Dienogest improves human leucocyte antigen-DR underexpression and reduces tumour necrosis factor-α production in peritoneal fluid cells from women with endometriosis.

PubMed

Maeda, N; Izumiya, C; Taniguchi, K; Matsushima, S; Mita, S; Shimizu, Y; Fukaya, T

2014-06-01

To determine the immunological effect of dienogest (DNG), an oral anti-endometriosis drug, on peritoneal fluid (PF) macrophages collected from women with endometriosis. Although it has been suggested that DNG has direct effects on endometriotic cells, including decreased cell proliferation and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokine production, the effects of DNG on PF cells are unclear. The effects of DNG on PF cells from 34 women with endometriosis and 22 women without endometriosis (controls) were investigated. Expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR in PF macrophages, obtained from the peritoneal cavity during laparoscopic surgery, was determined by flow cytometry. HLA-DR expression was measured again after PF cells had been cultured for 72 h in a humidified atmosphere at 37 °C in 5% CO₂-95% air with or without DNG. After 72 h of incubation, the concentration of pro-inflammatory tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the media was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HLA-DR expression was lower in PF macrophages from women with endometriosis compared with controls. However, after DNG treatment, HLA-DR expression in PF macrophages from women with endometriosis was increased to the same level as in controls. The TNF-α concentration in the media was decreased by DNG. DNG can restore the antigen-presenting ability of PF macrophages by increased HLA-DR expression, and may have an anti-inflammatory effect on PF macrophages in women with endometriosis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Contraceptive efficacy and safety of estradiol valerate/dienogest in a healthy female population: a multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled Phase III study.

PubMed

Yu, Qi; Huang, Zirong; Ren, Mulan; Chang, Qing; Zhang, Zhongqi; Parke, Susanne

2018-01-01

To investigate the efficacy and safety of a combined oral contraceptive containing estradiol valerate and dienogest (EV/DNG) in healthy Asian women. In this multicenter Phase III study, women received oral EV/DNG in a 28-day regimen for 13 cycles. The primary efficacy endpoint was the number of unintended pregnancies, measured by the Pearl Index (PI); secondary efficacy endpoints included bleeding pattern and cycle control parameters. Adverse events were monitored during the study and overall satisfaction with treatment was determined on completion of the study. A total of 954 Asian women (97.7% of subjects assigned to study medication; mean age 33.4 years) were treated. Five pregnancies were reported during EV/DNG treatment over 796.34 relevant woman-years of exposure, giving an unadjusted PI of 0.63 and a cumulative failure rate of 0.0049; 3 pregnancies during EV/DNG treatment over 760.35 relevant woman-years of exposure gave an adjusted PI of 0.39. The bleeding pattern improved during the reporting periods within the study. The proportion of women who experienced withdrawal bleeding decreased with treatment (84.9% of women during Cycle 1 vs 79.3% in Cycle 13), and the mean length of withdrawal bleeding decreased with treatment (4.2 vs 3.4 days). The number and maximum length of intracyclic bleeding/spotting episodes also decreased with EV/DNG. EV/DNG was well tolerated, and 92% of women included in the study were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with EV/DNG. EV/DNG showed high contraceptive efficacy, was well tolerated in Asian women, and may be effectively used in this population. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01638910.

Nitrogen-doped three-dimensional graphene-supported platinum catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Fuqiang; Li, Xingxing; Yuan, Wensen; Zhu, Huanhuan; Qin, Yong; Zhang, Shuai; Yuan, Ningyi; Lin, Bencai; Ding, Jianning

Catalysts are a key component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this work, nitrogen-doped three-dimensional graphene-supported platinum (Pt-3DNG) catalysts are successfully prepared and characterized. SEM and TEM images show the Pt nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed in the sheets of nitrogen-doped 3DNG. Compared with that of the commercial Pt/C catalysts, Pt-3DNG show much better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and cycling stability, and the reduction in limit current density after 1000 cycles is only about 1.6% for the Pt-3DNG catalysts, whereas 7.2% for the commercial Pt/C catalysts. The single cell using Pt-3DNG catalysts in both the anode and the cathode show a higher peak power density (21.47mW cm-2) than that using commercial Pt/C catalysts (20.17mW cm-2) under the same conditions. These properties make this type of catalyst suitable for the application in PEMFCs.

Trials for development of once-a-month injectable, hormonal male contraceptive using dienogest plus testosterone undecanoate: dose standardization, efficacy and reversibility studies in rats.

PubMed

Misro, Man M; Chaki, Shankar P; Kaushik, Mahesh C; Nandan, Deoki

2009-06-01

The study was conducted to test the potential of using dienogest (DNG) plus testosterone undecanoate (TU) in rats for development of a once-a-month injectable male hormonal contraceptive. Dose selection studies were initiated with administration of DNG in three different doses of 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg body weight (bw) per week plus TU 25 mg/kg bw once in every 6 weeks. Status of spermatogenesis and sperm count in epididymis was evaluated. The frequency of DNG intervention was later extended to every 2- and 4-week intervals. Mating studies, toxicity and reversibility of spermatogenesis following stoppage of treatment were carried out with DNG 40 mg/kg bw at 4-week intervals. Complete arrest of spermatogenesis was observed after 60 days of treatment at all doses of DNG (20, 30 and 40 mg/kg bw per week)+TU. However, weights of testis and accessory sex organs (epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicle) declined significantly 60 days post treatment compared to vehicle-treated controls. Epididymis in the treated animals was completely devoid of sperm. When the frequency of DNG injection (20 mg/kg bw) was extended to once every 15 days, a few immotile and decapitated sperm were observed in the epididymis. With TU treatment unchanged, animals receiving DNG (40 mg/kg bw) once either every 2- or 4-week intervals demonstrated good and uniform arrest of spermatogenesis. DNG 40 mg/kg per 4 weeks+TU also demonstrated a significant rise in germ cell apoptosis in the seminiferous epithelium. There was no significant increase in the serum high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels at the end of 120 days of treatment. Following withdrawal of treatment after 60 or 120 days, qualitative restoration of spermatogenesis was rapid in the former compared to the latter. Dienogest plus TU has the potential for development as a monthly injectable showing reversible hormonal male contraception with good efficacy.

Agrococcus terreus sp. nov. and Micrococcus terreus sp. nov., isolated from forest soil.

PubMed

Zhang, Jia-Yue; Liu, Xing-Yu; Liu, Shuang-Jiang

2010-08-01

Two bacterial strains, DNG5T and V3M1T, isolated from forest soil of the Changbai mountains in China, were characterized using a polyphasic approach. Analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains DNG5T and V3M1T were phylogenetically related to members of the genus Agrococcus (96.0-98.4% similarity) and Micrococcus (96.7-98.0% similarity), respectively, within the order Actinomycetales. Strains DNG5T and V3M1T were Gram-stain-positive and strictly aerobic and formed yellow colonies on LB agar. Cells of strain DNG5T were short, non-motile rods, 0.4-0.5x0.8-1.0 microm. Strain DNG5T contained MK-10 and MK-11 as the major respiratory quinones and anteiso-C15:0 (49.2%) and iso-C16:0 (22.4%) as the major fatty acids. The diamino acid in the peptidoglycan of strain DNG5T was 2,4-diaminobutyric acid and the murein was of the acetyl type. Cells of strain V3M1T were cocci, 0.6-0.7 microm in diameter. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain V3M1T contained the amino acids lysine, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine. Strain V3M1T contained MK-7, MK-7(H2), MK-8 and MK-8(H2) as respiratory quinones and anteiso-C15:0 (78.2%) and iso-C15:0 (13.1%) as the major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C contents of strains DNG5T and V3M1T were 75.9 and 67.2 mol%, respectively. The DNA-DNA relatedness of strain DNG5T to Agrococcus jejuensis DSM 22002T, A. jenensis JCM 9950T, A. baldri JCM 12132T and A. citreus JCM 12398T was 58.3, 43.9, 36.1 and 54.1%, respectively. The DNA-DNA relatedness of strain V3M1T to Micrococcus luteus CGMCC 1.2299T, M. antarcticus CGMCC 1.2373T and M. lylae CGMCC 1.2300T was 57.5, 45.4 and 39.0%, respectively. Combining phenotypic and genotypic traits, strain DNG5T represents a novel species of the genus Agrococcus, for which the name Agrococcus terreus sp. nov. is proposed, with DNG5T (=CGMCC 1.6960T =NBRC 104260T) as the type strain. Strain V3M1T represents a novel species of the genus Micrococcus, for which the name Micrococcus terreus sp. nov. is proposed, with V3M1T (=CGMCC 1.7054T =NBRC 104258T) as the type strain.

Muscle force distribution of the lower limbs during walking in diabetic individuals with and without polyneuropathy.

PubMed

Gomes, Aline A; Ackermann, Marko; Ferreira, Jean P; Orselli, Maria Isabel V; Sacco, Isabel C N

2017-11-09

Muscle force estimation could advance the comprehension of the neuromuscular strategies that diabetic patients adopt to preserve walking ability, which guarantees their independence as they deal with their neural and muscular impairments due to diabetes and neuropathy. In this study, the lower limb's muscle force distribution during gait was estimated and compared in diabetic patients with and without polyneuropathy. Thirty individuals were evaluated in a cross-sectional study, equally divided among controls (CG) and diabetic patients with (DNG) and without (DG) polyneuropathy. The acquired ground reaction forces and kinematic data were used as input variables for a scaled musculoskeletal model in the OpenSim software. The maximum isometric force of the ankle extensors and flexors was reduced in the model of DNG by 30% and 20%, respectively. The muscle force was calculated using static optimization, and peak forces were compared among groups (flexors and extensors of hip, knee, and ankle; ankle evertors; and hip abductors) using MANOVAs, followed by univariate ANOVAs and Newman-Keuls post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). From the middle to late stance phase, DG showed a lower soleus muscle peak force compared to the CG (p=0.024) and the DNG showed lower forces in the gastrocnemius medialis compared to the DG (p=0.037). At the terminal swing phase, the semitendinosus and semimembranosus peak forces showed lower values in the DG compared to the CG and DNG. At the late stance, the DNG showed a higher peak force in the biceps short head, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus compared to the CG and DG. Peak forces of ankle (flexors, extensors, and evertors), knee (flexors and extensors), and hip abductors distinguished DNG from DG, and both of those from CG. Both diabetic groups showed alterations in the force production of the ankle extensors with reductions in the forces of soleus (DG) and gastrocnemius medialis (DNG) seen in both diabetic groups, but only DNG showed an increase in the hamstrings (knee flexor) at push-off. A therapeutic approach focused on preserving the functionality of the knee muscles is a promising strategy, even if the ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors are included in the resistance training.

Change to either a nonandrogenic or androgenic progestin-containing oral contraceptive preparation is associated with improved sexual function in women with oral contraceptive-associated sexual dysfunction.

PubMed

Davis, Susan R; Bitzer, Johannes; Giraldi, Annamaria; Palacios, Santiago; Parke, Susanne; Serrani, Marco; Mellinger, Uwe; Nappi, Rossella E

2013-12-01

It is a commonly held belief that combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills containing an androgenic progestin may be less likely to impair sexual function than COCs containing an anti-androgenic progestin. The study aims to compare the effects of a COC containing a progestin with an anti-androgenic profile (estradiol valerate [E2 V]/dienogest [DNG]) to that of one with an androgenic progestin (ethinyl estradiol [EE]/levonorgestrel [LNG]) on sexual function in women with COC-associated sexual dysfunction. In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study, women with COC-associated female sexual dysfunction (FSD) were randomized to E2 V/DNG or EE/LNG for six cycles. The primary outcome was the change in the sum of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) desire and arousal component scores between baseline and cycle 6. Secondary outcome measures included changes to the FSFI domains, the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS-R), Vaginal Health Assessment, the Atrophy Symptom Questionnaire, and the Psychological General Well Being Index over six treatment cycles. The main outcome is the change in the sum of FSFI desire and arousal component scores between baseline and cycle 6. Of 276 women screened, 213 received treatment and 191 completed the study. The mean increase in the sum of FSFI desire and arousal component scores was 5.90 (standard deviation [SD] 5.45) for E2 V/DNG and 5.79 (SD 6.17) for EE/LNG (change from baseline P < 0.0001, both groups). Both treatments showed equal efficacy and were associated with improvements in all domains of the FSFI, with no between-group differences. Both COCs reduced the distress associated with FSD, as indicated by reduced FSDS-R scores. In women with COC-associated FSD, switching to either E2 V/DNG or EE/LNG was associated with equivalent improvements in symptoms, challenging the perception that COCs containing anti-androgenic progestins have a detrimental effect on sexual function relative to those containing androgenic progestins. © 2013 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Pituitary, ovarian and additional contraceptive effects of an estradiol-based combined oral contraceptive: results of a randomized, open-label study.

PubMed

Endrikat, Jan; Parke, Susanne; Trummer, Dietmar; Serrani, Marco; Duijkers, Ingrid; Klipping, Christine

2013-02-01

The estrogen step-down/progestogen step-up 28-day estradiol valerate/dienogest (E(2)V/DNG) oral contraceptive effectively inhibits ovulation; however, limited data are available regarding its effects on estradiol (E2), progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or its additional extraovarian contraceptive effects. In this secondary analysis, 100 women received E(2)V 3 mg on days 1-2, E(2)V 2 mg/DNG 2 mg on days 3-7, E(2)V 2 mg/DNG 3 mg on days 8-24, E(2)V 1 mg on days 25-26 and placebo on days 27-28 for one treatment cycle. Measures included the presence/absence of cervical mucus; endometrial thickness; and serum E2, progesterone, and gonadotropin levels. E2, progesterone, LH and FSH levels did not exhibit the typical ovulatory increase and remained relatively stable during the cycle. E(2)V/DNG reduced mean maximal endometrial thickness and proportion of women with visible cervical mucus. All parameters returned to pretreatment levels during the posttreatment cycle. E(2)V/DNG provides extraovarian contraceptive effects (reducing endometrial thickness and cervical mucus production) in addition to inhibiting ovulation, assuring contraceptive efficacy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Metabolic and haemostatic effects of estradiol valerate/dienogest, a novel oral contraceptive: a randomized, open-label, single-centre study.

PubMed

Junge, Wolfgang; Mellinger, Uwe; Parke, Susanne; Serrani, Marco

2011-01-01

The hormonal components of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have various metabolic and haemostatic effects. The objective of this study was to compare the metabolic and haemostatic effects of a novel COC comprising estradiol valerate/dienogest (E(2)V/DNG) with ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel (EE/LNG). In a randomized, open-label study conducted in Germany over seven cycles, healthy women aged 18-50 years received E(2)V/DNG (E(2)V 3 mg on days 1-2, E(2)V 2 mg/DNG 2 mg on days 3-7, E(2)V 2 mg/DNG 3 mg on days 8-24, E(2)V 1 mg on days 25-26, placebo on days 27-28; n = 30) or EE/LNG (EE 0.03 mg/LNG 0.05 mg on days 1-6, EE 0.04 mg/LNG 0.075 mg on days 7-11, EE 0.03 mg/LNG 0.125 mg on days 12-21, placebo on days 22-28; n = 28). The primary variables were the mean intraindividual relative changes from baseline to cycle 7 in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Changes in other lipid parameters, haemostatic parameters, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol-binding globulin (CBG), carbohydrate metabolism parameters, blood pressure and body weight were also assessed. Mean ± SD HDL cholesterol increased by 7.9% ± 21.8% with E(2)V/DNG and decreased by 2.3% ± 14.4% with EE/LNG. Mean ± SD LDL cholesterol decreased by 6.5% ± 15.9% with E(2)V/DNG and by 3.0% ± 17.4% with EE/LNG. Mean ± SD prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 and D-dimer levels remained essentially unchanged in the E(2)V/DNG group (-0.6% ± 30.3% and -2.1% ± 43.5%, respectively), but increased in the EE/LNG group (by 117.3% ± 358.0% and 62.9% ± 99.5%, respectively). Changes in other hepatic-induced parameters (SHBG, CBG) and carbohydrate metabolism were generally less pronounced with E(2)V/DNG versus EE/LNG. Body weight and blood pressure remained stable throughout the study in both treatment groups. Both formulations were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. E(2)V/DNG had a minimal impact on metabolic and haemostatic parameters, and a more favourable effect than EE/LNG on lipid markers. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00185224.

Why use of dienogest for the first contraceptive pill with estradiol?

PubMed

Mueck, Alfred O; Seeger, Harald; Bühling, Kai J

2010-02-01

Dienogest (DNG) has the essential properties of an effective progestogen for use in a new contraceptive pill using estradiol valerate as estrogenic component -- it inhibits ovulation and protects against endometrial proliferation. DNG is a derivative of norethisterone (NET), but has a cyanomethyl- instead of an ethinyl-group in C17 position which may offer a variety of benefits regarding hepatic effects. The similarity to NET is reflected in the high endometriotropy and in similar pharmacokinetics like short plasma half-live and high bioavailability. However, DNG also elicits properties of progesterone derivatives like neutrality in metabolic and cardiovascular system and considerable antiandrogenic activity, the latter increased by lack of binding to SHBG as specific property of DNG. It has no glucocorticoid and antimineralocorticoid activity and has no antiestrogenic activity with the consequence that possible beneficial estradiol effects should not be antagonized. This may be of special importance for the tolerability and safety of the first pill with estradiol valerate instead of ethinylestradiol, although well-designed postmarketing studies are still ongoing to demonstrate what can be expected on the basis of pharmacology.

Estradiol valerate plus dienogest versus ethinylestradiol plus levonorgestrel for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

PubMed

Petraglia, Felice; Parke, Susanne; Serrani, Marco; Mellinger, Uwe; Römer, Thomas

2014-06-01

To demonstrate the superiority of estradiol valerate plus dienogest (E(2)V/DNG) over ethinylestradiol plus levonorgestrel (EE/LNG) in reducing the number of days with dysmenorrheic pain among women with primary dysmenorrhea. In a phase IIIb trial conducted at 44 centers worldwide between April 2009 and November 2010, otherwise healthy women aged 14-50 years requesting contraception were randomized to daily oral administration of E(2)V/DNG (n = 253) or EE/LNG (n = 254) for three 28-daycycles. The primary efficacy variable was number of days with dysmenorrheic pain, the category of which (none, mild, moderate, severe) was self-assessed on a daily basis (irrespective of menstrual bleeding status) and recorded on diary cards. Notably, the women documented their pain as they experienced it before taking any (permitted) rescue medication. Overall, 217 and 209 women receiving E(2)V/DNG and EE/LNG, respectively, completed the study. The mean ± SD change from baseline in number of days with dysmenorrheic pain was -4.6 ± 4.6 days and -4.2 ± 4.2 days for the E(2)V/DNG and EE/LNG groups, respectively (P = 0.34). Both E(2)V/DNG and EE/LNG led to considerable relief of dysmenorrheic complaints among women with primary dysmenorrhea, decreasing the number of days with dysmenorrheic pain from baseline to a similar extent. ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT00909857. Copyright © 2014 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. All rights reserved.

3D nitrogen-doped graphene/β-cyclodextrin: host-guest interactions for electrochemical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jilun; Leng, Xuanye; Xiao, Yao; Hu, Chengguo; Fu, Lei

2015-07-01

Host-guest interactions, especially those between cyclodextrins (CDs, including α-, β- and γ-CD) and various guest molecules, exhibit a very high supramolecular recognition ability. Thus, they have received considerable attention in different fields. These specific interactions between host and guest molecules are promising for biosensing and clinical detection. However, there is a lack of an ideal electrode substrate for CDs to increase their performance in electrochemical sensing. Herein, we propose a new 3D nitrogen-doped graphene (3D-NG) based electrochemical sensor, taking advantage of the superior sensitivity of host-guest interactions. Our 3D-NG was fabricated by a template-directed chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method, and it showed a large specific surface area, a high capacity for biomolecules and a high electron transfer efficiency. Thus, for the first time, we took 3D-NG as an electrode substrate for β-CD to establish a new type of biosensor. Using dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (APAP) as representative guest molecules, our 3D-NG/β-CD biosensor shows extremely high sensitivities (5468.6 μA mM-1 cm-2 and 2419.2 μA mM-1 cm-2, respectively), which are significantly higher than those reported in most previous studies. The stable adsorption of β-CD on 3D-NG indicates potential applications in clinical detection and medical testing.Host-guest interactions, especially those between cyclodextrins (CDs, including α-, β- and γ-CD) and various guest molecules, exhibit a very high supramolecular recognition ability. Thus, they have received considerable attention in different fields. These specific interactions between host and guest molecules are promising for biosensing and clinical detection. However, there is a lack of an ideal electrode substrate for CDs to increase their performance in electrochemical sensing. Herein, we propose a new 3D nitrogen-doped graphene (3D-NG) based electrochemical sensor, taking advantage of the superior sensitivity of host-guest interactions. Our 3D-NG was fabricated by a template-directed chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method, and it showed a large specific surface area, a high capacity for biomolecules and a high electron transfer efficiency. Thus, for the first time, we took 3D-NG as an electrode substrate for β-CD to establish a new type of biosensor. Using dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (APAP) as representative guest molecules, our 3D-NG/β-CD biosensor shows extremely high sensitivities (5468.6 μA mM-1 cm-2 and 2419.2 μA mM-1 cm-2, respectively), which are significantly higher than those reported in most previous studies. The stable adsorption of β-CD on 3D-NG indicates potential applications in clinical detection and medical testing. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: The procedure for preparing the sensor, wide survey XPS, XRD patterns, the effect of scan rate, more CV data on the stability and selectivity, and a comparison with previous studies. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03109e

Chemical characterization of the main products formed through aqueous-phase photonitration of guaiacol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitanovski, Z.; Čusak, A.; Grgić, I.; Claeys, M.

2014-08-01

Guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) and its derivatives can be emitted into the atmosphere by thermal degradation (i.e., burning) of wood lignins. Due to its volatility, guaiacol is predominantly distributed atmospherically in the gaseous phase. Recent studies have shown the importance of aqueous-phase reactions in addition to the dominant gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions of guaiacol, in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. The main objectives of the present study were to chemically characterize the main products of the aqueous-phase photonitration of guaiacol and examine their possible presence in urban atmospheric aerosols. The aqueous-phase reactions were carried out under simulated sunlight and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and nitrite. The formed guaiacol reaction products were concentrated by solid-phase extraction and then purified with semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The fractionated individual compounds were isolated as pure solids and further analyzed with liquid-state proton, carbon-13 and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and direct infusion negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry ((-)ESI-MS/MS). The NMR and product ion (MS2) spectra were used for unambiguous product structure elucidation. The main products of guaiacol photonitration are 4-nitroguaiacol (4NG), 6-nitroguaiacol (6NG), and 4,6-dinitroguaiacol (4,6DNG). Using the isolated compounds as standards, 4NG and 4,6DNG were unambiguously identified in winter PM10 aerosols from the city of Ljubljana (Slovenia) by means of HPLC/(-)ESI-MS/MS. Owing to the strong absorption of ultraviolet and visible light, 4,6DNG could be an important constituent of atmospheric "brown" carbon, especially in regions affected by biomass burning.

Chemical characterization of the main secondary organic aerosol (SOA) products formed through aqueous-phase photonitration of guaiacol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitanovski, Z.; Čusak, A.; Grgić, I.; Claeys, M.

2014-04-01

Guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) and its derivatives can be emitted into the atmosphere by thermal degradation (i.e. burning) of wood lignins. Due to its volatility, guaiacol is predominantly distributed in the atmospheric gaseous phase. Recent studies have shown the importance of aqueous-phase reactions in addition to the dominant gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions of guaiacol, in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. The main objectives of the present study were to chemically characterize the low-volatility SOA products of the aqueous-phase photonitration of guaiacol and examine their possible presence in urban atmospheric aerosols. The aqueous-phase reactions were carried out under simulated sunlight and in the presence of H2O2 and nitrite. The formed guaiacol reaction products were concentrated by using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and then purified by means of semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The fractionated individual compounds were isolated as pure solids and further analyzed with liquid-state 1H, 13C and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and direct infusion negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry ((-)ESI-MS/MS). The NMR and product ion (MS2) spectra were used for unambiguous product structure elucidation. The main products of guaiacol photonitration are 4-nitroguaiacol (4NG), 6-nitroguaiacol (6NG), and 4,6-dinitroguaiacol (4,6DNG). Using the isolated compounds as standards, 4NG and 4,6DNG were unambiguously identified in winter PM10 aerosols from the city of Ljubljana (Slovenia) by means of HPLC/(-)ESI-MS/MS. Owing to the strong absorption of UV and visible light, 4,6DNG could be an important constituent of atmospheric "brown" carbon, especially in regions affected by biomass burning.

Impact of estradiol valerate/dienogest on work productivity and activities of daily living in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

PubMed

Wasiak, Radoslaw; Filonenko, Anna; Vanness, David J; Law, Amy; Jeddi, Mark; Wittrup-Jensen, Kim U; Stull, Donald E; Siak, Steven; Jensen, Jeffrey T

2013-04-01

To quantify the change in work productivity and activities of daily living in North American women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) treated with estradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG; Qlaira(®)/Natazia(®)) compared to placebo. Women in the United States and Canada, aged 20-53 years with an objective diagnosis of HMB and no recognizable anatomical pathology, were treated with E2V/DNG or placebo for seven cycles (196 days). Main outcome measures included work productivity (i.e., productivity while at work) and activities of daily living measured using a modified Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (mWPAI) on a Likert scale from 0 to 10 (higher values denote higher impairment levels). In both countries, significant improvement was observed between baseline and end of treatment in work productivity and activities of daily living impairment. The improvements in work productivity and activities of daily living with E2V/DNG treatment relative to placebo ranged from 37.2% to 39.2% across both countries. Monthly gains due to E2V/DNG treatment (net of placebo improvement) associated with improvement in work productivity were estimated to be US$80.2 and Can$70.8 (US$58.5) and those associated with improvement in activities of daily living were estimated to be US$84.9 and Can$73.5 (US$60.7). E2V/DNG was shown to have a consistent positive impact on work productivity and activities of daily living in U.S. and Canadian women with HMB. In addition, these improvements in work productivity and activities of daily living were associated with a reduction in HMB-related monetary burden compared to the placebo group.

Dextran based herbal nanobiocomposite membranes for scar free wound healing.

PubMed

Singh, Surabhi; Gupta, Amlan; Sharma, Deepika; Gupta, Bhuvanesh

2018-07-01

Dextran based bionanocomposite membranes encapsulating clove oil (CO) and sandalwood oil (SO) that are capable of preventing infection due to their inherent virtue of antibacterial activity and modifying the wound healing cascade for accelerated scar free healing, were developed. A facile solvent casting technique was used to fabricate dextran/nanosoy/glycerol/chitosan (DNG/Ch) nanocomposite membranes followed by subsequent addition of CO and SO to obtain DNG/Ch/CO and DNG/Ch/SO herbal nanodressings. Dressings exhibited >98% antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) at extremely low loadings of 5% and 10% for CO and SO, respectively. This encapsulation strategy allowed controlled diffusion of EO over a period of 72h which was measured in terms of drug efficacy using bacterial reduction count test and serial plate transfer disk diffusion test (SPTDDT). Swelling behavior and mechanical properties were also examined. Bacterial adherence study was performed to demonstrate the efficiency of dressings for arresting microbial invasion. In vivo wound healing studies were conducted using male swiss albino mice of BALB/c strain and DNG/Ch/CO dressings exhibited complete healing within 14days with remarkable efficacy in scar prevention. Histological analysis revealed that CO and SO treatment led to deposition of ordered collagen along with fibroblast migration. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficacy and bleeding profile of a combined oral contraceptive containing oestradiol valerate/dienogest: a pooled analysis of three studies conducted in North America and Europe.

PubMed

Nelson, Anita; Parke, Susanne; Makalova, Dagmar; Serrani, Marco; Palacios, Santiago; Mellinger, Uwe

2013-08-01

To summarise all clinical data on the contraceptive efficacy and bleeding profile associated with an oestradiol valerate (E2V) and dienogest (DNG) [E2V/DNG] combined oral contraceptive (COC) derived from Phase III trials. Pooled analysis of three large-scale multicentre trials conducted in healthy women who received oral E2V/DNG for 7 to 28 cycles (28-day cycles). A total of 2266 women were included in this analysis. Overall, 19 pregnancies occurred over 13 cycles during 880,950 days of relevant exposure (Pearl Index [PI] of 0.79; upper limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23). Ten pregnancies attributed to method failure came about during 871,091 days of relevant exposure (adjusted PI of 0.42; upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI: 0.77). In women aged 18 to 35 years (n = 1687), the corresponding PI and adjusted PI were 1.01 (upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI: 1.59) and 0.51 (upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI: 0.97), respectively. In the first 13 cycles of treatment, 76 to 81% of women experienced scheduled withdrawal bleeding, and 13 to 23% experienced intracyclic bleeding. E2V/DNG provides reliable contraceptive efficacy in women aged 18 to 50 years.

Impact of estradiol-valerate/dienogest on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding

PubMed Central

Wasiak, Radoslaw; Filonenko, Anna; Vanness, David J; Wittrup-Jensen, Kim U; Stull, Donald E; Siak, Steven; Fraser, Ian

2012-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of estradiol-valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG; Qlaira®/Natazia®) on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Methods Women aged 18–54 years with a confirmed diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding and no recognizable pathology were recruited across nine European countries (the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, UK, and Ukraine) and Australia. The women were randomized to receive either E2V/DNG (n = 149) or placebo (n = 82) for seven treatment cycles (196 days). The outcomes assessed included work productivity (ie, productivity while at work) and activities of daily living, measured on a Likert scale from 0 to 10 (with higher values denoting higher impairment levels) at baseline and at the end of the third and seventh cycles (days 84 and 196). The equivalent monetary value associated with the changes in work productivity and activities of daily living was also calculated. Results Across all the countries, greater improvements from baseline to the end of treatment were observed with E2V/DNG treatment than placebo in work productivity (46.0% versus 15.1%) and activities of daily living (55.6% versus 30.8%). In 2008, savings associated with improvements in work productivity and activities of daily living due to E2V/DNG treatment (net of placebo improvement) were estimated to be between US$22–62 and US$18–56 per month (in purchasing power parity of US$), respectively. Conclusion E2V/DNG has a consistent positive impact on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding. These improvements were associated with a reduction in monetary burden of heavy menstrual bleeding compared with the placebo group, consistent with the response to treatment observed. PMID:22927764

Impact of estradiol-valerate/dienogest on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

PubMed

Wasiak, Radoslaw; Filonenko, Anna; Vanness, David J; Wittrup-Jensen, Kim U; Stull, Donald E; Siak, Steven; Fraser, Ian

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of estradiol-valerate/dienogest (E(2)V/DNG; Qlaira(®)/Natazia(®)) on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Women aged 18-54 years with a confirmed diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding and no recognizable pathology were recruited across nine European countries (the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, UK, and Ukraine) and Australia. The women were randomized to receive either E(2)V/DNG (n = 149) or placebo (n = 82) for seven treatment cycles (196 days). The outcomes assessed included work productivity (ie, productivity while at work) and activities of daily living, measured on a Likert scale from 0 to 10 (with higher values denoting higher impairment levels) at baseline and at the end of the third and seventh cycles (days 84 and 196). The equivalent monetary value associated with the changes in work productivity and activities of daily living was also calculated. Across all the countries, greater improvements from baseline to the end of treatment were observed with E(2)V/DNG treatment than placebo in work productivity (46.0% versus 15.1%) and activities of daily living (55.6% versus 30.8%). In 2008, savings associated with improvements in work productivity and activities of daily living due to E(2)V/DNG treatment (net of placebo improvement) were estimated to be between US$22-62 and US$18-56 per month (in purchasing power parity of US$), respectively. E(2)V/DNG has a consistent positive impact on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding. These improvements were associated with a reduction in monetary burden of heavy menstrual bleeding compared with the placebo group, consistent with the response to treatment observed.

PACER SHARE Productivity and Personnel Management Demonstration: Appendices to Third-Year Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

RECOOED, NBITE/ BLOE COLLAR RSOODED o PAY LEVElS REOODEO-CAREER•1,NO CAREER•O BOlli LONG WORlt£0 lflTH liOIEDlAT£ SUPR? BON LONG BEEN A FEDERAL GOVT...lDNG WORIIED IN OS? R.EOOOEO: M’HITE/ BLOE COLLAR R.ECOOE01 PAY LE’VEIS REOOOEO·CAREER•1,NO CAREER·O BON LOW WORKED WITH IMMEDIATE SIJPR? HOW lDNG...0.165 0.8690 BOW IDNG WORKED IN OS? V156N l -O.:.I7U:.17 0.02566108 -10.570 0.0001 RECOOED: NIIITE/ BLOE COLLAR V157C l 0 .-f06278 0.01999255 20.321

Covariant approach of perturbations in Lovelock type brane gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagatella-Flores, Norma; Campuzano, Cuauhtemoc; Cruz, Miguel; Rojas, Efraín

2016-12-01

We develop a covariant scheme to describe the dynamics of small perturbations on Lovelock type extended objects propagating in a flat Minkowski spacetime. The higher-dimensional analogue of the Jacobi equation in this theory becomes a wave type equation for a scalar field Φ . Whithin this framework, we analyse the stability of membranes with a de Sitter geometry where we find that the Jacobi equation specializes to a Klein-Gordon (KG) equation for Φ possessing a tachyonic mass. This shows that, to some extent, these types of extended objects share the symmetries of the Dirac-Nambu-Goto (DNG) action which is by no means coincidental because the DNG model is the simplest included in this type of gravity.

A three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene structure: a highly efficient carrier of enzymes for biosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jingxing; Zhang, Tao; Hu, Chengguo; Fu, Lei

2015-01-01

In recent years, graphene-based enzyme biosensors have received considerable attention due to their excellent performance. Enormous efforts have been made to utilize graphene oxide and its derivatives as carriers of enzymes for biosensing. However, the performance of these sensors is limited by the drawbacks of graphene oxide such as slow electron transfer rate, low catalytic area and poor conductivity. Here, we report a new graphene-based enzyme carrier, i.e. a highly conductive 3D nitrogen-doped graphene structure (3D-NG) grown by chemical vapour deposition, for highly effective enzyme-based biosensors. Owing to the high conductivity, large porosity and tunable nitrogen-doping ratio, this kind of graphene framework shows outstanding electrical properties and a large surface area for enzyme loading and biocatalytic reactions. Using glucose oxidase (GOx) as a model enzyme and chitosan (CS) as an efficient molecular binder of the enzyme, our 3D-NG based biosensors show extremely high sensitivity for the sensing of glucose (226.24 μA mM-1 m-2), which is almost an order of magnitude higher than those reported in most of the previous studies. The stable adsorption and outstanding direct electrochemical behaviour of the enzyme on the nanocomposite indicate the promising application of this 3D enzyme carrier in high-performance electrochemical biosensors or biofuel cells.In recent years, graphene-based enzyme biosensors have received considerable attention due to their excellent performance. Enormous efforts have been made to utilize graphene oxide and its derivatives as carriers of enzymes for biosensing. However, the performance of these sensors is limited by the drawbacks of graphene oxide such as slow electron transfer rate, low catalytic area and poor conductivity. Here, we report a new graphene-based enzyme carrier, i.e. a highly conductive 3D nitrogen-doped graphene structure (3D-NG) grown by chemical vapour deposition, for highly effective enzyme-based biosensors. Owing to the high conductivity, large porosity and tunable nitrogen-doping ratio, this kind of graphene framework shows outstanding electrical properties and a large surface area for enzyme loading and biocatalytic reactions. Using glucose oxidase (GOx) as a model enzyme and chitosan (CS) as an efficient molecular binder of the enzyme, our 3D-NG based biosensors show extremely high sensitivity for the sensing of glucose (226.24 μA mM-1 m-2), which is almost an order of magnitude higher than those reported in most of the previous studies. The stable adsorption and outstanding direct electrochemical behaviour of the enzyme on the nanocomposite indicate the promising application of this 3D enzyme carrier in high-performance electrochemical biosensors or biofuel cells. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Procedures for CVD growth of 3D-NG, XRD and TEM measurements, a comparison with other graphene-based biosensors, a detailed study on the universality of 3D-NG as an enzyme carrier and more CV data on selectivity and stability. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05325g

2D Si island nucleation on the Si(111) surface at initial and late growth stages: On the role of step permeability in pyramidlike growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogilo, D. I.; Fedina, L. I.; Kosolobov, S. S.; Ranguelov, B. S.; Latyshev, A. V.

2017-01-01

Initial and late stages of 2D Si island nucleation and growth (2DNG) on extra-large ( 100 μm) and medium size (1-10 μm) atomically flat Si(111)-(7×7) terraces bordered by step bunches have been studied by in situ REM at T =600-750 °С. At first, the layer-by-layer 2DNG takes place on whole terraces and 2D island concentration dependence on deposition rate R corresponds to critical nucleus size i =1. Continuous 2DNG triggers morphological instabilities: elongated pyramidlike waves and separate pyramids emerge on all terraces at T ≤720 °С and T =750 °С, respectively. Both instabilities arise due to the imbalance of uphill/downhill adatom currents related with large Ehrlich-Schwöbel (ES) barriers and permeability of straight [ 11 bar 2 ] -type step edges. However, the first one is initiated by dominant downhill adatom current to distant sinks: bunches, wave's step edges, and "vacancy" islands emerging on terraces due to 2D island coalescence. As a result, top layer size decreases to the critical terrace width λ where 2DNG takes place. From the analysis of λ ∝ R - χ / 2 scaling at T =650 °C, we have found that i increases from i =2 on a three-layer wave to i =6-8 on a six-layer wave. This authenticates the significance of downhill adatom sink to distant steps related to the step permeability. The second instability type at T >720 °C is related to the raising of uphill adatom current due to slightly larger ES barrier for step-up attachment comparing to the step-down one (EES- 0.9 eV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111 (2013) 036105]). This leads to "second layer" 2D nucleation on top layers, which triggers the growth of separate pyramids. Because of small difference between ES barriers, net uphill/downhill adatom currents are nearly equivalent, and therefore layer coverage distributions of both instabilities display similar linear slopes.

Efficacy and safety of a combined oral contraceptive containing estradiol valerate/dienogest: results from a clinical study conducted in North America.

PubMed

Nelson, Anita; Parke, Susanne; Mellinger, Uwe; Zampaglione, Edio; Schmidt, Anja

2014-03-01

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing estradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG). This was a multicenter, noncomparative, 13-cycle (extended to 28 cycles) study conducted in the United States and Canada. Contraceptive efficacy was calculated as a Pearl Index for 13 cycles, based on all on-treatment pregnancies; bleeding patterns were calculated based on bleeding and spotting information recorded daily in diary cards. Safety events during a 16-month extension study were added to the 1-year data. In total, 499 women, aged 18-35 years, were enrolled, and 490 of them were included in the full analysis set for contraceptive efficacy. Five pregnancies occurred in the first year (unadjusted Pearl Index=1.64). In cycles 1-12, an average 23.5% of women had absent scheduled (withdrawal) bleeding. Among women with scheduled (withdrawal) bleeding, bleeding started after a median of 2 days after intake of the last DNG-containing pill. For safety, data included from 147 women followed over an additional 16 months were added to the original 13-cycle data set. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 51.8% of women; 14.9% discontinued because of AEs over the entire 28-month study period. A COC with E2V and DNG was shown to provide effective contraception in women aged 18-35 years in North America.

Doping and controllable pore size enhanced electrochemical performance of free-standing 3D graphene films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Liping; Qin, Kaiqiang; Li, Jiajun; Zhao, Naiqin; Shi, Chunsheng; Ma, Liying; He, Chunnian; He, Fang; Liu, Enzuo

2018-01-01

High quality free-standing 3D nanoporous graphene (3DNG) films were fabricated using nanoporous nickel as template and catalyst. The effect of heteroatom doping and pore size on the electrochemical performance of the 3D graphene films as supercapacitor electrodes are systematically studied. Compared with macroporous graphene films, nanoporous graphene films exhibit an extraordinarily large operational window in neutral, acidic and alkaline aqueous electrolytes, as well as high packing density. Nitrogen and oxygen doping play different roles in different aqueous electrolytes on the electrical conductivity and pseudocapacitance of 3DNG. The realization of both high packing density, 3.65 mg/cm2, and the maximum working window, as well as the synergistic effect between N and O doping, gives rise to a high areal capacitance of 435 mF/cm2 in neutral electrolyte and excellent cycle stability up to 5000 cycles. The results provide a potential strategy to further increase the volumetric or areal energy density of carbon-based aqueous supercapacitor.

An overview of the development of combined oral contraceptives containing estradiol: focus on estradiol valerate/dienogest

PubMed Central

Fruzzetti, Franca; Trémollieres, Florence; Bitzer, Johannes

2012-01-01

Natural estrogens such as estradiol (E2) or its valerate ester (E2V) offer an alternative to ethinyl estradiol (EE). E2-containing combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have demonstrated sufficient ovulation inhibition and acceptable contraceptive efficacy. However, earlier formulations were generally associated with unacceptable bleeding profiles. Two E2V-containing preparations have been approved to date for contraceptive use: E2V/cypro-terone acetate (CPA) (Femilar®; only approved in Finland and only in women >40 years or women aged 35–40 years in whom a COC containing EE is not appropriate) and E2V/dienogest (DNG; Qlaira®/Natazia®). The objective of the current review is to provide an overview of the development of COCs containing natural estrogen, highlighting past issues and challenges faced by earlier formulations, as well as the current status and future directions. The majority of information to date pertains to the development of E2V/DNG. PMID:22468839

Experimental and Detailed Numerical Studies of Fundamental Flame Properties of Gaseous and Liquid Fuels

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No. 0704-0188 Putk repoDng bunrds for the oosbon of •fornraon .5 estniated to aerage I hour per respose ...plied to activate the H2 /air/catalyst system and initiate the heat pro- duction, after which the system is completely self -sustaining. The use of a

Dynamic interplay between microbial denitrification and antibiotic resistance under enhanced anoxic denitrification condition in soil.

PubMed

Sun, Mingming; Ye, Mao; Liu, Kuan; Schwab, Arthur P; Liu, Manqiang; Jiao, Jiaguo; Feng, Yanfang; Wan, Jinzhong; Tian, Da; Wu, Jun; Li, Huixin; Hu, Feng; Jiang, Xin

2017-03-01

Mixed contamination of nitrate and antibiotics/antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) is an emerging environmental risk to farmland soil. This is the first study to explore the role of excessive anthropogenic nitrate input in the anoxic dissipation of soil antibiotic/ARGs. During the initial 10 days of incubation, the presence of soil antibiotics significantly inhibited NO 3 - dissipation, N 2 O production rate, and denitrifying genes (DNGs) abundance in soil (p < 0.05). Between days 10 and 30, by contrast, enhanced denitrification clearly prompted the decline in antibiotic contents and ARG abundance. Significantly negative correlations were detected between DNGs and ARGs, suggesting that the higher the DNG activity, the more dramatic is the denitrification and the greater are the antibiotic dissipation and ARG abundance. This study provides crucial knowledge for understanding the mutual interaction between soil DNGs and ARGs in the enhanced anoxic denitrification condition. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

SMARTINIT DOWNSCALING GRAPHICS

Science.gov Websites

Month: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 first prev next last SMARTINIT Verification NAM VS NEST Graphics MMB web site Model Type: PROD vs PARA DNG Plot Type: Comparison maps Difference plots Region: CONUS Nest 2.5 km South West U.S. New York, NY

A Biodegradable Implant for Restoring Bone Discontinuity Defects in Dogs,

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-01

routine physical examinations and accepted veterinary diagnostic testing. Anesthesia All animals were kept NPO for 24 hours before surgery. Benzathine...procedure until the animal was responsive. After induc- tion of anesthesia with sodium pentothal (20 mg/kg, IV), animals were Intubated and maintained...at a surgical plane of anesthesia with 2 % halo- 4 5 1’ thane and N 20/0 2 50:50 (1 liter/min). Surgery Pre-extraction Resection Th- 𔃻, dng,, wore

Characterisation of a detergent-stable alkaline protease from a novel thermophilic strain Paenibacillus tezpurensis sp. nov. AS-S24-II.

PubMed

Rai, Sudhir K; Roy, Jetendra K; Mukherjee, Ashis K

2010-02-01

An alkaline-protease-producing bacterial strain (AS-S24-II) isolated from a soil sample in Assam is a Gram-stain-positive, catalase-positive, endospore-forming rod and grows at temperatures ranging from 30 degrees C to 60 degrees C and salinity ranging from 0% to 7% (w/v) NaCl. Phenotypic characterisation, chemotaxonomic properties, presence of Paenibacillus-specific signature sequences, and ribotyping data suggested that the strain AS-S24-II represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus tezpurensis sp. nov. (MTCC 8959) is proposed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. lentimorbus strain DNG-14 and P. lentimorbus strain DNG-16 represent the closest phylogenetic neighbour of this novel strain. Alkaline protease production (598 x 10(3) U l(-1)) by P. tezpurensis sp. nov. in SmF was optimised by response surface method. A laundry-detergent-stable, Ca(2+)-independent, 43-kDa molecular weight alkaline serine protease from this strain was purified with a 1.7-fold increase in specific activity. The purified protease displayed optimum activity at pH 9.5 and 45-50 degrees C temperature range and exhibited a significant stability and compatibility with surfactants and most of the tested commercial laundry detergents at room temperature. Further, the protease improved the wash performance of detergents, thus demonstrating its feasibility for inclusion in laundry detergent formulations.

Haemostatic and metabolic impact of estradiol pills and drospirenone-containing ethinylestradiol pills vs. levonorgestrel-containing ethinylestradiol pills: A literature review.

PubMed

Lete, Iñaki; Chabbert-Buffet, Nathalie; Jamin, Christian; Lello, Stefano; Lobo, Paloma; Nappi, Rossella E; Pintiaux, Axelle

2015-01-01

Since its introduction 50 years ago, the contraceptive pill has continuously evolved to decrease the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with its use. An increased risk of VTE still remains, however. Other concerns, such as effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, have also been reported. In this study we compared two reference combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing ethinylestradiol (EE)/levonorgestrel (LNG) and EE/drospirenone (DRSP) with COCs containing estradiol (E2) (estradiol valerate [E2V]/dienogest [DNG] and E2/nomegestrol acetate [NOMAC]). They were evaluated according to their influence on recognised haemostatic and metabolic markers. A literature search of the MEDLINE/PubMed database was conducted for head-to-head studies. EE/LNG was chosen as the comparator pill. The haemostatic impact of E2 pills and EE/LNG has been extensively compared, in contrast to that of EE/DRSP and EE/LNG. Changes in haemostatic and metabolic marker levels between EE/LNG and E2V/DNG were generally not statistically significant. E2/NOMAC showed statistically significantly favourable results on haemostatic markers and had a neutral effect on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism when compared with EE/LNG. E2/NOMAC exhibits less haemostatic and metabolic impact than EE/LNG and other COCs, suggesting that it may be a promising candidate to reduce residual VTE risk associated with COC use. Confirmation from a well-powered prospective clinical trial is, however, needed.

A General Theory for the Fusion of Data.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-11-01

a real sense the developing a Grand Unified Theory of the Universe. problem of how to model the real world with all of its underscore this quest 1...al (6)h,g.k+l ’ P(Qh,gk+l With Ghg,k+lr ( S ) 8 hgk P(Wg.k+l ,hi?/O); (18)(over l (17,k.(IB)9.k.] dNg’k1 The basic internodal analysis is developed ...set c l t’ bility, developed rather complicated expressions ) o -set camp emene for combining conditional objects, not realizing the s (partial

Mammalian Toxicity of Munition Compounds. Phase 1. Acute Oral Toxicity Primary Skin and Eye Irritation, Dermal Sensitization, and Disposition and Metabolism

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-07-22

Mononitroglycerins Nitrocellulose White Phosphor 20. ABSTRACT (C^nllnu eery and Identify by block number) 0D | jSJ’TJ M73 EDITION OF I NOV 6» IS...White Phosphorus 2. Synthesis of DNGs and MNGs 3. Analysis of Chemicals . C. Acute LD D. Primary Skin and Eye Irritation E. Dermal...by the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (Radford, Virginia). 2. Synthesis of DNGs and MNGs a. 1,2-DNG: to that of Dunstan et al.— The sample was

KSC-20170217-VP_DNG03-0001_SpaceX_CRS-10_Prelaunch_News_Conference-3146081

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-02-17

In the Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media at a prelaunch news conference for the SpaceX CRS-10 commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. From left are: George Diller of NASA Communications; Dan Hartman, deputy manager for the International Space Station Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas; Jessica Jensen, director of Dragon mission management for SpaceX; and Tara Ruttley, associate scientist for the International Space Station Program at Johnson.

Failure pressures after repairs of 2-cm × 2.5-cm rhinologic dural defects in a porcine ex vivo model.

PubMed

Lin, Ryan P; Weitzel, Erik Kent; Chen, Philip G; McMains, Kevin Christopher; Chang, Daniel R; Braxton, Ernest E; Majors, Jacob; Bunegin, Leon

2016-10-01

The objective of this study was to determine failure pressures of 6 rhinologic repair techniques of large skull base/dural defects in a controlled, ex vivo model. Failure pressures of 6 dural repairs in a porcine model were studied using a closed testing apparatus; 24-mm × 19-mm dural defects were created; 40-mm × 34-mm grafts composed of porcine Duragen (Integra), fascia lata, and Biodesign (Cook) were used either with or without Tisseel (Baxter International Inc.) to create 6 repairs: Duragen/no glue (D/NG), Duragen/Tisseel (D/T), fascia lata/no glue (FL/NG), fascia lata/Tisseel (FL/T), Biodesign/no glue (B/NG), and Biodesign/Tisseel (B/T). Saline was infused at 30 mL/hour, applying even force to the underside of the graft until repair failure. Five trials were performed per repair type for a total of 30 repairs. Mean failure pressures were as follows: D/NG 1.361 ± 0.169 cmH 2 O; D/T 9.127 ± 1.805 cmH 2 O; FL/NG 0.200 ± 0.109 cmH 2 O; FL/T 7.833 ± 2.657 cmH 2 O; B/NG 0.299 ± 0.109 cmH 2 O; and B/T 2.67 ± 0.619 cmH 2 O. There were statistically significant differences between glued (Tisseel) and non-glued repairs for each repair category (p < 0.05). All glued repairs performed better than non-glued repairs. Both D/T and FL/T repairs performed better than B/T repairs. No repair tolerated pressures throughout the full range of adult supine intracranial pressure. © 2016 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

Quantifying the effect of non-Larmor motion of electrons on the pressure tensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che, H.; Schiff, C.; Le, G.; Dorelli, J. C.; Giles, B. L.; Moore, T. E.

2018-03-01

In space plasma, various effects of magnetic reconnection and turbulence cause the electron motion to significantly deviate from their Larmor orbits. Collectively these orbits affect the electron velocity distribution function and lead to the appearance of the "non-gyrotropic" elements in the pressure tensor. Quantification of this effect has important applications in space and laboratory plasma, one of which is tracing the electron diffusion region (EDR) of magnetic reconnection in space observations. Three different measures of agyrotropy of pressure tensor have previously been proposed, namely, A ∅ e , Dng, and Q. The multitude of contradictory measures has caused confusion within the community. We revisit the problem by considering the basic properties an agyrotropy measure should have. We show that A ∅ e , Dng, and Q are all defined based on the sum of the principle minors (i.e., the rotation invariant I2) of the pressure tensor. We discuss in detail the problems of I2-based measures and explain why they may produce ambiguous and biased results. We introduce a new measure AG constructed based on the determinant of the pressure tensor (i.e., the rotation invariant I3) which does not suffer from the problems of I2-based measures. We compare AG with other measures in 2- and 3-dimension particle-in-cell magnetic reconnection simulations and show that AG effectively trace the EDR of reconnection in both Harris and force-free current sheets. On the other hand, A ∅ e does not show prominent peaks in the EDR and part of the separatrix in the force-free reconnection simulations, demonstrating that A ∅ e does not measure all the non-gyrotropic effects in this case and is not suitable for studying magnetic reconnection in more general situations other than Harris sheet reconnection.

Double exposure using 193nm negative tone photoresist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ryoung-han; Wallow, Tom; Kye, Jongwook; Levinson, Harry J.; White, Dave

2007-03-01

Double exposure is one of the promising methods for extending lithographic patterning into the low k I regime. In this paper, we demonstrate double patterning of k 1-effective=0.25 with improved process window using a negative resist. Negative resist (TOK N- series) in combination with a bright field mask is proven to provide a large process window in generating 1:3 = trench:line resist features. By incorporating two etch transfer steps into the hard mask material, frequency doubled patterns could be obtained.

Families’ Experiences of Doubling Up After Homelessness

PubMed Central

Bush, Hannah; Shinn, Marybeth

2017-01-01

This study examined experiences of doubling up among families after episodes of homelessness. Doubling up refers to two or more adults or families residing in the same housing unit, which has been an increasing trend in the United States in recent decades. Within the past 14 years, the number of households containing more than one family, related or unrelated, has more than tripled. Although doubling up is increasingly common among families at all income levels, this study seeks to understand the experiences of doubling up among families who have been homeless. Through qualitative interviews with caregivers of 29 families, we analyzed advantages and disadvantages of doubling up with the caregiver’s parent, other family, and nonfamily. Experiences were rated on a four-point scale—(1) mostly negative, (2) negative mixed, (3) positive mixed, and (4) mostly positive—and coded for various positive and negative themes. Overall, we found that doubling up was a generally negative experience for families in our sample, regardless of their relationship to their hosts. Common themes included negative effects on children, undesirable environments, interpersonal tension, and feelings of impermanence and instability. For formerly sheltered families in this study, doubling up after shelter did not resolve their period of housing instability and may be only another stop in an ongoing cycle of homelessness. PMID:29326758

Selection and Evaluation of a Real Time Monitoring System for the Bigeye Bomb Fill/Close Production Facility. Phase 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-01

and ZIP Code ) 10 SOURCE OF FUNDING NU MBERS I O KUI PROGRAM PRO ECCT TASKWOKUI E L E M E N T N O . N O .I 1 2 0 N O A 5 A C C E S S I O N N OlI I1 TITLE... source of by-products formation. Generating Data for Mathematical Modeling of Real Vapor Phase Reaction Systems (tremendously speeds multi -level, multi ...SMCC-RI1 6c AD RS(Ciry,. State, and ZIP Code ) SCRRI 7b. ADDRESS (City, State, and ZIP Code ) IA!hrueýýt Proving Ground, MD 21010-54213 a.NMOFFUNI.DNG

Influence of LTB4 on CD4-, CD8- thymocytes. Evidence that LTB4 plus IL-2 generate CD8+ suppressor thymocytes involved in tolerance to self. Effect of LTB4 and IL-2 on double negative thymocytes.

PubMed

Gualde, N; Cogny van Weydevelt, F; Buffière, F; Jauberteau, M O; Daculsi, R; Vaillier, D

1991-09-01

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is produced by a large variety of cells involved in immune response and it has been demonstrated that this arachidonic acid metabolite acts as an immunomodulator. Because LTB4 and IL-2 both influence the physiology of immature cells we studied the effects of the leukotriene on double negative thymocytes. For that purpose C57 Bl/6 double negative thymocytes were treated by LTB4 plus IL-2 in the presence of either autologous or allogenic red blood cells (RBC). Then, preincubated CD4- CD8- thymocytes were cocultured with red blood cells stimulated fresh splenocytes. We observed that fresh splenocytes responding to autologous RBC were CD4+ cells and that the proliferative response of spleen lymphocytes driven by RBC was inhibited by preincubated double negative thymocytes. On the other hand a majority of double negative thymocytes overnight preincubated in vitro in the presence of both IL-2 and LTB4 give rise to CD8+ CD4- cells. Therefore we speculate that LTB4 plus IL-2 generate CD8+ suppressor thymocytes among double negative thymocytes and that these suppressive T cells are involved in tolerance to self.

Bilayer synergetic coupling double negative acoustic metasurface and cloak.

PubMed

Ma, Fuyin; Huang, Meng; Xu, Yicai; Wu, Jiu Hui

2018-04-12

In this paper, we propose a bilayer plate-type lightweight double negative metasurface based on a new synergetic coupling design concept, by which the perfect absorption, double negative bands, free manipulation of phase shifts with a 2π span and acoustic cloak can be successively realized. Firstly, the synergetic behavior between resonant and anti-resonant plates is presented to construct a bilayer unit in which each component respectively provides a pre-defined function in realizing the perfect absorption. Based on this bilayer structure, a double negative band with simultaneously negative effective mass density and bulk modulus is obtained, which, as a metasurface, can obtain continuous phase shifts almost completely covering a 2π range, thus facilitating the design of a three-dimensional (3D) acoustic cloak. In addition, based on this strong sound absorption concept, a two-dimensional (2D) omnidirectional broadband acoustical dark skin, covering between 800 to 6000 Hz, is also demonstrated through the proposed bilayer plate-type structure form. The proposed design concepts and metasurfaces have widespread potential application values in strong sound attenuation, filtering, superlens, imaging, cloak, and extraordinary wave steering, in which the attributes of strong absorption, double negative parameters or continuous phase shifts with full 2π span are required to realize the expected extraordinary physical features.

A Novel Mechanism for the Pathogenesis of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Resulting from Early Exposure to Ultraviolet Light

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

hybrid mice show a large population of cells that fluoresce with Tomato Red and few cells that fluoresce with GFP only or GFP/ Tomato Red double positive...percent of total cells Double Negative GFP Tomato Red Double Positive 15 Figure 3. Fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) shows slight...Negative Tomato Red Double Positive 17 Figure 5. Fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) shows no K14-GFP expressing cells and slight expression of

A tunable acoustic metamaterial with double-negativity driven by electromagnets

PubMed Central

Chen, Zhe; Xue, Cheng; Fan, Li; Zhang, Shu-yi; Li, Xiao-juan; Zhang, Hui; Ding, Jin

2016-01-01

With the advance of the research on acoustic metamaterials, the limits of passive metamaterials have been observed, which prompts the studies concerning actively tunable metamaterials with adjustable characteristic frequency bands. In this work, we present a tunable acoustic metamaterial with double-negativity composed of periodical membranes and side holes, in which the double-negativity pass band can be controlled by an external direct-current voltage. The tension and stiffness of the periodically arranged membranes are actively controlled by electromagnets producing additional stresses, and thus, the transmission and phase velocity of the metamaterial can be adjusted by the driving voltage of the electromagnets. It is demonstrated that a tiny direct-current voltage of 6V can arise a shift of double-negativity pass band by 40% bandwidth, which exhibits that it is an easily controlled and highly tunable acoustic metamaterial, and furthermore, the metamaterial marginally causes electromagnetic interference to the surroundings. PMID:27443196

Double layer of platinum electrodes: Non-monotonic surface charging phenomena and negative double layer capacitance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jun; Zhou, Tao; Zhang, Jianbo; Eikerling, Michael

2018-01-01

In this study, a refined double layer model of platinum electrodes accounting for chemisorbed oxygen species, oriented interfacial water molecules, and ion size effects in solution is presented. It results in a non-monotonic surface charging relation and a peculiar capacitance vs. potential curve with a maximum and possibly negative values in the potential regime of oxide-formation.

Nonlinear Modeling of Radial Stellar Pulsations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolec, R.

2009-09-01

In this thesis, I present the results of my work concerning the nonlinear modeling of radial stellar pulsations. I will focus on classical Cepheids, particularly on the double-mode phenomenon. History of nonlinear modeling of radial stellar pulsations begins in the sixties of the previous century. At the beginning convection was disregarded in model equations. Qualitatively, almost all features of the radial pulsators were successfully modeled with purely radiative hydrocodes. Among problems that remained, the most disturbing was modeling of the double-mode phenomenon. This long-standing problem seemed to be finally solved with the inclusion of turbulent convection into the model equations (Kollath et al. 1998, Feuchtinger 1998). Although dynamical aspects of the double-mode behaviour were extensively studied, its origin, particularly the specific role played by convection, remained obscure. To study this and other problems of radial stellar pulsations, I implemented the convection into pulsation hydrocodes. The codes adopt the Kuhfuss (1986) convection model. In other codes, particularly in the Florida-Budapest hydrocode (e.g. Kollath et al. 2002), used in comput! ation of most of the published double-mode models, different approximations concerning e.g. eddy-viscous terms or treatment of convectively stable regions are adopted. Particularly the neglect of negative buoyancy effects in the Florida-Budapest code and its consequences, were never discussed in the literature. These consequences are severe. Concerning the single-mode pulsators, neglect of negative buoyancy leads to smaller pulsation amplitudes, in comparison to amplitudes computed with code including these effects. Particularly, neglect of negative buoyancy reduces the amplitude of the fundamental mode very strong. This property of the Florida-Budapest models is crucial in bringing up the stable non-resonant double-mode Cepheid pulsation involving fundamental and first overtone modes (F/1O). Such pulsation is not observed in models computed including negative buoyancy. As the neglect of negative buoyancy is physically not correct, so are the double-mode Cepheid models computed with the Florida-Budapest hydrocode. Extensive search for F/1O double-mode Cepheid pulsation with the codes including negative buoyancy effects yielded null result. Some resonant double-mode F/1O Cepheid models were found, but their occurrence was restricted to a very narrow domain in the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram. Model computations intended to model the double-overtone (1O/2O) Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud, also revealed some stable double-mode pulsations, however, restricted to a narrow period range. Resonances are most likely conductive in bringing up the double-mode behaviour observed in these models. However, majority of the double-overtone LMC Cepheids cannot be reproduced with our codes. Hence, the modeling of double-overtone Cepheids with convective hydrocodes is not satisfactory, either. Double-mode pulsation still lacks satisfactory explanation, and problem of its modeling remains open.

Creating double negative index materials using the Babinet principle with one metasurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Koschny, Thomas; Soukoulis, C. M.

2013-01-01

Metamaterials are patterned metallic structures which permit access to a novel electromagnetic response, negative index of refraction, impossible to achieve with naturally occurring materials. Using the Babinet principle, the complementary split ring resonator (SRR) is etched in a metallic plate to provide negative ɛ, with perpendicular direction. Here we propose a new design, etched in a metallic plate to provide negative magnetic permeability μ, with perpendicular direction. The combined electromagnetic response of this planar metamaterial, where the negative μ comes from the aperture and the negative ɛ from the remainder of the continuous metallic plate, allows achievement of a double negative index metamaterial (NIM) with only one metasurface and strong transmission. These designs can be used to fabricate NIMs at microwave and optical wavelengths and three-dimensional metamaterials.

A Classroom Game on a Negative Externality Correcting Tax: Revenue Return, Regressivity, and the Double Dividend

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duke, Joshua M.; Sassoon, David M.

2017-01-01

The concept of negative externality is central to the teaching of environmental economics, but corrective taxes are almost always regressive. How exactly might governments return externality-correcting tax revenue to overcome regressivity and not alter marginal incentives? In addition, there is a desire to achieve a double dividend in the use of…

Characterization of circulating CD4+ CD8+ double positive and CD4- CD8- double negative T-lymphocyte in children with β-thalassemia major.

PubMed

Zahran, Asmaa M; Saad, Khaled; Elsayh, Khalid I; Alblihed, Mohamd A

2017-03-01

Infectious complications represent the second most common cause of mortality and a major cause of morbidity in β-thalassemia major (BTM), with a prevalence of 12-13%. The data on unconventional T-lymphocyte subsets in BTM children are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate and evaluate phenotypic alterations in CD4 + CD8 + double positive (DP), CD4 - CD8 - double negative (DN), and natural killer T-lymphocytes (NKT) in BTM children in comparison to healthy controls. Our case control study included 80 children with BTM and 40 healthy children as controls. Assessment of unconventional T-lymphocyte populations was done using sensitive four-color flow cytometry (FACSCalibur). Our analysis of the data showed a significantly higher frequency CD4 + CD8 + (double-positive) T cells, CD4 - CD8 - (double negative) T cells, and natural killer T cells in the peripheral blood of both BTM groups (splenectomized and non-splenectomized) as compared to healthy controls, suggesting that these cells may play a role in the clinical course of BTM. The relationship of the unconventional T-lymphocytes to immune disorders in BTM children remains to be determined. Further longitudinal study with a larger sample size is warranted to elucidate the role these cells in BTM. TRIAL NUMBER: UMIN000018950.

Double-membrane triple-electrolyte redox flow battery design

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

Yushan, Yan; Gu, Shuang; Gong, Ke

A redox flow battery is provided having a double-membrane (one cation exchange membrane and one anion exchange membrane), triple-electrolyte (one electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode, one electrolyte in contact with the positive electrode, and one electrolyte positioned between and in contact with the two membranes). The cation exchange membrane is used to separate the negative or positive electrolyte and the middle electrolyte, and the anion exchange membrane is used to separate the middle electrolyte and the positive or negative electrolyte. This design physically isolates, but ionically connects, the negative electrolyte and positive electrolyte. The physical isolation offers greatmore » freedom in choosing redox pairs in the negative electrolyte and positive electrolyte, making high voltage of redox flow batteries possible. The ionic conduction drastically reduces the overall ionic crossover between negative electrolyte and positive one, leading to high columbic efficiency.« less

Design of Miniaturized Double-Negative Material for Specific Absorption Rate Reduction in Human Head

PubMed Central

Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2014-01-01

In this study, a double-negative triangular metamaterial (TMM) structure, which exhibits a resounding electric response at microwave frequency, was developed by etching two concentric triangular rings of conducting materials. A finite-difference time-domain method in conjunction with the lossy-Drude model was used in this study. Simulations were performed using the CST Microwave Studio. The specific absorption rate (SAR) reduction technique is discussed, and the effects of the position of attachment, the distance, and the size of the metamaterials on the SAR reduction are explored. The performance of the double-negative TMMs in cellular phones was also measured in the cheek and the tilted positions using the COMOSAR system. The TMMs achieved a 52.28% reduction for the 10 g SAR. These results provide a guideline to determine the triangular design of metamaterials with the maximum SAR reducing effect for a mobile phone. PMID:25350398

Design of miniaturized double-negative material for specific absorption rate reduction in human head.

PubMed

Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2014-01-01

In this study, a double-negative triangular metamaterial (TMM) structure, which exhibits a resounding electric response at microwave frequency, was developed by etching two concentric triangular rings of conducting materials. A finite-difference time-domain method in conjunction with the lossy-Drude model was used in this study. Simulations were performed using the CST Microwave Studio. The specific absorption rate (SAR) reduction technique is discussed, and the effects of the position of attachment, the distance, and the size of the metamaterials on the SAR reduction are explored. The performance of the double-negative TMMs in cellular phones was also measured in the cheek and the tilted positions using the COMOSAR system. The TMMs achieved a 52.28% reduction for the 10 g SAR. These results provide a guideline to determine the triangular design of metamaterials with the maximum SAR reducing effect for a mobile phone.

A Double-Negative Metamaterial-Inspired Mobile Wireless Antenna for Electromagnetic Absorption Reduction.

PubMed

Alam, Touhidul; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2015-07-29

A double-negative metamaterial-inspired antenna is presented for mobile wireless applications. The antenna consists of a semi-circular radiating patch and a 3 × 4 hexagonal shaped metamaterial unit cell array in the ground plane. The antenna is fed with a 50 Ω microstrip feed line. The electric dimensions of the proposed antenna are 0.20λ × 0.26λ × 0.004λ, at the low-end frequency. The proposed antenna achieves a -10 dB impedance with a bandwidth of 2.29 GHz at the lower band and 1.28 GHz at the upper band and can operate for most of the mobile applications such as upper GSM bands, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands. The focused novelties of the proposed antenna are its small size, multi-standard operating bands, and electromagnetic absorption reduction at all the operating frequencies using the double-negative metamaterial ground plane.

What's Gender Got to Do With It? Sexual Double Standards and Power in Heterosexual College Hookups.

PubMed

Kettrey, Heather Hensman

2016-09-01

Although college hookups are typically enjoyable for both men and women, heterosexual hookups often involve inequitable power dynamics that privilege men (e.g., women perform sexual acts to please partners and/or succumb to pressure for intercourse). Some scholars have attributed this power imbalance to the traditional double standard. However, recent studies have indicated college students typically endorse egalitarian standards-and some endorse a reverse double standard in which they negatively judge men more than women for engaging in the same sexual behavior. Using Online College Social Life Survey data (N = 11,077) I examined relationships between endorsement of double standards and power in hookups. Because contemporary students often believe double standards exist in society but not in their own minds, I also examined relationships between feeling negatively judged for hooking up and power. Most respondents endorsed egalitarian standards, but women were more likely than men to feel judged for hooking up. Feeling judged was a significant predictor of power disadvantages for women and men; endorsing a double standard disparaging one's own gender was significant among men. Findings suggest contemporary relevance of the traditional double standard and highlight differences between women's and men's endorsement of double standards disparaging their own gender.

Lack of clinical AIDS in SIV-infected sooty mangabeys with significant CD4+ T cell loss is associated with double-negative T cells

PubMed Central

Milush, Jeffrey M.; Mir, Kiran D.; Sundaravaradan, Vasudha; Gordon, Shari N.; Engram, Jessica; Cano, Christopher A.; Reeves, Jacqueline D.; Anton, Elizabeth; O’Neill, Eduardo; Butler, Eboneé; Hancock, Kathy; Cole, Kelly S.; Brenchley, Jason M.; Else, James G.; Silvestri, Guido; Sodora, Donald L.

2011-01-01

SIV infection of natural host species such as sooty mangabeys results in high viral replication without clinical signs of simian AIDS. Studying such infections is useful for identifying immunologic parameters that lead to AIDS in HIV-infected patients. Here we have demonstrated that acute, SIV-induced CD4+ T cell depletion in sooty mangabeys does not result in immune dysfunction and progression to simian AIDS and that a population of CD3+CD4–CD8– T cells (double-negative T cells) partially compensates for CD4+ T cell function in these animals. Passaging plasma from an SIV-infected sooty mangabey with very few CD4+ T cells to SIV-negative animals resulted in rapid loss of CD4+ T cells. Nonetheless, all sooty mangabeys generated SIV-specific antibody and T cell responses and maintained normal levels of plasma lipopolysaccharide. Moreover, all CD4-low sooty mangabeys elicited a de novo immune response following influenza vaccination. Such preserved immune responses as well as the low levels of immune activation observed in these animals were associated with the presence of double-negative T cells capable of producing Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines. These studies indicate that SIV-infected sooty mangabeys do not appear to rely entirely on CD4+ T cells to maintain immunity and identify double-negative T cells as a potential subset of cells capable of performing CD4+ T cell–like helper functions upon SIV-induced CD4+ T cell depletion in this species. PMID:21317533

Lack of clinical AIDS in SIV-infected sooty mangabeys with significant CD4+ T cell loss is associated with double-negative T cells.

PubMed

Milush, Jeffrey M; Mir, Kiran D; Sundaravaradan, Vasudha; Gordon, Shari N; Engram, Jessica; Cano, Christopher A; Reeves, Jacqueline D; Anton, Elizabeth; O'Neill, Eduardo; Butler, Eboneé; Hancock, Kathy; Cole, Kelly S; Brenchley, Jason M; Else, James G; Silvestri, Guido; Sodora, Donald L

2011-03-01

SIV infection of natural host species such as sooty mangabeys results in high viral replication without clinical signs of simian AIDS. Studying such infections is useful for identifying immunologic parameters that lead to AIDS in HIV-infected patients. Here we have demonstrated that acute, SIV-induced CD4(+) T cell depletion in sooty mangabeys does not result in immune dysfunction and progression to simian AIDS and that a population of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells (double-negative T cells) partially compensates for CD4(+) T cell function in these animals. Passaging plasma from an SIV-infected sooty mangabey with very few CD4(+) T cells to SIV-negative animals resulted in rapid loss of CD4(+) T cells. Nonetheless, all sooty mangabeys generated SIV-specific antibody and T cell responses and maintained normal levels of plasma lipopolysaccharide. Moreover, all CD4-low sooty mangabeys elicited a de novo immune response following influenza vaccination. Such preserved immune responses as well as the low levels of immune activation observed in these animals were associated with the presence of double-negative T cells capable of producing Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines. These studies indicate that SIV-infected sooty mangabeys do not appear to rely entirely on CD4(+) T cells to maintain immunity and identify double-negative T cells as a potential subset of cells capable of performing CD4(+) T cell-like helper functions upon SIV-induced CD4(+) T cell depletion in this species.

Bias stress instability of double-gate a-IGZO TFTs on polyimide substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Won-Ju; Ahn, Min-Ju

2017-09-01

In this study, flexible double-gate thin-film transistor (TFT)-based amorphous indium-galliumzinc- oxide (a-IGZO) was fabricated on a polyimide substrate. Double-gate operation with connected front and back gates was compared with a single-gate operation. As a result, the double-gate a- IGZO TFT exhibited enhanced electrical characteristics as well as improved long-term reliability. Under positive- and negative-bias temperature stress, the threshold voltage shift of the double-gate operation was much smaller than that of the single-gate operation.

Existence domains of dust-acoustic solitons and supersolitons

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

Maharaj, S. K.; Bharuthram, R.; Singh, S. V.

2013-08-15

Using the Sagdeev potential method, the existence of large amplitude dust-acoustic solitons and supersolitons is investigated in a plasma comprising cold negative dust, adiabatic positive dust, Boltzmann electrons, and non-thermal ions. This model supports the existence of positive potential supersolitons in a certain region in parameter space in addition to regular solitons having negative and positive potentials. The lower Mach number limit for supersolitons coincides with the occurrence of double layers whereas the upper limit is imposed by the constraint that the adiabatic positive dust number density must remain real valued. The upper Mach number limits for negative potential (positivemore » potential) solitons coincide with limiting values of the negative (positive) potential for which the negative (positive) dust number density is real valued. Alternatively, the existence of positive potential solitons can terminate when positive potential double layers occur.« less

Space-coiling metamaterials with double negativity and conical dispersion

PubMed Central

Liang, Zixian; Feng, Tianhua; Lok, Shukin; Liu, Fu; Ng, Kung Bo; Chan, Chi Hou; Wang, Jinjin; Han, Seunghoon; Lee, Sangyoon; Li, Jensen

2013-01-01

Metamaterials are effectively homogeneous materials that display extraordinary dispersion. Negative index metamaterials, zero index metamaterials and extremely anisotropic metamaterials are just a few examples. Instead of using locally resonating elements that may cause undesirable absorption, there are huge efforts to seek alternative routes to obtain these unusual properties. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach for constructing metamaterials with extreme dispersion by simply coiling up space with curled channels. Such a geometric approach also has an advantage that the ratio between the wavelength and the lattice constant in achieving a negative or zero index can be changed in principle. It allows us to construct for the first time an acoustic metamaterial with conical dispersion, leading to a clear demonstration of negative refraction from an acoustic metamaterial with airborne sound. We also design and realize a double-negative metamaterial for microwaves under the same principle. PMID:23563489

21. INTERIOR, DOUBLE STAIRWAY LEADING TO MODEL HALL, DETAIL OF ...

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

21. INTERIOR, DOUBLE STAIRWAY LEADING TO MODEL HALL, DETAIL OF ONE FLIGHT (5 x 7 negative; 8 x 10 print) - Patent Office Building, Bounded by Seventh, Ninth, F & G Streets, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

Ziprasidone and amisulpride effectively treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia: results of a 12-week, double-blind study.

PubMed

Olié, Jean-Pierre; Spina, Edoardo; Murray, Stephen; Yang, Ruoyong

2006-05-01

We compared the efficacy of ziprasidone and amisulpride in the treatment of negative symptoms and overall psychopathology in subjects who had chronic schizophrenia with predominantly negative symptoms. This multicentre, 12-week, double-blind study randomly assigned subjects with predominantly negative-symptom schizophrenia [i.e. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Negative Subscale score >or=6 points greater than Positive Subscale score] to ziprasidone (40-80 mg b.i.d.; n=60) or amisulpride (50-100 mg b.i.d.; n=63). The primary efficacy variable was the change from baseline in PANSS Negative Subscale score. Secondary efficacy variables included change in scores for PANSS Total, Global Assessment of Functioning, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale derived from PANSS Total and Core, Clinical Global Impression (CGI)-Severity and CGI-Improvement. For the change in PANSS Negative Subscale score, a ratio to assess the equivalence of the treatment groups was calculated from the least squares mean changes from baseline, with equivalence claimed if the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval of the ratio exceeded 0.60. Mean daily dose, adjusted for differential numbers of subjects and differential days between visits, was 118.0 mg for ziprasidone and 144.7 mg for amisulpride. Mean PANSS Negative Subscale scores improved over the 12-week treatment period for intent-to-treat subjects, evaluable subjects (subjects with >or=4 weeks of double-blind treatment and no protocol deviations) and completers in both treatment groups. Ziprasidone demonstrated efficacy comparable to amisulpride in improving negative symptoms and global psychopathology. The groups demonstrated comparable improvements in secondary efficacy variables. Both agents were generally well tolerated, with comparably low incidences of movement disorders. In subjects with negative symptom-prominent schizophrenia, ziprasidone in mean daily doses of 118 mg was equivalent to amisulpride in mean daily doses of 148 mg in ameliorating negative symptoms and comparable in improving overall psychopathology and global illness severity.

Pseudocapacitance of MXene nanosheets for high-power sodium-ion hybrid capacitors

PubMed Central

Wang, Xianfen; Kajiyama, Satoshi; Iinuma, Hiroki; Hosono, Eiji; Oro, Shinji; Moriguchi, Isamu; Okubo, Masashi; Yamada, Atsuo

2015-01-01

High-power Na-ion batteries have tremendous potential in various large-scale applications. However, conventional charge storage through ion intercalation or double-layer formation cannot satisfy the requirements of such applications owing to the slow kinetics of ion intercalation and the small capacitance of the double layer. The present work demonstrates that the pseudocapacitance of the nanosheet compound MXene Ti2C achieves a higher specific capacity relative to double-layer capacitor electrodes and a higher rate capability relative to ion intercalation electrodes. By utilizing the pseudocapacitance as a negative electrode, the prototype Na-ion full cell consisting of an alluaudite Na2Fe2(SO4)3 positive electrode and an MXene Ti2C negative electrode operates at a relatively high voltage of 2.4 V and delivers 90 and 40 mAh g−1 at 1.0 and 5.0 A g−1 (based on the weight of the negative electrode), respectively, which are not attainable by conventional electrochemical energy storage systems. PMID:25832913

A Double-Negative Metamaterial-Inspired Mobile Wireless Antenna for Electromagnetic Absorption Reduction

PubMed Central

Alam, Touhidul; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2015-01-01

A double-negative metamaterial-inspired antenna is presented for mobile wireless applications. The antenna consists of a semi-circular radiating patch and a 3 × 4 hexagonal shaped metamaterial unit cell array in the ground plane. The antenna is fed with a 50 Ω microstrip feed line. The electric dimensions of the proposed antenna are 0.20λ × 0.26λ × 0.004λ, at the low-end frequency. The proposed antenna achieves a −10 dB impedance with a bandwidth of 2.29 GHz at the lower band and 1.28 GHz at the upper band and can operate for most of the mobile applications such as upper GSM bands, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands. The focused novelties of the proposed antenna are its small size, multi-standard operating bands, and electromagnetic absorption reduction at all the operating frequencies using the double-negative metamaterial ground plane. PMID:28793474

Double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and a “cocktail” of non-tumourous elements is a reliable, quick and easy technique for inferring methylation status in glioblastomas and other primary brain tumours

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Our aim was to develop a new protocol for MGMT immunohistochemistry with good agreement between observers and good correlation with molecular genetic tests of tumour methylation. We examined 40 primary brain tumours (30 glioblastomas and 10 oligodendroglial tumours) with our new technique, namely double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and a "cocktail" of non-tumour antigens (CD34, CD45 and CD68). We compared the results with single-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA, a recognised molecular genetic technique which we applied as the gold-standard for the methylation status). Results Double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT produced a visual separation of tumourous and non-tumourous elements on the same histological slide, making it quick and easy to determine whether tumour cell nuclei were MGMT-positive or MGMT-negative (and thereby infer the methylation status of the tumour). We found good agreement between observers (kappa 0.76) and within observer (kappa 0.84). Furthermore, double-labelling showed good specificity (80%), sensitivity (73.33%), positive predictive value (PPV, 83.33%) and negative predictive value (NPV, 68.75%) compared to MS-MLPA. Double-labelling was quicker and easier to assess than single-labelling and it outperformed quantitative computerised image analysis of MGMT single-labelling in terms of sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV. Conclusions Double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and a cocktail of non-tumourous elements provides a "one look" method for determining whether tumour cell nuclei are MGMT-positive or MGMT-negative. This can be used to infer the methylation status of the tumour. There is good observer agreement and good specificity, sensitivity, PPV and NPV compared to a molecular gold-standard. PMID:24252243

Double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and a "cocktail" of non-tumourous elements is a reliable, quick and easy technique for inferring methylation status in glioblastomas and other primary brain tumours.

PubMed

Burke, Elinor; Grobler, Mariana; Elderfield, Kay; Bond, Frances; Crocker, Matthew; Taylor, Rohan; Bridges, Leslie R

2013-06-10

Our aim was to develop a new protocol for MGMT immunohistochemistry with good agreement between observers and good correlation with molecular genetic tests of tumour methylation. We examined 40 primary brain tumours (30 glioblastomas and 10 oligodendroglial tumours) with our new technique, namely double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and a "cocktail" of non-tumour antigens (CD34, CD45 and CD68). We compared the results with single-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA, a recognised molecular genetic technique which we applied as the gold-standard for the methylation status). Double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT produced a visual separation of tumourous and non-tumourous elements on the same histological slide, making it quick and easy to determine whether tumour cell nuclei were MGMT-positive or MGMT-negative (and thereby infer the methylation status of the tumour). We found good agreement between observers (kappa 0.76) and within observer (kappa 0.84). Furthermore, double-labelling showed good specificity (80%), sensitivity (73.33%), positive predictive value (PPV, 83.33%) and negative predictive value (NPV, 68.75%) compared to MS-MLPA. Double-labelling was quicker and easier to assess than single-labelling and it outperformed quantitative computerised image analysis of MGMT single-labelling in terms of sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV. Double-labelling immunohistochemistry for MGMT and a cocktail of non-tumourous elements provides a "one look" method for determining whether tumour cell nuclei are MGMT-positive or MGMT-negative. This can be used to infer the methylation status of the tumour. There is good observer agreement and good specificity, sensitivity, PPV and NPV compared to a molecular gold-standard.

Influence of poultry litter and double cropping on soybean yield

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Continuous cultivation of mono-cropping systems coupled with inorganic fertilizer consumption has led to a decline in soil fertility, negatively influencing crop yields. Poultry litter application and double cropping are two management practices that could be used with conservation tillage to increa...

Negative tunnel magnetoresistance and differential conductance in transport through double quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trocha, Piotr; Weymann, Ireneusz; Barnaś, Józef

2009-10-01

Spin-dependent transport through two coupled single-level quantum dots weakly connected to ferromagnetic leads with collinear magnetizations is considered theoretically. Transport characteristics, including the current, linear and nonlinear conductances, and tunnel magnetoresistance are calculated using the real-time diagrammatic technique in the parallel, serial, and intermediate geometries. The effects due to virtual tunneling processes between the two dots via the leads, associated with off-diagonal coupling matrix elements, are also considered. Negative differential conductance and negative tunnel magnetoresistance have been found in the case of serial and intermediate geometries, while no such behavior has been observed for double quantum dots coupled in parallel. It is also shown that transport characteristics strongly depend on the magnitude of the off-diagonal coupling matrix elements.

Inverse Doppler Effects in Broadband Acoustic Metamaterials

PubMed Central

Zhai, S. L.; Zhao, X. P.; Liu, S.; Shen, F. L.; Li, L. L.; Luo, C. R.

2016-01-01

The Doppler effect refers to the change in frequency of a wave source as a consequence of the relative motion between the source and an observer. Veselago theoretically predicted that materials with negative refractions can induce inverse Doppler effects. With the development of metamaterials, inverse Doppler effects have been extensively investigated. However, the ideal material parameters prescribed by these metamaterial design approaches are complex and also challenging to obtain experimentally. Here, we demonstrated a method of designing and experimentally characterising arbitrary broadband acoustic metamaterials. These omni-directional, double-negative, acoustic metamaterials are constructed with ‘flute-like’ acoustic meta-cluster sets with seven double meta-molecules; these metamaterials also overcome the limitations of broadband negative bulk modulus and mass density to provide a region of negative refraction and inverse Doppler effects. It was also shown that inverse Doppler effects can be detected in a flute, which has been popular for thousands of years in Asia and Europe. PMID:27578317

Inverse Doppler Effects in Broadband Acoustic Metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, S. L.; Zhao, X. P.; Liu, S.; Shen, F. L.; Li, L. L.; Luo, C. R.

2016-08-01

The Doppler effect refers to the change in frequency of a wave source as a consequence of the relative motion between the source and an observer. Veselago theoretically predicted that materials with negative refractions can induce inverse Doppler effects. With the development of metamaterials, inverse Doppler effects have been extensively investigated. However, the ideal material parameters prescribed by these metamaterial design approaches are complex and also challenging to obtain experimentally. Here, we demonstrated a method of designing and experimentally characterising arbitrary broadband acoustic metamaterials. These omni-directional, double-negative, acoustic metamaterials are constructed with ‘flute-like’ acoustic meta-cluster sets with seven double meta-molecules; these metamaterials also overcome the limitations of broadband negative bulk modulus and mass density to provide a region of negative refraction and inverse Doppler effects. It was also shown that inverse Doppler effects can be detected in a flute, which has been popular for thousands of years in Asia and Europe.

Double negative acoustic metastructure for attenuation of acoustic emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Sanjay; Bhushan, Pulak; Prakash, Om; Bhattacharya, Shantanu

2018-03-01

Acoustic metamaterials hold great potential for attenuation of low frequency acoustic emissions. However, a fundamental challenge is achieving high transmission loss over a broad frequency range. In this work, we report a double negative acoustic metastructure for absorption of low frequency acoustic emissions in an aircraft. This is achieved by utilizing a periodic array of hexagonal cells interconnected with a neck and mounted with an elastic membrane on both ends. An average transmission loss of 56 dB under 500 Hz and an overall absorption of over 48% have been realized experimentally. The negative mass density is derived from the dipolar resonances created as a result of the in-phase movement of the membranes. Further, the negative bulk modulus is ascribed to the combined effect of out-of-phase acceleration of the membranes and the Helmholtz resonator. The proposed metastructure enables absorption of low frequency acoustic emissions with improved functionality that is highly desirable for varied applications.

Negative exchange interactions in coupled few-electron quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Kuangyin; Calderon-Vargas, F. A.; Mayhall, Nicholas J.; Barnes, Edwin

2018-06-01

It has been experimentally shown that negative exchange interactions can arise in a linear three-dot system when a two-electron double quantum dot is exchange coupled to a larger quantum dot containing on the order of one hundred electrons. The origin of this negative exchange can be traced to the larger quantum dot exhibiting a spin tripletlike rather than singletlike ground state. Here we show using a microscopic model based on the configuration interaction (CI) method that both tripletlike and singletlike ground states are realized depending on the number of electrons. In the case of only four electrons, a full CI calculation reveals that tripletlike ground states occur for sufficiently large dots. These results hold for symmetric and asymmetric quantum dots in both Si and GaAs, showing that negative exchange interactions are robust in few-electron double quantum dots and do not require large numbers of electrons.

Process variation challenges and resolution in the negative-tone develop double patterning for 20nm and below technology node

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, Sohan S.; Ganta, Lakshmi K.; Chauhan, Vikrant; Wu, Yixu; Singh, Sunil; Ann, Chia; Subramany, Lokesh; Higgins, Craig; Erenturk, Burcin; Srivastava, Ravi; Singh, Paramjit; Koh, Hui Peng; Cho, David

2015-03-01

Immersion based 20nm technology node and below becoming very challenging to chip designers, process and integration due to multiple patterning to integrate one design layer . Negative tone development (NTD) processes have been well accepted by industry experts for enabling technologies 20 nm and below. 193i double patterning is the technology solution for pitch down to 80 nm. This imposes tight control in critical dimension(CD) variation in double patterning where design patterns are decomposed in two different masks such as in litho-etch-litho etch (LELE). CD bimodality has been widely studied in LELE double patterning. A portion of CD tolerance budget is significantly consumed by variations in CD in double patterning. The objective of this work is to study the process variation challenges and resolution in the Negative Tone Develop Process for 20 nm and Below Technology Node. This paper describes the effect of dose slope on CD variation in negative tone develop LELE process. This effect becomes even more challenging with standalone NTD developer process due to q-time driven CD variation. We studied impact of different stacks with combination of binary and attenuated phase shift mask and estimated dose slope contribution individually from stack and mask type. Mask 3D simulation was carried out to understand theoretical aspect. In order to meet the minimum insulator requirement for the worst case on wafer the overlay and critical dimension uniformity (CDU) budget margins have slimmed. Besides the litho process and tool control using enhanced metrology feedback, the variation control has other dependencies too. Color balancing between the two masks in LELE is helpful in countering effects such as iso-dense bias, and pattern shifting. Dummy insertion and the improved decomposition techniques [2] using multiple lower priority constraints can help to a great extent. Innovative color aware routing techniques [3] can also help with achieving more uniform density and color balanced layouts.

Leggett-Garg tests of macrorealism for bosonic systems including double-well Bose-Einstein condensates and atom interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosales-Zárate, L.; Opanchuk, B.; He, Q. Y.; Reid, M. D.

2018-04-01

We construct quantifiable generalizations of Leggett-Garg tests for macro- and mesoscopic realism and noninvasive measurability that apply when not all outcomes of measurement can be identified as arising from one of two macroscopically distinguishable states. We show how quantum mechanics predicts a negation of the Leggett-Garg premises for strategies involving ideal negative-result, weak, and minimally invasive ("nonclumsy") projective measurements on dynamical entangled systems, as might be realized with Bose-Einstein condensates in a double-well potential, path-entangled NOON states, and atom interferometers. Potential loopholes associated with each strategy are discussed.

Correlated hydrogen bonding fluctuations and vibrational cross peaks in N-methyl acetamide: simulation based on a complete electrostatic density functional theory map.

PubMed

Hayashi, Tomoyuki; Mukamel, Shaul

2006-11-21

The coherent nonlinear response of the entire amide line shapes of N-methyl acetamide to three infrared pulses is simulated using an electrostatic density functional theory map. Positive and negative cross peaks contain signatures of correlations between the fundamentals and the combination state. The amide I-A and I-III cross-peak line shapes indicate positive correlation and anticorrelation of frequency fluctuations, respectively. These can be ascribed to correlated hydrogen bonding at C[double bond]O and N-H sites. The amide I frequency is negatively correlated with the hydrogen bond on carbonyl C[double bond]O, whereas the amide A and III are negatively and positively correlated, respectively, with the hydrogen bond on amide N-H.

CALUTRON

DOEpatents

Brobeck, W.M.; Lofgren, E.J.; Thornton, R.L.

1959-06-01

A calutron improved in liner and capacity is offered. The liner is a hollow insulated structure at high negative potential with respect to the vessel. The liner has delimiting vanes to prevent ions from one beam scattering into the receiver from another beam. The double beam-double receiver feature is thus made possible, increasing the capacity of the calutron. (T.R.H.)

Novel five-state latch using double-peak negative differential resistance and standard ternary inverter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Sunhae; Rok Kim, Kyung

2016-04-01

We propose complement double-peak negative differential resistance (NDR) devices with ultrahigh peak-to-valley current ratio (PVCR) over 106 by combining tunnel diode with conventional CMOS and its compact five-state latch circuit by introducing standard ternary inverter (STI). At the “high”-state of STI, n-type NDR device (tunnel diode with nMOS) has 1st NDR characteristics with 1st peak and valley by band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) and trap-assisted tunneling (TAT), whereas p-type NDR device (tunnel diode with pMOS) has second NDR characteristics from the suppression of diode current by off-state MOSFET. The “intermediate”-state of STI permits double-peak NDR device to operate five-state latch with only four transistors, which has 33% area reduction compared with that of binary inverter and 57% bit-density reduction compared with binary latch.

Field-induced phase transitions and enhanced double negative electrocaloric effects in (Pb,La)(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 antiferroelectric single crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuo, Fangping; Li, Qiang; Qiao, Huimin; Yan, Qingfeng; Zhang, Yiling; Xi, Xiaoqing; Chu, Xiangcheng; Long, Xifa; Cao, Wenwu

2018-03-01

Field-induced phase transitions and electrocaloric effect have been studied in (Pb,La)(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 (PLZST) antiferroelectric single crystal. Temperature dependent dielectric, Raman spectra, as well as in situ domain evolution demonstrated that the order of phase transitions during heating is in the sequence of orthorhombic antiferroelectric → tetragonal antiferroelectric → cubic paraelectric. Enhanced negative electrocaloric effect value of -3.6 °C and electrocaloric strength of 0.3 K mm/kV at 125 °C have been achieved. Double negative effects (-0.7 °C at 45 °C and -3.6 °C at 125 °C) and a relatively large positive effect (1 °C) near Curie temperature (190 °C) have been found in the PLZST single crystal. Moreover, microscopic dipoles and a phenomenological Landau-type model were employed to understand these unusual electrocaloric effects. Enhanced negative effect and the coexistence of both negative and positive effects in one material are promising for us to develop practical solid-state cooling devices with high efficiency.

Accuracy and reading time for six strategies using digital breast tomosynthesis in women with mammographically negative dense breasts.

PubMed

Tagliafico, Alberto Stefano; Calabrese, Massimo; Bignotti, Bianca; Signori, Alessio; Fisci, Erica; Rossi, Federica; Valdora, Francesca; Houssami, Nehmat

2017-12-01

To compare six strategies using digital breast tomosynthesis in women with mammographically negative dense breasts. This is a substudy of the 'ASTOUND' trial. 163 women who underwent tomosynthesis with synthetically reconstructed projection images (S-2D) inclusive of 13 (7.9%) cases diagnosed with breast cancer at histopathology after surgery were evaluated. Accuracy measures and screen-reading time of six reading strategies were assessed: (A) Single reading of S-2D alone, (B) single reading of tomosynthesis alone, (C) single reading of joint interpretation of tomosynthesis + S-2D, (D) double-reading of S-2D alone, (E) double reading of tomosynthesis alone, (F) double reading of joint interpretation of tomosynthesis + S-2D. The median age of the patients was 53 years (range, 36-88 years). The highest global accuracy was obtained with double reading of tomosynthesis + S2D (F) with an AUC of 0.979 (p<0.001) and a mean reading time of 154 s versus 34 s for the fastest strategy (single reading of S-2D alone). The AUCs for the other five strategies did not differ from each other. Double reading of tomosynthesis+ S2D had the best accuracy of six screen-reading strategies although it had the longest reading time. • Tomosynthesis acquisitions are progressively implemented with reconstructed synthesized 2D images • Double reading using S-2D plus tomosynthesis had the highest global accuracy (p<0.001). • Double reading of S-2D plus tomosynthesis increased reading time.

Negative group velocity Lamb waves on plates and applications to the scattering of sound by shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marston, Philip L.

2003-05-01

Symmetric Lamb waves on plates exhibit anomalies for certain regions of frequency. The phase velocity appears to be double-valued [M. F. Werby and H. Überall, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 111, 2686-2691 (2002)] with one of the branches having a negative group velocity relative to the corresponding phase velocity. The classification of the symmetric plate modes for frequencies appearing to have a double-valued phase velocity is reviewed here. The complication of a double-valued velocity is avoided by examining mode orthogonality and the complex wave-number spectra. Various authors have noted an enhancement in the backscattering of sound by elastic shells in water that occurs for frequencies where symmetric leaky Lamb waves (generalized to case of a shell) have contra-directed group and phase velocities. The ray diagram for negative group velocity contributions to the scattering by shells [G. Kaduchak, D. H. Hughes, and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 96, 3704-3714 (1994)] is unusual since for this type of mode the energy on the shell flows in the opposite direction of the wave vector. Circumnavigation of the shell is not required for the leaky ray to be backward directed.

Development of a digital method for neutron/gamma-ray discrimination based on matched filtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korolczuk, S.; Linczuk, M.; Romaniuk, R.; Zychor, I.

2016-09-01

Neutron/gamma-ray discrimination is crucial for measurements with detectors sensitive to both neutron and gamma-ray radiation. Different techniques to discriminate between neutrons and gamma-rays based on pulse shape analysis are widely used in many applications, e.g., homeland security, radiation dosimetry, environmental monitoring, fusion experiments, nuclear spectroscopy. A common requirement is to improve a radiation detection level with a high detection reliability. Modern electronic components, such as high speed analog to digital converters and powerful programmable digital circuits for signal processing, allow us to develop a fully digital measurement system. With this solution it is possible to optimize digital signal processing algorithms without changing any electronic components in an acquisition signal path. We report on results obtained with a digital acquisition system DNG@NCBJ designed at the National Centre for Nuclear Research. A 2'' × 2'' EJ309 liquid scintillator was used to register mixed neutron and gamma-ray radiation from PuBe sources. A dedicated algorithm for pulse shape discrimination, based on real-time filtering, was developed and implemented in hardware.

The effect of double nursing, an alternative nursing strategy for the hyper-prolific sow herd, on herd performance.

PubMed

Houben, Manon A M; Tobias, Tijs J; Holstege, Manon M C

2017-01-01

Hyper-prolific sows produce more piglets than they can suckle, as the number of milk producing teats of the sow is lower (twelve to sixteen) than the number of live born piglets per litter. Farmers and farm workers are struggling to feed this surplus of piglets. To minimize suckling piglet mortality, litter size at 24 hours after parturition should not exceed the number of functional teats of the sow. Strategies to adequately nurse or feed the surplus of piglets after 24 hours are limited and mostly restricted to either fostering piglets by other sows, supplying milk replacers (formula) or early weaning and rearing on formula. In this case report we describe the design and application of a so called 'double nursing' strategy, for which one sow simultaneously nurses two litters from birth to weaning. Piglet mortality and reproductive parameters of sows that have nursed two litters are compared, over a three year period, with those that nursed one litter. In this herd, the double nursing strategy appeared to be a successful strategy. Double nursing sows experienced a lower piglet mortality, despite the double nursing strategy. The negative effects on reproduction proved to be limited, there was a negative effect on litter size in subsequent litters, but no significant effect on the interval weaning to next conception. It has to be noted though that not all characteristics on which double nursing selection takes place, could be taken into account during statistical analyses.

Conformational changes in fragments D and double-D from human fibrin(ogen) upon binding the peptide ligand Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide.

PubMed

Everse, S J; Spraggon, G; Veerapandian, L; Doolittle, R F

1999-03-09

The structure of fragment double-D from human fibrin has been solved in the presence and absence of the peptide ligands that simulate the two knobs exposed by the removal of fibrinopeptides A and B, respectively. All told, six crystal structures have been determined, three of which are reported here for the first time: namely, fragments D and double-D with the peptide GHRPam alone and double-D in the absence of any peptide ligand. Comparison of the structures has revealed a series of conformational changes that are brought about by the various knob-hole interactions. Of greatest interest is a moveable "flap" of two negatively charged amino acids (Glubeta397 and Aspbeta398) whose side chains are pinned back to the coiled coil with a calcium atom bridge until GHRPam occupies the beta-chain pocket. Additionally, in the absence of the peptide ligand GPRPam, GHRPam binds to the gamma-chain pocket, a new calcium-binding site being formed concomitantly.

The Experiences of Women Academics at a South African University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petersen, N.; Gravett, S.

2000-01-01

Used in-depth, semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of women academics at a South African university. Found positive and negative experiences: positives included the lessening of overt discrimination and flexible work hours. Negatives included the "double workload" of traditional female duties combined with work life and…

Quality Coaching Counts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gould, Daniel

2016-01-01

Scholastic sport is a double-edged sword that can have positive or negative effects. Whether those effects are positive or negative depends on those who wield that sword--chiefly, the school's sports coach. While it is clear that coaches make a difference in ensuring that educational athletics lead to beneficial outcomes for student-athletes, a…

Role of re-screening of cervical smears in internal quality control.

PubMed Central

Baker, A; Melcher, D; Smith, R

1995-01-01

AIMS--To investigate the use of rapid re-screening as a quality control method for previously screened cervical slides; to compare this method with 10% random re-screening and clinically indicated double screening. METHODS--Between June 1990 and December 1994, 117,890 negative smears were subjected to rapid re-screening. RESULTS--This study shows that rapid re-screening detects far greater numbers of false negative cases when compared with both 10% random re-screening and clinically indicated double screening, with no additional demand on human resources. The technique also identifies variation in the performance of screening personnel as an additional benefit. CONCLUSION--Rapid re-screening is an effective method of quality control. Although less sensitive, rapid re-screening should replace 10% random re-screening and selected re-screening as greater numbers of false negative results are detected while consuming less resources. PMID:8543619

BRIEF COMMUNICATION: The negative ion flux across a double sheath at the formation of a virtual cathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McAdams, R.; Bacal, M.

2010-08-01

For the case of negative ions from a cathode entering a plasma, the maximum negative ion flux and the positive ion flux before the formation of a virtual cathode have been calculated for particular plasma conditions. The calculation is based on a simple modification of an analysis of electron emission into a plasma containing negative ions. The results are in good agreement with a 1d3v PIC code model.

Solitary waves and double layers in a dusty electronegative plasma.

PubMed

Mamun, A A; Shukla, P K; Eliasson, B

2009-10-01

A dusty electronegative plasma containing Boltzmann electrons, Boltzmann negative ions, cold mobile positive ions, and negatively charged stationary dust has been considered. The basic features of arbitrary amplitude solitary waves (SWs) and double layers (DLs), which have been found to exist in such a dusty electronegative plasma, have been investigated by the pseudopotential method. The small amplitude limit has also been considered in order to study the small amplitude SWs and DLs analytically. It has been shown that under certain conditions, DLs do not exist, which is in good agreement with the experimental observations of Ghim and Hershkowitz [Y. Ghim (Kim) and N. Hershkowitz, Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 151503 (2009)].

Application status and its affecting factors of double standard for multinational corporations in Korea.

PubMed

Ki, Myung; Choi, Jaewook; Lee, Juneyoung; Park, Heechan; Yoon, Seokjoon; Kim, Namhoon; Heo, Jungyeon

2004-02-01

We intended to evaluate the double standard status and to identify factors of determining double standard criteria in multinational corporations of Korea, and specifically those in the occupational health and safety area. A postal questionnaire had been sent, between August 2002 and September 2002, to multinational corporations in Korea. A double standard company was defined as those who answered in more than one item as adopting a different standard among the five items regarding double standard identification. By comparing double standard companies with equivalent standard companies, determinants for double standards were then identified using logistic regression analysis. Of multinational corporations, 45.1% had adopted a double standard. Based on the question naire's scale level, the factor of 'characteristic and size of multinational corporation' was found to have the most potent impact on increasing double standard risk. On the variable level, factors of 'number of affiliated companies' and 'existence of an auditing system with the parent company' showed a strong negative impact on double standard risk. Our study suggests that a distinctive approach is needed to manage the occupational safety and health for multinational corporations. This approach should be focused on the specific level of a corporation, not on a country level.

Pathogenesis of Double-Dose Proton Pump Inhibitor-Resistant Non-Erosive Reflux Disease, and Mechanism of Reflux Symptoms and Gastric Acid Secretion-Suppressive Effect in the Presence or Absence of Helicobacter pylori Infection.

PubMed

Kawami, Noriyuki; Takenouchi, Nana; Umezawa, Mariko; Hoshino, Shintaro; Hanada, Yuriko; Hoshikawa, Yoshimasa; Sano, Hirohito; Hoshihara, Yoshio; Nomura, Tsutomu; Uchida, Eiji; Iwakiri, Katsuhiko

2017-01-01

Various mechanisms have been suggested to be responsible for contributing to the occurrence of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-resistant non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). The aims of this study were to clarify the pathogenesis of PPI-resistant NERD. Fifty-three patients with NERD, who had persistent reflux symptoms despite taking double-dose PPI, were included in this study. After excluding eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and primary esophageal motility disorder, esophageal impedance-pH monitoring was carried out. In symptom index (SI)-positive patients, the mechanism of SI positivity and the percent time with intragastric pH >4 were investigated according to the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori infection. One of the 53 patients had EoE, and 4 had primary esophageal motility disorder. Twenty-three and 2 patients were SI-positive for liquid and gas-only reflux respectively. Of 17 SI-positive, H. pylori-negative patients, 5 were SI-positive for acid reflux, whereas all of the H. pylori-positive patients were SI-positive for non-acid reflux. The percent time with intragastric pH >4 was significantly lower in the H. pylori-negative patients than in the H. pylori-positive patients. The pathogenesis of double-dose PPI-resistant NERD was identified in 57%. In some of H. pylori-negative patients, acid-related symptoms were observed. However, in H. pylori-positive patients, these symptoms were excluded by taking double-dose PPI. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Identification and analysis of recombineering functions from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and their phages

PubMed Central

Datta, Simanti; Costantino, Nina; Zhou, Xiaomei; Court, Donald L.

2008-01-01

We report the identification and functional analysis of nine genes from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their phages that are similar to lambda (λ) bet or Escherichia coli recT. Beta and RecT are single-strand DNA annealing proteins, referred to here as recombinases. Each of the nine other genes when expressed in E. coli carries out oligonucleotide-mediated recombination. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing single-strand recombinase activity from diverse bacteria. Similar to bet and recT, most of these other recombinases were found to be associated with putative exonuclease genes. Beta and RecT in conjunction with their cognate exonucleases carry out recombination of linear double-strand DNA. Among four of these foreign recombinase/exonuclease pairs tested for recombination with double-strand DNA, three had activity, albeit barely detectable. Thus, although these recombinases can function in E. coli to catalyze oligonucleotide recombination, the double-strand DNA recombination activities with their exonuclease partners were inefficient. This study also demonstrated that Gam, by inhibiting host RecBCD nuclease activity, helps to improve the efficiency of λ Red-mediated recombination with linear double-strand DNA, but Gam is not absolutely essential. Thus, in other bacterial species where Gam analogs have not been identified, double-strand DNA recombination may still work in the absence of a Gam-like function. We anticipate that at least some of the recombineering systems studied here will potentiate oligonucleotide and double-strand DNA-mediated recombineering in their native or related bacteria. PMID:18230724

Electrochemical cell

DOEpatents

Redey, L.I.; Myles, K.M.; Vissers, D.R.; Prakash, J.

1996-07-02

An electrochemical cell is described with a positive electrode having an electrochemically active layer of at least one transition metal chloride. A negative electrode of an alkali metal and a compatible electrolyte including an alkali metal salt molten at cell operating temperature is included in the cell. The electrolyte is present at least partially as a corrugated {beta}{double_prime} alumina tube surrounding the negative electrode interior to the positive electrode. The ratio of the volume of liquid electrolyte to the volume of the positive electrode is in the range of from about 0.1 to about 3. A plurality of stacked electrochemical cells is disclosed each having a positive electrode, a negative electrode of an alkali metal molten at cell operating temperature, and a compatible electrolyte. The electrolyte is at least partially present as a corrugated {beta}{double_prime} alumina sheet separating the negative electrode and interior to the positive electrodes. The alkali metal is retained in a porous electrically conductive ceramic, and seals for sealing the junctures of the electrolyte and the adjacent electrodes at the peripheries thereof. 8 figs.

AtrbohD and AtrbohF negatively regulate lateral root development by changing the localized accumulation of superoxide in primary roots of Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Li, Ning; Sun, Lirong; Zhang, Liyue; Song, Yalin; Hu, Panpan; Li, Cui; Hao, Fu Shun

2015-03-01

NADPH oxidase AtrbohD an d AtrbohF negatively modulate lateral root development by changing the peroxidase activity and increasing the local generation of superoxide in primary roots of Arabidopsis in an auxin-independent manner. NADPH oxidase subunits AtrbohD and AtrbohF play pivotal roles in regulating growth, development and stress responses in Arabidopsis. However, whether they modulate lateral root (LR) formation has not yet been addressed, and the detailed mechanisms underlying the process remain unanswered. Here, we show that two null double mutants atrbohD1/F1 and atrbohD2/F2, in which both AtrbohD and AtrbohF genes are disrupted, had remarkably higher LR density than wild-type (WT), or the single mutant atrbohD1 and atrbohF1. Compared to WT, the double mutants exhibited early emerged LRs and enhanced density of lateral root primordia (LRP). Unexpectedly, the production of superoxide (O2 (-)), but not hydrogen peroxide, in the mature area of the primary root containing LRs significantly increased in the double mutants relative to that in WT. Further experiments revealed that the local accumulation of O2 (-) led to the enhancement of LR density in the double mutants. Moreover, the deficiency of AtrbohD and AtrbohF caused a marked increase in peroxidase activity in the mature root zone, which contributed to the localized accumulation of O2 (-) and the elevated LR density in the double mutants. Furthermore, the double mutants were not sensitive to exogenous auxin naphthalene acetic acid or auxin transport inhibitor 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid in terms of LR formation. The auxin response of LRP in vivo in atrbohD1/F1 was also similar to that in WT. Taken together, these results suggest that AtrbohD and AtrbohF negatively modulate LR development by controlling the local generation of superoxide in an auxin-independent manner. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of NADPH oxidase-mediated regulation of LR branching in Arabidopsis.

Negative differential resistance in GaN tunneling hot electron transistors

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

Yang, Zhichao; Nath, Digbijoy; Rajan, Siddharth

Room temperature negative differential resistance is demonstrated in a unipolar GaN-based tunneling hot electron transistor. Such a device employs tunnel-injected electrons to vary the electron energy and change the fraction of reflected electrons, and shows repeatable negative differential resistance with a peak to valley current ratio of 7.2. The device was stable when biased in the negative resistance regime and tunable by changing collector bias. Good repeatability and double-sweep characteristics at room temperature show the potential of such device for high frequency oscillators based on quasi-ballistic transport.

Incidence of double ovulation during the early postpartum period in lactating dairy cows.

PubMed

Kusaka, Hiromi; Miura, Hiroshi; Kikuchi, Motohiro; Sakaguchi, Minoru

2017-03-15

In lactating cattle, the incidence of twin calving has many negative impacts on production and reproduction in dairy farming. In almost all cases, natural twinning in dairy cattle is the result of double ovulation. It has been suggested that the milk production level of cows influences the number of ovulatory follicles. The objective of the present study was to investigate the incidence of double ovulations during the early postpartum period in relation to the productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows. The ovaries of 43 Holstein cows (26 primiparous and 17 multiparous) were ultrasonographically scanned throughout the three postpartum ovulation sequences. The incidence of double ovulation in the unilateral ovaries was 66.7%, with a higher incidence in the right ovary than in the left, whereas that in bilateral ovaries was 33.3%. When double ovulations were counted dividing into each side ovary in which ovulations occurred, the total frequency of ovulations deviated from a 1:1 ratio (60.3% in the right side and 39.7% in the left side, P < 0.05). In multiparous cows, double ovulation occurred more frequently than in primiparous cows (58.8% vs. 11.5% per cow and 30.0% vs. 3.8% per ovulation, respectively P < 0.01). The double ovulators experienced more anovulatory repeated waves of follicles before their first ovulations than the single ovulators, which resulted in an extension of the period from parturition to third ovulation (81.5 days vs. 64.2 days, P < 0.05). In the multiparous cows, the double ovulators exhibited higher peak milk yield (P < 0.01) with lower milk lactose concentration (P < 0.05), indicating the prevalence of a more severe negative energy balance during the postpartum 3-month compared to the multiparous single ovulators. Our results showed that, regardless of their parity, double ovulation had no impact on the reproductive performance of the cows. Two multiparous cows that experienced double ovulation during the early postpartum period subsequently conceived twin fetuses. It can be speculated that the incidence of double ovulations during the early postpartum period partly contributes to the increased incidence of undesirable twin births in multiparous dairy cows. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

From Sunshine to Double Arrows: An Evaluation Window Account of Negative Compatibility Effects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klauer, Karl Christoph; Dittrich, Kerstin

2010-01-01

In category priming, target stimuli are to be sorted into 2 categories. Prime stimuli preceding targets typically facilitate processing of targets when primes and targets are members of the same category, relative to the case in which both stem from different categories, a positive compatibility effect (PCE). But negative compatibility effects…

Instantaneous Normal Modes and the Protein Glass Transition

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

Schulz, Roland; Krishnan, Marimuthu; Daidone, Isabella

2009-01-01

In the instantaneous normal mode method, normal mode analysis is performed at instantaneous configurations of a condensed-phase system, leading to modes with negative eigenvalues. These negative modes provide a means of characterizing local anharmonicities of the potential energy surface. Here, we apply instantaneous normal mode to analyze temperature-dependent diffusive dynamics in molecular dynamics simulations of a small protein (a scorpion toxin). Those characteristics of the negative modes are determined that correlate with the dynamical (or glass) transition behavior of the protein, as manifested as an increase in the gradient with T of the average atomic mean-square displacement at ~ 220more » K. The number of negative eigenvalues shows no transition with temperature. Further, although filtering the negative modes to retain only those with eigenvectors corresponding to double-well potentials does reveal a transition in the hydration water, again, no transition in the protein is seen. However, additional filtering of the protein double-well modes, so as to retain only those that, on energy minimization, escape to different regions of configurational space, finally leads to clear protein dynamical transition behavior. Partial minimization of instantaneous configurations is also found to remove nondiffusive imaginary modes. In summary, examination of the form of negative instantaneous normal modes is shown to furnish a physical picture of local diffusive dynamics accompanying the protein glass transition.« less

Instantaneous Normal Modes and the Protein Glass Transition

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

Schultz, Roland; Krishnan, Marimuthu; Daidone, Isabella

2009-01-01

In the instantaneous normal mode method, normal mode analysis is performed at instantaneous configurations of a condensed-phase system, leading to modes with negative eigenvalues. These negative modes provide a means of characterizing local anharmonicities of the potential energy surface. Here, we apply instantaneous normal mode to analyze temperature-dependent diffusive dynamics in molecular dynamics simulations of a small protein (a scorpion toxin). Those characteristics of the negative modes are determined that correlate with the dynamical (or glass) transition behavior of the protein, as manifested as an increase in the gradient with T of the average atomic mean-square displacement at 220 K.more » The number of negative eigenvalues shows no transition with temperature. Further, although filtering the negative modes to retain only those with eigenvectors corresponding to double-well potentials does reveal a transition in the hydration water, again, no transition in the protein is seen. However, additional filtering of the protein double-well modes, so as to retain only those that, on energy minimization, escape to different regions of configurational space, finally leads to clear protein dynamical transition behavior. Partial minimization of instantaneous configurations is also found to remove nondiffusive imaginary modes. In summary, examination of the form of negative instantaneous normal modes is shown to furnish a physical picture of local diffusive dynamics accompanying the protein glass transition.« less

The effects of double-shifts (15.5 hours) on sleep, fatigue and health.

PubMed

Kecklund, G; Ekstedt, M; Akerstedt, T; Dahlgren, A; Samuelson, B

2001-12-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate how "double-shifts" (15.5 hours) affects sleep, fatigue and self-rated health. The study was carried out on male construction workers of which 80% were long-distance commuters. The schedule involved two work periods and each work period involved two double shifts in a row. The subjects filled in a sleep/wake diary at 8 times across a year and a questionnaire at 3 times. They also wore an actigraph during one shift cycle. The results showed that sleepiness, and to a certain extent, mental fatigue increased during double shifts and accumulated across days. The short rest time (8.5 hours) between days caused insufficient sleep and approximately 5.5 hours of sleep was obtained between double shifts. Questionnaire data showed that complaints of insufficient sleep, exhaustion on awakening and pain symptoms increased across the year. It was concluded that a shift system involving double shifts has a negative effect on fatigue, recovery and health-related well-being.

Lymphatic and blood vessels in male breast cancer.

PubMed

Niemiec, Joanna; Sas-Korczynska, Beata; Harazin-Lechowska, Agnieszka; Martynow, Dariusz; Adamczyk, Agnieszka

2015-02-01

It is assumed that lymphatic vessels are responsible for breast cancer dissemination. In 32 male breast carcinomas we evaluated the correlation between: (i) lymphatic vessel density (LVD), distribution of podoplanin-immunostained vessels (DPV), blood vessel density (BVD), infiltration of immune cells and (ii) known clinicopathological parameters. Lymphatic and blood vessels were found in 77.8% and 100% of breast carcinomas, respectively. Double-negative estrogen and progesterone receptor tumors (ER-/PR-) presented significantly higher LVD than ER/PR positive cases, while high-grade tumors exhibited significantly higher DPV than low-grade carcinomas. We detected significantly higher frequency of vascular invasion in high-grade and double-negative carcinomas than in low-grade and ER/PR-positive ones, respectively. The relationship between high number of lymphatic vessels and high tumor grade or steroid receptor negativity might confirm the hypothesis regarding the influence of lymphangiogenesis on the formation of a more aggressive phenotype in male breast cancer. Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of reboxetine and citalopram as adjuncts to atypical antipsychotics for negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

PubMed

Usall, Judith; López-Carrilero, Raquel; Iniesta, Raquel; Roca, Mercedes; Caballero, Montserrat; Rodriguez-Jimenez, Roberto; Oliveira, Cristina; Bernardo, Miguel; Corripio, Iluminada; Sindreu, Santiago Durán; González Piqueras, Jose Carlos; Felipe, Ana Espliego; Fernandez de Corres, Blanca; Ibáñez, Angela; Huerta, Raúl

2014-06-01

In this study, we assessed the efficacy of 2 pharmacodynamically different antidepressants, citalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and reboxetine (a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), as adjunctive therapy to risperidone and olanzapine for the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. We performed a 6-month, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The recruitment period was from November 2008 to December 2011.The sample comprised 90 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria) who exhibited negative symptoms. The patients were recruited from 10 centers in different cities of the Spanish State. The primary efficacy measure was change in score on the negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) between baseline and 6-month assessment. Other efficacy measures were changes in the PANSS subscales and total score, as well as the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) subscales and total score. For statistical analysis, we employed mixed-effects models. We did not find statistically significant differences between the placebo group and the 2 treatment groups at 6-month assessments for the PANSS total (P=.6511), any PANSS subscale (negative [P=.5533], positive [P=.1723], or general psychopathology [P=.2083]), or the SANS (P= .5884). Cohen d measure showed a small effect size below the 0.5 threshold for all comparisons. In conclusion, our results do not support adjunctive use of citalopram or reboxetine with risperidone or olanzapine for the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01300364. © Copyright 2014 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Labyrinth double split open loop resonator based bandpass filter design for S, C and X-band application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, Jubaer; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Tariqul Islam, Mohammad

2018-07-01

Nested circular shaped Labyrinth double split open loop resonators (OLRs) are introduced in this article to design a triple bandpass filter for 3.01 GHz, 7.39 GHz and 12.88 GHz applications. A Rogers RT-5880 is used as a substrate to design the proposed passband filter which has a succinct structure where the attainment of the resonator is explored both integrally and experimentally. The same structure is designed on both sides of the substrate and an analysis is made on the current distribution. Based on the proposed resonator, a bandpass filter is designed and fabricated to justify the perception focusing on 3.01 GHz, 7.39 GHz and 12.88 GHz. It has also been observed by the Nicolson–Ross–Weir approach at the filtering frequencies. The effective electromagnetic parameters retrieved from the simulation of the S-parameters imply that the OLR metamaterial filter shows negative refraction bands. Having an auspicious design and double negative characteristics, this structure is suitable for triple passband filters, particularly for S, C and X-band applications.

ERP evidence for different strategies in the processing of case markers in native speakers and non-native learners

PubMed Central

Mueller, Jutta L; Hirotani, Masako; Friederici, Angela D

2007-01-01

Background The present experiments were designed to test how the linguistic feature of case is processed in Japanese by native and non-native listeners. We used a miniature version of Japanese as a model to compare sentence comprehension mechanisms in native speakers and non-native learners who had received training until they had mastered the system. In the first experiment we auditorily presented native Japanese speakers with sentences containing incorrect double nominatives and incorrect double accusatives, and with correct sentences. In the second experiment we tested trained non-natives with the same material. Based on previous research in German we expected an N400-P600 biphasic ERP response with specific modulations depending on the violated case and whether the listeners were native or non-native. Results For native Japanese participants the general ERP response to the case violations was an N400-P600 pattern. Double accusatives led to an additional enhancement of the P600 amplitude. For the learners a native-like P600 was present for double accusatives and for double nominatives. The additional negativity, however, was present in learners only for double nominative violations, and it was characterized by a different topographical distribution. Conclusion The results indicate that native listeners use case markers for thematic as well as syntactic structure building during incremental sentence interpretation. The modulation of the P600 component for double accusatives possibly reflects case specific syntactic restrictions in Japanese. For adult language learners later processes, as reflected in the P600, seem to be more native-like compared to earlier processes. The anterior distribution of the negativity and its selective emergence for canonical sentences were taken to suggest that the non-native learners resorted to a rather formal processing strategy whereby they relied to a large degree on the phonologically salient nominative case marker. PMID:17331265

Low frequency solitons and double layers in a magnetized plasma with two temperature electrons

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

Rufai, O. R.; Bharuthram, R.; Singh, S. V.

2012-12-15

Finite amplitude non-linear ion-acoustic solitary waves and double layers are studied in a magnetized plasma with cold ions fluid and two distinct groups of Boltzmann electrons, using the Sagdeev pseudo-potential technique. The conditions under which the solitary waves and double layers can exist are found both analytically and numerically. We have shown the existence of negative potential solitary waves and double layers for subsonic Mach numbers, whereas in the unmagnetized plasma they can only in the supersonic Mach number regime. For the plasma parameters in the auroral region, the electric field amplitude of the solitary structures comes out to bemore » 49 mV/m which is in agreement of the Viking observations in this region.« less

Resonant dielectric metamaterials

DOEpatents

Loui, Hung; Carroll, James; Clem, Paul G; Sinclair, Michael B

2014-12-02

A resonant dielectric metamaterial comprises a first and a second set of dielectric scattering particles (e.g., spheres) having different permittivities arranged in a cubic array. The array can be an ordered or randomized array of particles. The resonant dielectric metamaterials are low-loss 3D isotropic materials with negative permittivity and permeability. Such isotropic double negative materials offer polarization and direction independent electromagnetic wave propagation.

Measuring noise in microwave metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiltshire, M. C. K.; Syms, R. R. A.

2018-05-01

Electromagnetic metamaterials are artificially constructed media composed of arrays of electrical circuits that can exhibit electric and magnetic characteristics unlike those of any conventional materials. However, the materials are lossy and hence noisy, so that the signal-to-noise ratio in practical situations is greatly reduced. In particular, operating in the double negative region, where both the permittivity and the permeability are negative so that the refractive index is real but negative, incurs significant loss and noise penalties. In this work, we report noise measurements on a double negative metamaterial at microwave frequencies and compare them with the results of a simple model based on a transmission line loaded with lossy elements that mimic the split ring resonators and fine wires of the metamaterial. A noise source is associated with the resistive part of each element, and these are added incoherently to predict the total noise spectrum of the metamaterial. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the measurements. In particular, we find that the measured noise spectrum has contributions from both electric and magnetic noise, but is dominated by the magnetic noise. This limits possible applications, even with optimised materials, to functions that cannot be realised by conventional means.

Accreting Double White Dwarf Binaries: Implications for LISA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kremer, Kyle; Breivik, Katelyn; Larson, Shane L.; Kalogera, Vassiliki

2017-09-01

We explore the long-term evolution of mass-transferring white dwarf (WD) binaries undergoing both direct-impact and disk accretion and explore implications of such systems to gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy. We cover a broad range of initial component masses and show that these systems, the majority of which lie within the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) sensitivity range, exhibit prominent negative orbital frequency evolution (chirp) for a significant fraction of their lifetimes. Using a galactic population synthesis, we predict ˜2700 of these systems will be observable with a negative chirp of 0.1 yr-2 by a space-based GW detector like LISA. We also show that detections of mass-transferring double WD systems by LISA may provide astronomers with unique ways of probing the physics governing close compact object binaries.

Replication of tobacco mosaic virus RNA.

PubMed Central

Buck, K W

1999-01-01

The replication of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) RNA involves synthesis of a negative-strand RNA using the genomic positive-strand RNA as a template, followed by the synthesis of positive-strand RNA on the negative-strand RNA templates. Intermediates of replication isolated from infected cells include completely double-stranded RNA (replicative form) and partly double-stranded and partly single-stranded RNA (replicative intermediate), but it is not known whether these structures are double-stranded or largely single-stranded in vivo. The synthesis of negative strands ceases before that of positive strands, and positive and negative strands may be synthesized by two different polymerases. The genomic-length negative strand also serves as a template for the synthesis of subgenomic mRNAs for the virus movement and coat proteins. Both the virus-encoded 126-kDa protein, which has amino-acid sequence motifs typical of methyltransferases and helicases, and the 183-kDa protein, which has additional motifs characteristic of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, are required for efficient TMV RNA replication. Purified TMV RNA polymerase also contains a host protein serologically related to the RNA-binding subunit of the yeast translational initiation factor, eIF3. Study of Arabidopsis mutants defective in RNA replication indicates that at least two host proteins are needed for TMV RNA replication. The tomato resistance gene Tm-1 may also encode a mutant form of a host protein component of the TMV replicase. TMV replicase complexes are located on the endoplasmic reticulum in close association with the cytoskeleton in cytoplasmic bodies called viroplasms, which mature to produce 'X bodies'. Viroplasms are sites of both RNA replication and protein synthesis, and may provide compartments in which the various stages of the virus mutiplication cycle (protein synthesis, RNA replication, virus movement, encapsidation) are localized and coordinated. Membranes may also be important for the configuration of the replicase with respect to initiation of RNA synthesis, and synthesis and release of progeny single-stranded RNA. PMID:10212941

Use of polymerase chain reaction in human African trypanosomiasis stage determination and follow-up.

PubMed Central

Truc, P.; Jamonneau, V.; Cuny, G.; Frézil, J. L.

1999-01-01

Stage determination of human African trypanosomiasis is based on the detection of parasites and measurements of biological changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (concentration of white blood cells > 5 cells per mm3 and increased total protein levels). The patient is treated accordingly. Demonstration of the absence or presence of trypanosomes by the double centrifugation technique is still the only test available to clinicians for assessing treatment success. In this study, however, we evaluate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a tool for assessing the disease stage of trypanosomiasis and for determining whether treatment has been successful. All 15 study patients considered to be in the advanced stage of the disease were PCR positive; however, trypanosomes were demonstrated by double centrifugation in only 11 patients. Of the five remaining patients, who were considered to be in the early stage, PCR and double centrifugation were negative. Following treatment, 13 of the 15 second-stage patients were found to be negative for the disease in at least two samples by PCR and double centrifugation. Two others were still positive by PCR immediately and one month after the treatment. Trypanosome DNA detection using PCR suggested that the two positive patients were not cured but that their possible relapse could not be identified by a search for parasites using the double centrifugation technique. Further evaluation of the PCR method is required, in particular to determine whether PCR assays could be used in studies on patients who fail to respond to melarsoprol, as observed in several foci. PMID:10534898

Automatic auditory processing deficits in schizophrenia and clinical high-risk patients: forecasting psychosis risk with mismatch negativity.

PubMed

Perez, Veronica B; Woods, Scott W; Roach, Brian J; Ford, Judith M; McGlashan, Thomas H; Srihari, Vinod H; Mathalon, Daniel H

2014-03-15

Only about one third of patients at high risk for psychosis based on current clinical criteria convert to a psychotic disorder within a 2.5-year follow-up period. Targeting clinical high-risk (CHR) individuals for preventive interventions could expose many to unnecessary treatments, underscoring the need to enhance predictive accuracy with nonclinical measures. Candidate measures include event-related potential components with established sensitivity to schizophrenia. Here, we examined the mismatch negativity (MMN) component of the event-related potential elicited automatically by auditory deviance in CHR and early illness schizophrenia (ESZ) patients. We also examined whether MMN predicted subsequent conversion to psychosis in CHR patients. Mismatch negativity to auditory deviants (duration, frequency, and duration + frequency double deviant) was assessed in 44 healthy control subjects, 19 ESZ, and 38 CHR patients. Within CHR patients, 15 converters to psychosis were compared with 16 nonconverters with at least 12 months of clinical follow-up. Hierarchical Cox regression examined the ability of MMN to predict time to psychosis onset in CHR patients. Irrespective of deviant type, MMN was significantly reduced in ESZ and CHR patients relative to healthy control subjects and in CHR converters relative to nonconverters. Mismatch negativity did not significantly differentiate ESZ and CHR patients. The duration + frequency double deviant MMN, but not the single deviant MMNs, significantly predicted the time to psychosis onset in CHR patients. Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying automatic processing of auditory deviance, as reflected by the duration + frequency double deviant MMN, are compromised before psychosis onset and can enhance the prediction of psychosis risk among CHR patients. Copyright © 2014 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ESI-MS of Cucurbituril Complexes Under Negative Polarity.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Maria A A; Mendes, Débora C; Ramamurthy, Vaidhyanathan; Da Silva, José P

2017-11-01

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a powerful tool to study host-guest supramolecular interactions. ESI-MS can be used for detailed gas-phase reactivity studies, to clarify the structure, or simply to verify the formation of complexes. Depending on the structure of the host and of the guest, negative and/or positive ESI are used. Here we report the unexpected formation of host-guest complexes between cucurbit[n]urils (n = 7, 8, CB[n]) and amine, styryl pyridine, and styryl pyridine dimer cations, under negative ESI. Non-complexed CB[n] form double charged halide (Br - , Cl - , F - ) adducts. Under negative ESI, halide ions interact with CB[n] outer surface hydrogen atoms. One to one host-guest complexes (1:1) of CB[n] with positive charged guests were also observed as single and double charged ions under negative ESI. The positive charge of guests is neutralized by ion-pairing with halide anions. Depending on the number of positive charges guests retain in the gas phase, one or two additional halide ions are required for neutralization. Complexes 1:2 of CB[8] with styryl pyridines retain two halide ions in the gas phase, one per guest. Styryl pyridine dimers form 1:1 complexes possessing a single extra halide ion and therefore a single positive charge. Negative ESI is sensitive to small structural differences between complexes, distinguishing between 1:2 complexes of styryl pyridine-CB[8] and corresponding 1:1 complexes with the dimer. Negative ESI gives simpler spectra than positive ESI and allows the determination of guest charge state of CB[n] complexes in the gas phase. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Intracellular and non-neuronal targets of voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies

PubMed Central

Lang, Bethan; Makuch, Mateusz; Moloney, Teresa; Dettmann, Inga; Mindorf, Swantje; Probst, Christian; Stoecker, Winfried; Buckley, Camilla; Newton, Charles R; Leite, M Isabel; Maddison, Paul; Komorowski, Lars; Adcock, Jane; Vincent, Angela; Waters, Patrick; Irani, Sarosh R

2017-01-01

Objectives Autoantibodies against the extracellular domains of the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex proteins, leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) and contactin-associated protein-2 (CASPR2), are found in patients with limbic encephalitis, faciobrachial dystonic seizures, Morvan's syndrome and neuromyotonia. However, in routine testing, VGKC complex antibodies without LGI1 or CASPR2 reactivities (double-negative) are more common than LGI1 or CASPR2 specificities. Therefore, the target(s) and clinical associations of double-negative antibodies need to be determined. Methods Sera (n=1131) from several clinically defined cohorts were tested for IgG radioimmunoprecipitation of radioiodinated α-dendrotoxin (125I-αDTX)-labelled VGKC complexes from mammalian brain extracts. Positive samples were systematically tested for live hippocampal neuron reactivity, IgG precipitation of 125I-αDTX and 125I-αDTX-labelled Kv1 subunits, and by cell-based assays which expressed Kv1 subunits, LGI1 and CASPR2. Results VGKC complex antibodies were found in 162 of 1131 (14%) sera. 90 of these (56%) had antibodies targeting the extracellular domains of LGI1 or CASPR2. Of the remaining 72 double-negative sera, 10 (14%) immunoprecipitated 125I-αDTX itself, and 27 (38%) bound to solubilised co-expressed Kv1.1/1.2/1.6 subunits and/or Kv1.2 subunits alone, at levels proportionate to VGKC complex antibody levels (r=0.57, p=0.0017). The sera with LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies immunoprecipitated neither preparation. None of the 27 Kv1-precipitating samples bound live hippocampal neurons or Kv1 extracellular domains, but 16 (59%) bound to permeabilised Kv1-expressing human embryonic kidney 293T cells. These intracellular Kv1 antibodies mainly associated with non-immune disease aetiologies, poor longitudinal clinical–serological correlations and a limited immunotherapy response. Conclusions Double-negative VGKC complex antibodies are often directed against cytosolic epitopes of Kv1 subunits and occasionally against non-mammalian αDTX. These antibodies should no longer be classified as neuronal-surface antibodies. They consequently lack pathogenic potential and do not in themselves support the use of immunotherapies. PMID:28115470

Coupled Atom-Polar Molecule Condensate Systems: A Theoretical Adventure

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-14

second uses the linear-response theory more familiar to people working in the �eld of condensed-matter physics. We have introduced a quasiparticle ...picture and found that in this picture the bare EIT model in Fig. 2 (a) can be compared to a double EIT system shown in Fig. 2 (b). The quasiparticle ...energy levels consists of a particle (with positive quasiparticle energy ) and a hole (with negative quasiparticle energy) branch. The double EIT

Raloxifene as an Adjunctive Treatment for Postmenopausal Women With Schizophrenia: A 24-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Usall, Judith; Huerta-Ramos, Elena; Labad, Javier; Cobo, Jesús; Núñez, Christian; Creus, Marta; Parés, Gemma García; Cuadras, Daniel; Franco, José; Miquel, Eva; Reyes, Julio César; Roca, Mercedes

2016-01-01

The potential therapeutic utility of estrogens in schizophrenia is increasingly being recognized. Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, appears to act similarly to estrogens on dopamine and serotonin brain systems. One previous trial by our team found that raloxifene was useful to improve negative, positive, and general psychopathological symptoms, without having the negative side effects of estrogens. In this study, we assess the utility of raloxifene in treating negative and other psychotic symptoms in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia exhibiting prominent negative symptoms. This was a 24-week, randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were recruited from the inpatient and outpatient departments of Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, and Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí. Seventy postmenopausal women with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) were randomized to either adjunctive raloxifene (38 women) or adjunctive placebo (32 women). Psychopathological symptoms were assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, and 24 with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The addition of raloxifene (60mg/d) to regular antipsychotic treatment significantly reduced negative (P = .027), general (P = .003), and total symptomatology (P = .005) measured with the PANSS during the 24-week trial, as compared to women receiving placebo. Also Alogia SANSS subscale improved more in the raloxifene (P = .048) than the placebo group. In conclusion, raloxifene improved negative and general psychopathological symptoms, compared with antipsychotic medication alone, in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia. These data replicate our previous results with a larger sample and a longer follow-up. Trial registration: NCT01573637. PMID:26591005

Monolithic integration of a resonant tunneling diode and a quantum well semiconductor laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grave, I.; Kan, S. C.; Griffel, G.; Wu, S. W.; Sa'Ar, A.

1991-01-01

A monolithic integration of a double barrier AlAs/GaAs resonant tunneling diode and a GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well laser is reported. Negative differential resistance and negative differential optical response are observed at room temperature. The device displays bistable electrical and optical characteristics which are voltage controlled. Operation as a two-state optical memory is demonstrated.

Prediction of large negative shaded-side spacecraft potentials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prokopenko, S. M. L.; Laframboise, J. G.

1977-01-01

A calculation by Knott, for the floating potential of a spherically symmetric synchronous-altitude satellite in eclipse, was adapted to provide simple calculations of upper bounds on negative potentials which may be achieved by electrically isolated shaded surfaces on spacecraft in sunlight. Large (approximately 60 percent) increases in predicted negative shaded-side potentials are obtained. To investigate effective potential barrier or angular momentum selection effects due to the presence of less negative sunlit-side or adjacent surface potentials, these expressions were replaced by the ion random current, which is a lower bound for convex surfaces when such effects become very severe. Further large increases in predicted negative potentials were obtained, amounting to a doubling in some cases.

The diagnosis of chronic endometritis in infertile asymptomatic women: a comparative study of histology, microbial cultures, hysteroscopy, and molecular microbiology.

PubMed

Moreno, Inmaculada; Cicinelli, Ettore; Garcia-Grau, Iolanda; Gonzalez-Monfort, Marta; Bau, Davide; Vilella, Felipe; De Ziegler, Dominique; Resta, Leonardo; Valbuena, Diana; Simon, Carlos

2018-06-01

Chronic endometritis is a persistent inflammation of the endometrial mucosa caused by bacterial pathogens such as Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma. Although chronic endometritis can be asymptomatic, it is found in up to 40% of infertile patients and is responsible for repeated implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage. Diagnosis of chronic endometritis is based on hysteroscopy of the uterine cavity, endometrial biopsy with plasma cells being identified histologically, while specific treatment is determined based on microbial culture. However, not all microorganisms implicated are easily or readily culturable needing a turnaround time of up to 1 week. We sought to develop a molecular diagnostic tool for chronic endometritis based on real-time polymerase chain reaction equivalent to using the 3 classic methods together, overcoming the bias of using any of them alone. Endometrial samples from patients assessed for chronic endometritis (n = 113) using at least 1 or several conventional diagnostic methods namely histology, hysteroscopy, and/or microbial culture, were blindly evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction for the presence of 9 chronic endometritis pathogens: Chlamydia trachomatis, Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, Gardnerella vaginalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. The sensitivity and specificity of the molecular analysis vs the classic diagnostic techniques were compared in the 65 patients assessed by all 3 recognized classic methods. The molecular method showed concordant results with histological diagnosis in 30 samples (14 double positive and 16 double negative) with a matching accuracy of 46.15%. Concordance of molecular and hysteroscopic diagnosis was observed in 38 samples (37 double positive and 1 double negative), with an accuracy of 58.46%. When the molecular method was compared to microbial culture, concordance was present in 37 samples (22 double positive and 15 double negative), a matching rate of 56.92%. When cases of potential contamination and/or noncultivable bacteria were considered, the accuracy increased to 66.15%. Of these 65 patients, only 27 patients had consistent histological + hysteroscopic diagnosis, revealing 58.64% of nonconcordant results. Only 13 of 65 patients (20%) had consistent histology + hysteroscopy + microbial culture results. In these cases, the molecular microbiology matched in 10 cases showing a diagnostic accuracy of 76.92%. Interestingly, the molecular microbiology confirmed over half of the isolated pathogens and provided additional detection of nonculturable microorganisms. These results were confirmed by the microbiome assessed by next-generation sequencing. In the endometrial samples with concordant histology + hysteroscopy + microbial culture results, the molecular microbiology diagnosis demonstrates 75% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive and 25% negative predictive values, and 0% false-positive and 25% false-negative rates. The molecular microbiology method describe herein is a fast and inexpensive diagnostic tool that allows for the identification of culturable and nonculturable endometrial pathogens associated with chronic endometritis. The results obtained were similar to all 3 classic diagnostic methods together with a degree of concordance of 76.92% providing an opportunity to improve the clinical management of infertile patients with a risk of experiencing this ghost endometrial pathology. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Negative influence of pKa on activation energy barrier: A case study for double proton transfer reaction in inorganic acid dimers.

PubMed

Parida, Rakesh; Giri, Santanab

2018-06-15

Strength of acid can be determined by means of pK a value. Attempts have been made to find a relationship between pK a and activation energy barrier for a double proton transfer (DPT) reaction in inorganic acid dimers. Negative influence of pK a is observed on activation energy (E a ) which is contrary to the general convention of pK a . Four different levels of theories with two different basis sets have been used to calculate the activation energy barrier of the DPT reaction in inorganic acid dimers. A model based on first and second order polynomial has been created to find the relationship between activation energy for DPT reaction. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Accreting Double White Dwarf Binaries: Implications for LISA

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

Kremer, Kyle; Breivik, Katelyn; Larson, Shane L.

We explore the long-term evolution of mass-transferring white dwarf (WD) binaries undergoing both direct-impact and disk accretion and explore implications of such systems to gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy. We cover a broad range of initial component masses and show that these systems, the majority of which lie within the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna ( LISA ) sensitivity range, exhibit prominent negative orbital frequency evolution (chirp) for a significant fraction of their lifetimes. Using a galactic population synthesis, we predict ∼2700 of these systems will be observable with a negative chirp of 0.1 yr{sup −2} by a space-based GW detector like LISAmore » . We also show that detections of mass-transferring double WD systems by LISA may provide astronomers with unique ways of probing the physics governing close compact object binaries.« less

Variable N-type negative resistance in an injection-gated double-injection diode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kapoor, A. K.; Henderson, H. T.

1981-01-01

Double-injection (DI) switching devices consist of p+ and n+ contacts (for hole and electron injection, respectively), separated by a near intrinsic semiconductor region containing deep traps. Under proper conditions, these devices exhibit S-type differential negative resistance (DNR) similar to silicon-controlled rectifiers. With the added influence of a p+ gate appropriately placed between the anode (p+) and cathode (n+), the current-voltage characteristic of the device has been manipulated for the first time to exhibit a variable N-type DNR. The anode current and the anode-to-cathode voltage levels at which this N-type DNR is observed can be varied by changing the gate-to-cathode bias. In essence, the classical S-type DI diode can be electronically transformed into an N-type diode. A first-order phenomenological model is proposed for the N-type DNR.

Interlayer tunneling in double-layer quantum hall pseudoferromagnets.

PubMed

Balents, L; Radzihovsky, L

2001-02-26

We show that the interlayer tunneling I-V in double-layer quantum Hall states displays a rich behavior which depends on the relative magnitude of sample size, voltage length scale, current screening, disorder, and thermal lengths. For weak tunneling, we predict a negative differential conductance of a power-law shape crossing over to a sharp zero-bias peak. An in-plane magnetic field splits this zero-bias peak, leading instead to a "derivative" feature at V(B)(B(parallel)) = 2 pi Planck's over 2 pi upsilon B(parallel)d/e phi(0), which gives a direct measurement of the dispersion of the Goldstone mode corresponding to the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the double-layer Hall state.

High-voltage supply for neutron tubes in well-logging applications

DOEpatents

Humphreys, D.R.

1982-09-15

A high voltage supply is provided for a neutron tube used in well logging. The biased pulse supply of the invention combines DC and full pulse techniques and produces a target voltage comprising a substantial negative DC bias component on which is superimposed a pulse whose negative peak provides the desired negative voltage level for the neutron tube. The target voltage is preferably generated using voltage doubling techniques and employing a voltage source which generates bipolar pulse pairs having an amplitude corresponding to the DC bias level.

Low-loss multilayered metamaterial exhibiting a negative index of refraction at visible wavelengths.

PubMed

García-Meca, Carlos; Hurtado, Juan; Martí, Javier; Martínez, Alejandro; Dickson, Wayne; Zayats, Anatoly V

2011-02-11

We experimentally demonstrate a low-loss multilayered metamaterial exhibiting a double-negative refractive index in the visible spectral range. To this end, we exploit a second-order magnetic resonance of the so-called fishnet structure. The low-loss nature of the employed magnetic resonance, together with the effect of the interacting adjacent layers, results in a figure of merit as high as 3.34. A wide spectral range of negative index is achieved, covering the wavelength region between 620 and 806 nm with only two different designs.

High voltage supply for neutron tubes in well logging applications

DOEpatents

Humphreys, D. Russell

1989-01-01

A high voltage supply is provided for a neutron tube used in well logging. The "biased pulse" supply of the invention combines DC and "full pulse" techniques and produces a target voltage comprising a substantial negative DC bias component on which is superimposed a pulse whose negative peak provides the desired negative voltage level for the neutron tube. The target voltage is preferably generated using voltage doubling techniques and employing a voltage source which generates bipolar pulse pairs having an amplitude corresponding to the DC bias level.

Full counting statistics in a serially coupled double quantum dot system with spin-orbit coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qiang; Xue, Hai-Bin; Xie, Hai-Qing

2018-04-01

We study the full counting statistics of electron transport through a serially coupled double quantum dot (QD) system with spin-orbit coupling (SOC) weakly coupled to two electrodes. We demonstrate that the spin polarizations of the source and drain electrodes determine whether the shot noise maintains super-Poissonian distribution, and whether the sign transitions of the skewness from positive to negative values and of the kurtosis from negative to positive values take place. In particular, the interplay between the spin polarizations of the source and drain electrodes and the magnitude of the external magnetic field, can give rise to a gate-voltage-tunable strong negative differential conductance (NDC) and the shot noise in this NDC region is significantly enhanced. Importantly, for a given SOC parameter, the obvious variation of the high-order current cumulants as a function of the energy-level detuning in a certain range, especially the dip position of the Fano factor of the skewness can be used to qualitatively extract the information about the magnitude of the SOC.

Minority stressors and dual identities: an analysis of lesbians' expressive writing journals.

PubMed

Braitman, Abby L; Lewis, Robin J; Derlega, Valerian J; Wilson, Stacie A

2008-01-01

The purpose of the current study was to examine the content of the expressive writing journals of female sexual minorities. In addition, the relationship between the content of expressive writing journals and mood and perceived stress measured two months later was examined. Journal content was also examined as a function of demographic characteristics. Thirty-nine participants each wrote a total of six journal entries about significant stressful or traumatic events or recurring problems they have experienced as lesbians. Topics that participants wrote about were differentness, leading a double life, coming out, discrimination, rejection, fears of rejection and safety, self-acceptance, and same- and opposite-sex intimate experiences. Themes of feeling different, negative coming out experiences, and negative same-sex intimate experiences were associated with more psychological distress two months after the expressive writing exercise. Occupational level was associated with themes related to leading a double life and negative same-sex and coming out experiences. These results are considered in light of the unique minority stressors experienced by lesbians as well as the difficulties inherent in lesbians having ties to both lesbian and heterosexual cultures.

Human papillomavirus status and the relative biological effectiveness of proton radiotherapy in head and neck cancer cells.

PubMed

Wang, Li; Wang, Xiaochun; Li, Yuting; Han, Shichao; Zhu, Jinming; Wang, Xiaofang; Molkentine, David P; Blanchard, Pierre; Yang, Yining; Zhang, Ruiping; Sahoo, Narayan; Gillin, Michael; Zhu, Xiaorong Ronald; Zhang, Xiaodong; Myers, Jeffrey N; Frank, Steven J

2017-04-01

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal carcinomas response better to X-ray therapy (XRT) than HPV-negative disease. Whether HPV status influences the sensitivity of head and neck cancer cells to proton therapy or the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of protons versus XRT is unknown. Clonogenic survival was used to calculate the RBE; immunocytochemical analysis and neutral comet assay were used to evaluate unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks. HPV-positive cells were more sensitive to protons and the unrepaired double-strand breaks were more numerous in HPV-positive cells than in HPV-negative cells (p < .001). Protons killed more cells than did XRT at all fraction sizes (all RBEs > 1.06). Cell line type and radiation fraction size influenced the RBE. HPV-positive cells were more sensitive to protons than HPV-negative cells maybe through the effects of HPV on DNA damage and repair. The RBE for protons depends more on cell type and fraction size than on HPV status. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 708-715, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A new type of high energy asymmetric capacitor with nanoporous carbon electrodes in aqueous electrolyte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khomenko, V.; Raymundo-Piñero, E.; Béguin, F.

A new type of low cost and high energy asymmetric capacitor based on only activated carbons for both electrodes has been developed in a safe and environment friendly aqueous electrolyte. In such electrolyte, the charges are stored in the electrical double-layer and through fast faradaic charge transfer processes. By taking profit of different redox reactions occurring in the positive and negative ranges of potential, it is possible to optimize the capacitor either by balancing the mass of the electrodes or by using different optimized carbons for the positive and negative electrodes. The best results are obtained in the latter case, by utilizing different pseudo-faradaic properties of carbons in order to increase the capacitance and to shift the potentials of water decomposition and destructive oxidation of activated carbon to more negative and positive values, respectively. After an additional adjustment of potentials by mass-balancing the two electrodes, the electrochemical capacitor can be reversibly charged/discharged at 1.6 V in aqueous medium, with energy densities close to the values obtained with electrical double-layer capacitors working in organic electrolytes, while avoiding their disadvantages.

Important parameters affecting the cell voltage of aqueous electrical double-layer capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Tzu-Ho; Hsu, Chun-Tsung; Hu, Chi-Chang; Hardwick, Laurence J.

2013-11-01

This study discusses and demonstrates how the open-circuit potential and charges stored in the working potential window on positive and negative electrodes affect the cell voltage of carbon-based electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) in aqueous electrolytes. An EDLC consisting of two activated carbon electrodes is employed as the model system for identifying these key parameters although the potential window of water decomposition can be simply determined by voltammetric methods. First, the capacitive performances of an EDLC with the same charge on positive and negative electrodes are evaluated by cyclic voltammetric, charge-discharge, electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) analyses, and inductance-capacitance-resistance meter (LCR meter). The principles for obtaining the highest acceptable cell voltage of such symmetric ECs with excellent reversibility and capacitor-like behaviour are proposed. Aqueous charge-balanced EDLCs can be operated as high as 2.0 V with high energy efficiency (about 90%) and only 4% capacitance loss after the 600-cycle stability checking. The necessity of charge balance (but not capacitance balance) for positive and negative electrodes is substantiated from the lower acceptable cell voltage of charge-unbalanced EDLCs.

Electron kinetics at the plasma interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bronold, Franz Xaver; Fehske, Holger; Pamperin, Mathias; Thiessen, Elena

2018-05-01

The most fundamental response of an ionized gas to a macroscopic object is the formation of the plasma sheath. It is an electron depleted space charge region, adjacent to the object, which screens the object's negative charge arising from the accumulation of electrons from the plasma. The plasma sheath is thus the positively charged part of an electric double layer whose negatively charged part is inside the wall. In the course of the Transregional Collaborative Research Center SFB/TRR24 we investigated, from a microscopic point of view, the elementary charge transfer processes responsible for the electric double layer at a floating plasma-wall interface and made first steps towards a description of the negative part of the layer inside the wall. Below we review our work in a colloquial manner, describe possible extensions, and identify key issues which need to be resolved to make further progress in the understanding of the electron kinetics across plasma-wall interfaces. Contribution to the Topical Issue "Fundamentals of Complex Plasmas", edited by Jürgen Meichsner, Michael Bonitz, Holger Fehske, Alexander Piel.

CINtec PLUS immunocytochemistry as a tool for the cytologic diagnosis of glandular lesions of the cervix uteri.

PubMed

Ravarino, Alberto; Nemolato, Sonia; Macciocu, Elena; Fraschini, Matteo; Senes, Giancarlo; Faa, Gavino; Negri, Giovanni

2012-11-01

Cytologic findings of glandular lesions of the cervix uteri are often difficult to evaluate. We studied the usefulness of CINtec PLUS p16/Ki-67 double stain (mtm laboratories, Heidelberg, Germany) for the diagnosis of glandular lesions. The study included 47 abnormal results on liquid-based cytologic tests with a subsequent histologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ or with early invasion, and 16 samples with negative results on follow-up. All samples were stained with CINtec PLUS p16/Ki-67 double stain. Of the neoplastic samples, 7 were excluded because of insufficient residual cellularity or loss of neoplastic cells. Of the samples that were adequate, 92.5% were stained with CINtec PLUS, whereas 7.5% were judged inconclusive. All inconclusive cases were at least 3 years old. Of the 16 negative samples, 15 (93.8%) stained negative and only 1 (6.2%) showed several positive clusters of cells. Our study shows that CINtec PLUS is a robust and useful tool for the diagnosis of glandular lesions of the cervix uteri.

Rolled-up nanotechnology for the fabrication of three-dimensional fishnet-type GaAs-metal metamaterials with negative refractive index at near-infrared frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rottler, Andreas; Harland, Malte; Bröll, Markus; Schwaiger, Stephan; Stickler, Daniel; Stemmann, Andrea; Heyn, Christian; Heitmann, Detlef; Mendach, Stefan

2012-04-01

We propose and demonstrate the fabrication of a three-dimensional fishnet metamaterial by utilizing rolled-up nanotechnology. It consists of 6 alternating layers of silver and (In)GaAs with an array of subwavelength holes "drilled" by focused ion beams. By means of finite-integration technique simulations, we show that the fabricated structure is a single-negative material possessing a negative real part of the refractive index in the near-infrared regime. We show that the fabricated material can be made double negative by slightly changing the size of the holes.

[Progress in the early diagnosis of cancer of the colon and rectum].

PubMed

Canessa, N; Roset, J; Boffi, A; Ferrara, J B; Galano, A; Albertengo, J C

1978-09-01

Our experience with the air contrast examination in the cancer of colon and rectum diagnoses is showed. The colaboration among radiologist, endoscopist, pathologist and surgeon is important. In the large bowel tumors diagnosis, the radiologic and endoscopic prodedures should be evaluated together. The double colonic contrast has showed in our experience, better results than with the barium enema. Over 31 patients with both studies, we obtained 13 false negatives (with barium enema, doing then the double colonic contrast became positive 12 (92.4%).

Modafinil for Clozapine-Treated Schizophrenia Patients: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial

PubMed Central

Freudenreich, Oliver; Henderson, David C.; Macklin, Eric A.; Evins, A. Eden; Fan, Xiaoduo; Cather, Cori; Walsh, Jared P.; Goff, Donald C.

2016-01-01

Background Patients with schizophrenia often suffer from cognitive deficits and negative symptoms that are poorly responsive to antipsychotics including clozapine. Clozapine-induced sedation can worsen cognition and impair social and occupational functioning. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of modafinil for negative symptoms, cognition, and wakefulness/fatigue in DSM-IV–diagnosed schizophrenia patients treated with clozapine. Method A double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dosed 8-week pilot trial was conducted between September 2003 and September 2007, adding modafinil up to 300 mg/d to stabilized schizophrenia outpatients receiving clozapine. Psychopathology, cognition, and wakefulness/fatigue were assessed with standard rating scales. Results Thirty-five patients were randomly assigned to treatment with study drug and included in the analysis. Modafinil did not reduce negative symptoms or wakefulness/fatigue or improve cognition compared to placebo. Modafinil was well tolerated and did not worsen psychosis. Conclusions Results of this pilot trial do not support routine use of modafinil to treat negative symptoms, cognitive deficits, or wakefulness/fatigue in patients on clozapine. However, given our limited power to detect a treatment effect and the clear possibility of a type II error, larger trials are needed to resolve or refute a potential therapeutic effect of uncertain magnitude. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00573417 PMID:19689921

Doubly negative isotropic elastic metamaterial for sub-wavelength focusing: Design and realization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Joo Hwan; Seung, Hong Min; Kim, Yoon Young

2017-12-01

In spite of much progress in elastic metamaterials, tuning the effective density and stiffness to desired values ranging from negatives to large positives is still difficult. In particular, simultaneous realization of double negativity and isotropy, critical in sub-wavelength focusing, is very challenging since anisotropy is usually unavoidable in resonance-based metamaterials. The main difficulty is that there is no established systematic design method for simultaneous achieving of double negativity and isotropy. Thus, we propose a unique elastic metamaterial unit cell with which simultaneous realization can be achieved by an explicit step-by-step approach. The unit cell of the proposed metamaterial can be accurately modeled as an equivalent mass-spring system so that the effective properties can be easily controlled with the design parameters. The actual realization was carried out by acquiring the desired properties in sequential steps which is in detail. The specific application for this study is on sub-wavelength focusing, which will be demonstrated by waves from a single point source focused on a region smaller than half the wavelength. Actual experiments were performed on an aluminum plate where the designed metamaterial flat lens was imbedded. The results acquired through simulations and experiments suggest potential applications of the proposed metamaterial and the systematic design approach in advanced acoustic surgery or non-destructive testing.

Preparation of PLGA/Rose Bengal colloidal particles by double emulsion and layer-by-layer for breast cancer treatment.

PubMed

Loya-Castro, María F; Sánchez-Mejía, Mariana; Sánchez-Ramírez, Dante R; Domínguez-Ríos, Rossina; Escareño, Noé; Oceguera-Basurto, Paola E; Figueroa-Ochoa, Édgar B; Quintero, Antonio; Del Toro-Arreola, Alicia; Topete, Antonio; Daneri-Navarro, Adrián

2018-05-15

The use of colloidal particles (CPs) in the transport of drugs is developing rapidly thanks to its effectiveness and biosafety, especially in the treatment of various types of cancer. In this study Rose Bengal/PLGA CPs synthesized by double emulsion (W/O/W) and by electrostatic adsorption (layer-by-layer), were characterized and evaluated as potential breast cancer treatment. CPs were evaluated in terms of size, zeta potential, drug release kinetics and cell viability inhibition efficacy with the triple negative breast cancer cell line HCC70. The results showed that both types of CPs can be an excellent alternative to conventional cancer treatment by taking advantage of the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect, manifested by solid tumors; however, the double emulsion CPs showed more suitable delivery times of up to 60% within two days, while layer-by-layer showed fast release of 50% in 90 min. Both types of CPs were capable to decrease cell viability, which encourage us to further testing in in vivo models to prove their efficacy and feasible use in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of negative capacitance effect on Germanium Double Gate pFET for enhanced immunity to interface trap charges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bansal, Monika; Kaur, Harsupreet

2018-05-01

In this work, a comprehensive drain current model has been developed for long channel Negative Capacitance Germanium Double Gate p-type Field Effect Transistor (NCGe-DG-pFET) by using 1-D Poisson's equation and Landau-Khalatnikov equation. The model takes into account interface trap charges and by using the derived model various parameters such as surface potential, gain, gate capacitance, subthreshold swing, drain current, transconductance, output conductance and Ion/Ioff ratio have been obtained and it is demonstrated that by incorporating ferroelectric material as gate insulator with Ge-channel, subthreshold swing values less than 60 mV/dec can be achieved along with improved gate controllability and current drivability. Further, to critically analyze the advantages offered by NCGe-DG-pFET, a detailed comparison has been done with Germanium Double Gate p-type Field Effect Transistor (Ge-DG-pFET) and it is shown that NCGe-DG-pFET exhibits high gain, enhanced transport efficiency in channel, very less or negligible degradation in device characteristics due to interface trap charges as compared to Ge-DG-pFET. The analytical results so obtained show good agreement with simulated results obtained from Silvaco ATLAS TCAD tool.

Light-dependent gravitropism and negative phototropism of inflorescence stems in a dominant Aux/IAA mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, axr2.

PubMed

Sato, Atsuko; Sasaki, Shu; Matsuzaki, Jun; Yamamoto, Kotaro T

2014-09-01

Gravitropism and phototropism of the primary inflorescence stems were examined in a dominant Aux/IAA mutant of Arabidopsis, axr2/iaa7, which did not display either tropism in hypocotyls. axr2-1 stems completely lacked gravitropism in the dark but slowly regained it in light condition. Though wild-type stems showed positive phototropism, axr2 stems displayed negative phototropism with essentially the same light fluence-response curve as the wild type (WT). Application of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid-containing lanolin to the stem tips enhanced the positive phototropism of WT, and reduced the negative phototropism of axr2. Decapitation of stems caused a small negative phototropism in WT, but did not affect the negative phototropism of axr2. p-glycoprotein 1 (pgp1) pgp19 double mutants showed no phototropism, while decapitated double mutants exhibited negative phototropism. Expression of auxin-responsive IAA14/SLR, IAA19/MSG2 and SAUR50 genes was reduced in axr2 and pgp1 pgp19 stems relative to that of WT. These suggest that the phototropic response of stem is proportional to the auxin supply from the shoot apex, and that negative phototropism may be a basal response to unilateral blue-light irradiation when the levels of auxin or auxin signaling are reduced to the minimal level in the primary stems. In contrast, all of these treatments reduced or did not affect gravitropism in wild-type or axr2 stems. Tropic responses of the transgenic lines that expressed axr2-1 protein by the endodermis-specific promoter suggest that AXR2-dependent auxin response in the endodermis plays a more crucial role in gravitropism than in phototropism in stems but no significant roles in either tropism in hypocotyls.

Modeling and characterization of double resonant tunneling diodes for application as energy selective contacts in hot carrier solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jehl, Zacharie; Suchet, Daniel; Julian, Anatole; Bernard, Cyril; Miyashita, Naoya; Gibelli, Francois; Okada, Yoshitaka; Guillemolles, Jean-Francois

2017-02-01

Double resonant tunneling barriers are considered for an application as energy selective contacts in hot carrier solar cells. Experimental symmetric and asymmetric double resonant tunneling barriers are realized by molecular beam epitaxy and characterized by temperature dependent current-voltage measurements. The negative differential resistance signal is enhanced for asymmetric heterostructures, and remains unchanged between low- and room-temperatures. Within Tsu-Esaki description of the tunnel current, this observation can be explained by the voltage dependence of the tunnel transmission amplitude, which presents a resonance under finite bias for asymmetric structures. This effect is notably discussed with respect to series resistance. Different parameters related to the electronic transmission of the structure and the influence of these parameters on the current voltage characteristic are investigated, bringing insights on critical processes to optimize in double resonant tunneling barriers applied to hot carrier solar cells.

Computational study of the shift of the G band of double-walled carbon nanotubes due to interlayer interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popov, Valentin N.; Levshov, Dmitry I.; Sauvajol, Jean-Louis; Paillet, Matthieu

2018-04-01

The interactions between the layers of double-walled carbon nanotubes induce a measurable shift of the G bands relative to the isolated layers. While experimental data on this shift in freestanding double-walled carbon nanotubes has been reported in the past several years, a comprehensive theoretical description of the observed shift is still lacking. The prediction of this shift is important for supporting the assignment of the measured double-walled nanotubes to particular nanotube types. Here, we report a computational study of the G-band shift as a function of the semiconducting inner layer radius and interlayer separation. We find that with increasing interlayer separation, the G band shift decreases, passes through zero and becomes negative, and further increases in absolute value for the wide range of considered inner layer radii. The theoretical predictions are shown to agree with the available experimental data within the experimental uncertainty.

A Double Decarboxylation in Superfolder Green Fluorescent Protein Leads to High Contrast Photoactivation.

PubMed

Slocum, Joshua D; Webb, Lauren J

2017-07-06

A photoactivatable variant of superfolder green fluorescent protein (GFP) was created by replacing the threonine at position 203 with aspartic acid. Photoactivation by exposure of this mutant to UV light resulted in conversion of the fluorophore from the neutral to the negatively charged form, accompanied by a ∼95-fold increase in fluorescence under 488 nm excitation. Mass spectrometry before and after exposure to UV light revealed a change in mass of 88 Da, attributed to the double decarboxylation of Glu 222 and Asp 203. Kinetics studies and nonlinear power-dependence of the initial rate of photoconversion indicated that the double decarboxylation occurred via a multiphoton absorption process at 254 nm. In addition to providing a photoactivatable GFP with robust folding properties, a detailed mechanistic understanding of this double decarboxylation in GFP will lead to a better understanding of charge transfer in fluorescent proteins.

Antimycobacterial, antimicrobial, and biocompatibility properties of para-aminosalicylic acid with zinc layered hydroxide and Zn/Al layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

PubMed Central

Saifullah, Bullo; El Zowalaty, Mohamed E; Arulselvan, Palanisamy; Fakurazi, Sharida; Webster, Thomas J; Geilich, Benjamin M; Hussein, Mohd Zobir

2014-01-01

The treatment of tuberculosis by chemotherapy is complicated due to multiple drug prescriptions, long treatment duration, and adverse side effects. We report here for the first time an in vitro therapeutic effect of nanocomposites based on para-aminosalicylic acid with zinc layered hydroxide (PAS-ZLH) and zinc-aluminum layered double hydroxides (PAS-Zn/Al LDH), against mycobacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and Gram-negative bacteria. The nanocomposites demonstrated good antimycobacterial activity and were found to be effective in killing Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A biocompatibility study revealed good biocompatibility of the PAS-ZLH nanocomposites against normal human MRC-5 lung cells. The para-aminosalicylic acid loading was quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. In summary, the present preliminary in vitro studies are highly encouraging for further in vivo studies of PAS-ZLH and PAS-Zn/Al LDH nanocomposites to treat tuberculosis. PMID:25114509

Influences of misfit strains on liquid phase heteroepitaxial growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yanli; Peng, Yingying; Yu, Genggeng; Chen, Zheng

2017-10-01

Influences of misfit strains with different signs on liquid phase heteroepitaxial growth are studied by binary phase field crystal model. It is amazing to find that double islands are formed because of lateral and vertical separation. The morphological evolution of epitaxial layer depends on signs of misfit strains. The maximum atomic layer thickness of double islands under negative misfit strain is larger than that of under positive misfit strain at the same evolutional time, and size differences between light and dark islands is much smaller under negative misfit strain than that of under positive misfit strain. In addition, concentration field and density field approximately have similar variational law along x direction under the same misfit strain but show opposite variational trend under misfit strains with different signs. Generally, free energy of epitaxial growth systems keeps similar variational trend under misfit strains with different signs.

Independent processing of changes in auditory single features and feature conjunctions in humans as indexed by the mismatch negativity.

PubMed

Takegata, R; Paavilainen, P; Näätänen, R; Winkler, I

1999-05-07

The mismatch negativity (MMN), an event-related potential component of the EEG, is elicited by violations of auditory regularities In the present study, the stimulus blocks contained two types of standard tones, differing from each other in frequency and intensity. MMNs were recorded to three different types of deviant stimuli: (a) feature deviants, differing from standards in their perceived locus of origin; (b) conjunction deviants, having the frequency of one of the standards and the intensity of the other; (c) double deviants, differing from standards in both (a) and (b). The MMN to double deviants was similar to the sum of the MMNs to feature and conjunction deviants. This result indicates that changes in simple stimulus features and conjunction of features are processed independently by the automatic sound change detection system indexed by MMN.

Performativity Double Standards and the Sexual Orientation Climate at a Southern Liberal Arts University.

PubMed

Byron, Reginald A; Lowe, Maria R; Billingsley, Brianna; Tuttle, Nathan

2017-01-01

This study employs quantitative and qualitative methods to examine how heterosexual, bisexual, and gay students rate and describe a Southern, religiously affiliated university's sexual orientation climate. Using qualitative data, queer theory, and the concept tyranny of sexualized spaces, we explain why non-heterosexual students have more negative perceptions of the university climate than heterosexual male students, in both bivariate and multivariate analyses. Although heterosexual students see few problems with the campus sexual orientation climate, bisexual men and women describe being challenged on the authenticity of their orientation, and lesbian and, to a greater extent, gay male students report harassment and exclusion in a number of settings. These distinct processes are influenced by broader heteronormative standards. We also shed much-needed light on how gendered sexual performativity double standards within an important campus microclimate (fraternity parties) contribute to creating a tyrannical sexualized space and negatively affect overall campus climate perceptions.

A carrier-based analytical theory for negative capacitance symmetric double-gate field effect transistors and its simulation verification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Chunsheng; Liang, Renrong; Wang, Jing; Xu, Jun

2015-09-01

A carrier-based analytical drain current model for negative capacitance symmetric double-gate field effect transistors (NC-SDG FETs) is proposed by solving the differential equation of the carrier, the Pao-Sah current formulation, and the Landau-Khalatnikov equation. The carrier equation is derived from Poisson’s equation and the Boltzmann distribution law. According to the model, an amplified semiconductor surface potential and a steeper subthreshold slope could be obtained with suitable thicknesses of the ferroelectric film and insulator layer at room temperature. Results predicted by the analytical model agree well with those of the numerical simulation from a 2D simulator without any fitting parameters. The analytical model is valid for all operation regions and captures the transitions between them without any auxiliary variables or functions. This model can be used to explore the operating mechanisms of NC-SDG FETs and to optimize device performance.

Computer analysis of the negative differential resistance switching phenomenon of double-injection devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shieh, Tsay-Jiu

1989-01-01

By directly solving the semiconductor differential equations for the double-injection (DI) devices involving two interacting deep levels, the authors studied the negative differential resistance switching characteristic and its relationship with the device dimension, doping level, and dependence on the deep impurity profile. Computer simulation showed that although one can increase the threshold voltage by increasing the device length, the excessive holding voltage that would follow would put this device in a very limited application such as pulse power source. The excessive leakage current in the low conductance state also jeopardizes the attempt to use the device for any practical purpose. Unless there are new materials and deep impurities found that have a great differential hole and electron capture cross sections and a reasonable energy bandgap for low intrinsic carrier concentration, no big improvement in the fate of DI devices is expected in the near future.

Septin9 is involved in T-cell development and CD8+ T-cell homeostasis.

PubMed

Lassen, Louise Berkhoudt; Füchtbauer, Annette; Schmitz, Alexander; Sørensen, Annette Balle; Pedersen, Finn Skou; Füchtbauer, Ernst-Martin

2013-06-01

SEPTIN9 (SEPT9) is a filament-forming protein involved in numerous cellular processes. We have used a conditional knock out allele of Sept9 to specifically delete Sept9 in T-cells. As shown by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, loss of Sept9 at an early thymocyte stage in the thymus results in increased numbers of double-negative cells indicating that SEPT9 is involved in the transition from the double-negative stage during T-cell development. Accordingly, the relative numbers of mature T-cells in the periphery are decreased in mice with a T-cell-specific deletion of Sept9. Proliferation of Sept9-deleted CD8(+) T-cells from the spleen is decreased upon stimulation in culture. The altered T-cell homeostasis caused by the loss of Sept9 results in an increase of CD8(+) central memory T-cells.

MOTHER-CHILD AND FATHER-CHILD PLAY INTERACTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL PLAYFULNESS AS A MODERATOR OF THE LINKS BETWEEN PARENTAL BEHAVIOR AND CHILD NEGATIVITY.

PubMed

Menashe-Grinberg, Atara; Atzaba-Poria, Naama

2017-11-01

Based on the premise that father-child play is an important context for children's development and that fathers "specialize" in play, similarities and differences in the role of playfulness in the father-child and mother-child relationship were examined. Participants in this study included 111 families (children's age: 1-3 years). Father-child and mother-child play interactions were videotaped and coded for parental playfulness, sensitivity, structuring, and nonintrusiveness as well as child negativity. Results indicated that mothers and fathers did not differ in playfulness and that mothers and fathers who were higher in playfulness had children with lower levels of negativity. However, playfulness differently moderated the links between parents' and children's behaviors for mothers and fathers. A double-risk pattern was found for mothers, such that the links between child negativity and maternal sensitivity, structuring, and nonintrusiveness were significant only for the subgroup of mothers with low levels of playfulness. When mothers had high levels of playfulness, these effects were negligible. For fathers, a double-buffer pattern was revealed, indicating that the links between child negativity and paternal sensitivity and structuring were significant only for fathers with high levels of playfulness. When fathers had low levels of playfulness, these effects were negligible. These findings demonstrate the important role that parental playfulness has on parent-child interaction as well as the need to examine moderation patterns separately for fathers and mothers. © 2017 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

Effects of dust polarity and nonextensive electrons on the dust-ion acoustic solitons and double layers in earth atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghobakhloo, Marzieh; Zomorrodian, Mohammad Ebrahim; Javidan, Kurosh

2018-05-01

Propagation of dustion acoustic solitary waves (DIASWs) and double layers is discussed in earth atmosphere, using the Sagdeev potential method. The best model for distribution function of electrons in earth atmosphere is found by fitting available data on different distribution functions. The nonextensive function with parameter q = 0.58 provides the best fit on observations. Thus we analyze the propagation of localized waves in an unmagnetized plasma containing nonextensive electrons, inertial ions, and negatively/positively charged stationary dust. It is found that both compressive and rarefactive solitons as well as double layers exist depending on the sign (and the value) of dust polarity. Characters of propagated waves are described using the presented model.

Double-survey estimates of bald eagle populations in Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anthony, R.G.; Garrett, Monte G.; Isaacs, F.B.

1999-01-01

The literature on abundance of birds of prey is almost devoid of population estimates with statistical rigor. Therefore, we surveyed bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) populations on the Crooked and lower Columbia rivers of Oregon and used the double-survey method to estimate populations and sighting probabilities for different survey methods (aerial, boat, vehicle) and bald eagle ages (adults vs. subadults). Sighting probabilities were consistently 20%. The results revealed variable and negative bias (percent relative bias = -9 to -70%) of direct counts and emphasized the importance of estimating populations where some measure of precision and ability to conduct inference tests are available. We recommend use of the double-survey method to estimate abundance of bald eagle populations and other raptors in open habitats.

Theoretical Investigation of the NO3 Radical Addition to Double Bonds of Limonene

PubMed Central

Jiang, Lei; Wang, Wei; Xu, Yi-Sheng

2009-01-01

The addition reactions of NO3 to limonene have been investigated using ab initio methods. Six different possibilities for NO3 addition to the double bonds, which correspond to the two C–C double bonds (endocyclic or exocyclic) have been considered. The negative activation energies for the addition of NO3 to limonene are calculated and the energies of NO3-limonene radical adducts are found to be 14.55 to 20.17 kcal mol-1 more stable than the separated NO3 and limonene at the CCSD(T)/6–31G(d) + CF level. The results also indicate that the endocyclic addition reaction is more energetically favorable than the exocyclic one. PMID:19865516

Simultaneous control of thermoelectric properties in p- and n-type materials by electric double-layer gating: New design for thermoelectric device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takayanagi, Ryohei; Fujii, Takenori; Asamitsu, Atsushi

2015-05-01

We report a novel design of a thermoelectric device that can control the thermoelectric properties of p- and n-type materials simultaneously by electric double-layer gating. Here, p-type Cu2O and n-type ZnO were used as the positive and negative electrodes of the electric double-layer capacitor structure. When a gate voltage was applied between the two electrodes, holes and electrons accumulated on the surfaces of Cu2O and ZnO, respectively. The thermopower was measured by applying a thermal gradient along the accumulated layer on the electrodes. We demonstrate here that the accumulated layers worked as a p-n pair of the thermoelectric device.

Interlimb relation during the double support phase of gait: an electromyographic, mechanical and energy-based analysis.

PubMed

Sousa, Andreia S P; Silva, Augusta; Tavares, João Manuel R S

2013-03-01

The purpose of this study is to analyse the interlimb relation and the influence of mechanical energy on metabolic energy expenditure during gait. In total, 22 subjects were monitored as to electromyographic activity, ground reaction forces and VO2 consumption (metabolic power) during gait. The results demonstrate a moderate negative correlation between the activity of tibialis anterior, biceps femoris and vastus medialis of the trailing limb during the transition between mid-stance and double support and that of the leading limb during double support for the same muscles, and between these and gastrocnemius medialis and soleus of the trailing limb during double support. Trailing limb soleus during the transition between mid-stance and double support was positively correlated to leading limb tibialis anterior, vastus medialis and biceps femoris during double support. Also, the trailing limb centre of mass mechanical work was strongly influenced by the leading limbs, although only the mechanical power related to forward progression of both limbs was correlated to metabolic power. These findings demonstrate a consistent interlimb relation in terms of electromyographic activity and centre of mass mechanical work, being the relations occurred in the plane of forward progression the more important to gait energy expenditure.

Elastic superlattices with simultaneously negative effective mass density and shear modulus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solís-Mora, I. S.; Palomino-Ovando, M. A.; Pérez-Rodríguez, F.

2013-03-01

We investigate the vibrational properties of superlattices with layers of rubber and polyurethane foam, which can be either conventional or auxetic. Phononic dispersion calculations show a second pass band for transverse modes inside the lowest band gap of the longitudinal modes. In such a band, the superlattices behave as a double-negative elastic metamaterial since the effective dynamic mass density and shear modulus are both negative. The pass band is associated to a Fabry-Perot resonance band which turns out to be very narrow as a consequence of the high contrast between the acoustic impedances of the superlattice components.

New Physics of Metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhong-Yue

2014-06-01

Einstein utilized Lorentz invariance from Maxwell's equations to modify mechanical laws and establish the special theory of relativity. Similarly, we may have a different theory if there exists another covariance of Maxwell's equations. In this paper, we find such a new transformation where Maxwell's equations are still unchanged. Consequently, Veselago's metamaterial and other systems have negative phase velocities without double negative permittivity and permeability can be described by a unified theory. People are interested in the application of metamaterials and negative phase velocities but do not appreciate the magnitude and significance to the spacetime conception of modern physics and philosophy.

Exploring avenues for best use of cytotechnologists in non-gynaecological cytology: Double screening or independent sign-out.

PubMed

Fischer, G; Haddad, M; Cormier, K

2018-02-01

Cytotechnologist (CT) screening workload has been decreasing due to the falling number of Papanicolaou tests. This continuing trend has prompted exploration of ways to best employ the CT skillset. One potential way of more effective use is by having two CTs double screen non-gynaecological (NGC) cases to assess whether this improves screening quality and concordance with pathologists. Another is evaluating the CT's performance on low-complexity negative NGC cases for a potential independent CT sign-out without pathologist review. In total, 1119 NGC cases were reviewed; 577 screened by two CTs and 542 screened by one CT. All cases were signed out by a pathologist and all CT interpretations were compared to the pathologist final diagnoses. The disagreements were classified based on degree of discrepancy. The extra workload by adding the second screener was assessed. The agreement rate between the CT's screening interpretation and pathologist's interpretation did not improve by adding a second CT compared to a single screener (91.5% vs 92.9%, respectively). CT to pathologist concordance was very high on low complexity NGC cases (voided urine, fluid, sputum) whether screened and interpreted as negative by one CT (97.3%) or two CTs (99.3%). Double screening of NGC cases by two cytotechnologists prior to pathologist sign-out does not improve screening quality and is not cost-effective. The high concordance between the CTs and pathologists in this limited group of low complexity negative cases suggests that such cases could be signed out independently by cytotechnologists. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The 2005 Tarapaca, Chile, Intermediate-depth Earthquake: Evidence of Heterogeneous Fluid Distribution Across the Plate?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuge, K.; Kase, Y.; Urata, Y.; Campos, J.; Perez, A.

2008-12-01

The physical mechanism of intermediate-depth earthquakes remains unsolved, and dehydration embrittlement in subducting plates is a candidate. An earthquake of Mw7.8 occurred at a depth of 115 km beneath Tarapaca, Chile. In this study, we suggest that the earthquake rupture can be attributed to heterogeneous fluid distribution across the subducting plate. The distribution of aftershocks suggests that the earthquake occurred on the subhorizontal fault plane. By modeling regional waveforms, we determined the spatiotemporal distribution of moment release on the fault plane, testing a different suite of velocity models and hypocenters. Two patches of high slip were robustly obtained, although their geometry tends to vary. We tested the results separately by computing the synthetic teleseismic P and pP waveforms. Observed P waveforms are generally modeled, whereas two pulses of observed pP require that the two patches are in the WNW-ESE direction. From the selected moment-release evolution, the dynamic rupture model was constructed by means of Mikumo et al. (1998). The model shows two patches of high dynamic stress drop. Notable is a region of negative stress drop between the two patches. This was required so that the region could lack wave radiation but propagate rupture from the first to the second patches. We found from teleseismic P that the radiation efficiency of the earthquake is relatively small, which can support the existence of negative stress drop during the rupture. The heterogeneous distribution of stress drop that we found can be caused by fluid. The T-P condition of dehydration explains the locations of double seismic zones (e.g. Hacker et al., 2003). The distance between the two patches of high stress drop agrees with the distance between the upper and lower layers of the double seismic zone observed in the south (Rietbrock and Waldhauser, 2004). The two patches can be parts of the double seismic zone, indicating the existence of fluid from dehydration, whereas the region of negative stress drop is in the absence of fluid. In the background environment of negative stress drop, fluid can change the negative stress drop to positive, due to pore pressure variation (e.g. thermal pressurization).

Intracellular and non-neuronal targets of voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies.

PubMed

Lang, Bethan; Makuch, Mateusz; Moloney, Teresa; Dettmann, Inga; Mindorf, Swantje; Probst, Christian; Stoecker, Winfried; Buckley, Camilla; Newton, Charles R; Leite, M Isabel; Maddison, Paul; Komorowski, Lars; Adcock, Jane; Vincent, Angela; Waters, Patrick; Irani, Sarosh R

2017-04-01

Autoantibodies against the extracellular domains of the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex proteins, leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) and contactin-associated protein-2 (CASPR2), are found in patients with limbic encephalitis, faciobrachial dystonic seizures, Morvan's syndrome and neuromyotonia. However, in routine testing, VGKC complex antibodies without LGI1 or CASPR2 reactivities (double-negative) are more common than LGI1 or CASPR2 specificities. Therefore, the target(s) and clinical associations of double-negative antibodies need to be determined. Sera (n=1131) from several clinically defined cohorts were tested for IgG radioimmunoprecipitation of radioiodinated α-dendrotoxin ( 125 I-αDTX)-labelled VGKC complexes from mammalian brain extracts. Positive samples were systematically tested for live hippocampal neuron reactivity, IgG precipitation of 125 I-αDTX and 125 I-αDTX-labelled Kv1 subunits, and by cell-based assays which expressed Kv1 subunits, LGI1 and CASPR2. VGKC complex antibodies were found in 162 of 1131 (14%) sera. 90 of these (56%) had antibodies targeting the extracellular domains of LGI1 or CASPR2. Of the remaining 72 double-negative sera, 10 (14%) immunoprecipitated 125 I-αDTX itself, and 27 (38%) bound to solubilised co-expressed Kv1.1/1.2/1.6 subunits and/or Kv1.2 subunits alone, at levels proportionate to VGKC complex antibody levels (r=0.57, p=0.0017). The sera with LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies immunoprecipitated neither preparation. None of the 27 Kv1-precipitating samples bound live hippocampal neurons or Kv1 extracellular domains, but 16 (59%) bound to permeabilised Kv1-expressing human embryonic kidney 293T cells. These intracellular Kv1 antibodies mainly associated with non-immune disease aetiologies, poor longitudinal clinical-serological correlations and a limited immunotherapy response. Double-negative VGKC complex antibodies are often directed against cytosolic epitopes of Kv1 subunits and occasionally against non-mammalian αDTX. These antibodies should no longer be classified as neuronal-surface antibodies. They consequently lack pathogenic potential and do not in themselves support the use of immunotherapies. 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/.

Effect of double dose oseltamivir on clinical and virological outcomes in children and adults admitted to hospital with severe influenza: double blind randomised controlled trial

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Objective To investigate the validity of recommendations in treatment guidelines to use higher than approved doses of oseltamivir in patients with severe influenza. Design Double blind randomised trial. Setting Thirteen hospitals in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Participants Patients aged ≥1 year admitted to hospital with confirmed severe influenza. Interventions Oral oseltamivir at double dose (150 mg twice a day/paediatric equivalent) versus standard dose (75 mg twice a day/paediatric equivalent). Main outcome measure Viral status according to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for influenza RNA in nasal and throat swabs on day five. Results Of 326 patients (including 246 (75.5%) children aged <15), 165 and 161 were randomised to double or standard dose oseltamivir, respectively. Of these, 260 (79.8%) were infected with influenza virus A (133 (40.8%) with A/H3N2, 72 (22.1%) with A/H1N1-pdm09, 38 (11.7%) with seasonal A/H1N1, 17 (5.2%) with A/H5N1) and 53 (16.2%) with influenza virus B. A further 3.9% (13) were false positive by rapid antigen test (negative by RT-PCR and no rise in convalescent haemagglutination inhibition titers). Similar proportions of patients were negative for RT-PCR on day five of treatment: 115/159 (72.3%, 95% confidence interval 64.9% to 78.7%) double dose recipients versus 105/154 (68.2%, 60.5% to 75.0%) standard dose recipients; difference 4.2% (−5.9 to 14.2); P=0.42. No differences were found in clearance of virus in subgroup analyses by virus type/subtype, age, and duration of illness before randomisation. Mortality was similar: 12/165 (7.3%, 4.2% to 12.3%) in double dose recipients versus 9/161 (5.6%, 3.0% to 10.3%) in standard dose recipients. No differences were found between double and standard dose arms in median days on supplemental oxygen (3 (interquartile range 2-5) v 3.5 (2-7)), in intensive care (4.5 (3-6) v 5 (2-11), and on mechanical ventilation (2.5 (1-16) v 8 (1-16)), respectively. No important differences in tolerability were found. Conclusions There were no virological or clinical advantages with double dose oseltamivir compared with standard dose in patients with severe influenza admitted to hospital. Registration Clinical Trials NCT00298233 PMID:23723457

Elastic modulus measurements of LDEF glasses and glass-ceramics using a speckle technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiedlocher, D. E.; Kinser, D. L.

1992-01-01

Elastic moduli of five glass types and the glass-ceramic Zerodur, exposed to a near-earth orbit environment on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), were compared to that of unexposed samples. A double exposure speckle photography technique utilizing 633 nm laser light was used in the production of the speckle pattern. Subsequent illumination of a double exposed negative using the same wavelength radiation produces Young's fringes from which the in-plane displacements are measured. Stresses imposed by compressive loading produced measurable strains in the glasses and glass-ceramic.

Double- and multi-carbapenemase-producers: the excessively armored bacilli of the current decade.

PubMed

Meletis, G; Chatzidimitriou, D; Malisiovas, N

2015-08-01

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative nosocomial pathogens commonly carry one carbapenemase gene conferring resistance to carbapenems and other beta-lactam antibiotics. However, increasing reports show that double-carbapenemase-producing (DCP) and even multi-carbapenemase-producing (MCP) bacteria are emerging in some parts of the world, diminishing further, in some cases, the already limited treatment options. In the present review, the up-to-date reports of DCP and MCP isolates are summarized and concerns regarding their emergence are discussed.

Gate-tunable resonant tunneling in double bilayer graphene heterostructures.

PubMed

Fallahazad, Babak; Lee, Kayoung; Kang, Sangwoo; Xue, Jiamin; Larentis, Stefano; Corbet, Christopher; Kim, Kyounghwan; Movva, Hema C P; Taniguchi, Takashi; Watanabe, Kenji; Register, Leonard F; Banerjee, Sanjay K; Tutuc, Emanuel

2015-01-14

We demonstrate gate-tunable resonant tunneling and negative differential resistance in the interlayer current-voltage characteristics of rotationally aligned double bilayer graphene heterostructures separated by hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) dielectric. An analysis of the heterostructure band alignment using individual layer densities, along with experimentally determined layer chemical potentials indicates that the resonance occurs when the energy bands of the two bilayer graphene are aligned. We discuss the tunneling resistance dependence on the interlayer hBN thickness, as well as the resonance width dependence on mobility and rotational alignment.

Development and characterization of camphor sulphonic acid doped polyaniline film with broadband negative dielectric constant for microwave applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sreekala, P. S.; Honey, John; Aanandan, C. K.

2018-05-01

In this communication, the broadband artificial dielectric plasma behavior of Camphor Sulphonic acid doped Polyaniline (PANI-CSA) film at microwave frequencies is experimentally verified. The fabricated PANI-CSA films have been experimentally characterized by rectangular wave guide measurements for a broad range of frequencies within the X band and the effective material parameters, skin depth and conductivity have been extracted from the scattering parameters. Since most of the artificial materials available today are set up by consolidating two structured materials which independently demonstrates negative permittivity and negative permeability, this open another strategy for creation of compact single negative materials for microwave applications. The proposed doping can shift the double positive material parameter of the sample to single negative in nature.

Raloxifene as an Adjunctive Treatment for Postmenopausal Women With Schizophrenia: A 24-Week Double-Blind, Randomized, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Usall, Judith; Huerta-Ramos, Elena; Labad, Javier; Cobo, Jesús; Núñez, Christian; Creus, Marta; Parés, Gemma García; Cuadras, Daniel; Franco, José; Miquel, Eva; Reyes, Julio César; Roca, Mercedes

2016-03-01

The potential therapeutic utility of estrogens in schizophrenia is increasingly being recognized. Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, appears to act similarly to estrogens on dopamine and serotonin brain systems. One previous trial by our team found that raloxifene was useful to improve negative, positive, and general psychopathological symptoms, without having the negative side effects of estrogens. In this study, we assess the utility of raloxifene in treating negative and other psychotic symptoms in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia exhibiting prominent negative symptoms. This was a 24-week, randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were recruited from the inpatient and outpatient departments of Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, and Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí. Seventy postmenopausal women with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) were randomized to either adjunctive raloxifene (38 women) or adjunctive placebo (32 women). Psychopathological symptoms were assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, and 24 with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). The addition of raloxifene (60 mg/d) to regular antipsychotic treatment significantly reduced negative (P = .027), general (P = .003), and total symptomatology (P = .005) measured with the PANSS during the 24-week trial, as compared to women receiving placebo. Also Alogia SANSS subscale improved more in the raloxifene (P = .048) than the placebo group. In conclusion, raloxifene improved negative and general psychopathological symptoms, compared with antipsychotic medication alone, in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia. These data replicate our previous results with a larger sample and a longer follow-up. NCT01573637. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

COP1, a negative regulator of photomorphogenesis, positively regulates plant disease resistance via double-stranded RNA binding proteins

PubMed Central

Lim, Gah-Hyun; Zhu, Shifeng; Clavel, Marion; Yu, Keshun; Navarre, Duroy; Kachroo, Aardra; Deragon, Jean-Marc

2018-01-01

The E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 (Constitutive Photomorphogenesis 1) is a well known component of the light-mediated plant development that acts as a repressor of photomorphogenesis. Here we show that COP1 positively regulates defense against turnip crinkle virus (TCV) and avrRPM1 bacteria by contributing to stability of resistance (R) protein HRT and RPM1, respectively. HRT and RPM1 levels and thereby pathogen resistance is significantly reduced in the cop1 mutant background. Notably, the levels of at least two double-stranded RNA binding (DRB) proteins DRB1 and DRB4 are reduced in the cop1 mutant background suggesting that COP1 affects HRT stability via its effect on the DRB proteins. Indeed, a mutation in either drb1 or drb4 resulted in degradation of HRT. In contrast to COP1, a multi-subunit E3 ligase encoded by anaphase-promoting complex (APC) 10 negatively regulates DRB4 and TCV resistance but had no effect on DRB1 levels. We propose that COP1-mediated positive regulation of HRT is dependent on a balance between COP1 and negative regulators that target DRB1 and DRB4. PMID:29513740

The Design and Analysis of a Novel Split-H-Shaped Metamaterial for Multi-Band Microwave Applications

PubMed Central

Islam, Sikder Sunbeam; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2014-01-01

This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel split-H-shaped metamaterial unit cell structure that is applicable in a multi-band frequency range and that exhibits negative permeability and permittivity in those frequency bands. In the basic design, the separate split-square resonators are joined by a metal link to form an H-shaped unit structure. Moreover, an analysis and a comparison of the 1 × 1 array and 2 × 2 array structures and the 1 × 1 and 2 × 2 unit cell configurations were performed. All of these configurations demonstrate multi-band operating frequencies (S-band, C-band, X-band and Ku-band) with double-negative characteristics. The equivalent circuit model and measured result for each unit cell are presented to validate the resonant behavior. The commercially available finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-based simulation software, Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio, was used to obtain the reflection and transmission parameters of each unit cell. This is a novel and promising design in the electromagnetic paradigm for its simplicity, scalability, double-negative characteristics and multi-band operation. PMID:28788116

Existence domain of electrostatic solitary waves in the lunar wake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubia, R.; Singh, S. V.; Lakhina, G. S.

2018-03-01

Electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) and double layers are explored in a four-component plasma consisting of hot protons, hot heavier ions (He++), electron beam, and suprathermal electrons having κ-distribution using the Sagdeev pseudopotential method. Three modes exist: slow and fast ion-acoustic modes and electron-acoustic mode. The occurrence of ESWs and their existence domain as a function of various plasma parameters, such as the number densities of ions and electron beam, the spectral index, κ, the electron beam velocity, the temperatures of ions, and electron beam, are analyzed. It is observed that both the slow and fast ion-acoustic modes support both positive and negative potential solitons as well as their coexistence. Further, they support a "forbidden gap," the region in which the soliton ceases to propagate. In addition, slow ion-acoustic solitons support the existence of both positive and negative potential double layers. The electron-acoustic mode is only found to support negative potential solitons for parameters relevant to the lunar wake plasma. Fast Fourier transform of a soliton electric field produces a broadband frequency spectrum. It is suggested that all three soliton types taken together can provide a good explanation for the observed electrostatic waves in the lunar wake.

The Design and Analysis of a Novel Split-H-Shaped Metamaterial for Multi-Band Microwave Applications.

PubMed

Islam, Sikder Sunbeam; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2014-07-02

This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel split-H-shaped metamaterial unit cell structure that is applicable in a multi-band frequency range and that exhibits negative permeability and permittivity in those frequency bands. In the basic design, the separate split-square resonators are joined by a metal link to form an H-shaped unit structure. Moreover, an analysis and a comparison of the 1 × 1 array and 2 × 2 array structures and the 1 × 1 and 2 × 2 unit cell configurations were performed. All of these configurations demonstrate multi-band operating frequencies (S-band, C-band, X-band and K u -band) with double-negative characteristics. The equivalent circuit model and measured result for each unit cell are presented to validate the resonant behavior. The commercially available finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-based simulation software, Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio, was used to obtain the reflection and transmission parameters of each unit cell. This is a novel and promising design in the electromagnetic paradigm for its simplicity, scalability, double-negative characteristics and multi-band operation.

Response of double cropping suitability to climate change in the United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seifert, Christopher A.; Lobell, David B.

2015-02-01

In adapting US agriculture to the climate of the 21st century, a key unknown is whether cropping frequency may increase, helping to offset projected negative yield impacts in major production regions. Combining daily weather data and crop phenology models, we find that cultivated area in the US suited to dryland winter wheat-soybeans, the most common double crop (DC) system, increased by up to 28% from 1988 to 2012. Changes in the observed distribution of DC area over the same period agree well with this suitability increase, evidence consistent with climate change playing a role in recent DC expansion in phenologically constrained states. We then apply the model to projections of future climate under the RCP45 and RCP85 scenarios and estimate an additional 126-239% increase, respectively, in DC area. Sensitivity tests reveal that in most instances, increases in mean temperature are more important than delays in fall freeze in driving increased DC suitability. The results suggest that climate change will relieve phenological constraints on wheat-soy DC systems over much of the United States, though it should be recognized that impacts on corn and soybean yields in this region are expected to be negative and larger in magnitude than the 0.4-0.75% per decade benefits we estimate here for double cropping.

Stress and family quality of life in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: parent gender and the double ABCX model.

PubMed

McStay, Rebecca L; Trembath, David; Dissanayake, Cheryl

2014-12-01

Past research has supported the utility of the Double ABCX model of family adaptation for parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What remains unclear is the impact of family-related variables on outcomes in both mothers and fathers within the same family. We explored the potential predictors of maternal and paternal stress and family quality of life in an Australian sample of 196 parents of children with ASD aged 3-16 years. Using a cross-sectional design, parents completed questionnaires assessing factors within the Double ABCX model attributed to family adaptation. Findings provide further evidence of the negative impact of child externalising behaviours and highlight the importance of family sense of coherence on positive parental outcomes.

Double-duty caregivers: healthcare professionals juggling employment and informal caregiving. A survey on personal health and work experiences.

PubMed

Boumans, Nicolle P G; Dorant, Elisabeth

2014-07-01

This study compared the work-related experiences and personal health status of double-duty caregivers with those of caregivers who do not provide informal care to a family member or close friend in need. The interest in providing informal care alongside employment is growing. However, little attention has been paid to the dual role of the healthcare professional who also has caregiving responsibilities for a needy person in his/her private situation. It is important to study the negative and positive consequences of this combination of professional and family care giving. A cross-sectional study. In 2011, we distributed a digital questionnaire to employees with a professional care function working at a healthcare organization in the Netherlands. Descriptive statistics, analyses of covariance and tests of linearity were performed. Analyses of variance demonstrated that as professional healthcare workers provide more hours of informal care in their private lives, their mental and physical health significantly worsens, while their need for recovery increases. Also, statistical significant increases were seen for emotional exhaustion, presenteeism and negative experiences with Work-Home and Home-Work Interferences. Remarkably, positive Home-Work Interference increased significantly with increasing hours of informal care. Double-duty caregivers appeared to be equally motivated and satisfied with their work as their co-workers. No differences were seen with respect to absenteeism. Double-duty caregivers prove to be employees who are at risk of developing symptoms of overload. This finding calls for special attention, with long-term solutions at both legislative and organizational level. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Negative differential conductance in InAs wire based double quantum dot induced by a charged AFM tip

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

Zhukov, A. A., E-mail: azhukov@issp.ac.ru; Volk, Ch.; Winden, A.

We investigate the conductance of an InAs nanowire in the nonlinear regime in the case of low electron density where the wire is split into quantum dots connected in series. The negative differential conductance in the wire is initiated by means of a charged atomic force microscope tip adjusting the transparency of the tunneling barrier between two adjoining quantum dots. We confirm that the negative differential conductance arises due to the resonant tunneling between these two adjoining quantum dots. The influence of the transparency of the blocking barriers and the relative position of energy states in the adjoining dots onmore » a decrease of the negative differential conductance is investigated in detail.« less

Memantine augmentation in clozapine-refractory schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

PubMed

Veerman, S R T; Schulte, P F J; Smith, J D; de Haan, L

2016-07-01

Dysfunction of neuroplasticity due to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction may be a causal factor for memory and executive dysfunctioning in schizophrenia. Deregulation of NMDA transmission in the prefrontal cortex may also explain negative and positive symptoms. Clozapine augmentation with memantine targets altered NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission in schizophrenia and showed substantial beneficial effects on several symptom domains in a small proof-of-concept study. We evaluate effects of memantine add-on treatment to clozapine for memory and executive function, and negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Clozapine-treated patients with refractory schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of double-blind adjunctive treatment with memantine (n = 26) or placebo (n = 26). Crossover occurred after a 2-week placebo wash-out period. Primary endpoints were change from baseline to 12 weeks treatment and 14 weeks to 26 weeks treatment on memory and executive function using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S). Side effects were assessed using the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side-Effect Rating Scale. When compared with placebo, memantine improved a composite memory score comprising verbal recognition memory and paired associates learning task scores on the CANTAB (effect size = 0.30) and PANSS negative subscale score (effect size = 0.29). Side effects were mild and transient. In patients with clozapine-treated refractory schizophrenia, memantine addition significantly improved verbal and visual memory and negative symptoms without serious adverse effects. These results justify further investigations on long-term memantine augmentation to clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Carbon Dioxide Removal by Salty Aerosols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gokturk, H.

2016-12-01

Aerosols consisting of salt ions dissolved in water are observed in nature as sea spray particles generated by breaking waves. Such aerosols can be also generated artificially by spraying seawater to the atmosphere to create clouds, which was suggested as a method of solar radiation management (SRM). Salty aerosols can be utilized not only for SRM, but also for carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, if salt ions carrying charges -2 or more negative are added to the seawater. CO2 is a very stable molecule where carbon to oxygen double bond has a bond strength of 8.3 eV (190 kcal/mol). Therefore the approach chosen here to modify CO2 is to further oxidize it to CO3. Quantum mechanical calculations indicate that CO2 reacts readily with hydroxyl minus ion (OH-) or oxygen double minus ion (O-) to form HCO3- or CO3-, respectively. What is studied in this paper is the utilization of hydrated negative salt ions to create OH- and possibly even O-. The negative ions chosen are chlorine minus ion (Cl-), sulfate double minus ion (SO4-), phosphate triple minus ion (PO4--) and silicate quadruple minus ion (SiO4--). The former two ions exist in seawater, but the latter two ions do not, though they are available as part of water soluble salts such as potassium phosphate. Using quantum mechanical calculations, following reactions were investigated: R1: (Cl-) + H2O => HCl + (OH-), R2: (SO4-) + H2O => (HSO4-) + (OH-), R3: (PO4--) + H2O => (HPO4-) + (OH-), R4: (SiO4--) + H2O => (HSiO4--) + (OH-), R5: (HPO4-) + H2O => (H2PO4-) + (OH-), R6: (HSiO4--) + H2O => (H2SiO4-) + (OH-), R7: (H2SiO4-) + H2O => (H3SiO4-) + (OH-), R8: (SiO4--) + H2O => (H2SiO4-) + (O-). Results indicate that singly charged negative salt ions, such as Cl- in R1, cannot create OH-. Doubly charged negative salt ions, such as SO4- in R2, can create OH-, though the amount of SO4- in seawater is relatively small. Triply or quadruply charged negative ions are even more favorable than doubly charged ions in creating OH- (R3, R4, R6). Quadruply charged negative ions can also create O- (R8), however in practice O- is likely to react with other water molecules to create more OH-. In conclusion, seawater fortified with highly charged negative salt ions and sprayed into the atmosphere has the potential to create aerosols containing OH- which can react with the CO2 and modify it to a carbonate.

Double separate versus contiguous pituitary adenomas: MRI features and endocrinological follow up.

PubMed

Roberts, Sammie; Borges, Manuel Thomas; Lillehei, Kevin O; Kleinschmidt-DeMasters, B K

2016-10-01

Double pituitary adenomas are defined as two adenomas within a gland. These have distinct light microscopic and immunohistochemical features and may be clearly-separate or contiguous. Most reports have focused on the various hormonal combinations in double tumors rather than on any potential increased risk for residual mass or endocrinopathy. Departmental files were searched to identify all double adenomas from 1/1/2000 to 3/1/2016, with review of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine if the dual nature of the lesions could be discerned retrospectively after histologic diagnosis of double adenoma. All cases were immunostained for standard anterior pituitary hormones. Eight cases were identified: 2 follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/alpha subunit (ASU) + prolactinoma (PRL); 1 PRL + corticotroph (ACTH); 1 hormone-negative + PRL; 1 ACTH + ASU/growth hormone (GH)/PRL; 1 GH/PR + PRL; 1 FSH/ASU, + ACTH; 1 GH + luteinizing hormone (LH). One patient had clearly-separate lesions identified preoperatively and required two surgical procedures for gross total resection. A second patient had 2 lesions recognized at surgery and afterwards on retrospective neuroimaging. The remaining 6 patients had double adenomas discovered at the time of histologic examination that were not resolvable at surgery or on retrospective neuroimaging. Four patients, 2 with clearly-separate and 2 with contiguous double adenomas, had persistent MRI abnormalities, and one had continued endocrine abnormalities. Double contiguous pituitary adenomas are difficult to anticipate preoperatively or to resolve intraoperatively. Although double contiguous adenomas are much more common than double separate lesions, both have a risk for subtotal resection and, thus, residual mass and/or endocrinopathy may ensue.

Double-wells and double-layers in dusty Fermi-Dirac plasmas: Comparison with the semiclassical Thomas-Fermi counterpart

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

Akbari-Moghanjoughi, M.

Based on the quantum hydrodynamics (QHD) model, a new relationship between the electrostatic-potential and the electron-density in the ultradense plasma is derived. Propagation of arbitrary amplitude nonlinear ion waves is, then, investigated in a completely degenerate dense dusty electron-ion plasma, using this new energy relation for the relativistic electrons, in the ground of quantum hydrodynamics model and the results are compared to the case of semiclassical Thomas-Fermi dusty plasma. Based on the standard pseudopotential approach, it is remarked that the Fermi-Dirac plasma, in contrast to the Thomas-Fermi counterpart, accommodates a wide variety of nonlinear excitations such as positive/negative-potential ion solitarymore » and periodic waves, double-layers, and double-wells. It is also remarked that the relativistic degeneracy parameter which relates to the mass-density of plasma has significant effects on the allowed matching-speed range in Fermi-Dirac dusty plasmas.« less

Study of noise reduction characteristics of double-wall panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Navaneethan, R.; Quayle, B.; Stevenson, S.; Graham, M.

1983-01-01

The noise reduction characteristics of general aviation type, flat, double-wall structures were investigated. The experimental study was carried out on 20-by-20 inch panels with an exposed area of 18 by 18 inches. A frequency range from 20 to 5000 Hz was covered. The experimental results, in general, follow the expected trends. At low frequencies the double-wall structures are no better than the single-wall structures. However, for depths normally used in the general aviation industry, the double-wall panels are very attractive. The graphite-spoxy skin panels have higher noise reduction at very low frequencies ( 100 Hz) than the Kevlar skin panels. But the aluminum panels have higher noise reduction in the high frequency region, due to their greater mass. Use of fiberglass insulation is not effective in the low frequency region, and at times it is even negative. But the insulation is effective in the high-frequency region. The theoretical model for predicting the transmission loss of these multilayered panels is also discussed.

Study of noise reduction characteristics of double-wall panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navaneethan, R.; Quayle, B.; Stevenson, S.; Graham, M.

1983-05-01

The noise reduction characteristics of general aviation type, flat, double-wall structures were investigated. The experimental study was carried out on 20-by-20 inch panels with an exposed area of 18 by 18 inches. A frequency range from 20 to 5000 Hz was covered. The experimental results, in general, follow the expected trends. At low frequencies the double-wall structures are no better than the single-wall structures. However, for depths normally used in the general aviation industry, the double-wall panels are very attractive. The graphite-spoxy skin panels have higher noise reduction at very low frequencies ( 100 Hz) than the Kevlar skin panels. But the aluminum panels have higher noise reduction in the high frequency region, due to their greater mass. Use of fiberglass insulation is not effective in the low frequency region, and at times it is even negative. But the insulation is effective in the high-frequency region. The theoretical model for predicting the transmission loss of these multilayered panels is also discussed.

Metal-ion retention properties of water-soluble amphiphilic block copolymer in double emulsion systems (w/o/w) stabilized by non-ionic surfactants.

PubMed

Palencia, Manuel; Rivas, Bernabé L

2011-11-15

Metal-ion retention properties of water-soluble amphiphilic polymers in presence of double emulsion were studied by diafiltration. Double emulsion systems, water-in-oil-in-water, with a pH gradient between external and internal aqueous phases were prepared. A poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSAM) solution at pH 6.0 was added to the external aqueous phase of double emulsion and by application of pressure a divalent metal-ion stream was continuously added. Metal-ions used were Cu(2+) and Cd(2+) at the same pH of polymer solution. According to our results, metal-ion retention is mainly the result of polymer-metal interaction. Interaction between PSMA and reverse emulsion globules is strongly controlled by amount of metal-ions added in the external aqueous phase. In addition, as metal-ion concentration was increased, a negative effect on polymer retention capacity and promotion of flocculation phenomena were produced. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Can Multiple Cropping Help to Avoid the Impacts of Heat Extremes? The Case of Winter Wheat/Soybean Double Cropping in the United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seifert, C.; Lobell, D. B.

2014-12-01

In adapting U.S. agriculture to the climate of the 21st century, multiple cropping presents a unique opportunity to help offset projected negative trends in agricultural production while moving critical crop yield formation periods outside of the hottest months of the year. Critical constraints on this practice include moisture availability, and, more importantly, growing season length. We review evidence that this last constraint has decreased in the previous quarter century, allowing for more winter wheat/soybean double cropping in previously phenologically constrained areas. We also carry this pattern forward to 2100, showing a 126% to 211% increase in the area phenologically suitable for double cropping under the RCP45 and RCP85 scenarios respectively. These results suggest that climate change will relieve phenological constraints on wheat-soy double cropping systems over much of the United States, changing production patterns and crop rotations as areas become suitable for the practice.

Homogeneous double-layer amorphous Si-doped indium oxide thin-film transistors for control of turn-on voltage

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

Kizu, Takio, E-mail: KIZU.Takio@nims.go.jp, E-mail: TSUKAGOSHI.Kazuhito@nims.go.jp; Tsukagoshi, Kazuhito, E-mail: KIZU.Takio@nims.go.jp, E-mail: TSUKAGOSHI.Kazuhito@nims.go.jp; Aikawa, Shinya

We fabricated homogeneous double-layer amorphous Si-doped indium oxide (ISO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with an insulating ISO cap layer on top of a semiconducting ISO bottom channel layer. The homogeneously stacked ISO TFT exhibited high mobility (19.6 cm{sup 2}/V s) and normally-off characteristics after annealing in air. It exhibited normally-off characteristics because the ISO insulator suppressed oxygen desorption, which suppressed the formation of oxygen vacancies (V{sub O}) in the semiconducting ISO. Furthermore, we investigated the recovery of the double-layer ISO TFT, after a large negative shift in turn-on voltage caused by hydrogen annealing, by treating it with annealing in ozone. The recoverymore » in turn-on voltage indicates that the dense V{sub O} in the semiconducting ISO can be partially filled through the insulator ISO. Controlling molecule penetration in the homogeneous double layer is useful for adjusting the properties of TFTs in advanced oxide electronics.« less

Clinical Significance of "Double-hit" and "Double-protein" expression in Primary Gastric B-cell Lymphomas.

PubMed

He, Miaoxia; Chen, Keting; Li, Suhong; Zhang, Shimin; Zheng, Jianming; Hu, Xiaoxia; Gao, Lei; Chen, Jie; Song, Xianmin; Zhang, Weiping; Wang, Jianmin; Yang, Jianmin

2016-01-01

Primary gastric B-cell lymphoma is the second most common malignancy of the stomach. There are many controversial issues about its diagnosis, treatment and clinical management. "Double-hit" and "double-protein" involving gene rearrangement and protein expression of c-Myc and bcl2/bcl6 are the most used terms to describe DLBCL poor prognostic factors in recent years. However, very little is known about the role of these prognostic factors in primary gastric B-cell lymphomas. This study aims to obtain a molecular pathology prognostic model of gastric B-cell lymphoma for clinical stratified management by evaluating how the "double-hit" and "double-protein" in tumor cells as well as microenvironmental reaction of tumor stromal tissue affect clinical outcome in primary gastric B-cell lymphomas. Data and tissues of 188 cases diagnosed with gastric B-cell lymphomas were used in this study. Tumor tissue microarray (TMA) of formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues was constructed for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis with a serial of biomarkers containing MYC, BCL2, BCL6, CD31, SPARC, CD10, MUM1 and Ki-67. Modeled period analysis was used to estimate 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) distributions. There was no definite "double-hit" case though the gene rearrangement of c-Myc (5.9%), bcl2 (0.1%) and bcl6 (7.4%) was found in gastric B-cell lymphomas. The gene amplification or copy gains of c-Myc (10.1%), bcl-2 (17.0%) and bcl-6 (0.9%) were present in these lymphomas. There were 12 cases of the lymphomas with the "double-protein" expression of MYC and BCL2/BCL6. All patients with "double-protein" gastric B-cell lymphomas had poor outcome compared with those without. More importantly, "MYC-BCL2-BCL6" negative group of gastric B-cell lymphoma patients had favorable clinical outcome regardless clinical stage, pathological types and therapeutic modalities. And the similar better prognosis was found in the cases with low microvessel density (MVD) in tumor tissue and high expression of SPARC (SPARC≥5%) in stromal cells. "Double-hit" lymphoma was rare among primary gastric lymphoma, while patients with multiple gene amplification and/or copy gains of c-Myc, bcl2 and bcl6, and "double-protein" gastric B-cell lymphomas had a poor clinical outcome. In addition, patients with MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 expression negative or low MVD in tumor tissue with high expression of SPARC in stromal cells could have better prognosis than other gastric B-cell lymphomas regardless of their clinical stage and pathological types. These results would be of very importance for clinical stratified management and precision medicine of gastric B-cell lymphomas.

Mesoscale Variability of the Caribbean Sea from GEOSAT

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-03-01

the basin. In other words, negatives Figre 11 GEOSAT detection values should be interpreted as "less positive", unless the strength of the negative...km to the southwest. On June 17, feature A has doubled its strength to +20 cm and is displaced 360 km to the west, indicating an approximate speed of...independently from the main flow of the Caribbean cui-rent. This cyclonic anomaly matches in position and strength the one that appeared in the models in

Holographic study of non-affine deformation in copper foam with a negative Poisson's ratio of -0.8

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, C. P.; Lakes, R. S.

1993-01-01

While conventional foams have positive Poisson's ratios (become smaller in cross-section when stretched and larger when compressed), foam materials have recently been defined which possess 'reentrant' cellular architectures; in these, inwardly-protruding cell ribs are responsible for negative Poisson's ratio behavior, yielding greater resilience than conventional foams. Double-exposure holographic interferometry is presently used to examine the microdeformation of a reentrant copper foam. Attention is given to the nonaffine (inhomogeneous) deformation of this foam.

Sequential double photodetachment of He- in elliptically polarized laser fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Génévriez, Matthieu; Dunseath, Kevin M.; Terao-Dunseath, Mariko; Urbain, Xavier

2018-02-01

Four-photon double detachment of the helium negative ion is investigated experimentally and theoretically for photon energies where the transient helium atom is in the 1 s 2 s 3S or 1 s 2 p P3o states, which subsequently ionize by absorption of three photons. Ionization is enhanced by intermediate resonances, giving rise to series of peaks in the He+ spectrum, which we study in detail. The He+ yield is measured in the wavelength ranges from 530 to 560 nm and from 685 to 730 nm and for various polarizations of the laser light. Double detachment is treated theoretically as a sequential process, within the framework of R -matrix theory for the first step and effective Hamiltonian theory for the second step. Experimental conditions are accurately modeled, and the measured and simulated yields are in good qualitative and, in some cases, quantitative agreement. Resonances in the double detachment spectra can be attributed to well-defined Rydberg states of the transient atom. The double detachment yield exhibits a strong dependence on the laser polarization which can be related to the magnetic quantum number of the intermediate atomic state. We also investigate the possibility of nonsequential double detachment with a two-color experiment but observe no evidence for it.

Double-Stranded RNA Is Detected by Immunofluorescence Analysis in RNA and DNA Virus Infections, Including Those by Negative-Stranded RNA Viruses.

PubMed

Son, Kyung-No; Liang, Zhiguo; Lipton, Howard L

2015-09-01

Early biochemical studies of viral replication suggested that most viruses produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which is essential for the induction of the host immune response. However, it was reported in 2006 that dsRNA could be detected by immunofluorescence antibody staining in double-stranded DNA and positive-strand RNA virus infections but not in negative-strand RNA virus infections. Other reports in the literature seemed to support these observations. This suggested that negative-strand RNA viruses produce little, if any, dsRNA or that more efficient viral countermeasures to mask dsRNA are mounted. Because of our interest in the use of dsRNA antibodies for virus discovery, particularly in pathological specimens, we wanted to determine how universal immunostaining for dsRNA might be in animal virus infections. We have detected the in situ formation of dsRNA in cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus, measles virus, influenza A virus, and Nyamanini virus, which represent viruses from different negative-strand RNA virus families. dsRNA was also detected in cells infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, an ambisense RNA virus, and minute virus of mice (MVM), a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) parvovirus, but not hepatitis B virus. Although dsRNA staining was primarily observed in the cytoplasm, it was also seen in the nucleus of cells infected with influenza A virus, Nyamanini virus, and MVM. Thus, it is likely that most animal virus infections produce dsRNA species that can be detected by immunofluorescence staining. The apoptosis induced in several uninfected cell lines failed to upregulate dsRNA formation. An effective antiviral host immune response depends on recognition of viral invasion and an intact innate immune system as a first line of defense. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a viral product essential for the induction of innate immunity, leading to the production of type I interferons (IFNs) and the activation of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes. The present study demonstrates that infections, including those by ssDNA viruses and positive- and negative-strand RNA viruses, produce dsRNAs detectable by standard immunofluorescence staining. While dsRNA staining was primarily observed in the cytoplasm, nuclear staining was also present in some RNA and DNA virus infections. The nucleus is unlikely to have pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptors for dsRNA because of the presence of host dsRNA molecules. Thus, it is likely that most animal virus infections produce dsRNA species detectable by immunofluorescence staining, which may prove useful in viral discovery as well. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Double dissociation between rules and memory in music: an event-related potential study.

PubMed

Miranda, Robbin A; Ullman, Michael T

2007-11-01

Language and music share a number of characteristics. Crucially, both domains depend on both rules and memorized representations. Double dissociations between the neurocognition of rule-governed and memory-based knowledge have been found in language but not music. Here, the neural bases of both of these aspects of music were examined with an event-related potential (ERP) study of note violations in melodies. Rule-only violations consisted of out-of-key deviant notes that violated tonal harmony rules in novel (unfamiliar) melodies. Memory-only violations consisted of in-key deviant notes in familiar well-known melodies; these notes followed musical rules but deviated from the actual melodies. Finally, out-of-key notes in familiar well-known melodies constituted violations of both rules and memory. All three conditions were presented, within-subjects, to healthy young adults, half musicians and half non-musicians. The results revealed a double dissociation, independent of musical training, between rules and memory: both rule violation conditions, but not the memory-only violations, elicited an early, somewhat right-lateralized anterior-central negativity (ERAN), consistent with previous studies of rule violations in music, and analogous to the early left-lateralized anterior negativities elicited by rule violations in language. In contrast, both memory violation conditions, but not the rule-only violation, elicited a posterior negativity that might be characterized as an N400, an ERP component that depends, at least in part, on the processing of representations stored in long-term memory, both in language and in other domains. The results suggest that the neurocognitive rule/memory dissociation extends from language to music, further strengthening the similarities between the two domains.

Double dissociation between rules and memory in music: An event-related potential study

PubMed Central

Miranda, Robbin A.; Ullman, Michael T.

2007-01-01

Language and music share a number of characteristics. Crucially, both domains depend on both rules and memorized representations. Double dissociations between the neurocognition of rule-governed and memory-based knowledge have been found in language but not music. Here, the neural bases of both of these aspects of music were examined with an event-related potential (ERP) study of note violations in melodies. Rule-only violations consisted of out-of-key deviant notes that violated tonal harmony rules in novel (unfamiliar) melodies. Memory-only violations consisted of in-key deviant notes in familiar well-known melodies; these notes followed musical rules but deviated from the actual melodies. Finally, out-of-key notes in familiar well-known melodies constituted violations of both rules and memory. All three conditions were presented, within-subjects, to healthy young adults, half musicians and half non-musicians. The results revealed a double dissociation, independent of musical training, between rules and memory: both rule violation conditions, but not the memory-only violations, elicited an early, somewhat right-lateralized anterior-central negativity (ERAN), consistent with previous studies of rule violations in music, and analogous to the early left-lateralized anterior negativities elicited by rule violations in language. In contrast, both memory violation conditions, but not the rule-only violation, elicited a posterior negativity that might be characterized as an N400, an ERP component that depends, at least in part, on the processing of representations stored in long-term memory, both in language and in other domains. The results suggest that the neurocognitive rule/memory dissociation extends from language to music, further strengthening the similarities between the two domains. PMID:17855126

Mammography screening using independent double reading with consensus: is there a potential benefit for computer-aided detection?

PubMed

Skaane, Per; Kshirsagar, Ashwini; Hofvind, Solveig; Jahr, Gunnar; Castellino, Ronald A

2012-04-01

Double reading improves the cancer detection rate in mammography screening. Single reading with computer-aided detection (CAD) has been considered to be an alternative to double reading. Little is known about the potential benefit of CAD in breast cancer screening with double reading. To compare prospective independent double reading of screen-film (SFM) and full-field digital (FFDM) mammography in population-based screening with retrospective standalone CAD performance on the baseline mammograms of the screen-detected cancers and subsequent cancers diagnosed during the follow-up period. The study had ethics committee approval. A 5-point rating scale for probability of cancer was used for 23,923 (SFM = 16,983; FFDM = 6940) screening mammograms. Of 208 evaluable cancers, 104 were screen-detected and 104 were subsequent (44 interval and 60 next screening round) cancers. Baseline mammograms of subsequent cancers were retrospectively classified in consensus without information about cancer location, histology, or CAD prompting as normal, non-specific minimal signs, significant minimal signs, and false-negatives. The baseline mammograms of the screen-detected cancers and subsequent cancers were evaluated by CAD. Significant minimal signs and false-negatives were considered 'actionable' and potentially diagnosable if correctly prompted by CAD. CAD correctly marked 94% (98/104) of the baseline mammograms of the screen-detected cancers (SFM = 95% [61/64]; FFDM = 93% [37/40]), including 96% (23/24) of those with discordant interpretations. Considering only those baseline examinations of subsequent cancers prospectively interpreted as normal and retrospectively categorized as 'actionable', CAD input at baseline screening had the potential to increase the cancer detection rate from 0.43% to 0.51% (P = 0.13); and to increase cancer detection by 16% ([104 + 17]/104) and decrease interval cancers by 20% (from 44 to 35). CAD may have the potential to increase cancer detection by up to 16%, and to reduce the number of interval cancers by up to 20% in SFM and FFDM screening programs using independent double reading with consensus review. The influence of true- and false-positive CAD marks on decision-making can, however, only be evaluated in a prospective clinical study.

Independent effects of apolipoprotein AV and apolipoprotein CIII on plasma triglyceride concentrations

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

Baroukh, Nadine N.; Bauge, Eric; Akiyama, Jennifer

2003-08-15

Both the apolipoprotein A5 and C3 genes have repeatedly been shown to play an important role in determining plasma triglyceride concentrations in humans and mice. In mice, transgenic and knockout experiments indicate that plasma triglyceride levels are negatively and positively correlated with APOA5 and APOC3 expression, respectively. In humans, common polymorphisms in both genes have also been associated with plasma triglyceride concentrations. The evolutionary relationship among these two apolipoprotein genes and their close proximity on human chromosome 11q23 have largely precluded the determination of their relative contribution to altered Both the apolipoprotein A5 and C3 genes have repeatedly been shownmore » to play an important role in determining plasma triglyceride concentrations in humans and mice. In mice, transgenic and knockout experiments indicate that plasma triglyceride levels are negatively and positively correlated with APOA5 and APOC3 expression, respectively. In humans, common polymorphisms in both genes have also been associated with plasma triglyceride concentrations. The evolutionary relationship among these two apolipoprotein genes and their close proximity on human chromosome 11q23 have largely precluded the determination of their relative contribution to altered triglycerides. To overcome these confounding factors and address their relationship, we generated independent lines of mice that either over-expressed (''double transgenic'') or completely lacked (''double knockout'') both apolipoprotein genes. We report that both ''double transgenic'' and ''double knockout'' mice display intermedia tetriglyceride concentrations compared to over-expression or deletion of either gene alone. Furthermore, we find that human ApoAV plasma protein levels in the ''double transgenic'' mice are approximately 500-fold lower than human ApoCIII levels, supporting ApoAV is a potent triglyceride modulator despite its low concentration. Together, these data indicate that APOA5 and APOC3 independently influence plasma triglyceride concentrations but in an opposing manner.« less

Modeled responses of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated atmospheric CO2: a comparison of simulations by the biogeochemistry models of the Vegetation/Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project (VEMAP).

PubMed

Pan, Yude; Melillo, Jerry M; McGuire, A David; Kicklighter, David W; Pitelka, Louis F; Hibbard, Kathy; Pierce, Lars L; Running, Steven W; Ojima, Dennis S; Parton, William J; Schimel, David S

1998-04-01

Although there is a great deal of information concerning responses to increases in atmospheric CO 2 at the tissue and plant levels, there are substantially fewer studies that have investigated ecosystem-level responses in the context of integrated carbon, water, and nutrient cycles. Because our understanding of ecosystem responses to elevated CO 2 is incomplete, modeling is a tool that can be used to investigate the role of plant and soil interactions in the response of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated CO 2 . In this study, we analyze the responses of net primary production (NPP) to doubled CO 2 from 355 to 710 ppmv among three biogeochemistry models in the Vegetation/Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project (VEMAP): BIOME-BGC (BioGeochemical Cycles), Century, and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM). For the conterminous United States, doubled atmospheric CO 2 causes NPP to increase by 5% in Century, 8% in TEM, and 11% in BIOME-BGC. Multiple regression analyses between the NPP response to doubled CO 2 and the mean annual temperature and annual precipitation of biomes or grid cells indicate that there are negative relationships between precipitation and the response of NPP to doubled CO 2 for all three models. In contrast, there are different relationships between temperature and the response of NPP to doubled CO 2 for the three models: there is a negative relationship in the responses of BIOME-BGC, no relationship in the responses of Century, and a positive relationship in the responses of TEM. In BIOME-BGC, the NPP response to doubled CO 2 is controlled by the change in transpiration associated with reduced leaf conductance to water vapor. This change affects soil water, then leaf area development and, finally, NPP. In Century, the response of NPP to doubled CO 2 is controlled by changes in decomposition rates associated with increased soil moisture that results from reduced evapotranspiration. This change affects nitrogen availability for plants, which influences NPP. In TEM, the NPP response to doubled CO 2 is controlled by increased carboxylation which is modified by canopy conductance and the degree to which nitrogen constraints cause down-regulation of photosynthesis. The implementation of these different mechanisms has consequences for the spatial pattern of NPP responses, and represents, in part, conceptual uncertainty about controls over NPP responses. Progress in reducing these uncertainties requires research focused at the ecosystem level to understand how interactions between the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles influence the response of NPP to elevated atmospheric CO 2 .

Modeled responses of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated atmospheric CO2: A comparison of simulations by the biogeochemistry models of the Vegetation/Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project (VEMAP)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pan, Y.; Melillo, J.M.; McGuire, A.D.; Kicklighter, D.W.; Pitelka, Louis F.; Hibbard, K.; Pierce, L.L.; Running, S.W.; Ojima, D.S.; Parton, W.J.; Schimel, D.S.; Borchers, J.; Neilson, R.; Fisher, H.H.; Kittel, T.G.F.; Rossenbloom, N.A.; Fox, S.; Haxeltine, A.; Prentice, I.C.; Sitch, S.; Janetos, A.; McKeown, R.; Nemani, R.; Painter, T.; Rizzo, B.; Smith, T.; Woodward, F.I.

1998-01-01

Although there is a great deal of information concerning responses to increases in atmospheric CO2 at the tissue and plant levels, there are substantially fewer studies that have investigated ecosystem-level responses in the context of integrated carbon, water, and nutrient cycles. Because our understanding of ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 is incomplete, modeling is a tool that can be used to investigate the role of plant and soil interactions in the response of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated CO2. In this study, we analyze the responses of net primary production (NPP) to doubled CO2 from 355 to 710 ppmv among three biogeochemistry models in the Vegetation/Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project (VEMAP): BIOME-BGC (BioGeochemical Cycles), Century, and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM). For the conterminous United States, doubled atmospheric CO2 causes NPP to increase by 5% in Century, 8% in TEM, and 11% in BIOME-BGC. Multiple regression analyses between the NPP response to doubled CO2 and the mean annual temperature and annual precipitation of biomes or grid cells indicate that there are negative relationships between precipitation and the response of NPP to doubled CO2 for all three models. In contrast, there are different relationships between temperature and the response of NPP to doubled CO2 for the three models: there is a negative relationship in the responses of BIOME-BGC, no relationship in the responses of Century, and a positive relationship in the responses of TEM. In BIOME-BGC, the NPP response to doubled CO2 is controlled by the change in transpiration associated with reduced leaf conductance to water vapor. This change affects soil water, then leaf area development and, finally, NPP. In Century, the response of NPP to doubled CO2 is controlled by changes in decomposition rates associated with increased soil moisture that results from reduced evapotranspiration. This change affects nitrogen availability for plants, which influences NPP. In TEM, the NPP response to doubled CO2 is controlled by increased carboxylation which is modified by canopy conductance and the degree to which nitrogen constraints cause down-regulation of photosynthesis. The implementation of these different mechanisms has consequences for the spatial pattern of NPP responses, and represents, in part, conceptual uncertainty about controls over NPP responses. Progress in reducing these uncertainties requires research focused at the ecosystem level to understand how interactions between the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles influence the response of NPP to elevated atmospheric CO2.

Mentorship and Mitigation of Culture Shock: Foreign-Trained Pharmacists in Canada

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Austin, Zubin

2005-01-01

Immigrants with professional qualifications face unique challenges in adapting personally and professionally to new environments. This "double culture shock" experience may result in disengagement from the professional community due to perceived barriers to integration, with subsequent negative impact on employment prospects and…

129. INTERIOR, SIXTH FLOOR, WING 6100 WEST, SUITE 6000, ROOM ...

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

129. INTERIOR, SIXTH FLOOR, WING 6100 WEST, SUITE 6000, ROOM 6156, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, DOUBLE DOOR (4' x 5' negative; 8' x 10' print) - U.S. Department of the Interior, Eighteenth & C Streets Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

In situ NMR and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance techniques reveal the structure of the electrical double layer in supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffin, John M.; Forse, Alexander C.; Tsai, Wan-Yu; Taberna, Pierre-Louis; Simon, Patrice; Grey, Clare P.

2015-08-01

Supercapacitors store charge through the electrosorption of ions on microporous electrodes. Despite major efforts to understand this phenomenon, a molecular-level picture of the electrical double layer in working devices is still lacking as few techniques can selectively observe the ionic species at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Here, we use in situ NMR to directly quantify the populations of anionic and cationic species within a working microporous carbon supercapacitor electrode. Our results show that charge storage mechanisms are different for positively and negatively polarized electrodes for the electrolyte tetraethylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile; for positive polarization charging proceeds by exchange of the cations for anions, whereas for negative polarization, cation adsorption dominates. In situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements support the NMR results and indicate that adsorbed ions are only partially solvated. These results provide new molecular-level insight, with the methodology offering exciting possibilities for the study of pore/ion size, desolvation and other effects on charge storage in supercapacitors.

Deep sequencing reveals double mutations in cis of MPL exon 10 in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

PubMed

Pietra, Daniela; Brisci, Angela; Rumi, Elisa; Boggi, Sabrina; Elena, Chiara; Pietrelli, Alessandro; Bordoni, Roberta; Ferrari, Maurizio; Passamonti, Francesco; De Bellis, Gianluca; Cremonesi, Laura; Cazzola, Mario

2011-04-01

Somatic mutations of MPL exon 10, mainly involving a W515 substitution, have been described in JAK2 (V617F)-negative patients with essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. We used direct sequencing and high-resolution melt analysis to identify mutations of MPL exon 10 in 570 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, and allele specific PCR and deep sequencing to further characterize a subset of mutated patients. Somatic mutations were detected in 33 of 221 patients (15%) with JAK2 (V617F)-negative essential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis. Only one patient with essential thrombocythemia carried both JAK2 (V617F) and MPL (W515L). High-resolution melt analysis identified abnormal patterns in all the MPL mutated cases, while direct sequencing did not detect the mutant MPL in one fifth of them. In 3 cases carrying double MPL mutations, deep sequencing analysis showed identical load and location in cis of the paired lesions, indicating their simultaneous occurrence on the same chromosome.

The double-edged sword of grandiose narcissism: implications for successful and unsuccessful leadership among U.S. Presidents.

PubMed

Watts, Ashley L; Lilienfeld, Scott O; Smith, Sarah Francis; Miller, Joshua D; Campbell, W Keith; Waldman, Irwin D; Rubenzer, Steven J; Faschingbauer, Thomas J

2013-12-01

Recent research and theorizing suggest that narcissism may predict both positive and negative leadership behaviors. We tested this hypothesis with data on the 42 U.S. presidents up to and including George W. Bush, using (a) expert-derived narcissism estimates, (b) independent historical surveys of presidential performance, and (c) largely or entirely objective indicators of presidential performance. Grandiose, but not vulnerable, narcissism was associated with superior overall greatness in an aggregate poll; it was also positively associated with public persuasiveness, crisis management, agenda setting, and allied behaviors, and with several objective indicators of performance, such as winning the popular vote and initiating legislation. Nevertheless, grandiose narcissism was also associated with several negative outcomes, including congressional impeachment resolutions and unethical behaviors. We found that presidents exhibit elevated levels of grandiose narcissism compared with the general population, and that presidents' grandiose narcissism has been rising over time. Our findings suggest that grandiose narcissism may be a double-edged sword in the leadership domain.

Light/negative bias stress instabilities in indium gallium zinc oxide thin film transistors explained by creation of a double donor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Migliorato, Piero; Delwar Hossain Chowdhury, Md; Gwang Um, Jae; Seok, Manju; Jang, Jin

2012-09-01

The analysis of current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics for amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide Thin film transistors as a function of active layer thickness shows that negative bias under illumination stress (NBIS) is quantitatively explained by creation of a bulk double donor, with a shallow singly ionized state ɛ(0/+) > EC-0.073 eV and a deep doubly ionized state ɛ(++/+) < EC-0.3 eV. The gap density of states, extracted from the capacitance-voltage curves, shows a broad peak between EC-E = 0.3 eV and 1.0 eV, which increases in height with NBIS stress time and corresponds to the broadened transition energy between singly and doubly ionized states. We propose that the center responsible is an oxygen vacancy and that the presence of a stable singly ionized state, necessary to explain our experimental results, could be due to the defect environment provided by the amorphous network.

On gate stack scalability of double-gate negative-capacitance FET with ferroelectric HfO2 for energy efficient sub-0.2 V operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Kyungmin; Saraya, Takuya; Kobayashi, Masaharu; Hiramoto, Toshiro

2018-02-01

We have investigated the gate stack scalability and energy efficiency of double-gate negative-capacitance FET (DGNCFET) with a CMOS-compatible ferroelectric HfO2 (FE:HfO2). Analytic model-based simulation is conducted to investigate the impacts of ferroelectric characteristic of FE:HfO2 and gate stack thickness on the I on/I off ratio of DGNCFET. DGNCFET has wider design window for the gate stack where higher I on/I off ratio can be achieved than DG classical MOSFET. Under a process-induced constraint with sub-10 nm gate length (L g), FE:HfO2-based DGNCFET still has a design point for high I on/I off ratio. With an optimized gate stack thickness for sub-10 nm L g, FE:HfO2-based DGNCFET has 2.5× higher energy efficiency than DG classical MOSFET even at ultralow operation voltage of sub-0.2 V.

T-lymphoid, megakaryocyte, and granulocyte development are sensitive to decreases in CBFβ dosage.

PubMed Central

Talebian, Laleh; Li, Zhe; Guo, Yalin; Gaudet, Justin; Speck, Maren E.; Sugiyama, Daisuke; Kaur, Prabhjot; Pear, Warren S.; Maillard, Ivan; Speck, Nancy A.

2007-01-01

The family of core-binding factors includes the DNA-binding subunits Runx1-3 and their common non–DNA-binding partner CBFβ. We examined the collective role of core-binding factors in hematopoiesis with a hypomorphic Cbfb allelic series. Reducing CBFβ levels by 3- or 6-fold caused abnormalities in bone development, megakaryocytes, granulocytes, and T cells. T-cell development was very sensitive to an incremental reduction of CBFβ levels: mature thymocytes were decreased in number upon a 3-fold reduction in CBFβ levels, and were virtually absent when CBFβ levels were 6-fold lower. Partially penetrant consecutive differentiation blocks were found among early T-lineage progenitors within the CD4−CD8− double-negative 1 and downstream double-negative 2 thymocyte subsets. Our data define a critical CBFβ threshold for normal T-cell development, and situate an essential role for core-binding factors during the earliest stages of T-cell development. PMID:16940420

Detection of anti-infliximab antibodies is impacted by antibody titer, infliximab level and IgG4 antibodies: a systematic comparison of three different assays

PubMed Central

Afonso, Joana; Lopes, Susana; Gonçalves, Raquel; Caldeira, Paulo; Lago, Paula; Tavares de Sousa, Helena; Ramos, Jaime; Gonçalves, Ana Rita; Ministro, Paula; Rosa, Isadora; Vieira, Ana Isabel; Coelho, Rosa; Tavares, Patrícia; Soares, João; Sousa, Ana Lúcia; Carvalho, Diana; Sousa, Paula; da Silva, João Pereira; Meira, Tânia; Silva Ferreira, Filipa; Dias, Cláudia Camila; Chowers, Yehuda; Ben-Horin, Shomron; Magro, Fernando

2016-01-01

Background: There is scant information on the accuracy of different assays used to measure anti-infliximab antibodies (ADAs), especially in the presence of detectable infliximab (IFX). We thus aimed to evaluate and compare three different assays for the detection of IFX and ADAs and to clarify the impact of the presence of circulating IFX on the accuracy of the ADA assays. Methods: Blood samples from 79 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients treated with infliximab were assessed for IFX levels and ADAs using three different assays: an in-house assay and two commercial kits, Immundiagnostik and Theradiag. Sera samples with ADAs and undetectable levels of IFX were spiked with exogenous IFX and analyzed for ADAs. Results: The three assays showed 81–96% agreement for the measured IFX level. However, the in-house assay and Immundiagnostik assays detected ADAs in 34 out of 79 samples, whereas Theradiag only detected ADAs in 24 samples. Samples negative for ADAs with Theradiag, but ADA-positive in both the in-house and Immundiagnostik assays, were positive for IFX or IgG4 ADAs. In spiking experiments, a low concentration of exogenous IFX (5 µg/ml) hampered ADA detection with Theradiag in sera samples with ADA levels of between 3 and 10 µg/ml. In the Immundiagnostik assay detection interference was only observed at concentrations of exogenous IFX higher than 30 µg/ml. However, in samples with high levels of ADAs (>25 µg/ml) interference was only observed at IFX concentrations higher than 100 µg/ml in all three assays. Binary (IFX/ADA) stratification of the results showed that IFX+/ADA- and IFX-/ADAs+ were less influenced by the assay results than the double-positive (IFX+/ADAs+) and double-negative (IFX-/ADAs-) combination. Conclusions: All three methodologies are equally suitable for measuring IFX levels. However, erroneous therapeutic decisions may occur when patients show double-negative (IFX-/ADAs-) or double-positive (IFX+/ADAs+) status, since agreement between assays is significantly lower in these circumstances. PMID:27803733

Bim-mediated apoptosis is not necessary for thymic negative selection to ubiquitous self-antigens.

PubMed

Hu, Qian; Sader, Alyssa; Parkman, Julia C; Baldwin, Troy A

2009-12-15

T cell education in the thymus is critical for establishing a functional, yet self-tolerant, T cell repertoire. Negative selection is a key process in enforcing self-tolerance. There are many questions that surround the mechanism of negative selection, but it is currently held that apoptosis initiated by Bim and/or Nur77 is critical for negative selection. Recent studies, however, have questioned the necessity of Bim in maintaining both central and peripheral T cell tolerance. To reconcile these apparently contradictory findings, we examined the role of Bim in negative selection in the well-characterized, physiological HY(cd4) mouse model. We found that while Bim expression was required for CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive thymocyte apoptosis, it was not required for negative selection. Furthermore, Bim deficiency did not alter the frequency or affinity of male reactive cells that escape negative selection in an oligoclonal repertoire. Collectively, these studies indicate that negative selection occurs efficiently in the absence of apoptosis and suggest that the current paradigm of negative selection requiring apoptosis be revisited.

Correlation between the line width and the line flux of the double-peaked broad Hα of 3C390.3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xue-Guang

2013-03-01

In this paper, we carefully check the correlation between the line width (second moment) and the line flux of the double-peaked broad Hα of the well-known mapped active galactic nucleus (AGN) 3C390.3 in order to show some further distinctions between double-peaked emitters and normal broad-line AGN. Based on the virialization assumption MBH ∝ RBLR × V2(BLR) and the empirical relation RBLR ∝ L˜0.5, one strong negative correlation between the line width and the line flux of the double-peaked broad lines should be expected for 3C390.3, such as the negative correlation confirmed for the mapped broad-line object NGC 5548, RBLR × V2(BLR) ∝ L˜0.5 × σ2 = constant. Moreover, based on the public spectra around 1995 from the AGN WATCH project for 3C390.3, one reliable positive correlation is found between the line width and the line flux of the double-peaked broad Hα. In the context of the proposed theoretical accretion disc model for double-peaked emitters, the unexpected positive correlation can be naturally explained, due to different time delays for the inner and outer parts of the disc-like broad-line region (BLR) of 3C390.3. Moreover, the virialization assumption is checked and found to be still available for 3C390.3. However, the time-varying size of the BLR of 3C390.3 cannot be expected by the empirical relation RBLR ∝ L˜0.5. In other words, the mean size of the BLR of 3C390.3 can be estimated by the continuum luminosity (line luminosity), while the continuum emission strengthening leads to the size of BLR decreasing (not increasing) in different moments for 3C390.3. Then, we compared our results of 3C390.3 with the previous results reported in the literature for the other double-peaked emitters, and found that before to clearly correct the effects from disc physical parameters varying (such as the effects of disc precession) for long-term observed line spectra, it is not so meaningful to discuss the correlation of the line parameters of double-peaked broad lines. Furthermore, due to the probable `external' ionizing source with so far unclear structures, it is hard to give one conclusion that the positive correlation between the line width and the line flux can be found for all double-peaked emitters, even after the considerations of disc physical parameters varying. However, once one positive correlation of broad-line parameters is found, the accretion disc origination of the broad line should be considered first.

Delaminating and restacking MgAl-layered double hydroxide monitored and characterized by a range of instrumental methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muráth, Szabolcs; Somosi, Zoltán; Tóth, Ildikó Y.; Tombácz, Etelka; Sipos, Pál; Pálinkó, István

2017-07-01

The delamination-restacking properties of MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) were studied in various solvents. The LDH samples were successfully delaminated in polar amides (formamide, N-methylformamide, N-methylacetamide). Usually, delamination was finalized by ultrasonic treatment. As rehydrating solutions, numerous Na-salts with single-, double- and triple-charged anions were used. Reconstruction was accomplished with anions of one or two negative charges, but triple-charged ones generally disrupted the rebuilding process, likely, because their salts with the metals of the LDH are very stable, and the thin layers can more readily transform to salts than the ordered materials. Samples and delamination-restacking processes were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).

The double burden of and negative spillover between paid and domestic work: associations with health among men and women.

PubMed

Väänänen, Ari; Kevin, May V; Ala-Mursula, Leena; Pentti, Jaana; Kivimäki, Mika; Vahtera, Jussi

2004-01-01

The objective of the study was to determine whether the double burden of and negative spillover between domestic and full-time paid work are associated with an increase in health problems. Survey responses were linked with sickness absence records in a cross-sectional study of 6442 full-time municipal employees. Women and men experiencing severe work-family spillover had a 1.5-1.6 (95% confidence intervals 1.1 to 2.0) times higher rate of sickness absence than those with no such experience. The corresponding odds ratios for psychological distress and suboptimal self-assessed health varied between 3.6 and 6.5 (2.3 to 11.0). Among the women, severe family-work spillover increased the risk of psychological distress and suboptimal health [odds ratios 2.0 (1.4 to 2.9) and 1.6 (1.1 to 2.3), respectively], and accumulated sole responsibilities were associated with a 1.5 (1.1 to 2.1) times higher odds ratio for psychological distress. Long domestic work hours (>50/week) were associated with a 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) times higher rate of sickness absence among the men, but there was no such increase among the women. We conclude that negative work-family spillover especially is associated with health problems among both women and men, and negative family-work spillover is related to a poorer health status among women.

Evaluating the Ability of Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) to Mitigate Coastal Nitrogen Over-Enrichment

EPA Science Inventory

Human actions have resulted in a doubling of the rate of bio-available nitrogen production in the biosphere, leading to over-fertilization of coastal ecosystems worldwide. Such over-fertilization has numerous negative consequences for coastal ecosystems, such as excessive algal g...

Double Burden of Malnutrition in Rural West Java: Household-Level Analysis for Father-Child and Mother-Child Pairs and the Association with Dietary Intake.

PubMed

Sekiyama, Makiko; Jiang, Hong Wei; Gunawan, Budhi; Dewanti, Linda; Honda, Ryo; Shimizu-Furusawa, Hana; Abdoellah, Oekan S; Watanabe, Chiho

2015-10-02

Indonesia is facing household-level double burden malnutrition. This study aimed at examining (1) household-level double burden for the mother-child and father-child pairs; (2) risk of adiposity of double burden households; and (3) associated dietary factors. Subjects were 5th and 6th grade elementary school children (n = 242), their mothers (n = 242), and their fathers (n = 225) in five communities (1 = urban, 4 = rural) in the Bandung District. Questionnaires on socioeconomic factors, blood hemoglobin measurements, and anthropometric measurements were administered. For adults, body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated by bioelectrical impedance (BF%-BI) and by converting skinfold thickness (ST) data using Durnin and Womersley's (1974) formula (BF%-ST). Food frequency questionnaires were also completed. Double burden was defined as coexistence of maternal or paternal overweight (Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 23) and child stunting (height-for-age z-score <-2) within households. Maternal-child double burden occurred in 30.6% of total households, whereas paternal-child double burden was only in 8.4%. Mothers from double burden households showed high adiposity; 87.3% with BF%-BI and 66.2% with BF%-ST had BF% >35%, and 60.6% had waists >80 cm. The major dietary patterns identified were "Modern" and "High-animal products". After controlling for confounding factors, children in the highest quartile of the "High-animal products" dietary pattern had a lower risk of maternal-child double burden (Adjusted OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.21-1.04) than those in the lowest quartile. Given that the "High-animal products" dietary pattern was associated with the decreased risk of maternal-child double burden through a strong negative correlation with child stunting, improving child stunting through adequate intake of animal products is critical to solve the problem of maternal-child double burden in Indonesia.

Double Burden of Malnutrition in Rural West Java: Household-Level Analysis for Father-Child and Mother-Child Pairs and the Association with Dietary Intake

PubMed Central

Sekiyama, Makiko; Jiang, Hong Wei; Gunawan, Budhi; Dewanti, Linda; Honda, Ryo; Shimizu-Furusawa, Hana; Abdoellah, Oekan S.; Watanabe, Chiho

2015-01-01

Indonesia is facing household-level double burden malnutrition. This study aimed at examining (1) household-level double burden for the mother-child and father-child pairs; (2) risk of adiposity of double burden households; and (3) associated dietary factors. Subjects were 5th and 6th grade elementary school children (n = 242), their mothers (n = 242), and their fathers (n = 225) in five communities (1 = urban, 4 = rural) in the Bandung District. Questionnaires on socioeconomic factors, blood hemoglobin measurements, and anthropometric measurements were administered. For adults, body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated by bioelectrical impedance (BF%-BI) and by converting skinfold thickness (ST) data using Durnin and Womersley’s (1974) formula (BF%-ST). Food frequency questionnaires were also completed. Double burden was defined as coexistence of maternal or paternal overweight (Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 23) and child stunting (height-for-age z-score <−2) within households. Maternal-child double burden occurred in 30.6% of total households, whereas paternal-child double burden was only in 8.4%. Mothers from double burden households showed high adiposity; 87.3% with BF%-BI and 66.2% with BF%-ST had BF% >35%, and 60.6% had waists >80 cm. The major dietary patterns identified were “Modern” and “High-animal products”. After controlling for confounding factors, children in the highest quartile of the “High-animal products” dietary pattern had a lower risk of maternal-child double burden (Adjusted OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.21–1.04) than those in the lowest quartile. Given that the “High-animal products” dietary pattern was associated with the decreased risk of maternal-child double burden through a strong negative correlation with child stunting, improving child stunting through adequate intake of animal products is critical to solve the problem of maternal-child double burden in Indonesia. PMID:26445058

Working memory affects false memory production for emotional events.

PubMed

Mirandola, Chiara; Toffalini, Enrico; Ciriello, Alfonso; Cornoldi, Cesare

2017-01-01

Whereas a link between working memory (WM) and memory distortions has been demonstrated, its influence on emotional false memories is unclear. In two experiments, a verbal WM task and a false memory paradigm for negative, positive or neutral events were employed. In Experiment 1, we investigated individual differences in verbal WM and found that the interaction between valence and WM predicted false recognition, with negative and positive material protecting high WM individuals against false remembering; the beneficial effect of negative material disappeared in low WM participants. In Experiment 2, we lowered the WM capacity of half of the participants with a double task request, which led to an overall increase in false memories; furthermore, consistent with Experiment 1, the increase in negative false memories was larger than that of neutral or positive ones. It is concluded that WM plays a critical role in determining false memory production, specifically influencing the processing of negative material.

Emotion Enhances the Subjective Feeling of Remembering, Despite Lower Accuracy for Contextual Details

PubMed Central

Rimmele, Ulrike; Davachi, Lila; Petrov, Radoslav; Dougal, Sonya; Phelps, Elizabeth A.

2013-01-01

Emotion strengthens the subjective experience of recollection. However, these vivid and confidently remembered emotional memories may not necessarily be more accurate. We investigated whether the subjective sense of recollection for negative stimuli is coupled with enhanced memory accuracy for contextual details using the remember/know paradigm. Our results indicate a double-dissociation between the subjective feeling of remembering, and the objective memory accuracy for details of negative and neutral scenes. “Remember” judgments were boosted for negative relative to neutral scenes. In contrast, memory for contextual details and associative binding was worse for negative compared to neutral scenes given a “remember” response. These findings show that the enhanced subjective recollective experience for negative stimuli does not reliably indicate greater objective recollection, at least of the details tested, and thus may be driven by a different mechanism than the subjective recollective experience for neutral stimuli. PMID:21668106

[On efficiency of biomanagement with negative feedback from patient's EEG in correction of functional disorders, caused by stress].

PubMed

Fedotchev, A I

2010-01-01

The perspective approach to non-pharmacological correction of the stress induced functional disorders in humans, based on the double negative feedback from patient's EEG was validated and experimentally tested. The approach implies a simultaneous use of narrow frequency EEG-oscillators, characteristic for each patient and recorded in real time span, in two independent contours of negative feedback--traditional contour of adaptive biomanagement and additional contour of resonance stimulation. In the last the signals of negative feedback from individual narrow frequency EEG oscillators are not recognized by the subject, but serve for an automatic modulation of the parameters of the sensory impact. Was shown that due to combination of active (conscious perception) and passive (automatic modulation) use of signals of negative feedback from narrow frequency EEG components of the patient, opens a possibility of considerable increase of efficiency of the procedures of EEG biomanagement.

Does short-term exposure to mobile phone base station signals increase symptoms in individuals who report sensitivity to electromagnetic fields? A double-blind randomized provocation study.

PubMed

Eltiti, Stacy; Wallace, Denise; Ridgewell, Anna; Zougkou, Konstantina; Russo, Riccardo; Sepulveda, Francisco; Mirshekar-Syahkal, Dariush; Rasor, Paul; Deeble, Roger; Fox, Elaine

2007-11-01

Individuals with idiopathic environmental illness with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) believe they suffer negative health effects when exposed to electromagnetic fields from everyday objects such as mobile phone base stations. This study used both open provocation and double-blind tests to determine if sensitive and control individuals experience more negative health effects when exposed to base station-like signals compared with sham. Fifty-six self-reported sensitive and 120 control participants were tested in an open provocation test. Of these, 12 sensitive and 6 controls withdrew after the first session. The remainder completed a series of double-blind tests. Subjective measures of well-being and symptoms as well as physiological measures of blood volume pulse, heart rate, and skin conductance were obtained. During the open provocation, sensitive individuals reported lower levels of well-being in both the global system for mobile communication (GSM) and universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) compared with sham exposure, whereas controls reported more symptoms during the UMTS exposure. During double-blind tests the GSM signal did not have any effect on either group. Sensitive participants did report elevated levels of arousal during the UMTS condition, whereas the number or severity of symptoms experienced did not increase. Physiological measures did not differ across the three exposure conditions for either group. Short-term exposure to a typical GSM base station-like signal did not affect well-being or physiological functions in sensitive or control individuals. Sensitive individuals reported elevated levels of arousal when exposed to a UMTS signal. Further analysis, however, indicated that this difference was likely to be due to the effect of order of exposure rather than the exposure itself.

Electrically active induced energy levels and metastability of B and N vacancy-complexes in 4H–SiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Igumbor, E.; Olaniyan, O.; Mapasha, R. E.; Danga, H. T.; Omotoso, E.; Meyer, W. E.

2018-05-01

Electrically active induced energy levels in semiconductor devices could be beneficial to the discovery of an enhanced p or n-type semiconductor. Nitrogen (N) implanted into 4H–SiC is a high energy process that produced high defect concentrations which could be removed during dopant activation annealing. On the other hand, boron (B) substituted for silicon in SiC causes a reduction in the number of defects. This scenario leads to a decrease in the dielectric properties and induced deep donor and shallow acceptor levels. Complexes formed by the N, such as the nitrogen-vacancy centre, have been reported to play a significant role in the application of quantum bits. In this paper, results of charge states thermodynamic transition level of the N and B vacancy-complexes in 4H–SiC are presented. We explore complexes where substitutional N/N or B/B sits near a Si (V) or C (V) vacancy to form vacancy-complexes (NV, NV, NV, NV, BV, BV, BV and BV). The energies of formation of the N related vacancy-complexes showed the NV to be energetically stable close to the valence band maximum in its double positive charge state. The NV is more energetically stable in the double negative charge state close to the conduction band minimum. The NV on the other hand, induced double donor level and the NV induced a double acceptor level. For B related complexes, the BV and BV were energetically stable in their single positive charge state close to the valence band maximum. As the Fermi energy is varied across the band gap, the neutral and single negative charge states of the BV become more stable at different energy levels. B and N related complexes exhibited charge state controlled metastability behaviour.

Does Short-Term Exposure to Mobile Phone Base Station Signals Increase Symptoms in Individuals Who Report Sensitivity to Electromagnetic Fields? A Double-Blind Randomized Provocation Study

PubMed Central

Eltiti, Stacy; Wallace, Denise; Ridgewell, Anna; Zougkou, Konstantina; Russo, Riccardo; Sepulveda, Francisco; Mirshekar-Syahkal, Dariush; Rasor, Paul; Deeble, Roger; Fox, Elaine

2007-01-01

Background Individuals with idiopathic environmental illness with attribution to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) believe they suffer negative health effects when exposed to electromagnetic fields from everyday objects such as mobile phone base stations. Objectives This study used both open provocation and double-blind tests to determine if sensitive and control individuals experience more negative health effects when exposed to base station-like signals compared with sham. Methods Fifty-six self-reported sensitive and 120 control participants were tested in an open provocation test. Of these, 12 sensitive and 6 controls withdrew after the first session. The remainder completed a series of double-blind tests. Subjective measures of well-being and symptoms as well as physiological measures of blood volume pulse, heart rate, and skin conductance were obtained. Results During the open provocation, sensitive individuals reported lower levels of well-being in both the global system for mobile communication (GSM) and universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) compared with sham exposure, whereas controls reported more symptoms during the UMTS exposure. During double-blind tests the GSM signal did not have any effect on either group. Sensitive participants did report elevated levels of arousal during the UMTS condition, whereas the number or severity of symptoms experienced did not increase. Physiological measures did not differ across the three exposure conditions for either group. Conclusions Short-term exposure to a typical GSM base station-like signal did not affect well-being or physiological functions in sensitive or control individuals. Sensitive individuals reported elevated levels of arousal when exposed to a UMTS signal. Further analysis, however, indicated that this difference was likely to be due to the effect of order of exposure rather than the exposure itself. PMID:18007992

Influence of different iodinated contrast media on the induction of DNA double-strand breaks after in vitro X-ray irradiation.

PubMed

Deinzer, Christoph K W; Danova, Daniela; Kleb, Beate; Klose, Klaus J; Heverhagen, Johannes T

2014-01-01

The objective of this work was to examine differences in DNA double-strand break induction in peripheral blood lymphocytes after in vitro X-ray irradiation between iodinated contrast agents. Four different iodinated X-ray contrast agents--three of them with two different iodine concentrations--and mannitol (negative control; concentration of 150 mg mannitol per ml blood) were pipetted into blood samples so that there was a concentration of 0, 7.5 or 15 mg of iodine per ml blood in the samples. Negative controls without contrast medium (0 mg of iodine per ml blood) were also processed for every irradiation dose. The tubes were exposed to 0, 20 or 500 mGy in vitro X-ray irradiation. After that, the lymphocytes were separated by using density-gradient centrifugation. Fluorescence microscopy was applied to determine the average number of γH2AX-foci per lymphocyte in the presence or absence of different contrast media or mannitol. Differences in the number of γH2AX-foci were statistically analysed by one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference test. Iodinated contrast agents led to a statistically significant increase in DNA double-strand breaks after in vitro irradiation. This effect increased statistically significant with rising radiation dose and appeared independent of the contrast agent used (iopromid, iodixanol, iomeprol, iopamidol). A statistically significant difference in DNA damage between the different tested contrast agents was not found. Therefore, the increase in DNA double-strand breaks depends solely on the amount of iodine applied. For evaluation of clinical consequences, our findings could be tested in further animal studies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Insights on energy selective contacts for thermal energy harvesting using double resonant tunneling contacts and numerical modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Julian, A.; Jehl, Z.; Miyashita, N.; Okada, Y.; Guillemoles, J.-F.

2016-12-01

Energy selective electrical contacts have been proposed as a way to approach ultimate efficiencies both for thermoelectric and photovoltaic devices as they allow a reduction of the entropy production during the energy conversion process. A self-consistent numerical model based on the transfer matrix approach in the effective mass and envelope function approximation has been developed to calculate the electronic properties of double resonant tunneling barriers used as energy selective contacts in hot carrier solar cells. It is found that the application of an external electric bias significantly degrades the electronic transmission of the structure, and thus the tunneling current in the current-voltage characteristic. This is due to a symmetry breaking which can be offset using finely tuned asymmetric double resonant tunneling barriers, leading to a full recovery of the tunneling current in our model. Moreover, we model the heterostructure using electrons temperature in the emitter higher than that of the lattice, providing insights on the interpretation of experimental devices functioning in hot carrier conditions, especially regarding the previously reported shift of the resonance peak (negative differential resistance), which we interpret as related to a shift in the hot electron distribution while the maximum remains at the conduction band edge of the emitter. Finally, experimental results are presented using asymmetric structure showing significantly improved resonant properties at room temperature with very sharp negative differential resistance.

Using an AMACR (P504S)/34betaE12/p63 cocktail for the detection of small focal prostate carcinoma in needle biopsy specimens.

PubMed

Jiang, Zhong; Li, Cuizhen; Fischer, Andrew; Dresser, Karen; Woda, Bruce A

2005-02-01

We assessed the usefulness of immunohistochemical analysis with a 3-antibody cocktail (alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase [AMACR, or P504S], 34betaE12, p63) and a double-chromogen reaction for detection of limited prostate cancer in 138 needle biopsy specimens, including 82 with small foci of prostatic adenocarcinoma and 56 benign prostates. When carcinoma was present, red cytoplasmic granular staining (AMACR) in the malignant glands and cells and dark brown nuclear (p63) and cytoplasmic (34betaE12) staining in basal cells of adjacent nonmalignant glands were found. Of 82 cases of small foci of prostatic adenocarcinoma, 78 (95%) expressed AMACR; all malignant glands were negative for basal cell staining. All benign glands adjacent to malignant glands were recognized easily by basal cell marker positivity and little or no AMACR expression. No benign glands were simultaneously positive for AMACR and negative for basal cell markers (specificity, 100%). There were no differences in intensity and numbers of positive glands with double-chromogen staining compared with using 1-color staining. Our results indicate that immunohistochemistry with a 3-antibody cocktail and double chromogen is a simple and easy assay that can be used as a routine test, which overcomes the problems of studying small lesions in prostate needle biopsies with multiple immunohistochemical stains.

Enhanced stability of thin film transistors with double-stacked amorphous IWO/IWO:N channel layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Dong; Pi, Shubin; Yang, Jianwen; Tiwari, Nidhi; Ren, Jinhua; Zhang, Qun; Liu, Po-Tsun; Shieh, Han-Ping

2018-06-01

In this work, bottom-gate top-contact thin film transistors with double-stacked amorphous IWO/IWO:N channel layer were fabricated. Herein, amorphous IWO and N-doped IWO were deposited as front and back channel layers, respectively, by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The electrical characteristics of the bi-layer-channel thin film transistors (TFTs) were examined and compared with those of single-layer-channel (i.e., amorphous IWO or IWO:N) TFTs. It was demonstrated to exhibit a high mobility of 27.2 cm2 V‑1 s‑1 and an on/off current ratio of 107. Compared to the single peers, bi-layer a-IWO/IWO:N TFTs showed smaller hysteresis and higher stability under negative bias stress and negative bias temperature stress. The enhanced performance could be attributed to its unique double-stacked channel configuration, which successfully combined the merits of the TFTs with IWO and IWO:N channels. The underlying IWO thin film provided percolation paths for electron transport, meanwhile, the top IWO:N layer reduced the bulk trap densities. In addition, the IWO channel/gate insulator interface had reduced defects, and IWO:N back channel surface was insensitive to the ambient atmosphere. Overall, the proposed bi-layer a-IWO/IWO:N TFTs show potential for practical applications due to its possibly long-term serviceability.

Nucleotide sequence of the coat protein gene of Lettuce big-vein virus.

PubMed

Sasaya, T; Ishikawa, K; Koganezawa, H

2001-06-01

A sequence of 1425 nt was established that included the complete coat protein (CP) gene of Lettuce big-vein virus (LBVV). The LBVV CP gene encodes a 397 amino acid protein with a predicted M(r) of 44486. Antisera raised against synthetic peptides corresponding to N-terminal or C-terminal parts of the LBVV CP reacted in Western blot analysis with a protein with an M(r) of about 48000. RNA extracted from purified particles of LBVV by using proteinase K, SDS and phenol migrated in gels as two single-stranded RNA species of approximately 7.3 kb (ss-1) and 6.6 kb (ss-2). After denaturation by heat and annealing at room temperature, the RNA migrated as four species, ss-1, ss-2 and two additional double-stranded RNAs (ds-1 and ds-2). The Northern blot hybridization analysis using riboprobes from a full-length clone of the LBVV CP gene indicated that ss-2 has a negative-sense nature and contains the LBVV CP gene. Moreover, ds-2 is a double-stranded form of ss-2. Database searches showed that the LBVV CP most resembled the nucleocapsid proteins of rhabdoviruses. These results indicate that it would be appropriate to classify LBVV as a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus rather than as a double-stranded RNA virus.

Association of schizophrenia onset age and white matter integrity with treatment effect of D-cycloserine: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study.

PubMed

Takiguchi, Kazuo; Uezato, Akihito; Itasaka, Michio; Atsuta, Hidenori; Narushima, Kenji; Yamamoto, Naoki; Kurumaji, Akeo; Tomita, Makoto; Oshima, Kazunari; Shoda, Kosaku; Tamaru, Mai; Nakataki, Masahito; Okazaki, Mitsutoshi; Ishiwata, Sayuri; Ishiwata, Yasuyoshi; Yasuhara, Masato; Arima, Kunimasa; Ohmori, Tetsuro; Nishikawa, Toru

2017-07-12

It has been reported that drugs which promote the N-Methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor function by stimulating the glycine modulatory site in the receptor improve negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia patients being treated with antipsychotic drugs. We performed a placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study involving 41 schizophrenia patients in which D-cycloserine 50 mg/day was added-on, and the influence of the onset age and association with white matter integrity on MR diffusion tensor imaging were investigated for the first time. The patients were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and other scales. D-cycloserine did not improve positive or negative symptoms or cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. The investigation in consideration of the onset age suggests that D-cycloserine may aggravate negative symptoms of early-onset schizophrenia. The better treatment effect of D-cycloserine on BACS was observed when the white matter integrity of the sagittal stratum/ cingulum/fornix stria terminalis/genu of corpus callosum/external capsule was higher, and the better treatment effect on PANSS general psychopathology (PANSS-G) was observed when the white matter integrity of the splenium of corpus callosum was higher. In contrast, the better treatment effect of D-cycloserine on PANSS-G and SANS-IV were observed when the white matter integrity of the posterior thalamic radiation (left) was lower. It was suggested that response to D-cycloserine is influenced by the onset age and white matter integrity. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (number UMIN000000468 ). Registered 18 August 2006.

Interleukin-7 negatively regulates the development of mature T cells in fetal thymus organ cultures.

PubMed

DeLuca, Dominick; Clark, Dawn R

2002-05-01

We added antibody specific for interleukin-7 (IL-7) to chimeric fetal thymus organ cultures (FTOC) to investigate the involvement of this cytokine at distinct stages of T cell development. We report that the neutralization of IL-7 early in fetal T cell development results in a decrease in the production of mature CD4 or CD8 ('single positive', SP) or CD4/8 negative ('double negative', DN) T cell phenotypes, as defined by their expression of CD3. This loss of T cell development was not complete, but it did include the development of gammadelta T cells. However, if IL-7 was neutralized at later stages of FTOC, the production of CD4/8 positive ('double positive', DP) T cells was increased, and if the addition of the antibody was delayed further, the production of mature SP T cells was increased. This last result could be extended to both alphabeta and gammadelta T cells. These data suggested that IL-7 played a negative regulatory role in the development of progressively mature T cells. Tissue sections of FTOC showed that IL-7 was expressed in the subcapsular region of the tissue where immature T cells reside. However, IL-7 was not detected in the medullary region where mature T cells are located. These data suggest that IL-7 not only supports the development of immature fetal T cells, but it may inhibit the development of mature T cells. The production of mature fetal T cells may, therefore, be delayed until their precursors enter the medullary microenvironment, where IL-7 production is low. In this way, T cells may be prevented from maturing until negative selection or anergy events eliminate or inactivate autoreactive clones.

Multiple-membrane multiple-electrolyte redox flow battery design

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

Yan, Yushan; Gu, Shuang; Gong, Ke

A redox flow battery is provided. The redox flow battery involves multiple-membrane (at least one cation exchange membrane and at least one anion exchange membrane), multiple-electrolyte (one electrolyte in contact with the negative electrode, one electrolyte in contact with the positive electrode, and at least one electrolyte disposed between the two membranes) as the basic characteristic, such as a double-membrane, triple electrolyte (DMTE) configuration or a triple-membrane, quadruple electrolyte (TMQE) configuration. The cation exchange membrane is used to separate the negative or positive electrolyte and the middle electrolyte, and the anion exchange membrane is used to separate the middle electrolytemore » and the positive or negative electrolyte.« less

The Parental Divorce Transition: Divorce-Related Stressors and Well-Being.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buehler, Cheryl A.; And Others

1986-01-01

Used Double ABC-X Model of family stress to develop a theoretical model of the parental divorce transition. Custodial mothers' economic well-being correlated negatively with legal stressors. Other significant independent variables were income during marriage, employment, education, number of children, and her remarriage. For noncustodial fathers,…

Learning Datives: The Tolerance Principle in Monolingual and Bilingual Acquisition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Charles; Montrul, Silvina

2017-01-01

We study the learnability problem concerning the dative alternations in English (Baker, 1979; Pinker, 1989). We consider how first language learners productively apply the double-object and to-dative constructions ("give the book to library"/"give the library the book"), while excluding negative exceptions ("donate the…

An antimicrobial bicyclic peptide from chemical space against multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

PubMed

Di Bonaventura, Ivan; Baeriswyl, Stéphane; Capecchi, Alice; Gan, Bee-Ha; Jin, Xian; Siriwardena, Thissa N; He, Runze; Köhler, Thilo; Pompilio, Arianna; Di Bonaventura, Giovanni; van Delden, Christian; Javor, Sacha; Reymond, Jean-Louis

2018-05-15

We used the concept of chemical space to explore a virtual library of bicyclic peptides formed by double thioether cyclization of a precursor linear peptide, and identified an antimicrobial bicyclic peptide (AMBP) with remarkable activity against several MDR strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Investigation of airflow effects on the dielectric barrier discharge with single/double discharge channel arrangement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Zhihui; Yan, Huijie; Liu, Yidi; Guo, Hongfei; Wang, Yuying; Ren, Chunsheng

2018-05-01

Atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with airflow participation has been widely used in recent years. In this paper, effects of airflow on DBD characteristics are experimentally investigated by single/double pin-to-plate DBD arrangements with an AC exciting source. The discharge electrical characteristics and the movements of discharge channels in airflow are investigated with a single pin electrode arrangement. The current intensities increase in positive cycles and decrease in negative cycles with the increase in airflow velocity. The transition from a filamentary discharge to a diffuse discharge is observed under certain airflow conditions, and the discharge channels move with the airflow with a movement velocity less than the corresponding airflow velocity. In the cases of double pin electrode arrangements, the repulsion between double pin discharge channels is apparent at a 10 mm distance but is not obvious at a 20 mm distance. When the airflow is introduced into the discharge gap, not as in the case of single pin electrode arrangement, the movements of discharge channels in airflow are affected by adjacent discharge channels. The corresponding reasons are analyzed in the paper.

Structure of an electric double layer containing a 2:2 valency dimer electrolyte

DOE PAGES

Silvestre-Alcantara, Whasington; Henderson, Douglas; Wu, Jianzhong; ...

2014-12-05

In this study, the structure of a planar electric double layer formed by a 2:2 valency dimer electrolyte in the vicinity of a uniformly charged planar hard electrode is investigated using density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations. The dimer electrolyte consists of a mixture of charged divalent dimers and charged divalent monomers in a dielectric continuum. A dimer is constructed by two tangentially tethered rigid spheres, one of which is divalent and positively charged and the other neutral, whereas the monomer is a divalent and negatively charged rigid sphere. The density functional theory reproduces well the simulation results formore » (i) the singlet distributions of the various ion species with respect to the electrode, and (ii) the mean electrostatic potential. Lastly, comparison with earlier results for a 2:1/1:2 dimer electrolyte shows that the double layer structure is similar when the counterion has the same valency.« less

Label-free CMOS bio sensor with on-chip noise reduction scheme for real-time quantitative monitoring of biomolecules.

PubMed

Seong-Jin Kim; Euisik Yoon

2012-06-01

We present a label-free CMOS field-effect transistor sensing array to detect the surface potential change affected by the negative charge in DNA molecules for real-time monitoring and quantification. The proposed CMOS bio sensor includes a new sensing pixel architecture implemented with correlated double sampling for reducing offset fixed pattern noise and 1/f noise of the sensing devices. We incorporated non-surface binding detection which allows real-time continuous monitoring of DNA concentrations without immobilizing them on the sensing surface. Various concentrations of 19-bp oligonucleotides solution can be discriminated using the prototype device fabricated in 1- μm double-poly double-metal standard CMOS process. The detection limit was measured as 1.1 ng/μl with a dynamic range of 40 dB and the transient response time was measured less than 20 seconds.

Single helically folded aromatic oligoamides that mimic the charge surface of double-stranded B-DNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziach, Krzysztof; Chollet, Céline; Parissi, Vincent; Prabhakaran, Panchami; Marchivie, Mathieu; Corvaglia, Valentina; Bose, Partha Pratim; Laxmi-Reddy, Katta; Godde, Frédéric; Schmitter, Jean-Marie; Chaignepain, Stéphane; Pourquier, Philippe; Huc, Ivan

2018-05-01

Numerous essential biomolecular processes require the recognition of DNA surface features by proteins. Molecules mimicking these features could potentially act as decoys and interfere with pharmacologically or therapeutically relevant protein-DNA interactions. Although naturally occurring DNA-mimicking proteins have been described, synthetic tunable molecules that mimic the charge surface of double-stranded DNA are not known. Here, we report the design, synthesis and structural characterization of aromatic oligoamides that fold into single helical conformations and display a double helical array of negatively charged residues in positions that match the phosphate moieties in B-DNA. These molecules were able to inhibit several enzymes possessing non-sequence-selective DNA-binding properties, including topoisomerase 1 and HIV-1 integrase, presumably through specific foldamer-protein interactions, whereas sequence-selective enzymes were not inhibited. Such modular and synthetically accessible DNA mimics provide a versatile platform to design novel inhibitors of protein-DNA interactions.

Evolution of double white dwarf binaries undergoing direct-impact accretion: Implications for gravitational wave astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kremer, Kyle; Breivik, Katelyn; Larson, Shane L.; Kalogera, Vassiliki

2017-01-01

For close double white dwarf binaries, the mass-transfer phenomenon known as direct-impact accretion (when the mass transfer stream impacts the accretor directly rather than forming a disc) may play a pivotal role in the long-term evolution of the systems. In this analysis, we explore the long-term evolution of white dwarf binaries accreting through direct-impact and explore implications of such systems to gravitational wave astronomy. We cover a broad range of parameter space which includes initial component masses and the strength of tidal coupling, and show that these systems, which lie firmly within the LISA frequency range, show strong negative chirps which can last as long as several million years. Detections of double white dwarf systems in the direct-impact phase by detectors such as LISA would provide astronomers with unique ways of probing the physics governing close compact object binaries.

Double Sided-Design of Electrodes Driving Tunable Dielectrophoretic Miniature Lens.

PubMed

Almoallem, Yousuf; Jiang, Hongrui

2017-10-01

We demonstrate the design methodology, geometrical analysis, device fabrication, and testing of a double-sided design (DSD) of tunable-focus dielectrophoretic liquid miniature lenses. This design is intended to reduce the driving voltage for tuning the lens, utilizing a double-sided electrode design that enhances the electric field magnitude. Fabricated devices were tested and measurements on a goniometer showed changes of up to 14° in the contact angle when the dielectrophoretic force was applied under 25 V rms . Correspondingly, the back focal length of the liquid lens changed from 67.1 mm to 14.4 mm when the driving voltage was increased from zero to 25 V rms . The driving voltage was significantly lower than those previously reported with similar device dimensions using single-sided electrode designs. This design allows for a range of both positive and negative menisci dependent on the volume of the lens liquid initially dispensed.

Push back to respond better: regulatory inhibition of the DNA double-strand break response.

PubMed

Panier, Stephanie; Durocher, Daniel

2013-10-01

Single DNA lesions such as DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can cause cell death or trigger genome rearrangements that have oncogenic potential, and so the pathways that mend and signal DNA damage must be highly sensitive but, at the same time, selective and reversible. When initiated, boundaries must be set to restrict the DSB response to the site of the lesion. The integration of positive and, crucially, negative control points involving post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitylation and acetylation is key for building fast, effective responses to DNA damage and for mitigating the impact of DNA lesions on genome integrity.

New mainstream double-end carbon dioxide capnograph for human respiration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jiachen; An, Kun; Wang, Bin; Wang, Lei

2010-11-01

Most of the current respiratory devices for monitoring CO2 concentration use the side-stream structure. In this work, we engage to design a new double-end mainstream device for monitoring CO2 concentration of gas breathed out of the human body. The device can accurately monitor the cardiopulmonary status during anesthesia and mechanical ventilation in real time. Meanwhile, to decrease the negative influence of device noise and the low sample precision caused by temperature drift, wavelet packet denoising and temperature drift compensation are used. The new capnograph is proven by clinical trials to be helpful in improving the accuracy of capnography.

Role of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) in the diagnosis of Cushing’s disease in a patient with double superior vena cava

PubMed Central

Tashi, Sonam; Ng, Keng Sin

2015-01-01

Cushing’s syndrome is known to have a wide spectrum of clinical presentation with debilitating consequences and morbidity if not diagnosed and treated in time. Sometimes the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome can be challenging to the endocrinologist, especially when the usual battery of biochemical tests and advanced cross-sectional imaging is negative or inconclusive. We described a case in which the use of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) was conclusive albeit being technically challenging (due to a rare incidental finding of double superior vena cava) and invasive in nature. PMID:26629301

Baryons in the plasma: In-medium effects and parity doubling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aarts, Gert; Allton, Chris; de Boni, Davide; Hands, Simon; Jäger, Benjamin; Praki, Chrisanthi; Skullerud, Jon-Ivar

2018-02-01

We investigate the fate of baryons made out of u, d and s quarks in the hadronic gas and the quark-gluon plasma, using nonperturbative lattice simulations, employing the FASTSUManisotropic Nf = 2+1 ensembles. In the confined phase a strong temperature dependence is seen in the masses of the negative-parity groundstates, while the positiveparity groundstate masses are approximately temperature independent, within the error. At high temperature parity doubling emerges. A noticeable effect of the heavier s quark is seen. We give a simple description of the medium-dependent masses for the negativeparity states and speculate on the relevance for heavy-ion phenomenology via the hadron resonance gas.

Granisetron as an add-on to risperidone for treatment of negative symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Khodaie-Ardakani, Mohammad-Reza; Seddighi, Sahar; Modabbernia, Amirhossein; Rezaei, Farzin; Salehi, Bahman; Ashrafi, Mandana; Shams-Alizadeh, Narges; Mohammad-Karimi, Maryam; Esfandiari, Gholam-Reza; Hajiaghaee, Reza; Akhondzadeh, Shahin

2013-04-01

Some 5-HT3 antagonists such as ondansetron have shown beneficial effects on negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of granisetron (another 5-HT3 antagonist) add-on therapy in the treatment of negative symptoms of patients with stable schizophrenia. In a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study, forty stable patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR), were randomized to either granisetron (1 mg twice daily) or placebo (twice daily) in addition to risperidone up to 6 mg/day for eight weeks. The patients were assessed using positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and extrapyramidal symptom rating scale (ESRS) at baseline, week 4 and 8. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) was used to assess depression at baseline and week 8. Thirty-eight patients completed the trial. Granisetron group showed a significantly greater improvement on negative subscale than the placebo group at endpoint [t(38) = 6.046, mean difference (±95% CI) = 3.2(1.8-3.7), P < 0.001]. The same effect was observed for total score [t(38) = 4.168, mean difference (95% CI) = 3.2(1.6-4.7), P < 0.001]. However the placebo and granisetron groups did not differ in their reduction of positive and general psychopathology symptoms scores. HDRS scores and its changes did not differ between the two groups. The ESRS score at week 4 was significantly lower in the granisetron than the placebo group while the two groups showed similar ESRS score at week 8. Frequency of other side effects was similar between the two groups. In summary, granisetron add-on can safely and effectively reduce the primary negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Abalone Hydrolysates Encapsulated by Double Emulsion on the Physicochemical and Sensorial Properties of Fresh Cheese

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The intake of dietary salt through food now exceeds current nutritional recommendations and is thought to have negative effects on human health, such as the increasing prevalence of hypertension. This study was performed to investigate whether W1/O/W2 double emulsions can be used to enhance the saltiness of cheese without increasing the salt content (W1 is distilled water or 1% abalone hydrolysate, and W2 is 1% NaCl or 1% abalone hydrolysate + 1% NaCl solution). We also investigated the effect of adding abalone hydrolysate to the double emulsion as a saltiness enhancer. The cheeses were physico-chemically evaluated to determine curd yield, pH value, moisture content, color, texture, salt release rate, and sensory properties. No significant differences were observed in curd yield, pH value, moisture content, lightness, or redness between the cheeses made with and without the double emulsion. However, in the evaluation of salt release rate, fresh cheese made with double emulsion (W1 = distilled water, W2 = 1% NaCl + 1% abalone hydrolysate) was detected earlier than the control or the other treatments. In the sensory evaluation, fresh cheese made with the double emulsion showed higher scores for saltiness and overall preference than the control or the other treatments. We concluded that abalone hydrolysate encapsulated in a double emulsion (W1 is water and W2 is abalone hydrolysate and NaCl solution) could enhance the saltiness of fresh cheese while maintaining the same salt concentration, without altering its physical properties. PMID:28515645

Transient electroosmotic flow induced by DC or AC electric fields in a curved microtube.

PubMed

Luo, W-J

2004-10-15

This study investigates transient electroosmotic flow in a rectangular curved microtube in which the fluid is driven by the application of an external DC or AC electric field. The resultant flow-field evolutions within the microtube are simulated using the backwards-Euler time-stepping numerical method to clarify the relationship between the changes in the axial-flow velocity and the intensity of the applied electric field. When the electric field is initially applied or varies, the fluid within the double layer responds virtually immediately, and the axial velocity within the double layer tends to follow the varying intensity of the applied electric field. The greatest net charge density exists at the corners of the microtube as a result of the overlapping electrical double layers of the two walls. It results in local maximum or minimum axial velocities in the corners during increasing or decreasing applied electric field intensity in either the positive or negative direction. As the fluid within the double layer starts to move, the bulk fluid is gradually dragged into motion through the diffusion of momentum from the double layer. A finite time is required for the full momentum of the double layer to diffuse to the bulk fluid; hence, a certain phase shift between the applied electric field and the flow response is inevitable. The patterns of the axial velocity contours during the transient evolution are investigated in this study. It is found that these patterns are determined by the efficiency of momentum diffusion from the double layer to the central region of the microtube.

Effect of Abalone Hydrolysates Encapsulated by Double Emulsion on the Physicochemical and Sensorial Properties of Fresh Cheese.

PubMed

Choi, HeeJeong; Kim, Soo-Jin; Lee, Sang-Yoon; Choi, Mi-Jung

2017-01-01

The intake of dietary salt through food now exceeds current nutritional recommendations and is thought to have negative effects on human health, such as the increasing prevalence of hypertension. This study was performed to investigate whether W 1 /O/W 2 double emulsions can be used to enhance the saltiness of cheese without increasing the salt content (W 1 is distilled water or 1% abalone hydrolysate, and W 2 is 1% NaCl or 1% abalone hydrolysate + 1% NaCl solution). We also investigated the effect of adding abalone hydrolysate to the double emulsion as a saltiness enhancer. The cheeses were physico-chemically evaluated to determine curd yield, pH value, moisture content, color, texture, salt release rate, and sensory properties. No significant differences were observed in curd yield, pH value, moisture content, lightness, or redness between the cheeses made with and without the double emulsion. However, in the evaluation of salt release rate, fresh cheese made with double emulsion (W 1 = distilled water, W 2 = 1% NaCl + 1% abalone hydrolysate) was detected earlier than the control or the other treatments. In the sensory evaluation, fresh cheese made with the double emulsion showed higher scores for saltiness and overall preference than the control or the other treatments. We concluded that abalone hydrolysate encapsulated in a double emulsion (W 1 is water and W 2 is abalone hydrolysate and NaCl solution) could enhance the saltiness of fresh cheese while maintaining the same salt concentration, without altering its physical properties.

Temperature dependence of negative bias under illumination stress and recovery in amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossain Chowdhury, Md Delwar; Migliorato, Piero; Jang, Jin

2013-04-01

We have investigated the temperature dependence of negative bias under illumination stress and recovery. The transfer characteristics exhibits a non-rigid shift towards negative gate voltages. For both stress and recovery, the voltage shift in deep depletion is twice that in accumulation. The results support the mechanism we previously proposed, which is creation and annealing of a double donor, likely to be an oxygen vacancy. The time dependence of stress and recovery can be fitted to stretched exponentials. Both processes are thermally activated with activation energies 1.06 eV and 1.25 eV for stress and recovery, respectively. A potential energy diagram is proposed to explain the results.

Colleges Lower Their Expectations for Endowments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Masterson, Kathryn

2008-01-01

This article reports that after years of double-digit gains, college endowments are feeling the pinch from distressed financial markets. Some colleges are reporting negative rates of return for the fiscal year that just ended, and even those that performed better are wondering what the current financial crisis will mean. If the market's slide…

Chaotic behaviors of operational amplifiers.

PubMed

Yim, Geo-Su; Ryu, Jung-Wan; Park, Young-Jai; Rim, Sunghwan; Lee, Soo-Young; Kye, Won-Ho; Kim, Chil-Min

2004-04-01

We investigate nonlinear dynamical behaviors of operational amplifiers. When the output terminal of an operational amplifier is connected to the inverting input terminal, the circuit exhibits period-doubling bifurcation, chaos, and periodic windows, depending on the voltages of the positive and the negative power supplies. We study these nonlinear dynamical characteristics of this electronic circuit experimentally.

Tunable and Reconfigurable Optical Negative-Index Materials with Low Losses

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-21

to study metric signature transitions and the cosmological “Big Bang”. • A theory for basic nonlinear optical processes in NIMs and in double...h-MMs) can be used to study metric signature transitions and the cosmological “Big Bang”. • A theory for basic nonlinear optical processes in NIMs

Stereotypes of Aging: Their Effects on the Health of Seniors in North American Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horton, Sean; Baker, J.; Deakin, J. M.

2007-01-01

Seniors are routinely subjected to negative stereotypes regarding their physical and cognitive abilities. The power and prevalence of cultural stereotypes of aging essentially results in a "double-whammy" to seniors. First, they influence the way that seniors are treated by society. Second, cultural stereotypes affect how seniors see…

Existence domains of arbitrary amplitude nonlinear structures in two-electron temperature space plasmas. II. High-frequency electron-acoustic solitons

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

Maharaj, S. K.; Bharuthram, R.; Singh, S. V.

2012-12-15

A three-component plasma model composed of ions, cool electrons, and hot electrons is adopted to investigate the existence of large amplitude electron-acoustic solitons not only for the model for which inertia and pressure are retained for all plasma species which are assumed to be adiabatic but also neglecting inertial effects of the hot electrons. Using the Sagdeev potential formalism, the Mach number ranges supporting the existence of large amplitude electron-acoustic solitons are presented. The limitations on the attainable amplitudes of electron-acoustic solitons having negative potentials are attributed to a number of different physical reasons, such as the number density ofmore » either the cool electrons or hot electrons ceases to be real valued beyond the upper Mach number limit, or, alternatively, a negative potential double layer occurs. Electron-acoustic solitons having positive potentials are found to be supported only if inertial effects of the hot electrons are retained and these are found to be limited only by positive potential double layers.« less

DNA gyrase with a single catalytic tyrosine can catalyze DNA supercoiling by a nicking-closing mechanism

PubMed Central

Gubaev, Airat; Weidlich, Daniela; Klostermeier, Dagmar

2016-01-01

The topological state of DNA is important for replication, recombination and transcription, and is regulated in vivo by DNA topoisomerases. Gyrase introduces negative supercoils into DNA at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. It is the accepted view that gyrase achieves supercoiling by a strand passage mechanism, in which double-stranded DNA is cleaved, and a second double-stranded segment is passed through the gap, converting a positive DNA node into a negative node. We show here that gyrase with only one catalytic tyrosine that cleaves a single strand of its DNA substrate can catalyze DNA supercoiling without strand passage. We propose an alternative mechanism for DNA supercoiling via nicking and closing of DNA that involves trapping, segregation and relaxation of two positive supercoils. In contrast to DNA supercoiling, ATP-dependent relaxation and decatenation of DNA by gyrase lacking the C-terminal domains require both tyrosines and strand passage. Our results point towards mechanistic plasticity of gyrase and might pave the way for finding novel and specific mechanism-based gyrase inhibitors. PMID:27557712

Energize Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitor by Introducing an Ambipolar Organic Redox Radical in Electrolyte.

PubMed

Wang, Yonggang; Hu, Lintong; Zhang, Yue; Shi, Chao; Guo, Kai; Zhai, Tianyou; Li, Huiqiao

2018-05-24

Carbon based electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) generally exhibit high power and long life, but low energy density/capacitance. Pore/morphology optimization and pseudocapacitive materials modification of carbon materials have been used to improve electrode capacitance, but leading to the consumption of tap density, conductivity and stability. Introducing soluble redox mediators into electrolyte is a promising alternative to improve the capacitance of electrode. However, it is difficult to find one redox mediator that can provide additional capacitance for both positive and negative electrodes simultaneously. Here, an ambipolar organic radical, 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) is first introduced to the electrolyte, which can substantially contribute additional pseudocapacitance by oxidation at the positive electrode and reduction at the negative electrode simultaneously. The EDLC with TEMPO mediator delivers an energy density as high as 51 Wh kg-1, 2.4 times of the capacitor without TEMPO, and a long cycle stability over 4000 cycles. The achieved results potentially point a new way to improve the energy density of EDLCs. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Partner Type, Sexual Double Standard Endorsement, and Ambivalence Predict Abdication and Unprotected Sex Intentions in a Community Sample of Young Women

PubMed Central

Danube, Cinnamon L.; Norris, Jeanette; Stappenbeck, Cynthia A.; Davis, Kelly Cue; George, William H.; Zawacki, Tina; Morrison, Diane M.; Abdallah, Devon Alisa

2015-01-01

In-the-moment ambivalence about having sex may influence sexual decisions, but has rarely been examined. We investigated how ambivalence about sex might be related to intentions to abdicate sexual decisions to a male partner and to engage in unprotected sex in a community sample of young women. Predictors of abdication and unprotected sex intentions included partner type (new casual vs. previous relationship), sexual double standard (SDS) endorsement, and two types of ambivalence. After completing a SDS endorsement measure, women (n = 360) projected themselves into a hypothetical sexual situation and completed dependent measures. In the new casual partner condition, SDS endorsement indirectly negatively predicted unprotected sex intentions through its associations with ambivalence and abdication. In both partner conditions SDS endorsement positively predicted abdication, which then positively predicted unprotected sex intentions. Ambivalence indirectly predicted unprotected sex intentions through its negative association with abdication intentions. Results suggest the importance of ambivalence for sexual decisions and the complexity of understanding the sexual decision making processes for women who endorse the SDS. PMID:26421647

Partner Type, Sexual Double Standard Endorsement, and Ambivalence Predict Abdication and Unprotected Sex Intentions in a Community Sample of Young Women.

PubMed

Danube, Cinnamon L; Norris, Jeanette; Stappenbeck, Cynthia A; Cue Davis, Kelly; George, William H; Zawacki, Tina; Morrison, Diane M; Abdallah, Devon Alisa

2016-01-01

In-the-moment ambivalence about having sex may influence sexual decisions but has rarely been examined. We investigated how ambivalence about sex might be related to intentions to abdicate sexual decisions to a male partner and to engage in unprotected sex in a community sample of young women. Predictors of abdication and unprotected sex intentions included partner type (new casual versus previous relationship), sexual double standard (SDS) endorsement, and two types of ambivalence. After completing a SDS endorsement measure, women (N = 360) projected themselves into a hypothetical sexual situation and completed dependent measures. In the new casual partner condition, SDS endorsement indirectly negatively predicted unprotected sex intentions through its associations with ambivalence and abdication. In both partner conditions SDS endorsement positively predicted abdication, which then positively predicted unprotected sex intentions. Ambivalence indirectly predicted unprotected sex intentions through its negative association with abdication intentions. Results suggest the importance of ambivalence for sexual decisions and the complexity of understanding the sexual decision making processes for women who endorse the SDS.

Spatiotemporal electrochemical measurements across an electric double layer capacitor electrode with application to aqueous sodium hybrid batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tully, Katherine C.; Whitacre, Jay F.; Litster, Shawn

2014-02-01

This paper presents in-situ spatiotemporal measurements of the electrolyte phase potential within an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) negative electrode as envisaged for use in an aqueous hybrid battery for grid-scale energy storage. The ultra-thick electrodes used in these batteries to reduce non-functional material costs require sufficiently fast through-plane mass and charge transport to attain suitable charging and discharging rates. To better evaluate the through-plane transport, we have developed an electrode scaffold (ES) for making in situ electrolyte potential distribution measurements at discrete known distances across the thickness of an uninterrupted EDLC negative electrode. Using finite difference methods, we calculate local current, volumetric charging current and charge storage distributions from the spatiotemporal electrolyte potential measurements. These potential distributions provide insight into complex phenomena that cannot be directly observed using other existing methods. Herein, we use the distributions to identify areas of the electrode that are underutilized, assess the effects of various parameters on the cumulative charge storage distribution, and evaluate an effectiveness factor for charge storage in EDLC electrodes.

Factors affecting healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

PubMed Central

Abtahi, Amir M; Granger, Erin K; Tashjian, Robert Z

2015-01-01

Rotator cuff repair has been shown to have good long-term results. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of repairs still fail to heal. Many factors, both patient and surgeon related, can influence healing after repair. Older age, larger tear size, worse muscle quality, greater muscle-tendon unit retraction, smoking, osteoporosis, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia have all shown to negatively influence tendon healing. Surgeon related factors that can influence healing include repair construct-single vs double row, rehabilitation, and biologics including platelet rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells. Double-row repairs are biomechanically stronger and have better healing rates compared with single-row repairs although clinical outcomes are equivalent between both constructs. Slower, less aggressive rehabilitation programs have demonstrated improved healing with no negative effect on final range of motion and are therefore recommended after repair of most full thickness tears. Additionally no definitive evidence supports the use of platelet rich plasma or mesenchymal stem cells regarding improvement of healing rates and clinical outcomes. Further research is needed to identify effective biologically directed augmentations that will improve healing rates and clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair. PMID:25793161

Structural requirements for the antifungal activities of natural drimane sesquiterpenes and analogues, supported by conformational and electronic studies.

PubMed

Derita, Marcos; Montenegro, Iván; Garibotto, Francisco; Enriz, Ricardo D; Fritis, Mauricio Cuellar; Zacchino, Susana A

2013-02-05

Seventeen drimanes including polygodial (1), isopolygodial (2), drimenol (3) and confertifolin (4) obtained from natural sources and the semi-synthetic derivatives 5-17 obtained from 1-3, were evaluated in vitro for antifungal properties against a unique panel of fungi with standardized procedures by using two end-points, MIC(100) and MIC(50). A SAR analysis of the whole series, supported by conformational and electronic studies, allowed us to show that the Δ7,8 -double bond would be one of the key structural features related to the antifungal activity. The MEPs obtained for active compounds exhibit a clear negative minimum value (deep red zone) in the vicinity of the Δ7,8 -double bond, which is not present in the inactive ones. Apart of this negative zone, a positive region (deep blue) appears in 1, which is not observed either in its epimer 2 nor in the rest of the active compounds. The LogP of active compounds varies between 2.33 and 3.84, but differences in MICs are not correlated with concomitant variations in LogP values.

A Printed Xi-Shaped Left-Handed Metamaterial on Low-Cost Flexible Photo Paper.

PubMed

Ashraf, Farhad Bin; Alam, Touhidul; Islam, Mohammad Tariqul

2017-07-05

A Xi-shaped meta structure, has been introduced in this paper. A modified split-ring resonator (MSRR) and a capacitive loaded strip (CLS) were used to achieve the left-handed property of the metamaterial. The structure was printed using silver metallic nanoparticle ink, using a very low-cost photo paper as a substrate material. Resonators were inkjet-printed using silver nanoparticle metallic ink on paper to make this metamaterial flexible. It is also free from any kind of chemical waste, which makes it eco-friendly. A double negative region from 8.72 GHz to 10.91 GHz (bandwidth of 2.19 GHz) in the X-band microwave spectra was been found. Figure of merit was also obtained to measure any loss in the double negative region. The simulated result was verified by the performance of the fabricated prototype. The total dimensions of the proposed structure were 0.29 λ × 0.29 λ × 0.007 λ . It is a promising unit cell because of its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and easy fabrication process.

Prognostic relevance of human papillomavirus L1 capsid protein detection within mild and moderate dysplastic lesions of the cervix uteri in combination with p16 biomarker.

PubMed

Hilfrich, Ralf; Hariri, Jalil

2008-04-01

To proof the prognostic relevance of HPV L1 capsid protein detection on colposcopically-guided punch biopsies in combination with p16. Sections of colposcopically-guided punch biopsies from 191 consecutive cases with at least 5 years of follow-up were stained with HPV L1 capsid protein antibodies (Cytoactiv screening antibody) and a monoclonal anti-p16 antibody. Fifty sections were derived from a benign group, 91 from low-grade (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN 1]) lesions and 50 from high-grade (CIN 2 and 3) lesions. Overall only 16.1% of the 87 L1-negative, p16-positive CIN lesions showed remission of the lesion compared to 72.4% of the double positive cases. None of the L1/p16 double negative CIN lesions progressed. HPV L1 capsid protein detection with Cytoactiv screening antibody seems to be a promising new tool to predict the behavior of HPV-associated (p16-positive) early dysplastic lesions.

Social challenges faced by queer Latino college men: Navigating negative responses to coming out in a double minority sample of emerging adults.

PubMed

Eaton, Asia A; Rios, Desdamona

2017-10-01

In this paper, we qualitatively examine the social challenges experienced by queer, Latino college men in the coming out process. Using an intersectional perspective informed by the double jeopardy hypothesis, intersectional invisibility, and Latino/a cultural norms, we asked 22 queer Latino college men to describe the major challenges they experienced with their sexual identities. To examine the subjective experiences of participants' multiple minority identities, we conducted semistructured interviews. Our sample consisted of 22 college student men who identified as Latino, queer, and cisgender. Participant ages ranged from 18 to 29 (M = 21.50, SD = 3.70). For race/ethnicity, all participants identified with the broad category Latino. For sexual orientation, 18 participants self-identified as gay or homosexual, 3 identified as "other," and 1 identified as bisexual. Sixty-eight percent of participants (15/22) described encountering negative social responses to their sexual identity disclosure, including Loss of Relationships, Aggression, Pathologizing, and Self-Serving Responses. Additionally, 55% spontaneously reinterpreted or Cognitively Reframed their negative experiences (12/22), including the subthemes of It's never happened to me, Minimizing, and Victim Blame. We relate each subtheme to potentially influential social and cultural norms among queer, Latino college men, such as collectivistic values and familismo. Suggestions for research and practice with individuals at this identity intersection are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-LIKE1 repress SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT2 expression to negatively regulate plant innate immunity in Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Chen, Huamin; Xue, Li; Chintamanani, Satya; Germain, Hugo; Lin, Huiqiong; Cui, Haitao; Cai, Run; Zuo, Jianru; Tang, Xiaoyan; Li, Xin; Guo, Hongwei; Zhou, Jian-Min

2009-08-01

Pathogen/microbe-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) trigger plant immunity that forms the first line inducible defenses in plants. The regulatory mechanism of MAMP-triggered immunity, however, is poorly understood. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factors ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3) and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-LIKE1 (EIL1), previously known to mediate ethylene signaling, also negatively regulate PAMP-triggered immunity. Plants lacking EIN3 and EIL1 display enhanced PAMP defenses and heightened resistance to Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. Conversely, plants overaccumulating EIN3 are compromised in PAMP defenses and exhibit enhanced disease susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae. Microarray analysis revealed that EIN3 and EIL1 negatively control PAMP response genes. Further analyses indicated that SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT2 (SID2), which encodes isochorismate synthase required for pathogen-induced biosynthesis of salicylic acid (SA), is a key target of EIN3 and EIL1. Consistent with this, the ein3-1 eil1-1 double mutant constitutively accumulates SA in the absence of pathogen attack, and a mutation in SID2 restores normal susceptibility in the ein3 eil1 double mutant. EIN3 can specifically bind SID2 promoter sequence in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our data provide evidence that EIN3/EIL1 directly target SID2 to downregulate PAMP defenses.

In routine UK hospital practice T-SPOT.TB™ is useful in some patients with a modest pre-test probability of active tuberculosis.

PubMed

Turtle, Lance; Kemp, Tim; Davies, Geraint R; Squire, S Bertie; Beeching, Nick J; Beadsworth, Michael B J

2012-06-01

to assess the usefulness of the T-SPOT.TB™ interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), as used in a regional hospital infectious diseases unit in Northwest England, for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. Retrospective case series. T-SPOT.TB™ test was applied to a group of 64 patients, 20 of whom had tuberculosis (mostly extra-pulmonary tuberculosis). The T-SPOT.TB™ test had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 75% for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis, compared with culture. A positive IGRA approximately doubled the pre-test probability of disease from 0.23 to 0.5. This doubling of probability was true regardless of HIV status, though for HIV+ patients the sensitivity was lower (sensitivity 66.7%, post test probability 0.4 for a positive IGRA result). When extrapolated to the local population the test was most useful for exclusion of disease; post test probability 0.006 (or 1 in 167) for a negative IGRA result. Although it can add weight to a clinical diagnosis, T-SPOT.TB™ assay is not reliable for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in a real world setting where the test is often used in patients with smear negative or extra-pulmonary disease. The test is useful for ruling out disease in HIV negative patients. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Single-resonator double-negative metamaterial

DOEpatents

Warne, Larry K.; Basilio, Lorena I.; Langston, William L.; Johnson, William A.; Ihlefeld, Jon; Ginn, III, James C.; Clem, Paul G.; Sinclair, Michael B.

2016-06-21

Resonances can be tuned in dielectric resonators in order to construct single-resonator, negative-index metamaterials. For example, high-contrast inclusions in the form of metallic dipoles can be used to shift the first electric resonance down (in frequency) to the first magnetic resonance, or alternatively, air splits can be used to shift the first magnetic resonance up (in frequency) near the first electric resonance. Degenerate dielectric designs become especially useful in infrared- or visible-frequency applications where the resonator sizes associated with the lack of high-permittivity materials can become of sufficient size to enable propagation of higher-order lattice modes in the resulting medium.

Charge exchange in cometary coma: Discovery of H- ions in the solar wind close to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

PubMed

Burch, J L; Cravens, T E; Llera, K; Goldstein, R; Mokashi, P; Tzou, C-Y; Broiles, T

2015-07-16

As Rosetta was orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Ion and Electron Sensor detected negative particles with angular distributions like those of the concurrently measured solar wind protons but with fluxes of only about 10% of the proton fluxes and energies of about 90% of the proton energies. Using well-known cross sections and energy-loss data, it is determined that the fluxes and energies of the negative particles are consistent with the production of H - ions in the solar wind by double charge exchange with molecules in the coma.

MgO-templated carbon as a negative electrode material for Na-ion capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kado, Yuya; Soneda, Yasushi

2016-12-01

In this study, MgO-templated carbon with different pore structures was investigated as a negative electrode material for Na-ion capacitors. With increasing the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, the irreversible capacity increased, and the coulombic efficiency of the 1st cycle decreased because of the formation of solid electrolyte interface layers. MgO-templated carbon annealed at 1000 °C exhibited the highest capacity and best rate performance, suggesting that an appropriate balance between surface area and crystallinity is imperative for fast Na-ion storage, attributed to the storage mechanism: combination of non-faradaic electric double-layer capacitance and faradaic Na intercalation in the carbon layers. Finally, a Na-ion capacitor cell using MgO-templated carbon and activated carbon as the negative and positive electrodes, respectively, exhibited an energy density at high power density significantly greater than that exhibited by the cell using a commercial hard carbon negative electrode.

Arresting a Torsin ATPase Reshapes the Endoplasmic Reticulum*

PubMed Central

Rose, April E.; Zhao, Chenguang; Turner, Elizabeth M.; Steyer, Anna M.; Schlieker, Christian

2014-01-01

Torsins are membrane-tethered AAA+ ATPases residing in the nuclear envelope (NE) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here, we show that the induction of a conditional, dominant-negative TorsinB variant provokes a profound reorganization of the endomembrane system into foci containing double membrane structures that are derived from the ER. These double-membrane sinusoidal structures are formed by compressing the ER lumen to a constant width of 15 nm, and are highly enriched in the ATPase activator LULL1. Further, we define an important role for a highly conserved aromatic motif at the C terminus of Torsins. Mutations in this motif perturb LULL1 binding, reduce ATPase activity, and profoundly limit the induction of sinusoidal structures. PMID:24275647

Can homeopaths detect homeopathic medicines by dowsing? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

McCarney, R; Fisher, P; Spink, F; Flint, G; van Haselen, R

2002-04-01

Dowsing is a method of problem-solving that uses a motor automatism, amplified through a pendulum or similar device. In a homeopathic context, it is used as an aid to prescribing and as a tool to identify miasm or toxin load. A randomized double-blind trial was conducted to determine whether six dowsing homeopaths were able to distinguish between Bryonia in a 12c potency and placebo by use of dowsing alone. The homeopathic medicine Bryonia was correctly identified in 48.1% of bottle pairs (n=156; 95% confidence interval 40.2%, 56.0%; P=0.689). These results, wholly negative, add to doubts whether dowsing in this context can yield objective information.

Near-infrared left-handed metamaterials made of arrays of upright split-ring pairs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Hsun-Chi; Sun, Shulin; Guo, Guang-Yu

2018-07-01

Electromagnetic metamaterials are man-made structures that have novel properties such as a negative refraction index, not attainable in naturally occurring materials. Although negative index materials (NIMs) in microwave frequencies were demonstrated in 2001, it is still challenging to design NIMs for optical frequencies especially those with both negative permittivity and negative permeability (known as left-handed metamaterials (LHMs)). Here, by going beyond the traditional concept of the combination of artificial electronic and magnetic meta-atoms to design NIMs, we propose a novel LHM composed of an array of upright split-ring pairs working in the near-infrared region. Our electromagnetic simulations reveal the underlying mechanism that the coupling of the two rings can stimulate simultaneously both the electric and magnetic resonances. The proposed structure has a highest refractive index of  ‑2, a highest figure of merit of 21, good air-matched impedance and 180 nm double negative bandwidth, which excel the performances of many previous proposals. We also numerically demonstrate the negative refraction of this metamaterial in both the single-layer form and wedge-shaped lens.

Why double-stranded RNA resists condensation

PubMed Central

Tolokh, Igor S.; Pabit, Suzette A.; Katz, Andrea M.; Chen, Yujie; Drozdetski, Aleksander; Baker, Nathan; Pollack, Lois; Onufriev, Alexey V.

2014-01-01

The addition of small amounts of multivalent cations to solutions containing double-stranded DNA leads to inter-DNA attraction and eventual condensation. Surprisingly, the condensation is suppressed in double-stranded RNA, which carries the same negative charge as DNA, but assumes a different double helical form. Here, we combine experiment and atomistic simulations to propose a mechanism that explains the variations in condensation of short (25 base-pairs) nucleic acid (NA) duplexes, from B-like form of homopolymeric DNA, to mixed sequence DNA, to DNA:RNA hybrid, to A-like RNA. Circular dichroism measurements suggest that duplex helical geometry is not the fundamental property that ultimately determines the observed differences in condensation. Instead, these differences are governed by the spatial variation of cobalt hexammine (CoHex) binding to NA. There are two major NA-CoHex binding modes—internal and external—distinguished by the proximity of bound CoHex to the helical axis. We find a significant difference, up to 5-fold, in the fraction of ions bound to the external surfaces of the different NA constructs studied. NA condensation propensity is determined by the fraction of CoHex ions in the external binding mode. PMID:25123663

Synthesis, characterization, and efficacy of antituberculosis isoniazid zinc aluminum-layered double hydroxide based nanocomposites

PubMed Central

Saifullah, Bullo; El Zowalaty, Mohamed Ezzat; Arulselvan, Palanisamy; Fakurazi, Sharida; Webster, Thomas J; Geilich, Benjamin Mahler; Hussein, Mohd Zobir

2016-01-01

The chemotherapy for tuberculosis (TB) is complicated by its long-term treatment, its frequent drug dosing, and the adverse effects of anti-TB drugs. In this study, we have developed two nanocomposites (A and B) by intercalating the anti-TB drug isoniazid (INH) into Zn/Al-layered double hydroxides. The average size of the nanocomposites was found to bê164 nm. The efficacy of the Zn/Al-layered double hydroxides intercalated INH against Mycobacterium tuberculosis was increased by approximately three times more than free INH. The nanocomposites were also found to be active against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Compared to the free INH, the nanodelivery formulation was determined to be three times more biocompatible with human normal lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells and 3T3 fibroblast cells at a very high concentration of 50 µg/mL for up to 72 hours. The in vitro release of INH from the Zn/Al-layered double hydroxides was found to be sustained in human body-simulated buffer solutions of pH 4.8 and 7.4. This research is a step forward in making the TB chemotherapy patient friendly. PMID:27486322

Production and characterization of femtosecond laser-written double line waveguides in heavy metal oxide glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

da Silva, Diego Silvério; Wetter, Niklaus Ursus; de Rossi, Wagner; Kassab, Luciana Reyes Pires; Samad, Ricardo Elgul

2018-01-01

We report the fabrication and characterization of double line waveguides directly written in tellurite and germanate glasses using a femtosecond laser delivering 30 μJ, 80 fs pulses at 4 kHz repetition rate. The double line waveguides produced presented internal losses inferior to 2.0 dB/cm. The output mode profile and the M2 measurements indicate multimodal guiding behavior. A better beam quality for the GeO2 - PbO waveguide was observed when compared with TeO2 - ZnO glass. Raman spectroscopy of the waveguides showed structural modification of the glassy network and indicates that a negative refractive index modification occurs at the focus of the laser beam, therefore allowing for light guiding in between two closely spaced laser written lines. The refractive index change at 632 nm is around 10-4, and the structural changes in the laser focal region of the writing, evaluated by Raman spectroscopy, corroborated our findings that these materials are potential candidates for optical waveguides and passive components. To the best of our knowledge, the two double line configuration demonstrated in the present work was not reported before for germanate or tellurite glasses.

I-V characteristics of graphene nanoribbon/h-BN heterojunctions and resonant tunneling.

PubMed

Wakai, Taiga; Sakamoto, Shoichi; Tomiya, Mitsuyoshi

2018-07-04

We present the first principle calculations of the electrical properties of graphene sheet/h-BN heterojunction (GS/h-BN) and 11-armchair graphene nanoribbon/h-BN heterojunction (11-AGNR/h-BN), which are carried out using the density functional theory (DFT) method and the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) technique. Since 11-AGNR belongs to the conductive (3n-1)-family of AGNR, both are metallic nanomaterials with two transverse arrays of h-BN, which is a wide-gap semi-conductor. The two h-BN arrays act as double barriers. The transmission functions (TF) and I-[Formula: see text] characteristics of GS/h-BN and 11-AGNR/h-BN are calculated by DFT and NEGF, and they show that quantum double barrier tunneling occurs. The TF becomes very spiky in both materials, and it leads to step-wise I-[Formula: see text] characteristics rather than negative resistance, which is the typical behavior of double barriers in semiconductors. The results of our first principle calculations are also compared with 1D Dirac equation model for the double barrier system. The model explains most of the peaks of the transmission functions nearby the Fermi energy quite well. They are due to quantum tunneling.

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

Verheest, Frank, E-mail: frank.verheest@ugent.be; School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000; Hellberg, Manfred A., E-mail: hellberg@ukzn.ac.za

The propagation of arbitrary amplitude electron-acoustic solitons and double layers is investigated in a plasma containing cold positive ions, cool adiabatic and hot isothermal electrons, with the retention of full inertial effects for all species. For analytical tractability, the resulting Sagdeev pseudopotential is expressed in terms of the hot electron density, rather than the electrostatic potential. The existence domains for Mach numbers and hot electron densities clearly show that both rarefactive and compressive solitons can exist. Soliton limitations come from the cool electron sonic point, followed by the hot electron sonic point, until a range of rarefactive double layers occurs.more » Increasing the relative cool electron density further yields a switch to compressive double layers, which ends when the model assumptions break down. These qualitative results are but little influenced by variations in compositional parameters. A comparison with a Boltzmann distribution for the hot electrons shows that only the cool electron sonic point limit remains, giving higher maximum Mach numbers but similar densities, and a restricted range in relative hot electron density before the model assumptions are exceeded. The Boltzmann distribution can reproduce neither the double layer solutions nor the switch in rarefactive/compressive character or negative/positive polarity.« less

Adolescent Self-Reported Behaviors and Their Association with Marijuana Use.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenblatt, Janet C.

The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) has shown that the rate of marijuana use among youth has more than doubled since 1992. Similar trends are noted across all subgroups studied. At the same time, the percentage of teens perceiving a "great risk" from smoking marijuana has declined. Negative effects of marijuana use are…

The Sensitivity of Precocious Child Writers: More Evidence of the Double-Edged Sword

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edmunds, Alan L.; Edmunds, Gail

2014-01-01

This article provides further evidence of the often observed sensitive nature displayed by children who are gifted. It also addresses the positive and negative effects that this sensitivity can have on these individuals. Earlier, the authors explored this concept through an analysis of the works and life experiences of Geoffrey, aged 9, a prolific…

Effect of Fertilization on Western Spruce Budworm Feeding in Young Western Larch Stands

Treesearch

Robert L. Talerico; Michael Montgomery; [Tech. Coords

1983-01-01

This study evaluated effects of fertilization of young western larch stands on western spruce budworm feeding in Montana. Various combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium resulted in nearly double the amount of feeding by western spruce budworm larvae, with nitrogen eliciting the most response. Larch growth response to fertilization can be negated by...

THE SEXUAL DOUBLE STANDARD AND ADOLESCENT PEER ACCEPTANCE*

PubMed Central

Kreager, Derek A.; Staff, Jeremy

2014-01-01

The belief that women and men are held to different standards of sexual conduct is pervasive in contemporary American society. According to the sexual double standard, boys and men are rewarded and praised for heterosexual sexual contacts, whereas girls and women are derogated and stigmatized for similar behaviors. Although widely held by the general public, research findings on the sexual double standard remain equivocal, with qualitative studies and early attitudinal surveys generally finding evidence of the double standard and more recent experimental vignette designs often failing to find similar results. In this study, we extend prior research by directly measuring the social status of sexually permissive youth. We use data collected from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to relate adolescents’ self-reported numbers of sexual partners to a network measure of peer acceptance. Results suggest that the association between lifetime sexual partnerships and peer status varies significantly by gender, such that greater numbers of sexual partners are positively correlated with boys’ peer acceptance, but negatively correlated with girls’ peer acceptance. Moreover, the relationship between boys’ sexual behaviors and peer acceptance is moderated by socioeconomic origins; sexually permissive boys from disadvantaged backgrounds are predicted to have more friendships than permissive boys from more advantaged backgrounds. Our results thus support the existence of an adolescent sexual double standard and suggest that sexual norms vary by both gender and socioeconomic origins. PMID:25484478

Effects of negative air ions on oxygen uptake kinetics, recovery and performance in exercise: a randomized, double-blinded study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nimmerichter, Alfred; Holdhaus, Johann; Mehnen, Lars; Vidotto, Claudia; Loidl, Markus; Barker, Alan R.

2014-09-01

Limited research has suggested that acute exposure to negatively charged ions may enhance cardio-respiratory function, aerobic metabolism and recovery following exercise. To test the physiological effects of negatively charged air ions, 14 trained males (age: 32 ± 7 years; : 57 ± 7 mL min-1 kg-1) were exposed for 20 min to either a high-concentration of air ions (ION: 220 ± 30 × 103 ions cm-3) or normal room conditions (PLA: 0.1 ± 0.06 × 103 ions cm-3) in an ionization chamber in a double-blinded, randomized order, prior to performing: (1) a bout of severe-intensity cycling exercise for determining the time constant of the phase II response ( τ) and the magnitude of the slow component (SC); and (2) a 30-s Wingate test that was preceded by three 30-s Wingate tests to measure plasma [adrenaline] (ADR), [nor-adrenaline] (N-ADR) and blood [lactate] (BLac) over 20 min during recovery in the ionization chamber. There was no difference between ION and PLA for the phase II τ (32 ± 14 s vs. 32 ± 14 s; P = 0.7) or SC (404 ± 214 mL vs 482 ± 217 mL; P = 0.17). No differences between ION and PLA were observed at any time-point for ADR, N-ADR and BLac as well as on peak and mean power output during the Wingate tests (all P > 0.05). A high-concentration of negatively charged air ions had no effect on aerobic metabolism during severe-intensity exercise or on performance or the recovery of the adrenergic and metabolic responses after repeated-sprint exercise in trained athletes.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and eradication in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: A parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study.

PubMed

Schwizer, Werner; Menne, Dieter; Schütze, Kurt; Vieth, Michael; Goergens, Reiner; Malfertheiner, Peter; Leodolter, Andreas; Fried, Michael; Fox, Mark R

2013-08-01

This study aimed to resolve controversy regarding the effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy and H. pylori infection in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. A randomized, double-blind, multicentre trial was performed in patients presenting with reflux symptoms. H. pylori-positive patients were randomized to receive either antibiotics or placebo for 7 days. H. pylori-negative patient controls received placebo. All received esomeprazole 20 mg b.d. for 7 days, followed by 40 mg o.d. to complete an 8-week course, and were followed up for 32 weeks by telephone. In this study, 198/589 (34%) patients were H. pylori-positive and 113 H. pylori-negative patients served as controls. Baseline endoscopy revealed 63% Los Angeles grade 0A and 37% Los Angeles grade BCD oesophagitis with no difference between patient groups. Symptom improvement on esomeprazole was seen in 89%. H. pylori eradication was successful in 82%. H. pylori eradication had no effect on symptomatic relapse (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% CI 0.74-1.8; p = 0.5). Overall, H. pylori-positive patients had a lower probability of relapse compared to H. pylori-negative controls (hazard ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.43-0.85; p = 0.004). Relapse hazard was modulated also by oesophagitis grade (BCD vs. 0A, hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-3.0). Relapse of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms after a course of high dose acid suppression took longer for H. pylori-positive patients than H. pylori-negative controls; however eradication therapy had no effect on the risk of relapse; ClincialTrials.gov number, NCT00574925.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and eradication in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: A parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study

PubMed Central

Menne, Dieter; Schütze, Kurt; Vieth, Michael; Goergens, Reiner; Malfertheiner, Peter; Leodolter, Andreas; Fried, Michael; Fox, Mark R

2013-01-01

Objectives This study aimed to resolve controversy regarding the effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy and H. pylori infection in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Design A randomized, double-blind, multicentre trial was performed in patients presenting with reflux symptoms. H. pylori-positive patients were randomized to receive either antibiotics or placebo for 7 days. H. pylori-negative patient controls received placebo. All received esomeprazole 20 mg b.d. for 7 days, followed by 40 mg o.d. to complete an 8-week course, and were followed up for 32 weeks by telephone. Results In this study, 198/589 (34%) patients were H. pylori-positive and 113 H. pylori-negative patients served as controls. Baseline endoscopy revealed 63% Los Angeles grade 0A and 37% Los Angeles grade BCD oesophagitis with no difference between patient groups. Symptom improvement on esomeprazole was seen in 89%. H. pylori eradication was successful in 82%. H. pylori eradication had no effect on symptomatic relapse (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% CI 0.74–1.8; p = 0.5). Overall, H. pylori-positive patients had a lower probability of relapse compared to H. pylori-negative controls (hazard ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.43–0.85; p = 0.004). Relapse hazard was modulated also by oesophagitis grade (BCD vs. 0A, hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.5–3.0). Conclusion Relapse of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms after a course of high dose acid suppression took longer for H. pylori-positive patients than H. pylori-negative controls; however eradication therapy had no effect on the risk of relapse; ClincialTrials.gov number, NCT00574925. PMID:24917966

Magnetoactive Acoustic Metamaterials.

PubMed

Yu, Kunhao; Fang, Nicholas X; Huang, Guoliang; Wang, Qiming

2018-04-11

Acoustic metamaterials with negative constitutive parameters (modulus and/or mass density) have shown great potential in diverse applications ranging from sonic cloaking, abnormal refraction and superlensing, to noise canceling. In conventional acoustic metamaterials, the negative constitutive parameters are engineered via tailored structures with fixed geometries; therefore, the relationships between constitutive parameters and acoustic frequencies are typically fixed to form a 2D phase space once the structures are fabricated. Here, by means of a model system of magnetoactive lattice structures, stimuli-responsive acoustic metamaterials are demonstrated to be able to extend the 2D phase space to 3D through rapidly and repeatedly switching signs of constitutive parameters with remote magnetic fields. It is shown for the first time that effective modulus can be reversibly switched between positive and negative within controlled frequency regimes through lattice buckling modulated by theoretically predicted magnetic fields. The magnetically triggered negative-modulus and cavity-induced negative density are integrated to achieve flexible switching between single-negative and double-negative. This strategy opens promising avenues for remote, rapid, and reversible modulation of acoustic transportation, refraction, imaging, and focusing in subwavelength regimes. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Manipulating motions of targeted single cells in solution by an integrated double-ring magnetic tweezers imaging microscope.

PubMed

Wu, Meiling; Yadav, Rajeev; Pal, Nibedita; Lu, H Peter

2017-07-01

Controlling and manipulating living cell motions in solution hold a high promise in developing new biotechnology and biological science. Here, we developed a magnetic tweezers device that employs a combination of two permanent magnets in up-down double-ring configuration axially fitting with a microscopic objective, allowing a picoNewton (pN) bidirectional force and motion control on the sample beyond a single upward pulling direction. The experimental force calibration and magnetic field simulation using finite element method magnetics demonstrate that the designed magnetic tweezers covers a linear-combined pN force with positive-negative polarization changes in a tenability of sub-pN scale, which can be utilized to further achieve motion manipulation by shifting the force balance. We demonstrate an application of the up-down double-ring magnetic tweezers for single cell manipulation, showing that the cells with internalized paramagnetic beads can be selectively picked up and guided in a controlled fine motion.

The role of Confucianism in South Korea's emergency management system.

PubMed

Ha, Kyoo-Man

2018-03-26

Numerous Western researchers have examined the influence of Confucianism on development in Asia, but almost no South Korean researchers have studied the topic in regard to emergency management in their own country. This study begins by considering Confucianism as a social culture. Next, it goes on to evaluate its role in South Korea's emergency management system, contributing, ultimately, to efficiencies in emergency management. Drawing on a literature review and a case study, the paper assesses the double- and single-faced approaches, using four major Confucian components: destiny; family; ritual; and relation. The double-faced approach includes the positive and negative aspects of emergency management, whereas the single-faced approach incorporates only its positive aspects. This paper provides, for the first time, a systematic analysis of the relationship between Confucianism and emergency management in South Korea. Its key finding is that the double-faced approach needs to be transformed into a single-faced approach through active facilitation of behavioural change. © 2018 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2018.

Medium effects and parity doubling of hyperons across the deconfinement phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aarts, Gert; Allton, Chris; Boni, Davide De; Hands, Simon; Jäger, Benjamin; Praki, Chrisanthi; Skullerud, Jon-Ivar

2018-03-01

We analyse the behaviour of hyperons with strangeness S = -1,-2,-3 in the hadronic and quark gluon plasma phases, with particular interest in parity doubling and its emergence as the temperature grows. This study uses our FASTSUM anisotropic Nf = 2+1 ensembles, with four temperatures below and four above the deconfinement transition temperature, Tc. The positive-parity groundstate masses are found to be largely temperature independent below Tc, whereas the negative-parity ones decrease considerably as the temperature increases. Close to the transition, the masses are almost degenerate, in line with the expectation from chiral symmetry restoration. This may be of interest for heavy-ion phenomenology. In particular we show an application of this effect to the Hadron Resonance Gas model. A clear signal of parity doubling is found above Tc in all hyperon channels, with the strength of the effect depending on the number of s-quarks in the baryons. Presented at 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, 18-24 June 2017, Granada, Spain

Manipulating motions of targeted single cells in solution by an integrated double-ring magnetic tweezers imaging microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Meiling; Yadav, Rajeev; Pal, Nibedita; Lu, H. Peter

2017-07-01

Controlling and manipulating living cell motions in solution hold a high promise in developing new biotechnology and biological science. Here, we developed a magnetic tweezers device that employs a combination of two permanent magnets in up-down double-ring configuration axially fitting with a microscopic objective, allowing a picoNewton (pN) bidirectional force and motion control on the sample beyond a single upward pulling direction. The experimental force calibration and magnetic field simulation using finite element method magnetics demonstrate that the designed magnetic tweezers covers a linear-combined pN force with positive-negative polarization changes in a tenability of sub-pN scale, which can be utilized to further achieve motion manipulation by shifting the force balance. We demonstrate an application of the up-down double-ring magnetic tweezers for single cell manipulation, showing that the cells with internalized paramagnetic beads can be selectively picked up and guided in a controlled fine motion.

Complex Dynamic Development of Poliovirus Membranous Replication Complexes

PubMed Central

Nair, Vinod; Hansen, Bryan T.; Hoyt, Forrest H.; Fischer, Elizabeth R.; Ehrenfeld, Ellie

2012-01-01

Replication of all positive-strand RNA viruses is intimately associated with membranes. Here we utilize electron tomography and other methods to investigate the remodeling of membranes in poliovirus-infected cells. We found that the viral replication structures previously described as “vesicles” are in fact convoluted, branching chambers with complex and dynamic morphology. They are likely to originate from cis-Golgi membranes and are represented during the early stages of infection by single-walled connecting and branching tubular compartments. These early viral organelles gradually transform into double-membrane structures by extension of membranous walls and/or collapsing of the luminal cavity of the single-membrane structures. As the double-membrane regions develop, they enclose cytoplasmic material. At this stage, a continuous membranous structure may have double- and single-walled membrane morphology at adjacent cross-sections. In the late stages of the replication cycle, the structures are represented mostly by double-membrane vesicles. Viral replication proteins, double-stranded RNA species, and actively replicating RNA are associated with both double- and single-membrane structures. However, the exponential phase of viral RNA synthesis occurs when single-membrane formations are predominant in the cell. It has been shown previously that replication complexes of some other positive-strand RNA viruses form on membrane invaginations, which result from negative membrane curvature. Our data show that the remodeling of cellular membranes in poliovirus-infected cells produces structures with positive curvature of membranes. Thus, it is likely that there is a fundamental divergence in the requirements for the supporting cellular membrane-shaping machinery among different groups of positive-strand RNA viruses. PMID:22072780

Breast cancer detection using double reading of unenhanced MRI including T1-weighted, T2-weighted STIR, and diffusion-weighted imaging: a proof of concept study.

PubMed

Trimboli, Rubina M; Verardi, Nicola; Cartia, Francesco; Carbonaro, Luca A; Sardanelli, Francesco

2014-09-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of unenhanced MRI in detecting breast cancer and to assess the impact of double reading. A total of 116 breasts of 67 women who were 36-89 years old were studied at 1.5 T using an unenhanced protocol including axial T1-weighted gradient-echo, T2-weighted STIR, and echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Two blinded readers (R1 and R2) independently evaluated unenhanced images using the BIRADS scale. A combination of pathology and negative follow-up served as the reference standard. McNemar and kappa statistics were used. Per-breast cancer prevalence was 37 of 116 (32%): 30 of 37 (81%) invasive ductal carcinoma, five of 37 (13%) ductal carcinoma in situ, and two of 37 (6%) invasive lobular carcinoma. Per-breast sensitivity of unenhanced MRI was 29 of 37 (78%) for R1, 28 of 37 (76%) for R2, and 29 of 37 (78%) for double reading. Specificity was 71 of 79 (90%) for both R1 and R2 and 69 of 79 (87%) for double reading. Double reading did not provide a significant increase in sensitivity. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect (Cohen κ = 0.873). An unenhanced breast MRI protocol composed of T1-weighted gradient echo, T2-weighted STIR, and echo-planar DWI enabled breast cancer detection with sensitivity of 76-78% and specificity of 90% without a gain in sensitivity from double reading.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of AZD0914, a New Spiropyrimidinetrione DNA Gyrase/Topoisomerase Inhibitor with Potent Activity against Gram-Positive, Fastidious Gram-Negative, and Atypical Bacteria

PubMed Central

Bradford, Patricia A.; Otterson, Linda G.; Basarab, Gregory S.; Kutschke, Amy C.; Giacobbe, Robert A.; Patey, Sara A.; Alm, Richard A.; Johnstone, Michele R.; Potter, Marie E.; Miller, Paul F.; Mueller, John P.

2014-01-01

AZD0914 is a new spiropyrimidinetrione bacterial DNA gyrase/topoisomerase inhibitor with potent in vitro antibacterial activity against key Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus agalactiae), fastidious Gram-negative (Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae), atypical (Legionella pneumophila), and anaerobic (Clostridium difficile) bacterial species, including isolates with known resistance to fluoroquinolones. AZD0914 works via inhibition of DNA biosynthesis and accumulation of double-strand cleavages; this mechanism of inhibition differs from those of other marketed antibacterial compounds. AZD0914 stabilizes and arrests the cleaved covalent complex of gyrase with double-strand broken DNA under permissive conditions and thus blocks religation of the double-strand cleaved DNA to form fused circular DNA. Whereas this mechanism is similar to that seen with fluoroquinolones, it is mechanistically distinct. AZD0914 exhibited low frequencies of spontaneous resistance in S. aureus, and if mutants were obtained, the mutations mapped to gyrB. Additionally, no cross-resistance was observed for AZD0914 against recent bacterial clinical isolates demonstrating resistance to fluoroquinolones or other drug classes, including macrolides, β-lactams, glycopeptides, and oxazolidinones. AZD0914 was bactericidal in both minimum bactericidal concentration and in vitro time-kill studies. In in vitro checkerboard/synergy testing with 17 comparator antibacterials, only additivity/indifference was observed. The potent in vitro antibacterial activity (including activity against fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates), low frequency of resistance, lack of cross-resistance, and bactericidal activity of AZD0914 support its continued development. PMID:25385112

Thyroglobulin levels and thyroglobulin doubling time independently predict a positive 18F-FDG PET/CT scan in patients with biochemical recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

PubMed

Giovanella, Luca; Trimboli, Pierpaolo; Verburg, Frederik A; Treglia, Giorgio; Piccardo, Arnoldo; Foppiani, Luca; Ceriani, Luca

2013-06-01

To assess the relationship between serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, Tg doubling time (Tg-DT) and the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in detecting recurrences of (131)I-negative differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Included in the present study were 102 patients with DTC. All patients were treated by thyroid ablation (e.g. thyroidectomy and (131)I), and underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT due to detectable Tg levels and negative conventional imaging. Consecutive serum Tg measurements performed before the (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination were used for Tg-DT calculation. The (18)F-FDG PET/CT results were assessed as true or false after histological and/or clinical follow-up. Serum Tg levels were higher in patients with a positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (median 6.7 ng/mL, range 0.7-73.6 ng/mL) than in patients with a negative scan (median 1.8 ng/mL, range 0.5-4.9 ng/mL; P < 0.001). In 43 (88 %) of 49 patients with a true-positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan, the Tg levels were >5.5 ng/mL, and in 31 (74 %) of 42 patients with a true-negative (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan, the Tg levels were ≤5.5 ng/mL. A Tg-DT of <1 year was found in 46 of 49 patients (94 %) with a true-positive (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan, and 40 of 42 patients (95 %) with a true-negative scan had a stable or increased Tg-DT. Moreover, combining Tg levels and Tg-DT as selection criteria correctly distinguished between patients with a positive and a negative scan (P<0.0001). The accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET/CT significantly improves when the serum Tg level is above 5.5 ng/mL during levothyroxine treatment or when the Tg-DT is less than 1 year, independent of the absolute value.

The Dominant-Negative Inhibition of Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase PKR Increases the Efficacy of Rift Valley Fever Virus MP-12 Vaccine

PubMed Central

Lihoradova, Olga; Kalveram, Birte; Indran, Sabarish V.; Lokugamage, Nandadeva; Juelich, Terry L.; Hill, Terence E.; Tseng, Chien-Te K.; Gong, Bin; Fukushi, Shuetsu; Morikawa, Shigeru; Freiberg, Alexander N.

2012-01-01

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), belonging to the genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae, is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and causes a high rate of abortion in ruminants and hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, or blindness in humans. MP-12 is the only RVFV strain excluded from the select-agent rule and handled at a biosafety level 2 (BSL2) laboratory. MP-12 encodes a functional major virulence factor, the NSs protein, which contributes to its residual virulence in pregnant ewes. We found that 100% of mice subcutaneously vaccinated with recombinant MP-12 (rMP12)-murine PKRN167 (mPKRN167), which encodes a dominant-negative form of mouse double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase (PKR) in place of NSs, were protected from wild-type (wt) RVFV challenge, while 72% of mice vaccinated with MP-12 were protected after challenge. rMP12-mPKRN167 induced alpha interferon (IFN-α) in sera, accumulated RVFV antigens in dendritic cells at the local draining lymph nodes, and developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies, while parental MP-12 induced neither IFN-α nor viral-antigen accumulation at the draining lymph node yet induced a high level of neutralizing antibodies. The present study suggests that the expression of a dominant-negative PKR increases the immunogenicity and efficacy of live-attenuated RVFV vaccine, which will lead to rational design of safe and highly immunogenic RVFV vaccines for livestock and humans. PMID:22573861

Can homeopaths detect homeopathic medicines by dowsing? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

PubMed Central

McCarney, R; Fisher, P; Spink, F; Flint, G; van Haselen, R

2002-01-01

Dowsing is a method of problem-solving that uses a motor automatism, amplified through a pendulum or similar device. In a homeopathic context, it is used as an aid to prescribing and as a tool to identify miasm or toxin load. A randomized double-blind trial was conducted to determine whether six dowsing homeopaths were able to distinguish between Bryonia in a 12c potency and placebo by use of dowsing alone. The homeopathic medicine Bryonia was correctly identified in 48.1% of bottle pairs (n=156; 95% confidence interval 40.2%, 56.0%; P=0.689). These results, wholly negative, add to doubts whether dowsing in this context can yield objective information. PMID:11934908

Permanganate ion oxidations. IX. Manganese intermediates (complexes) in the oxidation of 2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones.

PubMed

Freeman, F; Karchefski, E M

1976-10-04

Uniquely stable manganese intermediates (complexes) are formed from the permanganate ion oxidation of the 5,6-carbon-carbon double bond in several 2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinediones [uracil, (compound 7), 5-methyluracil (thymine, compound 5), and 6-methyluracil (compound 8)]. These manganese complexes, which represent some of the most stable intermediate manganese species observed thus far in the oxidation of carbon-carbon double bonds, show absorption maxima in the 285-296 nm region (epsilon max approximately 4500). The relative reactivities of 6-methyluracil: uracil: thymine are 1: 23 : 194 and the bimolecular oxidation process is characterized by relatively small deltaH++ values and large negative deltaS++ values.

Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 produces a novel type of acyl-homoserine lactone with a double unsaturated side chain under methylotrophic growth conditions.

PubMed

Nieto Penalver, Carlos G; Morin, Danièle; Cantet, Franck; Saurel, Olivier; Milon, Alain; Vorholt, Julia A

2006-01-23

Acyl-homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) have emerged as important regulatory molecules for many gram-negative bacteria. We have found that Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, a member of the pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs commonly present on plant surfaces, produces several acyl-HSLs depending upon the carbon source. A novel HSL was discovered with a double unsaturated carbon chain (N-(tetradecenoyl)) (C14:2) and characterized by MS and proton NMR. This long-chain acyl-HSL is synthesized by MlaI that also directs synthesis of C14:1-HSL. The Alphaproteobacterium also produces N-hexanoyl-HSL (C6-HSL) and N-octanoyl-HSL (C8-HSL) via MsaI.

Control of the filamentation distance and pattern in long-range atmospheric propagation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenmann, Shmuel; Louzon, Einat; Katzir, Yiftach; Palchan, Tala; Zigler, Arie; Sivan, Yonatan; Fibich, Gadi

2007-03-01

We use the double-lens setup [10, 11] to achieve a 20-fold delay of the filamentation distance of non-chirped 120 fs pulses propagating in air, from 16m to 330m. At 330m, the collapsing pulse is sufficiently powerful to create plasma filaments. We also show that the scatter of the filaments at 330m can be significantly reduced by tilting the second lens. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest distance reported in the Literature at which plasma filaments were created and controlled. Finally, we show that the peak power at the onset of collapse is significantly higher with the double-lens setup, compared with the standard negative chirping approach.

Charge exchange in cometary coma: Discovery of H− ions in the solar wind close to comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko

PubMed Central

Cravens, T. E.; Llera, K.; Goldstein, R.; Mokashi, P.; Tzou, C.‐Y.; Broiles, T.

2015-01-01

Abstract As Rosetta was orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko, the Ion and Electron Sensor detected negative particles with angular distributions like those of the concurrently measured solar wind protons but with fluxes of only about 10% of the proton fluxes and energies of about 90% of the proton energies. Using well‐known cross sections and energy‐loss data, it is determined that the fluxes and energies of the negative particles are consistent with the production of H− ions in the solar wind by double charge exchange with molecules in the coma. PMID:27656008

Epiretinal membrane negative staining and double peeling in a single block with Brilliant Blue G.

PubMed

Martins, David; Neves, Pedro

2018-01-01

To describe a surgical technique for combined peeling of epiretinal and internal limiting membranes. The authors present their procedure of choice for epiretinal membrane surgery: negative staining effect using Brilliant Blue G and single block removal of the epiretinal and internal limiting membranes in a single step. A total of 26 eyes were operated with the described technique. In all cases, the peeling was performed successfully and with no complications. Minimum postoperative follow-up was 12 months. There were no recurrences of epiretinal membranes. The ideal surgical approach for epiretinal membranes should attempt to reduce mechanical trauma, light exposure, and dye toxicity.

1. Copy photo of context view taken in 1917 looking ...

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

1. Copy photo of context view taken in 1917 looking east along Farragut Avenue, then called Main Street, showing construction of double tracking. On right is Building 78 with original smoke stack. Building 59 is visible as third building from left. This photograph was taken from a hill that was later cut away in order to expand the shipyard. See photo for original caption. HABS negative is a 4x5' copy negative made from a print in the collection of the Photographic Branch, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. Photographer unknown. - Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Administration Building, Farragut Avenue, Bremerton, Kitsap County, WA

EFFECTS OF MINERAL CONTENT ON THE FRACTURE PROPERTIES OF EQUINE CORTICAL BONE IN DOUBLE-NOTCHED BEAMS

PubMed Central

McCormack, Jordan; Stover, Susan M.; Gibeling, Jeffery C.; Fyhrie, David P.

2012-01-01

We recently developed a method to measure cortical bone fracture initiation toughness using a double-notched beam in four-point bending. This method was used to test the hypothesis that mineralization around the two notch roots is correlated with fracture toughness and crack extension (physical damage). Total energy absorbed to failure negatively correlated with average mineralization of the beam (r2=0.62), but not with notch root mineralization. Fracture initiation toughness was positively correlated to mineralization at the broken notch root (r2=0.34). Crack length extension at the unbroken notch was strongly negatively correlated with the average mineralization of the notch roots (r2=0.81) whereas crack length extension at the broken notch did not correlate with any of the mineralization measurements. Mineralization at the notch roots and the average mineralization contributed independently to the mechanical and damage properties. The data are consistent with an hypothesis that a) high notch root mineralization results in less stable crack length extension but high force to initiate unstable crack propagation while b) higher average mineralization leads to low post-yield (and total) energy absorption to failure. PMID:22394589

Binding of Phenazinium Dye Safranin T to Polyriboadenylic Acid: Spectroscopic and Thermodynamic Study

PubMed Central

Roy, Snigdha; Das, Suman

2014-01-01

Here, we report results from experiments designed to explore the association of the phenazinium dye safranin T (ST, 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl-5-phenylphenazinium chloride) with single and double stranded form of polyriboadenylic acid (hereafter poly-A) using several spectroscopic techniques. We demonstrate that the dye binds to single stranded polyriboadenylic acid (hereafter ss poly-A) with high affinity while it does not interact at all with the double stranded (ds) form of the polynucleotide. Fluorescence and absorption spectral studies reveal the molecular aspects of binding of ST to single stranded form of the polynucleotide. This observation is also supported by the circular dichroism study. Thermodynamic data obtained from temperature dependence of binding constant reveals that association is driven by negative enthalpy change and opposed by negative entropy change. Ferrocyanide quenching studies have shown intercalative binding of ST to ss poly-A. Experiments on viscosity measurements confirm the binding mode of the dye to be intercalative. The effect of [Na+] ion concentration on the binding process suggests the role of electrostatic forces in the complexation. Present studies reveal the utility of the dye in probing nucleic acid structure. PMID:24498422

Binding of phenazinium dye safranin T to polyriboadenylic acid: spectroscopic and thermodynamic study.

PubMed

Pradhan, Ankur Bikash; Haque, Lucy; Roy, Snigdha; Das, Suman

2014-01-01

Here, we report results from experiments designed to explore the association of the phenazinium dye safranin T (ST, 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl-5-phenylphenazinium chloride) with single and double stranded form of polyriboadenylic acid (hereafter poly-A) using several spectroscopic techniques. We demonstrate that the dye binds to single stranded polyriboadenylic acid (hereafter ss poly-A) with high affinity while it does not interact at all with the double stranded (ds) form of the polynucleotide. Fluorescence and absorption spectral studies reveal the molecular aspects of binding of ST to single stranded form of the polynucleotide. This observation is also supported by the circular dichroism study. Thermodynamic data obtained from temperature dependence of binding constant reveals that association is driven by negative enthalpy change and opposed by negative entropy change. Ferrocyanide quenching studies have shown intercalative binding of ST to ss poly-A. Experiments on viscosity measurements confirm the binding mode of the dye to be intercalative. The effect of [Na⁺] ion concentration on the binding process suggests the role of electrostatic forces in the complexation. Present studies reveal the utility of the dye in probing nucleic acid structure.

Acetaminophen attenuates error evaluation in cortex

PubMed Central

Kam, Julia W.Y.; Heine, Steven J.; Inzlicht, Michael; Handy, Todd C.

2016-01-01

Acetaminophen has recently been recognized as having impacts that extend into the affective domain. In particular, double blind placebo controlled trials have revealed that acetaminophen reduces the magnitude of reactivity to social rejection, frustration, dissonance and to both negatively and positively valenced attitude objects. Given this diversity of consequences, it has been proposed that the psychological effects of acetaminophen may reflect a widespread blunting of evaluative processing. We tested this hypothesis using event-related potentials (ERPs). Sixty-two participants received acetaminophen or a placebo in a double-blind protocol and completed the Go/NoGo task. Participants’ ERPs were observed following errors on the Go/NoGo task, in particular the error-related negativity (ERN; measured at FCz) and error-related positivity (Pe; measured at Pz and CPz). Results show that acetaminophen inhibits the Pe, but not the ERN, and the magnitude of an individual’s Pe correlates positively with omission errors, partially mediating the effects of acetaminophen on the error rate. These results suggest that recently documented affective blunting caused by acetaminophen may best be described as an inhibition of evaluative processing. They also contribute to the growing work suggesting that the Pe is more strongly associated with conscious awareness of errors relative to the ERN. PMID:26892161

One-step patterning of double tone high contrast and high refractive index inorganic spin-on resist

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

Zanchetta, E.; Della Giustina, G.; Brusatin, G.

2014-09-14

A direct one-step and low temperature micro-fabrication process, enabling to realize large area totally inorganic TiO₂ micro-patterns from a spin-on resist, is presented. High refractive index structures (up to 2 at 632 nm) without the need for transfer processes have been obtained by mask assisted UV lithography, exploiting photocatalytic titania properties. A distinctive feature not shared by any of the known available resists and boosting the material versatility, is that the system behaves either as a positive or as negative tone resist, depending on the process parameters and on the development chemistry. In order to explain the resist double tonemore » behavior, deep comprehension of the lithographic process parameters optimization and of the resist chemistry and structure evolution during the lithographic process, generally uncommon in literature, is reported. Another striking property of the presented resist is that the negative tone shows a high contrast up to 19, allowing to obtain structures resolution down to 2 μm wide. The presented process and material permit to directly fabricate different titania geometries of great importance for solar cells, photo-catalysis, and photonic crystals applications.« less

Clinical routine utility of basophil activation testing for diagnosis of hymenoptera-allergic patients with emphasis on individuals with negative venom-specific IgE antibodies.

PubMed

Korošec, Peter; Šilar, Mira; Eržen, Renato; Čelesnik, Nina; Bajrović, Nissera; Zidarn, Mihaela; Košnik, Mitja

2013-01-01

Previous reports suggest the usefulness of basophil activation testing (BAT) in Hymenoptera-allergic patients with negative venom-specific IgE antibodies. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic utility of this testing in a routine clinical laboratory setting. Twenty-one patients with anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera sting (median grade III) and negative venom-specific IgE were routinely and prospectively tested with BAT. We were able to diagnose 81% (17 of 21) of patients with BAT and 57% (12 of 21) with intradermal skin testing. Three wasp venom-allergic patients showed IgE positivity to rVes v 5. Four patients (19%) were negative for all tests. In the case of double-positive BAT, the culprit insect correlated with the venom that induced a significantly higher basophil response. BAT allows the identification of severe Hymenoptera-allergic patients with negative specific IgE and skin tests. The routine use of this cellular test should facilitate prescription of venom immunotherapy in complex cases with inconclusive diagnostic results. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Positive zeta potential of a negatively charged semi-permeable plasma membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, Shayandev; Jing, Haoyuan; Das, Siddhartha

2017-08-01

The negative charge of the plasma membrane (PM) severely affects the nature of moieties that may enter or leave the cells and controls a large number of ion-interaction-mediated intracellular and extracellular events. In this letter, we report our discovery of a most fascinating scenario, where one interface (e.g., membrane-cytosol interface) of the negatively charged PM shows a positive surface (or ζ) potential, while the other interface (e.g., membrane-electrolyte interface) still shows a negative ζ potential. Therefore, we encounter a completely unexpected situation where an interface (e.g., membrane-cytosol interface) that has a negative surface charge density demonstrates a positive ζ potential. We establish that the attainment of such a property by the membrane can be ascribed to an interplay of the nature of the membrane semi-permeability and the electrostatics of the electric double layer established on either side of the charged membrane. We anticipate that such a membrane property can lead to such capabilities of the cell (in terms of accepting or releasing certain kinds of moieties as well regulating cellular signaling) that was hitherto inconceivable.

Minimal preparation computed tomography instead of barium enema/colonoscopy for suspected colon cancer in frail elderly patients: an outcome analysis study.

PubMed

Kealey, S M; Dodd, J D; MacEneaney, P M; Gibney, R G; Malone, D E

2004-01-01

To evaluate the efficacy of minimal preparation computed tomography (MPCT) in diagnosing clinically significant colonic tumours in frail, elderly patients. A prospective study was performed in a group of consecutively referred, frail, elderly patients with symptoms or signs of anaemia, pain, rectal bleeding or weight loss. The MPCT protocol consisted of 1.5 l Gastrografin 1% diluted with sterile water administered during the 48 h before the procedure with no bowel preparation or administration of intravenous contrast medium. Eight millimetre contiguous scans through the abdomen and pelvis were performed. The scans were double-reported by two gastrointestinal radiologists as showing definite (>90% certain), probable (50-90% certain), possible (<50% certain) neoplasm or normal. Where observers disagreed the more pessimistic of the two reports was accepted. The gold standard was clinical outcome at 1 year with positive end-points defined as (1) histological confirmation of CRC, (2) clinical presentation consistent with CRC without histological confirmation if the patient was too unwell for biopsy/surgery, and (3) death directly attributable to colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with/without post-mortem confirmation. Negative end-points were defined as patients with no clinical, radiological or post-mortem findings of CRC. Patients were followed for 1 year or until one of the above end-points were met. Seventy-two patients were included (mean age 81; range 62-93). One-year follow-up was completed in 94.4% (n=68). Mortality from all causes was 33% (n=24). Five histologically proven tumours were diagnosed with CT and there were two probable false-negatives. Results were analysed twice: assuming all CT lesions test positive and considering "possible" lesions test negative [brackets] (95% confidence intervals): sensitivity 0.88 (0.47-1.0) [0.75 (0.35-0.97)], specificity 0.47 (0.34-0.6) [0.87 (0.75-0.94)], positive predictive value 0.18 [0.43], negative predictive value 0.97 [0.96], positive likelihood ratio result 1.6 [5.63], negative likelihood ratio result 0.27 [0.29], kappa 0.31 [0.43]. Tumour prevalence was 12%. A graph of conditional probabilities was generated and analysed. A variety of unsuspected pathology was also found in this series of patients. MPCT should be double-reported, at least initially. "Possible" lesions should be ignored. Analysis of the graph of conditional probability applied to a group of frail, elderly patients with a high mortality from all causes (33% in our study) suggests: (1) if MPCT suggests definite or probable carcinoma, regardless of the pre-test probability, the post-test probability is high enough to warrant further action, (2) frail, elderly patients with a low pre-test probability for CRC and a negative MPCT should not have further investigation, (3) frail, elderly patients with a higher pre-test probability of CRC (such as those presenting with rectal bleeding) and a negative MPCT should have either double contrast barium enema (DCBE) or colonoscopy as further investigations or be followed clinically for 3-6 months. MPCT was acceptable to patients and clinicians and may reveal significant extra-colonic pathology.

Effects of Oxytocin and Vasopressin on Preferential Brain Responses to Negative Social Feedback.

PubMed

Gozzi, Marta; Dashow, Erica M; Thurm, Audrey; Swedo, Susan E; Zink, Caroline F

2017-06-01

Receiving negative social feedback can be detrimental to emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being, and fear of negative social feedback is a prominent feature of mental illnesses that involve social anxiety. A large body of evidence has implicated the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin in the modulation of human neural activity underlying social cognition, including negative emotion processing; however, the influence of oxytocin and vasopressin on neural activity elicited during negative social evaluation remains unknown. Here 21 healthy men underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design to determine how intranasally administered oxytocin and vasopressin modulated neural activity when receiving negative feedback on task performance from a study investigator. We found that under placebo, a preferential response to negative social feedback compared with positive social feedback was evoked in brain regions putatively involved in theory of mind (temporoparietal junction), pain processing (anterior insula and supplementary motor area), and identification of emotionally important visual cues in social perception (right fusiform). These activations weakened with oxytocin and vasopressin administration such that neural responses to receiving negative social feedback were not significantly greater than positive social feedback. Our results show effects of both oxytocin and vasopressin on the brain network involved in negative social feedback, informing the possible use of a pharmacological approach targeting these regions in multiple disorders with impairments in social information processing.

Wind-Tunnel Investigation of an NACA 23021 Airfoil with a 0.32-Airfoil-Chord Double Slotted Flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fischel, Jack; Riebe, John M

1944-01-01

An investigation was made in the LMAL 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel of a NACA 23021 airfoil with a double slotted flap having a chord 32 percent of the airfoil chord (0.32c) to determine the aerodynamic section characteristics with the flaps deflected at various positions. The effects of moving the fore flap and rear flap as a unit and of deflecting or removing the lower lip of the slot were also determined. Three positions were selected for the fore flap and at each position the maximum lift of the airfoil was obtained with the rear flap at the maximum deflection used at that fore-flap position. The section lift of the airfoil increased as the fore flap was extended and maximum lift was obtained with the fore flap deflected 30 deg in the most extended position. This arrangement provided a maximum section lift coefficient of 3.31, which was higher than the value obtained with either a 0.2566c or a 0.40c single-slotted-flap arrangement and 0.25 less than the value obtained with a 0.4c double-slotted-flap arrangement on the same airfoil. The values of the profile-drag coefficient obtained with the 0.32c double slotted flap were larger than those for the 0.2566c or 0.40c single slotted flaps for section lift coefficients between 1.0 and approximately 2.7. At all values of the section lift coefficient above 1.0, the 0.40c double slotted flap had a lower profile drag than the 0.32c double slotted flap. At various values of the maximum section lift coefficient produced by various flap defections, the 0.32c double slotted flap gave negative section pitching-moment coefficients that were higher than those of other slotted flaps on the same airfoil. The 0.32c double slotted flap gave approximately the same maximum section lift coefficient as, but higher profile-drag coefficients over the entire lift range than, a similar arrangement of a 0.30c double slotted flap on an NACA 23012 airfoil.

Electromechanical Properties of Bone Tissue.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Regimbal, Raymond L.

Discrepancies between calculated and empirical properties of bone are thought to be due to a general lack of consideration for the extent and manner(s) with which bone components interact at the molecular level. For a bone component in physiological fluid or whenever two phases are in contact, there is a region between the bulk phases called the electrical double layer which is marked by a separation of electric charges. For the purpose of studying electrical double layer interactions, the method of particle microelectrophoresis was used to characterize bone and its major constituents on the basis of the net charge they bear when suspended in ionic media of physiological relevance. With the data presented as pH versus zeta (zeta ) potential, the figures reveal an isoelectric point (IEP) for bone mineral near pH 8.6, whereas intact and EDTA demineralized bone tissue both exhibit IEPs near pH 5.1. While these data demonstrate the potential for a significant degree of coulombic interaction between the bone mineral and organic constituent double layers, it was also observed that use of inorganic phosphate buffers, as a specific marker for bone mineral, resulted in (1) an immediate reversal, from positive to negative, of the bone mineral zeta potential (2) rendered the zeta potential of intact bone more negative in a manner linearly dependent on both time and temperature and (3) had no affect on demineralized bone (P < 0.01). In agreement with that shown in model protein-hydroxyapatite systems, it is suggested here that inorganic phosphate ions in solution compete with organic acid groups (e.g. carboxyl and phosphate of collagen, sialoprotein, ...) for positively charged sites on the bone mineral surface and effectively uncouple the bone mineral and organic phase double layers. Mechanically, this uncoupling is manifested as a loss of tissue rigidity when monitoring the midspan deflection of bone beams subject to constant load for a 3 day period. While it is thus demonstrated that the major inorganic and organic phases of bone are electromechanically coupled, a thermodynamic consideration of the data suggests that the nature of the bond is to preserve mineral and organic phase electroneutralities by participating in electrical double layer interactions. The results are discussed in terms of bone mechanical modeling, electrokinetic properties, aging, tissue-implant compatibility and the etiologies of bone pathologic conditions.

The dark side of social capital: A systematic review of the negative health effects of social capital.

PubMed

Villalonga-Olives, E; Kawachi, I

2017-12-01

There is a growing literature demonstrating the health benefits of social capital (defined as the resources accessed through social connections). However, social capital is also acknowledged to be a "double-edged" phenomenon, whose effects on health are not always positive. We sought to systematically review studies that have found a negative (i.e. harmful) association between social capital and health outcomes. Our objective was to classify the different types of negative effects, following a framework originally proposed by Portes (1998). We conducted a literature search in Pubmed, Embase and PsychInfo. We identified 3530 manuscripts. After detailed review, we included 44 articles in our systematic review. There are at least two negative consequences of social capital besides the classification proposed by Portes: behavioral contagion and cross-level interactions between social cohesion and individual characteristics. When leveraging the concept of social capital for health promotion interventions, researchers need to take account of these potential "downsides" for health outcomes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Self-template synthesis of double shelled ZnS-NiS1.97 hollow spheres for electrochemical energy storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Chengzhen; Ru, Qinglong; Kang, Xiaoting; Hou, Haiyan; Cheng, Cheng; Zhang, Daojun

2018-03-01

In this work, double shelled ZnS-NiS1.97 hollow spheres have been achieved via a simple self-template route, which involves the synthesis of Zn-Ni solid spheres precursors as the self-template and then transformation into double shelled ZnS-NiS1.97 hollow spheres by sulfidation treatment. The as-prepared double shelled ZnS-NiS1.97 hollow spheres possess a high surface area (105.26 m2 g-1) and porous structures. Benefiting from the combined characteristics of novel structures, multi-component, high surface area and porous. When applied as electrode materials for supercapacitors, the double shelled ZnS-NiS1.97hollow spheres deliver a large specific capacitance of 696.8C g-1 at 5.0 A g-1 and a remarkable long lifespan cycling stability (less 5.5% loss after 6000 cycles). Moreover, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was assembled by utilizing ZnS-NiS1.97 (positive electrode) and activated carbon (negative electrode) as electrode materials. The as-assembled device possesses an energy density of 36 W h kg-1, which can be yet retained 25.6 W h kg-1 even at a power density of 2173.8 W Kg-1, indicating its promising applications in electrochemical energy storage. More importantly, the self-template route is a simple and versatile strategy for the preparation of metal sulfides electrode materials with desired structures, chemical compositions and electrochemical performances.

Double- and single-lung transplantation: an analysis of twenty years of OPTN/UNOS registry data.

PubMed

Cai, Junchao

2007-01-01

1. Within the past 2 decades, the annual number of lung transplants, especially double-lung transplants, has steadily increased every year and exceeded 1,400 in the last 2 years. 2. Overall 1-, 5-, and 10-year graft survival rates for double-lung transplant recipients were 79.5%, 50.6%, and 30.4% respectively; those for left-lung transplant recipients were 76.0%, 41.8%, and 17.1%; and for right-lung transplant recipients were 78.3%, 44.8%, and 19.2%. 3. The improvement in long-term graft survival in the most recent transplant era was mainly due to improved one-year survival, more precisely, due to the increased early outcome within the first 2-3 months after transplantation. 4. A negative association between HLA mismatch and graft survival is statistically significant in both double and left-lung transplants. 5. Female COPD and ATD single-lung recipients had high long-term graft survival when they received right-lung transplants. While for male single-lung recipients, CF patients had better graft survival when they received left lung transplants; but PPH patients had higher graft survival when receiving right-lung transplants. This association between recipient gender and/or different original diseases and graft survival requires further investigation.

100 positive double-blind studies: enough or too little?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuner, Jan; Hode, Lars

2000-06-01

A major argument among the opponents of laser therapy has been the absence of scientific documentation. This was a valid position in the 80s and partly in the 90s. But today, is this still a sound argument. There are more than 2,000 published studies in the field, including meeting abstracts and anecdotal reports. The vast majority of these papers reports positive effects of LLLT in vitro and in vivo. It is fair to argue that negative results are less prone to be published, but certainly more than 80 percent of the published studies are positive. In the field of dentistry, for instance, the positive percentage is well above 90 percent. The present literature study will look at the heart of the positive documentation: the positive double blind studies. It may come as a surprise to many critics that there are more than 100 positive double blind studies in the field laser therapy. This is a god base for a further understanding of the effects of low level laser in the clinical setting. We must, however, be as critical as the sceptics themselves in order to obtain a constructive dialogue between 'attorneys' and sceptics. In this paper, a critical review of 100 positive double blind studies will be presented.

Negative phototropism is seen in Arabidopsis inflorescences when auxin signaling is reduced to a minimal level by an Aux/IAA dominant mutation, axr2.

PubMed

Sato, Atsuko; Sasaki, Shu; Matsuzaki, Jun; Yamamoto, Kotaro T

2015-01-01

Inflorescences of a dominant mutant of Arabidopsis Aux/IAA7, axr2, showed negative phototropism with a similar fluence response curve to the positive phototropism of wild-type stems. Application of a synthetic auxin, NAA, and an inhibitor of polar auxin transport, NPA, increased and decreased respectively the magnitude of the phototropic response in the wild type, while in axr2 application of NAA reduced the negative phototropic response and NPA had no effect. Decapitation of the apex induced a small negative phototropism in wild-type stems, and had no effect in axr2 plants. Inflorescences of the double mutants of auxin transporters, pgp1 pgp19, showed no phototropic response, while decapitation resulted in a negative phototropic response. These results suggest that negative phototropism can occur when the level of auxin or of auxin signaling is reduced to a minimal level, and that in plant axial organs the default phototropic response to unilateral blue light may be negative. Expression of axr2 protein by an endodermis-specific promoter resulted in agravitropism of inflorescences in a similar way to that of axr2, but phototropism was normal, confirming that the endodermis does not play a critical role in phototropism.

Negative phototropism is seen in Arabidopsis inflorescences when auxin signaling is reduced to a minimal level by an Aux/IAA dominant mutation, axr2

PubMed Central

Sato, Atsuko; Sasaki, Shu; Matsuzaki, Jun; Yamamoto, Kotaro T.

2015-01-01

Inflorescences of a dominant mutant of Arabidopsis Aux/IAA7, axr2, showed negative phototropism with a similar fluence response curve to the positive phototropism of wild-type stems. Application of a synthetic auxin, NAA, and an inhibitor of polar auxin transport, NPA, increased and decreased respectively the magnitude of the phototropic response in the wild type, while in axr2 application of NAA reduced the negative phototropic response and NPA had no effect. Decapitation of the apex induced a small negative phototropism in wild-type stems, and had no effect in axr2 plants. Inflorescences of the double mutants of auxin transporters, pgp1 pgp19, showed no phototropic response, while decapitation resulted in a negative phototropic response. These results suggest that negative phototropism can occur when the level of auxin or of auxin signaling is reduced to a minimal level, and that in plant axial organs the default phototropic response to unilateral blue light may be negative. Expression of axr2 protein by an endodermis-specific promoter resulted in agravitropism of inflorescences in a similar way to that of axr2, but phototropism was normal, confirming that the endodermis does not play a critical role in phototropism. PMID:25738325

Minocycline benefits negative symptoms in early schizophrenia: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients on standard treatment.

PubMed

Chaudhry, Imran B; Hallak, Jaime; Husain, Nusrat; Minhas, Fareed; Stirling, John; Richardson, Paul; Dursun, Serdar; Dunn, Graham; Deakin, Bill

2012-09-01

The onset and early course of schizophrenia is associated with subtle loss of grey matter which may be responsible for the evolution and persistence of symptoms such as apathy, emotional blunting, and social withdrawal. Such 'negative' symptoms are unaffected by current antipsychotic therapies. There is evidence that the antibiotic minocycline has neuroprotective properties. We investigated whether the addition of minocycline to treatment as usual (TAU) for 1 year in early psychosis would reduce negative symptoms compared with placebo. In total, 144 participants within 5 years of first onset in Brazil and Pakistan were randomised to receive TAU plus placebo or minocycline. The primary outcome measures were the negative and positive syndrome ratings using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Some 94 patients completed the trial. The mean improvement in negative symptoms for the minocycline group was 9.2 and in the placebo group 4.7, an adjusted difference of 3.53 (s.e. 1.01) 95% CI: 1.55, 5.51; p < 0.001 in the intention-to-treat population. The effect was present in both countries. The addition of minocycline to TAU early in the course of schizophrenia predominantly improves negative symptoms. Whether this is mediated by neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory or others actions is under investigation.

The prognosis of MYC translocation positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma depends on the second hit.

PubMed

Clipson, Alexandra; Barrans, Sharon; Zeng, Naiyan; Crouch, Simon; Grigoropoulos, Nicholas F; Liu, Hongxiang; Kocialkowski, Sylvia; Wang, Ming; Huang, Yuanxue; Worrillow, Lisa; Goodlad, John; Buxton, Jenny; Neat, Michael; Fields, Paul; Wilkins, Bridget; Grant, John W; Wright, Penny; Ei-Daly, Hesham; Follows, George A; Roman, Eve; Watkins, A James; Johnson, Peter W M; Jack, Andrew; Du, Ming-Qing

2015-07-01

A proportion of MYC translocation positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) harbour a BCL2 and/or BCL6 translocation, known as double-hit DLBCL, and are clinically aggressive. It is unknown whether there are other genetic abnormalities that cooperate with MYC translocation and form double-hit DLBCL, and whether there is a difference in clinical outcome between the double-hit DLBCL and those with an isolated MYC translocation. We investigated TP53 gene mutations along with BCL2 and BCL6 translocations in a total of 234 cases of DLBCL, including 81 with MYC translocation. TP53 mutations were investigated by PCR and sequencing, while BCL2 and BCL6 translocation was studied by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. The majority of MYC translocation positive DLBCLs (60/81 = 74%) had at least one additional genetic hit. In MYC translocation positive DLBCL treated by R-CHOP ( n  = 67), TP53 mutation and BCL2, but not BCL6 translocation had an adverse effect on patient overall survival. In comparison with DLBCL with an isolated MYC translocation, cases with MYC/TP53 double-hits had the worst overall survival, followed by those with MYC/BCL2 double-hits. In MYC translocation negative DLBCL treated by R-CHOP ( n  = 101), TP53 mutation, BCL2 and BCL6 translocation had no impact on patient survival. The prognosis of MYC translocation positive DLBCL critically depends on the second hit, with TP53 mutations and BCL2 translocation contributing to an adverse prognosis. It is pivotal to investigate both TP53 mutations and BCL2 translocations in MYC translocation positive DLBCL, and to distinguish double-hit DLBCLs from those with an isolated MYC translocation.

Removing the depth-degeneracy in optical frequency domain imaging with frequency shifting

PubMed Central

Yun, S. H.; Tearney, G. J.; de Boer, J. F.; Bouma, B. E.

2009-01-01

A novel technique using an acousto-optic frequency shifter in optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) is presented. The frequency shift eliminates the ambiguity between positive and negative differential delays, effectively doubling the interferometric ranging depth while avoiding image cross-talk. A signal processing algorithm is demonstrated to accommodate nonlinearity in the tuning slope of the wavelength-swept OFDI laser source. PMID:19484034

On the influence of anharmonicity on the isotope effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galbaatar, T.; Drechsler, S. L.; Plakida, N. M.; Vujicic, G. M.

1991-12-01

The effect of double-well type lattice anharmonicity on the superconducting temperature and its isotope effect is investigated beyond the two-level approximation (TLA) within the Eliashberg theory. It is shown that anharmonicity can greatly modify the isotope effect; In particular anomalously large as well as negative values of the isotope effect exponent α are obtained in the strong and weak coupling limits, respectively.

Germline Genetic Variants Disturbing the Let-7/LIN28 Double-Negative Feedback Loop Alter Breast Cancer Susceptibility

PubMed Central

Fan, Lei; Li, Ji-Yu; Yang, Chen; Huang, A-Ji; Shao, Zhi-Ming

2011-01-01

Previous studies have shown that let-7 can repress the post-transcriptional translation of LIN28, and LIN28 in turn could block the maturation of let-7, forming a double-negative feedback loop. In this study, we investigated the effect of germline genetic variants on regulation of the homeostasis of the let-7/LIN28 loop and breast cancer risk. We initially demonstrated that the T/C variants of rs3811463, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located near the let-7 binding site in LIN28, could lead to differential regulation of LIN28 by let-7. Specifically, the C allele of rs3811463 weakened let-7–induced repression of LIN28 mRNA, resulting in increased production of LIN28 protein, which could in turn down-regulate the level of mature let-7. This effect was then validated at the tissue level in that the normal breast tissue of individuals with the rs3811463-TC genotype expressed significantly lower levels of let-7 and higher levels of LIN28 protein than those individuals with the rs3811463-TT genotype. Because previous in vitro and ex vivo experiments have consistently suggested that LIN28 could promote cellular transformation, we then systematically evaluated the relationship between rs3811463 as well as other common LIN28 SNPs and the risk of breast cancer in a stepwise manner. The first hospital-based association study (n = 2,300) demonstrated that two SNPs were significantly associated with breast cancer risk, one of which was rs3811463, while the other was rs6697410. The C allele of the rs3811463 SNP corresponded to an increased risk of breast cancer with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.25 (P = 0.0091), which was successfully replicated in a second independent study (n = 1,156) with community-based controls. The combined P-value of the two studies was 8.0×10−5. Taken together, our study demonstrates that host genetic variants could disturb the regulation of the let-7/LIN28 double-negative feedback loop and alter breast cancer risk. PMID:21912531

Negative ion treatment increases positive emotional processing in seasonal affective disorder.

PubMed

Harmer, C J; Charles, M; McTavish, S; Favaron, E; Cowen, P J

2012-08-01

Antidepressant drug treatments increase the processing of positive compared to negative affective information early in treatment. Such effects have been hypothesized to play a key role in the development of later therapeutic responses to treatment. However, it is unknown whether these effects are a common mechanism of action for different treatment modalities. High-density negative ion (HDNI) treatment is an environmental manipulation that has efficacy in randomized clinical trials in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The current study investigated whether a single session of HDNI treatment could reverse negative affective biases seen in seasonal depression using a battery of emotional processing tasks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study. Under placebo conditions, participants with seasonal mood disturbance showed reduced recognition of happy facial expressions, increased recognition memory for negative personality characteristics and increased vigilance to masked presentation of negative words in a dot-probe task compared to matched healthy controls. Negative ion treatment increased the recognition of positive compared to negative facial expression and improved vigilance to unmasked stimuli across participants with seasonal depression and healthy controls. Negative ion treatment also improved recognition memory for positive information in the SAD group alone. These effects were seen in the absence of changes in subjective state or mood. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that early change in emotional processing may be an important mechanism for treatment action in depression and suggest that these effects are also apparent with negative ion treatment in seasonal depression.

Sildenafil citrate for the management of antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction.

PubMed

Nurnberg, H George; Hensley, Paula L

2003-01-01

Sexual side effects of serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction, are common and negatively impact treatment compliance. Current management approaches have important limitations, and most lack clear and meaningful efficacy in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. A MEDLINE search (English language, 1966-2003) was performed using the terms antidepressive agents, erectile dysfunction, and sildenafil. Emphasis was placed on studies that used specific sexual function measurements and were placebo controlled. Sildenafil citrate, a selective and competitive inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5, enhances the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-mediated relaxation of cavernosal smooth muscles in response to sexual stimulation, permitting vascular engorgement and penile erection. The efficacy and tolerability of sildenafil in the treatment of antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction have been confirmed in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.

Passive mode-locking of a diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) laser by intracavity SHG in PPKTP.

PubMed

Iliev, Hristo; Chuchumishev, Danail; Buchvarov, Ivan; Petrov, Valentin

2010-03-15

Experimental results on passive mode-locking of a Nd:YVO(4) laser using intracavity frequency doubling in periodically poled KTP (PPKTP) crystal are reported. Both, negative cascaded chi((2)) lensing and frequency doubling nonlinear mirror (FDNLM) are exploited for the laser mode-locking. The FDNLM based on intensity dependent reflection in the laser cavity ensures self-starting and self-sustaining mode-locking while the cascaded chi((2)) lens process contributes to substantial pulse shortening. This hybrid technique enables generation of stable trains of pulses at high-average output power with several picoseconds pulse width. The pulse repetition rate of the laser is 117 MHz with average output power ranging from 0.5 to 3.1 W and pulse duration from 2.9 to 5.2 ps.

Virus Assembly and Maturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, John E.

2004-03-01

We use two techniques to look at three-dimensional virus structure: electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) and X-ray crystallography. Figure 1 is a gallery of virus particles whose structures Timothy Baker, one of my former colleagues at Purdue University, used cryoEM to determine. It illustrates the variety of sizes of icosahedral virus particles. The largest virus particle on this slide is the Herpes simplex virus, around 1200Å in diameter; the smallest we examined was around 250Å in diameter. Viruses bear their genomic information either as positive-sense DNA and RNA, double-strand DNA, double-strand RNA, or negative-strand RNA. Viruses utilize the various structure and function "tactics" seen throughout cell biology to replicate at high levels. Many of the biological principles that we consider general were in fact discovered in the context of viruses ...

Double gate impact ionization MOS transistor: Proposal and investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhaonian; Zhang, Yue; Yang, Yuan; Yu, Ningmei

2017-02-01

In this paper, a double gate impact ionization MOS (DG-IMOS) transistor with improved performance is proposed and investigated by TCAD simulation. In the proposed design, a second gate is introduced in a conventional impact ionization MOS (IMOS) transistor that lengthens the equivalent channel length and suppresses the band-to-band tunneling. The OFF-state leakage current is reduced by over four orders of magnitude. At the ON-state, the second gate is negatively biased in order to enhance the electric field in the intrinsic region. As a result, the operating voltage does not increase with the increase in the channel length. The simulation result verifies that the proposed DG-IMOS achieves a better switching characteristic than the conventional is achieved. Lastly, the application of the DG-IMOS is discussed theoretically.

Tumor-associated autoantibodies are useful biomarkers in immunodiagnosis of α-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma.

PubMed

Wang, Ting; Liu, Mei; Zheng, Su-Jun; Bian, Dan-Dan; Zhang, Jin-Yan; Yao, Jia; Zheng, Qing-Fen; Shi, A-Meng; Li, Wen-Han; Li, Lu; Chen, Yu; Wang, Jin-Hai; Duan, Zhong-Ping; Dong, Lei

2017-05-21

To determine the prevalence and diagnostic value of autoantibodies in α-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fifty-six serum samples from AFP-negative HCC cases, 86 from AFP-positive HCC cases, 168 from chronic liver disease cases, and 59 from normal human controls were included in this study. Autoantibodies to nucleophosmin (NPM)1, 14-3-3zeta and mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) proteins in AFP-negative HCC serum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Partially positive sera were further evaluated by western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of three tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in AFP-negative HCC and normal control tissues. The frequency of autoantibodies to the three TAAs in AFP-negative HCC sera was 21.4%, 19.6% and 19.6%, which was significantly higher than in the chronic liver disease cases and normal human controls ( P < 0.01) as well as AFP-positive HCC cases. The sensitivity of the three autoantibodies for diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC ranged from 19.6% to 21.4%, and the specificity was approximately 95%. When the three autoantibodies were combined, the sensitivity reached 30.4% and the specificity reached 91.6%. Autoantibodies to NPM1, 14-3-3zeta and MDM2 may be useful biomarkers for immunodiagnosis of AFP-negative HCC.

Tumor-associated autoantibodies are useful biomarkers in immunodiagnosis of α-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma

PubMed Central

Wang, Ting; Liu, Mei; Zheng, Su-Jun; Bian, Dan-Dan; Zhang, Jin-Yan; Yao, Jia; Zheng, Qing-Fen; Shi, A-Meng; Li, Wen-Han; Li, Lu; Chen, Yu; Wang, Jin-Hai; Duan, Zhong-Ping; Dong, Lei

2017-01-01

AIM To determine the prevalence and diagnostic value of autoantibodies in α-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Fifty-six serum samples from AFP-negative HCC cases, 86 from AFP-positive HCC cases, 168 from chronic liver disease cases, and 59 from normal human controls were included in this study. Autoantibodies to nucleophosmin (NPM)1, 14-3-3zeta and mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) proteins in AFP-negative HCC serum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Partially positive sera were further evaluated by western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of three tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in AFP-negative HCC and normal control tissues. RESULTS The frequency of autoantibodies to the three TAAs in AFP-negative HCC sera was 21.4%, 19.6% and 19.6%, which was significantly higher than in the chronic liver disease cases and normal human controls (P < 0.01) as well as AFP-positive HCC cases. The sensitivity of the three autoantibodies for diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC ranged from 19.6% to 21.4%, and the specificity was approximately 95%. When the three autoantibodies were combined, the sensitivity reached 30.4% and the specificity reached 91.6%. CONCLUSION Autoantibodies to NPM1, 14-3-3zeta and MDM2 may be useful biomarkers for immunodiagnosis of AFP-negative HCC. PMID:28596685

[Anesthesia ventilators].

PubMed

Otteni, J C; Beydon, L; Cazalaà, J B; Feiss, P; Nivoche, Y

1997-01-01

To review anaesthesia ventilators in current use in France by categories of ventilators. References were obtained from computerized bibliographic search. (Medline), recent review articles, the library of the service and personal files. Anaesthesia ventilators can be allocated into three groups, depending on whether they readminister expired gases or not or allow both modalities. Contemporary ventilators provide either constant volume ventilation, or constant pressure ventilation, with or without a pressure plateau. Ventilators readministering expired gases after CO2 absorption, or closed circuit ventilators, are either of a double- or a single-circuit design. Double-circuit ventilators, or pneumatical bag or bellows squeezers, or bag-in-bottle or bellows-in-bottle (or box) ventilators, consist of a primary, or driving circuit (bottle or box) and a secondary or patient circuit (including a bag or a bellows or membrane chambers). Bellows-in-bottle ventilators have either standing bellows ascending at expiration, or hanging bellows, descending at expiration. Ascending bellows require a positive pressure of about 2 cmH2O throughout exhalation to allow the bellows to refill. The expired gas volume is a valuable indicator for leak and disconnection. Descending bellows generate a slight negative pressure during exhalation. In case of leak or disconnection they aspirate ambient air and cannot act therefore as an indicator for integrity of the circuit and the patient connection. Closed circuit ventilators with a single-circuit (patient circuit) include a insufflating device consisting either in a bellows or a cylinder with a piston, operated by a electric or pneumatic motor. As the hanging bellows of the double circuit ventilators, they generate a slight negative pressure during exhalation and aspirate ambient air in case of leak or disconnection. Ventilators not designed for the readministration of expired gases, or open circuit ventilators, are generally stand-alone mechanical ventilators modified to allow the administration of inhalational anaesthetic agents.

Incorporation of the technologist's opinion for arbitration of discrepant assessments among radiologists at screening mammography.

PubMed

Coolen, Angela M P; Lameijer, Joost R C; Voogd, Adri C; Strobbe, Luc J; Louwman, Marieke W J; Tjan-Heijnen, Vivianne C G; Duijm, Lucien E M

2018-05-05

We determined whether the addition of the technologist's opinion may be helpful in deciding if discordant readings at blinded double reading should be recalled. A consecutive series of 99,013 digital screening mammograms, obtained between July 2013 and January 2015, were included. All mammograms were first interpreted by a technologist and then double read in a blinded fashion by a team of 13 screening radiologists. All concordant and discordant positive readings among radiologists were recalled. Out of 3562 recalls, 998 women were recalled after a discordant reading. Of these women, 337 (33.8%) had a positive technologist assessment, of which 40 (11.9%) were diagnosed with breast cancer. Sixty women with a negative technologist assessment (60/661, 9.1%) were diagnosed with breast cancer (p = 0.16). Recall rate would have decreased with technologist arbitration (3.6% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001). Cancer detection rate decreased with 8.5%, from 7.1/1000 screens to 6.5/1000 screens (p = 0.10). Among women with a positive technologist assessment, the probability of breast cancer was highest in case of suspicious microcalcifications and lowest for suspicious masses (30.4% (17/56) versus 7.0% (16/212), p < 0.001). Breast cancers were diagnosed in all groups of mammographic abnormalities, except in women with a suspicious asymmetry and a negative technologist assessment. Assessment by a technologist does not provide a significant discriminating ability in case of a discordant radiologist reading and, taking into account the decrease in cancer detection rate, does not appear to be a suitable arbitration strategy for discordant recalls at blinded double reading.

The importance of ion size and electrode curvature on electrical double layers in ionic liquids.

PubMed

Feng, Guang; Qiao, Rui; Huang, Jingsong; Dai, Sheng; Sumpter, Bobby G; Meunier, Vincent

2011-01-21

Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are an emerging class of electrolytes for supercapacitors. We investigate the effects of ion size and electrode curvature on the electrical double layers (EDLs) in two ILs 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF(6)], using a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum density functional theory (DFT) simulations. The sizes of the counter-ion and co-ion affect the ion distribution and orientational structure of EDLs. The EDL capacitances near both planar and cylindrical electrodes were found to follow the order: [BMIM][Cl] (near the positive electrode) > [BMIM][PF(6)] (near the positive electrode) ≈ [BMIM][Cl] (near the negative electrode) ≈ [BMIM][PF(6)] (near the negative electrode). The EDL capacitance was also found to increase as the electrode curvature increases. These capacitance data can be fit to the Helmholtz model and the recently proposed exohedral electrical double-cylinder capacitor (xEDCC) model when the EDL thickness is properly parameterized, even though key features of the EDLs in ILs are not accounted for in these models. To remedy the shortcomings of existing models, we propose a "Multiple Ion Layers with Overscreening" (MILO) model for the EDLs in ILs that takes into account two critical features of such EDLs, i.e., alternating layering of counter-ions and co-ions and charge overscreening. The capacitance computed from the MILO model agrees well with the MD prediction. Although some input parameters of the MILO model must be obtained from MD simulations, the MILO model may provide a new framework for understanding many important aspects of EDLs in ILs (e.g., the variation of EDL capacitance with the electrode potential) that are difficult to interpret using classical EDL models and experiments.

Genotoxicity induced by monomethylarsonous acid (MMA+3) in mouse thymic developing T cells.

PubMed

Xu, Huan; Medina, Sebastian; Lauer, Fredine T; Douillet, Christelle; Liu, Ke Jian; Stýblo, Miroslav; Burchiel, Scott W

2017-09-05

Drinking water exposure to arsenic is known to cause immunotoxicity. Our previous studies demonstrated that monomethylarsonous acid (MMA +3 ) was the major arsenical species presented in mouse thymus cells after a 30 d drinking water exposure to arsenite (As +3 ). MMA +3 was also showed to be ten times more toxic than As +3 on the suppression of IL-7/STAT5 signaling in the double negative (DN) thymic T cells. In order to examine the genotoxicity induced by low to moderate doses of MMA +3 , isolated mouse thymus cells were treated with 5, 50 and 500nMMMA +3 for 18h in vitro. MMA +3 suppressed the proliferation of thymus cells in a dose dependent manner. MMA +3 at 5nM induced DNA damage in DN not double positive (DP) cells. Differential sensitivity to double strand breaks and reactive oxygen species generation was noticed between DN and DP cells at 50nM, but the effects were not seen at the high dose (500nM). A stronger apoptotic effect induced by MMA +3 was noticed in DN cells than DP cells at low doses (5 and 50nM), which was negated by the strong apoptosis induction at the high dose (500nM). Analysis of intracellular MMA +3 concentrations in DN and DP cells, revealed that more MMA +3 accumulated in the DN cells after the in vitro treatment. Collectively, these results suggested that MMA +3 could directly induce strong genotoxicity in the early developing T cells in the thymus. The DN cells were much more sensitive to MMA +3 induced genotoxicity and apoptosis than DP cells, probably due to the higher intracellular levels of MMA +3 . Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) interacts with p400 ATPase for an efficient DNA damage response.

PubMed

Smith, Rebecca J; Savoian, Matthew S; Weber, Lauren E; Park, Jeong Hyeon

2016-11-04

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and TRRAP proteins belong to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase family and are involved in DNA damage repair and chromatin remodeling. ATM is a checkpoint kinase that is recruited to sites of DNA double-strand breaks where it phosphorylates a diverse range of proteins that are part of the chromatin and DNA repair machinery. As an integral subunit of the TRRAP-TIP60 complexes, p400 ATPase is a chromatin remodeler that is also targeted to DNA double-strand break sites. While it is understood that DNA binding transcriptional activators recruit p400 ATPase into a regulatory region of the promoter, how p400 recognises and moves to DNA double-strand break sites is far less clear. Here we investigate a possibility whether ATM serves as a shuttle to deliver p400 to break sites. Our data indicate that p400 co-immunoprecipitates with ATM independently of DNA damage state and that the N-terminal domain of p400 is vital for this interaction. Heterologous expression studies using Sf9 cells revealed that the ATM-p400 complex can be reconstituted without other mammalian bridging proteins. Overexpression of ATM-interacting p400 regions in U2OS cells induced dominant negative effects including the inhibition of both DNA damage repair and cell proliferation. Consistent with the dominant negative effect, the stable expression of an N-terminal p400 fragment showed a decrease in the association of p400 with ATM, but did not alter the association of p400 with TRRAP. Taken together, our findings suggest that a protein-protein interaction between ATM and p400 ATPase occurs independently of DNA damage and contributes to efficient DNA damage response and repair.

Double-layered microstrip metamaterial beam scanning leaky wave antenna with consistent gain and low cross-polarization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Yong-li; Tan, Yi-li; Zhang, Hong-bo; Wu, Guo-cheng

2017-12-01

In this paper, a novel double-layered microstrip metamaterial beam scanning leaky wave antenna (LWA) is proposed and investigated to achieve consistent gain and low cross-polarization. Thanks to the continuous phase constant changing from negative to positive values over the passband of the double-layered microstrip metamaterial, the proposed LWA, which consists of 20 identical microstrip metamaterial unit cells, can obtain a continuous beam scanning property from backward to forward directions. The proposed LWA is fabricated and measured. The measured results show that the fabricated antenna obtains a continuous beam scanning angle of 140° over the operating frequency band of 3.80-5.25 GHz (32%), the measured 3 dB gain bandwidth is 30.17% with maximum gain of 11.7 dB. Besides, the measured cross-polarization of the fabricated antenna keeps at a level of at least 30 dB below the co-polarization across the entire radiation region. Moreover, the measured and simulated results are in good agreement with each other, indicating the significance and effectiveness of this method.

Double silicone tube intubation for the management of partial lacrimal system obstruction.

PubMed

Demirci, Hakan; Elner, Victor M

2008-02-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of double silicone intubation for the management of partial lacrimal drainage system obstruction in adults. Observational retrospective case series. Twenty-four eyes of 18 consecutive adult patients with partial lacrimal system obstruction managed at the University of Michigan. Retrospective review of symptoms and signs, duration of silicone intubation, and complications. Resolution of tearing. Preoperative tearing, negative Jones I testing, positive Jones II testing, and resistance to positive-pressure irrigation were present in all eyes (100%). The first silicone tube was removed after a mean of 11+/-7 months, and the second tube after 16+/-6 months. Postoperatively, at a mean of 21+/-9 months after removal of both tubes, tearing remained resolved in 19 eyes (79%) and remained improved in 2 eyes (8%). In eyes with resolved tearing, Jones I testing became positive, and there was no resistance to positive-pressure irrigation. Persistent tearing in 3 eyes (13%) required treatment with external dacryocystorhinostomy. The only complication was peripunctal pyogenic granulomas in 2 eyes. Double silicone intubation is an effective minimally invasive technique for treatment of partial lacrimal system obstruction in adults.

Shocklike soliton because of an impinge of protons and electrons solar particles with Venus ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moslem, W. M.; Rezk, S.; Abdelsalam, U. M.; El-Labany, S. K.

2018-04-01

This paper introduces an investigation of shocklike soliton or small amplitude Double Layers (DLs) in a collisionless plasma, consisting of positive and negative ions, nonthermal electrons, as well as solar wind streaming protons and electrons. Gardner equation is derived and its shocklike soliton solution is obtained. The model is employed to recognize a possible nonlinear wave at Venus ionosphere. The results indicate that the number densities and velocities of the streaming particles play crucial role to determine the polarity and characteristic features (amplitude and width) of the shocklike soliton waves. An electron streaming speed modifies a negative shocklike wave profile, while an ion streaming speed modulates a positive shocklike wave characteristic.

Resonant-tunneling oscillators and multipliers for submillimeter receivers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sollner, T. C. L. Gerhard

1988-01-01

Resonant tunneling through double-barrier heterostructures has attracted increasing interest recently, largely because of the fast charge transport it provides. In addition, the negative differential resistance regions that exist in the current-voltage (I-V) curve (peak-to-valley ratios of 3.5:1 at room temperature, and nearly 10:1 at 77 K, were measured) suggest that high-speed devices based on the character of the I-V curve should be possible. For example, the negative differential resistance region is capable of providing the gain necessary for high-frequency oscillations. In the laboratory attempts were made to increase the frequency and power of these oscillators and to demonstrate several different high-frequency devices.

Plasmids as stochastic model systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paulsson, Johan

2003-05-01

Plasmids are self-replicating gene clusters present in on average 2-100 copies per bacterial cell. To reduce random fluctuations and thereby avoid extinction, they ubiquitously autoregulate their own synthesis using negative feedback loops. Here I use van Kampen's Ω-expansion for a two-dimensional model of negative feedback including plasmids and ther replication inhibitors. This analytically summarizes the standard perspective on replication control -- including the effects of sensitivity amplification, exponential time-delays and noisy signaling. I further review the two most common molecular sensitivity mechanisms: multistep control and cooperativity. Finally, I discuss more controversial sensitivity schemes, such as noise-enhanced sensitivity, the exploitation of small-number combinatorics and double-layered feedback loops to suppress noise in disordered environments.

Effects of the guard electrode on the photoelectron distribution around an electric field sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.; Kojima, H.

2011-05-01

We have developed a numerical model of a double-probe electric field sensor equipped with a photoelectron guard electrode for the particle-in-cell simulation. The model includes typical elements of modern double-probe sensors on, e.g., BepiColombo/MMO, Cluster, and THEMIS spacecraft, such as a conducting boom and a preamplifier housing called a puck. The puck is also used for the guard electrode, and its potential is negatively biased by reference to the floating spacecraft potential. We apply the proposed model to an analysis of an equilibrium plasma environment around the sensor by assuming that the sun illuminates the spacecraft from the direction perpendicular to the sensor deployment axis. As a simulation result, it is confirmed that a substantial number of spacecraft-originating photoelectrons are once emitted sunward and then fall onto the puck and sensing element positions. In order to effectively repel such photoelectrons coming from the sun direction, a potential hump for electrons, i.e., a negative potential region, should be created in a plasma region around the sunlit side of the guard electrode surface. The simulation results reveal the significance of the guard electrode potential being not only lower than the spacecraft body but also lower than the background plasma potential of the region surrounding the puck and the sensing element. One solution for realizing such an operational condition is to bias the guard potential negatively by reference to the sensor potential because the sensor is usually operated nearly at the background plasma potential.

Anhedonia to music and mu-opioids: Evidence from the administration of naltrexone

PubMed Central

Mallik, Adiel; Chanda, Mona Lisa; Levitin, Daniel J.

2017-01-01

Music’s universality and its ability to deeply affect emotions suggest an evolutionary origin. Previous investigators have found that naltrexone (NTX), a μ-opioid antagonist, may induce reversible anhedonia, attenuating both positive and negative emotions. The neurochemical basis of musical experience is not well-understood, and the NTX-induced anhedonia hypothesis has not been tested with music. Accordingly, we administered NTX or placebo on two different days in a double-blind crossover study, and assessed participants’ responses to music using both psychophysiological (objective) and behavioral (subjective) measures. We found that both positive and negative emotions were attenuated. We conclude that endogenous opioids are critical to experiencing both positive and negative emotions in music, and that music uses the same reward pathways as food, drug and sexual pleasure. Our findings add to the growing body of evidence for the evolutionary biological substrates of music. PMID:28176798

The proline-rich domain of TonB possesses an extended polyproline II-like conformation of sufficient length to span the periplasm of Gram-negative bacteria

PubMed Central

Köhler, Silvia Domingo; Weber, Annemarie; Howard, S Peter; Welte, Wolfram; Drescher, Malte

2010-01-01

TonB from Escherichia coli and its homologues are critical for the uptake of siderophores through the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria using chemiosmotic energy. When different models for the mechanism of TonB mediated energy transfer from the inner to the outer membrane are discussed, one of the key questions is whether TonB spans the periplasm. In this article, we use long range distance measurements by spin-label pulsed EPR (Double Electron–Electron Resonance, DEER) and CD spectroscopy to show that the proline-rich segment of TonB exists in a PPII-like conformation. The result implies that the proline-rich segment of TonB possesses a length of more than 15 nm, sufficient to span the periplasm of Gram-negative bacteria. PMID:20095050

Anhedonia to music and mu-opioids: Evidence from the administration of naltrexone.

PubMed

Mallik, Adiel; Chanda, Mona Lisa; Levitin, Daniel J

2017-02-08

Music's universality and its ability to deeply affect emotions suggest an evolutionary origin. Previous investigators have found that naltrexone (NTX), a μ-opioid antagonist, may induce reversible anhedonia, attenuating both positive and negative emotions. The neurochemical basis of musical experience is not well-understood, and the NTX-induced anhedonia hypothesis has not been tested with music. Accordingly, we administered NTX or placebo on two different days in a double-blind crossover study, and assessed participants' responses to music using both psychophysiological (objective) and behavioral (subjective) measures. We found that both positive and negative emotions were attenuated. We conclude that endogenous opioids are critical to experiencing both positive and negative emotions in music, and that music uses the same reward pathways as food, drug and sexual pleasure. Our findings add to the growing body of evidence for the evolutionary biological substrates of music.

Shear-mediated contributions to the effective properties of soft acoustic metamaterials including negative index

PubMed Central

Forrester, Derek Michael; Pinfield, Valerie J.

2015-01-01

Here we show that, for sub-wavelength particles in a fluid, viscous losses due to shear waves and their influence on neighbouring particles significantly modify the effective acoustic properties, and thereby the conditions at which negative acoustic refraction occurs. Building upon earlier single particle scattering work, we adopt a multiple scattering approach to derive the effective properties (density, bulk modulus, wavenumber). We show,through theoretical prediction, the implications for the design of “soft” (ultrasonic) metamaterials based on locally-resonant sub-wavelength porous rubber particles, through selection of particle size and concentration, and demonstrate tunability of the negative speed zones by modifying the viscosity of the suspending medium. For these lossy materials with complex effective properties, we confirm the use of phase angles to define the backward propagation condition in preference to “single-” and “double-negative” designations. PMID:26686414

The dissociable effects of punishment and reward on motor learning.

PubMed

Galea, Joseph M; Mallia, Elizabeth; Rothwell, John; Diedrichsen, Jörn

2015-04-01

A common assumption regarding error-based motor learning (motor adaptation) in humans is that its underlying mechanism is automatic and insensitive to reward- or punishment-based feedback. Contrary to this hypothesis, we show in a double dissociation that the two have independent effects on the learning and retention components of motor adaptation. Negative feedback, whether graded or binary, accelerated learning. While it was not necessary for the negative feedback to be coupled to monetary loss, it had to be clearly related to the actual performance on the preceding movement. Positive feedback did not speed up learning, but it increased retention of the motor memory when performance feedback was withdrawn. These findings reinforce the view that independent mechanisms underpin learning and retention in motor adaptation, reject the assumption that motor adaptation is independent of motivational feedback, and raise new questions regarding the neural basis of negative and positive motivational feedback in motor learning.

Three-dimensional evaluation of cyclic displacement in single-row and double-row rotator cuff reconstructions under static external rotation.

PubMed

Lorbach, Olaf; Kieb, Matthias; Raber, Florian; Busch, Lüder C; Kohn, Dieter M; Pape, Dietrich

2013-01-01

The double-row suture bridge repair was recently introduced and has demonstrated superior biomechanical results and higher yield load compared with the traditional double-row technique. It therefore seemed reasonable to compare this second generation of double-row constructs to the modified single-row double mattress reconstruction. The repair technique, initial tear size, and tendon subregion will have a significant effect on 3-dimensional (3D) cyclic displacement under additional static external rotation of a modified single-row compared with a double-row rotator cuff repair. Controlled laboratory study. Rotator cuff tears (small to medium: 25 mm; medium to large: 35 mm) were created in 24 human cadaveric shoulders. Rotator cuff repairs were performed as modified single-row or double-row repairs, and cyclic loading (10-60 N, 10-100 N) was applied under 20° of external rotation. Radiostereometric analysis was used to calculate cyclic displacement in the anteroposterior (x), craniocaudal (y), and mediolateral (z) planes with a focus on the repair constructs and the initial tear size. Moreover, differences in cyclic displacement of the anterior compared with the posterior tendon subregions were calculated. Significantly lower cyclic displacement was seen in small to medium tears for the single-row compared with double-row repair at 60 and 100 N in the x plane (P = .001) and y plane (P = .001). The results were similar in medium to large tears at 100 N in the x plane (P = .004). Comparison of 25-mm versus 35-mm tears did not show any statistically significant differences for the single-row repairs. In the double-row repairs, lower gap formation was found for the 35-mm tears (P ≤ .05). Comparison of the anterior versus posterior tendon subregions revealed a trend toward higher anterior gap formation, although this was statistically not significant. The tested single-row reconstruction achieved superior results in 3D cyclic displacement to the tested double-row repair. Extension of the initial rupture size did not have a negative effect on the biomechanical results of the tested constructs. Single-row repairs with modified suture configurations provide comparable biomechanical strength to double-row repairs. Furthermore, as increased gap formation in the early postoperative period might lead to failure of the construct, a strong anterior fixation and restricted external rotation protocol might be considered in rotator cuff repairs to avoid this problem.

FROM BIAS TO BISEXUAL HEALTH DISPARITIES: ATTITUDES TOWARD BISEXUAL MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

PubMed

Friedman, M Reuel; Dodge, Brian; Schick, Vanessa; Herbenick, Debby; Hubach, Randolph; Bowling, Jessamyn; Goncalves, Gabriel; Krier, Sarah; Reece, Michael

2014-12-01

A newly emergent literature suggest that bisexual men and women face profound health disparities in comparison to both heterosexual and homosexual individuals. Additionally, bisexual individuals often experience prejudice, stigma, and discrimination from both gay/lesbian and straight communities, termed "biphobia." However, only limited research exists that empirically tests the extent and predictors of this double discrimination. The Bisexualities: Indiana Attitudes Survey (BIAS) was developed to test associations between biphobia and sexual identity. Using standard techniques, we developed and administered a scale to a purposive online sample of adults from a wide range of social networking websites. We conducted exploratory factor analysis to refine scales assessing attitudes toward bisexual men and bisexual women, respectively. Using generalized linear modeling, we assessed relationships between BIAS scores and sexual identity, adjusting for covariates. Two separately gendered scales were developed, administered, and refined: BIAS-m (n=645), focusing on attitudes toward bisexual men; and BIAS-f (n=631), focusing on attitudes toward bisexual women. Across scales, sexual identity significantly predicted response variance. Lesbian/gay respondents had lower levels of bi-negative attitudes than their heterosexual counterparts (all p-values <.05); bisexual respondents had lower levels of bi-negative attitudes than their straight counterparts (all p-values <.001); and bisexual respondents had lower levels of bi-negative attitudes than their lesbian/gay counterparts (all p-values <.05). Within racial/ethnic minority respondents, biracial/multiracial status was associated with lower bi-negativity scores (all p-values <.05). This study provides important quantitative support for theories related to biphobia and double discrimination. Our findings provide strong evidence for understanding how stereotypes and stigma may lead to dramatic disparities in depression, anxiety, stress, and other health outcomes among bisexual individuals in comparison to their heterosexual and homosexual counterparts. Our results yield valuable data for informing social awareness and intervention efforts that aim to decrease bi-negative attitudes within both straight and gay/lesbian communities, with the ultimate goal of alleviating health disparities among bisexual men and women.

The double life of antibiotics.

PubMed

Yap, Mee-Ngan F

2013-01-01

Antibiotic resistance is a persistent health care problem worldwide. Evidence for the negative consequences of subtherapeutic feeding in livestock production has been mounting while the antibiotic pipeline is drying up. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in our perception of antibiotics. Apart from its roles in self-defense, antibiotics also serve as inter-microbial signaling molecules, regulators of gene expression, microbial food sources, and as mediators of host immune response.

ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE PULSE GENERATOR

DOEpatents

Gratian, J.W.; Gratian, A.C.

1961-08-01

>A modulator pulse source having adjustable pulse width and adjustable pulse spacing is described. The generator consists of a cross coupled multivibrator having adjustable time constant circuitry in each leg, an adjustable differentiating circuit in the output of each leg, a mixing and rectifying circuit for combining the differentiated pulses and generating in its output a resultant sequence of negative pulses, and a final amplifying circuit for inverting and square-topping the pulses. (AEC)

Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Melnikovova, Ingrid; Fait, Tomas; Kolarova, Michaela; Fernandez, Eloy C.

2015-01-01

Background/Aims. Products of Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) are touted worldwide as an alimentary supplement to enhance fertility and restore hormonal balance. Enhancing properties of maca on semen parameters in animals were previously reported by various authors, but we present to the best of our knowledge the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial in men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of maca on semen parameters and serum hormone levels in healthy adult men. Methods. A group of 20 volunteers aged 20–40 years was supplied by milled hypocotyl of maca or placebo (1.75 g/day) for 12 weeks. Negative controls of semen were compared to the samples after 6 and 12 weeks of maca administration; negative blood controls were compared to the samples after 12 weeks of treatment. Results. Sperm concentration and motility showed rising trends compared to placebo even though levels of hormones did not change significantly after 12 weeks of trial. Conclusion. Our results indicate that maca possesses fertility enhancing properties in men. As long as men prefer to use alimentary supplement to enhance fertility rather than prescribed medication or any medical intervention, it is worth continuing to assess its possible benefits. PMID:26421049

Similarities and Differences between RNA and DNA Double-Helical Structures in Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy: A SAC-CI Study.

PubMed

Miyahara, Tomoo; Nakatsuji, Hiroshi; Sugiyama, Hiroshi

2016-11-17

The helical structures of DNA and RNA are investigated experimentally using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The signs and the shapes of the CD spectra are much different between the right- and left-handed structures as well as between DNA and RNA. The main difference lies in the sign at around 295 nm of the CD spectra: it is positive for the right-handed B-DNA and the left-handed Z-RNA but is negative for the left-handed Z-DNA and the right-handed A-RNA. We calculated the SAC-CI CD spectra of DNA and RNA using the tetramer models, which include both hydrogen-bonding and stacking interactions that are important in both DNA and RNA. The SAC-CI results reproduced the features at around 295 nm of the experimental CD spectra of each DNA and RNA, and elucidated that the strong stacking interaction between the two base pairs is the origin of the negative peaks at 295 nm of the CD spectra for both DNA and RNA. On the basis of these facts, we discuss the similarities and differences between RNA and DNA double-helical structures in the CD spectroscopy based on the ChiraSac methodology.

Silencing of AtRAP, a target gene of a bacteria-induced small RNA, triggers antibacterial defense responses through activation of LSU2 and down-regulation of GLK1

PubMed Central

Wang, Huan; Seo, Jang-Kyun; Gao, Shang; Cui, Xinping; Jin, Hailing

2017-01-01

Summary Plants fine-tune their sophisticated immunity systems in response to pathogen infections. We previously showed that AtlsiRNA-1, a bacteria-induced plant endogenous small interfering RNA, silences the AtRAP gene, which encodes a putative RNA binding protein.In this study, we demonstrate that AtRAP functions as a negative regulator in plant immunity by characterizing molecular and biological responses of the knockout mutant and overexpression lines of AtRAP upon bacterial infection.AtRAP is localized in chloroplasts and physically interacts with Low Sulfur Upregulated 2 (LSU2), which positively regulates plant defense. Our results suggest that AtRAP negatively regulates defense responses by suppressing LSU2 through physical interaction. We also detected downregulation of the transcription factor GOLDEN2-LIKE 1 (GLK1) in atrap-1 using microarray analysis. The glk1 glk2 double mutant showed enhanced resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, which is consistent with a previous study showing enhanced resistance of a glk1 glk2 double mutant to Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis.Taken together, our data suggest that silencing of AtRAP by AtlsiRNA-1 upon bacterial infection triggers defense responses through regulation of LSU2 and GLK1. PMID:28656601

Double layers in contactor plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cooke, David L.

1990-01-01

The concept of using a hollow cathode to establish a low impedance contact between a spacecraft and the ambient plasma continues to gain in popularity, and is often then referred to as a plasma contactor. A growing number of studies indicate that large contact currents can be supported with small potential difference between the contactor and the ambient plasma. Results will be presented from a simple one-dimensional spherical model that obtains potentials from the solution of Poisson's equation, and particle densities from a turning point formalism that includes particle angular momentum. The neglect of collisions and magnetic field limits the realism. However, the results illustrate the effect of double layers that can form at the interface between contactor and ambient plasmas, when there is any voltage differential between the contactor and the ambient. The I-V characteristic of this model shows the usual space charge depends upon collection when the contactor flux is lower than some threshold; independence of I from variation in V when the flux is slightly greater than that threshold, and (numerical ?) instability for excessive flux suggesting the possibility of negative resistance. Even if a real I-V characteristic does not exhibit negative resistance, flat spots or high resistance regions may still be troublesome (or useful) to the total circuit.

Diphosphates at the 5' end of the positive strand of yeast L-A double-stranded RNA virus as a molecular self-identity tag.

PubMed

Fujimura, Tsutomu; Esteban, Rosa

2016-10-01

The 5'end of RNA conveys important information on self-identity. In mammalian cells, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with 5'di- or triphosphates generated during virus infection is recognized as foreign and elicits the host innate immune response. Here, we analyze the 5' ends of the dsRNA genome of the yeast L-A virus. The positive strand has largely diphosphates with a minor amount of triphosphates, while the negative strand has only diphosphates. Although the virus can produce capped transcripts by cap snatching, neither strand carried a cap structure, suggesting that only non-capped transcripts serve as genomic RNA for encapsidation. We also found that the 5' diphosphates of the positive but not the negative strand within the dsRNA genome are crucial for transcription in vitro. Furthermore, the presence of a cap structure in the dsRNA abrogated its template activity. Given that the 5' diphosphates of the transcripts are also essential for cap acquisition and that host cytosolic RNAs (mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA) are uniformly devoid of 5' pp-structures, the L-A virus takes advantage of its 5' terminal diphosphates, using them as a self-identity tag to propagate in the host cytoplasm. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

PubMed

Melnikovova, Ingrid; Fait, Tomas; Kolarova, Michaela; Fernandez, Eloy C; Milella, Luigi

2015-01-01

Background/Aims. Products of Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) are touted worldwide as an alimentary supplement to enhance fertility and restore hormonal balance. Enhancing properties of maca on semen parameters in animals were previously reported by various authors, but we present to the best of our knowledge the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial in men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of maca on semen parameters and serum hormone levels in healthy adult men. Methods. A group of 20 volunteers aged 20-40 years was supplied by milled hypocotyl of maca or placebo (1.75 g/day) for 12 weeks. Negative controls of semen were compared to the samples after 6 and 12 weeks of maca administration; negative blood controls were compared to the samples after 12 weeks of treatment. Results. Sperm concentration and motility showed rising trends compared to placebo even though levels of hormones did not change significantly after 12 weeks of trial. Conclusion. Our results indicate that maca possesses fertility enhancing properties in men. As long as men prefer to use alimentary supplement to enhance fertility rather than prescribed medication or any medical intervention, it is worth continuing to assess its possible benefits.

Hormone therapy in menopausal women with cognitive complaints: a randomized, double-blind trial.

PubMed

Maki, P M; Gast, M J; Vieweg, A J; Burriss, S W; Yaffe, K

2007-09-25

To evaluate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on cognition and subjective quality of life (QoL) in recently postmenopausal women with cognitive complaints. Cognitive Complaints in Early Menopause Trial (COGENT) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, pilot study of 180 healthy postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55 years, randomly assigned to receive either placebo or conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg/medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg for 4 months. Outcome measures included memory, subjective cognition, QoL, sexuality, and sleep, which were assessed at baseline and month 4. The study was terminated before the expected final sample size of 275 due to a decrease in enrollment coinciding with the publication of findings from the Women's Health Initiative. There were no differences between groups on any cognitive or QoL measures, except for an increase in sexual interest and thoughts with HT. Modest negative effects on short- and long-term verbal memory approached significance (p < 0.10). Women with baseline vasomotor symptoms (VMS) showed a decrease in VMS and an improvement in general QoL, but no cognitive benefit vs placebo. With the power to detect an effect size of >or=0.45, this study suggests potential modest negative effects on verbal memory that are consistent with previous hormone therapy trials in older women.

Ionic electrodeposition of II-VI and III-V compounds. III. Computer simulation of quasi-rest potentials for M/sub 1/X/sub 1/ compounds analogous to CdTe

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

Engelken, R.D.

1987-04-01

The quasi-rest potential (QRP) has been proposed as a key quantity in characterizing compound semiconductor (e.g. CdTe) electrodeposition. This article expands the modeling/simulation representative of Cd/sub x/Te in chemical equilibrium to calculate two ''QRP's'': E/sub M/1/sub /, the mixed potential occurring immediately after current interruption and before any relaxation in double layer ion concentration and significant ion exchange/surface stoichiometry change occur, and E/sub M/2/sub /, another mixed potential occurring after the double layer ion concentrations have relaxed to their bulk values but still before any significant surface composition change occurs. Significant predictions include existence of a dramatic negative transition inmore » QRP, with negative-going deposition potential, centered on the potential of perfect stoichiometry (PPS), inequality, in general, between the PPS and E/sub M/1/sub / unless the deposit remains in equilibrium with the electrolyte (no ion exchange at open circuit), negligible sensitivity of QRP-E curves to the activity coefficient parameter implying the importance of the PPS in characterizing compound deposition, and disappearance of the transition structure for sufficiently positive Gibbs free energies.« less

Acetaminophen attenuates error evaluation in cortex.

PubMed

Randles, Daniel; Kam, Julia W Y; Heine, Steven J; Inzlicht, Michael; Handy, Todd C

2016-06-01

Acetaminophen has recently been recognized as having impacts that extend into the affective domain. In particular, double blind placebo controlled trials have revealed that acetaminophen reduces the magnitude of reactivity to social rejection, frustration, dissonance and to both negatively and positively valenced attitude objects. Given this diversity of consequences, it has been proposed that the psychological effects of acetaminophen may reflect a widespread blunting of evaluative processing. We tested this hypothesis using event-related potentials (ERPs). Sixty-two participants received acetaminophen or a placebo in a double-blind protocol and completed the Go/NoGo task. Participants' ERPs were observed following errors on the Go/NoGo task, in particular the error-related negativity (ERN; measured at FCz) and error-related positivity (Pe; measured at Pz and CPz). Results show that acetaminophen inhibits the Pe, but not the ERN, and the magnitude of an individual's Pe correlates positively with omission errors, partially mediating the effects of acetaminophen on the error rate. These results suggest that recently documented affective blunting caused by acetaminophen may best be described as an inhibition of evaluative processing. They also contribute to the growing work suggesting that the Pe is more strongly associated with conscious awareness of errors relative to the ERN. © The Author (2016). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Insilico modeling and molecular dynamic simulation of claudin-1 point mutations in HCV infection.

PubMed

Vipperla, Bhavaniprasad; Dass, J Febin Prabhu; Jayanthi, S

2014-01-01

Claudin-1 (CLDN1) in association with envelope glycoprotein (CD81) mediates the fusion of HCV into the cytosol. Recent studies have indicated that point mutations in CLDN1 are important for the entry of hepatitis C virus (HCV). To validate these findings, we employed a computational platform to investigate the structural effect of two point mutations (I32M and E48K). Initially, three-dimensional co-ordinates for CLDN1 receptor sequence were generated. Then, three mutant models were built using the point mutation including a double mutant (I32M/E48K) model from the native model structure. Finally, all the four model structures including the native and three mutant models were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for a period of 25 ns to appreciate their dynamic behavior. The MD trajectory files were analyzed using cluster and principal component method. The analysis suggested that either of the single mutation has negligible effect on the overall structure of CLDN1 compared to the double mutant form. However, the double mutant model of CLDN1 shows significant negative impact through the impairment of H-bonds and the simultaneous increase in solvent accessible surface area. Our simulation results are visibly consistent with the experimental report suggesting that the CLDN1 receptor distortion is prominent due to the double mutation with large surface accessibility. This increase in accessible surface area due to the coexistence of double mutation may be presumed as one of the key factor that results in permissive action of HCV attachment and infection.

Treatment of Crowe Type-IV Hip Dysplasia Using Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty and Double Chevron Subtrochanteric Shortening Osteotomy: A 5- to 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

PubMed

Li, Xigong; Lu, Yang; Sun, Junying; Lin, Xiangjin; Tang, Tiansi

2017-02-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional and radiographic results of patients with Crowe type-IV hip dysplasia treated by cementless total hip arthroplasty and double chevron subtrochanteric osteotomy. From January 2000 to February 2006, cementless total hip arthroplasty with a double chevron subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy was performed on 18 patients (22 hips) with Crowe type-IV dysplasia. The acetabular cup was placed in the position of the anatomic hip center, and subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy was performed with the use of a double chevron design. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 6.5 years (5-10 years). The mean amount of femoral subtrochanteric shortening was 38 mm (25-60 mm). All osteotomy sites were healed by 3-6 months without complications. The mean Harris Hip Score improved significantly from 47 points (35-65 points) preoperatively to 88 points (75-97 points) at the final follow-up. The Trendelenburg sign was corrected from a positive preoperative status to a negative postoperative status in 12 of 22 hips. No acetabular and femoral components have loosened or required revision during the period of follow-up. Cementless total hip arthroplasty using double chevron subtrochanteric osteotomy allowed for restoration of anatomic hip center with safely functional limb lengthening, achieved correction of preoperative limp, and good functional and radiographic outcomes for 22 Crowe type-IV dislocation hips at the time of the 5- to 10-year follow-up. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design rules and reality check for carbon-based ultracapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenmann, Erhard T.

1995-04-01

Design criteria for carbon-based Ultracapacitors have been determined for specified energy and power requirements, using the geometry of the components and such material properties as density, porosity and conductivity as parameters, while also considering chemical compatibility. This analysis shows that the weights of active and inactive components of the capacitor structure must be carefully balanced for maximum energy and power density. When applied to nonaqueous electrolytes, the design rules for a 5 Wh/kg device call for porous carbon with a specific capacitance of about 30 F/cu cm. This performance is not achievable with pure, electrostatic double layer capacitance. Double layer capacitance is only 5 to 30% of that observed in aqueous electrolyte. Tests also showed that nonaqueous electrolytes have a diminished capability to access micropores in activated carbon, in one case yielding a capacitance of less than 1 F/cu cm for carbon that had 100 F/cu cm in aqueous electrolyte. With negative results on nonaqueous electrolytes dominating the present study, the obvious conclusion is to concentrate on aqueous systems. Only aqueous double layer capacitors offer adequate electrostatic charging characteristics which is the basis for high power performance. There arc many opportunities for further advancing aqueous double layer capacitors, one being the use of highly activated carbon films, as opposed to powders, fibers and foams. While the manufacture of carbon films is still costly, and while the energy and power density of the resulting devices may not meet the optimistic goals that have been proposed, this technology could produce true double layer capacitors with significantly improved performance and large commercial potential.

Introduction of peanuts in younger siblings of children with peanut allergy: a prospective, double-blinded assessment of risk, of diagnostic tests, and an analysis of patient preferences.

PubMed

Bégin, P; Graham, F; Killer, K; Paradis, J; Paradis, L; Des Roches, A

2016-12-01

The prevalence of peanut allergy in younger siblings of children with peanut allergy has been reported between 7% and 8.5%, but the anaphylactic risk at the time of introduction is currently unknown, which limits our ability to best counsel parents on this issue. To determine the risk of anaphylaxis and working parameters of allergy testing in this context. One hundred and fifty-four peanut-naïve younger siblings of peanut-allergic children underwent double-blinded skin testing, followed by parent-led peanut introduction. Questionnaires were dispensed to parents to investigate preferences with regard to peanut introduction in this subgroup. Eight participants (5.2%) presented unequivocal IgE-mediated reactions to peanut upon introduction, including five anaphylaxes. These participants were significantly older compared to the rest of the cohort (median 4.0 vs 1.9 years, P = 0.04). The negative predictive value of skin prick test with peanut extract and peanut butter and of specific IgE was 99%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Six peanut-tolerant participants had positive peanut allergy tests. The option of introducing at home without prior skin testing was associated with high levels of anxiety (median 8.4 on 10-point Likert scale) when compared to supervised introduction (median 3.8, P < 0.0001) or home introduction after negative skin test (median 4.3, P < 0.0001). There is an increased risk of anaphylaxis upon peanut introduction in siblings of children with peanut allergy, and parents are reluctant to introduce at home without testing. Allergy testing prior to introduction is negative in over 90% of cases and carries a high negative predictive value. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Econazole nitrate foam 1% for the treatment of tinea pedis: results from two double-blind, vehicle-controlled, phase 3 clinical trials.

PubMed

Elewski, Boni E; Vlahovic, Tracey C

2014-07-01

Econazole nitrate is a broad-spectrum topical antifungal with activity against a variety of dermatophytes and yeasts. A new topical dosage form, econazole nitrate topical foam 1%, utilizing patented Proderm Technology® has been developed for treatment of interdigital tinea pedis. To evaluate econazole nitrate foam 1% versus foam vehicle for treatment of interdigital tinea pedis. Two randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled, multicenter studies enrolled males and females ≥12 years old with a clinical diagnosis of interdigital tinea pedis and baseline fungal culture positive for a dermatophyte. Subjects applied econazole nitrate foam 1% (n=246) or foam vehicle (n=249) once daily for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was proportion of subjects achieving a complete cure (negative KOH, negative fungal culture, complete resolution of all signs and symptoms) at 2 weeks post-treatment (Day 43). Secondary endpoints included mycologic cure (negative KOH and negative culture) and effective treatment (mycologic cure + no or mild erythema and/or scaling and all other signs and symptoms absent). The complete cure rate at Day 43 was 24.3% for econazole nitrate foam 1% vs 3.6% for foam vehicle. In addition, higher rates of mycologic cure (67.6% vs 16.9%) and effective treatment (48.6% vs 10.8%) were observed with econazole nitrate foam 1% versus the foam vehicle. There were few adverse events and only nasopharyngitis and headache were experienced by >1% of subjects. No serious adverse events were reported for econazole nitrate foam 1%. Econazole nitrate foam 1% exhibited superiority over foam vehicle for the primary and secondary endpoints with a high mycologic cure rate for all pathogens evaluated. Econazole nitrate foam 1% was safe and well tolerated with a safety profile comparable with the foam vehicle. Econazole nitrate foam 1% presents a novel alternative for the management of tinea pedis.

A structural model of family empowerment for families of children with special needs.

PubMed

Han, Kuem Sun; Yang, Yunkyung; Hong, Yeong Seon

2018-03-01

To explain and predict family empowerment in families of children with special needs. Family empowerment of families of children with special needs can be explained using the Double ABCX model. Although constant stressors such as parenting stress and family demands can have negative effects on family empowerment, family resources and parenting efficacy can mediate the negative effect through effective coping strategies. A cross-sectional research design was employed. A survey was conducted with 240 parents of children with special needs. Upon exclusion of four responses deemed inadequate to the statistics process, 236 responses were selected for the analysis. Based on the items used in the previous research, we used the scale of family demands 38, the scale of parenting stress 24, the scale of parenting efficacy 37, the scale of pattern of organisation 30, the scale of communication process 16 and the scale of family empowerment 32. In families of children with special needs, parenting stress had a negative effect on parenting efficacy and family resources, namely, pattern of organisation and communication process. Family needs had a positive effect on parenting efficacy. Parenting stress and family demands influenced family empowerment through parenting efficacy and family resources (pattern of organisation and communication process), while parenting efficacy contributed to family empowerment. This study empirically analysed the usefulness of the Double ABCX model in predicting family empowerment. Family resource factors (organisation pattern and communication process) and perception or judgement factors (such as parenting efficacy) were found to mediate the negative impact of various stressors experienced by families of children with special needs. The study findings suggest that clinical practice and management should focus on providing efficient intervention methods to lower stress in families of children with special needs. Reinforcing factors contributing to family empowerment, such as parenting efficacy, organisation pattern and communication process, will alleviate families' stress, resulting in a positive educational and developmental impact on children with special needs. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of negative air ions on oxygen uptake kinetics, recovery and performance in exercise: a randomized, double-blinded study.

PubMed

Nimmerichter, Alfred; Holdhaus, Johann; Mehnen, Lars; Vidotto, Claudia; Loidl, Markus; Barker, Alan R

2014-09-01

Limited research has suggested that acute exposure to negatively charged ions may enhance cardio-respiratory function, aerobic metabolism and recovery following exercise. To test the physiological effects of negatively charged air ions, 14 trained males (age: 32 ± 7 years; VO2max: 57 ± 7 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) were exposed for 20 min to either a high-concentration of air ions (ION: 220 ± 30 × 10(3) ions cm(-3)) or normal room conditions (PLA: 0.1 ± 0.06 × 10(3) ions cm(-3)) in an ionization chamber in a double-blinded, randomized order, prior to performing: (1) a bout of severe-intensity cycling exercise for determining the time constant of the phase II VO2 response (τ) and the magnitude of the VO2 slow component (SC); and (2) a 30-s Wingate test that was preceded by three 30-s Wingate tests to measure plasma [adrenaline] (ADR), [nor-adrenaline] (N-ADR) and blood [lactate] (B(Lac)) over 20 min during recovery in the ionization chamber. There was no difference between ION and PLA for the phase II VO2 τ (32 ± 14 s vs. 32 ± 14 s; P = 0.7) or VO2 SC (404 ± 214 mL vs 482 ± 217 mL; P = 0.17). No differences between ION and PLA were observed at any time-point for ADR, N-ADR and B(Lac) as well as on peak and mean power output during the Wingate tests (all P > 0.05). A high-concentration of negatively charged air ions had no effect on aerobic metabolism during severe-intensity exercise or on performance or the recovery of the adrenergic and metabolic responses after repeated-sprint exercise in trained athletes.

Antidepressant Controlled Trial For Negative Symptoms In Schizophrenia (ACTIONS): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial.

PubMed

Barnes, Thomas R E; Leeson, Verity C; Paton, Carol; Costelloe, Céire; Simon, Judit; Kiss, Noemi; Osborn, David; Killaspy, Helen; Craig, Tom K J; Lewis, Shôn; Keown, Patrick; Ismail, Shajahan; Crawford, Mike; Baldwin, David; Lewis, Glyn; Geddes, John; Kumar, Manoj; Pathak, Rudresh; Taylor, Simon

2016-04-01

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent deficiencies in emotional responsiveness, motivation, socialisation, speech and movement. When persistent, they are held to account for much of the poor functional outcomes associated with schizophrenia. There are currently no approved pharmacological treatments. While the available evidence suggests that a combination of antipsychotic and antidepressant medication may be effective in treating negative symptoms, it is too limited to allow any firm conclusions. To establish the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of augmentation of antipsychotic medication with the antidepressant citalopram for the management of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. A multicentre, double-blind, individually randomised, placebo-controlled trial with 12-month follow-up. Adult psychiatric services, treating people with schizophrenia. Inpatients or outpatients with schizophrenia, on continuing, stable antipsychotic medication, with persistent negative symptoms at a criterion level of severity. Eligible participants were randomised 1 : 1 to treatment with either placebo (one capsule) or 20 mg of citalopram per day for 48 weeks, with the clinical option at 4 weeks to increase the daily dosage to 40 mg of citalopram or two placebo capsules for the remainder of the study. The primary outcomes were quality of life measured at 12 and 48 weeks assessed using the Heinrich's Quality of Life Scale, and negative symptoms at 12 weeks measured on the negative symptom subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. No therapeutic benefit in terms of improvement in quality of life or negative symptoms was detected for citalopram over 12 weeks or at 48 weeks, but secondary analysis suggested modest improvement in the negative symptom domain, avolition/amotivation, at 12 weeks (mean difference -1.3, 95% confidence interval -2.5 to -0.09). There were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment arms over 48-week follow-up in either the health economics outcomes or costs, and no differences in the frequency or severity of adverse effects, including corrected QT interval prolongation. The trial under-recruited, partly because cardiac safety concerns about citalopram were raised, with the 62 participants recruited falling well short of the target recruitment of 358. Although this was the largest sample randomised to citalopram in a randomised controlled trial of antidepressant augmentation for negative symptoms of schizophrenia and had the longest follow-up, the power of statistical analysis to detect significant differences between the active and placebo groups was limited. Although adjunctive citalopram did not improve negative symptoms overall, there was evidence of some positive effect on avolition/amotivation, recognised as a critical barrier to psychosocial rehabilitation and achieving better social and community functional outcomes. Comprehensive assessment of side-effect burden did not identify any serious safety or tolerability issues. The addition of citalopram as a long-term prescribing strategy for the treatment of negative symptoms may merit further investigation in larger studies. Further studies of the viability of adjunctive antidepressant treatment for negative symptoms in schizophrenia should include appropriate safety monitoring and use rating scales that allow for evaluation of avolition/amotivation as a discrete negative symptom domain. Overcoming the barriers to recruiting an adequate sample size will remain a challenge. European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials (EudraCT) number 2009-009235-30 and Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN42305247. This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 29. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Ultrathin multi-slit metamaterial as excellent sound absorber: Influence of micro-structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, S. W.; Meng, H.; Xin, F. X.; Lu, T. J.

2016-01-01

An ultrathin (subwavelength) hierarchy multi-slit metamaterial with simultaneous negative effective density and negative compressibility is proposed to absorb sound over a wide frequency range. Different from conventional acoustic metamaterials having only negative real parts of acoustic parameters, the imaginary parts of effective density and compressibility are both negative for the proposed metamaterial, which result in superior viscous and thermal dissipation of sound energy. By combining the slit theory of sound absorption with the double porosity theory for porous media, a theoretical model is developed to investigate the sound absorption performance of the metamaterial. To verify the model, a finite element model is established to calculate the effective density, compressibility, and sound absorption of the metamaterial. It is theoretically and numerically confirmed that, upon introducing micro-slits into the meso-slits matrix, the multi-slit metamaterial possesses indeed negative imaginary parts of effective density and compressibility. The influence of micro-slits on the acoustical performance of the metamaterial is analyzed in the context of its specific surface area and static flow resistivity. This work shows great potential of multi-slit metamaterials in noise control applications that require both small volume and small weight of sound-absorbing materials.

[Mothers' adherence to "maternal love" influences emotional expression toward children: relation to maternal occupational status and satisfaction in the workplace].

PubMed

Egami, Sonoko

2007-06-01

This study examined the impact of mothers' adherence to "maternal love" on maternal emotional expression toward their children. It was postulated that adherence to "maternal love" (defined as the tendency to accept and obey blindly the traditional maternal role and sociocultural belief in "desirable mothers") would have both positive and negative effects on maternal emotional expression, depending on the mothers' occupational status and satisfaction in workplace. The results showed an interaction between mothers' adherence to "maternal love" and the mothers' satisfaction in the workplace, which affected their expression of emotion. When satisfaction in the workplace was rated in the middle, it was positively associated with positive emotional expression. When satisfaction in the workplace was rated as high, it was both positively and negatively associated with positive emotional expression for full-time workers. Moreover, when satisfaction in the workplace was rated as in the middle, it was negatively associated with negative emotional expression, and when satisfaction in the workplace was rated as low or high, it was positively associated with negative emotional expression for all workers. These findings confirmed that mothers' adherence to "maternal love" is "the double-edged sword".

Identifying target regions for vigilance improvement under hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal syndrome patients by means of electroencephalographic tomography (LORETA).

PubMed

Saletu, B; Anderer, P; Saletu-Zyhlarz, G M; Gruber, D; Metka, M; Huber, J

2005-04-01

Daytime fatigue, which at the neurophysiological level is due to vigilance decrements, is a frequent complaint in postmenopausal women. In a three-arm, 2-month, parallel group-design study, vigilance-promoting effects of a novel continuous combination (=Climodien 2/3) of estradiol valerate (EV; 2 mg) and dienogest (DNG; 3 mg) were compared with the effects of both EV alone and placebo in 55 insomniac, postmenopausal syndrome patients. Low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) was undertaken to identify the cerebral target regions of hormone replacement therapy. An omnibus significance test revealed Climodien to increase activity in 882 of 2,394 voxels in the alpha-2 band, followed by 733, 706, and 664 voxels in the beta-2, beta-1, and beta-3 bands, and 509 voxels in the delta band, whereas 2 mg EV alone did not produce a significant suprathreshold activity. Current density increased predominantly in the right hemisphere, which had already been described in the literature as the center of the vigilance system. In the fast alpha range, which plays a major role in the context of vigilance, increased activity was found in the right prefrontal, temporal, and superior parietal cortices, i.e., those brain areas of the right-sided fronto-parietal neuronal network that are responsible for sustained attention. A further activity increase was seen in the anterior cingulate gyrus associated with attentional control and conflict monitoring. The right temporal lobe showed increased current density in all frequency bands. Electroencephalographic tomography (LORETA) identified the right-hemispheric vigilance system as the target region of Climodien.

[Investigation of RNA viral genome amplification by multiple displacement amplification technique].

PubMed

Pang, Zheng; Li, Jian-Dong; Li, Chuan; Liang, Mi-Fang; Li, De-Xin

2013-06-01

In order to facilitate the detection of newly emerging or rare viral infectious diseases, a negative-strand RNA virus-severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus, and a positive-strand RNA virus-dengue virus, were used to investigate RNA viral genome unspecific amplification by multiple displacement amplification technique from clinical samples. Series of 10-fold diluted purified viral RNA were utilized as analog samples with different pathogen loads, after a series of reactions were sequentially processed, single-strand cDNA, double-strand cDNA, double-strand cDNA treated with ligation without or with supplemental RNA were generated, then a Phi29 DNA polymerase depended isothermal amplification was employed, and finally the target gene copies were detected by real time PCR assays to evaluate the amplification efficiencies of various methods. The results showed that multiple displacement amplification effects of single-strand or double-strand cDNA templates were limited, while the fold increases of double-strand cDNA templates treated with ligation could be up to 6 X 10(3), even 2 X 10(5) when supplemental RNA existed, and better results were obtained when viral RNA loads were lower. A RNA viral genome amplification system using multiple displacement amplification technique was established in this study and effective amplification of RNA viral genome with low load was achieved, which could provide a tool to synthesize adequate viral genome for multiplex pathogens detection.

Determining Double Bond Position in Lipids Using Online Ozonolysis Coupled to Liquid Chromatography and Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry.

PubMed

Harris, Rachel A; May, Jody C; Stinson, Craig A; Xia, Yu; McLean, John A

2018-02-06

The increasing focus on lipid metabolism has revealed a need for analytical techniques capable of structurally characterizing lipids with a high degree of specificity. Lipids can exist as any one of a large number of double bond positional isomers, which are indistinguishable by single-stage mass spectrometry alone. Ozonolysis reactions coupled to mass spectrometry have previously been demonstrated as a means for localizing double bonds in unsaturated lipids. Here we describe an online, solution-phase reactor using ozone produced via a low-pressure mercury lamp, which generates aldehyde products diagnostic of cleavage at a particular double bond position. This flow-cell device is utilized in conjunction with structurally selective ion mobility-mass spectrometry. The lamp-mediated reaction was found to be effective for multiple lipid species in both positive and negative ionization modes, and the conversion efficiency from precursor to product ions was tunable across a wide range (20-95%) by varying the flow rate through the ozonolysis device. Ion mobility separation of the ozonolysis products generated additional structural information and revealed the presence of saturated species in a complex mixture. The method presented here is simple, robust, and readily coupled to existing instrument platforms with minimal modifications necessary. For these reasons, application to standard lipidomic workflows is possible and aids in more comprehensive structural characterization of a myriad of lipid species.

Negative ion kinetics in RF glow discharges

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

Gottscho, R.A.; Gacbe, C.E.

1986-04-01

Using temporally and spatially resolved laser spectroscopy, the authors have determined the identities, approximate concentrations, effects on the local field, and kinetics of formation and loss of negative ions in RF discharges. CI/sup -/ and BCI/sub 3//sup -/ are the dominant negative ions found in low-frequency discharges through CI/sub 2/ and BCI/sub 3/, respectively. The electron affinity for CI is measured to be 3.6118 +- 0.0005 eV. Negative ion kinetics are strongly affected by application of the RF field. Formation of negative ions by attachment of slow electrons in RF discharges is governed by the extent and duration of electronmore » energy relaxation. Similarly, destruction of negative ions by collisional detachment and field extraction is dependent upon ion energy modulation. Thus, at low frequency, the anion density peaks at the beginning of the anodic and cathodic half-cycles after electrons have attached but before detachment and extraction have had time to occur. At higher frequencies, electrons have insufficient time to attach before they are reheated and the instantaneous anion density in the sheath is greatly reduced. When the negative ion density is comparable to the positive ion density, the plasma potential is observed to lie below the anode potential, double layers form between sheath and plasma, and anions and electrons are accelerated by large sheath fields to electrode surfaces.« less

Quantum state transfer in double-quantum-well devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jakumeit, Jurgen; Tutt, Marcel; Pavlidis, Dimitris

1994-01-01

A Monte Carlo simulation of double-quantum-well (DQW) devices is presented in view of analyzing the quantum state transfer (QST) effect. Different structures, based on the AlGaAs/GaAs system, were simulated at 77 and 300 K and optimized in terms of electron transfer and device speed. The analysis revealed the dominant role of the impurity scattering for the QST. Different approaches were used for the optimization of QST devices and basic physical limitations were found in the electron transfer between the QWs. The maximum transfer of electrons from a high to a low mobility well was at best 20%. Negative differential resistance is hampered by the almost linear rather than threshold dependent relation of electron transfer on electric field. By optimizing the doping profile the operation frequency limit could be extended to 260 GHz.

Efficient modification of the myostatin gene in porcine somatic cells and generation of knockout piglets.

PubMed

Rao, Shengbin; Fujimura, Tatsuya; Matsunari, Hitomi; Sakuma, Tetsushi; Nakano, Kazuaki; Watanabe, Masahito; Asano, Yoshinori; Kitagawa, Eri; Yamamoto, Takashi; Nagashima, Hiroshi

2016-01-01

Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative regulator of myogenesis, and disruption of its function causes increased muscle mass in various species. Here, we report the generation of MSTN-knockout (KO) pigs using genome editing technology combined with somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) with non-repeat-variable di-residue variations, called Platinum TALEN, was highly efficient in modifying genes in porcine somatic cells, which were then used for SCNT to create MSTN KO piglets. These piglets exhibited a double-muscled phenotype, possessing a higher body weight and longissimus muscle mass measuring 170% that of wild-type piglets, with double the number of muscle fibers. These results demonstrate that loss of MSTN increases muscle mass in pigs, which may help increase pork production for consumption in the future. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Side-gate modulation effects on high-quality BN-Graphene-BN nanoribbon capacitors

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

Wang, Yang; Chen, Xiaolong; Ye, Weiguang

High-quality BN-Graphene-BN nanoribbon capacitors with double side-gates of graphene have been experimentally realized. The double side-gates can effectively modulate the electronic properties of graphene nanoribbon capacitors. By applying anti-symmetric side-gate voltages, we observed significant upward shifting and flattening of the V-shaped capacitance curve near the charge neutrality point. Symmetric side-gate voltages, however, only resulted in tilted upward shifting along the opposite direction of applied gate voltages. These modulation effects followed the behavior of graphene nanoribbons predicted theoretically for metallic side-gate modulation. The negative quantum capacitance phenomenon predicted by numerical simulations for graphene nanoribbons modulated by graphene side-gates was not observed,more » possibly due to the weakened interactions between the graphene nanoribbon and side-gate electrodes caused by the Ga{sup +} beam etching process.« less

Frequent coexistence of Lewy bodies and neurofibrillary tangles in the same neurons of patients with diffuse Lewy body disease.

PubMed

Iseki, E; Marui, W; Kosaka, K; Uéda, K

1999-04-09

We examined the frequency of neurons with coexistent Lewy bodies (LB) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in diffuse Lewy body disease brains, by a double-immunostaining method using MDV2 and Human tau. Double-positive neurons were frequently observed in the limbic areas. These neurons mostly revealed the feature of intermingled MDV2- and Human tau-positive substances. Immunoelectron microscopically, the MDV2-positive components were not in continuity with the MDV2-negative paired helical filaments (PHF). The MDV2-positive LB were surrounded by the small PHF bundles, frequently accompanied by the randomly oriented PHF within LB. In the intermingled neurons, MDV2-positive non-filamentous components without LB were found among the large PHF bundles. These non-filamentous components may represent the early stage of LB formation.

High power single-frequency and frequency-doubled laser with active compensation for the thermal lens effect of terbium gallium garnet crystal.

PubMed

Yin, Qiwei; Lu, Huadong; Su, Jing; Peng, Kunchi

2016-05-01

The thermal lens effect of terbium gallium garnet (TGG) crystal in a high power single-frequency laser severely limits the output power and the beam quality of the laser. By inserting a potassium dideuterium phosphate (DKDP) slice with negative thermo-optical coefficient into the laser resonator, the harmful influence of the thermal lens effect of the TGG crystal can be effectively mitigated. Using this method, the stable range of the laser is broadened, the bistability phenomenon of the laser during the process of changing the pump power is completely eliminated, the highest output power of an all-solid-state continuous-wave intracavity-frequency-doubling single-frequency laser at 532 nm is enhanced to 30.2 W, and the beam quality of the laser is significantly improved.

Double-Paddle Oscillators as Probes of Quantum Turbulence in the Zero Temperature Limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmoranzer, David; Jackson, Martin; Zemma, Elisa; Luzuriaga, Javier

2017-06-01

We present a technical report on our tests of a double-paddle oscillator as a detector of quantum turbulence in superfluid 4He at low temperatures ranging from 20 to 1100 mK. The device, known to operate well in the two-fluid regime (Zemma and Luzuriaga in J Low Temp Phys 166:171-181, 2012), is also capable of detecting quantum turbulence in the zero temperature limit. The oscillator demonstrated Lorentzian responses with quality factors of order 10^5 in vacuum, and displayed negative-Duffing resonances in liquid, even at moderate drives. In superfluid He-II at low temperatures, its sensitivity was adversely affected by acoustic damping at higher harmonics. While it successfully created and detected the quantum turbulence, its overall performance does not compare favourably with other oscillators such as tuning forks.

Hysteresis free negative total gate capacitance in junctionless transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Manish; Kranti, Abhinav

2017-09-01

In this work, we report on the hysteresis free impact ionization induced off-to-on transition while preserving sub-60 mV/decade Subthreshold swing (S-swing) using asymmetric mode operation in double gate silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) junctionless (JL) transistor. It is shown that sub-60 mV/decade steep switching due to impact ionization implies a negative value of the total gate capacitance. The performance of asymmetric gate JL transistor is compared with symmetric gate operation of JL device, and the condition for hysteresis free current transition with a sub-60 mV/decade switching is analyzed through the product of current density (J) and electric field (E). It is shown that asymmetric gate operation limits the degree of impact ionization inherent in the semiconductor film to levels sufficient for negative total gate capacitance but lower than that required for the occurrence of hysteresis. The work highlights new viewpoints related to the suppression of hysteresis associated with steep switching JL transistors while maintaining S-swing within the range 6-15 mV/decade leading to the negative value of total gate capacitance.

Successful management of severe cow's milk allergy with omalizumab treatment and CD-sens monitoring.

PubMed

Nilsson, Caroline; Nordvall, Lennart; Johansson, S G O; Nopp, Anna

2014-10-01

Food allergy is common in children and young adults and may be difficult to diagnose and is at present treated with avoidance of the food in question. The aim of this report is to share our clinical experiences monitoring omalizumab treatment by basophil allergen threshold sensitivity, CD-sens. Five children, 6-16 years of age, with a severe milk allergy including episodes of anaphylaxis and IgE-antibodies, between 30 and 160 kUA/L to casein and alpha-lactalbumin (milk proteins), were treated with omalizumab. CD-sens, was tested prior to and after 4 months of omalizumab and if turned negative, it was followed by an oral milk challenge. All children became negative in CD-sens and had a negative milk challenge, but one child required doubling of the omalizumab dose to achieve a negative CD-sens before a challenge was done. Omalizumab appears useful in treatment of severe food allergy, e.g., anaphylaxis to milk, and CD-sens monitoring may decide when and how to perform a food challenge.

Successful management of severe cow's milk allergy with omalizumab treatment and CD-sens monitoring

PubMed Central

Nilsson, Caroline; Nordvall, Lennart; Johansson, S.G.O.

2014-01-01

Food allergy is common in children and young adults and may be difficult to diagnose and is at present treated with avoidance of the food in question. The aim of this report is to share our clinical experiences monitoring omalizumab treatment by basophil allergen threshold sensitivity, CD-sens. Five children, 6-16 years of age, with a severe milk allergy including episodes of anaphylaxis and IgE-antibodies, between 30 and 160 kUA/L to casein and alpha-lactalbumin (milk proteins), were treated with omalizumab. CD-sens, was tested prior to and after 4 months of omalizumab and if turned negative, it was followed by an oral milk challenge. All children became negative in CD-sens and had a negative milk challenge, but one child required doubling of the omalizumab dose to achieve a negative CD-sens before a challenge was done. Omalizumab appears useful in treatment of severe food allergy, e.g., anaphylaxis to milk, and CD-sens monitoring may decide when and how to perform a food challenge. PMID:25379486

Tobacco Withdrawal Components and Their Relations with Cessation Success

PubMed Central

Piper, Megan E.; Schlam, Tanya R.; Cook, Jessica W.; Sheffer, Megan A.; Smith, Stevens S.; Loh, Wei-Yin; Bolt, Daniel M.; Kim, Su-Young; Kaye, Jesse T.; Hefner, Kathryn R.; Baker, Timothy B.

2011-01-01

Rationale Tobacco withdrawal is a key factor in smoking relapse, but important questions about the withdrawal phenomenon remain. Objectives This research was intended to provide information about two core components of withdrawal (negative affect and craving): 1) how various withdrawal symptom profile dimensions (e.g., mean level, volatility, extreme values) differ between negative affect and craving; and 2) how these dimensions relate to cessation outcome. Methods Adult smokers (N=1504) in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial provided real-time withdrawal symptom data four times per day for 4 weeks (2 weeks pre-quit and 2 weeks post-quit) via palmtop computers. Cessation outcome was biochemically confirmed 8-week point-prevalence abstinence. Results Examination of craving and negative affect dimensions following a cessation attempt revealed that craving symptoms differed from negative affect symptoms, with higher means, greater variability, and a greater incidence of extreme peaks. Regression analyses revealed that abstinence was associated with lower mean levels of both craving and negative affect and fewer incidences of extreme craving peaks. In a multivariate model, the increase in mean craving and negative affect scores each uniquely predicted relapse. Conclusions Real-time reports revealed different patterns of abstinence-related negative affect and craving and that dimensions of both predict cessation outcome, suggesting that negative affect and craving dimensions each has motivational significance. This underscores the complexity of withdrawal as a determinant of relapse and the need to measure its distinct components and dimensions. PMID:21416234

A global interaction network maps a wiring diagram of cellular function

PubMed Central

Costanzo, Michael; VanderSluis, Benjamin; Koch, Elizabeth N.; Baryshnikova, Anastasia; Pons, Carles; Tan, Guihong; Wang, Wen; Usaj, Matej; Hanchard, Julia; Lee, Susan D.; Pelechano, Vicent; Styles, Erin B.; Billmann, Maximilian; van Leeuwen, Jolanda; van Dyk, Nydia; Lin, Zhen-Yuan; Kuzmin, Elena; Nelson, Justin; Piotrowski, Jeff S.; Srikumar, Tharan; Bahr, Sondra; Chen, Yiqun; Deshpande, Raamesh; Kurat, Christoph F.; Li, Sheena C.; Li, Zhijian; Usaj, Mojca Mattiazzi; Okada, Hiroki; Pascoe, Natasha; Luis, Bryan-Joseph San; Sharifpoor, Sara; Shuteriqi, Emira; Simpkins, Scott W.; Snider, Jamie; Suresh, Harsha Garadi; Tan, Yizhao; Zhu, Hongwei; Malod-Dognin, Noel; Janjic, Vuk; Przulj, Natasa; Troyanskaya, Olga G.; Stagljar, Igor; Xia, Tian; Ohya, Yoshikazu; Gingras, Anne-Claude; Raught, Brian; Boutros, Michael; Steinmetz, Lars M.; Moore, Claire L.; Rosebrock, Adam P.; Caudy, Amy A.; Myers, Chad L.; Andrews, Brenda; Boone, Charles

2017-01-01

We generated a global genetic interaction network for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, constructing over 23 million double mutants, identifying ~550,000 negative and ~350,000 positive genetic interactions. This comprehensive network maps genetic interactions for essential gene pairs, highlighting essential genes as densely connected hubs. Genetic interaction profiles enabled assembly of a hierarchical model of cell function, including modules corresponding to protein complexes and pathways, biological processes, and cellular compartments. Negative interactions connected functionally related genes, mapped core bioprocesses, and identified pleiotropic genes, whereas positive interactions often mapped general regulatory connections among gene pairs, rather than shared functionality. The global network illustrates how coherent sets of genetic interactions connect protein complex and pathway modules to map a functional wiring diagram of the cell. PMID:27708008

A sensitive and stable confocal Fabry-Pérot interferometer for surface ultrasonic vibration detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Hong-sheng; Tong, Li-ge; Chen, Geng-hua

2001-08-01

A new confocal Fabry-Pérot interferometer (CFPI) has been constructed. By using both of the conjugate rays, the sensitivity of the system was doubled. Moreover, the negative feedback control loop of a single-chip microcomputer (MCS-51) was applied to stabilize the working point at an optimum position. The system has been used in detecting the piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration on the surface of an aluminium sample.

Housing and Schools: Working Together to Reduce the Negative Effects of Student Mobility. "A Summary from the Washington, D.C.,and Baltimore Region Roundtables." Perspectives on Low Income Working Families. Urban Institute Brief 26

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Comey, Jennifer; Litschwartz, Sophie; Pettit, Kathryn L. S.

2012-01-01

How has the recession and its resulting family instability impacted children’s residential and school mobility? Officials from housing, homeless, and school programs discussed the full spectrum of residential mobility in two recent Urban Institute roundtables: from chronic mobility, eviction, and foreclosure to doubled-up households and…

A Dynamic Model for Induced Reactivation of Latent Virus

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-12-04

with human herpesvirus-6 in EBV -negative infectious mononucleosis , Journal of Medical Virology 71 (4), 569-577, 2003. [35] Wu FY, Ahn JH, Alcendor DJ...model that describes the reactivation of latent herpes virus by metabolic end products of anaerobic bacteria. Herpes viruses are double-stranded DNA ...cells that may be different from the types of cells targeted for primary infection. Latent virus persists in the cell nucleus as episomal DNA until it

Immature MEF2C-dysregulated T-cell leukemia patients have an early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia gene signature and typically have non-rearranged T-cell receptors

PubMed Central

Zuurbier, Linda; Gutierrez, Alejandro; Mullighan, Charles G.; Canté-Barrett, Kirsten; Gevaert, A. Olivier; de Rooi, Johan; Li, Yunlei; Smits, Willem K.; Buijs-Gladdines, Jessica G.C.A.M.; Sonneveld, Edwin; Look, A. Thomas; Horstmann, Martin; Pieters, Rob; Meijerink, Jules P.P.

2014-01-01

Three distinct immature T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia entities have been described including cases that express an early T-cell precursor immunophenotype or expression profile, immature MEF2C-dysregulated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cluster cases based on gene expression analysis (immature cluster) and cases that retain non-rearranged TRG@ loci. Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases exclusively overlap with immature cluster samples based on the expression of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia signature genes, indicating that both are featuring a single disease entity. Patients lacking TRG@ rearrangements represent only 40% of immature cluster cases, but no further evidence was found to suggest that cases with absence of bi-allelic TRG@ deletions reflect a distinct and even more immature disease entity. Immature cluster/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases are strongly enriched for genes expressed in hematopoietic stem cells as well as genes expressed in normal early thymocyte progenitor or double negative-2A T-cell subsets. Identification of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases solely by defined immunophenotypic criteria strongly underestimates the number of cases that have a corresponding gene signature. However, early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia samples correlate best with a CD1 negative, CD4 and CD8 double negative immunophenotype with expression of CD34 and/or myeloid markers CD13 or CD33. Unlike various other studies, immature cluster/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated on the COALL-97 protocol did not have an overall inferior outcome, and demonstrated equal sensitivity levels to most conventional therapeutic drugs compared to other pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. PMID:23975177

Proliferation assessment in breast carcinomas using digital image analysis based on virtual Ki67/cytokeratin double staining.

PubMed

Røge, Rasmus; Riber-Hansen, Rikke; Nielsen, Søren; Vyberg, Mogens

2016-07-01

Manual estimation of Ki67 Proliferation Index (PI) in breast carcinoma classification is labor intensive and prone to intra- and interobserver variation. Standard Digital Image Analysis (DIA) has limitations due to issues with tumor cell identification. Recently, a computer algorithm, DIA based on Virtual Double Staining (VDS), segmenting Ki67-positive and -negative tumor cells using digitally fused parallel cytokeratin (CK) and Ki67-stained slides has been introduced. In this study, we compare VDS with manual stereological counting of Ki67-positive and -negative cells and examine the impact of the physical distance of the parallel slides on the alignment of slides. TMAs, containing 140 cores of consecutively obtained breast carcinomas, were stained for CK and Ki67 using optimized staining protocols. By means of stereological principles, Ki67-positive and -negative cell profiles were counted in sampled areas and used for the estimation of PIs of the whole tissue core. The VDS principle was applied to both the same sampled areas and the whole tissue core. Additionally, five neighboring slides were stained for CK in order to examine the alignment algorithm. Correlation between manual counting and VDS in both sampled areas and whole core was almost perfect (correlation coefficients above 0.97). Bland-Altman plots did not reveal any skewness in any data ranges. There was a good agreement in alignment (>85 %) in neighboring slides, whereas agreement decreased in non-neighboring slides. VDS gave similar results compared with manual counting using stereological principles. Introduction of this method in clinical and research practice may improve accuracy and reproducibility of Ki67 PI.

Digoxin and bepridil: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions.

PubMed

Belz, G G; Wistuba, S; Matthews, J H

1986-01-01

The influence of bepridil on steady-state serum digoxin concentrations (SDCs) and the pharmacodynamic actions of both drugs were tested in 48 healthy subjects in a randomized, double-blind study. Subjects were assigned to one of two groups of 24 subjects each: One group received placebo 1, while the other received digoxin, 0.375 mg/day, loaded with doubled doses on days 1 and 2, for 14 days. After 7 days the groups were subdivided into four groups of 12 subjects each and received concurrent dosing of digoxin with either placebo 2 or bepridil, 300 mg/day, loaded with 900 mg on day 8. Mean (+/- SD) SDCs rose during concurrent bepridil dosing from 0.93 +/- 0.22 to 1.25 +/- 0.25 ng/ml (P less than 0.001). Noninvasive cardiovascular parameters from ECG, systolic time intervals, and electrical impedance cardiography were not influenced by the placebos. Digoxin and bepridil reduced heart rate and prolonged the PQ interval because of negative chronotropic and dromotropic properties. Positive inotropism from digoxin shortened the corrected electromechanical systole (QS2c) and the preejection period and increased impedance cardiography [(dZ/dt)/RZ index]; the opposite effects occurred after bepridil, indicating negative inotropism. The QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) showed a similar pattern of changes, as did QS2c for each drug. Concurrent dosing of both drugs resulted in an addition of their chronotropic effects, whereas the dromotropic effects of each drug alone was not intensified. The strengthened digoxin effect from the increased SDC diminished the negative inotropic effect of bepridil. Overall, drug coadministration resulted in a nearly unchanged digoxin-induced positive inotropism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

N-acetylcysteine in a Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial: Toward Biomarker-Guided Treatment in Early Psychosis

PubMed Central

Conus, Philippe; Seidman, Larry J; Fournier, Margot; Xin, Lijing; Cleusix, Martine; Baumann, Philipp S; Ferrari, Carina; Cousins, Ann; Alameda, Luis; Gholam-Rezaee, Mehdi; Golay, Philippe; Jenni, Raoul; Woo, T -U Wilson; Keshavan, Matcheri S; Eap, Chin B; Wojcik, Joanne; Cuenod, Michel; Buclin, Thierry; Gruetter, Rolf

2018-01-01

Abstract Biomarker-guided treatments are needed in psychiatry, and previous data suggest oxidative stress may be a target in schizophrenia. A previous add-on trial with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) led to negative symptom reductions in chronic patients. We aim to study NAC’s impact on symptoms and neurocognition in early psychosis (EP) and to explore whether glutathione (GSH)/redox markers could represent valid biomarkers to guide treatment. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 63 EP patients, we assessed the effect of NAC supplementation (2700 mg/day, 6 months) on PANSS, neurocognition, and redox markers (brain GSH [GSHmPFC], blood cells GSH levels [GSHBC], GSH peroxidase activity [GPxBC]). No changes in negative or positive symptoms or functional outcome were observed with NAC, but significant improvements were found in favor of NAC on neurocognition (processing speed). NAC also led to increases of GSHmPFC by 23% (P = .005) and GSHBC by 19% (P = .05). In patients with high-baseline GPxBC compared to low-baseline GPxBC, subgroup explorations revealed a link between changes of positive symptoms and changes of redox status with NAC. In conclusion, NAC supplementation in a limited sample of EP patients did not improve negative symptoms, which were at modest baseline levels. However, NAC led to some neurocognitive improvements and an increase in brain GSH levels, indicating good target engagement. Blood GPx activity, a redox peripheral index associated with brain GSH levels, could help identify a subgroup of patients who improve their positive symptoms with NAC. Thus, future trials with antioxidants in EP should consider biomarker-guided treatment. PMID:29462456

[Construction of screening system for mutation of negative regulatory genes in Streptomyces].

PubMed

Zhu, Yu; Feng, Chi; Tan, Huarong; Tian, Yuqing

2013-10-04

We aimed to create a novel report system for screening the mutation of the negative regulatory genes, especially for those repressing the expression of cryptic antibiotics clusters. We used marker-free gene disruption strategy, which combines with the "REDIRECT (Rapid Efficient Directed Recombination Time Saving)" technology and in vivo site-specific recombination by Streptomyces phage phiBT1 integrase, to construct a scbR2/inoA double mutant strain of S. coelicolor M145. This strain was used as the host of the report system. For the construction of the reporter plasmid, the ScbR2 repressed promoter of cpkO from CPK (cryptic polyketide) cluster was used to drive the expression of a promoterless conserved gene inoA of S. coelicolor. Then the reporter plasmid was introduced into the host strain described above to test the availability of inoA as a reporter gene in this system. The scbR2/inoA double mutant strain gave rise to a bald pheno type on MM medium in the absence of inositol, and produced yellow pigmented secondary metabolite by the disruption of scbR2 to release the repression of cpkO, a pathway specific activator gene situated in CPK cluster. After introducing the reporter plasmid into this test stain, the resulting strain recovered the phenotype as wild-type strain, indicating that the promoter of cpkO can drive the expression of inoA in scbR2 mutant and consequently restore the biosynthesis of inositol. Our results indicated that inoA can be used as a novel reporter gene for Streptomyces, especially for detecting the activation of the "silent" promoter. This report system might be available for screening the mutation of the negative regulatory genes for the cryptic secondary metabolic gene clusters.

Are there specific benefits of amoxicillin plus metronidazole in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-associated periodontitis? Double-masked, randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety.

PubMed

Mombelli, Andrea; Cionca, Norbert; Almaghlouth, Adnan; Décaillet, Fabien; Courvoisier, Delphine S; Giannopoulou, Catherine

2013-06-01

It has been suggested that prescription of amoxicillin plus metronidazole in the context of periodontal therapy should be limited to patients with specific microbiologic profiles, especially those testing positive for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The main purpose of this analysis is to determine if patients positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans with moderate to advanced periodontitis benefit specifically from amoxicillin plus metronidazole given as an adjunct to full-mouth scaling and root planing. This is a double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized longitudinal study including 41 participants who were positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans and 41 participants who were negative for A. actinomycetemcomitans. All 82 patients received full-mouth periodontal debridement performed within 48 hours. Patients then received either systemic antibiotics (375 mg amoxicillin and 500 mg metronidazole, three times daily) or placebo for 7 days. The primary outcome variable was persistence of sites with a probing depth (PD) >4 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) at the 3-month reevaluation. Using multilevel logistic regression, the effect of the antibiotics was analyzed according to the following factors (interaction effect): A. actinomycetemcomitans-positive or -negative at baseline, sex, age, smoking, tooth being a molar, and interdental location. At reevaluation, participants in the test group had significantly fewer sites with a persisting PD >4 mm and BOP than control patients (P <0.01). Being A. actinomycetemcomitans-positive or -negative did not change the effect of the antibiotics. Patients benefited from the antibiotics irrespective of sex, age, or smoking status. Molars benefited significantly more from the antibiotics than non-molars (P for interaction effect = 0.03). Patients who were positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans had no specific benefit from amoxicillin plus metronidazole. Sites on molars benefited significantly more from the antibiotics than non-molar sites.

Promoting Abstinence from Cocaine and Heroin with a Methadone Dose Increase and a Novel Contingency

PubMed Central

Schmittner, John; Umbricht, Annie; Schroeder, Jennifer R.; Moolchan, Eric T.; Preston, Kenzie L.

2010-01-01

To test whether a combination of contingency management and methadone dose increase would promote abstinence from heroin and cocaine, we conducted a randomized controlled trial using a 2 X 3 (Dose X Contingency) factorial design in which dose assignment was double-blind. Participants were 252 heroin- and cocaine-abusing outpatients on methadone maintenance. They were randomly assigned to methadone dose (70 or 100 mg/day, double blind) and voucher condition (noncontingent, contingent on cocaine-negative urines, or “split”). The “split” contingency was a novel contingency that reinforced abstinence from either drug while doubly reinforcing simultaneous abstinence from both: the total value of incentives was “split” between drugs to contain costs. The main outcome measures were percentages of urine specimens negative for heroin, cocaine, and both simultaneously; these were monitored during a 5-week baseline of standard treatment (to determine study eligibility), a 12-week intervention, and a 10-week maintenance phase (to examine intervention effects in return-to-baseline conditions). DSM-IV criteria for ongoing drug dependence were assessed at study exit. Urine-screen results showed that the methadone dose increase reduced heroin use but not cocaine use. The Split 100mg group was the only group to achieve a longer duration of simultaneous negatives than its same-dose Noncontingent control group. The frequency of DSM-IV opiate and cocaine dependence diagnoses decreased in the active intervention groups. For a split contingency to promote simultaneous abstinence from cocaine and heroin, a relatively high dose of methadone appears necessary but not sufficient; an increase in overall incentive amount may also be required. PMID:19101098

Pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the supplement food Nyaditum resae® in adults with or without latent TB infection: Safety and immunogenicity

PubMed Central

Montané, Eva; Barriocanal, Ana Maria; Arellano, Ana Lucía; Valderrama, Angelica; Sanz, Yolanda; Perez-Alvarez, Nuria; Cardona, Paula; Vilaplana, Cristina

2017-01-01

Background Nyaditum resae® (NR) is a galenic preparation of heat-killed Mycobacterium manresensis, a new species of the fortuitum complex, that is found in drinkable water, and that has demonstrated to protect against the development of active TB in a murine experimental model that develop human-like lesions. Methods Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Clinical Trial (51 volunteers included). Two different doses of NR and a placebo were tested, the randomization was stratified by Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)-positive (n = 21) and LTBI-negative subjects (n = 30). Each subject received 14 drinkable daily doses for 2 weeks. Results All patients completed the study. The 46.3% of the overall reported adverse events (AE) were considered related to the investigational treatment. None of them were severe (94% were mild and 6% moderate). No statistical differences were found when comparing the median number of AE between the placebo group and both treatment groups. The most common AE reported were gastrointestinal events, most frequently mild abdominal pain and increase in stool frequency. Regarding the immunogenic response, both LTBI-negative and LTBI-positive volunteers treated with NR experienced a global increase on the Treg response, showed both in the population of CD25+CD39-, mainly effector Treg cells, or CD25+CD39+ memory PPD-specific Treg cells. Conclusion This clinical trial demonstrates an excellent tolerability profile of NR linked to a significant increase in the population of specific effector and memory Tregs in the groups treated with NR in both LTBI-positive and negative subjects. NR shows a promising profile to be used to reduce the risk of active TB. PMID:28182700

Pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the supplement food Nyaditum resae® in adults with or without latent TB infection: Safety and immunogenicity.

PubMed

Montané, Eva; Barriocanal, Ana Maria; Arellano, Ana Lucía; Valderrama, Angelica; Sanz, Yolanda; Perez-Alvarez, Nuria; Cardona, Paula; Vilaplana, Cristina; Cardona, Pere-Joan

2017-01-01

Nyaditum resae® (NR) is a galenic preparation of heat-killed Mycobacterium manresensis, a new species of the fortuitum complex, that is found in drinkable water, and that has demonstrated to protect against the development of active TB in a murine experimental model that develop human-like lesions. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Clinical Trial (51 volunteers included). Two different doses of NR and a placebo were tested, the randomization was stratified by Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)-positive (n = 21) and LTBI-negative subjects (n = 30). Each subject received 14 drinkable daily doses for 2 weeks. All patients completed the study. The 46.3% of the overall reported adverse events (AE) were considered related to the investigational treatment. None of them were severe (94% were mild and 6% moderate). No statistical differences were found when comparing the median number of AE between the placebo group and both treatment groups. The most common AE reported were gastrointestinal events, most frequently mild abdominal pain and increase in stool frequency. Regarding the immunogenic response, both LTBI-negative and LTBI-positive volunteers treated with NR experienced a global increase on the Treg response, showed both in the population of CD25+CD39-, mainly effector Treg cells, or CD25+CD39+ memory PPD-specific Treg cells. This clinical trial demonstrates an excellent tolerability profile of NR linked to a significant increase in the population of specific effector and memory Tregs in the groups treated with NR in both LTBI-positive and negative subjects. NR shows a promising profile to be used to reduce the risk of active TB.

Design of latex-layered double hydroxide composites by tuning the aggregation in suspensions.

PubMed

Pavlovic, Marko; Rouster, Paul; Bourgeat-Lami, Elodie; Prevot, Vanessa; Szilagyi, Istvan

2017-01-25

Colloidal stability of polymeric latex particles was studied in the presence of oppositely charged layered double hydroxide (LDH) platelets of different interlayer anions. Adsorption of the LDH particles led to charge neutralization and to overcharging of the latex at appropriate concentrations. Mixing stable colloidal suspensions of individual particles results in rapid aggregation once the LDH adsorption neutralizes the negative charges of the polymer spheres, while stable suspensions were observed at high and low LDH doses. The governing interparticle interactions included repulsive electrical double layer forces as well as van der Waals and patch-charge attractions, whose strength depended on the amount of LDH particles adsorbed on the latex surface. The type of the LDH interlayer anions did not affect the colloidal stability of the samples. Structural investigation of the obtained latex-LDH composites revealed that the polymer spheres were completely coated with the inorganic platelets once their concentration was sufficiently high. These results are especially important for designing synthetic routes for hybrid systems in suspensions, where stable colloids are required for uniform film-formation and for the homogeneous distribution of the inorganic filler within the composite materials.

Cementless total hip arthroplasty with a double chevron subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy in patients with Crowe type-IV hip dysplasia.

PubMed

Li, Xigong; Sun, Junying; Lin, Xiangjin; Xu, Sanzhong; Tang, Tiansi

2013-06-01

The authors describe a modified double chevron subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy combined with cementless total hip arthroplasty for Crowe type-IV hip dysplasia. Shortening the femur allows to relax the shortened musculature. This operation was performed in 18 patients (22 hips) between January 2000 and February 2006. The mean follow-up period was 5.6 years (range: 3 to 8 years). The mean amount of femoral subtrochanteric shortening was 38 mm (range: 25 to 60 mm). The mean Harris hip score improved from 47 (range: 35 to 65) preoperatively to 88 points (range: 75 to 97) at final follow-up. The Trendelenburg sign was corrected from positive to negative in 12 of 22 hips. No acetabular or femoral components loosened or required revision during the follow-up period. All osteotomy sites healed in 3 to 6 months without complications. Cementless total hip arthroplasty using the modified double chevron subtrochanteric osteotomy provided good short- to midterm results in all 22 Crowe type-IV hip dislocations. Moreover, it restored the anatomic hip center and the limb length, which contributed to correction of the preoperative limp.

Triple helical DNA in a duplex context and base pair opening

PubMed Central

Esguerra, Mauricio; Nilsson, Lennart; Villa, Alessandra

2014-01-01

It is fundamental to explore in atomic detail the behavior of DNA triple helices as a means to understand the role they might play in vivo and to better engineer their use in genetic technologies, such as antigene therapy. To this aim we have performed atomistic simulations of a purine-rich antiparallel triple helix stretch of 10 base triplets flanked by canonical Watson–Crick double helices. At the same time we have explored the thermodynamic behavior of a flipping Watson–Crick base pair in the context of the triple and double helix. The third strand can be accommodated in a B-like duplex conformation. Upon binding, the double helix changes shape, and becomes more rigid. The triple-helical region increases its major groove width mainly by oversliding in the negative direction. The resulting conformations are somewhere between the A and B conformations with base pairs remaining almost perpendicular to the helical axis. The neighboring duplex regions maintain a B DNA conformation. Base pair opening in the duplex regions is more probable than in the triplex and binding of the Hoogsteen strand does not influence base pair breathing in the neighboring duplex region. PMID:25228466

Binding mode and thermodynamic studies on the interaction of the anticancer drug dacarbazine and dacarbazine-Cu(II) complex with single and double stranded DNA.

PubMed

Temerk, Yassien; Ibrahim, Hossieny

2014-07-01

The binding mode and thermodynamic characteristics of the anticancer drug dacarbazine (Dac) with double and single stranded DNA were investigated in the absence and presence of Cu(II) using cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The interaction of Dac and Dac-Cu(II) complex with dsDNA indicated their intercalation into the base stacking domain of dsDNA double helix and the strength of interaction is independent on the ionic strength. The interaction of Dac with dsDNA in the presence of Cu(II) leads to a much stronger intercalation. The interaction mode of Dac molecules with ssDNA is electrostatic attraction via negative phosphate on the exterior of the ssDNA with Dac. The binding constants, stoichiometric coefficients and thermodynamic parameters of Dac and Dac-Cu(II) complex with dsDNA and ssDNA were evaluated. Comparison of the mode interaction of Dac with dsDNA and ssDNA was discussed. The decrease of peak current of Dac was proportional to DNA concentration, which was applied for determination of dsDNA and ssDNA concentration. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The influence of geographical location, host maturity and sex on intestinal helminth communities of the double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus from the eastern United States.

PubMed

Sheehan, K L; Hanson-Dorr, K C; Dorr, B S; Yarrow, G K; Johnson, R J

2017-09-01

Here the intestinal helminth infracommunities of 218 double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) from 11 locations in Alabama, Minnesota, Mississippi and Vermont are documented. Trematode infections were present in 98% of hosts; 65% of cormorants carried cestode infections, 4% were infected with acanthocephalans and 66% had nematode intestinal parasites. Parasite infracommunities of hosts collected on wintering grounds had higher richness and diversity than did birds collected on breeding grounds. Differences in parasite richness and diversity between male and female P. auritus were also detected, but not between immature and mature bird hosts. Parasite intensity did not differ by sex, maturity, or between breeding and wintering season. The most common parasite was Drepanocephalus auritus (spathans), which is recognized as a disease agent that negatively impacts the catfish aquaculture industry in the US. Echinochasmus sp. in double-crested cormorants is documented for the first time in the United States. We suggest that the differences observed among parasite infracommunities could be associated with the foraging distances travelled by P. auritus during breeding and wintering seasons, which is limited by allocation of parental care during the breeding season.

TopBP1 deficiency impairs V(D)J recombination during lymphocyte development

PubMed Central

Kim, Jieun; Kyu Lee, Sung; Jeon, Yoon; Kim, Yehyun; Lee, Changjin; Ho Jeon, Sung; Shim, Jaegal; Kim, In-Hoo; Hong, Seokmann; Kim, Nayoung; Lee, Ho; Seong, Rho Hyun

2014-01-01

TopBP1 was initially identified as a topoisomerase II-β-binding protein and it plays roles in DNA replication and repair. We found that TopBP1 is expressed at high levels in lymphoid tissues and is essential for early lymphocyte development. Specific abrogation of TopBP1 expression resulted in transitional blocks during early lymphocyte development. These defects were, in major part, due to aberrant V(D)J rearrangements in pro-B cells, double-negative and double-positive thymocytes. We also show that TopBP1 was located at sites of V(D)J rearrangement. In TopBP1-deficient cells, γ-H2AX foci were found to be increased. In addition, greater amount of γ-H2AX product was precipitated from the regions where TopBP1 was localized than from controls, indicating that TopBP1 deficiency results in inefficient DNA double-strand break repair. The developmental defects were rescued by introducing functional TCR αβ transgenes. Our data demonstrate a novel role for TopBP1 as a crucial factor in V(D)J rearrangement during the development of B, T and iNKT cells. PMID:24442639

A non-canonical DNA structure enables homologous recombination in various genetic systems.

PubMed

Masuda, Tokiha; Ito, Yutaka; Terada, Tohru; Shibata, Takehiko; Mikawa, Tsutomu

2009-10-30

Homologous recombination, which is critical to genetic diversity, depends on homologous pairing (HP). HP is the switch from parental to recombinant base pairs, which requires expansion of inter-base pair spaces. This expansion unavoidably causes untwisting of the parental double-stranded DNA. RecA/Rad51-catalyzed ATP-dependent HP is extensively stimulated in vitro by negative supercoils, which compensates for untwisting. However, in vivo, double-stranded DNA is relaxed by bound proteins and thus is an unfavorable substrate for RecA/Rad51. In contrast, Mhr1, an ATP-independent HP protein required for yeast mitochondrial homologous recombination, catalyzes HP without the net untwisting of double-stranded DNA. Therefore, we questioned whether Mhr1 uses a novel strategy to promote HP. Here, we found that, like RecA, Mhr1 induced the extension of bound single-stranded DNA. In addition, this structure was induced by all evolutionarily and structurally distinct HP proteins so far tested, including bacterial RecO, viral RecT, and human Rad51. Thus, HP includes the common non-canonical DNA structure and uses a common core mechanism, independent of the species of HP proteins. We discuss the significance of multiple types of HP proteins.

Binding affinity and adhesion force of organophosphate hydrolase enzyme with soil particles related to the isoelectric point of the enzyme.

PubMed

Islam, Shah Md Asraful; Yeasmin, Shabina; Islam, Md Saiful; Islam, Md Shariful

2017-07-01

The binding affinity of organophosphate hydrolase enzyme (OphB) with soil particles in relation to the isoelectric point (pI) was studied. Immobilization of OphB with soil particles was observed by confocal microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The calculated pI of OphB enzyme was increased from 8.69 to 8.89, 9.04 and 9.16 by the single, double and triple mutant of OphB enzyme, respectively through the replacement of negatively charged aspartate with positively charged histidine. Practically, the binding affinity was increased to 5.30%, 11.50%, and 16.80% for single, double and triple mutants, respectively. In contrast, enzyme activity of OphB did not change by the mutation of the enzyme. On the other hand, adhesion forces were gradually increased for wild type OphB enzyme (90 pN) to 96, 100 and 104 pN for single, double and triple mutants of OphB enzyme, respectively. There was an increasing trend of binding affinity and adhesion force by the increase of isoelectric point (pI) of OphB enzyme. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structure and Corrosion Behavior of Arc-Sprayed Zn-Al Coatings on Ductile Iron Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonabi, Salar Fatoureh; Ashrafizadeh, Fakhreddin; Sanati, Alireza; Nahvi, Saied Mehran

2018-02-01

In this research, four coatings including pure zinc, pure aluminum, a double-layered coating of zinc and aluminum, and a coating produced by simultaneous deposition of zinc and aluminum were deposited on a cast iron substrate using electric arc-spraying technique. The coatings were characterized by XRD, SEM and EDS map and spot analyses. Adhesion strength of the coatings was evaluated by three-point bending tests, where double-layered coating indicated the lowest bending angle among the specimens, with detection of cracks at the coating-substrate interface. Coatings produced by simultaneous deposition of zinc and aluminum possessed a relatively uniform distribution of both metals. In order to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the coatings, cyclic polarization and salt spray tests were conducted. Accordingly, pure aluminum coating showed susceptibility to pitting corrosion and other coatings underwent uniform corrosion. For double-layered coating, SEM micrographs revealed zinc corrosion products as flaky particles in the pores formed by pitting on the surface, an indication of penetration of corrosion products from the lower layer (zinc) to the top layer (aluminum). All coatings experienced higher negative corrosion potentials than the iron substrate, indicative of their sacrificial behavior.

Efficacy and Safety of Paliperidone Palmitate 3-Month Formulation for Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Noninferiority Study

PubMed Central

Xu, Haiyan; Gopal, Srihari; Nuamah, Isaac; Ravenstijn, Paulien; Janik, Adam; Schotte, Alain; Hough, David; Fleischhacker, Wolfgang W.

2016-01-01

Background: This double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter, phase-3 study was designed to test the noninferiority of paliperidone palmitate 3-month formulation (PP3M) to the currently marketed 1-month formulation (PP1M) in patients (age 18–70 years) with schizophrenia, previously stabilized on PP1M. Methods: After screening (≤3 weeks) and a 17-week, flexible-dosed, open-label phase (PP1M: day 1 [150mg eq. deltoid], day 8 [100mg eq. deltoid.], weeks 5, 9, and 13 [50, 75, 100, or 150mg eq., deltoid/gluteal]), clinically stable patients were randomized (1:1) to PP3M (fixed-dose, 175, 263, 350, or 525mg eq. deltoid/gluteal) or PP1M (fixed-dose, 50, 75, 100, or 150mg eq. deltoid/gluteal) for a 48-week double-blind phase. Results: Overall, 1016/1429 open-label patients entered the double-blind phase (PP3M: n=504; PP1M: n=512) and 842 completed it (including patients with relapse). PP3M was noninferior to PP1M: relapse rates were similar in both groups (PP3M: n=37, 8%; PP1M: n=45, 9%; difference in relapse-free rate: 1.2% [95% CI:-2.7%; 5.1%]) based on Kaplan-Meier estimates (primary efficacy). Secondary endpoint results (changes from double-blind baseline in positive and negative symptom score total and subscale scores, Clinical Global Impression-Severity, and Personal and Social Performance scores) were consistent with primary endpoint results. No clinically relevant differences were observed in pharmacokinetic exposures between PP3M and PP1M. Both groups had similar tolerability profiles; increased weight was the most common treatment-emergent adverse event (double-blind phase; 21% each). No new safety signals were detected. Conclusion: Taken together, PP3M with its 3-month dosing interval is a unique option for relapse prevention in schizophrenia. PMID:26902950

Biotransformation in Double-Phase Systems: Physiological Responses of Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E to a Double Phase Made of Aliphatic Alcohols and Biosynthesis of Substituted Catechols

PubMed Central

Rojas, Antonia; Duque, Estrella; Schmid, Andreas; Hurtado, Ana; Ramos, Juan-Luis; Segura, Ana

2004-01-01

Pseudomonas putida strain DOT-T1E is highly tolerant to organic solvents, with a logPow (the logarithm of the partition coefficient of a solvent in a two-phase water-octanol system of ≥2.5. Solvent tolerant microorganisms can be exploited to develop double-phase (organic solvent and water) biotransformation systems in which toxic substrates or products are kept in the organic phase. We tested P. putida DOT-T1E tolerance to different aliphatic alcohols with a logPow value between 2 and 4, such as decanol, nonanol, and octanol, which are potentially useful in biotransformations in double-phase systems in which compounds with a logPow around 1.5 are produced. P. putida DOT-T1E responds to aliphatic alcohols as the second phase through cis-to-trans isomerization of unsaturated cis fatty acids and through efflux of these aliphatic alcohols via a series of pumps that also extrude aromatic hydrocarbons. These defense mechanisms allow P. putida DOT-T1E to survive well in the presence of high concentrations of the aliphatic alcohols, and growth with nonanol or decanol occurred at a high rate, whereas in the presence of an octanol double-phase growth was compromised. Our results support that the logPow of aliphatic alcohols correlates with their toxic effects, as octanol (logPow = 2.9) has more negative effects in P. putida cells than 1-nonanol (logPow = 3.4) or 1-decanol (logPow = 4). A P. putida DOT-T1E derivative bearing plasmid pWW0-xylE::Km transforms m-xylene (logPow = 3.2) into 3-methylcatechol (logPow = 1.8). The amount of 3-methylcatechol produced in an aliphatic alcohol/water bioreactor was 10- to 20-fold higher than in an aqueous medium, demonstrating the usefulness of double-phase systems for this particular biotransformation. PMID:15184168

Determination of phospholipid regiochemistry by Ag(I) adduction and tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Yoo, Hyun Ju; Håkansson, Kristina

2011-02-15

Collision-activated dissociation (CAD) and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) of Ag-adducted phospholipids were investigated as structural tools. Previously, determination of the acyl chains at the two phospholipid esterification sites has been performed based on the R(1)COO(-)/R(2)COO(-) ratio in negative ion mode CAD tandem mass spectrometry. However, the observed product ion ratio is dependent on the extent of unsaturation of the fatty acyl group at sn-2 as well as on the total chain length. Similarly, in positive ion mode CAD with/without alkaline or alkaline earth metal adduction, the ratio of product ions resulting from either R(1)COOH or R(2)COOH neutral losses is dependent on the nature of the phospholipid polar headgroup. Ag(+) ion chromatography, in which silver ions are part of the stationary phase, can provide information on double bond number/distribution as well as double bond configuration (cis/trans) because of interaction between Ag(+) ions and olefinic π electrons of fatty acids and lipids. We hypothesized that interactions between double bonds and Ag(+) may be utilized to also reveal phospholipid esterification site information in tandem mass spectrometry. CAD and IRMPD of Ag-adducted phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acids (R(x)COOH, x = 1 or 2) provided characteristic product ions, [R(x)COOH + Ag](+), and their neutral losses. The characteristic product ions and their abundances do not depend on the type of polar headgroup or the number of double bonds of unsaturated acyl chains. Tandem mass spectrometry of Cu-adducted phospholipids was also performed for comparison based on the Lewis acid and base properties of Cu(+) and phospholipid double bonds, respectively.

B-DNA Structure and Stability as Function of Nucleic Acid Composition: Dispersion-Corrected DFT Study of Dinucleoside Monophosphate Single and Double Strands

PubMed Central

Barone, Giampaolo; Fonseca Guerra, Célia; Bickelhaupt, F Matthias

2013-01-01

We have computationally investigated the structure and stability of all 16 combinations of two out of the four natural DNA bases A, T, G and C in a di-2′-deoxyribonucleoside-monophosphate model DNA strand as well as in 10 double-strand model complexes thereof, using dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D). Optimized geometries with B-DNA conformation were obtained through the inclusion of implicit water solvent and, in the DNA models, of sodium counterions, to neutralize the negative charge of the phosphate groups. The results obtained allowed us to compare the relative stability of isomeric single and double strands. Moreover, the energy of the Watson–Crick pairing of complementary single strands to form double-helical structures was calculated. The latter furnished the following increasing stability trend of the double-helix formation energy: d(TpA)2

Changes of jugular venous blood temperature associated with measurements of cerebral blood flow using the transcerebral double-indicator dilution technique.

PubMed

Mielck, F; Bräuer, A; Radke, O; Hanekop, G; Loesch, S; Friedrich, M; Hilgers, R; Sonntag, H

2004-04-01

The transcerebral double-indicator dilution technique is a recently developed method to measure global cerebral blood flow at bedside. It is based on bolus injection of ice-cold indocyanine green dye and simultaneous recording of resulting thermo- and dye-dilution curves in the aorta and the jugular bulb. However, with this method 40 mL of ice-cold solution is administered as a bolus. Therefore, this prospective clinical study was performed to elucidate the effects of repeated administration of indicator on absolute blood temperature and on cerebral blood flow and metabolism. The investigation was performed in nine male patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Absolute blood temperature was measured in the jugular bulb and in the aorta before and after repeated measurements using the transcerebral double-indicator dilution technique. During the investigated time course, the blood temperature in the jugular bulb, compared to the aorta, was significantly higher with a mean difference of 0.21 degrees C. The administration of an ice-cold bolus reduced the mean blood temperature by 0.06 degrees C in the jugular bulb as well as in the aorta. After the transcerebral double-indicator dilution measurements a temperature recovery to baseline conditions was not observed during the investigated time period. Cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism did not change during the investigated time period. Repeated measurements with the transcerebral double-indicator dilution technique do not affect absolute jugular bulb blood temperatures negatively. Global cerebral blood flow and metabolism measurements remain unaltered. However, accuracy and resolution of this technique is not high enough to detect the effect of minor changes of physiological variables.

Detection of microinvasion in vulvar and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia using double immunostaining for cytokeratin and basement membrane components.

PubMed

Rush, Demaretta; Hyjek, Elizabeth; Baergen, Rebecca N; Ellenson, Lora H; Pirog, Edyta C

2005-06-01

Identification of early invasion in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (VIN 3) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN 3) may be difficult with the use of routine hematoxylin-eosin staining. Presence of obscuring inflammation and tangential tissue sectioning are the most common diagnostic pitfalls. To examine the utility of double immunostaining for cytokeratin-collagen IV or cytokeratin-laminin in the detection of early invasion in VIN 3 and CIN 3. The study group consisted of 10 cases of "VIN 3, suspicious for invasion" and 10 cases of "CIN 3, suspicious for invasion." The negative control group consisted of VIN 3 (n = 15) and CIN 3 (n = 10). The positive control group consisted of cases of invasive vulvar carcinoma (n = 11) and invasive cervical carcinoma (n = 25). All cases were double immunostained for cytokeratin and collagen IV and, in a separate reaction, for cytokeratin and laminin. The continuity of the basement membrane and the presence of stromal invasion were assessed in the stained sections. The staining for collagen IV and laminin yielded identical results. A well-defined, continuous basement membrane was visualized in all cases of VIN 3 and CIN 3. A discontinuous or absent basement membrane was observed around the malignant cells on the invasive tumor front in all cases of vulvar and cervical carcinoma. In 2 of 10 cases of VIN 3, suspicious for invasion and in 4 of 10 cases of CIN 3, suspicious for invasion definitive foci of microinvasion were identified with the use of double immunostaining. A well-defined, continuous basement membrane was present in the remaining cases "suspicious for invasion." Double immunostaining for cytokeratin- collagen IV or cytokeratin-laminin is useful for evaluation of early invasion in equivocal cases of VIN 3 and CIN 3.

Generation of the September 29, 2009 Samoa Tsunami: Examination of a Possible Non-Double Couple Component (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geist, E. L.; Kirby, S. H.; Ross, S.; Dartnell, P.

2009-12-01

A non-double couple component associated with the Mw=8.0 September 29, 2009 Samoa earthquake is investigated to explain direct tsunami arrivals at deep-ocean pressure sensors (i.e., DART stations). In particular, we seek a tsunami generation model that correctly predicts the polarity of first motions: negative at the Apia station (#51425) NW of the epicenter and positive at the Tonga (#51426) and Aukland (#54401) stations south of the epicenter. Slip on a single, finite fault corresponding to either nodal plane of the best-fitting double couple fails to predict the positive first-motion polarity observed at the southerly (Tonga and Aukland) DART stations. The Samoa earthquake has a significant non-double component as measured by the compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) ratio that ranges from |ɛ|=0.15 (USGS CMT) to |ɛ| =0.37 (Global CMT). To test what effect the non-double component has on tsunami generation, the static elastic displacement field at the sea floor is computed from the full moment tensor. This displacement field represents the initial conditions for tsunami propagation computed using a finite-difference approximation to the linear shallow-water wave equations. The tsunami waveforms calculated from the full moment tensor are consistent with the observed polarities at all of the DART stations. The static displacement field is then decomposed into double-couple and non-double couple components to determine the relative contribution of each to the tsunami wavefield. Although a point-source approximation to the tsunami source is typically inadequate at near-field and regional distances, finite-fault inversions of the 2009 Samoa earthquake indicate that peak slip is spatially concentrated near the hypocenter, suggesting that the point-source representation may be acceptable in this case. Generation of the 2009 Samoa tsunami may involve earthquake rupture on multiple faults and/or along curved faults, both of which are observed from multibeam bathymetry in the epicentral region. The exact rupture path of the earthquake is presently unclear. It is evident from seismological and tsunami observations of the 2009 Samoa event, however, that uniform slip on a single, planar fault cannot explain all aspects of the observed tsunami wavefield.

Description and predictors of positive and negative alcohol-related consequences in the first year of college.

PubMed

Barnett, Nancy P; Clerkin, Elise M; Wood, Mark; Monti, Peter M; O'Leary Tevyaw, Tracy; Corriveau, Donald; Fingeret, Allan; Kahler, Christopher W

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to establish the frequency of positive and negative alcohol-related consequences during the first year of college and to evaluate gender, race/ethnicity, time of year, alcohol use, and intoxication as predictors of consequences using frequent assessments. Participants (N = 1,053; 57.5% female) completed biweekly assessments of alcohol use and positive and negative alcohol-related consequences throughout the year. The majority of drinkers reported both positive and negative consequences. Having a good time and feeling less stressed were the most commonly reported positive consequences. Blackouts and getting physically sick were the most commonly endorsed negative consequences. At the weekly level, number of drinking days, drinks per drinking day, and estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC, reflecting intoxication) were significantly related to all consequences after controlling for demographics and time of year. Negative consequences had stronger associations with number of drinks and eBAC than positive consequences did. With each additional drink consumed on a drinking day, the incidence of negative consequences more than doubled (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 2.34, 95% CI [2.19, 2.50]), whereas the incidence of positive consequences increased by about half (IRR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.47, 1.56]). The consequence with the largest gender difference was regretted sex, with women reporting it more often. Few racial/ethnic differences were found in report of negative consequences. Greater positive and negative consequences were endorsed at the beginning of both academic semesters. As number of drinks and eBAC increase, the relative odds of a negative consequence are higher than that of a positive consequence. Alcohol interventions could promote greater awareness of the likelihood of specific consequences and could highlight that positive consequences are associated with lower levels of drinking.

Bitopertin in Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia-Results From the Phase III FlashLyte and DayLyte Studies.

PubMed

Bugarski-Kirola, Dragana; Blaettler, Thomas; Arango, Celso; Fleischhacker, Wolfgang W; Garibaldi, George; Wang, Alice; Dixon, Mark; Bressan, Rodrigo A; Nasrallah, Henry; Lawrie, Stephen; Napieralski, Julie; Ochi-Lohmann, Tania; Reid, Carol; Marder, Stephen R

2017-07-01

There is currently no standard of care for treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia, although some previous results with glutamatergic agonists have been promising. Three (SunLyte [WN25308], DayLyte [WN25309], and FlashLyte [NN25310]) phase III, multicenter, randomized, 24-week, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive bitopertin in stable patients with persistent predominant negative symptoms of schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics. SunLyte met the prespecified criteria for lack of efficacy and was declared futile. Key inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of schizophrenia, score ≥40 on the sum of the 14 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative symptoms and disorganized thought factors, unaltered antipsychotic treatment, and clinical stability. Following a 4-week prospective stabilization period, patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to bitopertin (5 mg and 10 mg [DayLyte] and 10 mg and 20 mg [FlashLyte]) or placebo once daily for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was mean change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative symptom factor score at week 24. The intent-to-treat population in DayLyte and FlashLyte included 605 and 594 patients, respectively. At week 24, mean change from baseline showed improvement in all treatment arms but no statistically significant separation from placebo in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative symptom factor score and all other end points. Bitopertin was well tolerated. These studies provide no evidence for superior efficacy of adjunctive bitopertin in any of the doses tested over placebo in patients with persistent predominant negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Sexual revictimization: double betrayal and the risk associated with dissociative amnesia.

PubMed

Wager, Nadia M

2013-01-01

This study aimed to identify new treatment targets in order to develop more empirically informed initiatives to prevent sexual revictimization. A retrospective Web-based survey employing a mixed-methods design attracted a self-selecting sample of 481 community respondents, 183 of whom indicated a history of childhood sexual abuse. Seventy-four percent were females whose ages ranged from 16 to 69 years (mean = 31.2 years). Betrayal trauma referred to CSA committed by a trusted perpetrator (often caregivers). Disclosure experiences in childhood were reported though open-dialogue boxes. Double betrayal referred to high-betrayal trauma being combined with a negative response to a disclosure. This was associated with both higher incidences of prior psychogenic amnesia for CSA and sexual revictimization in later life. The findings have implications for educating the guardians of children about the prevalence and implications of CSA as well as the importance of early recognition and appropriate responding.

Effects of contaminants on Double-crested Cormorant reproduction in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Custer, T.W.; Custer, Christine M.; Stromborg, K.L.; Melancon, M.J.; Adams, N.J.; Slotow, R.H.

1998-01-01

In 1994 and 1995, Double-crested Cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus were monitored from egg-laying through 12 days of age at Cat Island, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Sample eggs at hatching were analysed for organochlorines (including total PCBs, PCB congeners, and DDE), hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity in livers of embryos, and eggshell thickness. The number of eggs per nest that hatched and survived to i 2 days of age was estimated to be 2.2 in 1994 and 2.0 in 1995. Hatching success of eggs was not correlated with PCBs, the toxicity of PCBs based on congeners, or EROD activity. Hatching success was correlated with eggshell thickness and negatively correlated with DDE concentrations. Even though the insecticide DDT was banned in the early 1970s, we suggest that DDE concentrations in cormorant eggs in Green Bay are still having an affect on reproduction in this species.

Effects of contaminants on Double-crested Cormorant reproduction in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Custer, T.W.; Custer, Christine M.; Stromborg, K.L.; Melancon, M.J.; Adams, N.J.; Slotow, R.H.

1999-01-01

In 1994 and 1995, Double-crested Cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus were monitored from egg-laying through 12 days of age at Cat Island, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Sample eggs at hatching were analysed for organochlorines (including total PCBs, PCB congeners, and DDE), hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) activity in livers of embryos, and eggshell thickness. The number of eggs per nest that hatched and survived to i 2 days of age was estimated to be 2.2 in 1994 and 2.0 in 1995. Hatching success of eggs was not correlated with PCBs, the toxicity of PCBs based on congeners, or EROD activity. Hatching success was correlated with eggshell thickness and negatively correlated with DDE concentrations. Even though the insecticide DDT was banned in the early 1970s, we suggest that DDE concentrations in cormorant eggs in Green Bay are still having an affect on reproduction in this species.

MYC immunohistochemical and cytogenetic analysis are required for identification of clinically relevant aggressive B cell lymphoma subtypes.

PubMed

Raess, Philipp W; Moore, Stephen R; Cascio, Michael J; Dunlap, Jennifer; Fan, Guang; Gatter, Ken; Olson, Susan B; Braziel, Rita M

2018-06-01

Accurate subclassification of aggressive B cell lymphomas (ABCLs) requires integration of morphologic, immunohistochemical (IHC), and cytogenetic information. Optimal strategies have not been well defined for diagnosis of high grade B cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements (HGBLwR) and double expressor lymphomas with MYC and BCL2 protein overexpression. One hundred and eighty seven ABCLs were investigated with complete IHC and FISH analysis. Morphologic and IHC analysis was insufficient to identify clinically relevant HGBLwR. Approximately, 75% of cases classified as HGBLwR showed conventional DLBCL morphologic features. Fourteen percent of MYC-rearranged cases were negative by IHC. Conversely, 60% of cases positive for MYC by IHC did not demonstrate a MYC rearrangement. Analysis by FISH without MYC and BCL2 IHC would miss 41 cases of double expressor lymphoma. Complete IHC and FISH analysis is recommended in the evaluation of all ABCLs.

Implementation of controlled quantum teleportation with an arbitrator for secure quantum channels via quantum dots inside optical cavities.

PubMed

Heo, Jino; Hong, Chang-Ho; Kang, Min-Sung; Yang, Hyeon; Yang, Hyung-Jin; Hong, Jong-Phil; Choi, Seong-Gon

2017-11-02

We propose a controlled quantum teleportation scheme to teleport an unknown state based on the interactions between flying photons and quantum dots (QDs) confined within single- and double-sided cavities. In our scheme, users (Alice and Bob) can teleport the unknown state through a secure entanglement channel under the control and distribution of an arbitrator (Trent). For construction of the entanglement channel, Trent utilizes the interactions between two photons and the QD-cavity system, which consists of a charged QD (negatively charged exciton) inside a single-sided cavity. Subsequently, Alice can teleport the unknown state of the electron spin in a QD inside a double-sided cavity to Bob's electron spin in a QD inside a single-sided cavity assisted by the channel information from Trent. Furthermore, our scheme using QD-cavity systems is feasible with high fidelity, and can be experimentally realized with current technologies.

Weak decays and double beta decay

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

Nicholson, H.W.

1983-08-01

Work to measure the ..sigma../sup +/ 0 degree differential cross section in the reaction K/sup -/p ..-->.. ..sigma../sup +/..pi../sup -/ at several incident K/sup -/ momenta between 600 and 800 MeV/c as well as the asymmetries in the decays of polarized ..sigma../sup +/'s into protons and neutral pions and of polarized ..sigma../sup -/'s into neutrons and negative pions in collaboration with experimenters from Yale, Brookhaven, and the University of Pittsburgh (Brookhaven experiment 702) has been completed. Data from this experiment is currently being analyzed at Yale. Work is currently underway to develop and construct an experiment to search for neutrinolessmore » double beta decay in thin foils of Mo/sup 100/ in collaboration with experimenters from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Development work on the solid state silicon detectors should be complete in the next six months and construction should e well underway within the next year.« less

Atomic-Scale Simulation of Electrochemical Processes at Electrode/Water Interfaces under Referenced Bias Potential.

PubMed

Bouzid, Assil; Pasquarello, Alfredo

2018-04-19

Based on constant Fermi-level molecular dynamics and a proper alignment scheme, we perform simulations of the Pt(111)/water interface under variable bias potential referenced to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE). Our scheme yields a potential of zero charge μ pzc of ∼0.22 eV relative to the SHE and a double layer capacitance C dl of ≃19 μF cm -2 , in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. In addition, we study the structural reorganization of the electrical double layer for bias potentials ranging from -0.92 eV to +0.44 eV and find that O down configurations, which are dominant at potentials above the pzc, reorient to favor H down configurations as the measured potential becomes negative. Our modeling scheme allows one to not only access atomic-scale processes at metal/water interfaces, but also to quantitatively estimate macroscopic electrochemical quantities.

A double-layer based model of ion confinement in electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

PubMed

Mascali, D; Neri, L; Celona, L; Castro, G; Torrisi, G; Gammino, S; Sorbello, G; Ciavola, G

2014-02-01

The paper proposes a new model of ion confinement in ECRIS, which can be easily generalized to any magnetic configuration characterized by closed magnetic surfaces. Traditionally, ion confinement in B-min configurations is ascribed to a negative potential dip due to superhot electrons, adiabatically confined by the magneto-static field. However, kinetic simulations including RF heating affected by cavity modes structures indicate that high energy electrons populate just a thin slab overlapping the ECR layer, while their density drops down of more than one order of magnitude outside. Ions, instead, diffuse across the electron layer due to their high collisionality. This is the proper physical condition to establish a double-layer (DL) configuration which self-consistently originates a potential barrier; this "barrier" confines the ions inside the plasma core surrounded by the ECR surface. The paper will describe a simplified ion confinement model based on plasma density non-homogeneity and DL formation.

Evolution of Ionospheric Convection during a Double Transpolar Arc Phenomenon on February 11, 1999

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Narita, Y.; Maezawa, K.; Spann, J. F.; Parks, G. K.; Marklund, G. T.; Kullen, A.; Ivchenko, N.; Greenwald, R. A.; Sato, N.; Yamagishi, H.;

Strategy for synthesizing quantum dot-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites and their enhanced photoluminescence and photostability.

PubMed

Cho, Seungho; Jung, Sungwook; Jeong, Sanghwa; Bang, Jiwon; Park, Joonhyuck; Park, Youngrong; Kim, Sungjee

2013-01-08

Layered double hydroxide-quantum dot (LDH-QD) composites are synthesized via a room temperature LDH formation reaction in the presence of QDs. InP/ZnS (core/shell) QD, a heavy metal free QD, is used as a model constituent. Interactions between QDs (with negative zeta potentials), decorated with dihydrolipoic acids, and inherently positively charged metal hydroxide layers of LDH during the LDH formations are induced to form the LDH-QD composites. The formation of the LDH-QD composites affords significantly enhanced photoluminescence quantum yields and thermal- and photostabilities compared to their QD counterparts. In addition, the fluorescence from the solid LDH-QD composite preserved the initial optical properties of the QD colloid solution without noticeable deteriorations such as red-shift or deep trap emission. Based on their advantageous optical properties, we also demonstrate the pseudo white light emitting diode, down-converted by the LDH-QD composites.

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

Khalili, Farid; Danilishin, Stefan; Mueller-Ebhardt, Helge

We consider enhancing the sensitivity of future gravitational-wave detectors by using double optical spring. When the power, detuning and bandwidth of the two carriers are chosen appropriately, the effect of the double optical spring can be described as a 'negative inertia', which cancels the positive inertia of the test masses and thus increases their response to gravitational waves. This allows us to surpass the free-mass standard quantum limit (SQL) over a broad frequency band, through signal amplification, rather than noise cancellation, which has been the case for all broadband SQL-beating schemes so far considered for gravitational-wave detectors. The merit ofmore » such signal amplification schemes lies in the fact that they are less susceptible to optical losses than noise-cancellation schemes. We show that it is feasible to demonstrate such an effect with the Gingin High Optical Power Test Facility, and it can eventually be implemented in future advanced GW detectors.« less

Negative Oxygen Isotope Effect in Manganites with an Ordered Cation Arrangement in a High Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taldenkov, A. N.; Snegirev, V. V.; Babushkina, N. A.; Kalitka, V. S.; Kaul', A. R.

2018-03-01

The oxygen isotope effect in PrBaMn2 16-18 O5.97 manganite with an ordered cation arrangement is studied. The field dependences of magnetic susceptibility and magnetization are measured in the temperature range 100-270 K and magnetic fields up to 32 T. A significant increase in the temperature of the spin-reorientation antiferromagnet-ferromagnet phase transition is detected in samples enriched in heavy oxygen 18O (negative isotope effect). The transition temperature and the isotope effect depend strongly on the magnetic field. An H-T phase diagram is plotted for samples with various isotope compositions. An analysis of the experimental results demonstrates that the detected negative isotope effect and the giant positive isotope effect revealed earlier in doped manganites have the same nature. The mechanisms of appearance of isotope effects are discussed in terms of the double exchange model under a polaron narrowing of the free carrier band.

Designing of spin-filtering devices in zigzag graphene nanoribbons heterojunctions by asymmetric hydrogenation and B-N doping

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

Zhang, Dan; Zhang, Xiaojiao; Ouyang, Fangping

2015-01-07

Using nonequilibrium Green's function in combination with the spin-polarized density functional theory, the spin-dependent transport properties of boron and nitrogen doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) heterojunctions with single or double edge-saturated hydrogen have been investigated. Our results show that the perfect spin-filtering effect (100%), rectifying behavior and negative differential resistance can be realized in the ZGNRs-based systems. And the corresponding physical analysis has been given.

Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial: Gluten versus Placebo Rechallenge in Patients with Lymphocytic Enteritis and Suspected Celiac Disease.

PubMed

Rosinach, Mercè; Fernández-Bañares, Fernando; Carrasco, Anna; Ibarra, Montserrat; Temiño, Rocío; Salas, Antonio; Esteve, Maria

2016-01-01

The role of gluten as a trigger of symptoms in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity has been questioned. To demonstrate that gluten is the trigger of symptoms in a subgroup of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), which presented with lymphocytic enteritis, positive celiac genetics and negative celiac serology. Double-blind randomized clinical trial of gluten vs placebo rechallenge. >18 years of age, HLA-DQ2/8+, negative coeliac serology and gluten-dependent lymphocytic enteritis, and GI symptoms, with clinical and histological remission at inclusion. Eighteen patients were randomised: 11 gluten (20 g/day) and 7 placebo. Clinical symptoms, quality of life (GIQLI), and presence of gamma/delta+ cells and transglutaminase deposits were evaluated. 91% of patients had clinical relapse during gluten challenge versus 28.5% after placebo (p = 0.01). Clinical scores and GIQLI worsened after gluten but not after placebo (p<0.01). The presence of coeliac tissue markers at baseline biopsy on a gluten-free diet allowed classifying 9 out of the 18 (50%) patients as having probable 'coeliac lite' disease. This proof-of-concept study indicates that gluten is the trigger of symptoms in a subgroup of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for NCGS. They were characterized by positive celiac genetics, lymphocytic enteritis, and clinical and histological remission after a gluten-free diet. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02472704.

Facebook and its effects on users' empathic social skills and life satisfaction: a double-edged sword effect.

PubMed

Chan, Terri H

2014-05-01

This study examines how Facebook usage affects individual's empathic social skills and life satisfaction. Following the self-presentational theory, the study explores a key component of the Internet paradox-whether Facebook suppresses or enhances users' interpersonal competence (specifically empathic social skills), given their respective personality makeup. Going further, the study assesses these events' subsequent impacts on users' psychological well-being. Analogous to a double-edged sword, Facebook activities are hypothesized to suppress the positive effect of a user's extraversion orientation on empathic social skills but lessen the negative effect of neuroticism on these skills. The study examines a sample of college-aged Facebook users (n=515), who responded to a large-scale online survey. The findings from a structural equation modeling analysis indicate that while empathic social skills are positively associated with life satisfaction, Facebook activities mainly exert suppression effects. Only upon low usage can Facebook activities lessen the negative effect of neuroticism on empathic social skills, suggesting that Facebook may appear as a less threatening platform for social interactions among neurotics. Yet, results in general suggest that undesirable effects may occur at high levels of Facebook usage whereby both extroverted and neurotic users displace real world social ties to online ones. The findings point to the complex ways in which social media usage may impact the livelihood of users.

Microscopic Characterization of Individual Submicron Bubbles during the Layer-by-Layer Deposition: Towards Creating Smart Agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kato, Riku; Frusawa, Hiroshi

2015-07-01

We investigated the individual properties of various polyion-coated bubbles with a mean diameter ranging from 300 to 500 nm. Dark field microscopy allows one to track the individual particles of the submicron bubbles (SBs) encapsulated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes (PEs). Our focus is on the two-step charge reversals of PE-SB complexes: the first is a reversal from negatively charged bare SBs with no PEs added to positive SBs encapsulated by polycations (monolayer deposition), and the second is overcharging into negatively charged PE-SB complexes due to the subsequent addition of polyanions (double-layer deposition). The details of these phenomena have been clarified through the analysis of a number of trajectories of various PE-SB complexes that experience either Brownian motion or electrophoresis. The contrasted results obtained from the analysis were as follows: an amount in excess of the stoichiometric ratio of the cationic polymers was required for the first charge-reversal, whereas the stoichiometric addition of the polyanions lead to the electrical neutralization of the PE-SB complex particles. The recovery of the stoichiometry in the double-layer deposition paves the way for fabricating multi-layered SBs encapsulated solely with anionic and cationic PEs, which provides a simple protocol to create smart agents for either drug delivery or ultrasound contrast imaging.

Microscopic Characterization of Individual Submicron Bubbles during the Layer-by-Layer Deposition: Towards Creating Smart Agents.

PubMed

Kato, Riku; Frusawa, Hiroshi

2015-07-08

We investigated the individual properties of various polyion-coated bubbles with a mean diameter ranging from 300 to 500 nm. Dark field microscopy allows one to track the individual particles of the submicron bubbles (SBs) encapsulated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes (PEs). Our focus is on the two-step charge reversals of PE-SB complexes: the first is a reversal from negatively charged bare SBs with no PEs added to positive SBs encapsulated by polycations (monolayer deposition), and the second is overcharging into negatively charged PE-SB complexes due to the subsequent addition of polyanions (double-layer deposition). The details of these phenomena have been clarified through the analysis of a number of trajectories of various PE-SB complexes that experience either Brownian motion or electrophoresis. The contrasted results obtained from the analysis were as follows: an amount in excess of the stoichiometric ratio of the cationic polymers was required for the first charge-reversal, whereas the stoichiometric addition of the polyanions lead to the electrical neutralization of the PE-SB complex particles. The recovery of the stoichiometry in the double-layer deposition paves the way for fabricating multi-layered SBs encapsulated solely with anionic and cationic PEs, which provides a simple protocol to create smart agents for either drug delivery or ultrasound contrast imaging.

[Psychosocial risk factors and work satisfaction in female seasonal workers in Chile].

PubMed

Palomo-Vélez, Gonzalo; Carrasco, Jairo; Bastías, Álvaro; Méndez, María Doris; Jiménez, Andrés

2015-05-01

Characterize the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and work satisfaction in female seasonal agricultural workers in central Chile. Cross-sectional study in a non-probability sample of 106 female workers for a fruit trading and export company in the region of Maule, Chile. The interviews were conducted in September and October 2013. The SUSESO ISTA-21 questionnaire was used to evaluate five areas of psychosocial risk in the workplace (psychological requirements, active work and opportunities for development, social support in the company and quality of leadership, compensation, and "double presence"). Questionnaire S10/12 was used to measure labor satisfaction in three areas (satisfaction with benefits received, satisfaction with the company's physical environment, and satisfaction with supervision) and satisfaction in general. The level of psychosocial risk was high in two areas (double presence, and active work and possibilities of development) and medium in the other areas; the level of satisfaction was high in all three areas. The perception of psychosocial risk factors was negatively associated with work satisfaction in three areas: active work and opportunities for development, social support in the company and quality of leadership, and compensation (compensation was negatively associated except for satisfaction with the company's physical environment). Risks associated with seasonal work and the main issues that workers consider to affect their satisfaction with work and, by extension, their general well-being, are concentrated mainly in the three areas identified.

[Air negative ion concentration in different modes of courtyard forests in southern mountainous areas of Jinan, Shandong Province of East China].

PubMed

Wang, Xiao-Lei; Li, Chuan-Rong; Xu, Jing-Wei; Hu, Ding-Meng; Zhao, Zhen-Lei; Zhang, Liu-dong

2013-02-01

Taking five typical courtyard forests and a non-forest courtyard in southern mountains areas of Jinan as test objects, a synchronous observation was conducted on the air negative ion concentration and related meteorological factors in March-December, 2010. The air negative ion concentration in the test courtyards showed an obvious seasonal variation, being in the order of summer > autumn > spring > winter. The diurnal variation of the air negative ion concentration presented a double peak curve, with the maximum in 10:00 - 11:00 and 16:00 - 17:00 and the minimum around 12:00. The daily air quality was the best at 10:00 and 16:00, and better in afternoon than in the morning. Summer time and garden sketch mode had the best air quality in a year. The mean annual air negative ion and the coefficient of air ion (CI) of the test courtyards were in the order of garden sketch > economic fruit forest > natural afforested forest > flowers and bonsai > farm tourist > non-forest, with the air negative ion concentration being 813, 745, 695, 688, 649, and 570 ions.cm-3, and the CI being 1.22, 1.11, 0.85, 0.84, 0.83, and 0.69, respectively. It could be concluded that garden sketch was the ideal courtyard forest mode. The air negative ion concentration was significantly positively correlated with air temperature and relative humidity, but irrelevant to light intensity.

Double triplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, and Staphylococcus haemolyticus and determination of their methicillin resistance directly from positive blood culture bottles.

PubMed

Kilic, Abdullah; Basustaoglu, A Celal

2011-12-01

We developed and validated here a double triplex real-time PCR assay to simultaneously detect and identify Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and their methicillin resistance in a single reaction directly from Gram-positive cocci-in-clusters (GPCs)-positive blood culture bottles. From August 15, 2009 through February 15, 2010, 238 GPC-positive samples were collected and identified by conventional methods as 11 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 28 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), 176 MR coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), 21 MSCoNS and two Enterococcus faecalis. The double triplex real-time PCR assay was targeted and detected tuf, nuc and mecA genes in the first tube and atlE, gap and mvaA genes in the second tube which could be run simultaneously. The detection limit of the assay was found at 10(3) CFU/ml for the atleE gene, 10(4) CFU/ml for the mva gene and 10(5) CFU/ml for gap, nuc, mecA and tuf genes based on seeding experiments. All Staphylococcus species except two S. epidermidis were correctly identified by the assay. The double triplex real-time PCR assay quickly and accurately detects S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. hominis and S. haemolyticus and their methicillin resistance in a single reaction directly from positive blood culture bottles within 83 min. Copyright © 2011 Institut Pasteur. All rights reserved.

Absence of Tec Family Kinases Interleukin-2 Inducible T cell Kinase (Itk) and Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (Btk) Severely Impairs FcϵRI-dependent Mast Cell Responses*

PubMed Central

Iyer, Archana S.; Morales, J. Luis; Huang, Weishan; Ojo, Folake; Ning, Gang; Wills, Elizabeth; Baines, Joel D.; August, Avery

2011-01-01

Mast cells are critical effector cells in the pathophysiology of allergic asthma and other IgE-mediated diseases. The Tec family of tyrosine kinases Itk and Btk serve as critical signal amplifiers downstream of antigen receptors. Although both kinases are expressed and activated in mast cells following FcϵRI stimulation, their individual contributions are not clear. To determine whether these kinases play unique and/or complementary roles in FcϵRI signaling and mast cell function, we generated Itk and Btk double knock-out mice. Analyses of these mice show decreased mast cell granularity and impaired passive systemic anaphylaxis responses. This impaired response is accompanied by a significant elevation in serum IgE in Itk/Btk double knock-out mice. In vitro analyses of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) indicated that Itk/Btk double knock-out BMMCs are defective in degranulation and cytokine secretion responses downstream to FcϵRI activation. These responses were accompanied by a significant reduction in PLCγ2 phosphorylation and severely impaired calcium responses in these cells. This defect also results in altered NFAT1 nuclear localization in double knock-out BMMCs. Network analysis suggests that although they may share substrates, Itk plays both positive and negative roles, while Btk primarily plays a positive role in mast cell FcϵRI-induced cytokine secretion. PMID:21212279

Why double-stranded RNA resists condensation

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

Tolokh, Igor S.; Pabit, Suzette; Katz, Andrea M.

2014-09-15

The addition of small amounts of multivalent cations to solutions containing double-stranded DNA leads to attraction between the negatively charged helices and eventually to condensation. Surprisingly, this effect is suppressed in double-stranded RNA, which carries the same charge as the DNA, but assumes a different double helical form. However, additional characterization of short (25 base-pairs) nucleic acid (NA) duplex structures by circular dichroism shows that measured differences in condensation are not solely determined by duplex helical geometry. Here we combine experiment, theory, and atomistic simulations to propose a mechanism that connects the observed variations in condensation of short NA duplexesmore » with the spatial variation of cobalt hexammine (CoHex) binding at the NA duplex surface. The atomistic picture that emerged showed that CoHex distributions around the NA reveals two major NA-CoHex binding modes -- internal and external -- distinguished by the proximity of bound CoHex to the helical axis. Decreasing trends in experimentally observed condensation propensity of the four studied NA duplexes (from B-like form of homopolymeric DNA, to mixed sequence DNA, to DNA:RNA hybrid, to A-like RNA) are explained by the progressive decrease of a single quantity: the fraction of CoHex ions in the external binding mode. Thus, while NA condensation depends on a complex interplay between various structural and sequence features, our coupled experimental and theoretical results suggest a new model in which a single parameter connects the NA condensation propensity with geometry and sequence dependence of CoHex binding.« less

Oxytocin selectively moderates negative cognitive appraisals in high trait anxious males.

PubMed

Alvares, Gail A; Chen, Nigel T M; Balleine, Bernard W; Hickie, Ian B; Guastella, Adam J

2012-12-01

The mammalian neuropeptide oxytocin has well-characterized effects in facilitating prosocial and affiliative behavior. Additionally, oxytocin decreases physiological and behavioral responses to social stress. In the present study we investigated the effects of oxytocin on cognitive appraisals after a naturalistic social stress task in healthy male students. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 48 participants self-administered either an oxytocin or placebo nasal spray and, following a wait period, completed an impromptu speech task. Eye gaze to a pre-recorded video of an audience displayed during the task was simultaneously collected. After the speech, participants completed questionnaires assessing negative cognitive beliefs about speech performance. Whilst there was no overall effect of oxytocin compared to placebo on either eye gaze or questionnaire measures, there were significant positive correlations between trait levels of anxiety and negative self-appraisals following the speech. Exploratory analyses revealed that whilst higher trait anxiety was associated with increasingly poorer perceptions of speech performance in the placebo group, this relationship was not found in participants administered oxytocin. These results provide preliminary evidence to suggest that oxytocin may reduce negative cognitive self-appraisals in high trait anxious males. It adds to a growing body of evidence that oxytocin seems to attenuate negative cognitive responses to stress in anxious individuals. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Feedback-related negativity codes outcome valence, but not outcome expectancy, during reversal learning.

PubMed

von Borries, A K L; Verkes, R J; Bulten, B H; Cools, R; de Bruijn, E R A

2013-12-01

Optimal behavior depends on the ability to assess the predictive value of events and to adjust behavior accordingly. Outcome processing can be studied by using its electrophysiological signatures--that is, the feedback-related negativity (FRN) and the P300. A prominent reinforcement-learning model predicts an FRN on negative prediction errors, as well as implying a role for the FRN in learning and the adaptation of behavior. However, these predictions have recently been challenged. Notably, studies so far have used tasks in which the outcomes have been contingent on the response. In these paradigms, the need to adapt behavioral responses is present only for negative, not for positive feedback. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of positive as well as negative violations of expectancy on FRN amplitudes, without the usual confound of behavioral adjustments. A reversal-learning task was employed in which outcome value and outcome expectancy were orthogonalized; that is, both positive and negative outcomes were equally unexpected. The results revealed a double dissociation, with effects of valence but not expectancy on the FRN and, conversely, effects of expectancy but not valence on the P300. While FRN amplitudes were largest for negative-outcome trials, irrespective of outcome expectancy, P300 amplitudes were largest for unexpected-outcome trials, irrespective of outcome valence. These FRN effects were interpreted to reflect an evaluation along a good-bad dimension, rather than reflecting a negative prediction error or a role in behavioral adaptation. By contrast, the P300 reflects the updating of information relevant for behavior in a changing context.

Comment on 'Observation of intrinsic bistability in resonant-tunneling structures'

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sollner, T. C. L. G.

1987-01-01

It is suggested that the intrinsic bistability observed by Goldman et al. (1987) occurred not because of charging of the well, as is claimed, but because of oscillations in the negative-resistance region. A typical I-V curve for a double-barrier resonant-tunneling (DBRT) diode which is known to be oscillating is presented. In a reply to this comment, Goldman et al. show that the series resistance (of about 100 ohms) in Sollner's sample leads to extrinsic, rather than intrinsic, bistability. It is furthermore suggested that the mere presence of an oscillation does not in itself exclude intrinsic bistability in a DBRT structure. It is also noted that the intrinsic bistability and buildup of negative charge-space in a DBRT structure well has been demonstrated experimentally by Payling et al. (1987).

Preliminary assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of a new CTXPhi-negative, hemagglutinin/protease-defective El Tor strain as a cholera vaccine candidate.

PubMed

Benítez, J A; García, L; Silva, A; García, H; Fando, R; Cedré, B; Pérez, A; Campos, J; Rodríguez, B L; Pérez, J L; Valmaseda, T; Pérez, O; Pérez, A; Ramírez, M; Ledón, T; Jidy, M D; Lastre, M; Bravo, L; Sierra, G

1999-02-01

Vibrio cholerae 638 (El Tor, Ogawa), a new CTXPhi-negative hemagglutinin/protease-defective strain that is a cholera vaccine candidate, was examined for safety and immunogenicity in healthy adult volunteers. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, no significant adverse reactions were observed in volunteers ingesting strain 638. Four volunteers of 42 who ingested strain 638 and 1 of 14 who received placebo experienced loose stools. The strain strongly colonized the human small bowel, as evidenced by its isolation from the stools of 37 of 42 volunteers. V. cholerae 638, at doses ranging from 4 x 10(7) to 2 x 10(9) vibrios, elicited significant serum vibriocidal antibody and anti-Ogawa immunoglobulin A antibody secreting cell responses.

Preliminary Assessment of the Safety and Immunogenicity of a New CTXΦ-Negative, Hemagglutinin/Protease-Defective El Tor Strain as a Cholera Vaccine Candidate

PubMed Central

Benítez, Jorge A.; García, Luis; Silva, Anisia; García, Hilda; Fando, Rafael; Cedré, Barbara; Pérez, Antonio; Campos, Javier; Rodríguez, Boris L.; Pérez, José L.; Valmaseda, Tania; Pérez, Oliver; Pérez, Alberto; Ramírez, Margarita; Ledón, Talena; Jidy, Manuel Díaz; Lastre, Miriam; Bravo, Laura; Sierra, Gustavo

1999-01-01

Vibrio cholerae 638 (El Tor, Ogawa), a new CTXΦ-negative hemagglutinin/protease-defective strain that is a cholera vaccine candidate, was examined for safety and immunogenicity in healthy adult volunteers. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, no significant adverse reactions were observed in volunteers ingesting strain 638. Four volunteers of 42 who ingested strain 638 and 1 of 14 who received placebo experienced loose stools. The strain strongly colonized the human small bowel, as evidenced by its isolation from the stools of 37 of 42 volunteers. V. cholerae 638, at doses ranging from 4 × 107 to 2 × 109 vibrios, elicited significant serum vibriocidal antibody and anti-Ogawa immunoglobulin A antibody secreting cell responses. PMID:9916056

Cloud-radiation interactions - Effects of cirrus optical thickness feedbacks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Somerville, Richard C. J.; Iacobellis, Sam

1987-01-01

The paper is concerned with a cloud-radiation feedback mechanism which may be an important component of the climate changes expected from increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other trace greenhouse gases. A major result of the study is that cirrus cloud optical thickness feedbacks may indeed tend to increase the surface warming due to trace gas increases. However, the positive feedback from cirrus appears to be generally weaker than the negative effects due to lower clouds. The results just confirm those of earlier research indicating that the net effect of cloud optical thickness feedbacks may be a negative feedback which may substantially (by a factor of about 2) reduce the surface warming due to the doubling of CO2, even in the presence of cirrus clouds.

High-temperature fcc phase of Pr:  Negative thermal expansion and intermediate valence state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuznetsov, A. Yu.; Dmitriev, V. P.; Bandilet, O. I.; Weber, H.-P.

2003-08-01

A high-temperature angle-dispersive synchrotron radiation diffraction study has revealed the double hexagonal-close-packed-to-face-centered-cubic (dhcp-to-fcc) transformation in the Pr metal occurring martensitically between 575 and 1035 K. The high-temperature fcc phase shows a negative thermal expansion in the range 600 800 K, attributed to the 4f-electron delocalization. A phenomenological theory is developed, which explains consistently the observed effect in terms of the mean valence variation of the metal as a function of temperature; it also predicts the existence of an isostructural phase transition and of a critical end point of a gas-liquid type in compressed Pr. The analysis of published data on P-T variation of conductivity of Pr supports this prediction.

[Risk-benefit analysis of a hCG-500 kcal reducing diet (cura romana) in females].

PubMed

Rabe, T; Richter, S; Kiesel, L; Runnebaum, B

1987-05-01

The British physician A.T.W. Simeons described in 1954 a new method for dieting. He combined a reduction diet (500 kcal per day) with daily injections of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (125 IU i.m.). According to Simeons the patient should not lose more weight during a 4-to-6 weeks' diet than without hCG, but the injections should facilitate to maintain the diet and to lose body weight at specific parts of the body (e.g. hip, belly, thigh). After the first publication various studies conducted with male and female patients analysed the efficacy of the "Cura romana". 10 of these studies showed positive and another 10 studies negative results with regard to hCG-related weight reduction. Two of these studies with positive results were double-blind studies (hCG vs. placebo). Most of them were reports on therapeutical experiences and were not controlled studies. According to these reports the body proportions normalized and the feeling of hunger was tolerable. Four out of 10 studies with negative results were controlled studies (hCG vs. control without hCG), whereas 6 were double-blind studies. These studies showed a significant weight reduction during dieting, but no differences between treatment groups in respect of body weight, body proportions and feeling of hunger. One of them is the only German study conducted by Rabe et al. in 1981 in which 82 randomised premenopausal volunteers had been dieting either with hCG or without hCG injections. In recent publications describing mostly well-documented double-blind studies authors largely reject hCG administration in dieting. Supporters of the hCG diet must prove the efficacy of this method in controlled studies according to the German Drug Law. Until then the opinion of the German steroid toxicology panel is still valid, that hCG is ineffective in dieting and should not be used (Bolt 1982 a, 1982 b).

Interlimb coordination during the stance phase of gait in subjects with stroke.

PubMed

Sousa, Andreia S P; Silva, Augusta; Santos, Rubim; Sousa, Filipa; Tavares, João Manuel R S

2013-12-01

To analyze the relation between contralesional and ipsilesional limbs in subjects with stroke during step-to-step transition of walking. Observational, transversal, analytical study with a convenience sample. Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic. Subjects (n=16) with poststroke hemiparesis with the ability to walk independently and healthy controls (n=22). Not applicable. Bilateral lower limbs electromyographic activity of the soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius medialis, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis (VM) muscles and the ground reaction force were analyzed during double-support and terminal stance phases of gait. The propulsive impulse of the contralesional trailing limb was negatively correlated with the braking impulse of the leading limb during double support (r=-.639, P=.01). A moderate functional relation was observed between thigh muscles (r=-.529, P=.035), and a strong and moderate dysfunctional relation was found between the plantar flexors of the ipsilesional limb and the vastus medialis of the contralesional limb, respectively (SOL-VM, r=-.80, P<.001; gastrocnemius medialis-VM, r=-.655, P=.002). Also, a functional moderate negative correlation was found between the SOL and rectus femoris muscles of the ipsilesional limb during terminal stance and between the SOL (r=-.506, P=.046) and VM (r=-.518, P=.04) muscles of the contralesional limb during loading response, respectively. The trailing limb relative impulse contribution of the contralesional limb was lower than the ipsilesional limb of subjects with stroke (P=.02) and lower than the relative impulse contribution of the healthy limb (P=.008) during double support. The findings obtained suggest that the lower performance of the contralesional limb in forward propulsion during gait is related not only to contralateral supraspinal damage but also to a dysfunctional influence of the ipsilesional limb. Copyright © 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Year-class formation of upper St. Lawrence River northern pike

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, B.M.; Farrell, J.M.; Underwood, H.B.; Smith, S.J.

2007-01-01

Variables associated with year-class formation in upper St. Lawrence River northern pike Esox lucius were examined to explore population trends. A partial least-squares (PLS) regression model (PLS 1) was used to relate a year-class strength index (YCSI; 1974-1997) to explanatory variables associated with spawning and nursery areas (seasonal water level and temperature and their variability, number of ice days, and last day of ice presence). A second model (PLS 2) incorporated four additional ecological variables: potential predators (abundance of double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus and yellow perch Perca flavescens), female northern pike biomass (as a measure of stock-recruitment effects), and total phosphorus (productivity). Trends in adult northern pike catch revealed a decline (1981-2005), and year-class strength was positively related to catch per unit effort (CPUE; R2 = 0.58). The YCSI exceeded the 23-year mean in only 2 of the last 10 years. Cyclic patterns in the YCSI time series (along with strong year-classes every 4-6 years) were apparent, as was a dampening effect of amplitude beginning around 1990. The PLS 1 model explained over 50% of variation in both explanatory variables and the dependent variable, YCSI first-order moving-average residuals. Variables retained (N = 10; Wold's statistic ??? 0.8) included negative YCSI associations with high summer water levels, high variability in spring and fall water levels, and variability in fall water temperature. The YCSI exhibited positive associations with high spring, summer, and fall water temperature, variability in spring temperature, and high winter and spring water level. The PLS 2 model led to positive YCSI associations with phosphorus and yellow perch CPUE and a negative correlation with double-crested cormorant abundance. Environmental variables (water level and temperature) are hypothesized to regulate northern pike YCSI cycles, and dampening in YCSI magnitude may be related to a combination of factors, including wetland habitat changes, reduced nutrient loading, and increased predation by double-crested cormorants. ?? Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2007.

Effect of Strong Acid Functional Groups on Electrode Rise Potential in Capacitive Mixing by Double Layer Expansion

DOE PAGES

Hatzell, Marta C.; Raju, Muralikrishna; Watson, Valerie J.; ...

2014-11-03

We report that the amount of salinity-gradient energy that can be obtained through capacitive mixing based on double layer expansion depends on the extent the electric double layer (EDL) is altered in a low salt concentration (LC) electrolyte (e.g., river water). We show that the electrode-rise potential, which is a measure of the EDL perturbation process, was significantly (P = 10 –5) correlated to the concentration of strong acid surface functional groups using five types of activated carbon. Electrodes with the lowest concentration of strong acids (0.05 mmol g –1) had a positive rise potential of 59 ± 4 mVmore » in the LC solution, whereas the carbon with the highest concentration (0.36 mmol g –1) had a negative rise potential (₋31 ± 5 mV). Chemical oxidation of a carbon (YP50) using nitric acid decreased the electrode rise potential from 46 ± 2 mV (unaltered) to ₋6 ± 0.5 mV (oxidized), producing a whole cell potential (53 ± 1.7 mV) that was 4.4 times larger than that obtained with identical electrode materials (from 12 ± 1 mV). Changes in the EDL were linked to the behavior of specific ions in a LC solution using molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations. The EDL expanded in the LC solution when a carbon surface (pristine graphene) lacked strong acid functional groups, producing a positive-rise potential at the electrode. In contrast, the EDL was compressed for an oxidized surface (graphene oxide), producing a negative-rise electrode potential. In conclusion, these results established the linkage between rise potentials and specific surface functional groups (strong acids) and demonstrated on a molecular scale changes in the EDL using oxidized or pristine carbons.« less

The barley amo1 locus is tightly linked to the starch synthase IIIa gene and negatively regulates expression of granule-bound starch synthetic genes

PubMed Central

Li, Zhongyi; Li, Dehong; Du, Xihua; Wang, Hong; Larroque, Oscar; Jenkins, Colin L. D.; Jobling, Stephen A.; Morell, Matthew K.

2011-01-01

In this study of barley starch synthesis, the interaction between mutations at the sex6 locus and the amo1 locus has been characterized. Four barley genotypes, the wild type, sex6, amo1, and the amo1sex6 double mutant, were generated by backcrossing the sex6 mutation present in Himalaya292 into the amo1 ‘high amylose Glacier’. The wild type, amo1, and sex6 genotypes gave starch phenotypes consistent with previous studies. However, the amo1sex6 double mutant yielded an unexpected phenotype, a significant increase in starch content relative to the sex6 phenotype. Amylose content (as a percentage of starch) was not increased above the level observed for the sex6 mutation alone; however, on a per seed basis, grain from lines containing the amo1 mutation (amo1 mutants and amo1sex6 double mutants) synthesize significantly more amylose than the wild-type lines and sex6 mutants. The level of granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) protein in starch granules is increased in lines containing the amo1 mutation (amo1 and amo1sex6). In the amo1 genotype, starch synthase I (SSI), SSIIa, starch branching enzyme IIa (SBEIIa), and SBEIIb also markedly increased in the starch granules. Genetic mapping studies indicate that the ssIIIa gene is tightly linked to the amo1 locus, and the SSIIIa protein from the amo1 mutant has a leucine to arginine residue substitution in a conserved domain. Zymogram analysis indicates that the amo1 phenotype is not a consequence of total loss of enzymatic activity although it remains possible that the amo1 phenotype is underpinned by a more subtle change. It is therefore proposed that amo1 may be a negative regulator of other genes of starch synthesis. PMID:21813797

Negations in syllogistic reasoning: evidence for a heuristic-analytic conflict.

PubMed

Stupple, Edward J N; Waterhouse, Eleanor F

2009-08-01

An experiment utilizing response time measures was conducted to test dominant processing strategies in syllogistic reasoning with the expanded quantifier set proposed by Roberts (2005). Through adding negations to existing quantifiers it is possible to change problem surface features without altering logical validity. Biases based on surface features such as atmosphere, matching, and the probability heuristics model (PHM; Chater & Oaksford, 1999; Wetherick & Gilhooly, 1995) would not be expected to show variance in response latencies, but participant responses should be highly sensitive to changes in the surface features of the quantifiers. In contrast, according to analytic accounts such as mental models theory and mental logic (e.g., Johnson-Laird & Byrne, 1991; Rips, 1994) participants should exhibit increased response times for negated premises, but not be overly impacted upon by the surface features of the conclusion. Data indicated that the dominant response strategy was based on a matching heuristic, but also provided evidence of a resource-demanding analytic procedure for dealing with double negatives. The authors propose that dual-process theories offer a stronger account of these data whereby participants employ competing heuristic and analytic strategies and fall back on a heuristic response when analytic processing fails.

Likelihood of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in patients with normal unenhanced CT, CSF xanthochromia on spectrophotometry and negative CT angiography.

PubMed

Rana, A K; Turner, H E; Deans, K A

2013-01-01

Patients with suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage, a normal noncontrast computed tomography (CT) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evidence of haemoglobin breakdown products often undergo CT angiography (CTA). If this is normal, then invasive catheter angiography may be offered. In current clinical practice, haemoglobin breakdown products are detected by spectrophotometry rather than visible xanthochromia, and CTA is performed on multidetector scanners. The aim of this study was to determine if such patients should still have a catheter angiography, given the associated risks. Patients positive for CSF spectrophotometry (n=26) were retrospectively identified from the clinical biochemistry information system and imaging data from the electronic radiology records were reviewed. Discharge letters were consulted to relate the biochemistry and radiology results to the final diagnosis. 15 patients with CT angiography were found. Nine patients had normal CT angiography. No causative aneurysms had been missed. One patient had small, coincidental aneurysms missed on initial reading of the CTA. The likelihood of a clinically significant aneurysm in a patient who is CT negative, lumbar puncture positive and CTA negative is low. Double reporting of negative CT angiograms may be advisable.

A tandem time–of–flight spectrometer for negative–ion/positive–ion coincidence measurements with soft x-ray excitation

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

Stråhlman, Christian, E-mail: Christian.Strahlman@maxlab.lu.se; Sankari, Rami; Nyholm, Ralf

2016-01-15

We present a newly constructed spectrometer for negative–ion/positive–ion coincidence spectroscopy of gaseous samples. The instrument consists of two time–of–flight ion spectrometers and a magnetic momentum filter for deflection of electrons. The instrument can measure double and triple coincidences between mass–resolved negative and positive ions with high detection efficiency. First results include identification of several negative–ion/positive–ion coincidence channels following inner-shell photoexcitation of sulfur hexafluoride (SF{sub 6})

Research on the properties and interactions of simple atomic and ionic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Novick, R.

1972-01-01

Simple ionic systems were studied, such as metastable autoionizing states of the negative He ion, two-photon decay spectrum of metastable He ion, optical excitation with low energy ions, and lifetime measurements of singly ionized Li and metastable He ion. Simple atomic systems were also investigated. Metastable autoionizing atomic energy levels in alkali elements were included, along with lifetime measurements of Cr-53, group 2A isotopes, and alkali metal atoms using level crossing and optical double resonance spectroscopy.

Negative ion productions in high velocity collision between small carbon clusters and Helium atom target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

M, Chabot; K, Béroff; T, Pino; G, Féraud; N, Dothi; Padellec A, Le; G, Martinet; S, Bouneau; Y, Carpentier

2012-11-01

We measured absolute double capture cross section of Cn+ ions (n=1,5) colliding, at 2.3 and 2.6 a.u velocities, with an Helium target atom and the branching ratios of fragmentation of the so formed electronically excited anions Cn-*. We also measured absolute cross section for the electronic attachment on neutral Cn clusters colliding at same velocities with He atom. This is to our knowledge the first measurement of neutral-neutral charge exchange in high velocity collision.

Composition Dependence of the Na(+) Ion Conductivity in 0.5Na2S + 0.5[xGeS2 + (1 - x)PS5/2] Mixed Glass Former Glasses: A Structural Interpretation of a Negative Mixed Glass Former Effect.

PubMed

Martin, Steve W; Bischoff, Christian; Schuller, Katherine

2015-12-24

A negative mixed glass former effect (MGFE) in the Na(+) ion conductivity of glass has been found in 0.5Na2S + 0.5[xGeS2 + (1 - x)PS5/2] glasses where the Na(+) ion conductivity is significantly smaller for all of the ternary glasses than either of the binary end-member glasses. The minimum conductivity of ∼0.4 × 10(-6) (Ω cm)(-1) at 25 °C occurs for the x = 0.7 glass. Prior to this observation, the alkali ion conductivity of sulfide glasses at constant alkali concentration, but variable ratio of one glass former for another (x) ternary mixed glass former (MGF) glasses, has always produced a positive MGFE in the alkali ion conductivity; that is, the ternary glasses have always had higher ion conductivities that either of the end-member binary glasses. While the Na(+) ion conductivity exhibits a single global minimum value, the conductivity activation energy exhibits a bimodal double maximum at x ≈ 0.4 and x ≈ 0.7. The modified Christensen-Martin-Anderson-Stuart (CMAS) model of the activation energies reveals the origin of the negative MGFE to be due to an increase in the dielectric stiffness (a decrease in relative dielectric permittivity) of these glasses. When coupled with an increase in the average Na(+) ion jump distance and a slight increase in the mechanical stiffness of the glass, this causes the activation energy to go through maximum values and thereby produce the negative MGFE. The double maximum in the conductivity activation energy is coincident with double maximums in CMAS calculated strain, ΔES, and Coulombic, ΔEC, activation energies. In these ternary glasses, the increase in the dielectric stiffness of the glass arises from a negative deviation of the limiting high frequency dielectric permittivity as compared to the binary end-member glasses. While the CMAS calculated total activation energies ΔEact = ΔES + ΔEC are found to reproduce the overall shape of the composition dependence of the measured ΔEact values, they are consistently smaller than the measured values for all compositions x. The new concept of an effective Madelung constant for the Na(+) ions in glass is introduced, MD(Na(+)), to account for the difference. Calculated MD(Na(+)) values necessary to bring the CMAS and experimental ΔEact values into agreement are in excellent agreement with nominal values for typical oxide crystals containing Na(+). New MD simulations of oxide glasses were performed and were used to calculate MD(Na(+)) values for Na2O + SiO2 glasses for the first time and were found to agree quite well with the values for the sulfide glasses studied here. Insights from the current study have been used to predict and design new MGF systems that may lead to a positive MGFE in the ionic conductivity.

A novel double-layer molecularly imprinted polymer film based surface plasmon resonance for determination of testosterone in aqueous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Yuan; Jing, Lijing; Ding, Yonghong; Wei, Tianxin

2015-07-01

This work aimed to prepare a novel double-layer structure molecularly imprinted polymer film (MIF) on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor chips for detection of testosterone in aqueous media. The film was synthesized by in-situ UV photo polymerization. Firstly, the modification of gold surface of SPR chip was performed by 1-dodecanethiol. Then double-layer MIF was generated on the 1-dodecanethiol modified gold surface. The non-modified and imprinted surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Analysis of SPR spectroscopy showed that the imprinted sensing film displayed good selectivity for testosterone compared to other analogues and the non-imprinted polymer film (NIF). Within the concentrations range of 1 × 10-12-1 × 10-8 mol/L, the coupling angle changes of SPR were linear with the negative logarithm of testosterone concentrations (R2 = 0.993). Based on a signal/noise ratio of three, the detection limit was estimated to be 10-12 mol/L. Finally, the developed MIF was successfully applied to the seawater detection of testosterone. The results in the experiments suggested that a combination of SPR sensing with MIF was a promising alternative method for detection of testosterone in aqueous media.

Doubling The Intensity Of An ERL Based Light Source

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

Andrew Hutton

2005-05-01

A light source based on an Energy Recovered Linac (ERL) [1] consists of a superconducting linac and a transfer line that includes wigglers and undulators to produce the synchrotron light. The transfer line brings the electron bunches back to the beginning of the linac so that their energy can be recovered when they traverse the linac a second time, {lambda}/2 out of RF phase. There is another interesting condition when the length of the transfer line is (n {+-} 1/4) {lambda}. In this case, the electrons drift through on the zero RF crossing, and make a further pass around themore » transfer line, effectively doubling the circulating current in the wigglers and undulators. On the third pass through the linac, they will be decelerated and their energy recovered. The longitudinal focusing at the zero crossing is a problem, but it can be canceled if the drifting beam sees a positive energy gradient for the first half of the linac and a negative gradient for the second half (or vice versa). This paper presents a proposal to use a double chicane at the center of the linac to provide this focusing inversion for the drifting beam while leaving the accelerating and decelerating beams on crest. [1] G. R. Neil, et al, Phys. Rev. Let. 84, 662 2000« less

Ion heating and characteristics of ST plasma used by double-pulsing CHI on HIST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanao, Takafumi; Hirono, Hidetoshi; Hyobu, Takahiro; Ito, Kengo; Matsumoto, Keisuke; Nakayama, Takashi; Oki, Nobuharu; Kikuchi, Yusuke; Fukumoto, Naoyuki; Nagata, Masayoshi

2013-10-01

Multi-pulsing Coaxial Helicity Injection (M-CHI) is an efficient current drive and sustainment method used in spheromak and spherical torus (ST). We have observed plasma current/flux amplification by double pulsing CHI. Poloidal ion temperature measured by Ion Doppler Spectrometer (IDS) has a peak at plasma core region. In this region, radial electric field has a negative peak. At more inboard side that is called separatrix between closed flux region and inner open flux region, poloidal flow has a large shear and radial electric field changes the polarity. After the second CHI pulse, we observed sharp and rapid ion heating at plasma core region and separatrix. In this region, the poloidal ion temperature is selective heating because electron temperature is almost uniform. At this time, flow shear become larger and radial electric field is amplified at separatorix. These effects produce direct heating of ion through the viscous flow damping. Furthermore, we observed decrease of electron density at separatrix. Decreased density makes Hall dynamo electric field as two-fluid effect. When the ion temperature is increasing, dynamo electric field is observed at separatrix. It may have influence with the ion heating. We will discuss characteristic of double pulsing CHI driven ST plasmas and correlation of direct heating of ion with dynamo electric field and any other parameters.

Reduced Capillary Length Scale in the Application of Ostwald Ripening Theory to the Coarsening of Charged Colloidal Crystals in Electrolyte Solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowe, Jeffrey D.; Baird, James K.

2007-06-01

A colloidal crystal suspended in an electrolyte solution will ordinarily exchange ions with the surrounding solution and develop a net surface charge density and a corresponding double layer. The interfacial tension of the charged surface has contributions arising from: (a) background interfacial tension of the uncharged surface, (b) the entropy associated with the adsorption of ions on the surface, and (c) the polarizing effect of the electrostatic field within the double layer. The adsorption and polarization effects make negative contributions to the surface free energy and serve to reduce the interfacial tension below the value to be expected for the uncharged surface. The diminished interfacial tension leads to a reduced capillary length scale. According to the Ostwald ripening theory of particle coarsening, the reduced capillary length will cause the solute supersaturation to decay more rapidly and the colloidal particles to be smaller in size and greater in number than in the absence of the double layer. Although the length scale for coarsening should be little affected in the case of inorganic colloids, such as AgI, it should be greatly reduced in the case of suspensions of protein crystals, such as apoferritin, catalase, and thaumatin.

Identity, Peer Relationships, and Adolescent Girls’ Sexual Behavior: An Exploration of the Contemporary Double Standard

PubMed Central

Lyons, Heidi; Giordano, Peggy; Manning, Wendy; Longmore, Monica

2011-01-01

The idea of a sexual double standard emphasizes that men have more sexual freedom, while women are subject to social sanctions for the same behaviors. The current research uses a sample of adolescent women to examine the social consequences of reporting a greater number of sex partners. We explore the broader social costs and low self-worth associated with a high number of sex partners, and also focus on characteristics of the adolescents’ close friends. The analyses of quantitative data (n=600) provide support for the emphasis on the adolescents’ immediate network of friends: friends’ attitudes and behaviors were significant predictors of respondents’ own sexual experience, while those reporting a higher number of sex partners did not report a lack of popularity, desire for more friends, or lower self-esteem. In-depth relationship history narratives collected from a subset of respondents (n=46) provide additional context for the quantitative results. Women often recognized the existence of a double standard on a societal or school level, but support or acceptance provided by the more immediate network of similarly situated friends serves as a buffer against such negative attributions. The findings suggest that programs targeting sexual behaviors should focus on how peer norms influence girls’ sexual choices. PMID:20818574

Psilocybin-Induced Decrease in Amygdala Reactivity Correlates with Enhanced Positive Mood in Healthy Volunteers.

PubMed

Kraehenmann, Rainer; Preller, Katrin H; Scheidegger, Milan; Pokorny, Thomas; Bosch, Oliver G; Seifritz, Erich; Vollenweider, Franz X

2015-10-15

The amygdala is a key structure in serotonergic emotion-processing circuits. In healthy volunteers, acute administration of the serotonin 1A/2A/2C receptor agonist psilocybin reduces neural responses to negative stimuli and induces mood changes toward positive states. However, it is little-known whether psilocybin reduces amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli and whether any change in amygdala reactivity is related to mood change. This study assessed the effects of acute administration of the hallucinogen psilocybin (.16 mg/kg) versus placebo on amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli in 25 healthy volunteers using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Mood changes were assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the state portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A double-blind, randomized, cross-over design was used with volunteers counterbalanced to receive psilocybin and placebo in two separate sessions at least 14 days apart. Amygdala reactivity to negative and neutral stimuli was lower after psilocybin administration than after placebo administration. The psilocybin-induced attenuation of right amygdala reactivity in response to negative stimuli was related to the psilocybin-induced increase in positive mood state. These results demonstrate that acute treatment with psilocybin decreased amygdala reactivity during emotion processing and that this was associated with an increase of positive mood in healthy volunteers. These findings may be relevant to the normalization of amygdala hyperactivity and negative mood states in patients with major depression. Copyright © 2015 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Channel architecture in maltoporin: dominance studies with lamB mutations influencing maltodextrin binding provide evidence for independent selectivity filters in each subunit.

PubMed Central

Ferenci, T; Lee, K S

1989-01-01

Maltoporin trimers constitute maltodextrin-selective channels in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli. To study the organization of the maltodextrin-binding site within trimers, dominance studies were undertaken with maltoporin variants of altered binding affinity. It has been established that amino acid substitutions at three dispersed regions of the maltoporin sequence (at residues 8, 82, and 360) resulted specifically in maltodextrin-binding defects and loss of maltodextrin channel selectivity; a substitution at residue 118 increased both binding affinity and maltodextrin transport. Strains heterodiploid for lamB were constructed in which these substitutions were encoded by chromosomal and plasmid-borne genes, and the relative level of maltoporin expression from these genes was estimated. Binding assays with bacteria forming maltoporin heterotrimers were performed in order to test for complementation between binding-negative alleles, negative dominance of negative over wild-type alleles, and possible dominance of negatives over the high-affinity allele. Double mutants with mutations affecting residues 8 and 118, 82 and 118, and 118 and 360 were constructed in vitro, and the dominance properties of the mutations in cis were also tested. There was no complementation between negatives and no negative dominance in heterotrimers. The high-affinity mutation was dominant over negatives in trans but not in cis. The affinity of binding sites in heterotrimer populations was characteristic of the high-affinity allele present and uninfluenced by the negative allele. These results are consistent with the presence of three discrete binding sites in a maltoporin trimer and suggest that the selectivity filter for maltodextrins is not at the interface between the three subunits. PMID:2521623

Increased positive versus negative affective perception and memory in healthy volunteers following selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.

PubMed

Harmer, Catherine J; Shelley, Nicholas C; Cowen, Philip J; Goodwin, Guy M

2004-07-01

Antidepressants that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin (SSRIs) or norepinephrine (SNRIs) are effective in the treatment of disorders such as depression and anxiety. Cognitive psychological theories emphasize the importance of correcting negative biases of information processing in the nonpharmacological treatment of these disorders, but it is not known whether antidepressant drugs can directly modulate the neural processing of affective information. The present study therefore assessed the actions of repeated antidepressant administration on perception and memory for positive and negative emotional information in healthy volunteers. Forty-two male and female volunteers were randomly assigned to 7 days of double-blind intervention with the SSRI citalopram (20 mg/day), the SNRI reboxetine (8 mg/day), or placebo. On the final day, facial expression recognition, emotion-potentiated startle response, and memory for affect-laden words were assessed. Questionnaires monitoring mood, hostility, and anxiety were given before and after treatment. In the facial expression recognition task, citalopram and reboxetine reduced the identification of the negative facial expressions of anger and fear. Citalopram also abolished the increased startle response found in the context of negative affective images. Both antidepressants increased the relative recall of positive (versus negative) emotional material. These changes in emotional processing occurred in the absence of significant differences in ratings of mood and anxiety. However, reboxetine decreased subjective ratings of hostility and elevated energy. Short-term administration of two different antidepressant types had similar effects on emotion-related tasks in healthy volunteers, reducing the processing of negative relative to positive emotional material. Such effects of antidepressants may ameliorate the negative biases in information processing that characterize mood and anxiety disorders. They also suggest a mechanism of action potentially compatible with cognitive theories of anxiety and depression.

System-justifying ideologies and academic outcomes among first-year Latino college students.

PubMed

O'Brien, Laurie T; Mars, Dustin E; Eccleston, Collette

2011-10-01

The present study examines the relationship between system-justifying ideologies and academic outcomes among 78 first-year Latino college students (21 men, 57 women, mean age = 18.1 years) attending a moderately selective West Coast university. Endorsement of system-justifying ideologies was negatively associated with grade point average (GPA); however it was positively associated with feelings of belonging at the university. In addition, system-justifying ideologies were negatively associated with perceptions of personal discrimination. In contrast, ethnic identity centrality was unrelated to GPA, feelings of belonging, and perceptions of personal discrimination once the relationship between system-justifying ideologies and these outcomes was statistically taken into account. The results of the present study suggest that endorsement of system-justifying ideologies may be a double-edged sword for Latino college students, involving trade-offs between academic success and feelings of belonging.

Acoustic levitation of soap bubbles in air: Beyond the half-wavelength limit of sound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zang, Duyang; Lin, Kejun; Li, Lin; Chen, Zhen; Li, Xiaoguang; Geng, Xingguo

2017-03-01

We report on the behavior of levitated soap bubbles in a single-axis acoustic field. For a single bubble, its surface in the polar regions is under compression, but in the equatorial region, it is under suction. Levitation becomes unstable when the height of the bubble approaches half the wavelength of the sound wave because horizontal fluctuations lead to a negative recovery force and a negative levitation force. Vertically stacked double bubbles notably can be stable under levitation if their total vertical length is ˜5λ/6, significantly beyond λ/2 in consequence of the formation of a toroidal high-pressure region around the waist of the two bubbles. Our results provide a deeper insight into the stability of acoustic levitation and the coupling between bubbles and sound field.

Coherent control of the Goos-Hänchen shift via Fano interference

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

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

2016-04-14

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

Establishment of two new cell lines derived from human breast carcinomas with HER-2/neu amplification.

PubMed Central

Meltzer, P.; Leibovitz, A.; Dalton, W.; Villar, H.; Kute, T.; Davis, J.; Nagle, R.; Trent, J.

1991-01-01

Two human cell lines (UACC-812 and 893), both containing significant amplification of the HER-2/neu gene, were established from biopsy specimens of breast carcinomas. One patient had Stage II breast carcinoma; the other had metastatic disease. Characterisation of these lines has revealed that both are highly aneuploid containing multiple clonal chromosome alterations, have doubling times near 100 h, and are oestrogen and progesterone receptor negative. Electron microscopy demonstrates that both lines contain numerous microvilli, cytoplasmic filaments, multivesicular bodies, and desmosomes. Immunoblot analysis for P-glycoprotein using the monoclonal antibody C219 was negative for both patient cell lines. These relatively rare cell lines may represent a useful model to investigate human breast carcinomas. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 PMID:1674877

Forkhead box-P3+ regulatory T cells and toll-like receptor 2 co-expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Hussaini, H M; Parachuru, V P B; Seymour, G J; Rich, A M

2017-04-01

The function of forkhead box-P3 (FoxP3) regulatory T cells (Treg) and toll-like receptor (TLR)2 protein in the oral cancer microenvironment is not fully understood, but evidence from other malignancies suggests it is likely they are involved with tumour development and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of FoxP3 + cells, TLR2 + cells and double-labelled FoxP3 + TLR2 + immune cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). 25 archival cases of OSCC were immunostained with anti-FoxP3 and anti-TLR2 antibodies. Inflamed hyperplastic oral mucosal tissues were used as controls. The proportion of single-labelled, double-labelled and negative cells was determined. A higher frequency of double-labelled FoxP3 + TLR2 + Tregs was observed within the immune cells of OSCC compared to inflamed controls using IHC (p<0.05). Cell-to-cell contact between single-stained TLR2 + cells and FoxP3 + cells was noted. Double IF studies validated demonstration of co-expression of FoxP3 + /TLR2 + immune cells in OSCC. The presence of FoxP3 + TLR2 + cells within the OSCC microenvironment may represent a dendritic cell-dependent pathway capable of inhibiting Treg suppressive activity, potentially enhancing the anti-tumour response. Modulation of TLR2-Treg interactions should be further explored to determine if they have a role in the therapeutic management of OSCC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The impact of MIG1 and/or MIG2 disruption on aerobic metabolism of succinate dehydrogenase negative Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Cao, Hailong; Yue, Min; Li, Shuguang; Bai, Xuefang; Zhao, Xiaoming; Du, Yuguang

2011-02-01

The zinc finger proteins Mig1 and Mig2 play important roles in glucose repression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To investigate whether the alleviation of glucose effect would result in an increase in aerobic succinate production, MIG1 and/or MIG2 were disrupted in a succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-negative S. cerevisiae strain. Moreover, their impacts on physiology of the SDH-negative S. cerevisiae strain were studied under fully aerobic conditions when glucose was the sole carbon source. Our results showed that the succinate production for the SDH-negative S. cerevisiae was very low even under fully aerobic conditions. Furthermore, deletion of MIG1 and/or MIG2 did not result in an increase in succinate production in the SDH-negative S. cerevisiae strain. However, the synthesis of acetate was significantly affected by MIG1 deletion or in combination with MIG2 deletion. The acetate production for the mig1/mig2 double mutant BS2M was reduced by 69.72% compared to the parent strain B2S. In addition, the amount of ethanol produced by BS2M was slightly decreased. With the mig2 mutant BSM2, the concentrations of pyruvate and glycerol were increased by 26.23% and 15.28%, respectively, compared to the parent strain B2S.

Burnout is associated with changes in error and feedback processing.

PubMed

Gajewski, Patrick D; Boden, Sylvia; Freude, Gabriele; Potter, Guy G; Falkenstein, Michael

2017-10-01

Burnout is a pattern of complaints in individuals with emotionally demanding jobs that is often seen as a precursor of depression. One often reported symptom of burnout is cognitive decline. To analyze cognitive control and to differentiate between subclinical burnout and mild to moderate depression a double-blinded study was conducted that investigates changes in the processing of performance errors and feedback in a task switching paradigm. Fifty-one of 76 employees from emotionally demanding jobs showed a sufficient number of errors to be included in the analysis. The sample was subdivided into groups with low (EE-) and high (EE+) emotional exhaustion and no (DE-) and mild to moderate depression (DE+). The behavioral data did not significantly differ between the groups. In contrast, in the EE+ group, the error negativity (Ne/ERN) was enhanced while the error positivity (Pe) did not differ between the EE+ and EE- groups. After negative feedback the feedback-related negativity (FRN) was enhanced, while the subsequent positivity (FRP) was reduced in EE+ relative to EE-. None of these effects were observed in the DE+ vs. DE-. These results suggest an upregulation of error and negative feedback processing, while the later processing of negative feedback was attenuated in employees with subclinical burnout but not in mild to moderate depression. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Serum levels of interleukin 6 in schizophrenic patients during treatment augmentation with sarcosine (results of the PULSAR study).

PubMed

Strzelecki, Dominik; Urban-Kowalczyk, Małgorzata; Wysokiński, Adam

2018-03-01

Augmentation of sarcosine, a natural inhibitor of the glycine transporter type I, normalizes glutamatergic neurotransmission, having beneficial impact on primary negative symptoms in schizophrenia and may also influence immune system and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels. Finding a relationship between initial IL-6 serum concentrations or its changes and severity of symptoms as a result of sarcosine addition to stable antipsychotic treatment. Fifity-eight individuals with schizophrenia with predominantly negative symptoms completed a 6-month randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled prospective study. Patients received 2 g of sarcosine (n = 29) or placebo (n = 30) daily per os. We measured IL-6 levels and severity of symptoms at the beginning, after 6 weeks and 6 months. As main clinical tools, we used Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia (CDSS). Augmentation with sarcosine had no effect on IL-6 serum levels in all time points. We noted significant improvements in negative symptoms, general psychopathology, and total PANSS score in the sarcosine group. We found correlation of initial serum IL-6 with severity of positive symptoms and negative association between IL-6 levels reduction and positive symptoms reduction. Sarcosine does not significantly affect IL-6 concentrations but IL-6 may be involved in mechanisms related to the presence of positive symptoms. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Relationship Between Endorsement of the Sexual Double Standard and Sexual Cognitions and Emotions.

PubMed

Emmerink, Peggy M J; van den Eijnden, Regina J J M; Vanwesenbeeck, Ine; Ter Bogt, Tom F M

Sexual gender norms promoting sexual prowess for men, but sexual modesty for women have been shown to negatively affect sexual and mental health in both men and women. Knowledge about the relationship between gender norms and sexual cognitions and emotions might further the understanding of continued gender-norm conformity. In the present study, we investigated whether and how gendered sexual attitudes are related to (positive and negative) sex-related emotions, via sexual cognitions (autonomy, body esteem, and approach/avoidance motives for sex). A survey was submitted to 293 heterosexually identified, sexually active, Dutch (central and southern regions) 18-25 year-olds. Results from a moderated mediation model (using structural equation modeling) revealed that women, but not men, who more strongly endorsed traditional gender-related sexual attitudes experienced significantly less positive and more negative emotions, as a result of decreased sexual autonomy and sexual body esteem as well as increased avoidance motives for sex. We conclude that, as a result of negative cognitions associated with the endorsement of traditional gender norms, women in particular are at risk of experiencing negative emotional outcomes in the sexual context. We argue that sexual cognitions and emotions deserve explicit attention in sex-positive and gender-transformative sexuality education, which has been proven to be a vital resource for achieving increased gender-equity in sexual and romantic relationships.

Effects of Oxytocin Administration on Receiving Help.

PubMed

Human, Lauren J; Woolley, Joshua D; Mendes, Wendy Berry

2017-11-27

Receiving help can be a "mixed blessing." Despite the many psychosocial benefits it can carry, it sometimes has negative psychological consequences, such as loss in self-esteem or enhanced guilt. It is, therefore, important to understand the factors that modify responses to receiving help from others. We explored the role of the hormone oxytocin (OT) on affective and social responses to receiving help, given the putative role of OT in social bonding and attunement. To this end, we manipulated whether help was received from a same-sex interaction partner (confederate) versus a control condition, crossed with a double-blind administration of intranasal OT (vs. placebo), and examined subjective and observer-rated participant responses to help. We observed significant interactions between OT and the help manipulation. In the placebo condition, receiving help from the interaction partner compared with the control condition had negative consequences, such that participants reported greater negative affect and came to view themselves and their interaction partners more negatively after interacting together on several tasks. What is important, however, is that OT administration buffered against these negative subjective responses to receiving help. Further, outside observers rated participants who received OT administration as expressing greater happiness and gratitude in response to help, relative to those who received placebo. In sum, in the context of receiving help from a stranger, oxytocin administration fostered more positive affective and social responses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial on probiotics in small bowel bacterial overgrowth in children treated with omeprazole.

PubMed

Hegar, Badriul; Hutapea, Esther I; Advani, Najid; Vandenplas, Yvan

2013-01-01

To evaluate the incidence of small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) in children treated with omeprazole, and to test whether probiotics influence the incidence. A double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 70 children treated orally during four weeks with 20mg omeprazole per day. Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 (1.9×10(9) cfu) and Lactobacillus acidophilus R0052 (0.1×10(9) cfu) were simultaneously given daily to 36 subjects (probiotic group), while 34 subjects received placebo (placebo group). The diagnosis of SBBO was based on the development of suggestive symptoms, in combination with a positive glucose breath test. After one month of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment, 30% (21/70) had a positive breath test suggesting SBBO; of these 62% were symptomatic. Five children developed SBBO-like symptoms, but had a negative breath test; and 44 (63%) were symptom free and had a negative breath test. There was no difference in the incidence of positive breath tests in the probiotic versus the placebo group (33% vs 26.5%; p=0.13). Since symptoms suggesting SBBO developed in 26% of PPI-treated children, and since the glucose breath test was abnormal in 72% of these, this side-effect should be more frequently considered. The probiotic tested did not decrease the risk to develop SBBO. Copyright © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial: Gluten versus Placebo Rechallenge in Patients with Lymphocytic Enteritis and Suspected Celiac Disease

PubMed Central

Carrasco, Anna; Ibarra, Montserrat; Temiño, Rocío; Salas, Antonio; Esteve, Maria

2016-01-01

Background The role of gluten as a trigger of symptoms in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity has been questioned. Aim To demonstrate that gluten is the trigger of symptoms in a subgroup of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), which presented with lymphocytic enteritis, positive celiac genetics and negative celiac serology. Methods Double-blind randomized clinical trial of gluten vs placebo rechallenge. Inclusion criteria: >18 years of age, HLA-DQ2/8+, negative coeliac serology and gluten-dependent lymphocytic enteritis, and GI symptoms, with clinical and histological remission at inclusion. Eighteen patients were randomised: 11 gluten (20 g/day) and 7 placebo. Clinical symptoms, quality of life (GIQLI), and presence of gamma/delta+ cells and transglutaminase deposits were evaluated. Results 91% of patients had clinical relapse during gluten challenge versus 28.5% after placebo (p = 0.01). Clinical scores and GIQLI worsened after gluten but not after placebo (p<0.01). The presence of coeliac tissue markers at baseline biopsy on a gluten-free diet allowed classifying 9 out of the 18 (50%) patients as having probable ‘coeliac lite’ disease. Conclusion This proof-of-concept study indicates that gluten is the trigger of symptoms in a subgroup of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for NCGS. They were characterized by positive celiac genetics, lymphocytic enteritis, and clinical and histological remission after a gluten-free diet. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02472704 PMID:27392045

Superficial Macromolecular Arrays on the Cell Wall of Spirillum putridiconchylium

PubMed Central

Beveridge, T. J.; Murray, R. G. E.

1974-01-01

Electron microscopy of the cell envelope of Spirillum putridiconchylium, using negatively stained, thin-sectioned, and replicated freeze-etched preparations, showed two superficial wall layers forming a complex macromolecular pattern on the external surface. The outer structured layer was a linear array of particles overlying an inner tetragonal array of larger subunits. They were associated in a very regular fashion, and the complex was bonded to the outer, pitted surface of the lipopolysaccharide tripartite layer of the cell wall. The relationship of the components of the two structured layers was resolved with the aid of optical diffraction, combined with image filtering and reconstruction and linear and rotary integration techniques. The outer structural layer consisted of spherical 1.5-nm units set in double lines determined by the size and arrangement of 6- by 3-nm inner structural layer subunits, which bore one outer structural layer unit on each outer corner. The total effect of this arrangement was a double-ridged linear structure that was evident in surface replicas and negatively stained fragments of the whole wall. The packing of these units was not square but skewed by 2° off the perpendicular so that the “unit array” described by optical diffraction and linear integration appeared to be a deformed tetragon. The verity of the model was checked by using a photographically reduced image to produce an optical diffraction pattern for comparison with that of the actual layers. The correspondence was nearly perfect. Images PMID:4137219

The effect of cyclosporin A, FK506 and rapamycin on the murine contact sensitivity reaction

PubMed Central

Salerno, A; Bonanno, C T; Caccamo, N; Cigna, D; Dominici, R; Ferro, C; Sireci, G; Dieli, F

1998-01-01

We have evaluated the effects of three potent immunosuppressive agents, cyclosporin A (CsA), FK506 and rapamycin, on the murine contact sensitivity (CS) reaction to the hapten trinitrochlorobenzene. Development of CS reaction requires participation of three distinct T cell subsets: αβ+, CD4+ T lymphocytes, which are the classical effector cell of the CS reaction, γδ+ T lymphocytes, and αβ+, double-negative (CD4− CD8−) T lymphocytes that express the B220 molecule and produce IL-4. We found that all three drugs inhibit the development of the CS reaction, but they affect different target cells. In fact, rapamycin and FK-506 block both αβ+, CD4+ and γδ+ T lymphocytes, while CsA inhibits only the αβ+, CD4+ T lymphocyte. None of the three drugs exerted any inhibitory activity on the αβ+, double-negative (CD4− CD8−) T lymphocytes. Hapten-immune lymph node cells from mice treated in vivo with CsA or FK506 failed to proliferate and to produce IL-2 when re-exposed to the specific antigen in vitro. In contrast, immune lymph node cells from mice that had been treated in vivo with rapamycin gave optimal antigen-specific proliferation and IL-2 production in vitro. The implications of these observations are discussed in relation to the use of these immunosuppressive agents for prevention of allograft rejection. PMID:9566798

Pendular energy transduction within the step during human walking on slopes at different speeds

PubMed Central

Dewolf, Arthur H.; Ivanenko, Yuri P.; Lacquaniti, Francesco

2017-01-01

When ascending (descending) a slope, positive (negative) work must be performed to overcome changes in gravitational potential energy at the center of body mass (COM). This modifies the pendulum-like behavior of walking. The aim of this study is to analyze how energy exchange and mechanical work done vary within a step across slopes and speeds. Ten subjects walked on an instrumented treadmill at different slopes (from -9° to 9°), and speeds (between 0.56 and 2.22 m s-1). From the ground reaction forces, we evaluated energy of the COM, recovery (i.e. the potential-kinetic energy transduction) and pendular energy savings (i.e. the theoretical reduction in work due to this recovered energy) throughout the step. When walking uphill as compared to level, pendular energy savings increase during the first part of stance (when the COM is lifted) and decreases during the second part. Conversely in downhill walking, pendular energy savings decrease during the first part of stance and increase during the second part (when the COM is lowered). In uphill and downhill walking, the main phase of external work occurs around double support. Uphill, the positive work phase is extended during the beginning of single support to raise the body. Downhill, the negative work phase starts before double support, slowing the downward velocity of the body. Changes of the pendulum-like behavior as a function of slope can be illustrated by tilting the 'classical compass model' backwards (uphill) or forwards (downhill). PMID:29073208

Predicting HIV RNA virologic outcome at 52-weeks follow-up in antiretroviral clinical trials. The INCAS and AVANTI Study Groups.

PubMed

Raboud, J M; Rae, S; Montaner, J S

2000-08-15

To determine the ability of intermediate plasma viral load (pVL) measurements to predict virologic outcome at 52 weeks of follow-up in clinical trials of antiretroviral therapy. Individual patient data from three clinical trials (INCAS, AVANTI-2 and AVANTI-3) were combined into a single database. Virologic success was defined to be plasma viral load (pVL) <500 copies/ml at week 52. The sensitivity and specificity of intermediate pVL measurements below the limit of detection, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 copies/ml to predict virologic success were calculated. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a pVL measurement <1000 copies/ml at week 16 to predict virologic outcome at week 52 were 74%, 74%, 48%, and 90%, respectively, for patients on double therapy. For patients on triple therapy, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a pVL measurement <50 copies/ml at week 16 to predict virologic outcome were 68%, 68%, 80%, and 47%, respectively. For patients receiving double therapy, a poor virologic result at an intermediate week of follow-up is a strong indicator of virologic failure at 52 weeks whereas intermediate virologic success is no guarantee of success at 1 year. For patients on triple therapy, disappointing intermediate results do not preclude virologic success at 1 year and intermediate successes are more likely to be sustained.

Double negatively charged carbon vacancy at the h- and k-sites in 4H-SiC: Combined Laplace-DLTS and DFT study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capan, Ivana; Brodar, Tomislav; Pastuović, Željko; Siegele, Rainer; Ohshima, Takeshi; Sato, Shin-ichiro; Makino, Takahiro; Snoj, Luka; Radulović, Vladimir; Coutinho, José; Torres, Vitor J. B.; Demmouche, Kamel

2018-04-01

We present results from combined Laplace-Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (Laplace-DLTS) and density functional theory studies of the carbon vacancy (VC) in n-type 4H-SiC. Using Laplace-DLTS, we were able to distinguish two previously unresolved sub-lattice-inequivalent emissions, causing the broad Z1/2 peak at 290 K that is commonly observed by conventional DLTS in n-type 4H-SiC. This peak has two components with activation energies for electron emission of 0.58 eV and 0.65 eV. We compared these results with the acceptor levels of VC obtained by means of hybrid density functional supercell calculations. The calculations support the assignment of the Z1/2 signal to a superposition of emission peaks from double negatively charged VC defects. Taking into account the measured and calculated energy levels, the calculated relative stability of VC in hexagonal (h) and cubic (k) lattice sites, as well as the observed relative amplitude of the Laplace-DLTS peaks, we assign Z1 and Z2 to VC(h) and VC(k), respectively. We also present the preliminary results of DLTS and Laplace-DLTS measurements on deep level defects (ET1 and ET2) introduced by fast neutron irradiation and He ion implantation in 4H-SiC. The origin of ET1 and ET2 is still unclear.

[Current Perspective on Voltage-gated Potassium Channel Complex Antibody Associated Diseases].

PubMed

Watanabe, Osamu

2018-04-01

Voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex auto-antibodies were initially identified in Isaacs' syndrome (IS), which is characterized by muscle cramps and neuromyotonia. These antibodies were subsequently identified in patients with Morvan's syndrome (MoS), which includes IS in conjunction with psychosis, insomnia, and dysautonomia. The antibodies have also been detected in a patient with limbic encephalopathy (LE) presenting with prominent amnesia and frequent seizures. Typical cases of LE have adult-onset, with frequent, brief dystonic seizures that predominantly affect the arms and ipsilateral face, and has recently been termed faciobrachial dystonic seizures. Autoantibodies against the extracellular domains of VGKC complex proteins, leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1), and contactin-associated protein-2 (Caspr2), occur in patients with IS, MoS, and LE. However, routine testing has detected VGKC complex antibodies without LGI1 or Caspr2 reactivities (double-negative) in patients with other diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Furthermore, double-negative VGKC complex antibodies are often directed against cytosolic epitopes of Kv1 subunits. Therefore, these antibodies should no longer be classified as neuronal-surface antibodies and lacking pathogenic potential. Novel information has been generated regarding autoantibody disruption of the physiological functions of target proteins. LGI1 antibodies neutralize the interaction between LGI1 and ADAM22, thereby reducing the synaptic AMPA receptors. It may be that the main action is on inhibitory neurons, explaining why the loss of AMPA receptors causes amnesia, neuronal excitability and seizures.

"Mitochondrial Eve", "Y Chromosome Adam", testosterone, and human evolution.

PubMed

Howard, James Michael

2002-01-01

I suggest primate evolution began as a consequence of increased testosterone in males which increased aggression and sexuality, therefore, reproduction and success. With time, negative effects of excessive testosterone reduced spermatogenesis and started a decline of the group. Approximately 30-40 million years ago, the gene DAZ (Deleted in AZoospermia) appeared on the Y chromosome, increased spermatogenesis, and rescued the early primates from extinction. (Note: DAZ is considered by some to specifically, positively affect spermatogenesis; others suggest it has no effect on spermatogenesis.) Hominid evolution continued with increasing testosterone. The advent of increased testosterone in females of Homo erectus (or Homo ergaster) increased the female-to-male body size ratio, and eventually produced another era of excessive testosterone. Excessive testosterone caused a reduction in population size (bottleneck) that produced the "Mitochondrial Eve" (ME) mechanism. (Only certain females continued during the bottleneck to transmit their mitochondrial DNA.) That is, the ME mechanism culminated, again, in excessive testosterone and reduced spermatogenesis in the hominid line. Approximately 50,000 to 200,000 years ago, a "doubling" of the DAZ gene occurred on the Y chromosome in hominid males which rescued the hominid line with increased spermatogenesis in certain males. This produced the "Y Chromosome Adam" event. The doubling of DAZ allowed further increases in testosterone in hominids that resulted in the increased size and development of the brain. Modern humans periodically fluctuate between the positive and negative consequences of increased levels of testosterone, currently identifiable as the secular trend, increased infections, and reduced spermatogenesis.

Possible Causes of Double-BSRs on the Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pecher, I. A.; Mountjoy, J. J.; Crutchley, G. J.; Krastel, S.; Koch, S.; Dannowski, A.; Bialas, J.; Henrys, S. A.

2014-12-01

Bottom Simulating Reflections (BSRs) are commonly thought to be caused by free gas at the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS). BSRs usually occur at the pressure-temperature conditions for the phase boundary of gas hydrate, which depends on gas composition, pore water chemistry, and various other factors. Hence, BSRs should only occur at a single depth level beneath the seafloor. At several locations worldwide however, double and multiple BSRs have been observed. We have recently discovered localized double-BSRs on the Hikurangi Margin east of New Zealand and present first results from studying the possible origin of these double-BSRs. Both BSRs display negative polarity compared to the seafloor ruling out diagenetic origins. The deeper BSR (BSR-2) is found to be anomalously deep, while the shallower BSR (BSR-1) is at similar depths as BSRs regionally. BSR-2 and BSR-1 are clearly separated on seismic lines from east to west, while they converge from north to south. We propose two possible models for formation of these double-BSRs: 1. Uplift leads to depressurization and an upward movement of the BGHS with respect to the seafloor. BSR-1 may have formed at the new BGHS while immobile gas may remain in place at the original level of the BGHS causing BSR-2. 2. Thermogenic gas may leak from a deeper hydrocarbon reservoir. Gas mixes of thermogenic origin are predicted to form hydrate that is more stable than pure methane hydrate, in particular if the mix contains gases that lead to formation of Structure-II hydrate. BSR-2 may form at a level of the BGHS for a more stable gas mix; residual gases may migrate further until they reach the phase boundary for less stable hydrates at BSR-1. We currently slightly favour uplift as cause of the double-BSRs largely because of the smooth topography of BSR-2: Small-scale lateral variations of gas composition should lead to significant BSR topography. More importantly, we note that the process of fractionation of gas during hydrate formation from thermogenic gas mixes in nature is only poorly understood.

SA19. N-Acetyl-Cysteine in a Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial: Toward Biomarker-Guided Treatment in Early Psychosis

PubMed Central

Do, Kim; Seidman, Larry J.; Fournier, Margot; Xin, Lijing; Cleusix, Martine; Baumann, Philipp S.; Ferrari, Carina; Cousins, Ann; Alameda, Luis; Gholam-Rezaee, Mehdi; Golay, Philippe; Jenni, Raoul; Woo, T-U Wilson; Keshavan, Matcheri S.; Eap, Chin B.; Wojcik, Joanne; Cuenod, Michel; Buclin, Thierry; Gruetter, Rolf; Conus, Philippe

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Biomarker-guided treatments are needed in psychiatry and previous data suggest redox dysregulation / oxidative stress may be a target in schizophrenia (1,2). A previous add-on trial with the antioxidant N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) led to negative symptoms reductions in chronic patients (3). We aim to study NAC impact on symptoms and neurocognition in early psychosis (EP) and to explore whether glutathione (GSH)/redox markers could represent valid biomarkers to guide treatment. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 63 EP patients, we assessed the effect of NAC supplementation (2700 mg/day, 6 months) on PANSS, neurocognition (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery [MCCB]), and redox markers (brain GSH [GSH-mPFC], blood cells GSH [GSH-BC] levels, and GSH peroxidase activity [GPx-BC]). Results: No changes in negative, positive symptoms, or functional outcome were observed with NAC, but significant improvements were found in favor of NAC on the MCCB Processing Speed factor and two of its components: Trail Making and Verbal Fluency. NAC leads to increases in GSH-mPFC by 23% (P = .005) and GSH-BC by 19% (P = .05). In patients with high-baseline GPx-BC (>22.3U/gHb), subgroup explorations revealed an improvement with NAC of positive symptoms when compared to patients with low-baseline GPx (P = .02), with an improvement of positive symptoms in parallel with that of the redox status. Conclusion: In conclusion, NAC supplementation in a limited sample of EP patients did not improve negative symptoms, which were at modest levels at baseline. However, NAC leads to neurocognition improvement as well as to brain GSH levels increases, pointing to good target engagement. Blood GPx activity, a redox peripheral index associated with brain GSH levels, could help to identify a subgroup of patients who improve their positive symptoms with NAC. Future trials with antioxidant in EP should consider biomarker-guided treatment. References 1. Steullet P et al. 2016, Redox dysregulation, neuroinflammation, and NMDA receptor hypofunction: A “central hub” in schizophrenia pathophysiology? Schizophr Res. 176:41. 2. Hardingham GE, Do KQ, 2016, Linking early-life NMDAR hypofunction and oxidative stress in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Nat Rev Neurosci. 17:125. 3. Berk M et al. 2008, N-acetyl cysteine as a glutathione precursor for schizophrenia--a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry, 64:361.

Efficacy and Safety of MIN-101: A 12-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of a New Drug in Development for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Davidson, Michael; Saoud, Jay; Staner, Corinne; Noel, Nadine; Luthringer, Elisabeth; Werner, Sandra; Reilly, Joseph; Schaffhauser, Jean-Yves; Rabinowitz, Jonathan; Weiser, Mark; Luthringer, Remy

2017-12-01

The authors assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of MIN-101, a compound with affinities for sigma-2 and 5-HT 2A receptors and no direct dopamine affinities, in comparison with placebo in treating negative symptoms in stabilized patients with schizophrenia. The trial enrolled 244 patients who had been symptomatically stable for at least 3 months and had scores of at least 20 on the negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). After at least 5 days' withdrawal from all antipsychotic medication, patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or 32 mg/day or 64 mg/day of MIN-101 for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the PANSS negative factor score (pentagonal structure model). Secondary outcome measures were PANSS total score and scores on the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI), the Brief Negative Symptom Scale, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. A statistically significant difference in PANSS negative factor score was observed, with lower scores for the MIN-101 32 mg/day and 64 mg/day groups compared with the placebo group (effect sizes, d=0.45 and d=0.57, respectively). Supporting these findings were similar effects on several of the secondary outcome measures, such as the PANSS negative symptom, total, and activation factor scores, the CGI severity item, and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale. There were no statistically significant differences in PANSS positive scale score between the MIN-101 and placebo groups. No clinically significant changes were observed in vital signs, routine laboratory values, weight, metabolic indices, and Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale score. MIN-101 demonstrated statistically significant efficacy in reducing negative symptoms and good tolerability in stable schizophrenia patients.

Emotional Body Odors as Context: Effects on Cardiac and Subjective Responses.

PubMed

Ferreira, Jacqueline; Parma, Valentina; Alho, Laura; Silva, Carlos F; Soares, Sandra C

2018-05-23

Many studies have indicated that the chemical cues from body odors (BOs) of donors experiencing negative emotions can influence the psychophysiological and behavioral response of the observers. However, these olfactory cues have been used mainly as contextual information for processing visual stimuli. Here, for the first time, we evaluate how emotional BO affects the emotional tone of a subsequent BO message. Axillary sweat samples were taken from 20 donors in 3 separate sessions while they watched fear, disgust, or neutral videos. In a double-blind experiment, we assessed the cardiac and subjective responses from 69 participants who were either exposed to negative emotional or neutral BOs. Our results showed a reduced cardiac parasympathetic activity (HF%)-indicating increased stress-when participants smelled the emotional BOs before the neutral BOs, compared to when they smelled neutral followed by emotional BOs. The intensity of the neutral odor also increased following the exposure to both negative BOs. These findings indicate that BOs contain an emotion-dependent chemical cue that affects the perceiver both at the physiological and subjective levels.

Feedback, the various tasks of the doctor, and the feedforward alternative.

PubMed

Kluger, Avraham N; Van Dijk, Dina

2010-12-01

This study aims to alert users of feedback to its dangers, explain some of its complexities and offer the feedforward alternative. We review the damage that feedback may cause to both motivation and performance. We provide an initial solution to the puzzle of the feedback sign (positive versus negative) using the concepts of promotion focus and prevention focus. We discuss additional open questions pertaining to feedback sign and consider implications for health care systems. Feedback that threatens the self is likely to debilitate recipients and, on average, positive and negative feedback are similar in their effects on performance. Positive feedback contributes to motivation and performance under promotion focus, but the same is true for negative feedback under prevention focus. We offer an alternative to feedback--the feedforward interview--and describe a brief protocol and suggestions on how it might be used in medical education. Feedback is a double-edged sword; its effective application includes careful consideration of regulatory focus and of threats to the self. Feedforward may be a good substitute for feedback in many settings. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010.

Experimental study to improve the focalization of a figure-eight coil of rTMS by using a highly conductive and highly permeable medium.

PubMed

Zhang, Shunqi; Yin, Tao; Liu, Zhipeng; Li, Ying; Jin, Jingna; Ma, Ren

2013-05-01

A method to improve the focalization of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation figure-eight coil in a magnetic stimulation is presented in this paper. For the purpose of reducing the half width of the distribution curve, while improving the ratio of positive to negative electric field, a shield plate with a window and a magnetic conductor were adopted. The shield plate, which was made of highly conductive copper, focused the magnetic field into a smaller area. The magnetic inductor, which was made of highly permeable soft magnetic ferrite, strengthened the magnetic field. A group of experiments was conducted to validate the focalizing effect. Experimental results showed that the negative peak and the half width of the distribution curve reduced by using the shield plate and the magnetic conductor. Especially for to the Magstim 70 mm double coil, when the shield window was 30 × 60 mm, the ratio of positive to negative electric field could be increased 109%, while the half width of the distribution curve could be reduced about 55%.

CRP in acute appendicitis--is it a necessary investigation?

PubMed

Amalesh, T; Shankar, M; Shankar, R

2004-01-01

Appendectomy is one of the commonest procedures in surgery. In spite of various investigations used to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, the rate of normal appendices removed is still about 15-30%. Many studies have investigated the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in acute appendicitis, but with conflicting results. In a prospective, double blind study, blood for the measurement of serum C-reactive protein was collected pre-operatively from 192 children before going to the operating theatre for appendectomy. The histopathology was grouped into positive (acute appendicitis) and negative (normal appendix) and this was correlated with CRP values. CRP was normal in 14 out of 33 negative explorations (normal appendix on histopathology). The specificity and sensitivity of serum CRP was 42% and 91% respectively. The predictive value of a positive (raised CRP) and negative (normal CRP) test is 88% and 48% respectively. We conclude that neither raised nor normal CRP value is helpful in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. CRP is not a good tool for helping the surgeon make the diagnosis of appendicitis and it should not be measured in suspected appendicitis.

Quality of life and response of negative symptoms in schizophrenia to haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic remoxipride. The Canadian Remoxipride Group.

PubMed

Awad, A G; Lapierre, Y D; Angus, C; Rylander, A

1997-07-01

In a large, multicenter, double-blind study of the effect of haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic remoxipride on improvement of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, quality of life was also assessed using a modified version of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Compared with previous studies, this study had a longer duration (28 weeks), and the dose of the comparator, haloperidol, was much lower. At the end of the study, compared with the baseline, both treatment groups reported comparable improvement in negative symptoms as defined by the protocol (at least 20% improvement). Similarly, both groups showed comparable changes on global and multidimensional self-assessments of quality of life. All the subfactors of the modified version of the SIP were similar in both groups, except for the subfactor that relates to alertness behavior, which possibly reflects remoxipride's lack of any sedating properties compared with haloperidol. This study presents an approach for inclusion of quality of life as an outcome measure in the design of clinical trials of new antipsychotic medications.