Transfer of Dorsoventral and Terminal Information from the Ovary to the Embryo by a Common Group of Eggshell Proteins in Drosophila.

PubMed

Mineo, Alessandro; Furriols, Marc; Casanova, Jordi

2017-04-01

The Drosophila eggshell is an extracellular matrix that confers protection to the egg and also plays a role in transferring positional information from the ovary to pattern the embryo. Among the constituents of the Drosophila eggshell, Nasrat, Polehole, and Closca form a group of proteins related by sequence, secreted by the oocyte, and mutually required for their incorporation into the eggshell. Besides their role in eggshell integrity, Nasrat, Polehole, and Closca are also required for embryonic terminal patterning by anchoring or stabilizing Torso-like at the eggshell. Here, we show that they are also required for dorsoventral patterning, thereby unveiling that the dorsoventral and terminal systems, hitherto considered independent, share a common extracellular step. Furthermore, we show that Nasrat, Polehole, and Closca are required for proper Nudel activity, a protease acting both in embryonic dorsoventral patterning and eggshell integrity, thus providing a means to account for the role of Nasrat, Polehole, and Closca. We propose that a Nasrat/Polehole/Closca complex acts as a multifunctional hub to anchor various proteins synthesized at oogenesis, ensuring their spatial and temporal restricted function. Copyright © 2017 by the Genetics Society of America.

Patterns of Injuries in Domestic Violence in a Romanian Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curca, George Cristian; Dermengiu, Dan; Hostiuc, Sorin

2012-01-01

In Romania, the quantification of traumatic injuries is achieved in medical- legal services; therefore, each domestic violence (DV) victim needs a medical-legal certificate to prove in a court of law the presence of traumatic injuries. In this study, we aimed to determine the pattern of traumatic injuries in DV. A total of 219 consecutive DV cases…

Fox (forkhead) genes are involved in the dorso-ventral patterning of the Xenopus mesoderm.

PubMed

El-Hodiri, H; Bhatia-Dey, N; Kenyon, K; Ault, K; Dirksen, M; Jamrich, M

2001-01-01

Fox (forkhead/winged helix) genes encode a family of transcription factors that are involved in embryonic pattern formation, regulation of tissue specific gene expression and tumorigenesis. Several of them are transcribed during Xenopus embryogenesis and are important for the patterning of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. We have isolated three forkhead genes that are activated during gastrulation and play an important role in the dorso-ventral patterning of the mesoderm. XFKH1 (FoxA4b), the first vertebrate forkhead gene to be implicated in embryonic pattern formation, is expressed in the Spemann-Mangold organizer region and later in the embryonic notochord. XFKH7, the Xenopus orthologue of the murine Mfh1(Foxc2), is expressed in the presomitic mesoderm, but not in the notochord or lateral plate mesoderm. Finally, XFD-13'(FoxF1b)1 is expressed in the lateral plate mesoderm, but not in the notochord or presomitic mesoderm. Expression pattern and functional experiments indicate that these three forkhead genes are involved in the dorso-ventral patterning of the mesoderm.

Silencing of Smed-betacatenin1 generates radial-like hypercephalized planarians.

PubMed

Iglesias, Marta; Gomez-Skarmeta, Jose Luis; Saló, Emili; Adell, Teresa

2008-04-01

Little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for axis establishment during non-embryonic processes such as regeneration and homeostasis. To address this issue, we set out to analyze the role of the canonical Wnt pathway in planarians, flatworms renowned for their extraordinary morphological plasticity. Canonical Wnt signalling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to confer polarity during embryonic development, specifying the anteroposterior (AP) axis in most bilaterians and the dorsoventral (DV) axis in early vertebrate embryos. beta-Catenin is a key element in this pathway, although it is a bifunctional protein that is also involved in cell-cell adhesion. Here, we report the characterization of two beta-catenin homologs from Schmidtea mediterranea (Smed-betacatenin1/2). Loss of function of Smed-betacatenin1, but not Smed-betacatenin2, in both regenerating and intact planarians, generates radial-like hypercephalized planarians in which the AP axis disappears but the DV axis remains unaffected, representing a unique example of a striking body symmetry transformation. The radial-like hypercephalized phenotype demonstrates the requirement for Smed-betacatenin1 in AP axis re-establishment and maintenance, and supports a conserved role for canonical Wnt signalling in AP axis specification, whereas the role of beta-catenin in DV axis establishment would be a vertebrate innovation. When considered alongside the protein domains present in each S. mediterranea beta-catenin and the results of functional assays in Xenopus embryos demonstrating nuclear accumulation and axis induction with Smed-betacatenin1, but not Smed-betacatenin2, these data suggest that S. mediterranea beta-catenins could be functionally specialized and that only Smed-betacatenin1 is involved in Wnt signalling.

Detection of pneumothorax and pleural effusion with horizontal beam radiography.

PubMed

Lynch, Katherine C; Oliveira, Cintia R; Matheson, Jodi S; Mitchell, Mark A; O'Brien, Robert T

2012-01-01

Forty-seven patients with a known history of thoracic trauma or clinical suspicion of pneumothorax were selected for thoracic imaging. The patient population was composed of 42 dogs and five cats. Standard vertical beam (VB) left and right lateral and ventrodorsal/dorsoventral (VD/DV) projections were obtained for each patient, and at least one horizontal beam (HB) projection (VD projection made in lateral recumbency). A total of 240 images were reviewed. Subjective assessment for the presence and degree of pneumothorax and pleural effusion was made more confidently with HB projections. Pneumothorax was identified in at least one projection in 26 patients (26 dogs) and pleural effusion in 21 patients (19 dogs and two cats). Pneumothorax and pleural effusion were present concurrently in 17 dogs. Pneumothorax and pleural effusion were graded for each image as absent, mild, moderate, or severe. Right (P < 0.001) and left (P < 0.05) lateral HB VD projections and the standard VB left lateral projection (P < 0.05) were significantly more likely to detect and grade pneumothorax severely than the VB VD/DV views. The right lateral HB projection had the highest rate of detection and gradation of severity for pneumothorax compared with other views. VD/DV projections had the lowest sensitivity for detection of the pneumothorax and gradation of severity for pneumothorax and pleural effusion. No significant difference in diagnosis (P = 0.9149) and grade (P = 0.7757) of pleural effusion were seen between views, although the left lateral HB had both the highest rate of detection and grade of severity.

Dorsoventral patterning in hemichordates: insights into early chordate evolution.

PubMed

Lowe, Christopher J; Terasaki, Mark; Wu, Michael; Freeman, Robert M; Runft, Linda; Kwan, Kristen; Haigo, Saori; Aronowicz, Jochanan; Lander, Eric; Gruber, Chris; Smith, Mark; Kirschner, Marc; Gerhart, John

2006-09-01

We have compared the dorsoventral development of hemichordates and chordates to deduce the organization of their common ancestor, and hence to identify the evolutionary modifications of the chordate body axis after the lineages split. In the hemichordate embryo, genes encoding bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) 2/4 and 5/8, as well as several genes for modulators of Bmp activity, are expressed in a thin stripe of ectoderm on one midline, historically called "dorsal." On the opposite midline, the genes encoding Chordin and Anti-dorsalizing morphogenetic protein (Admp) are expressed. Thus, we find a Bmp-Chordin developmental axis preceding and underlying the anatomical dorsoventral axis of hemichordates, adding to the evidence from Drosophila and chordates that this axis may be at least as ancient as the first bilateral animals. Numerous genes encoding transcription factors and signaling ligands are expressed in the three germ layers of hemichordate embryos in distinct dorsoventral domains, such as pox neuro, pituitary homeobox, distalless, and tbx2/3 on the Bmp side and netrin, mnx, mox, and single-minded on the Chordin-Admp side. When we expose the embryo to excess Bmp protein, or when we deplete endogenous Bmp by small interfering RNA injections, these expression domains expand or contract, reflecting their activation or repression by Bmp, and the embryos develop as dorsalized or ventralized limit forms. Dorsoventral patterning is independent of anterior/posterior patterning, as in Drosophila but not chordates. Unlike both chordates and Drosophila, neural gene expression in hemichordates is not repressed by high Bmp levels, consistent with their development of a diffuse rather than centralized nervous system. We suggest that the common ancestor of hemichordates and chordates did not use its Bmp-Chordin axis to segregate epidermal and neural ectoderm but to pattern many other dorsoventral aspects of the germ layers, including neural cell fates within a diffuse nervous system. Accordingly, centralization was added in the chordate line by neural-epidermal segregation, mediated by the pre-existing Bmp-Chordin axis. Finally, since hemichordates develop the mouth on the non-Bmp side, like arthropods but opposite to chordates, the mouth and Bmp-Chordin axis may have rearranged in the chordate line, one relative to the other.

Dorsoventral Patterning in Hemichordates: Insights into Early Chordate Evolution

PubMed Central

Lowe, Christopher J; Terasaki, Mark; Wu, Michael; Freeman, Robert M; Runft, Linda; Kwan, Kristen; Haigo, Saori; Aronowicz, Jochanan; Lander, Eric; Gruber, Chris; Smith, Mark; Kirschner, Marc; Gerhart, John

2006-01-01

We have compared the dorsoventral development of hemichordates and chordates to deduce the organization of their common ancestor, and hence to identify the evolutionary modifications of the chordate body axis after the lineages split. In the hemichordate embryo, genes encoding bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) 2/4 and 5/8, as well as several genes for modulators of Bmp activity, are expressed in a thin stripe of ectoderm on one midline, historically called “dorsal.” On the opposite midline, the genes encoding Chordin and Anti-dorsalizing morphogenetic protein (Admp) are expressed. Thus, we find a Bmp-Chordin developmental axis preceding and underlying the anatomical dorsoventral axis of hemichordates, adding to the evidence from Drosophila and chordates that this axis may be at least as ancient as the first bilateral animals. Numerous genes encoding transcription factors and signaling ligands are expressed in the three germ layers of hemichordate embryos in distinct dorsoventral domains, such as pox neuro, pituitary homeobox, distalless, and tbx2/3 on the Bmp side and netrin, mnx, mox, and single-minded on the Chordin-Admp side. When we expose the embryo to excess Bmp protein, or when we deplete endogenous Bmp by small interfering RNA injections, these expression domains expand or contract, reflecting their activation or repression by Bmp, and the embryos develop as dorsalized or ventralized limit forms. Dorsoventral patterning is independent of anterior/posterior patterning, as in Drosophila but not chordates. Unlike both chordates and Drosophila, neural gene expression in hemichordates is not repressed by high Bmp levels, consistent with their development of a diffuse rather than centralized nervous system. We suggest that the common ancestor of hemichordates and chordates did not use its Bmp-Chordin axis to segregate epidermal and neural ectoderm but to pattern many other dorsoventral aspects of the germ layers, including neural cell fates within a diffuse nervous system. Accordingly, centralization was added in the chordate line by neural-epidermal segregation, mediated by the pre-existing Bmp-Chordin axis. Finally, since hemichordates develop the mouth on the non-Bmp side, like arthropods but opposite to chordates, the mouth and Bmp-Chordin axis may have rearranged in the chordate line, one relative to the other. PMID:16933975

Dynamics of squirrel monkey linear vestibuloocular reflex and interactions with fixation distance.

PubMed

Telford, L; Seidman, S H; Paige, G D

1997-10-01

Horizontal, vertical, and torsional eye movements were recorded using the magnetic search-coil technique during linear accelerations along the interaural (IA) and dorsoventral (DV) head axes. Four squirrel monkeys were translated sinusoidally over a range of frequencies (0.5-4.0 Hz) and amplitudes (0.1-0.7 g peak acceleration). The linear vestibuloocular reflex (LVOR) was recorded in darkness after brief presentations of visual targets at various distances from the subject. With subjects positioned upright or nose-up relative to gravity, IA translations generated conjugate horizontal (IA horizontal) eye movements, whereas DV translations with the head nose-up or right-side down generated conjugate vertical (DV vertical) responses. Both were compensatory for linear head motion and are thus translational LVOR responses. In concert with geometric requirements, both IA-horizontal and DV-vertical response sensitivities (in deg eye rotation/cm head translation) were related linearly to reciprocal fixation distance as measured by vergence (in m-1, or meter-angles, MA). The relationship was characterized by linear regressions, yielding sensitivity slopes (in deg.cm-1.MA-1) and intercepts (sensitivity at 0 vergence). Sensitivity slopes were greatest at 4.0 Hz, but were only slightly more than half the ideal required to maintain fixation. Slopes declined with decreasing frequency, becoming negligible at 0.5 Hz. Small responses were observed when vergence was zero (intercept), although no response is required. Like sensitivity slope, the intercept was largest at 4.0 Hz and declined with decreasing frequency. Phase lead was near zero (compensatory) at 4.0 Hz, but increased as frequency declined. Changes in head orientation, motion axis (IA vs. DV), and acceleration amplitude produced slight and sporadic changes in LVOR parameters. Translational LVOR response characteristics are consistent with high-pass filtering within LVOR pathways. Along with horizontal eye movements, IA translation generated small torsional responses. In contrast to the translational LVORs, IA-torsional responses were not systematically modulated by vergence angle. The IA-torsional LVOR is not compensatory for translation because it cannot maintain image stability. Rather, it likely compensates for the effective head tilt simulated by translation. When analyzed in terms of effective head tilt, torsional responses were greatest at the lowest frequency and declined as frequency increased, consistent with low-pass filtering of otolith input. It is unlikely that IA-torsional responses compensate for actual head tilt, however, because they were similar for both upright and nose-up head orientations. The IA-torsional and -horizontal LVORs seem to respond only to linear acceleration along the IA head axis, and the DV-vertical LVOR to acceleration along the head's DV axis, regardless of gravity.

Patterns of Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization in U.S. Young Adult Males and Females.

PubMed

Spencer, Rachael A; Renner, Lynette M; Clark, Cari Jo

2016-09-01

Dating violence (DV) is frequently reported by young adults in intimate relationships in the United States, but little is known about patterns of DV perpetration and victimization. In this study, we examined sexual and physical violence perpetration and victimization reported by young adults to determine how the violence patterns differ by sex and race/ethnicity. Data from non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic participants in Wave 3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed. DV was assessed using responses to four questions focused on perpetration and four questions focused on victimization. The information on DV was taken from the most violent relationship reported by participants prior to Wave 3. Latent class analysis was first conducted separately by sex, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and financial stress, then by race/ethnicity, adjusting for age and financial stress. Relative model fit was established by comparing Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC), adjusted BIC, entropy, interpretability of latent classes, and certainty of latent class assignment for covariate-adjusted models. The results indicate that patterns of violence differed by sex and for females, by race/ethnicity. A three-class model was the best fit for males. For females, separate four-class models were parsimonious for White, Black, and Hispanic females. Financial stress was a significant predictor of violence classification for males and females and age predicted membership in White and Black female models. Variations in DV patterns by sex and race/ethnicity suggest the need for a more nuanced understanding of differences in DV. © The Author(s) 2015.

Hox paralog group 2 genes control the migration of mouse pontine neurons through slit-robo signaling.

PubMed

Geisen, Marc J; Di Meglio, Thomas; Pasqualetti, Massimo; Ducret, Sebastien; Brunet, Jean-François; Chedotal, Alain; Rijli, Filippo M

2008-06-10

The pontine neurons (PN) represent a major source of mossy fiber projections to the cerebellum. During mouse hindbrain development, PN migrate tangentially and sequentially along both the anteroposterior (AP) and dorsoventral (DV) axes. Unlike DV migration, which is controlled by the Netrin-1/Dcc attractive pathway, little is known about the molecular mechanisms guiding PN migration along the AP axis. Here, we show that Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 are required both intrinsically and extrinsically to maintain normal AP migration of subsets of PN, by preventing their premature ventral attraction towards the midline. Moreover, the migration defects observed in Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 mutant mice were phenocopied in compound Robo1;Robo2, Slit1;Slit2, and Robo2;Slit2 knockout animals, indicating that these guidance molecules act downstream of Hox genes to control PN migration. Indeed, using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we further demonstrated that Robo2 is a direct target of Hoxa2 in vivo and that maintenance of high Robo and Slit expression levels was impaired in Hoxa2 mutant mice. Lastly, the analysis of Phox2b-deficient mice indicated that the facial motor nucleus is a major Slit signaling source required to prevent premature ventral migration of PN. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular control of neuronal migration from transcription factor to regulation of guidance receptor and ligand expression. Specifically, they address the question of how exposure to multiple guidance cues along the AP and DV axes is regulated at the transcriptional level and in turn translated into stereotyped migratory responses during tangential migration of neurons in the developing mammalian brain.

Hox Paralog Group 2 Genes Control the Migration of Mouse Pontine Neurons through Slit-Robo Signaling

PubMed Central

Pasqualetti, Massimo; Ducret, Sebastien; Brunet, Jean-François; Chedotal, Alain; Rijli, Filippo M

2008-01-01

The pontine neurons (PN) represent a major source of mossy fiber projections to the cerebellum. During mouse hindbrain development, PN migrate tangentially and sequentially along both the anteroposterior (AP) and dorsoventral (DV) axes. Unlike DV migration, which is controlled by the Netrin-1/Dcc attractive pathway, little is known about the molecular mechanisms guiding PN migration along the AP axis. Here, we show that Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 are required both intrinsically and extrinsically to maintain normal AP migration of subsets of PN, by preventing their premature ventral attraction towards the midline. Moreover, the migration defects observed in Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 mutant mice were phenocopied in compound Robo1;Robo2, Slit1;Slit2, and Robo2;Slit2 knockout animals, indicating that these guidance molecules act downstream of Hox genes to control PN migration. Indeed, using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we further demonstrated that Robo2 is a direct target of Hoxa2 in vivo and that maintenance of high Robo and Slit expression levels was impaired in Hoxa2 mutant mice. Lastly, the analysis of Phox2b-deficient mice indicated that the facial motor nucleus is a major Slit signaling source required to prevent premature ventral migration of PN. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular control of neuronal migration from transcription factor to regulation of guidance receptor and ligand expression. Specifically, they address the question of how exposure to multiple guidance cues along the AP and DV axes is regulated at the transcriptional level and in turn translated into stereotyped migratory responses during tangential migration of neurons in the developing mammalian brain. PMID:18547144

Determination of vertebral range of motion using inertial measurement units in 27 Franches-Montagnes stallions and comparison between conditions and with a mixed population.

PubMed

Heim, C; Pfau, T; Gerber, V; Schweizer, C; Doherr, M; Schüpbach-Regula, G; Witte, S

2016-07-01

The diagnosis of equine back disorders is challenging. Objectively determining movement of the vertebral column may therefore be of value in a clinical setting. To establish whether surface-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to establish normal values for range of motion (ROM) of the vertebral column in a uniform population of horses trotting under different conditions. Vertebral ROM was established in Franches-Montagnes stallions and a general population of horses and the variability in measurements compared between the two groups. Repeatability and the influence of specific exercise condition (on ROM) were assessed. Finally, attempts were made to explain the findings of the study through the evaluation of factors that might influence ROM. Dorsoventral (DV) and mediolateral (ML) vertebral ROM was measured at a trot under different exercise conditions in 27 Franches-Montagnes stallions and six general population horses using IMUs distributed over the vertebral column. Variability in the ROM measurements was significantly higher for general population horses than for Franches-Montagnes stallions (both DV and ML ROM). Repeatability was strong to very strong for DV measurements and moderate for ML measurements. Trotting under saddle significantly reduced the ROM, with sitting trot resulting in a significantly lower ROM than rising trot. Age is unlikely to explain the low variability in vertebral ROM recorded in the Franches-Montagnes horses, while this may be associated with conformational factors. It was possible to establish a normal vertebral ROM for a group of Franches-Montagnes stallions. While within-breed variation was low in this population, further studies are necessary to determine variation in vertebral ROM for other breeds and to assess their utility for diagnosis of equine back disorders. © 2015 EVJ Ltd.

Medical students' clinical performance of dealing with patients in the context of domestic violence.

PubMed

Kong, Hyun-Hee; Im, Sunju; Seo, Ji-Hyun; Kim, Do-Kyong; Roh, HyeRin

2018-03-01

The aim of this study was to inquire about the clinical performance and determine the performance pattern of medical students in standardized patient (SP) based examinations of domestic violence (DV). The clinical performance sores in DV station with SP of third-year (n=111, in 2014) and 4th-year (n=143, in 2016) medical students of five universities in the Busan-Gyeongnam Clinical Skills Examination Consortium were subjected in this study. The scenarios and checklists of DV cases were developed by the case development committee of the consortium. The students' performance was compared with other stations encountered in SP. The items of the checklists were categorized to determine the performance pattern of students investigating DV into six domains: disclosure strategy (D), DV related history taking (H), checking the perpetrator's psychosocial state (P), checking the victim's condition (V), negotiating and persuading the interviewee (N), and providing information about DV (I). Medical students showed poorer performance in DV stations than in the other stations with SP in the same examination. Most students did confirm the perpetrator and commented on confidentiality but ignored the perpetrator's state and patient's physical and psychological condition. The students performed well in the domains of D, H, and I but performed poorly in domains P, V, and N. Medical students showed poor clinical performance in the DV station. They performed an 'event oriented interview' rather than 'patient centered' communication. An integrated educational program of DV should be set to improve students' clinical performance.

Structural covariance mapping delineates medial and medio-lateral temporal networks in déjà vu.

PubMed

Shaw, Daniel Joel; Mareček, Radek; Brázdil, Milan

2016-12-01

Déjà vu (DV) is an eerie phenomenon experienced frequently as an aura of temporal lobe epilepsy, but also reported commonly by healthy individuals. The former pathological manifestation appears to result from aberrant neural activity among brain structures within the medial temporal lobes. Recent studies also implicate medial temporal brain structures in the non-pathological experience of DV, but as one element of a diffuse neuroanatomical correlate; it remains to be seen if neural activity among the medial temporal lobes also underlies this benign manifestation. The present study set out to investigate this. Due to its unpredictable and infrequent occurrence, however, non-pathological DV does not lend itself easily to functional neuroimaging. Instead, we draw on research showing that brain structure covaries among regions that interact frequently as nodes of functional networks. Specifically, we assessed whether grey-matter covariance among structures implicated in non-pathological DV differs according to the frequency with which the phenomenon is experienced. This revealed two diverging patterns of structural covariation: Among the first, comprised primarily of medial temporal structures and the caudate, grey-matter volume becomes more positively correlated with higher frequency of DV experience. The second pattern encompasses medial and lateral temporal structures, among which greater DV frequency is associated with more negatively correlated grey matter. Using a meta-analytic method of co-activation mapping, we demonstrate a higher probability of functional interactions among brain structures constituting the former pattern, particularly during memory-related processes. Our findings suggest that altered neural signalling within memory-related medial temporal brain structures underlies both pathological and non-pathological DV.

Associations among Depressive Symptoms, Dating Violence, and Relationship Power in Urban, Adolescent Girls

PubMed Central

Volpe, Ellen M.; Hardie, Thomas L.; Cerulli, Catherine

2013-01-01

Objective To explore the associations among dating violence (DV), aggression, relationship power, and depressive symptoms. Design A cross-sectional survey secondary analysis. Setting An urban, school based health center, October, 2009 through May, 2009. Participants Low income, adolescent girls (n= 155), ages 14–18. Methods Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to illustrate patterns and associations among variables. Key variables included depressive symptoms, DV victimization and aggression, and relationship power. We used mediation analyses to determine the direct and indirect effects among variables. Results Both DV victimization and aggression were reported frequently. Furthermore, DV victimization had a significant direct effect on depression and an indirect effect through relationship power. Depressive symptoms and relationship power were associated with DV aggression. Although relationship power did have a significant inverse effect on depressive symptoms, it was not through DV aggression. Conclusions Complex associations remain between mental health and DV; however, relationship power partially accounts for DV victimization's effect on depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms are associated with DV victimization and aggression; therefore, nurses should address relationship power in clinical and community interventions. PMID:22697267

The BMP pathway is essential for re-specification and maintenance of the dorsoventral axis in regenerating and intact planarians.

PubMed

Molina, M Dolores; Saló, Emili; Cebrià, Francesc

2007-11-01

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway has been shown to play an important role in the establishment of the dorsoventral axis during development in both vertebrate and invertebrate species. In an attempt to unravel the role of BMPs in pattern formation during planarian regeneration, we studied this signaling pathway in Schmidtea mediterranea. Here, we functionally characterize planarian homologues of two key elements of the pathway: Smed-BMP and Smed-Smad1. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that Smed-BMP is expressed at the planarian dorsal midline, suggesting a role in dorsoventral patterning, while Smed-Smad1 is widely expressed throughout the mesenchyme and in the central nervous system. RNA interference (RNAi) knockdowns of Smed-BMP or Smed-Smad1 led to the disappearance of dorsal markers along with the ectopic expression of ventral markers on the dorsal side of the treated animals. In almost all cases, a duplicated central nervous system differentiated dorsally after Smed-BMP or Smed-Smad1 RNAi. These defects were observed not only during regeneration but also in intact non-regenerating animals. Our results suggest that the BMP signaling pathway is conserved in planarians and that it plays a key role in the regeneration and maintenance of the dorsoventral axis.

Domestic Violence in Puerto Rican Gay Male Couples: Perceived Prevalence, Intergenerational Violence, Addictive Behaviors, and Conflict Resolution Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toro-Alfonso, Jose; Rodriguez-Madera, Sheilla

2004-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is a pattern of behaviors in the context of an intimate relationship, which can be manifested in emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. DV currently represents a social and a public health issue. This study is an effort to foster a better understanding of DV among same-sex couples. In it, the authors included the…

The extracellular matrix architecture relating to myotendinous pattern formation in the distal part of the developing chick limb: an ultrastructural, histochemical and immunocytochemical analysis.

PubMed

Hurle, J M; Hinchliffe, J R; Ros, M A; Critchlow, M A; Genis-Galvez, J M

1989-07-01

In the later developmental stages (Hamburger and Hamilton, 25-34) the distal part of the chick leg possesses a distinctive extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture which relates to myotendinous patterning. There are two components: firstly, a system of dorsoventrally oriented fibrils which link the two ectodermal surfaces through the undifferentiated distal mesenchyme and secondly, a 'mesenchyme lamina' originates at the basement membrane distally, but proximally runs through the mesoderm, subjacent and parallel to the basement membrane. The 'mesenchyme lamina' appears to be a precursor of developing tendons and is spatially related to the distal tips of the myogenic blocks. As developing tendons form on the inner surface of the lamina at its proximal end, it becomes less distinct and disappears. Further dorsoventral fibrils run from the 'mesenchyme lamina' into the developing condensations and chondrogenic elements of the phalanges. The architecture of the ECM was revealed by silver and lectin staining (peanut and Ricinus communis agglutinins, PNA and RCA I), by immunocytochemistry (for fibronectin, tenascin, collagen type I) and by ultrastructural analysis. Both components stain with silver, PNA following neuraminidase digestion, RCA I, tenascin and collagen type I. However, the dorsoventral fibrils are positive for fibronectin and negative for PNA, while conversely the mesenchyme lamina is positive for PNA but much less so for fibronectin. Tenascin has been shown to be a specialized mesenchyme component of tendons and myotendinous junctions (Chiquet and Fambrough, 1984). Such a basement membrane forming a 'mesenchyme lamina' appears to be unique in epithelial-mesenchymal developing systems and points to an ectodermal role in tendon pattern formation within the mesenchyme. We discuss the possible role of mechanical force in converting the dorsoventral tenascin-positive fibrils into the localized pattern of tendon insertions into the proximal parts of the phalanges. Distally the dorsoventral fibrils may shape the digital plate by pulling together the two ectodermal surfaces. A similar ECM architecture is found in corresponding stages in the developing wing.

Differential expression of two glutathione S-transferases identified from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis.

PubMed

Dreher-Lesnick, S M; Mulenga, A; Simser, J A; Azad, A F

2006-08-01

Reciprocal signalling and gene expression play a cardinal role during pathogen-host molecular interactions and are prerequisite to the maintenance of balanced homeostasis. Gene expression repertoire changes during rickettsial infection and glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) were among the genes found up-regulated in Rickettsia-infected Dermacentor variabilis. GSTs are well known to play an important part in cellular stress responses in the host. We have cloned two full-length GSTs from D. variabilis (DvGST1 and DvGST2). Comparison of these two DvGST molecules with those of other species indicate that DvGST1 is related to the mammalian class theta and insect class delta GSTs, while DvGST2 does not seem to fall in the same family. Northern blotting analyses revealed differential expression patterns, where DvGST1 and DvGST2 transcripts are found in the tick gut, with DvGST2 transcripts also present in the ovaries. Both DvGST transcripts are up-regulated upon tick feeding. Challenge of fed adult ticks with Escherichia coli injection showed decreased transcript amounts compared with ticks injected with phosphate-buffered saline (sham) and naïve ticks.

Neuro-anatomical differences among epileptic and non-epileptic déjà-vu.

PubMed

Labate, Angelo; Cerasa, Antonio; Mumoli, Laura; Ferlazzo, Edoardo; Aguglia, Umberto; Quattrone, Aldo; Gambardella, Antonio

2015-03-01

Dèjà-vù (DV) can occur as a seizure of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and in almost 80% of healthy individuals. The remarkable similarity between epileptic DV and DV in healthy individuals raises the possibility that DV might sometimes be an ictal phenomenon in apparently normal individuals. Thus, we studied a group of healthy subjects versus individuals with benign MTLE (bMTLE) both experiencing DV. 63 individuals with epilepsy patients with bMTLE and 39 healthy controls at Catanzaro University were recruited. Participants completed the Inventory for Déjà Vu (DV) Experiences Assessment (IDEA) test, underwent awake and asleep electroencephalogram, MRI of the brain using a 3T scanner and whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM). bMTLE patients with DV and without DV were also matched for the presence of hippocampal sclerosis. Our controls had no history of neurological or psychiatric illness, epilepsy or history of febrile convulsions. Neurological and cognitive examinations were normal. Electroencephalographic procedures were unremarkable in all controls. In bMTLE group, the direct comparison of VBM between individuals with epilepsy with DV versus those without DV revealed abnormal anatomical changes in the left hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and visual cortex. The VBM of healthy controls with DV showed abnormal anatomical changes only in the left insular cortex. Our VBM results demonstrated different morphologic patterns in individuals with epilepsy and control subjects experiencing DV, involving the memory circuit in bMTLE patients and cerebral regions in the emotional network in healthy controls. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Foregut separation and tracheo-oesophageal malformations: The role of tracheal outgrowth, dorso-ventral patterning and programmed cell death

PubMed Central

Ioannides, Adonis S.; Massa, Valentina; Ferraro, Elisabetta; Cecconi, Francesco; Spitz, Lewis; Henderson, Deborah J.; Copp, Andrew J.

2010-01-01

Foregut division—the separation of dorsal (oesophageal) from ventral (tracheal) foregut components—is a crucial event in gastro-respiratory development, and frequently disturbed in clinical birth defects. Here, we examined three outstanding questions of foregut morphogenesis. The origin of the trachea is suggested to result either from respiratory outgrowth or progressive septation of the foregut tube. We found normal foregut lengthening despite failure of tracheo-oesophageal separation in Adriamycin-treated embryos, whereas active septation was observed only in normal foregut morphogenesis, indicating a primary role for septation. Dorso-ventral patterning of Nkx2.1 (ventral) and Sox2 (dorsal) expression is proposed to be critical for tracheo-oesophageal separation. However, normal dorso-ventral patterning of Nkx2.1 and Sox2 expression occurred in Adriamycin-treated embryos with defective foregut separation. In contrast, Shh expression shifts dynamically, ventral-to-dorsal, solely during normal morphogenesis, particularly implicating Shh in foregut morphogenesis. Dying cells localise to the fusing foregut epithelial ridges, with disturbance of this apoptotic pattern in Adriamycin, Shh and Nkx2.1 models. Strikingly, however, genetic suppression of apoptosis in the Apaf1 mutant did not prevent foregut separation, indicating that apoptosis is not required for tracheo-oesophageal morphogenesis. Epithelial remodelling during septation may cause loss of cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions, resulting in apoptosis (anoikis) as a secondary consequence. PMID:19913007

Wingless, decapentaplegic and EGF receptor signaling pathways interact to specify dorso-ventral pattern in the adult abdomen of Drosophila.

PubMed

Kopp, A; Blackman, R K; Duncan, I

1999-08-01

Adult abdominal segments of Drosophila are subdivided along the dorso-ventral axis into a dorsal tergite, a ventral sternite and ventro-lateral pleural cuticle. We report that this pattern is largely specified during the pupal stage by Wingless (Wg), Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Drosophila EGF Receptor (DER) signaling. Expression of wg and dpp is activated at the posterior edge of the anterior compartment by Hedgehog signaling. Within this region, wg and dpp are expressed in domains that are mutually exclusive along the dorso-ventral axis: wg is expressed in the sternite and medio-lateral tergite, whereas dpp expression is confined to the pleura and the dorsal midline. Neither gene is expressed in the lateral tergite. Shirras and Couso (1996, Dev. Biol. 175, 24-36) have shown that tergite and sternite cell fates are specified by Wg signaling. We find that DER acts synergistically with Wg to promote tergite and sternite identities, and that Wg and DER activities are opposed by Dpp signaling, which promotes pleural identity. Wg and Dpp interact antagonistically at two levels. First, their expression is confined to complementary domains by mutual transcriptional repression. Second, Wg and Dpp compete directly with one another by exerting opposite effects on cell fate. DER signaling does not affect the expression of wg or dpp, indicating that it interacts with Wg and Dpp at the level of cell fate determination. Within the tergite, the requirements for Wg and DER function are roughly complementary: Wg is required mainly in the medial region, whereas DER is most important laterally. Finally, we show that Dpp signaling at the dorsal midline controls dorso-ventral patterning within the tergite by promoting pigmentation in the medial region.

Maternal diabetes alters the development of ductus venosus shunting in the fetus.

PubMed

Lund, Agnethe; Ebbing, Cathrine; Rasmussen, Svein; Kiserud, Torvid W; Kessler, Jörg

2018-05-11

Despite adequate glycemic control, the risks of fetal macrosomia and perinatal complications are increased in diabetic pregnancies. Adjustments of the umbilical venous (UV) distribution, including increased ductus venosus (DV) shunting, can be important fetal compensatory mechanisms, but the impact of pregestational diabetes on UV and DV flow is not known. In this prospective study, 49 women with pregestational diabetes mellitus underwent monthly ultrasound examinations from gestational week 20 to 36. The blood velocity and the mean diameters of the UV and DV were used for calculating blood flow volumes. The development of the UV flow, DV flow and DV shunt fraction (% of UV blood shunted through the DV) was compared with a reference population, and the effect of HbA 1c on the DV flow was assessed. The UV flow was larger in pregnancies with pregestational diabetes mellitus than in low-risk pregnancies (p<0.001), but smaller when normalized for fetal weight (p=0.036). The distributional pattern of the DV flow developed differently in diabetic pregnancies, particularly during the third trimester, being smaller (p=0.007), also when normalized for fetal weight (p<0.001). Correspondingly the DV shunt fraction was reduced (p<0.0001), most prominently at 36 weeks. There were negative relations between the maternal HbA 1c and the DV flow velocity, flow volume and shunt fraction. In pregnancies with pregestational diabetes mellitus, prioritized UV distribution to the fetal liver, and lower DV shunt capacity, both reduce the compensatory capability of the fetus and may represent an augmented risk during hypoxic challenges during late pregnancy and birth. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The spatial patterning of mouse cone opsin expression is regulated by BMP signaling through downstream effector COUP-TF nuclear receptors

PubMed Central

Satoh, Shinya; Tang, Ke; Iida, Atsumi; Inoue, Mariko; Kodama, Tatsuhiko; Tsai, Sophia Y.; Tsai, Ming-Jer; Furuta, Yasuhide; Watanabe, Sumiko

2009-01-01

Cone photopigments, known as opsins, are pivotal elements and the first detection module employed in color vision. In mice, cone photoreceptors are distributed throughout the retina, and S- and M-opsins have unique expression patterns in the retina with a gradient along the dorsoventral axis; however, the mechanisms regulating the spatial patterning of cone opsin expression have not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to define the mechanisms regulating the spatial patterning of cone opsin expression. By analyzing knockouts for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, we found an essential role for BMP in forming cone opsin expression patterns in the retina; however, BMP signaling is activated only transiently in the dorsal half of the retina during early retinal development. Thus, BMP is not likely to play a direct role in opsin gene expression, which starts at a later stage of retinal development. We identified the chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor (COUP-TF) nuclear receptor as a link between BMP and opsin expression. BMP signaling is essential for the correct dorsoventral spatial expression of COUP-TFI and -TFII. Through gain- and loss-of-function analyses, we found that both COUP-TFI and -TFII are required to suppress S-opsin expression in the dorsal retina but that only COUP-TFI plays an essential role in suppressing M-opsin expression in the ventral retina. Based on these findings, we propose a new molecular cascade involving BMP and COUP-TFs that conveys dorsoventral information to direct the expression of cone opsins during retinal development. PMID:19812316

Cytoskeleton and gravity at work in the establishment of dorso-ventral polarity in the egg of Xenopus laevis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ubbels, Geertje A.; Brom, Tim G.

The establishment of polarities during early embryogenesis is essential for normal development. Amphibian eggs are appropriate models for studies on embryonic pattern formation. The animal-vegetal axis of the axially symmetrical amphibian egg originates during oogenesis and foreshadows the main body axis of the embryo. The dorso-ventral polarity is epigenetically established before first cleavage. Recent experiments strongly suggest that in the monospermic eggs of the anuran Xenopus laevis both the cytoskeleton and gravity act in the determination of the dorso-ventral polarity. In order to test the role of gravity in this process, eggs will be fertilized under microgravity conditions during the SL-D1 flight in 1985. In a fully automatic experiment container eggs will be kept under well-defined conditions and artificially fertilized as soon as microgravity is reached; eggs and embryos at different stages will then be fixed for later examination. Back on earth the material will be analysed and we will know whether fertilization under microgravity conditions is possible. If so, the relation of the dorso-ventral axis to the former sperm entry point will be determined on the whole embryos; in addition eggs and embryos will be analysed cytologically.

Sulfation of Eggshell Proteins by Pipe Defines Dorsal-Ventral Polarity in the Drosophila embryo

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhenyu; Stevens, Leslie M.; Stein, David

2009-01-01

Summary Drosophila embryonic dorsal-ventral (DV) polarity is controlled by a group of sequentially acting serine proteases located in the fluid-filled perivitelline space between the embryonic membrane and the eggshell, which generate the ligand for the Toll receptor on the ventral side of the embryo [1, 2, 3]. Spatial control of the protease cascade relies on the Pipe sulfotransferase, a fly homologue of vertebrate glycosaminoglycan modifying enzymes [4, 5, 6], which is expressed in ventral cells of the follicular epithelium surrounding the developing oocyte. The identification of the Pipe enzymatic target has remained a major gap in our understanding of the mechanism controlling the perivitelline protease cascade, and hence embryonic DV patterning. Here we show that the protein Vitelline Membrane-Like (VML) [7] undergoes Pipe-dependent sulfation and, consistent with a role in conveying positional information from the egg chamber to the embryo, becomes incorporated into the eggshell at a position corresponding to the location of the follicle cells from which it was secreted. Although VML influences embryonic DV pattern in a sensitized genetic background, VML is not essential for DV axis formation, suggesting that there is redundancy in the composition of the Pipe enzymatic target. Correspondingly, we find that additional structural components of the vitelline membrane undergo Pipe-dependent sulfation. In identifying the elusive targets of Pipe, this ork points to the vitelline membrane as the source of signals that generate the Drosophila DV axis and provides a framework for understanding the mechanism controlling spatially-specific activation of serine protease activity during embryonic pattern formation. PMID:19540119

Inhibitory Smads and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) modulate anterior photoreceptor cell number during planarian eye regeneration.

PubMed

González-Sastre, Alejandro; Molina, Ma Dolores; Saló, Emili

2012-01-01

Planarians represent an excellent model to study the processes of body axis and organ re-specification during regeneration. Previous studies have revealed a conserved role for the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway and its intracellular mediators Smad1/5/8 and Smad4 in planarian dorsoventral (DV) axis re-establishment. In an attempt to gain further insight into the role of this signalling pathway in planarians, we have isolated and functionally characte-rized the inhibitory Smads (I-Smads) in Schmidtea mediterranea. Two I-Smad homologues have been identified: Smed-smad6/7-1 and Smed-smad6/7-2. Expression of smad6/7-1 was detected in the parenchyma, while smad6/7-2 was found to be ex-pressed in the central nervous system and the eyes. Neither single smad6/7-1 and smad6/7-2 nor double smad6/7-1,-2 silencing gave rise to any apparent disruption of the DV axis. However, both regenerating and intact smad6/7-2 (RNAi) planarians showed defects in eye morphogenesis and displayed small, rounded eyes that lacked the anterior subpopulation of photoreceptor cells. The number of pigment cells was also reduced in these animals at later stages of regeneration. In contrast, after low doses of Smed-bmp(RNAi), planarians regenerated larger eyes in which the anterior subpopulation of photoreceptor cells was expanded. Our results suggest that Smed-smad6/7-2 and Smed-bmp control the re-specification and maintenance of anterior photoreceptor cell number in S. mediterranea.

Power and violence: the relation between communication patterns, power discrepancies, and domestic violence.

PubMed

Babcock, J C; Waltz, J; Jacobson, N S; Gottman, J M

1993-02-01

This study hypothesized that power discrepancies in the marital relationship, where the husband is subordinate, serve as risk factors for husband-to-wife violence. The construct of marital power was assessed from 3 power domains operationalized by discrepancies in economic status, decision-making power, communication patterns, and communication skill. Three groups of married couples (N = 95) were compared: domestically violent (DV), maritally distressed/nonviolent (DNV), and maritally happy/nonviolent (HNV). DV couples were more likely than the 2 nonviolent groups to engage in husband demand/wife withdraw interactions. Within the DV group, husbands who had less power were more physically abusive toward their wives. Thus, violence may be compensatory behavior to make up for husbands' lack of power in other arenas of marriage. Difficulties in assessing marital power and future direction for the study of power and violence are discussed.

Biochemical defects of mutant nudel alleles causing early developmental arrest or dorsalization of the Drosophila embryo.

PubMed Central

LeMosy, E K; Leclerc, C L; Hashimoto, C

2000-01-01

The nudel gene of Drosophila is maternally required both for structural integrity of the egg and for dorsoventral patterning of the embryo. It encodes a structurally modular protein that is secreted by ovarian follicle cells. Genetic and molecular studies have suggested that the Nudel protein is also functionally modular, with a serine protease domain that is specifically required for ventral development. Here we describe biochemical and immunolocalization studies that provide insight into the molecular basis for the distinct phenotypes produced by nudel mutations and for the interactions between these alleles. Mutations causing loss of embryonic dorsoventral polarity result in a failure to activate the protease domain of Nudel. Our analyses support previous findings that catalytic activity of the protease domain is required for dorsoventral patterning and that the Nudel protease is auto-activated and reveal an important role for a region adjacent to the protease domain in Nudel protease function. Mutations causing egg fragility and early embryonic arrest result in a significant decrease in extracellular Nudel protein, due to defects in post-translational processing, stability, or secretion. On the basis of these and other studies of serine proteases, we suggest potential mechanisms for the complementary and antagonistic interactions between the nudel alleles. PMID:10628985

Regional differences in BMP-dependence of dorsoventral patterning in the leech Helobdella.

PubMed

Kuo, Dian-Han; Shankland, Marty; Weisblat, David A

2012-08-01

In the leech Helobdella, the ectoderm exhibits a high degree of morphological homonomy between body segments, but pattern elements in lateral ectoderm arise via distinct cell lineages in the segments of the rostral and midbody regions. In each of the four rostral segments, a complete set of ventrolateral (O fate) and dorsolateral (P fate) ectodermal pattern elements arises from a single founder cell, op. In the 28 midbody and caudal segments, however, there are two initially indeterminate o/p founder cells; the more dorsal of these is induced to adopt the P fate by BMP5-8 emanating from the dorsalmost ectoderm, while the more ventral cell assumes the O fate. Previous work has suggested that the dorsoventral patterning of O and P fates differs in the rostral region, but the role of BMP signaling in those segments has not been investigated. We show here that suppression of dorsal BMP5-8 signaling (which effects a P-to-O fate change in the midbody) has no effect on the patterning of O and P fates in the rostral region. Furthermore, ectopic expression of BMP5-8 in the ventral ectoderm (which induces an O-to-P fate change in the midbody) has no effect in the rostral region. Finally, expression of a dominant-negative BMP receptor (which induces a P-to-O fate change in the midbody) fails to affect O/P patterning in the rostral region. Thus, the rostral segments appear to use some mechanism other than BMP signaling to pattern O and P cell fates along the dorsoventral axis. From a mechanistic standpoint, the OP lineage of the rostral segments and the O-P equivalence group of the midbody and caudal segments constitute distinct developmental modules that rely to differing degrees on positional cues from surrounding ectoderm in order to specify homonomous cell fates. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The dorsoventral patterning of Musca domestica embryos: insights into BMP/Dpp evolution from the base of the lower cyclorraphan flies.

PubMed

Hodar, Christian; Cambiazo, Verónica

2018-01-01

In the last few years, accumulated information has indicated that the evolution of an extra-embryonic membrane in dipterans was accompanied by changes in the gene regulatory network controlled by the BMP/Dpp pathway, which is responsible for dorsal patterning in these insects. However, only comparative analysis of gene expression levels between distant species with two extra-embryonic membranes, like A. gambiae or C. albipunctata , and D. melanogaster, has been conducted. Analysis of gene expression in ancestral species, which evolved closer to the amnioserosa origin, could provide new insights into the evolution of dorsoventral patterning in dipterans. Here we describe the spatial expression of several key and downstream elements of the Dpp pathway and show the compared patterns of expression between Musca and Drosophila embryos, both dipterans with amnioserosa. Most of the analyzed gene showed a high degree of expression conservation, however, we found several differences in the gene expression pattern of M. domestica orthologs for sog and tolloid . Bioinformatics analysis of the promoter of both genes indicated that the variations could be related to the gain of several binding sites for the transcriptional factor Dorsal in the Md.tld promoter and Snail in the Md.sog enhancer . These altered expressions could explain the unclear formation of the pMad gradient in the M. domestica embryo, compared to the formation of the gradient in D. melanogaster. Gene expression changes during the dorsal-ventral patterning in insects contribute to the differentiation of extra-embryonic tissues as a consequence of changes in the gene regulatory network controlled by BMP/Dpp. In this work, in early M. domestica embryos, we identified the expression pattern of several genes members involved in the dorsoventral specification of the embryo. We believe that these data can contribute to understanding the evolution of the BMP/Dpp pathway, the regulation of BMP ligands, and the formation of a Dpp gradient in higher cyclorraphan flies.

The evolution of dorsal-ventral patterning mechanisms in insects.

PubMed

Lynch, Jeremy A; Roth, Siegfried

2011-01-15

The gene regulatory network (GRN) underpinning dorsal-ventral (DV) patterning of the Drosophila embryo is among the most thoroughly understood GRNs, making it an ideal system for comparative studies seeking to understand the evolution of development. With the emergence of widely applicable techniques for testing gene function, species with sequenced genomes, and multiple tractable species with diverse developmental modes, a phylogenetically broad and molecularly deep understanding of the evolution of DV axis formation in insects is feasible. Here, we review recent progress made in this field, compare our emerging molecular understanding to classical embryological experiments, and suggest future directions of inquiry.

RADIOGRAPHIC THORACIC ANATOMY OF THE RED PANDA (AILURUS FULGENS).

PubMed

Makungu, Modesta; du Plessis, Wencke M; Barrows, Michelle; Groenewald, Hermanus B; Koeppel, Katja N

2016-09-01

The red panda ( Ailurus fulgens ) is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The natural distribution of the red panda is in the Himalayas and southern China. Thoracic diseases such as dirofilariasis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, tracheal obstruction, lung worm infestation, and pneumonia have been reported in the red panda. The aim of this study was to describe the normal radiographic thoracic anatomy of captive red pandas as a species-specific reference for routine health examinations and clinical cases. Right lateral (RL) and dorsoventral (DV) inspiratory phase views of the thorax were obtained in 11 adult captive red pandas. Measurements were made and ratios calculated to establish reference ranges for the mean vertebral heart score on the RL (8.34 ± 0.25) and DV (8.78 ± 0.34) views and the mean ratios of the caudal vena cava diameter to the vertebral body length above tracheal bifurcation (0.67 ± 0.05) and tracheal diameter to the width of the third rib (2.75 ± 0.24). The majority of animals (10/11) had 14 thoracic vertebrae, except for one animal that had 15 thoracic vertebrae. Rudimentary clavicles were seen in 3/11 animals. The ovoid, oblique cardiac silhouette was more horizontally positioned and elongated in older animals. A redundant aortic arch was seen in the oldest animal. The trachea was seen with mineralized cartilage rings in all animals. The carina was clearly seen in the majority of animals (10/11). Variations exist in the normal radiographic thoracic anatomy of different species. Knowledge of the normal radiographic thoracic anatomy of the red panda should prove useful for routine health examinations and in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases.

Compound gravity receptor polarization vectors evidenced by linear vestibular evoked potentials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, S. M.; Jones, T. A.; Bell, P. L.; Taylor, M. J.

2001-01-01

The utricle and saccule are gravity receptor organs of the vestibular system. These receptors rely on a high-density otoconial membrane to detect linear acceleration and the position of the cranium relative to Earth's gravitational vector. The linear vestibular evoked potential (VsEP) has been shown to be an effective non-invasive functional test specifically for otoconial gravity receptors (Jones et al., 1999). Moreover, there is some evidence that the VsEP can be used to independently test utricular and saccular function (Taylor et al., 1997; Jones et al., 1998). Here we characterize compound macular polarization vectors for the utricle and saccule in hatchling chickens. Pulsed linear acceleration stimuli were presented in two axes, the dorsoventral (DV, +/- Z axis) to isolate the saccule, and the interaural (IA, +/- Y axis) to isolate the utricle. Traditional signal averaging was used to resolve responses recorded from the surface of the skull. Latency and amplitude of eighth nerve components of the linear VsEP were measured. Gravity receptor responses exhibited clear preferences for one stimulus direction in each axis. With respect to each utricular macula, lateral translation in the IA axis produced maximum ipsilateral response amplitudes with substantially greater amplitude intensity (AI) slopes than medially directed movement. Downward caudal motions in the DV axis produced substantially larger response amplitudes and AI slopes. The results show that the macula lagena does not contribute to the VsEP compound polarization vectors of the sacculus and utricle. The findings suggest further that preferred compound vectors for the utricle depend on the pars externa (i.e. lateral hair cell field) whereas for the saccule they depend on pars interna (i.e. superior hair cell fields). These data provide evidence that maculae saccule and utricle can be selectively evaluated using the linear VsEP.

The Selector Gene apterous and Notch Are Required to Locally Increase Mechanical Cell Bond Tension at the Drosophila Dorsoventral Compartment Boundary

PubMed Central

Michel, Marcus; Aliee, Maryam; Rudolf, Katrin; Bialas, Lisa; Jülicher, Frank; Dahmann, Christian

2016-01-01

The separation of cells with distinct fates and functions is important for tissue and organ formation during animal development. Regions of different fates within tissues are often separated from another along straight boundaries. These compartment boundaries play a crucial role in tissue patterning and growth by stably positioning organizers. In Drosophila, the wing imaginal disc is subdivided into a dorsal and a ventral compartment. Cells of the dorsal, but not ventral, compartment express the selector gene apterous. Apterous expression sets in motion a gene regulatory cascade that leads to the activation of Notch signaling in a few cell rows on either side of the dorsoventral compartment boundary. Both Notch and apterous mutant clones disturb the separation of dorsal and ventral cells. Maintenance of the straight shape of the dorsoventral boundary involves a local increase in mechanical tension at cell bonds along the boundary. The mechanisms by which cell bond tension is locally increased however remain unknown. Here we use a combination of laser ablation of cell bonds, quantitative image analysis, and genetic mutants to show that Notch and Apterous are required to increase cell bond tension along the dorsoventral compartment boundary. Moreover, clonal expression of the Apterous target gene capricious results in cell separation and increased cell bond tension at the clone borders. Finally, using a vertex model to simulate tissue growth, we find that an increase in cell bond tension at the borders of cell clones, but not throughout the cell clone, can lead to cell separation. We conclude that Apterous and Notch maintain the characteristic straight shape of the dorsoventral compartment boundary by locally increasing cell bond tension. PMID:27552097

Zygotic LvBMP5-8 is required for skeletal patterning and for left-right but not dorsal-ventral specification in the sea urchin embryo.

PubMed

Piacentino, Michael L; Chung, Oliver; Ramachandran, Janani; Zuch, Daniel T; Yu, Jia; Conaway, Evan A; Reyna, Arlene E; Bradham, Cynthia A

2016-04-01

Skeletal patterning in the sea urchin embryo requires coordinated signaling between the pattern-dictating ectoderm and the skeletogenic primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs); recent studies have begun to uncover the molecular basis for this process. Using an unbiased RNA-Seq-based screen, we have previously identified the TGF-ß superfamily ligand, LvBMP5-8, as a skeletal patterning gene in Lytechinus variegatus embryos. This result is surprising, since both BMP5-8 and BMP2/4 ligands have been implicated in sea urchin dorsal-ventral (DV) and left-right (LR) axis specification. Here, we demonstrate that zygotic LvBMP5-8 is required for normal skeletal patterning on the left side, as well as for normal PMC positioning during gastrulation. Zygotic LvBMP5-8 is required for expression of the left-side marker soxE, suggesting that LvBMP5-8 is required for left-side specification. Interestingly, we also find that LvBMP5-8 knockdown suppresses serotonergic neurogenesis on the left side. While LvBMP5-8 overexpression is sufficient to dorsalize embryos, we find that zygotic LvBMP5-8 is not required for normal DV specification or development. In addition, ectopic LvBMP5-8 does not dorsalize LvBMP2/4 morphant embryos, indicating that, in the absence of BMP2/4, BMP5-8 is insufficient to specify dorsal. Taken together, our data demonstrate that zygotic LvBMP5-8 signaling is essential for left-side specification, and for normal left-side skeletal and neural patterning, but not for DV specification. Thus, while both BMP2/4 and BMP5-8 regulate LR axis specification, BMP2/4 but not zygotic BMP5-8 regulates DV axis specification in sea urchin embryos. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Linear signaling in the Toll-Dorsal pathway of Drosophila: activated Pelle kinase specifies all threshold outputs of gene expression while the bHLH protein Twist specifies a subset.

PubMed

Stathopoulos, Angelike; Levine, Michael

2002-07-01

Differential activation of the Toll receptor leads to the formation of a broad Dorsal nuclear gradient that specifies at least three patterning thresholds of gene activity along the dorsoventral axis of precellular embryos. We investigate the activities of the Pelle kinase and Twist basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor in transducing Toll signaling. Pelle functions downstream of Toll to release Dorsal from the Cactus inhibitor. Twist is an immediate-early gene that is activated upon entry of Dorsal into nuclei. Transgenes misexpressing Pelle and Twist were introduced into different mutant backgrounds and the patterning activities were visualized using various target genes that respond to different thresholds of Toll-Dorsal signaling. These studies suggest that an anteroposterior gradient of Pelle kinase activity is sufficient to generate all known Toll-Dorsal patterning thresholds and that Twist can function as a gradient morphogen to establish at least two distinct dorsoventral patterning thresholds. We discuss how the Dorsal gradient system can be modified during metazoan evolution and conclude that Dorsal-Twist interactions are distinct from the interplay between Bicoid and Hunchback, which pattern the anteroposterior axis.

Drosophila Hephaestus/Polypyrimidine Tract Binding Protein Is Required for Dorso-Ventral Patterning and Regulation of Signalling between the Germline and Soma

PubMed Central

McDermott, Suzanne M.; Davis, Ilan

2013-01-01

In the Drosophila oocyte, gurken (grk) mRNA encodes a secreted TGF-α signal that specifies the future embryonic dorso-ventral axes by altering the fate of the surrounding epithelial follicle cells. We previously identified a number of RNA binding proteins that associate specifically with the 64 nucleotide grk localization signal, including the Drosophila orthologue of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), Hephaestus (Heph). To test whether Heph is required for correct grk mRNA or protein function, we used immunoprecipitation to validate the association of Heph with grk mRNA and characterized the heph mutant phenotype. We found that Heph is a component of grk mRNP complexes but heph germline clones show that Heph is not required for grk mRNA localization. Instead, we identify a novel function for Heph in the germline and show that it is required for proper Grk protein localization. Furthermore, we show that Heph is required in the oocyte for the correct organization of the actin cytoskeleton and dorsal appendage morphogenesis. Our results highlight a requirement for an mRNA binding protein in the localization of Grk protein, which is independent of mRNA localization, and we propose that Heph is required in the germline for efficient Grk signalling to the somatic follicle cells during dorso-ventral patterning. PMID:23894566

Positional Cues in the Drosophila Nerve Cord: Semaphorins Pattern the Dorso-Ventral Axis

PubMed Central

Zlatic, Marta; Li, Feng; Strigini, Maura; Grueber, Wesley; Bate, Michael

2009-01-01

During the development of neural circuitry, neurons of different kinds establish specific synaptic connections by selecting appropriate targets from large numbers of alternatives. The range of alternative targets is reduced by well organised patterns of growth, termination, and branching that deliver the terminals of appropriate pre- and postsynaptic partners to restricted volumes of the developing nervous system. We use the axons of embryonic Drosophila sensory neurons as a model system in which to study the way in which growing neurons are guided to terminate in specific volumes of the developing nervous system. The mediolateral positions of sensory arbors are controlled by the response of Robo receptors to a Slit gradient. Here we make a genetic analysis of factors regulating position in the dorso-ventral axis. We find that dorso-ventral layers of neuropile contain different levels and combinations of Semaphorins. We demonstrate the existence of a central to dorsal and central to ventral gradient of Sema 2a, perpendicular to the Slit gradient. We show that a combination of Plexin A (Plex A) and Plexin B (Plex B) receptors specifies the ventral projection of sensory neurons by responding to high concentrations of Semaphorin 1a (Sema 1a) and Semaphorin 2a (Sema 2a). Together our findings support the idea that axons are delivered to particular regions of the neuropile by their responses to systems of positional cues in each dimension. PMID:19547742

Déjà vu phenomenon-related EEG pattern. Case report.

PubMed

Vlasov, P N; Chervyakov, A V; Gnezditskii, V V

2013-01-01

Déjà vu (DV, from French déjà vu - "already seen") is an aberration of psychic activity associated with transitory erroneous perception of novel circumstances, objects, or people as already known. This study aimed to record the EEG pattern of déjà vu. The subjects participated in a survey concerning déjà vu characteristics and underwent ambulatory EEG monitoring (12-16 h). In patients with epilepsy, DV episodes began with polyspike activity in the right temporal lobe region and, in some cases, ended with slow-wave theta-delta activity over the right hemisphere. There were no epileptic discharges in healthy respondents during DV. Two types of déjà vu are suggested to exist: "pathological-epileptic" déjà vu, characteristic of patients with epilepsy and equivalent to an epileptic seizure, and "nonpathological-nonepileptic" déjà vu, which is characteristic of healthy people and psychological phenomenon.

Déjà vu phenomenon-related EEG pattern. Case report☆

PubMed Central

Vlasov, P.N.; Chervyakov, A.V.; Gnezditskii, V.V.

2013-01-01

Background Déjà vu (DV, from French déjà vu — “already seen”) is an aberration of psychic activity associated with transitory erroneous perception of novel circumstances, objects, or people as already known. Objective This study aimed to record the EEG pattern of déjà vu. Methods The subjects participated in a survey concerning déjà vu characteristics and underwent ambulatory EEG monitoring (12–16 h). Results In patients with epilepsy, DV episodes began with polyspike activity in the right temporal lobe region and, in some cases, ended with slow-wave theta–delta activity over the right hemisphere. There were no epileptic discharges in healthy respondents during DV. Conclusion Two types of déjà vu are suggested to exist: “pathological-epileptic” déjà vu, characteristic of patients with epilepsy and equivalent to an epileptic seizure, and “nonpathological-nonepileptic” déjà vu, which is characteristic of healthy people and psychological phenomenon. PMID:25667847

Eph regulates dorsoventral asymmetry of the notochord plate and convergent extension-mediated notochord formation.

PubMed

Oda-Ishii, Izumi; Ishii, Yasuo; Mikawa, Takashi

2010-10-29

The notochord is a signaling center required for the patterning of the vertebrate embryonic midline, however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the formation of this essential embryonic tissue remain unclear. The urochordate Ciona intestinalis develops a simple notochord from 40 specific postmitotic mesodermal cells. The precursors intercalate mediolaterally and establish a single array of disk-shaped notochord cells along the midline. However, the role that notochord precursor polarization, particularly along the dorsoventral axis, plays in this morphogenetic process remains poorly understood. Here we show that the notochord preferentially accumulates an apical cell polarity marker, aPKC, ventrally and a basement membrane marker, laminin, dorsally. This asymmetric accumulation of apicobasal cell polarity markers along the embryonic dorsoventral axis was sustained in notochord precursors during convergence and extension. Further, of several members of the Eph gene family implicated in cellular and tissue morphogenesis, only Ci-Eph4 was predominantly expressed in the notochord throughout cell intercalation. Introduction of a dominant-negative Ci-Eph4 to notochord precursors diminished asymmetric accumulation of apicobasal cell polarity markers, leading to defective intercalation. In contrast, misexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of a planar cell polarity gene Dishevelled preserved asymmetric accumulation of aPKC and laminin in notochord precursors, although their intercalation was incomplete. Our data support a model in which in ascidian embryos Eph-dependent dorsoventral polarity of notochord precursors plays a crucial role in mediolateral cell intercalation and is required for proper notochord morphogenesis.

Evolution of Axis Specification Mechanisms in Jawed Vertebrates: Insights from a Chondrichthyan

PubMed Central

Coolen, Marion; Sauka-Spengler, Tatjana; Nicolle, Delphine; Le-Mentec, Chantal; Lallemand, Yvan; Silva, Corinne Da; Plouhinec, Jean-Louis; Robert, Benoît; Wincker, Patrick; Shi, De-Li; Mazan, Sylvie

2007-01-01

The genetic mechanisms that control the establishment of early polarities and their link with embryonic axis specification and patterning seem to substantially diverge across vertebrates. In amphibians and teleosts, the establishment of an early dorso-ventral polarity determines both the site of axis formation and its rostro-caudal orientation. In contrast, amniotes retain a considerable plasticity for their site of axis formation until blastula stages and rely on signals secreted by extraembryonic tissues, which have no clear equivalents in the former, for the establishment of their rostro-caudal pattern. The rationale for these differences remains unknown. Through detailed expression analyses of key development genes in a chondrichthyan, the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, we have reconstructed the ancestral pattern of axis specification in jawed vertebrates. We show that the dogfish displays compelling similarities with amniotes at blastula and early gastrula stages, including the presence of clear homologs of the hypoblast and extraembryonic ectoderm. In the ancestral state, these territories are specified at opposite poles of an early axis of bilateral symmetry, homologous to the dorso-ventral axis of amphibians or teleosts, and aligned with the later forming embryonic axis, from head to tail. Comparisons with amniotes suggest that a dorsal expansion of extraembryonic ectoderm, resulting in an apparently radial symmetry at late blastula stages, has taken place in their lineage. The synthesis of these results with those of functional analyses in model organisms supports an evolutionary link between the dorso-ventral polarity of amphibians and teleosts and the embryonic-extraembryonic organisation of amniotes. It leads to a general model of axis specification in gnathostomes, which provides a comparative framework for a reassessment of conservations both among vertebrates and with more distant metazoans. PMID:17440610

Electrical and Network Neuronal Properties Are Preferentially Disrupted in Dorsal, But Not Ventral, Medial Entorhinal Cortex in a Mouse Model of Tauopathy

PubMed Central

Booth, Clair A.; Ridler, Thomas; Murray, Tracey K.; Ward, Mark A.; de Groot, Emily; Goodfellow, Marc; Phillips, Keith G.; Randall, Andrew D.

2016-01-01

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is one of the first areas to be disrupted in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. The responsiveness of individual neurons to electrical and environmental stimuli varies along the dorsal–ventral axis of the medial EC (mEC) in a manner that suggests this topographical organization plays a key role in neural encoding of geometric space. We examined the cellular properties of layer II mEC stellate neurons (mEC-SCs) in rTg4510 mice, a rodent model of neurodegeneration. Dorsoventral gradients in certain intrinsic membrane properties, such as membrane capacitance and afterhyperpolarizations, were flattened in rTg4510 mEC-SCs, while other cellular gradients [e.g., input resistance (Ri), action potential properties] remained intact. Specifically, the intrinsic properties of rTg4510 mEC-SCs in dorsal aspects of the mEC were preferentially affected, such that action potential firing patterns in dorsal mEC-SCs were altered, while those in ventral mEC-SCs were unaffected. We also found that neuronal oscillations in the gamma frequency band (30–80 Hz) were preferentially disrupted in the dorsal mEC of rTg4510 slices, while those in ventral regions were comparatively preserved. These alterations corresponded to a flattened dorsoventral gradient in theta-gamma cross-frequency coupling of local field potentials recorded from the mEC of freely moving rTg4510 mice. These differences were not paralleled by changes to the dorsoventral gradient in parvalbumin staining or neurodegeneration. We propose that the selective disruption to dorsal mECs, and the resultant flattening of certain dorsoventral gradients, may contribute to disturbances in spatial information processing observed in this model of dementia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) plays a key role in spatial memory and is one of the first areas to express the pathological features of dementia. Neurons of the mEC are anatomically arranged to express functional dorsoventral gradients in a variety of neuronal properties, including grid cell firing field spacing, which is thought to encode geometric scale. We have investigated the effects of tau pathology on functional dorsoventral gradients in the mEC. Using electrophysiological approaches, we have shown that, in a transgenic mouse model of dementia, the functional properties of the dorsal mEC are preferentially disrupted, resulting in a flattening of some dorsoventral gradients. Our data suggest that neural signals arising in the mEC will have a reduced spatial content in dementia. PMID:26758825

Neural organization and visual processing in the anterior optic tubercle of the honeybee brain.

PubMed

Mota, Theo; Yamagata, Nobuhiro; Giurfa, Martin; Gronenberg, Wulfila; Sandoz, Jean-Christophe

2011-08-10

The honeybee Apis mellifera represents a valuable model for studying the neural segregation and integration of visual information. Vision in honeybees has been extensively studied at the behavioral level and, to a lesser degree, at the physiological level using intracellular electrophysiological recordings of single neurons. However, our knowledge of visual processing in honeybees is still limited by the lack of functional studies of visual processing at the circuit level. Here we contribute to filling this gap by providing a neuroanatomical and neurophysiological characterization at the circuit level of a practically unstudied visual area of the bee brain, the anterior optic tubercle (AOTu). First, we analyzed the internal organization and neuronal connections of the AOTu. Second, we established a novel protocol for performing optophysiological recordings of visual circuit activity in the honeybee brain and studied the responses of AOTu interneurons during stimulation of distinct eye regions. Our neuroanatomical data show an intricate compartmentalization and connectivity of the AOTu, revealing a dorsoventral segregation of the visual input to the AOTu. Light stimuli presented in different parts of the visual field (dorsal, lateral, or ventral) induce distinct patterns of activation in AOTu output interneurons, retaining to some extent the dorsoventral input segregation revealed by our neuroanatomical data. In particular, activity patterns evoked by dorsal and ventral eye stimulation are clearly segregated into distinct AOTu subunits. Our results therefore suggest an involvement of the AOTu in the processing of dorsoventrally segregated visual information in the honeybee brain.

Comparative mapping of powdery mildew resistance gene Pm21 and functional characterization of resistance-related genes in wheat.

PubMed

He, Huagang; Zhu, Shanying; Jiang, Zhengning; Ji, Yaoyong; Wang, Feng; Zhao, Renhui; Bie, Tongde

2016-04-01

The powdery mildew resistance gene Pm21 was physically and comparatively mapped by newly developed markers. Seven candidate genes were verified to be required for Pm21 -mediated resistance to wheat powdery mildew. Pm21, a gene derived from wheat wild relative Dasypyrum villosum, has been transferred into common wheat and widely utilized in wheat resistance breeding for powdery mildew. Previously, Pm21 has been located to the bin FL0.45-0.58 of 6VS by using deletion stocks. However, its fine mapping is still a hard work. In the present study, 30 gene-derived 6VS-specific markers were obtained based on the collinearity among genomes of Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza and Triticeae, and then physically and comparatively mapped in the bin FL0.45-0.58 and its nearby chromosome region. According to the maps, the bin FL0.45-0.58 carrying Pm21 was closely flanked by the markers 6VS-03 and 6VS-23, which further narrowed the orthologous regions to 1.06 Mb in Brachypodium and 1.38 Mb in rice, respectively. Among the conserved genes shared by Brachypodium and rice, four serine/threonine protein kinase genes (DvMPK1, DvMLPK, DvUPK and DvPSYR1), one protein phosphatase gene (DvPP2C) and two transcription factor genes (DvGATA and DvWHY) were confirmed to be required for Pm21-mediated resistance to wheat powdery mildew by barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (BSMV-VIGS) and transcriptional pattern analyses. In summary, this study gives new insights into the genetic basis of the Pm21 locus and the disease resistance pathways mediated by Pm21.

Pattern formation in early embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis

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

Mglinets, V.A.

1995-07-01

Establishment of egg polarity, separation of germ layers, and the appearance of animal-vegetal, dorsoventral, and anteroposterior axes in Xenopus laevis embryos are considered. The control of these processes by gene coding for growth factors, protooncogens, and homeobox-containing genes is also been reviewed.

Localized expression of a dpp/BMP2/4 ortholog in a coral embryo

PubMed Central

Hayward, David C.; Samuel, Gabrielle; Pontynen, Patricia C.; Catmull, Julian; Saint, Robert; Miller, David J.; Ball, Eldon E.

2002-01-01

As the closest outgroup to the Bilateria, the Phylum Cnidaria is likely to be critical to understanding the origins and evolution of body axes. Proteins of the decapentaplegic (DPP)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2/4 subfamily are central to the specification of the dorsoventral (D/V) axis in bilateral animals, albeit with an axis inversion between arthropods and chordates. We show that a dpp/BMP2/4 ortholog (bmp2/4-Am) is present in the reef-building scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora (Class Anthozoa) and that it is capable of causing phenotypic effects in Drosophila that mimic those of the endogenous dpp gene. We also show that, during coral embryonic development, bmp2/4-Am expression is localized in an ectodermal region adjacent to the blastopore. Thus, a representative of the DPP/BMP2/4 subfamily of ligands was present in the common ancestor of diploblastic and triploblastic animals where it was probably expressed in a localized fashion during development. A localized source of DPP/BMP2/4 may have already been used in axis formation in this ancestor, or it may have provided a means by which an axis could evolve in triploblastic animals. PMID:12048233

One shall become two: Separation of the esophagus and trachea from the common foregut tube

PubMed Central

Billmyre, Katherine Kretovich; Hutson, Mary; Klingensmith, John

2016-01-01

The alimentary and respiratory organ systems arise from a common endodermal origin, the anterior foregut tube. Formation of the esophagus from the dorsal region and the trachea from the ventral region of the foregut primordium occurs via a poorly understood compartmentalization process. Disruption of this process can result in severe birth defects, such as esophageal atresia and tracheoesphageal fistula (EA/TEF), in which the lumina of the trachea and esophagus remain connected. Here we summarize the signaling networks known to be necessary for regulating dorso-ventral patterning within the common foregut tube and cellular behaviors that may occur during normal foregut compartmentalization. We propose that dorso-ventral patterning serves to establish a lateral region of the foregut tube that is capable of undergoing specialized cellular rearrangements, culminating in compartmentalization. We review established as well as new rodent models that may be useful in addressing this hypothesis. Finally, we discuss new experimental models that could help elucidate the mechanism behind foregut compartmentalization. An integrated approach to future foregut morphogenesis research will allow for a better understanding of this complex process. PMID:25329576

Cdc42 is required in a genetically distinct subset of cardiac cells during Drosophila dorsal vessel closure

PubMed Central

Swope, David; Kramer, Joseph; King, Tiffany R.; Cheng, Yi-Shan; Kramer, Sunita G.

2017-01-01

The embryonic heart tube is formed by the migration and subsequent midline convergence of two bilateral heart fields. In Drosophila the heart fields are organized into two rows of cardioblasts (CBs). While morphogenesis of the dorsal ectoderm, which lies directly above the Drosophila dorsal vessel (DV), has been extensively characterized, the migration and concomitant fundamental factors facilitating DV formation remain poorly understood. Here we provide evidence that DV closure occurs at multiple independent points along the A-P axis of the embryo in a “buttoning” pattern, divergent from the zippering mechanism observed in the overlying epidermis during dorsal closure. Moreover, we demonstrate that a genetically distinct subset of CBs is programmed to make initial contact with the opposing row. To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying this process, we examined the role of Rho GTPases during cardiac migration using inhibitory and overexpression approaches. We found that Cdc42 shows striking cell-type specificity during DV formation. Disruption of Cdc42 function specifically prevents CBs that express the homeobox gene tinman from completing their dorsal migration, resulting in a failure to make connections with their partnering CBs. Conversely, neighboring CBs that express the orphan nuclear receptor, seven-up, are not sensitive to Cdc42 inhibition. Furthermore, this phenotype was specific to Cdc42 and was not observed upon perturbation of Rac or Rho function. Together with the observation that DV closure occurs through the initial contralateral pairing of tinman-expressing CBs, our studies suggest that the distinct buttoning mechanism we propose for DV closure is elaborated through signaling pathways regulating Cdc42 activity in this cell type. PMID:24949939

Cellular and Molecular Underpinnings of Neuronal Assembly in the Central Auditory System during Mouse Development

PubMed Central

Di Bonito, Maria; Studer, Michèle

2017-01-01

During development, the organization of the auditory system into distinct functional subcircuits depends on the spatially and temporally ordered sequence of neuronal specification, differentiation, migration and connectivity. Regional patterning along the antero-posterior axis and neuronal subtype specification along the dorso-ventral axis intersect to determine proper neuronal fate and assembly of rhombomere-specific auditory subcircuits. By taking advantage of the increasing number of transgenic mouse lines, recent studies have expanded the knowledge of developmental mechanisms involved in the formation and refinement of the auditory system. Here, we summarize several findings dealing with the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the assembly of central auditory subcircuits during mouse development, focusing primarily on the rhombomeric and dorso-ventral origin of auditory nuclei and their associated molecular genetic pathways. PMID:28469562

Hemichordates and the origin of chordates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gerhart, John; Lowe, Christopher; Kirschner, Marc

2005-01-01

Hemichordates, the phylum of bilateral animals most closely related to chordates, could reveal the evolutionary origins of chordate traits such as the nerve cord, notochord, gill slits and tail. The anteroposterior maps of gene expression domains for 38 genes of chordate neural patterning are highly similar for hemichordates and chordates, even though hemichordates have a diffuse nerve-net. About 40% of the domains are not present in protostome maps. We propose that this map, the gill slits and the tail date to the deuterostome ancestor. The map of dorsoventral expression domains, centered on a Bmp-Chordin axis, differs between the two groups; hemichordates resemble protostomes more than they do chordates. The dorsoventral axis might have undergone extensive modification in the chordate line, including centralization of the nervous system, segregation of epidermis, derivation of the notochord, and an inversion of organization.

Dorsoventral and Proximodistal Hippocampal Processing Account for the Influences of Sleep and Context on Memory (Re)consolidation: A Connectionist Model

PubMed Central

Lines, Justin

2017-01-01

The context in which learning occurs is sufficient to reconsolidate stored memories and neuronal reactivation may be crucial to memory consolidation during sleep. The mechanisms of context-dependent and sleep-dependent memory (re)consolidation are unknown but involve the hippocampus. We simulated memory (re)consolidation using a connectionist model of the hippocampus that explicitly accounted for its dorsoventral organization and for CA1 proximodistal processing. Replicating human and rodent (re)consolidation studies yielded the following results. (1) Semantic overlap between memory items and extraneous learning was necessary to explain experimental data and depended crucially on the recurrent networks of dorsal but not ventral CA3. (2) Stimulus-free, sleep-induced internal reactivations of memory patterns produced heterogeneous recruitment of memory items and protected memories from subsequent interference. These simulations further suggested that the decrease in memory resilience when subjects were not allowed to sleep following learning was primarily due to extraneous learning. (3) Partial exposure to the learning context during simulated sleep (i.e., targeted memory reactivation) uniformly increased memory item reactivation and enhanced subsequent recall. Altogether, these results show that the dorsoventral and proximodistal organization of the hippocampus may be important components of the neural mechanisms for context-based and sleep-based memory (re)consolidations. PMID:28757864

Forelimb muscle function in pig-nosed turtles, Carettochelys insculpta: testing neuromotor conservation between rowing and flapping in swimming turtles

PubMed Central

Rivera, Angela R. V.; Blob, Richard W.

2013-01-01

Changes in muscle activation patterns can lead to new locomotor modes; however, neuromotor conservation—the evolution of new forms of locomotion through changes in structure without concurrent changes to underlying motor patterns—has been documented across diverse styles of locomotion. Animals that swim using appendages do so via rowing (anteroposterior oscilations) or flapping (dorsoventral oscilations). Yet few studies have compared motor patterns between these swimming modes. In swimming turtles, propulsion is generated exclusively by limbs. Kinematically, turtles swim using multiple styles of rowing (freshwater species), flapping (sea turtles) and a unique hybrid style with superficial similarity to flapping by sea turtles and characterized by increased dorsoventral motions of synchronously oscillated forelimbs that have been modified into flippers (Carettochelys insculpta). We compared forelimb motor patterns in four species of turtle (two rowers, Apalone ferox and Trachemys scripta; one flapper, Caretta caretta; and Carettochelys) and found that, despite kinematic differences, motor patterns were generally similar among species with a few notable exceptions: specifically, presence of variable bursts for pectoralis and triceps in Trachemys (though timing of the non-variable pectoralis burst was similar), and the timing of deltoideus activity in Carettochelys and Caretta compared with other taxa. The similarities in motor patterns we find for several muscles provide partial support for neuromotor conservation among turtles using diverse locomotor styles, but the differences implicate deltoideus as a prime contributor to flapping limb motions. PMID:23966596

Domestic Violence in the Canadian Workplace: Are Coworkers Aware?

PubMed

MacGregor, Jennifer C D; Wathen, C Nadine; MacQuarrie, Barbara J

2016-09-01

Domestic violence (DV) is associated with serious consequences for victims, children, and families, and even national economies. An emerging literature demonstrates that DV also has a negative impact on workers and workplaces. Less is known about the extent to which people are aware of coworkers' experiences of DV. Using data from a pan-Canadian sample of 8,429 men and women, we examine: (1) awareness of coworker DV victimization and perpetration; (2) the warning signs of DV victimization and perpetration recognized by workers; (3) whether DV victims are more likely than nonvictims to recognize DV and its warning signs in the workplace; and (4) the impacts of DV that workers perceive on victims'/perpetrators' ability to work. Nearly 40% of participants believed they had recognized a DV victim and/or perpetrator in the workplace and many reported recognizing more than one warning sign. DV victims were significantly more likely to report recognizing victims and perpetrators in the workplace, and recognized more DV warning signs. Among participants who believed they knew a coworker who had experienced DV, 49.5% thought the DV had affected their coworker's ability to work. For those who knew a coworker perpetrating DV, 37.9% thought their coworker's ability to work was affected by the abusive behavior. Our findings have implications for a coordinated workplace response to DV. Further research is urgently needed to examine how best to address DV in the workplace and improve outcomes for victims, perpetrators, and their coworkers.

Comparative analysis of Pdf-mediated circadian behaviors between Drosophila melanogaster and D. virilis.

PubMed

Bahn, Jae Hoon; Lee, Gyunghee; Park, Jae H

2009-03-01

A group of small ventrolateral neurons (s-LN(v)'s) are the principal pacemaker for circadian locomotor rhythmicity of Drosophila melanogaster, and the pigment-dispersing factor (Pdf) neuropeptide plays an essential role as a clock messenger within these neurons. In our comparative studies on Pdf-associated circadian rhythms, we found that daily locomotor activity patterns of D. virilis were significantly different from those of D. melanogaster. Activities of D. virilis adults were mainly restricted to the photophase under light:dark cycles and subsequently became arrhythmic or weakly rhythmic in constant conditions. Such activity patterns resemble those of Pdf(01) mutant of D. melanogaster. Intriguingly, endogenous D. virilis Pdf (DvPdf) expression was not detected in the s-LN(v)-like neurons in the adult brains, implying that the Pdf(01)-like behavioral phenotypes of D. virilis are attributed in part to the lack of DvPdf in the s-LN(v)-like neurons. Heterologous transgenic analysis showed that cis-regulatory elements of the DvPdf transgene are capable of directing their expression in all endogenous Pdf neurons including s-LN(v)'s, as well as in non-Pdf clock neurons (LN(d)'s and fifth s-LN(v)) in a D. melanogaster host. Together these findings suggest a significant difference in the regulatory mechanisms of Pdf transcription between the two species and such a difference is causally associated with species-specific establishment of daily locomotor activity patterns.

No turning, a mouse mutation causing left-right and axial patterning defects.

PubMed

Melloy, P G; Ewart, J L; Cohen, M F; Desmond, M E; Kuehn, M R; Lo, C W

1998-01-01

Patterning along the left/right axes helps establish the orientation of visceral organ asymmetries, a process which is of fundamental importance to the viability of an organism. A linkage between left/right and axial patterning is indicated by the finding that a number of genes involved in left/right patterning also play a role in anteroposterior and dorsoventral patterning. We have recovered a spontaneous mouse mutation causing left/right patterning defects together with defects in anteroposterior and dorsoventral patterning. This mutation is recessive lethal and was named no turning (nt) because the mutant embryos fail to undergo embryonic turning. nt embryos exhibit cranial neural tube closure defects and malformed somites and are caudally truncated. Development of the heart arrests at the looped heart tube stage, with cardiovascular defects indicated by ballooning of the pericardial sac and the pooling of blood in various regions of the embryo. Interestingly, in nt embryos, the direction of heart looping was randomized. Nodal and lefty, two genes that are normally expressed only in the left lateral plate mesoderm, show expression in the right and left lateral plate mesoderm. Lefty, which is normally also expressed in the floorplate, is not found in the prospective floor plate of nt embryos. This suggests the possibility of notochordal defects. This was confirmed by histological analysis and the examination of sonic hedgehog, Brachyury, and HNF-3 beta gene expression. These studies showed that the notochord is present in the early nt embryo, but degenerates as development progresses. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that the notochord plays an active role in left/right patterning. Our results suggest that nt may participate in this process by modulating the notochordal expression of HNF-3 beta.

The teeth of the horse: evolution and anatomo-morphological and radiographic study of their development in the foetus.

PubMed

Soana, S; Gnudi, G; Bertoni, G

1999-12-01

The aim of this work was to study the ontogenetic process in teeth from their early appearance in the ossifying matrix of the mandible and maxilla, in different foetuses of scalar ages. Radiographic examinations of the skull and mandible hemisections were performed and the latero-medial (LM) and dorsoventral (DV) projections for the skull and mandible were analysed. A high-definition film-screen combination was used for this study. The exposure values ranged from 35 kV/6 mAs to 58 kV/10 mAs, according to the size of the skulls and their degree of ossification. The first dental germ observed was the P3, at 138-140 days of pregnancy. At 146 days, P2 and P4 dental germs were visible. At 160-168 days, the dental germ of the first deciduous incisor tooth (I1) appeared; at 180-188 days of pregnancy the germ of the second (I2), and at 224 days the germ of the third (I3), were detectable. At 275 days the dental germ of the mandibular first molar tooth (M1) appeared, while the maxillary M1, which was not visible radiographically, was represented by a jelly-like amorphous body within its alveolar cavity.

Infections of horses and shrews with Bornaviruses in Upper Austria: a novel endemic area of Borna disease

PubMed Central

Weissenböck, Herbert; Bagó, Zoltán; Kolodziejek, Jolanta; Hager, Barbara; Palmetzhofer, Günter; Dürrwald, Ralf; Nowotny, Norbert

2017-01-01

Borna disease, a lethal infection with Borna disease virus-1 (BoDV-1), was diagnosed in four horses from Upper Austria in 2015 and 2016. All cases occurred in winter (two cases in February 2015 and two cases in December 2016), and the maximal distance of the affected stables was 17 km. To demonstrate whether the causative agent was also harbored by its reservoir host, the bicolored white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon), 28 shrews from this geographic area were collected in 2015 and investigated for the presence of BoDV-1. The shrew species were identified according to taxonomic clues and molecular barcodes. Affected horses and all shrews were investigated using histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse transcription PCR. The horses exhibited severe nonpurulent encephalitis. Large amounts of BoDV-1 antigen were identified in their CNS. Among the 28 shrews, nine were identified as C. leucodon and 13 as Sorex araneus (Common shrew; Eurasian shrew). Six C. leucodon (66.7%) and one S. araneus (7.7%) had BoDV-1 infections. In accordance with previous findings, the IHC of C. leucodon exhibited a high amount of viral antigen in many neural and extraneural tissues. By contrast, the single positive S. araneus had an exclusively neural staining pattern. Of all positive samples, whole-genome BoDV-1 sequences were generated. The acquired sequences of the affected shrews were not identical to each other and clustered around the sequences of the diseased horses belonging, surprisingly, to the German ‘strain V’ cluster. PMID:28634359

Quantitative imaging reveals real-time Pou5f3–Nanog complexes driving dorsoventral mesendoderm patterning in zebrafish

PubMed Central

Perez-Camps, Mireia; Tian, Jing; Chng, Serene C; Sem, Kai Pin; Sudhaharan, Thankiah; Teh, Cathleen; Wachsmuth, Malte; Korzh, Vladimir; Ahmed, Sohail; Reversade, Bruno

2016-01-01

Formation of the three embryonic germ layers is a fundamental developmental process that initiates differentiation. How the zebrafish pluripotency factor Pou5f3 (homologous to mammalian Oct4) drives lineage commitment is unclear. Here, we introduce fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to assess the formation of Pou5f3 complexes with other transcription factors in real-time in gastrulating zebrafish embryos. We show, at single-cell resolution in vivo, that Pou5f3 complexes with Nanog to pattern mesendoderm differentiation at the blastula stage. Later, during gastrulation, Sox32 restricts Pou5f3–Nanog complexes to the ventrolateral mesendoderm by binding Pou5f3 or Nanog in prospective dorsal endoderm. In the ventrolateral endoderm, the Elabela / Aplnr pathway limits Sox32 levels, allowing the formation of Pou5f3–Nanog complexes and the activation of downstream BMP signaling. This quantitative model shows that a balance in the spatiotemporal distribution of Pou5f3–Nanog complexes, modulated by Sox32, regulates mesendoderm specification along the dorsoventral axis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11475.001 PMID:27684073

BAC Recombineering of the Agouti Loci from Spotted Gar and Zebrafish Reveals the Evolutionary Ancestry of Dorsal-Ventral Pigment Asymmetry in Fish.

PubMed

Cal, Laura; MegÍas, Manuel; Cerdá-Reverter, José Miguel; Postlethwait, John H; Braasch, Ingo; Rotllant, Josep

2017-11-01

Dorsoventral pigment patterning, characterized by a light ventrum and a dark dorsum, is one of the most widespread chromatic adaptations in vertebrate body coloration. In mammals, this countershading depends on differential expression of agouti-signaling protein (ASIP), which drives a switch of synthesis of one type of melanin to another within melanocytes. Teleost fish share countershading, but the pattern results from a differential distribution of multiple types of chromatophores, with black-brown melanophores most abundant in the dorsal body and reflective iridophores most abundant in the ventral body. We previously showed that Asip1 (a fish ortholog of mammalian ASIP) plays a role in patterning melanophores. This observation leads to the surprising hypothesis that agouti may control an evolutionarily conserved pigment pattern by regulating different mechanisms in mammals and fish. To test this hypothesis, we compared two ray-finned fishes: the teleost zebrafish and the nonteleost spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus). By examining the endogenous pattern of asip1 expression in gar, we demonstrate a dorsoventral-graded distribution of asip1 expression that is highest ventrally, similar to teleosts. Additionally, in the first reported experiments to generate zebrafish transgenic lines carrying a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) from spotted gar, we show that both transgenic zebrafish lines embryos replicate the endogenous asip1 expression pattern in adult zebrafish, showing that BAC transgenes from both species contain all of the regulatory elements required for regular asip1 expression within adult ray-finned fishes. These experiments provide evidence that the mechanism leading to an environmentally important pigment pattern was likely in place before the origin of teleosts. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Profile and programming needs of federal offenders with histories of intimate partner violence.

PubMed

Stewart, Lynn A; Power, Jenelle

2014-10-01

This study presents data on male perpetrators of domestic violence (DV) in the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) using two samples: (a) a snapshot of all male offenders in CSC who had been assessed for DV (n = 15,166) and (b) a cumulative sample of male offenders in CSC from 2002-2010 who had been assessed as moderate or high risk for further DV (n = 4,261) DV offenders were compared to a cohort sample of non-DV offenders (n = 4,261). Analyses were disaggregated for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders. Results indicated that 40% of the federal male population had a suspected history of DV and were therefore screened in for in-depth DV risk assessment. Of these, 45% were assessed as moderate or high risk for future DV. DV offenders had higher risk and criminogenic need ratings, more learning disabilities, more mental health problems, and more extensive criminal histories than those without DV histories. Aboriginal DV offenders had high levels of alcohol dependence, suggesting a need for substance abuse treatment as part of DV programming. Most federal offenders with DV histories would be described as belonging to the Antisocial/Generalized Aggressive typology and, therefore, adhering to the Risk-Need-Responsivity principles of the effective correctional literature, cognitive-behavioral treatment that focuses on teaching skills of self-management, and changing attitudes supporting relationship violence would be recommended. © The Author(s) 2014.

Multi-center randomized controlled trial of cognitive treatment, placebo, oxybutynin, bladder training, and pelvic floor training in children with functional urinary incontinence.

PubMed

van Gool, Jan D; de Jong, Tom P V M; Winkler-Seinstra, Pauline; Tamminen-Möbius, Tytti; Lax, Hildegard; Hirche, Herbert; Nijman, Rien J M; Hjälmås, Kelm; Jodal, Ulf; Bachmann, Hannsjörg; Hoebeke, Piet; Walle, Johan Vande; Misselwitz, Joachim; John, Ulrike; Bael, An

2014-06-01

Functional urinary incontinence causes considerable morbidity in 8.4% of school-age children, mainly girls. To compare oxybutynin, placebo, and bladder training in overactive bladder (OAB), and cognitive treatment and pelvic floor training in dysfunctional voiding (DV), a multi-center controlled trial was designed, the European Bladder Dysfunction Study. Seventy girls and 27 boys with clinically diagnosed OAB and urge incontinence were randomly allocated to placebo, oxybutynin, or bladder training (branch I), and 89 girls and 16 boys with clinically diagnosed DV to either cognitive treatment or pelvic floor training (branch II). All children received standardized cognitive treatment, to which these interventions were added. The main outcome variable was daytime incontinence with/without urinary tract infections. Urodynamic studies were performed before and after treatment. In branch I, the 15% full response evolved to cure rates of 39% for placebo, 43% for oxybutynin, and 44% for bladder training. In branch II, the 25% full response evolved to cure rates of 52% for controls and 49% for pelvic floor training. Before treatment, detrusor overactivity (OAB) or pelvic floor overactivity (DV) did not correlate with the clinical diagnosis. After treatment these urodynamic patterns occurred de novo in at least 20%. The mismatch between urodynamic patterns and clinical symptoms explains why cognitive treatment was the key to success, not the added interventions. Unpredictable changes in urodynamic patterns over time, the response to cognitive treatment, and the gender-specific prevalence suggest social stress might be a cause for the symptoms, mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor signaling pathways. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

48-hours administration of fenoterol in spontaneous preterm labor - Doppler blood flow assessment of placental and fetal circulation.

PubMed

Grzesiak, Mariusz; Hincz, Piotr; Forys, Sebastian; Ahmed, Rehana B; Wilczynski, Jan

2013-01-01

The aims were to investigate whether any changes in placental and fetal circulation were observed during fenoterol tocolysis within the first 48 hours of therapy. Doppler evaluation of placental and fetal circulation was performed prior to fenoterol administration and then after 24 and 48 hours. Maternal heart rate and pulsatility index (PI) in uterine arteries were assessed. FHR, RI and PI of umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery were measured. E/A ratio for A-V valves, the myocardial performance index (MPI) and shortening fraction (SF) were calculated for both ventricles independently. The blood flow pattern in DV was assessed using PI, S/a ratio and peak velocity index for the vein. To determine changes over time in all study variable analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measurements followed by Tukey-Kramer's multiple comparison test was used. The effects of additional clinical covariates were checked. Uterine and fetal arterial blood flow patterns were not altered significantly during 48 hours of tocolysis. No significant changes were observed in fetal cardiac function parameters as well. The evaluation of Doppler parameters in the DV revealed a significant increase in PVIV after 48 hours. Additionally after 48 hours of successful tocolysis S/a ratio values were significantly lower. Short term intravenous administration of fenoterol seems not to alter uterine and fetal arterial blood flow pattern. Direct fetal cardiac function remained unaffected. However significant changes of selected Doppler parameters in DV may suggest further studies should be performed to assess more precisely fetal venous blood flow.

Drosophila Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein (DmPTB) Regulates Dorso-Ventral Patterning Genes in Embryos

PubMed Central

Huntley, Jim; Wesley, Cedric S.; Singh, Ravinder

2014-01-01

The Drosophila polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (dmPTB or hephaestus) plays an important role during embryogenesis. A loss of function mutation, heph03429, results in varied defects in embryonic developmental processes, leading to embryonic lethality. However, the suite of molecular functions that are disrupted in the mutant remains unknown. We have used an unbiased high throughput sequencing approach to identify transcripts that are misregulated in this mutant. Misregulated transcripts show evidence of significantly altered patterns of splicing (exon skipping, 5′ and 3′ splice site switching), alternative 5′ ends, and mRNA level changes (up and down regulation). These findings are independently supported by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and in situ hybridization. We show that a group of genes, such as Zerknüllt, z600 and screw are among the most upregulated in the mutant and have been functionally linked to dorso-ventral patterning and/or dorsal closure processes. Thus, loss of dmPTB function results in specific misregulated transcripts, including those that provide the missing link between the loss of dmPTB function and observed developmental defects in embryogenesis. This study provides the first comprehensive repertoire of genes affected in vivo in the heph mutant in Drosophila and offers insight into the role of dmPTB during embryonic development. PMID:25014769

Neuroimaging and cognitive changes during déjà vu.

PubMed

Kovacs, Norbert; Auer, Tibor; Balas, Istvan; Karadi, Kazmer; Zambo, Katalin; Schwarcz, Attila; Klivenyi, Peter; Jokeit, Hennric; Horvath, Krisztina; Nagy, Ferenc; Janszky, Jozsef

2009-01-01

The cause or the physiological role of déjà vu (DV) in healthy people is unknown. The pathophysiology of DV-type epileptic aura is also unresolved. Here we describe a 22-year-old woman treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the left internal globus pallidus for hemidystonia. At certain stimulation settings, DBS elicited reproducible episodes of DV. Neuropsychological tests and single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed during DBS-evoked DV and during normal DBS stimulation without DV. SPECT during DBS-evoked DV revealed hyperperfusion of the right (contralateral to the electrode) hippocampus and other limbic structures. Neuropsychological examinations performed during several evoked DV episodes revealed disturbances in nonverbal memory. Our results confirm the role of mesiotemporal structures in the pathogenesis of DV. We hypothesize that individual neuroanatomy and disturbances in gamma oscillations or in the dopaminergic system played a role in DBS-elicited DV in our patient.

Differential contributions of dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal prefrontal white matter tracts to cognitive control in healthy older adults.

PubMed

Strenziok, Maren; Greenwood, Pamela M; Santa Cruz, Sophia A; Thompson, James C; Parasuraman, Raja

2013-01-01

Prefrontal cortex mediates cognitive control by means of circuitry organized along dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal axes. Along the dorso-ventral axis, ventrolateral PFC controls semantic information, whereas dorsolateral PFC encodes task rules. Along the rostro-caudal axis, anterior prefrontal cortex encodes complex rules and relationships between stimuli, whereas posterior prefrontal cortex encodes simple relationships between stimuli and behavior. Evidence of these gradients of prefrontal cortex organization has been well documented in fMRI studies, but their functional correlates have not been examined with regard to integrity of underlying white matter tracts. We hypothesized that (a) the integrity of specific white matter tracts is related to cognitive functioning in a manner consistent with the dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal organization of the prefrontal cortex, and (b) this would be particularly evident in healthy older adults. We assessed three cognitive processes that recruit the prefrontal cortex and can distinguish white matter tracts along the dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal dimensions -episodic memory, working memory, and reasoning. Correlations between cognition and fractional anisotropy as well as fiber tractography revealed: (a) Episodic memory was related to ventral prefrontal cortex-thalamo-hippocampal fiber integrity; (b) Working memory was related to integrity of corpus callosum body fibers subserving dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; and (c) Reasoning was related to integrity of corpus callosum body fibers subserving rostral and caudal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These findings confirm the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex's role in semantic control and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex's role in rule-based processing, in accordance with the dorso-ventral prefrontal cortex gradient. Reasoning-related rostral and caudal superior frontal white matter may facilitate different levels of task rule complexity. This study is the first to demonstrate dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal prefrontal cortex processing gradients in white matter integrity.

Human T Lymphocytes Are Permissive for Dengue Virus Replication.

PubMed

Silveira, Guilherme F; Wowk, Pryscilla F; Cataneo, Allan H D; Dos Santos, Paula F; Delgobo, Murilo; Stimamiglio, Marco A; Lo Sarzi, Maria; Thomazelli, Ana Paula F S; Conchon-Costa, Ivete; Pavanelli, Wander R; Antonelli, Lis R V; Báfica, André; Mansur, Daniel S; Dos Santos, Claudia N Duarte; Bordignon, Juliano

2018-05-15

Dengue virus (DV) infection can cause either a self-limiting flu-like disease or a threatening hemorrhage that may evolve to shock and death. A variety of cell types, such as dendritic cells, monocytes, and B cells, can be infected by DV. However, despite the role of T lymphocytes in the control of DV replication, there remains a paucity of information on possible DV-T cell interactions during the disease course. In the present study, we have demonstrated that primary human naive CD4 + and CD8 + T cells are permissive for DV infection. Importantly, both T cell subtypes support viral replication and secrete viable virus particles. DV infection triggers the activation of both CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes, but preactivation of T cells reduces the susceptibility of T cells to DV infection. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity-inducing protein granzyme A is highly secreted by human CD4 + but not CD8 + T cells after exposure to DV in vitro Additionally, using annexin V and polycaspase assays, we have demonstrated that T lymphocytes, in contrast to monocytes, are resistant to DV-induced apoptosis. Strikingly, both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells were found to be infected with DV in acutely infected dengue patients. Together, these results show that T cells are permissive for DV infection in vitro and in vivo , suggesting that this cell population may be a viral reservoir during the acute phase of the disease. IMPORTANCE Infection by dengue virus (DV) causes a flu-like disease that can evolve to severe hemorrhaging and death. T lymphocytes are important cells that regulate antibody secretion by B cells and trigger the death of infected cells. However, little is known about the direct interaction between DV and T lymphocytes. Here, we show that T lymphocytes from healthy donors are susceptible to infection by DV, leading to cell activation. Additionally, T cells seem to be resistant to DV-induced apoptosis, suggesting a potential role as a viral reservoir in humans. Finally, we show that both CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes from acutely infected DV patients are infected by DV. Our results raise new questions about DV pathogenesis and vaccine development. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Maternal nodal and zebrafish embryogenesis.

PubMed

Bennett, James T; Stickney, Heather L; Choi, Wen-Yee; Ciruna, Brian; Talbot, William S; Schier, Alexander F

2007-11-08

In fish and amphibians, the dorsal axis is specified by the asymmetric localization of maternally provided components of the Wnt signalling pathway. Gore et al. suggest that the Nodal signal Squint (Sqt) is required as a maternally provided dorsal determinant in zebrafish. Here we test their proposal and show that the maternal activities of sqt and the related Nodal gene cyclops (cyc) are not required for dorsoventral patterning.

Generation of a non-transmissive Borna disease virus vector lacking both matrix and glycoprotein genes.

PubMed

Fujino, Kan; Yamamoto, Yusuke; Daito, Takuji; Makino, Akiko; Honda, Tomoyuki; Tomonaga, Keizo

2017-09-01

Borna disease virus (BoDV), a prototype of mammalian bornavirus, is a non-segmented, negative strand RNA virus that often causes severe neurological disorders in infected animals, including horses and sheep. Unique among animal RNA viruses, BoDV transcribes and replicates non-cytopathically in the cell nucleus, leading to establishment of long-lasting persistent infection. This striking feature of BoDV indicates its potential as an RNA virus vector system. It has previously been demonstrated by our team that recombinant BoDV (rBoDV) lacking an envelope glycoprotein (G) gene develops persistent infections in transduced cells without loss of the viral genome. In this study, a novel non-transmissive rBoDV, rBoDV ΔMG, which lacks both matrix (M) and G genes in the genome, is reported. rBoDV-ΔMG expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP), rBoDV ΔMG-GFP, was efficiently generated in Vero/MG cells stably expressing both BoDV M and G proteins. Infection with rBoDV ΔMG-GFP was persistently maintained in the parent Vero cells without propagation within cell culture. The optimal ratio of M and G for efficient viral particle production by transient transfection of M and G expression plasmids into cells persistently infected with rBoDV ΔMG-GFP was also demonstrated. These findings indicate that the rBoDV ΔMG-based BoDV vector may provide an extremely safe virus vector system and could be a novel strategy for investigating the function of M and G proteins and the host range of bornaviruses. © 2017 The Societies and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

A free sugars daily value (DV) identifies more "less healthy" prepackaged foods and beverages than a total sugars DV.

PubMed

Bernstein, Jodi T; Labonté, Marie-Ève; Franco-Arellano, Beatriz; Schermel, Alyssa; L'Abbé, Mary R

2018-04-01

Regulatory changes in Canada will require food labels to have a benchmark [% Daily Value, %DV] for total sugars, based on 100 g/day, while US labels will require a %DV for added sugars, based on 50 g/day. The objective of this study was to compare two labelling policies, a total sugars DV (100 g/day) and a free sugars DV (50 g/day) on food labels. This cross-sectional analysis of the Food Label Information Program database focussed on top sources of total sugars intake in Canada (n = 6924 foods). Products were categorized as "less healthy" using two sets of criteria: a) free sugars levels exceeding the WHO guidelines (≥10% energy from free sugars); and b) exceeding healthfulness cut-offs of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (FSANZ-NPSC). The proportion of "less healthy" products with ≥15%DV (defined as "a lot" of sugars i.e. high in sugars, based on Health Canada's %DV labelling footnote and educational message for dietary guidance) were compared for each sugar labelling scenario. The free sugars DV showed better alignment with both methods for assessing "healthfulness" than the total sugars DV. The free sugars DV identified a greater proportion of "less healthy" foods with ≥15%DV, based on both the FSANZ-NPSC (70% vs. 45%, p < .0001) and WHO guidelines (82% vs. 55%, p < .0001); particularly in sweet baked goods, sugars and preserves, chocolate bars, confectionery, and frozen desserts categories. Compared to total sugars DV labelling, using a free sugars DV identified more "less healthy" foods. Findings support the adoption of free sugars labelling. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[The effects of anterio-posterior and dorso-ventral inversions of the lateral mesoblast of the neurula on the formation of the mesonephric, medullary, and adrenal anlage of the common toad, Bufo bufo L. (Amphibia, Anoura)].

PubMed

Gipouloux, J D; Hakim, J

1975-10-13

The experimental results of cranio-caudal reversal and dorso-ventral reversal of the lateral mesoblast of the toad early neurula prove that, at this stage, the cranio-caudal polarity of this tissue is fixed but not the dorso-ventral one. External factors are responsible for the formation of mesonephric, adrenal and gonadal medullary anlage by the lateral mesoblast.

Blockade of dopamine D2 receptors disrupts intrahippocampal connectivity and enhances pain-related working memory deficits in neuropathic pain rats.

PubMed

Cardoso-Cruz, H; Dourado, M; Monteiro, C; Galhardo, V

2018-05-01

Dopamine (DA) is thought to be important to local hippocampal networks integrity during spatial working memory (sWM) processing. Chronic pain may contribute to deficient dopaminergic signalling, which may in turn affect cognition. However, the neural mechanisms that determine this impairment are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated whether the sWM impairment characteristic of animal models of chronic pain is dependent on DA D2 receptor (D2r) activity. To address this issue, we implanted multichannel arrays of electrodes in the dorsal and ventral hippocampal CA1 field (dvCA1) of rats and recorded the neuronal activity during a classical delayed food-reinforced T-maze sWM task. Within-subject behavioural performance and patterns of dorsoventral neural activity were assessed before and after the onset of persistent neuropathic pain using the spared nerve injury (SNI) model. Our results show that the peripheral nerve lesion caused a disruption in sWM and hippocampus spike activity and that disruption was maximized by the systemic administration of the D2r antagonist raclopride. These deficits are strictly correlated with a selective disruption of hippocampal theta-oscillations. Particularly, we found a significant decrease in intrahippocampal CA1 field connectivity level. Together, these results suggest that disruption of the dopaminergic balance in the intrahippocampal networks may be important for the development of cognitive deficits experienced during painful conditions. This study provides new insights into the role of D2r in the manifestation of pain-related sWM deficits. Our findings support that selective blockade of D2r produces a significant decrease in intrahippocampal connectivity mediated by theta-oscillations, and amplifies pain-related sWM deficits. These results suggest that further characterization of intrahippocampal dopaminergic modulation may be clinically relevant for the understanding of cognitive impairments that accompanies nociceptive stressful conditions. © 2018 European Pain Federation - EFIC®.

The Impact of Domestic Violence in the Workplace

PubMed Central

MacGregor, Jennifer C. D.; MacQuarrie, Barbara J.

2015-01-01

Objective: When workers experience domestic violence (DV) at home, impacts are felt in the workplace; however, little research is available on this topic. Methods: We conducted an online survey regarding the impacts of DV at work. Results: A total of 8429 people completed the survey. More than a third of respondents reported experiencing DV; among them, more than a third reported that DV affected their ability to get to work, and more than half reported that it continued at or near work. Most reported that DV negatively affected their performance. Almost all respondents, regardless of DV experience, believed that it impacts victims' work lives. Conclusions: This research identifies the scope and impact of DV on workers and workplaces. The data should assist governments, unions, and employers to enact and evaluate proactive practices to address the impact of DV in the workplace. PMID:26147553

The Impact of Domestic Violence in the Workplace: Results From a Pan-Canadian Survey.

PubMed

Wathen, C Nadine; MacGregor, Jennifer C D; MacQuarrie, Barbara J

2015-07-01

When workers experience domestic violence (DV) at home, impacts are felt in the workplace; however, little research is available on this topic. We conducted an online survey regarding the impacts of DV at work. A total of 8429 people completed the survey. More than a third of respondents reported experiencing DV; among them, more than a third reported that DV affected their ability to get to work, and more than half reported that it continued at or near work. Most reported that DV negatively affected their performance. Almost all respondents, regardless of DV experience, believed that it impacts victims' work lives. This research identifies the scope and impact of DV on workers and workplaces. The data should assist governments, unions, and employers to enact and evaluate proactive practices to address the impact of DV in the workplace.

A novel role for Ets4 in axis specification and cell migration in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum.

PubMed

Pechmann, Matthias; Benton, Matthew A; Kenny, Nathan J; Posnien, Nico; Roth, Siegfried

2017-08-29

Organizers play important roles during the embryonic development of many animals. The most famous example is the Spemann organizer that sets up embryonic axes in amphibian embryos. In spiders, a group of BMP secreting mesenchymal cells (the cumulus) functions as an organizer of the dorsoventral axis. Similar to experiments performed with the Spemann organizer, transplantation of the cumulus is able to induce a secondary axis in spiders. Despite the importance of this structure, it is unknown which factors are needed to activate cumulus specific gene expression. To address this question, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of early embryonic development in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Through this work, we found that the transcription factor Pt-Ets4 is needed for cumulus integrity, dorsoventral patterning and for the activation of Pt-hunchback and Pt-twist expression. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Pt-Ets4 is sufficient to induce cell delamination and migration by inducing a mesoderm-like cell fate.

An examination of the factors related to dating violence perpetration among young men and women and associated theoretical explanations: a review of the literature.

PubMed

Dardis, Christina M; Dixon, Kristiana J; Edwards, Katie M; Turchik, Jessica A

2015-04-01

This article provides a review of the literature on dating violence (DV) perpetration, specifically sex similarities and differences in the correlates and predictors of DV perpetration and the utility of current theories to explain young men's and women's DV perpetration. Overall, many of the correlates and predictors of DV perpetration are similar among young men and women (e.g., witnessing interparental violence, experiencing child abuse, alcohol abuse, traditional gender roles, relationship power dynamics). However, young women's perpetration of DV is more strongly related to internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression), trait anger and hostility, and experiencing DV victimization than young men's perpetration, whereas young men's perpetration of DV is more consistently related to lower socioeconomic status and educational attainment, antisocial personality characteristics, and increased relationship length than young women's perpetration. Each theory offers insights into but does not fully account for the correlates and predictors of DV perpetration. Sociocultural theories may be useful in explaining the use of coercive control in relationships, and learning/intergenerational transmission of violence theories may be useful in explaining bidirectional couple violence. Future research should focus on integrative theories, such as in the social-ecological theory, in order to explain various forms of DV. Our understanding of young men's and young women's DV perpetration is limited by cross-sectional research designs, methodological inconsistencies, a lack of sex-specific analytic approaches, and a lack of focus on contextual factors; more multivariate and longitudinal studies are needed. Further, as DV prevention programming is often presented in mixed-sex formats, a critical understanding of sex differences and similarities in DV perpetration could ultimately refine and improve effectiveness of programming efforts aimed at reducing DV. © The Author(s) 2014.

Exposure to Spousal Violence in the Family, Attitudes and Dating Violence Perpetration Among High School Students in Port-au-Prince.

PubMed

Gage, Anastasia J

2016-09-01

This study examined the associations of exposure to spousal violence in the family and personal and peer attitudes with dating violence (DV) perpetration among high school students in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Participants were 342 high school students in Grades 10 to 12 who stated that they had ever been on a date. Multiple linear regression methods were used to examine correlates of the scale of DV perpetration. Findings showed that personal acceptance of DV mediated the association between exposure to wife-perpetrated and husband-perpetrated spousal violence in the family and DV perpetration for girls. Boys who were exposed to husband-perpetrated spousal violence in the family had significantly higher levels of psychological DV perpetration than those who were not. Contrary to expectations, exposure to wife-perpetrated spousal violence in the family was negatively associated with psychological and physical/sexual DV perpetration by boys, after controlling for other factors. Overall, perceived peer tolerance of DV was more strongly associated with DV perpetration than personal tolerance of DV, and was the only significant correlate of psychological DV perpetration for girls. Perceived peer attitudes also moderated the association between boys' exposure to spousal violence in the family and DV perpetration. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. © The Author(s) 2015.

How Well Does the World Health Organization Definition of Domestic Violence Work for India?

PubMed Central

Kalokhe, Ameeta S.; Potdar, Ratnaprabha R.; Stephenson, Rob; Dunkle, Kristin L.; Paranjape, Anuradha; del Rio, Carlos; Sahay, Seema

2015-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is reported by 40% of married women in India and associated with substantial morbidity. An operational research definition is therefore needed to enhance understanding of DV epidemiology in India and inform DV interventions and measures. To arrive at a culturally-tailored definition, we aimed to better understand how definitions provided by the World Health Organization and the 2005 India Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act match the perceptions of behaviors constituting DV among the Indian community. Between September 2012 and January 2013, 16 key informant interviews with experts in DV and family counseling and 2 gender-concordant focus groups of lay community members were conducted in Pune, India to understand community perceptions of the definition of DV, perpetrators of DV, and examples of DV encountered by married women in Pune, India. Several key themes emerged regarding behaviors and acts constituting DV including 1) the exertion of control over a woman’s reproductive decision-making, mobility, socializing with family and friends, finances, and access to food and nutrition, 2) the widespread acceptance of sexual abuse and the influences of affluence on sexual DV manifestations, 3) the shaping of physical abuse experiences by readily-available tools and the presence of witnesses, 4) psychological abuse for infertility, dowry, and girl-children, and 5) the perpetration of DV by the husband and other members of his family. Findings support the need for a culturally-tailored operational definition that expands on the WHO surveillance definition to inform the development of more effective DV intervention strategies and measures. PMID:25811374

How well does the World Health Organization definition of domestic violence work for India?

PubMed

Kalokhe, Ameeta S; Potdar, Ratnaprabha R; Stephenson, Rob; Dunkle, Kristin L; Paranjape, Anuradha; Del Rio, Carlos; Sahay, Seema

2015-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is reported by 40% of married women in India and associated with substantial morbidity. An operational research definition is therefore needed to enhance understanding of DV epidemiology in India and inform DV interventions and measures. To arrive at a culturally-tailored definition, we aimed to better understand how definitions provided by the World Health Organization and the 2005 India Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act match the perceptions of behaviors constituting DV among the Indian community. Between September 2012 and January 2013, 16 key informant interviews with experts in DV and family counseling and 2 gender-concordant focus groups of lay community members were conducted in Pune, India to understand community perceptions of the definition of DV, perpetrators of DV, and examples of DV encountered by married women in Pune, India. Several key themes emerged regarding behaviors and acts constituting DV including 1) the exertion of control over a woman's reproductive decision-making, mobility, socializing with family and friends, finances, and access to food and nutrition, 2) the widespread acceptance of sexual abuse and the influences of affluence on sexual DV manifestations, 3) the shaping of physical abuse experiences by readily-available tools and the presence of witnesses, 4) psychological abuse for infertility, dowry, and girl-children, and 5) the perpetration of DV by the husband and other members of his family. Findings support the need for a culturally-tailored operational definition that expands on the WHO surveillance definition to inform the development of more effective DV intervention strategies and measures.

Digital In, Digital Out: Digital Editing with Firewire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doyle, Bob; Sauer, Jeff

1997-01-01

Reviews linear and nonlinear digital video (DV) editing equipment and software, using the IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connector. Includes a chart listing specifications and rating eight DV editing systems, reviews two DV still-photo cameras, and previews beta DV products. (PEN)

Association between domestic violence and HIV serostatus among married and formerly married women in Kenya.

PubMed

Onsomu, Elijah O; Abuya, Benta A; Okech, Irene N; Rosen, David L; Duren-Winfield, Vanessa; Simmons, Amber C

2015-01-01

The prevalence of both domestic violence (DV) and HIV among Kenyan women is known to be high, but the relationship between them is unknown. Nationally representative cross-sectional data from married and formerly married (MFM) women responding to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008/2009 were analyzed adjusting for complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the covariate-adjusted associations between HIV serostatus and any reported DV as well as four constituent DV measures: physical, emotional, sexual, and aggravated bodily harm, adjusting for covariates entered into each model using a forward stepwise selection process. Covariates of a priori interest included those representing marriage history, risky sexual behavior, substance use, perceived HIV risk, and sociodemographic characteristics. The prevalence of HIV among MFM women was 10.7% (any DV: 13.1%, no DV: 8.6%); overall prevalence of DV was 43.4%. Among all DV measures, only physical DV was associated with HIV (11.9%; adjusted odds ratio: 2.01, p <.05). Efforts by the government and women's groups to monitor and improve policies to reduce DV, such as the Sexual Offences Act of 2006, are urgently needed to curb HIV, as are policies that seek to provide DV counseling and treatment to MFM women.

Association between domestic violence and HIV serostatus among married and formerly married women in Kenya

PubMed Central

Abuya, Benta A; Okech, Irene N; Rosen, David L; Duren-Winfield, Vanessa; Simmons, Amber C

2014-01-01

The prevalence of both domestic violence (DV) and HIV among Kenyan women is known to be high, but the relationship between them is unknown. Nationally representative cross-sectional data from married and formerly married (MFM) women responding to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008/2009 were analyzed adjusting for complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the covariate-adjusted associations between HIV serostatus and any reported DV as well as four constituent DV measures: physical, emotional, sexual, and aggravated bodily harm, adjusting for co-variates entered into each model using a forward stepwise selection process. Co-variates of a priori interest included those representing marriage history, risky sexual behavior, substance use, perceived HIV risk, and socio-demographic characteristics. The prevalence of HIV among MFM women was 10.7% (any DV: 13.1%, no DV: 8.6%); overall prevalence of DV was 43.4%. Among all DV measures, only physical DV was associated with HIV (11.9%; adjusted odds ratio: 2.01, p < 0.05). Efforts by the government and women's groups to monitor and improve policies to reduce DV, such as the Sexual Offences Act of 2006, are urgently needed to curb HIV, as are policies that seek to provide DV counseling and treatment to MFM women. PMID:25127397

Differential Contributions of Dorso-Ventral and Rostro-Caudal Prefrontal White Matter Tracts to Cognitive Control in Healthy Older Adults

PubMed Central

Strenziok, Maren; Greenwood, Pamela M.; Santa Cruz, Sophia A.; Thompson, James C.; Parasuraman, Raja

2013-01-01

Prefrontal cortex mediates cognitive control by means of circuitry organized along dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal axes. Along the dorso-ventral axis, ventrolateral PFC controls semantic information, whereas dorsolateral PFC encodes task rules. Along the rostro-caudal axis, anterior prefrontal cortex encodes complex rules and relationships between stimuli, whereas posterior prefrontal cortex encodes simple relationships between stimuli and behavior. Evidence of these gradients of prefrontal cortex organization has been well documented in fMRI studies, but their functional correlates have not been examined with regard to integrity of underlying white matter tracts. We hypothesized that (a) the integrity of specific white matter tracts is related to cognitive functioning in a manner consistent with the dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal organization of the prefrontal cortex, and (b) this would be particularly evident in healthy older adults. We assessed three cognitive processes that recruit the prefrontal cortex and can distinguish white matter tracts along the dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal dimensions –episodic memory, working memory, and reasoning. Correlations between cognition and fractional anisotropy as well as fiber tractography revealed: (a) Episodic memory was related to ventral prefrontal cortex-thalamo-hippocampal fiber integrity; (b) Working memory was related to integrity of corpus callosum body fibers subserving dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; and (c) Reasoning was related to integrity of corpus callosum body fibers subserving rostral and caudal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These findings confirm the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex's role in semantic control and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex's role in rule-based processing, in accordance with the dorso-ventral prefrontal cortex gradient. Reasoning-related rostral and caudal superior frontal white matter may facilitate different levels of task rule complexity. This study is the first to demonstrate dorso-ventral and rostro-caudal prefrontal cortex processing gradients in white matter integrity. PMID:24312550

R-spondin 3 regulates dorsoventral and anteroposterior patterning by antagonizing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish embryos.

PubMed

Rong, Xiaozhi; Chen, Chen; Zhou, Pin; Zhou, Yumei; Li, Yun; Lu, Ling; Liu, Yunzhang; Zhou, Jianfeng; Duan, Cunming

2014-01-01

The Wnt/β-catenin or canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays fundamental roles in early development and in maintaining adult tissue homeostasis. R-spondin 3 (Rspo3) is a secreted protein that has been implicated in activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in amphibians and mammals. Here we report that zebrafish Rspo3 plays a negative role in regulating the zygotic Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Zebrafish Rspo3 has a unique domain structure. It contains a third furin-like (FU3) domain. This FU3 is present in other four ray-finned fish species studied but not in elephant shark. In zebrafish, rspo3 mRNA is maternally deposited and has a ubiquitous expression in early embryonic stages. After 12 hpf, its expression becomes tissue-specific. Forced expression of rspo3 promotes dorsoanterior patterning and increases the expression of dorsal and anterior marker genes. Knockdown of rspo3 increases ventral-posterior development and stimulates ventral and posterior marker genes expression. Forced expression of rspo3 abolishes exogenous Wnt3a action and reduces the endogenous Wnt signaling activity. Knockdown of rspo3 results in increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. Further analyses indicate that Rspo3 does not promote maternal Wnt signaling. Human RSPO3 has similar action when tested in zebrafish embryos. These results suggest that Rspo3 regulates dorsoventral and anteroposterior patterning by negatively regulating the zygotic Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish embryos.

R-Spondin 3 Regulates Dorsoventral and Anteroposterior Patterning by Antagonizing Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Zebrafish Embryos

PubMed Central

Zhou, Pin; Zhou, Yumei; Li, Yun; Lu, Ling; Liu, Yunzhang; Zhou, Jianfeng; Duan, Cunming

2014-01-01

The Wnt/β-catenin or canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays fundamental roles in early development and in maintaining adult tissue homeostasis. R-spondin 3 (Rspo3) is a secreted protein that has been implicated in activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in amphibians and mammals. Here we report that zebrafish Rspo3 plays a negative role in regulating the zygotic Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Zebrafish Rspo3 has a unique domain structure. It contains a third furin-like (FU3) domain. This FU3 is present in other four ray-finned fish species studied but not in elephant shark. In zebrafish, rspo3 mRNA is maternally deposited and has a ubiquitous expression in early embryonic stages. After 12 hpf, its expression becomes tissue-specific. Forced expression of rspo3 promotes dorsoanterior patterning and increases the expression of dorsal and anterior marker genes. Knockdown of rspo3 increases ventral-posterior development and stimulates ventral and posterior marker genes expression. Forced expression of rspo3 abolishes exogenous Wnt3a action and reduces the endogenous Wnt signaling activity. Knockdown of rspo3 results in increased Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. Further analyses indicate that Rspo3 does not promote maternal Wnt signaling. Human RSPO3 has similar action when tested in zebrafish embryos. These results suggest that Rspo3 regulates dorsoventral and anteroposterior patterning by negatively regulating the zygotic Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish embryos. PMID:24918770

Cell tracing reveals a dorsoventral lineage restriction plane in the mouse limb bud mesenchyme.

PubMed

Arques, Carlos G; Doohan, Roisin; Sharpe, James; Torres, Miguel

2007-10-01

Regionalization of embryonic fields into independent units of growth and patterning is a widespread strategy during metazoan development. Compartments represent a particular instance of this regionalization, in which unit coherence is maintained by cell lineage restriction between adjacent regions. Lineage compartments have been described during insect and vertebrate development. Two common characteristics of the compartments described so far are their occurrence in epithelial structures and the presence of signaling regions at compartment borders. Whereas Drosophila compartmental organization represents a background subdivision of embryonic fields that is not necessarily related to anatomical structures, vertebrate compartment borders described thus far coincide with, or anticipate, anatomical or cell-type discontinuities. Here, we describe a general method for clonal analysis in the mouse and use it to determine the topology of clone distribution along the three limb axes. We identify a lineage restriction boundary at the limb mesenchyme dorsoventral border that is unrelated to any anatomical discontinuity, and whose lineage restriction border is not obviously associated with any signaling center. This restriction is the first example in vertebrates of a mechanism of primordium subdivision unrelated to anatomical boundaries. Furthermore, this is the first lineage compartment described within a mesenchymal structure in any organism, suggesting that lineage restrictions are fundamental not only for epithelial structures, but also for mesenchymal field patterning. No lineage compartmentalization was found along the proximodistal or anteroposterior axes, indicating that patterning along these axes does not involve restriction of cell dispersion at specific axial positions.

Patterns of violence against women in three communities in Alexandria, Egypt.

PubMed

Guimei, Maaly; Fikry, Faten Ezeldin; Esheiba, Ola Mamdouh Abd Elwahed

2012-09-01

To identify patterns of violence against women (VAW) in three communities in Alexandria, Egypt, and develop recommendations to address the issue. One hundred fifty women were randomly selected and interviewed from each of the three settings representing an urban, squatter, and rural community in Alexandria, for a total sample of 450 women. More than half (60% and 59.3%) of the squatter and rural women, as compared to less than half of urban women (41.3%), reported they were exposed to domestic violence (DV) at least once in their marriages. Rural and squatter women believed that husbands have a right to beat their wives and have sex with their wives whenever they desire. About half of urban, squatter, and rural women (48.4%, 56.7%, and 61%, respectively) did not seek help when they were beaten despite incurring injuries. Exposure to DV was associated with many factors including the woman's education, occupation, number of children, and socioeconomic status. The following recommendations are made: empowering women and girls to lead change by increasing their access to education and information; meeting the needs of abused women; mobilizing advocacy initiative by enlisting social, political, and other leaders to speak about VAW; changing policies and legislation to address gender-based violence; conducting education, awareness, and sensitization programs highlighting the problem; screening for violence in healthcare facilities and developing culture sensitive protocols for prevention and interventions for DV; and promoting nurses' participation and involving men in movements to end VAW.

Prevalence and associated factors of domestic violence among pregnant women attending routine antenatal care in Nepal.

PubMed

Rishal, Poonam; Pun, Kunta Devi; Darj, Elisabeth; Joshi, Sunil Kumar; Bjørngaard, Johan Håkon; Swahnberg, Katarina; Schei, Berit; Lukasse, Mirjam

2017-08-01

The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) and its associated factors among pregnant women in Nepal. The secondary aims were to investigate disclosure of DV by women to health-care personnel and to assess whether health-care personnel had asked women about their experience of DV. This cross-sectional study included 2004 pregnant women between 12 and 28 weeks of gestation attending routine antenatal care at two hospitals in Nepal from August 2014 to November 2015. In this study, DV was defined as fear of a family member and/or an experience of physical, emotional or sexual violence. Associated risk factors were analysed using logistic regression analyses. Twenty-one per cent of the women had experienced DV; 12.5% experienced fear only, 3.6% violence only and 4.9% experienced both violence and fear. Less than 2% per cent reported physical violence during pregnancy. This study found that just 17.7% had ever been asked by health-care personnel about DV, and of the women who had reported DV, only 9.5% had disclosed their experience to health-care personnel. Women of young age and low socio-economic status were more likely to have experienced DV. Women who reported having their own income and the autonomy to use it were at significantly lower risk of DV compared to women with no income. A substantial proportion of women reported having experienced DV. Victims had rarely disclosed their experience of DV to health-care personnel. This study underlines the importance of integrating systematic assessment of DV in antenatal care.

The changes in Doppler indices of fetal ductus venosus and umbilical artery after amnioinfusion for women with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 26 weeks' gestation.

PubMed

Hsu, Te-Yao; Hsu, Jenn-Jeih; Fu, Hung-Chun; Ou, Chia-Yu; Tsai, Chih-Chang; Cheng, Bi-Hua; Fang, Fu-Min; Kao, Hui-Fen; Yang, Chun-Yuh; Tsai, Wen Lin; Sung, Chuen Chu; Tsai, Men-Yi

2009-09-01

To investigate the changes in Doppler indices of the fetal ductus venosus (DV) and umbilical artery (UMA) after amnioinfusion in pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM). Pregnancies with pPROM and severe oligohydramnios cause sequelae in newborns and mothers. This cross-sectional study included a group of 25 patients with pPROM before 26 weeks' gestation. Color Doppler imaging was used to measure the impedance index and quantitative blood flow in the DV and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) of the UMA before and 30 minutes after the end of amnioinfusion. The following velocity parameters were measured: (1) DV peak systolic velocity; (2) DV time-averaged velocity; (3) DV maximum forward velocity during atrial contraction; (4) DV S/D; (5) DV pulsatility index (PI); (6) DV Pourcelots resistance index (RI); (7) fetal heart rate; and (8) UMA S/D. Twenty-one of the 25 patients underwent a total of 27 amnioinfusions. The mean PI and RI of the DV, and S/D of the DV and UMA decreased significantly after amnioinfusion (PI, 0.75 +/- 0.24 vs. 0.60 +/- 0.18, p = 0.009; RI, 0.60 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.13; DV S/D, 3.07 +/- 1.81 vs. 2.13 +/- 0.66, p = 0.008; UMA S/D, 3.58 +/- 0.87 vs. 2.88 +/- 0.62, p = 0.001). Amnioinfusion increases the space for the fetuses and reduces the impedance of the fetoplacental circulation. Improvements in DV and UMA flow may benefit fetuses suffering severe oligohydramnios in mid-pregnancy.

The Impacts of Sexual Media Exposure on Adolescent and Emerging Adults' Dating and Sexual Violence Attitudes and Behaviors: A Critical Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Rodenhizer, Kara Anne E; Edwards, Katie M

2017-01-01

Dating violence (DV) and sexual violence (SV) are widespread problems among adolescents and emerging adults. A growing body of literature demonstrates that exposure to sexually explicit media (SEM) and sexually violent media (SVM) may be risk factors for DV and SV. The purpose of this article is to provide a systematic and comprehensive literature review on the impact of exposure to SEM and SVM on DV and SV attitudes and behaviors. A total of 43 studies utilizing adolescent and emerging adult samples were reviewed, and collectively the findings suggest that (1) exposure to SEM and SVM is positively related to DV and SV myths and more accepting attitudes toward DV and SV; (2) exposure to SEM and SVM is positively related to actual and anticipated DV and SV victimization, perpetration, and bystander nonintervention; (3) SEM and SVM more strongly impact men's DV and SV attitudes and behaviors than women's DV and SV attitudes and behaviors; and (4) preexisting attitudes related to DV and SV and media preferences moderate the relationship between SEM and SVM exposure and DV and SV attitudes and behaviors. Future studies should strive to employ longitudinal and experimental designs, more closely examine the mediators and moderators of SEM and SVM exposure on DV and SV outcomes, focus on the impacts of SEM and SVM that extend beyond men's use of violence against women, and examine the extent to which media literacy programs could be used independently or in conjunction with existing DV and SV prevention programs to enhance effectiveness of these programming efforts.

A CpG-Ficoll Nanoparticle Adjuvant for Anthrax Protective Antigen Enhances Immunogenicity and Provides Single-Immunization Protection against Inhaled Anthrax in Monkeys.

PubMed

Kachura, Melissa A; Hickle, Colin; Kell, Sariah A; Sathe, Atul; Calacsan, Carlo; Kiwan, Radwan; Hall, Brian; Milley, Robert; Ott, Gary; Coffman, Robert L; Kanzler, Holger; Campbell, John D

2016-01-01

Nanoparticulate delivery systems for vaccine adjuvants, designed to enhance targeting of secondary lymphoid organs and activation of APCs, have shown substantial promise for enhanced immunopotentiation. We investigated the adjuvant activity of synthetic oligonucleotides containing CpG-rich motifs linked to the sucrose polymer Ficoll, forming soluble 50-nm particles (DV230-Ficoll), each containing >100 molecules of the TLR9 ligand, DV230. DV230-Ficoll was evaluated as an adjuvant for a candidate vaccine for anthrax using recombinant protective Ag (rPA) from Bacillus anthracis. A single immunization with rPA plus DV230-Ficoll induced 10-fold higher titers of toxin-neutralizing Abs in cynomolgus monkeys at 2 wk compared with animals immunized with equivalent amounts of monomeric DV230. Monkeys immunized either once or twice with rPA plus DV230-Ficoll were completely protected from challenge with 200 LD50 aerosolized anthrax spores. In mice, DV230-Ficoll was more potent than DV230 for the induction of innate immune responses at the injection site and draining lymph nodes. DV230-Ficoll was preferentially colocalized with rPA in key APC populations and induced greater maturation marker expression (CD69 and CD86) on these cells and stronger germinal center B and T cell responses, relative to DV230. DV230-Ficoll was also preferentially retained at the injection site and draining lymph nodes and produced fewer systemic inflammatory responses. These findings support the development of DV230-Ficoll as an adjuvant platform, particularly for vaccines such as for anthrax, for which rapid induction of protective immunity and memory with a single injection is very important. Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Attentional bias towards emotional facial expressions in survivors of dating violence.

PubMed

Lee, Jeong-Ha; Lee, Jang-Han

2014-01-01

This study identified components of attentional bias (e.g. attentional vigilance, attentional avoidance and difficulty with disengagement) that are critical characteristics of survivors of dating violence (DV). Eye movements were recorded to obtain accurate and continuous information regarding attention. DV survivors with high post-traumatic stress symptoms (DV-High PTSS group; n = 20) and low post-traumatic stress symptoms (DV-Low PTSS group; n = 22) and participants who had never experienced DV (NDV group; n = 21) were shown screens displaying emotional (angry, fearful and happy) faces paired with neutral faces and negative (angry and fearful) faces paired with happy faces for 10 s. The results indicate that the DV-High PTSS group spent longer dwelling on angry faces over time compared with the DV-Low PTSS and NDV groups. This result implies that the DV-High PTSS group focused on specific trauma-related stimuli but does not provide evidence of an attentional bias towards threatening stimuli in general.

The increase in domestic violence in Brazil from 2009-2014.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Nádia Cristina Pinheiro; O'Dwyer, Gisele; Andrade, Mônica Kramer de Noronha; Flynn, Matthew Brian; Monteiro, Denise Leite Maia; Lino, Valéria Teresa Saraiva

2017-09-01

In recent decades, the rise violent phenomena in Brazil has reached epidemic proportions. However, the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) across different states in the country is not well established. The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of DV across Brazilian states from 2009 to 2014. An ecological study based on spatial analysis techniques was performed using Brazilian states as geographical units of analysis. A multilevel Poisson model was used to explain the risk of DV in Brazil according to age, sex, period (fixed effects), the Human Developing Index, and the victim's residence state (random effects). The overall average rate of DV almost tripled from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014. The rate of DV in Brazil in the 2013-2014 period was 3.52 times greater than the 2009-2010 period. The risk of DV in men was 74% lower than in women. The increase of DV against women during period under study occurred mainly in the Southeast, South, and Midwest. DV was more frequent in adolescence and adulthood. DV is gradually increasing in recent years in Brazil. More legislation and government programs are needed to combat the growth of violence in society.

Dual function of the nuclear export signal of the Borna disease virus nucleoprotein in nuclear export activity and binding to viral phosphoprotein.

PubMed

Yanai, Mako; Sakai, Madoka; Makino, Akiko; Tomonaga, Keizo

2017-07-11

Borna disease virus (BoDV), which has a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome, causes persistent infection in the cell nucleus. The nuclear export signal (NES) of the viral nucleoprotein (N) consisting of leucine at positions 128 and 131 and isoleucine at positions 133 and 136 overlaps with one of two predicted binding sites for the viral phosphoprotein (P). A previous study demonstrated that higher expression of BoDV-P inhibits nuclear export of N; however, the function of N NES in the interaction with P remains unclear. We examined the subcellular localization, viral polymerase activity, and P-binding ability of BoDV-N NES mutants. We also characterized a recombinant BoDV (rBoDV) harboring an NES mutation of N. BoDV-N with four alanine-substitutions in the leucine and isoleucine residues of the NES impaired its cytoplasmic localization and abolished polymerase activity and P-binding ability. Although an alanine-substitution at position 131 markedly enhanced viral polymerase activity as determined by a minigenome assay, rBoDV harboring this mutation showed expression of viral RNAs and proteins relative to that of wild-type rBoDV. Our results demonstrate that BoDV-N NES has a dual function in BoDV replication, i.e., nuclear export of N and an interaction with P, affecting viral polymerase activity in the nucleus.

Effective Protection Induced by a Monovalent DNA Vaccine against Dengue Virus (DV) Serotype 1 and a Bivalent DNA Vaccine against DV1 and DV2 in Mice.

PubMed

Zheng, Xiaoyan; Chen, Hui; Wang, Ran; Fan, Dongying; Feng, Kaihao; Gao, Na; An, Jing

2017-01-01

Dengue virus (DV) is the causal pathogen of dengue fever, which is one of the most rapidly spread mosquito-borne disease worldwide and has become a severe public health problem. Currently, there is no specific treatment for dengue; thus, a vaccine would be an effective countermeasure to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Although, the chimeric Yellow fever dengue tetravalent vaccine has been approved in some countries, it is still necessary to develop safer, more effective, and less costly vaccines. In this study, a DNA vaccine candidate pVAX1-D1ME expressing the prME protein of DV1 was inoculated in BALB/c mice via intramuscular injection or electroporation, and the immunogenicity and protection were evaluated. Compared with traditional intramuscular injection, administration with 50 μg pVAX1-D1ME via electroporation with three immunizations induced persistent humoral and cellular immune responses and effectively protected mice against lethal DV1 challenge. In addition, immunization with a bivalent vaccine consisting of pVAX1-D1ME and pVAX1-D2ME via electroporation generated a balanced IgG response and neutralizing antibodies against DV1 and DV2 and could protect mice from lethal challenge with DV1 and DV2. This study sheds new light on developing a dengue tetravalent DNA vaccine.

Dengue vaccine acceptance and associated factors in Indonesia: A community-based cross-sectional survey in Aceh.

PubMed

Harapan, Harapan; Anwar, Samsul; Setiawan, Abdul Malik; Sasmono, R Tedjo

2016-07-12

The first dengue vaccine (DV) has been licensed in some countries, but an assessment of the public's acceptance of DV is widely lacking. This study aimed to explore and understand DV acceptance and its associated explanatory variables among healthy inhabitants of Aceh, Indonesia. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2014 to March 2015 in nine regencies of Aceh that were selected randomly. A set of validated questionnaires covering a range of explanatory variables and DV acceptance was used to conduct the interviews. A multi-step logistic regression analysis and Spearman's rank correlation were employed to assess the role of explanatory variables in DV acceptance. We included 652 community members in the final analysis and found that 77.3% of them were willing to accept the DV. Gender, monthly income, socioeconomic status (SES), attitude toward dengue fever (DF) and attitude toward vaccination practice were associated with DV acceptance in bivariate analyses (P<0.05). A correlation analysis confirmed that attitude toward vaccination practice and attitude toward DF were strongly correlated with DV acceptance, rs=0.41 and rs=0.39, respectively (P<0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed that a high monthly income, high SES, and a good attitude toward vaccination practice and toward DF were independent predictors of DV acceptance. The acceptance rate of the DV among inhabitants of Aceh, Indonesia was relatively high, and the strongest associated factors of higher support for the DV were a good attitude toward vaccination practices and a good attitude toward DF. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The relationship between temperament, gender, and childhood dysfunctional voiding.

PubMed

Colaco, Marc; Dobkin, Roseanne D; Sterling, Matthew; Schneider, Dona; Barone, Joseph

2013-08-01

Dysfunctional voiding (DV) is an extremely common pediatric complaint. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between DV and childhood temperament. Information about the voiding behaviors and temperaments of 50 children was examined using a case-control model. Caregivers were asked to fill out the Children's Behavior Questionnaire in order to rate their child on the dimensions of surgency, negative affect, and effortful control. The relationship between DV and these dimensions was then evaluated. Males with DV were found to have lower effortful control than males with normal voiding habits. Females with DV did not demonstrate a difference in effortful control, but did demonstrate a higher rate of surgency. The results suggest that temperament does have an association with DV. These findings are in line with temperamental associations with other externalizing trouble behaviors and may inform potential treatment strategies for DV.

Domestic violence against women in India: A systematic review of a decade of quantitative studies.

PubMed

Kalokhe, Ameeta; Del Rio, Carlos; Dunkle, Kristin; Stephenson, Rob; Metheny, Nicholas; Paranjape, Anuradha; Sahay, Seema

2017-04-01

Domestic violence (DV) is prevalent among women in India and has been associated with poor mental and physical health. We performed a systematic review of 137 quantitative studies published in the prior decade that directly evaluated the DV experiences of Indian women to summarise the breadth of recent work and identify gaps in the literature. Among studies surveying at least two forms of abuse, a median 41% of women reported experiencing DV during their lifetime and 30% in the past year. We noted substantial inter-study variance in DV prevalence estimates, attributable in part to different study populations and settings, but also to a lack of standardisation, validation, and cultural adaptation of DV survey instruments. There was paucity of studies evaluating the DV experiences of women over age 50, residing in live-in relationships, same-sex relationships, tribal villages, and of women from the northern regions of India. Additionally, our review highlighted a gap in research evaluating the impact of DV on physical health. We conclude with a research agenda calling for additional qualitative and longitudinal quantitative studies to explore the DV correlates proposed by this quantitative literature to inform the development of a culturally tailored DV scale and prevention strategies.

Domestic violence against women in India: A systematic review of a decade of quantitative studies

PubMed Central

Kalokhe, Ameeta; del Rio, Carlos; Dunkle, Kristin; Stephenson, Rob; Metheny, Nicholas; Paranjape, Anuradha; Sahay, Seema

2016-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is prevalent among women in India and has been associated with poor mental and physical health. We performed a systematic review of 137 quantitative studies published in the prior decade that directly evaluated the DV experiences of Indian women to summarise the breadth of recent work and identify gaps in the literature. Among studies surveying at least two forms of abuse, a median 41% of women reported experiencing DV during their lifetime and 30% in the past year. We noted substantial inter-study variance in DV prevalence estimates, attributable in part to different study populations and settings, but also to a lack of standardisation, validation, and cultural adaptation of DV survey instruments. There was paucity of studies evaluating the DV experiences of women over age 50, residing in live-in relationships, same-sex relationships, tribal villages, and of women from the northern regions of India. Additionally, our review highlighted a gap in research evaluating the impact of DV on physical health. We conclude with a research agenda calling for additional qualitative and longitudinal quantitative studies to explore the DV correlates proposed by this quantitative literature to inform the development of a culturally tailored DV scale and prevention strategies. PMID:26886155

Physical domestic violence exposure is highly associated with suicidal attempts in both women and men. Results from the national public health survey in Sweden

PubMed Central

Stenbacka, Marlene; Gumpert, Clara Hellner

2015-01-01

Background: Studies on a national level concerning domestic violence (DV) among both men and women are few. DV and its relation to other social and health outcomes within the framework of the Swedish Public Health Survey have remained unexplored. Aim: To compare women and men regarding their social situation and health status in relation to self-reported exposure to physical DV as measured in the Swedish National Public Health Survey. Methods: This study used cross-sectional data from the Swedish Public Health Survey, years 2004–09 with a total sample of 50 350 respondents, of which 205 women and 93 men reported DV exposure. Logistic regression analyses stratified by sex with physical DV exposure as the outcome measure were conducted, and the multivariate models were fitted using the likelihood ratio test. Results: Being foreign-born [women odds ratio (OR) = 1.52, men OR = 1.92] and lack of social support (women OR = 2.81, men OR = 1.92) were associated with DV exposure among both sexes. Higher psychological distress (women OR = 2.81, men OR = 1.92) and hazardous drinking (women OR = 1.61, men OR = 2.33) were also associated with DV exposure. Among women, financial problems were associated with DV exposure (OR = 1.83), whereas among men, sum of medicines used and higher odds of DV were associated (OR = 1.17). Further, suicidal attempts were associated with DV exposure among both women (OR = 5.59) and men (OR = 8.34). Conclusions: In this national survey, prevalence rates of violence exposure were lower than in other studies, but despite this, both women and men exposed to physical DV reported increased odds of having attempted suicide. PMID:25471557

Using Social Media to Explore the Consequences of Domestic Violence on Mental Health.

PubMed

Liu, Mingming; Xue, Jia; Zhao, Nan; Wang, Xuefei; Jiao, Dongdong; Zhu, Tingshao

2018-02-01

A great deal of research has focused on the negative consequences of domestic violence (DV) on mental health. However, current studies cannot provide direct and reliable evidence on the impacts of DV on mental health in a short term as it is not feasible to measure mental health shortly before and after an unpredictable event like DV. This study aims to explore the short-term outcomes of DV on individuals' mental health. We collected a sample of 232 victims (77% female) and 232 nonvictims (gender and location matched with 232 victims) on Sina Weibo. In both the victim and nonvictim groups, we measured their mental health status during the 4 weeks before the first DV incident and during the 4 weeks after the DV incident. We used our proposed Online Ecological Recognition (OER) system, which is based on several predictive models to identify individuals' mental health statuses. Mental health statuses were measured based on individuals' Weibo profiles and messages, which included "Depression," "Suicide Probability," and "Satisfaction With Life." The results showed that mental health in the victim group was impacted by DV while individuals in the nonvictim group were not. Furthermore, the victim group demonstrated an increase in depression symptoms, higher suicide risks, and decreased life satisfaction after their DV experience. In addition, the effect of DV on individuals' mental health could appear in the conditions of child abuse, intimate partner violence, and exposure to DV. These findings inform that DV significantly impacts individuals' mental health over the short term, as in 4 weeks. Our proposed new data collection and analyses approach, OER, has implications for employing "big data" from social networks to identify individuals' mental health.

Project Date SMART: a Dating Violence (DV) and Sexual Risk Prevention Program for Adolescent Girls with Prior DV Exposure.

PubMed

Rizzo, Christie J; Joppa, Meredith; Barker, David; Collibee, Charlene; Zlotnick, Caron; Brown, Larry K

2018-05-01

This study assessed the initial feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an intervention aimed at reducing dating violence and sexual risk behavior in a sample of adolescent girls (ages 14-17) with prior exposure to physical dating violence (DV). One hundred and nine girls were randomly assigned to Date SMART (Skills to Manage Aggression in Relationships for Teens) or a Knowledge-only (KO) comparison group. Both intervention arms consisted of six, weekly 2-h sessions and one "booster" session 6 weeks later. Based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, the Date SMART intervention was designed to target common underlying skills deficits linked to both DV and sexual risk behavior in adolescent females: depression, self-regulation deficits, and interpersonal skills deficits. Assessments were administered at four time points (baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months). The Date SMART group was effective as reducing sexual DV involvement across the 9-month follow-up period. Both groups evidenced clinically meaningful reductions in physical, emotional, and digital DV involvement, total time in dating relationships, as well as reductions in depression. Findings indicate that delivering a DV and sexual risk prevention intervention to DV-affected adolescent girls is feasible and well-received. Furthermore, a skills-based approach that addresses the co-occurrence of DV and sexual risk behavior may be particularly useful for promoting reductions of sexual DV among high-risk adolescent girls. A future, large-scale trial with an inactive comparison condition is needed to evaluate the efficacy of Date SMART further. Clinical Trials, NCT01326195, and http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Ectoparasitic hematophagous dipters: potential reservoirs of dengue virus?

PubMed

Setién, Álvaro Aguilar; Baltazar, Anahí García; Leyva, Ignacio Olave; Rojas, Mónica Salas; Koldenkova, Vadim Pérez; García, Mariem Pérez-Peña; Ceballos, Nidia Aréchiga; Romero, Guillermo Gálvez; Villegas, Edgar Olivier López; Malacara, Juan Bibiano Morales; Marín, Cenia Almazán

2017-01-01

Recently, the presence of antibodies and dengue virus (DV) RNA in neotropical wild mammals, including Desmodus rotundus, was reported. In a previous study, DV was also found in a high percentage (39.6%) of ectoparasitic hematophagous dipters specifics of these hematophagous bats. In order to verify the susceptibility of these ectoparasites to DV, in this work experimental infections with VD2 of organs explants of Strebla wiedemanni and of Melophagus ovinus were performed using C6/36 cells as control. Viral titers (UFP/mL) were determined at 0, 48 and 96 hrs pi. Infected organs were observed by electron microscopy and under the confocal microscopy indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using specific conjugates against DV. The infected organs of both species of ectoparasites replicated DV at titers similar to those obtained with the C6/36 cell line (≥10 6 UFP/mL). Electron microscopy and IIF showed DV replication in the digestive tract, tracheoles, reproductive organs of males but not in females, and milk glands (MG) of both species. In the fatty bodies of the MG of M. ovinus, zones with a high affinity for the DV were observed. In this work the susceptibility of S. wiedemanni and M. ovinus to DV was demonstrated and consequently the probable role of this ectoparasites as wild reservoirs of DV. Copyright: © 2017 SecretarÍa de Salud.

Homology and homoplasy of swimming behaviors and neural circuits in the Nudipleura (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia)

PubMed Central

Newcomb, James M.; Sakurai, Akira; Lillvis, Joshua L.; Gunaratne, Charuni A.; Katz, Paul S.

2012-01-01

How neural circuit evolution relates to behavioral evolution is not well understood. Here the relationship between neural circuits and behavior is explored with respect to the swimming behaviors of the Nudipleura (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Opithobranchia). Nudipleura is a diverse monophyletic clade of sea slugs among which only a small percentage of species can swim. Swimming falls into a limited number of categories, the most prevalent of which are rhythmic left–right body flexions (LR) and rhythmic dorsal–ventral body flexions (DV). The phylogenetic distribution of these behaviors suggests a high degree of homoplasy. The central pattern generator (CPG) underlying DV swimming has been well characterized in Tritonia diomedea and in Pleurobranchaea californica. The CPG for LR swimming has been elucidated in Melibe leonina and Dendronotus iris, which are more closely related. The CPGs for the categorically distinct DV and LR swimming behaviors consist of nonoverlapping sets of homologous identified neurons, whereas the categorically similar behaviors share some homologous identified neurons, although the exact composition of neurons and synapses in the neural circuits differ. The roles played by homologous identified neurons in categorically distinct behaviors differ. However, homologous identified neurons also play different roles even in the swim CPGs of the two LR swimming species. Individual neurons can be multifunctional within a species. Some of those functions are shared across species, whereas others are not. The pattern of use and reuse of homologous neurons in various forms of swimming and other behaviors further demonstrates that the composition of neural circuits influences the evolution of behaviors. PMID:22723353

Host Adaptation of Soybean Dwarf Virus Following Serial Passages on Pea (Pisum sativum) and Soybean (Glycine max)

PubMed Central

Tian, Bin; Gildow, Frederick E.; Stone, Andrew L.; Sherman, Diana J.; Damsteegt, Vernon D.; Schneider, William L.

2017-01-01

Soybean Dwarf Virus (SbDV) is an important plant pathogen, causing economic losses in soybean. In North America, indigenous strains of SbDV mainly infect clover, with occasional outbreaks in soybean. To evaluate the risk of a US clover strain of SbDV adapting to other plant hosts, the clover isolate SbDV-MD6 was serially transmitted to pea and soybean by aphid vectors. Sequence analysis of SbDV-MD6 from pea and soybean passages identified 11 non-synonymous mutations in soybean, and six mutations in pea. Increasing virus titers with each sequential transmission indicated that SbDV-MD6 was able to adapt to the plant host. However, aphid transmission efficiency on soybean decreased until the virus was no longer transmissible. Our results clearly demonstrated that the clover strain of SbDV-MD6 is able to adapt to soybean crops. However, mutations that improve replication and/or movement may have trade-off effects resulting in decreased vector transmission. PMID:28635666

Exploration of Dating Violence and Related Attitudes Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults.

PubMed

Courtain, Audrey; Glowacz, Fabienne

2018-04-01

Young people's romantic relationships can be marked with various forms of dating violence (DV). However, adolescents and emerging adults do not necessarily acknowledge this violence because of their attitudes toward dating violence. Our study aims to study dating violence and attitudes toward this phenomenon through two well-established questionnaires administered jointly in their entirety. Indeed, too many studies report results on some dimensions and items, neglecting the richness of available tools. The Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationship Inventory and the Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Scale were self-administered to 1,014 participants ( M age = 18.9) attending secondary schools or a regional college. They reported the frequency of their dating violence perpetration and victimization, and their attitudes toward dating violence. Results show that relational and sexual violence perpetration rates are higher for males, physical violence perpetration rate is higher for females, and relational violence victimization is higher for males. MANCOVAs not only show the same trends for scores but also underline more frequent emotional violence perpetrated by females, physical victimization for males, and sexual victimization for females. Males show higher tolerance toward every form of dating violence; younger participants are also more tolerant. Participants are more tolerant toward male-perpetrated psychological DV than female-perpetrated ones, and more tolerant toward female-perpetrated physical and sexual DV compared with male-perpetrated physical and sexual DV. There are patterns of multiperpetration, multivictimization, bidirectionality, and multi(in)tolerance. Our paper contributes to the symmetry debate, a better understanding of the link between attitudes and violent behaviors, a further step on gendered attitudes regarding who perpetrates and who sustains.

Cry3Bb1-Resistant Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (LeConte) Does Not Exhibit Cross-Resistance to DvSnf7 dsRNA.

PubMed

Moar, William; Khajuria, Chitvan; Pleau, Michael; Ilagan, Oliver; Chen, Mao; Jiang, Changjian; Price, Paula; McNulty, Brian; Clark, Thomas; Head, Graham

2017-01-01

There is a continuing need to express new insect control compounds in transgenic maize against western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (LeConte) (WCR). In this study three experiments were conducted to determine cross-resistance between the new insecticidal DvSnf7 dsRNA, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry3Bb1; used to control WCR since 2003, with field-evolved resistance being reported. Laboratory susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant WCR were evaluated against DvSnf7 dsRNA in larval diet-incorporation bioassays. Additionally, the susceptibility of seven field and one field-derived WCR populations to DvSnf7 (and Cry3Bb1) was assessed in larval diet-overlay bioassays. Finally, beetle emergence of laboratory susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant WCR was evaluated with maize plants in the greenhouse expressing Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, or DvSnf7 dsRNA singly, or in combination. The Cry3Bb1-resistant colony had slight but significantly (2.7-fold; P<0.05) decreased susceptibility to DvSnf7 compared to the susceptible colony, but when repeated using a field-derived WCR population selected for reduced Cry3Bb1 susceptibility, there was no significant difference (P<0.05) in DvSnf7 susceptibility compared to that same susceptible population. Additionally, this 2.7-fold difference in susceptibility falls within the range of DvSnf7 susceptibility among the seven field populations tested. Additionally, there was no correlation between susceptibility to DvSnf7 and Cry3Bb1 for all populations evaluated. In greenhouse studies, there were no significant differences (P<0.05) between beetle emergence of susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant colonies on DvSnf7 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, and between DvSnf7 and MON 87411 (DvSnf7 + Cry3Bb1) for the Cry3Bb1-resistant colony. These results demonstrate no cross-resistance between DvSnf7 and Cry3Bb1 against WCR. Therefore, pyramiding DvSnf7 with Bt proteins such as Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 will provide a valuable IRM tool against WCR that will increase the durability of these Bt proteins. These results also illustrate the importance of using appropriate bioassay methods when characterizing field-evolved resistant WCR populations.

Cry3Bb1-Resistant Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (LeConte) Does Not Exhibit Cross-Resistance to DvSnf7 dsRNA

PubMed Central

Khajuria, Chitvan; Pleau, Michael; Ilagan, Oliver; Chen, Mao; Jiang, Changjian; Price, Paula; McNulty, Brian; Clark, Thomas; Head, Graham

2017-01-01

Background and Methodology There is a continuing need to express new insect control compounds in transgenic maize against western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (LeConte) (WCR). In this study three experiments were conducted to determine cross-resistance between the new insecticidal DvSnf7 dsRNA, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry3Bb1; used to control WCR since 2003, with field-evolved resistance being reported. Laboratory susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant WCR were evaluated against DvSnf7 dsRNA in larval diet-incorporation bioassays. Additionally, the susceptibility of seven field and one field-derived WCR populations to DvSnf7 (and Cry3Bb1) was assessed in larval diet-overlay bioassays. Finally, beetle emergence of laboratory susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant WCR was evaluated with maize plants in the greenhouse expressing Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, or DvSnf7 dsRNA singly, or in combination. Principal Findings and Conclusions The Cry3Bb1-resistant colony had slight but significantly (2.7-fold; P<0.05) decreased susceptibility to DvSnf7 compared to the susceptible colony, but when repeated using a field-derived WCR population selected for reduced Cry3Bb1 susceptibility, there was no significant difference (P<0.05) in DvSnf7 susceptibility compared to that same susceptible population. Additionally, this 2.7-fold difference in susceptibility falls within the range of DvSnf7 susceptibility among the seven field populations tested. Additionally, there was no correlation between susceptibility to DvSnf7 and Cry3Bb1 for all populations evaluated. In greenhouse studies, there were no significant differences (P<0.05) between beetle emergence of susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant colonies on DvSnf7 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, and between DvSnf7 and MON 87411 (DvSnf7 + Cry3Bb1) for the Cry3Bb1-resistant colony. These results demonstrate no cross-resistance between DvSnf7 and Cry3Bb1 against WCR. Therefore, pyramiding DvSnf7 with Bt proteins such as Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 will provide a valuable IRM tool against WCR that will increase the durability of these Bt proteins. These results also illustrate the importance of using appropriate bioassay methods when characterizing field-evolved resistant WCR populations. PMID:28060922

Combinatorial Fgf and Bmp signalling patterns the gastrula ectoderm into prospective neural and epidermal domains

PubMed Central

Kudoh, Tetsuhiro; Concha, Miguel L.; Houart, Corinne; Dawid, Igor B.; Wilson, Stephen W.

2009-01-01

Summary Studies in fish and amphibia have shown that graded Bmp signalling activity regulates dorsal-to-ventral (DV) patterning of the gastrula embryo. In the ectoderm, it is thought that high levels of Bmp activity promote epidermal development ventrally, whereas secreted Bmp antagonists emanating from the organiser induce neural tissue dorsally. However, in zebrafish embryos, the domain of cells destined to contribute to the spinal cord extends all the way to the ventral side of the gastrula, a long way from the organiser. We show that in vegetal (trunk and tail) regions of the zebrafish gastrula, neural specification is initiated at all DV positions of the ectoderm in a manner that is unaffected by levels of Bmp activity and independent of organiser-derived signals. Instead, we find that Fgf activity is required to induce vegetal prospective neural markers and can do so without suppressing Bmp activity. We further show that Bmp signalling does occur within the vegetal prospective neural domain and that Bmp activity promotes the adoption of caudal fate by this tissue. PMID:15262889

Physical domestic violence exposure is highly associated with suicidal attempts in both women and men. Results from the national public health survey in Sweden.

PubMed

Dufort, Mariana; Stenbacka, Marlene; Gumpert, Clara Hellner

2015-06-01

Studies on a national level concerning domestic violence (DV) among both men and women are few. DV and its relation to other social and health outcomes within the framework of the Swedish Public Health Survey have remained unexplored. To compare women and men regarding their social situation and health status in relation to self-reported exposure to physical DV as measured in the Swedish National Public Health Survey. This study used cross-sectional data from the Swedish Public Health Survey, years 2004-09 with a total sample of 50 350 respondents, of which 205 women and 93 men reported DV exposure. Logistic regression analyses stratified by sex with physical DV exposure as the outcome measure were conducted, and the multivariate models were fitted using the likelihood ratio test. Being foreign-born [women odds ratio (OR) = 1.52, men OR = 1.92] and lack of social support (women OR = 2.81, men OR = 1.92) were associated with DV exposure among both sexes. Higher psychological distress (women OR = 2.81, men OR = 1.92) and hazardous drinking (women OR = 1.61, men OR = 2.33) were also associated with DV exposure. Among women, financial problems were associated with DV exposure (OR = 1.83), whereas among men, sum of medicines used and higher odds of DV were associated (OR = 1.17). Further, suicidal attempts were associated with DV exposure among both women (OR = 5.59) and men (OR = 8.34). In this national survey, prevalence rates of violence exposure were lower than in other studies, but despite this, both women and men exposed to physical DV reported increased odds of having attempted suicide. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association.

Perlecan Domain V Induces VEGf Secretion in Brain Endothelial Cells through Integrin α5β1 and ERK-Dependent Signaling Pathways

PubMed Central

Clarke, Douglas N.; Al Ahmad, Abraham; Lee, Boyeon; Parham, Christi; Auckland, Lisa; Fertala, Andrezj; Kahle, Michael; Shaw, Courtney S.; Roberts, Jill; Bix, Gregory J.

2012-01-01

Perlecan Domain V (DV) promotes brain angiogenesis by inducing VEGF release from brain endothelial cells (BECs) following stroke. In this study, we define the specific mechanism of DV interaction with the α5β1 integrin, identify the downstream signal transduction pathway, and further investigate the functional significance of resultant VEGF release. Interestingly, we found that the LG3 portion of DV, which has been suggested to possess most of DV’s angio-modulatory activity outside of the brain, binds poorly to α5β1 and induces less BEC proliferation compared to full length DV. Additionally, we implicate DV’s DGR sequence as an important element for the interaction of DV with α5β1. Furthermore, we investigated the importance of AKT and ERK signaling in DV-induced VEGF expression and secretion. We show that DV increases the phosphorylation of ERK, which leads to subsequent activation and stabilization of eIF4E and HIF-1α. Inhibition of ERK activity by U0126 suppressed DV-induced expression and secretion of VEGR in BECs. While DV was capable of phosphorylating AKT we show that AKT phosphorylation does not play a role in DV’s induction of VEGF expression or secretion using two separate inhibitors, LY294002 and Akt IV. Lastly, we demonstrate that VEGF activity is critical for DV increases in BEC proliferation, as well as angiogenesis in a BEC-neuronal co-culture system. Collectively, our findings expand our understanding of DV’s mechanism of action on BECs, and further support its potential as a novel stroke therapy. PMID:23028886

Young swimmers' classification based on kinematics, hydrodynamics, and anthropometrics.

PubMed

Barbosa, Tiago M; Morais, Jorge E; Costa, Mário J; Goncalves, José; Marinho, Daniel A; Silva, António J

2014-04-01

The aim of this article has been to classify swimmers based on kinematics, hydrodynamics, and anthropometrics. Sixty-seven young swimmers made a maximal 25 m front-crawl to measure with a speedometer the swimming velocity (v), speed-fluctuation (dv) and dv normalized to v (dv/v). Another two 25 m bouts with and without carrying a perturbation device were made to estimate active drag coefficient (CDa). Trunk transverse surface area (S) was measured with photogrammetric technique on land and in the hydrodynamic position. Cluster 1 was related to swimmers with a high speed fluctuation (ie, dv and dv/v), cluster 2 with anthropometrics (ie, S) and cluster 3 with a high hydrodynamic profile (ie, CDa). The variable that seems to discriminate better the clusters was the dv/v (F=53.680; P<.001), followed by the dv (F=28.506; P<.001), CDa (F=21.025; P<.001), S (F=6.297; P<.01) and v (F=5.375; P=.01). Stepwise discriminant analysis extracted 2 functions: Function 1 was mainly defined by dv/v and S (74.3% of variance), whereas function 2 was mainly defined by CDa (25.7% of variance). It can be concluded that kinematics, hydrodynamics and anthropometrics are determinant domains in which to classify and characterize young swimmers' profiles.

Attitudes towards domestic violence in Lebanon: a qualitative study of primary care practitioners.

PubMed

Usta, Jinan; Feder, Gene; Antoun, Jumana

2014-06-01

Domestic violence (DV) is highly prevalent in the developing and developed world. Healthcare systems internationally are still not adequately addressing the needs of patients experiencing violence. To explore physicians' attitudes about responding to DV, their perception of the physician's role, and the factors that influence their response. Qualitative study using individual interviews among primary care practitioners working in Lebanon. Primary care clinicians practising for >5 years and with >100 patient consultations a week were interviewed. Physicians were asked about their practice when encountering women disclosing abuse, their opinion about the engagement of the health services with DV, their potential role, and the anticipated reaction of patients and society to this extended role. Physicians felt that they were well positioned to play a pivotal role in addressing DV; yet they had concerns related to personal safety, worry about losing patients, and opposing the norms of a largely conservative society. Several physicians justified DV or blamed the survivor rather than the perpetrator for triggering the violent behaviour. Moreover, religion was perceived as sanctioning DV. Perceived cultural norms and religious beliefs seem to be major barriers to physicians responding to DV in Lebanon, and possibly in the Arab world more generally. Financial concerns also need to be addressed to encourage physicians to address DV. © British Journal of General Practice 2014.

Observing Drought-Induced Groundwater Depletion in California with Seismic Noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clements, T.; Denolle, M.

2017-12-01

While heavy rainfall replenished reservoirs and snowpack recovered in winter 2016/2017, groundwater levels across much of California are still at or near all-time lows following one of the worst droughts in the state's history. Groundwater depletion in California has been studied extensively using GPS, InSAR, and GRACE. Here, we propose to monitor groundwater levels across California through measuring the temporal variation in seismic velocity (dv/v) at a regional scale. In the last decade, dv/v has emerged as a technique to investigate near surface and surficial processes such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Toward predicting groundwater levels through real-time monitoring with seismic noise, we investigate the relations between the dv/v time series and observed groundwater levels. 12 years (Jan 2006 - July 2017) of noise cross-correlation functions (CCF) are computed from continuous vertical component seismic data recorded at 100+ sites across California. Velocity changes (dv/v) are obtained by inverting all daily CCFs to produce a dv/v time series for each station pair. Our preliminary results show a seasonal variation in dv/v along with a gradual increase in dv/v throughout the drought. We interpret the increase in dv/v as a response to declining groundwater levels.

Incidence and Outcomes of Dating Violence Victimization Among High School Youth: The Role of Gender and Sexual Orientation.

PubMed

Edwards, Katie M

2018-05-01

The purpose of this study was to examine rates of dating violence (DV) victimization and DV victimization outcomes as a function of sex and sexual orientation. Participants were 25,122 high school students who participated in the 2013 New Hampshire Youth Risk Behavior Survey study. Heterosexual youth, especially heterosexual male youth, were less likely to report experiencing physical and sexual DV victimization than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) girls and boys. Among LGBQ girls and boys, there was little variability in rates of DV victimization with the exception of questioning boys being significantly more likely to experience physical and sexual DV victimization than several other LGBQ sub-groups. Furthermore, LGBQ DV victims reported worse outcomes than heterosexual DV victims on measures of depression, binge drinking, and poor academic performance. At the sub-group level, bisexual and questioning female victims were most at risk for depression; bisexual and questioning male victims were most at risk for binge drinking; bisexual male victims were most at risk for poor academic performance. The findings underscore the importance of better understanding variability in DV incidence and outcomes within the LGBQ population and using this information to inform clinical intervention and prevention efforts.

Correlates of domestic violence experience among recently-married women residing in slums in Pune, India

PubMed Central

Iyer, Sandhya R.; Kolhe, Ambika R.; Dhayarkar, Sampada; Paranjape, Anuradha; del Rio, Carlos; Stephenson, Rob; Sahay, Seema

2018-01-01

The high risk of experiencing domestic violence (DV) among married women in India who reside in slum communities underscores the need for effective, evidence-based, and culturally-tailored primary prevention. To inform such DV primary prevention strategies for this population, we herein aimed to identify correlates of DV experience in early marriage. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, potential correlates of DV experience were explored among a geographically-clustered random sample of 100 recently-married women residing in slums in Pune, India. In multivariable regression, DV experience was associated with less educational attainment by the participant’s spouse (standardized β = -0.281, p = 0.004), less satisfaction of the spouse’s family with the maanpaan (wedding-related gifts provided by the bride’s family) they received at the time of marriage (standardized β = -0.298, p<0.001), poorer conflict negotiation skills (standardized β = -0.308, p<0.001), and greater acknowledgement of DV occurrence in family and friends (standardized β = 0.436, p<0.001). These correlates suggest strategies that could be incorporated into future DV primary prevention interventions for this vulnerable population (i.e. promoting completion of formal education of boys alongside girls, mitigating causes of familial dowry harassment, improving conflict negotiation skills, and challenging norms surrounding DV). PMID:29608581

Correlates of domestic violence experience among recently-married women residing in slums in Pune, India.

PubMed

Kalokhe, Ameeta S; Iyer, Sandhya R; Kolhe, Ambika R; Dhayarkar, Sampada; Paranjape, Anuradha; Del Rio, Carlos; Stephenson, Rob; Sahay, Seema

2018-01-01

The high risk of experiencing domestic violence (DV) among married women in India who reside in slum communities underscores the need for effective, evidence-based, and culturally-tailored primary prevention. To inform such DV primary prevention strategies for this population, we herein aimed to identify correlates of DV experience in early marriage. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, potential correlates of DV experience were explored among a geographically-clustered random sample of 100 recently-married women residing in slums in Pune, India. In multivariable regression, DV experience was associated with less educational attainment by the participant's spouse (standardized β = -0.281, p = 0.004), less satisfaction of the spouse's family with the maanpaan (wedding-related gifts provided by the bride's family) they received at the time of marriage (standardized β = -0.298, p<0.001), poorer conflict negotiation skills (standardized β = -0.308, p<0.001), and greater acknowledgement of DV occurrence in family and friends (standardized β = 0.436, p<0.001). These correlates suggest strategies that could be incorporated into future DV primary prevention interventions for this vulnerable population (i.e. promoting completion of formal education of boys alongside girls, mitigating causes of familial dowry harassment, improving conflict negotiation skills, and challenging norms surrounding DV).

Fossil evidence for Cretaceous escalation in angiosperm leaf vein evolution.

PubMed

Feild, Taylor S; Brodribb, Timothy J; Iglesias, Ari; Chatelet, David S; Baresch, Andres; Upchurch, Garland R; Gomez, Bernard; Mohr, Barbara A R; Coiffard, Clement; Kvacek, Jiri; Jaramillo, Carlos

2011-05-17

The flowering plants that dominate modern vegetation possess leaf gas exchange potentials that far exceed those of all other living or extinct plants. The great divide in maximal ability to exchange CO(2) for water between leaves of nonangiosperms and angiosperms forms the mechanistic foundation for speculation about how angiosperms drove sweeping ecological and biogeochemical change during the Cretaceous. However, there is no empirical evidence that angiosperms evolved highly photosynthetically active leaves during the Cretaceous. Using vein density (D(V)) measurements of fossil angiosperm leaves, we show that the leaf hydraulic capacities of angiosperms escalated several-fold during the Cretaceous. During the first 30 million years of angiosperm leaf evolution, angiosperm leaves exhibited uniformly low vein D(V) that overlapped the D(V) range of dominant Early Cretaceous ferns and gymnosperms. Fossil angiosperm vein densities reveal a subsequent biphasic increase in D(V). During the first mid-Cretaceous surge, angiosperm D(V) first surpassed the upper bound of D(V) limits for nonangiosperms. However, the upper limits of D(V) typical of modern megathermal rainforest trees first appear during a second wave of increased D(V) during the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition. Thus, our findings provide fossil evidence for the hypothesis that significant ecosystem change brought about by angiosperms lagged behind the Early Cretaceous taxonomic diversification of angiosperms.

An ethnographic-feminist study of Jordanian women's experiences of domestic violence and process of resolution.

PubMed

Safadi, Reema; Swigart, Valerie; Hamdan-Mansour, Ayman M; Banimustafa, Radwan; Constantino, Rose E

2013-01-01

We interviewed 12 Jordanian women who had experienced domestic violence (DV) and were receiving assistance at the Jordanian Women's Union (JWU). Our aim was to explore the history and factors supporting attainment of freedom from DV. Narratives revealed themes of DV toward girls; forced marriage; physical, psychological, or sexual abuse before and during marriage; and escalation and enduring DV. Escaping from DV required family and JWU support. In the context of a strongly patriarchal, religious society, we observed a process of resolution by shifting cultural values and themes of empowerment, with an undercurrent of suffering blamed on inequalities in the legal process.

Eggs: The role of gravity in the establishment of the dorso-ventral axis in the amphibian embryo (7-IML-1)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ubbels, Geertje A.

1992-01-01

The purpose of this experiment is to fertilize frog (Xenopus laevis) eggs under microgravity, to perform histological fixations at two different programmed times, and after return to Earth, to determine whether timing and pattern of egg cleavages and axis formation are normal. Because of the limited viability of the gametes, this experiment will be the very first to be activated in the Biorack. Various aspects of this investigation are discussed.

Separation of endogenous viral elements from infectious Penaeus stylirostris densovirus using recombinase polymerase amplification.

PubMed

Jaroenram, Wansadaj; Owens, Leigh

2014-01-01

Non-infectious Penaeus stylirostris densovirus (PstDV)-related sequences in the shrimp genome cause false positive results with current PCR protocols. Here, we examined and mapped PstDV insertion profile in the genome of Australian Penaeus monodon. A DNA sequence which is likely to represent infectious PstDV was also identified and used as a target sequence for recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based approach, developed for specifically detecting PstDV. The RPA protocol at 37 °C for 30 min showed no cross-reaction with other shrimp viruses, and was 10 times more sensitive than the 309F/R PCR protocol currently recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for PstDV diagnosis. These features, together with the simplicity of the protocol, requiring only a heating block for the reaction, offer opportunities for rapid and efficient detection of PstDV. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Does the health status of intimate partner violence victims warrant pharmacies as portals for public health promotion?

PubMed

Cerulli, Catherine; Cerulli, Jennifer; Santos, Elizabeth J; Lu, Najii; He, Hua; Kaukeinen, Kimberly; White, Anne Marie; Tu, Xin

To explore whether the health status of intimate partner violence (IPV) victims warrants pharmacies to be portals for public health promotion. Specific objectives included (1) identifying prevalence of IPV including domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) in a community sample, (2) describing characteristics and correlates of DV/SA between participants who reported and did not report DV/SA, and (3) exploring whether DV/SA status is related to mental health medication use. Cross sectional. Upstate New York during 2006. English- and Spanish-speaking respondents younger than 65 years of age answering four questions to assess DV/SA. Secondary analysis of a countywide random telephone survey, the 2006 Monroe County Adult Health Survey, which collects prevalence data on health behaviors and health status indicators. To determine whether those reporting DV/SA are at increased odds for mental health medication use, controlling for other sociodemographic- and health-related variables. The survey response rate was 30.3%, with 1,881 respondents meeting inclusion criteria. Those reporting DV/SA were almost twice as likely to use mental health medications. However, when controlling for other variables, only poor mental and physical health were significant in increasing the odds of mental health medication use. The analyses reported here suggest that DV/SA victims in a community sample use mental health medications. When controlling for other variables, survey respondents reported worse physical and mental health. If pharmacies are suitable portals for DV/SA outreach, curricula would need to provide the knowledge and skills needed to take an active role in this public health promotion.

Beliefs and Recommendations Regarding Child Custody and Visitation in Cases Involving Domestic Violence: A Comparison of Professionals in Different Roles.

PubMed

Saunders, Daniel G; Faller, Kathleen C; Tolman, Richard M

2016-05-01

Research is lacking on differing perspectives regarding custody cases involving domestic violence (DV). In a survey of judges, legal aid attorneys, private attorneys, DV program workers, and child custody evaluators (n = 1,187), judges, private attorneys, and evaluators were more likely to believe that mothers make false DV allegations and alienate their children. In response to a vignette, evaluators and private attorneys were most likely to recommend joint custody and least likely to recommend sole custody to the survivor. Legal aid attorneys and DV workers were similar on many variables. Gender, DV knowledge, and knowing victims explained many group differences. © The Author(s) 2015.

Pipe-dependent ventral processing of Easter by Snake is the defining step in Drosophila embryo DV axis formation.

PubMed

Cho, Yong Suk; Stevens, Leslie M; Stein, David

2010-06-22

The establishment of Drosophila embryonic dorsal-ventral (DV) polarity relies on serine proteolytic activity in the perivitelline space between the embryonic membrane and the eggshell. Gastrulation Defective cleaves and activates Snake, which processes and activates Easter, which cleaves Spätzle to form the activating ligand for the Toll receptor. Ventral restriction of ligand formation depends on the Pipe sulfotransferase, which is expressed in ventral cells of the follicular epithelium surrounding the developing oocyte. Pipe modifies components of the developing eggshell to produce a ventral cue embedded in the vitelline membrane. This ventral cue is believed to promote one or more of the proteolysis steps in the perivitelline space. By examining the processing of transgenic, tagged versions of the perivitelline proteins during DV patterning, we find that the proteolysis of Easter by Snake is the first Pipe-dependent step and therefore the key ventrally restricted event in the protease cascade. We also find that Snake and Easter associate together in a complex in both wild-type and pipe mutant-derived embryos. This observation suggests a mechanism in which the sulfated target of Pipe promotes a productive interaction between Snake and Easter, perhaps by facilitating conformational changes in a complex containing the two proteins. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primary health care physicians’ approach toward domestic violence in Tehran, Iran

PubMed Central

Rasoulian, Maryam; Shirazi, Mina; Nojomi, Marzieh

2014-01-01

Background: Primary health care physicians (PHCPs) are the first in the clinic to detect and help victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Therefore, their attitude and practice toward domestic violence (DV) are important to manage this problem. The aim of current study was to compare the behavior and attitude of PHCPs about DV versus other health risk factors in Tehran, Iran. Methods: A convenience sample of 220 PHCPs was evaluated. The study was carried out in April 2012. Two self-administered questionnaires were used to identify physicians’ beliefs and behaviors on screening and intervention of DV and other health risk factors. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS, Inc. Chicago, IL). Results: One hundred and ninety eight questionnaires were analyzed. PHCPs’ mean age was 39.06 (±7.5) years. Participants were just reported 10% screening of regular patients for DV compared with 29% to 48% for other health risk factors. Mean age of PHCPs was not associated with their approach toward the DV. Compared to male physicians, females spared more time for DV victims. Major of physicians (96%) believed that DV is not a private problem and is something that needs to be addressed cautiously. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that DV screening occurs less than that of other health risk factors. Attitude of majority of PHCPs was positive for addressing this problem PMID:25695006

Attitudes towards domestic violence in Lebanon: a qualitative study of primary care practitioners

PubMed Central

Usta, Jinan; Feder, Gene; Antoun, Jumana

2014-01-01

Background Domestic violence (DV) is highly prevalent in the developing and developed world. Healthcare systems internationally are still not adequately addressing the needs of patients experiencing violence. Aim To explore physicians’ attitudes about responding to DV, their perception of the physician’s role, and the factors that influence their response. Design and setting Qualitative study using individual interviews among primary care practitioners working in Lebanon. Method Primary care clinicians practising for >5 years and with >100 patient consultations a week were interviewed. Physicians were asked about their practice when encountering women disclosing abuse, their opinion about the engagement of the health services with DV, their potential role, and the anticipated reaction of patients and society to this extended role. Results Physicians felt that they were well positioned to play a pivotal role in addressing DV; yet they had concerns related to personal safety, worry about losing patients, and opposing the norms of a largely conservative society. Several physicians justified DV or blamed the survivor rather than the perpetrator for triggering the violent behaviour. Moreover, religion was perceived as sanctioning DV. Conclusion Perceived cultural norms and religious beliefs seem to be major barriers to physicians responding to DV in Lebanon, and possibly in the Arab world more generally. Financial concerns also need to be addressed to encourage physicians to address DV. PMID:24868068

Primary health care physicians' approach toward domestic violence in Tehran, Iran.

PubMed

Rasoulian, Maryam; Shirazi, Mina; Nojomi, Marzieh

2014-01-01

Primary health care physicians (PHCPs) are the first in the clinic to detect and help victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Therefore, their attitude and practice toward domestic violence (DV) are important to manage this problem. The aim of current study was to compare the behavior and attitude of PHCPs about DV versus other health risk factors in Tehran, Iran. A convenience sample of 220 PHCPs was evaluated. The study was carried out in April 2012. Two self-administered questionnaires were used to identify physicians' beliefs and behaviors on screening and intervention of DV and other health risk factors. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS, Inc. Chicago, IL). One hundred and ninety eight questionnaires were analyzed. PHCPs' mean age was 39.06 (±7.5) years. Participants were just reported 10% screening of regular patients for DV compared with 29% to 48% for other health risk factors. Mean age of PHCPs was not associated with their approach toward the DV. Compared to male physicians, females spared more time for DV victims. Major of physicians (96%) believed that DV is not a private problem and is something that needs to be addressed cautiously. The results of this study indicated that DV screening occurs less than that of other health risk factors. Attitude of majority of PHCPs was positive for addressing this problem.

Improved ethanol production in the presence of cadmium ions by a Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed with a novel cadmium-resistance gene DvCRP1.

PubMed

Hu, Jiajun; Xu, Qingyun; Wu, Mengnan; Meng, Xiangzong; Song, Rentao; Gao, Mintian

2016-11-01

The DvCRP1 gene obtained from Dunaliella viridis is a cadmium-resistance gene that induces cadmium accumulation in microbial and plant cells. In the present study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model system to investigate the effect of DvCRP1 on both cadmium detoxification and ethanol production. Inhibitory effects of cadmium (50-300 µmol/L) on growth (29-92%), glucose consumption (23-89%), and ethanol production (17-92%) were observed at 24 h by S. cerevisiae. DvCRP1 alleviated the inhibitory effect of cadmium, with increase in the ethanol production. The established mathematical model showed that the initial inoculation concentration, cadmium concentration, and transformation of DvCRP1 were the most important factors for cell growth, glucose consumption, and ethanol production. Cadmium detoxification of yeast was also enhanced by increasing the initial concentration of yeast cells. Transforming with DvCRP1 further enhanced detoxification, especially at high cadmium concentrations. Transforming with DvCRP1 further enhanced detoxification, especially at high cadmium concentrations (200 µmol/L). The present results evidenced the potential of the insertion of the DvCRP1 gene into yeast for use in bio-refineries during fermentation of heavy metals-contaminated substrates. In addition, this is a promising method for phytoremediation of agricultural soils highly contaminated by heavy metals.

Child maltreatment and risk patterns among participants in a child abuse prevention program.

PubMed

Duffy, Jennifer Y; Hughes, Marcia; Asnes, Andrea G; Leventhal, John M

2015-06-01

The relationship between risk factors and Child Protective Services (CPS) outcomes in families who participate in home visiting programs to prevent abuse and neglect and who are reported to CPS is largely unknown. We examined the relationship between parental risk factors and the substantiation status and number of CPS reports in families in a statewide prevention program. We reviewed CPS reports from 2006 to 2008 for families in Connecticut's child abuse prevention program. Six risk factors (histories of CPS, domestic violence [DV], mental health, sexual abuse, substance abuse, and criminal involvement) and the number of caregivers were abstracted to create risk scores for each family member. Maltreatment type, substantiation, and number of reports were recorded. Odds ratios were calculated. Of 1,125 families, 171 (15.6%) had at least one CPS report, and reports of 131 families were available for review. Families with a substantiated (25.2%) versus unsubstantiated (74.8%) first report had a high number of paternal risk factors (OR=6.13, 95% CI [1.89, 20.00]) and were more likely to have a history of maternal DV (OR=8.47, 95% CI [2.96, 24.39]), paternal DV (OR=11.23, 95% CI [3.33, 38.46]), and maternal criminal history (OR=4.55; 95% CI [1.32, 15.60]). Families with >1 report (34.4%) versus 1 report (65.6%) were more likely to have >3 caregivers, but this was not statistically significant (OR=2.53, 95% CI [0.98, 6.54]). In a prevention program for first-time families, DV, paternal risk, maternal criminal history, and an increased number of caregivers were associated with maltreatment outcomes. Targeting parental violence may impact child abuse prevention. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dosimetric advantages of generalised equivalent uniform dose-based optimisation on dose–volume objectives in intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning for bilateral breast cancer

PubMed Central

Lee, T-F; Ting, H-M; Chao, P-J; Wang, H-Y; Shieh, C-S; Horng, M-F; Wu, J-M; Yeh, S-A; Cho, M-Y; Huang, E-Y; Huang, Y-J; Chen, H-C; Fang, F-M

2012-01-01

Objective We compared and evaluated the differences between two models for treating bilateral breast cancer (BBC): (i) dose–volume-based intensity-modulated radiation treatment (DV plan), and (ii) dose–volume-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy with generalised equivalent uniform dose-based optimisation (DV-gEUD plan). Methods The quality and performance of the DV plan and DV-gEUD plan using the Pinnacle3® system (Philips, Fitchburg, WI) were evaluated and compared in 10 patients with stage T2–T4 BBC. The plans were delivered on a Varian 21EX linear accelerator (Varian Medical Systems, Milpitas, CA) equipped with a Millennium 120 leaf multileaf collimator (Varian Medical Systems). The parameters analysed included the conformity index, homogeneity index, tumour control probability of the planning target volume (PTV), the volumes V20 Gy and V30 Gy of the organs at risk (OAR, including the heart and lungs), mean dose and the normal tissue complication probability. Results Both plans met the requirements for the coverage of PTV with similar conformity and homogeneity indices. However, the DV-gEUD plan had the advantage of dose sparing for OAR: the mean doses of the heart and lungs, lung V20 Gy, and heart V30 Gy in the DV-gEUD plan were lower than those in the DV plan (p<0.05). Conclusions A better result can be obtained by starting with a DV-generated plan and then improving it by adding gEUD-based improvements to reduce the number of iterations and to improve the optimum dose distribution. Advances to knowledge The DV-gEUD plan provided superior dosimetric results for treating BBC in terms of PTV coverage and OAR sparing than the DV plan, without sacrificing the homogeneity of dose distribution in the PTV. PMID:23091290

Unveiling the mystery of déjà vu: the structural anatomy of déjà vu.

PubMed

Brázdil, Milan; Mareček, Radek; Urbánek, Tomáš; Kašpárek, Tomáš; Mikl, Michal; Rektor, Ivan; Zeman, Adam

2012-10-01

Déjà vu (DV) is a widespread, fascinating and mysterious human experience. It occurs both in health and in disease, notably as an aura of temporal lobe epilepsy. This feeling of inappropriate familiarity has attracted interest from psychologists and neuroscientists for over a century, but still there is no widely agreed explanation for the phenomenon of non-pathological DV. Here we investigated differences in brain morphology between healthy subjects with and without DV using a novel multivariate neuroimaging technique, Source-Based Morphometry. The analysis revealed a set of cortical (predominantly mesiotemporal) and subcortical regions in which there was significantly less gray matter in subjects reporting DV. In these regions gray matter volume was inversely correlated with the frequency of DV. Our results demonstrate a structural correlate of DV in healthy individuals for the first time and support a neurological explanation for the phenomenon. We hypothesis that the observed local gray matter decrease in subjects experiencing DV reflects an alteration of hippocampal function and postnatal neurogenesis with resulting changes of volume in remote brain regions. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved.

Correlates of domestic violence perpetration reporting among recently-married men residing in slums in Pune, India.

PubMed

Kalokhe, Ameeta S; Iyer, Sandhya R; Gadhe, Keshav; Katendra, Tuman; Paranjape, Anuradha; Del Rio, Carlos; Stephenson, Rob; Sahay, Seema

2018-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is prevalent in low-income and slum-dwelling communities in India. To date, the focus of DV prevention in resource-poor settings has largely been with women. We herein aim to identify correlates of DV perpetration to help inform future primary prevention efforts that focus on behavioral change in men. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, potential correlates of DV perpetration were explored among a geographically-clustered random sample of 100 recently-married men residing in slums in Pune, India. In multivariable regression, DV perpetration was associated with less time spent alone in the relationship post-marriage (standardized β = -0.230, p<0.01), not attaining the "husband ideal" (standardized β = -0.201, p<0.05), poor resilience (standardized β = -0.304, p < .01), having limited definitions of behaviors constituting DV (standardized β = -0.217, p<0.05), and reporting greater jealousy if the participant's spouse were to talk to men outside the family (standardized β = 0.272, p<0.01). The identified correlates should inform components of future DV primary prevention interventions that target men as potential perpetrators or the couple as a unit.

Naphthalene degradation by bacterial consortium (DV-AL) developed from Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Gujarat, India.

PubMed

Patel, Vilas; Jain, Siddharth; Madamwar, Datta

2012-03-01

Naphthalene degrading bacterial consortium (DV-AL) was developed by enrichment culture technique from sediment collected from the Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Gujarat, India. The 16S rRNA gene based molecular analyzes revealed that the bacterial consortium (DV-AL) consisted of four strains namely, Achromobacter sp. BAB239, Pseudomonas sp. DV-AL2, Enterobacter sp. BAB240 and Pseudomonas sp. BAB241. Consortium DV-AL was able to degrade 1000 ppm of naphthalene in Bushnell Haas medium (BHM) containing peptone (0.1%) as co-substrate with an initial pH of 8.0 at 37°C under shaking conditions (150 rpm) within 24h. Maximum growth rate and naphthalene degradation rate were found to be 0.0389 h(-1) and 80 mg h(-1), respectively. Consortium DV-AL was able to utilize other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, phenol, carbazole, petroleum oil, diesel fuel, and phenanthrene and 2-methyl naphthalene as sole carbon source. Consortium DV-AL was also efficient to degrade naphthalene in the presence of other pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Neural organisation in the first optic ganglion of the nocturnal bee Megalopta genalis.

PubMed

Greiner, Birgit; Ribi, Willi A; Wcislo, William T; Warrant, Eric J

2004-11-01

Each neural unit (cartridge) in the first optic ganglion (lamina) of the nocturnal bee Megalopta genalis contains nine receptor cell axons (6 short and 3 long visual fibres), and four different types of first-order interneurons, also known as L-fibres (L1 to L4) or lamina monopolar cells. The short visual fibres terminate within the lamina as three different types (svf 1, 2, 3). The three long visual fibres pass through the lamina without forming characteristic branching patterns and terminate in the second optic ganglion, the medulla. The lateral branching pattern of svf 2 into adjacent cartridges is unique for hymenopterans. In addition, all four types of L-fibres show dorso-ventrally arranged, wide, lateral branching in this nocturnal bee. This is in contrast to the diurnal bees Apis mellifera and Lasioglossum leucozonium, where only two out of four L-fibre types (L2 and L4) reach neighbouring cartridges. In M. genalis, L1 forms two sub-types, viz. L1-a and L1-b; L1-b in particular has the potential to contact several neighbouring cartridges. L2 and L4 in the nocturnal bee are similar to L2 and L4 in the diurnal bees but have dorso-ventral arborisations that are twice as wide. A new type of laterally spreading L3 has been discovered in the nocturnal bee. The extensive neural branching pattern of L-fibres in M. genalis indicates a potential role for these neurons in the spatial summation of photons from large groups of ommatidia. This specific adaptation in the nocturnal bee could significantly improve reliability of vision in dim light.

Inhibitory Effect of Glutathione on Oxidative Liver Injury Induced by Dengue Virus Serotype 2 Infections in Mice

PubMed Central

Wang, Juan; Chen, Yanlei; Gao, Na; Wang, Yisong; Tian, Yanping; Wu, Jiangman; Zhang, Junlei; Zhu, Junping; Fan, Dongying; An, Jing

2013-01-01

The pathogenesis of dengue virus (DV) infection has not been completely defined and change of redox status mediated by depletion of glutathione (GSH) in host cell is a common result of viral infection. Our previous study has demonstrated that DV serotype 2 (DV2) infection alters host intracellular GSH levels, and exogenous GSH inhibits viral production by modulating the activity of NF-κB in HepG2 cells. GSH is the most powerful intracellular antioxidant and involved in viral infections. Thus, this study was to investigate whether DV2 infection can induce alteration in redox balance and effect of GSH on the disease in HepG2 xenografts SCID mice. Our results revealed that mice infected with DV2 showed alterations in oxidative stress by increasing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, and GSSG/GSH ratio. DV2-infected mice also showed a decrease in the activity of catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the serum and/or observed organs, especially the liver. Moreover, DV2 infection resulted in elevated serum levels of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interlukin-6 and obvious histopathological changes in the liver. The administration of exogenous GSH significantly reversed all of the aforementioned pathological changes and prevented significant liver damage. Furthermore, in vitro treatment of HepG2 cells with antioxidants such as GSH inhibited viral entry as well as the production of reactive oxygen species in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that GSH prevents DV2-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in mice by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine production, and GSH and may be a promising therapeutic agent for prevention of oxidative liver damage during DV infection. PMID:23383181

Breast-feeding counselling mitigates the negative association of domestic violence on exclusive breast-feeding duration in rural Bangladesh. The MINIMat randomized trial.

PubMed

Frith, Amy L; Ziaei, Shirin; Naved, Ruchira Tabassum; Khan, Ashraful Islam; Kabir, Iqbal; Ekström, Eva-Charlotte

2017-10-01

To determine if exclusive breast-feeding counselling modifies the association of experience of any lifetime or specific forms of domestic violence (DV) on duration of exclusive breast-feeding (EBF). In the MINIMat trial pregnant women were randomized to receive either usual health messages (UHM) or usual health messages with breast-feeding counselling (BFC) in eight visits. During pregnancy (30 weeks), lifetime experience of any or specific forms of DV was measured. Infant feeding practice information was collected from 0 to 6 months at 15 d intervals. Matlab, Bangladesh. Pregnant and postpartum women (n 3186) and their infants. Among women in the UHM group, those who had experienced any lifetime DV exclusively breast-fed for a shorter duration than women who did not experience any lifetime DV (P=0·02). There was no difference, however, in duration of EBF among women in the BFC group based on their experience of any lifetime DV exposure (P=0·48). Using Cox regression analysis, there was an interaction of exposure to any lifetime DV, sexual violence and controlling behaviour, and counselling group with duration of breast-feeding at or before 6 months (P-interaction≤0·08). Among the UHM group, experience of any lifetime DV, sexual violence or controlling behaviour was associated with fewer days of EBF (P<0·05). In contrast, among the BFC group, experience of DV was not associated with duration of EBF. The experience of DV compromises EBF and the support of breast-feeding counselling programmes could assist this vulnerable group towards better infant feeding practices.

Fetal monitoring indications for delivery and 2-year outcome in 310 infants with fetal growth restriction delivered before 32 weeks' gestation in the TRUFFLE study.

PubMed

Visser, G H A; Bilardo, C M; Derks, J B; Ferrazzi, E; Fratelli, N; Frusca, T; Ganzevoort, W; Lees, C C; Napolitano, R; Todros, T; Wolf, H; Hecher, K

2017-09-01

In the TRUFFLE (Trial of Randomized Umbilical and Fetal Flow in Europe) study on the outcome of early fetal growth restriction, women were allocated to one of three groups of indication for delivery according to the following monitoring strategies: (1) reduced fetal heart rate (FHR) short-term variation (STV) on cardiotocography (CTG); (2) early changes in fetal ductus venosus (DV) waveform (DV-p95); and (3) late changes in fetal DV waveform (DV-no-A). However, many infants per monitoring protocol were delivered because of safety-net criteria, for maternal or other fetal indications, or after 32 weeks of gestation when the protocol was no longer applied. The objective of the present posthoc subanalysis was to investigate the indications for delivery in relation to 2-year outcome in infants delivered before 32 weeks to further refine management proposals. We included all 310 cases of the TRUFFLE study with known outcome at 2 years' corrected age and seven fetal deaths, excluding seven cases with inevitable perinatal death. Data were analyzed according to the allocated fetal monitoring strategy in combination with the indication for delivery. Overall, only 32% of liveborn infants were delivered according to the specified monitoring parameter for indication for delivery; 38% were delivered because of safety-net criteria, 15% for other fetal reasons and 15% for maternal reasons. In the CTG-STV group, 51% of infants were delivered because of reduced STV. In the DV-p95 group, 34% of infants were delivered because of abnormal DV and, in the DV-no-A group, only 10% of infants were delivered accordingly. The majority of infants in the DV groups were delivered for the safety-net criterion of spontaneous decelerations in FHR. Two-year intact survival was highest in the DV groups combined compared with the CTG-STV group (P = 0.05 for live births only, P = 0.21 including fetal death), with no difference between DV groups. A poorer outcome in the CTG-STV group was restricted to infants delivered because of FHR decelerations in the safety-net subgroup. Infants delivered because of maternal reasons had the highest birth weight and a non-significantly higher intact survival. In this subanalysis of infants delivered before 32 weeks, the majority were delivered for reasons other than the allocated monitoring strategy indication. Since, in the DV group, CTG-STV criteria were used as a safety net but in the CTG-STV group, no DV safety-net criteria were applied, we speculate that the slightly poorer outcome in the CTG-STV group might be explained by the absence of DV data. The optimal timing of delivery of fetuses with early intrauterine growth restriction may therefore be best determined by monitoring them longitudinally, with both DV and CTG monitoring. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Electroencephalographic characteristics of the deja vu phenomenon].

PubMed

Vlasov, P N; Cherviakov, A V; Gnezdinsiĭ, V V

2013-01-01

Déjà vu (DV, from French "already seen") is an aberration of psychic activity associated with transitory erroneous perception of novel circumstances, objects, or people as already known. An aim of the study was to investigate EEG characteristics of DV in patients with epilepsy. We studied 166 people (63.2% women, mean age 25.17±9.19 years). The DV phenomenon was studied in patients (27 people) and in a control group (139 healthy people). Patients were interviewed for DV characteristics and underwent a long (12-16 h) ambulatory EEG-monitoring study. In EEG, DV episodes in patients began with polyspike activity in the right temporal lobe and, in some cases, ended with the slow-wave theta-delta activity in the right hemisphere.

Addressing domestic violence in primary care: what the physician needs to know

PubMed Central

Usta, Jinan; Taleb, Rim

2014-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is quite prevalent and negatively impacts the health and mental wellbeing of those affected. Victims of DV are frequent users of health service, yet they are infrequently recognized. Physicians tend to treat the presenting complaints without addressing the root cause of the problem. Lack of knowledge on adequately managing cases of DV and on appropriate ways to help survivors is commonly presented as a barrier. This article presents the magnitude of the problem of DV in the Arab world, highlights the role of the primary care physician in addressing this problem, and provides practical steps that can guide the clinician in the Arab world in giving a comprehensive and culturally sensitive service to the survivors of DV. PMID:24647277

Sexual Safety Planning as an HIV Prevention Strategy for Survivors of Domestic Violence.

PubMed

Foster, Jill; Núñez, Ana; Spencer, Susan; Wolf, Judith; Robertson-James, Candace

2016-06-01

Victims of domestic violence (DV) are not only subject to physical and emotional abuse but may also be at increased risk for less recognized dangers from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted pathogens. Because of the close link between DV and sexual risk, women need to be educated about the consequences of acquiring a life-threatening sexually transmitted infection, risk reduction measures, and how to access appropriate HIV services for diagnosis and treatment. It is therefore critical for DV workers to receive sufficient training about the link between DV and HIV risk so that sexual safety planning can be incorporated into activities with their clients in the same way as physical safety plans. In this article, we discuss how the Many Hands Working Together project provides interactive training for workers in DV and DV-affiliated agencies to increase their knowledge about HIV and teach sexual safety planning skills to achieve HIV risk reduction.

Sexual Safety Planning as an HIV Prevention Strategy for Survivors of Domestic Violence

PubMed Central

Foster, Jill; Spencer, Susan; Wolf, Judith; Robertson-James, Candace

2016-01-01

Abstract Victims of domestic violence (DV) are not only subject to physical and emotional abuse but may also be at increased risk for less recognized dangers from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted pathogens. Because of the close link between DV and sexual risk, women need to be educated about the consequences of acquiring a life-threatening sexually transmitted infection, risk reduction measures, and how to access appropriate HIV services for diagnosis and treatment. It is therefore critical for DV workers to receive sufficient training about the link between DV and HIV risk so that sexual safety planning can be incorporated into activities with their clients in the same way as physical safety plans. In this article, we discuss how the Many Hands Working Together project provides interactive training for workers in DV and DV-affiliated agencies to increase their knowledge about HIV and teach sexual safety planning skills to achieve HIV risk reduction. PMID:26595667

The TIM and TAM families of phosphatidylserine receptors mediate dengue virus entry.

PubMed

Meertens, Laurent; Carnec, Xavier; Lecoin, Manuel Perera; Ramdasi, Rasika; Guivel-Benhassine, Florence; Lew, Erin; Lemke, Greg; Schwartz, Olivier; Amara, Ali

2012-10-18

Dengue viruses (DVs) are responsible for the most medically relevant arboviral diseases. However, the molecular interactions mediating DV entry are poorly understood. We determined that TIM and TAM proteins, two receptor families that mediate the phosphatidylserine (PtdSer)-dependent phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells, serve as DV entry factors. Cells poorly susceptible to DV are robustly infected after ectopic expression of TIM or TAM receptors. Conversely, DV infection of susceptible cells is inhibited by anti-TIM or anti-TAM antibodies or knockdown of TIM and TAM expression. TIM receptors facilitate DV entry by directly interacting with virion-associated PtdSer. TAM-mediated infection relies on indirect DV recognition, in which the TAM ligand Gas6 acts as a bridging molecule by binding to PtdSer within the virion. This dual mode of virus recognition by TIM and TAM receptors reveals how DVs usurp the apoptotic cell clearance pathway for infectious entry. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow rate among grain elevator workers.

PubMed Central

Revsbech, P; Andersen, G

1989-01-01

The diurnal variation (DV) in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) has been studied among 132 grain elevator workers who accomplished three daily measurements of PEFR during three weeks. DV was calculated as the difference between the highest and the lowest PEFR as a percentage of the mean PEFR on each day. For the whole group the median was 5.9%. DV was higher among smokers and among workers with work related pulmonary symptoms. Analysis of variance showed that only age (p = 0.012) and smoking (p = 0.016) had a significant effect on DV. Pulmonary symptoms, total IgE, and duration of occupation had no independent impact on DV, whereas the exposure level of grain dust tended (p = 0.082) to have an independent effect. Twelve workers had an abnormally high DV (greater than 20%), of whom seven showed no signs of obstructive respiratory disease by spirometry. If only a single spirometric test had been performed the tentative diagnosis of bronchial asthma could have been missed in these seven workers. PMID:2775676

A Meta-Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors for Dating Violence Victimization: The Role of Family and Peer Interpersonal Context.

PubMed

Hébert, Martine; Daspe, Marie-Ève; Lapierre, Andréanne; Godbout, Natacha; Blais, Martin; Fernet, Mylène; Lavoie, Francine

2017-01-01

Dating violence (DV) is a widespread social issue that has numerous deleterious repercussions on youths' health. Family and peer risk factors for DV have been widely studied, but with inconsistent methodologies, which complicates global comprehension of the phenomenon. Protective factors, although understudied, constitutes a promising line of research for prevention. To date, there is no comprehensive quantitative review attempting to summarize knowledge on both family and peer factors that increase or decrease the risk for adolescents and emerging adults DV victimization. The current meta-analysis draws on 87 studies with a total sample of 278,712 adolescents and young adults to examine effect sizes of the association between various family and peer correlates of DV victimization. Results suggest small, significant effect sizes for all the family (various forms of child maltreatment, parental support, and parental monitoring) and peer factors (peer victimization, sexual harassment, affiliation with deviant peers, and supportive/prosocial peers) in the prediction of DV. With few exceptions, forms of DV (psychological, physical, and sexual), gender, and age did not moderate the strength of these associations. In addition, no difference was found between the magnitude of family and peer factors' effect sizes, suggesting that these determinants are equally important in predicting DV. The current results provide future directions for examining relations between risk and protective factors for DV and indicate that both peers and family should be part of the development of efficient prevention options.

Structure and transcription of the Helicoverpa armigera densovirus (HaDV2) genome and its expression strategy in LD652 cells.

PubMed

Xu, Pengjun; Graham, Robert I; Wilson, Kenneth; Wu, Kongming

2017-02-07

Densoviruses (DVs) are highly pathogenic to their hosts. However, we previously reported a mutualistic DV (HaDV2). Very little was known about the characteristics of this virus, so herein we undertook a series of experiments to explore the molecular biology of HaDV2 further. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HaDV2 was similar to members of the genus Iteradensovirus. However, compared to current members of the genus Iteradensovirus, the sequence identity of HaDV2 is less than 44% at the nucleotide-level, and lower than 36, 28 and 19% at the amino-acid-level of VP, NS1 and NS2 proteins, respectively. Moreover, NS1 and NS2 proteins from HaDV2 were smaller than those from other iteradensoviruses due to their shorter N-terminal sequences. Two transcripts of about 2.2 kb coding for the NS proteins and the VP proteins were identified by Northern Blot and RACE analysis. Using specific anti-NS1 and anti-NS2 antibodies, Western Blot analysis revealed a 78 kDa and a 48 kDa protein, respectively. Finally, the localization of both NS1 and NS2 proteins within the cell nucleus was determined by using Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) labelling. The genome organization, terminal hairpin structure, transcription and expression strategies as well as the mutualistic relationship with its host, suggested that HaDV2 was a novel member of the genus Iteradensovirus within the subfamily Densovirinae.

Domestic Violence and Longitudinal Associations with Children's Physiological Regulation Abilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rigterink, Tami; Katz, Lynn Fainsilber; Hessler, Danielle M.

2010-01-01

The present study examined the impact of domestic violence (DV) on children's emotion regulation abilities measured via baseline vagal tone (VT). Specifically, the authors examined the relationship between DV exposure and children's regulatory functioning over time, investigating whether DV exposure was related to the trajectory of children's…

Interictal 18FDG PET findings in temporal lobe epilepsy with déjà vu.

PubMed

Adachi, N; Koutroumanidis, M; Elwes, R D; Polkey, C E; Binnie, C D; Reynolds, E H; Barrington, S F; Maisey, M N; Panayiotopoulos, C P

1999-01-01

The authors studied the functional anatomy of the déjà vu (DV) experience in nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), using interictal fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET in 14 patients with and 17 patients without DV. Several clinical conditions, such as age at PET study, side of ictal onset zone, and dominance for language, were no different between the two groups. The patients with DV showed significant relative reductions in glucose metabolism in the mesial temporal structures and the parietal cortex. The findings demonstrate that ictal DV is of no lateralizing value. They further suggest that temporal lobe dysfunction is necessary but not sufficient for the generation of DV. Extensive association cortical areas may be involved as part of the network that integrates this distinct experience.

Dimensionality-varied deep convolutional neural network for spectral-spatial classification of hyperspectral data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Haicheng; Liang, Xuejian; Liang, Shichao; Liu, Wanjun

2018-01-01

Many methods of hyperspectral image classification have been proposed recently, and the convolutional neural network (CNN) achieves outstanding performance. However, spectral-spatial classification of CNN requires an excessively large model, tremendous computations, and complex network, and CNN is generally unable to use the noisy bands caused by water-vapor absorption. A dimensionality-varied CNN (DV-CNN) is proposed to address these issues. There are four stages in DV-CNN and the dimensionalities of spectral-spatial feature maps vary with the stages. DV-CNN can reduce the computation and simplify the structure of the network. All feature maps are processed by more kernels in higher stages to extract more precise features. DV-CNN also improves the classification accuracy and enhances the robustness to water-vapor absorption bands. The experiments are performed on data sets of Indian Pines and Pavia University scene. The classification performance of DV-CNN is compared with state-of-the-art methods, which contain the variations of CNN, traditional, and other deep learning methods. The experiment of performance analysis about DV-CNN itself is also carried out. The experimental results demonstrate that DV-CNN outperforms state-of-the-art methods for spectral-spatial classification and it is also robust to water-vapor absorption bands. Moreover, reasonable parameters selection is effective to improve classification accuracy.

Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hewson, Ian; Button, Jason B.; Gudenkauf, Brent M.; Miner, Benjamin; Newton, Alisa L.; Gaydos, Joseph K.; Wynne, Janna; Groves, Cathy L.; Hendler, Gordon; Murray, Michael; Fradkin, Steven; Breitbart, Mya; Fahsbender, Elizabeth; Lafferty, Kevin D.; Kilpatrick, A. Marm; Miner, C. Melissa; Raimondi, Peter T.; Lahner, Lesanna L.; Friedman, Carolyn S.; Danielson, Stephen D.; Haulena, Martin; Marliave, Jeffrey; Burge, Colleen A.; Eisenlord, Morgan E.; Harvell, C. Drew

2015-01-01

Populations of at least 20 asteroid species on the Northeast Pacific Coast have recently experienced an extensive outbreak of sea-star (asteroid) wasting disease (SSWD). The disease leads to behavioral changes, lesions, loss of turgor, limb autotomy, and death characterized by rapid degradation (“melting”). Here, we present evidence from experimental challenge studies and field observations that link the mass mortalities to a densovirus (Parvoviridae). Virus-sized material (i.e., <0.2 μm) from symptomatic tissues that was inoculated into asymptomatic asteroids consistently resulted in SSWD signs whereas animals receiving heat-killed (i.e., control) virus-sized inoculum remained asymptomatic. Viral metagenomic investigations revealed the sea star-associated densovirus (SSaDV) as the most likely candidate virus associated with tissues from symptomatic asteroids. Quantification of SSaDV during transmission trials indicated that progression of SSWD paralleled increased SSaDV load. In field surveys, SSaDV loads were more abundant in symptomatic than in asymptomatic asteroids. SSaDV could be detected in plankton, sediments and in nonasteroid echinoderms, providing a possible mechanism for viral spread. SSaDV was detected in museum specimens of asteroids from 1942, suggesting that it has been present on the North American Pacific Coast for at least 72 y. SSaDV is therefore the most promising candidate disease agent responsible for asteroid mass mortality.

Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality

PubMed Central

Hewson, Ian; Button, Jason B.; Gudenkauf, Brent M.; Miner, Benjamin; Newton, Alisa L.; Gaydos, Joseph K.; Wynne, Janna; Groves, Cathy L.; Hendler, Gordon; Murray, Michael; Fradkin, Steven; Breitbart, Mya; Fahsbender, Elizabeth; Lafferty, Kevin D.; Kilpatrick, A. Marm; Miner, C. Melissa; Raimondi, Peter; Lahner, Lesanna; Friedman, Carolyn S.; Daniels, Stephen; Haulena, Martin; Marliave, Jeffrey; Burge, Colleen A.; Eisenlord, Morgan E.; Harvell, C. Drew

2014-01-01

Populations of at least 20 asteroid species on the Northeast Pacific Coast have recently experienced an extensive outbreak of sea-star (asteroid) wasting disease (SSWD). The disease leads to behavioral changes, lesions, loss of turgor, limb autotomy, and death characterized by rapid degradation (“melting”). Here, we present evidence from experimental challenge studies and field observations that link the mass mortalities to a densovirus (Parvoviridae). Virus-sized material (i.e., <0.2 μm) from symptomatic tissues that was inoculated into asymptomatic asteroids consistently resulted in SSWD signs whereas animals receiving heat-killed (i.e., control) virus-sized inoculum remained asymptomatic. Viral metagenomic investigations revealed the sea star-associated densovirus (SSaDV) as the most likely candidate virus associated with tissues from symptomatic asteroids. Quantification of SSaDV during transmission trials indicated that progression of SSWD paralleled increased SSaDV load. In field surveys, SSaDV loads were more abundant in symptomatic than in asymptomatic asteroids. SSaDV could be detected in plankton, sediments and in nonasteroid echinoderms, providing a possible mechanism for viral spread. SSaDV was detected in museum specimens of asteroids from 1942, suggesting that it has been present on the North American Pacific Coast for at least 72 y. SSaDV is therefore the most promising candidate disease agent responsible for asteroid mass mortality. PMID:25404293

Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality.

PubMed

Hewson, Ian; Button, Jason B; Gudenkauf, Brent M; Miner, Benjamin; Newton, Alisa L; Gaydos, Joseph K; Wynne, Janna; Groves, Cathy L; Hendler, Gordon; Murray, Michael; Fradkin, Steven; Breitbart, Mya; Fahsbender, Elizabeth; Lafferty, Kevin D; Kilpatrick, A Marm; Miner, C Melissa; Raimondi, Peter; Lahner, Lesanna; Friedman, Carolyn S; Daniels, Stephen; Haulena, Martin; Marliave, Jeffrey; Burge, Colleen A; Eisenlord, Morgan E; Harvell, C Drew

2014-12-02

Populations of at least 20 asteroid species on the Northeast Pacific Coast have recently experienced an extensive outbreak of sea-star (asteroid) wasting disease (SSWD). The disease leads to behavioral changes, lesions, loss of turgor, limb autotomy, and death characterized by rapid degradation ("melting"). Here, we present evidence from experimental challenge studies and field observations that link the mass mortalities to a densovirus (Parvoviridae). Virus-sized material (i.e., <0.2 μm) from symptomatic tissues that was inoculated into asymptomatic asteroids consistently resulted in SSWD signs whereas animals receiving heat-killed (i.e., control) virus-sized inoculum remained asymptomatic. Viral metagenomic investigations revealed the sea star-associated densovirus (SSaDV) as the most likely candidate virus associated with tissues from symptomatic asteroids. Quantification of SSaDV during transmission trials indicated that progression of SSWD paralleled increased SSaDV load. In field surveys, SSaDV loads were more abundant in symptomatic than in asymptomatic asteroids. SSaDV could be detected in plankton, sediments and in nonasteroid echinoderms, providing a possible mechanism for viral spread. SSaDV was detected in museum specimens of asteroids from 1942, suggesting that it has been present on the North American Pacific Coast for at least 72 y. SSaDV is therefore the most promising candidate disease agent responsible for asteroid mass mortality.

Domestic violence: prevalence in pregnant women and associations with physical and psychological health.

PubMed

Bacchus, Loraine; Mezey, Gillian; Bewley, Susan

2004-03-15

To examine the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) and its associations with obstetric complications and psychological health in women on antenatal and postnatal wards. A cross-sectional survey conducted in an inner-London teaching hospital. Two hundred English-speaking women aged 16 and over, were interviewed between July 2001 and April 2002. The Abuse Assessment Screen was used to assess for experiences of DV. Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The analysis of predictors of obstetric complications grouped together those known to be associated with DV. 23.5% of women had lifetime experience of DV, 3% during the current pregnancy. Women with a history of DV were significantly more likely to be single, separated or in non-cohabiting relationship and to have smoked in the year prior to and/or during pregnancy. Higher EPDS scores were significantly associated with DV, single, separated or non-cohabiting status, and obstetric complications. Both a history of DV and increased EPDS scores were significantly associated with obstetric complications after controlling for other known risk factors. Domestic violence is regarded as an important risk marker for the development of obstetric complications and depressive symptomatology. This finding of itself justifies training and education of maternity health professionals to raise awareness.

Dorsal dimelia in patau syndrome: a case report.

PubMed

Fattah, A; Pickford, M A

2007-10-01

We present a case of a child with Patau syndrome that exhibits features consistent with congenital palmar nail syndrome. The literature is reviewed and evidence presented to demonstrate that this is a defect in the dorso-ventral patterning of the limb and thus a form of dorsal dimelia. In order to differentiate this from other instances of ectopic nail tissue we suggest congenital palmar nail syndrome should be more specifically defined as duplicated nails, absent flexion creases, non-glabrous skin on the palmar surface, reduced movement at the interphalangeal joints and hypoplastic terminal phalanges.

A computational statistics approach for estimating the spatial range of morphogen gradients

PubMed Central

Kanodia, Jitendra S.; Kim, Yoosik; Tomer, Raju; Khan, Zia; Chung, Kwanghun; Storey, John D.; Lu, Hang; Keller, Philipp J.; Shvartsman, Stanislav Y.

2011-01-01

A crucial issue in studies of morphogen gradients relates to their range: the distance over which they can act as direct regulators of cell signaling, gene expression and cell differentiation. To address this, we present a straightforward statistical framework that can be used in multiple developmental systems. We illustrate the developed approach by providing a point estimate and confidence interval for the spatial range of the graded distribution of nuclear Dorsal, a transcription factor that controls the dorsoventral pattern of the Drosophila embryo. PMID:22007136

The Relationship Between Maternal Domestic Violence and Infant and Toddlers' Emotional Regulation: Highlighting the Need for Preventive Services.

PubMed

Geyer, Chelsea; Ogbonnaya, Ijeoma Nwabuzor

2017-11-01

In an effort to further understand the impact of domestic violence (DV) on infant and toddlers' development, this research utilized data from the second cohort of National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II) to examine the relationship between maternal DV and infant and toddlers' emotional regulation, and determine whether mothers' receipt of DV services mediated this relationship. The sample was limited to children aged 0 to 3 years and included (a) infants less than 1 year old ( n = 603), (b) infants 1 to less than 2 years old ( n = 310), and (c) toddlers 2 to 3 years old ( n = 268). Infant/toddlers' emotional regulation was measured using mothers' response on the How My Infant/Toddler/Child Usually Acts questionnaire. In addition, data were collected to assess whether (a) active DV was present during the time of the Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation and (b) mothers received DV services during the past year. Study research questions were examined using a series of multiple regression analyses. Mediation was tested based on Baron and Kenny's recommended model for establishing mediation. The mediational model was not found to be significant; however, a positive relationship existed between maternal DV and emotional regulation among infants aged less than 1 year old (β = 1.61, p = .039). There were no statistically significant relationships between DV and emotional regulation in the other age groups. These findings highlight the need to provide CPS-involved families victimized by DV with services that focus on preventing poor infant emotional regulation.

A Vibration Device to Control Injection Discomfort.

PubMed

Shaefer, Jeffry R; Lee, Stephanie J; Anderson, Nina K

2017-06-01

Pain from local anesthesia injections can be reduced by distraction and counter-stimulation techniques. This study investigated the DentalVibe® Injection Comfort System (third-generation, DV3), developed to lessen anesthesia pain through pulsed vibration, a form of counter-stimulation. The aim of the study was to evaluate both the efficacy of DV3 in reducing pain and discomfort from intraoral long buccal (LB) and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injections and the time needed to achieve complete anesthesia during an IAN block. The study enrolled 60 subjects, 30 men and 30 women, aged 21 to 32 years, who rated both injection pain on a visual analog scale and discomfort, unpleasantness, and difficulty in enduring the injection on a modified symptom severity index. Each subject received bilateral LB injections and an IAN block. Using block design, the third-generation DV (DV3) was randomly assigned to either the first or second LB injection and to 30 subjects on their third injection, the IAN block. No topical anesthesia was applied. Subjects receiving DV3 reported significantly less pain, discomfort, unpleasantness, and difficulty in enduring LB and IAN injections (P < .05), regardless of whether DV3 was used on the first or second LB injection. Time to complete anesthesia was not significantly different (P > .05) when DV3 was used on IAN block injections. The DV3 significantly (P < .02) reduced pain/discomfort from anesthetic injections in this pilot study, in which many subjects were either dental or medical students familiar with performing and enduring injections. More studies are warranted on layperson populations.

Child welfare policy and practice on children's exposure to domestic violence.

PubMed

Cross, Theodore P; Mathews, Ben; Tonmyr, Lil; Scott, Debbie; Ouimet, Catherine

2012-03-01

This article reviews research, policy and programming in Australia, Canada and the US on the child welfare response to EDV. The review draws on searches of standard research databases, interviews with researchers and practitioners, and the authors' own research. Although EDV is underreported, across studies 7% to 23% of youths in general population surveys experienced EDV, 36-39% of youth in DV cases have witnessed the violence, and 45-46% of primary caregivers in child maltreatment investigations have experienced DV. Mandatory reporting can increase the number of cases that come to the attention of child welfare, but without resources for training and programming can lead to inappropriate reports, lack of referral for further assessment, and strains on the child welfare system. Improving the child welfare response to EDV can include collaboration between child welfare workers and DV advocates; increased training on screening for DV; new protocols on DV; and dedicated DV staffing within child welfare agencies. In recent years, policy and program attention to EDV has also been embedded within broader national efforts to protect children from violence and maltreatment. Differential response models that eschew investigation in favor of assessment and service delivery hold promise for families with DV. Empirical data are limited, but current research and practice experience suggest that child welfare agencies seeking to improve the response to EDV should collaborate with other disciplines involved with preventing and responding to DV, seek resources to support training and programming, consider methods that avoid stigmatizing parents, and build in a program evaluation component to increase knowledge about effective practice. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of computed tomography to define a sacral safe corridor for placement of 2.7 mm cortical screws in feline sacroiliac luxation.

PubMed

Philp, Helen; Durand, Alexane; De Vicente, Felipe

2018-06-01

Objectives This study aimed to define a safe corridor for 2.7 mm cortical sacroiliac screw insertion in the dorsal plane (craniocaudal direction) using radiography and CT, and in the transverse plane (dorsoventral direction) using CT in feline cadavers. A further aim was to compare the values obtained by CT with those previously reported by radiography in the transverse plane. Methods Thirteen pelvises were retrieved from feline cadavers and dissected to expose one of the articular surfaces of the sacrum. A 2.7 mm screw was placed in the sacrum to a depth of approximately 1 cm in each exposed articular surface. Dorsoventral radiography and CT scanning of each specimen were performed. Multiplanar reconstructions were performed to allow CT evaluation in both the dorsal and transverse planes. Calculations were made to find the maximum, minimum and optimum angles for screw placement in craniocaudal (radiography and CT) and dorsoventral (CT) directions when using a 2.7 mm cortical screw. Results Radiographic measurement showed a mean optimum craniocaudal angle of 106° (range 97-112°). The mean minimum angle was 95° (range 87-107°), whereas the mean maximum angle was 117° (108-124°). Measurement of the dorsal CT scan images showed a mean optimum craniocaudal angle of 101° (range 94-110°). The mean minimum angle was 90° (range 83-99°), whereas the mean maximum angle was 113° (104-125°). The transverse CT scan images showed a mean dorsoventral minimum angle of 103° (range 95-113°), mean maximum angle of 115° (104-125°) and mean optimum dorsoventral angle of 111° (102-119°). Conclusions and relevance An optimum craniocaudal angle of 101° is recommended for 2.7 mm cortical screw placement in the feline sacral body, with a safety margin between 99° and 104°. No single angle can be recommended in the dorsoventral direction and therefore preoperative measuring on individual cats using CT images is recommended to establish the ideal individual angle in the transverse plane.

Out with the Old

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rydeen, James E.; Stofferahn, Terry; Lange, Jim

2010-01-01

Displacement ventilation (DV) units use the natural buoyancy of warm air to improve ventilation and comfort. Although relatively new to the United States, DV has been used in Scandinavian countries since the 1970s. Two types of DV can be used in a classroom: (1) Conventional displacement ventilation (CDV) units which are situated on an interior…

Collection Efficiencies of Various Airborne Spray Flux Samplers Used in Aerial Application Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

Nonimaging Light-Scattering Instruments 21. Droplet sizing data measured included volume median diameter DV0.5, the 10 and 90 % diameters DV0.1 and DV0.9...Liquid Drop Size Characteristics in a Spray Using Optical Nonimaging Light-Scattering Instruments,” Annual Book of ASTM Stan- dards, ASTM

Multi-Rocket Thought Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smarandache, Florentin

2014-03-01

We consider n>=2 identical rockets: R1 ,R2 , ..., Rn. Each of them moving at constant different velocities respectively v1 ,v2 , ..., vn on parallel directions in the same sense. In each rocket there is a light clock, the observer on earth also has a light clock. All n + 1 light clocks are identical and synchronized. The proper time Δt' in each rocket is the same. (1) If we consider the observer on earth and the first rocket R1, then the non-proper time Δt of the observer on earth is dilated with the factor D(v1) : or Δt = Δt' D(v1) (1) But if we consider the observer on earth and the second rocket R2 , then the non-proper time Δt of the observer on earth is dilated with a different factor D(v2) : or Δt = Δt' D(v2) And so on. Therefore simultaneously Δt is dilated with different factors D(v1) , D(v2), ..., D(vn) , which is a multiple contradiction.

Dendritic-cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing non-integrin is essential for the productive infection of human dendritic cells by mosquito-cell-derived dengue viruses

PubMed Central

Navarro-Sanchez, Erika; Altmeyer, Ralf; Amara, Ali; Schwartz, Olivier; Fieschi, Franck; Virelizier, Jean-Louis; Arenzana-Seisdedos, Fernando; Desprès, Philippe

2003-01-01

Dengue virus (DV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes haemorrhagic fever in humans. DV primarily targets immature dendritic cells (DCs) after a bite by an infected mosquito vector. Here, we analysed the interactions between DV and human-monocyte-derived DCs at the level of virus entry. We show that the DC-specific ICAM3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) molecule, a cell-surface, mannose-specific, C-type lectin, binds mosquito-cell-derived DVs and allows viral replication. Conclusive evidence for the involvement of DC-SIGN in DV infection was obtained by the inhibition of viral infection by anti-DC-SIGN antibodies and by the soluble tetrameric ectodomain of DC-SIGN. Our data show that DC-SIGN functions as a DV-binding lectin by interacting with the DV envelope glycoprotein. Mosquito-cell-derived DVs may have differential infectivity for DC-SIGN-expressing cells. We suggest that the differential use of DC-SIGN by viral envelope glycoproteins may account for the immunopathogenesis of DVs. PMID:12783086

Exploring domestic violence and social distress in Australian-Indian migrants through community theater.

PubMed

O'Connor, Manjula; Colucci, Erminia

2016-02-01

In many parts of the world, young adult women have higher levels of common mental disorders than men. The exacerbation of domestic violence (DV) by migration is a salient social determinant of poor mental health. Ecological models describe factors contributing to DV as operating at individual, family, cultural, and societal levels. We explored the interplay among these factors in an Indian community living in Melbourne, Australia, in a qualitative participatory action research study using a modified Forum Theater approach. We here present findings on connections between migration, societal factors, and social/family/cultural factors in DV. The study captured the voices of women living in the community as they describe how DV contributes to their emotional difficulties. Improved understanding of the sociocultural dynamics of DV and the associated social distress in this migrant Indian community can be used to guide the development of culturally sensitive prevention and response programs to assist migrant women from the Indian subcontinent who present with psychopathology and suicidal behaviors associated with DV. © The Author(s) 2015.

Association between gap in spousal education and domestic violence in India and Bangladesh.

PubMed

Rapp, Daniel; Zoch, Beate; Khan, M Mobarak H; Pollmann, Thorsten; Krämer, Alexander

2012-06-21

Domestic violence (DV) against women is a serious human rights abuse and well recognised global public health concern. The occurrence of DV is negatively associated with the educational level of spouses but studies dealing with educational discrepancies of spouses show contradicting results: Wives with higher education than their husbands were more likely to ever experience DV as compared to equally educated couples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between spousal education gap (SEG) and the prevalence and severity of DV in India and Bangladesh. Nationally representative data collected through the 2005/2006 Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) and 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) were used. In total, we analysed data of 69,805 women aged 15-49 years (Bangladesh: 4,195 women, India: 65,610 women). In addition to univariate and bivariable analyses, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between education gap and less severe as well as severe domestic violence. Adjustment was made for age, religion, and family structure. Wives with higher education than their husbands were less likely to experience less severe (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.89) and severe (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.72-0.87) DV as compared to equally low-educated spouses (reference group). Equally high-educated couples revealed the lowest likelihood of experiencing DV (severe violence: OR 0.43, CI 0.39-0.48; less severe violence: OR 0.59, CI 0.55-0.63). The model's goodness of fit was low (Nagelkerke's R2 = 0.152). Our analysis revealed no increased DV among wives with a higher educational level than their husbands. Moreover, the results point towards a decrease of severe violence with an increase in education levels among spouses. However, the model did not explain a satisfying amount of DV. Therefore, further research should be done to reveal unknown determinants so that suitable interventions to reduce DV can be developed.

Laminar and dorsoventral molecular organization of the medial entorhinal cortex revealed by large-scale anatomical analysis of gene expression.

PubMed

Ramsden, Helen L; Sürmeli, Gülşen; McDonagh, Steven G; Nolan, Matthew F

2015-01-01

Neural circuits in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) encode an animal's position and orientation in space. Within the MEC spatial representations, including grid and directional firing fields, have a laminar and dorsoventral organization that corresponds to a similar topography of neuronal connectivity and cellular properties. Yet, in part due to the challenges of integrating anatomical data at the resolution of cortical layers and borders, we know little about the molecular components underlying this organization. To address this we develop a new computational pipeline for high-throughput analysis and comparison of in situ hybridization (ISH) images at laminar resolution. We apply this pipeline to ISH data for over 16,000 genes in the Allen Brain Atlas and validate our analysis with RNA sequencing of MEC tissue from adult mice. We find that differential gene expression delineates the borders of the MEC with neighboring brain structures and reveals its laminar and dorsoventral organization. We propose a new molecular basis for distinguishing the deep layers of the MEC and show that their similarity to corresponding layers of neocortex is greater than that of superficial layers. Our analysis identifies ion channel-, cell adhesion- and synapse-related genes as candidates for functional differentiation of MEC layers and for encoding of spatial information at different scales along the dorsoventral axis of the MEC. We also reveal laminar organization of genes related to disease pathology and suggest that a high metabolic demand predisposes layer II to neurodegenerative pathology. In principle, our computational pipeline can be applied to high-throughput analysis of many forms of neuroanatomical data. Our results support the hypothesis that differences in gene expression contribute to functional specialization of superficial layers of the MEC and dorsoventral organization of the scale of spatial representations.

Laminar and Dorsoventral Molecular Organization of the Medial Entorhinal Cortex Revealed by Large-scale Anatomical Analysis of Gene Expression

PubMed Central

Ramsden, Helen L.; Sürmeli, Gülşen; McDonagh, Steven G.; Nolan, Matthew F.

2015-01-01

Neural circuits in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) encode an animal’s position and orientation in space. Within the MEC spatial representations, including grid and directional firing fields, have a laminar and dorsoventral organization that corresponds to a similar topography of neuronal connectivity and cellular properties. Yet, in part due to the challenges of integrating anatomical data at the resolution of cortical layers and borders, we know little about the molecular components underlying this organization. To address this we develop a new computational pipeline for high-throughput analysis and comparison of in situ hybridization (ISH) images at laminar resolution. We apply this pipeline to ISH data for over 16,000 genes in the Allen Brain Atlas and validate our analysis with RNA sequencing of MEC tissue from adult mice. We find that differential gene expression delineates the borders of the MEC with neighboring brain structures and reveals its laminar and dorsoventral organization. We propose a new molecular basis for distinguishing the deep layers of the MEC and show that their similarity to corresponding layers of neocortex is greater than that of superficial layers. Our analysis identifies ion channel-, cell adhesion- and synapse-related genes as candidates for functional differentiation of MEC layers and for encoding of spatial information at different scales along the dorsoventral axis of the MEC. We also reveal laminar organization of genes related to disease pathology and suggest that a high metabolic demand predisposes layer II to neurodegenerative pathology. In principle, our computational pipeline can be applied to high-throughput analysis of many forms of neuroanatomical data. Our results support the hypothesis that differences in gene expression contribute to functional specialization of superficial layers of the MEC and dorsoventral organization of the scale of spatial representations. PMID:25615592

Identifying signs and symptoms of intimate partner violence in an oncology setting.

PubMed

Mick, JoAnn

2006-08-01

Domestic violence (DV), or intimate partner violence (IPV), is a prevailing problem in public health. Often, healthcare providers may be the first people that victims of DV will approach to reveal their problem or seek assistance. IPV is a pattern of control using assault and intimidating behaviors that has devastating effects on individuals, their families, and communities. Oncology nurses need to become familiar with common indicators of DV so that signs and symptoms of abuse can be identified when assessing patients in an oncology setting. Standards of oncology nursing practice support that the psychosocial impact of cancer on patients and their families or significant others needs to be considered at all stages of diagnosis and treatment. The psychosocial impact of other personal situations or concerns, such as IPV, can add to the complexity of cancer management. Routine screening for signs and symptoms of psychosocial distress helps identify patients who require additional interventions. Oncology nursing practice is based on a holistic approach to patient care, which supports that identification of physical and psychosocial needs are equally important. Oncology nursing provides many unique opportunities to help patients cope with cancer. Routine nursing assessment for signs and symptoms of abuse will provide an opportunity to assist patients with cancer to manage not only the life-threatening aspects of their diagnosis but also the life-threatening aspects of IPV.

Dynamic viscosity of implantable autologous materials into the vocal fold.

PubMed

Wiikmann, Christian; da Silva, Marcelo Alves; Arêas, Elizabeth Pinheiro Gomes; Tsuji, Domingos Hiroshi; Sennes, Luiz Ubirajara

2012-07-01

To compare the dynamic viscosity (DV) of superficial layer of temporalis fascia (SLTF) with that of other biological tissues traditionally used for vocal fold implants to treat vocal fold rigidity. Experimental. Measurement of DV of samples of SLTF, deep layer of temporalis fascia (DLTF), and abdominal fat of 12 cadavers. DV values of the different samples were presented in the following increasing order: SLTF, DLTF, and abdominal fat. There was statistical difference between the samples. DV of SLTF is lower than of other tissues tested. Copyright © 2012 The Voice Foundation. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Double Jeopardy: Insurance, Animal Harm, and Domestic Violence.

PubMed

Signal, Tania; Taylor, Nik; Burke, Karena J; Brownlow, Luke

2018-05-01

Although the role of companion animals within the dynamic of domestic violence (DV) is increasingly recognized, the overlap of animal harm and insurance discrimination for victims/survivors of DV has not been considered. Prompted by a case study presented in a National Link Coalition LINK-Letter, this research note examines "Pet Insurance" policies available in Australia and whether nonaccidental injury caused by an intimate partner would be covered. We discuss the implications of exclusion criteria for victims/survivors of DV, shelters providing places for animals within a DV dynamic, and, more broadly, for cross- or mandatory-reporting (of animal harm) initiatives.

To Stay or to Leave: Factors Influencing Victims' Decisions to Stay or Leave a Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter.

PubMed

Fisher, Elisa M; Stylianou, Amanda M

2016-04-28

Domestic violence (DV) emergency shelters play a vital role in supporting victims who seek to leave abusive partners and gain independence. Research indicates that numerous positive outcomes for victims and their children are associated with utilization of DV shelter programs. Yet, research also suggests that DV shelter programs may be unable to comprehensively meet the needs of all victims, and many choose to leave shelters soon after their arrival. To better understand the ways in which DV shelter programs support victims but also fail to meet their needs, this article explores the factors that influence victims' decisions to stay or leave a DV emergency shelter program through qualitative interviews with 33 DV shelter residents. Study participants indicate that three types of factors influence their decision to stay or leave the shelter program: (a) contextual factors, (b) partner or family relationship factors, and (c) shelter-specific factors. Shelter-specific factors cited as important contributors to satisfaction or dissatisfaction with shelter living include policies, staff and services, displacement from one's home community, and facilities. Findings provide information from the perspective of victims on the factors that influence one's decision to stay or leave a DV program and can be used to support service providers and advocates in building programs that are both supportive of victims' needs and conductive to longer shelter stays. © The Author(s) 2016.

Domestic violence is associated with adult and childhood asthma prevalence in India.

PubMed

Subramanian, S V; Ackerson, Leland K; Subramanyam, Malavika A; Wright, Rosalind J

2007-06-01

Little is known on the influence of stressful psychosocial circumstances in predicting asthma. We examine the link between asthma prevalence and domestic violence (DV) in a nationally representative sample of adults and children in India. Analyses were based on the 1998-99 cross-sectional nationally representative Indian National Family Health Survey administered in 92 486 households. Individual-level prevalence of asthma was the primary outcome for this study. Exposure to DV was based on women's self-report of DV. In adjusted models, women who experienced DV either recently or in the past were at greater risk of being asthmatic [odds ratio (OR) range 1.26-1.37], compared with those who did not report any abuse. In households where women reported to have experienced DV, asthma risk was higher for all individuals in those households (OR range 1.15-1.19). The association between household DV and individual risk for asthma was also observed in gender-stratified analysis, and also in age-stratified analysis, with strong association observed in age groups of under-five, 5-14, 15-24 and 25-44 years. We find a consistent association between being exposed to, and having experienced, DV and asthma prevalence. Stress-induced mechanisms, partially captured through violence and social circumstances, may be a critical explanatory link in furthering our understanding of the social disparities in asthma.

Matched trauma: The role of parents' and children's shared history of childhood domestic violence exposure in parents' report of children's trauma-related symptomatology.

PubMed

Cohodes, Emily; Hagan, Melissa; Narayan, Angela; Lieberman, Alicia

2016-01-01

Parents' childhood experiences of trauma may influence their reports of their children's behavior, and this may be particularly true when children are also traumatized. The present study proposed and tested a matched trauma hypothesis, positing that compared to parents without a childhood history of witnessing domestic violence (DV), parents with a childhood history of witnessing DV may report their children's trauma-related symptomatology differently following children's exposure to DV. Of 137 included parents (M age = 32 years; 93% mothers), 81 reported witnessing childhood DV (matched group), whereas 56 reported no childhood DV exposure (nonmatched comparison group). All parents reported on their 3- to 6-year-old children's dissociation and posttraumatic stress symptoms following children's DV exposure. An analysis of covariance controlling for parental life stress, dissociation symptoms, and other childhood traumatic events revealed that parents who witnessed childhood DV reported significantly fewer child dissociation symptoms than comparison parents. No difference was found for parents' reports of children's posttraumatic stress symptoms. Exploratory analyses on a subsample of children with teacher reports of child dissociation symptoms (n = 75) revealed that the strength of the association between parent and teacher reports of dissociation symptoms was moderated by matched versus nonmatched group membership. Findings suggest the importance of considering a parent's history of trauma when using parents as informants for children's trauma symptoms.

The Development and Validation of the Indian Family Violence and Control Scale

PubMed Central

Kalokhe, Ameeta S.; Stephenson, Rob; Kelley, Mary E.; Dunkle, Kristin L.; Paranjape, Anuradha; Solas, Vikram; Karve, Latika; del Rio, Carlos; Sahay, Seema

2016-01-01

The high prevalence of domestic violence (DV) among married women in India and associated negative health repercussions highlight the need for effective prevention strategies and tools to measure the efficacy of such interventions. Literature supporting differing manifestations of DV by culture underscores the need for a culturally-tailored scale to more effectively measure DV in the Indian context. We therefore aimed to develop and validate such a tool, the Indian Family Violence and Control Scale (IFVCS), through a mixed-methods study. The psychometric development of IFVCS is herein discussed. After field pre-testing and expert review, a 63-item questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 630 married women from May-July 2013 in Pune, India. The item response theory approach for binary data to explore the IFVCS structure suggested that IFVCS is reliable, with the majority of items having high (>0.5) and significant factor loadings. Concurrent validity, assessed by comparing responses to IFVCS with the validated, abridged Conflict Tactics Scale-2, was high (r = 0.899, p<0.001) as was the construct validity, demonstrated by its significant association with several established DV correlates. Therefore, initial assessment of the IFVCS psychometric properties suggests that it is an effective tool for measuring DV among married women in India and speaks to its capacity for enhancing understanding of DV epidemiology and for evaluating the effectiveness of future DV interventions. PMID:26824611

The Development and Validation of the Indian Family Violence and Control Scale.

PubMed

Kalokhe, Ameeta S; Stephenson, Rob; Kelley, Mary E; Dunkle, Kristin L; Paranjape, Anuradha; Solas, Vikram; Karve, Latika; del Rio, Carlos; Sahay, Seema

2016-01-01

The high prevalence of domestic violence (DV) among married women in India and associated negative health repercussions highlight the need for effective prevention strategies and tools to measure the efficacy of such interventions. Literature supporting differing manifestations of DV by culture underscores the need for a culturally-tailored scale to more effectively measure DV in the Indian context. We therefore aimed to develop and validate such a tool, the Indian Family Violence and Control Scale (IFVCS), through a mixed-methods study. The psychometric development of IFVCS is herein discussed. After field pre-testing and expert review, a 63-item questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 630 married women from May-July 2013 in Pune, India. The item response theory approach for binary data to explore the IFVCS structure suggested that IFVCS is reliable, with the majority of items having high (>0.5) and significant factor loadings. Concurrent validity, assessed by comparing responses to IFVCS with the validated, abridged Conflict Tactics Scale-2, was high (r = 0.899, p<0.001) as was the construct validity, demonstrated by its significant association with several established DV correlates. Therefore, initial assessment of the IFVCS psychometric properties suggests that it is an effective tool for measuring DV among married women in India and speaks to its capacity for enhancing understanding of DV epidemiology and for evaluating the effectiveness of future DV interventions.

78 FR 11136 - Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

... interested in being approved DV user auditors are required to submit an application to the Board on ABC Form No. 53, ``Application for Direct Verifiable (DV) Program Auditors.'' To ensure compliance with the... to qualify as auditors under the DV program. Estimated Number of Respondents: 175. Estimated Number...

Sea Star Wasting Disease 2 Years On: What We know, What We Don't Yet Know, and What We are Doing Now to Understand the Disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hewson, I.

2016-02-01

Sea star wasting disease has affected over 20 species of asterozoa in waters from central Alaska to Baja California, causing extensive mortality and disappearance entirely from some areas. Combined viral, bacterial, eukaryotic microbial, and histological investigations identified the core nano- and micro-biome of sea stars, and elucidated that the Sea Star Associated Densovirus (SSaDV) was the most likely candidate microorganism involved in disease etiology. Direct challenge experiments using tissue homogenates from symptomatic animals injected into asymptomatic individuals revealed that the disease is caused by a virus-sized entity. However, there remains much to be learned about the disease, especially how disease symptoms are generated by SSaDV, how the virus is transmitted between infected and uninfected animals, and why SSaDV may cause disease recently. We performed inoculation trials on SSaDV-naïve sea stars collected from a geographically distant population away from disease-affected areas, and observed viral, bacterial, archaeal, and host transcriptomic responses over time. We also performed surveys of SSaDV in juveniles and larval plankton, as well as the environmental distribution and stability of SSaDV in key regions where SSWD has all but wiped out adults. Our results suggest that SSaDV must move around either on particles or by direct contact between animals, since decay rates exceed reasonable transmission times based on sea star abundance. Global surveys of sea star-associated viruses also elucidate that SSaDV may have been present in populations of sea stars from Hong Kong around the same time of the 2013-2015 epidemic.

No difference in learning retention in manikin-based simulation based on role

PubMed Central

Giuliano, Dominic; DC, Marion McGregor

2016-01-01

Objective: We evaluated learning retention in interns exposed to simulation. It was hypothesized that learning would degrade after 6 months and there would be a difference in retention between interns who played a critical role versus those who did not. Methods: A total of 23 groups of 5 to 9 interns underwent a cardiac scenario twice during 1 simulation experience and again 6 months later. We captured 69 recordings (23 before debrief at baseline [PrDV], 23 after debrief at baseline [PoDV], and 23 at 6-month follow-up [FUV]). Students were assigned different roles, including the critical role of “doctor” in a blinded, haphazard fashion. At 6-month follow-up, 12 interns who played the role of doctor initially were assigned that role again, while 11 interns who played noncritical roles initially were newly assigned to doctor. All videos of intern performance were scored independently and in a blinded fashion, by 3 judges using a 15-item check list. Results: Repeated-measures analysis of variance for interns completing all 3 time points indicated a significant difference between time points (F2,22 = 112, p = .00). Contrasts showed a statistically significant difference between PrDV and PoDV (p = .00), and PrDV and FUV (p = .00), but no difference between PoDV and FUV (p = .98). This was consistent with results including all data points. Checklist scores were more than double for PoDV recordings (16) and FUV (15), compared to PrDV recordings (6.6). Follow-up scores comparing old to new doctors showed no statistically significant difference (15.4 vs 15.2 respectively, t21 = 0.26, p = .80, d = .11). Conclusions: Learning retention was maintained regardless of role. PMID:26367345

A Hybrid DV-Hop Algorithm Using RSSI for Localization in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks.

PubMed

Cheikhrouhou, Omar; M Bhatti, Ghulam; Alroobaea, Roobaea

2018-05-08

With the increasing realization of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and rapid proliferation of wireless sensor networks (WSN), estimating the location of wireless sensor nodes is emerging as an important issue. Traditional ranging based localization algorithms use triangulation for estimating the physical location of only those wireless nodes that are within one-hop distance from the anchor nodes. Multi-hop localization algorithms, on the other hand, aim at localizing the wireless nodes that can physically be residing at multiple hops away from anchor nodes. These latter algorithms have attracted a growing interest from research community due to the smaller number of required anchor nodes. One such algorithm, known as DV-Hop (Distance Vector Hop), has gained popularity due to its simplicity and lower cost. However, DV-Hop suffers from reduced accuracy due to the fact that it exploits only the network topology (i.e., number of hops to anchors) rather than the distances between pairs of nodes. In this paper, we propose an enhanced DV-Hop localization algorithm that also uses the RSSI values associated with links between one-hop neighbors. Moreover, we exploit already localized nodes by promoting them to become additional anchor nodes. Our simulations have shown that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the original DV-Hop localization algorithm and two of its recently published variants, namely RSSI Auxiliary Ranging and the Selective 3-Anchor DV-hop algorithm. More precisely, in some scenarios, the proposed algorithm improves the localization accuracy by almost 95%, 90% and 70% as compared to the basic DV-Hop, Selective 3-Anchor, and RSSI DV-Hop algorithms, respectively.

DataViewer3D: An Open-Source, Cross-Platform Multi-Modal Neuroimaging Data Visualization Tool

PubMed Central

Gouws, André; Woods, Will; Millman, Rebecca; Morland, Antony; Green, Gary

2008-01-01

Integration and display of results from multiple neuroimaging modalities [e.g. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetoencephalography, EEG] relies on display of a diverse range of data within a common, defined coordinate frame. DataViewer3D (DV3D) is a multi-modal imaging data visualization tool offering a cross-platform, open-source solution to simultaneous data overlay visualization requirements of imaging studies. While DV3D is primarily a visualization tool, the package allows an analysis approach where results from one imaging modality can guide comparative analysis of another modality in a single coordinate space. DV3D is built on Python, a dynamic object-oriented programming language with support for integration of modular toolkits, and development of cross-platform software for neuroimaging. DV3D harnesses the power of the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) for two-dimensional (2D) and 3D rendering, calling VTK's low level C++ functions from Python. Users interact with data via an intuitive interface that uses Python to bind wxWidgets, which in turn calls the user's operating system dialogs and graphical user interface tools. DV3D currently supports NIfTI-1, ANALYZE™ and DICOM formats for MRI data display (including statistical data overlay). Formats for other data types are supported. The modularity of DV3D and ease of use of Python allows rapid integration of additional format support and user development. DV3D has been tested on Mac OSX, RedHat Linux and Microsoft Windows XP. DV3D is offered for free download with an extensive set of tutorial resources and example data. PMID:19352444

Monitoring daily and sub-daily variations in crustal strain with seismic arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, S.; Campillo, M.; van der Hilst, R. D.; Brenguier, F.; Hillers, G.

2017-12-01

We demonstrate that we can monitor deformation of the shallow crust (with hourly temporal resolution) directly with seismic waves, by measuring relative seismic wave speed changes (dv/v) due to relatively known periodical forcing (tides and changes in atmospheric temperature) at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (PdF), La Réunion. We use ambient seismic noise recorded (for one month) at VolcArray, an experiment with three arrays of 49 vertical-component geophones deployed on a 7x7 grid of approximately 80 m spacing. Through noise-based coda wave interferometry we infer for each array the average relative changes in propagation speed of seismic waves (dv/v) as a function of time, which relate to temporal changes in medium properties within 100m depth. The variations in dv/v ( 0.05%) on time-scales longer than a day are best explained by effects of precipitation on pore pressure. In contrast, the (weaker) daily and sub-daily fluctuations of dv/v ( 0.01%) are likely to be caused by tidal and thermal effects. We verify that the inferred variations of dv/v are unrelated to spatiotemporal changes of noise wavefields. We further compare the power spectrum of dv/v with spectra of simulated tide-induced volumetric strain, temperature records, very broadband (VBB) seismograms, and borehole tilt records. In all five types of data, dominant peaks are found at around diurnal, semi-diurnal, and ter-diurnal frequencies. A comparison of phase and spectra of the data suggests that the tidal and thermal effects on dv/v are of similar magnitude but vary with frequency. Theoretical modeling of tide- and temperature-induced strain in different frequency bands agrees with the relative magnitude of the two effects on dv/v from passive monitoring.

Comparison of domestic violence against women in urban versus rural areas of southeast Nigeria.

PubMed

Ajah, Leonard Ogbonna; Iyoke, Chukwuemeka Anthony; Nkwo, Peter Onubiwe; Nwakoby, Boniface; Ezeonu, Paul

2014-01-01

The perception and prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in rural areas is poorly understood; the result is that most efforts at eradicating this harmful practice are concentrated in urban areas. The objective of the study was to compare the burden and perception of DV among women living in rural and urban Igbo communities of southeast Nigeria. This was a comparative, cross-sectional study of women residing in rural and urban communities in Enugu, Nigeria, who had gathered for an annual religious meeting from August 1-7, 2011. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics and was conducted with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, software version 17.0, at a 95% level of confidence. A total of 836 women who met the eligibility criteria participated in the survey. Of these, 376 were from Okpanku, a rural community, while 460 were from Ogui Nike, an urban community. The prevalence of DV among rural women was significantly higher than that among urban women (97% versus 81%, P<0.001). In particular, the prevalence of physical violence was significantly higher among rural women than among urban women (37.2% versus 23.5%; P=0.05). In contrast, rural and urban women did not differ significantly in the proportions that had experienced psychological or sexual violence. The proportion of women who believed that DV was excusable was significantly higher among rural dwellers than among urban dwellers (58.5% versus 29.6%; P=0.03). The burden of DV against women may be higher in rural communities than in urban communities in southeast Nigeria. More rural women perceived DV as excusable; this finding suggests that factors that sustain DV could be strong in rural areas. A comprehensive program to curb DV in this area may need to significantly involve the rural areas.

A non-invasive geometric morphometrics method for exploring variation in dorsal head shape in urodeles: sexual dimorphism and geographic variation in Salamandra salamandra.

PubMed

Alarcón-Ríos, Lucía; Velo-Antón, Guillermo; Kaliontzopoulou, Antigoni

2017-04-01

The study of morphological variation among and within taxa can shed light on the evolution of phenotypic diversification. In the case of urodeles, the dorso-ventral view of the head captures most of the ontogenetic and evolutionary variation of the entire head, which is a structure with a high potential for being a target of selection due to its relevance in ecological and social functions. Here, we describe a non-invasive procedure of geometric morphometrics for exploring morphological variation in the external dorso-ventral view of urodeles' head. To explore the accuracy of the method and its potential for describing morphological patterns we applied it to two populations of Salamandra salamandra gallaica from NW Iberia. Using landmark-based geometric morphometrics, we detected differences in head shape between populations and sexes, and an allometric relationship between shape and size. We also determined that not all differences in head shape are due to size variation, suggesting intrinsic shape differences across sexes and populations. These morphological patterns had not been previously explored in S. salamandra, despite the high levels of intraspecific diversity within this species. The methodological procedure presented here allows to detect shape variation at a very fine scale, and solves the drawbacks of using cranial samples, thus increasing the possibilities of using collection specimens and alive animals for exploring dorsal head shape variation and its evolutionary and ecological implications in urodeles. J. Morphol. 278:475-485, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Accelerometric comparison of the locomotor pattern of horses sedated with xylazine hydrochloride, detomidine hydrochloride, or romifidine hydrochloride.

PubMed

López-Sanromán, F Javier; Holmbak-Petersen, Ronald; Varela, Marta; del Alamo, Ana M; Santiago, Isabel

2013-06-01

To evaluate the duration of effects on movement patterns of horses after sedation with equipotent doses of xylazine hydrochloride, detomidine hydrochloride, or romifidine hydrochloride and determine whether accelerometry can be used to quantify differences among drug treatments. 6 healthy horses. Each horse was injected IV with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (10 mL), xylazine diluted in saline solution (0.5 mg/kg), detomidine diluted in saline solution (0.01 mg/kg), or romifidine diluted in saline solution (0.04 mg/kg) in random order. A triaxial accelerometric device was used for gait assessment 15 minutes before and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 minutes after each treatment. Eight variables were calculated, including speed, stride frequency, stride length, regularity, dorsoventral power, propulsive power, mediolateral power, and total power; the force of acceleration and 3 components of power were then calculated. Significant differences were evident in stride frequency and regularity between treatments with saline solution and each α2-adrenoceptor agonist drug; in speed, dorsoventral power, propulsive power, total power, and force values between treatments with saline solution and detomidine or romifidine; and in mediolateral power between treatments with saline solution and detomidine. Stride length did not differ among treatments. Accelerometric evaluation of horses administered α2-adrenoceptor agonist drugs revealed more prolonged sedative effects of romifidine, compared with effects of xylazine or detomidine. Accelerometry could be useful in assessing the effects of other sedatives and analgesics. Accelerometric data may be helpful in drug selection for situations in which a horse's balance and coordination are important.

Generation of shape complexity through tissue conflict resolution

PubMed Central

Rebocho, Alexandra B; Southam, Paul; Kennaway, J Richard; Coen, Enrico

2017-01-01

Out-of-plane tissue deformations are key morphogenetic events during plant and animal development that generate 3D shapes, such as flowers or limbs. However, the mechanisms by which spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression modify cellular behaviours to generate such deformations remain to be established. We use the Snapdragon flower as a model system to address this problem. Combining cellular analysis with tissue-level modelling, we show that an orthogonal pattern of growth orientations plays a key role in generating out-of-plane deformations. This growth pattern is most likely oriented by a polarity field, highlighted by PIN1 protein localisation, and is modulated by dorsoventral gene activity. The orthogonal growth pattern interacts with other patterns of differential growth to create tissue conflicts that shape the flower. Similar shape changes can be generated by contraction as well as growth, suggesting tissue conflict resolution provides a flexible morphogenetic mechanism for generating shape diversity in plants and animals. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20156.001 PMID:28166865

System-dependent regulations of colour-pattern development: a mutagenesis study of the pale grass blue butterfly

PubMed Central

Iwata, Masaki; Hiyama, Atsuki; Otaki, Joji M.

2013-01-01

Developmental studies on wing colour patterns have been performed in nymphalid butterflies, but efficient genetic manipulations, including mutagenesis, have not been well established. Here, we have performed mutagenesis experiments in a lycaenid butterfly, the pale grass blue Zizeeria maha, to produce colour-pattern mutants. We fed the P-generation larvae an artificial diet containing the mutagen ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS), and the F1- and F2-generation adults showed various aberrant colour patterns: dorsoventral transformation, anterioposterior background colouration gap, weak contrast, disarrangement of spots, reduction of the size of spots, loss of spots, fusion of spots, and ectopic spots. Among them, the disarrangement, reduction, and loss of spots were likely produced by the coordinated changes of many spots of a single wing around the discal spot in a system-dependent manner, demonstrating the existence of the central symmetry system. The present study revealed multiple genetic regulations for system-dependent and wing-wide colour-pattern determination in lycaenid butterflies. PMID:23917124

Xenopus msx-1 regulates dorso-ventral axis formation by suppressing the expression of organizer genes.

PubMed

Takeda, M; Saito, Y; Sekine, R; Onitsuka, I; Maeda, R; Maéno, M

2000-06-01

We demonstrated previously that Xmsx-1 is involved in mesoderm patterning along the dorso-ventral axis, under the regulation of BMP-4 signaling. When Xmsx-1 RNA was injected into the dorsal blastomeres, a mass of muscle tissue formed instead of notochord. This activity was similar to that of Xwnt-8 reported previously. In this study, we investigated whether the activity of Xmsx-1 is related to the ventralizing signal and myogenesis promoting factor, Xwnt-8. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that Xmsx-1, Xwnt-8, and XmyoD were expressed in overlapping areas, including the ventro-lateral marginal zone at mid-gastrula stage. The expression of XmyoD was induced by the ectopic expression of either Xmsx-1 or Xwnt-8 in dorsal blastomeres, and Xwnt-8 was induced by the ectopic expression of Xmsx-1. On the other hand, the expression of Xmsx-1 was not affected by the loading of pCSKA-Xwnt-8 or dominant-negative Xwnt-8 (DN-Xwnt-8) RNA. In addition, Xmsx-1 RNA did not abrogate the formation of notochord if coinjected with DN-Xwnt-8 RNA. These results suggest that Xmsx-1 functions upstream of the Xwnt-8 signal. Furthermore, the antagonistic function of Xmsx-1 to the expression of organizer genes, such as Xlim-1 and goosecoid, was shown by in situ hybridization analysis and luciferase reporter assay using the goosecoid promoter construct. Finally if Xmsx-1/VP-16 fusion RNA, which was expected to function as a dominant-negative Xmsx-1, was injected into ventral blastomeres, a partial secondary axis formed in a significant number of embryos. In such embryos, the activity of luciferase, under the control of goosecoid promoter sequence, was significantly elevated at gastrula stage. These results led us to conclude that Xmsx-1 plays a central role in establishing dorso-ventral axis in gastrulating embryo, by suppressing the expression of organizer genes.

Performance of Healthcare Providers Regarding Iranian Women Experiencing Physical Domestic Violence in Isfahan.

PubMed

Yousefnia, Nasim; Nekuei, Nafisehsadat; Farajzadegan, Ziba; Yadegarfar, Ghasem

2018-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) can threaten women's health. Healthcare providers (HCPs) may be the first to come into contact with a victim of DV. Their appropriate performance regarding a DV victim can decrease its complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate HCPs' performance regarding women experiencing DV in emergency and maternity wards of hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The present descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 HCPs working in emergency and maternity wards in hospitals in Isfahan. The participants were selected using quota random sampling from February to May 2016. A researcher-made questionnaire containing the five items of HCPs performance regarding DV (assessment, intervention, documentation, reference, and follow-up) was used to collect data. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were confirmed, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the reliability of the questionnaires. To present a general description of the data (variables, mean, and standard deviation), the table of frequencies was designed. The performance of the participants regarding DV in the assessment (mean = 64.22), intervention (mean = 68.55), and reference stages (mean = 68.32) were average. However, in the documentation (mean = 72.55) and follow-up stages (mean = 23.10), their performance was good and weak respectively (criterion from 100). Based on the results, because of defects in providing services for women experiencing DV, a practical indigenous guideline should be provided to treat and support these women.

A Gas-Kinetic Scheme for Turbulent Flow

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-19

is dΞ = dv1dv2dv3 dξ and: ψ = [ 1 v1 v2 v3 1 2 ( ui 2 + ξ2 )]T . (2) The numerical fluxes F related to a unit interface length normal to direction n... Rockets , 44(6):1232–1240. [Mandal and Deshpande, 1994] Mandal, J. and Desh- pande, S. (1994). Kinetic flux vector splitting for Euler equations. Comput

Association between gap in spousal education and domestic violence in India and Bangladesh

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Domestic violence (DV) against women is a serious human rights abuse and well recognised global public health concern. The occurrence of DV is negatively associated with the educational level of spouses but studies dealing with educational discrepancies of spouses show contradicting results: Wives with higher education than their husbands were more likely to ever experience DV as compared to equally educated couples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between spousal education gap (SEG) and the prevalence and severity of DV in India and Bangladesh. Methods Nationally representative data collected through the 2005/2006 Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) and 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) were used. In total, we analysed data of 69,805 women aged 15–49 years (Bangladesh: 4,195 women, India: 65,610 women). In addition to univariate and bivariable analyses, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between education gap and less severe as well as severe domestic violence. Adjustment was made for age, religion, and family structure. Results Wives with higher education than their husbands were less likely to experience less severe (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77–0.89) and severe (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.72–0.87) DV as compared to equally low-educated spouses (reference group). Equally high-educated couples revealed the lowest likelihood of experiencing DV (severe violence: OR 0.43, CI 0.39–0.48; less severe violence: OR 0.59, CI 0.55–0.63). The model’s goodness of fit was low (Nagelkerke’s R2 = 0.152). Conclusions Our analysis revealed no increased DV among wives with a higher educational level than their husbands. Moreover, the results point towards a decrease of severe violence with an increase in education levels among spouses. However, the model did not explain a satisfying amount of DV. Therefore, further research should be done to reveal unknown determinants so that suitable interventions to reduce DV can be developed. PMID:22720800

Activin- and Nodal-related factors control antero-posterior patterning of the zebrafish embryo.

PubMed

Thisse, B; Wright, C V; Thisse, C

2000-01-27

Definition of cell fates along the dorso-ventral axis depends on an antagonistic relationship between ventralizing transforming growth factor-beta superfamily members, the bone morphogenetic proteins and factors secreted from the dorsal organizer, such as Noggin and Chordin. The extracellular binding of the last group to the bone morphogenetic proteins prevents them from activating their receptors, and the relative ventralizer:antagonist ratio is thought to specify different dorso-ventral cell fates. Here, by taking advantage of a non-genetic interference method using a specific competitive inhibitor, the Lefty-related gene product Antivin, we provide evidence that cell fate along the antero-posterior axis of the zebrafish embryo is controlled by the morphogenetic activity of another transforming growth factor-beta superfamily subgroup--the Activin and Nodal-related factors. Increasing antivin doses progressively deleted posterior fates within the ectoderm, eventually resulting in the removal of all fates except forebrain and eyes. In contrast, overexpression of activin or nodal-related factors converted ectoderm that was fated to be forebrain into more posterior ectodermal or mesendodermal fates. We propose that modulation of intercellular signalling by Antivin/Activin and Nodal-related factors provides a mechanism for the graded establishment of cell fates along the antero-posterior axis of the zebrafish embryo.

Morphology of the core fibrous layer of the cetacean tail fluke.

PubMed

Gough, William T; Fish, Frank E; Wainwright, Dylan K; Bart-Smith, Hilary

2018-06-01

The cetacean tail fluke blades are not supported by any vertebral elements. Instead, the majority of the blades are composed of a densely packed collagenous fiber matrix known as the core layer. Fluke blades from six species of odontocete cetaceans were examined to compare the morphology and orientation of fibers at different locations along the spanwise and chordwise fluke blade axes. The general fiber morphology was consistent with a three-dimensional structure comprised of two-dimensional sheets of fibers aligned tightly in a laminated configuration along the spanwise axis. The laminated configuration of the fluke blades helps to maintain spanwise rigidity while allowing partial flexibility during swimming. When viewing the chordwise sectional face at the leading edge and mid-chord regions, fibers displayed a crossing pattern. This configuration relates to bending and structural support of the fluke blade. The trailing edge core was found to have parallel fibers arranged more dorso-ventrally. The fiber morphology of the fluke blades was dorso-ventrally symmetrical and similar in all species except the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), which was found to have additional core layer fiber bundles running along the span of the fluke blade. These additional fibers may increase stiffness of the structure by resisting tension along their long spanwise axis. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The functions of gender role traditionality, ambivalent sexism, injury, and frequency of assault on domestic violence perception: a study between Japanese and American college students.

PubMed

Yamawaki, Niwako; Ostenson, Joseph; Brown, C Ryan

2009-09-01

This study examined the mediating influence of gender-role traditionality (GRT), ambivalent sexism, and victim injury and frequency of assault on domestic violence (DV) perception differences between Japanese and American college students. As predicted, Japanese tended to minimize, blame, and excuse DV more than did Americans, and these national differences were mediated by GRT. Participants viewed the DV incident more seriously when the victim presented injury or when the incident had occurred frequently. Those high in benevolent and hostile sexism were more likely to minimize DV, whereas those high only in benevolent sexism were more likely to blame the victim.

School Personnel's Bystander Action in Situations of Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, and Sexual Harassment Among High School Teens: A Qualitative Analysis.

PubMed

Edwards, Katie M; Rodenhizer, Kara Anne; Eckstein, Robert P

2017-04-01

We examined school personnel's engagement in bystander action in situations of teen dating violence (DV), sexual violence (SV), and sexual harassment (SH). We conducted focus groups with 22 school personnel from three high schools in New Hampshire. School personnel identified their own barriers to intervening in situations of teen DV, SV, and SH (e.g., not having the time or ability to intervene). School personnel also discussed the ways in which they intervened before (e.g., talking with teens about healthy relationships), during (e.g., breaking up fights between dating partners) and after (e.g., comforting victims) instances of teen DV, SV, and SH. These data can be used to support the development of bystander training for school personnel as one component of comprehensive DV, SV, and SH prevention for teens. In addition, these data provide information that can be used to develop measures that assess school personnel bystander action barriers and behaviors in instances of teen DV, SV, and SH.

Degree of exposure to domestic violence, psychopathology, and functional impairment in children and adolescents.

PubMed

Bayarri Fernàndez, Eduard; Ezpeleta, Lourdes; Granero, Roser; de la Osa, Núria; Domènech, Josep María

2011-04-01

There are discrepancies about whether children who witness and suffer domestic violence (DV) have similar outcomes in terms of psychopathology. This work examines the relationship between different types of exposure to DV and child psychopathology and functional impairment. One hundred and forty-four Spanish children aged from 4 to 17 years and exposed to DV were evaluated using a diagnostic interview and other instruments of psychopathology and functional impairment. The participants were classified in three groups according to the degree of exposure: witness (n = 72), involved (n = 52), and victim (n = 20). According to mothers' self-reports and mother-child combined information, DV equally affects psychopathology and functional impairment regardless of the degree of the exposure. Children's self-reports showed a linear trend to present greater psychopathology as a victim than as a witness. The differential effect of exposure to DV measured in this study depended on the informant, which underlines the importance of obtaining information from the children exposed to violence at home.

Police Response to Children Present at Domestic Violence Incidents.

PubMed

Swerin, Danielle D; Bostaph, Lisa Growette; King, Laura L; Gillespie, Lane Kirkland

2018-01-01

Police response to domestic violence (DV) has continued to change and expand over the past several decades. Although DV was originally considered a private matter, it now represents one of the most common calls for service received by police agencies. While police response to DV incidents has improved substantially, intervention when children are present remains an undeveloped area of research and practice. The present study examined 345 police reports from an agency in the Northwestern United States to explore police response to DV incidents when children are present. Regression analyses indicated that child presence was a statistically significant predictor of victim-directed intervention, victim-directed follow-up, and arrest although in differing directions. While child presence increased the odds of victim-directed intervention and victim-directed follow-up, it decreased the odds of arrest. Findings further indicated that the frequency of police interaction with children present at DV incidents was minimal. Based on these findings, recommendations for policy and practice are discussed.

[Conseqquences of dorso-ventral and anterior-posterior reversion of early neurula lateral mesoblast on development of urogenital system in common toad, Bufo bufo. (Amphibia anura)].

PubMed

Hakim, J; Gipouloux, J D

1975-10-27

At early neurula stage of the toad, cranio-caudal and dorso-ventral reversal of lateral mesoblast is performed. The genito-urinary system is therefore missing after this intervention. The three following factors of the formation of this system anlage are anlyzed: lateral mesoderm competence, stimulative activites of dorso-caudal endoblast on the one hand, of chordo-mesoderm on the other hand.

Comparison of injection pain caused by the DentalVibe Injection System versus a traditional syringe for inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthesia in paediatric patients.

PubMed

Elbay, M; Şermet Elbay, Ü; Yıldırım, S; Uğurluel, C; Kaya, C; Baydemir, C

2015-06-01

To compare paediatric patients' pain during needle insertion and injection in inferior alveoler nerve block (IANB) anaesthesia injected by either a traditional syringe (TS) or the DentalVibe Injection Comfort System (DV). the study was a randomised controlled crossover clinical trial, comprised of 60 children aged 6-12 requiring an operative procedure with IANB anaesthesia on their mandibular molars bilaterally. One of the molar teeth was treated with TS and the contralateral tooth was treated with DV. On each visit, subjective and objective pain was evaluated using the Wond-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (PRS) and the Face, Legg, Cry, Consolability Scale (FLACC Scale). Patients were asked which anaesthesia technique they preferred. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank, Spearman correlation, and Mann-Whitney U tests. There were no statistically significant differences for pain evalution during needle insertion and injection of each injection system. However, a negative correlation was found on the FLACC between age and pain scores during injection after using DV. Paediatric patients experienced similar pain during IANB anaesthesia administered with TS and DV. With increased age, pain values reduced during anaesthetic agent injection with DV according to FLACC. The traditional procedure was preferred to DV in paediatric patients.

Authentication of digital video evidence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beser, Nicholas D.; Duerr, Thomas E.; Staisiunas, Gregory P.

2003-11-01

In response to a requirement from the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Technical Support Working Group tasked The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) to develop a technique tha will ensure the authenticity, or integrity, of digital video (DV). Verifiable integrity is needed if DV evidence is to withstand a challenge to its admissibility in court on the grounds that it can be easily edited. Specifically, the verification technique must detect additions, deletions, or modifications to DV and satisfy the two-part criteria pertaining to scientific evidence as articulated in Daubert et al. v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., 43 F3d (9th Circuit, 1995). JHU/APL has developed a prototype digital video authenticator (DVA) that generates digital signatures based on public key cryptography at the frame level of the DV. Signature generation and recording is accomplished at the same time as DV is recorded by the camcorder. Throughput supports the consumer-grade camcorder data rate of 25 Mbps. The DVA software is implemented on a commercial laptop computer, which is connected to a commercial digital camcorder via the IEEE-1394 serial interface. A security token provides agent identification and the interface to the public key infrastructure (PKI) that is needed for management of the public keys central to DV integrity verification.

Determinants of domestic violence among women attending an human immunodeficiency virus voluntary counseling and testing center in Bangalore, India.

PubMed

Chandrasekaran, Varalakshmi; Krupp, Karl; George, Ruja; Madhivanan, Purnima

2007-05-01

Violence against women is a global phenomenon that cuts across all social and economic classes. This study was designed to measure the prevalence and correlates of domestic violence (DV) among women seeking services at a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center in Bangalore, India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among women visiting an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) VCT center in Bangalore, between September and November 2005. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about violence and other variables. Univariable associations with DV were made using Pearson Chi-squared test for categorical variables and Student t-test or the Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Forty-two percent of respondents reported DV, including physical abuse (29%), psychological abuse (69%) and sexual abuse (1%). Among the women who reported violence of any kind, 67% also reported that they were HIV seropositive. The most common reasons reported for DV included financial problems (38%), husband's alcohol use (29%) and woman's HIV status (18%). Older women (P < 0.001) and those with low income levels were the most likely to have experienced DV (P = 0.02). Other factors included husband's education, HIV seropositivity and alcohol or tobacco use (P < 0.001). This study found DV levels comparable to other studies from around the world. The findings highlight the need for additional training among health care providers in VCT centers in screening for DV, detection of signs of physical abuse and provisions and referrals for women suffering from domestic partner violence.

Modeling of flux, binding and substitution of urea molecules in the urea transporter dvUT.

PubMed

Zhang, Hai-Tian; Wang, Zhe; Yu, Tao; Sang, Jian-Ping; Zou, Xian-Wu; Zou, Xiaoqin

2017-09-01

Urea transporters (UTs) are transmembrane proteins that transport urea molecules across cell membranes and play a crucial role in urea excretion and water balance. Modeling the functional characteristics of UTs helps us understand how their structures accomplish the functions at the atomic level, and facilitates future therapeutic design targeting the UTs. This study was based on the crystal structure of Desulfovibrio vulgaris urea transporter (dvUT). To model the binding behavior of urea molecules in dvUT, we constructed a cooperative binding model. To model the substitution of urea by the urea analogue N,N'-dimethylurea (DMU) in dvUT, we calculated the occupation probability of DMU along the urea pore and the ratio of the occupation probabilities of DMU at the external (S ext ) and internal (S int ) binding sites, and we established the mutual substitution rule for binding and substitution of urea and DMU. Based on these calculations and modelings, together with the use of the Monte Carlo (MC) method, we further modeled the urea flux in dvUT, equilibrium urea binding to dvUT, and the substitution of urea by DMU in the dvUT. Our modeling results are in good agreement with the existing experimental functional data. Furthermore, the modelings have discovered the microscopic process and mechanisms of those functional characteristics. The methods and the results would help our future understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the diseases associated with impaired UT functions and rational drug design for the treatment of these diseases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evolution and Analysis of Cultural and Cognitive Factors Related With Domestic Violence Against Women.

PubMed

Alves, Maria João Vidal; Manita, Celina; Caldas, Inês Morais; Fernández-Martinez, Elena; Gomes da Silva, Angélica; Magalhães, Teresa

2016-05-02

Despite the occurrence of encouraging political and social changes in the past few years, many beliefs about women's role in intimate relationships persist, influencing their response to domestic violence (DV). This study aims to analyze the influence of recent policies against DV in Portugal, concerning particularly intimate partner violence against women and their perceptions about the victimization process. Two samples of women (n = 126 each) reporting an aggressive act allegedly perpetrated by the current or former male partner were interviewed with a hiatus of 5 years (before and after some most relevant policy updates). Results suggest a positive influence of the recent policies against DV. Many significant and encouraging changes were found in the more recent women sample (S2) relatively to the first sample (S1) regarding their information, awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward DV. They seem to show less tolerance and endurance to DV, placing responsibility on the offender, as well as seem more empowered to report. In S2, there was a decrease in the acceptance of violent behaviors as normal and of reasons to explain violence; the fears, shame, and helplessness about DV; the elapsed time between the beginning of the abuse and its report; and the prevalence of more severe types of physical abuse. In S2, there was an increase on the acknowledgment of DV as a crime, the number of reports in cases without cohabitation, the report of psychological abuses, and the feeling of safety and assurance while reporting. © The Author(s) 2016.

The association of domestic violence and social resources with functioning in an adult trauma-affected sample living in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq

PubMed Central

Kane, Jeremy C.; Hall, Brian J.; Bolton, Paul; Murray, Laura K.; Ahmed, Ahmed Mohammed Amin; Bass, Judith K.

2016-01-01

Ability to function in tasks and activities is an important aspect of daily living. There are factors that increase the risk for impaired functioning, such as experiences of domestic violence (DV) and other trauma types, and factors that provide a buffer to existing risks and allow the individual to continue and build functioning, such as access to social resources. This cross-sectional study investigated the direct effects of DV and access to social resources (perceived social support, social integration, and frequency of social contact), as well as their potential interactive effects, on daily functioning among 894 male and female trauma survivors who attended primary care clinics in Kurdistan, Iraq in 2009 and 2010. Experiencing DV was not associated with functioning for males (p=.15) or females (p=.60), suggesting that in the context of a trauma-affected sample, the experience of DV may not significantly increase the risk for functional impairment. Greater amounts of social integration were associated with less functional impairment among males (p<.01) and females (p<.05); social integration was associated with less functional impairment among males only (p<.01); and frequency of social contact was associated with less functional impairment among females only (p<.05), indicating that the association between social resource type and functioning differed by gender. Standardized beta coefficients indicated that social resources had a stronger effect on functioning among men compared to women. Among males who experienced DV, social integration was the only social resource associated with less functional impairment (p<.01); among male trauma survivors who did not experience DV, social support was the only resource associated with less functional impairment (p<.01). Further investigation into the association of social resources with functioning and how these differ by gender and DV exposure is warranted to inform intervention strategies for survivors of DV and other traumas in post-conflict settings. PMID:27021741

Domestic violence on pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria.

PubMed

Efetie, E R; Salami, H A

2007-05-01

Violence against women is a human rights violation, which is increasingly becoming a serious public health issue. When it occurs in pregnant women, victims are recognised to be at higher risk of complications of pregnancy. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out over a 3-month period from May to July 2005 to document the prevalence, knowledge and perception of domestic violence (DV) on pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of the National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. The mean age of the respondents was 31.5 +/- 4.25 years, with a range of 20 - 42 years. Most (85.2%) had attained tertiary education. While most (92.9%) were aware of DV in pregnancy, 125 women (37.4%) had experienced DV. Psychological abuse ranked highest with 66.4%, while physical and sexual abuse accounted for 23.4% and 10.2% of the group. Of this group, 21.2% required medical treatment as a result of DV, and all were aware of possible pregnancy complications, such as abortion, premature labour and depression. Most (81.9%) of the respondents felt DV was illegal. A majority (29.7%) kept their DV secret with a few numbers reporting to family, doctors, clergy or close friends. With higher educational status, the experience of DV was greater, although this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Similarly with increasing parity, although this tended to reverse after parity of 3. The prevalence of DV found in Abuja, the centrally located capital city of Nigeria is higher than that from the study in Zaria, northern Nigeria (28%). This is cause for concern, and points to a rising trend in the northern region of the country although the centres are different. Similarly, the husband/spouse was the most common offender; responsible here for 74.2% of cases. This may give justification to recent calls for paternal educational classes for spouses. Increasing public awareness remains the key, through education and public enlightenment campaigns, with more emphasis on the identified perpetrator class.

Efficient Hybrid Watermarking Scheme for Security and Transmission Bit Rate Enhancement of 3D Color-Plus-Depth Video Communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Shafai, W.; El-Rabaie, S.; El-Halawany, M.; Abd El-Samie, F. E.

2018-03-01

Three-Dimensional Video-plus-Depth (3DV + D) comprises diverse video streams captured by different cameras around an object. Therefore, there is a great need to fulfill efficient compression to transmit and store the 3DV + D content in compressed form to attain future resource bounds whilst preserving a decisive reception quality. Also, the security of the transmitted 3DV + D is a critical issue for protecting its copyright content. This paper proposes an efficient hybrid watermarking scheme for securing the 3DV + D transmission, which is the homomorphic transform based Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) in Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) domain. The objective of the proposed watermarking scheme is to increase the immunity of the watermarked 3DV + D to attacks and achieve adequate perceptual quality. Moreover, the proposed watermarking scheme reduces the transmission-bandwidth requirements for transmitting the color-plus-depth 3DV over limited-bandwidth wireless networks through embedding the depth frames into the color frames of the transmitted 3DV + D. Thus, it saves the transmission bit rate and subsequently it enhances the channel bandwidth-efficiency. The performance of the proposed watermarking scheme is compared with those of the state-of-the-art hybrid watermarking schemes. The comparisons depend on both the subjective visual results and the objective results; the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of the watermarked frames and the Normalized Correlation (NC) of the extracted watermark frames. Extensive simulation results on standard 3DV + D sequences have been conducted in the presence of attacks. The obtained results confirm that the proposed hybrid watermarking scheme is robust in the presence of attacks. It achieves not only very good perceptual quality with appreciated PSNR values and saving in the transmission bit rate, but also high correlation coefficient values in the presence of attacks compared to the existing hybrid watermarking schemes.

Comparison of domestic violence against women in urban versus rural areas of southeast Nigeria

PubMed Central

Ajah, Leonard Ogbonna; Iyoke, Chukwuemeka Anthony; Nkwo, Peter Onubiwe; Nwakoby, Boniface; Ezeonu, Paul

2014-01-01

Background The perception and prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in rural areas is poorly understood; the result is that most efforts at eradicating this harmful practice are concentrated in urban areas. The objective of the study was to compare the burden and perception of DV among women living in rural and urban Igbo communities of southeast Nigeria. Methods This was a comparative, cross-sectional study of women residing in rural and urban communities in Enugu, Nigeria, who had gathered for an annual religious meeting from August 1–7, 2011. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics and was conducted with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, software version 17.0, at a 95% level of confidence. Results A total of 836 women who met the eligibility criteria participated in the survey. Of these, 376 were from Okpanku, a rural community, while 460 were from Ogui Nike, an urban community. The prevalence of DV among rural women was significantly higher than that among urban women (97% versus 81%, P<0.001). In particular, the prevalence of physical violence was significantly higher among rural women than among urban women (37.2% versus 23.5%; P=0.05). In contrast, rural and urban women did not differ significantly in the proportions that had experienced psychological or sexual violence. The proportion of women who believed that DV was excusable was significantly higher among rural dwellers than among urban dwellers (58.5% versus 29.6%; P=0.03). Conclusion The burden of DV against women may be higher in rural communities than in urban communities in southeast Nigeria. More rural women perceived DV as excusable; this finding suggests that factors that sustain DV could be strong in rural areas. A comprehensive program to curb DV in this area may need to significantly involve the rural areas. PMID:25336992

The Rise of Flowering Plants and Land Surface Physics: The Cretaceous and Eocene Were Different

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Upchurch, G. R.; Feild, T.

2010-12-01

The Cretaceous and Eocene have served as the poster children of past greenhouse climates. One difference between the two time periods is that angiosperms (flowering plants) underwent a major diversification and rise to dominance during the mid-Cretaceous to Paleocene. Flowering plants differ from all other living and fossil plants in having significantly higher rates of transpiration and photosynthesis, which in modern leaves correlate with the density of venation (Dv), a feature that can be measured directly from fossils. This increase in Dv, coupled with an increase in the abundance of angiosperms, is thought to have had major impact on the climate system. This is, in part, because transpiration plays an important role in determining the ratio of sensible to latent heat flux from the land surface and in determining precipitation rate in regions such as the equatorial rainforest. Analysis of Dv in fossil leaves indicates two phases of increase in transpiration rate for angiosperms during the Cretaceous-Paleocene. The oldest known angiosperms (Aptian-early Albian) have a low Dv characteristic of extant and fossil ferns and gymnosperms. At this time angiosperms are low-stature plants of minor importance in terms of relative abundance and diversity (<5%). The first phase of Dv increase occurs during the Late Albian to Cenomanian, where average Dv is 40% greater than that of conifers and ferns, and maximum Dv reaches levels characteristic of many trees from the temperate zone. This first phase coincides with the first local dominance of angiosperms, the first occurrence of moderate to large angiosperm trees (up to 1 m in diameter) , and the first common occurrence of angiosperms in the Arctic. The second phase of Dv increase occurs during the Maastrichtian to Paleocene, where average Dv reaches levels characteristic of modern tropical forests and maximum Dv reaches the level found in highly productive modern vegetation. This second phase coincides with the rise to dominance of angiosperms in regional vegetation, a corresponding decline of conifers and ferns, and the modernization of hydraulic architecture in angiosperm wood. The full implications of these changes in land cover have yet to be explored with Earth System models, especially outside the tropics. However, under similar LAI and pCO2, Cretaceous vegetation would have made a greater contribution to global warming than Eocene vegetation through greater sensible heating of the land surface and possibly reduced liquid clouds due to decreased transpiration.

Autophagic machinery activated by dengue virus enhances virus replication

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

Lee, Y.-R.; Lei, H.-Y.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

2008-05-10

Autophagy is a cellular response against stresses which include the infection of viruses and bacteria. We unravel that Dengue virus-2 (DV2) can trigger autophagic process in various infected cell lines demonstrated by GFP-LC3 dot formation and increased LC3-II formation. Autophagosome formation was also observed under the transmission electron microscope. DV2-induced autophagy further enhances the titers of extracellular and intracellular viruses indicating that autophagy can promote viral replication in the infected cells. Moreover, our data show that ATG5 protein is required to execute DV2-induced autophagy. All together, we are the first to demonstrate that DV can activate autophagic machinery that ismore » favorable for viral replication.« less

Identification of tissues and patterning events required for distinct steps in early migration of zebrafish primordial germ cells.

PubMed

Weidinger, G; Wolke, U; Köprunner, M; Klinger, M; Raz, E

1999-12-01

In many organisms, the primordial germ cells have to migrate from the position where they are specified towards the developing gonad where they generate gametes. Extensive studies of the migration of primordial germ cells in Drosophila, mouse, chick and Xenopus have identified somatic tissues important for this process and demonstrated a role for specific molecules in directing the cells towards their target. In zebrafish, a unique situation is found in that the primordial germ cells, as marked by expression of vasa mRNA, are specified in random positions relative to the future embryonic axis. Hence, the migrating cells have to navigate towards their destination from various starting positions that differ among individual embryos. Here, we present a detailed description of the migration of the primordial germ cells during the first 24 hours of wild-type zebrafish embryonic development. We define six distinct steps of migration bringing the primordial germ cells from their random positions before gastrulation to form two cell clusters on either side of the midline by the end of the first day of development. To obtain information on the origin of the positional cues provided to the germ cells by somatic tissues during their migration, we analyzed the migration pattern in mutants, including spadetail, swirl, chordino, floating head, cloche, knypek and no isthmus. In mutants with defects in axial structures, paraxial mesoderm or dorsoventral patterning, we find that certain steps of the migration process are specifically affected. We show that the paraxial mesoderm is important for providing proper anteroposterior information to the migrating primordial germ cells and that these cells can respond to changes in the global dorsoventral coordinates. In certain mutants, we observe accumulation of ectopic cells in different regions of the embryo. These ectopic cells can retain both morphological and molecular characteristics of primordial germ cells, suggesting that, in zebrafish at the early stages tested, the vasa-expressing cells are committed to the germ cell lineage.

Expression and Function of Xmsx-2B in Dorso-Ventral Axis Formation in Gastrula Embryos.

PubMed

Onitsuka, I; Takeda, M; Maéno, M

2000-11-01

Msx is a homeodomain-containing transcriptional factor that plays an essential role in pattern formation in vertebrata and invertebrata embryos. In Xenopus laevis, two msx genes have been identified (Xmsx-1 and Xmsx-2). In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the expression and function of Xmsx-2B (formerly designated as Xhox7.1') in early embryogenesis. Whole mount in situ hybridization analyses showed that the expression pattern of Xmsx-2B at gastrula and neurula stages was very similar to that of Xmsx-1: the transcript of Xmsx-2B was observed in ventral and lateral sides of the embryo. At the tailbud stage, however, the expression pattern of Xmsx-2B in neural tissues was distinct from that of Xmsx-1. An RNA injection experiment revealed that, like BMP-4, Xmsx-2B has a strong ventralizing activity. In the Xmsx-2B -injected embryos, differentiation of axial structures such as the notochord, muscle, and neural tissue was completely suppressed, whereas alpha-globin mRNA, a blood cell marker, was highly expressed. Simultaneous injection of Xmsx-1 and Xmsx-2B RNAs showed that they function in an additive manner. It was also shown that coinjection of Xmsx-2B with a dominant-negative BMP-4 receptor (tBR), which can induce formation of secondary axis when injected alone in ventral blastomeres, suppressed secondary axis formation. Furthermore, Xmsx-2B also suppressed secondary axis formation, which was induced by a dominant-negative form of Xmsx-1 (VP16/msx-1). Therefore, like Xmsx-1, Xmsx-2B is a downstream nuclear factor of the BMP-4-derived ventralizing signal, and these two factors probably share the same target molecules. In conclusion, Xmsx-1 and Xmsx-2B function in dorso-ventral axis formation in early Xenopus laevis development.

Identification of Ind transcription activation and repression domains required for dorsoventral patterning of the CNS.

PubMed

Von Ohlen, Tonia L; Moses, Cade

2009-07-01

Specification of cell fates across the dorsoventral axis of the central nervous system in Drosophila involves the subdivision of the neuroectoderm into three domains that give rise to three columns of neural precursor cells called neuroblasts. Ventral nervous system defective (Vnd), intermediate neuroblasts defective (Ind) and muscle segment homeobox (Msh) are expressed in the three columns from ventral to dorsal, respectively. The products of these genes play multiple important roles in formation and specification of the embryonic nervous system. Ind, for example, is known to play roles in two important processes. First, Ind is essential for formation of neuroblasts conjunction with SoxB class transcription factors. Sox class transcription factors are known to specify neural stem cells in vertebrates. Second, Ind plays an important role in patterning the CNS in conjunction with, vnd and msh, which is also similar to how vertebrates pattern their neural tube. This work focuses two important aspects of Ind function. First, we used multiple approaches to identify and characterize specific domains within the protein that confer repressor or activator ability. Currently, little is known about the presence of activation or repression domains within Ind. Here, we show that transcriptional repression by Ind requires multiple conserved domains within the protein, and that Ind has a transcriptional activation domain. Specifically, we have identified a novel domain, the Pst domain, that has transcriptional repression ability and appears to act independent of interaction with the co-repressor Groucho. This domain is highly conserved among insect species, but is not found in vertebrate Gsh class homeodomain proteins. Second, we show that Ind can and does repress vnd expression, but does so in a stage specific manner. We conclude from this that the function of Ind in regulating vnd expression is one of refinement and maintenance of the dorsal border.

Perpetration of physical assault against dating partners, peers, and siblings among a locally representative sample of high school students in Boston, Massachusetts.

PubMed

Rothman, Emily F; Johnson, Renee M; Azrael, Deborah; Hall, Diane M; Weinberg, Janice

2010-12-01

To assess the co-occurrence of past-month physical assault of a dating partner and violence against peers and siblings among a locally representative sample of high school students and to explore correlates of dating violence (DV) perpetration. Cross-sectional survey design. Twenty-two public high schools in Boston, Massachusetts. A sample of urban high school students (n = 1398) who participated in the Boston Youth Survey, implemented January through April of 2008. Self-reported physical DV in the month before the survey, defined as pushing, shoving, slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, or choking a dating partner 1 or more times. Among the respondents, 18.7%, 41.2%, and 31.2% of students reported past-month perpetration of physical DV, peer violence, and sibling violence, respectively. Among violence perpetrators, the perpetration of DV only was rare (7.9%). Controlling for age and school, the association between sibling violence and DV was strong for boys (adjusted prevalence ratio, 3.81; 95% confidence interval, 2.07-6.99) and for girls (1.83; 1.44-2.31), and the association between peer violence and DV perpetration was strong for boys (5.13; 3.15-8.35) and for girls (2.57; 1.87-3.52). Dating violence perpetration was also associated with substance use, knife carrying, delinquency, and exposure to community violence. Adolescents who perpetrated physical DV were also likely to have perpetrated peer and/or sibling violence. Dating violence is likely one of many co-occurring adolescent problem behaviors, including sibling and peer violence perpetration, substance use, weapon carrying, and academic problems.

Initial digital vasculitis in a large multicenter cohort of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Sakamoto, Ana Paula; Silva, Clovis Artur; Silva, Marco Felipe Castro da; Lopes, Anandreia Simões; Russo, Gleice Clemente Souza; Sallum, Adriana Maluf Elias; Kozu, Katia; Bonfá, Eloisa; Saad-Magalhães, Claudia; Pereira, Rosa Maria Rodrigues; Len, Claudio Arnaldo; Terreri, Maria Teresa

To assess clinical digital vasculitis (DV) as an initial manifestation of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) within a large population. Multicenter cross-sectional study including 852 cSLE patients (ACR criteria) followed in ten Pediatric Rheumatology centers in São Paulo State, Brazil. DV was observed in 25/852 (3%) cSLE patients. Periungual hemorrhage was diagnosed in 12 (48%), periungual infarction in 7 (28%), tip finger ulceration in 4 (16%), painful nodules in 1 (4%) and gangrene in 1 (4%). A poor outcome, with digital resorption, occurred in 5 (20%). Comparison of patients with and without DV revealed higher frequency of malar rash (80% vs. 53%, p=0.008), discoid rash (16% vs. 4%, p=0.017), photosensitivity (76% vs. 45%, p=0.002) and other cutaneous vasculitides (80% vs. 19%, p<0.0001), whereas the frequency of overall constitutional features (32% vs. 61%, p=0.003), fever (32% vs. 56%, p=0.020) and hepatomegaly (4% vs. 23%, p=0.026) were lower in these patients. Frequency of female gender, severe multi-organ involvement, autoantibodies profile and low complement were alike in both groups (p>0.05). SLEDAI-2K median, DV descriptor excluded, was significantly lower in patients with DV compared to those without this manifestation [10 (0-28) vs. 14 (0-58), p=0.004]. Visceral vasculitis or death were not observed in this cSLE cohort. The frequency of cyclophosphamide use (0% vs. 18%, p=0.014) was significantly lower in the DV group. Our large multicenter study identified clinical DV as one of the rare initial manifestation of active cSLE associated with a mild multisystemic disease, in spite of digital resorption in some of these patients. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.

Role of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Optic Disk Measurement by OCT on Early Diagnosis of Glaucoma.

PubMed

Hua, Zanmei; Fang, Qiuyun; Sha, Xiangyin; Yang, Ruiming; Hong, Zuopeng

2015-03-01

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can lead to irreversible optic nerve damage and cause blindness. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows an early diagnosis of glaucoma by the measurements of the retinal nerve fiber and optic disc parameters. A retrospective study was designed to analyze the effects of the measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and the optic disc tomography by spectral-domain OCT on the early diagnosis of suspected glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). This was a clinical case-control study. The RNFL thickness around the optic disc and optic disk tomographic parameters of the control (n = 51, 98 eyes), suspected glaucoma (n = 81, 146 eyes), and POAG groups (n = 55, 106 eyes) were measured by OCT. The parameters included superior, inferior, nasal and temporal mean RNFL thickness, disc area (DA), cup area (CA), rim area (RA), disc volume (DV), cup volume (CV), rim volume (RV), cup/disc area ratio (CA/DA), rim/disc area ratio (RA/DA), cup/disc volume ratio (CV/DV) and rim/disc volume ratio (RV/DV). Superior, nasal, and mean RNFL parameters, DA, CA,RA, DV, CV, CA/DA, RA/DA, CV/DV and RV/DV significantly differed among three groups by single-factorial ANOVA. Inferior and temporal RNFL thickness significantly differed between the control and POAG groups. No significant difference was observed in RV among three groups. In the POAG group, the maximum area under the ROC curve (AROC) of mean RNFL thickness was 0.845. The maximum AROC of optic disk parameters was RA/DA (0.998), followed by CA/DA (0.997). The AROC of CA, RA, CV, and DV were all > 0.900. OCT may serve as a useful diagnostic modality in distinguishing suspected glaucoma from POAG.

Drought increases cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) susceptibility to cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) at early stage of infection.

PubMed

Silva, Rodolpho G G; Vasconcelos, Ilka M; Martins, Thiago F; Varela, Anna L N; Souza, Pedro F N; Lobo, Ana K M; Silva, Fredy D A; Silveira, Joaquim A G; Oliveira, Jose T A

2016-12-01

The physiological and biochemical responses of a drought tolerant, virus-susceptible cowpea genotype exposed to drought stress (D), infected by Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) (V), and to these two combined stresses (DV), at 2 and 6 days post viral inoculation (DPI), were evaluated. Gas exchange parameters (net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and internal CO 2 partial pressure) were reduced in D and DV at 2 and 6 DPI compared to control plants (C). Photosynthesis was reduced by stomatal and biochemical limitations. Water use efficiency increased at 2 DPI in D, DV, and V, but at 6 DPI only in D and DV compared to C. Photochemical parameters (effective quantum efficiency of photosystem II and electron transport rate) decreased in D and DV compared to C, especially at 6 DPI. The potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II did not change, indicating reversible photoinhibition of photosystem II. In DV, catalase decreased at 2 and 6 DPI, ascorbate peroxidase increased at 2 DPI, but decreased at 6 DPI. Hydrogen peroxide increased at 2 and 6 DPI. Peroxidase increased at 6 DPI and chitinase at 2 and 6 DPI. β-1,3-glucanase decreased in DV at 6 DPI compared to V. Drought increased cowpea susceptibility to CPSMV at 2 DPI, as verified by RT-PCR. However, at 6 DPI, the cowpea plants overcome this effect. Likewise, CPSMV increased the negative effects of drought at 2 DPI, but not at 6 DPI. It was concluded that the responses to combined stresses are not additive and cannot be extrapolated from the study of individual stresses. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The Association of Domestic Violence and Social Resources With Functioning in an Adult Trauma-Affected Sample Living in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq.

PubMed

Kane, Jeremy C; Hall, Brian J; Bolton, Paul; Murray, Laura K; Mohammed Amin Ahmed, Ahmed; Bass, Judith K

2016-03-27

Domestic violence (DV) and other experienced trauma types increase the risk for impaired functioning. Access to social resources may provide a buffer to existing risks and allow individuals to continue and build functioning. This cross-sectional study investigated the direct effects of DV and access to social resources (perceived social support, social integration, and frequency of social contact), as well as their potential interactive effects, on daily functioning among 894 male and female trauma survivors who attended primary care clinics in Kurdistan, Iraq in 2009 and 2010. Experiencing DV was not associated with functioning for males (p=.15) or females (p=.60), suggesting that in the context of a trauma-affected sample, the experience of DV may not significantly increase the risk for functional impairment. Greater amounts of social integration were associated with less functional impairment among males (p<.01) and females (p<.05); social integration was associated with less functional impairment among males only (p<.01); and frequency of social contact was associated with less functional impairment among females only (p<.05), indicating that the association between social resource type and functioning differed by gender. Social resources had a stronger effect on functioning among men compared to women. Among males who experienced DV, social integration was the only social resource associated with less functional impairment (p<.01); among male trauma survivors who did not experience DV, social support was the only resource associated with less functional impairment (p<.01). Further investigation into these associations is warranted to inform intervention strategies for survivors of DV and other traumas in post-conflict settings. © The Author(s) 2016.

Polydeoxyribonucleotides and nitric oxide release from guinea-pig hearts during ischaemia and reperfusion.

PubMed Central

Masini, E.; Lupini, M.; Mugnai, L.; Raspanti, S.; Mannaioni, P. F.

1995-01-01

1. Two polydeoxyribonucleotides, produced by the controlled hydrolysis of DNA of mammalian lung (defibrotide and its lower molecular weight fraction, P.O. 085 DV), were studied for their ability to modify the release of nitrite and the coronary flow in perfusates collected from isolated, normally perfused hearts of guinea-pigs and from hearts subjected to regional ischaemia and reperfusion. 2. In guinea-pig normally perfused hearts, both defibrotide (DFT) and its fraction, P.O. 085 DV, increase the amount of nitrite appearing in perfusates in a concentration-dependent fashion. At the highest concentration studied (10(-6) M), P.O. 085 DV was more effective than DFT. A concomitant increase in the coronary flow was observed. 3. The increase in nitrite in perfusates and the increase in coronary flow induced by both DFT and P.O. 085 DV were significantly reduced by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 10(-4) M), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). 4. The endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine (ACh), enhances the formation of nitrite and the coronary flow. Both the increase in coronary flow and in the formation of nitrite were significantly reduced by L-NMMA (10(-4) M). 5. In guinea-pig hearts subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion, the effect of both compounds in increasing the amount of nitrite in perfusates was more evident and more pronounced with P.O. 085 DV. 6. Reperfusion-induced arrhythmias were significantly reduced by both compounds to the extent of complete protection afforded by compound P.O. 085 DV. 7. The cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of DFT and P.O. 085 DV are discussed. PMID:7582482

Canine distemper virus isolated from a monkey efficiently replicates on Vero cells expressing non-human primate SLAM receptors but not human SLAM receptor.

PubMed

Feng, Na; Liu, Yuxiu; Wang, Jianzhong; Xu, Weiwei; Li, Tiansong; Wang, Tiecheng; Wang, Lei; Yu, Yicong; Wang, Hualei; Zhao, Yongkun; Yang, Songtao; Gao, Yuwei; Hu, Guixue; Xia, Xianzhu

2016-08-02

In 2008, an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in monkeys was reported in China. We isolated CDV strain (subsequently named Monkey-BJ01-DV) from lung tissue obtained from a rhesus monkey that died in this outbreak. We evaluated the ability of this virus on Vero cells expressing SLAM receptors from dog, monkey and human origin, and analyzed the H gene of Monkey-BJ01-DV with other strains. The Monkey-BJ01-DV isolate replicated to the highest titer on Vero cells expressing dog-origin SLAM (10(5.2±0.2) TCID50/ml) and monkey-origin SLAM (10(5.4±0.1) TCID50/ml), but achieved markedly lower titers on human-origin SLAM cells (10(3.3±0.3) TCID50/ml). Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length H gene showed that Monkey-BJ01-DV was highly related to other CDV strains obtained during recent CDV epidemics among species of the Canidae family in China, and these Monkey strains CDV (Monkey-BJ01-DV, CYN07-dV, Monkey-KM-01) possessed a number of amino acid specific substitutions (E276V, Q392R, D435Y and I542F) compared to the H protein of CDV epidemic in other animals at the same period. Our results suggested that the monkey origin-CDV-H protein could possess specific substitutions to adapt to the new host. Monkey-BJ01-DV can efficiently use monkey- and dog-origin SLAM to infect and replicate in host cells, but further adaptation may be required for efficient replication in host cells expressing the human SLAM receptor.

Assessing Domestic Violence Shelter Workers Views and Practices Pertaining to HIV Prevention Services for Women Residing in Domestic Violence Shelters.

PubMed

Cavanaugh, Courtenay E; Harvey, Jenna; Alexander, Kamila A; Saraczewski, Samantha; Campbell, Jacquelyn C

2018-06-01

There is a need for studies to assess domestic violence (DV) shelter workers views about brief HIV prevention interventions for shelter residents to improve these workers' provision of HIV prevention interventions to shelter residents. This mixed methods study assessed DV shelter workers' views about the following: (a) the need for and appropriateness of HIV prevention services within DV shelters, (b) the utility (i.e., acceptability, systems support, understanding, and feasibility) of an HIV Risk Assessment and Safety Plan (HIV RASP) for women in DV shelters, and (c) suggested changes to or concerns about using the HIV RASP. Workers from DV shelters located in the 10 states in the United States with the highest rates of HIV reviewed the HIV RASP and answered survey questions about it including the Usage Rating Profile-Intervention (URP-I) Questionnaire and two open-ended questions. Although workers felt it was appropriate to provide HIV prevention interventions within DV shelters, only 23% reported that HIV prevention interventions had ever been implemented at their shelter and only 42% had provided residents with educational brochures about HIV prevention. Workers generally agreed that the HIV RASP was acceptable, understandable, and feasible. They somewhat disagreed about their ability to implement the tool independently. Findings suggest that little progress has been made in engaging DV shelter workers in HIV prevention efforts for residents during the past decade and reveal ways to improve the HIV RASP and overcome barriers to implementing it. The study findings may be used to help reduce gaps between the science and practice of HIV prevention for abused women.

The Role and Education of Dental Care Professionals in Identifying Domestic Violence: Report of an Audience Participation Exercise and Round Table Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lea, Susan J.; Quinn, Barry; Reynolds, Patricia A.

2017-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) is a major public problem affecting 30% of women over 16. Three quarters of victims have violence to the head and neck, and therefore the role of the dentist is paramount in DV identification. Only one-third of dental schools in the UK include DV in their curricula and there is a need to introduce effective education for the…

Incidence of Domestic Violence Against Pregnant Females After the Great East Japan Earthquake in Miyagi Prefecture: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

PubMed

Sakurai, Kasumi; Nishigori, Hidekazu; Nishigori, Toshie; Mizuno, Satoshi; Obara, Taku; Iwama, Noriyuki; Watanabe, Zen; Ishikuro, Mami; Tatsuta, Nozomi; Nishijima, Ichiko; Sugawara, Junichi; Fujiwara, Ikuma; Arima, Takahiro; Kuriyama, Shinichi; Metoki, Hirohito; Takahashi, Fumiaki; Nakai, Kunihiko; Yaegashi, Nobuo

2017-04-01

This study aimed to clarify the correlation between the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and domestic violence (DV) against pregnant females after the disaster in Miyagi Prefecture, an area damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. We analyzed 7600 pregnant females from June to December 2011. The incidence of physical and mental DV and the proportions in the inland, north coastal, and south coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture and nationwide were calculated, and a chi-square test was conducted for comparison. The risk factors for DV were estimated with multivariate logistic regression analyses on a prefecture-wide basis. The incidence levels for physical DV were found to be 5.9% in the north coastal area, which was significantly higher than in the inland area (1.3%, P=0.0007) and nationwide (1.5%, P<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the incidence of mental DV between the 3 areas in Miyagi Prefecture (inland 15.2%, north coast 15.7%, and south coast 18.8%) or nationwide (13.8%). Experiencing disease or injury in someone close and changes in the family structure were significantly associated with mental DV in Miyagi Prefecture. Continuous monitoring and support for pregnant females may be necessary to address this issue in disaster-affected areas. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:216-226).

Disparity profiles in 3DV applications: overcoming the issue of heterogeneous viewing conditions in stereoscopic delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boisson, Guillaume; Chamaret, Christel

2012-03-01

More and more numerous 3D movies are released each year. Thanks to the current spread of 3D-TV displays, these 3D Video (3DV) contents are about to enter massively the homes. Yet viewing conditions determine the stereoscopic features achievable for 3DV material. Because the conditions at home - screen size and distance to screen - differ significantly from a theater, 3D Cinema movies need to be repurposed before broadcast and replication on 3D Blu-ray Discs for being fully enjoyed at home. In that paper we tackle that particular issue of how to handle the variety of viewing conditions in stereoscopic contents delivery. To that extend we first investigate what is basically at stake for granting stereoscopic viewers' comfort, through the well-known - and sometimes dispraised - vergence-accommodation conflict. Thereby we define a set of basic rules that can serve as guidelines for 3DV creation. We propose disparity profiles as new requirements for 3DV production and repurposing. Meeting proposed background and foreground constraints prevents from visual fatigue, and occupying the whole depth budget available grants optimal 3D effects. We present an efficient algorithm for automatic disparity-based 3DV retargeting depending on the viewing conditions. Variants are proposed depending on the input format (stereoscopic binocular content or depth-based format) and the level of complexity achievable.

Heterogeneity Within Domestic Violence Exposure: Young Adults' Retrospective Experiences.

PubMed

Haselschwerdt, Megan L; Hlavaty, Kathleen; Carlson, Camille; Schneider, Mallory; Maddox, Lauren; Skipper, Megan

2016-06-01

Using Holden's taxonomy of domestic violence (DV) exposure as a guiding framework, the current study examined young adults' diverse DV exposure experiences. Twenty-five young adults (ages 19-25) exposed to father-perpetrated DV during their childhood and adolescence were interviewed using a qualitative descriptive design. Data analyses focused on coercive control exposure through reports of non-physical abuse tactics, types of exposure (e.g., direct, indirect), physical violence exposure (e.g., severity, frequency), and child abuse and harsh parenting practices. DV-exposed young adults were directly and indirectly exposed to physical violence and an array of non-physical abuse tactics toward their mothers. Young adults categorized as having been exposed to coercive controlling violence reported exposure to ongoing, non-physical abuse tactics and more frequent and severe physical violence. These young adults were also more likely to intervene and become victimized during physical violence and reported repeated episodes of child abuse and harsh parenting. Although coercive control appeared to be associated with physical violence and child abuse, generalizations should be made with caution as a few participants exposed to situational conflict were exposed to frequent and severe DV. The findings suggest that DV exposure should be measured in methodologically sophisticated ways to capture the heterogeneity in experiences, with the goal of promoting empirically driven intervention and prevention initiatives that are tailored to individual and family needs. © The Author(s) 2016.

Associations between women's perceptions of domestic violence and contraceptive use in seven countries in West and Central Africa.

PubMed

Olorunsaiye, Comfort Z; Brunner Huber, Larissa; Laditka, Sarah B; Kulkarni, Shanti; Boyd, A Suzanne

2017-10-01

This study examined associations of women's attitudes toward domestic violence (DV) and contraceptive use in West and Central Africa. We used data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys for women in seven countries in West and Central Africa (2009-2011, n=80,055). We measured contraceptive use as none, traditional, or modern contraceptives. DV approval was measured as no, low, or high tolerance of wife beating. Multinomial logistic regression estimated odds of using traditional or modern methods versus none, adjusting for age, education, wealth, residence, parity, marital structure, spousal age-difference, and religion. Many women had no or low DV tolerance (41%, 44%, respectively); most used no contraception (81%). In adjusted results, women with low DV tolerance had lower odds of using traditional contraceptive methods (odds ratio, OR=0.87; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.78-0.98) or modern methods (OR=0.86; 95% CI: 0.78-0.95) compared to women with no tolerance. Women with high DV tolerance had 28% lower odds of traditional contraceptive use (95% CI: 0.60-0.90), and 38% lower odds of modern contraceptive use (95% CI: 0.59-0.88) compared to women with no tolerance. The high prevalence of DV approval may threaten the success of programs aimed at improving women's reproductive health, including contraceptive use. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of the dichlorvos-ammonia (DV-AM) method for the visual detection of aflatoxigenic fungi.

PubMed

Yabe, Kimiko; Hatabayashi, Hidemi; Ikehata, Akifumi; Zheng, Yazhi; Kushiro, Masayo

2015-12-01

Aflatoxins (AFs) are carcinogenic and toxic secondary metabolites produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. To monitor and regulate the AF contamination of crops, a sensitive and precise detection method for these toxigenic fungi in environments is necessary. We herein developed a novel visual detection method, the dichlorvos-ammonia (DV-AM) method, for identifying AF-producing fungi using DV and AM vapor on agar culture plates, in which DV inhibits the esterase in AF biosynthesis, causing the accumulation of anthraquinone precursors (versiconal hemiacetal acetate and versiconol acetate) of AFs in mycelia on the agar plate, followed by a change in the color of the colonies from light yellow to brilliant purple-red by the AM vapor treatment. We also investigated the appropriate culture conditions to increase the color intensity. It should be noted that other species producing the same precursors of AFs such as Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus versicolor could be discriminated from the Aspergillus section Flavi based on the differences of their phenotypes. The DV-AM method was also useful for the isolation of nonaflatoxigenic fungi showing no color change, for screening microorganisms that inhibit the AF production by fungi, and for the characterization of the fungi infecting corn kernels. Thus, the DV-AM method can provide a highly sensitive and visible indicator for the detection of aflatoxigenic fungi.

Lethal domestic violence in eastern North Carolina.

PubMed

Gilliland, M G; Spence, P R; Spence, R L

2000-01-01

Strategies for preventing domestic violence can be tailored to a particular geographic or socioeconomic area if the patterns of domestic violence in the area are known. National statistics, although widely available, may not be applicable to a specific region. We reviewed homicide deaths in Eastern North Carolina between 1978 and 1999 to identify patterns in this rural area. Approximately 20% of the homicide deaths in eastern North Carolina are caused by intimate partners. Women accounted for 53% of the victims in 1976, similar to national figures but not rising to 72% as seen nationally in 1998. Latinos are an increasing presence in the area, but had only one recorded episode of lethal violence against an intimate partner. Gunshots accounted for most of the deaths (59% in men, 72% in women). Knowledge of such patterns can assist in selecting prevention strategies for this particular area. Over the last 25 years increasing attention has been devoted to domestic violence (DV), initially defined as abuse committed against a spouse, former spouse, fiancée, boy- or girlfriend, or cohabitant. As time has passed, the definition has been broadened to include other family members--elders, children, and siblings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now uses the term "intimate partner violence" for intentional emotional or physical abuse inflicted by a spouse, ex-spouse, a present or former boy- or girlfriend, or date. For the purposes of this paper, we consider DV interchangeable with intimate partner violence. There has been a national concern that abusive events are under-reported. The National Crime Victimization Survey, an anonymous household survey, indicated nearly 1 million incidents of non-lethal intimate partner violence per year between 1992 and 1996. The number decreased from 1.1 million in 1993 to 840,000 in 1996. Attempts to validate such data for a given geographic area often require subjects to violate anonymity--this may account for lower reports of violence. A recent national report from the Justice Department found a decline in both lethal and non-lethal DV. The number of men murdered by wives or girlfriends "plunged 60% from 1976 through 1998". FBI data on homicides showed that "intimate partners committed fewer murders each year during 1996, 1997, and 1998 than in any other year since 1976". Nationally, intimate partners caused 3000 deaths in 1976, 1590 (53%) in women; in 1998, they caused 1830 deaths, 1320 (73%) in women. But fatal cases of DV are only the tip of the iceberg, and may pertain only to a particular geographic area. We undertook the present study to assess the prevalence of lethal domestic violence in the 29 counties of eastern North Carolina (ENC) that make up the catchment area for the University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina (UHSEC). UHSEC includes the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (BSM-ECU; previously known as East Carolina University-SOM) and Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Psychometric testing of inventory of beliefs and attitudes on domestic violence.

PubMed

Hutchinson, Marie; Doran, Frances

2017-06-22

Background Domestic violence (DV) is an international public health issue associated with adverse health outcomes for adults and children. There have been widespread calls to increase nurses' capacity to respond to DV and improve undergraduate nursing education in this area. However, there are few valid, reliable and contemporary measures of nursing attitudes towards and beliefs concerning DV that are suited for use in evaluating education programmes. Aim To establish the psychometric properties of a newly developed inventory designed to measure nursing students' beliefs about and attitudes towards DV. Discussion Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.646. The few factors loading>.80 suggest that the instrument has good discriminate validity. The absence of cross-loadings indicate good convergent validity. Conclusion The inventory provides one of the first validated and reliable measures for examining undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards and beliefs about DV. Implications for practice The instrument is suited for use by nurse educators in assessing the influence of curriculum design and teaching strategies on student beliefs and attitudes. It would also be useful in studies investigating nurses' clinical practice on domestic violence.

Mexican American female adolescents' perceptions of relationships and dating violence.

PubMed

Haglund, Kristin; Belknap, Ruth Ann; Garcia, Juanita Terrie

2012-09-01

This study fills a gap regarding the perspectives of Mexican American female adolescents on dating relationships and dating violence (DV). This was a qualitative descriptive study. Focus groups included 20 Mexican American young women, primarily first and second generation, mean age 14.5 years (SD= 2.5). Data were analyzed with categorical analysis. Participants described key components of DV and identified cultural aspects that may serve to promote healthy dating relationships. Family-based interventions to promote exploration of gender roles and parent-child communication may foster biculturalism as well as promote healthy dating relationships and prevent violence within this cultural group. In the United States, 10% to 40% of teens experience DV. Hispanic females experience more physical DV than their White peers. © 2012 Sigma Theta Tau International.

High School Youth's Reactions to Participating in Mixed-Methodological Dating Violence Research.

PubMed

Edwards, Katie M; Haynes, Ellen E; Rodenhizer-Stämpfli, Kara Anne

2016-07-01

The present study used a sample of high school youth (N = 218) and a mixed-methodological research design to examine high school students' reactions to participating in focus groups and completing surveys that inquired about dating violence (DV). Results showed that showed that 1.5% (n = 3) of the youth regretted participating in the study and 6% (n = 12) were upset by the study questions; being upset was attributed to personal experiences with DV and being disturbed by peers' responses during the focus group. Furthermore, 49% (n = 99) of the youth reported feeling that they personally benefited from participating in the study for reasons such as learning ways to help friends in situations of DV. Results have implications for conducting mixed-methodological DV research with youth. © The Author(s) 2016.

Comparison of properties of medial entorhinal cortex layer II neurons in two anatomical dimensions with and without cholinergic activation.

PubMed

Yoshida, Motoharu; Jochems, Arthur; Hasselmo, Michael E

2013-01-01

Mechanisms underlying grid cell firing in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) still remain unknown. Computational modeling studies have suggested that cellular properties such as spike frequency adaptation and persistent firing might underlie the grid cell firing. Recent in vivo studies also suggest that cholinergic activation influences grid cell firing. Here we investigated the anatomical distribution of firing frequency adaptation, the medium spike after hyperpolarization potential (mAHP), subthreshold membrane potential oscillations, sag potential, input resistance and persistent firing, in MEC layer II principal cells using in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recordings in rats. Anatomical distributions of these properties were compared along both the dorso-ventral and medio-lateral axes, both with and without the cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol. We found that spike frequency adaptation is significantly stronger in ventral than in dorsal neurons both with and without carbachol. Spike frequency adaptation was significantly correlated with the duration of the mAHP, which also showed a gradient along the dorso-ventral axis. In carbachol, we found that about 50% of MEC layer II neurons show persistent firing which lasted more than 30 seconds. Persistent firing of MEC layer II neurons might contribute to grid cell firing by providing the excitatory drive. Dorso-ventral differences in spike frequency adaptation we report here are opposite from previous predictions by a computational model. We discuss an alternative mechanism as to how dorso-ventral differences in spike frequency adaptation could contribute to different scales of grid spacing.

Static Aeroelastic Effects on High Performance Aircraft

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

davis la rffrence 9. L’avion est instrurnent6, en plus des capteurs classiques des param~tres de n~ca- nique du vol. de plusleurs centaines de jauges de...crites §2.3.5, et lensemble dv l’analyse, pernet- tent le calcul des r~ponues des jauges en fonction dv X soit ar ( X) , lv procesnus de d~rivation...travissonique. Rema rque La smine technique d’identification par rtponne dv jauges s’applique (plus simple- ment) sur len essais en soufflerie, pour la

Mesodermal and axial determinants contribute to mesoderm regionalization in Bufo arenarum embryos.

PubMed

Manes, Mario E; Campos Casal, Fernando H

2002-09-01

The existence of mesodermal determinants in the equator of Bufo arenarum embryos has been previously demonstrated. In this work, their role in dorso-ventral regionalization of mesoderm was studied by transferring the determinants to animal blastomeres. The transfer was performed by cleavage reorientation and cytoplasmic microinjection. Forced inclination during early cleavage caused deviation of the third cleavage plane and annexation of equatorial cytoplasm into animal quartets. Animal blastomeres from embryos oriented with the dorsal side up, incorporated ventro-equatorial cytoplasm and formed blood cells, mesenchyme, and coelomic epithelium. In contrast, animal blastomeres from embryos oriented with the ventral side up, acquired dorso-equatorial cytoplasm and developed notochord, somites, mesenchyme, coelomic epithelium and nervous tissue. In order to investigate if this dorso-ventral differentiation pattern responds to an interaction of mesodermal and axial factors, isolated 8-cell-stage animal quartets were microinjected with subcortical cytoplasm from: (a) the ventro-equatorial region of synchronous embryos; (b) the vegetal pole of uncleaved eggs; (c) a combination of both cytoplasms. As expected, the implanted ventro-equatorial cytoplasm promoted ventral mesoderm differentiation. Conversely, the joint transfer of ventro-equatorial cytoplasm and vegetal pole cytoplasm behaved as the dorso-equatorial cytoplasm, promoting dorso-lateral mesoderm and neural formation. Thus, mesoderm regionalization in B. arenarum embryos seems to be caused by a concurrent action of both mesodermal and axial determinants.

The impact of domestic violence exposure on South Asian children in the United States: Perspectives of domestic violence agency staff.

PubMed

Ragavan, Maya I; Fikre, Tsion; Millner, Uma; Bair-Merritt, Megan

2018-02-01

The South Asian community is the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, and past research suggests that South Asian domestic violence (DV) survivors may require culturally-specific resources. Similarly, South Asian children in the US exposed to DV may have unique responses and needs, but this has not been explored to date. The objective of this study was to examine the specific needs of South Asian children exposed to DV from the vantage point of staff from South Asian DV agencies across the United States. Thirty interviews were conducted, with data coded and consolidated into larger themes using thematic analysis. Participants described several factors important to understanding the impact of DV on South Asian children including the role of the extended family, identifying with two cultures, fear about what the South Asian community will think, gender differences, and the importance of projecting an image of perfection. Participants also discussed development of culturally-tailored resources. This study suggests the importance of framing South Asian children's experiences within the context of interweaving South Asian and American cultural values, with careful attention paid to how potential culture clashes between parents and children may impact the way children process trauma. Further work should triangulate these themes with children, parents, and extended family, as well as collaborate with South Asian DV agencies to design child-focused programs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Asymmetric leaves1 mediates leaf patterning and stem cell function in Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Byrne, M E; Barley, R; Curtis, M; Arroyo, J M; Dunham, M; Hudson, A; Martienssen, R A

Meristem function in plants requires both the maintenance of stem cells and the specification of founder cells from which lateral organs arise. Lateral organs are patterned along proximodistal, dorsoventral and mediolateral axes. Here we show that the Arabidopsis mutant asymmetric leaves1 (as1) disrupts this process. AS1 encodes a myb domain protein, closely related to PHANTASTICA in Antirrhinum and ROUGH SHEATH2 in maize, both of which negatively regulate knotted-class homeobox genes. AS1 negatively regulates the homeobox genes KNAT1 and KNAT2 and is, in turn, negatively regulated by the meristematic homeobox gene SHOOT MERISTEMLESS. This genetic pathway defines a mechanism for differentiating between stem cells and organ founder cells within the shoot apical meristem and demonstrates that genes expressed in organ primordia interact with meristematic genes to regulate shoot morphogenesis.

Patterning of mammalian somites by surface ectoderm and notochord: evidence for sclerotome induction by a hedgehog homolog.

PubMed

Fan, C M; Tessier-Lavigne, M

1994-12-30

An early step in the development of vertebrae, ribs, muscle, and dermis is the differentiation of the somitic mesoderm into dermomyotome dorsally and sclerotome ventrally. To analyze this process, we have developed an in vitro assay for somitic mesoderm differentiation. We show that sclerotomal markers can be induced by a diffusible factor secreted by notochord and floor plate and that heterologous cells expressing Sonic hedgehog (shh/vhh-1) mimic this effect. In contrast, expression of dermomyotomal markers can be caused by a contact-dependent signal from surface ectoderm and a diffusible signal from dorsal neural tube. Our results extend previous studies by suggesting that dorsoventral patterning of somites involves the coordinate action of multiple dorsalizing and ventralizing signals and that a diffusible form of Shh/Vhh-1 mediates sclerotome induction.

How the embryo makes a limb: determination, polarity and identity

PubMed Central

Tickle, Cheryll

2015-01-01

The vertebrate limb with its complex anatomy develops from a small bud of undifferentiated mesoderm cells encased in ectoderm. The bud has its own intrinsic polarity and can develop autonomously into a limb without reference to the rest of the embryo. In this review, recent advances are integrated with classical embryology, carried out mainly in chick embryos, to present an overview of how the embryo makes a limb bud. We will focus on how mesoderm cells in precise locations in the embryo become determined to form a limb and express the key transcription factors Tbx4 (leg/hindlimb) or Tbx5 (wing/forelimb). These Tbx transcription factors have equivalent functions in the control of bud formation by initiating a signalling cascade involving Wnts and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and by regulating recruitment of mesenchymal cells from the coelomic epithelium into the bud. The mesoderm that will form limb buds and the polarity of the buds is determined with respect to both antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes of the body. The position in which a bud develops along the antero-posterior axis of the body will also determine its identity – wing/forelimb or leg/hindlimb. Hox gene activity, under the influence of retinoic acid signalling, is directly linked with the initiation of Tbx5 gene expression in the region along the antero-posterior axis of the body that will form wings/forelimbs and determines antero-posterior polarity of the buds. In contrast, Tbx4 expression in the regions that will form legs/hindlimbs is regulated by the homeoprotein Pitx1 and there is no evidence that Hox genes determine antero-posterior polarity of the buds. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling determines the region along the dorso-ventral axis of the body in which both wings/forelimbs and legs/hindlimbs develop and dorso-ventral polarity of the buds. The polarity of the buds leads to the establishment of signalling regions – the dorsal and ventral ectoderm, producing Wnts and BMPs, respectively, the apical ectodermal ridge producing fibroblast growth factors and the polarizing region, Sonic hedgehog (Shh). These signals are the same in both wings/forelimbs and legs/hindlimbs and control growth and pattern formation by providing the mesoderm cells of the limb bud as it develops with positional information. The precise anatomy of the limb depends on the mesoderm cells in the developing bud interpreting positional information according to their identity – determined by Pitx1 in hindlimbs – and genotype. The competence to form a limb extends along the entire antero-posterior axis of the trunk – with Hox gene activity inhibiting the formation of forelimbs in the interlimb region – and also along the dorso-ventral axis. PMID:26249743

How the embryo makes a limb: determination, polarity and identity.

PubMed

Tickle, Cheryll

2015-10-01

The vertebrate limb with its complex anatomy develops from a small bud of undifferentiated mesoderm cells encased in ectoderm. The bud has its own intrinsic polarity and can develop autonomously into a limb without reference to the rest of the embryo. In this review, recent advances are integrated with classical embryology, carried out mainly in chick embryos, to present an overview of how the embryo makes a limb bud. We will focus on how mesoderm cells in precise locations in the embryo become determined to form a limb and express the key transcription factors Tbx4 (leg/hindlimb) or Tbx5 (wing/forelimb). These Tbx transcription factors have equivalent functions in the control of bud formation by initiating a signalling cascade involving Wnts and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and by regulating recruitment of mesenchymal cells from the coelomic epithelium into the bud. The mesoderm that will form limb buds and the polarity of the buds is determined with respect to both antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes of the body. The position in which a bud develops along the antero-posterior axis of the body will also determine its identity - wing/forelimb or leg/hindlimb. Hox gene activity, under the influence of retinoic acid signalling, is directly linked with the initiation of Tbx5 gene expression in the region along the antero-posterior axis of the body that will form wings/forelimbs and determines antero-posterior polarity of the buds. In contrast, Tbx4 expression in the regions that will form legs/hindlimbs is regulated by the homeoprotein Pitx1 and there is no evidence that Hox genes determine antero-posterior polarity of the buds. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling determines the region along the dorso-ventral axis of the body in which both wings/forelimbs and legs/hindlimbs develop and dorso-ventral polarity of the buds. The polarity of the buds leads to the establishment of signalling regions - the dorsal and ventral ectoderm, producing Wnts and BMPs, respectively, the apical ectodermal ridge producing fibroblast growth factors and the polarizing region, Sonic hedgehog (Shh). These signals are the same in both wings/forelimbs and legs/hindlimbs and control growth and pattern formation by providing the mesoderm cells of the limb bud as it develops with positional information. The precise anatomy of the limb depends on the mesoderm cells in the developing bud interpreting positional information according to their identity - determined by Pitx1 in hindlimbs - and genotype. The competence to form a limb extends along the entire antero-posterior axis of the trunk - with Hox gene activity inhibiting the formation of forelimbs in the interlimb region - and also along the dorso-ventral axis. © 2015 Anatomical Society.

Structure, Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Culex pipiens Complex in Shanghai, China

PubMed Central

Gao, Qiang; Xiong, Chenglong; Su, Fei; Cao, Hui; Zhou, Jianjun; Jiang, Qingwu

2016-01-01

Background: Culex pipiens molestus was first reported in Shanghai in 2010. The population structures and seasonal distributions of Culex pipiens subspecies C. p. molestus, Culex pipiens pallens, and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus are not well known. Methods: From late February to November 2013, we conducted daily field surveillance of mosquitoes at eight sites at two green lands and three residential areas in downtown Shanghai. Morphological comparison and DV/D ratios (DV/D is an indicator of mosquito taxonomy) were used to identify adult mosquitoes. Results: The distribution curves of the Culex pipiens complex members indicated seasonal fluctuations. The temperature range of 20–25 °C was the most suitable for adult activity. Micro-environmental factors may differentiate the complex population structures. Hybridization between C. p. pallens and C. p. quinquefasciatus was common and neither “DV/D = 0.40” nor “DV/D = 0.50” can distinguish these subspecies and their hybrids. Conclusion: the population structure of the Culex pipiens complex is complex and characterized by significant hybridization. Measures other than DV/D ratios are needed for the discrimination of subspecies. The C. p. molestus invasion might result in the transmission of novel vector-borne diseases in Shanghai. PMID:27869687

Greater commitment to the domestic violence training is required.

PubMed

Leppäkoski, Tuija Helena; Flinck, Aune; Paavilainen, Eija

2015-05-01

Domestic violence (DV) is a major public health problem with high health and social costs. A solution to this multi-faceted problem requires that various help providers work together in an effective and optimal manner when dealing with different parties of DV. The objective of our research and development project (2008-2013) was to improve the preparedness of the social and healthcare professionals to manage DV. This article focuses on the evaluation of interprofessional education (IPE) to provide knowledge and skills for identifying and intervening in DV and to improve collaboration among social and health care professionals and other help providers at the local and regional level. The evaluation data were carried out with an internal evaluation. The evaluation data were collected from the participants orally and in the written form. The participants were satisfied with the content of the IPE programme itself and the teaching methods used. Participation in the training sessions could have been more active. Moreover, some of the people who had enrolled for the trainings could not attend all of them. IPE is a valuable way to develop intervening in DV. However, greater commitment to the training is required from not only the participants and their superiors but also from trustees.

Intimate partner violence: childhood exposure to domestic violence.

PubMed

Chen, Ping-Hsin; Jacobs, Abbie; Rovi, Susan L D

2013-09-01

Children who are exposed to domestic violence (DV) may experience many short- and long-term negative effects. They are up to 3.8 times more likely to become perpetrators or victims in adulthood than are children not exposed to DV. They also are at high risk of health problems, risky health behaviors, violence, and social functioning problems. Girls who witness intimate partner violence (IPV) are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms, and boys exposed to IPV are more likely to exhibit aggression and delinquent behaviors. To prepare the practice to identify and assist children exposed to DV, physicians should undergo training, implement screening protocols, use caution when documenting findings, collaborate with local agencies, and learn about the state's reporting laws. State and local DV service programs or other community resources can provide assessment and intervention assistance. Social workers, mental health professionals, and child and DV advocates can assist in providing treatment for children exposed to violence. Physicians should schedule follow-up appointments for children who need treatment, monitor behavior, and coordinate intervention services. Written permission from the American Academy of Family Physicians is required for reproduction of this material in whole or in part in any form or medium.

The partition dimension of subdivision of a graph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amrullah, Baskoro, Edy Tri; Uttunggadewa, Saladin; Simanjuntak, Rinovia

2016-02-01

Let G = (V,E) be a connected graph, u,v ∈ V (G), e = uv ∈ E(G) and k be a positive integer. A k-subdivision of an edge e is a replacement of e = uv with a path u, x1, x2, x ..., xk, v. A graph G with a k-subdivided edge is denoted with S(G(e; k)). Let p be a positive integer and Π = {L1, L2, L3, …, Lp} be a p-partition of V (G). The representation of a vertex v with respect to Π, r(v|Π), is the vector (d(v, L1), d(v, L2), d(v, L3),…, d(v, Lp)) where d(v, Li) for i ∈ [1, p] is the minimum distance between v and the vertices of Li. The partition Π is called a resolving partition of G if r(w|Π) ≠ r(v|Π) for all w ≠ v ∈ V (G). The partition dimension, pd(G), of G is the smallest integer p such that G has a resolving p-partition. In this paper, we present sharp upper and lower bounds of the partition dimension of S(G(e; k)) for any graph G.

Lethal canine distemper virus outbreak in cynomolgus monkeys in Japan in 2008.

PubMed

Sakai, Kouji; Nagata, Noriyo; Ami, Yasushi; Seki, Fumio; Suzaki, Yuriko; Iwata-Yoshikawa, Naoko; Suzuki, Tadaki; Fukushi, Shuetsu; Mizutani, Tetsuya; Yoshikawa, Tomoki; Otsuki, Noriyuki; Kurane, Ichiro; Komase, Katsuhiro; Yamaguchi, Ryoji; Hasegawa, Hideki; Saijo, Masayuki; Takeda, Makoto; Morikawa, Shigeru

2013-01-01

Canine distemper virus (CDV) has recently expanded its host range to nonhuman primates. A large CDV outbreak occurred in rhesus monkeys at a breeding farm in Guangxi Province, China, in 2006, followed by another outbreak in rhesus monkeys at an animal center in Beijing in 2008. In 2008 in Japan, a CDV outbreak also occurred in cynomolgus monkeys imported from China. In that outbreak, 46 monkeys died from severe pneumonia during a quarantine period. A CDV strain (CYN07-dV) was isolated in Vero cells expressing dog signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM). Phylogenic analysis showed that CYN07-dV was closely related to the recent CDV outbreaks in China, suggesting continuing chains of CDV infection in monkeys. In vitro, CYN07-dV uses macaca SLAM and macaca nectin4 as receptors as efficiently as dog SLAM and dog nectin4, respectively. CYN07-dV showed high virulence in experimentally infected cynomolgus monkeys and excreted progeny viruses in oral fluid and feces. These data revealed that some of the CDV strains, like CYN07-dV, have the potential to cause acute systemic infection in monkeys.

Deuterostome evolution: early development in the enteropneust hemichordate, Ptychodera flava

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henry, J. Q.; Tagawa, K.; Martindale, M. Q.

2001-01-01

Molecular and morphological comparisons indicate that the Echinodermata and Hemichordata represent closely related sister-phyla within the Deuterostomia. Much less is known about the development of the hemichordates compared to other deuterostomes. For the first time, cell lineage analyses have been carried out for an indirect-developing representative of the enteropneust hemichordates, Ptychodera flava. Single blastomeres were iontophoretically labeled with Dil at the 2- through 16-cell stages, and their fates followed through development to the tornaria larval stage. The early cleavage pattern of P. flava is similar to that of the direct-developing hemichordate, Saccoglossus kowalevskii, as well as that displayed by indirect-developing echinoids. The 16-celled embryo contains eight animal "mesomeres," four slightly larger "macromeres," and four somewhat smaller vegetal "micromeres." The first cleavage plane was not found to bear one specific relationship relative to the larval dorsoventral axis. Although individual blastomeres generate discrete clones of cells, the appearance and exact locations of these clones are variable with respect to the embryonic dorsoventral and bilateral axes. The eight animal mesomeres generate anterior (animal) ectoderm of the larva, which includes the apical organ; however, contributions to the apical organ were found to be variable as only a subset of the animal blastomeres end up contributing to its formation and this varies from embryo to embryo. The macromeres generate posterior larval ectoderm, and the vegetal micromeres form all the internal, endomesodermal tissues. These blastomere contributions are similar to those found during development of the only other hemichordate studied, the direct-developing enteropneust, S. kowalevskii. Finally, isolated blastomeres prepared at either the two- or the four-cell stage are capable of forming normal-appearing, miniature tornaria larvae. These findings indicate that the fates of these cells and embryonic dorsoventral axial properties are not committed at these early stages of development. Comparisons with the developmental programs of other deuterostome phyla allow one to speculate on the conservation of some key developmental events/mechanisms and propose basal character states shared by the ancestor of echinoderms and hemichordates.

Temporal Variability in Seismic Velocity at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taira, T.; Nayak, A.; Brenguier, F.

2015-12-01

We characterize the temporal variability of ambient noise wavefield and search for velocity changes associated with activities of the geothermal energy development at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field. The noise cross-correlations (NCFs) are computed for ~6 years of continuous three-component seismic data (December 2007 through January 2014) collected at 8 sites from the CalEnergy Subnetwork (EN network) with MSNoise software (Lecocq et al., 2014, SRL). All seismic data are downloaded from the Southern California Earthquake Data Center. Velocity changes (dv/v) are obtained by measuring time delay between 5-day stacks of NCFs and the reference NCF (average over the entire 6 year period). The time history of dv/v is determined by averaging dv/v measurements over all station/channel pairs (252 combinations). Our preliminary dv/v measurement suggests a gradual increase in dv/v over the 6-year period in a frequency range of 0.5-8.0 Hz. The resultant increase rate of velocity is about 0.01%/year. We also explore the frequency-dependent velocity change at the 5 different frequency bands (0.5-2.0 Hz, 0.75-3.0 Hz, 1.0-4.0 Hz, 1.5-6.0 Hz, and 2.0-8.0 Hz) and find that the level of this long-term dv/v variability is increased with increase of frequency (i.e., the highest increase rate of ~0.15%/year at the 0.5-2.0 Hz band). This result suggests that the velocity changes were mostly occurred in a depth of ~500 m assuming that the coda parts of NCFs (~10-40 s depending on station distances) are predominantly composed of scattered surface waves, with the SoCal velocity model (Dreger and Helmberger, 1993, JGR). No clear seasonal variation of dv/v is observed in the frequency band of 0.5-8.0 Hz.

Do Three-dimensional Visualization and Three-dimensional Printing Improve Hepatic Segment Anatomy Teaching? A Randomized Controlled Study.

PubMed

Kong, Xiangxue; Nie, Lanying; Zhang, Huijian; Wang, Zhanglin; Ye, Qiang; Tang, Lei; Li, Jianyi; Huang, Wenhua

2016-01-01

Hepatic segment anatomy is difficult for medical students to learn. Three-dimensional visualization (3DV) is a useful tool in anatomy teaching, but current models do not capture haptic qualities. However, three-dimensional printing (3DP) can produce highly accurate complex physical models. Therefore, in this study we aimed to develop a novel 3DP hepatic segment model and compare the teaching effectiveness of a 3DV model, a 3DP model, and a traditional anatomical atlas. A healthy candidate (female, 50-years old) was recruited and scanned with computed tomography. After three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, the computed 3D images of the hepatic structures were obtained. The parenchyma model was divided into 8 hepatic segments to produce the 3DV hepatic segment model. The computed 3DP model was designed by removing the surrounding parenchyma and leaving the segmental partitions. Then, 6 experts evaluated the 3DV and 3DP models using a 5-point Likert scale. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the educational effectiveness of these models compared with that of the traditional anatomical atlas. The 3DP model successfully displayed the hepatic segment structures with partitions. All experts agreed or strongly agreed that the 3D models provided good realism for anatomical instruction, with no significant differences between the 3DV and 3DP models in each index (p > 0.05). Additionally, the teaching effects show that the 3DV and 3DP models were significantly better than traditional anatomical atlas in the first and second examinations (p < 0.05). Between the first and second examinations, only the traditional method group had significant declines (p < 0.05). A novel 3DP hepatic segment model was successfully developed. Both the 3DV and 3DP models could improve anatomy teaching significantly. Copyright © 2015 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experience of domestic violence and acceptance of intimate partner violence among out-of-school adolescent girls in Iwaya Community, Lagos State.

PubMed

Kunnuji, Michael O N

2015-02-01

Gender-based domestic violence (DV) comes at great costs to the victims and society at large. Yet, many women hold the view that intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is appropriate behavior. This study aimed at exploring the nexus of experience of different forms of DV and acceptance of IPV as appropriate behavior. Using data from a survey of 480 out-of-school adolescent girls, the researcher shows that psychological abuse is a significant predictor of approval of DV resulting from the wife's failure to make food available for her husband with victims of abuse approving of violence against women. Conversely, victims of sexual abuse, more than nonvictims, disapproved of wife beating resulting from the wife going out without informing the husband. The implications of the findings are discussed and the study recommends deconstructing women's negative beliefs upon which DV rests. © The Author(s) 2014.

Adolescent Dating Violence Stability and Mutuality: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study.

PubMed

Fernández-González, Liria; Calvete, Esther; Orue, Izaskun

2017-03-01

This 4-year longitudinal study explored the stability of dating violence (DV) during adolescence and the reciprocal associations between perpetration and victimization over time. Participants were 991 high school students (52.4% females; mean age at baseline = 14.80 years) from Bizkaia (Spain), who completed a measure of DV perpetration and victimization at four measurement points spaced 1 year apart. Findings evidenced stability of teen perpetration and victimization of DV, which appears to increase in late adolescence. Moreover, longitudinal reciprocal influences were demonstrated, but in general, the cross-lagged paths from one's partner's aggression to one's own perpetration and vice versa were lower than the autoregressive paths obtained from stability. The model showed an adequate fit for both females and males, although some paths were significantly higher for the females than for the males. Preventive interventions should consider these findings about stability and longitudinal reciprocal associations of DV during adolescence.

Dengue virus in Mexican bats.

PubMed

Aguilar-Setién, A; Romero-Almaraz, M L; Sánchez-Hernández, C; Figueroa, R; Juárez-Palma, L P; García-Flores, M M; Vázquez-Salinas, C; Salas-Rojas, M; Hidalgo-Martínez, A C; Pierlé, S Aguilar; García-Estrada, C; Ramos, C

2008-12-01

Individuals belonging to five families, 12 genera, and 19 different species of bats from dengue endemic areas in the Gulf and Pacific coasts of Mexico were examined by ELISA, RT-PCR, and for the presence of dengue virus (DV) NS1 protein. Nine individuals from four species were seropositive by ELISA: three insectivorous, Myotis nigricans (four positives/12 examined), Pteronotus parnellii (3/19), and Natalus stramineus (1/4), and one frugivorous Artibeus jamaicensis (1/35) (12.86% seroprevalence in positive species). DV serotype 2 was detected by RT-PCR in four samples from three species (all from the Gulf coast - rainy season): two frugivorous, A. jamaicensis (2/9), and Carollia brevicauda (1/2), and one insectivorous, M. nigricans (1/11). The latter was simultaneously positive for NS1 protein. DV RT-PCR positive animals were all antibody seronegative. M. nigricans showed positive individuals for all three tests. This is the first evidence suggesting the presence of DV in bats from Mexico.

Image restoration for three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy using an orthonormal basis for efficient representation of depth-variant point-spread functions

PubMed Central

Patwary, Nurmohammed; Preza, Chrysanthe

2015-01-01

A depth-variant (DV) image restoration algorithm for wide field fluorescence microscopy, using an orthonormal basis decomposition of DV point-spread functions (PSFs), is investigated in this study. The efficient PSF representation is based on a previously developed principal component analysis (PCA), which is computationally intensive. We present an approach developed to reduce the number of DV PSFs required for the PCA computation, thereby making the PCA-based approach computationally tractable for thick samples. Restoration results from both synthetic and experimental images show consistency and that the proposed algorithm addresses efficiently depth-induced aberration using a small number of principal components. Comparison of the PCA-based algorithm with a previously-developed strata-based DV restoration algorithm demonstrates that the proposed method improves performance by 50% in terms of accuracy and simultaneously reduces the processing time by 64% using comparable computational resources. PMID:26504634

Domestic violence in a university emergency department.

PubMed

Ernst, A A; Weiss, S J; Nick, T G; Casalletto, J; Garza, A

2000-02-01

We attempted to determine the prevalence and demographics of domestic violence (DV) among male and female patients in a university emergency department (ED). The validated Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA) was used. Patients aged 18 years or older seen during 28 randomly selected 4-hour shifts were eligible. Of the 97 participants in the study, 57 were female. One man and 3 women were victims of present physical DV, with 1 male and 2 female victims of present nonphysical abuse. Three of the 40 men and 22 of the 57 women had been victims of past physical violence. One man and 15 women had been victims of past nonphysical abuse. Alcohol use, suicidal ideation, family history, and psychiatric history were all strongly correlated with DV. The prevalence of DV past was significantly higher in the females. Present violence was more rare and less than that reported in other ED studies.

Some trees with partition dimension three

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fredlina, Ketut Queena; Baskoro, Edy Tri

2016-02-01

The concept of partition dimension of a graph was introduced by Chartrand, E. Salehi and P. Zhang (1998) [2]. Let G(V, E) be a connected graph. For S ⊆ V (G) and v ∈ V (G), define the distance d(v, S) from v to S is min{d(v, x)|x ∈ S}. Let Π be an ordered partition of V (G) and Π = {S1, S2, ..., Sk }. The representation r(v|Π) of vertex v with respect to Π is (d(v, S1), d(v, S2), ..., d(v, Sk)). If the representations of all vertices are distinct, then the partition Π is called a resolving partition of G. The partition dimension of G is the minimum k such that G has a resolving partition with k partition classes. In this paper, we characterize some classes of trees with partition dimension three, namely olive trees, weeds, and centipedes.

Sizzled controls dorso-ventral polarity by repressing cleavage of the Chordin protein.

PubMed

Muraoka, Osamu; Shimizu, Takashi; Yabe, Taijiro; Nojima, Hideaki; Bae, Young-Ki; Hashimoto, Hisashi; Hibi, Masahiko

2006-04-01

The Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signalling gradient has a major function in the formation of the dorso-ventral axis. The zebrafish ventralized mutant, ogon, encodes Secreted Frizzled (Sizzled). sizzled is ventrally expressed in a Bmp-dependent manner and is required for the suppression of Bmp signalling on the ventral side of zebrafish embryos. However, it remains unclear how Sizzled inhibits Bmp signalling and controls ventro-lateral cell fate. We found that Sizzled stabilizes Chordin, a Bmp antagonist, by binding and inhibiting the Tolloid-family metalloproteinase, Bmp1a, which cleaves and inactivates Chordin. The cysteine-rich domain of Sizzled is required for inhibition of Bmp1a activity. Loss of both Bmp1a and Tolloid-like1 (Tll1; another Tolloid-family metalloproteinase) function leads to a complete suppression and reversal of the ogon mutant phenotype. These results indicate that Sizzled represses the activities of Tolloid-family proteins, thereby creating the Chordin-Bmp activity gradient along the dorso-ventral axis. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized role for a secreted Frizzled-related protein.

Integrating patterning signals: Wnt/GSK3 regulates the duration of the BMP/Smad1 signal.

PubMed

Fuentealba, Luis C; Eivers, Edward; Ikeda, Atsushi; Hurtado, Cecilia; Kuroda, Hiroki; Pera, Edgar M; De Robertis, Edward M

2007-11-30

BMP receptors determine the intensity of BMP signals via Smad1 C-terminal phosphorylations. Here we show that a finely controlled cell biological pathway terminates this activity. The duration of the activated pSmad1(Cter) signal was regulated by sequential Smad1 linker region phosphorylations at conserved MAPK and GSK3 sites required for its polyubiquitinylation and transport to the centrosome. Proteasomal degradation of activated Smad1 and total polyubiquitinated proteins took place in the centrosome. Inhibitors of the Erk, p38, and JNK MAPKs, as well as GSK3 inhibitors, prolonged the duration of a pulse of BMP7. Wnt signaling decreased pSmad1(GSK3) antigen levels and redistributed it from the centrosome to cytoplasmic LRP6 signalosomes. In Xenopus embryos, it was found that Wnts induce epidermis and that this required an active BMP-Smad pathway. Epistatic experiments suggested that the dorsoventral (BMP) and anteroposterior (Wnt/GSK3) patterning gradients are integrated at the level of Smad1 phosphorylations during embryonic pattern formation.

Complementary Gli activity mediates early patterning of the mouse visual system.

PubMed

Furimsky, Marosh; Wallace, Valerie A

2006-03-01

The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway plays a key role in the development of the vertebrate central nervous system, including the eye. This pathway is mediated by the Gli transcription factors (Gli1, Gli2, and Gli3) that differentially activate and repress the expression of specific downstream target genes. In this study, we investigated the roles of the three vertebrate Glis in mediating midline Shh signaling in early ocular development. We examined the ocular phenotypes of Shh and Gli combination mutant mouse embryos and monitored proximodistal and dorsoventral patterning by the expression of specific eye development regulatory genes using in situ hybridization. We show that midline Shh signaling relieves the repressor activity of Gli3 adjacent to the midline and then promotes eye pattern formation through the nonredundant activities of all three Gli proteins. Gli3, in particular, is required to specify the dorsal optic stalk and to define the boundary between the optic stalk and the optic cup.

Reduced toxicity with equivalent outcomes using three-dimensional volumetric (3DV) image-based versus nonvolumetric point-based (NV) brachytherapy in a cervical cancer population.

PubMed

Thomas, Kimberly M; Maquilan, Genevieve; Stojadinovic, Strahinja; Medin, Paul; Folkert, Michael R; Albuquerque, Kevin

Brachytherapy (BT) techniques have historically used a two-dimensional nonvolumetric (NV) system involving dose prescribed to a point fixed in space. We compared dosimetric, toxicity, and oncologic outcomes for volumetric planning (3DV) versus CT point-based planning. Patients treated with external beam radiation therapy and high dose rate (HDR) intracavitary BT were included (n = 71). Patients planned with NV BT treated from 2009 to 2011 (n = 37) were compared to patients planned with 3DV BT treated from 2012 to 2014 (n = 34). Investigators delineated volumes for organs at risk clinical target volumes for the 2009-2011 NV cohort. Acute and chronic toxicity data were graded. The mean HDR clinical target volume D90 received in the NV and 3DV cohorts were significantly different (p < 0.001). The mean dose to point A was significantly higher in the NV cohort than in the 3DV cohort (p < 0.001). There were significantly more Grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal toxicities in the NV cohort (p = 0.048). There was a nonsignificant trend toward improved oncologic outcomes for patients undergoing CT-based planning. 3DV BT allows for a significant reduction of dose to critical structures, resulting in decreased gastrointestinal toxicity, while delivering noninferior doses to the high-risk clinical target volume. Outcomes were improved in the 3D cohort trending toward statistical significance. Copyright © 2017 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of duplex real-time PCR for the detection of WSSV and PstDV1 in cultivated shrimp.

PubMed

Leal, Carlos A G; Carvalho, Alex F; Leite, Rômulo C; Figueiredo, Henrique C P

2014-07-05

The White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and Penaeus stylirostris penstyldensovirus 1 (previously named Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus-IHHNV) are two of the most important viral pathogens of penaeid shrimp. Different methods have been applied for diagnosis of these viruses, including Real-time PCR (qPCR) assays. A duplex qPCR method allows the simultaneous detection of two viruses in the same sample, which is more cost-effective than assaying for each virus separately. Currently, an assay for the simultaneous detection of the WSSV and the PstDV1 in shrimp is unavailable. The aim of this study was to develop and standardize a duplex qPCR assay for the simultaneous detection of the WSSV and the PstDV1 in clinical samples of diseased L. vannamei. In addition, to evaluate the performance of two qPCR master mixes with regard to the clinical sensitivity of the qPCR assay, as well as, different methods for qPCR results evaluation. The duplex qPCR assay for detecting WSSV and PstDV1 in clinical samples was successfully standardized. No difference in the amplification of the standard curves was observed between the duplex and singleplex assays. Specificities and sensitivities similar to those of the singleplex assays were obtained using the optimized duplex qPCR. The analytical sensitivities of duplex qPCR were two copies of WSSV control plasmid and 20 copies of PstDV1 control plasmid. The standardized duplex qPCR confirmed the presence of viral DNA in 28 from 43 samples tested. There was no difference for WSSV detection using the two kits and the distinct methods for qPCR results evaluation. High clinical sensitivity for PstDV1 was obtained with TaqMan Universal Master Mix associated with relative threshold evaluation. Three cases of simultaneous infection by the WSSV and the PstDV1 were identified with duplex qPCR. The standardized duplex qPCR was shown to be a robust, highly sensitive, and feasible diagnostic tool for the simultaneous detection of the WSSV and the PstDV1 in whiteleg shrimp. The use of the TaqMan Universal Master Mix and the relative threshold method of data analysis in our duplex qPCR method provided optimal levels of sensitivity and specificity.

Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Avian Influenza H5N2 Viruses with Intra- and Inter-Duck Variations in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Li, Yao-Tsun; Lai, Ching-Yu; Kao, Chuan-Liang; Yang, Chinglai; Wang, Won-Bo; King, Chwan-Chuen

2015-01-01

Background Human infections with avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have frequently raised global concerns of emerging, interspecies-transmissible viruses with pandemic potential. Waterfowl, the predominant reservoir of influenza viruses in nature, harbor precursors of different genetic lineages that have contributed to novel pandemic influenza viruses in the past. Methods Two duck influenza H5N2 viruses, DV518 and DV413, isolated through virological surveillance at a live-poultry market in Taiwan, showed phylogenetic relatedness but exhibited different replication capabilities in mammalian Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. This study characterizes the replication properties of the two duck H5N2 viruses and the determinants involved. Results The DV518 virus replicated more efficiently than DV413 in both MDCK and chicken DF1 cells. Interestingly, the infection of MDCK cells by DV518 formed heterogeneous plaques with great differences in size [large (L) and small (S)], and the two viral strains (p518-L and p518-S) obtained from plaque purification exhibited distinguishable replication kinetics in MDCK cells. Nonetheless, both plaque-purified DV518 strains still maintained their growth advantages over the plaque-purified p413 strain. Moreover, three amino acid substitutions in PA (P224S), PB2 (E72D), and M1 (A128T) were identified in intra-duck variations (p518-L vs p518-S), whereas other changes in HA (N170D), NA (I56T), and NP (Y289H) were present in inter-duck variations (DV518 vs DV413). Both p518-L and p518-S strains had the N170D substitution in HA, which might be related to their greater binding to MDCK cells. Additionally, polymerase activity assays on 293T cells demonstrated the role of vRNP in modulating the replication capability of the duck p518-L viruses in mammalian cells. Conclusion These results demonstrate that intra-host phenotypic variation occurs even within an individual duck. In view of recent human infections by low pathogenic AIVs, this study suggests possible determinants involved in the stepwise selection of virus variants from the duck influenza virus population which may facilitate inter-species transmission. PMID:26263554

Tribal and Locality Dynamics in Afghanistan: A View from the National Military Academy of Afghanistan

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

CD VVV ∪= with DV countable and nCV ℜ∈ ; XInit ⊆ is a set of initial states; CXVXf →×: is a vector field, assumed to be 4 globally...DV countable and nCV ℜ∈ ; XInit ⊆ is a set of initial states; CXVXf →×: is a vector field, assumed to be globally Lipschitz in CX and...8217 ; V is a finite collection of input variables. We assume ( )CD VVV ∪= with DV countable and nCV ℜ∈ ; XInit ⊆ is a set of initial states

Domestic Violence Counseling in Rural Northern China: Gender, Social Harmony, and Human Rights.

PubMed

Xie, Lijia; Eyre, Stephen L; Barker, Judith

2018-03-01

Domestic violence (DV) affects over a third of Chinese women in a relationship. Focusing on ethnographic data from six staff members and six DV survivors at a rural, state-affiliated women's center in China in 2010, this article relies on Henrietta Moore's notion of the poststructuralist gendered subject to examine how the staff draw on discourses about gender and social harmony in persuading women to stay in their marriages, rather than on human rights discourses that emphasize survivor safety. It shows that DV survivors are frequently sent back to dangerous homes where their health is placed at risk.

Doppler velocimetry of ductus venous in preterm fetuses with brain sparing effect: neonatal outcome

PubMed Central

Cosmo, Ynesmara Coelho; Júnior, Edward Araujo; de Sá, Renato Augusto Moreira; de Carvalho, Paulo Roberto Nassar; Mattar, Rosiane; Lopes, Laudelino Marques; Nardozza, Luciano Marcondes Machado; de Souza, Eduardo; Moron, Antonio Fernandes

2012-01-01

Summary Objective to evaluate the relationship between ductus venous (DV) and Doppler velocimetry in neonatal outcome in severe compromised preterm fetuses. Methods the study was designed as an observational and cross-sectional study with 52 premature neonates with brain sparing effect. The criteria of neonatal severe morbidity were: severe intraventricular hemorrhage (grades 3 or 4), retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or 4), cystic periventricular leukomalatia, bronchopneumo dysplasia and neonatal mortality. The fetuses were divided in two groups: group 0 - all the fetuses with ventricular systole/atrial contraction (S/A) in DV ratio values less them 3.4; group 1 - fetuses with values of S/A ratio greater than 3.4. Results 42% of fetuses showed abnormal S/A ratio in DV and 48% showed birth weight below percentile 3 for gestational age. There was no statistical significance comparing the 02 groups according to bronchopneumo dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or 4) and intraventricular hemorrhage (grade 3 or 4). Only one fetus presented cystic periventricular leukomalatia. We found statistically significant association between abnormal DV S/A ratio and neonatal mortality (CI 95%, 1.28 –38.22, p< 0.002). Conclusions our results suggest that abnormal DV blood flow detected by Doppler examination isn’t associated with severe neonatal morbidity but with neonatal mortality. PMID:23181172

Recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick for discriminating between infectious Penaeus stylirostris densovirus and virus-related sequences in shrimp genome.

PubMed

Jaroenram, Wansadaj; Owens, Leigh

2014-11-01

Penaeus stylirostris densovirus (PstDV) is an important shrimp pathogen that causes mortality in P. stylirostris and runt deformity syndrome (RDS) in Penaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon. Recently, PstDV-related sequences were found in the genome of P. monodon and P. vannamei. This led to false positive results by PCR-based detection system. Here, a more efficient detection platform based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was developed for detecting PstDV. Under the optimal conditions, 30 min at 37°C for RPA followed by 5 min at room temperature for LFD, the protocol was 10 times more sensitive than the Saksmerphrome et al's interim 3-tube nested PCR and showed no cross-reaction with other shrimp viruses. It also reduced false positive results arising from viral inserts to ∼5% compared to 76-78% by the IQ2000™ nested PCR kit and the 309F/R PCR protocol currently recommended by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for PstDV detection. Together with simplicity and portability, the protocol serves as an alternative tool to PCR for primarily screening PstDV, which is suitable for both laboratory and field application. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Alpha-conotoxin ImI Disrupts Central Control of Swimming in the Medicinal Leech

PubMed Central

Wagenaar, Daniel A.; Gonzalez, Ruben; Ries, David C.; Kristan, William B.; French, Kathleen A.

2010-01-01

Medicinal leeches (Hirudo spp.) swim using a metachronal, front-to-back undulation. The behavior is generated by central pattern generators (CPGs) distributed along the animal’s midbody ganglia and is coordinated by both central and peripheral mechanisms. Here we report that a component of the venom of Conus imperialis, α-conotoxin ImI, known to block nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in other species, disrupts swimming. Leeches injected with the toxin swam in circles with exaggerated dorsoventral bends and reduced forward velocity. Fictive swimming in isolated nerve cords was even more strongly disrupted, indicating that the toxin targets the CPGs and central coordination, while peripheral coordination partially rescues the behavior in intact animals. PMID:20833225

Effectiveness of "shifting boundaries" teen dating violence prevention program for subgroups of middle school students.

PubMed

Taylor, Bruce G; Mumford, Elizabeth A; Stein, Nan D

2015-02-01

We examine whether the Shifting Boundaries (SB) intervention, a primary intervention to prevent youth dating violence and sexual harassment (DV/H), is differentially effective for girls compared with boys or for youth with a history of DV/H experiences. We randomly assigned SB to 30 public middle schools in New York City, enrolling 117 sixth and seventh grade classes to receive a classroom, building, combined, or neither intervention. The SB classroom intervention included six sessions emphasizing the laws/consequences of DV/H, establishing boundaries and safe relationships. The SB schoolwide/building intervention included the use of school-based restraining orders, greater faculty/security presence in unsafe "hot spots" mapped by students, and posters to increase DV/H awareness and reporting. Student surveys were implemented at baseline, immediately after intervention, and 6 months after intervention. At 6 months after intervention, the SB building-level intervention was associated with significant reductions in the frequency of sexual harassment (SH) perpetration and victimization; the prevalence and frequency of sexual dating violence victimization; and the frequency of total dating violence victimization and perpetration. We also had one anomalous finding that the interventions were associated with an increase in the prevalence of SH victimization. These results were consistent for girls and boys, and those with or without a history of DV/H, with the one exception for those exposed to the SB building condition who had earlier reported perpetrating SH had a significantly lower frequency of perpetrating SH at the follow-up than those without such a history. SB can provide effective universal prevention of middle school DV/H experiences, regardless of students' prior exposure histories, and for boys and girls. Copyright © 2015 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pulmonary venous flow determinants of left atrial pressure under different loading conditions in a chronic animal model with mitral regurgitation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Hua; Jones, Michael; Shiota, Takahiro; Qin, Jian Xin; Kim, Yong Jin; Popovic, Zoran B.; Pu, Min; Greenberg, Neil L.; Cardon, Lisa A.; Eto, Yoko;

Simplifying mental math: Changing how added sugars are displayed on the nutrition facts label can improve consumer understanding.

PubMed

Khandpur, Neha; Graham, Dan J; Roberto, Christina A

2017-07-01

Proposed variations to Nutrition Facts Labels (NFL) have included the display of added sugars (AS) content, but its impact on consumer understanding is poorly understood. To examine the degree to which different formats for displaying AS influence consumer understanding, perceptions, and purchase intentions. Randomized-controlled online experiment. A sample of 2509 U.S adults. Participants were randomized to 1 of 8 conditions and viewed 10 food or beverage images with either: (1) no label (control); (2) the current NFL (without AS); (3) the proposed NFL without AS; or the proposed NFL with AS in (4) grams, (5) grams and teaspoons, (6) grams and percent Daily Value (%DV), (7) grams with high/medium/low text, or (8) grams with high/medium/low text and %DV. ANCOVAs compared scores on quizzes that assessed the accuracy of judgments about AS, overall nutrition understanding and purchase intentions. Presenting AS in grams plus high/medium/low text with and without %DV led to the highest AS understanding scores (85% and 83% correct, respectively) compared to 70% correct when AS was not on the label or was displayed in grams only (74% correct). Displaying AS in teaspoons did not significantly improve understanding beyond grams alone. Consumers were best able to determine which of two products was healthier when AS was presented as %DV (68% correct) versus displayed in grams alone (60% correct), but %DV did not differ from high/medium/low text or teaspoons. None of the labels influenced purchase intentions relative to no label. Displaying AS on the NFL in grams with high/medium/low text, %DV, or the combination of the two, improved consumer understanding more than presenting it in grams or teaspoons. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work in cancer patients is related with work functioning, fatigue and depressive symptoms: a validation study.

PubMed

Dorland, H F; Abma, F I; Roelen, C A M; Smink, A; Feuerstein, M; Amick, B C; Ranchor, A V; Bültmann, U

2016-06-01

The study objectives are to translate the 21-item Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work (CSC-W21) to Dutch (CSC-W DV) and to validate the CSC-W DV in working cancer patients. The CSC-W21 was cross-culturally translated and adapted to a Dutch version. In this 19-item version, the dichotomous response option was changed to an ordinal five-point scale. A validation study of the CSC-W DV was conducted among cancer patients who had returned to work during or following cancer treatment. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), structural validity (exploratory factor analysis) and construct validity (hypothesis testing) were evaluated. In a cohort of 364 cancer patients, 341 (94 %) completed the CSC-W DV (aged 50.6 ± 8.6 years, 60 % women). Exploratory factor analysis revealed two subscales 'working memory' and 'executive function'. The internal consistency of the total scale and subscales was high (Cronbach's α = 0.93-0.95). Hypothesis testing showed that self-reported cognitive limitations at work were related to work functioning (P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (P < 0.001), but not to self-rated health (P = 0.14). The CSC-W DV showed high internal consistency and reasonable construct validity for measuring work-specific cognitive symptoms in cancer patients. The CSC-W DV was associated in expected ways with work functioning, fatigue and depressive symptoms. It is important to enhance knowledge about cognitive symptoms at work in cancer patients, to guide and support cancer patients as good as possible when they are back at work and to improve their work functioning over time.

An organizing activity is required for head patterning and cell fate specification in the polychaete annelid Capitella teleta: new insights into cell-cell signaling in Lophotrochozoa.

PubMed

Amiel, Aldine R; Henry, Jonathan Q; Seaver, Elaine C

2013-07-01

Many lophotrochozoans (i.e., molluscs, annelids, nemerteans, and polyclad flatworms) display a well-conserved early developmental program called spiral cleavage that contrasts with the high diversity of adult body forms present in this group. Due to this stereotypical development, each cell can be uniquely identified and its lineage history known following intracellular injection of lineage tracers. Cell deletion experiments performed mainly in molluscs have demonstrated that one or two cells associated with the endomesodermal lineage represent an embryonic organizer of subsequent development and are causally involved in cell fate and body patterning. Utilizing the published fate map of the spiral-cleaving annelid Capitella teleta, we used infrared laser cell deletions to dissect the role of individual cells on the patterning of the larval body. Thirteen uniquely identifiable individual blastomeres and two double cell combination deletions were studied to assess larval phenotypes by scoring multiple morphological structures and cell type-specific molecular markers differentially expressed along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes. Surprisingly, our results show that in C. teleta, the cellular identity of the "organizing cell" and the timing of the organizing activity are different from that of other spiralians. retain-->In C. teleta, the ectodermal primary somatoblast, 2d, is the key cell responsible for organizing activity during early embryonic development, and is necessary for bilateral symmetry and dorso-ventral axis organization of the head as well as neural, foregut and mesoderm tissue formation. Furthermore, we show that the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway does not appear to be involved in organizing activity in retain-->C. teleta. This contrasts with data from molluscs and the molecular mechanism suggested for another polychaete, Hydroides elegans, highlighting likely molecular level variation among spiralian embryos. These results reinforce the idea that an embryonic organizing activity is present across spiralians. Our data also emphasize the developmental variation within lophotrochozoans, and may ultimately provide insight into the role of developmental processes in the evolution of diverse body forms in metazoans. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Development of Point Doppler Velocimeter Data Acquisition and Processing Software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cavone, Angelo A.

2008-01-01

In order to develop efficient and quiet aircraft and validate Computational Fluid Dynamic predications, aerodynamic researchers require flow parameter measurements to characterize flow fields about wind tunnel models and jet flows. A one-component Point Doppler Velocimeter (pDv), a non-intrusive, laser-based instrument, was constructed using a design/develop/test/validate/deploy approach. A primary component of the instrument is software required for system control/management and data collection/reduction. This software along with evaluation algorithms, advanced pDv from a laboratory curiosity to a production level instrument. Simultaneous pDv and pitot probe velocity measurements obtained at the centerline of a flow exiting a two-inch jet, matched within 0.4%. Flow turbulence spectra obtained with pDv and a hot-wire detected the primary and secondary harmonics with equal dynamic range produced by the fan driving the flow. Novel,hardware and software methods were developed, tested and incorporated into the system to eliminate and/or minimize error sources and improve system reliability.

Measurement of the viscoelastic properties of the vocal folds.

PubMed

Wiikmann, Christian; da Silva, Marcelo Alves; Arêas, Elizabeth Pinheiro Gomes; Tsuji, Domingos Hiroshi; Sennes, Luiz Ubirajara

2009-06-01

Studies of the viscoelastic properties of the vocal folds are normally performed with rheometers that use parallel plates whose interplate space is usually arbitrarily assigned a fixed value. In tissues subject to variation of thickness between samples, fixed gaps could result in different compressions, compromising the comparison among them. We performed an experimental study to determine whether different compressions can lead to different results in measurements of dynamic viscosity (DV) of vocal fold samples. We measured the DV of vocal fold samples of 10 larynges of cadavers under 3 different compression levels, corresponding to 0.2, 0.5, and 10 N on an 8-mm-diameter parallel-plate rheometer. The DV directly varied with compression. We observed statistically significant differences between the results of 0.2 and 10 N (p = 0.0396) and 0.5 and 10 N (p = 0.0442). The study demonstrated that the level of compression influences the DV measure and suggests that a defined compression level should be used in rheometric studies of biological tissues.

Discrete and continuous variables for measurement-device-independent quantum cryptography

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

Xu, Feihu; Curty, Marcos; Qi, Bing

In a recent Article in Nature Photonics, Pirandola et al.1 claim that the achievable secret key rates of discrete-variable (DV) measurementdevice- independent (MDI) quantum key distribution (QKD) (refs 2,3) are “typically very low, unsuitable for the demands of a metropolitan network” and introduce a continuous-variable (CV) MDI QKD protocol capable of providing key rates which, they claim, are “three orders of magnitude higher” than those of DV MDI QKD. We believe, however, that the claims regarding low key rates of DV MDI QKD made by Pirandola et al.1 are too pessimistic. Here in this paper, we show that the secretmore » key rate of DV MDI QKD with commercially available high-efficiency single-photon detectors (SPDs) (for example, see http://www.photonspot.com/detectors and http://www.singlequantum.com) and good system alignment is typically rather high and thus highly suitable for not only long-distance communication but also metropolitan networks.« less

Discrete and continuous variables for measurement-device-independent quantum cryptography

DOE PAGES

Xu, Feihu; Curty, Marcos; Qi, Bing; ...

2015-11-16

In a recent Article in Nature Photonics, Pirandola et al.1 claim that the achievable secret key rates of discrete-variable (DV) measurementdevice- independent (MDI) quantum key distribution (QKD) (refs 2,3) are “typically very low, unsuitable for the demands of a metropolitan network” and introduce a continuous-variable (CV) MDI QKD protocol capable of providing key rates which, they claim, are “three orders of magnitude higher” than those of DV MDI QKD. We believe, however, that the claims regarding low key rates of DV MDI QKD made by Pirandola et al.1 are too pessimistic. Here in this paper, we show that the secretmore » key rate of DV MDI QKD with commercially available high-efficiency single-photon detectors (SPDs) (for example, see http://www.photonspot.com/detectors and http://www.singlequantum.com) and good system alignment is typically rather high and thus highly suitable for not only long-distance communication but also metropolitan networks.« less

Comparison of the Characteristics and Performance of Flurbiprofen 8.75 mg Spray for Sore Throat.

PubMed

Veale, David; Shephard, Adrian; Adams, Verity; Lidster, Charlotte

2017-01-01

Sore throat sprays provide targeted relief by delivering the active ingredient directly to the site of pain. Different sprays vary in characteristics, thus affecting delivery of the active ingredient to the throat, which can impact compliance. The characteristics and performance of FLURBIPROFEN 8.75 mg SPRAY were compared with 12 other sprays. Parameters assessed included spray angle and pattern, droplet size distribution, shot weight uniformity and shot weight throughout life. Among all sprays tested WICK Sulagil Halsspray had the smallest spray angle (46°) and also the smallest diameter spray pattern (X=32.8 mm; Y=34.4 mm). Thiovalone® Buccal Spray Suspension had both the largest spray angle (82°) and largest diameter spray pattern (X=62.6 mm; Y=78.0 mm). Hasco Sept® Aerosol Spray had the smallest droplet size (Dv90=118.4 μm) whereas OKi infiammazione e dolore® 0.16% spray had the largest (Dv90=214.34 μm). In terms of shot weight uniformity, TANTUM® VERDE GOLA 0.25% spray showed the least variation (2% RSD) between shots and UNIBEN Aerosol Spray the most (23.4% RSD). Shot weight throughout life studies showed that FLURBIPROFEN 8.75 mg SPRAY had the least deviation from shot weight (1.77%) whereas OKi infiammazione e dolore® 0.16% spray deviated the most (44.9%). FLURBIPROFEN 8.75 mg SPRAY had the second smallest spray angle/pattern and droplet size distribution and also the least variation in shot weight. Different sore throat sprays vary in different attributes, affecting delivery of the active ingredient. FLURBIPROFEN 8.75 mg SPRAY performed well overall, ranking first among all sprays tested, and providing a dose which is targeted and uniformly delivered throughout the life of the bottle. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Evaluation of the injection pain with the use of DentalVibe injection system during supraperiosteal anaesthesia in children: a randomised clinical trial.

PubMed

Şermet Elbay, Ülkü; Elbay, Mesut; Yıldırım, Sİnem; Kaya, Emİne; Kaya, Can; Uğurluel, Ceren; Baydemİr, Canan

2016-09-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of a traditional syringe (TS) and the DentalVibe (DV) Injection Comfort System on the pain of needle insertion and injection of supraperiosteal (SP) anaesthesia into the mandibles and maxillas of children aged 6-12 years. The study was a randomised, controlled, crossover clinical trial, comprising 60 children requiring an operative procedure with SP anaesthesia on both their mandibular and maxillary molars, bilaterally. One of the molars was treated with a TS, and the contralateral tooth was treated with the DV for both arches. On each visit, subjective and objective pain was evaluated using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and the Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale. Patients were asked which technique they preferred. The data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Spearman's correlation test, and Mann-Whitney U-test. No statistically significant differences were noted between TS and DV for pain during injection and needle insertion for supraperiosteal anaesthesia in either the maxillary and mandibular operative procedures. Children experienced similar pain during SP anaesthesia administered with a TS and the DV, regardless of gender and jaw differences. DV was less preferred over the traditional procedure in children. © 2015 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

I-DECIDE: An Online Intervention Drawing on the Psychosocial Readiness Model for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence.

PubMed

Tarzia, Laura; Murray, Elizabeth; Humphreys, Cathy; Glass, Nancy; Taft, Angela; Valpied, Jodie; Hegarty, Kelsey

2016-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) perpetrated by men against women is a pervasive global problem with significant physical and emotional consequences. Although some face-to-face interventions in health care settings have shown promise, there are barriers to disclosure to health care practitioners and women may not be ready to access or accept help, reducing uptake. Similar to the mental health field, interventions from clinical practice can be adapted to be delivered by technology. This article outlines the theoretical and conceptual development of I-DECIDE, an online healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid for women experiencing DV. The article explores the use of the Psychosocial Readiness Model (PRM) as a theoretical framework for the intervention and evaluation. This is a theoretical article drawing on current theory and literature around health care and online interventions for DV. The article argues that the Internet as a method of intervention delivery for DV might overcome many of the barriers present in health care settings. Using the PRM as a framework for an online DV intervention may help women on a pathway to safety and well-being for themselves and their children. This hypothesis will be tested in a randomized, controlled trial in 2015/2016. This article highlights the importance of using a theoretical model in intervention development and evaluation. Copyright © 2016 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Domestic violence education for UK and Ireland undergraduate dental students: a five-year perspective.

PubMed

Patel, Neil; Bailey, Edmund; Mahdmina, Ayeh; Lomax, Alastair; Coulthard, Paul

2014-08-01

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to ascertain whether undergraduate dental students in the United Kingdom and Ireland are receiving formal teaching on recognizing and managing domestic violence (DV) as part of their curricula. A questionnaire was sent to all dental schools in the UK and Ireland in 2007 and again in 2012, requesting information on whether the subject was taught, by which specialty it was taught, and whether schools felt it was important to include in the curriculum. In 2007, twelve of the fifteen dental schools completed and returned the questionnaire, for a response rate of 80 percent; in 2012, eleven of the sixteen dental schools responded, for a response rate of 69 percent. The main findings were that, in 2007, 50 percent of the responding schools were providing teaching about DV and the majority of this teaching was delivered by oral surgery and pediatric dentistry departments. In 2012, only 45 percent of the responding schools were teaching DV, with 60 percent of this teaching being delivered by pediatric dentists. This study's findings suggest that DV is an undertaught area in UK and Irish undergraduate dental curricula. Some schools recognized the importance of DV teaching; however, they have been unable to implement it because of a full curriculum and lack of appropriately trained staff amongst other reasons.

Characteristics of the digestive vacuole membrane of the alga-bearing ciliate Paramecium bursaria.

PubMed

Kodama, Yuuki; Fujishima, Masahiro

2012-07-01

Cells of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria harbor symbiotic Chlorella spp. in their cytoplasm. To establish endosymbiosis with alga-free P. bursaria, symbiotic algae must leave the digestive vacuole (DV) to appear in the cytoplasm by budding of the DV membrane. This budding was induced not only by intact algae but also by boiled or fixed algae. However, this budding was not induced when food bacteria or India ink were ingested into the DVs. These results raise the possibility that P. bursaria can recognize sizes of the contents in the DVs. To elucidate this possibility, microbeads with various diameters were mixed with alga-free P. bursaria and traced their fate. Microbeads with 0.20μm diameter did not induce budding of the DVs. Microbeads with 0.80μm diameter produced DVs of 5-10μm diameter at 3min after mixing; then the DVs fragmented and became vacuoles of 2-5μm diameter until 3h after mixing. Each microbead with a diameter larger than 3.00μm induced budding similarly to symbiotic Chlorella. These observations reveal that induction of DV budding depends on the size of the contents in the DVs. Dynasore, a dynamin inhibitor, greatly inhibited DV budding, suggesting that dynamin might be involved in DV budding. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Clouding the Judgment of Domestic Violence Law: Victim Blaming by Institutional Stakeholders in Cambodia

PubMed Central

Brickell, Katherine

2015-01-01

This article examines victims’ purported complicity in the judicial failures of domestic violence law to protect them in Cambodia. It is based on 3 years (2012-2014) of research in Siem Reap and Pursat Provinces on the everyday politics of the 2005 “Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the Protection of the Victims” (DV Law). The project questioned why investments in DV Law are faltering and took a multi-stakeholder approach to do so. In addition to 40 interviews with female domestic violence victims, the research included 50 interviews with legal and health professionals, NGO workers, low- and high-ranking police officers, religious figures, and local government authority leaders who each have an occupational investment in the implementation and enforcement of DV Law. Forming the backbone of the article, the findings from this latter sample reveal how women are construed not only as barriers “clouding the judgment of law” but also as actors denying the agency of institutional stakeholders (and law itself) to bring perpetrators to account. The findings suggest that DV Law has the potential to entrench, rather than diminish, an environment of victim blaming. In turn, the article signals the importance of research on, and better professional support of, intermediaries who (discursively) administrate the relationship between DV Law and the victims/citizens it seeks to protect. PMID:26076978

Quantum dots and duplex-specific nuclease enabled ultrasensitive detection and serotyping of Dengue viruses in one step in a single tube.

PubMed

Shen, Wei; Gao, Zhiqiang

2015-03-15

Leveraging on the enzymatic processing of Dengue virus (DV) RNA hybridized quantum dot-capped DNA capture probes (QD-CPs), an ultrasensitive assay for the detection and serotyping of DVs is described in the report. Briefly, DV-specific DNA CPs are first capped by QDs and then conjugated to magnetic beads. In a sample solution, strands of DV RNA form heteroduplexes with the QD-CPs on the magnetic beads. The CPs together with the QDs in the heteroduplexes are subsequently cleaved off the magnetic beads by a duplex-specific nuclease (DSN), releasing the QDs to the solution, freeing the target RNA strands, and availing them for another around of hybridization with the remaining QD-CPs. After removing the magnetic beads along with unreacted (uncleaved) QD-CPs by using a permanent magnet, ultrasensitive fluorescent detection of DV is realized through the cleaved QDs. Serotyping of DV is accomplished by a judicious design of the QD-CPs. The assay combines excellent signal generation by the highly fluorescent QDs and the effortlessness of utilizing magnetic beads in the removal of the unreacted QD-CPs. The highly efficient DSN cleavage in conjunction with its excellent mismatch discrimination ability permits serotyping of DVs in one tube with excellent sensitivity and selectivity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Immunogenic Subviral Particles Displaying Domain III of Dengue 2 Envelope Protein Vectored by Measles Virus

PubMed Central

Harahap-Carrillo, Indira S.; Ceballos-Olvera, Ivonne; Reyes-del Valle, Jorge

2015-01-01

Vaccines against dengue virus (DV) are commercially nonexistent. A subunit vaccination strategy may be of value, especially if a safe viral vector acts as biologically active adjuvant. In this paper, we focus on an immunoglobulin-like, independently folded domain III (DIII) from DV 2 envelope protein (E), which contains epitopes that elicits highly specific neutralizing antibodies. We modified the hepatitis B small surface antigen (HBsAg, S) in order to display DV 2 DIII on a virus-like particle (VLP), thus generating the hybrid antigen DIII-S. Two varieties of measles virus (MV) vectors were developed to express DIII-S. The first expresses the hybrid antigen from an additional transcription unit (ATU) and the second additionally expresses HBsAg from a separate ATU. We found that this second MV vectoring the hybrid VLPs displaying DIII-S on an unmodified HBsAg scaffold were immunogenic in MV-susceptible mice (HuCD46Ge-IFNarko), eliciting robust neutralizing responses (averages) against MV (1:1280 NT90), hepatitis B virus (787 mIU/mL), and DV2 (1:160 NT50) in all of the tested animals. Conversely, the MV vector expressing only DIII-S induced immunity against MV alone. In summary, DV2 neutralizing responses can be generated by displaying E DIII on a scaffold of HBsAg-based VLPs, vectored by MV. PMID:26350592

On the partition dimension of comb product of path and complete graph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darmaji, Alfarisi, Ridho

2017-08-01

For a vertex v of a connected graph G(V, E) with vertex set V(G), edge set E(G) and S ⊆ V(G). Given an ordered partition Π = {S1, S2, S3, …, Sk} of the vertex set V of G, the representation of a vertex v ∈ V with respect to Π is the vector r(v|Π) = (d(v, S1), d(v, S2), …, d(v, Sk)), where d(v, Sk) represents the distance between the vertex v and the set Sk and d(v, Sk) = min{d(v, x)|x ∈ Sk}. A partition Π of V(G) is a resolving partition if different vertices of G have distinct representations, i.e., for every pair of vertices u, v ∈ V(G), r(u|Π) ≠ r(v|Π). The minimum k of Π resolving partition is a partition dimension of G, denoted by pd(G). Finding the partition dimension of G is classified to be a NP-Hard problem. In this paper, we will show that the partition dimension of comb product of path and complete graph. The results show that comb product of complete grapph Km and path Pn namely p d (Km⊳Pn)=m where m ≥ 3 and n ≥ 2 and p d (Pn⊳Km)=m where m ≥ 3, n ≥ 2 and m ≥ n.

Filtration Effects Due to Bioassay Cage Design and Screen Type

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

Optical Nonimaging Light- Scattering Instruments (ASTM, 2003). Droplet sizing data included volume median diam (DV50), and the 10% and 90% diam (DV10 and...optical nonimaging light-scattering instru- ments. In: Annual book of ASTM standards. West Conshohocken, PA: American Society for Testing and Materials

Domestic Violence Assessments in the Child Advocacy Center

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thackeray, Jonathan D.; Scribano, Philip V.; Rhoda, Dale

2010-01-01

Objective: This study was designed to identify the frequency, methods, and practices of universal assessments for domestic violence (DV) within child advocacy centers (CACs) and determine which factors are associated with CACs that conduct universal DV assessments. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional, web-based survey distributed to…

Flexibility in the patterning and control of axial locomotor networks in lamprey.

PubMed

Buchanan, James T

2011-12-01

In lower vertebrates, locomotor burst generators for axial muscles generally produce unitary bursts that alternate between the two sides of the body. In lamprey, a lower vertebrate, locomotor activity in the axial ventral roots of the isolated spinal cord can exhibit flexibility in the timings of bursts to dorsally-located myotomal muscle fibers versus ventrally-located myotomal muscle fibers. These episodes of decreased synchrony can occur spontaneously, especially in the rostral spinal cord where the propagating body waves of swimming originate. Application of serotonin, an endogenous spinal neurotransmitter known to presynaptically inhibit excitatory synapses in lamprey, can promote decreased synchrony of dorsal-ventral bursting. These observations suggest the possible existence of dorsal and ventral locomotor networks with modifiable coupling strength between them. Intracellular recordings of motoneurons during locomotor activity provide some support for this model. Pairs of motoneurons innervating myotomal muscle fibers of similar ipsilateral dorsoventral location tend to have higher correlations of fast synaptic activity during fictive locomotion than do pairs of motoneurons innervating myotomes of different ipsilateral dorsoventral locations, suggesting their control by different populations of premotor interneurons. Further, these different motoneuron pools receive different patterns of excitatory and inhibitory inputs from individual reticulospinal neurons, conveyed in part by different sets of premotor interneurons. Perhaps, then, the locomotor network of the lamprey is not simply a unitary burst generator on each side of the spinal cord that activates all ipsilateral body muscles simultaneously. Instead, the burst generator on each side may comprise at least two coupled burst generators, one controlling motoneurons innervating dorsal body muscles and one controlling motoneurons innervating ventral body muscles. The coupling strength between these two ipsilateral burst generators may be modifiable and weakening when greater swimming maneuverability is required. Variable coupling of intrasegmental burst generators in the lamprey may be a precursor to the variable coupling of burst generators observed in the control of locomotion in the joints of limbed vertebrates.

Ancestral Patterning of Tergite Formation in a Centipede Suggests Derived Mode of Trunk Segmentation in Trilobites

PubMed Central

Ortega-Hernández, Javier; Brena, Carlo

2012-01-01

Trilobites have a rich and abundant fossil record, but little is known about the intrinsic mechanisms that orchestrate their body organization. To date, there is disagreement regarding the correspondence, or lack thereof, of the segmental units that constitute the trilobite trunk and their associated exoskeletal elements. The phylogenetic position of trilobites within total-group Euarthropoda, however, allows inferences about the underlying organization in these extinct taxa to be made, as some of the fundamental genetic processes for constructing the trunk segments are remarkably conserved among living arthropods. One example is the expression of the segment polarity gene engrailed, which at embryonic and early postembryonic stages is expressed in extant panarthropods (i.e. tardigrades, onychophorans, euarthropods) as transverse stripes that define the posteriormost region of each trunk segment. Due to its conservative morphology and allegedly primitive trunk tagmosis, we have utilized the centipede Strigamia maritima to study the correspondence between the expression of engrailed during late embryonic to postembryonic stages, and the development of the dorsal exoskeletal plates (i.e. tergites). The results corroborate the close correlation between the formation of the tergite borders and the dorsal expression of engrailed, and suggest that this association represents a symplesiomorphy within Euarthropoda. This correspondence between the genetic and phenetic levels enables making accurate inferences about the dorsoventral expression domains of engrailed in the trunk of exceptionally preserved trilobites and their close relatives, and is suggestive of the widespread occurrence of a distinct type of genetic segmental mismatch in these extinct arthropods. The metameric organization of the digestive tract in trilobites provides further support to this new interpretation. The wider evolutionary implications of these findings suggest the presence of a derived morphogenetic patterning mechanism responsible for the reiterated occurrence of different types of trunk dorsoventral segmental mismatch in several phylogenetically distant, extinct and extant, arthropod groups. PMID:23285116

Changed and changing gender and family roles and domestic violence in African refugee background communities post-settlement in Perth, Australia.

PubMed

Fisher, Colleen

2013-07-01

In this study, domestic violence (DV) in five African refugee background communities post-settlement in Perth, Australia, is investigated-specifically, the interrelationship between experiences of DV, and changed and changing gender and family roles and responsibilities. The participatory qualitative design utilized in-depth interviews with 54 members of the Somalian, Sierra Leonean, Ethiopian, Liberian and Sudanese Communities, and focus groups with 24 professionals who support them. Three key dimensions of this interrelationship are discussed: "male loss of the breadwinner role and status," "financial independence," and "mismatch between formal response and expectations." The importance of understanding experiences of DV within the context of cultural transition is highlighted here.

Seismic-reflection investigations of the Texas Springs Syncline for ground water development, Death Valley National Park

USGS Publications Warehouse

Machette, Michael N.; Stephenson, W.J.; Williams, R.A.; Odum, J.K.; Worley, D.M.; Dart, R.L.

2000-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an integrated geologic and geophysical study of the Texas Springs syncline for the National Park Service with the intention of locating a new production water well near existing water-collection and distribution facilities. Subsurface information was required to determine which, if any, sites within the syncline would be favorable for a well. About 4.2 km (2.6 mi.) of high-resolution seismic-reflection data were collected across and along the Texas Springs syncline. Two of our three lines, designated DV-1 and DV-3, cross the syncline, whereas the third line (DV-2) runs parallel to the north-northwest-trending syncline axis.

The DV-Xα Calculations of Optical Spectra and Their Pressure-Induced Shifts for Ruby

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Dongping; Ellis, D. E.; Liu, Yanyun; Chen, Jurong

1997-10-01

The R line and U band at normal pressure and their pressure-induced shifts of ruby have been calculated by making use of the SCF embedded-cluster discrete variational (DV-Xα) method. The calculated results of the spectral pressure-induced shifts of ruby by making use of the crystal-field theory have also been given. The results of the first-principle calculations are in very good agreement with the experimental data and the calculated results by using crystal-field theory. The results of local lattice relaxations around the Cr3+ ion are obtained by the DV-Xα calculations. The project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China

Preliminary construction of a service provider--informed domestic violence research agenda.

PubMed

Murray, Christine E; Welch, Metoka L

2010-12-01

This article presents the results of a statewide survey of domestic violence (DV) service providers that focused on the needs, background characteristics, and opinions of service providers related to research. The survey included an examination of service providers' motivation for working in the field, research background and training, and perceptions of research as well as the topics they believe are important for researchers to study, the resources they consult to learn about DV, and their suggestions to help researchers learn more about the nature of their work. The results are integrated into a preliminary agenda for future DV research that accounts for the needs and insight of service providers.

Exposure to Interpersonal Violence as a Predictor of PTSD Symptomatology in Domestic Violence Survivors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffing, Sascha; Lewis, Carla S.; Chu, Melissa; Sage, Robert E.; Madry, Lorraine; Primm, Beny J.

2006-01-01

This study examines the interrelationships between childhood abuse, exposure to maternal domestic violence, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in a multiethnic sample of 111 adult female residents of a domestic violence (DV) shelter. Participants completed structured interviews about the DV and their prior violence exposure,…

Composing with New Technology: Teacher Reflections on Learning Digital Video

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, David L.; Chiu, Ming Ming

2015-01-01

This study explores teachers' reflections on their learning to compose with new technologies in the context of teacher education and/or teacher professional development. English language arts (ELA) teachers (n = 240) in 15 courses learned to use digital video (DV), completed at least one DV group project, and responded to open-ended survey…

Sex, Attribution, and Severity Influence Intervention Decisions of Informal Helpers in Domestic Violence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chabot, Heather Frasier; Tracy, Tracy L.; Manning, Christine A.; Poisson, Chelsea A.

2009-01-01

Most domestic violence (DV) researchers examine professional intervention (e.g., police and nurses), but informal helpers (e.g., friends and bystanders) are critical. The authors measure undergraduates' intervention likelihood, type of involvement (i.e., contact with abuser), and the influence of attribution decisions in DV situations where the…

How Useful Are Indices of Personality Pathology when Assessing Domestic Violence Perpetrators?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbons, Peter; Collins, Marjorie; Reid, Corinne

2011-01-01

There has been considerable debate about profiling personality pathology when assessing and treating male perpetrators of domestic violence (DV). This study used the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) to explore the severity and diversity of male perpetrator personality pathology and response bias in a group of DV perpetrators being…

Children's experiences of domestic violence and abuse: Siblings' accounts of relational coping.

PubMed

Callaghan, Jane E M; Alexander, Joanne H; Sixsmith, Judith; Fellin, Lisa C

2016-10-01

This article explores how children see their relationships, particularly their sibling relationships, in families affected by domestic violence (DV) and how relationality emerges in their accounts as a resource to build an agentic sense of self. The 'voice' of children is largely absent from the DV literature, which typically portrays them as passive, damaged and relationally incompetent. Children's own understandings of their relational worlds are often overlooked, and consequently, existing models of children's social interactions give inadequate accounts of their meaning-making-in-context. Drawn from a larger study of children's experiences of DV and abuse, this article uses two case studies of sibling relationships to explore young people's use of relational resources, for coping with violence in the home. The article explores how relationality and coping intertwine in young people's accounts and disrupts the taken-for-granted assumption that children's 'premature caring' or 'parentification' is (only) pathological in children's responses to DV. This has implications for understanding young people's experiences in the present and supporting their capacity for relationship building in the future. © The Author(s) 2015.

Potential Interference of Oil Vehicles on Genital Tubercle Development during the Fetal Period in ICR Mice.

PubMed

Nishioka, Yasushi; Tamai, Kazuki; Onda, Masanari; Hiromori, Youhei; Kimura, Tomoki; Hu, Jianying; Nagase, Hisamitsu; Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi

2018-01-01

Corn oil, sesame oil, and 10% ethanol in corn oil are commonly used as dosing vehicles in toxicology studies. Since these vegetable oils contain bioactive compounds, it is important for toxicology studies to characterize the toxicities of the dosing vehicles themselves. It has been recently proposed that the width of the genital tubercle (GT), the dorsal-ventral length (D-V length) of the GT, and urethral tube closure in mouse fetuses can be used as novel markers for monitoring sexual development in mice. However, how these parameters are influenced by the dosing vehicles themselves remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of corn oil, sesame oil, and 10% ethanol in corn oil on GT width, D-V length, and GT morphology in ICR mice. Our results showed that all three vehicles influenced GT width and D-V length, but not GT morphology, suggesting that the effects of dosing vehicles themselves might need to be considered when GT width or D-V length is used as a parameter to evaluate the effects of chemicals on GT development.

Sexual and dating violence among adolescents and young adults in Chile: a review of findings from a survey of university students.

PubMed

Lehrer, Jocelyn A; Lehrer, Evelyn L; Koss, Mary P

2013-01-01

This paper synthesises and discusses results from the 2005 Survey of Student Well-Being, a closed-ended questionnaire administered to students attending general education courses at a major public university in Santiago (n = 484 women, 466 men). The survey included questions on sexual violence (SV) and dating violence (DV), public health problems that have received little attention in Chile and other Latin-American countries. This paper highlights key findings from a series of papers based on these data, noting lessons learned in the Chilean context that may be useful for other Latin-American countries. Important gaps in the international literature on SV and DV are also discussed. A central finding is the high prevalence of SV and DV in this sample of university students, warranting further public health attention to these problems. Potentially, the findings will contribute to changes in awareness, policy and practice along similar lines to efforts that transformed the US landscape regarding SV and DV on college campuses in the 1980s.

A Gender Comparison of Motivations for Physical Dating Violence Among College Students.

PubMed

Elmquist, JoAnna; Wolford-Clevenger, Caitlin; Zapor, Heather; Febres, Jeniimarie; Shorey, Ryan C; Hamel, John; Stuart, Gregory L

2016-01-01

There are limited empirical investigations that directly compare men and women's motivations, or reasons, for perpetrating physical dating violence (DV). In an attempt to further understand whether men and women have similar or different motives for physical DV, the purpose of the current study was to conduct a gender comparison of motives in a sample of male (n = 163) and female (n = 319) college students. Motivations for physical DV were classified according to seven broad categories proposed by Langhinrichsen-Rohling and colleagues: (a) power/control, (b) self-defense, (c) expression of negative emotion (e.g., anger), (d) communication difficulties, (e) retaliation, (f) jealousy, and (g) other (e.g., because it was sexually arousing, the influence of alcohol, the influence of drugs). The prevalence of physical violence perpetration in the overall sample was 29.4%. Results indicated that communication difficulties and self-defense were among the most frequently endorsed motive categories for both male and female perpetrated DV. In addition, results demonstrated gender similarity in all of the examined motive categories. Research and clinical implications are discussed. © The Author(s) 2014.

Imaging flow cytometry for the screening of compounds that disrupt the Plasmodium falciparum digestive vacuole.

PubMed

Chia, Wan Ni; Lee, Yan Quan; Tan, Kevin Shyong-Wei

2017-01-01

Malaria, despite being one of the world's oldest infectious diseases, remains difficult to eradicate because the parasite is rapidly developing resistance to frontline chemotherapies. Previous studies have shown that the parasite exhibits features resembling programmed cell death upon treatment with drugs that disrupt its digestive vacuole (DV), providing a phenotypic readout that can be detected using the imaging flow cytometer. Large compound collections can thus be screened to identify drugs that are able to disrupt the DV of the malaria parasite using this high-content high-throughput screening platform. As a proof-of-concept, 4440 compounds were screened using this platform in 4months and 254 hits (5.7% hit rate) were obtained. Additionally, 25 compounds (0.6% top hit rate) were observed to retain potent DV disruption activity that was comparable to the canonical DV disruptive drug chloroquine when tested at a ten-fold lower concentration from the original screen. This pilot study demonstrates the robustness and high-throughput capability of the imaging flow cytometer and we report herein the methodology of this screening assay. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Berry phases emerging from the π-flux state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Akihiro; Hu, Xiao

2005-03-01

We derive a new effective action describing fluctuations around the Affleck-Marston π-flux mean-field solution of the 2d Heisenberg antiferromagnet. The 5-dimensional Clifford algebra inherent in the Dirac fermion obtained as the continuum limit of the π-flux state is found to sustain a bulit-in competition between antiferromagnet (AF) and valence-bond-solid (VBS) orders. This naturally leads us to cast both orderings as components of a 5 component vectorial field v, for which we obtain an O(5) nonlinear sigma model with a novel Wess- Zumino (WZ) term proportional to the Mauer-Cartan form 0^1 dtd^3 x v dv dv dv dv, with t[0,1] an auxiliary variable which extends v(x) to v(t,x) in such a way that v(t=0,x)≡(0,0,0,0,1) and v(t=1,x)≡v(x) are satisfied. We study properties of Berry phases extracted from this WZ term, and recover in particular the AF hedgehog Berry phases (with a VBS core) which are central to recent studies on 2D spin liquids.

Peer victimization and social phobia: a follow-up study among adolescents.

PubMed

Ranta, Klaus; Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu; Fröjd, Sari; Marttunen, Mauri

2013-04-01

This study examined longitudinal associations between direct and relational peer victimization (DV/RV) and self-reported social phobia (SP) among adolescents from 15 to 17 years of age, controlling for depression and family socioeconomic covariates. A total of 3,278 Finnish adolescents with a mean age of 15.5 years were surveyed at baseline (T1), and followed up 2 years afterwards (T2) their mean age being 17.6 years. In all, 2,070 adolescents were reached for the follow-up. Both types of victimization were assessed with structured questions, SP with the Social Phobia Inventory, and depression with the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory. Socioeconomic covariates were assessed with items from the Life Events Checklist. Frequency of victimization and SP were assessed at T1 and T2, and incidence and persistence from T1 to T2. Longitudinal associations between victimization and SP were examined with three logistic regression analyses with depression and socioeconomic covariates controlled for, with SP, DV, and RV in turn as the dependent endpoint (T2) variables. Among boys a bidirectional association between DV and SP was found with DV both predicting SP [Odds Ratio (OR) 2.6] and being predicted by SP (OR 3.9). Among girls RV predicted SP (OR 2.8), but not vice versa, while depression in turn predicted DV (OR 4.3). Direct victimization and SP have a bidirectional association among boys, while among girls RV increases the risk of subsequent SP.

Minimum dV for Targeted Spacecraft Disposal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bacon, John

2017-01-01

The density scale height of the Earth's atmosphere undergoes significant reduction in the final phases of a natural decay. It can be shown that for most realistic ballistic numbers, it is possible to exploit this effect to amplify available spacecraft dV by using it at the penultimate perigee to penetrate into higher drag regions at final apogee. The drag at this lower pass can more effectively propel a spacecraft towards the final target region than applying the same dV direct Hohmann transfer at that final apogee. This study analyzes the potential use of this effect-- in combination with small phasing burns--to calculate the absolute minimum delta-V that would be required to reliably guide a spacecraft to any specified safe unoccupied ocean region as a function of ballistic number, orbit inclination, and initial eccentricity. This calculation is made for controllable spacecraft in several orbit inclinations and eccentricities with arbitrary initial LAN and ArgP one week before final entry, under three-sigma atmospheric perturbations. The study analyzes the dV required under varying levels of final controllable altitude at which dV may be imparted, and various definitions of the length and location of a "safe" disposal area. The goal of such research is to improve public safety by creating assured safe disposal strategies for low-dV and/or low-thrust spacecraft that under more traditional strategies would need to be abandoned to a fully random decay.

Validation Study of Italian Version of Inventory for Déjà Vu Experiences Assessment (I-IDEA): A Screening Tool to Detect Déjà Vu Phenomenon in Italian Healthy Individuals.

PubMed

Mumoli, Laura; Tripepi, Giovanni; Aguglia, Umberto; Augimeri, Antonio; Baggetta, Rossella; Bisulli, Francesca; Bruni, Antonella; Cavalli, Salvatore M; D'Aniello, Alfredo; Daniele, Ornella; Di Bonaventura, Carlo; Di Gennaro, Giancarlo; Fattouch, Jinane; Ferlazzo, Edoardo; Ferrari, Alessandra; Giallonardo, Annateresa; Gasparini, Sara; Nigro, Salvatore; Romigi, Andrea; Sofia, Vito; Tinuper, Paolo; Vaccaro, Maria Grazia; Zummo, Leila; Quattrone, Aldo; Gambardella, Antonio; Labate, Angelo

2017-08-07

The Inventory Déjà Vu Experiences Assessment (IDEA) is the only screening instrument proposed to evaluate the Déjà vu (DV) experience. Here, we intended to validate the Italian version of IDEA (I-IDEA) and at the same time to investigate the incidence and subjective qualities of the DV phenomenon in healthy Italian adult individuals on basis of an Italian multicentre observational study. In this study, we report normative data on the I-IDEA, collected on a sample of 542 Italian healthy subjects aging between 18-70 years (average age: 40) with a formal educational from 1-19 years. From September 2013 to March 2016, we recruited 542 healthy volunteers from 10 outpatient neurological clinics in Italy. All participants (i.e., family members of neurological patients enrolled, medical students, physicians) had no neurological or psychiatric illness and gave their informed consent to participate in the study. All subjects enrolled self-administered the questionnaire and they were able to complete I-IDEA test without any support. In total, 396 (73%) of the 542 healthy controls experienced the DV phenomenon. The frequency of DV was inversely related to age as well as to derealisation, jamais vu, precognitive dreams, depersonalization, paranormal activity, remembering dreams, travel frequency, and daydreams (all p < 0.012). The Italian version of IDEA maintains good properties, thus confirming that this instrument is reliable for detecting and characterising the DV phenomenon.

Corn rootworm-active RNA DvSnf7: Repeat dose oral toxicology assessment in support of human and mammalian safety.

PubMed

Petrick, Jay S; Frierdich, Gregory E; Carleton, Stephanie M; Kessenich, Colton R; Silvanovich, Andre; Zhang, Yuanji; Koch, Michael S

2016-11-01

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed and commercialized that utilize double stranded RNAs (dsRNA) to suppress a target gene(s), producing virus resistance, nutritional and quality traits. MON 87411 is a GM maize variety that leverages dsRNAs to selectively control corn rootworm through production of a 240 base pair (bp) dsRNA fragment targeting for suppression the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) Snf7 gene (DvSnf7). A bioinformatics assessment found that endogenous corn small RNAs matched ∼450 to 2300 unique RNA transcripts that likely code for proteins in rat, mouse, and human, demonstrating safe dsRNA consumption by mammals. Mice were administered DvSnf7 RNA (968 nucleotides, including the 240 bp DvSnf7 dsRNA) at 1, 10, or 100 mg/kg by oral gavage in a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study. No treatment-related effects were observed in body weights, food consumption, clinical observations, clinical chemistry, hematology, gross pathology, or histopathology endpoints. Therefore, the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for DvSnf7 RNA was 100 mg/kg, the highest dose tested. These results demonstrate that dsRNA for insect control does not produce adverse health effects in mammals at oral doses millions to billions of times higher than anticipated human exposures and therefore poses negligible risk to mammals. Copyright © 2016 Monsanto Company. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of pretreatment with chromium picolinate on haematological parameters during dengue virus infection in mice.

PubMed

Shrivastava, Richa; Nagar, R; Ravishankar, G A; Upreti, R K; Chaturvedi, U C

2007-11-01

Dengue virus (DV) has caused severe epidemics of dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and is endemic all over India. We have earlier reported that exposure of mice to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] compounds increased the severity of dengue virus infection. Trivalent chromium picolinate (CrP) is used worldwide as micronutrient and nutritional supplement. The present study was therefore, carried out to investigate the effects of CrP on various haematological parameters during DV infection of mice. The Swiss Albino smice were inoculated with dengue virus (1000 LD50, intracerebrally) and fed with chromium picolinate (CrP) in drinking water (100 and 250 mg/l) for 24 wk. Peripheral blood leucocytes and other haematological parameters, and spleens were studied on days 4 and 8 after virus inoculations and the findings were compared with those given only CrP and the normal control age matched mice. CrP in drinking water for 24 wk had no significant effects on peripheral blood cells of mice. On the other hand, there was significant decrease in different haematological parameters following inoculation of normal mice with DV. In CrP fed mice the effects of DV infection were abolished on most of the haematological parameters. The findings of present study showed that the adverse effects of DV infection, specially on platelets and leucocytes, were abrogated by pretreatment of mice with CrP. The therapeutic utility of CrP in viral infections including dengue needs to be studied in depth.

Domestic Violence as a Risk Factor for Attempted Suicide in Married Women.

PubMed

Indu, Pankajakshan Vijayanthi; Remadevi, Sivaraman; Vidhukumar, Karunakaran; Shah Navas, Peer Mohammed; Anilkumar, Thekkethayyil Viswanathan; Subha, Nanoo

2017-08-01

High rates of suicide attempts and domestic violence (DV) in women of reproductive age group have been reported from South India, but the association between them was not studied. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess whether DV is a risk factor for attempted suicide in married women of reproductive age group. A hospital-based case-control study with 77 incident cases of attempted suicide in married women of the age group of 18 to 45 years and 153 controls belonging to the same age group, without history of suicide attempt, was undertaken over a period of 6 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done. The crude odds ratio (cOR) for DV was found to be 6.15 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [2.95, 12.82], p value = .0001). Other statistically significant risk factors included younger age group (below 30 years); gross family income > Rs. 5,000; higher occupational status of spouse; having poor social support; having a family history of psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide/suicide attempt; higher impulsiveness scores; having higher scores of stressful life events over the past 12 months, and alcohol use disorder in husband. Islamic faith was found to be a significant protective factor. On logistic regression, DV was found to be an independent risk factor for attempted suicide in this study population (adjusted OR = 3.79, 95% CI = [1.35, 10.62], p value = .011). Age groups, stressful life events, impulsiveness, and alcohol use disorder in husband were the confounders adjusted for in logistic regression along with other significant risk and protective factors. Significant dose-response relationship was also observed between DV and attempted suicide. In accordance with the stress-diathesis model for suicidal behavior, DV is found to be a stressor which precipitates suicide attempt in those with diathesis like family history of psychiatric disorders. Clinical, research, and policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Characterization and Validation of Transiting Planets in the Kepler and TESS Pipelines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Twicken, Joseph; Brownston, Lee; Catanzarite, Joseph; Clarke, Bruce; Cote, Miles; Girouard, Forrest; Li, Jie; McCauliff, Sean; Seader, Shawn; Tenenbaum, Peter; Wohler, Bill; Jenkins, Jon Michael; Batalha, Natalie; Bryson, Steve; Burke, Christopher; Caldwell, Douglas

2015-08-01

Light curves for Kepler targets are searched for transiting planet signatures in the Transiting Planet Search (TPS) component of the Science Operations Center (SOC) Processing Pipeline. Targets for which the detection threshold is exceeded are subsequently processed in the Data Validation (DV) Pipeline component. The primary functions of DV are to (1) characterize planets identified in the transiting planet search, (2) search for additional transiting planet signatures in light curves after modeled transit signatures have been removed, and (3) perform a comprehensive suite of diagnostic tests to aid in discrimination between true transiting planets and false positive detections. DV output products include extensive reports by target, one-page report summaries by planet candidate, and tabulated planet model fit and diagnostic test results. The DV products are employed by humans and automated systems to vet planet candidates identified in the pipeline. The final revision of the Kepler SOC codebase (9.3) was released in March 2015. It will be utilized to reprocess the complete Q1-Q17 data set later this year. At the same time, the SOC Pipeline codebase is being ported to support the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Mission. TESS is expected to launch in 2017 and survey the entire sky for transiting exoplanets over a period of two years. We describe the final revision of the Kepler Data Validation component with emphasis on the diagnostic tests and reports. This revision also serves as the DV baseline for TESS. The diagnostic tests exploit the flux (i.e., light curve), centroid and pixel time series associated with each target to facilitate the determination of the true origin of each purported transiting planet signature. Candidate planet detections and DV products for Kepler are delivered to the Exoplanet Archive at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI). The Exoplanet Archive is located at exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu. Funding for the Kepler and TESS Missions has been provided by the NASA Science Mission Directorate.

LLNL-G3Dv3: Global P wave tomography model for improved regional and teleseismic travel time prediction: LLNL-G3DV3---GLOBAL P WAVE TOMOGRAPHY

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

Simmons, N. A.; Myers, S. C.; Johannesson, G.

[1] We develop a global-scale P wave velocity model (LLNL-G3Dv3) designed to accurately predict seismic travel times at regional and teleseismic distances simultaneously. The model provides a new image of Earth's interior, but the underlying practical purpose of the model is to provide enhanced seismic event location capabilities. The LLNL-G3Dv3 model is based on ∼2.8 millionP and Pnarrivals that are re-processed using our global multiple-event locator called Bayesloc. We construct LLNL-G3Dv3 within a spherical tessellation based framework, allowing for explicit representation of undulating and discontinuous layers including the crust and transition zone layers. Using a multiscale inversion technique, regional trendsmore » as well as fine details are captured where the data allow. LLNL-G3Dv3 exhibits large-scale structures including cratons and superplumes as well numerous complex details in the upper mantle including within the transition zone. Particularly, the model reveals new details of a vast network of subducted slabs trapped within the transition beneath much of Eurasia, including beneath the Tibetan Plateau. We demonstrate the impact of Bayesloc multiple-event location on the resulting tomographic images through comparison with images produced without the benefit of multiple-event constraints (single-event locations). We find that the multiple-event locations allow for better reconciliation of the large set of direct P phases recorded at 0–97° distance and yield a smoother and more continuous image relative to the single-event locations. Travel times predicted from a 3-D model are also found to be strongly influenced by the initial locations of the input data, even when an iterative inversion/relocation technique is employed.« less

Rotary and High-Pressure Nozzle Spray Plume Droplet Analysis For Aerially Applied Mosquito Adulticides: Laser Diffraction Characterization.

PubMed

Hornby, Jonathan A; Robinson, Jim; Sterling, Milton

2017-03-01

The droplet spectrum of a mosquito adulticide spray plume determines its ability to drift through the target area, impinge on the mosquito, deliver a toxic dose, and the risk of environmental contamination. This paper provides data on droplet spectra produced from 6 nozzles in a high-pressure nozzle spray system and 5 rotary nozzle systems for common mosquito adulticides. Spray plume spectra were measured by laser diffraction. High-pressure nozzles were evaluated at pressures ranging from 500 psi to 6,000 psi. Rotary nozzles were evaluated at rotational speeds ranging from 500 rpm to 24,000 rpm. Measurements were made at wind speeds of 129 km/h (80 mph) to 225 km/h (140 mph). Adulticides included were Fyfanon ® , Aqua-Reslin ® , Dibrom ® , Duet ® , Permanone ® , and the inert mineral oil, Orchex ® 796. High-pressure nozzles produced spray plumes within the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label requirements for all configurations tested except for one at a wind speed of 225 km/h, BETE ® MW125. Air speed had no significant effect on the spray plume volume median diameter (Dv (0.5) ) at the speeds tested with Fyfanon ® . The spray plume 90% drop volume diameter (Dv (0.9) ) significantly decreased, 13% at the higher wind speed of 225 km/h. Drop size was inversely related to pressure. Dilution of the product formulations increased the Dv (0.5) of the spray plume but it did not exceed the label requirements. For the PJ15 nozzle, orientation of the nozzle into the wind of up to 135° showed a significant increase in Dv (0.5) at 500 psi, 750 psi, and 1,500 psi. The Dv (0.5) varied <5 μm over the 3 angles examined for any specific pressure. Rotary nozzles produced spray plumes within the EPA label requirements for all test configurations examined. Air speed had no significant effect on Dv (0.5) or Dv (0.9) of the plume at speeds tested with Fyfanon for the ASC A20 nozzle. The rotary AU5000 nozzle using Orchex 796 produced plumes of larger drops in all configurations than any of the rotary nozzles of similar configurations using active ingredient formulations and within EPA label requirements.

Degree of Exposure to Domestic Violence, Psychopathology, and Functional Impairment in Children and Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fernandez, Eduard Bayarri; Ezpeleta, Lourdes; Granero, Roser; de la Osa, Nuria; Domenech, Josep Maria

2011-01-01

There are discrepancies about whether children who witness and suffer domestic violence (DV) have similar outcomes in terms of psychopathology. This work examines the relationship between different types of exposure to DV and child psychopathology and functional impairment. One hundred and forty-four Spanish children aged from 4 to 17 years and…

75 FR 27514 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-17

... vehicular traffic are also subject to increased ozone levels because wind carries ozone and its precursors... ozone triggers a variety of health problems including aggravated asthma, reduced lung capacity, and... is called the design value (DV). The DV indicates the severity of the ozone problem in an area; it is...

Lived Experiences of Diversity Visa Lottery Immigrants in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hailu, Tekleab Elos; Mendoza, Bernadette M.; Lahman, Maria K. E.; Richard, Veronica M.

2012-01-01

Every year approximately 50,000 people immigrate to the United States through the avenue referred to as the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery. In this article, the authors present a literature review of immigration to the U.S. through the DV Lottery, reflect on their own immigration histories, and utilize phenomenology to investigate and describe…

Evo-devo: Hydra raises its Noggin.

PubMed

Chandramore, Kalpana; Ghaskadbi, Surendra

2011-08-01

Noggin, along with other secreted bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitors, plays a crucial role in neural induction and neural tube patterning as well as in somitogenesis, cardiac morphogenesis and formation of the skeleton in vertebrates. The BMP signalling pathway is one of the seven fundamental pathways that drive embryonic development and pattern formation in animals. Understanding its evolutionary origin and role in pattern formation is, therefore, important to evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). We have studied the evolutionary origin of BMP-Noggin antagonism in hydra, which is a powerful diploblastic model to study evolution of pattern-forming mechanisms because of the unusual cellular dynamics during its pattern formation and its remarkable ability to regenerate. We cloned and characterized the noggin gene from hydra and found it to exhibit considerable similarity with its orthologues at the amino acid level. Microinjection of hydra Noggin mRNA led to duplication of the dorsoventral axis in Xenopus embryos, demonstrating its functional conservation across the taxa. Our data, along with those of others, indicate that the evolutionarily conserved antagonism between BMP and its inhibitors predates bilateral divergence. This article reviews the various roles of Noggin in different organisms and some of our recent work on hydra Noggin in the context of evolution of developmental signalling pathways.

Identification of Lmo1 as part of a Hox-dependent regulatory network for hindbrain patterning.

PubMed

Matis, Christelle; Oury, Franck; Remacle, Sophie; Lampe, Xavier; Gofflot, Françoise; Picard, Jacques J; Rijli, Filippo M; Rezsohazy, René

2007-09-01

The embryonic functions of Hox proteins have been extensively investigated in several animal phyla. These transcription factors act as selectors of developmental programmes, to govern the morphogenesis of multiple structures and organs. However, despite the variety of morphogenetic processes Hox proteins are involved in, only a limited set of their target genes has been identified so far. To find additional targets, we used a strategy based upon the simultaneous overexpression of Hoxa2 and its cofactors Pbx1 and Prep in a cellular model. Among genes whose expression was upregulated, we identified LMO1, which codes for an intertwining LIM-only factor involved in protein-DNA oligomeric complexes. By analysing its expression in Hox knockout mice, we show that Lmo1 is differentially regulated by Hoxa2 and Hoxb2, in specific columns of hindbrain neuronal progenitors. These results suggest that Lmo1 takes part in a Hox paralogue 2-dependent network regulating anteroposterior and dorsoventral hindbrain patterning. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

An accelerometric measure of the gait pattern in horses after the administration of sublingual detomidine.

PubMed

López-Sanromán, F J; de la Riva Andrés, S; Holmbak-Petersen, R; Pérez-Nogués, M; Forés Jackson, P; Santos González, M

2014-10-01

The locomotor pattern alterations produced after the administration of a sublingual detomidine gel was measured by an accelerometric method in horses. Using a randomized two-way crossover design, all animals (n = 6) randomly received either detomidine gel or a placebo administered sublingually. A triaxial accelerometric device was used for gait assessment 15 minutes before (baseline) and every 10 minutes after each treatment for a period of 180 minutes. Eight different parameters were calculated, including speed, stride frequency, stride length, regularity, dorsoventral, propulsion, mediolateral, and total power. Force of acceleration and the three components of power were also calculated. Significant statistical differences were observed between groups in all the parameters but stride length. The majority of significant changes started between 30 and 70 minutes after drug administration and lasted for 160 minutes. This route of administration is definitely useful in horses in which a prolonged sedation is required, with stability being a major concern. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Listening to speech recruits specific tongue motor synergies as revealed by transcranial magnetic stimulation and tissue-Doppler ultrasound imaging

PubMed Central

D'Ausilio, A.; Maffongelli, L.; Bartoli, E.; Campanella, M.; Ferrari, E.; Berry, J.; Fadiga, L.

2014-01-01

The activation of listener's motor system during speech processing was first demonstrated by the enhancement of electromyographic tongue potentials as evoked by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over tongue motor cortex. This technique is, however, technically challenging and enables only a rather coarse measurement of this motor mirroring. Here, we applied TMS to listeners’ tongue motor area in association with ultrasound tissue Doppler imaging to describe fine-grained tongue kinematic synergies evoked by passive listening to speech. Subjects listened to syllables requiring different patterns of dorso-ventral and antero-posterior movements (/ki/, /ko/, /ti/, /to/). Results show that passive listening to speech sounds evokes a pattern of motor synergies mirroring those occurring during speech production. Moreover, mirror motor synergies were more evident in those subjects showing good performances in discriminating speech in noise demonstrating a role of the speech-related mirror system in feed-forward processing the speaker's ongoing motor plan. PMID:24778384

Mutations in KIAA0586 Cause Lethal Ciliopathies Ranging from a Hydrolethalus Phenotype to Short-Rib Polydactyly Syndrome

PubMed Central

Alby, Caroline; Piquand, Kevin; Huber, Céline; Megarbané, André; Ichkou, Amale; Legendre, Marine; Pelluard, Fanny; Encha-Ravazi, Ferechté; Abi-Tayeh, Georges; Bessières, Bettina; El Chehadeh-Djebbar, Salima; Laurent, Nicole; Faivre, Laurence; Sztriha, László; Zombor, Melinda; Szabó, Hajnalka; Failler, Marion; Garfa-Traore, Meriem; Bole, Christine; Nitschké, Patrick; Nizon, Mathilde; Elkhartoufi, Nadia; Clerget-Darpoux, Françoise; Munnich, Arnold; Lyonnet, Stanislas; Vekemans, Michel; Saunier, Sophie; Cormier-Daire, Valérie; Attié-Bitach, Tania; Thomas, Sophie

2015-01-01

KIAA0586, the human ortholog of chicken TALPID3, is a centrosomal protein that is essential for primary ciliogenesis. Its disruption in animal models causes defects attributed to abnormal hedgehog signaling; these defects include polydactyly and abnormal dorsoventral patterning of the neural tube. Here, we report homozygous mutations of KIAA0586 in four families affected by lethal ciliopathies ranging from a hydrolethalus phenotype to short-rib polydactyly. We show defective ciliogenesis, as well as abnormal response to SHH-signaling activation in cells derived from affected individuals, consistent with a role of KIAA0586 in primary cilia biogenesis. Whereas centriolar maturation seemed unaffected in mutant cells, we observed an abnormal extended pattern of CEP290, a centriolar satellite protein previously associated with ciliopathies. Our data show the crucial role of KIAA0586 in human primary ciliogenesis and subsequent abnormal hedgehog signaling through abnormal GLI3 processing. Our results thus establish that KIAA0586 mutations cause lethal ciliopathies. PMID:26166481

Maternal control of the Drosophila dorsal–ventral body axis

PubMed Central

Stein, David S.; Stevens, Leslie M.

2016-01-01

The pathway that generates the dorsal–ventral (DV) axis of the Drosophila embryo has been the subject of intense investigation over the previous three decades. The initial asymmetric signal originates during oogenesis by the movement of the oocyte nucleus to an anterior corner of the oocyte, which establishes DV polarity within the follicle through signaling between Gurken, the Drosophila Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-α homologue secreted from the oocyte, and the Drosophila Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) that is expressed by the follicular epithelium cells that envelop the oocyte. Follicle cells that are not exposed to Gurken follow a ventral fate and express Pipe, a sulfotransferase that enzymatically modifies components of the inner vitelline membrane layer of the eggshell, thereby transferring DV spatial information from the follicle to the egg. These ventrally sulfated eggshell proteins comprise a localized cue that directs the ventrally restricted formation of the active Spätzle ligand within the perivitelline space between the eggshell and the embryonic membrane. Spätzle activates Toll, a transmembrane receptor in the embryonic membrane. Transmission of the Toll signal into the embryo leads to the formation of a ventral-to-dorsal gradient of the transcription factor Dorsal within the nuclei of the syncytial blastoderm stage embryo. Dorsal controls the spatially specific expression of a large constellation of zygotic target genes, the Dorsal gene regulatory network, along the embryonic DV circumference. This article reviews classic studies and integrates them with the details of more recent work that has advanced our understanding of the complex pathway that establishes Drosophila embryo DV polarity. PMID:25124754

Validation Study of Italian Version of Inventory for Déjà Vu Experiences Assessment (I-IDEA): A Screening Tool to Detect Déjà Vu Phenomenon in Italian Healthy Individuals

PubMed Central

Mumoli, Laura; Tripepi, Giovanni; Augimeri, Antonio; Baggetta, Rossella; Bisulli, Francesca; Bruni, Antonella; Cavalli, Salvatore M.; D’Aniello, Alfredo; Daniele, Ornella; Di Bonaventura, Carlo; Di Gennaro, Giancarlo; Fattouch, Jinane; Ferlazzo, Edoardo; Ferrari, Alessandra; Giallonardo, Annateresa; Gasparini, Sara; Nigro, Salvatore; Romigi, Andrea; Sofia, Vito; Tinuper, Paolo; Vaccaro, Maria Grazia; Zummo, Leila; Quattrone, Aldo; Gambardella, Antonio; Labate, Angelo

2017-01-01

The Inventory Déjà Vu Experiences Assessment (IDEA) is the only screening instrument proposed to evaluate the Déjà vu (DV) experience. Here, we intended to validate the Italian version of IDEA (I-IDEA) and at the same time to investigate the incidence and subjective qualities of the DV phenomenon in healthy Italian adult individuals on basis of an Italian multicentre observational study. In this study, we report normative data on the I-IDEA, collected on a sample of 542 Italian healthy subjects aging between 18–70 years (average age: 40) with a formal educational from 1–19 years. From September 2013 to March 2016, we recruited 542 healthy volunteers from 10 outpatient neurological clinics in Italy. All participants (i.e., family members of neurological patients enrolled, medical students, physicians) had no neurological or psychiatric illness and gave their informed consent to participate in the study. All subjects enrolled self-administered the questionnaire and they were able to complete I-IDEA test without any support. In total, 396 (73%) of the 542 healthy controls experienced the DV phenomenon. The frequency of DV was inversely related to age as well as to derealisation, jamais vu, precognitive dreams, depersonalization, paranormal activity, remembering dreams, travel frequency, and daydreams (all p < 0.012). The Italian version of IDEA maintains good properties, thus confirming that this instrument is reliable for detecting and characterising the DV phenomenon. PMID:28783090

Non-enzymatic glycation alters microdamage formation in human cancellous bone⋆

PubMed Central

Tang, S.Y.; Vashishth, D.

2015-01-01

Introduction The accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in bone has been suggested to adversely affect the fracture resistance of bone with aging, diabetes, and pharmacological treatments. The formation of AGEs increases crosslinking in the organic matrix of bone but it is unknown how elevated levels of AGEs affect the mechanisms of fracture resistance such as microdamage formation. Methods Human tibial cancellous bone cores were subjected to non-enzymatic glycation (NEG) by in vitro ribosylation and were mechanically loaded to pre- (0.6%) and post- (1.1%) yield apparent level strains. Loaded specimens were stained with lead–uranyl acetate and subjected to microCT-based 3D quantification and characterization of microdamage as either diffuse damage and linear microcracks. Damaged volume per bone volume (DV/BV) and damaged surface per damaged volume (DS/DV) ratios were used to quantify the volume and morphology of the detected microdamage, respectively. Results In vitro ribosylation increased the microdamage morphology parameter (DS/DV) under both pre-(p<0.05; +51%) and post-yield loading (p<0.001; +38%), indicating that the alteration of bone matrix by NEG caused the formation of crack-like microdamage morphologies. Under post-yield loading, the NEG-mediated increase in DS/DV was coupled with the reductions in microdamage formation (DV/BV; p<0.001) and toughness (p<0.001). Discussion Using a novel microCT technique to characterize and quantify microdamage, this study shows that the accumulation of AGEs in the bone matrix significantly alters the quantity and morphology of microdamage production and results in reduced fracture resistance. PMID:19747573

Optimally Repeatable Kinetic Model Variant for Myocardial Blood Flow Measurements with 82Rb PET.

PubMed

Ocneanu, Adrian F; deKemp, Robert A; Renaud, Jennifer M; Adler, Andy; Beanlands, Rob S B; Klein, Ran

2017-01-01

Purpose. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantification with 82 Rb positron emission tomography (PET) is gaining clinical adoption, but improvements in precision are desired. This study aims to identify analysis variants producing the most repeatable MBF measures. Methods. 12 volunteers underwent same-day test-retest rest and dipyridamole stress imaging with dynamic 82 Rb PET, from which MBF was quantified using 1-tissue-compartment kinetic model variants: (1) blood-pool versus uptake region sampled input function (Blood/Uptake-ROI), (2) dual spillover correction (SOC-On/Off), (3) right blood correction (RBC-On/Off), (4) arterial blood transit delay (Delay-On/Off), and (5) distribution volume (DV) constraint (Global/Regional-DV). Repeatability of MBF, stress/rest myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and stress/rest MBF difference (ΔMBF) was assessed using nonparametric reproducibility coefficients (RPC np = 1.45 × interquartile range). Results. MBF using SOC-On, RVBC-Off, Blood-ROI, Global-DV, and Delay-Off was most repeatable for combined rest and stress: RPC np = 0.21 mL/min/g (15.8%). Corresponding MFR and ΔMBF RPC np were 0.42 (20.2%) and 0.24 mL/min/g (23.5%). MBF repeatability improved with SOC-On at stress ( p < 0.001) and tended to improve with RBC-Off at both rest and stress ( p < 0.08). DV and ROI did not significantly influence repeatability. The Delay-On model was overdetermined and did not reliably converge. Conclusion. MBF and MFR test-retest repeatability were the best with dual spillover correction, left atrium blood input function, and global DV.

MSNoise: Not Only dv/v! A Framework for Continuous Seismic Data Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mordret, A.; Lecocq, T.; De Plaen, R.; Caudron, C.; Brenguier, F.

2015-12-01

MSNoise is an Open and Free Python package known to be the only complete integrated workflow designed to analyse ambient seismic noise and study relative velocity changes (dv/v) in the crust. It is based on state of the art and well maintained Python modules, among which ObsPy plays an important role. To our knowledge, it is officially used for continuous monitoring at least in three notable places: the Observatory of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano (OVPF, France), the Auckland Volcanic Field (New Zealand) and on the South Napa earthquake (Berkeley, USA). It is also used by many researchers to process archive data, e.g. focussing on fault zones, intraplate Europe, geothermal exploitations or Antarctica. We first present the general working of MSNoise, originally written in 2010 to automatically scan data archives and process seismic data in order to produce dv/v time series. We demonstrate that its modularity provides a new potential to easily test new algorithms for each processing step. For example, to experiment new methods of cross-correlation (done by default in the frequency domain), stacking (default is linear stacking, averaging), or dt/t or dv/v estimation (default is moving window cross-spectrum "MWCS", so-called "doublet"), etc. Finally, we present the last major evolution of MSNoise, from a "single workflow: data archive to dv/v" to a framework system that allows plugins and modules to be developed and integrated into the MSNoise ecosystem. Examples of plugins in development such as continuous PPSD (à la McNamarra & Buland) or continuous RSAM/SSAM (Endo & Murray, Stephens) will be presented.

On the star partition dimension of comb product of cycle and path

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alfarisi, Ridho; Darmaji

2017-08-01

Let G = (V, E) be a connected graphs with vertex set V(G), edge set E(G) and S ⊆ V(G). Given an ordered partition Π = {S1, S2, S3, …, Sk} of the vertex set V of G, the representation of a vertex v ∈ V with respect to Π is the vector r(v|Π) = (d(v, S1), d(v, S2), …, d(v, Sk)), where d(v, Sk) represents the distance between the vertex v and the set Sk and d(v, Sk) = min{d(v, x)|x ∈ Sk }. A partition Π of V(G) is a resolving partition if different vertices of G have distinct representations, i.e., for every pair of vertices u, v ∈ V(G), r(u|Π) ≠ r(v|Π). The minimum k of Π resolving partition is a partition dimension of G, denoted by pd(G). The resolving partition Π = {S1, S2, S3, …, Sk } is called a star resolving partition for G if it is a resolving partition and each subgraph induced by Si, 1 ≤ i ≤ k, is a star. The minimum k for which there exists a star resolving partition of V(G) is the star partition dimension of G, denoted by spd(G). Finding the star partition dimension of G is classified to be a NP-Hard problem. In this paper, we will show that the partition dimension of comb product of cycle and path namely Cm⊳Pn and Pn⊳Cm for n ≥ 2 and m ≥ 3.

Effects of weather conditions on emergency ambulance calls for acute coronary syndromes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vencloviene, Jone; Babarskiene, Ruta; Dobozinskas, Paulius; Siurkaite, Viktorija

2015-08-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between weather conditions and daily emergency ambulance calls for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The study included data on 3631 patients who called the ambulance for chest pain and were admitted to the department of cardiology as patients with ACS. We investigated the effect of daily air temperature ( T), barometric pressure (BP), relative humidity, and wind speed (WS) to detect the risk areas for low and high daily volume (DV) of emergency calls. We used the classification and regression tree method as well as cluster analysis. The clusters were created by applying the k-means cluster algorithm using the standardized daily weather variables. The analysis was performed separately during cold (October-April) and warm (May-September) seasons. During the cold period, the greatest DV was observed on days of low T during the 3-day sequence, on cold and windy days, and on days of low BP and high WS during the 3-day sequence; low DV was associated with high BP and decreased WS on the previous day. During June-September, a lower DV was associated with low BP, windless days, and high BP and low WS during the 3-day sequence. During the warm period, the greatest DV was associated with increased BP and changing WS during the 3-day sequence. These results suggest that daily T, BP, and WS on the day of the ambulance call and on the two previous days may be prognostic variables for the risk of ACS.

Enhancing Hungarian Special Forces through Transformation -- The Shift to Special Operations Forces

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

heteroskedasticity and the Ramsey RESET test . For the detailed regression results see Appendix B. Damodar N. Gujarati, Basic Econometrics , Third...96 Table 13. Ramsey RESET test using powers of the fitted values of DV1 (relative attitude toward HUNSF... Ramsey RESET test using powers of the fitted values of DV1 (relative attitude toward HUNSF) B. REGRESSION ANALYSIS

Redesign of a cross-reactive antibody to dengue virus with broad-spectrum activity and increased in vivo potency

PubMed Central

Tharakaraman, Kannan; Robinson, Luke N.; Hatas, Andrew; Chen, Yi-Ling; Siyue, Liu; Raguram, S.; Sasisekharan, V.; Wogan, Gerald N.; Sasisekharan, Ram

2013-01-01

Affinity improvement of proteins, including antibodies, by computational chemistry broadly relies on physics-based energy functions coupled with refinement. However, achieving significant enhancement of binding affinity (>10-fold) remains a challenging exercise, particularly for cross-reactive antibodies. We describe here an empirical approach that captures key physicochemical features common to antigen–antibody interfaces to predict protein–protein interaction and mutations that confer increased affinity. We apply this approach to the design of affinity-enhancing mutations in 4E11, a potent cross-reactive neutralizing antibody to dengue virus (DV), without a crystal structure. Combination of predicted mutations led to a 450-fold improvement in affinity to serotype 4 of DV while preserving, or modestly increasing, affinity to serotypes 1–3 of DV. We show that increased affinity resulted in strong in vitro neutralizing activity to all four serotypes, and that the redesigned antibody has potent antiviral activity in a mouse model of DV challenge. Our findings demonstrate an empirical computational chemistry approach for improving protein–protein docking and engineering antibody affinity, which will help accelerate the development of clinically relevant antibodies. PMID:23569282

Exploratory Climate Data Visualization and Analysis Using DV3D and UVCDAT

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maxwell, Thomas

2012-01-01

Earth system scientists are being inundated by an explosion of data generated by ever-increasing resolution in both global models and remote sensors. Advanced tools for accessing, analyzing, and visualizing very large and complex climate data are required to maintain rapid progress in Earth system research. To meet this need, NASA, in collaboration with the Ultra-scale Visualization Climate Data Analysis Tools (UVCOAT) consortium, is developing exploratory climate data analysis and visualization tools which provide data analysis capabilities for the Earth System Grid (ESG). This paper describes DV3D, a UV-COAT package that enables exploratory analysis of climate simulation and observation datasets. OV3D provides user-friendly interfaces for visualization and analysis of climate data at a level appropriate for scientists. It features workflow inte rfaces, interactive 40 data exploration, hyperwall and stereo visualization, automated provenance generation, and parallel task execution. DV30's integration with CDAT's climate data management system (COMS) and other climate data analysis tools provides a wide range of high performance climate data analysis operations. DV3D expands the scientists' toolbox by incorporating a suite of rich new exploratory visualization and analysis methods for addressing the complexity of climate datasets.

Sexual minority college students' perceptions on dating violence and sexual assault.

PubMed

Ollen, Elizabeth W; Ameral, Victoria E; Palm Reed, Kathleen; Hines, Denise A

2017-01-01

While the majority of research on dating violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) in college students has focused on heterosexual students, victimization rates among sexual minority students are the same or higher than that of their heterosexual counterparts. The current study sought to explore sexual minority college students' perceptions of the prevalence of DV and SA, risk and protective factors, and barriers to seeking help, using focus groups. A total of 14 sexual minority students ranging in age from 18 to 24 participated across 2 focus groups. Findings suggest the majority of the students perceived DV and SA among sexual minority individuals to be less common compared to their heterosexual counterparts and to be less common on their campus compared to other colleges and universities. Students' reflections about risk and protective factors overlapped with those previously established among heterosexuals as well as factors unique to the sexual minority community. Students identified societal, community, and psychological-level barriers related to help-seeking. We provide recommendations for practice based on the current findings (e.g., colleges could expand current educational material about DV and SA to include more recognition of these issues for sexual minority students). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

"I am not [just] a rabbit who has a bunch of children!": agency in the midst of suffering at the intersections of global inequalities, gendered violence, and migration.

PubMed

Parson, Nia

2010-08-01

This article is based on an analysis of the life history narrative of Antonia, a Peruvian immigrant in Chile, in the context of ethnographic research on Chilean women's experiences of domestic violence (DV) and the post-dictatorship state's responses to DV. Structural and socio-cultural constraints and forms of violence, including global and local economic inequalities, migration, racism, and intimate, gender-based abuses in both home and receiving countries interact in Antonia's experience to produce suffering and influence a form of gendered agency. This analysis points to the need for research and policies specifically designed to attend to the intersecting vulnerabilities migrant women who suffer DV often face, as well as their agentive acts.

Cleavage preference distinguishes the two-component NS2B-NS3 serine proteinases of Dengue and West Nile viruses.

PubMed

Shiryaev, Sergey A; Kozlov, Igor A; Ratnikov, Boris I; Smith, Jeffrey W; Lebl, Michal; Strongin, Alex Y

2007-02-01

Regulated proteolysis of the polyprotein precursor by the NS2B-NS3 protease is required for the propagation of infectious virions. Unless the structural and functional parameters of NS2B-NS3 are precisely determined, an understanding of its functional role and the design of flaviviral inhibitors will be exceedingly difficult. Our objectives were to define the substrate recognition pattern of the NS2B-NS3 protease of West Nile and Dengue virises (WNV and DV respectively). To accomplish our goals, we used an efficient, 96-well plate format, method for the synthesis of 9-mer peptide substrates with the general P4-P3-P2-P1-P1'-P2'-P3'-P4'-Gly structure. The N-terminus and the constant C-terminal Gly of the peptides were tagged with a fluorescent tag and with a biotin tag respectively. The synthesis was followed by the proteolytic cleavage of the synthesized, tagged peptides. Because of the strict requirement for the presence of basic amino acid residues at the P1 and the P2 substrate positions, the analysis of approx. 300 peptide sequences was sufficient for an adequate representation of the cleavage preferences of the WNV and DV proteinases. Our results disclosed the strict substrate specificity of the WNV protease for which the (K/R)(K/R)R/GG amino acid motifs was optimal. The DV protease was less selective and it tolerated well the presence of a number of amino acid residue types at either the P1' or the P2' site, as long as the other position was occupied by a glycine residue. We believe that our data represent a valuable biochemical resource and a solid foundation to support the design of selective substrates and synthetic inhibitors of flaviviral proteinases.

40 CFR Appendix N to Part 50 - Interpretation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... series of daily values represents the 98th percentile for that year. Creditable samples include daily... measured (or averaged from hourly measurements in AQS) from midnight to midnight (local standard time) from... design value (DV) or a 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS DV to determine if those metrics, which are judged to be based...

Occupational exposure to nitrous oxide during procedural pain control in children: a comparison of different inhalation techniques and scavenging systems.

PubMed

Messeri, Andrea; Amore, Elena; Dugheri, Stefano; Bonari, Alessandro; Pompilio, Ilenia; Arcangeli, Giulio; Rizzo, Giuliana

2016-09-01

Nitrous oxide (N2 O 50% in oxygen) is commonly used for painful procedures in children. Potential negative health effects associated with chronic workplace exposure limit its use. Safe occupational N2 O exposure concentrations are below 25 ppm environmental concentration as a time-weighted average (TWA) and below 200 ppm as a short-time exposure level (STEL) of 15 min. The aim was to assess occupational exposure of staff during nitrous oxide administration to children using different inhalation delivery devices and scavenging systems. Staff nitrous oxide exposure during use of a double face mask (DFM) with or without a demand valve (DV) was compared with a conventional single face mask (FM). We also compared exposure using the hospital central scavenging system with a portable evacuation system. N2 O concentrations, representing exposure values, were monitored within proximity to staff. Urine N2 O concentration was measured in staff administering the N2 O at the end of the procedural session. The mean and median values of TWA and STEL within the working area were lower than recommended values in the DFM (10.8, 11.6 ppm for TWA; 13.9, 11.0 ppm for STEL) and DFM-DV groups (2.3, 2.8 ppm for TWA; 4.4, 3.5 ppm for STEL) using the portable evacuation system. The N2 O urine exposure in DFM-DV group was lower than DFM group: a mean difference of 9.56 ppm (95% CI 2.65-16.46). Staff N2 O urinary concentrations were within safe biological limits in both the DFM and DFM-DV groups. High exposure concentrations to N2 O were recorded in all FM and FM-DV environmental and biological samples. The DFM system, with or without a DV, connected to a portable evacuation system during N2 O administration to children for painful procedures kept N2 O levels within the local environment below recommended limits. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

TomoTherapy MLC verification using exit detector data

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

Chen Quan; Westerly, David; Fang Zhenyu

2012-01-15

Purpose: Treatment delivery verification (DV) is important in the field of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). While IMRT and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), allow us to create more conformal plans and enables the use of tighter margins, an erroneously executed plan can have detrimental effects on the treatment outcome. The purpose of this study is to develop a DV technique to verify TomoTherapy's multileaf collimator (MLC) using the onboard mega-voltage CT detectors. Methods: The proposed DV method uses temporal changes in the MVCT detector signal to predict actual leaf open times delivered on the treatment machine. Penumbra and scatteredmore » radiation effects may produce confounding results when determining leaf open times from the raw detector data. To reduce the impact of the effects, an iterative, Richardson-Lucy (R-L) deconvolution algorithm is applied. Optical sensors installed on each MLC leaf are used to verify the accuracy of the DV technique. The robustness of the DV technique is examined by introducing different attenuation materials in the beam. Additionally, the DV technique has been used to investigate several clinical plans which failed to pass delivery quality assurance (DQA) and was successful in identifying MLC timing discrepancies as the root cause. Results: The leaf open time extracted from the exit detector showed good agreement with the optical sensors under a variety of conditions. Detector-measured leaf open times agreed with optical sensor data to within 0.2 ms, and 99% of the results agreed within 8.5 ms. These results changed little when attenuation was added in the beam. For the clinical plans failing DQA, the dose calculated from reconstructed leaf open times played an instrumental role in discovering the root-cause of the problem. Throughout the retrospective study, it is found that the reconstructed dose always agrees with measured doses to within 1%. Conclusions: The exit detectors in the TomoTherapy treatment systems can provide valuable information about MLC behavior during delivery. A technique to estimate the TomoTherapy binary MLC leaf open time from exit detector signals is described. This technique is shown to be both robust and accurate for delivery verification.« less

Altered enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immunoglobulin M (IgM)/IgG optical density ratios can correctly classify all primary or secondary dengue virus infections 1 day after the onset of symptoms, when all of the viruses can be isolated.

PubMed

Falconar, Andrew K I; de Plata, Elsa; Romero-Vivas, Claudia M E

2006-09-01

We compared dengue virus (DV) isolation rates and tested whether acute primary (P) and acute/probable acute secondary (S/PS) DV infections could be correctly classified serologically when the patients' first serum (S1) samples were obtained 1 to 3 days after the onset of symptoms (AOS). DV envelope/membrane protein-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) capture and IgG capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titrations (1/log(10) 1.7 to 1 log(10) 6.6 dilutions) were performed on 100 paired S1 and S2 samples from suspected DV infections. The serologically confirmed S/PS infections were divided into six subgroups based on their different IgM and IgG responses. Because of their much greater dynamic ranges, IgG/IgM ELISA titer ratios were more accurate and reliable than IgM/IgG optical density (OD) ratios recorded at a single cutoff dilution for discriminating between P and S/PS infections. However, 62% of these patients' S1 samples were DV IgM and IgG titer negative (or=2.60 and <2.60) discriminatory IgM/IgG OD (DOD) ratios on these S1 samples than those published previously to correctly classify the highest percentage of these P and S/PS infections. The DV isolation rate was highest (12/12; 100%) using IgG and IgM titer-negative S1 samples collected 1 day AOS, when 100% of them were correctly classified as P or S/PS infections using these higher DOD ratios.

Interventions for domestic violence among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol.

PubMed

Sapkota, Diksha; Baird, Kathleen; Saito, Amornrat; Anderson, Debra

2017-12-12

Violence during pregnancy is a global problem, associated with serious health risks for both the mother and baby. Evaluation of interventions targeted for reducing or controlling domestic violence (DV) is still in its infancy, and the majority of findings are primarily from high-income countries (HICs). Therefore, there is an urgent need for generating evidence of DV interventions among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines will be employed to structure the review. A comprehensive search will be carried out via electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and The Cochrane library. Gray literature will also be scrutinized for potential articles. An optimal search strategy has been developed following consultations with subject-matter experts and librarians. This search strategy will be adapted to the different databases. Experimental studies evaluating DV interventions among pregnant women from LMICs will be included in the review. The review will only include literature written in English. Two reviewers will independently screen and assess studies for inclusion in the review. A third author will resolve any discrepancies between the reviewers. Risk of bias will be assessed based on the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool, and overall quality of the evidence will be judged using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Findings will be presented with the narrative synthesis, and if applicable, they will be further quantified using random-effects meta-analysis. Effect size, risk ratio for dichotomous variables, and standardized mean differences for continuous variables will be calculated for each outcome using Review Manager 5.3. Systematic reviews to evaluate the efficacy of interventions to address DV within the perinatal context have been limited. Hence, no one intervention has emerged as substantially effective towards addressing perinatal DV and associated health consequences. The evidence generated from this systematic review will inform researchers and policy makers about the effectiveness of existing DV interventions among pregnant women in LMICs and provide recommendations for future research in this area. This in turn will contribute towards violence prevention in LMICs. PROSPERO CRD42017073938.

ASSOCIATION OF DRUSEN VOLUME WITH CHOROIDAL PARAMETERS IN NONNEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PubMed

Balasubramanian, Siva; Lei, Jianqin; Nittala, Muneeswar G; Velaga, Swetha B; Haines, Jonathan; Pericak-Vance, Margaret A; Stambolian, Dwight; Sadda, SriniVas R

2017-10-01

The choroid is thought to be relevant to the pathogenesis of nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration, but its role has not yet been fully defined. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between the extent of macular drusen and specific choroidal parameters, including thickness and intensity. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography images were collected from two distinct, independent cohorts with nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration: Amish (53 eyes of 34 subjects) and non-Amish (40 eyes from 26 subjects). All spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were obtained using the Cirrus HD-OCT with a 512 × 128 macular cube (6 × 6 mm) protocol. The Cirrus advanced retinal pigment epithelium analysis tool was used to automatically compute drusen volume within 3 mm (DV3) and 5 mm (DV5) circles centered on the fovea. The inner and outer borders of the choroid were manually segmented, and the mean choroidal thickness and choroidal intensity (i.e., brightness) were calculated. The choroidal intensity was normalized against the vitreous and nerve fiber layer reflectivity. The correlation between DV and these choroidal parameters was assessed using Pearson and linear regression analysis. A significant positive correlation was observed between normalized choroidal intensity and DV5 in the Amish (r = 0.42, P = 0.002) and non-Amish (r = 0.33, P = 0.03) cohorts. Also, DV3 showed a significant positive correlation with normalized choroidal intensity in both the groups (Amish: r = 0.30, P = 0.02; non-Amish: r = 0.32, P = 0.04). Choroidal thickness was negatively correlated with normalized choroidal intensity in both Amish (r = -0.71, P = 0.001) and non-Amish (r = -0.43, P = 0.01) groups. Normalized choroidal intensity was the most significant constant predictor of DV in both the Amish and non-Amish groups. Choroidal intensity, but not choroidal thickness, seems to be associated with drusen volume in Amish and non-Amish populations. These observations suggest that choroidal parameters beyond thickness warrant further study in the setting of age-related macular degeneration.

Acute Systemic Infection with Dengue Virus Leads to Vascular Leakage and Death through Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Tie2/Angiopoietin Signaling in Mice Lacking Type I and II Interferon Receptors.

PubMed

Phanthanawiboon, Supranee; Limkittikul, Kriengsak; Sakai, Yusuke; Takakura, Nobuyuki; Saijo, Masayuki; Kurosu, Takeshi

2016-01-01

Severe dengue is caused by host responses to viral infection, but the pathogenesis remains unknown. This is, in part, due to the lack of suitable animal models. Here, we report a non-mouse-adapted low-passage DENV-3 clinical isolate, DV3P12/08, derived from recently infected patients. DV3P12/08 caused a lethal systemic infection in type I and II IFN receptor KO mice (IFN-α/β/γR KO mice), which have the C57/BL6 background. Infection with DV3P12/08 induced a cytokine storm, resulting in severe vascular leakage (mainly in the liver, kidney and intestine) and organ damage, leading to extensive hemorrhage and rapid death. DV3P12/08 infection triggered the release of large amounts of TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Treatment with a neutralizing anti-TNF-α antibody (Ab) extended survival and reduced liver damage without affecting virus production. Anti-IL-6 neutralizing Ab partly prolonged mouse survival. The anti-TNF-α Ab suppressed IL-6, MCP-1, and IFN-γ levels, suggesting that the severe response to infection was triggered by TNF-α. High levels of TNF-α mRNA were expressed in the liver and kidneys, but not in the small intestine, of infected mice. Conversely, high levels of IL-6 mRNA were expressed in the intestine. Importantly, treatment with Angiopoietin-1, which is known to stabilize blood vessels, prolonged the survival of DV3P12/08-infected mice. Taken together, the results suggest that an increased level of TNF-α together with concomitant upregulation of Tie2/Angiopoietin signaling have critical roles in severe dengue infection.

Comparative analysis of short - term functional outcomes and quality of life in a prospective series of brachytherapy and Da Vinci robotic prostatectomy

PubMed Central

García-Sánchez, Cristina; Román Martín, Ana A.; Conde-Sánchez, J. Manuel; Congregado-Ruíz, C. Belén; Osman-García, Ignacio; Medina-López, Rafael A.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Introduction There is a growing interest in achieving higher survival rates with the lowest morbidity in localized prostate cancer (PC) treatment. Consequently, minimally invasive techniques such as low-dose rate brachytherapy (BT) and robotic-assisted prostatectomy (RALP) have been developed and improved. Comparative analysis of functional outcomes and quality of life in a prospective series of 51BT and 42Da Vinci prostatectomies DV Materials and Methods Comparative analysis of functional outcomes and quality of life in a prospective series of 93 patients with low-risk localized PC diagnosed in 2011. 51patients underwent low-dose rate BT and the other 42 patients RALP. IIEF to assess erectile function, ICIQ to evaluate continence and SF36 test to quality of life wee employed. Results ICIQ at the first revision shows significant differences which favour the BT group, 79% present with continence or mild incontinence, whereas in the DV group 45% show these positive results. Differences disappear after 6 months, with 45 patients (89%) presenting with continence or mild incontinence in the BT group vs. 30 (71%) in the DV group. 65% of patients are potent in the first revision following BT and 39% following DV. Such differences are not significant and cannot be observed after 6 months. No significant differences were found in the comparative analysis of quality of life. Conclusions ICIQ after surgery shows significant differences in favour of BT, which disappear after 6 months. Both procedures have a serious impact on erectile function, being even greater in the DV group. Differences between groups disappear after 6 months. PMID:28128908

Characterization and Validation of Transiting Planets in the TESS SPOC Pipeline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Twicken, Joseph D.; Caldwell, Douglas A.; Davies, Misty; Jenkins, Jon Michael; Li, Jie; Morris, Robert L.; Rose, Mark; Smith, Jeffrey C.; Tenenbaum, Peter; Ting, Eric; Wohler, Bill

2018-06-01

Light curves for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) target stars will be extracted and searched for transiting planet signatures in the Science Processing Operations Center (SPOC) Science Pipeline at NASA Ames Research Center. Targets for which the transiting planet detection threshold is exceeded will be processed in the Data Validation (DV) component of the Pipeline. The primary functions of DV are to (1) characterize planets identified in the transiting planet search, (2) search for additional transiting planet signatures in light curves after modeled transit signatures have been removed, and (3) perform a comprehensive suite of diagnostic tests to aid in discrimination between true transiting planets and false positive detections. DV data products include extensive reports by target, one-page summaries by planet candidate, and tabulated transit model fit and diagnostic test results. DV products may be employed by humans and automated systems to vet planet candidates identified in the Pipeline. TESS will launch in 2018 and survey the full sky for transiting exoplanets over a period of two years. The SPOC pipeline was ported from the Kepler Science Operations Center (SOC) codebase and extended for TESS after the mission was selected for flight in the NASA Astrophysics Explorer program. We describe the Data Validation component of the SPOC Pipeline. The diagnostic tests exploit the flux (i.e., light curve) and pixel time series associated with each target to support the determination of the origin of each purported transiting planet signature. We also highlight the differences between the DV components for Kepler and TESS. Candidate planet detections and data products will be delivered to the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST); the MAST URL is archive.stsci.edu/tess. Funding for the TESS Mission has been provided by the NASA Science Mission Directorate.

Totally extraperitoneal (TEP) bilateral hernioplasty using the Single Site® robotic da Vinci platform (DV-SS TEP): description of the technique and preliminary results.

PubMed

Cestari, A; Galli, A C; Sangalli, M N; Zanoni, M; Ferrari, M; Roviaro, G

2017-06-01

Laparoendoscopic single site totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair showed to be a feasible alternative to conventional laparoscopic hernia repair; nevertheless single site surgery, with the loss of instruments triangulation can be a demanding procedure. To overcome those hurdles, the Single Site® (SS) platform of the da Vinci (DV) Si robotic system enables to perform surgical procedures through a 25-mm skin incision, with a stable 3D vision and restoring an adequate triangulation of the surgical instruments. We present in details the technique and the preliminary results of DV-SS TEP, to our knowledge the first cases reported in literature. In March 2016, three consecutive male patients (mean age 46.6 years-mean BMI 25.3) with bilateral symptomatic inguinal hernia were submitted to DV-SS TEP in our institutions. Feasibility, codification of the technique, operative time and perioperative outcomes were recorded. All the procedures were completed as scheduled, with no conversion to other techniques. Mean operative time was 98.6 min, ranging between 155 and 55 min, reflecting the learning curve of the operating room team on this new procedure. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were experienced and all the patients were discharged within 24 h after surgery. Patients reported satisfactory postoperative course, with no recurrence of inguinal hernia and satisfaction in cosmetic result at 6-month follow-up. DV-SS TEP inguinal hernia repair showed to be feasible and effective surgical option for bilateral groin hernia repair. Patients' outcome was uneventful, with optimal cosmetic results. Further studies comparing this innovative technique to TEP or LESS TEP should be promoted.

A novel dual-valve sequential injection manifold (DV-SIA) for automated liquid-liquid extraction. Application for the determination of picric acid.

PubMed

Skrlíková, Jana; Andruch, Vasil; Sklenárová, Hana; Chocholous, Petr; Solich, Petr; Balogh, Ioseph S

2010-05-07

A novel dual-valve sequential injection system (DV-SIA) for online liquid-liquid extraction which resolves the main problems of LLE utilization in SIA has been designed. The main idea behind this new design was to construct an SIA system by connecting two independent units, one for aqueous-organic mixture flow and the second specifically for organic phase flow. As a result, the DV-SIA manifold consists of an Extraction unit and a Detection unit. Processing a mixture of aqueous-organic phase in the Extraction unit and a separated organic phase in the Detection unit solves the problems associated with the change of phases having different affinities to the walls of the Teflon tubing used in the SI-system. The developed manifold is a simple, user-friendly and universal system built entirely from commercially available components. The system can be used for a variety of samples and organic solvents and is simple enough to be easily handled by operators less familiar with flow systems. The efficiency of the DV-SIA system is demonstrated by the extraction of picric acid in the form of an ion associate with 2-[2-(4-methoxy-phenylamino)-vinyl]-1,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolium reagent, with subsequent spectrophotometric detection. The suggested DV-SIA concept can be expected to stimulate new experiments in analytical laboratories and can be applied to the elaboration of procedures for the determination of other compounds extractable by organic solvents. It could thus form a basis for the design of simple, single-purpose commercial instruments used in LLE procedures. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Attitudes and Beliefs About Domestic Violence: Results of a Public Opinion Survey. I. Definitions of Domestic Violence, Criminal Domestic Violence, and Prevalence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlson, Bonnie E.; Worden, Alissa Pollitz

2005-01-01

This study reports analyses and findings from a public opinion survey designed to explore beliefs about domestic violence (DV) -- what it is, when it is against the law, and how prevalent it is. The project interviewed 1,200 residents from six New York communities. The analyses reveal substantial first hand and second hand experience with DV and…

Contaminant Attenuation and Transport Characterization of 200-DV-1 Operable Unit Sediment Samples

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

Truex, Michael J.; Szecsody, James E.; Qafoku, Nikolla

2017-05-15

A laboratory study was conducted to quantify contaminant attenuation processes and associated contaminant transport parameters that are needed to evaluate transport of contaminants through the vadose zone to the groundwater. The laboratory study information, in conjunction with transport analyses, can be used as input to evaluate the feasibility of Monitored Natural Attenuation and other remedies for the 200-DV-1 Operable Unit at the Hanford Site.

A One-Dimensional, Noniterative Trajectory Model (With a C++ Implementation)

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

maF = (6) 2 2 1 AvC m a Dρ−=⇒ (7) Next, the definitions of speed and acceleration can be used to find acceleration as a function of speed and...position: dt dxv ≡ (8) and dt dx dx dv dt dva =≡ (9) dx dvva =⇒ (10) Combining equations 7 and 10, AvC mdx dv Dρ2 1 −= (11) Next

Overview of FTV (free-viewpoint television)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanimoto, Masayuki

2010-07-01

We have developed a new type of television named FTV (Free-viewpoint TV). FTV is the ultimate 3DTV that enables us to view a 3D scene by freely changing our viewpoints. We proposed the concept of FTV and constructed the world's first real-time system including the complete chain of operation from image capture to display. FTV is based on the rayspace method that represents one ray in real space with one point in the ray-space. We have developed ray capture, processing and display technologies for FTV. FTV can be carried out today in real time on a single PC or on a mobile player. We also realized FTV with free listening-point audio. The international standardization of FTV has been conducted in MPEG. The first phase of FTV was MVC (Multi-view Video Coding) and the second phase is 3DV (3D Video). MVC was completed in May 2009. The Blu-ray 3D specification has adopted MVC for compression. 3DV is a standard that targets serving a variety of 3D displays. The view generation function of FTV is used to decouple capture and display in 3DV. FDU (FTV Data Unit) is proposed as a data format for 3DV. FTU can compensate errors of the synthesized views caused by depth error.

Edge functionalised & Li-intercalated 555-777 defective bilayer graphene for the adsorption of CO2 and H2O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lalitha, Murugan; Lakshmipathi, Senthilkumar; Bhatia, Suresh K.

2017-04-01

The adsorption of CO2 and H2O on divacanacy (DV) defected graphene cluster, and its bilayer counterpart is investigated using first-principles calculations. Both single and bilayer DV graphene cluster, are functionalised with H and F atoms. On these sheets the gas molecules are physisorbed, and the divacancy defect effectively improves the adsorption of CO2, while fluorination enhances the hydrophobicity of the graphene cluster. Among the convex and concave curvature regions induced due to the DV defect, the adsorption of the gas molecules on the concave meniscus is more favourable. Fluorine termination induces 73% reduction in Henry law constants for H2O, while for the CO2 molecule it increases by 8%, which indicates the DV defective sheet is a better candidate for CO2 capture compared to the STW defective sheet. Besides, both AA and AB divacant defect bilayer sheets are equally stable, wherein AA stacking results in a cavity between the sheets, while in AB stacking, the layers slide one over the other. Nevertheless, both these bilayer sheets are comparatively stabler than the monolayer. However, intercalation of lithium decreases the interlayer separation, particularly in AA stacking, which enhances the CO2 adsorption, but in the Bernal stacking enhances it hydrophobicity.

Understanding How Domestic Violence Support Services Promote Survivor Well-being: A Conceptual Model.

PubMed

Sullivan, Cris M

2018-01-01

Domestic violence (DV) victim service programs have been increasingly expected by legislators and funders to demonstrate that they are making a significant difference in the lives of those using their services. Alongside this expectation, they are being asked to describe the Theory of Change guiding how they believe their practices lead to positive results for survivors and their children. Having a widely accepted conceptual model is not just potentially useful to funders and policy makers as they help shape policy and practice -- it can also help programs continually reflect upon and improve their work. This paper describes the iterative and collaborative process undertaken to generate a conceptual model describing how DV victim services are expected to improve survivors' lives. The Social and Emotional Well-Being Framework guiding the model is an ideal structure to use to describe the goals and practices of DV programs because this framework: (1) accurately represents DV programs' goal of helping survivors and their children thrive; and (2) recognizes the importance of community, social, and societal context in influencing individuals' social and emotional well-being. The model was designed to guide practice and to generate new questions for research and evaluation that address individual, community, and systems factors that promote or hinder survivor safety and well-being.

Kepler Data Validation Time Series File: Description of File Format and Content

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mullally, Susan E.

2016-01-01

The Kepler space mission searches its time series data for periodic, transit-like signatures. The ephemerides of these events, called Threshold Crossing Events (TCEs), are reported in the TCE tables at the NASA Exoplanet Archive (NExScI). Those TCEs are then further evaluated to create planet candidates and populate the Kepler Objects of Interest (KOI) table, also hosted at the Exoplanet Archive. The search, evaluation and export of TCEs is performed by two pipeline modules, TPS (Transit Planet Search) and DV (Data Validation). TPS searches for the strongest, believable signal and then sends that information to DV to fit a transit model, compute various statistics, and remove the transit events so that the light curve can be searched for other TCEs. More on how this search is done and on the creation of the TCE table can be found in Tenenbaum et al. (2012), Seader et al. (2015), Jenkins (2002). For each star with at least one TCE, the pipeline exports a file that contains the light curves used by TPS and DV to find and evaluate the TCE(s). This document describes the content of these DV time series files, and this introduction provides a bit of context for how the data in these files are used by the pipeline.

Prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome in monochorionic- diamniotic twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction.

PubMed

Monaghan, Caitriona; Kalafat, Erkan; Binder, Julia; Thilaganathan, Baskaran; Khalil, Asma

2018-04-28

To identify key factors implicated in adverse perinatal outcome in monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction. This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in a single tertiary referral centre included all monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR). The presence of co-existing twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) was noted. Fetal biometry and Doppler indices, including the umbilical artery (UA) and ductus venosus (DV), were recorded at the time of diagnosis. The type of sFGR was diagnosed according to the pattern of end-diastolic flow (EDF) in the UA of the smaller twin. DV pulsatility indices were converted to z-scores and estimated fetal weight (EFW) values to centiles, to correct for gestational age (GA). Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine for independent predictors of adverse perinatal outcome. Adverse perinatal outcome was defined according to survival and included both intra-uterine fetal demise and neonatal death of the FGR twin. We analysed 104 pregnancies complicated by sFGR. Sixty-six (63.5%) were diagnosed with type I and 38 (36.5%) with type II at initial presentation. Pregnancies complicated by type II sFGR were diagnosed (median GA 19.6 weeks' vs 21.5 weeks, p=0.012) and delivered (median GA 30.4 weeks' vs 32.57 weeks; p=0.055) earlier and are associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes (intrauterine demise of the smaller twin 19.7% vs 10.6%, p=0.001), when compared to type I sFGR. Twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR, whether type I or II, resulting in intrauterine demise have a significantly earlier onset of diagnosis (p<0.001), earlier GA at delivery (p<0.05), higher DV pulsatility index (p<0.05), and lower birth weight (BW) centile of the smaller twin (p<0.01) when compared to pregnancies resulting in livebirth. Co-existing TTTS had no significant impact on the perinatal outcome of pregnancies diagnosed with either type I or type II sFGR (p>0.05 for both). Earlier GA at diagnosis (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.56-0.88; p=0.002), type II sFGR (HR 3.53, 95% CI 1.37-9.07; p=0.008) and higher DV PI z scores (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.12-1.65; p=0.001) were significantly associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome of the smaller twin. Pregnancies complicated by type II sFGR are diagnosed significantly earlier and are associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes when compared to type I. Co-existing TTTS has no significant impact on the perinatal outcome of pregnancies diagnosed with either type I or type II sFGR. Earlier GA at diagnosis, type II sFGR and higher DV PI z scores are significantly associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome for the smaller twin. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Claustrum of the short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata: Alignment of cellular orientation and functional connectivity.

PubMed

Orman, Rena; Kollmar, Richard; Stewart, Mark

2017-04-15

The claustrum is a gray-matter structure that underlies neocortex and reciprocates connections with cortical and subcortical targets. In lower mammals, the claustrum is directly adjacent to neocortex, making the definition of claustral boundaries challenging. Latexin, an endogenous inhibitor of metallocarboxypeptidases, localizes to claustral cells, enabling a clear delineation of claustrum. Given its proportionately large claustrum, we hypothesized that the short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata, can be a useful model for claustral structure-function relations. We used latexin immunohistochemistry to identify claustral boundaries and intrinsic structure and multielectrode recordings from brain slices to explore intrinsic excitatory connectivity of the claustrum. Carollia's claustrum contains cells whose intrinsic connectivity and alignment permit the generation of spontaneous, synchronous population events and mirror their pattern of spread in disinhibited brain slices over millimeters. Carollia shows cellular alignment and spontaneous population-activity spread along both horizontal and dorsoventral axes. Carollia claustrum possesses intrinsic excitatory connectivity sufficient to: 1) generate single, spontaneous, synchronized burst discharges, 2) support activity spread along axes where claustral cells are aligned, and 3), because of multiple axes for cell alignment, support activity spread along both rostrocaudal and dorsoventral axes. The smaller event sizes in bat claustrum compared with rat claustrum are consistent with events occurring in population subsets rather than the full claustral cell population. The overall size of claustrum, its pronounced vascularity, and its more complex intrinsic connectivity than rat suggest that the bat is an animal model for claustral structure and function that will permit unique access to claustrum's processing capabilities. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1459-1474, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dorsal and ventral stream contributions to form-from-motion perception in a patient with form-from motion deficit: a case report.

PubMed

Mercier, Manuel R; Schwartz, Sophie; Spinelli, Laurent; Michel, Christoph M; Blanke, Olaf

2017-03-01

The main model of visual processing in primates proposes an anatomo-functional distinction between the dorsal stream, specialized in spatio-temporal information, and the ventral stream, processing essentially form information. However, these two pathways also communicate to share much visual information. These dorso-ventral interactions have been studied using form-from-motion (FfM) stimuli, revealing that FfM perception first activates dorsal regions (e.g., MT+/V5), followed by successive activations of ventral regions (e.g., LOC). However, relatively little is known about the implications of focal brain damage of visual areas on these dorso-ventral interactions. In the present case report, we investigated the dynamics of dorsal and ventral activations related to FfM perception (using topographical ERP analysis and electrical source imaging) in a patient suffering from a deficit in FfM perception due to right extrastriate brain damage in the ventral stream. Despite the patient's FfM impairment, both successful (observed for the highest level of FfM signal) and absent/failed FfM perception evoked the same temporal sequence of three processing states observed previously in healthy subjects. During the first period, brain source localization revealed cortical activations along the dorsal stream, currently associated with preserved elementary motion processing. During the latter two periods, the patterns of activity differed from normal subjects: activations were observed in the ventral stream (as reported for normal subjects), but also in the dorsal pathway, with the strongest and most sustained activity localized in the parieto-occipital regions. On the other hand, absent/failed FfM perception was characterized by weaker brain activity, restricted to the more lateral regions. This study shows that in the present case report, successful FfM perception, while following the same temporal sequence of processing steps as in normal subjects, evoked different patterns of brain activity. By revealing a brain circuit involving the most rostral part of the dorsal pathway, this study provides further support for neuro-imaging studies and brain lesion investigations that have suggested the existence of different brain circuits associated with different profiles of interaction between the dorsal and the ventral streams.

The level of BMP4 signaling is critical for the regulation of distinct T-box gene expression domains and growth along the dorso-ventral axis of the optic cup

PubMed Central

Behesti, Hourinaz; Holt, James KL; Sowden, Jane C

2006-01-01

Background Polarised gene expression is thought to lead to the graded distribution of signaling molecules providing a patterning mechanism across the embryonic eye. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) is expressed in the dorsal optic vesicle as it transforms into the optic cup. Bmp4 deletions in human and mouse result in failure of eye development, but little attempt has been made to investigate mammalian targets of BMP4 signaling. In chick, retroviral gene overexpression studies indicate that Bmp4 activates the dorsally expressed Tbx5 gene, which represses ventrally expressed cVax. It is not known whether the Tbx5 related genes, Tbx2 and Tbx3, are BMP4 targets in the mammalian retina and whether BMP4 acts at a distance from its site of expression. Although it is established that Drosophila Dpp (homologue of vertebrate Bmp4) acts as a morphogen, there is little evidence that BMP4 gradients are interpreted to create domains of BMP4 target gene expression in the mouse. Results Our data show that the level of BMP4 signaling is critical for the regulation of distinct Tbx2, Tbx3, Tbx5 and Vax2 gene expression domains along the dorso-ventral axis of the mouse optic cup. BMP4 signaling gradients were manipulated in whole mouse embryo cultures during optic cup development, by implantation of beads soaked in BMP4, or the BMP antagonist Noggin, to provide a local signaling source. Tbx2, Tbx3 and Tbx5, showed a differential response to alterations in the level of BMP4 along the entire dorso-ventral axis of the optic cup, suggesting that BMP4 acts across a distance. Increased levels of BMP4 caused expansion of Tbx2 and Tbx3, but not Tbx5, into the ventral retina and repression of the ventral marker Vax2. Conversely, Noggin abolished Tbx5 expression but only shifted Tbx2 expression dorsally. Increased levels of BMP4 signaling caused decreased proliferation, reduced retinal volume and altered the shape of the optic cup. Conclusion Our findings suggest the existence of a dorsal-high, ventral-low BMP4 signaling gradient across which distinct domains of Tbx2, Tbx3, Tbx5 and Vax2 transcription factor gene expression are set up. Furthermore we show that the correct level of BMP4 signaling is critical for normal growth of the mammalian embryonic eye. PMID:17173667

Dendritic GIRK Channels Gate the Integration Window, Plateau Potentials, and Induction of Synaptic Plasticity in Dorsal But Not Ventral CA1 Neurons

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Studies comparing neuronal activity at the dorsal and ventral poles of the hippocampus have shown that the scale of spatial information increases and the precision with which space is represented declines from the dorsal to ventral end. These dorsoventral differences in neuronal output and spatial representation could arise due to differences in computations performed by dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by quantifying the differences in dendritic integration and synaptic plasticity between dorsal and ventral CA1 pyramidal neurons of rat hippocampus. Using a combination of somatic and dendritic patch-clamp recordings, we show that the threshold for LTP induction is higher in dorsal CA1 neurons and that a G-protein-coupled inward-rectifying potassium channel mediated regulation of dendritic plateau potentials and dendritic excitability underlies this gating. By contrast, similar regulation of LTP is absent in ventral CA1 neurons. Additionally, we show that generation of plateau potentials and LTP induction in dorsal CA1 neurons depends on the coincident activation of Schaffer collateral and temporoammonic inputs at the distal apical dendrites. The ventral CA1 dendrites, however, can generate plateau potentials in response to temporally dispersed excitatory inputs. Overall, our results highlight the dorsoventral differences in dendritic computation that could account for the dorsoventral differences in spatial representation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The dorsal and ventral parts of the hippocampus encode spatial information at very different scales. Whereas the place-specific firing fields are small and precise at the dorsal end of the hippocampus, neurons at the ventral end have comparatively larger place fields. Here, we show that the dorsal CA1 neurons have a higher threshold for LTP induction and require coincident timing of excitatory synaptic inputs for the generation of dendritic plateau potentials. By contrast, ventral CA1 neurons can integrate temporally dispersed inputs and have a lower threshold for LTP. Together, these dorsoventral differences in the threshold for LTP induction could account for the differences in scale of spatial representation at the dorsal and ventral ends of the hippocampus. PMID:28280255

Dendritic GIRK Channels Gate the Integration Window, Plateau Potentials, and Induction of Synaptic Plasticity in Dorsal But Not Ventral CA1 Neurons.

PubMed

Malik, Ruchi; Johnston, Daniel

2017-04-05

Studies comparing neuronal activity at the dorsal and ventral poles of the hippocampus have shown that the scale of spatial information increases and the precision with which space is represented declines from the dorsal to ventral end. These dorsoventral differences in neuronal output and spatial representation could arise due to differences in computations performed by dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by quantifying the differences in dendritic integration and synaptic plasticity between dorsal and ventral CA1 pyramidal neurons of rat hippocampus. Using a combination of somatic and dendritic patch-clamp recordings, we show that the threshold for LTP induction is higher in dorsal CA1 neurons and that a G-protein-coupled inward-rectifying potassium channel mediated regulation of dendritic plateau potentials and dendritic excitability underlies this gating. By contrast, similar regulation of LTP is absent in ventral CA1 neurons. Additionally, we show that generation of plateau potentials and LTP induction in dorsal CA1 neurons depends on the coincident activation of Schaffer collateral and temporoammonic inputs at the distal apical dendrites. The ventral CA1 dendrites, however, can generate plateau potentials in response to temporally dispersed excitatory inputs. Overall, our results highlight the dorsoventral differences in dendritic computation that could account for the dorsoventral differences in spatial representation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The dorsal and ventral parts of the hippocampus encode spatial information at very different scales. Whereas the place-specific firing fields are small and precise at the dorsal end of the hippocampus, neurons at the ventral end have comparatively larger place fields. Here, we show that the dorsal CA1 neurons have a higher threshold for LTP induction and require coincident timing of excitatory synaptic inputs for the generation of dendritic plateau potentials. By contrast, ventral CA1 neurons can integrate temporally dispersed inputs and have a lower threshold for LTP. Together, these dorsoventral differences in the threshold for LTP induction could account for the differences in scale of spatial representation at the dorsal and ventral ends of the hippocampus. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/373940-16$15.00/0.

GRID3D-v2: An updated version of the GRID2D/3D computer program for generating grid systems in complex-shaped three-dimensional spatial domains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steinthorsson, E.; Shih, T. I-P.; Roelke, R. J.

1991-01-01

In order to generate good quality systems for complicated three-dimensional spatial domains, the grid-generation method used must be able to exert rather precise controls over grid-point distributions. Several techniques are presented that enhance control of grid-point distribution for a class of algebraic grid-generation methods known as the two-, four-, and six-boundary methods. These techniques include variable stretching functions from bilinear interpolation, interpolating functions based on tension splines, and normalized K-factors. The techniques developed in this study were incorporated into a new version of GRID3D called GRID3D-v2. The usefulness of GRID3D-v2 was demonstrated by using it to generate a three-dimensional grid system in the coolent passage of a radial turbine blade with serpentine channels and pin fins.

A Comparative Analysis of Domestic Violence Shelter Staff Perceptions Regarding Barriers to Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States.

PubMed

Grubb, Jonathan A; Muftić, Lisa R

2017-11-01

Service provision for domestic violence (DV) survivors has been a long-standing staple of shelters in the United States. Although shelter services provide numerous benefits for survivors, barriers tied to acquisition remain a pressing concern when combatting DV. Nevertheless, there has been minimal research exploring barriers to service acquisition on a cross-national level. As such, the current research cross-nationally examines perceptions of shelter staff regarding acquisition barriers as well as the effectiveness of local agencies to meet survivor needs and differences in populations served in the United States (specifically Texas) as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data collection stemmed from self-report surveys originally constructed in English and translated into Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian. Results underscored differences between populations served, perceptions of local agencies assisting survivors of DV, and barriers tied to cultural and financial concerns. Implications, limitations, and future directions are also discussed.

Child-Witnessed Domestic Violence and its Adverse Effects on Brain Development: A Call for Societal Self-Examination and Awareness

PubMed Central

Tsavoussis, Areti; Stawicki, Stanislaw P. A.; Stoicea, Nicoleta; Papadimos, Thomas J.

2014-01-01

There is substantial evidence indicating that children who witness domestic violence (DV) have psychosocial maladaptation that is associated with demonstrable changes in the anatomic and physiological make up of their central nervous system. Individuals with these changes do not function well in society and present communities with serious medical, sociological, and economic dilemmas. In this focused perspective, we discuss the psychosocially induced biological alterations (midbrain, cerebral cortex, limbic system, corpus callosum, cerebellum, and the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal axis) that are related to maladaptation (especially post-traumatic stress disorder) in the context of child-witnessed DV, and provide evidence for these physical alterations to the brain. Herein, we hope to stimulate the necessary political discourse to encourage legal systems around the world to make the act of DV in the presence of a child, including a first time act, a stand-alone felony. PMID:25346927

Measurement of the Density of Base Fluids at Pressures 0.422 to 2.20 Gpa

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamrock, B. J.; Jacobson, B. O.; Bergstroem, S. I.

1985-01-01

The influence of pressure on the density of six base fluids is experimentally studied for a range of pressures from 0.422 to 2.20 GPa. An important parameter used to describe the results is the change in relative volume with change in pressure dv sub r/dp. For pressures less than the solidification pressure (p ps) a small change in pressure results in a large change in dv sub r/ps. For pressures greater than the solidification pressure (p ps) there is no change in dv sub r/dp with changing pressure. The solidification pressures of the base fluids varies considerably, as do the slopes that the experimental data assumes for p ps. A new formula is developed that describes the effect of pressure on density in terms of four constants. These constants vary for the different base fluids tested.

Description of the TCERT Vetting Reports for Data Release 25

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coughlin, Jeffrey L,

2017-01-01

The Q1Q17 DR25 TCERT Vetting Reports are a collection of plots and diagnostics used by the Threshold Crossing Event Review Team (TCERT) to evaluate threshold crossing events (TCEs). While designation of Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs) and classification of them as Planet Candidates (PCs) or False Positives (FPs) is completely automated via a robotic vetting procedure (the Robovetter) for the Q1Q17 DR25 planet catalog, as described in Thompson et al. (2017), these reports help to visualize the metrics used by the Robovetter and evaluate those robotic decisions for individual objects. For each Q1Q17 DR25 TCE, these reports include the following products: (a) the DV one-page summary, (b) selected pertinent diagnostics and plots from the full DV report, and (c) additional plots and diagnostics not included in the full DV report, including an alternate means of data detrending.

Victims of Domestic Violence in Shelters: Impacts on Women and Children.

PubMed

Fernández-González, Liria; Calvete, Esther; Orue, Izaskun; Mauri, Alice

2018-06-01

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of domestic violence (DV) on women and their children. The records of women who were admitted to one of two types of shelter (an emergency shelter [n = 834] and a medium-long stay shelter [n = 84]) for victims of DV in Bizkaia (Spain) from 2006-2015 were analyzed. The results showed that up to 80% of the women had mental health problems. In about 20% of cases, a problematic mother-child relationship was identified. Inadequate parenting was present in around 35% of cases. Around 80-90% of the children had witnessed the abuse suffered by their mother, and more than half had been direct victims of some type of abuse. The findings point to actions that shelters can take to address the needs of DV victims. They also highlight the need for separate interventions targeting the needs of children, as well as mothers.

Minimum dV for Targeted Spacecraft Disposal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bacon, John B.

2017-01-01

The study analyzes the minimum capability required to dispose safely of a space object. The study considers 3- sigma environmental uncertainties, as well as spacecraft-specific constraints such as the available thrust, total impulse, the achievable increase or decrease in commandable frontal area under stable attitude (or stable tumble), and the final controllable altitude at which any such dV may be imparted. The study addresses the definition of the length and location of a 'safe' disposal area, which is a statistical manifestation of uncertainty in this process. Some general legal concerns are raised that are unique to this prospect of low dV disposals. Future work is summarized. The goal of such research is to improve public safety by creating optimally safe disposal strategies (and potentially, applicable regulations) for low-dV and/or low-thrust spacecraft that under more traditional strategies would need to be abandoned to fully-random decay with its inherent higher risk of human casualty.

The detection of hemorrhagic proteins in snake venoms using monoclonal antibodies against Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum.

PubMed

Sánchez, E E; García, C; Pérez, J C; De La Zerda, S J

1998-10-01

Most snakes and a few warm-blooded animals have a resistance to snake venoms because of naturally occurring antihemorrhagins found in their sera. The antihemorrhagins in serum of Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) neutralize hemorrhagic activity by binding to hemorrhagins in snake venoms. The binding characteristic of antihemorrhagins in D. virginiana serum was used to develop a five-step western blot. The detection of hemorrhagic proteins were measured indirectly with antihemorrhagins in Virginia opossum serum and with DV-2LD#2, a monoclonal antibody specific for Virginia opossum antihemorrhagins. Snake venoms were separated by native-PAGE, transferred to a Millipore Immobilon-P membrane and then incubated with crude Virginia opossum serum. The hemorrhagins in snake venom bind to antihemorrhagins in Virginia opossum serum which react with DV-2LD#2 a monoclonal antibody that is specific for Virginia opossum antihemorrhagins. DV-2LD#2 monoclonal antibody inhibits antihemorrhagic activity in Virginia opossum serum when mixed in equal amounts. The inhibition of antihemorrhagins by DV-2LD#2 monoclonal antibody suggests specificity. DV-2LD#2 monoclonal antibody does not recognize antihemorrhagins in gray woodrat (Neotoma micropus) serum. The five-step western blot reveals two well-defined bands which represent hemorrhagins found in Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) venom. Venoms from 15 different snake species were examined to determine the usefulness of the five-step western blot. Other hemorrhagic venoms (Great Basin rattlesnake (C. viridis lutosus), Prairie rattlesnake (C. viridis viridis), Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake (C. pusillus), Northern Mojave rattlesnake (C. scutulatus scutulatus type B) and Northern Pacific rattlesnake (C. v. oreganus)) had one single band in the five-step western blot. DV-2LD#2 did not bind to the non-hemorrhagic venoms and reacted with 50% of the hemorrhagic venoms used in this study. The monoclonal antibody, CAH, reacted with all the hemorrhagic venoms except for the venom of the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and did not react with the non-hemorrhagic venoms. The hemorrhagic binding site of CAH monoclonal antibody and the antihemorrhagin in Virginia opossum are different binding sites. The five-step western blot will be a very useful assay for determining hemorrhagic activity without using live animals.

Objective categorization of interferential tear film lipid layer pattern: validation of the technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Resúa, C.; Giráldez, M. J.; Barreira, N.; Penedo, M. G.; Yebra-Pimentel, E.

2011-05-01

Purpose: The lipid layer of the tear film limits evaporation during the inter-blink interval and also affects tear stability. This study was designed to validate a new software application designed to characterize the tear film lipid layer through texture and colour pattern recognition. Methods: Using the Tearscope-plus (slit lamp magnification 200X), the lipid layer was examined in 105 healthy young adults and interference photographs acquired with a Topcon DV-3 digital camera. The photographs were classified by the new software and by 2 further observers (observer 1 and observer 2) with experience in examining the eye surface. Results: Strong correlation was detected between the categories determined by the new application, observer 1 and observer 2 (Cramer's V, from 0.81 to 0.87, p<0.001). Best agreement (96.2%) was noted between the new method and observers 1 and 2 for recognizing meshwork patterns, whereas observers 1 and 2 showed greatest correspondence when classifying colour fringe patterns. Conclusions: The new application can objectively categorize LLPs using the Tearscope-plus.

Antagonizing the Spemann organizer: role of the homeobox gene Xvent-1.

PubMed Central

Gawantka, V; Delius, H; Hirschfeld, K; Blumenstock, C; Niehrs, C

1995-01-01

We have identified a novel homeobox gene, Xvent-1, that is differentially expressed in the ventral marginal zone of the early Xenopus gastrula. Evidence is presented from mRNA microinjection experiments for a role for this gene in dorsoventral patterning of mesoderm. First, Xvent-1 is induced by BMP-4, a gene known to be a key regulator of ventral mesoderm development. Second, Xvent-1 and the organizer-specific gene goosecoid are able to interact, directly or indirectly, in a cross-regulatory loop suppressing each other's expression, consistent with their mutually exclusive expression in the marginal zone. Third, microinjection of Xvent-1 mRNA ventralizes dorsal mesoderm. The results suggest that Xvent-1 functions in a ventral signaling pathway that maintains the ventral mesodermal state and antagonizes the Spemann organizer. Images PMID:8557046

Aerosol Sampling: Comparison of Two Rotating Impactors for Field Droplet Sizing and Volumetric Measurements

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

the rotating impactors were measured via spectroscopy and microscopy. The rotary impactors were colocated with an isokinetic air sampler for a total...diameter, and the 90% diameter (DV10 and DV90; ASTM 2004). For each replication, an isokinetic air sampler and rotary sampler operated simultaneously in the...working area of the dispersion tunnel. The isokinetic sampler (StaplexH Model TFIA High Volume Air Sampler, The Staplex Company, Brooklyn, NY) was

Ex-Ante Beleidsevaluatie met System Dynamics (Ex-Ante Policy at System Dynamics)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-01

11 . van TFighciho,, cn. [DMO-11cleid 0 Vastgestlid d.d. 13 inaart 2008 (Lkzc mnccmn ss, i/it miet) Tite Onigerubriceerd Managenicnadiurcksel O...genaamd, brengt beleidsopties en beleidsdoelen vastgesteld. oorzaken en gevolgen rondom een Daamna heeft TNO conform de MARVEL 4/62 Ex-ante...rapport I TNO-DV 2007 A055 TNO-rapport I TNO-DV 2007 A055 9 /62 Afkortingen BPO Business Process Ownership CDC/DCIVB Commando Diensten Centra / Diensten

Ecological risk assessment for DvSnf7 RNA: A plant-incorporated protectant with targeted activity against western corn rootworm.

PubMed

Bachman, Pamela M; Huizinga, Kristin M; Jensen, Peter D; Mueller, Geoffrey; Tan, Jianguo; Uffman, Joshua P; Levine, Steven L

2016-11-01

MON 87411 maize, which expresses DvSnf7 RNA, was developed to provide an additional mode of action to confer protection against corn rootworm (Diabrotica spp.). A critical step in the registration of a genetically engineered crop with an insecticidal trait is performing an ecological risk assessment to evaluate the potential for adverse ecological effects. For MON 87411, an assessment plan was developed that met specific protection goals by characterizing the routes and levels of exposure, and testing representative functional taxa that would be directly or indirectly exposed in the environment. The potential for toxicity of DvSnf7 RNA was evaluated with a harmonized battery of non-target organisms (NTOs) that included invertebrate predators, parasitoids, pollinators, soil biota as well as aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate species. Laboratory tests evaluated ecologically relevant endpoints such as survival, growth, development, and reproduction and were of sufficient duration to assess the potential for adverse effects. No adverse effects were observed with any species tested at, or above, the maximum expected environmental concentration (MEEC). All margins of exposure for NTOs were >10-fold the MEEC. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that exposure to DvSnf7 RNA, both directly and indirectly, is safe for NTOs at the expected field exposure levels. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Impact on Informal Supporters of Domestic Violence Survivors: A Systematic Literature Review.

PubMed

Gregory, Alison Clare; Williamson, Emma; Feder, Gene

2017-12-01

Domestic violence (DV) is experienced by 1 in 4 women in the United Kingdom during their lifetime, and most survivors will seek informal support from the people around them, even if they choose not to access help from professionals. Support from these relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues can provide a buffer against effects on the survivor's physical health, mental health, and quality of life, and has been shown to be protective against future abuse. There has been an absence of research studying members of survivors' networks and, in particular, investigating how the impact of DV might diffuse to affect them. A systematic literature review of reported research (either in peer-reviewed journals or in gray literature) was undertaken to explore the impacts of DV on survivor networks. Of the articles found, 24 had data relating to the topic area, though no study addressed the question directly. Framework analysis and meta-ethnography generated the following themes: physical health impacts, negative impacts on psychological well-being, direct impacts from the perpetrator, and beneficial impacts on psychological well-being. The studies in this review indicated that informal supporters may be experiencing substantial impact, including vicarious trauma and the risk of physical harm. Currently, there is little support available which is directly aimed at informal supporters of DV survivors, thus these findings have practical and policy implications, in order to acknowledge and meet their needs.

A single amino acid substitution in the Bombyx-specific mucin-like membrane protein causes resistance to Bombyx mori densovirus.

PubMed

Ito, Katsuhiko; Kidokoro, Kurako; Katsuma, Susumu; Sezutsu, Hideki; Uchino, Keiro; Kobayashi, Isao; Tamura, Toshiki; Yamamoto, Kimiko; Mita, Kazuei; Shimada, Toru; Kadono-Okuda, Keiko

2018-05-09

Bombyx mori densovirus type 1 (BmDV) is a pathogen that causes flacherie disease in the silkworm. The absolute nonsusceptibility to BmDV among certain silkworm strains is determined independently by two genes, nsd-1 and Nid-1. However, neither of these genes has been molecularly identified to date. Here, we isolated the nsd-1 gene by positional cloning and characterized the properties of its product, NSD-1. Sequence and biochemical analyses revealed that this gene encodes a Bombyx-specific mucin-like glycoprotein with a single transmembrane domain. The NSD-1 protein was specifically expressed in the larval midgut epithelium, the known infection site of BmDV. Sequence analysis of the nsd-1 gene from 13 resistant and 12 susceptible strains suggested that a specific arginine residue in the extracellular tail of the NSD-1 protein was common among susceptible strains. Germline transformation of the susceptible-type nsd-1 (with a single nucleotide substitution) conferred partial susceptibility to resistant larvae, indicating that the +  nsd-1 gene is required for the susceptibility of B. mori larvae to BmDV and the susceptibility is solely a result of the substitution of a single amino acid with arginine. Taken together, our results provide striking evidence that a novel membrane-bound mucin-like protein functions as a cell-surface receptor for a densovirus.

Micro-XANES Measurements on Experimental Spinels and the Oxidation State of Vanadium in Spinel-Melt Pairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Righter, K.; Sutton, S.R.; Newville, M.

2004-01-01

Spinel can be a significant host phase for V as well as other transition metals such as Ni and Co. However, vanadium has multiple oxidation states V(2+), V(3+), V(4+) or V(5+) at oxygen fugacities relevant to natural systems. We do know that D(V) spinel/melt is correlated with V and TiO2 content and fO2, but the uncertainty of the oxidation state under the range of natural conditions has made elusive a thorough understanding of D(V) spinel/melt. For example, V(3+) is likely to be stable in spinels, based on exchange with Al in experiments in the CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 system. On the other hand, it has been argued that V(4+) will be stable across the range of natural oxygen fugacities in nature. In order to gain a better understanding of D(V) spinel/melt we have equilibrated spinel-melt pairs at controlled oxygen fugacities, between HM to NNO, where V is present in the spinel at natural levels (approx. 300 ppm V). These spinel-melt pairs were analyzed using micro-XANES at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. The new results will be used together with spinel compositional data (Ti, V content) and oxygen fugacity, to unravel the effects of these variables on D(V) spinel/melt.

Temporal and spatial expression patterns of Hedgehog receptors in the developing inner and middle ear.

PubMed

Shin, Jeong-Oh; Ankamreddy, Harinarayana; Jakka, Naga Mahesh; Lee, Seokwon; Kim, Un-Kyung; Bok, Jinwoong

2017-01-01

The mammalian inner ear is a complex organ responsible for balance and hearing. Sonic hedgehog (Shh), a member of the Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins, has been shown to play important roles in several aspects of inner ear development, including dorsoventral axial specification, cochlear elongation, tonotopic patterning, and hair cell differentiation. Hh proteins initiate a downstream signaling cascade by binding to the Patched 1 (Ptch1) receptor. Recent studies have revealed that other types of co-receptors can also mediate Hh signaling, including growth arrest-specific 1 (Gas1), cell-adhesion molecules-related/down-regulated by oncogenes (Cdon), and biregional Cdon binding protein (Boc). However, little is known about the role of these Hh co-receptors in inner ear development. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of Gas1, Cdon, and Boc, as well as that of Ptch1, in the developing mouse inner ear from otocyst (embryonic day (E) 9.5) until birth and in the developing middle ear at E15.5. Ptch1, a readout of Hh signaling, was expressed in a graded pattern in response to Shh signaling throughout development. Expression patterns of Gas1, Cdon, and Boc differed from that of Ptch1, and each Hh co-receptor was expressed in specific cells and domains in the developing inner and middle ear. These unique and differential expression patterns of Hh co-receptors suggest their roles in mediating various time- and space-specific functions of Shh during ear development.

Direct and indirect requirements of Shh/Gli signaling in early pituitary development.

PubMed

Wang, Yiwei; Martin, James F; Bai, C Brian

2010-12-15

Induction of early pituitary progenitors is achieved through combined activities of signals from adjacent embryonic tissues. Previous studies have identified a requirement for oral ectoderm derived Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) in specification and/or proliferation of early pituitary progenitors, however how different Gli genes mediate Shh signaling to control pituitary progenitor development has not yet been determined. Here we show that Gli2, which encodes a major Gli activator, is required for proliferation of specific groups of pituitary progenitors but not for initial dorsoventral patterning. We further show that the action of Gli2 occurs prior to the closure of Rathke' pouch. Lastly, we show that Shh/Gli2 signaling controls the diencephalic expression of Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) and Fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8), two genes that are known to play critical roles in patterning and growth of Rathke's pouch. Our results therefore suggest both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous requirements for Gli2 in regulation of pituitary progenitor specification, proliferation and differentiation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mutations in KIAA0586 Cause Lethal Ciliopathies Ranging from a Hydrolethalus Phenotype to Short-Rib Polydactyly Syndrome.

PubMed

Alby, Caroline; Piquand, Kevin; Huber, Céline; Megarbané, André; Ichkou, Amale; Legendre, Marine; Pelluard, Fanny; Encha-Ravazi, Ferechté; Abi-Tayeh, Georges; Bessières, Bettina; El Chehadeh-Djebbar, Salima; Laurent, Nicole; Faivre, Laurence; Sztriha, László; Zombor, Melinda; Szabó, Hajnalka; Failler, Marion; Garfa-Traore, Meriem; Bole, Christine; Nitschké, Patrick; Nizon, Mathilde; Elkhartoufi, Nadia; Clerget-Darpoux, Françoise; Munnich, Arnold; Lyonnet, Stanislas; Vekemans, Michel; Saunier, Sophie; Cormier-Daire, Valérie; Attié-Bitach, Tania; Thomas, Sophie

2015-08-06

KIAA0586, the human ortholog of chicken TALPID3, is a centrosomal protein that is essential for primary ciliogenesis. Its disruption in animal models causes defects attributed to abnormal hedgehog signaling; these defects include polydactyly and abnormal dorsoventral patterning of the neural tube. Here, we report homozygous mutations of KIAA0586 in four families affected by lethal ciliopathies ranging from a hydrolethalus phenotype to short-rib polydactyly. We show defective ciliogenesis, as well as abnormal response to SHH-signaling activation in cells derived from affected individuals, consistent with a role of KIAA0586 in primary cilia biogenesis. Whereas centriolar maturation seemed unaffected in mutant cells, we observed an abnormal extended pattern of CEP290, a centriolar satellite protein previously associated with ciliopathies. Our data show the crucial role of KIAA0586 in human primary ciliogenesis and subsequent abnormal hedgehog signaling through abnormal GLI3 processing. Our results thus establish that KIAA0586 mutations cause lethal ciliopathies. Copyright © 2015 The American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Qualitative study to explore the health and well-being impacts on adults providing informal support to female domestic violence survivors

PubMed Central

Feder, Gene; Taket, Ann; Williamson, Emma

2017-01-01

Objectives Domestic violence (DV) is hazardous to survivors' health, from injuries sustained and from resultant chronic physical and mental health problems. Support from friends and relatives is significant in the lives of DV survivors; research shows associations between positive support and the health, well-being and safety of survivors. Little is known about how people close to survivors are impacted. The aim of this study was exploratory, with the following research question: what are the health and well-being impacts on adults who provide informal support to female DV survivors? Design A qualitative study using semistructured interviews conducted face to face, by telephone or using Skype. A thematic analysis of the narratives was carried out. Setting Community-based, across the UK. Participants People were eligible to take part if they had had a close relationship (either as friend, colleague or family member) with a woman who had experienced DV, and were aged 16 or over during the time they knew the survivor. Participants were recruited via posters in community venues, social media and radio advertisement. 23 participants were recruited and interviewed; the majority were women, most were white and ages ranged from mid-20s to 80. Results Generated themes included: negative impacts on psychological and emotional well-being of informal supporters, and related physical health impacts. Some psychological impacts were over a limited period; others were chronic and had the potential to be severe and enduring. The impacts described suggested that those providing informal support to survivors may be experiencing secondary traumatic stress as they journey alongside the survivor. Conclusions Friends and relatives of DV survivors experience substantial impact on their own health and well-being. There are no direct services to support this group. These findings have practical and policy implications, so that the needs of informal supporters are legitimised and met. PMID:28341690

A randomized trial testing the efficacy of modifications to the nutrition facts table on comprehension and use of nutrition information by adolescents and young adults in Canada.

PubMed

Hobin, E; Sacco, J; Vanderlee, L; White, C M; Zuo, F; Sheeshka, J; McVey, G; Fodor O'Brien, M; Hammond, D

2015-12-01

Given the proposed changes to nutrition labelling in Canada and the dearth of research examining comprehension and use of nutrition facts tables (NFts) by adolescents and young adults, our objective was to experimentally test the efficacy of modifications to NFts on young Canadians' ability to interpret, compare and mathematically manipulate nutrition information in NFts on prepackaged food. An online survey was conducted among 2010 Canadians aged 16 to 24 years drawn from a consumer sample. Participants were randomized to view two NFts according to one of six experimental conditions, using a between-groups 2 x 3 factorial design: serving size (current NFt vs. standardized serving-sizes across similar products) x percent daily value (% DV) (current NFt vs. "low/med/high" descriptors vs. colour coding). The survey included seven performance tasks requiring participants to interpret, compare and mathematically manipulate nutrition information on NFts. Separate modified Poisson regression models were conducted for each of the three outcomes. The ability to compare two similar products was significantly enhanced in NFt conditions that included standardized serving-sizes (p ≤ .001 for all). Adding descriptors or colour coding of % DV next to calories and nutrients on NFts significantly improved participants' ability to correctly interpret % DV information (p ≤ .001 for all). Providing both standardized serving-sizes and descriptors of % DV had a modest effect on participants' ability to mathematically manipulate nutrition information to calculate the nutrient content of multiple servings of a product (relative ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence limit: 1.04-1.37). Standardizing serving-sizes and adding interpretive % DV information on NFts improved young Canadians' comprehension and use of nutrition information. Some caution should be exercised in generalizing these findings to all Canadian youth due to the sampling issues associated with the study population. Further research is needed to replicate this study in a more heterogeneous sample in Canada and across a range of food products and categories.

Domestic violence: a hidden barrier to contraceptive use among women in Nigeria.

PubMed

Bishwajit, Ghose; Yaya, Sanni

2018-01-01

The nonuse of family planning methods remains a major public health concern in the low-and-middle-income countries, especially due to its impact on unwanted pregnancy, high rate of abortion, and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Various demographic and socioeconomic factors have been reported to be associated with the nonuse of family planning methods. In the present study, we aimed at assessing the influence of domestic violence (DV) on contraceptive use among ever married women in Nigeria. Data on 22,275 women aged between 15 and 49 years were collected from the most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2013. The outcome variable was contraceptive utilization status, and the main exposure variable was DV, which was assessed by the self-reported experience of physical and psychological abuse. Complex survey method was employed to account for the multistage design of the survey. Data analyses were performed by using bivariate and multivariable techniques. The mean age of the participants was 31.33±8.26. More than four fifths (84%) of the participants reported that they were not using any contraceptive methods at all. Lifetime prevalence of psychological and physical abuse was, respectively, 19.0% (95% CI =18.0-20.1) and 14.1% (95% CI =13.3-14.9). Women who reported physical abuse were 28% (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.275; 95% CI =1.030-1.578), and those reported both physical and psychological abuse had 52% (AOR =1.520; 95% CI =1.132-2.042) higher odds of not using any contraception. The rate of contraception nonuse was considerably high and was found to be significantly associated with DV. Thus, the high prevalence of DV may compromise the effectiveness of the family planning programs in the long run. Evidence-based intervention strategies should be developed to protect the health and reproductive rights of the vulnerable women and to reduce DV by giving the issue a wider recognition in public policy making.

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

Wang, Guiling; Yu, Miao; Pal, Jeremy

This paper presents a regional climate system model RCM-CLM-CN-DV and its validation over Tropical Africa. The model development involves the initial coupling between the ICTP regional climate model RegCM4.3.4 (RCM) and the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4) including models of carbon-nitrogen dynamics (CN) and vegetation dynamics (DV), and further improvements of the models. Model improvements derive from the new parameterization from CLM4.5 that addresses the well documented overestimation of gross primary production (GPP), a refinement of stress deciduous phenology scheme in CN that addresses a spurious LAI fluctuation for drought-deciduous plants, and the incorporation of a survival rule intomore » the DV model to prevent tropical broadleaf evergreens trees from growing in areas with a prolonged drought season. The impact of the modifications on model results is documented based on numerical experiments using various subcomponents of the model. The performance of the coupled model is then validated against observational data based on three configurations with increasing capacity: RCM-CLM with prescribed leaf area index and fractional coverage of different plant functional types (PFTs); RCM-CLM-CN with prescribed PFTs coverage but prognostic plant phenology; RCM-CLM-CN-DV in which both the plant phenology and PFTs coverage are simulated by the model. Results from these three models are compared against the FLUXNET up-scaled GPP and ET data, LAI and PFT coverages from remote sensing data including MODIS and GIMMS, University of Delaware precipitation and temperature data, and surface radiation data from MVIRI and SRB. Our results indicate that the models perform well in reproducing the physical climate and surface radiative budgets in the domain of interest. However, PFTs coverage is significantly underestimated by the model over arid and semi-arid regions of Tropical Africa, caused by an underestimation of LAI in these regions by the CN model that gets exacerbated through vegetation dynamics in RCM-CLM-CN-DV.« less

Sea Basing Logistiek

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-01

athankelijkheden, de hoeveelheid situatie? Auteur (s) ir. P.L.H. Cleophas drs. M.H.M. Delmee PROGRAMMA PROJECT drs. S. Hoesmans drs. P.G.M. van Scheepstal drs...hiertussen een aanvullende belangrijke schakel. In theorie worden binnen de CLAS en CZSK verschillende methoden voor het plannen van een operatie gehanteerd...J.H.A.Blokker MCM drs P.G.M. van Scheepstal Afdelingshoofd Auteur 72/72 TNO-rapport I TNO-DV 2007 A452 TNO-rapport I TNO-DV 2007 A452 Bijlage A 11/4 A Fysiek

The Prospects of SAS Interferometry for Detection and Classification (SAS Interferometrie voor Detectie en Classificatie)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

DV2008A176 Opdrachtnummer Datum October 2008 Auteur (s) dr. R. van Vossen B.A.J. Quesson dr.ir. J.C. Sabel Rubricering rapport Ongerubriceerd TH9...TNO report | TNO-DV 2008 A176 4/44 Summary This report presents an overview of the theory and implementation of interferometric SAS processing at TNO... theory in software has been tested on two types of data, simulated and measured. Chapter 3 presents results obtained with simulated data; Chapter 4

Learning Reverse Engineering and Simulation with Design Visualization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemsworth, Paul J.

2018-01-01

The Design Visualization (DV) group supports work at the Kennedy Space Center by utilizing metrology data with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models and simulations to provide accurate visual representations that aid in decision-making. The capability to measure and simulate objects in real time helps to predict and avoid potential problems before they become expensive in addition to facilitating the planning of operations. I had the opportunity to work on existing and new models and simulations in support of DV and NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS).

The Role of Social Support on the Relationship between Gender and Career Progression in STEM Academia

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

sciences. According to the article, gender stereotyping was still an issue for women in STEM while treatment in other fields improved. The authors...Minimum Maximum Sum Mean Std. Deviation Gender DV (1= Male ) .00 1.00 50.00 .7692 .42460 Google Scholar Articles 0 192 2658 42.87 38.863 Years...Predictors: (Constant), Gender DV (1= Male ) Dependent Variable: Rank Results of analysis supported the hypothesis that gender is a predictor of the

Color and Spectral Analysis of Daylight in Southern Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-06-01

of color differences, we convert our colorimetric data to the CIELUV uniform color space.39 In calculating the CIELUV color difference DEuv* we use...40DEuv* 5 @~DL*! 2 1 ~Du*!2 1 ~Dv*!2#1/2, (4) where L*, u*, and v* are the CIELUV space’s orthogonal coordinates, and DL*, Du*, Dv* are the...corresponding differences between coordinates of the original and the re- constructed colors. Figure 12 shows how the mean CIELUV color differ- ence between EE(l

Generiek Materieellogistiek Ketenmodel Defensie (Generic Value Chain Model for Defense Material Organization)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-01

Fe:~& 2/121 Generiek Materieellogistiek Ketenmodel Defensie In het kader van het programma DEM (V4 11 ) is in dit project het Generiek...de osrneljewadKete vanefPorter odnasmlti emgn e vroe mmltiemdee nt TNO-rapport ITNO-DV 2007 A449 9 /21 Als laatste valt bet ontbreken van een eenduidig...DV 2007 A449 11 /21 Zoals in de Defensie waardeketen valt te zien, is de uiteindelijke waarde die de Matlog keten oplevert, Materidle Gereedheid

Enhancing the Dental Professional’s Responsiveness Towards Domestic Violence; A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Kashinath, Korpathi R; Raju, Ananda S; Suresh, K V; Bharateesh, Jayanna V

2015-01-01

Background Dentists may be the first health care professionals to treat patients who have experienced Oro-facial trauma resulting from Domestic violence (DV). Hence, as a national health concern, it challenges the social responsibility of a dentist in bringing down its prevalence. Objective To assess the knowledge of Domestic violence among dentists of Karnataka. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among dentists of Karnataka to know their knowledge, its relation to dentistry and measures they practice to bring down the prevalence of DV victims. Results Overall knowledge about DV was very less among the dentists & out of 64% who said the dentist has a role in bringing down the prevalence, 28% reported the need for training. Conclusion Based on analysis of the data, dentists were interested and would benefit from additional education opportunities concerning recognizing, referring and managing patients who may be the victim of domestic violence in order to enhance their role. PMID:26266218

Dyadic Dynamics in Young Couples Reporting Dating Violence: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.

PubMed

Paradis, Alison; Hébert, Martine; Fernet, Mylène

2017-01-01

This study uses a combination of observational methods and dyadic data analysis to understand how boyfriends' and girlfriends' perpetration of dating violence (DV) may shape their own and their partners' problem-solving communication behaviors. A sample of 39 young heterosexual couples aged between 15 and 20 years (mean age = 17.8 years) completed a set of questionnaires and were observed during a 45-min dyadic interaction, which was coded using the Interactional Dimension Coding System (IDCS). Results suggest that neither boyfriends' nor girlfriends' own perpetration of DV was related to their display of positive and negative communication behaviors. However, estimates revealed significant partner effects, suggesting that negative communication behaviors displayed by girls and boys and positive communication behavior displayed by girls were associated to their partner's DV but not to their own. Such results confirm the need to shift our focus from an individual perspective to examining dyadic influences and processes involved in the couple system and the bidirectionality of violent relationships. © The Author(s) 2015.

At the Intersection of Private and Political Conflict Zones: Policing Domestic Violence in the Arab Community in Israel.

PubMed

Erez, Edna; Ibarra, Peter R; Gur, Oren M

2015-08-01

This article addresses the challenges posed by state intervention in a multicultural society characterized by intense political conflict, juxtaposing the voices of batterers, victims, community members, and the officials who are involved in policing domestic violence (DV) in the Arab community in Israel. A meta-analysis of interview-based data excerpts appearing in published studies shows how the response to DV in the Arab community, though consistent with Israeli law and policy, creates a sense of paralysis for the police and frustration for the parties to the violence as well as the affected communities. The cultural, social, and political forces that underlie the dynamics, tensions, and pressures experienced by the various parties are analyzed in the context of everyday life amid concerns about the Israeli-Arab conflict. The implications for policing DV in minority communities, and for police-community relations in political conflict zones, are highlighted. © The Author(s) 2014.

Violence and Abuse Among HIV-Infected Women and Their Children in Zambia

PubMed Central

Murray, Laura K.; Haworth, Alan; Semrau, Katherine; Singh, Mini; Aldrovandi, Grace M.; Sinkala, Moses; Thea, Donald M.; Bolton, Paul A.

2009-01-01

HIV and violence are two major public health problems increasingly shown to be connected and relevant to international mental health issues and HIV-related services. Qualitative research is important due to the dearth of literature on this association in developing countries, cultural influences on mental health syndromes and presentations, and the sensitive nature of the topic. The study presented in this paper sought to investigate the mental health issues of an HIV-affected population of women and children in Lusaka, Zambia, through a systematic qualitative study. Two qualitative methods resulted in the identification of three major problems for women: domestic violence (DV), depression-like syndrome, and alcohol abuse; and children: defilement, DV, and behavior problems. DV and sexual abuse were found to be closely linked to HIV and alcohol abuse. This study shows the local perspective of the overlap between violence and HIV. Results are discussed in relation to the need for violence and abuse to be addressed as HIV services are implemented in sub-Saharan Africa. PMID:16909070

Evolution of Muscle Activity Patterns Driving Motions of the Jaw and Hyoid during Chewing in Gnathostomes

PubMed Central

Konow, Nicolai; Herrel, Anthony; Ross, Callum F.; Williams, Susan H.; German, Rebecca Z.; Sanford, Christopher P. J.; Gintof, Chris

2011-01-01

Although chewing has been suggested to be a basal gnathostome trait retained in most major vertebrate lineages, it has not been studied broadly and comparatively across vertebrates. To redress this imbalance, we recorded EMG from muscles powering anteroposterior movement of the hyoid, and dorsoventral movement of the mandibular jaw during chewing. We compared muscle activity patterns (MAP) during chewing in jawed vertebrate taxa belonging to unrelated groups of basal bony fishes and artiodactyl mammals. Our aim was to outline the evolution of coordination in MAP. Comparisons of activity in muscles of the jaw and hyoid that power chewing in closely related artiodactyls using cross-correlation analyses identified reorganizations of jaw and hyoid MAP between herbivores and omnivores. EMG data from basal bony fishes revealed a tighter coordination of jaw and hyoid MAP during chewing than seen in artiodactyls. Across this broad phylogenetic range, there have been major structural reorganizations, including a reduction of the bony hyoid suspension, which is robust in fishes, to the acquisition in a mammalian ancestor of a muscle sling suspending the hyoid. These changes appear to be reflected in a shift in chewing MAP that occurred in an unidentified anamniote stem-lineage. This shift matches observations that, when compared with fishes, the pattern of hyoid motion in tetrapods is reversed and also time-shifted relative to the pattern of jaw movement. PMID:21705368

Projected effects of vegetation feedbacks on drought characteristics with SPEI over West Africa using the RegCM-CLM-CN-DV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaehyeong, L.; Kim, Y.; Erfanian, A.; Wang, G.; Um, M. J.

2017-12-01

This study utilizes the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to investigate the projected effect of vegetation feedbacks on drought in West Africa using the Regional Climate Model coupled to the NCAR Community Land Model with both the Carbon and Nitrogen module (CN) and Dynamic Vegetation module (DV) activated (RegCM-CLM-CN-DV). The role of vegetation feedbacks is examined based on simulations with and without dynamic vegetation. The four different future climate scenarios from CCSM, GFDL, MIROC and MPI are used as the boundary conditions of RegCM for two historical and future periods, i.e., for 1981 to 2000 and for 2081 to 2100, respectively. Using SPEI, the duration, frequency, severity and spatial extents are quantified over West Africa and analyzed for two regions of the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea. In this study, we find that the estimated annual SPEIs clearly indicate that the projected future droughts over the Sahel are enhanced and prolonged when DV is activated. The opposite is shown over the Gulf of Guinea in general. AcknowledgementsThis work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2015R1C1A2A01054800), by the Korea Meteorological Administration R&D Program under Grant KMIPA 2015-6180 and by the Yonsei University Future-leading Research Initiative of 2015(2016-22-0061).

Prevalence, diversity and co-occurrence of the white spot syndrome virus, monodon baculovirus and Penaeus stylirostris densovirus in wild populations of Penaeus monodon in the Philippines.

PubMed

Orosco, Fredmoore L; Lluisma, Arturo O

2017-08-09

The farming of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon in the Philippines relies on wild broodstock. PCR was thus used to determine the prevalence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), monodon baculovirus (MBV) and Penaeus stylirostris densovirus (PstDV) in a total of 178 shrimp from 6 geographically disparate locations where broodstock are captured for use in hatcheries. PCR amplicons were also sequenced to identify phylogenetic relationships of the virus haplotypes detected. Shrimp from southeastern Luzon (Camarines Norte) had the highest prevalence of each of the 3 viruses and were frequently co-infected with 2 or more viruses. No viruses were detected in shrimp from northwestern Luzon (Pangasinan). MBV was most prevalent and PstDV strains displayed the most genetic diversity. WSSV was detected at 3 sites, and a VP28 gene sequence examined was invariant and consistent with strains found in many countries, including Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Iran, Brazil and Mexico. WSSV open reading frame 94 gene sequence analysis identified location-specific repeat types. MBV sequences were dissimilar to haplotypes detected in India. PstDV sequences were diverse and included 2 lineages detected either in Australia or in the United States, Ecuador, Taiwan, China and Vietnam. The PCR data confirmed that WSSV, MBV and PstDV are endemic in P. monodon in the Philippines but that populations at some locations might remain free of infection.

No impact of DvSnf7 RNA on honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) adults and larvae in dietary feeding tests.

PubMed

Tan, Jianguo; Levine, Steven L; Bachman, Pamela M; Jensen, Peter D; Mueller, Geoffrey M; Uffman, Joshua P; Meng, Chen; Song, Zihong; Richards, Kathy B; Beevers, Michael H

2016-02-01

The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is the most important managed pollinator species worldwide and plays a critical role in the pollination of a diverse range of economically important crops. This species is important to agriculture and historically has been used as a surrogate species for pollinators to evaluate the potential adverse effects for conventional, biological, and microbial pesticides, as well as for genetically engineered plants that produce pesticidal products. As part of the ecological risk assessment of MON 87411 maize, which expresses a double-stranded RNA targeting the Snf7 ortholog (DvSnf7) in western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera), dietary feeding studies with honey bee larvae and adults were conducted. Based on the mode of action of the DvSnf7 RNA in western corn rootworm, the present studies were designed to be of sufficient duration to evaluate the potential for adverse effects on larval survival and development through emergence and adult survival to a significant portion of the adult stage. Testing was conducted at concentrations of DvSnf7 RNA that greatly exceeded environmentally relevant exposure levels based on expression levels in maize pollen. No adverse effects were observed in either larval or adult honey bees at these high exposure levels, providing a large margin of safety between environmental exposure levels and no-observed-adverse-effect levels. © 2015 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Perpetration of gross human rights violations in South Africa: association with psychiatric disorders.

PubMed

Stein, Dan J; Williams, Stacey L; Jackson, Pamela B; Seedat, Soraya; Myer, Landon; Herman, Allen; Williams, David R

2009-05-01

A nationally representative study of psychiatric disorders in South Africa provided an opportunity to study the association between perpetration of human rights violations (HRVs) during apartheid and psychiatric disorder. Prior work has suggested an association between perpetration and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but this remains controversial. Subjects reported on their perpetration of human rights violations, purposeful injury, accidental injury and domestic violence. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition) disorders were assessed with Version 3.0 of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0). Socio-demographic characteristics of these groups were calculated. Odds ratios for the association between the major categories of psychiatric disorders and perpetration were assessed. HRV perpetrators were more likely to be male, black and more educated, while perpetrators of domestic violence (DV) were more likely to be female, older, married, less educated and with lower income. HRV perpetration was associated with lifetime and 12-month anxiety and substance use disorders, particularly PTSD. Purposeful and DV perpetration were associated with lifetime and 12-month history of all categories of disorders, whereas accidental perpetration was associated most strongly with mood disorders. Socio-demographic profiles of perpetrators of HRV and DV in South Africa differ. While the causal relationship between perpetration and psychiatric disorders deserves further study, it is possible that some HRV and DV perpetrators were themselves once victims. The association between accidental perpetration and mood disorder also deserves further attention.

Ankle morphology amplifies calcaneus movement relative to triceps surae muscle shortening.

PubMed

Csapo, R; Hodgson, J; Kinugasa, R; Edgerton, V R; Sinha, S

2013-08-15

The present study investigated the mechanical role of the dorsoventral curvature of the Achilles tendon in the conversion of the shortening of the plantarflexor muscles into ankle joint rotation. Dynamic, sagittal-plane magnetic resonance spin-tagged images of the ankle joint were acquired in six healthy subjects during both passive and active plantarflexion movements driven by a magnetic resonance compatible servomotor-controlled foot-pedal device. Several points on these images were tracked to determine the 1) path and deformation of the Achilles tendon, 2) ankle's center of rotation, and 3) tendon moment arms. The degree of mechanical amplification of joint movement was calculated as the ratio of the displacements of the calcaneus and myotendinous junction. In plantarflexion, significant deflection of the Achilles tendon was evident in both the passive (165.7 ± 7.4°; 180° representing a straight tendon) and active trials (166.9 ± 8.8°). This bend in the dorsoventral direction acts to move the Achilles tendon closer to the ankle's center of rotation, resulting in an ∼5% reduction of moment arm length. Over the entire range of movement, the overall displacement of the calcaneus exceeded the displacement of the myotendinous junction by ∼37%, with the mechanical gains being smaller in dorsi- and larger in plantarflexed joint positions. This is the first study to assess noninvasively and in vivo using MRI the curvature of the Achilles tendon during both passive and active plantarflexion movements. The dorsoventral tendon curvature amplifies the shortening of the plantarflexor muscles, resulting in a greater displacement of the tendon's insertion into the calcaneus compared with its origin.

CELL SEGREGATION, MIXING, AND TISSUE PATTERN IN THE SPINAL CORD OF THE XENOPUS LAEVIS NEURULA

PubMed Central

Davidson, Lance A.; Keller, Raymond E.

2014-01-01

Background During Xenopus laevis neurulation, neural ectodermal cells of the spinal cord are patterned at the same time that they intercalate mediolaterally and radially, moving within and between two cell layers. Curious if these rearrangements disrupt early cell identities, we lineage-traced cells in each layer from neural plate stages to the closed neural tube, and used in situ hybridization to assay gene expression in the moving cells. Results Our biotin- and fluorescent labeling of deep and superficial cells reveals that mediolateral intercalation does not disrupt cell cohorts, in other words it is conservative. However, outside the midline notoplate, later radial intercalation does displace superficial cells dorsoventrally, radically disrupting cell cohorts. The tube roof is composed almost exclusively of superficial cells, including some displaced from ventral positions; gene expression in these displaced cells must now be surveyed further. Superficial cells also flank the tube’s floor, which is, itself, almost exclusively composed of deep cells. Conclusions Our data provide: 1) a fate map of superficial- and deep-cell positions within the Xenopus neural tube, 2) the paths taken to these positions, and 3) preliminary evidence of re-patterning in cells carried out of one environment and into another, during neural morphogenesis. PMID:23813905

Combined lineage mapping and gene expression profiling of embryonic brain patterning using ultrashort pulse microscopy and image registration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbs, Holly C.; Dodson, Colin R.; Bai, Yuqiang; Lekven, Arne C.; Yeh, Alvin T.

2014-12-01

During embryogenesis, presumptive brain compartments are patterned by dynamic networks of gene expression. The spatiotemporal dynamics of these networks, however, have not been characterized with sufficient resolution for us to understand the regulatory logic resulting in morphogenetic cellular behaviors that give the brain its shape. We have developed a new, integrated approach using ultrashort pulse microscopy [a high-resolution, two-photon fluorescence (2PF)-optical coherence microscopy (OCM) platform using 10-fs pulses] and image registration to study brain patterning and morphogenesis in zebrafish embryos. As a demonstration, we used time-lapse 2PF to capture midbrain-hindbrain boundary morphogenesis and a wnt1 lineage map from embryos during brain segmentation. We then performed in situ hybridization to deposit NBT/BCIP, where wnt1 remained actively expressed, and reimaged the embryos with combined 2PF-OCM. When we merged these datasets using morphological landmark registration, we found that the mechanism of boundary formation differs along the dorsoventral axis. Dorsally, boundary sharpening is dominated by changes in gene expression, while ventrally, sharpening may be accomplished by lineage sorting. We conclude that the integrated visualization of lineage reporter and gene expression domains simultaneously with brain morphology will be useful for understanding how changes in gene expression give rise to proper brain compartmentalization and structure.

Combined lineage mapping and gene expression profiling of embryonic brain patterning using ultrashort pulse microscopy and image registration.

PubMed

Gibbs, Holly C; Dodson, Colin R; Bai, Yuqiang; Lekven, Arne C; Yeh, Alvin T

2014-12-01

During embryogenesis, presumptive brain compartments are patterned by dynamic networks of gene expression. The spatiotemporal dynamics of these networks, however, have not been characterized with sufficient resolution for us to understand the regulatory logic resulting in morphogenetic cellular behaviors that give the brain its shape. We have developed a new, integrated approach using ultrashort pulse microscopy [a high-resolution, two-photon fluorescence (2PF)-optical coherence microscopy (OCM) platform using 10-fs pulses] and image registration to study brain patterning and morphogenesis in zebrafish embryos. As a demonstration, we used time-lapse 2PF to capture midbrain-hindbrain boundary morphogenesis and a wnt1 lineage map from embryos during brain segmentation. We then performed in situ hybridization to deposit NBT/BCIP, where wnt1 remained actively expressed, and reimaged the embryos with combined 2PF-OCM. When we merged these datasets using morphological landmark registration, we found that the mechanism of boundary formation differs along the dorsoventral axis. Dorsally, boundary sharpening is dominated by changes in gene expression, while ventrally, sharpening may be accomplished by lineage sorting. We conclude that the integrated visualization of lineage reporter and gene expression domains simultaneously with brain morphology will be useful for understanding how changes in gene expression give rise to proper brain compartmentalization and structure.

Global robotic experience and the type of surgical system impact the types of robotic malfunctions and their clinical consequences: an FDA MAUDE review.

PubMed

Lucas, Steven M; Pattison, Erik A; Sundaram, Chandru P

2012-04-01

To assess annual rates of robotic system malfunctions and compare the da Vinci S(®) system (dVS) and da Vinci(®) surgical system (dV). To assess the types of malfunctions and associated outcomes for robotic cases and determine the extent to which experience and technological improvements impact these. This study is a retrospective review of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) database, a publicly available, voluntary reporting system (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/search.cfm). The database was searched using the two phrases 'da Vinci' and 'Intuitive Surgical' from 2003 to 2009. Malfunctions of the instruments, console, patient-side cart, camera and cannula were recorded. Data on intraoperative injuries, case delays and conversions were also collected. In all, 1914 reports were reviewed (991 dVS and 878 dV, 45 unclassified) with peak years for reports of 2008 for dVS (571) and 2007 for dV (211), P < 0.001. With respect to time, the proportion of console and patient-side cart malfunctions declined from 2007 onward compared with the proportions prior to 2007 (5.1% vs 9.4% and 6.6% vs 10.9%). Patient injury did not change with year of surgery (0.5-5.4% of malfunctions, P= 0.358), open conversions declined (21.3% of malfunctions before 2007 vs 9.9% from 2007 onward, P < 0.001) and patient deaths increased (0.0013% of cases before 2007 vs 0.0061% of cases from 2007 onward, P < 0.001). With regard to robotic system, console and patient-side cart malfunctions were more frequent with the dV than the dVS: 82/878 vs 39/991 and 100/878 vs 48/991, P < 0.001. Open conversion was more frequent with dV than dVS (19.3% vs 7.7% of reported malfunctions, P < 0.001), while patient injury was less with dV than dVS (3.5% vs 5.9%, P= 0.021). The dVS decreased console and patient-side cart errors relative to total malfunctions, which were also influenced by surgical year. Open conversions were reduced by increased robotic experience and newer surgical system. Differences in patient injury may reflect changes in reporting or case complexity. © 2011 THE AUTHORS. BJU INTERNATIONAL © 2011 BJU INTERNATIONAL.

Mutations in WNT7A cause a range of limb malformations, including Fuhrmann syndrome and Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel phocomelia syndrome.

PubMed

Woods, C G; Stricker, S; Seemann, P; Stern, R; Cox, J; Sherridan, E; Roberts, E; Springell, K; Scott, S; Karbani, G; Sharif, S M; Toomes, C; Bond, J; Kumar, D; Al-Gazali, L; Mundlos, S

2006-08-01

Fuhrmann syndrome and the Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel phocomelia syndrome are considered to be distinct limb-malformation disorders characterized by various degrees of limb aplasia/hypoplasia and joint dysplasia in humans. In families with these syndromes, we found homozygous missense mutations in the dorsoventral-patterning gene WNT7A and confirmed their functional significance in retroviral-mediated transfection of chicken mesenchyme cell cultures and developing limbs. The results suggest that a partial loss of WNT7A function causes Fuhrmann syndrome (and a phenotype similar to mouse Wnt7a knockout), whereas the more-severe limb truncation phenotypes observed in Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel phocomelia syndrome result from null mutations (and cause a phenotype similar to mouse Shh knockout). These findings illustrate the specific and conserved importance of WNT7A in multiple aspects of vertebrate limb development.

Mutations in WNT7A Cause a Range of Limb Malformations, Including Fuhrmann Syndrome and Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel Phocomelia Syndrome

PubMed Central

Woods, C. G.; Stricker, S.; Seemann, P.; Stern, R.; Cox, J.; Sherridan, E.; Roberts, E.; Springell, K.; Scott, S.; Karbani, G.; Sharif, S. M.; Toomes, C.; Bond, J.; Kumar, D.; Al-Gazali, L.; Mundlos, S.

2006-01-01

Fuhrmann syndrome and the Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel phocomelia syndrome are considered to be distinct limb-malformation disorders characterized by various degrees of limb aplasia/hypoplasia and joint dysplasia in humans. In families with these syndromes, we found homozygous missense mutations in the dorsoventral-patterning gene WNT7A and confirmed their functional significance in retroviral-mediated transfection of chicken mesenchyme cell cultures and developing limbs. The results suggest that a partial loss of WNT7A function causes Fuhrmann syndrome (and a phenotype similar to mouse Wnt7a knockout), whereas the more-severe limb truncation phenotypes observed in Al-Awadi/Raas-Rothschild/Schinzel phocomelia syndrome result from null mutations (and cause a phenotype similar to mouse Shh knockout). These findings illustrate the specific and conserved importance of WNT7A in multiple aspects of vertebrate limb development. PMID:16826533

Secure Computer Systems: Extensions to the Bell-La Padula Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

countable and n CX ℜ∈ ; V is a finite collection of input variables. We assume ( )CD VVV ∪= with DV countable and nCV ℜ∈ ; XInit ⊆ is a set of...assume ( )CD VVV ∪= with DV countable and nCV ℜ∈ ; XInit ⊆ is a set of initial states; CXVXf →×: is a vector field, assumed to be globally...built under the Eclipse Swordfish project. As indicated on the project web site,”The goal of the Swordfish project is to provide an extensible SOA

Transceivers and receivers for quantum key distribution and methods pertaining thereto

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

DeRose, Christopher; Sarovar, Mohan; Soh, Daniel B.S.

Various technologies for performing continuous-variable (CV) and discrete-variable (DV) quantum key distribution (QKD) with integrated electro-optical circuits are described herein. An integrated DV-QKD system uses Mach-Zehnder modulators to modulate a polarization of photons at a transmitter and select a photon polarization measurement basis at a receiver. An integrated CV-QKD system uses wavelength division multiplexing to send and receive amplitude-modulated and phase-modulated optical signals with a local oscillator signal while maintaining phase coherence between the modulated signals and the local oscillator signal.

Geluidsexpositie bij Gebruik van Otoplastieken met Communicatie (Sound Exposure Level of F-16 Crew Chiefs Using Custom Molded Communications Earplugs)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

346 35 39 77 lnfo-DenV@tno nl Datum oktober 2008 Auteur (s) dr. ir. MM..I. Houben J.A. Verhave Rubricering rapport Ongerubriceerd Vastgesteld... Auteur (s) dr. ir. M.M.J. Houben J.A. Verhave Rubricering rapport Ongerubriceerd TNO-rapport | TNO-DV 2008 A395 4/19 Summary Sound exposure level...ontwikkeld om de geluidsexpositie van CEPs te bepalen (TNO-project 032.13072, rapport TNO-DV 2008 A054) [1], In theorie kan het totale

Probing effects of pressure release on virus capture during virus filtration using confocal microscopy.

PubMed

Dishari, Shudipto K; Venkiteshwaran, Adith; Zydney, Andrew L

2015-10-01

Virus filtration is used to ensure drug safety in the production of biotherapeutics. Several recent studies have shown a dramatic decrease in virus retention as a result of a process disruption, e.g., a transient pressure release. In this work, a novel two-label fluorescence technique was developed to probe virus capture within virus filtration membranes using confocal microscopy. Experiments were performed with Ultipor® DV20, Viresolve® Pro, and Viresolve® NFP membranes using bacteriophage φx174 as a model virus. The filters were challenged with two batches of fluorescently labeled phage: one labeled with red dye (Cy5) and one with green dye (SYBR Gold) to visualize captured phage from before and after the pressure release. The capture patterns seen in the confocal images were a strong function of the underlying membrane morphology and pore structure. The DV20 and Viresolve® NFP showed migration of previously captured phage further into the filter, consistent with the observed loss of virus retention after the pressure release. In contrast, there was no migration of captured virus in the Viresolve® Pro membranes, and these filters were also the only ones to show stable virus retention after a pressure release. The direct visualization of virus capture using the two-label fluorescence technique provides unique insights into the factors controlling the retention characteristics of virus filters with different pore structure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Qualitative study to explore the health and well-being impacts on adults providing informal support to female domestic violence survivors.

PubMed

Gregory, Alison; Feder, Gene; Taket, Ann; Williamson, Emma

2017-03-24

Domestic violence (DV) is hazardous to survivors' health, from injuries sustained and from resultant chronic physical and mental health problems. Support from friends and relatives is significant in the lives of DV survivors; research shows associations between positive support and the health, well-being and safety of survivors. Little is known about how people close to survivors are impacted. The aim of this study was exploratory, with the following research question: what are the health and well-being impacts on adults who provide informal support to female DV survivors? A qualitative study using semistructured interviews conducted face to face, by telephone or using Skype. A thematic analysis of the narratives was carried out. Community-based, across the UK. People were eligible to take part if they had had a close relationship (either as friend, colleague or family member) with a woman who had experienced DV, and were aged 16 or over during the time they knew the survivor. Participants were recruited via posters in community venues, social media and radio advertisement. 23 participants were recruited and interviewed; the majority were women, most were white and ages ranged from mid-20s to 80. Generated themes included: negative impacts on psychological and emotional well-being of informal supporters, and related physical health impacts. Some psychological impacts were over a limited period; others were chronic and had the potential to be severe and enduring. The impacts described suggested that those providing informal support to survivors may be experiencing secondary traumatic stress as they journey alongside the survivor. Friends and relatives of DV survivors experience substantial impact on their own health and well-being. There are no direct services to support this group. These findings have practical and policy implications, so that the needs of informal supporters are legitimised and met. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Reduction of oxidative-nitrosative stress underlies anticataract effect of topically applied tocotrienol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

PubMed Central

Abdul Nasir, Nurul Alimah; Agarwal, Renu; Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Siti Hamimah; Vasudevan, Sushil; Tripathy, Minaketan; Iezhitsa, Igor; Mohammad Daher, Aqil; Ibrahim, Mohd Ikraam; Mohd Ismail, Nafeeza

2017-01-01

Cataract, a leading cause of blindness, is of special concern in diabetics as it occurs at earlier onset. Polyol accumulation and increased oxidative-nitrosative stress in cataractogenesis are associated with NFκB activation, iNOS expression, ATP depletion, loss of ATPase functions, calpain activation and proteolysis of soluble to insoluble proteins. Tocotrienol was previously shown to reduce lens oxidative stress and inhibit cataractogenesis in galactose-fed rats. In current study, we investigated anticataract effects of topical tocotrienol and possible mechanisms involved in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were treated with vehicle (DV) or tocotrienol (DT). A third group consists of normal, non-diabetic rats were treated with vehicle (NV). All treatments were given topically, bilaterally, twice daily for 8 weeks with weekly slit lamp monitoring. Subsequently, rats were euthanized and lenses were subjected to estimation of polyol accumulation, oxidative-nitrosative stress, NFκB activation, iNOS expression, ATP levels, ATPase activities, calpain activity and total protein levels. Cataract progression was delayed from the fifth week onwards in DT with lower mean of cataract stages compared to DV group (p<0.01) despite persistent hyperglycemia. Reduced cataractogenesis in DT group was accompanied with lower aldose reductase activity and sorbitol level compared to DV group (p<0.01). DT group also showed reduced NFκB activation, lower iNOS expression and reduced oxidative-nitrosative stress compared to DV group. Lenticular ATP and ATPase and calpain 2 activities in DT group were restored to normal. Consequently, soluble to insoluble protein ratio in DT group was higher compared to DV (p<0.05). In conclusion, preventive effect of topical tocotrienol on development of cataract in STZ-induced diabetic rats could be attributed to reduced lens aldose reductase activity, polyol levels and oxidative-nitrosative stress. These effects of tocotrienol invlove reduced NFκB activation, lower iNOS expression, restoration of ATP level, ATPase activities, calpain activity and lens protein levels. PMID:28350848

Efficient DV-HOP Localization for Wireless Cyber-Physical Social Sensing System: A Correntropy-Based Neural Network Learning Scheme

PubMed Central

Xu, Yang; Luo, Xiong; Wang, Weiping; Zhao, Wenbing

2017-01-01

Integrating wireless sensor network (WSN) into the emerging computing paradigm, e.g., cyber-physical social sensing (CPSS), has witnessed a growing interest, and WSN can serve as a social network while receiving more attention from the social computing research field. Then, the localization of sensor nodes has become an essential requirement for many applications over WSN. Meanwhile, the localization information of unknown nodes has strongly affected the performance of WSN. The received signal strength indication (RSSI) as a typical range-based algorithm for positioning sensor nodes in WSN could achieve accurate location with hardware saving, but is sensitive to environmental noises. Moreover, the original distance vector hop (DV-HOP) as an important range-free localization algorithm is simple, inexpensive and not related to the environment factors, but performs poorly when lacking anchor nodes. Motivated by these, various improved DV-HOP schemes with RSSI have been introduced, and we present a new neural network (NN)-based node localization scheme, named RHOP-ELM-RCC, through the use of DV-HOP, RSSI and a regularized correntropy criterion (RCC)-based extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm (ELM-RCC). Firstly, the proposed scheme employs both RSSI and DV-HOP to evaluate the distances between nodes to enhance the accuracy of distance estimation at a reasonable cost. Then, with the help of ELM featured with a fast learning speed with a good generalization performance and minimal human intervention, a single hidden layer feedforward network (SLFN) on the basis of ELM-RCC is used to implement the optimization task for obtaining the location of unknown nodes. Since the RSSI may be influenced by the environmental noises and may bring estimation error, the RCC instead of the mean square error (MSE) estimation, which is sensitive to noises, is exploited in ELM. Hence, it may make the estimation more robust against outliers. Additionally, the least square estimation (LSE) in ELM is replaced by the half-quadratic optimization technique. Simulation results show that our proposed scheme outperforms other traditional localization schemes. PMID:28085084

18F-FEAnGA for PET of β-glucuronidase activity in neuroinflammation.

PubMed

Antunes, Inês F; Doorduin, Janine; Haisma, Hidde J; Elsinga, Philip H; van Waarde, Aren; Willemsen, Antoon T M; Dierckx, Rudi A; de Vries, Erik F J

2012-03-01

Activation of microglia is a hallmark of inflammatory, infectious, and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Several studies have indicated that there is an increase in release of β-glucuronidase by activated microglia into the extracellular space at the site of neuroinflammation. β-glucuronidase is involved in the hydrolysis of glycosaminoglycans on the cell surface and the degradation of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, β-glucuronidase might be a biomarker for ongoing neurodegeneration induced by neuroinflammation. In this study, we investigated whether the PET tracer (18)F-FEAnGA was able to detect β-glucuronidase release during neuroinflammation in a rat model of herpes encephalitis. Male Wistar rats were intranasally inoculated with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or phosphate-buffered saline as a control. (11)C-(R)-PK11195 and (18)F-FEAnGA small-animal PET scans were acquired for 60 min. Logan graphical analysis was used to calculate (18)F-FEAnGA distribution volumes (DV(Logan)) in various brain areas. After administration of (18)F-FEAnGA, the area under the activity concentration-versus-time curve of the whole brain was 2 times higher in HSV-1-infected rats than in control rats. In addition, the DV(Logan) of (18)F-FEAnGA was most increased in the frontopolar cortex, frontal cortex, bulbus olfactorius, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem of HSV-1-infected rats, when compared with control rats. The conversion of (18)F-FEAnGA to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol was found to be 1.6 times higher in HSV-1-infected rats than in control rats and correlated with the DV(Logan) of (18)F-FEAnGA in the same areas of the brain. Furthermore, the DV(Logan) of (18)F-FEAnGA also correlated with β-glucuronidase activity in the same brain regions. In addition, DV(Logan) of (18)F-FEAnGA showed a tendency to correlate with (11)C-(R)-PK11195 uptake (marker for activated microglia) in the same brain regions. Despite relatively low brain uptake, (18)F-FEAnGA was able to detect an increased release of β-glucuronidase during neuroinflammation.

Linear Lepidopteran ambidensovirus 1 sequences drive random integration of a reporter gene in transfected Spodoptera frugiperda cells.

PubMed

Rizk, Francine; Laverdure, Sylvain; d'Alençon, Emmanuelle; Bossin, Hervé; Dupressoir, Thierry

2018-01-01

The Lepidopteran ambidensovirus 1 isolated from Junonia coenia (hereafter JcDV) is an invertebrate parvovirus considered as a viral transduction vector as well as a potential tool for the biological control of insect pests. Previous works showed that JcDV-based circular plasmids experimentally integrate into insect cells genomic DNA. In order to approach the natural conditions of infection and possible integration, we generated linear JcDV- gfp based molecules which were transfected into non permissive Spodoptera frugiperda ( Sf9 ) cultured cells. Cells were monitored for the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and DNA was analyzed for integration of transduced viral sequences. Non-structural protein modulation of the VP-gene cassette promoter activity was additionally assayed. We show that linear JcDV-derived molecules are capable of long term genomic integration and sustained transgene expression in Sf9 cells. As expected, only the deletion of both inverted terminal repeats (ITR) or the polyadenylation signals of NS and VP genes dramatically impairs the global transduction/expression efficiency. However, all the integrated viral sequences we characterized appear "scrambled" whatever the viral content of the transfected vector. Despite a strong GFP expression, we were unable to recover any full sequence of the original constructs and found rearranged viral and non-viral sequences as well. Cellular flanking sequences were identified as non-coding ones. On the other hand, the kinetics of GFP expression over time led us to investigate the apparent down-regulation by non-structural proteins of the VP-gene cassette promoter. Altogether, our results show that JcDV-derived sequences included in linear DNA molecules are able to drive efficiently the integration and expression of a foreign gene into the genome of insect cells, whatever their composition, provided that at least one ITR is present. However, the transfected sequences were extensively rearranged with cellular DNA during or after random integration in the host cell genome. Lastly, the non-structural proteins seem to participate in the regulation of p9 promoter activity rather than to the integration of viral sequences.

Reduction of oxidative-nitrosative stress underlies anticataract effect of topically applied tocotrienol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

PubMed

Abdul Nasir, Nurul Alimah; Agarwal, Renu; Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Siti Hamimah; Vasudevan, Sushil; Tripathy, Minaketan; Iezhitsa, Igor; Mohammad Daher, Aqil; Ibrahim, Mohd Ikraam; Mohd Ismail, Nafeeza

2017-01-01

Cataract, a leading cause of blindness, is of special concern in diabetics as it occurs at earlier onset. Polyol accumulation and increased oxidative-nitrosative stress in cataractogenesis are associated with NFκB activation, iNOS expression, ATP depletion, loss of ATPase functions, calpain activation and proteolysis of soluble to insoluble proteins. Tocotrienol was previously shown to reduce lens oxidative stress and inhibit cataractogenesis in galactose-fed rats. In current study, we investigated anticataract effects of topical tocotrienol and possible mechanisms involved in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were treated with vehicle (DV) or tocotrienol (DT). A third group consists of normal, non-diabetic rats were treated with vehicle (NV). All treatments were given topically, bilaterally, twice daily for 8 weeks with weekly slit lamp monitoring. Subsequently, rats were euthanized and lenses were subjected to estimation of polyol accumulation, oxidative-nitrosative stress, NFκB activation, iNOS expression, ATP levels, ATPase activities, calpain activity and total protein levels. Cataract progression was delayed from the fifth week onwards in DT with lower mean of cataract stages compared to DV group (p<0.01) despite persistent hyperglycemia. Reduced cataractogenesis in DT group was accompanied with lower aldose reductase activity and sorbitol level compared to DV group (p<0.01). DT group also showed reduced NFκB activation, lower iNOS expression and reduced oxidative-nitrosative stress compared to DV group. Lenticular ATP and ATPase and calpain 2 activities in DT group were restored to normal. Consequently, soluble to insoluble protein ratio in DT group was higher compared to DV (p<0.05). In conclusion, preventive effect of topical tocotrienol on development of cataract in STZ-induced diabetic rats could be attributed to reduced lens aldose reductase activity, polyol levels and oxidative-nitrosative stress. These effects of tocotrienol invlove reduced NFκB activation, lower iNOS expression, restoration of ATP level, ATPase activities, calpain activity and lens protein levels.

On the star partition dimension of comb product of cycle and complete graph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alfarisi, Ridho; Darmaji; Dafik

2017-06-01

Let G = (V, E) be a connected graphs with vertex set V (G), edge set E(G) and S ⊆ V (G). For an ordered partition Π = {S 1, S 2, S 3, …, Sk } of V (G), the representation of a vertex v ∈ V (G) with respect to Π is the k-vectors r(v|Π) = (d(v, S 1), d(v, S 2), …, d(v, Sk )), where d(v, Sk ) represents the distance between the vertex v and the set Sk , defined by d(v, Sk ) = min{d(v, x)|x ∈ Sk}. The partition Π of V (G) is a resolving partition if the k-vektors r(v|Π), v ∈ V (G) are distinct. The minimum resolving partition Π is a partition dimension of G, denoted by pd(G). The resolving partition Π = {S 1, S 2, S 3, …, Sk} is called a star resolving partition for G if it is a resolving partition and each subgraph induced by Si , 1 ≤ i ≤ k, is a star. The minimum k for which there exists a star resolving partition of V (G) is the star partition dimension of G, denoted by spd(G). Finding a star partition dimension of G is classified to be a NP-Hard problem. Furthermore, the comb product between G and H, denoted by G ⊲ H, is a graph obtained by taking one copy of G and |V (G)| copies of H and grafting the i-th copy of H at the vertex o to the i-th vertex of G. By definition of comb product, we can say that V (G ⊲ H) = {(a, u)|a ∈ V (G), u ∈ V (H)} and (a, u)(b, v) ∈ E(G ⊲ H) whenever a = b and uv ∈ E(H), or ab ∈ E(G) and u = v = o. In this paper, we will study the star partition dimension of comb product of cycle and complete graph, namely Cn ⊲ Km and Km ⊲ Cn for n ≥ 3 and m ≥ 3.

LigoDV-web: Providing easy, secure and universal access to a large distributed scientific data store for the LIGO scientific collaboration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Areeda, J. S.; Smith, J. R.; Lundgren, A. P.; Maros, E.; Macleod, D. M.; Zweizig, J.

2017-01-01

Gravitational-wave observatories around the world, including the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), record a large volume of gravitational-wave output data and auxiliary data about the instruments and their environments. These data are stored at the observatory sites and distributed to computing clusters for data analysis. LigoDV-web is a web-based data viewer that provides access to data recorded at the LIGO Hanford, LIGO Livingston and GEO600 observatories, and the 40 m prototype interferometer at Caltech. The challenge addressed by this project is to provide meaningful visualizations of small data sets to anyone in the collaboration in a fast, secure and reliable manner with minimal software, hardware and training required of the end users. LigoDV-web is implemented as a Java Enterprise Application, with Shibboleth Single Sign On for authentication and authorization, and a proprietary network protocol used for data access on the back end. Collaboration members with proper credentials can request data be displayed in any of several general formats from any Internet appliance that supports a modern browser with Javascript and minimal HTML5 support, including personal computers, smartphones, and tablets. Since its inception in 2012, 634 unique users have visited the LigoDV-web website in a total of 33 , 861 sessions and generated a total of 139 , 875 plots. This infrastructure has been helpful in many analyses within the collaboration including follow-up of the data surrounding the first gravitational-wave events observed by LIGO in 2015.

Identification of Computational and Experimental Reduced-Order Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silva, Walter A.; Hong, Moeljo S.; Bartels, Robert E.; Piatak, David J.; Scott, Robert C.

2003-01-01

The identification of computational and experimental reduced-order models (ROMs) for the analysis of unsteady aerodynamic responses and for efficient aeroelastic analyses is presented. For the identification of a computational aeroelastic ROM, the CFL3Dv6.0 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code is used. Flutter results for the AGARD 445.6 Wing and for a Rigid Semispan Model (RSM) computed using CFL3Dv6.0 are presented, including discussion of associated computational costs. Modal impulse responses of the unsteady aerodynamic system are computed using the CFL3Dv6.0 code and transformed into state-space form. The unsteady aerodynamic state-space ROM is then combined with a state-space model of the structure to create an aeroelastic simulation using the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The MATLAB/SIMULINK ROM is then used to rapidly compute aeroelastic transients, including flutter. The ROM shows excellent agreement with the aeroelastic analyses computed using the CFL3Dv6.0 code directly. For the identification of experimental unsteady pressure ROMs, results are presented for two configurations: the RSM and a Benchmark Supercritical Wing (BSCW). Both models were used to acquire unsteady pressure data due to pitching oscillations on the Oscillating Turntable (OTT) system at the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). A deconvolution scheme involving a step input in pitch and the resultant step response in pressure, for several pressure transducers, is used to identify the unsteady pressure impulse responses. The identified impulse responses are then used to predict the pressure responses due to pitching oscillations at several frequencies. Comparisons with the experimental data are then presented.

The Romantic Relationship Experiences of Young Adult Women Exposed to Domestic Violence.

PubMed

Haselschwerdt, Megan L; Carlson, Camille E; Hlavaty, Kathleen

2018-05-01

Guided by a review of the literature on intergenerational transmission of violence, or "the cycle of violence", and Johnson's typology of domestic violence, the current study qualitatively examined the romantic relationship experiences of 23 young adult women who were exposed to father-mother-perpetrated domestic violence (DV) during childhood and adolescence. Findings are partially consistent with the hypothesis that DV exposure is associated with an increased risk of later experiencing dating violence, such that half of the sample reported having abusive partners or relationships during high school. However, none of the young women reported violence or abuse during the early years of college, suggesting the salience of developmental timing when examining transmission of violence. Beyond whether the women experienced dating violence, they described how their earlier DV exposure experiences influence how they entered into, managed, and exited romantic relationships. By comparing their potential, former, and current romantic relationships with their fathers' violence and abuse, their mothers' victimization, and high school relationship partners' behaviors, the young women actively and strategically managed their relationship involvement over time. Although women exposed to both situational couple and coercive controlling violence reported experiencing abuse during high school, only women with coercive controlling exposure experienced reported having nonabusive, healthy, and supportive relationships. Findings suggest that the romantic relationship experiences of DV-exposed young adult women are complex, warranting a holistic approach that takes into consideration the full range of potential relationship experiences, the role of former relationships, and developmental timing when seeking to prevent and intervene in intergenerational transmission processes.

A Gender Comparison of Motivations for Physical Dating Violence Among College Students

PubMed Central

Elmquist, JoAnna; Wolford-Clevenger, Caitlin; Zapor, Heather; Febres, Jeniimarie; Shorey, Ryan C.; Hamel, John; Stuart, Gregory L.

2015-01-01

There are limited empirical investigations that directly compare men and women’s motivations, or reasons, for perpetrating physical dating violence (DV). In an attempt to further understand whether men and women have similar or different motives for physical DV, the purpose of the current study was to conduct a gender comparison motives in a sample of male (n = 163) and female (n = 319) college students. Motivations for physical DV were classified according to seven broad categories proposed by Langhinrichsen-Rohling and colleagues (2012): (a) power/control, (b) self-defense, (c) expression of negative emotion (e.g., anger), (d) communication difficulties, (e) retaliation, (f) jealousy, and (g) other (e.g., because it was sexually arousing, the influence of alcohol, the influence of drugs). The prevalence of physical violence perpetration in the overall sample was 29.4%. Results indicated that communication difficulties and self-defense were among the most frequently endorsed motive categories for both male and female perpetrated dating violence. In addition, results demonstrated gender similarity in all of the examined motive categories. Research and clinical implications are discussed. PMID:25392388

Characterization and application of newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers in the Ezo red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki).

PubMed

Tada, T; Seki, Y; Kameyama, Y; Kikkawa, Y; Wada, K

2016-12-19

The Ezo red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki), a subspecies endemic to Hokkaido island, Japan, is a known host species for the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. To develop tools for molecular ecological studies, we isolated 28 microsatellite regions from the genome of Ezo red fox, and developed 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers. These markers were characterized using 7 individuals and 22 fecal samples of the Ezo red fox. The number of alleles for these markers ranged from 1 to 7, and the observed heterozygosity, estimated on the basis of the genotypes of 7 individuals, ranged from 0.29 to 1.00. All markers, except DvNok5, were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05), and no linkage disequilibrium was detected among these loci, except between DvNok14 and DvNok28 (P = 0.01). Moreover, six microsatellite loci were successfully genotyped using feces-derived DNA from the Ezo red fox. The markers developed in our study might serve as a useful tool for molecular ecological studies of the Ezo red fox.

Novel aspects of spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs) in the evaluation of dorso-ventral and lateral mechanical impacts on the spinal cord.

PubMed

Rad, Iman; Kouhzaei, Sogolie; Mobasheri, Hamid; Saberi, Hooshang

2015-02-01

The aim of the current study was to mimic mechanical impacts on the spinal cord by manifesting the effects of dorsoventral (DVMP) and lateral (LMP) mechanical pressure on neural activity to address points to be considered during surgery for different purposes, including spinal cord decompression. Spinal cords of anesthetized rats were compressed at T13. Different characteristics of axons, including vulnerability, excitability, and conduction velocity (CV), in response to promptness, severity, and duration of pressure were assessed by spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs). Real-time SCEPs recorded at L4-5 revealed N1, N2, and N3 peaks that were used to represent the activity of injured sensory afferents, interneurons, and MN fibers. The averaged SCEP recordings were fitted by trust-region algorithm to find the equivalent Gaussian and polynomial equations. The pyramidal and extrapyramidal pathways possessed CVs of 3-11 and 16-80 m s(-1), respectively. DVMP decreased the excitability of myelinated neural fibers in antidromic and orthodromic pathways. The excitability of fibers in extrapyramidal and pyramidal pathways of lateral corticospinal (LCS) and anterior corticospinal (ACS) tracts decreased following LMP. A significant drop in the amplitude of N3 and its conduction velocity (CV) revealed higher susceptibility of less-myelinated fibers to both DVMP and LMP. The best parametric fitting model for triplet healthy spinal cord CAP was a six-term Gaussian equation (G6) that fell into a five-term equation (G5) at the complete compression stage. The spinal cord is more susceptible to dorsoventral than lateral mechanical pressures, and this should be considered in spinal cord operations. SCEPs have shown promising capabilities for evaluating the severity of SCI and thus can be applied for diagnostic or prognostic intraoperative monitoring (IOM).

Distribution of nonprincipal neurons in the rat hippocampus, with special reference to their dorsoventral difference.

PubMed

Nomura, T; Fukuda, T; Aika, Y; Heizmann, C W; Emson, P C; Kobayashi, T; Kosaka, T

1997-03-14

In the present study we examined the distribution of chemically identified subpopulations of nonprincipal neurons in the rat hippocampus, focusing on the dorsoventral differences in their distributions. The subpopulations analyzed were those immunoreactive for parvalbumin, calretinin, nitric oxide synthase, somatostatin, calbindin D28K, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and cholecystokinin. Using a confocal laser scanning light microscope, we could confirm that the penetration of each immunostaining, except that of calbindin D28K, was complete throughout 50 microns thick sections under our immunostaining conditions. We counted numbers of immunoreactive somata according to the 'dissector' principle, measured areas of hippocampal subdivisions and the thickness of sections, and estimated the approximate numerical densities of these subpopulations, especially for those neurons immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase, calretinin, somatostatin and parvalbumin. Generally speaking, neurons immunoreactive for parvalbumin showed no significant dorsoventral differences in the numerical densities in any of the subdivisions of the hippocampus, whereas the numerical densities of somata immunoreactive for calretinin, nitric oxide synthase and somatostatin were significantly larger in ventral levels than at dorsal levels of the hippocampus. The numerical density of somatostatin neurons was significantly larger in ventral levels than in dorsal levels of the denate gyrus, and, although not prominent, of the CA1 region. That of nitric oxide synthase positive neurons was significantly larger in ventral levels than in dorsal levels of the CA3 region as well as of the DG but not of the CA1 region. The numerical density of calretinin positive neurons was larger in ventral levels than in dorsal levels of all hippocampal subdivisions. The present study also revealed that dorsal and ventral levels of the hippocampus differ from each other in the composition of their nonprincipal neurons.

Axon and dendrite geography predict the specificity of synaptic connections in a functioning spinal cord network.

PubMed

Li, Wen-Chang; Cooke, Tom; Sautois, Bart; Soffe, Stephen R; Borisyuk, Roman; Roberts, Alan

2007-09-10

How specific are the synaptic connections formed as neuronal networks develop and can simple rules account for the formation of functioning circuits? These questions are assessed in the spinal circuits controlling swimming in hatchling frog tadpoles. This is possible because detailed information is now available on the identity and synaptic connections of the main types of neuron. The probabilities of synapses between 7 types of identified spinal neuron were measured directly by making electrical recordings from 500 pairs of neurons. For the same neuron types, the dorso-ventral distributions of axons and dendrites were measured and then used to calculate the probabilities that axons would encounter particular dendrites and so potentially form synaptic connections. Surprisingly, synapses were found between all types of neuron but contact probabilities could be predicted simply by the anatomical overlap of their axons and dendrites. These results suggested that synapse formation may not require axons to recognise specific, correct dendrites. To test the plausibility of simpler hypotheses, we first made computational models that were able to generate longitudinal axon growth paths and reproduce the axon distribution patterns and synaptic contact probabilities found in the spinal cord. To test if probabilistic rules could produce functioning spinal networks, we then made realistic computational models of spinal cord neurons, giving them established cell-specific properties and connecting them into networks using the contact probabilities we had determined. A majority of these networks produced robust swimming activity. Simple factors such as morphogen gradients controlling dorso-ventral soma, dendrite and axon positions may sufficiently constrain the synaptic connections made between different types of neuron as the spinal cord first develops and allow functional networks to form. Our analysis implies that detailed cellular recognition between spinal neuron types may not be necessary for the reliable formation of functional networks to generate early behaviour like swimming.

Brain segmentation and forebrain development in amniotes.

PubMed

Puelles, L

2001-08-01

This essay contains a general introduction to the segmental paradigm postulated for interpreting morphologically cellular and molecular data on the developing forebrain of vertebrates. The introduction examines the nature of the problem, indicating the role of topological analysis in conjunction with analysis of various developmental cell processes in the developing brain. Another section explains how morphological analysis in essence depends on assumptions (paradigms), which should be reasonable and well founded in other research, but must remain tentative until time reveals their necessary status as facts for evolving theories (or leads to their substitution by alternative assumptions). The chosen paradigm affects many aspects of the analysis, including the sectioning planes one wants to use and the meaning of what one sees in brain sections. Dorsoventral patterning is presented as the fundament for defining what is longitudinal, whereas less well-understood anteroposterior patterning results from transversal regionalization. The concept of neural segmentation is covered, first historically, and then step by step, explaining the prosomeric model in basic detail, stopping at the diencephalon, the extratelencephalic secondary prosencephalon, and the telencephalon. A new pallial model for telencephalic development and evolution is presented as well, updating the proposed homologies between the sauropsidian and mammalian telencephalon.

Melanins in Fossil Animals: Is It Possible to Infer Life History Traits from the Coloration of Extinct Species?

PubMed Central

Negro, Juan J.; Finlayson, Clive; Galván, Ismael

2018-01-01

Paleo-colour scientists have recently made the transition from describing melanin-based colouration in fossil specimens to inferring life-history traits of the species involved. Two such cases correspond to counter-shaded dinosaurs: dark-coloured due to melanins dorsally, and light-coloured ventrally. We believe that colour reconstruction of fossils based on the shape of preserved microstructures—the majority of paleo-colour studies involve melanin granules—is not without risks. In addition, animals with contrasting dorso-ventral colouration may be under different selection pressures beyond the need for camouflage, including, for instance, visual communication or ultraviolet (UV) protection. Melanin production is costly, and animals may invest less in areas of the integument where pigments are less needed. In addition, melanocytes exposed to UV radiation produce more melanin than unexposed melanocytes. Pigment economization may thus explain the colour pattern of some counter-shaded animals, including extinct species. Even in well-studied extant species, their diversity of hues and patterns is far from being understood; inferring colours and their functions in species only known from one or few specimens from the fossil record should be exerted with special prudence. PMID:29360744

Opposing roles for Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 in hindbrain oligodendrocyte patterning.

PubMed

Miguez, Andrés; Ducret, Sébastien; Di Meglio, Thomas; Parras, Carlos; Hmidan, Hatem; Haton, Céline; Sekizar, Sowmya; Mannioui, Abdelkrim; Vidal, Marie; Kerever, Aurélien; Nyabi, Omar; Haigh, Jody; Zalc, Bernard; Rijli, Filippo M; Thomas, Jean-Léon

2012-11-28

Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells of the vertebrate CNS. Little is known about the molecular control of region-specific oligodendrocyte development. Here, we show that oligodendrogenesis in the mouse rostral hindbrain, which is organized in a metameric series of rhombomere-derived (rd) territories, follows a rhombomere-specific pattern, with extensive production of oligodendrocytes in the pontine territory (r4d) and delayed and reduced oligodendrocyte production in the prepontine region (r2d, r3d). We demonstrate that segmental organization of oligodendrocytes is controlled by Hox genes, namely Hoxa2 and Hoxb2. Specifically, Hoxa2 loss of function induced a dorsoventral enlargement of the Olig2/Nkx2.2-expressing oligodendrocyte progenitor domain, whereas conditional Hoxa2 overexpression in the Olig2(+) domain inhibited oligodendrogenesis throughout the brain. In contrast, Hoxb2 deletion resulted in a reduction of the pontine oligodendrogenic domain. Compound Hoxa2(-/-)/Hoxb2(-/-) mutant mice displayed the phenotype of Hoxb2(-/-) mutants in territories coexpressing Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 (rd3, rd4), indicating that Hoxb2 antagonizes Hoxa2 during rostral hindbrain oligodendrogenesis. This study provides the first in vivo evidence that Hox genes determine oligodendrocyte regional identity in the mammalian brain.

Autonomous and nonautonomous regulation of axis formation by antagonistic signaling via 7-span cAMP receptors and GSK3 in Dictyostelium.

PubMed

Ginsburg, G T; Kimmel, A R

1997-08-15

Early during Dictyostelium development a fundamental cell-fate decision establishes the anteroposterior (prestalk/prespore) axis. Signaling via the 7-transmembrane cAMP receptor CAR4 is essential for creating and maintaining a normal pattern; car4-null alleles have decreased levels of prestalk-specific mRNAs but enhanced expression of prespore genes. car4- cells produce all of the signals required for prestalk differentiation but lack an extracellular factor necessary for prespore differentiation of wild-type cells. This secreted factor decreases the sensitivity of prespore cells to inhibition by the prestalk morphogen DIF-1. At the cell autonomous level, CAR4 is linked to intracellular circuits that activate prestalk but inhibit prespore differentiation. The autonomous action of CAR4 is antagonistic to the positive intracellular signals mediated by another cAMP receptor, CAR1 and/or CAR3. Additional data indicate that these CAR-mediated pathways converge at the serine/threonine protein kinase GSK3, suggesting that the anterior (prestalk)/posterior (prespore) axis of Dictyostelium is regulated by an ancient mechanism that is shared by the Wnt/Fz circuits for dorsoventral patterning during early Xenopus development and establishing Drosophila segment polarity.

Inventory of Materials to be Used in Explosive Effects Mitigating Structures (Inventarisatie van materialen te gebruiken in constructies ter afscherming van explosie-effecten)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-11-01

F +31 15 284 39 91 info-DenV@tno.nl TNO-rapportnummer TNO-DV 2008 A357 Opdrachtnummer Datum november 2008 Auteur (s) ir. O.C. van der Jagt...een keramisch materiaal (ZrSiO.*). TNO-rapport | TNO-DV 2008 A357 32/44 K, 04 035 0.3 0 25 02 0 15 01 005 0 O a 0 X A • • Theory ...47] Molinari. A., et al., Modeling plastic shocks in periodic laminates with gradient plasticity theories . Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of

A multidisciplinary approach to describe protists: a morphological, ultrastructural, and molecular study on Peritromus kahli Villeneuve-Brachon, 1940 (Ciliophora, Heterotrichea).

PubMed

Rosati, Giovanna; Modeo, Letizia; Melai, Michele; Petroni, Giulio; Verni, Franco

2004-01-01

This study represents the first extended report on a species of the ciliate genus Peritromus, widespread in marine biotopes, characterized by a dorso-ventral differentiation peculiar among Heterotrichea. Morphological observations (live, stained, scanning, and transmission electron microscope) were combined with behavioral and molecular data. On the basis of the whole body of observations, the species was recognized as Peritromus kahli. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy have revealed a number of features such as peculiar chalice-like structures external to the dorsal surface, two types of extrusomes, and differences between dorsal and ventral somatic ciliature. The almost complete SSrDNA gene sequence was also determined. A molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that Peritromus diverged early from other members of the Class Heterotrichea. The dorso-ventral differentiation that certainly influences the behavior of P. kahli (e.g. preference for crawling and thigmotaxis) may have been selected as an adaptation to the constraints of the interstitial habitat.

Lateral prefrontal cortex is organized into parallel dorsal and ventral streams along the rostro-caudal axis.

PubMed

Blumenfeld, Robert S; Nomura, Emi M; Gratton, Caterina; D'Esposito, Mark

2013-10-01

Anatomical connectivity differences between the dorsal and ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the non-human primate strongly suggests that these regions support different functions. However, after years of study, it remains unclear whether these regions are functionally distinct. In contrast, there has been a groundswell of recent studies providing evidence for a rostro-caudal functional organization, along the lateral as well as dorsomedial frontal cortex. Thus, it is not known whether dorsal and ventral regions of lateral PFC form distinct functional networks and how to reconcile any dorso-ventral organization with the medio-lateral and rostro-caudal axes. Here, we used resting-state connectivity data to identify parallel dorsolateral and ventrolateral streams of intrinsic connectivity with the dorsomedial frontal cortex. Moreover, we show that this connectivity follows a rostro-caudal gradient. Our results provide evidence for a novel framework for the intrinsic organization of the frontal cortex that incorporates connections between medio-lateral, dorso-ventral, and rostro-caudal axes.

[Comparison of dorso-lateral and dorso-ventral stabilization procedures in the treatment of vertebral fractures].

PubMed

Bertram, R; Bessem, H; Diedrich, O; Wagner, U; Schmitt, O

2003-01-01

The radiological and clinical outcome of surgical treated thoracolumbal fractures were followed up after 6.7 years. The study encompassed 97 patients. The degrees of the bony deformation and the local kyphosis were measured on the lateral view X-ray at 4 different time points: post trauma, after the operation, before implant removal and at the follow up examination. The clinical outcome was evaluated by the Oswestry score. 74 fractures were treated with a fixateur intern and a dorsal fusion by apposition of autologous bone postero-laterally. 23 fractures were fused in a combined dorso-ventral manner by intervertebral fusion with tricortical autologous bone. The lateral X-rays showed a loss of correction up to 48 % in the dorsal fused group and 10 % loss of correction in the combined group. The local kyphosis increased up to 84 % in the dorsal operated group due to degeneration of the injured disk. The clinical Oswestry score showed no significant difference in both groups. The additional ventral surgery should be evaluated carefully.

The zebrafish dorsal axis is apparent at the four-cell stage.

PubMed

Gore, Aniket V; Maegawa, Shingo; Cheong, Albert; Gilligan, Patrick C; Weinberg, Eric S; Sampath, Karuna

2005-12-15

A central question in the development of multicellular organisms pertains to the timing and mechanisms of specification of the embryonic axes. In many organisms, specification of the dorsoventral axis requires signalling by proteins of the Transforming growth factor-beta and Wnt families. Here we show that maternal transcripts of the zebrafish Nodal-related morphogen, Squint (Sqt), can localize to two blastomeres at the four-cell stage and predict the dorsal axis. Removal of cells containing sqt transcripts from four-to-eight-cell embryos or injection of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides targeting sqt into oocytes can cause a loss of dorsal structures. Localization of sqt transcripts is independent of maternal Wnt pathway function and requires a highly conserved sequence in the 3' untranslated region. Thus, the dorsoventral axis is apparent by early cleavage stages and may require the maternally encoded morphogen Sqt and its associated factors. Because the 3' untranslated region of the human nodal gene can also localize exogenous sequences to dorsal cells, this mechanism may be evolutionarily conserved.

The interplay of stiffness and force anisotropies drives embryo elongation

PubMed Central

Vuong-Brender, Thanh Thi Kim; Ben Amar, Martine; Pontabry, Julien; Labouesse, Michel

2017-01-01

The morphogenesis of tissues, like the deformation of an object, results from the interplay between their material properties and the mechanical forces exerted on them. The importance of mechanical forces in influencing cell behaviour is widely recognized, whereas the importance of tissue material properties, in particular stiffness, has received much less attention. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, we examine how both aspects contribute to embryonic elongation. Measuring the opening shape of the epidermal actin cortex after laser nano-ablation, we assess the spatiotemporal changes of actomyosin-dependent force and stiffness along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axis. Experimental data and analytical modelling show that myosin-II-dependent force anisotropy within the lateral epidermis, and stiffness anisotropy within the fiber-reinforced dorso-ventral epidermis are critical in driving embryonic elongation. Together, our results establish a quantitative link between cortical tension, material properties and morphogenesis of an entire embryo. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23866.001 PMID:28181905

Photoacclimation of Prochlorococcus sp. (Prochlorophyta) Strains Isolated from the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.

PubMed Central

Partensky, F.; Hoepffner, N.; Li, WKW.; Ulloa, O.; Vaulot, D.

1993-01-01

Two Atlantic (SARG and NATL1) strains and one Mediterranean (MED) strain of Prochlorococcus sp., a recently discovered marine, free-living prochlorophyte, were grown over a range of "white" irradiances (lg) and under low blue light to examine their photoacclimation capacity. All three strains contained divinyl (DV) chlorophylls (Chl) a and b, both distinguishable from "normal" Chls by their red-shifted blue absorption maximum, a Chl c-like pigment at low concentration, zeaxanthin, and [alpha]-carotene. The presence of two phaeophytin b peaks in acidified extracts from both Atlantic strains grown at high lg suggests that these strains also had a normal Chl b-like pigment. In these strains, the total Chl b to DV-Chl a molar ratio decreased from about 1 at 7.5 [mu]mol quanta m-2 s-1 to 0.4 to 0.5 at 133 [mu]mol quanta m-2 s-1. In contrast, the MED strain always had a low DV-Chl b to DV-Chl a molar ratio, ranging between 0.13 at low lg and 0.08 at high lg. The discrepancies between the Atlantic and MED strains could result from differences either in the number of light-harvesting complexes (LHC) II per photosystem II or in the Chl b-binding capacity of the apoproteins constituting LHC II. Photosynthesis was saturated at approximately 5 fg C(fg Chl)-1 h-1 or 6 fg C cell-1 h-1, and growth was saturated at approximately 0.45 d-1 for both MED and SARG strains at 18[deg]C, but saturating irradiances differed between strains. Atlantic strains exhibited increased light-saturated rates and quantum yield for carbon fixation under blue light. PMID:12231684

Domestic violence in a UK abortion clinic: anonymous cross-sectional prevalence survey.

PubMed

Motta, Silvia; Penn-Kekana, Loveday; Bewley, Susan

2015-04-01

To measure the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) experienced by women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in a UK abortion clinic. A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey of all women aged over 16 years accessing a TOP clinic in inner London between 20 May 2012 and 2 July 2012. The main outcome measures were: distribution of questionnaires, response rate, lifetime prevalence of abuse, past-year prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, prevalence of physical abuse during current pregnancy, relationship of lifetime abuse to number of terminations, and receptivity to DV services. Questionnaires were distributed to 46% (383/828) of women accessing the clinic. Response rate was 50% (190/383). Lifetime prevalence of abuse was 16%. Past-year prevalence of physical abuse was 11% and sexual abuse was 4%. Prevalence of physical abuse during the current pregnancy was 4%. Prevalence of lifetime abuse was lower in women having a first termination (12%) versus one (20%) or two or more previous terminations (24%), although this was not statistically significant (p=0.192). The majority (75%) of participants expressing an opinion on the possibility of having a support service for DV in the abortion clinic setting were positive, unrelated to their personal experience, but some concerns were raised about implementation. In order to provide effective support for women, services require a needs assessment of their local population. Asking women presenting for abortion about DV, even anonymously, is challenging but feasible. Future work should be directed to women's unmet safety needs. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Investigating the control of Listeria monocytogenes on a ready-to-eat ham product using natural antimicrobial ingredients and postlethality interventions.

PubMed

Lavieri, Nicolas A; Sebranek, Joseph G; Brehm-Stecher, Byron F; Cordray, Joseph C; Dickson, James S; Horsch, Ashley M; Jung, Stephanie; Larson, Elaine M; Manu, David K; Mendonça, Aubrey F

2014-06-01

Ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products manufactured with natural or organic methods are at greater risk for Listeria monocytogenes growth, if contaminated, than their conventional counterparts due to the required absence of preservatives and antimicrobials. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the use of commercially available natural antimicrobials and postlethality interventions in the control of L. monocytogenes growth and recovery on a RTE ham product. Antimicrobials evaluated were cranberry powder (90MX), vinegar (DV), and vinegar/lemon juice concentrate (LV1X). Postlethality interventions studied were high hydrostatic pressure at 400 (HHP400) or 600 (HHP600) MPa, lauric arginate (LAE), octanoic acid (OA), and postpackaging thermal treatment (PPTT). Parameters evaluated through 98 days of storage at 4±1°C were residual nitrite concentrations, pH, a(w), and viable L. monocytogenes on modified Oxford (MOX) media. On day 1, OA, 90MX, DV, and LV1X yielded lower residual nitrite concentrations than the control, whereas HHP400, HHP600, and LAE did not. LAE, HHP400, and OA reduced L. monocytogenes population compared to the control after 1 day of storage by 2.38, 2.21, and 1.73 log10 colony-forming units per gram, respectively. PPTT did not achieve a significant reduction in L. monocytogenes populations. L. monocytogenes recovered and grew in all postlethality intervention treatments except HHP600. 90MX did not inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes, while DV and LV1X did. Results of this study demonstrate the bactericidal properties of HHP, OA, and LAE and the bacteriostatic potential of natural antimicrobial ingredients such as DV and LV1X against L. monocytogenes.

Cultural Competence Training for Law Enforcement Responding to Domestic Violence Emergencies With the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation.

PubMed

Engelman, Alina; Deardorff, Julianna

2016-03-01

To evaluate a training workshop for law enforcement as first responders for the purpose of increasing officers' cultural competency in working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people (Deaf/HH) during domestic violence (DV) emergencies. This evaluation assesses the efficacy of a 2-hour training workshop for law enforcement. Thirty-four participants completed questionnaires at pre- and postintervention to assess participants' (1) satisfaction with training; (2) skills in responding to Deaf/HH individual(s) in a DV emergency; (3) attitudes toward the Deaf/HH, including bias recognition, self-assessment of cultural competency, and perceived self-efficacy; and (4) knowledge of communication. Focus groups (FGs) were also conducted (n = 6 for FG1, n = 13 for FG2). SPSS software was used to analyze survey data; principal components analysis was conducted on the survey instruments. There were significant differences between pre- and posttests for several targeted outcomes, including knowledge and perceived self-efficacy. Both survey and FG results demonstrated that participants gained cultural competency skills as indicated by changes in attitudes toward the Deaf/HH, both in DV emergencies and in large-scale emergencies. Significant differences were evident between pre and posttest results in terms of knowledge and perceived self-efficacy. Nonetheless, survey participants demonstrated a lack of knowledge about policy and the law. Survey findings also suggest that while a onetime training can improve the perceived self-efficacy of participants, shifting attitudes about the capabilities of the Deaf/HH may require different training strategies. FG participants demonstrated a greater awareness of the complexity of working with this population in a DV emergency. © 2015 Society for Public Health Education.

[Ethical analysis and commentary of Dignitas Personae document: from continuity toward the innovation].

PubMed

Pastor, Luis Miguel

2011-01-01

In 2008 [corrected] the Catholic Church published a document entitled Dignitas Personae (DP) about a range of bioethical issues related to the areas of assisted reproduction and human genetics. The objective of this paper is analyzing the issues treated in the same and comments the novelty of his arguments in the bioethical thinking of the Catholic Church. DP document has an introduction, three parts and a conclusion. The publication of document is due to recent advances that have occurred in recent years in the two areas mentioned above. This advances were not analyzed in a previously document called Donum Vitae (DV). DP analyzes these new advances from the anthropological and ethical approaches of DV. Not intending to contradict DV, the DP applies the arguments of DV to new situations. In both the title and elsewhere in the text it is affirmed that the human embryo has the dignity of human person. From this principle DP analyzes issues such as the status of the human embryo, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, (ICSI), preimplantation diagnosis, embryo cryopreservation, contragestion, embryo reduction etc. In these matters, as in the questions such as human genetics, cloning, gene therapy or the use of biological material obtained from abortions, the document reaffirms previous ideas of the Catholic Church, applies them to new problems or develops new arguments that will require further reflection. In conclusion, the document is very useful for understanding the current bioethical thinking of the Catholic Church on these issues; it clarifies certain disputes, suggesting new arguments, and leaves other issues to free discussion and subsequent interventions of the Catholic Magisterium. Finally, the document reaffirms the commitment of the Catholic Church to the poor of our techno-scientific society, the proletariat of the new century: human embryos.

De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Analyses of Gene Expression during Photomorphogenesis in Diploid Wheat Triticum monococcum

PubMed Central

Naithani, Sushma; Sullivan, Chris; Preece, Justin; Tiwari, Vijay K.; Elser, Justin; Leonard, Jeffrey M.; Sage, Abigail; Gresham, Cathy; Kerhornou, Arnaud; Bolser, Dan; McCarthy, Fiona; Kersey, Paul; Lazo, Gerard R.; Jaiswal, Pankaj

2014-01-01

Background Triticum monococcum (2n) is a close ancestor of T. urartu, the A-genome progenitor of cultivated hexaploid wheat, and is therefore a useful model for the study of components regulating photomorphogenesis in diploid wheat. In order to develop genetic and genomic resources for such a study, we constructed genome-wide transcriptomes of two Triticum monococcum subspecies, the wild winter wheat T. monococcum ssp. aegilopoides (accession G3116) and the domesticated spring wheat T. monococcum ssp. monococcum (accession DV92) by generating de novo assemblies of RNA-Seq data derived from both etiolated and green seedlings. Principal Findings The de novo transcriptome assemblies of DV92 and G3116 represent 120,911 and 117,969 transcripts, respectively. We successfully mapped ∼90% of these transcripts from each accession to barley and ∼95% of the transcripts to T. urartu genomes. However, only ∼77% transcripts mapped to the annotated barley genes and ∼85% transcripts mapped to the annotated T. urartu genes. Differential gene expression analyses revealed 22% more light up-regulated and 35% more light down-regulated transcripts in the G3116 transcriptome compared to DV92. The DV92 and G3116 mRNA sequence reads aligned against the reference barley genome led to the identification of ∼500,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and ∼22,000 simple sequence repeat (SSR) sites. Conclusions De novo transcriptome assemblies of two accessions of the diploid wheat T. monococcum provide new empirical transcriptome references for improving Triticeae genome annotations, and insights into transcriptional programming during photomorphogenesis. The SNP and SSR sites identified in our analysis provide additional resources for the development of molecular markers. PMID:24821410

Domestic violence and its impact on married women's health in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Afifi, Zeinab Emam M; Al-Muhaideb, Nouriah S; Hadish, Nina F; Ismail, Faten I; Al-Qeamy, Fatema M

2011-06-01

To identify the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in Al-Ahsa, and its impact on married women's health. This study is a community-based cross-sectional survey conducted from January to June 2010 in Al-Ahsa oasis in the Eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It included 2000 ever-married women, 15-60 years old, and selected by a 2-stage proportionate cluster random sample. Data was gathered through structured interviews. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 15. The prevalence of lifetime DV was 39.3%, 35.9% for mental, 17.9% for physical, and 6.9% for sexual violence. Lower rates of recent (within one month prior to the interview) violence were encountered, that is: overall (32.7%); mental (29.1%); physical (22.8%); and sexual (11.8%). Eleven percent of women were beaten, and 7% were kicked on the abdomen during pregnancy. Lifetime violence was significantly associated with perceived bad general health, disease, abortion, hemorrhage, and body mass index. Recent violence increased the number of doctor visits, and the odds of feeling dizzy (OR=1.93), vaginal bleeding (OR=1.83), movement and activity problems, pain, taking drugs (OR=1.95), and stress significantly during the last 4 weeks before the interview. A large proportion of women tolerated violence without seeking help (41.4%). Common reactions included complaining to own family, treating the perpetrator violently, and complaining to a friend. We found that DV is prevalent in Al-Ahsa. We recommend awareness programs aiming at educating current and future couples, and proper training of health care providers in assisting the cases of DV.

Double-stranded-RNA-specific adenosine deaminase 1 (ADAR1) is proposed to contribute to the adaptation of equine infectious anemia virus from horses to donkeys.

PubMed

Tang, Yan-Dong; Zhang, Xiang; Na, Lei; Wang, Xue-Feng; Fu, Li-Hua; Zhu, Chun-Hui; Wang, Xiaojun; Zhou, Jian-Hua

2016-10-01

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a member of the genus Lentivirus of the family Retroviridae. Horses are the most susceptible equids to EIAV infection and are therefore the primary hosts of this virus. In contrast, infected donkeys do not develop clinically active equine infectious anemia (EIA). This phenomenon is similar to what has been observed with HIV-1, which fails to induce AIDS in non-human primates. Interestingly, Shen et al. developed a donkey-tropic pathogenic virus strain (EIAVDV117, DV117) by serially passaging a horse-tropic pathogenic strain, EIAVLN40 (LN40), in donkeys. LN40, which was generated by passaging a field isolate in horses, displayed enhanced virulence in horses but caused no clinical symptoms in donkeys. Infection with DV117 induced acute EIA in nearly 100 % of donkeys. Genomic analysis of DV117 revealed a significantly higher frequency of A-to-G substitutions when compared to LN40. Furthermore, detailed analysis of dinucleotide editing showed that A-to-G mutations had a preference for 5'TpA and 5'ApA. These results strongly implicated the activity of the adenosine deaminase, ADAR1, in this type of mutation. Further investigation demonstrated that overexpression of donkey ADAR1 increased A-to-G mutations within the genome of EIAV. Together with our previous finding that multiple mutations in multiple genes are generated in DV117 during its adaptation from horses to donkeys, the present study suggests that ADAR1-induced A-to-G mutations occur during virus adaption to related new hosts contributing to the alteration of EIAV host tropism.

Aquatic fate of a double-stranded RNA in a sediment---water system following an over-water application.

PubMed

Fischer, Joshua R; Zapata, Fatima; Dubelman, Samuel; Mueller, Geoffrey M; Uffman, Joshua P; Jiang, Changjian; Jensen, Peter D; Levine, Steven L

2017-03-01

Determining the rate of biodegradation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the environment is an essential element of a comprehensive risk assessment of an RNA-based agricultural product. This information is used during problem formulation to define relevant routes and durations of environmental exposure for in planta-expressed dsRNA. Although exposure to biotechnology-derived crops expressing dsRNA traits in the aquatic environment is predicted to be minimal, little is known regarding the fate of dsRNA in these environments. To assess exposure to aquatic environments, a study was conducted to measure the rate of biodegradation of DvSnf7 dsRNA in aerobic water-sediment systems. Aquatic systems containing natural water and sediments that varied in physical and chemical characteristics were treated with dsRNA by applying DvSnf7 dsRNA directly to the water column. In the present study, DvSnf7 dsRNA dissipated rapidly from the water phase and was undetectable within 7 d as measured by QuantiGene (Affymetrix) and a sensitive insect bioassay in these diverse systems. Degradation kinetics estimated a half-life (time to 50% dissipation [DT50]) of less than 3 d and a time to 90% dissipation of approximately 4 d. Further analysis indicated that DvSnf7 dsRNA had DT50 values of less than 6 d in both sediment-free systems containing natural water and systems with only sediment. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that dsRNA-based agricultural products rapidly degrade and consequently are unlikely to persist in aquatic environments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:727-734. © 2016 SETAC. © 2016 SETAC.

The effect of change in body mass index on volumetric measures of mammographic density

PubMed Central

Hart, Vicki; Reeves, Katherine W.; Sturgeon, Susan R.; Reich, Nicholas G.; Sievert, Lynnette Leidy; Kerlikowske, Karla; Ma, Lin; Shepherd, John; Tice, Jeffrey A.; Mahmoudzadeh, Amir Pasha; Malkov, Serghei; Sprague, Brian L.

2015-01-01

Background Understanding how changes in body mass index (BMI) relate to changes in mammographic density is necessary to evaluate adjustment for BMI gain/loss in studies of change in density and breast cancer risk. Increase in BMI has been associated with a decrease in percent density, but the effect on change in absolute dense area or volume is unclear. Methods We examined the association between change in BMI and change in volumetric breast density among 24,556 women in the San Francisco Mammography Registry from 2007-2013. Height and weight were self-reported at the time of mammography. Breast density was assessed using single x-ray absorptiometry measurements. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between BMI and dense volume (DV), non-dense volume (NDV) and percent dense volume (PDV) were assessed using multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for demographics, risk factors, and reproductive history. Results In cross-sectional analysis, BMI was positively associated with DV (β=2.95 cm3, 95% CI 2.69, 3.21) and inversely associated with PDV (β=-2.03%, 95% CI -2.09, -1.98). In contrast, increasing BMI was longitudinally associated with a decrease in both DV (β=-1.01 cm3, 95% CI -1.59, -0.42) and PDV (β=-1.17%, 95% CI -1.31, -1.04). These findings were consistent for both pre- and postmenopausal women. Conclusion Our findings support an inverse association between change in BMI and change in PDV. The association between increasing BMI and decreasing DV requires confirmation. Impact Longitudinal studies of PDV and breast cancer risk, or those using PDV as an indicator of breast cancer risk, should evaluate adjustment for change in BMI. PMID:26315554

Emissions of particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Fu Gui-shan Tunnel of Nanjing, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Fei; Hu, Wei; Zhong, Qin

2013-04-01

Real-world vehicle emission factors for PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm) and particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from mixed vehicles were quantified in the Fu Gui-shan Tunnel of Nanjing during summer and winter of 2010. Concentrations of PM10 and sixteen particle phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the entrance and exit of the tunnel were studied. The results showed that the four most abundant particular phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of motor vehicle were benzo[ghi]perylene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benz[a]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene. The emission factors for PM10 and particle-phase PAHs were 687 mg veh- 1 km- 1 and 18.853 mg veh- 1 km- 1 in summer, 714 mg veh- 1 km- 1 and 20.374 mg veh- 1 km- 1 in winter. Higher particle-phase PAH emission factors were found to be associated with a high proportion of diesel-fueled vehicles (DV). The estimated PM10 emission factor of gasoline-fueled vehicles (GV) was 513 mg veh- 1 km- 1 and the value for DV was 914 mg veh- 1 km- 1, while EFDV of particulate PAH (31.290 mg veh- 1 km- 1) was nearly 4 times higher than EFGV (9.310 mg veh- 1 km- 1). The five highest emission factors of diesel-fueled vehicles (DV) were benzo[ghi]perylene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene, which was similarly found in the gasoline-fueled vehicles (GV). The sum of these five emission factors accounted for ~ 69% of the total particle-phase PAH of DV and ~ 67% of GV.

Examining the role of common genetic variants on alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and illicit drug dependence

PubMed Central

Palmer, RHC; Brick, L; Nugent, NR; Bidwell, LC; McGeary, JE; Knopik, VS; Keller, MC

2014-01-01

Background and Aims Twin and family studies suggest that genetic influences are shared across substances of abuse. However, despite evidence of heritability, genome-wide association and candidate gene studies have indicated numerous markers of limited effects, suggesting that much of the heritability remains missing. We estimated (1) the aggregate effect of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on multiple indicators of comorbid drug problems that are typically employed across community and population-based samples, and (2) the genetic covariance across these measures. Participants 2596 unrelated subjects from the “Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment” provided information on alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, cannabis, and other illicit substance dependence. Phenotypic measures included: (1) a factor score based on DSM-IV drug dependence diagnoses (DD), (2) a factor score based on problem use (PU; i.e., 1+ DSM-IV symptoms), and (3) dependence vulnerability (DV; a ratio of DSM-IV symptoms to the number of substances used). Findings Univariate and bivariate Genome-wide complex trait analyses of this selected sample indicated that common SNPs explained 25-36% of the variance across measures, with DD and DV having the largest effects [h2SNP (CI)=0.36 (0.11-0.62) and 0.33(0.07-0.58), respectively; PU = 0.25 (-0.01-0.51)]. Genetic effects were shared across the three phenotypic measures of comorbid drug problems (rSNP; rDD-PU = 0.92 (0.76-1.00), rDD-DV = 0.97 (0.87-1.00), and rPU-DV = 0.96 (0.82-1.00)). Conclusion At least 20% of the variance in the generalized vulnerability to substance dependence is attributable to common single nucleotide polymorphisms. The additive effect of common single nucleotide polymorphisms is shared across important indicators of comorbid drug problems. PMID:25424661

Experimental study of airflow characteristics of stratum ventilation in a multi-occupant room with comparison to mixing ventilation and displacement ventilation.

PubMed

Cheng, Y; Lin, Z

2015-12-01

The motivation of this study is stimulated by a lack of knowledge about the difference of airflow characteristics between a novel air distribution method [i.e., stratum ventilation (SV)] and conventional air distribution methods [i.e., mixing ventilation (MV) and displacement ventilation (DV)]. Detailed air velocity and temperature measurements were conducted in the occupied zone of a classroom with dimensions of 8.8 m (L) × 6.1 m (W) × 2.4 m (H). Turbulence intensity and power spectrum of velocity fluctuation were calculated using the measured data. Thermal comfort and cooling efficiency were also compared. The results show that in the occupied zone, the airflow characteristics among MV, DV, and SV are different. The turbulent airflow fluctuation is enhanced in this classroom with multiple thermal manikins due to thermal buoyancy and airflow mixing effect. Thermal comfort evaluations indicate that in comparison with MV and DV, a higher supply air temperature should be adopted for SV to achieve general thermal comfort with low draft risk. Comparison of the mean air temperatures in the occupied zone reveals that SV is of highest cooling efficiency, followed by DV and then MV. This study reports the unique profiles of flow, temperature, turbulence intensity, and power spectrum of stratum ventilation, which can have a number of implications for both knowledge and understanding of the flow characteristics in a stratum-ventilated room. With respect to the former, it expounds the fundamental characteristics of this air distribution method; and with respect to the latter, it reveals the mechanism of thermal comfort and energy saving under stratum ventilation. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of computational to human observer detection for evaluation of CT low dose iterative reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eck, Brendan; Fahmi, Rachid; Brown, Kevin M.; Raihani, Nilgoun; Wilson, David L.

2014-03-01

Model observers were created and compared to human observers for the detection of low contrast targets in computed tomography (CT) images reconstructed with an advanced, knowledge-based, iterative image reconstruction method for low x-ray dose imaging. A 5-channel Laguerre-Gauss Hotelling Observer (CHO) was used with internal noise added to the decision variable (DV) and/or channel outputs (CO). Models were defined by parameters: (k1) DV-noise with standard deviation (std) proportional to DV std; (k2) DV-noise with constant std; (k3) CO-noise with constant std across channels; and (k4) CO-noise in each channel with std proportional to CO variance. Four-alternative forced choice (4AFC) human observer studies were performed on sub-images extracted from phantom images with and without a "pin" target. Model parameters were estimated using maximum likelihood comparison to human probability correct (PC) data. PC in human and all model observers increased with dose, contrast, and size, and was much higher for advanced iterative reconstruction (IMR) as compared to filtered back projection (FBP). Detection in IMR was better than FPB at 1/3 dose, suggesting significant dose savings. Model(k1,k2,k3,k4) gave the best overall fit to humans across independent variables (dose, size, contrast, and reconstruction) at fixed display window. However Model(k1) performed better when considering model complexity using the Akaike information criterion. Model(k1) fit the extraordinary detectability difference between IMR and FBP, despite the different noise quality. It is anticipated that the model observer will predict results from iterative reconstruction methods having similar noise characteristics, enabling rapid comparison of methods.

Saccule contribution to immediate early gene induction in the gerbil brainstem with posterior canal galvanic or hypergravity stimulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshburn, T. H.; Kaufman, G. D.; Purcell, I. M.; Perachio, A. A.

1997-01-01

Immunolabeling patterns of the immediate early gene-related protein Fos in the gerbil brainstem were studied following stimulation of the sacculus by both hypergravity and galvanic stimulation. Head-restrained, alert animals were exposed to a prolonged (1 h) inertial vector of 2 G (19.6 m/s2) head acceleration directed in a dorso-ventral head axis to maximally stimulate the sacculus. Fos-defined immunoreactivity was quantified, and the results compared to a control group. The hypergravity stimulus produced Fos immunolabeling in the dorsomedial cell column (dmcc) of the inferior olive independently of other subnuclei. Similar dmcc labeling was induced by a 30 min galvanic stimulus of up to -100 microA applied through a stimulating electrode placed unilaterally on the bony labyrinth overlying the posterior canal (PC). The pattern of vestibular afferent firing activity induced by this galvanic stimulus was quantified in anesthetized gerbils by simultaneously recording from Scarpa's ganglion. Only saccular and PC afferent neurons exhibited increases in average firing rates of 200-300%, suggesting a pattern of current spread involving only PC and saccular afferent neurons at this level of stimulation. These results suggest that alteration in saccular afferent firing rates are sufficient to induce Fos-defined genomic activation of the dmcc, and lend further evidence to the existence of a functional vestibulo-olivary-cerebellar pathway of adaptation to novel gravito-inertial environments.

Afferent innervation patterns of the saccule in pigeons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zakir, M.; Huss, D.; Dickman, J. D.

2003-01-01

The innervation patterns of vestibular saccular afferents were quantitatively investigated in pigeons using biotinylated dextran amine as a neural tracer and three-dimensional computer reconstruction. Type I hair cells were found throughout a large portion of the macula, with the highest density observed in the striola. Type II hair cells were located throughout the macula, with the highest density in the extrastriola. Three classes of afferent innervation patterns were observed, including calyx, dimorph, and bouton units, with 137 afferents being anatomically reconstructed and used for quantitative comparisons. Calyx afferents were located primarily in the striola, innervated a number of type I hair cells, and had small innervation areas. Most calyx afferent terminal fields were oriented parallel to the anterior-posterior axis and the morphological polarization reversal line. Dimorph afferents were located throughout the macula, contained fewer type I hair cells in a calyceal terminal than calyx afferents and had medium sized innervation areas. Bouton afferents were restricted to the extrastriola, with multi-branching fibers and large innervation areas. Most of the dimorph and bouton afferents had innervation fields that were oriented dorso-ventrally but were parallel to the neighboring reversal line. The organizational morphology of the saccule was found to be distinctly different from that of the avian utricle or lagena otolith organs and appears to represent a receptor organ undergoing evolutionary adaptation toward sensing linear motion in terrestrial and aerial species.

Forelimb kinematics and motor patterns of swimming loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): are motor patterns conserved in the evolution of new locomotor strategies?

PubMed

Rivera, Angela R V; Wyneken, Jeanette; Blob, Richard W

2011-10-01

Novel functions in animals may evolve through changes in morphology, muscle activity or a combination of both. The idea that new functions or behavior can arise solely through changes in structure, without concurrent changes in the patterns of muscle activity that control movement of those structures, has been formalized as the neuromotor conservation hypothesis. In vertebrate locomotor systems, evidence for neuromotor conservation is found across evolutionary transitions in the behavior of terrestrial species, and in evolutionary transitions from terrestrial species to flying species. However, evolutionary transitions in the locomotion of aquatic species have received little comparable study to determine whether changes in morphology and muscle function were coordinated through the evolution of new locomotor behavior. To evaluate the potential for neuromotor conservation in an ancient aquatic system, we quantified forelimb kinematics and muscle activity during swimming in the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. Loggerhead forelimbs are hypertrophied into wing-like flippers that produce thrust via dorsoventral forelimb flapping. We compared kinematic and motor patterns from loggerheads with previous data from the red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta, a generalized freshwater species exhibiting unspecialized forelimb morphology and anteroposterior rowing motions during swimming. For some forelimb muscles, comparisons between C. caretta and T. scripta support neuromotor conservation; for example, the coracobrachialis and the latissimus dorsi show similar activation patterns. However, other muscles (deltoideus, pectoralis and triceps) do not show neuromotor conservation; for example, the deltoideus changes dramatically from a limb protractor/elevator in sliders to a joint stabilizer in loggerheads. Thus, during the evolution of flapping in sea turtles, drastic restructuring of the forelimb was accompanied by both conservation and evolutionary novelty in limb motor patterns.

Quantifying Parameter Sensitivity, Interaction and Transferability in Hydrologically Enhanced Versions of Noah-LSM over Transition Zones

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosero, Enrique; Yang, Zong-Liang; Wagener, Thorsten; Gulden, Lindsey E.; Yatheendradas, Soni; Niu, Guo-Yue

2009-01-01

We use sensitivity analysis to identify the parameters that are most responsible for shaping land surface model (LSM) simulations and to understand the complex interactions in three versions of the Noah LSM: the standard version (STD), a version enhanced with a simple groundwater module (GW), and version augmented by a dynamic phenology module (DV). We use warm season, high-frequency, near-surface states and turbulent fluxes collected over nine sites in the US Southern Great Plains. We quantify changes in the pattern of sensitive parameters, the amount and nature of the interaction between parameters, and the covariance structure of the distribution of behavioral parameter sets. Using Sobol s total and first-order sensitivity indexes, we show that very few parameters directly control the variance of the model output. Significant parameter interaction occurs so that not only the optimal parameter values differ between models, but the relationships between parameters change. GW decreases parameter interaction and appears to improve model realism, especially at wetter sites. DV increases parameter interaction and decreases identifiability, implying it is overparameterized and/or underconstrained. A case study at a wet site shows GW has two functional modes: one that mimics STD and a second in which GW improves model function by decoupling direct evaporation and baseflow. Unsupervised classification of the posterior distributions of behavioral parameter sets cannot group similar sites based solely on soil or vegetation type, helping to explain why transferability between sites and models is not straightforward. This evidence suggests a priori assignment of parameters should also consider climatic differences.

Dowry-related domestic violence and complex posttraumatic stress disorder: a case report.

PubMed

O'Connor, Manjula

2017-08-01

This paper draws attention to the mental health impact of coercive practice of dowry demands, associated with domestic violence (DV) in an immigrant woman. This study was based on a case report and selective literature review. This case history illustrates the serious mental health impacts of repeated emotional and physical trauma inflicted by a husband who was dissatisfied with his wife's dowry. Bio-psycho-social / cultural aspects of mental health treatments needed to be augmented with attention to safety, advocacy, and access to support networks. Cultural factors are important determinants of mental illness. Psychiatrists need to be aware of DV and dowry when treating immigrant women.

Uncertainty Modeling for Database Design using Intuitionistic and Rough Set Theory

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

Definition. An intuitionistic rough relation R is a sub- set of the set cross product P(D1)× P(D2) × · · ·× P( Dm )× Dµ.× Dv. For a specific relation, R...that aj ∈ dij for all j. The interpretation space is the cross product D1× D2 × · · ·× Dm × Dµ× Dv but is limited for a given re- lation R to the set...systems, Journal of Information Science 11 (1985), 77–87. [7] T. Beaubouef and F. Petry, Rough Querying of Crisp Data in Relational Databases, Third

Teaching Domestic Violence in the New Millennium: Intersectionality as a Framework for Social Change.

PubMed

McQueeney, Krista

2016-10-01

This article describes an intersectional approach to teaching about domestic violence (DV), which aims to empower students as critical thinkers and agents of change by merging theory, service learning, self-reflection, and activism. Three intersectional strategies and techniques for teaching about DV are discussed: promoting difference-consciousness, complicating gender-only power frameworks, and organizing for change. The author argues that to empower future generations to end violence, educators should put intersectionality into action through their use of scholarship, teaching methods, and pedagogical authority. Finally, the benefits and challenges of intersectional pedagogy for social justice education are considered. © The Author(s) 2016.

Non-isolated Resolving Sets of certain Graphs Cartesian Product with a Path

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasibuan, I. M.; Salman, A. N. M.; Saputro, S. W.

2018-04-01

Let G be a connected, simple, and finite graph. For an ordered subset W = {w 1 , w 2 , · · ·, wk } of vertices in a graph G and a vertex v of G, the metric representation of v with respect to W is the k-vector r(v|W ) = (d(v, w 1), d(v, w 2), · · ·, d(v, wk )). The set W is called a resolving set for G if every vertex of G has a distinct representation. The minimum cardinality of W is called the metric dimension of G, denoted by dim(G). If the induced subgraph < W> has no isolated vertices, then W is called a non-isolated resolving set. The minimum cardinality of non-isolated resolving set of G is called the non-isolated resolving number of G, denoted by nr(G). In this paper, we consider H\\square {P}n that is a graph obtained from Cartesian product between a connected graph H and a path Pn . We determine nr(H\\square {P}n), for some classes of H, including cycles, complete graphs, complete bipartite graphs, and friendship graphs.

Sizes of particles formed during municipal wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Lech, Smoczynski; Marta, Kosobucka; Michal, Smoczynski; Harsha, Ratnaweera; Krystyna, Pieczulis-Smoczynska

2017-02-01

Volumetric diameters Dv and specific surface area SpS of sludge particles formed during chemical coagulation and electrocoagulation of sewage were determined. The obtained aggregate-flocs differed substantially in both Dv and SpS values. The differences in Dv and SpS values of the analyzed particles were interpreted based on theoretical models for expanding aggregates. The most uniform particles were formed under exposure to: (a) optimal and maximal doses of PIX, (b) optimal doses of PAX, (c) maximal doses of the Al electro-coagulant. The lowest PIX dose produced the least uniform particles. Sludge aggregates-particles produced under exposure to minimal doses of PIX and the Al electro-coagulant were characterized by the lowest SpS values. Sludge particles coagulated by PAX and the particles formed at higher doses of PIX and the Al electro-coagulant had higher SpS values. The particles formed at all doses of the applied coagulants and electro-coagulants were generally classified into two size ranges: the main range and the secondary range. Most particles belonged to the main size range. An increase in the percentage of colloidal hydroxide particles in sewage sludge increased SpS.

Recycling food waste to clean water: the use of a biodigester's residual liquid inoculum (RLI) to decolourise textile azo dyes.

PubMed

Maganha de Almeida, A C; Backhaus, J; Corso, C R

2018-01-01

A residual liquid inoculum (RLI) was used to decolourise solutions of Acid Yellow 25 (AY25) and Direct Violet 51 (DV51) azo dyes. The RLI was obtained through anaerobic digestion of food waste from a university restaurant. The concentration of bacteria in the RLI was 8.45 × 10 7 CFU mL -1 . Dye solutions (50 μg mL -1 ) were inoculated with the RLI (20% v/v) and incubated at room temperature. The decolourisation studies took place at microaerophilic and in-batch conditions and at pH = 2.50. Initially, the dyes were taken up from solution by biosorption; maximum colour removal was achieved after 3 hours of incubation, with 88.66% for AY25 and 77.65% of DV51. At prolonged incubation times (3-96 hours) decolourisation was mainly attributed to biodegradation of the azo solutions, with breakage of the azo bond, as detected by UV-VIS spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. Analysis of UV-VIS absorption rates of dyes showed, however, that AY25 was more readily biodegradable whereas DV51 was more recalcitrant to the action of the RLI.

Local metric dimension of circulant graph c i r c (n :1 ,2 ,…,n/+1 2 )

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rimadhany, Ruzika; Darmaji

2017-08-01

Let G be a connected graph with two vertices u and v. The distance between u and v, denoted by d(u, v), is defined as length of the shortest path from u to v in G. For an ordered set W = {w1, w2, w3, … , wk} of k distinct vertices in a nontrivial connected graph G, the representation of a vertex v of V(G) respect to W is r(v|W) = (d(v, w1), d(v, w2), … , d(v, wk)). The set W is a resolving set of G if r(v|W) for each vertex v ∈ V(G) is distinct. A resolving set of minimum cardinality is a metric dimension and denoted by dim(G). The set W is a local resolving set of G if r(v|W) for every two adjacent vertices of V(G) is distinct. The minimum cardinality of local resolving set of G is a local metric dimension and denoted by ldim(G). In this research, we determine local metric dimension of circulant graph c i r c (n :1 ,2 ,3 ,…,n/+1 2 ) .

Development of Reduced-Order Models for Aeroelastic and Flutter Prediction Using the CFL3Dv6.0 Code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silva, Walter A.; Bartels, Robert E.

2002-01-01

A reduced-order model (ROM) is developed for aeroelastic analysis using the CFL3D version 6.0 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, recently developed at the NASA Langley Research Center. This latest version of the flow solver includes a deforming mesh capability, a modal structural definition for nonlinear aeroelastic analyses, and a parallelization capability that provides a significant increase in computational efficiency. Flutter results for the AGARD 445.6 Wing computed using CFL3D v6.0 are presented, including discussion of associated computational costs. Modal impulse responses of the unsteady aerodynamic system are then computed using the CFL3Dv6 code and transformed into state-space form. Important numerical issues associated with the computation of the impulse responses are presented. The unsteady aerodynamic state-space ROM is then combined with a state-space model of the structure to create an aeroelastic simulation using the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The MATLAB/SIMULINK ROM is used to rapidly compute aeroelastic transients including flutter. The ROM shows excellent agreement with the aeroelastic analyses computed using the CFL3Dv6.0 code directly.

Starvation-Survival in Haloarchaea.

PubMed

Winters, Yaicha D; Lowenstein, Tim K; Timofeeff, Michael N

2015-11-12

Recent studies claiming to revive ancient microorganisms trapped in fluid inclusions in halite have warranted an investigation of long-term microbial persistence. While starvation-survival is widely reported for bacteria, it is less well known for halophilic archaea-microorganisms likely to be trapped in ancient salt crystals. To better understand microbial survival in fluid inclusions in ancient evaporites, laboratory experiments were designed to simulate growth of halophilic archaea under media-rich conditions, complete nutrient deprivation, and a controlled substrate condition (glycerol-rich) and record their responses. Haloarchaea used for this work included Hbt. salinarum and isolate DV582A-1 (genus Haloterrigena) sub-cultured from 34 kyear Death Valley salt. Hbt. salinarum and DV582A-1 reacted to nutrient limitation with morphological and population changes. Starved populations increased and most cells converted from rods to small cocci within 56 days of nutrient deprivation. The exact timing of starvation adaptations and the physical transformations differed between species, populations of the same species, and cells of the same population. This is the first study to report the timing of starvation strategies for Hbt. salinarum and DV582A-1. The morphological states in these experiments may allow differentiation between cells trapped with adequate nutrients (represented here by early stages in nutrient-rich media) from cells trapped without nutrients (represented here by experimental starvation) in ancient salt. The hypothesis that glycerol, leaked from Dunaliella, provides nutrients for the survival of haloarchaea trapped in fluid inclusions in ancient halite, is also tested. Hbt. salinarum and DV582A-1 were exposed to a mixture of lysed and intact Dunaliella for 56 days. The ability of these organisms to utilize glycerol from Dunaliella cells was assessed by documenting population growth, cell length, and cell morphology. Hbt. salinarum and DV582A-1 experienced size reductions and shape transitions from rods to cocci. In the short-term, these trends more closely resembled the response of these organisms to starvation conditions than to nutrient-rich media. Results from this experiment reproduced the physical state of cells (small cocci) in ancient halite where prokaryotes co-exist with single-celled algae. We conclude that glycerol is not the limiting factor in the survival of haloarchaea for thousands of years in fluid inclusions in halite.

Puzzling with online games (BAM-COG): reliability, validity, and feasibility of an online self-monitor for cognitive performance in aging adults.

PubMed

Aalbers, Teun; Baars, Maria A E; Olde Rikkert, Marcel G M; Kessels, Roy P C

2013-12-03

Online interventions are aiming increasingly at cognitive outcome measures but so far no easy and fast self-monitors for cognition have been validated or proven reliable and feasible. This study examines a new instrument called the Brain Aging Monitor-Cognitive Assessment Battery (BAM-COG) for its alternate forms reliability, face and content validity, and convergent and divergent validity. Also, reference values are provided. The BAM-COG consists of four easily accessible, short, yet challenging puzzle games that have been developed to measure working memory ("Conveyer Belt"), visuospatial short-term memory ("Sunshine"), episodic recognition memory ("Viewpoint"), and planning ("Papyrinth"). A total of 641 participants were recruited for this study. Of these, 397 adults, 40 years and older (mean 54.9, SD 9.6), were eligible for analysis. Study participants played all games three times with 14 days in between sets. Face and content validity were based on expert opinion. Alternate forms reliability (AFR) was measured by comparing scores on different versions of the BAM-COG and expressed with an intraclass correlation (ICC: two-way mixed; consistency at 95%). Convergent validity (CV) was provided by comparing BAM-COG scores to gold-standard paper-and-pencil and computer-assisted cognitive assessment. Divergent validity (DV) was measured by comparing BAM-COG scores to the National Adult Reading Test IQ (NART-IQ) estimate. Both CV and DV are expressed as Spearman rho correlation coefficients. Three out of four games showed adequate results on AFR, CV, and DV measures. The games Conveyer Belt, Sunshine, and Papyrinth have AFR ICCs of .420, .426, and .645 respectively. Also, these games had good to very good CV correlations: rho=.577 (P=.001), rho=.669 (P<.001), and rho=.400 (P=.04), respectively. Last, as expected, DV correlations were low: rho=-.029 (P=.44), rho=-.029 (P=.45), and rho=-.134 (P=.28) respectively. The game Viewpoint provided less desirable results with an AFR ICC of .167, CV rho=.202 (P=.15), and DV rho=-.162 (P=.21). This study provides evidence for the use of the BAM-COG test battery as a feasible, reliable, and valid tool to monitor cognitive performance in healthy adults in an online setting. Three out of four games have good psychometric characteristics to measure working memory, visuospatial short-term memory, and planning capacity.

Influence of G-forces and hypodynamia on the portal system of the liver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drozdova, A. V.

1975-01-01

Longitudinally and transversely applied g-forces as intolerable levels cause damage to the interlobular veins of the liver, with maximum damage caused by dorso-ventral g-force application. The portal vein system is more resilient with respect to g-forces at the limit of tolerance.

Tricuspid valve repair with Dacron band versus DeVega or segmental annuloplasty. Hospital outcome and short term results.

PubMed

Abdelgawad, Ahmed; Ramadan, Mona; Arafat, Heba; Abdel Aziz, Ahmed

2017-12-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the hospital outcome and short term results of tricuspid valve (TV) repair with three repair techniques for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR), namely, flexible Dacron band, DeVega and segmental annuloplasty. A total of 60 patients underwent TV repair at National Heart Institute from January 2013 to November 2014, of which 20 had DeVega procedure (DV), 20 had a segmental annuloplasty (SA) procedure and 20 had a Dacron band (DB) procedure. Concomitant procedures done for rheumatic left sided valve pathology consisted of mitral valve replacement in 70% of patients, and double valve replacement in 30% of patients. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up data were obtained. Follow-up was 100% complete and was concluded after one year. All demographic criteria and preoperative characteristics of the three studied groups were comparable except for preoperative right ventricular (RVEDD) size that was significantly bigger in Dacron band group as compared to the other two groups (3.18 ± 0.43 cm compared to 3.00 ± 0.33 cm (DV) and to 2.88 ± 0.35 cm (SA), p value of (0.045)). Similarly, all operative and postoperative criteria were comparable among the study groups. Noticeably, (RVEDD) size remodeled better postoperatively in (DB) group as compared to the other two groups, (2.54 ± 0.26 cm compared to 2.83 ± 0.311 cm (DV) and to 2.72 ± 0.29 cm (SA), mean difference values were group (0.64 ± 0.47 cm) for (DB) compared to (0.18 ± 0.29 cm) for (DV) or to (0.16 ± 0.45 cm) for (SA) with p value of 0.000. The majority of patients in each group did not have tricuspid regurgitation (TR) or mild degree (+1) of (TR) on discharge. After one year of follow-up, most of the patient had either no regurgitation or grade (+1 TR). Two patients (10%) in DV group and one patient (5%) in SA group had (+3 TR). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of hospital mortality, only one patient died in DB and one in DV group (5%) and no death happened after hospital mortality for the three groups after one year. The three techniques are options to repair the tricuspid valve, however, placement of Dacron band in patients undergoing tricuspid valve repair is associated with better RV remodelling, and hence, a probable better right ventricular performance and better outcome of repair is expected. A higher number of patients are needed with longer follow up period to appreciate the effect on survival and rate of freedom from tricuspid regurgitation and re-intervention.

In vitro maturation of Drosophila melanogaster Spätzle protein with refolded Easter reveals a novel cleavage site within the prodomain.

PubMed

Ursel, Christian; Fandrich, Uwe; Hoffmann, Anita; Sieg, Torsten; Ihling, Christian; Stubbs, Milton T

2013-08-01

Dorsoventral patterning during Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis is mediated by a well-defined gradient of the mature NGF-like ligand Spätzle. Easter, the ultimate protease of a ventrally-restricted serine protease cascade, plays a key role in the regulation of the morphogenic gradient, catalyzing the activation cleavage of proSpätzle. As a result of alternative splicing, proSpätzle exists in multiple isoforms, almost all of which differ only in their prodomain. Although this domain is unstructured in isolation, it has a stabilizing influence on the mature cystine knot domain and is involved in the binding to the Toll receptor. Here, we report the expression and refolding of Easter, and show that the renatured enzyme performs the activation cleavage of two Spätzle isoforms. We determine the affinity of the prodomain for the cystine knot domain, and show that Easter performs a previously unknown secondary cleavage in each prodomain.

Rostro-caudal and dorso-ventral gradients in medial and lateral prefrontal cortex during cognitive control of affective and cognitive interference.

PubMed

Rahm, Christoffer; Liberg, Benny; Wiberg-Kristoffersen, Maria; Aspelin, Peter; Msghina, Mussie

2013-04-01

Characterizing the anatomical substrates of major brain functions such as cognition and emotion is of utmost importance to the ongoing efforts of understanding the nature of psychiatric ailments and their potential treatment. The aim of our study was to investigate how the brain handles affective and cognitive interferences on cognitive processes. Functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation was performed on healthy individuals, comparing the brain oxygenation level dependent activation patterns during affective and cognitive counting Stroop tasks. The affective Stroop task activated rostral parts of medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and rostral and ventral parts of lateral PFC, while cognitive Stroop activated caudal parts of medial PFC and caudal and dorsal parts of lateral PFC. Our findings suggest that the brain may handle affective and cognitive interference on cognitive processes differentially, with affective interference preferentially activating rostral and ventral PFC networks and cognitive interference activating caudal and dorsal PFC networks. © 2013 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology © 2013 The Scandinavian Psychological Associations.

Systems biology derived source-sink mechanism of BMP gradient formation

PubMed Central

Zinski, Joseph; Bu, Ye; Wang, Xu; Dou, Wei

2017-01-01

A morphogen gradient of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling patterns the dorsoventral embryonic axis of vertebrates and invertebrates. The prevailing view in vertebrates for BMP gradient formation is through a counter-gradient of BMP antagonists, often along with ligand shuttling to generate peak signaling levels. To delineate the mechanism in zebrafish, we precisely quantified the BMP activity gradient in wild-type and mutant embryos and combined these data with a mathematical model-based computational screen to test hypotheses for gradient formation. Our analysis ruled out a BMP shuttling mechanism and a bmp transcriptionally-informed gradient mechanism. Surprisingly, rather than supporting a counter-gradient mechanism, our analyses support a fourth model, a source-sink mechanism, which relies on a restricted BMP antagonist distribution acting as a sink that drives BMP flux dorsally and gradient formation. We measured Bmp2 diffusion and found that it supports the source-sink model, suggesting a new mechanism to shape BMP gradients during development. PMID:28826472

Systems biology derived source-sink mechanism of BMP gradient formation.

PubMed

Zinski, Joseph; Bu, Ye; Wang, Xu; Dou, Wei; Umulis, David; Mullins, Mary C

2017-08-09

A morphogen gradient of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling patterns the dorsoventral embryonic axis of vertebrates and invertebrates. The prevailing view in vertebrates for BMP gradient formation is through a counter-gradient of BMP antagonists, often along with ligand shuttling to generate peak signaling levels. To delineate the mechanism in zebrafish, we precisely quantified the BMP activity gradient in wild-type and mutant embryos and combined these data with a mathematical model-based computational screen to test hypotheses for gradient formation. Our analysis ruled out a BMP shuttling mechanism and a bmp transcriptionally-informed gradient mechanism. Surprisingly, rather than supporting a counter-gradient mechanism, our analyses support a fourth model, a source-sink mechanism, which relies on a restricted BMP antagonist distribution acting as a sink that drives BMP flux dorsally and gradient formation. We measured Bmp2 diffusion and found that it supports the source-sink model, suggesting a new mechanism to shape BMP gradients during development.

Developmental evidence for serial homology of the vertebrate jaw and gill arch skeleton

PubMed Central

Gillis, J. Andrew; Modrell, Melinda S.; Baker, Clare V. H.

2013-01-01

Gegenbaur’s classical hypothesis of jaw-gill arch serial homology is widely cited, but remains unsupported by either paleontological evidence (e.g. a series of fossils reflecting the stepwise transformation of a gill arch into a jaw) or developmental genetic data (e.g. shared molecular mechanisms underlying segment identity in the mandibular, hyoid and gill arch endoskeletons). Here we show that nested expression of Dlx genes – the “Dlx code” that specifies upper and lower jaw identity in mammals and teleosts – is a primitive feature of the mandibular, hyoid and gill arches of jawed vertebrates. Using fate-mapping techniques, we demonstrate that the principal dorsal and ventral endoskeletal segments of the jaw, hyoid and gill arches of the skate Leucoraja erinacea derive from molecularly equivalent mesenchymal domains of combinatorial Dlx gene expression. Our data suggest that vertebrate jaw, hyoid and gill arch cartilages are serially homologous, and were primitively patterned dorsoventrally by a common Dlx blueprint. PMID:23385581

Asymmetric distribution of hypoxia-inducible factor α regulates dorsoventral axis establishment in the early sea urchin embryo.

PubMed

Chang, Wei-Lun; Chang, Yi-Cheng; Lin, Kuan-Ting; Li, Han-Ru; Pai, Chih-Yu; Chen, Jen-Hao; Su, Yi-Hsien

2017-08-15

Hypoxia signaling is an ancient pathway by which animals can respond to low oxygen. Malfunction of this pathway disturbs hypoxic acclimation and can result in various diseases, including cancers. The role of hypoxia signaling in early embryogenesis remains unclear. Here, we show that in the blastula of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus , hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα), the downstream transcription factor of the hypoxia pathway, is localized and transcriptionally active on the future dorsal side. This asymmetric distribution is attributable to its oxygen-sensing ability. Manipulations of the HIFα level entrained the dorsoventral axis, as the side with the higher level of HIFα tends to develop into the dorsal side. Gene expression analyses revealed that HIFα restricts the expression of nodal to the ventral side and activates several genes encoding transcription factors on the dorsal side. We also observed that intrinsic hypoxic signals in the early embryos formed a gradient, which was disrupted under hypoxic conditions. Our results reveal an unprecedented role of the hypoxia pathway in animal development. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Living With and Within the Rules of Domestic Violence Shelters: A Qualitative Exploration of Residents' Experiences.

PubMed

Glenn, Catherine; Goodman, Lisa

2015-12-01

As emergency domestic violence (DV) shelters have proliferated, there has been an increase in rules that shelter residents must follow. This qualitative descriptive study explores intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors' experiences living with DV shelter rules. Five thematic clusters emerged from interviews with 11 survivors: (1) shelter environment/staff approach, (2) making sense of the rules, (3) staff enforcement of the rules, (4) short-term impact of the rules, and (5) coping. Results suggest that residents benefit from more flexible boundaries between staff and residents, less restrictive rules, and collaborative, transparent rule enforcement. Recommendations are made for shelter practice and future research. © The Author(s) 2015.

A Viscoelastic-Plastic Constitutive Model with a Finite Element Solution Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-06-01

where - r3 K f BT D B dv (4-15) • ,re E,,rae v ’,vp ,vp w F BT dv (4-17)A -vp -Vp 84 ii T In the above, K is the global viscoelastic stiffness matrix anl ...Code C4AA Port Hueneme. CA NAVSE ASYSCOM Code OOC (LT R. MacDougisl). Washington DC NAVSEC Code 6034 1 Library). Washington DC NAVSEC61RLACT PWO. Torni...ESEARCH CO LA HABRA, CA iBROOKSi 0ONCRFE It Il FCH-NoIOGY CORP. TACOMA. ’A At( ANL )ESONi ((tNRAI) ASSOC. Van NuNs CA iA. Luisonit I)RA Vt COR(P I’muitt

X-ray motion analysis of the vertebral column during the startle response in striped bass, Morone saxatilis.

PubMed

Nowroozi, B N; Brainerd, E L

2013-08-01

Whole-body stiffness has a substantial impact on propulsive wave speed during axial undulatory locomotion in fishes. The connective tissues of the vertebral column may contribute to body stiffness, but without mechanical and kinematic analysis it is unclear whether the in vivo range of motion of intervertebral joints (IVJs) is great enough to stress IVJ tissues, thus generating stiffness. The present study used 2D videoradiography and 3D X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology (XROMM) to quantify vertebral kinematics during the startle response in striped bass (Morone saxatilis). X-ray video revealed two distinct patterns of bending: pattern I begins in the abdominal region and then proceeds to maximum IVJ angles in the caudal region, whereas pattern II begins in the cervical region and proceeds to maximum IVJ angles in the abdominal and then the caudal joints. In pattern II bends, the cervical joints exhibit a greater in vivo range of motion than previously reported in other species. XROMM analysis of caudal IVJs suggests primarily lateral bending: mean axial and dorsoventral rotations were less than 2 deg and inconsistent across 51 sequences analyzed from five individuals, whereas mean maximum lateral bending angles were 10.4±3.57 deg. These angles, combined with previous investigations of mechanical properties, reveal that the maximum angles all occur within the neutral zone of bending, indicating that little stress is experienced about the joint. This suggests that the IVJs of striped bass are quite compliant and likely do not contribute significantly to whole-body stiffness or elastic recoil during swimming in vivo.

A resegmentation-shift model for vertebral patterning.

PubMed

Ward, Lizzy; Evans, Susan E; Stern, Claudio D

2017-02-01

Segmentation of the vertebrate body axis is established in the embryo by formation of somites, which give rise to the axial muscles (myotome) and vertebrae (sclerotome). To allow a muscle to attach to two successive vertebrae, the myotome and sclerotome must be repositioned by half a segment with respect to each other. Two main models have been put forward: 'resegmentation' proposes that each half-sclerotome joins with the half-sclerotome from the next adjacent somite to form a vertebra containing cells from two successive somites on each side of the midline. The second model postulates that a single vertebra is made from a single somite and that the sclerotome shifts with respect to the myotome. There is conflicting evidence for these models, and the possibility that the mechanism may vary along the vertebral column has not been considered. Here we use DiI and DiO to trace somite contributions to the vertebrae in different axial regions in the chick embryo. We demonstrate that vertebral bodies and neural arches form by resegmentation but that sclerotome cells shift in a region-specific manner according to their dorsoventral position within a segment. We propose a 'resegmentation-shift' model as the mechanism for amniote vertebral patterning. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.

Smoc2 modulates embryonic myelopoiesis during zebrafish development.

PubMed

Mommaerts, Hendrik; Esguerra, Camila V; Hartmann, Ursula; Luyten, Frank P; Tylzanowski, Przemko

2014-11-01

SMOC2 is a member of the BM-40 (SPARC) family of matricellular proteins, reported to influence signaling in the extracellular compartment. In mice, Smoc2 is expressed in many different tissues and was shown to enhance the response to angiogenic growth factors, mediate cell adhesion, keratinocyte migration, and metastasis. Additionally, SMOC2 is associated with vitiligo and craniofacial and dental defects. The function of Smoc2 during early zebrafish development has not been determined to date. In pregastrula zebrafish embryos, smoc2 is expressed ubiquitously. As development progresses, the expression pattern becomes more anteriorly restricted. At the onset of blood cell circulation, smoc2 morphants presented a mild ventralization of posterior structures. Molecular analysis of the smoc2 morphants indicated myelopoietic defects in the rostral blood islands during segmentation stages. Hemangioblast development and further specification of the myeloid progenitor cells were shown to be impaired. Additional experiments indicated that Bmp target genes were down-regulated in smoc2 morphants. Our findings reveal that Smoc2 is an essential player in the development of myeloid cells of the anterior lateral plate mesoderm during embryonic zebrafish development. Furthermore, our data show that Smoc2 affects the transcription of Bmp target genes without affecting initial dorsoventral patterning or mesoderm development. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Novel aspects of spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs) in the evaluation of dorso-ventral and lateral mechanical impacts on the spinal cord

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rad, Iman; Kouhzaei, Sogolie; Mobasheri, Hamid; Saberi, Hooshang

2015-02-01

Objectives. The aim of the current study was to mimic mechanical impacts on the spinal cord by manifesting the effects of dorsoventral (DVMP) and lateral (LMP) mechanical pressure on neural activity to address points to be considered during surgery for different purposes, including spinal cord decompression. Approaches. Spinal cords of anesthetized rats were compressed at T13. Different characteristics of axons, including vulnerability, excitability, and conduction velocity (CV), in response to promptness, severity, and duration of pressure were assessed by spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs). Real-time SCEPs recorded at L4-5 revealed N1, N2, and N3 peaks that were used to represent the activity of injured sensory afferents, interneurons, and MN fibers. The averaged SCEP recordings were fitted by trust-region algorithm to find the equivalent Gaussian and polynomial equations. Main results. The pyramidal and extrapyramidal pathways possessed CVs of 3-11 and 16-80 m s-1, respectively. DVMP decreased the excitability of myelinated neural fibers in antidromic and orthodromic pathways. The excitability of fibers in extrapyramidal and pyramidal pathways of lateral corticospinal (LCS) and anterior corticospinal (ACS) tracts decreased following LMP. A significant drop in the amplitude of N3 and its conduction velocity (CV) revealed higher susceptibility of less-myelinated fibers to both DVMP and LMP. The best parametric fitting model for triplet healthy spinal cord CAP was a six-term Gaussian equation (G6) that fell into a five-term equation (G5) at the complete compression stage. Significance. The spinal cord is more susceptible to dorsoventral than lateral mechanical pressures, and this should be considered in spinal cord operations. SCEPs have shown promising capabilities for evaluating the severity of SCI and thus can be applied for diagnostic or prognostic intraoperative monitoring (IOM).

A Comparison of the Structural Factors of the Propensity for Abusiveness Scale for Women and Men in a Domestic Violence Treatment Program.

PubMed

Allen, Christopher T; Swan, Suzanne C; Maas, Carl D; Barber, Sara

2015-08-01

Court-mandated domestic violence (DV) treatment programs across the country have seen a marked increase in female clients. These programs use a variety of measurement tools to assess the needs of their clients. Increased numbers of women in treatment for DV reflect a need to address the measurement of intimate partner violence (IPV) for both males and females. Unfortunately, the reliability and validity of many of measures used to assess IPV and related constructs for women remains unknown. The current study focuses on a particular measure, the Propensity for Abusiveness Scale (PAS). The PAS is not a measure of abusive behavior per se; rather, it assesses risk factors for abuse, including affective lability, anger expression, trauma symptoms, and harsh parenting experienced by the respondent. Specifically, the current study compares the factor structure and the measurement properties of the PAS for males and females in a sample of 885 (647 female, 238 male) participants in a DV treatment program. Findings indicate that the PAS demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance between the female and male samples. These results suggest that it is appropriate for researchers and clinicians to make comparisons between women and men based on PAS factor scores. © The Author(s) 2014.

A novel association of acquired ADAMTS13 inhibitor and acute dengue virus infection.

PubMed

Rossi, Fernanda C; Angerami, Rodrigo N; de Paula, Erich V; Orsi, Fernanda L; Shang, Dezhi; del Guercio, Vânia M; Resende, Mariângela R; Annichino-Bizzacchi, Joyce M; da Silva, Luiz J; Zheng, X Long; Castro, Vagner

2010-01-01

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease with an increasing incidence worldwide. Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in dengue virus (DV) infection; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here we provide the first evidence of a case of antibody formation against ADAMTS13 (ADAMTS13 inhibitor) in the course of a severe acute DV infection resulting in thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The patient presented with classical dengue symptoms (positive epidemiology, high fever, myalgia, predominantly in the lower limbs and lumbar region for 1 week) and, after 11 days of initial symptoms, developed TMA. Clinical and laboratorial investigation of dengue and TMA was performed. The patient presented with ADAMTS13 inhibitor (IgG) during the acute phase of the disease, without anti-platelet antibodies detectable. Dengue infection had laboratorial confirmation. There were excellent clinical and laboratory responses to 11 serial plasma exchanges. Anti-ADAMTS13 inhibitor disappeared after remission of TMA and dengue resolution. No recurrence of TMA symptoms was observed after 2-year follow-up. Although the real incidence of dengue-related TMA is unknown, this case provides the basis for future epidemiologic studies on acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency in DV infection. The prompt clinical recognition of this complication and early installment of specific therapy with plasma exchange are likely to improve the outcome of severe cases of dengue.

In vitro bioactivity investigations of Ti-15Mo alloy after electrochemical surface modification.

PubMed

Kazek-Kęsik, Alicja; Kuna, Karolina; Dec, Weronika; Widziołek, Magdalena; Tylko, Grzegorz; Osyczka, Anna M; Simka, Wojciech

2016-07-01

Titanium and its aluminum and vanadium-free alloys have especially great potential for medical applications. Electrochemical surface modification improves their surface bioactivity and stimulates osseointegration process. In this work, the effect of plasma electrolytic oxidation of the β-type alloy Ti-15Mo surface on its bioactivity is presented. Bioactivity of the modified alloy was investigated by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Biocompatibility of the modified alloys were tested using human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSC) and wild intestinal strains (DV/A, DV/B, DV/I/1) of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteria. The particles of apatite were formed on the anodized samples. Human BMSC cells adhered well on all the examined surfaces and expressed ALP, collagen, and produced mineralized matrix as determined after 10 and 21 days of culture. When the samples were inoculated with D. desulfuricans bacteria, only single bacteria were visible on selected samples. There were no obvious changes in surface morphology among samples. Colonization and bacterial biofilm formation was observed on as-ground sample. In conclusion, the surface modification improved the Ti-15Mo alloy bioactivity and biocompatibility and protected surface against colonization of the bacteria. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 903-913, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Criminal Protection Orders for Women Victims of Domestic Violence: Explicating Predictors of Level of Restrictions Among Orders Issued.

PubMed

Sullivan, Tami P; Weiss, Nicole H; Price, Carolina; Pugh, Nicole E

2017-10-01

Criminal protection orders (POs), with varying degrees of restrictions, are issued by the criminal justice system to enhance the safety of victims of domestic violence (DV). Limited research exists to elucidate factors associated with their issuance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how demographic, relationship, parenting, and court-process-related factors are related to the level of restriction the PO places on the offender. Two-hundred ninety-eight women who were victims in a criminal DV case ( M age 36.4, 50.0% African American) participated in a structured interview approximately 12 to 15 months following the offenders' arraignment. Results revealed that psychological DV severity and fear of the offender in the 30 days prior to arraignment significantly predicted PO level of restriction issued. In addition, level of restriction requested by the victim significantly predicted level of restriction issued by the judge (though closer examination of the data revealed that many orders were issued at a different level of restriction than the victim requested). Other demographic, relationship, parenting, and court-process-related factors did not predict PO level of restriction issued. Findings are discussed with respect to practice and policy in the criminal justice system.

Sea Star Wasting Disease in Asterias forbesi along the Atlantic Coast of North America

PubMed Central

Bucci, Caitlin; Francoeur, Madison; McGreal, Jillon; Smolowitz, Roxanna; Zazueta-Novoa, Vanesa; Wessel, Gary M.

2017-01-01

As keystone species, sea stars serve to maintain biodiversity and species distribution through trophic level interactions in marine ecosystems. Recently, Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) has caused widespread mass mortality in several sea star species from the Pacific Coast of the United States of America (USA) and Asterias forbesi on the Atlantic Coast. A densovirus, named Sea Star associated Densovirus (SSaDV), has been associated with the wasting disease in Pacific Coast sea stars, and limited samples of A. forbesi. The goal of this research is to examine the pathogenesis of SSWD in A. forbesi on the Atlantic Coast of the USA and to determine if SSaDV is associated with the wasting disease in this species. Histological examination of A. forbesi tissues affected with SSWD showed cuticle loss, vacuolation and necrosis of epidermal cells, and oedema of the dermis, but no consistent evidence indicating the cause of the lesions. Challenge experiments by cohabitation and immersion in infected water suggest that the cause of SSWD is viral in nature, as filtration (0.22 μm) of water from tanks with sea stars exhibiting SSWD did not prevent the transmission and progression of the disease. Death of challenged sea stars occurred 7–10 d after exposure to infected water or sea stars, and the infectivity crossed species (A. forbesi and Pateria miniata) with equal penetrance. Of the 48 stars tested by quantitative real time PCR, 29 (60%) were positive for the SSaDV VP1 gene. These stars represent field-collected sea stars from all geographical regions (South Carolina to Maine) in 2012–2015, as well as stars exposed to infected stars or water from affected tanks. However, a clear association between the presence of SSaDV and SSWD signs in experimental and field-collected A. forbesi was not found in this study. PMID:29228006

Physical Characterization of Near-Earth Object 3988 (1986 LA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Truong, Thien-Tin; Hicks, M.; Strojia, C.; Teague, S.; Gerhart, C.; McCormack, M.

2012-01-01

The Near-Earth Object (NEO) 3988 (1986 LA) was discovered photographically by Glo Helin and colleagues with the 1.2-m Schmidt at Palomar (Helin et al. 1986: IAU Circ. 4228). With a perihelion distance q = 1.055 AU, 1986 LA is an Amor-type NEO. The spacecraft rendezvous potential of any small solar system body can be quantified, to first order, by the dV required to match the target's orbit. Using the method described by Shoemaker & Helin (1978; N7829022) and assuming a massless rendezvous target, a dV of 6.29 km/s is required to reach the orbit of Mars. Objects with dV < 6.29 km/s can therefor be considered low-dV targets: 1791 NEOs meet this criteria. 1986 LA has a dV of 5.84 km/s. With an absolute magnitude H = 17.7 (Lowell Astorb Database), the object is in the top 0.985 percentile in terms of expected size. We obtained four nights of Bessel BVRI on 2011 June 14, 15, 16, and 18 at the JPL Table Mountain 0.6-m telescope. Our analysis was hampered by the high density of background stars, the low lunar elongation, and an intermittent tracking error. The rotationally averaged colors were found most consistent with an Ld-type spectral classification (Bus taxonomy), an association obtained through a comparison of our colors with the 1341 asteroid spectra in the SMASS II database (Bus & Binzel 2002). Despite the large error bars in our photometry we are confident that 1986 LA belongs to the S-family of asteroids (Tholen Taxonomy). Assuming a phase parameter G=0.15 and our V-R color, we measured an absolute magnitude HV = 17.97 +/- 0.15 mag, intermediate between the HV = 17.7 mag (Lowell) and HV = 18.2 mag (JPL) database listings. We observed for 21 additional nights. The pole positions are currently unresolved based on the further observations.

Molecular and functional characterization of vacuolar-ATPase from the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis.

PubMed

Petchampai, N; Sunyakumthorn, P; Guillotte, M L; Thepparit, C; Kearney, M T; Mulenga, A; Azad, A F; Macaluso, K R

2014-02-01

Vacuolar (V)-ATPase is a proton-translocating enzyme that acidifies cellular compartments for various functions such as receptor-mediated endocytosis, intracellular trafficking and protein degradation. Previous studies in Dermacentor variabilis chronically infected with Rickettsia montanensis have identified V-ATPase as one of the tick-derived molecules transcribed in response to rickettsial infection. To examine the role of the tick V-ATPase in tick-Rickettsia interactions, a full-length 2887-bp cDNA (2532-bp open reading frame) clone corresponding to the transcript of the V0 domain subunit a of D. variabilis V-ATPase (DvVATPaseV0a) gene encoding an 843 amino acid protein with an estimated molecular weight of ~96 kDa was isolated from D. variabilis. Amino acid sequence analysis of DvVATPaseV0a showed the highest similarity to VATPaseV0a from Ixodes scapularis. A potential N-glycosylation site and eight putative transmembrane segments were identified in the sequence. Western blot analysis of tick tissues probed with polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant DvVATPaseV0a revealed the expression of V-ATPase in the tick ovary. Transcriptional profiles of DvVATPaseV0a demonstrated a greater mRNA expression in the tick ovary, compared with the midgut and salivary glands; however, the mRNA level in each of these tick tissues remained unchanged after infection with R. montanensis for 1 h. V-ATPase inhibition bioassays resulted in a significant decrease in the ability of R. montanensis to invade tick cells in vitro, suggesting a role of V-ATPase in rickettsial infection of tick cells. Characterization of tick-derived molecules involved in rickettsial infection is essential for a thorough understanding of rickettsial transmission within tick populations and the ecology of tick-borne rickettsial diseases. © 2013 The Authors. Insect Molecular Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Royal Entomological Society.

Tobacco streak virus (strain dahlia) suppresses post-transcriptional gene silencing of flavone synthase II in black dahlia cultivars and causes a drastic flower color change.

PubMed

Deguchi, Ayumi; Tatsuzawa, Fumi; Hosokawa, Munetaka; Doi, Motoaki; Ohno, Sho

2015-09-01

Tobacco streak virus suppressed post-transcriptional gene silencing and caused a flower color change in black dahlias, which supported the role of cyanidin-based anthocyanins for black flower appearance. Black flower color of dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) has been attributed, in part, to the high accumulation of cyanidin-based anthocyanins that occurs when flavone synthesis is reduced because of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) of flavone synthase II (DvFNS). There are also purple-flowering plants that have emerged from a black cultivar 'Kokucho'. We report that the purple color is not caused by a mutation, as previously thought, but by infection with tobacco streak virus (TSVdahlia), which suppresses the PTGS of DvFNS. When TSVdahlia was eliminated from the purple-flowering 'Kokucho' by leaf primordia-free shoot apical meristem culture, the resulting flowers were black. TSVdahlia-infected purple flowers had lower numbers of siRNAs to DvFNS than black flowers, suggesting that TSVdahlia has a silencing suppressor. The graft inoculation of other black cultivars with TSVdahlia altered their flower color drastically except for 'Fidalgo Blacky', a very deep black cultivar with the highest amount of cyanidin-based anthocyanins. The flowers of all six TSVdahlia-infected cultivars accumulated increased amounts of flavones and reduced amounts of cyanidin-based anthocyanins. 'Fidalgo Blacky' remained black despite the change in pigment accumulation, and the amounts of cyanidin-based anthocyanins in its TSVdahlia-infected plants were still higher than those of other cultivars. We propose that black flower color in dahlia is controlled by two different mechanisms that increase the amount of cyanidin-based anthocyanins: DvFNS PTGS-dependent and -independent mechanisms. If both mechanisms occur simultaneously, the flower color will be blacker than if only a single mechanism is active.

A Safe Vaccine (DV-STM-07) against Salmonella Infection Prevents Abortion and Confers Protective Immunity to the Pregnant and New Born Mice

PubMed Central

Negi, Vidya Devi; Nagarajan, Arvindhan G.; Chakravortty, Dipshikha

2010-01-01

Pregnancy is a transient immuno-compromised condition which has evolved to avoid the immune rejection of the fetus by the maternal immune system. The altered immune response of the pregnant female leads to increased susceptibility to invading pathogens, resulting in abortion and congenital defects of the fetus and a subnormal response to vaccination. Active vaccination during pregnancy may lead to abortion induced by heightened cell mediated immune response. In this study, we have administered the highly attenuated vaccine strain ΔpmrG-HM-D (DV-STM-07) in female mice before the onset of pregnancy and followed the immune reaction against challenge with virulent S. Typhimurium in pregnant mice. Here we demonstrate that DV-STM-07 vaccine gives protection against Salmonella in pregnant mice and also prevents Salmonella induced abortion. This protection is conferred by directing the immune response towards Th2 activation and Th1 suppression. The low Th1 response prevents abortion. The use of live attenuated vaccine just before pregnancy carries the risk of transmission to the fetus. We have shown that this vaccine is safe as the vaccine strain is quickly eliminated from the mother and is not transmitted to the fetus. This vaccine also confers immunity to the new born mice of vaccinated mothers. Since there is no evidence of the vaccine candidate reaching the new born mice, we hypothesize that it may be due to trans-colostral transfer of protective anti-Salmonella antibodies. These results suggest that our vaccine DV-STM-07 can be very useful in preventing abortion in the pregnant individuals and confer immunity to the new born. Since there are no such vaccine candidates which can be given to the new born and to the pregnant women, this vaccine holds a very bright future to combat Salmonella induced pregnancy loss. PMID:20161765

Seroprevalence of Dengue Virus, West Nile Virus, Chikungunya Virus, and Zika Virus in International Travelers Attending a Travel and Migration Center in 2015-2017, Southern Italy.

PubMed

Loconsole, Daniela; Metallo, Angela; De Robertis, Anna Lisa; Morea, Anna; Quarto, Michele; Chironna, Maria

2018-06-01

International travelers to areas endemic for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) may be at risk of contracting and spreading these diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that are specific for Dengue Virus (DV), West Nile Virus (WNV), Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV), or Zika Virus (ZV) in a cohort of international travelers. The study enrolled travelers who attended the Travel Medicine and Migration outpatient service of Local Health Unit of Bari, Italy, in March 2015-June 2017 for counseling and vaccine prophylaxis before travel. After receiving informed consent, post-travel blood samples were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies specific for DV, WNV, CHIKV, and ZV. Of the 207 travelers attending the vaccine service, 156 (75%) were enrolled. Of the 156 subjects, 23 (14.7%) had IgM and/or IgG antibodies specific for at least one VBD. Of these, 12 (52%) were asymptomatic. Nineteen (12.2% of the whole cohort), nine (5.8%), nine (5.8%), and two (1.3%) subjects had IgM and/or IgG antibodies specific for DV, WNV, CHIKV, and ZV, respectively. Ten subjects (6.4%) harbored antibodies that were specific for more than one VBD. A significant number of the international travelers were DV-positive. Our findings suggest that international travelers should undergo serological surveillance, particularly those who travel frequently and for long periods to areas that are endemic for hemorrhagic dengue. Due to a possible risk of introducing VBDs into nonendemic areas, increased awareness among physicians and travelers and appropriate laboratory detection are crucial. There are currently no licensed vaccines for these VBDs in Italy or other European countries; the main preventive measures are protection from mosquito bites and vector control.

Molecular Mechanisms for Drug Hypersensitivity Induced by the Malaria Parasite’s Chloroquine Resistance Transporter

PubMed Central

Baker, Eileen S.; Webster, Michael W.; Lehane, Adele M.; Shafik, Sarah H.; Martin, Rowena E.

2016-01-01

Mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum ‘chloroquine resistance transporter’ (PfCRT) confer resistance to chloroquine (CQ) and related antimalarials by enabling the protein to transport these drugs away from their targets within the parasite’s digestive vacuole (DV). However, CQ resistance-conferring isoforms of PfCRT (PfCRTCQR) also render the parasite hypersensitive to a subset of structurally-diverse pharmacons. Moreover, mutations in PfCRTCQR that suppress the parasite’s hypersensitivity to these molecules simultaneously reinstate its sensitivity to CQ and related drugs. We sought to understand these phenomena by characterizing the functions of PfCRTCQR isoforms that cause the parasite to become hypersensitive to the antimalarial quinine or the antiviral amantadine. We achieved this by measuring the abilities of these proteins to transport CQ, quinine, and amantadine when expressed in Xenopus oocytes and complemented this work with assays that detect the drug transport activity of PfCRT in its native environment within the parasite. Here we describe two mechanistic explanations for PfCRT-induced drug hypersensitivity. First, we show that quinine, which normally accumulates inside the DV and therewithin exerts its antimalarial effect, binds extremely tightly to the substrate-binding site of certain isoforms of PfCRTCQR. By doing so it likely blocks the normal physiological function of the protein, which is essential for the parasite’s survival, and the drug thereby gains an additional killing effect. In the second scenario, we show that although amantadine also sequesters within the DV, the parasite’s hypersensitivity to this drug arises from the PfCRTCQR-mediated transport of amantadine from the DV into the cytosol, where it can better access its antimalarial target. In both cases, the mutations that suppress hypersensitivity also abrogate the ability of PfCRTCQR to transport CQ, thus explaining why rescue from hypersensitivity restores the parasite’s sensitivity to this antimalarial. These insights provide a foundation for understanding clinically-relevant observations of inverse drug susceptibilities in the malaria parasite. PMID:27441371

[Antibody responses in Japanese volunteers after immunization with yellow fever vaccine].

PubMed

Taga, Kenichiro; Imura, Shunro; Hayashi, Akihiro; Kamakura, Kazumasa; Hashimoto, Satoru; Takasaki, Tomohiko; Kurane, Ichiro; Uchida, Yukinori

2002-09-01

To monitor the development of specific and cross-reactive antibody response in twenty Japanese volunteers after vaccination with live yellow fever vaccine. Serum samples were collected on various days after vaccination and examined for hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies against yellow fever virus (YFV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and dengue virus (DV), neutralizing antibodies against YFV and JEV, and IgM antibodies against YFV. None of the volunteers had been previously immunized with this vaccine. Fifteen of 20 had pre-vaccinated with JEV 7 to 40 years before. Ten of the 20 had neutralizing antibodies against JEV before immunization. None of the 20 had detectable antibodies against YFV or DV before vaccination. On day 10th after the vaccination, neutralizing antibodies to YFV were detected in 6 of 19 volunteers and IgM antibodies against YFV were detected in 7 of 19. On day 14th, HI, neutralizing, and IgM antibodies against YFV were detected in all the tested sera. Neutralizing antibodies against JEV were developed in 2 volunteers and HI antibodies against JEV were increased in 3 of 6 volunteers respectively. On day 29th, cross-reactive HI antibodies for JEV and DV were detected in all the tested sera. The results indicate that YF vaccine induces YFV-specific antibodies in all the tested volunteers and that it also induces HI antibodies cross-reactive for JEV and DV. The YF vaccine has a strong immunogenicity because it is a live vaccine, and induces antibody against YFV predominantly. The international certificate of yellow fever vaccination becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. On day 14th after vaccination, we detected neutralizing antibodies against YFV from all tested volunteers, however, only 6 of 19 volunteers had detectable neutralizing antibody on the 10th day after vaccination. Therefore, the vaccine may not be perfectly effective on day 10th after the vaccination.