to the protection of the own water resources.

[Reference values of neonatal erythrocyte and leukocyte count in Bamako, Mali].

PubMed

Diallo, Dapa Aly; Diawara, Faoumata; Guindo, Aldiouma; Touré, Moustaph; Traoré, Mamadou; Fofana, Aïssata Traoré; Dembélé, Albdoul K; Guindo, Agnès; Diallo, Yacouba Lazare; Diallo, Oumahane; Baraika, Ag Mohamed; Dolo, Amadou Ingré

2013-01-01

Reference values for blood cell count are not established at birth in Mali. This study aimed to determine reference values for erythrocyte and leukocyte at birth in Bamako. Blood was collected from the umbilical cord immediately following its clamping and studied for complete blood cell count in 481 newborns with a birth weight > 2500g, Apgar score ≤ 7 at 5 or 10 minutes, without abnormal hemoglobin mutations and whose mothers were willing in Bamako, Mali. Other than the median and mean values, 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles were calculated. The findings suggest that the normal reference values following a timely clamping of the umbilical cord were (mean ± 1SD and range): RBC = 4,00 ± 0,46.1012/L (3,13 - 4,89), Hb = 14,12 ± 1,49 g/dL (11,20 - 17,00), Hct = 40,27 ± 4,71% (31,62 - 50,18), MCV = 101 ± 5 fl (91 - 112), MCHC = 35,37 ± 2,16 pg/cellule (30,70 - 39,59), MCH = 35,06 ± 0,93 g/dL (33,40 - 36,90), RDW = 17,79 ± 7,33% (15,50 - 20,39), Reticulocytes (109/L) = 133,081 ± 29,95 (66,62 - 200,86), GB (109/L) = 13,24 ± 7,23 (7,20 - 23,70), PMN (109/L) = 7,16 ± 4,70 (3,07 - 14,22), PME (109/L) = 0,28 ± 0,26 (0 - 0,98), PMB(109/L) = 0,05 ± 0,09 (0 - 0,31), Lymphocytes (109/L) = 4,49 ± 2,45 (1,96 - 9,42), Monocytes (10 9 /L) = 1,06 ± 0,73 (0,21 - 2,54), myelocytes = 1.43 ± 1.51%, erythroblasts = 4.52 ± 7.83%. It should be noted that male babies had a lower neutrophil count than female newborns. By taking into account these results when interpreting the blood cell count in Malian newborn infants, costly misdiagnoses should be considerably decreased in a population struggling with low incomes. Le comitée de rédaction se réserve le droit de revoyer aux auteurs avant toute soumission à l'avis des lecteurs les manuscrits qui ne seraient pas conformes à ces modalités de présentation. En outre il leur conseille de sonserver un examplaire du manuscrit, des figures et des tableaux.

Effects of organic acids and essential oils blend on growth, gut microbiota, immune response and disease resistance of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) against Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

PubMed

He, Wangquan; Rahimnejad, Samad; Wang, Ling; Song, Kai; Lu, Kangle; Zhang, Chunxiao

2017-11-01

An 8-week feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate supplemental effects of AviPlus ® (AP), a blend of organic acids [citric acid, 25%; sorbic acid, 16.7%] and essential oils [thymol, 1.7%; vanillin, 1.0%], on growth, gut microbiota, innate immunity and disease resistance of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) against Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A basal experimental diet was formulated and supplemented with 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 g kg -1  AP to produce five test diets (Con, AP0.3, AP0.6, AP0.9 and AP1.2). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of shrimp (0.2 ± 0.01 g, mean ± SE) to apparent satiation three times daily. Growth performance and survival rate were not significantly influenced by AP supplementation (P > 0.05). Significantly (P < 0.05) higher serum total protein was found in groups fed ≥ 0.6 g kg -1  AP compared to control. Serum alkaline phosphatase and phenoloxidase activities were significantly increased in AP0.9 and AP1.2 groups. Also, the group received AP0.6 diet showed significantly higher glutathione peroxidase activity than control. Expression of gut pro-inflammatory genes including TNF-α, LITAF and RAB6A were down-regulated by AP administration. Gut microbiota analysis showed the significant enhancement of the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) diversity and richness indices by AP application. AP supplementation led to increased abundance of Firmicutes and a reduction in abundance of Proteobacteria. Also, dietary inclusion of 1.2 g kg -1  AP led to a significant increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus in shrimp gut. The group offered AP0.3 diet showed significantly higher disease resistance than control group. Furthermore, AP application significantly enhanced relative expression of immune related genes including lysozyme, penaeidin and catalase at 48 h post challenge. In conclusion, these findings show that the tested organic acids and essential oils mixture beneficially affects intestinal microflora and improves immune response and disease resistance of L. vannamei. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New anthropometric indices or old ones: which perform better in estimating cardiovascular risks in Chinese adults.

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Chen, Yintao; Chang, Ye; Sun, Guozhe; Sun, Yingxian

2018-01-30

Various anthropometric indices can be used to estimate obesity, and it is important to determine which one is the best in predicting the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to define the optimal cut-off point for the best index. This cross-sectional study investigated a consecutive sample of 11,247 adults, who had lived in rural areas of China and were older than 35 years of age. Eight obesity indices, including the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index (BAI), body roundness index (BRI) and a body shape index (ABSI) were investigated. The risk of CHD was evaluated by the 10-year coronary event risk (Framingham risk score). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the predictive ability of the obesity indices for CHD risk. Of the whole population, 3636 (32.32%) participants had a risk score higher than 10%. Those who suffered medium or high CHD risk were more likely to have higher mean anthropometric indices, except for BMI in males. In the multivariate-adjusted logistic regression, all these anthropometric measurements were statistically associated with CHD risk in males. After adjusting for all the possible confounders, these anthropometric measurements, except for ABSI, remained as independent indicators of CHD risk in females. According to the ROC analyses, ABSI provided the largest area under the curve (AUC) value in males, and BMI showed the lowest AUC value, with AUC varying from 0.52 to 0.60. WHtR and BRI provided the largest AUC value in female, and similarly, BMI showed the lowest AUC value, with AUC varying from 0.59 to 0.70. The optimal cut-off values were as follows: WHtR (females: 0.54), BRI (females: 4.21), and ABSI (males: 0.078). ABSI was the best anthropometric index for estimating CHD risk in males, and WHtR and BRI were the best indicators in females. Males should maintain an ABSI of less than 0.078, and females should maintain a WHtR of less than 0.54 or a BRI of less than 4.21.

``DMS-R, the Brain of the ISS'', 10 Years of Continuous Successful Operation in Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolff, Bernd; Scheffers, Peter

2012-08-01

Space industries on both sides of the Atlantic were faced with a new situation of collaboration in the beginning of the 1990s.In 1995, industrial cooperation between ASTRIUM ST, Bremen and RSC-E, Moscow started aiming the outfitting of the Russian Service Module ZVEZDA for the ISS with computers. The requested equipments had to provide not only redundancy but fault tolerance and high availability. The design and development of two fault tolerant computers, (FTCs) responsible for the telemetry (Telemetry Computer: TC) and the central control (CC), as well as the man machine interface CPC were contracted to ASTRIUM ST, Bremen. The computer system is responsible e.g. for the life support system and the ISS re-boost control.In July 2000, the integration of the Russian Service Module ZVEZDA with Russian ZARYA FGB and American Node 1 bears witness for transatlantic and European cooperation.The Russian Service module ZVEZDA provides several basic functions as Avionics Control, the Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) in the ISS and control of the docked Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV) which includes re-boost of ISS. If these elementary functions fail or do not work reliable the effects for the ISS will be catastrophic with respect to Safety (manned space) and ISS mission.For that reason the responsible computer system Data Management System - Russia (DMS-R) is also called "The brain of the ISS".The Russian Service module ZVEZDA, including DMS-R, was launched on 12th of July, 2000. DMS-R was operational also during launch and docking.The talk provide information about the definition, design and development of DMS-R, the integration of DMS-R in the Russian Service module and the maintenance of the system in space. Besides the technical aspects are also the German - Russian cooperation an important subject of this speech. An outlook finalises the talk providing further development activities and application of fault tolerant systems.The importance of the DMS-R equipment for the ISS related to availability and reliability is reported in paragraph 1.2, describing a serious incident.The DMS-R architecture, consisting of two fault tolerant computers, their interconnection via MIL 1553 STD Bus and the Control Post Computer (CPC) as man- machine interface is given in figure 1. The main data transfer within the ISS and therefore also the Russian segment is managed by the MIL1553 STD bus. The focus of this script is neither the operational concept nor the fault tolerant design according the Byzantine Theorem, but the architectural embedment. One fault tolerant computer consists out of up to four fault containment regions (FCR), comparing in- and output data and deciding by majority voting whether a faulty FCR has to be isolated. For this purpose all data have to pass the so-called fault management element and are distributed to the other participants in the computer pool (FTC). Each fault containment region is connected to the avionic busses of the vehicle avionics system. In case of a faulty FCR (wrong calculation result was detected by the other FCRs or by build-in self-detection) the dedicated FCR will reset itself or will be reset by the others. The bus controller functions of the isolated FCR will be taken over according to a specific deterministic scheme from another FCR. The FTC data throughput will be maintained, the FTC operation will continue without interruption. Each FCR consists of an application CPU board (ALB), the fault management layer (FML), the avionics bus interface board (AVI) and a power supply (PSU), sharing a VME data bus.The FML is fully transparent, in terms of I/O accessibility, to the application S/W and votes the data autonomously received from the avionics busses and transmitted from the application.

Seismotectonics and Neotectonics of the Gulfs of Gökova-Kuşadasi-Siǧacik and Surrounding Regions (SW Turkey): Earthquake Mechanisms, Source Rupture Modeling, Tsunami Hazard and Geodynamic Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yolsal-Cevikbilen, Seda; Karaoglu, Özgür; Taymaz, Tuncay; Helvaci, Cahit

2013-04-01

The mechanical behavior of the continental lithosphere for the Aegean region is one of the foremost interesting geological disputes in earth sciences. The Aegean region provides complex tectonic events which produced a strong heterogeneity in the crust (i.e. large thrusts and exhumation shear zones or extensional detachments) as such in among most continental regions. In order to investigate mechanical reasons of the ongoing lithospheric-scale extension within the region, we must tackle all of the existing kinematic and dynamic agents: (1) roll back of the subduction slab and back arc extension; (2) westward extrusion of the Anatolian micro-plate; (3) block rotations of the Aegean region and western Anatolia; and (4) transtensional transform faults. Furthermore, seismological studies, particularly earthquake source mechanisms and rupture modeling, play important roles on deciphering the ongoing deformation and seismotectonic characteristics of the region. Recently, many moderate earthquakes occurred in the Gulfs of Gökova, Kuşadası, Sıǧacık and surroundings. In the present study, we examined source mechanisms and rupture histories of those earthquakes with Mw > 5.0 in order to retrieve the geometry of active faulting, source characteristics, kinematic and dynamic source parameters and current deformations of the region by using teleseismic body-waveform inversion of long-period P- and SH-waves, and broad-band P-waveforms recorded by GDSN and FDSN stations. We also checked first motion polarities of P- waveforms recorded at regional and teleseismic stations and applied several uncertainty tests to find the error limits of minimum misfit solutions. Inversion results revealed E-W directed normal faulting mechanisms with small amount of left lateral strike slip components in the Gulf of Gökova and NE-SW oriented right lateral strike slip faulting mechanisms in the Gulf of Sıǧacık. Earthquakes mostly have N-S and NW-SE directed T- axes directions which are consistent with the geology and seismotectonic structures of the region. Further, the major and well-known earthquake-induced Eastern Mediterranean tsunamis (e.g., 365, 1222, 1303, 1481, 1494, 1822 and 1948) were numerically simulated and several hypothetical tsunami scenarios were proposed to demonstrate the characteristics of tsunami waves, propagations and effects of coastal topography. For simulation of tsunami generation, we used nonlinear shallow-water mathematical models (i.e., TUNAMI-N2, AVI-NAMI and NAMI DANCE) with a given GEBCO - BODC bathymetry data. Synthetic tsunami wave amplitudes were calculated by proposing several hypothetical tsunami scenarios for historical tsunamigenic earthquakes occurred along the Hellenic Subduction Zone and Dodecanese Islands. Illustrative examples depicting the characteristics of tsunami wave propagation, and effects of coastal topography and of near-shore amplification were also given. Finally, potential tsunami risk in future along SW Anatolian coasts that will be related to destructive earthquakes (M > 7.0) occurred along the Hellenic subduction zone and near the deep Rhodes-Dalaman Trough is clearly verified.

Mercator Ocean Forecasting Products: Fitting into the Users Needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baudel, S.; Toumazou, V.

2006-07-01

Mercator O cean is a French public initiative aimed to develop ocean forecast op erational systems based on ocean physical models assimilating routin ely r emote sensing (altimetry from Envisat, Jason-1, GFO and Topex/Poseidon), sea surface temperature (in the years to come SMO S sea surf ace salinities) and in situ data. The oth er essen tial and subsequent mission is to allow, to contr ibute and to further operational o ceanography downstream applications. For th at purpose, Mercator Ocean mak es its products available through two different ways: 1. Imag es on the web targeting the g eneral public Every w eek, more than 3000 maps are updated describ ing 3D modelled ocean: now cast, forecast for up to 14 d ays and hind cast, temp erature, salinity, surface current and other ocean par ameters, 5 dep ths from surface to bottom. These images ar e freely av ailab le on the web , excep t the zonal maps younger than 30 day s. For these, the user is expected to fill an on-line form, asking h is/her motiv ations and the use h e/she in tends to do w ith these maps. This con trolled access allows us to dr aw the profile of this aud ience: 370 users ( end of February 2006), represented by the "g eneral public" ( about 40%), resear chers (16%), sailing (13%), studen ts- teachers (10 %), public institutions (8%), in charge of State missions concerning oil dr ift prev ention, environment monitoring, and recreative or professional fishing (7 %). 2. Dig ital files targeting professional u ses The use of d igital files containing the Mer cator outpu ts 3D fields is th e most impor tant criter ia to evaluate the impact of th e usefulness of our products. Mercator has created 'showcase products', summar izing Mercator outpu ts on regular grid s in NetCDF format. Sever al ways are proposed to access these products : FTP and H TTP, in clud ing a LAS/Op endap server, wh ich allows the user to make extraction of a per iod/area/ver tical levels/ocean parameters, and enab ling continuous time aggr egations outputs in one f ile. The number of our numer ical products users reach es about 80 teams, div ided into 2 groups. The f irst one concerns the members of th e Mercator Ocean Public Interest Group. Most of them ar e involved in resear ch. Three applications are involved in operational issu es : th e French N avy for op erational knowledge of th e oceanic environment, and the National W eather Forecasting Cen tre for both seasonal forecasting and pollutant drift modeling . Among the second group, 'ex tern al users', projects deal with Resear ch (not on ly physical oceanography, but also b iology and biogeo chemistry), Environmen t and Industrial and priv ate uses. On ly two pro jects are involved in a commercial activity in the field of information service for fishing industry and offshore industry.

On the molecular origin of the cooperative coil-to-globule transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) in water† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Stereochemistry and initial conformation of PNIPAM 30-mer; pair distribution functions of PNIPAM methyl groups; average time of transitions of dihedral angles; distribution of methyl dihedral angles; temperature dependence of average number of hydration water molecules; correlation between hydrogen bonding of water molecules per repeating unit in the FHS and end to end distance and correlation between PNIPAM–water hydrogen bonding and end to end distance. Time evolution of PNIPAM with the first hydration shell: movie FHSpnipam.avi. See DOI: 10.1039/c8cp00537k

PubMed Central

Zaccarelli, E.

2018-01-01

By means of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations we investigate the behaviour of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, in water at temperatures below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), including the undercooled regime. The transition between water soluble and insoluble states at the LCST is described as a cooperative process involving an intramolecular coil-to-globule transition preceding the aggregation of chains and the polymer precipitation. In this work we investigate the molecular origin of such cooperativity and the evolution of the hydration pattern in the undercooled polymer solution. The solution behaviour of an atactic 30-mer at high dilution is studied in the temperature interval from 243 to 323 K with a favourable comparison to available experimental data. In the water soluble states of PNIPAM we detect a correlation between polymer segmental dynamics and diffusion motion of bound water, occurring with the same activation energy. Simulation results show that below the coil-to-globule transition temperature PNIPAM is surrounded by a network of hydrogen bonded water molecules and that the cooperativity arises from the structuring of water clusters in proximity to hydrophobic groups. Differently, the perturbation of the hydrogen bond pattern involving water and amide groups occurs above the transition temperature. Altogether these findings reveal that even above the LCST PNIPAM remains largely hydrated and that the coil-to-globule transition is related with a significant rearrangement of the solvent in the proximity of the surface of the polymer. The comparison between the hydrogen bonding of water in the surrounding of PNIPAM isopropyl groups and in the bulk displays a decreased structuring of solvent at the hydrophobic polymer–water interface across the transition temperature, as expected because of the topological extension along the chain of such interface. No evidence of an upper critical solution temperature behaviour, postulated in theoretical and thermodynamics studies of PNIPAM aqueous solution, is observed in the low temperature domain. PMID:29619464

Scientists Track Collision of Powerful Stellar Winds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2005-04-01

Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio telescope have tracked the motion of a violent region where the powerful winds of two giant stars slam into each other. The collision region moves as the stars, part of a binary pair, orbit each other, and the precise measurement of its motion was the key to unlocking vital new information about the stars and their winds. WR 140 Image Sequence Motion of Wind Collision Region Graphic superimposes VLBA images of wind collision region on diagram of orbit of Wolf-Rayet (WR) star and its giant (O) companion. Click on image for larger version (412K) CREDIT: Dougherty et al., NRAO/AUI/NSF In Motion: Shockwave File Animated Gif File AVI file Both stars are much more massive than the Sun -- one about 20 times the mass of the Sun and the other about 50 times the Sun's mass. The 20-solar-mass star is a type called a Wolf-Rayet star, characterized by a very strong wind of particles propelled outward from its surface. The more massive star also has a strong outward wind, but one less intense than that of the Wolf-Rayet star. The two stars, part of a system named WR 140, circle each other in an elliptical orbit roughly the size of our Solar System. "The spectacular feature of this system is the region where the stars' winds collide, producing bright radio emission. We have been able to track this collision region as it moves with the orbits of the stars," said Sean Dougherty, an astronomer at the Herzberg Institute for Astrophysics in Canada. Dougherty and his colleagues presented their findings in the April 10 edition of the Astrophysical Journal. The supersharp radio "vision" of the continent-wide VLBA allowed the scientists to measure the motion of the wind collision region and then to determine the details of the stars' orbits and an accurate distance to the system. "Our new calculations of the orbital details and the distance are vitally important to understanding the nature of these Wolf-Rayet stars and of the wind-collision region," Dougherty said. The stars in WR 140 complete an orbital cycle in 7.9 years. The astronomers tracked the system for a year and a half, noting dramatic changes in the wind collision region. "People have worked out theoretical models for these collision regions, but the models don't seem to fit what our observations have shown," said Mark Claussen, of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mexico. "The new data on this system should provide the theorists with much better information for refining their models of how Wolf-Rayet stars evolve and how wind-collision regions work," Claussen added. The scientists watched the changes in the stellar system as the star's orbits carried them in paths that bring them nearly as close to each other as Mars is to the Sun and as far as Neptune is from the Sun. Their detailed analysis gave them new information on the Wolf-Rayet star's strong wind. At some points in the orbit, the wind collision region strongly emitted radio waves, and at other points, the scientists could not detect the collison region. Wolf-Rayet stars are giant stars nearing the time when they will explode as supernovae. "No other telescope in the world can see the details revealed by the VLBA," Claussen said. "This unmatched ability allowed us to determine the masses and other properties of the stars, and will help us answer some basic questions about the nature of Wolf-Rayet stars and how they develop." he added. The astronomers plan to continue observing WR 140 to follow the system's changes as the two massive stars continue to circle each other. Dougherty and Claussen worked with Anthony Beasley of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array office, Ashley Zauderer of the University of Maryland and Nick Bolingbroke of the University of Victoria, British Columbia. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Overview of NASA Glenn Seal Developments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steinetz, Bruce M.; Proctor, Margaret P.; Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.; Delgado, Irebert; DeMange, Jeffrey J.; Daniels, Christopher C.; Lattime, Scott B.

2004-01-01

Turbine engine studies have shown that reducing high pressure turbine (HPT) blade tip clearances will reduce fuel burn, lower emissions, retain exhaust gas temperature margin and increase range. Dr. Lattime presented the design and development status of a new Active Clearance Control Test rig aimed at demonstrating advanced ACC approaches and sensors. Mr. Melcher presented controls considerations for turbine active clearance control. Mr. Geisheimer of Radatech presented an overview of their microwave blade tip sensor technology. Microwave tip sensors show promise of operation in the extreme gas temperatures present in the HPT location. Mr. Justak presented an overview of non-contacting seal developments at Advanced Technologies Group. Dr. Braun presented investigations into a non-contacting finger seal under development by NASA GRC and University of Akron. Dr. Stango presented analytical assessments of the effects of flow-induced radial loads on brush seal behavior. Mr. Flaherty presented innovative seal and seal fabrication developments at FlowServ. Mr. Chappel presented abradable seal developments at Technetics. Dr. Daniels presented an overview of NASA GRC s acoustic seal developments. NASA is investigating the ability to harness high amplitude acoustic waves, possible through a new field of acoustics called Resonant Macrosonic Synthesis, to effect a non-contacting, low leakage seal. Dr. Daniels presented early results showing the ability to restrict flow via acoustic pressures. Dr. Athavale presented numerical results simulating the flow blocking capability of a pre-prototype acoustic seal.

Promoting professional development through poster presentations.

PubMed

Durkin, Gregory

2011-01-01

Poster presentations are commonplace at regional and national nursing conferences, although the development of a poster remains an intimidating task for many staff nurses. The author describes the staff development department's role in implementing in-house poster presentation sessions. Nursing staff are provided support and assistance in presenting posters to their colleagues at yearly sessions. The result has been increased comfort and experience with poster creation, participation in professional development activities, and dissemination of nursing practice innovation.

Les recommandations thérapeutiques relatives aux effets secondaires extrapyramidaux associés à l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques de deuxième génération chez les enfants et les adolescents

PubMed Central

Pringsheim, Tamara; Doja, Asif; Belanger, Stacey; Patten, Scott

2012-01-01

HISTORIQUE ET OBJECTIF : L’utilisation d’antipsychotiques augmente chez les enfants. Le présent article visait à orienter les cliniciens quant à la prise en charge clinique des effets secondaires extrapyramidaux des antipsychotiques de deuxième génération. MÉTHODOLOGIE : Les publications, les entrevues avec des informateurs clés et des échanges avec les membres d’un groupe de discussion et les partenaires ont permis de déterminer les principaux secteurs cliniques d’orientation et les préférences quant à la structure des présentes recommandations. Les membres responsables des lignes directrices ont reçu le projet de recommandations, ont évalué l’information recueillie grâce à une analyse bibliographique systématique et ont utilisé un processus de groupe nominal pour parvenir à un consensus quant aux recommandations thérapeutiques. Les lignes directrices contiennent une description des anomalies neurologiques souvent observées avec l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques ainsi que les recommandations sur le moyen d’examiner et de quantifier ces anomalies. Une démarche séquentielle sur la prise en charge des anomalies neurologiques est présentée. RÉSULTATS : On peut observer plusieurs types de symptômes extrapyramidaux attribuables à l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques chez les enfants, y compris la dystonie aiguë, l’akathisie, le parkinsonisme et la dyskinésie tardive, toutes induites par les neuroleptiques, de même que la dystonie tardive, l’akathisie tardive et les dyskinésies de sevrage. La forte majorité des données probantes sur le traitement des troubles du mouvement induits par les antipsychotiques proviennent de patients adultes atteints de schizophrénie. Étant donné le peu de données pédiatriques, les recommandations découlent de publications portant tant sur des adultes que sur des enfants. Compte tenu des limites de généralisation des données provenant de sujets adultes pour des enfants, il faudrait évaluer ces recommandations d’après les avis d’experts plutôt que d’après les données probantes. CONCLUSION : Les cliniciens doivent savoir que les antipsychotiques de deuxième génération ont le potentiel d’induire des effets secondaires neurologiques et devraient faire preuve d’une extrême vigilance lorsqu’ils en prescrivent. PMID:24082814

Lessons learned in the development of the STOL intelligent tutoring system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seamster, Thomas; Baker, Clifford; Ames, Troy

1991-01-01

Lessons learned during the development of the NASA Systems Test and Operations Language (STOL) Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS), being developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center are presented. The purpose of the intelligent tutor is to train STOL users by adapting tutoring based on inferred student strengths and weaknesses. This system has been under development for over one year and numerous lessons learned have emerged. These observations are presented in three sections, as follows. The first section addresses the methodology employed in the development of the STOL ITS and briefly presents the ITS architecture. The second presents lessons learned, in the areas of: intelligent tutor development; documentation and reporting; cost and schedule control; and tools and shells effectiveness. The third section presents recommendations which may be considered by other ITS developers, addressing: access, use and selection of subject matter experts; steps involved in ITS development; use of ITS interface design prototypes as part of knowledge engineering; and tools and shells effectiveness.

Teacher Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1997

Eight conference papers on language teacher development are presented, including: "Mosaics of Teacher Development and Socialization" (Andrew Barfield, Paul A. Beaufait, Sean Conley, Tim Murphey, Katsura Haruko), a panel presentation on aspects of and experiments in teacher development; "Questions About Teaching? Answers from…

THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF FOUR COLLEGE COURSES BY COMPUTER TELEPROCESSING. FINAL REPORT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MITZEL, HAROLD E.

THIS IS A FINAL REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF FOUR COLLEGE COURSES BY COMPUTER TELEPROCESSING FROM APRIL 1964 TO JUNE 1967. IT OUTLINES THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS THE PREPARATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND EVALUATION OF MATERIALS FOR COMPUTER PRESENTATION OF COURSES IN AUDIOLOGY, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING, ENGINEERING ECONOMICS, AND MODERN…

Levels of Indicator Development for Education for Sustainable Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rode, Horst; Michelsen, Gerd

2008-01-01

The article summarizes some considerations about the development of indicators for education for sustainable development (ESD). It reflects the present state of discussion, especially from a German perspective, and includes present developments in the area of quality criteria and standards for ESD. These discussion threads only denote the…

Current status of water environment and their microbial biosensor techniques - Part II: Recent trends in microbial biosensor development.

PubMed

Nakamura, Hideaki

2018-05-08

In Part I of the present review series, I presented the current state of the water environment by focusing on Japanese cases and discussed the need to further develop microbial biosensor technologies for the actual water environment. I comprehensively present trends after approximately 2010 in microbial biosensor development for the water environment. In the first section, after briefly summarizing historical studies, recent studies on microbial biosensor principles are introduced. In the second section, recent application studies for the water environment are also introduced. Finally, I conclude the present review series by describing the need to further develop microbial biosensor technologies. Graphical abstract Current water pollution indirectly occurs by anthropogenic eutrophication (Part I). Recent trends in microbial biosensor development for water environment are described in part II of the present review series.

Developing Oral Case Presentation Skills: Peer and Self-Evaluations as Instructional Tools.

PubMed

Williams, Dustyn E; Surakanti, Shravani

2016-01-01

Oral case presentation is an essential skill in clinical practice that is decidedly varied and understudied in teaching curricula. We developed a curriculum to improve oral case presentation skills in medical students. As part of an internal medicine clerkship, students receive instruction in the elements of a good oral case presentation and then present a real-world case in front of a video camera. Each student self-evaluates his/her presentation and receives evaluations from his/her peers. We expect peer and self-evaluation to be meaningful tools for developing skills in oral presentation. We hope to not only improve the quality of oral case presentations by students but also to reduce the time burden on faculty.

Perspectives on the Present State and Future of Higher Education Faculty Development in Kazakhstan: Implications for National Human Resource Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seitova, Dinara

2016-01-01

The article aims at examining the present state of higher education faculty development in Kazakhstan in the context of multidimensional nationwide development reforms and exploring implications for the National Human Resource Development of the country. For the purpose of this research, theoretical human resource development (HRD) and…

Toroidal Tank Development for Upper-stages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeLay, Tom; Roberts, Keith

2003-01-01

The advantages, development, and fabrication of toroidal propellant tanks are profiled in this viewgraph presentation. Several images are included of independent research and development (IR&D) of toroidal propellant tanks at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Other images in the presentation give a brief overview of Thiokol conformal tank technology development. The presentation describes Thiokol's approach to continuous composite toroidal tank fabrication in detail. Images are shown of continuous and segmented toroidal tanks fabricated by Thiokol.

Leadership Development. Symposium 12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2000

Three presentations are provided from the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD) 2000 Conference Proceedings. "Leadership Development: A Review of the Theory and Literature" (Susan A. Lynham) has four parts that analyze the leadership development process: the present state of the available body of knowledge on leadership…

The USL NASA PC R and D interactive presentation development system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dominick, Wayne D. (Editor); Moreau, Dennis R.

1984-01-01

The Interactive Presentation Development System (IPFS) is a highly interactive system for creating, editing, and displaying video presentation sequences, e.g., for developing and presenting displays of instructional material similiar to overhead transparency or slide presentations. However, since this system is PC-based, users (instructors) can step through sequences forward or backward, focusing attention to areas of the display with special cursor pointers. Additionally, screen displays may be dynamically modified during the presentation to show assignments or to answer questions, much like a traditional blackboard. This system is now implemented at the University of Southwestern Louisiana for use within the piloting phases of the NASA contract work.

Predictors of Teacher Intervention in Indirect Bullying at School and Outcome of a Professional Development Presentation for Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dedousis-Wallace, Anna; Shute, Rosalyn; Varlow, Megan; Murrihy, Rachael; Kidman, Tony

2014-01-01

This study with 326 girls-school teachers developed and tested a model of predictors of the likelihood that teachers will intervene in indirect bullying, and evaluated a professional development presentation. Teachers responded to bullying vignettes before and after a presentation on indirect bullying (Experimentals) or adolescent mental health…

Development of flat conductor cable for commercial and residential wiring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carden, J. R.

1977-01-01

The overall spectrum of the space technology spin-off development project: development of Flat Conductor Cable (FCC) for commercial and residential wiring, is presented. A discussion of the background, program milestones, industry participants, system outgrowth, hardware availability, cost estimates, and overall status of the program is presented for the 1970-to-present time period.

Do we Need a Sociology of Energy Development?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papatheodorou, Photini; Spathopoulos, Fivos

2016-04-01

The presentation discusses the need of developing a new area of scientific study, namely the "Sociology of Energy Development". It presents our knowledge gaps, regarding the reaction of societies towards energy projects. The presentation proposes that the first steps will be to study the "ethnography" of the energy companies and acquire a clear understanding of their specific cultures. In particular, the presentation argues for a need to raise meaningful questions about the values and attitudes of energy companies in areas such as environmental awareness; gender; cultural differences and other issues of conflict. It will also propose that a new conceptual framework is developed for the specific analysis of the relationship between society and energy companies, in the fields of public perception and trust. Finally, the presentation will conclude with an exploration of key principles, which may guide the development of new ethical practices in the field of energy.

Design for Effective Staff Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seagren, Alan T.

This paper presents a model for designing an effective staff development program. The rationale, philosophy, and instructional design utilized in the instructional Staff Development (ISD) program provides the basis for the design presented. The ISD program was conceptualized, developed, pilot tested, and field tested as a cooperative research…

Water and wastewater in developing countries: present reality and strategy for the future.

PubMed

Ujang, Z; Buckley, C

2002-01-01

This paper summarises the paper presentation sessions at the Conference, as well giving insights on the issues related to developing countries. It also discusses the present status of practice and research on water and wastewater management, and projected future scenario based not only on the papers presented in the Conference, but also on other sources. The strategy is presented to overcome many problems in developing countries such as rapid urbanization, industrialization, population growth, financial and institutional problems and, depleting water resources. The strategy consists of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM), cleaner industrial production, waste minimisation and financial arrangements.

Online Self-Presentation on Facebook and Self Development During the College Transition.

PubMed

Yang, Chia-chen; Brown, B Bradford

2016-02-01

Self-presentation, a central element of young people's identity development, now extends from face-to-face contexts to social networking sites. Online self-presentation may change when youth transition to college, faced with the need to reclaim or redefine themselves in the new environment. Drawing on theories of self-presentation and self development, this study explores changes in youth's online self-presentation during their transition to a residential college. It also examines associations between online self-presentation and students' self-esteem and self-concept clarity. We surveyed 218 college freshmen (M age = 18.07; 64 % female, 79 % White) at the beginning and again at the end of their first semester. Freshmen's Facebook self-presentation became less restricted later in the semester. Broad, deep, positive, and authentic Facebook self-presentation was positively associated with perceived support from the audience, which contributed to higher self-esteem contemporaneously, though not longitudinally. Intentional Facebook self-presentation engaged students in self-reflection, which was related to lower self-concept clarity concurrently but higher self-esteem longitudinally. Findings clarified the paths from multifaceted online self-presentation to self development via interpersonal and intrapersonal processes during college transition.

Creating Professional Development School Partnerships. A Resource Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Teitel, Lee; Del Prete, Tom

This three-part guide presents information and recommendations from the Massachusetts Professional Development School Network Steering Committee on how to develop a professional development school (PDS) partnership. Part 1 defines the PDS concept, presents a brief background account of its evolution, and discusses its potential for simultaneously…

Should the US abandon efforts to develop commercial fusion power

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

Kay, W.D.; Kinter, E.E.

1993-01-22

This article presents viewpoints and rationale for continuing and disbanding the US efforts to develop commercial fusion power. The views of W.D. Kay, an assistant professor of political science at Northeastern University, are presented regarding - yes, abandon efforts. Meanwhile, the views of Edwin Keutes, former director of the Magnetic Fusion Program for DOE, are presented for continued development.

ASTP ranging system mathematical model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ellis, M. R.; Robinson, L. H.

1973-01-01

A mathematical model is presented of the VHF ranging system to analyze the performance of the Apollo-Soyuz test project (ASTP). The system was adapted for use in the ASTP. The ranging system mathematical model is presented in block diagram form, and a brief description of the overall model is also included. A procedure for implementing the math model is presented along with a discussion of the validation of the math model and the overall summary and conclusions of the study effort. Detailed appendices of the five study tasks are presented: early late gate model development, unlock probability development, system error model development, probability of acquisition and model development, and math model validation testing.

A study of software management and guidelines for flight projects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A survey of present software development policies and practices, and an analysis of these policies and practices are summarized. Background information necessary to assess the adequacy of present NASA flight software development approaches is presented.

A Plan for the Development and Demonstration of Optical Communications for Deep Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lesh, J. R.; Deutsch, L. J.; Weber, W. J.

1990-01-01

In this article, an overall plan for the development and demonstration of optical communications for deep-space applications is presented. The current state of the technology for optical communications is presented. Then, the development and demonstration plan is presented in two parts: the overall major systems activities, followed by the generic technology developments that will enable them. The plan covers the path from laboratory subsystems demonstrations out to a full-scale flight experiment system for the proposed Mars Communications Relay Orbiter mission.

Gas phase condensation of superparamagnetic iron oxide-silica nanoparticles - control of the intraparticle phase distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stötzel, C.; Kurland, H.-D.; Grabow, J.; Müller, F. A.

2015-04-01

Spherical, softly agglomerated and superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and amorphous silica (SiO2) were prepared by CO2 laser co-vaporization (CoLAVA) of hematite powder (α-Fe2O3) and quartz sand (SiO2). The α-Fe2O3 portion of the homogeneous starting mixtures was gradually increased (15 mass%-95 mass%). It was found that (i) with increasing iron oxide content the NPs' morphology changes from a nanoscale SiO2 matrix with multiple γ-Fe2O3 inclusions to Janus NPs consisting of a γ-Fe2O3 and a SiO2 hemisphere to γ-Fe2O3 NPs each carrying one small SiO2 lens on its surface, (ii) the multiple γ-Fe2O3 inclusions accumulate at the NPs' inner surfaces, and (iii) all composite NPs are covered by a thin layer of amorphous SiO2. These morphological characteristics are attributed to (i) the phase segregation of iron oxide and silica within the condensed Fe2O3-SiO2 droplets, (ii) the temperature gradient within these droplets which arises during rapid cooling in the CoLAVA process, and (iii) the significantly lower surface energy of silica when compared to iron oxide. The proposed growth mechanism of these Fe2O3-SiO2 composite NPs during gas phase condensation can be transferred to other systems comprising a glass-network former and another component that is insoluble in the regarding glass. Thus, our model will facilitate the development of novel functional composite NPs for applications in biomedicine, optics, electronics, or catalysis.Spherical, softly agglomerated and superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and amorphous silica (SiO2) were prepared by CO2 laser co-vaporization (CoLAVA) of hematite powder (α-Fe2O3) and quartz sand (SiO2). The α-Fe2O3 portion of the homogeneous starting mixtures was gradually increased (15 mass%-95 mass%). It was found that (i) with increasing iron oxide content the NPs' morphology changes from a nanoscale SiO2 matrix with multiple γ-Fe2O3 inclusions to Janus NPs consisting of a γ-Fe2O3 and a SiO2 hemisphere to γ-Fe2O3 NPs each carrying one small SiO2 lens on its surface, (ii) the multiple γ-Fe2O3 inclusions accumulate at the NPs' inner surfaces, and (iii) all composite NPs are covered by a thin layer of amorphous SiO2. These morphological characteristics are attributed to (i) the phase segregation of iron oxide and silica within the condensed Fe2O3-SiO2 droplets, (ii) the temperature gradient within these droplets which arises during rapid cooling in the CoLAVA process, and (iii) the significantly lower surface energy of silica when compared to iron oxide. The proposed growth mechanism of these Fe2O3-SiO2 composite NPs during gas phase condensation can be transferred to other systems comprising a glass-network former and another component that is insoluble in the regarding glass. Thus, our model will facilitate the development of novel functional composite NPs for applications in biomedicine, optics, electronics, or catalysis. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Infrared absorption of the raw powders hematite and quartz (section S1), TEM investigation of the spatial distribution of the γ-Fe2O3 inclusions (section S2), particle size distributions of the Fe2O3@SiO2 nanopowder samples (section S3), ζ-potentials of aqueous dispersions of all γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 nanopowder samples (section S4), silanization of Fe2O3@SiO2 composite nanopowders with [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-propyl]trimethoxysilane (section S5), and animation composed of TEM micrographs of Fe2O3@SiO2 NPs recorded at incrementally altered tilt angles (``Rotating Fe2O3@SiO2 NP.avi''). See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00845j

Challenges of Moving IPG into Production

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schulbach, Cathy

2004-01-01

Over the past 5-6 years, NASA has been developing the Information Power Grid and has a persistent testbed currently based on GT2.4.2. This presentation will begin with an overview of IPG status and services, discuss key milestones in IPG development, and present early as well as expected applications. The presentation will discuss some of the issues encountered in developing a grid including the tension between providing centralized and distributed computing. These issues also affect how the grid is moved into full production. Finally, the presentation will provide current plans for moving IPG into full production, including gaining broad user input, developing acceptance criteria from the production operations group, planning upgrades, and training users.

Perception system and functions for autonomous navigation in a natural environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chatila, Raja; Devy, Michel; Lacroix, Simon; Herrb, Matthieu

1994-01-01

This paper presents the approach, algorithms, and processes we developed for the perception system of a cross-country autonomous robot. After a presentation of the tele-programming context we favor for intervention robots, we introduce an adaptive navigation approach, well suited for the characteristics of complex natural environments. This approach lead us to develop a heterogeneous perception system that manages several different terrain representatives. The perception functionalities required during navigation are listed, along with the corresponding representations we consider. The main perception processes we developed are presented. They are integrated within an on-board control architecture we developed. First results of an ambitious experiment currently underway at LAAS are then presented.

Peering Into an Early Galaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2018-04-01

Thirteen billion years ago, early galaxies ionized the gas around them, producing some of the first light that brought our universe out of its dark ages. Now the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has provided one of the first detailed looks into the interior of one of these early, distant galaxies.Sources of LightArtists illustration of the reionization of the universe (time progresses left to right), in which ionized bubbles that form around the first sources of light eventually overlap to form the fully ionized universe we observe today. [Avi Loeb/Scientific American]For the first roughly hundred million years of its existence, our universe expanded in relative darkness there were no sources of light at that time besides the cosmic microwave background. But as mass started to condense to form the first objects, these objects eventually shone as the earliest luminous sources, contributing to the reionization of the universe.To learn about the early production of light in the universe, our best bet is to study in detail the earliest luminous sources stars, galaxies, or quasars that we can hunt down. One ideal target is the galaxy COSMOS Redshift 7, known as CR7 for short.Targeting CR7CR7 is one of the oldest, most distant galaxies known, lying at a redshift of z 6.6. Its discovery in 2015 and subsequent observations of bright, ultraviolet-emitting clumps within it have led to broad speculation about the source of its emission. Does this galaxy host an active nucleus? Or could it perhaps contain the long-theorized first generation of stars, metal-free Population III stars?To determine the nature of CR7 and the other early galaxies that contributed to reionization, we need to explore their gas and dust in detail a daunting task for such distant sources! Conveniently, this is a challenge that is now made possible by ALMAs incredible capabilities. In a new publication led by Jorryt Matthee (Leiden University, the Netherlands), a team of scientists now reports on what weve learned peering into CR7s interior with ALMA.ALMA observations of [C II] (white contours) are overlaid on an ultraviolet image of the galaxy CR7 taken with Hubble (background image). The presence of [C II] throughout the galaxy indicate that CR7 does not primarily consist of metal-free gas, as had been previously proposed. [Matthee et al. 2017]Metals yet No Dust?Matthee and collaborators deep spectroscopic observations of CR7 targeted the far-infrared dust continuum emission and a gas emission line, [C II]. The authors detected [C II] emission in a large region in and around the galaxy, including near the ultraviolet clumps. This clearly indicates the presence of metals in these star-forming regions, and it rules out the possibility that CR7s gas is mostly primordial and forming metal-free Pop III stars.The authors do not detect far infrared continuum emission from dust, which sets an unusually low upper limit on the amount of dust that may be present in this galaxy. This limit allows them to better interpret their measurements of star formation rates in CR7, providing more information about the galaxys properties.Lastly, Matthee and collaborators note that the [C II] emission is detected in multiple different components that have different velocities. The authors propose that these components are accreting satellite galaxies. If this is correct, then CR7 is not only a target to learn about early sources of light in the universe its also a rare opportunity to directly witness the build-up of a central galaxy in the early universe.CitationJ. Matthee et al 2017 ApJ 851 145. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aa9931

Natural and anthropogenic phenomena affecting the historical landslide trend in the Subappennino Dauno (southern Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lonigro, Teresa; Santaloia, Francesca; Polemio, Maurizio

2014-05-01

The aim of this work is to present a methodology, based both on the use methods of time series analyses and of geospatial analyses of monthly climatic data (rainfall, wet days, rainfall intensity, and temperature), annual maximum of short-duration rainfall (from 1 hour to 5 days), historical modification of land use, and population variations in order to characterise the effects of these variables on the occurrence of landsliding in Daunia area, located on the eastern margin of the Southern Apennines thrust belt (southern Italy). Rock strata (mainly) interbedded with clayey marls, clays and silty-clays outcrop in this area. Due to the intense strain history, these successions are found to be from stratified to deeply fractured, up to be disrupted and floating as blocks in a clayey matrix. In turn, the clay units are laminated to intensely fissured and characterised by very poor mechanical properties (Santaloia et al., 2012). The statistical analyses deal with data coming from published databases, integrated by public and private documents, referring to a wide time span. Climate data records from 1877 to 2008 were elaborated, in particular the data coming from sixteen rainfall gauges, ten of which were also thermometric. Moreover, some monthly indices of rainfall, wet days, rainfall intensity, temperature, and landslide occurrence were introduced to simplify the analysis of parameters, characterised by spatial and temporal variability. The population records are from the 19th century up to now while the time period of reference for the land use data is from 1930 up to now. As concerns the landslide events, they were collected from 1918 to 2006. The main source of these records is the AVI database, an existing Italian database that collects data about damaging floods and landslides from 1918 to 1996. This dataset was integrated up to 2006 by consulting newspapers, scientific publications, technical reports, written by the researchers of the CNR-IRPI for the Civil Protection, and also documents belonging to a research project (PS_119; Cotecchia et al. 2010). According to the landslide data collected, the landslide events resulted to be 175 in the study area. The trend analyses show that the landslide occurrence was increased with the time, despite of the rainfall and temperature data are not prone to landsliding. As a matter of fact, the trend of both the monthly rainfall and the rainfall intensity decreases, and the temperature and the wet days show a positive trend during the period of reference. The trend of the short-duration rainfall results generally to decrease. Not existing an evident relationship between climate variability and the increase of landslide occurrence, some other factors should be considered, as, for instance, the poor mechanical soil properties, the role of anthropogenic modifications and the mismanagement of risk-prone areas. In this regards, the preliminary results obtained from the data analyses of the land use and the populations could partly justify the increasing trend of landslide occurrence. More details on previous results of this research activity were recently published (Cotecchia et al., 2010; Polemio and Lonigro, 2011 and 2013; Santaloia et al., 2012). References Cotecchia F., Santaloia F., Lollino P., C. Vitone, G. Mitaritonna (2010) "Deterministic landslide hazard assessment at regional scale". Geoflorida 2010, : 3130-3139. Santaloia F, Cotecchia F, Vitone C (2012) "Applicazione dei metodi avanzati al fronte appenninico apulo-lucano: analisi di I livello. In: Cascini L. (Ed) "Criteri di zonazione della suscettibilità e della pericolosità da frane innescate da eventi estremi (piogge e sisma)"; 130-140, Padova:Composervice srl. Polemio M., Lonigro T. (2011) "Variabilità climatica e ricorrenza delle calamità idrogeologiche in Puglia". In: "Le modificazioni climatiche e i rischi naturali", Polemio M. (Ed.), CNR IRPI, Bari, pp. 13-16. Polemio M., Lonigro T. (2013) "Climate variability and landslide occurrence in Apulia (southern Italy)". In: C. Margottini et al. (eds.), Landslide Science and Practice, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 4: 37-41.

Resume Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lorenzen, Elizabeth A.; And Others

This paper presents a step-by-step guide for developing a resume as part of a job search campaign. The paper presents the following information: purposes of the resume; steps in resume development; resume formats; resume headings; and some "do's and some "don't's." The paper also includes a list of 161 action verbs for use in resume development, a…

WATERSHED-ESTUARY SUSTAINABILITY: WHAT STAKEHOLDERS VALUE

EPA Science Inventory

Sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"1. To evaluate the present attributes valued versus the potential effects of development and other land use chang...

Designing a Computerized Presentation Center.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christopher, Doris A.

1995-01-01

The Office Systems and Business Education Department at California State University (Los Angeles) developed a computerized presentation center, with multimedia classrooms and a multipurpose room, where students learn computerized presentation design skills, faculty can develop materials for class, and local business can do videoconferencing and…

STEM professional development: What's going on from the presenters' and participants' perspectives?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Randi

This study was designed to explore elementary STEM professional development viewed from the presenters' and participants' perspectives. Numerous committees and educational organizations recommend investing in STEM professional development at the local, state, and national level. This investment must begin with research that inquires how STEM professional development is structured and what is needed for teacher and student success. Since there is a recent STEM education push in schools, elementary teachers need effective professional development in order to gain the necessary content, skills, confidence, and pedagogy required for those changing demands. This qualitative study embraced. Yin's case study methodology by observing short-duration STEM professional development for elementary teachers within a large metropolitan school system and an educational professional development agency. The study discussed the analysis and findings in the context of Bandura's sources of efficacy and Desimone's critical features of professional development. Data were gathered form professional development observations, presenter interviews, and participant interviews. The research questions for this study included: (a) based on Desimone's (2009) framework for professional development, what does content focused, active learning, coherence, duration, and collective participation look like in initial STEM professional development for elementary teachers? (b) are Bandura's (1997) four sources of self- efficacy: mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and affective states evidenced within the short duration professional development? and (c) how do these two frameworks align between presenter and participant thoughts and actions? This study uncovered additional sources of efficacy are present in short-duration STEM professional development. These found sources include coherence, content, and active learning delivered in a definitive order. The findings of this study have implications for educators, policy makers, and developers of professional development. Future research is needed to add to the small body of literature about STEM professional development, specifically research to fully understand the structure of STEM professional development and how this differs for other areas of learning.

United States Research and Development effort on ITER magnet tasks

DOE PAGES

Martovetsky, Nicolai N.; Reierson, Wayne T.

2011-01-22

This study presents the status of research and development (R&D) magnet tasks that are being performed in support of the U.S. ITER Project Office (USIPO) commitment to provide a central solenoid assembly and toroidal field conductor for the ITER machine to be constructed in Cadarache, France. The following development tasks are presented: winding development, inlets and outlets development, internal and bus joints development and testing, insulation development and qualification, vacuum-pressure impregnation, bus supports, and intermodule structure and materials characterization.

Communication: Literacy and Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Literacy Work, 1971

1971-01-01

Author presents a preliminary discussion of the relationship of literacy and rural development. It presents the literacy continuum amongst the African population of Rhodesia, results of a small study of literacy retention, and a brief account of literacy effect on the development of subsistance agriculture. (Editor/LF)

THE ATMOSPHERIC MODEL EVALUATION TOOL (AMET); AIR QUALITY MODULE

EPA Science Inventory

This presentation reviews the development of the Atmospheric Model Evaluation Tool (AMET) air quality module. The AMET tool is being developed to aid in the model evaluation. This presentation focuses on the air quality evaluation portion of AMET. Presented are examples of the...

Advanced Fiber Optic-Based Sensing Technology for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, Lance; Parker, Allen R.; Piazza, Anthony; Ko, William L.; Chan, Patrick; Bakalyar, John

2011-01-01

This presentation provides an overview of fiber optic sensing technology development activities performed at NASA Dryden in support of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Examples of current and previous work are presented in the following categories: algorithm development, system development, instrumentation installation, ground R&D, and flight testing. Examples of current research and development activities are provided.

The Development Data Book: A Guide to Social and Economic Statistics. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sheram, Katherine

This data book presents satistics on countries with populations of more than one million. The statistics relate to economic development and the changes it is bringing about in the world. These statistics are measures of social and economic conditions in developing and industrial countries. Five indicators of economic development are presented,…

Use of Data to Develop a Code Blue Training Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-28

MDW/SGVU SUBJECT: Professional Presentation Approval 7 FEB 2016 1. Your paper, entitled Use of Data to Develop a Code Blue Training Program...3039 must be submitted for review and approval.) 6. TITLE OF MATERIAL TO BE PUBLISHED OR PRESENTED: Use of Data to Develop a Code Blue Training ...January 19, 2017 D N/A 29. COMMENTS ~ APPROVED 0 DISAPPROVED Approved training presentation with appropriate disclaimers based on training curriculum

Array-CGH analysis in Rwandan patients presenting development delay/intellectual disability with multiple congenital anomalies.

PubMed

Uwineza, Annette; Caberg, Jean-Hubert; Hitayezu, Janvier; Hellin, Anne Cecile; Jamar, Mauricette; Dideberg, Vinciane; Rusingiza, Emmanuel K; Bours, Vincent; Mutesa, Leon

2014-07-12

Array-CGH is considered as the first-tier investigation used to identify copy number variations. Right now, there is no available data about the genetic etiology of patients with development delay/intellectual disability and congenital malformation in East Africa. Array comparative genomic hybridization was performed in 50 Rwandan patients with development delay/intellectual disability and multiple congenital abnormalities, using the Agilent's 180 K microarray platform. Fourteen patients (28%) had a global development delay whereas 36 (72%) patients presented intellectual disability. All patients presented multiple congenital abnormalities. Clinically significant copy number variations were found in 13 patients (26%). Size of CNVs ranged from 0,9 Mb to 34 Mb. Six patients had CNVs associated with known syndromes, whereas 7 patients presented rare genomic imbalances. This study showed that CNVs are present in African population and show the importance to implement genetic testing in East-African countries.

Algorithms in Discrepancy Theory and Lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramadas, Harishchandra

This thesis deals with algorithmic problems in discrepancy theory and lattices, and is based on two projects I worked on while at the University of Washington in Seattle. A brief overview is provided in Chapter 1 (Introduction). Chapter 2 covers joint work with Avi Levy and Thomas Rothvoss in the field of discrepancy minimization. A well-known theorem of Spencer shows that any set system with n sets over n elements admits a coloring of discrepancy O(√n). While the original proof was non-constructive, recent progress brought polynomial time algorithms by Bansal, Lovett and Meka, and Rothvoss. All those algorithms are randomized, even though Bansal's algorithm admitted a complicated derandomization. We propose an elegant deterministic polynomial time algorithm that is inspired by Lovett-Meka as well as the Multiplicative Weight Update method. The algorithm iteratively updates a fractional coloring while controlling the exponential weights that are assigned to the set constraints. A conjecture by Meka suggests that Spencer's bound can be generalized to symmetric matrices. We prove that n x n matrices that are block diagonal with block size q admit a coloring of discrepancy O(√n . √log(q)). Bansal, Dadush and Garg recently gave a randomized algorithm to find a vector x with entries in {-1,1} with ∥Ax∥infinity ≤ O(√log n) in polynomial time, where A is any matrix whose columns have length at most 1. We show that our method can be used to deterministically obtain such a vector. In Chapter 3, we discuss a result in the broad area of lattices and integer optimization, in joint work with Rebecca Hoberg, Thomas Rothvoss and Xin Yang. The number balancing (NBP) problem is the following: given real numbers a1,...,an in [0,1], find two disjoint subsets I1,I2 of [ n] so that the difference |sumi∈I1a i - sumi∈I2ai| of their sums is minimized. An application of the pigeonhole principle shows that there is always a solution where the difference is at most O √n/2n). Finding the minimum, however, is NP-hard. In polynomial time, the differencing algorithm by Karmarkar and Karp from 1982 can produce a solution with difference at most n-theta(log n), but no further improvement has been made since then. We show a relationship between NBP and Minkowski's Theorem. First we show that an approximate oracle for Minkowski's Theorem gives an approximate NBP oracle. Perhaps more surprisingly, we show that an approximate NBP oracle gives an approximate Minkowski oracle. In particular, we prove that any polynomial time algorithm that guarantees a solution of difference at most 2√n/2 n would give a polynomial approximation for Minkowski as well as a polynomial factor approximation algorithm for the Shortest Vector Problem.

Des recommandations probantes pour surveiller l’innocuité des antipsychotiques de deuxième génération chez les enfants et les adolescents

PubMed Central

Pringsheim, Tamara; Panagiotopoulos, Constadina; Davidson, Jana; Ho, Josephine

2012-01-01

HISTORIQUE : Au Canada, l’utilisation d’antipsychotiques, notamment les antipsychotiques de deuxième génération (ADG), a augmenté de façon considérable depuis cinq ans chez les enfants ayant des troubles de santé mentale. Ces médicaments ont le potentiel de causer de graves complications métaboliques et neurologiques lorsqu’on les utilise de manière chronique. OBJECTIF : Synthétiser les données probantes relatives aux effets secondaires métaboliques et neurologiques précis associés à l’usage d’ADG chez les enfants et fournir des recommandations probantes sur la surveillance de ces effets secondaires. MÉTHODOLOGIE : Les auteurs ont procédé à une analyse systématique des essais cliniques contrôlés des ADG auprès d’enfants. Ils ont fait des recommandations à l’égard de la surveillance de l’innocuité des ADG d’après un modèle de classification fondé sur le système GRADE (système de notation de l’évaluation et de l’élaboration des recommandations). Lorsque les données probantes n’étaient pas suffisantes, ils fondaient leurs recommandations sur le consensus et l’avis d’experts. Un groupe consensuel multidisciplinaire a analysé toutes les données probantes pertinentes et est parvenu à un consensus à l’égard des recommandations. RÉSULTATS : Les recommandations probantes portant sur la surveillance de l’innocuité des ADG figurent dans les présentes lignes directrices. Les auteurs indiquent la qualité des recommandations relatives à des examens physiques et tests de laboratoire précis à l’égard de chaque ADG à des moments déterminés. CONCLUSION : De multiples essais aléatoires et contrôlés ont permis d’évaluer l’efficacité de bon nombre des ADG utilisés pour traiter les troubles de santé mentale en pédiatrie. Toutefois, leurs avantages ne sont pas sans risques : on observe à la fois des effets secondaires métaboliques et neurologiques chez les enfants traités au moyen d’ADG. Le risque de prise de poids, d’augmentation de l’indice de masse corporelle et de taux lipidiques anormaux est plus élevé à l’utilisation d’olanzapine, suivie de la clozapine et de la quétiapine. Quant au risque d’effets secondaires neurologiques des traitements, il est plus élevé à l’utilisation de rispéridone, d’olanzapine et d’aripiprazole. Des interventions de surveillance pertinentes des effets secondaires amélioreront la qualité des soins des enfants traités à l’aide de ces médicaments. PMID:24082813

Modelling and control of a rotor supported by magnetic bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gurumoorthy, R.; Pradeep, A. K.

1994-01-01

In this paper we develop a dynamical model of a rotor and the active magnetic bearings used to support the rotor. We use this model to develop a stable state feedback control of the magnetic bearing system. We present the development of a rigid body model of the rotor, utilizing both Rotation Matrices (Euler Angles) and Euler Parameters (Quaternions). In the latter half of the paper we develop a stable state feedback control of the actively controlled magnetic bearing to control the rotor position under inbalances. The control law developed takes into account the variation of the model with rotational speed. We show stability over the whole operating range of speeds for the magnetic bearing system. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the closed loop system performance. We develop the model of the magnetic bearing, and present two schemes for the excitation of the poles of the actively controlled magnetic bearing. We also present a scheme for averaging multiple sensor measurements and splitting the actuation forces amongst redundant actuators.

Infectious disease following travel to developed regions: a snapshot of presentations to an Australian travel medicine clinic.

PubMed

Drewett, George; Leder, Karin

2016-06-01

Much of the travel medicine literature focuses on travel to 'developing' regions by travellers from 'developed' regions; however literature about travel to developed regions is scarce. This article examines presentations to a travel medicine clinic over a 17-year period with illnesses resulting from travel to developed regions. From a cohort of general presentations to the clinic of 1077 patients, 85 patients acquired infections due to travel to developed regions, with a total of 99 infectious diagnoses made. This serves to highlight the risk of infectious disease even among travel to only developed regions, and the importance of travel advice in these situations. © International Society of Travel Medicine, 2016.. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Development Risk Management Framework

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

Snowberg, David; Weber, Jochem

2015-09-01

Over the past decade, the global marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) industry has suffered a number of serious technological and commercial setbacks. To help reduce the risks of industry failures and advance the development of new technologies, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed an MHK Risk Management Framework. By addressing uncertainties, the MHK Risk Management Framework increases the likelihood of successful development of an MHK technology. It covers projects of any technical readiness level (TRL) or technical performance level (TPL) and all risk types (e.g. technological risk, regulatory risk, commercial risk) over themore » development cycle. This framework is intended for the development and deployment of a single MHK technology—not for multiple device deployments within a plant. This risk framework is intended to meet DOE’s risk management expectations for the MHK technology research and development efforts of the Water Power Program (see Appendix A). It also provides an overview of other relevant risk management tools and documentation.1 This framework emphasizes design and risk reviews as formal gates to ensure risks are managed throughout the technology development cycle. Section 1 presents the recommended technology development cycle, Sections 2 and 3 present tools to assess the TRL and TPL of the project, respectively. Section 4 presents a risk management process with design and risk reviews for actively managing risk within the project, and Section 5 presents a detailed description of a risk registry to collect the risk management information into one living document. Section 6 presents recommendations for collecting and using lessons learned throughout the development process.« less

Indigenous People and Development in Latin America: A Literature Survey and Recommendations. Latin American Monograph & Document Series 12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roper, J. Montgomery; Frechione, John; DeWalt, Billie R.

This report presents findings and conclusions gleaned from a review of 42 cases of indigenous development in Latin America. Findings indicate that the lack of a legal framework for indigenous rights presents a basic obstacle to indigenous self-development; the most common aspect of successful indigenous development was involvement of indigenous…

Presentation skills for nurses.

PubMed

Foulkes, Mark

2015-02-20

This article emphasises the importance of effective presentation skills. Such skills allow nurses to share knowledge and expertise and to communicate clearly in a range of workplace scenarios. Nurses are increasingly being asked to present in formal and informal situations, such as conferences, poster presentations, job interviews, case reports and ward-based teaching. This article explores the principles underpinning the development of these skills, discusses the situations in which they could be applied and demonstrates how nurses might improve and develop as presenters.

Thriving in Challenging and Uncertain Times.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walz, Garry R., Ed.; Knowdell, Richard, Ed.; Kirkman, Chris, Ed.

This book seeks to broaden the dissemination of the ideas presented at the 2002 International Career Development Conference to the international career development community. Included are 24 papers by major presenters, with a diversity of papers ranging from school guidance interventions to major corporate career development programs. Chapters…

Morphosyntactic Development of Bangla-Speaking Preschool Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sultana, Asifa; Stokes, Stephanie; Klee, Thomas; Fletcher, Paul

2016-01-01

This study examines the morphosyntactic development, specifically verb morphology, of typically-developing Bangla-speaking children between the ages of two and four. Three verb forms were studied: the Present Simple, the Present Progressive and the Past Progressive. The study was motivated by the observations that reliable language-specific…

The Professional Development of Kosovan Leaders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goddard, J. T.

2004-01-01

In this article the author provides a discussion around issues related to the professional development of educational leaders in a resource-free, post-conflict environment. Drawing upon the author's ongoing experiences (2001-present) in Kosovo, the author presents a series of vignettes concerning leadership development in the Balkans. Lessons…

Cyber-Surveillance: A Case Study in Policy and Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Richard S. Y.

2010-01-01

The dissertation examines the historical development of surveillance, electronic surveillance, and cyber-surveillance from colonial times in the United States to the present. It presents the surveillance laws, technologies and policies as a balance between national security and privacy. To examine more recent developments, the dissertation…

Bellagio IV Population Conference. Working Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rockefeller Foundation, New York, NY.

The document contains papers presented at a meeting to consider global population growth. The purpose of the conference was to promote the exchange of ideas relating to population growth between educators, government officials, and development agency personnel from developing and developed nations. Ten papers are presented. Topics discussed…

EUDISED Project: Present State and Development Prospects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Council for Cultural Cooperation, Strasbourg (France).

A summary of the European Documentation and Information System for Education (EUDISED) March 1977 meeting describes the present state of the project and discussion of suggestions for future development. The preparatory phase of the project will be concluded in 1977 and ready for implementation; however, the present financial situation makes it…

Gestalt Therapy: Development, Theory, and Techniques.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Witchel, Robert

This paper presents a full review of the literature in the area of Gestalt Therapy and could be helpful in familiarizing people with this discipline. The roots contributing to the development of Gestalt therapy as presently practiced are explored briefly. Gestalt theory is presented in a developmental way, initially exploring the relationship…

Workshop on dimensional analysis for design, development, and research executives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodman, R. A.; Abernathy, W. J.

1971-01-01

The proceedings of a conference of research and development executives are presented. The purpose of the meeting was to develop an understanding of the conditions which are appropriate for the use of certain general management tools and those conditions which render these tools inappropriate. The verbatim statements of the participants are included to show the direction taken initially by the conference. Formal presentations of management techniques for research and development are developed.

Effect of temperature on embryonic development of Melanotaenia boesemani (Allen and Cross, 1982).

PubMed

Radael, Marcella Costa; Cardoso, Leonardo Demier; de Andrade, Dalcio Ricardo; Ferreira, André Veloso; da Cruz Mattos, Douglas; Vidal, Manuel Vazquez

2016-04-01

The present study aimed to provide data on the time required for Melanotaenia boesemani to complete embryonic development, and to investigate the influence that incubation at different temperatures caused in this species. The effects of temperature on the time and hatching rate are presented, as well as information related to embryonic development stages. After fertilization, the eggs were kept in incubators at 23, 26, 29 or 32°C and observed at predetermined times until the moment of hatching. Stages of development were identified and classified according to morphological and physiological characteristics. Oil droplets were visualized inside the eggs as well as filament adhesion present at the chorion. Embryonic development was similar to that observed in other species of the genus Melanotaenia with hatching and faster development in higher temperatures.

Voice and gesture-based 3D multimedia presentation tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukutake, Hiromichi; Akazawa, Yoshiaki; Okada, Yoshihiro

2007-09-01

This paper proposes a 3D multimedia presentation tool that allows the user to manipulate intuitively only through the voice input and the gesture input without using a standard keyboard or a mouse device. The authors developed this system as a presentation tool to be used in a presentation room equipped a large screen like an exhibition room in a museum because, in such a presentation environment, it is better to use voice commands and the gesture pointing input rather than using a keyboard or a mouse device. This system was developed using IntelligentBox, which is a component-based 3D graphics software development system. IntelligentBox has already provided various types of 3D visible, reactive functional components called boxes, e.g., a voice input component and various multimedia handling components. IntelligentBox also provides a dynamic data linkage mechanism called slot-connection that allows the user to develop 3D graphics applications by combining already existing boxes through direct manipulations on a computer screen. Using IntelligentBox, the 3D multimedia presentation tool proposed in this paper was also developed as combined components only through direct manipulations on a computer screen. The authors have already proposed a 3D multimedia presentation tool using a stage metaphor and its voice input interface. This time, we extended the system to make it accept the user gesture input besides voice commands. This paper explains details of the proposed 3D multimedia presentation tool and especially describes its component-based voice and gesture input interfaces.

Analytics for Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacNeill, Sheila; Campbell, Lorna M.; Hawksey, Martin

2014-01-01

This article presents an overview of the development and use of analytics in the context of education. Using Buckingham Shum's three levels of analytics, the authors present a critical analysis of current developments in the domain of learning analytics, and contrast the potential value of analytics research and development with real world…

Student Achievement and Retention: Can Professional Development Programs Help Faculty GRASP It?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McShannon, Judy; Hynes, Patricia

2005-01-01

Many faculty developers have difficulty involving engineering and science faculty in instructional development. Engineering professors are particularly quick to discount the relevance of teaching workshops, and many argue teaching methods presented in workshops lead to lower standards and inflated grades. This paper presents a successful…

A Research-Based Development Economics Course for Undergraduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, Prakarsh; Guo, Hongye; Morales, Alvaro

2015-01-01

The authors present details of a research-based course in development economics taught at a private liberal arts college. There were three key elements in this class: teaching of applied econometrics, group presentations reviewing published and working papers in development economics, and using concepts taught in class to write an original…

Developing Thinking and Understanding in Young Children: An Introduction for Students. Second Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robson, Sue

2012-01-01

Developing "Thinking and Understanding in Young Children" presents a comprehensive and accessible overview of contemporary theory and research about young children's developing thinking and understanding. Throughout this second edition, the ideas and theories presented are enlivened by transcripts of children's activities and conversations taken…

Organizing the Diagnostics of Multicultural Personality in College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Begaliyeva, Saule; Issabekova, Gulnur; Saudabaeva, Gulmira; Zhanna, Axakalova; Abdildaev, Abdikhalyk Kosherbayuly

2016-01-01

The aim of present study is to reveal the actual state of multicultural personality development in college students, based on a specially selected diagnostic inventory. The problem of multicultural personality development on the level of present pedagogics development allows taking the leading methodologic theories and approaches as the bases.…

Development of the Research Competencies Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swank, Jacqueline M.; Lambie, Glenn W.

2016-01-01

The authors present the development of the Research Competencies Scale (RCS). The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) present a rationale for the RCS, (b) review statistical analysis procedures used in developing the RCS, and (c) offer implications for counselor education, the enhancement of scholar-researchers, and future research.

The path to glory untold

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hubbard, E.

1972-01-01

A philosophical view of the development of the universe and mans' place in developing his cultural conditions are presented. The effects of population growth on the ecology are analyzed. Propositions for improving the conditions of mankind are presented. The influence of cybernation and automation on the development of space exploration are described.

Atmosphere Revitalization Technology Development for Crewed Space Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, Jay L.; Carrasquillo, Robyn L.; Harris, Danny W.

2006-01-01

As space exploration objectives extend human presence beyond low Earth orbit, the solutions to technological challenges presented by supporting human life in the hostile space environment must build upon experience gained during past and present crewed space exploration programs. These programs and the cabin atmosphere revitalization process technologies and systems developed for them represent the National Aeronautics and Space Administration s (NASA) past and present operational knowledge base for maintaining a safe, comfortable environment for the crew. The contributions of these programs to the NASA s technological and operational working knowledge base as well as key strengths and weaknesses to be overcome are discussed. Areas for technological development to address challenges inherent with the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) are presented and a plan for their development employing unit operations principles is summarized

TeleOperator/telePresence System (TOPS) Concept Verification Model (CVM) development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shimamoto, Mike S.

1993-01-01

The development of an anthropomorphic, undersea manipulator system, the TeleOperator/telePresence System (TOPS) Concept Verification Model (CVM) is described. The TOPS system's design philosophy, which results from NRaD's experience in undersea vehicles and manipulator systems development and operations, is presented. The TOPS design approach, task teams, manipulator, and vision system development and results, conclusions, and recommendations are presented.

Orbit determination software development for microprocessor based systems: Evaluation and recommendations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shenitz, C. M.; Mcgarry, F. E.; Tasaki, K. K.

1980-01-01

A guide is presented for National Aeronautics and Space Administration management personnel who stand to benefit from the lessons learned in developing microprocessor-based flight dynamics software systems. The essential functional characteristics of microprocessors are presented. The relevant areas of system support software are examined, as are the distinguishing characteristics of flight dynamics software. Design examples are provided to illustrate the major points presented, and actual development experience obtained in this area is provided as evidence to support the conclusions reached.

Present Development and Current Problems about Composite in Our Country

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-12-20

factor of phase structure by SEM observation after hitting it by free vibrating torsion pendulum. The fourth paper is related to composite of Geopolymer ...TW FiLE CO0PY C o FTD-ID (RS) T-0639-89 CD 0 FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIVISION I PRESENT DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT PROBLEMS ABOUT COMPOSITE IN OUR COUNTRY...T-0639-89 20 December 1989 MICROFICHE NR: FTD-90-C-000009 PRESENT DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT PROBLEMS ABOUT COMPOSITE IN OUR COUNTRY By: Gu Zhenlong

Educative Supervision in International Cooperation Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ortiz, Ana; Valdivia-Moral, Pedro; Cachón, Javier; Prieto, Joel

2015-01-01

This present paper has got a clear goal: to contextualize education for development in the present moment, planning its evolution and the keys that characterize education collected from the most representative and up-to-date pieces of work. The experience that we present is integrated in a project developed in Paraguay that is expected to describe…

Development of a Capital Allocations Formula.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, I.; And Others.

A description is presented of the present state of development of a capital allocations formula for general building project costs at the University of Toronto. The first part of the paper is devoted to a discussion of the objectives and application of the formula in its present state. A detailed description of the available data and the…

Electromagnetic environmental criteria for US Army missile systems - EMC, EMR, EMI, EMP, ESD, and lightning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponds, Charles D.; Knaur, James A.

1988-01-01

This paper presents the design and test requirements in developing an electromagnetic compatibility missile system. Environmental levels are presented for electromagnetic radiation hazards, electromagnetic radiation operational, electrostatic discharge, lightning, and electromagnetic pulse (nuclear). Testing techniques and facility capabilities are presented for research and development testing of missile systems.

Development of a pediatric hospitalist curriculum to promote faculty development, teaching excellence, and evidence-based care.

PubMed

Bucklen, Kathryn A; Carlson, Doug W; Shah, Neha; Pruitt, Cassandra

2014-11-01

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine Core Competencies (PHMCC), published in 2010, serve as the foundation for development of pediatric hospital medicine curricula to standardize and improve inpatient pediatric training and practice. Here the authors describe development of a PHMCC-based curriculum for faculty development, improved teaching, and evidence-based care, and as the basis for scholarly projects. A 2-year repeating curriculum of 51 topics based on the PHMCC was designed, presented by hospitalists for division members at weekly division conferences, and recorded for asynchronous learning. Fourteen of those topics were created for online viewing only. Topic development included use of pertinent medical research, guidelines, and local experts. Presentations followed a standardized format and were reviewed by senior division members before delivery. Attendees evaluated all presentations. Twenty live topics were presented. All talks received ratings of 4.3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) on evaluation by attendees, and 70% of presentations were reported as likely to change practice by 80% or more of attendees. Opportunities for increased mentorship were realized. The division was recognized for its work through an invitation to present topics 4 times annually at a community-wide continuing medical education program and regional pediatric meetings, and proposals have been submitted for national meetings. The PHMCC-based curriculum has led to increased opportunities for education, mentorship, and improvement in the quality of care by attendees. Other academic divisions may benefit from a curriculum to enhance professional development and standardize clinical care and teaching. Copyright © 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Introducing the CUAHSI Hydrologic Information System Desktop Application (HydroDesktop) and Open Development Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ames, D.; Kadlec, J.; Horsburgh, J. S.; Maidment, D. R.

2009-12-01

The Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences (CUAHSI) Hydrologic Information System (HIS) project includes extensive development of data storage and delivery tools and standards including WaterML (a language for sharing hydrologic data sets via web services); and HIS Server (a software tool set for delivering WaterML from a server); These and other CUASHI HIS tools have been under development and deployment for several years and together, present a relatively complete software “stack” to support the consistent storage and delivery of hydrologic and other environmental observation data. This presentation describes the development of a new HIS software tool called “HydroDesktop” and the development of an online open source software development community to update and maintain the software. HydroDesktop is a local (i.e. not server-based) client side software tool that ultimately will run on multiple operating systems and will provide a highly usable level of access to HIS services. The software provides many key capabilities including data query, map-based visualization, data download, local data maintenance, editing, graphing, data export to selected model-specific data formats, linkage with integrated modeling systems such as OpenMI, and ultimately upload to HIS servers from the local desktop software. As the software is presently in the early stages of development, this presentation will focus on design approach and paradigm and is viewed as an opportunity to encourage participation in the open development community. Indeed, recognizing the value of community based code development as a means of ensuring end-user adoption, this project has adopted an “iterative” or “spiral” software development approach which will be described in this presentation.

Nanoengineering approaches to the design of artificial antigen-presenting cells

PubMed Central

Sunshine, Joel C; Green, Jordan J

2014-01-01

Artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) have shown great initial promise for ex vivo activation of cytotoxic T cells. The development of aAPCs has focused mainly on the choice of proteins to use for surface presentation to T cells when conjugated to various spherical, microscale particles. We review here biomimetic nanoengineering approaches that have been applied to the development of aAPCs that move beyond initial concepts about aAPC development. This article also discusses key technologies that may be enabling for the development of nano- and micro-scale aAPCs with nanoscale features, and suggests several future directions for the field. PMID:23837856

The Cognitive Development of Young Dual Language Learners: A Critical Review

PubMed Central

Barac, Raluca; Bialystok, Ellen; Castro, Dina C.; Sanchez, Marta

2014-01-01

Dual language exposure and bilingualism are relatively common experiences for children. The present review set out to synthesize the existing research on cognitive development in bilingual children and to identify the gaps and the methodological concerns present in the existing research. A search of major data bases for research conducted with typically-developing, preschool-age dual language learners between 2000-2013 yielded 102 peer-reviewed articles. The existing evidence points to areas of cognitive development in bilingual children where findings are robust or inconclusive, and reveals variables that influence performance. The present review also identifies areas for future research and methodological limitations. PMID:25284958

Development of the Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mullen, Patrick R.; Lambie, Glenn W.; Conley, Abigail H.

2014-01-01

The authors present the development of the Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale (ELICSES). The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) present a rationale for the ELICSES, (b) review statistical analysis procedures used to develop the ELICSES, and (c) offer implications for future research and counselor education.

Education for Sustainable Development: Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation Expertise in Developing Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fahey, Shireen; Verstraten, Luke; Berry, Ashton J.

2016-01-01

This article presents the results of an innovative education capacity assessment and delivery project to promote sustainable development in large ocean states in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. Science education can help prepare the present and coming generations for stability in an uncertain future. Limited financial, geographical and…

Developing Oral Presentation Competence in Professional Contexts: A Design-Based Collaborative Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pathak, Anil; Le Vasan, Mani

2015-01-01

The need to develop oral presentation skills with reference to students' specialized professional contexts has been well-recognised. Attempts have also been made to develop collaboration between engineering faculty and language teaching professionals. In this paper, we describe an experiment where students were given an opportunity to demonstrate…

76 FR 71987 - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-21

... National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Notice of Meeting Pursuant to section 10(a) of..., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of... presentation, NCMRR Director's Report presentation and various reports on Medical Research Initiatives. Place...

The Two-Year Post-Secondary College Student and Life Span Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, Don A., Ed.

This monograph presents the papers and addresses of the Sixth Rochester Institute, an annual joint staff development effort of Rochester Community College and the University of Minnesota. W. Wesley Tennyson and Sharon Strom present a case for career development education to be used as a fulcrum to swing education further towards humanistic…

Recognizing the Importance of Critical and Postmodern Possibilities for Instructional Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jamison, P. K.

This presentation is based on two essays by the author (P. K. Jamison): (1) "Providing Alternative Views of Contexts, Instruction, and Learning in Graduate and Continuing Professional Education Courses in Instructional Development"; and (2) "How Is Instructional Development a Social Practice?". The first essay presents a critical inquiry,…

Evolving Stories of Child Career Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Mark; Nota, Laura; McMahon, Mary

2015-01-01

Herein, the contributions to this special issue and positions the field of child career development in terms of its past, present, and future are considered. There is an initial brief overview of past developments in the field, specifically as described in seminal reviews. The article then considers the present status of and future agenda for the…

Efforts to Define College Readiness in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patelis, Thanos; Camara, Wayne; Wiley, Andrew

2009-01-01

Presented at the 11th International Conference on Education (ICE) in 2009. This presentation provides an overview of the College Board and its efforts to develop college readiness indicators. The information provided includes a conceptual overview of the indicators and the research and development components in the development and validation of…

Aesthetic Experience and Early Language and Literacy Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Helen L.

2007-01-01

The present paper explores the connections between theory and research in language development and aesthetic education and their implications for early childhood classroom practice. The present paper posits that arts experiences make a unique and vital contribution to the child's development of language and literacy, as well as to the sense of…

The Development of Spatial Frequency Biases in Face Recognition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leonard, Hayley C.; Karmiloff-Smith, Annette; Johnson, Mark H.

2010-01-01

Previous research has suggested that a mid-band of spatial frequencies is critical to face recognition in adults, but few studies have explored the development of this bias in children. We present a paradigm adapted from the adult literature to test spatial frequency biases throughout development. Faces were presented on a screen with particular…

Development and Factor Structure of the Helping Professional Wellness Discrepancy Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blount, Ashley J.; Lambie, Glenn W.

2018-01-01

The authors present the development of the Helping Professional Wellness Discrepancy Scale (HPWDS). The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) present a rationale for the HPWDS; (b) review statistical analyses procedures used to develop the HPWDS; and (c) offer implications for counselors, other helping professionals, and future research.

Shuttle payload bay dynamic environments: Summary and conclusion report for STS flights 1-5 and 9

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oconnell, M.; Garba, J.; Kern, D.

1984-01-01

The vibration, acoustic and low frequency loads data from the first 5 shuttle flights are presented. The engineering analysis of that data is also presented. Vibroacoustic data from STS-9 are also presented because they represent the only data taken on a large payload. Payload dynamic environment predictions developed by the participation of various NASA and industrial centers are presented along with a comparison of analytical loads methodology predictions with flight data, including a brief description of the methodologies employed in developing those predictions for payloads. The review of prediction methodologies illustrates how different centers have approached the problems of developing shuttle dynamic environmental predictions and criteria. Ongoing research activities related to the shuttle dynamic environments are also described. Analytical software recently developed for the prediction of payload acoustic and vibration environments are also described.

Women and Literacy Development in the Third World. Papers Presented at an International Seminar on Women and Literacy Development--Constraints and Prospects (Linkoping, Sweden, August 1991).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malmquist, Eve, Ed.

Organized to focus world-wide public attention on the massive gender inequalities in many areas of the world, a seminar entitled "Women and Literacy Development--Constraints and Prospects" was held in Sweden during August 1991. This book presents conference papers by female literacy experts from 12 developing nations (three in Latin…

Developing an integrative level-dimensional taxonomy model for rehabilitation psychology research and practice.

PubMed

Mermis, Bernie J

2018-02-01

The present article concerns the development of a taxonomy model for organizing and classifying all aspects of rehabilitation psychology from an integrative level-dimensional conceptualization. This conceptualization is presented as an alternative to a primarily categorical approach to classification. It also assumes a continuity perspective for all aspects of behavior and experience. Development of this taxonomy model involves organizing information relevant to levels/domains of all aspects of behavior and experience, and to constructs describing their underlying components conceptually as well as dimensions which constitute the measurable basis of constructs. A taxonomy model with levels/domains, representative examples of constructs and dimensions is presented as a foundation for development of the present taxonomy model, with specific relevance to rehabilitation psychology. This integrative level-dimensional taxonomy model provides a structure for organizing all aspects of rehabilitation psychology relevant to understanding, assessing, and influencing the rehabilitation process. Suggestions for development and research are provided for the taxonomy model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

A qualitative approach to systemic diagnosis of the SSME

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bickmore, Timothy W.; Maul, William A.

1993-01-01

A generic software architecture has been developed for posttest diagnostics of rocket engines, and is presently being applied to the posttest analysis of the SSME. This investigation deals with the Systems Section module of the architecture, which is presently under development. Overviews of the manual SSME systems analysis process and the overall SSME diagnostic system architecture are presented.

Workshop Report: Distributive Education Project Development Workshop. (Wisconsin Univ., Madison, July 30-August 11, 1967).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wisconsin Univ., Madison. School of Education.

This report of a 2-week workshop contains four papers presented by their authors, eight business presentations, and 1 group and 24 individual projects developed by the workshop participants. The papers pertain to project evaluation, project information, project training and distributive programs. The business presentations relate to new products,…

Assessing Preservice Teachers' Presentation Capabilities: Contrasting the Modes of Communication with the Constructed Impression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bower, Matt G.; Moloney, Robyn A.; Cavanagh, Michael S.; Sweller, Naomi

2013-01-01

A research-based understanding of how to develop and assess classroom presentation skills is vital for the effective development of pre-service teacher communication capabilities. This paper identifies and compares two different models of assessing pre-service teachers' presentation performance--one based on the Modes of Communication (voice,…

Frank F. Liestman Elementary School of Alief Independent School District: Design Development Presentation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1977

This publication is the design development presentation for an energy-conserving elementary school building proposed for Alief, Texas. Some of the energy conservation features presented in this proposal include: (1) wind powered emergency electrical system; (2) complete insulation resulting in a building with an over-all U factor of .04; (3) air…

The Development and Evaluation of a Network for Producing and Sharing Video Presentations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sadik, Alaa

2014-01-01

This paper describes the technology and methodology used in the development and evaluation of an online network to help the instructors to produce and share video presentations in a new and innovative way. The network offers an application and platform for recording and sharing video presentations. The application allows instructors to narrate and…

24 CFR 3282.309 - Formal and informal presentations of views held by SAAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 5 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Formal and informal presentations of views held by SAAs. 3282.309 Section 3282.309 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating... held by SAAs. (a) When an SAA is the appropriate agency to hold a Formal or Informal Presentation of...

Present methods and technology available for intensive management and extent of present use

Treesearch

Gordon F. Weetman

1977-01-01

While there have been major technological developments in regional agriculture and forest harvesting and in intensive forest management in the Southern pine region and the Pacific Northwest, the application and development of intensive forest management has lagged in the Northeast. Some of the characteristics of low, medium and high yield forestry are presented and...

The Differential Impact of Observational Learning and Practice-Based Learning on the Development of Oral Presentation Skills in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Grez, Luc; Valcke, Martin; Roozen, Irene

2014-01-01

The present study focuses on the design and evaluation of an innovative instructional approach to developing oral presentation skills. The intervention builds on the observational learning theoretical perspective. This perspective is contrasted with the traditional training and practice approach. Two sequencing approaches--learners starting with…

2nd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Potential Commercial Development Scenarios

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Creech, Stephen D.; Rogacki, John R. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The presentation will discuss potential commercial development scenarios for a Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle. The analysis of potential scenarios will include commercial rates of return, government return on investment, and market considerations. The presentation will include policy considerations in addition to analysis of Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle economics. The data discussed is being developed as a part of NASA's Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program, for consideration as potential scenarios for enabling a next generation system. Material will include potential scenarios not previously considered by NASA or presented at other conferences. Candidate paper has not been presented at a previous meeting, and conference attendance of the author has been approved by NASA.

The Effectiveness of Classroom-Based Supplementary Video Presentations in Supporting Emergent Literacy Development in Early Childhood Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sadik, Alaa M.; Badr, Khadeja

2012-01-01

This study investigated the impact of supplementary video presentations in supporting young children's emergent literacy development. Videos were produced by teachers using prototype software developed specifically for the purpose of this study. The software obtains media content from a variety of resources and devices, including webcam,…

EPA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES: CAREER DEVELOPMENT, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MINORITY STUDENTS' PREPARATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE

EPA Science Inventory

This presentation was given at the Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative (MELDI) National Summit on Diversity in the Environmental Field at the University of Michigan on August 30, 2005. The presentation was an outline of how it is like to work at an EPA resea...

Radio's Role in Development: Five Strategies of Use. Information Bulletin Number Four.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McAnany, Emile G.

Radio has several advantages which give it great potential for improving living conditions in the rural areas of developing countries. It is the most universal mass communication medium and is presently able to support effective, low-cost local development programs. At present, the five most effective utilization strategies are the following: 1)…

Sustainable Development. Teacher's Guide to World Resources. Comprehensive Coursework on the Global Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snyder, Sarah A.

This teacher's guide presents teaching suggestions and presentation materials about sustainable development, important trends that could lead to human and environmental disasters in the future if they continue unchecked, and how each country has a different path to sustainable development. The lesson is divided into six parts and may be completed…

Developing the Curriculum in an Innovative Greek School Framework: The Implication of Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsafos, Vassilis

2013-01-01

The paper presents an alternative practice, a school based curriculum development, less standardised and bureaucratic than the typical, implemented in Second Chance Schools (SCS), focusing on the different role of educators in terms of curriculum development. In this context, it will be presenting the first results of a research ongoing on the…

Critical Pedagogy and Materials Development: Content Selection and Gradation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rahimi, Ali; Kushki, Ali; Ansaripour, Ehsan; Maki, Ardeshir

2015-01-01

The study aimed at presenting how materials developers can design materials based on the tenets of Critical Pedagogy (CP). Having reviewed the literature on CP, the present study attempted to propose ideas for the selection and gradation phase of Materials Development in line with the tenets of CP. The distinguishing feature of the study was to…

Development of Methods for Sampling and Analysis of Particulate and Gaseous Fluorides from Stationary Sources.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peters, E. T.; And Others

A study was conducted which has resulted in the development of tentative sampling and analysis of fluorides emitted from various stationary sources. The study was directed toward developing and understanding the kinds of species which are present in each source emission. The report presents the following information: review of the various unit…

Dual-Mode Teacher Professional Development: Challenges and Re-Visioning Future TPD in Indonesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Widodo, Ari; Riandi

2013-01-01

This paper presents the results of a two-year research project aimed at developing a teacher professional development (TPD) model in Indonesia. New government policies in this nation, its archipelagic nature, vast numbers of teachers and scarcity of support resources present a unique challenge to TPD. A needs assessment was conducted to identify…

Method Development and Monitoring of Cyanotoxins in Water ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation describes method development of two ambient water LC/MS/MS methods for microcystins, cylindrospermopsin and anatoxin-a. Ruggedness of the methods will be demonstrated by evaluation of quality control samples derived from various water bodies across the country. Presentation at the Central Regional meeting of the American Chemical Society ambient water methods development for cyanotoxins

To Rest Assured: A Study of Artistic Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edstrom, Ann-Mari

2008-01-01

This article concerns artistic development within the context of a Master of Fine Arts program in visual arts in Sweden, and presents an empirical study based on repeated interviews with a group of art students. The aim is to contribute to our present understanding of artistic development by focusing on changes in the relation between the student…

Ogden R. Lindsley and the historical development of precision teaching

PubMed Central

Potts, Lisa; Eshleman, John W.; Cooper, John O.

1993-01-01

This paper presents the historical developments of precision teaching, a technological offshoot of radical behaviorism and free-operant conditioning. The sequence progresses from the scientific precursors of precision teaching and the beginnings of precision teaching to principal developments since 1965. Information about the persons, events, and accomplishments presented in this chronology was compiled in several ways. Journals, books, and conference presentations provided the essential information. The most important source for this account was Ogden Lindsley himself, because Lindsley and his students established the basic practices that define precision teaching. PMID:22478145

Research and Development in Higher Education, Volume 1. Papers Presented at the Annual Conference of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (4th, Bedford Park, South Australia, June 2-4, 1978).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Linke, Russell D., Ed.

Papers from the 1978 conference of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia are presented. A large part of the conference was devoted to a general symposium on accountability in higher education, while other topics were organization and administration of higher education, curriculum development and evaluation, staff…

Technology transfer within the government

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, John

1992-01-01

The report of a workshop panel concerned with technology transfer within the government is presented. The presentation is made in vugraph form. The assigned subtopic for this panel are as follows: (1) transfer from non-NASA US government technology developers to NASA space missions/programs; and (2) transfer from NASA to other US government space mission programs. A specific area of inquiry was Technology Maturation Milestones. Three areas were investigated: technology development; advanced development; and flight hardware development.

Recommended approach to software development, revision 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Landis, Linda; Waligora, Sharon; Mcgarry, Frank; Pajerski, Rose; Stark, Mike; Johnson, Kevin Orlin; Cover, Donna

1992-01-01

Guidelines for an organized, disciplined approach to software development that is based on studies conducted by the Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) since 1976 are presented. It describes methods and practices for each phase of a software development life cycle that starts with requirements definition and ends with acceptance testing. For each defined life cycle phase, guidelines for the development process and its management, and for the products produced and their reviews are presented.

[Progress in methodological characteristics of clinical practice guideline for osteoarthritis].

PubMed

Xing, D; Wang, B; Lin, J H

2017-06-01

At present, several clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of osteoarthritis have been developed by institutes or societies. The ultimate purpose of developing clinical practice guidelines is to formulate the process in the treatment of osteoarthritis effectively. However, the methodologies used in developing clinical practice guidelines may place an influence on the transformation and application of that in treating osteoarthritis. The present study summarized the methodological features of individual clinical practice guideline and presented the tools for quality evaluation of clinical practice guideline. The limitations of current osteoarthritis guidelines of China are also indicated. The review article might help relevant institutions improve the quality in developing guide and clinical transformation.

Vertebrate Development in Space: Gravity Is a Drag (and Has Been for Eons and Eons)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keefe, J. R.

1985-01-01

Brief sketches of developmental biology studies during spaceflight presented are intended to be complete in scope and to provide the reader with an overview of the present status of such studies. Means of evaluating both the direct role of gravity on all processes of mammalian reproduction and development as well as defining the means of assessing indirect transplacemental aspects are considered. The potential present in the development of a spaceflight system/program specifically designed to provide chronic exposure of a representative variety of mammalian species with periodic sampling for multiple generations to fully assess the potential impact of an altered gravitational vector on general mammalian development is also considered.

(PRESENTED AT MATSUYAMA, JAPAN) PERSISTENT PERFLUORINATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS METHOD DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AT THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA Science Inventory

PowerPoint presentation summarizing method development research involving the persistent perfluorinated organic compounds. Review of data indicating widespread distribution of these materials and the potential for toxicity.

(PRESENTED AT TSUKUBA, JAPAN) PERSISTENT PERFLUORINATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS METHOD DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AT THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA Science Inventory

PowerPoint presentation summarizing method development research involving the persistent perfluorinated organic compounds. Review of data indicating widespread distribution of these materials and the potential for toxicity.

Impacts of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) development on recreation and tourism. Volume 3. Detailed methodology

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

Not Available

The final report for the project is presented in five volumes. This volume, Detailed Methodology Review, presents a discussion of the methods considered and used to estimate the impacts of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas development on coastal recreation in California. The purpose is to provide the Minerals Management Service with data and methods to improve their ability to analyze the socio-economic impacts of OCS development. Chapter II provides a review of previous attempts to evaluate the effects of OCS development and of oil spills on coastal recreation. The review also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of differentmore » approaches and presents the rationale for the methodology selection made. Chapter III presents a detailed discussion of the methods actually used in the study. The volume contains the bibliography for the entire study.« less

Development of an Airborne Triple-Pulse 2-Micron Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar (IPDA) for Simultaneous Airborne Column Measurements of Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor in the Atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Upendra N.; Petros, Mulugeta; Refaat, Tamer F.; Yu, Jirong; Antill, Charles W.; Remus, Ruben

2016-01-01

This presentation will provide status and details of an airborne 2-micron triple-pulse integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar being developed at NASA Langley Research Center with support from NASA ESTO Instrument Incubator Program. The development of this active optical remote sensing IPDA instrument is targeted for measuring both atmospheric carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere from an airborne platform. This presentation will focus on the advancement of the 2-micron triple-pulse IPDA lidar development. Updates on the state-of-the-art triple-pulse laser transmitter will be presented including the status of seed laser locking, wavelength control, receiver and detector upgrades, laser packaging and lidar integration. Future plan for IPDA lidar system for ground integration, testing and flight validation will also be presented.

Laser program annual report, 1979

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

Coleman, L.W.; Strack, J.R.

1980-03-01

This volume contains four sections that covers the areas of target design, target fabrication, diagnostics, and experiments. Section 3 reports on target design activities, plasma theory and simulation, code development, and atomic theory. Section 4 presents the accomplishments of the target fabrication group, and Section 5 presents results of diagnostic developments and applications for the year. The results of laser-target experiments are presented. (MOW)

Active vs. Passive Television Viewing: A Model of the Development of Television Information Processing by Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, John C.; And Others

A conceptual model of how children process televised information was developed with the goal of identifying those parameters of the process that are both measurable and manipulable in research settings. The model presented accommodates the nature of information processing both by the child and by the presentation by the medium. Presentation is…

Automated Corrosion Detection Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-10-01

More detailed explanations of the methodology development can be found in Hidden Corrosion Detection Technology Assessment, a paper presented at...Detection Program, a paper presented at the Fourth Joint DoD/FAA/NASA Conference on Aging Aircraft, 2000. AS&M PULSE. The PULSE system, developed...selection can be found in The Evaluation of Hidden Corrosion Detection Technologies on the Automated Corrosion Detection Program, a paper presented

Developing Sustainable Life Support System Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Evan A.

2010-01-01

Sustainable spacecraft life support concepts may allow the development of more reliable technologies for long duration space missions. Currently, life support technologies at different levels of development are not well evaluated against each other, and evaluation methods do not account for long term reliability and sustainability of the hardware. This paper presents point-of-departure sustainability evaluation criteria for life support systems, that may allow more robust technology development, testing and comparison. An example sustainable water recovery system concept is presented.

Biochips: non-conventional strategies for biosensing elements immobilization.

PubMed

Marquette, Christophe A; Corgier, Benjamin P; Heyries, Kevin A; Blum, Loic J

2008-01-01

The present article draws a general picture of non-conventional methods for biomolecules immobilization. The technologies presented are based either on original solid supports or on innovative immobilization processes. Polydimethylsiloxane elastomer will be presented as a popular immobilization support within the biochip developer community. Electro-addressing of biomolecules at the surface of conducting biochips will appear to be an interesting alternative to immobilization processes based on surface functionalization. Finally, bead-assisted biomolecules immobilization will be presented as an open field of research for biochip developments.

A rare case of multiple schwannomas presenting with scrotal mass: a probable case of schwannomatosis.

PubMed

Ikari, Ryo; Okamoto, Keisei; Yoshida, Tetsuya; Johnin, Kazuyoshi; Okabe, Hidetoshi; Okada, Yusaku

2010-08-01

We report a rare case of multiple schwannomas presenting with scrotal mass. In the present case, a scrotal schwannoma developed in a 66-year-old man with a history of brain tumor surgery. Investigating the patient's past history lead to the diagnosis as probable schwannomatosis. Patients with schwannomatosis are at increased risk of developing multiple schwannomas and these patients need regular surveillance. In this regard, the present case highlights the importance of thorough history taking in patients with scrotal schwannoma.

Methodology, status and plans for development and assessment of Cathare code

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

Bestion, D.; Barre, F.; Faydide, B.

1997-07-01

This paper presents the methodology, status and plans for the development, assessment and uncertainty evaluation of the Cathare code. Cathare is a thermalhydraulic code developed by CEA (DRN), IPSN, EDF and FRAMATOME for PWR safety analysis. First, the status of the code development and assessment is presented. The general strategy used for the development and the assessment of the code is presented. Analytical experiments with separate effect tests, and component tests are used for the development and the validation of closure laws. Successive Revisions of constitutive laws are implemented in successive Versions of the code and assessed. System tests ormore » integral tests are used to validate the general consistency of the Revision. Each delivery of a code Version + Revision is fully assessed and documented. A methodology is being developed to determine the uncertainty on all constitutive laws of the code using calculations of many analytical tests and applying the Discrete Adjoint Sensitivity Method (DASM). At last, the plans for the future developments of the code are presented. They concern the optimization of the code performance through parallel computing - the code will be used for real time full scope plant simulators - the coupling with many other codes (neutronic codes, severe accident codes), the application of the code for containment thermalhydraulics. Also, physical improvements are required in the field of low pressure transients and in the modeling for the 3-D model.« less

A summary analysis of the 3rd inquiry.

PubMed

1977-01-01

20 ESCAP member countries responded to the "Third Population Inquiry among Governments: Population policies in the context of development in 1976." The questionnaire sent to the member countries covered economic and social development and population growth, mortality, fertility and family formation, population distribution and internal migration, international migration, population data collection and research, training, and institutional arrangements for the formulation of population policies within development. Most of the governments in the ESCAP region that responded indicate that the present rate of population growth constrains their social and economic development. Among the governments that consider the present rate of population growth to constrain economic and social development, 13 countries regarded the most appropriate response to the constraint would include an adjustment of both socioeconomic and demographic factors. 11 of the governments regarded their present levels of average life expectancy at birth "acceptable" and 7 identified their levels as "unacceptable." Most of the governments who responded consider that, in general, their present level of fertility is too high and constrains family well-being. Internal migration and population distribution are coming to be seen as concerns for government population policy. The most popular approaches to distributing economic and social activities are rural development, urban and regional development and industrial dispersion. There was much less concern among the governments returning the questionnaire about the effect of international migration than internal migration on social and economic development.

Developing Second Language Writing through Scaffolding in the ZPD: A Magazine Project for an Authentic Audience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwieter, John W.

2010-01-01

In the present study, Vygotsky's (1978, 1986) sociocultural framework of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) and scaffolding writing (Bodrova & Leong, 1995, 1996; Ross, 1976) are used as the theoretical basis to study the development of second language writing. A course project is presented in which advanced English language learners of Spanish…

Proceedings of a Series of Workshops on Writing Research and Development Proposals: A Final Report. Kentucky Research in Vocational Education Series, No. 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKinney, Floyd L., Ed.; Sims, E. Norman, Ed.

This book contains presentations made at a series of 3-day workshops held in Kentucky to prepare vocational educators to write proposals, progress reports, and final reports for research and development efforts. Workshop presentation included "Need for Research and Development in Vocational-Technical Education," by Robert Warmbrod,…

Offshore Wind Jobs and Economic Development Impact: Four Regional Scenarios (Presentation)

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

Tegen, S.

NREL's Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) Model for Offshore Wind, is a computer tool for studying the economic impacts of fixed-bottom offshore wind projects in the United States. This presentation provides the results of an analysis of four offshore wind development scenarios in the Southeast Atlantic, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico regions.

Global Precipitation Measurement: GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) Algorithm Development Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stocker, Erich Franz

2009-01-01

This slide presentation reviews the approach to the development of the Global Precipitation Measurement algorithm. This presentation includes information about the responsibilities for the development of the algorithm, and the calibration. Also included is information about the orbit, and the sun angle. The test of the algorithm code will be done with synthetic data generated from the Precipitation Processing System (PPS).

Taking the Evolutionary Road to Developing an In-House Cost Estimate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacintho, David; Esker, Lind; Herman, Frank; Lavaque, Rodolfo; Regardie, Myma

2011-01-01

This slide presentation reviews the process and some of the problems and challenges of developing an In-House Cost Estimate (IHCE). Using as an example the Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS) project, the presentation reviews the phases for developing a Cost estimate within the project to estimate government and contractor project costs to support a budget request.

Introduccion al Mundo de la Promocion Social (Introduction to the World of Community Development Education). Apuntes de promotor/2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shugurensky, Daniel

This booklet presents a discussion that focuses on the relationship between adult literacy and the economic development of a community. The principal characteristics of the currents that have had most influence in Latin American during the last decade are described, and a new alternative for community development education is presented. This…

An Approach to Evaluation of Rural Development Act Title V Programs. Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development Publication 11, February 1976.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Robert W.

Presenting suggestions for conceptualizing Rural Development Act Title V program evaluations, this paper focuses upon a five-level program outcomes model which encompasses a causal sequence of anticipated shortrun, intermediate, and longrun outcomes. Examples of possible Title V measurement foci are presented for each of five outcome levels as…

DEVELOPMENT OF PERMANENT MECHANICAL REPAIR SLEEVE FOR PLASTIC PIPE

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

Hitesh Patadia

2005-04-29

The report presents a comprehensive summary of the prototype development process utilized towards the development of a permanent mechanical repair fitting intended to be installed on damaged PE mains under blowing gas conditions. Specifically, the step by step construction approach is presented and the experimental data to support the mitigation of ensuing slow crack growth (SCG) of the damage area.

Development of method to characterize emissions from spray polyurethane foam insulation

EPA Science Inventory

This presentation updates symposium participants re EPA progress towards development of SPF insulation emissions characterization methods. The presentation highlights evaluation of experiments investigating emissions after application of SPF to substrates in micro chambers and i...

Civil engineering in the Arctic offshore

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

Bennett, F.L.; Machemehl, J.L.

1985-01-01

This book presents the current state of practice and theory in the civil engineering aspects of offshore development in the Arctic. It also covers the emerging concepts and requirements, research and development needs, and a critique of present undergraduate programmes.

Webinar Presentation: The Impact of Toxins on the Developing Brain

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation, The Impact of Toxins on the Developing Brain, was given at the NIEHS/EPA Children's Centers 2015 Webinar Series: Historical Perspectives and Research Updates from Previously Funded Children's Centers held on Nov. 18, 2015.

2-Micron Triple-Pulse Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar Development for Simultaneous Airborne Column Measurements of Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor in the Atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Upendra N.; Petros, Mulugeta; Refaat, Tamer F.; Yu, Jirong

2016-01-01

For more than 15 years, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has contributed in developing several 2-micron carbon dioxide active remote sensors using the DIAL technique. Currently, an airborne 2-micron triple-pulse integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar is under development at NASA LaRC. This paper focuses on the advancement of the 2-micron triple-pulse IPDA lidar development. Updates on the state-of-the-art triple-pulse laser transmitter will be presented including the status of wavelength control, packaging and lidar integration. In addition, receiver development updates will also be presented, including telescope integration, detection systems and data acquisition electronics. Future plan for IPDA lidar system for ground integration, testing and flight validation will be presented.

Session: Pre-development project risk assessment

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

Curry, Richard; Linehan, Andy

This second session at the Wind Energy and Birds/Bats workshop consisted of two presentations followed by a discussion/question and answer period. The focus of the presentations was on the practices and methodologies used in the wind energy industry for assessing risk to birds and bats at candidate project sites. Presenters offered examples of pre-development siting evaluation requirements set by certain states. Presentation one was titled ''Practices and Methodologies and Initial Screening Tools'' by Richard Curry of Curry and Kerlinger, LLC. Presentation two was titled ''State of the Industry in the Pacific Northwest'' by Andy Linehan, CH2MHILL.

Wind Energy Workforce Development: A Roadmap to a Wind Energy Educational Infrastructure (Presentation)

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

Baring-Gould, I.

2011-05-01

Wind Powering America national technical director Ian Baring-Gould made this presentation about workforce development in the wind energy industry to an audience at the American Wind Energy Association's annual WINDPOWER conference in Anaheim. The presentation outlines job projections from the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report and steps to take at all levels of educational institutions to meet those projections.

Historical Contribution of Pharmaceutics to Botany and Pharmacognosy Development.

PubMed

Zunic, Lejla; Skrbo, Armin; Dobraca, Amra

2017-12-01

Pharmacy and medicine belong to the oldest human activities, so the development of these sciences is closely related to the socio-economic, cultural and religious opportunities of the nations within which they have been developing. To present the historical influence of pharmacy on the development of the human being from its very beginning; To present the historical link between pharmaceutical and medical activity, as well as early development of independent pharmaceutical activity; To present the historical influence of pharmacists on the development of botany and pharmacognosy and to present the historical influence of the first written herbarium and incunabula on the development of pharmacognosy. The article has a descriptive character, and represents a systematic review of the literature dealing with this topic. The roots of pharmacy started to the very beginning of human civilization, when people collected various medicinal herbs and try to alleviate their health problems, pain and suffering. The scientific foundations of the pharmacy were set up in the antique period by the books of Dioskurides and Galen, and its further development continued in the mid-century, at the beginning by rewriting famous parts of ancient literature, and later by writing new discoveries (the base of this development was represented by South Italy) so that in 1240, for the first time in history, came the separation of doctors and pharmacists, and at the beginning of the 13th century the opening of the first pharmacy. The effort to maintain knowledge of medicinal herbs and its practical application has led to the writing of a large number of recipes books, the forerunners of today's pharmacopeia, while the aspiration to classify medicinal herbs, and the desire to present medicinal herbs to ordinary people, has led to a large number of herbaria, making the knowledge and descriptions of plants available to many, not just the nobility. Descriptions of plants in herbaria and later in incunabula lead to the development of pharmacognosy, and to the opening of the first Department for pharmacognosy, 1545 in Padua.

Successful design and delivery of a professional poster.

PubMed

Berg, Judith; Hicks, Rod

2017-08-01

Poster presentations are increasingly popular for dissemination of scientific and clinical knowledge at professional meetings; however, this professional skill is generally absent from advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) curricula and acquisition of the skill must occur in other arenas. The purpose of this article is to promote professional development by educating APRNs, students, and faculty on the essentials of poster development and presentation. To aid in poster presentation skill development, types of posters, advantages and disadvantages, content and design, and tips to enhance these presentations are discussed. What is known on these topics is summarized and emphasis on professional appearance and conduct is highlighted. Content and layout, use of color, imagery, and positive and negative space are crucial design elements. Poster presentation essentials include being prepared, professional appearance, and professional behavior. Designing and presenting a professional poster is an essential skill for all APRNs as the ability to communicate knowledge is central to the role. ©2017 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Choosing between responsive-design websites versus mobile apps for your mobile behavioral intervention: presenting four case studies.

PubMed

Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle M; Hales, Sarah B; Schoffman, Danielle E; Valafar, Homay; Brazendale, Keith; Weaver, R Glenn; Beets, Michael W; Wirth, Michael D; Shivappa, Nitin; Mandes, Trisha; Hébert, James R; Wilcox, Sara; Hester, Andrew; McGrievy, Matthew J

2017-06-01

Both mobile apps and responsive-design websites (web apps) can be used to deliver mobile health (mHealth) interventions, but it can be difficult to discern which to use in research. The goal of this paper is to present four case studies from behavioral interventions that developed either a mobile app or a web app for research and present an information table to help researchers determine which mobile option would work best for them. Four behavioral intervention case studies (two developed a mobile app, and two developed a web app) presented include time, cost, and expertise. Considerations for adopting a mobile app or a web app-such as time, cost, access to programmers, data collection, security needs, and intervention components- are presented. Future studies will likely integrate both mobile app and web app modalities. The considerations presented here can help guide researchers on which platforms to choose prior to starting an mHealth intervention.

DEVELOP students give presentation at Headquarters

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-08-07

DEVELOP students from Stennis Space Center traveled to NASA's Headquarters in Washington, D.C., to make a presentation on Gulf Coast disaster management. The team included Madeline Brozen (left) and Lauren Childs. They were joined by team member Matthew Batina (not pictured).

Tools for Embedded Computing Systems Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

A workshop was held to assess the state of tools for embedded systems software and to determine directions for tool development. A synopsis of the talk and the key figures of each workshop presentation, together with chairmen summaries, are presented. The presentations covered four major areas: (1) tools and the software environment (development and testing); (2) tools and software requirements, design, and specification; (3) tools and language processors; and (4) tools and verification and validation (analysis and testing). The utility and contribution of existing tools and research results for the development and testing of embedded computing systems software are described and assessed.

Development and evaluation of a lightweight sensor system ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

A new sensor system for mobile and aerial emission sampling was developed for open area pollutant sources, such as prescribed forest burns. The sensor system, termed “Kolibri”, consists of multiple low-cost air quality sensors measuring CO2, CO, samplers for particulate matter with diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This extended abstract, intended for oral presentation or poster presentation at this summer's AWMA conference, presents some of the first verification data from laboratory and burn calibration of a newly developed sensor and sampler system for ground and aerial sampling.

Hypersonic propulsion flight tests as essential to air-breathing aerospace plane development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, U.

Hypersonic air-breathing propulsion utilizing scramjets can fundamentally change transatmospheric acclerators for transportation from low Earth orbits (LEOs). The value and limitations of ground tests, of flight tests, and of computations are presented, and scramjet development requirements are discussed. Near-full-scale hypersonic propulsion flight tests are essential for developing a prototype hypersonic propulsion system and for developing computation-design technology that can be used in designing that system. In order to determine how these objectives should be achieved, some lessons learned from past programs are presented. A conceptual two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) prototype/experimental aerospace plane is recommended as a means of providing access-to-space and for conducting flight tests. A road map for achieving these objectives is also presented.

Subscale Validation of the Subsurface Active Filtration of Exhaust (SAFE) Approach to the NTP Ground Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshall, William M.; Borowski, Stanley K.; Bulman, Mel; Joyner, Russell; Martin, Charles R.

2015-01-01

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) has been recognized as an enabling technology for missions to Mars and beyond. However, one of the key challenges of developing a nuclear thermal rocket is conducting verification and development tests on the ground. A number of ground test options are presented, with the Sub-surface Active Filtration of Exhaust (SAFE) method identified as a preferred path forward for the NTP program. The SAFE concept utilizes the natural soil characteristics present at the Nevada National Security Site to provide a natural filter for nuclear rocket exhaust during ground testing. A validation method of the SAFE concept is presented, utilizing a non-nuclear sub-scale hydrogen/oxygen rocket seeded with detectible radioisotopes. Additionally, some alternative ground test concepts, based upon the SAFE concept, are presented. Finally, an overview of the ongoing discussions of developing a ground test campaign are presented.

The missing link in language development of deaf and hard of hearing children: pragmatic language development.

PubMed

Goberis, Dianne; Beams, Dinah; Dalpes, Molly; Abrisch, Amanda; Baca, Rosalinda; Yoshinaga-Itano, Christine

2012-11-01

This article will provide information about the Pragmatics Checklist, which consists of 45 items and is scored as: (1) not present, (2) present but preverbal, (3) present with one to three words, and (4) present with complex language. Information for both children who are deaf or hard of hearing and those with normal hearing are presented. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are significantly older when demonstrating skill with complex language than their normal hearing peers. In general, even at the age of 7 years, there are several items that are not mastered by 75% of the deaf or hard of hearing children. Additionally, the article will provide some suggestions of strategies that can be considered as a means to facilitate the development of these pragmatic language skills for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Batch mode grid generation: An endangered species

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schuster, David M.

1992-01-01

Non-interactive grid generation schemes should thrive as emphasis shifts from development of numerical analysis and design methods to application of these tools to real engineering problems. A strong case is presented for the continued development and application of non-interactive geometry modeling methods. Guidelines, strategies, and techniques for developing and implementing these tools are presented using current non-interactive grid generation methods as examples. These schemes play an important role in the development of multidisciplinary analysis methods and some of these applications are also discussed.

Rural Development: Part 6, S. 1612-A Bill to Establish a Revenue-Sharing Program for Rural Development. Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Rural Development of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, 92d Congress, 1st Session, September 20, 1971.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Transcripts of the 1971 Senate hearings on S. 1612, a bill to establish a revenue sharing program for rural development, are presented in this document. Testimony presented in these hearings includes that of Federal and State legislators from North Dakota, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Georgia and representatives from the following: Arkansas Game…

JANNAF 30th Propellant Development and Characterization Subcommittee Meeting. Volume I

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, T. L. (Editor); Becker, D. L. (Editor)

2002-01-01

This volume, the first of three volumes, is a compilation of 22 unclassified/unlimited technical papers presented at the Joint Army-Navy-NASA-Air Force (JANNAF) 30th Propellant Development & Characterization Subcommittee Meeting, held on 18-21 March 2002 at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The papers presented herein reflect work performed in the areas of green energetic materials (GEM) development; liquid and gel propellant development; propellant surveillance and aging; and propellant chemistry test methods.

Science and technology issues in coastal ecotourism. Background paper

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

Not Available

Nature-based tourism, increasingly called 'ecotourism'--one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism worldwide, is fast gaining the attention of developed and developing countries as a potential means to conserve natural resources and support sustainable economic progress. The paper presents information on the ecotourism trends; identifies issues related to resource conservation, ecotourism development and management, and planning; and presents questions for possible further consideration.

Patient Activated Care for Rural Elderly. A Program Development and Teaching Guide for Planners, Facilitators, and Coordinators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gaarder, Lorin R.; Cohen, Saul

This guide is an outline for developing and presenting programs in self health care for senior citizens. The guide is presented in two sections. The first section provides background information about elderly self-care and tips on teaching it and developing a program. Sample letters to prospective enrollees and sample news releases are included.…

Teachers' Values Related to Sustainable Development in Polish and Latvian Secondary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Switala, Eugeniusz

2015-01-01

The aim of the paper is to present the results of the research on highlighting values related to sustainable development in Poland and Latvia by secondary school teachers and to compare two models by the use of action research. The research is presented as a process of identifying values mainly from the point of view of social development which is…

Toys for Early Development of the Young Blind Child: A Guide for Parents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Springfield.

A booklet is presented for parents of blind children. This booklet lists various toys that are useful for the child in his development and cognitive growth. Three kits of toys are presented. Each of these kits was developed for children of approximate age groups. Kit #1 is for the very young blind infants and contains toys that usually interest…

Few Fractional Order Derivatives and Their Computations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhatta, D. D.

2007-01-01

This work presents an introductory development of fractional order derivatives and their computations. Historical development of fractional calculus is discussed. This paper presents how to obtain computational results of fractional order derivatives for some elementary functions. Computational results are illustrated in tabular and graphical…

A model for dental hygiene education concerning the relationship between periodontal health and systemic health.

PubMed

Bush, Barbara Crafton; Donley, Timothy G

2002-01-01

To develop a format for educating the appropriate health care professionals as to the relationships between periodontal inflammation and increased risks for poor diabetes control, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, pre-term low birth weight, pneumonia and gastric ulcer reinfection. Dental hygiene students in the Advanced Periodontology curriculum were instructed to review current literature regarding the increased risk for systemic health problems when periodontal inflammation is present. Abstracts of the reviewed material were then presented in group setting to all course participants. For each systemic entity (diabetes, cardio/cerebrovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcome, pneumonia, gastric ulcer) literature-based evidence of periodontal disease's association, affect, pathogenesis, validity and clinical significance was determined. Consensus statements for each entity were developed and used as a basis for clinical interpretation. Following this, patient health-history materials were developed to obtain the necessary information from patients while educating them about the increased risk for systemic health problems when periodontal inflammation is present. Lastly, correspondence materials were developed to alert managing physicians and medical auxiliaries about the increased risk for systemic problems in their patients who may present with periodontal inflammation. A methodology which medical personnel can use to quickly screen for the presence of periodontal inflammation in at-risk patients was also developed in these correspondences. An educational model and clinical materials were developed which are aimed at alerting patients, dental and medical personnel to the increased risk for systemic health problems when inflammatory periodontal disease is present.

Biennial Survey of Education in the United States, 1934-1936. Bulletin, 1937, No. 2. Volume I. Chapter X: Developments in Educational Method, 1934-36

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Mary Dabney; Everard, L. C.; Koon, Cline M.; Lathrop, Edith A.; Proffitt, Maris M.; Segel, David

1937-01-01

This report presents a series of brief surveys of recent developments in educational method. It points to the growing conviction that many of the aids and services once regarded as mere accessories to educational method are now among its essential elements. In the first review presented herein, Maris Profitt recognizes the present widespread…

Presentation on systems cluster research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgenthaler, George W.

1989-01-01

This viewgraph presentation presents an overview of systems cluster research performed by the Center for Space Construction. The goals of the research are to develop concepts, insights, and models for space construction and to develop systems engineering/analysis curricula for training future aerospace engineers. The following topics are covered: CSC systems analysis/systems engineering (SIMCON) model, CSC systems cluster schedule, system life-cycle, model optimization techniques, publications, cooperative efforts, and sponsored research.