The importance of mutual positive expressivity in social adjustment: understanding the role of peers and gender.

PubMed

Sallquist, Julie; DiDonato, Matthew D; Hanish, Laura D; Martin, Carol Lynn; Fabes, Richard A

2012-04-01

The relations between young children's mutual (reciprocated) and overall positive emotion (PE) with same- and other-gender peers and their social adjustment were explored. Children's PE and peers' PE were observed across the preschool year during peer interactions (N = 166; 46% girls; M age = 52 months). Results revealed that girls and boys had similar frequencies of overall PE and mutual PE when interacting with same-gender peers, but girls were marginally higher compared with boys in overall and mutual PE when interacting with other-gender peers. Girls and boys did not have greater rates of either type of PE after controlling for gender segregation during same- or other-gender interactions. Using structural equation modeling, children's mutual PE, regardless of their gender, positively predicted indicators of positive adjustment (e.g., prosocial behavior, cooperation) and negatively predicted indicators of negative adjustment (e.g., hyperactivity, disruption, exclusion by peers). Children's overall PE did not predict either type of adjustment. Findings support the importance of mutual PE for children's development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).

The Importance of Mutual Positive Expressivity in Social Adjustment: Understanding the Role of Peers and Gender

PubMed Central

Sallquist, Julie; DiDonato, Matthew D.; Hanish, Laura D.; Martin, Carol Lynn; Fabes, Richard A.

2011-01-01

The relations between young children’s mutual (reciprocated) and overall positive emotion (PE) with same- and other-gender peers and their social adjustment were explored. Children’s PE and peers’ PE were observed across the preschool year during peer interactions (N = 166; 46% girls; M age = 52 months). Results revealed that girls and boys had similar frequencies of overall PE and mutual PE when interacting with same-gender peers, but girls were marginally higher compared to boys in overall and mutual PE when interacting with other-gender peers. Girls and boys did not have greater rates of either type of PE after controlling for gender segregation during same- or other-gender interactions. Using structural equation modeling, children’s mutual PE, regardless of their gender, positively predicted indicators of positive adjustment (e.g., prosocial behavior, cooperation) and negatively predicted indicators of negative adjustment (e.g., hyperactivity, disruption, exclusion by peers). Children’s overall PE did not predict either type of adjustment. Findings support the importance of mutual PE for children’s development. PMID:21859190

On the Concentration Gradient across a Spherical Source Washed by Slow Flow

PubMed Central

Jaffe, Lionel

1965-01-01

A model has been numerically analyzed to help interpret the orienting effects of flow upon cells. The model is a sphere steadily and uniformly emitting a diffusible stuff into a medium otherwise free of it and moving past with Stokes flow. Its properties depend primarily upon the Peclet number, Pe, equal to a · v∞/D, i.e., the sphere's radius, a, times the free stream speed, v∞, over the stuff's diffusion constant, D. As Pe rises, and washing becomes more effective, the average surface concentration, C̄s a falls (Figs. 2 and 5) and the residual material becomes relatively concentrated on the sphere's lee pole (Figs. 2 and 4). Specifically, as Pe rises from 0.1 to 1, the relative concentration gradient, G, rises from 0.7 to 5.0 per cent and to the point where it is rising at about 8 per cent per decade; by Pe 1000, G = 22.1 per cent. From Pe 1 through 1000, G/(1 - C̄s a), or the gradient per concentration deficiency remains at about 26 per cent suggesting that G approaches a ceiling of about 26 per cent. Also from Pe 1 through 1000, the average mass transfer co-efficient nearly equals that previously calculated for spheres maintaining constant surface concentration instead of flux. The complete differential equation without approximations, the Gauss-Seidel method, and an approximation for the outer boundary condition were used. PMID:14268954

A study of the adequacy of quasi-geostrophic dynamics for modeling the effect of frontal cyclones on the larger scale flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mudrick, S.

1985-01-01

The validity of quasi-geostrophic (QG) dynamics were tested on compared to primitive equation (PE) dynamics, for modeling the effect of cyclone waves on the larger scale flow. The formation of frontal cyclones and the dynamics of occluded frontogenesis were studied. Surface friction runs with the PE model and the wavelength of maximum instability is described. Also fine resolution PE simulation of a polar low is described.

Development and Calibration of an Item Bank for PE Metrics Assessments: Standard 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhu, Weimo; Fox, Connie; Park, Youngsik; Fisette, Jennifer L.; Dyson, Ben; Graber, Kim C.; Avery, Marybell; Franck, Marian; Placek, Judith H.; Rink, Judy; Raynes, De

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to develop and calibrate an assessment system, or bank, using the latest measurement theories and methods to promote valid and reliable student assessment in physical education. Using an anchor-test equating design, a total of 30 items or assessments were administered to 5,021 (2,568 boys and 2,453 girls) students in…

Testing a model of antecedents and consequences of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping in school physical education.

PubMed

Ntoumanis, Nikos; Taylor, Ian M; Standage, Martyn

2010-12-01

There has been very limited research on the use of self-worth protection strategies in the achievement context of school physical education (PE). Thus the aim of the present study was to examine some antecedents and consequences of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping. The sample comprised 534 British pupils (275 females, 259 males) recruited from two schools who responded to established questionnaires. Results of structural equation modelling analysis indicated that self-handicapping and defensive pessimism were positively predicted by fear of failure and negatively predicted by competence valuation. In addition, defensive pessimism was negatively predicted by physical self-concept. In turn, defensive pessimism negatively predicted enjoyment in PE and intentions to participate in future optional PE programmes. Self-handicapping did not predict enjoyment or intentions. Results from multi-sample structural equation modelling showed the specified model to be largely invariant across males and females. The findings indicate that although both strategies aim to protect one's self-worth, some of their antecedents and consequences in PE may differ.

Predicting students' physical activity and health-related well-being: a prospective cross-domain investigation of motivation across school physical education and exercise settings.

PubMed

Standage, Martyn; Gillison, Fiona B; Ntoumanis, Nikos; Treasure, Darren C

2012-02-01

A three-wave prospective design was used to assess a model of motivation guided by self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2008) spanning the contexts of school physical education (PE) and exercise. The outcome variables examined were health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical self-concept (PSC), and 4 days of objectively assessed estimates of activity. Secondary school students (n = 494) completed questionnaires at three separate time points and were familiarized with how to use a sealed pedometer. Results of structural equation modeling supported a model in which perceptions of autonomy support from a PE teacher positively predicted PE-related need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). Competence predicted PSC, whereas relatedness predicted HRQoL. Autonomy and competence positively predicted autonomous motivation toward PE, which in turn positively predicted autonomous motivation toward exercise (i.e., 4-day pedometer step count). Autonomous motivation toward exercise positively predicted step count, HRQoL, and PSC. Results of multisample structural equation modeling supported gender invariance. Suggestions for future work are discussed.

Students' motivational processes and their relationship to teacher ratings in school physical education: a self-determination theory approach.

PubMed

Standage, Martyn; Duda, Joan L; Ntoumanis, Nikos

2006-03-01

In the present study, we used a model of motivation grounded in self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 1991; Ryan & Deci, 2000a, 2000b, 2002) to examine the relationship between physical education (PE) students' motivational processes and ratings of their effort and persistence as provided by their PE teacher. Data were obtained from 394 British secondary school students (204 boys, 189 girls, 1 gender not specified; M age = 11.97 years; SD = .89; range = 11-14 years) who responded to a multisection inventory (tapping autonomy-support, autonomy, competence, relatedness, and self-determined motivation). The students' respective PE teachers subsequently provided ratings reflecting the effort and persistence each student exhibited in their PE classes. The hypothesized relationships among the study variables were examined via structural equation modeling analysis using latent factors. Results of maximum likelihood analysis using the bootstrapping method revealed the proposed model demonstrated a good fit to the data, chi-squared (292) = 632.68, p < .001; comparative fit index = .95; incremental fit index = .95, standardized root mean square residual = .077; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .054 (90% confidence interval of RMSEA = .049 -.060). Specifically, the model showed that students who perceived an autonomy supportive environment experienced greater levels of autonomy, competence, and relatedness and had higher scores on an index of self-determination. Student-reported levels of self-determined motivation positively predicted teacher ratings of effort and persistence in PE. The findings are discussed with regard to enhancing student motivation in PE settings.

Dispersion effects in the miscible displacement of two fluids in a duct of large aspect ratio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, J.; Frigaard, I. A.

We study miscible displacements in long ducts in the dispersive limit of small \\varepsilon Pe, where \\varepsilon ≪ 1 is the inverse aspect ratio and Pe the Péclet number. We consider the class of generalized Newtonian fluids, with specified closure laws for the fluid properties of the concentration-dependent mixture. Regardless of viscosity ratio and the constitutive laws of the pure fluids, for sufficiently small \\varepsilon Pe these displacements are characterized by rapid cross-stream diffusion and slow streamwise dispersion, i.e. the concentration appears to be near-uniform across the duct and spreads slowly as it translates. Using the multiple-scales method we derive the leading-order asymptotic approximation to the average fluid concentration bar{c}_0. We show that bar{c}_0 evolves on the slow timescale t ˜ (\\varepsilon Pe)^{-1}, and satisfies a nonlinear diffusion equation in a frame of reference moving with the mean speed of the flow. In the case that the two fluids have identical rheologies and the concentration represents a passive tracer, the diffusion equation is linear. For Newtonian fluids we recover the classical results of Taylor (l953), Aris (1956), and for power-law fluids those of Vartuli et al. (1995). In the case that the fluids differ and/or that mixing is non-passive, bar{c}_0 satisfies a nonlinear diffusion equation in the moving frame of reference. Given a specific mixing/closure law for the rheological properties, we are able to compute the dispersive diffusivity D_T(bar{c}_0) and predict spreading along the channel. We show that D_T(bar{c}_0) can vary significantly with choice of mixing law and discuss why. This also opens the door to possibilities of controlling streamwise spreading by the rheological design of reactive mixtures, i.e. including chemical additives such that the rheology of the mixture behaves very differently to the rheology of either pure fluid. Computed examples illustrate the potential effects that might be achieved.

Elastic Bottom Propagation Mechanisms Investigated by Parabolic Equation Methods

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-30

channel propagation of oceanic T waves from seismic sources in the presence of intervening seamounts or coral reef barriers is established using elastic PE...environments in the form of scattering at an elastic interface, oceanic T - waves , and Scholte waves . OBJECTIVES To implement explosive and earthquake...oceanic T - waves , which are acoustic waves that result from earthquake or buried explosive sources, and Rayleigh-type waves along the ocean floor, whose

Anthropometric predictors of body fat as measured by hydrostatic weighing in Guatemalan adults.

PubMed

Ramirez-Zea, Manuel; Torun, Benjamin; Martorell, Reynaldo; Stein, Aryeh D

2006-04-01

Most predictive equations currently used to assess percentage body fat (%BF) were derived from persons in industrialized Western societies. We developed equations to predict %BF from anthropometric measurements in rural and urban Guatemalan adults. Body density was measured in 123 women and 114 men by using hydrostatic weighing and simultaneous measurement of residual lung volume. Anthropometric measures included weight (in kg), height (in cm), 4 skinfold thicknesses [(STs) in mm], and 6 circumferences (in cm). Sex-specific multiple linear regression models were developed with %BF as the dependent variable and age, residence (rural or urban), and all anthropometric measures as independent variables (the "full" model). A "simplified" model was developed by using age, residence, weight, height, and arm, abdominal, and calf circumferences as independent variables. The preferred full models were %BF = -80.261 - (weight x 0.623) + (height x 0.214) + (tricipital ST x 0.379) + (abdominal ST x 0.202) + (abdominal circumference x 0.940) + (thigh circumference x 0.316); root mean square error (RMSE) = 3.0; and pure error (PE) = 3.4 for men and %BF = -15.471 + (tricipital ST x 0.332) + (subscapular ST x 0.154) + (abdominal ST x 0.119) + (hip circumference x 0.356); RMSE = 2.4; and PE = 2.9 for women. The preferred simplified models were %BF = -48.472 - (weight x 0.257) + (abdominal circumference x 0.989); RMSE = 3.8; and PE = 3.7 for men and %BF = 19.420 + (weight x 0.385) - (height x 0.215) + (abdominal circumference x 0.265); RMSE = 3.5; and PE = 3.5 for women. These equations performed better in this developing-country population than did previously published equations.

Infrared-optical transmission and reflection measurements on loose powders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhn, J.; Korder, S.; Arduini-Schuster, M. C.; Caps, R.; Fricke, J.

1993-09-01

A method is described to determine quantitatively the infrared-optical properties of loose powder beds via directional-hemispherical transmission and reflection measurements. Instead of the integration of the powders into a potassium bromide (KBr) or a paraffin oil matrix, which would drastically alter the scattering behavior, the powders are placed onto supporting layers of polyethylene (PE) and KBr. A commercial spectrometer is supplemented by an external optics, which enables measurements on horizontally arranged samples. For data evaluation we use a solution of the equation of radiative transfer in the 3-flux approximation under boundary conditions adapted to the PE or KBr/powder system. A comparison with Kubelka-Munk's theory and Schuster's 2-flux approximation is performed, which shows that 3-flux approximation yields results closest to the exact solution. Equations are developed, which correct transmission and reflection of the samples for the influence of the supporting layer and calculate the specific extinction and the albedo of the powder and thus enables us to separate scattering and absorption part of the extinction spectrum. Measurements on TiO2 powder are presented, which show the influence of preparation techniques and data evaluation with different methods to obtain the albedo. The specific extinction of various TiO2 powders is presented.

Differential Relations of Depression and Social Anxiety Symptoms to the Facets of Extraversion/Positive Emotionality

PubMed Central

Naragon-Gainey, Kristin; Watson, David; Markon, Kristian E.

2009-01-01

Previous research has shown that depression and social anxiety—two “facets” of internalizing psychopathology— both are characterized by low levels of extraversion/positive emotionality (E/PE). However, little is known about the relations of the facets of E/PE with symptoms of depression and social anxiety. This study utilized multiple measures of each facet of E/PE, as well as depression and social anxiety symptoms. Self-report data were collected from large samples of college students and psychiatric outpatients. Separate factor analyses in each sample revealed a four-factor structure of E/PE, consisting of Sociability, Positive Emotionality, Ascendance, and Fun-Seeking. Structural equation modeling revealed that, after controlling for the higher-order internalizing factor and the overlap among the E/PE facets, social anxiety was broadly related to all four facets of E/PE, whereas depression was strongly related only to low positive emotionality. Implications for hierarchical models of personality and psychopathology, assessment and treatment, and etiological models are discussed. PMID:19413405

Charge-regularized swelling kinetics of polyelectrolyte gels: Elasticity and diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sen, Swati; Kundagrami, Arindam

2017-11-01

We apply a recently developed method [S. Sen and A. Kundagrami, J. Chem. Phys. 143, 224904 (2015)], using a phenomenological expression of osmotic stress, as a function of polymer and charge densities, hydrophobicity, and network elasticity for the swelling of spherical polyelectrolyte (PE) gels with fixed and variable charges in a salt-free solvent. This expression of stress is used in the equation of motion of swelling kinetics of spherical PE gels to numerically calculate the spatial profiles for the polymer and free ion densities at different time steps and the time evolution of the size of the gel. We compare the profiles of the same variables obtained from the classical linear theory of elasticity and quantitatively estimate the bulk modulus of the PE gel. Further, we obtain an analytical expression of the elastic modulus from the linearized expression of stress (in the small deformation limit). We find that the estimated bulk modulus of the PE gel decreases with the increase of its effective charge for a fixed degree of deformation during swelling. Finally, we match the gel-front locations with the experimental data, taken from the measurements of charged reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer gels to show an increase in gel-size with charge and also match the same for PNIPAM (uncharged) and imidazolium-based (charged) minigels, which specifically confirms the decrease of the gel modulus value with the increase of the charge. The agreement between experimental and theoretical results confirms general diffusive behaviour for swelling of PE gels with a decreasing bulk modulus with increasing degree of ionization (charge). The new formalism captures large deformations as well with a significant variation of charge content of the gel. It is found that PE gels with large deformation but same initial size swell faster with a higher charge.

Physically adjusted NDF (paNDF) system for lactating dairy cow rations. I: Deriving equations that identify factors that influence effectiveness of fiber

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) is defined as the fraction of NDF that stimulates chewing activity and contributes to the floating mat of large particles in the rumen. The objective of this work was to re-evaluate the concept of peNDF by quantitatively relating physical and chem...

Mixed Convection Opposing Flow in a Vertical Porous Annulus-Two Temperature Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Rashed, Abdullah A. AA; J, Salman Ahmed N.; Khaleed, H. M. T.; Yunus Khan, T. M.; NazimAhamed, K. S.

2016-09-01

The opposing flow in a porous medium refers to a condition when the forcing velocity flows in opposite direction to thermal buoyancy obstructing the buoyant force. The present research refers to the effect of opposing flow in a vertical porous annulus embedded with fluid saturated porous medium. The thermal non-equilibrium approach with Darcy modal is considered. The boundary conditions are such that the inner radius is heated with constant temperature Tw the outer radius is maintained at constant temperature Tc. The coupled nonlinear partial differential equations such as momentum equation, energy equation for fluid and energy equation for solid are solved using the finite element method. The opposing flow variation of average Nusselt number with respect to radius ratio Rr, Aspect ratioAr and Radiation parameter Rd for different values of Peclet number Pe are investigated. It is found that the flow behavior is quite different from that of aiding flow.

Prediction of far-field wind turbine noise propagation with parabolic equation.

PubMed

Lee, Seongkyu; Lee, Dongjai; Honhoff, Saskia

2016-08-01

Sound propagation of wind farms is typically simulated by the use of engineering tools that are neglecting some atmospheric conditions and terrain effects. Wind and temperature profiles, however, can affect the propagation of sound and thus the perceived sound in the far field. A better understanding and application of those effects would allow a more optimized farm operation towards meeting noise regulations and optimizing energy yield. This paper presents the parabolic equation (PE) model development for accurate wind turbine noise propagation. The model is validated against analytic solutions for a uniform sound speed profile, benchmark problems for nonuniform sound speed profiles, and field sound test data for real environmental acoustics. It is shown that PE provides good agreement with the measured data, except upwind propagation cases in which turbulence scattering is important. Finally, the PE model uses computational fluid dynamics results as input to accurately predict sound propagation for complex flows such as wake flows. It is demonstrated that wake flows significantly modify the sound propagation characteristics.

Consistent etiology of severe, frequent psychotic experiences and milder, less frequent manifestations: a twin study of specific psychotic experiences in adolescence.

PubMed

Zavos, Helena M S; Freeman, Daniel; Haworth, Claire M A; McGuire, Philip; Plomin, Robert; Cardno, Alastair G; Ronald, Angelica

2014-09-01

The onset of psychosis is usually preceded by psychotic experiences (PE). Little is known about the etiology of PE and whether the degree of genetic and environmental influences varies across different levels of severity. A recognized challenge is to identify individuals at high risk of developing psychotic disorders prior to disease onset. To investigate the degree of genetic and environmental influences on specific PE, assessed dimensionally, in adolescents in the community and in those who have many, frequent experiences (defined using quantitative cutoffs). We also assessed the degree of overlap in etiological influences between specific PE. Structural equation model-fitting, including univariate and bivariate twin models, liability threshold models, DeFries-Fulker extremes analysis, and the Cherny method, was used to analyze a representative community sample of 5059 adolescent twin pairs (mean [SD] age, 16.31 [0.68] years) from England and Wales. Psychotic experiences assessed as quantitative traits (self-rated paranoia, hallucinations, cognitive disorganization, grandiosity, and anhedonia, as well as parent-rated negative symptoms). Genetic influences were apparent for all PE (15%-59%), with modest shared environment for hallucinations and negative symptoms (17%-24%) and significant nonshared environment (49%-64%) for the self-rated scales and 17% for parent-rated negative symptoms. Three empirical approaches converged to suggest that the etiology in extreme-scoring groups (most extreme scoring: 5%, 10%, and 15%) did not differ significantly from that of the whole distribution. There was no linear change in heritability across the distribution of PE, with the exception of a modest increase in heritability for increasing severity of parent-rated negative symptoms. Of the PE that showed covariation, this appeared to be due to shared genetic influences (bivariate heritabilities, 0.54-0.71). These findings are consistent with the concept of a psychosis continuum, suggesting that the same genetic and environmental factors influence both extreme, frequent PE and milder, less frequent manifestations in adolescents. Individual PE in adolescence, assessed quantitatively, have lower heritability estimates and higher estimates of nonshared environment than those for the liability to schizophrenia. Heritability varies by type of PE, being highest for paranoia and parent-rated negative symptoms and lowest for hallucinations.

A Petascale Non-Hydrostatic Atmospheric Dynamical Core in the HOMME Framework

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

Tufo, Henry

The High-Order Method Modeling Environment (HOMME) is a framework for building scalable, conserva- tive atmospheric models for climate simulation and general atmospheric-modeling applications. Its spatial discretizations are based on Spectral-Element (SE) and Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods. These are local methods employing high-order accurate spectral basis-functions that have been shown to perform well on massively parallel supercomputers at any resolution and scale particularly well at high resolutions. HOMME provides the framework upon which the CAM-SE community atmosphere model dynamical-core is constructed. In its current incarnation, CAM-SE employs the hydrostatic primitive-equations (PE) of motion, which limits its resolution to simulations coarser thanmore » 0.1 per grid cell. The primary objective of this project is to remove this resolution limitation by providing HOMME with the capabilities needed to build nonhydrostatic models that solve the compressible Euler/Navier-Stokes equations.« less

A multidimensional approach to understanding the potential risk factors and covariates of adult picky eating.

PubMed

Ellis, Jordan M; Schenk, Rebecca R; Galloway, Amy T; Zickgraf, Hana F; Webb, Rose Mary; Martz, Denise M

2018-06-01

Adult picky eating (PE) has received increased attention in the eating behavior literature due to its important association with adult avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The current study tested a model of potential risk factors of adult PE behavior, including perceived early parental feeding practices. An exploratory model was also utilized to understand associations with different aspects of adult PE behaviors. A sample of 1339 US adults recruited through Amazon's MTurk completed an online survey that included the recently developed Adult Picky Eating Questionnaire (APEQ), retrospective reports of parental feeding practices, and other measures of eating behavior and demographic variables. A structural equation modeling procedure tested a series of regression models that included BMI and disordered eating behaviors as covariates. SEM modeling indicated that retrospective reports of greater parental pressure to eat, higher disgust sensitivity, lower PE age of onset, and experiencing an aversive food event were associated with general adult PE behavior. Results also indicated parental encouragement of healthy eating may be a protective factor, and that men endorsed higher levels of adult PE. Exploratory analyses indicated that cross-sectional predictors and covariates were differentially related to specific aspects of PE as measured by the APEQ subscales. Early experiences, including parental approaches to feeding, appear to be potential risk factors of PE behavior in adults. A nuanced understanding of adult PE is important for the prevention and treatment of severe PE behaviors, related psychosocial impairment, and ARFID. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the Vertical Structure of Seasonal, Interannual and Intraseasonal Flows

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-01

regions. Extensive use is made of a primitive equation (PE) model, as a diagnostic tool, to explore the extent to which tropical heating might influence ...vertical modes, while Wiin-Nielsen (1971a and b) studied the time 2 behaviour of long waves for various vertical structures. More recent investigations...nonlinear three-leve PE model, are used to determine the influence of tropical heating on extratropica wave response. In Chapter 4, the interannual changes

Generalized large-scale semigeostrophic approximations for the f-plane primitive equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliver, Marcel; Vasylkevych, Sergiy

2016-05-01

We derive a family of balance models for rotating stratified flow in the primitive equation (PE) setting. By construction, the models possess conservation laws for energy and potential vorticity and are formally of the same order of accuracy as Hoskins’ semigeostrophic equations. Our construction is based on choosing a new coordinate frame for the PE variational principle in such a way that the consistently truncated Lagrangian degenerates. We show that the balance relations so obtained are elliptic when the fluid is stably stratified and certain smallness assumptions are satisfied. Moreover, the potential temperature can be recovered from the potential vorticity via inversion of a non-standard Monge-Ampère problem which is subject to the same ellipticity condition. While the present work is entirely formal, we conjecture, based on a careful rewriting of the equations of motion and a straightforward derivative count, that the Cauchy problem for the balance models is well posed subject to conditions on the initial data. Our family of models includes, in particular, the stratified analog of the L 1 balance model of Salmon.

A strategy for reducing gross errors in the generalized Born models of implicit solvation

PubMed Central

Onufriev, Alexey V.; Sigalov, Grigori

2011-01-01

The “canonical” generalized Born (GB) formula [C. Still, A. Tempczyk, R. C. Hawley, and T. Hendrickson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112, 6127 (1990)] is known to provide accurate estimates for total electrostatic solvation energies ΔGel of biomolecules if the corresponding effective Born radii are accurate. Here we show that even if the effective Born radii are perfectly accurate, the canonical formula still exhibits significant number of gross errors (errors larger than 2kBT relative to numerical Poisson equation reference) in pairwise interactions between individual atomic charges. Analysis of exact analytical solutions of the Poisson equation (PE) for several idealized nonspherical geometries reveals two distinct spatial modes of the PE solution; these modes are also found in realistic biomolecular shapes. The canonical GB Green function misses one of two modes seen in the exact PE solution, which explains the observed gross errors. To address the problem and reduce gross errors of the GB formalism, we have used exact PE solutions for idealized nonspherical geometries to suggest an alternative analytical Green function to replace the canonical GB formula. The proposed functional form is mathematically nearly as simple as the original, but depends not only on the effective Born radii but also on their gradients, which allows for better representation of details of nonspherical molecular shapes. In particular, the proposed functional form captures both modes of the PE solution seen in nonspherical geometries. Tests on realistic biomolecular structures ranging from small peptides to medium size proteins show that the proposed functional form reduces gross pairwise errors in all cases, with the amount of reduction varying from more than an order of magnitude for small structures to a factor of 2 for the largest ones. PMID:21528947

Variations of global gravity waves derived from 14 years of SABER temperature observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiao; Yue, Jia; Xu, Jiyao; Garcia, Rolando R.; Russell, James M.; Mlynczak, Martin; Wu, Dong L.; Nakamura, Takuji

2017-06-01

The global gravity wave (GW) potential energy (PE) per unit mass is derived from SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) temperature profiles over the past 14 years (2002-2015). Since the SABER data cover longer than one solar cycle, multivariate linear regression is applied to calculate the trend (means linear trend from 2002 to 2015) of global GW PE and the responses of global GW PE to solar activity, to QBO (quasi-biennial oscillation) and to ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation). We find a significant positive trend of GW PE at around 50°N during July from 2002 to 2015, in agreement with ground-based radar observations at a similar latitude but from 1990 to 2010. Both the monthly and the deseasonalized trends of GW PE are significant near 50°S. Specifically, the deseasonalized trend of GW PE has a positive peak of 12-15% per decade at 40°S-50°S and below 60 km, which suggests that eddy diffusion is increasing in some places. A significant positive trend of GW PE near 50°S could be due to the strengthening of the polar stratospheric jets, as documented from Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications wind data. The response of GW PE to solar activity is negative in the lower and middle latitudes. The response of GW PE to QBO (as indicated by 30 hPa zonal winds over the equator) is negative in the tropical upper stratosphere and extends to higher latitudes at higher altitudes. The response of GW PE to ENSO (as indicated by the Multivariate ENSO Index) is positive in the tropical upper stratosphere.

Dispatching function calls across accelerator devices

DOEpatents

Jacob, Arpith C.; Sallenave, Olivier H.

2017-01-10

In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for dispatching a function call includes receiving, at a supervisor processing element (PE) and from an origin PE, an identifier of a target device, a stack frame of the origin PE, and an address of a function called from the origin PE. The supervisor PE allocates a target PE of the target device. The supervisor PE copies the stack frame of the origin PE to a new stack frame on a call stack of the target PE. The supervisor PE instructs the target PE to execute the function. The supervisor PE receives a notification that execution of the function is complete. The supervisor PE copies the stack frame of the target PE to the stack frame of the origin PE. The supervisor PE releases the target PE of the target device. The supervisor PE instructs the origin PE to resume execution of the program.

Dispatching function calls across accelerator devices

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

Jacob, Arpith C.; Sallenave, Olivier H.

In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for dispatching a function call includes receiving, at a supervisor processing element (PE) and from an origin PE, an identifier of a target device, a stack frame of the origin PE, and an address of a function called from the origin PE. The supervisor PE allocates a target PE of the target device. The supervisor PE copies the stack frame of the origin PE to a new stack frame on a call stack of the target PE. The supervisor PE instructs the target PE to execute the function. The supervisor PE receives a notificationmore » that execution of the function is complete. The supervisor PE copies the stack frame of the target PE to the stack frame of the origin PE. The supervisor PE releases the target PE of the target device. The supervisor PE instructs the origin PE to resume execution of the program.« less

The impact of financial incentives on physician empathy: a study from the perspective of patients with private and statutory health insurance.

PubMed

Neumann, Melanie; Bensing, Jozien; Wirtz, Markus; Wübker, Ansgar; Scheffer, Christian; Tauschel, Diethard; Edelhäuser, Friedrich; Ernstmann, Nicole; Pfaff, Holger

2011-08-01

We hypothesized that patients' ratings of physician empathy (PE) would be higher among those with private health insurance (PHI, referring to financial incentive) than among patients with statutory health insurance (SHI). A postal survey was administered to 710 cancer patients. PE was assessed using the Consultation-and-Relational-Empathy measure. T-tests were conducted to analyse whether PHI and SHI-patients differ in their ratings of PE and variables relating to contact time with the physician. Structural-equation-modelling (SEM) verified mediating effects. PHI-patients rated physician empathy higher. SEM revealed that PHI-status has a strong significant effect on frequency of talking with the physician, which has a strong significant effect (1) on PE and (2) has a moderate effect on patients' perception of medical staff stress, thereby also affecting patients' ratings of PE. Our findings suggest that PHI-status is one necessary precondition for physicians spending more time with the patient. Spending more time with the PHI-patient has two major effects: it results in a more positive perception of PE and positively impacts PHI-patients' perception of medical staff stress, which in turn, again influences PE. Health policy should discuss these findings in terms of equality in receiving high-quality care. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Support for Physical Education as a Core Subject in Urban Elementary Schools.

PubMed

Castillo, Jacqueline C; Clark, B Ruth; Butler, Carling E; Racette, Susan B

2015-11-01

Physical inactivity and childhood obesity are prevalent in American children, with increased vulnerability in minority, low-resource populations. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of physical education (PE) on in-school physical activity quantity and intensity in urban minority children attending public elementary schools. This observational study included elementary children (N=212; mean age, 9.9 years; 81.7% black) in Grades 2-5 attending urban public schools with high eligibility for the National School Lunch Program. In-school physical activity was quantified during 4 school weeks across 4 months (January-April 2012) using Omron HJ-151 accelerometer-pedometers. Fitness was assessed with the 20-meter Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run. Data were analyzed in 2013 using generalized estimating equations to determine the influence of PE and sex on total in-school steps and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) steps. Based on 3,379 observation days (mean, 15.9 school days/student), students achieved higher in-school physical activity on days with PE (4,979 steps) than on days without PE (3,683 steps, p<0.0001). Likewise, MVPA steps were greater on days with PE than on days without PE (p<0.0001). Boys were more active than girls, but both accumulated more steps on days with PE. Low aerobic fitness was observed in 29.0% of students and overweight/obesity in 31.1%. PE significantly increases total in-school and MVPA steps in urban minority elementary children. PE as a core subject can provide opportunities for urban, minority public school children in low-resource areas to achieve age-appropriate physical activity and fitness goals. Copyright © 2015 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Public disclosure to improve physical education in an urban school district: results from a 2-year quasi-experimental study

PubMed Central

Vittinghoff, Eric; Linchey, Jennifer K.; Madsen, Kristine A.

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND Many elementary schools have policies requiring a minimum amount of physical education (PE). However, few schools comply with local/state PE policy and little is known about how to improve adherence. We evaluated changes in PE among 5th-grade classes, following participatory action research efforts to improve PE quantity and policy compliance that focused on publically disclosing PE data. METHODS Data were collected at 20 San Francisco public elementary schools in the spring of 2011 and 2013. PE schedules were collected and PE classes were directly observed (2011, N = 30 teachers; 2013, N = 33 teachers). Data on the proportion of schools meeting state PE mandates in 2011 were shared within the school district and disclosed to the general public in 2012. RESULTS From 2011 to 2013, PE increased by 11 minutes/week based on teachers’ schedules (95% CI: 3.0, 19.6) and by 14 minutes/week (95% CI: 1.9, 26.0) based on observations. The proportion of schools meeting the state PE mandate increased from 20% to 30% (p = .27). CONCLUSIONS Positive changes in PE were seen over a 2-year period following the public disclosure of data that highlighted poor PE policy compliance. Public disclosure could be a method for ensuring greater PE policy adherence. PMID:26201757

Parameterized examination in econometrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinova, Anna; Kyurkchiev, Vesselin; Spasov, Georgi

2018-01-01

The paper presents a parameterization of basic types of exam questions in Econometrics. This algorithm is used to automate and facilitate the process of examination, assessment and self-preparation of a large number of students. The proposed parameterization of testing questions reduces the time required to author tests and course assignments. It enables tutors to generate a large number of different but equivalent dynamic questions (with dynamic answers) on a certain topic, which are automatically assessed. The presented methods are implemented in DisPeL (Distributed Platform for e-Learning) and provide questions in the areas of filtering and smoothing of time-series data, forecasting, building and analysis of single-equation econometric models. Questions also cover elasticity, average and marginal characteristics, product and cost functions, measurement of monopoly power, supply, demand and equilibrium price, consumer and product surplus, etc. Several approaches are used to enable the required numerical computations in DisPeL - integration of third-party mathematical libraries, developing our own procedures from scratch, and wrapping our legacy math codes in order to modernize and reuse them.

An Analysis of Coherent Digital Receivers in the Presence of Colored Noise Interference.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-06-01

115 6.4 Pe for Det-erministic Jamnmers, JSR = 0.01, E0.3---------------------------------------------116 6.5 Pe for Deterministic Jamnmers, JSR = 0.1...k k where h p(t) and hhi(t) are the particular and homogeneous solutions, respectively, to a differential equation derived from the Fredholm I...yields 2 2D(s2)c (s) = N(s ) (3.4)c Multiplication by s corresponds to differentiation with respect to t in the time domain. So, Eq. (3.4) becomes D(p 2)K

Determination of phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species in various food matrices by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS2).

PubMed

Zhou, Li; Zhao, Minjie; Ennahar, Saïd; Bindler, Françoise; Marchioni, Eric

2012-04-01

A liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS(2)) method has been developed for determination of the molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in four food matrices (soy, egg yolk, ox liver, and krill oil). The extraction and purification method consisted of a pressurized liquid extraction procedure for total lipid (TL) extraction, purification of phospholipids (PLs) by adsorption on a silica gel column, and separation of PL classes by semi-preparative normal-phase HPLC. Separation and identification of PE molecular species were performed by reversed-phase HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(2)). Methanol containing 5 mmol L(-1) ammonium formate was used as the mobile phase. A variety of PE molecular species were detected in the four food matrices. (C16:0-C18:2)PE, (C18:2-C18:2)PE, and (C16:0-C18:1)PE were the major PE molecular species in soy. Egg yolk PE contained (C16:0-C18:1)PE, (C18:0-C18:1)PE, (C18:0-C18:2)PE, and (C16:0-C18:2)PE as the major molecular species. Ox liver PE was rich in the species (C18:0-C18:1)PE, (C18:0-C20:4)PE, and (C18:0-C18:2)PE. Finally, krill oil which was particularly rich in (C16:0(alkyl)-C22:6(acyl))plasmanylethanolamine (PakE), (C16:0-C22:6)PE, and (C16:0-C20:5)PE, seemed to be an interesting potential source for supplementation of food with eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Psychological Burden for Students in Physical Education Classes in Chinese Universities.

PubMed

Wei, Xuemei; Liu, Zhen

2018-05-15

BACKGROUND Physical education (PE) is part of the curriculum in Chinese universities. The psychological burden, or anxiety levels, for students in PE classes, can result from several factors, including teaching content, teaching environment, and the organization of the teaching methods. The aim of this study was to assess the psychological burden on students in PE classes in Chinese universities. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 400 students (200 men and 200 women) from a Chinese university, who participated in PE classes. The distribution of the levels of psychological burden associated with PE was assessed using subjective measurements and a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method that to provide an integrated framework combining the results of judgments made at multiple stages of the evaluation process. RESULTS Of the 400 study participants who attended PE classes, 61.5% of male students and 47.5% of female students coped well or very well when dealing with the perceived psychological burden; 33.5% of male students and 42.5% of female students reported a medium level of psychological burden. Few students reported a high level of psychological burden associated with PE classes. The average psychological burden in female students was greater than for male students who participated in PE classes. CONCLUSIONS The combination of subjective measurement of the psychological burden associated with PE classes by university students in China, combined with a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method showed that female university students might require more support than male students to overcome any psychological burden associated with PE classes.

Superior vena caval pressure elevation causes pleural effusion formation in sheep.

PubMed

Allen, S J; Laine, G A; Drake, R E; Gabel, J C

1988-09-01

The effect of superior vena caval pressure (SVCP) elevation on the formation of pleural effusions (PE) was studied in sheep. Through a right thoracotomy, a Silastic cuff was placed around the superior vena cava. Catheters for monitoring SVCP and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were also placed. After a 1- to 3-wk recovery period, we measured the SVCP, PAP, cardiac output, and plasma protein concentration (Cp). We then elevated the SVCP to various levels from base line [5.3 +/- 2.6 (SD) mmHg] to 33 mmHg. The cardiac output, PAP, and Cp were remeasured 1-2 h and 24 h after SVCP elevation. At the end of the 24-h period, the animals were killed. The PE volume and pleural fluid protein concentration (Cpl) were measured, and the Cpl/Cp was calculated. PE generally did not occur until the SVCP was elevated above 15 mmHg. To study the effect of the thoracotomy on the subsequent pleural effusion, we studied six additional sheep in which we did not perform a thoracotomy. In these animals, the SVCP was elevated to between 5 and 28 mmHg for 24 h by use of a 16-Fr balloon catheter placed via a left external jugular vein and a right carotid-external jugular shunt. We found that the PE volume, for a given SVCP elevation, was similar to that present in sheep that received a thoracotomy. For all sheep the volume of PE was related to SVCP by the equation PE (ml) = 0.24e0.26SVCP, r = 0.85. In the sheep without a thoracotomy, Cpl/Cp rose with increasing volume of PE. Our data demonstrate that elevation of SVCP greater than 15 mmHg for 24 h results in the formation of PE. The rise in Cpl/Cp with PE volume suggests that filtration through the pleural vessels is not the major contributor to PE formation.

Method of phorbol ester degradation in Jatropha curcas L. seed cake using rice bran lipase.

PubMed

Hidayat, Chusnul; Hastuti, Pudji; Wardhani, Avita Kusuma; Nadia, Lana Santika

2014-03-01

A novel enzymatic degradation of phorbol esters (PE) in the jatropha seed cake was developed using lipase. Cihera rice bran lipase had the highest ability to hydrolyze PE, and reduced PE to a safe level after 8 h of incubation. Enzymatic degradation may be a promising method for PE degradation. Copyright © 2013 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrodiffusion: a continuum modeling framework for biomolecular systems with realistic spatiotemporal resolution.

PubMed

Lu, Benzhuo; Zhou, Y C; Huber, Gary A; Bond, Stephen D; Holst, Michael J; McCammon, J Andrew

2007-10-07

A computational framework is presented for the continuum modeling of cellular biomolecular diffusion influenced by electrostatic driving forces. This framework is developed from a combination of state-of-the-art numerical methods, geometric meshing, and computer visualization tools. In particular, a hybrid of (adaptive) finite element and boundary element methods is adopted to solve the Smoluchowski equation (SE), the Poisson equation (PE), and the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equation (PNPE) in order to describe electrodiffusion processes. The finite element method is used because of its flexibility in modeling irregular geometries and complex boundary conditions. The boundary element method is used due to the convenience of treating the singularities in the source charge distribution and its accurate solution to electrostatic problems on molecular boundaries. Nonsteady-state diffusion can be studied using this framework, with the electric field computed using the densities of charged small molecules and mobile ions in the solvent. A solution for mesh generation for biomolecular systems is supplied, which is an essential component for the finite element and boundary element computations. The uncoupled Smoluchowski equation and Poisson-Boltzmann equation are considered as special cases of the PNPE in the numerical algorithm, and therefore can be solved in this framework as well. Two types of computations are reported in the results: stationary PNPE and time-dependent SE or Nernst-Planck equations solutions. A biological application of the first type is the ionic density distribution around a fragment of DNA determined by the equilibrium PNPE. The stationary PNPE with nonzero flux is also studied for a simple model system, and leads to an observation that the interference on electrostatic field of the substrate charges strongly affects the reaction rate coefficient. The second is a time-dependent diffusion process: the consumption of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase, determined by the SE and a single uncoupled solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The electrostatic effects, counterion compensation, spatiotemporal distribution, and diffusion-controlled reaction kinetics are analyzed and different methods are compared.

Profiling and relative quantification of phosphatidylethanolamine based on acetone stable isotope derivatization.

PubMed

Wang, Xiang; Wei, Fang; Xu, Ji-Qu; Lv, Xin; Dong, Xu-Yan; Han, Xianlin; Quek, Siew-Young; Huang, Feng-Hong; Chen, Hong

2016-01-01

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is considered to be one of the pivotal lipids for normal cellular function as well as disease initiation and progression. In this study, a simple, efficient, reliable, and inexpensive method for the qualitative analysis and relative quantification of PE, based on acetone stable isotope derivatization combined with double neutral loss scan-shotgun electrospray ionization tandem-quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis (ASID-DNLS-Shotgun ESI-MS/MS), was developed. The ASID method led to alkylation of the primary amino groups of PE with an isopropyl moiety. The use of acetone (d0-acetone) and deuterium-labeled acetone (d6-acetone) introduced a 6 Da mass shift that was ideally suited for relative quantitative analysis, and enhanced sensitivity for mass analysis. The DNLS model was introduced to simultaneously analyze the differential derivatized PEs by shotgun ESI-MS/MS with high selectivity and accuracy. The reaction specificity, labeling efficiency, and linearity of the ASID method were thoroughly evaluated in this study. Its excellent applicability was validated by qualitative and relative quantitative analysis of PE species presented in liver samples from rats fed different diets. Using the ASID-DNLS-Shotgun ESI-MS/MS method, 45 PE species from rat livers have been identified and quantified in an efficient manner. The level of total PEs tended to decrease in the livers of rats on high fat diets compared with controls. The levels of PE 32:1, 34:3, 34:2, 36:3, 36:2, 42:10, plasmalogen PE 36:1 and lyso PE 22:6 were significantly reduced, while levels of PE 36:1 and lyso PE 16:0 increased. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Physical Education, Teacher's Guide, Elementary (Grades 1-5).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lefevre, M. D.; And Others

This is a guide for teachers of physical education in the elementary schools of Vietnam. It consists of the following chapters: (1) Definition and Objectives of P.E. and the Teacher's Role; (2) Organization and Orientation of the P.E. program; (3) Methods for Teaching P.E.; (4) P.E. for grades 1 to 5; (5) P.E. for handicapped children; (6) Sports.…

Doping Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets on Electrical Insulation Properties of Polyethylene: From Macroscopic to Molecular Scale

PubMed Central

Jing, Ziang; Li, Changming; Zhao, Hong; Zhang, Guiling; Han, Baozhong

2016-01-01

The doping effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on electrical insulation properties of polyethylene (PE) was studied by combining experimental and theoretical methods. The electric conduction properties and trap characteristics were tested for pure PE and PE/GNPs composites by using a direct measurement method and a thermal stimulated current (TSC) method. It was found that doping smaller GNPs is more beneficial to decrease the conductivity of PE/GNPs. The PE/GNPs composite with smaller size GNPs mainly introduces deep energy traps, while with increasing GNPs size, besides deep energy traps, shallow energy traps are also introduced. These results were also confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) and the non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) method calculations. Therefore, doping small size GNPs is favorable for trapping charge carriers and enhancing insulation ability, which is suggested as an effective strategy in exploring powerful insulation materials. PMID:28773802

Proxy-equation paradigm: A strategy for massively parallel asynchronous computations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mittal, Ankita; Girimaji, Sharath

2017-09-01

Massively parallel simulations of transport equation systems call for a paradigm change in algorithm development to achieve efficient scalability. Traditional approaches require time synchronization of processing elements (PEs), which severely restricts scalability. Relaxing synchronization requirement introduces error and slows down convergence. In this paper, we propose and develop a novel "proxy equation" concept for a general transport equation that (i) tolerates asynchrony with minimal added error, (ii) preserves convergence order and thus, (iii) expected to scale efficiently on massively parallel machines. The central idea is to modify a priori the transport equation at the PE boundaries to offset asynchrony errors. Proof-of-concept computations are performed using a one-dimensional advection (convection) diffusion equation. The results demonstrate the promise and advantages of the present strategy.

Wetting of Functionalized Polyethylene Film Having Ionizable Organic Acids and Bases at the Polymer-Water Interface: Relations between Functional Group Polarity, Extent of Ionization, and Contact Angle with Water.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

functional grouos in the interface contribute independently to the interfacial free energy is inaccurate, but leads to a tractable and physically reasonable...nonpolar, non -ionizable groups. As a limiting case, we consider a system *. containing only one type of polar and one type of nonpolar group (eq 9) with A...groups (protonition or deprotonation): these equations apply to both non - ionizable groups and to PE-CO 2H and PE-NR 2H + . Assuming that Figure 3

A Profilometry-Based Dentifrice Abrasion Method for V8 Brushing Machines Part II: Comparison of RDA-PE and Radiotracer RDA Measures.

PubMed

Schneiderman, Eva; Colón, Ellen; White, Donald J; St John, Samuel

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the abrasivity of commercial dentifrices by two techniques: the conventional gold standard radiotracer-based Radioactive Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) method; and a newly validated technique based on V8 brushing that included a profilometry-based evaluation of dentin wear. This profilometry-based method is referred to as RDA-Profilometry Equivalent, or RDA-PE. A total of 36 dentifrices were sourced from four global dentifrice markets (Asia Pacific [including China], Europe, Latin America, and North America) and tested blindly using both the standard radiotracer (RDA) method and the new profilometry method (RDA-PE), taking care to follow specific details related to specimen preparation and treatment. Commercial dentifrices tested exhibited a wide range of abrasivity, with virtually all falling well under the industry accepted upper limit of 250; that is, 2.5 times the level of abrasion measured using an ISO 11609 abrasivity reference calcium pyrophosphate as the reference control. RDA and RDA-PE comparisons were linear across the entire range of abrasivity (r2 = 0.7102) and both measures exhibited similar reproducibility with replicate assessments. RDA-PE assessments were not just linearly correlated, but were also proportional to conventional RDA measures. The linearity and proportionality of the results of the current study support that both methods (RDA or RDA-PE) provide similar results and justify a rationale for making the upper abrasivity limit of 250 apply to both RDA and RDA-PE.

A RCT Comparing Daily Mindfulness Meditations, Biofeedback Exercises, and Daily Physical Exercise on Attention Control, Executive Functioning, Mindful Awareness, Self-Compassion, and Worrying in Stressed Young Adults.

PubMed

de Bruin, Esther I; van der Zwan, J Esi; Bögels, Susan M

2016-01-01

Our Western society is characterized by multitasking, competition, and constant time pressure. Negative effects of stress for the individual (anxiety, depression, somatic complaints) and for organizations and society (costs due to work absence) are very high. Thus, time-efficient self-help interventions to address these issues are necessary. This study assessed the effects of daily mindfulness meditations (MM) versus daily heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) and daily physical exercise (PE) on attention control, executive functioning, mindful awareness, self-compassion, and worrying. Young adults ( n  = 75, age range 18 to 40) with elevated stress levels were randomized to MM, HRV-BF, or PE, and measurements were taken at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Interventions in all three groups were self-guided and lasted for 5 weeks. Generalized estimating equation analyses showed that overall, all three interventions were effective and did not differ from each other. However, practice time differed between groups, with participants in the PE group practicing much more than participants in the other two groups. Therefore, additional analyses were carried out in two subsamples. The optimal dose sample included only those participants who practiced for at least 70 % of the total prescribed time. In the equal dose sample, home practice intensity was equal for all three groups. Again, the effects of the three interventions did not differ. In conclusion, MM, HRV-BF, and PE are all effective self-help methods to improve attention control, executive functioning, mindful awareness, self-compassion, and worrying, and mindfulness meditation was not found to be more effective than HRV-biofeedback or physical exercise for these cognitive processes.

A Teacher-Focused Intervention to Decrease PE Students' Amotivation by Increasing Need Satisfaction and Decreasing Need Frustration.

PubMed

Cheon, Sung Hyeon; Reeve, Johnmarshall; Song, Yong-Gwan

2016-06-01

Intervention-induced gains in need satisfaction decrease PE students' amotivation. The present study adopted a dual-process model to test whether an intervention could also decrease need frustration and hence provide a second supplemental source to further decrease students' PE amotivation. Using an experimental, longitudinal research design, 19 experienced PE teachers (9 experimental, 10 control) and their 1,017 students participated in an intervention program to help teachers become both more autonomy supportive and less controlling. Multilevel repeated measures analyses showed that students of teachers in the experimental group reported greater T2, T3, and T4 perceived autonomy support, need satisfaction, and engagement and lesser T2, T3, and T4 perceived teacher control, need frustration, and amotivation than did students of teachers in the control group. Multilevel structural equation modeling analyses confirmed the hypothesized dual-process model in which both intervention-induced increases in need satisfaction and intervention-induced decreases need frustration decreased students' end-of-semester amotivation. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this new finding on the dual antecedents of diminished amotivation.

Distorted-wave born approximation calculations for turbulence scattering in an upward-refracting atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilbert, Kenneth E.; Di, Xiao; Wang, Lintao

1990-01-01

Weiner and Keast observed that in an upward-refracting atmosphere, the relative sound pressure level versus range follows a characteristic 'step' function. The observed step function has recently been predicted qualitatively and quantitatively by including the effects of small-scale turbulence in a parabolic equation (PE) calculation. (Gilbert et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 87, 2428-2437 (1990)). The PE results to single-scattering calculations based on the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) are compared. The purpose is to obtain a better understanding of the physical mechanisms that produce the step-function. The PE calculations and DWBA calculations are compared to each other and to the data of Weiner and Keast for upwind propagation (strong upward refraction) and crosswind propagation (weak upward refraction) at frequencies of 424 Hz and 848 Hz. The DWBA calculations, which include only single scattering from turbulence, agree with the PE calculations and with the data in all cases except for upwind propagation at 848 Hz. Consequently, it appears that in all cases except one, the observed step function can be understood in terms of single scattering from an upward-refracted 'skywave' into the refractive shadow zone. For upwind propagation at 848 Hz, the DWBA calculation gives levels in the shadow zone that are much below both the PE and the data.

Comparison study of PE epitaxy on carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide and PE/graphene oxide as amphiphilic molecular structure for solvent separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Linghao; Zheng, Xiaoli; Xu, Qun; Chen, Zhimin; Fu, Jianwei

2012-03-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets, as one-dimensional and two-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterials respectively, have different abilities to induce the polymer crystallization. In this study, hybrid materials, polyethylene (PE) decorating on CNTs and graphene oxide (GO), were prepared by a facile and efficient method using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) as anti-solvent. And the morphology and crystallization behavior of PE on CNTs and GO were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectra, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Although both CNTs and GO could act as nucleating agents to induce PE epitaxial growth, CNTs were decorated by PE lamellar crystals forming nanohybrid "shish-kebab" (NHSK) structure, whereas GO sheets were only decorated with petal-like PE crystals. The varying morphologies of the nanohybrids depend on the PE epitaxy and the interactions between polymer chains and substrates. High surface curvature and the perfect ordered crystal structure of CNTs make PE crystals periodically grow on CNTs. While PE crystals grow and form multiple orientation-lamellae on GO due to the lattice matching and complex interactions between PE chains and GO. In addition, our experimental results show an interesting and evident stratification phenomenon for the PE/GO hybrid material, implying that GO decorated by PE have a screening function for the solvents. We anticipate that this work can widen the area of functionalization of carbon-based nanomaterials with a controlled means by an environmentally benign method, which are important for the functional design in nanodevice applications.

Body fat measurement by bioelectrical impedance and air displacement plethysmography: a cross-validation study to design bioelectrical impedance equations in Mexican adults

PubMed Central

Macias, Nayeli; Alemán-Mateo, Heliodoro; Esparza-Romero, Julián; Valencia, Mauro E

2007-01-01

Background The study of body composition in specific populations by techniques such as bio-impedance analysis (BIA) requires validation based on standard reference methods. The aim of this study was to develop and cross-validate a predictive equation for bioelectrical impedance using air displacement plethysmography (ADP) as standard method to measure body composition in Mexican adult men and women. Methods This study included 155 male and female subjects from northern Mexico, 20–50 years of age, from low, middle, and upper income levels. Body composition was measured by ADP. Body weight (BW, kg) and height (Ht, cm) were obtained by standard anthropometric techniques. Resistance, R (ohms) and reactance, Xc (ohms) were also measured. A random-split method was used to obtain two samples: one was used to derive the equation by the "all possible regressions" procedure and was cross-validated in the other sample to test predicted versus measured values of fat-free mass (FFM). Results and Discussion The final model was: FFM (kg) = 0.7374 * (Ht2 /R) + 0.1763 * (BW) - 0.1773 * (Age) + 0.1198 * (Xc) - 2.4658. R2 was 0.97; the square root of the mean square error (SRMSE) was 1.99 kg, and the pure error (PE) was 2.96. There was no difference between FFM predicted by the new equation (48.57 ± 10.9 kg) and that measured by ADP (48.43 ± 11.3 kg). The new equation did not differ from the line of identity, had a high R2 and a low SRMSE, and showed no significant bias (0.87 ± 2.84 kg). Conclusion The new bioelectrical impedance equation based on the two-compartment model (2C) was accurate, precise, and free of bias. This equation can be used to assess body composition and nutritional status in populations similar in anthropometric and physical characteristics to this sample. PMID:17697388

An Empirical Study of Atmospheric Correction Procedures for Regional Infrasound Amplitudes with Ground Truth.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howard, J. E.

2014-12-01

This study focusses on improving methods of accounting for atmospheric effects on infrasound amplitudes observed on arrays at regional distances in the southwestern United States. Recordings at ranges of 150 to nearly 300 km from a repeating ground truth source of small HE explosions are used. The explosions range in actual weight from approximately 2000-4000 lbs. and are detonated year-round which provides signals for a wide range of atmospheric conditions. Three methods of correcting the observed amplitudes for atmospheric effects are investigated with the data set. The first corrects amplitudes for upper stratospheric wind as developed by Mutschlecner and Whitaker (1999) and uses the average wind speed between 45-55 km altitudes in the direction of propagation to derive an empirical correction formula. This approach was developed using large chemical and nuclear explosions and is tested with the smaller explosions for which shorter wavelengths cause the energy to be scattered by the smaller scale structure of the atmosphere. The second approach isa semi-empirical method using ray tracing to determine wind speed at ray turning heights where the wind estimates replace the wind values in the existing formula. Finally, parabolic equation (PE) modeling is used to predict the amplitudes at the arrays at 1 Hz. The PE amplitudes are compared to the observed amplitudes with a narrow band filter centered at 1 Hz. An analysis is performed of the conditions under which the empirical and semi-empirical methods fail and full wave methods must be used.

A novel procedure for generating solar irradiance TSYs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fanego, Vicente Lara; Rubio, Jesús Pulgar; Peruchena, Carlos M. Fernández; Romeo, Martín Gastón; Tejera, Sara Moreno; Santigosa, Lourdes Ramírez; Balderrama, Rita X. Valenzuela; Tirado, Luis F. Zarzalejo; Pantaleón, Diego Bermejo; Pérez, Manuel Silva; Contreras, Manuel Pavón; García, Ana Bernardos; Anarte, Sergio Macías

2017-06-01

Typical Solar Years (TSYs) are key parameters for the solar energy industry. In particular, TSYs are mainly used for the design and bankability analysis of solar projects. In essence, a TSY intends to describe the expected long-term behavior of the solar resource (direct and/or global irradiance) into a condensed period of one year at the specific location of interest. A TSY differs from a conventional Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) by its absence of meteorological variables other than solar radiation. Concerning the probability of exceedance (Pe) needed for bankability, various scenarios are commonly used, with Pe90, Pe95 or even Pe99 being most usually required as unfavorable scenarios, along with the most widely used median scenario (Pe50). There is no consensus in the scientific community regarding the methodology for generating TSYs for any Pe scenario. Furthermore, the application of two different construction methods to the same original dataset could produce differing TSYs. Within this framework, a group of experts has been established by the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification (AENOR) in order to propose a method that can be standardized. The method developed by this working group, referred to as the EVA method, is presented in this contribution. Its evaluation shows that it provides reasonable results for the two main irradiance components (direct and global), with low errors in the annual estimations for any given Pe. The EVA method also preserves the long-term statistics when the computed TSYs for a specific Pe are expanded from the monthly basis used in the generation of the TSY to higher time resolutions, such as 1 hour, which are necessary for the precise energy simulation of solar systems.

Circulating cell-derived microparticles in severe preeclampsia and in fetal growth restriction.

PubMed

Alijotas-Reig, Jaume; Palacio-Garcia, Carles; Farran-Codina, Immaculada; Ruiz-Romance, Mar; Llurba, Elisa; Vilardell-Tarres, Miquel

2012-02-01

The behavior of the circulating microparticles (cMP) in severe preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) is disputed. METHOD OF STUDY  Non-matched case-control study. Seventy cases of severe PE/HELLP/FGR were compared to 38 healthy pregnant women. Twenty healthy non-pregnant women acted as a control. cMP were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results are given as total (annexin-A5-ANXA5+), platelet (CD41+), leukocyte (CD45+), endothelial (CD144+CD31+//CD41-), and CD41-negative cMP/μL of plasma. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were analyzed through usual methods. Platelet and endothelial cMP increased in healthy pregnant women. PE whole group (PE±FGR) showed an increase in endothelial and CD41-negative, but not in platelet-derived, cMP. Comparing PE whole group versus healthy pregnant, we found cMP levels of endothelial and CD41- had increased. The cMP results obtained in PE group were similar to those of the PE whole group. Comparing PE group to isolated FGR, significant CD41-negative cMP increase was found in PE. According to its aPL positivity, a trend to decrease in leukocyte and endothelial-derived cMP was found in PE group. Normal pregnancy is accompanied by endothelial and platelet cell activation. Endothelial cell activation has been shown in PE but not in isolated FGR. In PE, aPL may contribute to endothelial and possibly to leukocyte cell activation. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Automated detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) in computed tomographic pulmonary angiographic (CTPA) images: multiscale hierachical expectation-maximization segmentation of vessels and PEs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chuan; Chan, Heang-Ping; Hadjiiski, Lubomir M.; Chughtai, Aamer; Patel, Smita; Cascade, Philip N.; Sahiner, Berkman; Wei, Jun; Ge, Jun; Kazerooni, Ella A.

2007-03-01

CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has been reported to be an effective means for clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). We are developing a computer-aided detection (CAD) system to assist radiologist in PE detection in CTPA images. 3D multiscale filters in combination with a newly designed response function derived from the eigenvalues of Hessian matrices is used to enhance vascular structures including the vessel bifurcations and suppress non-vessel structures such as the lymphoid tissues surrounding the vessels. A hierarchical EM estimation is then used to segment the vessels by extracting the high response voxels at each scale. The segmented vessels are pre-screened for suspicious PE areas using a second adaptive multiscale EM estimation. A rule-based false positive (FP) reduction method was designed to identify the true PEs based on the features of PE and vessels. 43 CTPA scans were used as an independent test set to evaluate the performance of PE detection. Experienced chest radiologists identified the PE locations which were used as "gold standard". 435 PEs were identified in the artery branches, of which 172 and 263 were subsegmental and proximal to the subsegmental, respectively. The computer-detected volume was considered true positive (TP) when it overlapped with 10% or more of the gold standard PE volume. Our preliminary test results show that, at an average of 33 and 24 FPs/case, the sensitivities of our PE detection method were 81% and 78%, respectively, for proximal PEs, and 79% and 73%, respectively, for subsegmental PEs. The study demonstrates the feasibility that the automated method can identify PE accurately on CTPA images. Further study is underway to improve the sensitivity and reduce the FPs.

A simple solid-phase extraction method for the analysis of red cell phospholipids by liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Nguyen, Van Long

2018-02-25

There has been increasing interest in the analysis of phospholipids in red blood cells as potential long-term biomarkers of different disease states. Here, we describe a simple method for the analysis of two phospholipids: 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol (PE 16:0/18:1) and 1-Palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol (PE 16:/0/18:2) in erythrocytes by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Whole blood samples were removed free of plasma and washed in isotonic saline. Red cells were lysed with ultrapure water. Lysate samples were processed using a hybrid solid-phase extraction (SPE) phospholipid cartridge (1 mL, 30 mg). Both PE 16:0/18:1 and PE 16:0/18:2 and their deuterated internal standards were separated on an ACE C4 (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 2.7 μm particle size) by gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.5 mL per minute using mobile phases consisting of 0.01 mol/L ammonium acetate in: water (A), methanol (B), and isopropanol (C). The phospholipid species were quantified by the following transitions: PE 16:0/18:1: 701.5→281.3 and PE 16:0/18:2: 699.5→279.3. Both PE species displayed linearity ranging from 10 to 500 μg/L. The coefficient of variation (CV%) of PE 16:0/18:1 concerning intraday and interday precision was between 1.9%-2.6% and 3.0%-4.3%, respectively. For PE 16:0/18:2, this was between 1.8%-3.4% and 3.7%-4.1%, respectively. Both phospholipid species had accuracy (PE 16:0/18:1: 91%-98% and PE 16:0/18:2: 94%-103%) and extraction recovery (PE 16:0/18:1: 95%-106% and PE 16:0/18:2: 92%-102%) exceeding 90% over the analytical range. The limit of detection was 5 μg/L. Here we propose a simple SPE LC-MS/MS method for analyzing phospholipids in erythrocytes, which can be easily adopted. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Regulation of landslide motion by dilatancy and pore pressure feedback

USGS Publications Warehouse

Iverson, R.M.

2005-01-01

A new mathematical model clarifies how diverse styles and rates of landslide motion can result from regulation of Coulomb friction by dilation or contraction of water-saturated basal shear zones. Normalization of the model equations shows that feedback due to coupling between landslide motion, shear zone volume change, and pore pressure change depends on a single dimensionless parameter ??, which, in turn, depends on the dilatancy angle ?? and the intrinsic timescales for pore pressure generation and dissipation. If shear zone soil contracts during slope failure, then ?? 0, and negative feedback permits slow, steady landslide motion to occur while positive pore pressure is supplied by rain infiltration. Steady state slip velocities v0 obey v0 = -(K/??) p*e, where K is the hydraulic conductivity and p*e is the normalized (dimensionless) negative pore pressure generated by dilation. If rain infiltration and attendant pore pressure growth continue unabated, however, their influence ultimately overwhelms the stabilizing influence of negative p*e. Then, unbounded landslide acceleration occurs, accentuated by an instability that develops if ?? diminishes as landslide motion proceeds. Nonetheless, numerical solutions of the model equations show that slow, nearly steady motion of a clay-rich landslide may persist for many months as a result of negative pore pressure feedback that regulates basal Coulomb friction. Similarly stabilized motion is less likely to occur in sand-rich landslides that are characterized by weaker negative feedback.

A study of the adequacy of quasi-geostrophic dynamics for modeling the effect of frontal cyclones on the larger scale flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mudrick, Stephen

1987-01-01

The evolution of individual cyclone waves is studied in order to see how well quasi-geostrophic (QG) dynamics can simulate the behavior of primitive equations (PE) dynamics. This work is an extension of a similar study (Mudrick, 1982); emphasis is placed here on adding a frontal zone and other more diverse features to the basic states used. In addition, sets of PE integrations, with and without friction, are used to study the formation of surface occluded fronts within the evolving cyclones. Results of the study are summarized at the beginning of the report.

Exciton transport in the PE545 complex: insight from atomistic QM/MM-based quantum master equations and elastic network models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pouyandeh, Sima; Iubini, Stefano; Jurinovich, Sandro; Omar, Yasser; Mennucci, Benedetta; Piazza, Francesco

2017-12-01

In this paper, we work out a parameterization of environmental noise within the Haken-Strobl-Reinenker (HSR) model for the PE545 light-harvesting complex, based on atomic-level quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations. We use this approach to investigate the role of various auto- and cross-correlations in the HSR noise tensor, confirming that site-energy autocorrelations (pure dephasing) terms dominate the noise-induced exciton mobility enhancement, followed by site energy-coupling cross-correlations for specific triplets of pigments. Interestingly, several cross-correlations of the latter kind, together with coupling-coupling cross-correlations, display clear low-frequency signatures in their spectral densities in the 30-70 cm-1 region. These slow components lie at the limits of validity of the HSR approach, which requires that environmental fluctuations be faster than typical exciton transfer time scales. We show that a simple coarse-grained elastic-network-model (ENM) analysis of the PE545 protein naturally spotlights collective normal modes in this frequency range that represent specific concerted motions of the subnetwork of cysteines covalenty linked to the pigments. This analysis strongly suggests that protein scaffolds in light-harvesting complexes are able to express specific collective, low-frequency normal modes providing a fold-rooted blueprint of exciton transport pathways. We speculate that ENM-based mixed quantum classical methods, such as Ehrenfest dynamics, might be promising tools to disentangle the fundamental designing principles of these dynamical processes in natural and artificial light-harvesting structures.

Strong Deformation of the Thick Electric Double Layer around a Charged Particle during Sedimentation or Electrophoresis.

PubMed

Khair, Aditya S

2018-01-23

The deformation of the electric double layer around a charged colloidal particle during sedimentation or electrophoresis in a binary, symmetric electrolyte is studied. The surface potential of the particle is assumed to be small compared to the thermal voltage scale. Additionally, the Debye length is assumed to be large compared to the particle size. These assumptions enable a linearization of the electrokinetic equations. The particle appears as a point charge in this thick-double-layer limit; the distribution of charge in the diffuse cloud surrounding it is determined by a balance of advection due to the particle motion, Brownian diffusion of ions, and electrostatic screening of the particle by the cloud. The ability of advection to deform the charge cloud from its equilibrium state is parametrized by a Péclet number, Pe. For weak advection (Pe ≪ 1), the cloud is only slightly deformed. In contrast, the cloud can be completely stripped from the particle at Pe ≫ 1; consequently, electrokinetic effects on the particle motion vanish in this regime. Therefore, in sedimentation the drag limits to Stokes' law for an uncharged particle as Pe → ∞. Likewise, the particle velocity for electrophoresis approaches Huckel's result. The strongly deformed cloud at large Pe is predicted to generate a concomitant increase in the sedimentation field in a dilute settling suspension.

Polarizable embedding with a multiconfiguration short-range density functional theory linear response method

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

Hedegård, Erik Donovan, E-mail: erik.hedegard@phys.chem.ethz.ch; Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense; Olsen, Jógvan Magnus Haugaard

2015-03-21

We present here the coupling of a polarizable embedding (PE) model to the recently developed multiconfiguration short-range density functional theory method (MC-srDFT), which can treat multiconfigurational systems with a simultaneous account for dynamical and static correlation effects. PE-MC-srDFT is designed to combine efficient treatment of complicated electronic structures with inclusion of effects from the surrounding environment. The environmental effects encompass classical electrostatic interactions as well as polarization of both the quantum region and the environment. Using response theory, molecular properties such as excitation energies and oscillator strengths can be obtained. The PE-MC-srDFT method and the additional terms required for linearmore » response have been implemented in a development version of DALTON. To benchmark the PE-MC-srDFT approach against the literature data, we have investigated the low-lying electronic excitations of acetone and uracil, both immersed in water solution. The PE-MC-srDFT results are consistent and accurate, both in terms of the calculated solvent shift and, unlike regular PE-MCSCF, also with respect to the individual absolute excitation energies. To demonstrate the capabilities of PE-MC-srDFT, we also investigated the retinylidene Schiff base chromophore embedded in the channelrhodopsin protein. While using a much more compact reference wave function in terms of active space, our PE-MC-srDFT approach yields excitation energies comparable in quality to CASSCF/CASPT2 benchmarks.« less

Suspected pulmonary embolism and lung scan interpretation: Trial of a Bayesian reporting method

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

Becker, D.M.; Philbrick, J.T.; Schoonover, F.W.

The objective of this research is to determine whether a Bayesian method of lung scan (LS) reporting could influence the management of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The study is performed by the following: (1) A descriptive study of the diagnostic process for suspected PE using the new reporting method; (2) a non-experimental evaluation of the reporting method comparing prospective patients and historical controls; and (3) a survey of physicians' reactions to the reporting innovation. Of 148 consecutive patients enrolled at the time of LS, 129 were completely evaluated; 75 patients scanned the previous year served as controls. Themore » LS results of patients with suspected PE were reported as posttest probabilities of PE calculated from physician-provided pretest probabilities and the likelihood ratios for PE of LS interpretations. Despite the Bayesian intervention, the confirmation or exclusion of PE was often based on inconclusive evidence. PE was considered by the clinician to be ruled out in 98% of patients with posttest probabilities less than 25% and ruled in for 95% of patients with posttest probabilities greater than 75%. Prospective patients and historical controls were similar in terms of tests ordered after the LS (e.g., pulmonary angiography). Patients with intermediate or indeterminate lung scan results had the highest proportion of subsequent testing. Most physicians (80%) found the reporting innovation to be helpful, either because it confirmed clinical judgement (94 cases) or because it led to additional testing (7 cases). Despite the probabilistic guidance provided by the study, the diagnosis of PE was often neither clearly established nor excluded. While physicians appreciated the innovation and were not confused by the terminology, their clinical decision making was not clearly enhanced.« less

Low Altitude Near-the-Horizon Propagation: A Comparison Between RPO and M-Layer

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

scaling based on the assumption that a single mode contributes to the complete field strength (Ref. 31, output from M-Layer [Ref. 4, 5] in the over-the...PE. The parabolic equation approximation to the Maxwell wave equations is developed under the optical assumption that the operating frequency is so...profile data are specified (an array) capm zim profile data (modified index of refraction; an array) (a) RPO: from I to n/evs; M-Layer from 0 to nzlayr

Physical Education Students' Ownership, Empowerment, and Satisfaction With PE and Physical Activity.

PubMed

Moore, E Whitney G; Fry, Mary D

2017-12-01

Individuals experiencing a highly caring, task-involving, and low ego-involving exercise climate have reported greater ownership in exercise class and empowerment to exercise in general. This study examined the relationship between ownership and empowerment in exercise, with 2 context-specific outcomes, satisfaction with physical education (PE) and physical activity, respectively. Given the mission of PE to foster individuals' lifelong physical activity habit, the perceptions of high school students were collected for this study. Ownership in exercise was hypothesized to be significantly, positively correlated with students reporting satisfaction in PE more than their satisfaction in physical activity, whereas empowerment in exercise was hypothesized to be more strongly, positively correlated with students' physical activity satisfaction. A second purpose of this study was to test the measurement quality of the updated Empowerment in Exercise Scale (EES; now 13 items). High school students (N = 502, 43% female) in a Midwestern U.S. school district completed a survey. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the internal measurement structure of the EES (λ = .62-.91; McDonald's omega = .89) across student gender (strong invariance). Additionally, the structural equation modeling analysis revealed only 1 parameter moderated by the students' gender (latent mean of ownership). The hypotheses were supported, such that ownership in exercise was more strongly correlated with PE satisfaction (r = .87) and empowerment in exercise had a stronger correlation with physical activity satisfaction (r = .92). These results support the beneficial effect a satisfying experience in PE can have on students' satisfaction with physical activity outside of school.

Confine Clay in an Alternating Multilayered Structure through Injection Molding: A Simple and Efficient Route to Improve Barrier Performance of Polymeric Materials.

PubMed

Yu, Feilong; Deng, Hua; Bai, Hongwei; Zhang, Qin; Wang, Ke; Chen, Feng; Fu, Qiang

2015-05-20

Various methods have been devoted to trigger the formation of multilayered structure for wide range of applications. These methods are often complicated with low production efficiency or require complex equipment. Herein, we demonstrate a simple and efficient method for the fabrication of polymeric sheets containing multilayered structure with enhanced barrier property through high speed thin-wall injection molding (HSIM). To achieve this, montmorillonite (MMT) is added into PE first, then blended with PP to fabricate PE-MMT/PP ternary composites. It is demonstrated that alternating multilayer structure could be obtained in the ternary composites because of low interfacial tension and good viscosity match between different polymer components. MMT is selectively dispersed in PE phase with partial exfoliated/partial intercalated microstructure. 2D-WAXD analysis indicates that the clay tactoids in PE-MMT/PP exhibits an uniplanar-axial orientation with their surface parallel to the molded part surface, while the tactoids in binary PE-MMT composites with the same overall MMT contents illustrate less orientation. The enhanced orientation of nanoclay in PE-MMT/PP could be attributed to the confinement of alternating multilayer structure, which prohibits the tumbling and rotation of nanoplatelets. Therefore, the oxygen barrier property of PE-MMT/PP is superior to that of PE-MMT because of increased gas permeation pathway. Comparing with the results obtained for PE based composites in literature, outstanding barrier property performance (45.7% and 58.2% improvement with 1.5 and 2.5 wt % MMT content, respectively) is achieved in current study. Two issues are considered responsible for such improvement: enhanced MMT orientation caused by the confinement in layered structure, and higher local density of MMT in layered structure induced denser assembly. Finally, enhancement in barrier property by confining impermeable filler into alternating multilayer structure through such simple and efficient method could provide a novel route toward high-performance packaging materials and other functional materials require layered structure.

Phase Tomography Reconstructed by 3D TIE in Hard X-ray Microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Gung-Chian; Chen, Fu-Rong; Pyun, Ahram; Je, Jung Ho; Hwu, Yeukuang; Liang, Keng S.

2007-01-01

X-ray phase tomography and phase imaging are promising ways of investigation on low Z material. A polymer blend of PE/PS sample was used to test the 3D phase retrieval method in the parallel beam illuminated microscope. Because the polymer sample is thick, the phase retardation is quite mixed and the image can not be distinguished when the 2D transport intensity equation (TIE) is applied. In this study, we have provided a different approach for solving the phase in three dimensions for thick sample. Our method involves integration of 3D TIE/Fourier slice theorem for solving thick phase sample. In our experiment, eight sets of de-focal series image data sets were recorded covering the angular range of 0 to 180 degree. Only three set of image cubes were used in 3D TIE equation for solving the phase tomography. The phase contrast of the polymer blend in 3D is obviously enhanced, and the two different groups of polymer blend can be distinguished in the phase tomography.

Theoretical and numerical studies of chaotic mixing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ho Jun

Theoretical and numerical studies of chaotic mixing are performed to circumvent the difficulties of efficient mixing, which come from the lack of turbulence in microfluidic devices. In order to carry out efficient and accurate parametric studies and to identify a fully chaotic state, a spectral element algorithm for solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes and species transport equations is developed. Using Taylor series expansions in time marching, the new algorithm employs an algebraic factorization scheme on multi-dimensional staggered spectral element grids, and extends classical conforming Galerkin formulations to nonconforming spectral elements. Lagrangian particle tracking methods are utilized to study particle dispersion in the mixing device using spectral element and fourth order Runge-Kutta discretizations in space and time, respectively. Comparative studies of five different techniques commonly employed to identify the chaotic strength and mixing efficiency in microfluidic systems are presented to demonstrate the competitive advantages and shortcomings of each method. These are the stirring index based on the box counting method, Poincare sections, finite time Lyapunov exponents, the probability density function of the stretching field, and mixing index inverse, based on the standard deviation of scalar species distribution. Series of numerical simulations are performed by varying the Peclet number (Pe) at fixed kinematic conditions. The mixing length (lm) is characterized as function of the Pe number, and lm ∝ ln(Pe) scaling is demonstrated for fully chaotic cases. Employing the aforementioned techniques, optimum kinematic conditions and the actuation frequency of the stirrer that result in the highest mixing/stirring efficiency are identified in a zeta potential patterned straight micro channel, where a continuous flow is generated by superposition of a steady pressure driven flow and time periodic electroosmotic flow induced by a stream-wise AC electric field. Finally, it is shown that the invariant manifold of hyperbolic periodic point determines the geometry of fast mixing zones in oscillatory flows in two-dimensional cavity.

Simulating and Testing a DC-DC Half-Bridge SLR Converter

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

45 F . TRIAL 4 ..........................................................................................................48 1. Parameters...PE:;;:RM;;,__, ~ 1500 · ! 1000 ~ - 500· 30 60 100 300 600 1000 FREQUHI(Y kHz Or~e o en is chosen, tlte <cku!Jtioo of ~fimar• f wd secondor...6 E. CLOSED FORM EQUATIONS .....................................................................8 F . TRANSFORMER THEORY

Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antiulcer properties of Porphyra vietnamensis

PubMed Central

Bhatia, Saurabh; Sharma, Kiran; Sharma, Ajay; Nagpal, Kalpana; Bera, Tanmoy

2015-01-01

Objectives: Aim of the present work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiulcer effects of red seaweed Porphyra vietnamensis (P. vietnamenis). Materials and Methods: Aqueous (POR) and alcoholic (PE) fractions were successfully isolated from P. vietnamenis. Further biological investigations were performed using a classic test of paw edema induced by carrageenan, writhing induced by acetic acid, hot plate method and naproxen induced gastro-duodenal ulcer. Results: Among the fractions POR showed better activity. POR and PE significantly (p < 0.05) reduced carrageenan induced paw edema in a dose dependent manner. In the writhing test POR significantly (p < 0.05) reduced abdominal writhes than PE. In hot plate method POR showed better analgesic activity than PE. POR showed comparable ulcers reducing potential (p<0.01) to that of omeprazole, and has more ulcer reducing potential then PE. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that P. vietnamenis aqueous fraction possesses biological activity that is close to the standards taken for the treatment of peripheral painful or/and inflammatory and ulcer conditions. PMID:25767759

Planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells with superior reproducibility

PubMed Central

Jeon, Ye-Jin; Lee, Sehyun; Kang, Rira; Kim, Jueng-Eun; Yeo, Jun-Seok; Lee, Seung-Hoon; Kim, Seok-Soon; Yun, Jin-Mun; Kim, Dong-Yu

2014-01-01

Perovskite solar cells (PeSCs) have been considered one of the competitive next generation power sources. To date, light-to-electric conversion efficiencies have rapidly increased to over 10%, and further improvements are expected. However, the poor device reproducibility of PeSCs ascribed to their inhomogeneously covered film morphology has hindered their practical application. Here, we demonstrate high-performance PeSCs with superior reproducibility by introducing small amounts of N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP) as a morphology controller into N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). As a result, highly homogeneous film morphology, similar to that achieved by vacuum-deposition methods, as well as a high PCE of 10% and an extremely small performance deviation within 0.14% were achieved. This study represents a method for realizing efficient and reproducible planar heterojunction (PHJ) PeSCs through morphology control, taking a major step forward in the low-cost and rapid production of PeSCs by solving one of the biggest problems of PHJ perovskite photovoltaic technology through a facile method. PMID:25377945

Comparison of newer IOL power calculation methods for post-corneal refractive surgery eyes

PubMed Central

Wang, Li; Tang, Maolong; Huang, David; Weikert, Mitchell P.; Koch, Douglas D.

2015-01-01

Objective To compare the newer formulae, the optical coherence tomography based intraocular lens (IOL) power formula (OCT formula) and the Barrett True-K formula (True-K), to the methods on the ASCRS calculator in eyes with previous myopic LASIK/PRK. Design Prospective case series. Participants One-hundred and four eyes of 80 patients who had previous myopic LASIK/PRK and subsequent cataract surgery and IOL implantation. Methods Using the actual refraction following cataract surgery as target refraction, predicted IOL power for each method was calculated. The IOL prediction error (PE) was obtained by subtracting the predicted IOL power from the power of IOL implanted. Main outcome measures Arithmetic IOL PEs, variances of mean arithmetic IOL PE, median refractive PE and percent of eyes within 0.5 D and 1.0 D of refractive PE. Results OCT produced smaller variance of IOL PE than did Wang-Koch-Maloney, and Shammas (P<0.05). With the OCT, True-K No History, Wang-Koch-Maloney, Shammas, Haigis-L, and Average of these 5 formulas, respectively, the median refractive PEs were 0.35 D, 0.42 D, 0.51 D, 0.48 D, 0.39 D, and 0.35 D, and the % of eyes within 0.5 D of refractive PE were 68.3%, 58.7%, 50.0%, 52.9%, 55.8%, and 67.3%, and within 1.0 D of RPE, 92.3%, 90.4%, 86.9%, 88.5%, 90.4%, and 94.2%, respectively. The OCT formula had smaller refractive PE compared to Wang-Koch-Maloney and Shammas, and the Average approach produced significantly smaller refractive PE than did all methods except OCT (all P<0.05). Conclusions The OCT and True-K No History are promising formulas. The ASCRS IOL calculator has been updated to include the OCT and Barrett True K formulas. Trial registration Intraocular Lens Power Calculation After Laser Refractive Surgery Based on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT IOL); Identifier: NCT00532051; www.ClinicalTrials.gov PMID:26459996

Public Disclosure to Improve Physical Education in an Urban School District: Results From a 2-Year Quasi-Experimental Study.

PubMed

Thompson, Hannah R; Vittinghoff, Eric; Linchey, Jennifer K; Madsen, Kristine A

2015-09-01

Many elementary schools have policies requiring a minimum amount of physical education (PE). However, few schools comply with local/state PE policy and little is known about how to improve adherence. We evaluated changes in PE among fifth-grade classes, following participatory action research efforts to improve PE quantity and policy compliance that focused on publically disclosing PE data. Data were collected in 20 San Francisco public elementary schools in spring 2011 and 2013. PE schedules were collected and PE classes were directly observed (2011, N = 30 teachers; 2013, N = 33 teachers). Data on the proportion of schools meeting state PE mandates in 2011 were shared within the school district and disclosed to the general public in 2012. From 2011 to 2013, PE increased by 11 minutes/week based on teachers' schedules (95% CI: 3.0, 19.6) and by 14 minutes/week (95% CI: 1.9, 26.0) based on observations. The proportion of schools meeting the state PE mandate increased from 20% to 30% (p = .27). Positive changes in PE were seen over a 2-year period following the public disclosure of data that highlighted poor PE policy compliance. Public disclosure could be a method for ensuring greater PE policy adherence. © 2015, American School Health Association.

Simplified quantification and whole-body distribution of [18F]FE-PE2I in nonhuman primates: prediction for human studies.

PubMed

Varrone, Andrea; Gulyás, Balázs; Takano, Akihiro; Stabin, Michael G; Jonsson, Cathrine; Halldin, Christer

2012-02-01

[(18)F]FE-PE2I is a promising dopamine transporter (DAT) radioligand. In nonhuman primates, we examined the accuracy of simplified quantification methods and the estimates of radiation dose of [(18)F]FE-PE2I. In the quantification study, binding potential (BP(ND)) values previously reported in three rhesus monkeys using kinetic and graphical analyses of [(18)F]FE-PE2I were used for comparison. BP(ND) using the cerebellum as reference region was obtained with four reference tissue methods applied to the [(18)F]FE-PE2I data that were compared with the kinetic and graphical analyses. In the whole-body study, estimates of adsorbed radiation were obtained in two cynomolgus monkeys. All reference tissue methods provided BP(ND) values within 5% of the values obtained with the kinetic and graphical analyses. The shortest imaging time for stable BP(ND) estimation was 54 min. The average effective dose of [(18)F]FE-PE2I was 0.021 mSv/MBq, similar to 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-d-glucose. The results in nonhuman primates suggest that [(18)F]FE-PE2I is suitable for accurate and stable DAT quantification, and its radiation dose estimates would allow for a maximal administered radioactivity of 476 MBq in human subjects. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine in the plasma of healthy subjects and diabetic patients by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Miyazawa, Teruo; Ibusuki, Daigo; Yamashita, Shinji; Nakagawa, Kiyotaka

2008-04-01

Peroxidized phospholipid-mediated cytotoxity, the abnormal increase in the levels of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) found in the plasma of type 2 diabetic patients, is involved in the pathophysiology of many diseases. PCOOH accumulation may be related to Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (deoxy-D-fructosyl PE, or Amadori-PE) because Amadori-PE causes oxidative stress. However, the occurrence of lipid glycation products, including Amadori-PE, in vivo remains unclear. We developed a method to analyze Amadori-PE by using quadrupole/linear ion-trap mass spectrometry, the Applied Biosystems 4000 Q TRAP. We found that pyridoxals could easily be condensed with PE before the glucose-PE reaction occurred. The PE-pyridoxal 5'-phosphate adduct was detectable in human red blood cells, and the increased plasma Amadori-PE concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was decreased by dietary supplementation with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Therefore, it is likely that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate acts as a lipid glycation inhibitor in vivo, and this may contribute to diabetes prevention.

Physical Education, Obesity, and Academic Achievement: A 2-Year Longitudinal Investigation of Australian Elementary School Children

PubMed Central

Cunningham, Ross B.; Fitzgerald, Robert; Olive, Lisa S.; Prosser, Laurence; Jiang, Xiaoli; Telford, Rohan M.

2012-01-01

Objectives. We determined whether physical education (PE) taught by specialists contributed to academic development and prevention of obesity in elementary school children. Methods. Our 2-year longitudinal study involved 620 boys and girls initially in grade 3 in Australia, all receiving 150 minutes per week of PE. One group (specialist-taught PE; n = 312) included 90 minutes per week of PE from visiting specialists; the other (common-practice PE; n = 308) received all PE from generalist classroom teachers. Measurements included percentage of body fat (measured by dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry) and writing, numeracy, and reading proficiency (by government tests). Results. Compared with common-practice PE, specialist-taught PE was associated with a smaller increase in age-related percentage of body fat (P = .02). Specialist-taught PE was also associated with greater improvements in numeracy (P < .03) and writing (P = .13) scores. There was no evidence of a reading effect. Conclusions. The attenuated age-related increases in percentage of body fat and enhanced numeracy development among elementary school children receiving PE from specialists provides support for the role of PE in both preventive medicine and academic development. PMID:21940922

Integrating multiple ‘omics’ analyses identifies serological protein biomarkers for preeclampsia

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related vascular disorder which is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. We sought to identify novel serological protein markers to diagnose PE with a multi-’omics’ based discovery approach. Methods Seven previous placental expression studies were combined for a multiplex analysis, and in parallel, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed to compare serum proteomes in PE and control subjects. The combined biomarker candidates were validated with available ELISA assays using gestational age-matched PE (n=32) and control (n=32) samples. With the validated biomarkers, a genetic algorithm was then used to construct and optimize biomarker panels in PE assessment. Results In addition to the previously identified biomarkers, the angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PIGF)), we found 3 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated biomakers in PE sera. Two optimal biomarker panels were developed for early and late onset PE assessment, respectively. Conclusions Both early and late onset PE diagnostic panels, constructed with our PE biomarkers, were superior over sFlt-1/PIGF ratio in PE discrimination. The functional significance of these PE biomarkers and their associated pathways were analyzed which may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of PE. PMID:24195779

Parametric embedding for class visualization.

PubMed

Iwata, Tomoharu; Saito, Kazumi; Ueda, Naonori; Stromsten, Sean; Griffiths, Thomas L; Tenenbaum, Joshua B

2007-09-01

We propose a new method, parametric embedding (PE), that embeds objects with the class structure into a low-dimensional visualization space. PE takes as input a set of class conditional probabilities for given data points and tries to preserve the structure in an embedding space by minimizing a sum of Kullback-Leibler divergences, under the assumption that samples are generated by a gaussian mixture with equal covariances in the embedding space. PE has many potential uses depending on the source of the input data, providing insight into the classifier's behavior in supervised, semisupervised, and unsupervised settings. The PE algorithm has a computational advantage over conventional embedding methods based on pairwise object relations since its complexity scales with the product of the number of objects and the number of classes. We demonstrate PE by visualizing supervised categorization of Web pages, semisupervised categorization of digits, and the relations of words and latent topics found by an unsupervised algorithm, latent Dirichlet allocation.

A simple derivation of the exact quasiparticle theory and its extension to arbitrary initial excited eigenstates.

PubMed

Ohno, Kaoru; Ono, Shota; Isobe, Tomoharu

2017-02-28

The quasiparticle (QP) energies, which are minus of the energies required by removing or produced by adding one electron from/to the system, corresponding to the photoemission or inverse photoemission (PE/IPE) spectra, are determined together with the QP wave functions, which are not orthonormal and even not linearly independent but somewhat similar to the normal spin orbitals in the theory of the configuration interaction, by self-consistently solving the QP equation coupled with the equation for the self-energy. The electron density, kinetic, and all interaction energies can be calculated using the QP wave functions. We prove in a simple way that the PE/IPE spectroscopy and therefore this QP theory can be applied to an arbitrary initial excited eigenstate. In this proof, we show that the energy-dependence of the self-energy is not an essential difficulty, and the QP picture holds exactly if there is no relaxation mechanism in the system. The validity of the present theory for some initial excited eigenstates is tested using the one-shot GW approximation for several atoms and molecules.

Physical examination education in graduate medical education--a systematic review of the literature.

PubMed

Mookherjee, Somnath; Pheatt, Lara; Ranji, Sumant R; Chou, Calvin L

2013-08-01

There is widespread recognition that physical examination (PE) should be taught in Graduate Medical Education (GME), but little is known regarding how to best teach PE to residents. Deliberate practice fosters expertise in other fields, but its utility in teaching PE is unknown. We systematically reviewed the literature to determine the effectiveness of methods to teach PE in GME, with attention to usage of deliberate practice. We searched PubMed, ERIC, and EMBASE for English language studies regarding PE education in GME published between January 1951 and December 2012. Seven eligibility criteria were applied to studies of PE education: (1) English language; (2) subjects in GME; (3) description of study population; (4) description of intervention; (5) assessment of efficacy; (6) inclusion of control group; and (7) report of data analysis. We extracted data regarding study quality, type of PE, study population, curricular features, use of deliberate practice, outcomes and assessment methods. Tabulated summaries of studies were reviewed for narrative synthesis. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria. The mean Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) score was 9.0 out of 18. Most studies (n = 8) included internal medicine residents. Half of the studies used resident interaction with a human examinee as the primary means of teaching PE. Three studies "definitely" and four studies "possibly" used deliberate practice; all but one of these studies demonstrated improved educational outcomes. We used a non-validated deliberate practice assessment. Given the heterogeneity of assessment modalities, we did not perform a meta-analysis. No single strategy for teaching PE in GME is clearly superior to another. Following the principles of deliberate practice and interaction with human examinees may be beneficial in teaching PE; controlled studies including these educational features should be performed to investigate these exploratory findings.

Students' tripartite efficacy beliefs in high school physical education: within- and cross-domain relations with motivational processes and leisure-time physical activity.

PubMed

Jackson, Ben; Whipp, Peter R; Chua, K L Peter; Dimmock, James A; Hagger, Martin S

2013-02-01

Within instructional settings, individuals form relational efficacy appraisals that complement their self-efficacy beliefs. In high school physical education (PE), for instance, students develop a level of confidence in their teacher's capabilities, as well as estimating how confident they think their teacher is in their (i.e., the students') ability. Grounded in existing transcontextual work, we examined the motivational pathways through which students' relational efficacy and self-efficacy beliefs in PE were predictive of their leisure-time physical activity. Singaporean students (N = 990; age M = 13.95, SD = 1.02) completed instruments assessing efficacy beliefs, perceptions of teacher relatedness support, and autonomous motivation toward PE, and 2 weeks later they reported their motivation toward, and engagement in, leisure-time physical activity. Structural equation modeling revealed that students reported stronger other-efficacy and RISE beliefs when they felt that their teacher created a highly relatedness-supportive environment. In turn, their relational efficacy beliefs (a) supported their confidence in their own ability, (b) directly and indirectly predicted more autonomous motives for participation in PE, and (c) displayed prospective transcontextual effects in relation to leisure-time variables. By emphasizing the adaptive motivational effects associated with the tripartite constructs, these findings highlight novel pathways linking students' efficacy perceptions with leisure-time outcomes.

Rationale, design and methods of the HEALTHY study physical education intervention component.

PubMed

McMurray, R G; Bassin, S; Jago, R; Bruecker, S; Moe, E L; Murray, T; Mazzuto, S L; Volpe, S L

2009-08-01

The HEALTHY primary prevention trial was designed to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes in middle school students. Middle schools at seven centers across the United States participated in the 3-year study. Half of them were randomized to receive a multi-component intervention. The intervention integrated nutrition, physical education (PE) and behavior changes with a communications strategy of promotional and educational materials and activities. The PE intervention component was developed over a series of pilot studies to maximize student participation and the time (in minutes) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while meeting state-mandated PE guidelines. The goal of the PE intervention component was to achieve > or =150 min of MVPA in PE classes every 10 school days with the expectation that it would provide a direct effect on adiposity and insulin resistance, subsequently reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in youth. The PE intervention component curriculum used standard lesson plans to provide a comprehensive approach to middle school PE. Equipment and PE teacher assistants were provided for each school. An expert in PE at each center trained the PE teachers and assistants, monitored delivery of the intervention and provided ongoing feedback and guidance.

Rationale, design and methods of the HEALTHY study physical education intervention component

PubMed Central

McMurray, RG; Bassin, S; Jago, R; Bruecker, S; Moe, EL; Murray, T; Mazzuto, SL; Volpe, SL

2009-01-01

The HEALTHY primary prevention trial was designed to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes in middle school students. Middle schools at seven centers across the United States participated in the 3-year study. Half of them were randomized to receive a multi-component intervention. The intervention integrated nutrition, physical education (PE) and behavior changes with a communications strategy of promotional and educational materials and activities. The PE intervention component was developed over a series of pilot studies to maximize student participation and the time (in minutes) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while meeting state-mandated PE guidelines. The goal of the PE intervention component was to achieve ≥150 min of MVPA in PE classes every 10 school days with the expectation that it would provide a direct effect on adiposity and insulin resistance, subsequently reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes in youth. The PE intervention component curriculum used standard lesson plans to provide a comprehensive approach to middle school PE. Equipment and PE teacher assistants were provided for each school. An expert in PE at each center trained the PE teachers and assistants, monitored delivery of the intervention and provided ongoing feedback and guidance. PMID:19623187

Comparative study of proteasome inhibitory, synergistic antibacterial, synergistic anticandidal, and antioxidant activities of gold nanoparticles biosynthesized using fruit waste materials.

PubMed

Patra, Jayanta Kumar; Baek, Kwang-Hyun

The aim of this study was to compare the biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) generated using the aqueous extracts of outer oriental melon peel (OMP) and peach. The synthesized OMP-AuNPs and peach extract (PE)-AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The surface plasmon resonance spectra were obtained at 545 nm and 540 nm for OMP-AuNPs and PE-AuNPs, respectively. The estimated absolute crystallite size of the synthesized AuNPs was calculated to be 78.11 nm for OMP-AuNPs and 39.90 nm for PE-AuNPs based on the Scherer equation of the X-ray powder diffraction peaks. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed the involvement of bioactive compounds present in OMP and peach extracts in the synthesis and stabilization of synthesized AuNPs. Both the OMP-AuNPs and PE-AuNPs showed a strong antibacterial synergistic activity when combined with kanamycin (9.38-20.45 mm inhibition zones) and rifampicin (9.52-25.23 mm inhibition zones), and they also exerted a strong synergistic anticandidal activity (10.09-15.47 mm inhibition zones) when combined with amphotericin B against five pathogenic Candida species. Both the OMP-AuNPs and PE-AuNPs exhibited a strong antioxidant potential in terms of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydraxyl radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging, and a reducing power, along with a strong proteasome inhibitory potential that could be useful in cancer drug delivery and cancer treatments. The PE-AuNPs showed comparatively higher activity than OMP-AuNPs, which could be attributed to the presence of rich bioactive compounds in the PE that acted as reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of PE-AuNPs. Overall, the results of the current investigation highlighted a novel green technology for the synthesis of AuNPs using food waste materials and their potential applications in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Patient-Centered Research

PubMed Central

Wicki, J; Perneger, TV; Junod, AF; Bounameaux, H; Perrier, A

2000-01-01

PURPOSE We aimed to develop a simple standardized clinical score to stratify emergency ward patients with clinically suspected PE into groups with a high, intermediate, or low probability of PE, in order to improve and simplify the diagnostic approach. METHODS Analysis of a database of 1090 consecutive patients admitted to the emergency ward for suspected PE, in whom diagnosis of PE was ruled in or out by a standard diagnostic algorithm. Logistic regression was used to predict clinical parameters associated with PE. RESULTS 296 out of 1090 patients (27%) were found to have PE. The optimal estimate of clinical probability was based on eight variables: recent surgery, previous thromboembolic event, older age, hypocapnia, hypoxemia, tachycardia, band atelectasis or elevation of a hemidiaphragm on chest X-ray. A probability score was calculated by adding points assigned to these variables. A cut-off score of 4 best identified patients with low probability of PE. 486 patients (49%) had a low clinical probability of PE (score < 4), of which 50 (10.3%) had a proven PE. The prevalence of PE was 38% in the 437 patients with an intermediate probability (score 5–8, n = 437) and 81% in the 63 patients with a high probability (score>9). CONCLUSION This clinical score, based on easily available and objective variables, provides a standardized assessment of the clinical probability of PE. Applying this score to emergency ward patients suspected of PE could allow a more efficient diagnostic process.

Adaptive Strategies and Person-Environment Fit among Functionally Limited Older Adults Aging in Place: A Mixed Methods Approach

PubMed Central

Lien, Laura L.; Steggell, Carmen D.; Iwarsson, Susanne

2015-01-01

Older adults prefer to age in place, necessitating a match between person and environment, or person-environment (P-E) fit. In occupational therapy practice, home modifications can support independence, but more knowledge is needed to optimize interventions targeting the housing situation of older adults. In response, this study aimed to explore the accessibility and usability of the home environment to further understand adaptive environmental behaviors. Mixed methods data were collected using objective and perceived indicators of P-E fit among 12 older adults living in community-dwelling housing. Quantitative data described objective P-E fit in terms of accessibility, while qualitative data explored perceived P-E fit in terms of usability. While accessibility problems were prevalent, participants’ perceptions of usability revealed a range of adaptive environmental behaviors employed to meet functional needs. A closer examination of the P-E interaction suggests that objective accessibility does not always stipulate perceived usability, which appears to be malleable with age, self-perception, and functional competency. Findings stress the importance of evaluating both objective and perceived indicators of P-E fit to provide housing interventions that support independence. Further exploration of adaptive processes in older age may serve to deepen our understanding of both P-E fit frameworks and theoretical models of aging well. PMID:26404352

Adaptive Strategies and Person-Environment Fit among Functionally Limited Older Adults Aging in Place: A Mixed Methods Approach.

PubMed

Lien, Laura L; Steggell, Carmen D; Iwarsson, Susanne

2015-09-23

Older adults prefer to age in place, necessitating a match between person and environment, or person-environment (P-E) fit. In occupational therapy practice, home modifications can support independence, but more knowledge is needed to optimize interventions targeting the housing situation of older adults. In response, this study aimed to explore the accessibility and usability of the home environment to further understand adaptive environmental behaviors. Mixed methods data were collected using objective and perceived indicators of P-E fit among 12 older adults living in community-dwelling housing. Quantitative data described objective P-E fit in terms of accessibility, while qualitative data explored perceived P-E fit in terms of usability. While accessibility problems were prevalent, participants' perceptions of usability revealed a range of adaptive environmental behaviors employed to meet functional needs. A closer examination of the P-E interaction suggests that objective accessibility does not always stipulate perceived usability, which appears to be malleable with age, self-perception, and functional competency. Findings stress the importance of evaluating both objective and perceived indicators of P-E fit to provide housing interventions that support independence. Further exploration of adaptive processes in older age may serve to deepen our understanding of both P-E fit frameworks and theoretical models of aging well.

Modulation of the Activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis LipY by Its PE Domain

PubMed Central

Garrett, Christopher K.; Broadwell, Lindsey J.; Hayne, Cassandra K.; Neher, Saskia B.

2015-01-01

Mycobacterium tuberculosis harbors over 160 genes encoding PE/PPE proteins, several of which have roles in the pathogen’s virulence. A number of PE/PPE proteins are secreted via Type VII secretion systems known as the ESX secretion systems. One PE protein, LipY, has a triglyceride lipase domain in addition to its PE domain. LipY can regulate intracellular triglyceride levels and is also exported to the cell wall by one of the ESX family members, ESX-5. Upon export, LipY’s PE domain is removed by proteolytic cleavage. Studies using cells and crude extracts suggest that LipY’s PE domain not only directs its secretion by ESX-5, but also functions to inhibit its enzymatic activity. Here, we attempt to further elucidate the role of LipY’s PE domain in the regulation of its enzymatic activity. First, we established an improved purification method for several LipY variants using detergent micelles. We then used enzymatic assays to confirm that the PE domain down-regulates LipY activity. The PE domain must be attached to LipY in order to effectively inhibit it. Finally, we determined that full length LipY and the mature lipase lacking the PE domain (LipYΔPE) have similar melting temperatures. Based on our improved purification strategy and activity-based approach, we concluded that LipY’s PE domain down-regulates its enzymatic activity but does not impact the thermal stability of the enzyme. PMID:26270534

[Analysis of virulence factors of Porphyromonas endodontalis based on comparative proteomics technique].

PubMed

Li, H; Ji, H; Wu, S S; Hou, B X

2016-12-09

Objective: To analyze the protein expression profile and the potential virulence factors of Porphyromonas endodontalis (Pe) via comparison with that of two strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) with high and low virulences, respectively. Methods: Whole cell comparative proteomics of Pe ATCC35406 was examined and compared with that of high virulent strain Pg W83 andlow virulent strain Pg ATCC33277, respectively. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) combined with nano liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Nano-LC-MS/MS) were adopted to identify and quantitate the proteins of Pe and two strains of Pg with various virulences by using the methods of isotopically labeled peptides, mass spectrometric detection and bioinformatics analysis. The biological functions of similar proteins expressed by Pe ATCC35406 and two strains of Pg were quantified and analyzed. Results: Totally 1 210 proteins were identified while Pe compared with Pg W83. There were 130 proteins (10.74% of the total proteins) expressed similarly, including 89 known functional proteins and 41 proteins of unknown functions. Totally 1 223 proteins were identified when Pe compared with Pg ATCC33277. There were 110 proteins (8.99% of the total proteins) expressed similarly, including 72 known functional proteins and 38 proteins of unknown functions. The similarly expressed proteins in Pe and Pg strains with various virulences mainly focused on catalytic activity and binding function, including recombination activation gene (RagA), lipoprotein, chaperonin Dnak, Clp family proteins (ClpC and ClpX) and various iron-binding proteins. They were involved in metabolism and cellular processes. In addition, the type and number of similar virulence proteins between Pe and high virulence Pg were higher than those between Pe and low virulence Pg. Conclusions: Lipoprotein, oxygen resistance protein, iron binding protein were probably the potential virulence factors of Pe ATCC35406. It was speculated that pathogenicity of Pe was more similar to high virulence Pg than that to low virulence strain.

Application of Innovative P&E Method at Technical Universities in Slovakia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nemec, Miroslav; Krišták, Luboš; Hockicko, Peter; Danihelová, Zuzana; Velmovská, Klára

2017-01-01

The paper deals with innovative teaching methods at universities. The result of this effort is the interactive P&E method, whose main idea is the interactive work with students while solving problem tasks. The main aim of the given method is to change the students' position, by means of experiment analyses and qualitative tasks, from a passive…

Relationship between premature ejaculation and depression in Korean males.

PubMed

Son, Hwancheol; Song, Sang Hoon; Lee, Jun-Young; Paick, Jae-Seung

2011-07-01

The psychological impacts of premature ejaculation (PE), which include guilt, anxiety, and distress, have been well established in Western countries. However, in Asia, although a substantial number of epidemiological studies have surveyed the prevalence of PE, researchers have not thoroughly investigated the relationship between PE and depression, or have defined PE properly. We studied the association between PE and depression and other psychological disturbances, in a Korean cohort by applying an appropriate definition for PE and validated outcome measures of depression. METHODS.  A total of 956 males (≥20 years) were initially approached via an Internet survey company. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire requesting detailed medical and sexual histories, which included questions from the Erectile Function Domain score in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The prevalence of PE was evaluated using two different definitions-self-assessed PE and presumed PE. Presumed PE was defined as a short ejaculation time (an estimated intravaginal ejaculatory latency time ≤5 minutes), an inability to control ejaculation, and the presence of distress resulting from PE. Ejaculation-related questionnaire, the IIEF-EF, and BDI. A total of 334 men were evaluated. The prevalence of PE was 10.5% according to the Presumed PE definition, whereas by self-assessment, it was 25.4%. Self-assessed PE patients suffered from various psychological problems, such as depression, low self-esteem, bother, and low sexual satisfaction. Even after excluding erectile dysfunction (ED) subjects, a significant relationship was found between self-assessed PE and depression. Moreover, after further classification of the Self-assessed PE group, we found that subjects included in this group, but not in the Presumed PE group, suffered more from psychological burden than any other members of the cohort. Korean men with subjective perceptions of PE are prone to various psychological problems, which include depression. © 2011 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

The Performance of Five Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Prediction Equations against Dual X-ray Absorptiometry in Estimating Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass in an Adult Australian Population

PubMed Central

Yu, Solomon C. Y.; Powell, Alice; Khow, Kareeann S. F.; Visvanathan, Renuka

2016-01-01

Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) is a diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) offers a bedside approach to measure ASM but the performance of BIA prediction equations (PE) varies with ethnicities and body composition. We aim to validate the performance of five PEs in estimating ASM against estimation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We recruited 195 healthy adult Australians and ASM was measured using single-frequency BIA. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess the predictive accuracy of ASM as determined by BIA against DXA. Precision (root mean square error (RMSE)) and bias (mean error (ME)) were calculated according to the method of Sheiner and Beal. Four PEs (except that by Kim) showed ASM values that correlated strongly with ASMDXA (r ranging from 0.96 to 0.97, p < 0.001). The Sergi equation performed the best with the lowest ME of −1.09 kg (CI: −0.84–−1.34, p < 0.001) and the RMSE was 2.09 kg (CI: 1.72–2.47). In men, the Kyle equation performed better with the lowest ME (−0.32 kg (CI: −0.66–0.02) and RMSE (1.54 kg (CI: 1.14–1.93)). The Sergi equation is applicable in adult Australians (Caucasian) whereas the Kyle equation can be considered in males. The need remains to validate PEs in other ethnicities and to develop equations suitable for multi-frequency BIA. PMID:27043617

The Influence of Body Mass Index on Long-Term Fitness from Physical Education in Adolescent Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Camhi, Sarah M.; Phillips, Jennie; Young, Deborah R.

2011-01-01

Background: Physical education (PE) can improve physical fitness; however, little research has evaluated PE's long-term influence. The purpose is to determine PE's longitudinal effects on fitness in a group of adolescent girls and to determine whether body mass index (BMI) status influenced any potential effects. Methods: Participants were…

Examination of Trends and Evidence-Based Elements in State Physical Education Legislation: A Content Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eyler, Amy A.; Brownson, Ross C.; Aytur, Semra A.; Cradock, Angie L.; Doescher, Mark; Evenson, Kelly R.; Kerr, Jacqueline; Maddock, Jay; Pluto, Delores L.; Steinman, Lesley; Tompkins, Nancy O'Hara; Troped, Philip; Schmid, Thomas L.

2010-01-01

Objectives: To develop a comprehensive inventory of state physical education (PE) legislation, examine trends in bill introduction, and compare bill factors. Methods: State PE legislation from January 2001 to July 2007 was identified using a legislative database. Analysis included components of evidence-based school PE from the Community Guide and…

Propagation of Axisymmetric Electroelastic Waves in a Hollow Layered Cylinder Under Mechanical Excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigorenko, A. Ya.; Loza, I. A.

2017-09-01

The problem on propagation of axisymmetric electroelastic waves in a hollow layered cylinder made of metallic and radially polarized piezoceramic layers is solved. The lateral surfaces of the cylinder are free of electrodes. The outside surface is free of mechanical loads, while the inside one undergoes harmonically varying pressure Pe. The problem was solved with a numerical-analytical method. By representing the components of the stress tensor, displacement vectors, electric-flux density, and electrostatic potential by traveling waves, the original electroelastic problem in partial derivatives is reduced to an inhomogeneous boundary-value problem for ordinary differential equations. To solve the problem, the stable numerical discrete-orthogonalization method is used. The results of the kinematic analysis of the layered cylinder both with metallic and piezoceramic (PZT 4) layers are presented. The numerical results are analyzed.

Effectiveness of MR Angiography for the Primary Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Clinical Outcomes at 3 Months and 1 Year

PubMed Central

Schiebler, Mark L.; Nagle, Scott K.; François, Christopher J.; Repplinger, Michael D.; Hamedani, Azita G.; Vigen, Karl K.; Yarlagadda, Rajkumar; Grist, Thomas M.; Reeder, Scott B.

2014-01-01

Purpose To determine the effectiveness of MR angiography for pulmonary embolism (MRA-PE) in symptomatic patients. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients whom were evaluated for possible pulmonary embolism (PE) using MRA-PE. A 3-month and 1-year from MRA-PE electronic medical record (EMR) review was performed. Evidence for venous thromboembolism (VTE) (or death from PE) within the year of follow-up was the outcome surrogate for this study. Results There were 190 MRA-PE exams performed with 97.4% (185/190) of diagnostic quality. There were 148 patients (120 F: 28 M) that had both a diagnostic MRA-PE exam and 1 complete year of EMR follow-up. There were 167 patients (137 F: 30 M) with 3 months or greater follow-up. We found 83% (139/167) and 81% (120/148) MRA-PE exams negative for PE at 3 months and 1 year, respectively. Positive exams for PE were seen in 14% (23/167). During the 1-year follow-up period, five patients (false negative) were diagnosed with DVT (5/148 = 3.4 %), and one of these patients also experienced a non–life-threatening PE. The negative predictive value (NPV) for MRA-PE was 97% (92–99; 95% CI) at 3 months and 96% (90–98; 95% CI) with 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion The NPV of MRA-PE, when used for the primary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in symptomatic patients, were found to be similar to the published values for CTA-PE. In addition, the technical success rate and safety of MRA-PE were excellent. PMID:23553735

Incremental value of pocket-sized imaging device for bedside diagnosis of unilateral pleural effusions and ultrasound-guided thoracentesis

PubMed Central

Lisi, Matteo; Cameli, Matteo; Mondillo, Sergio; Luzzi, Luca; Zacà, Valerio; Cameli, Paolo; Gotti, Giuseppe; Galderisi, Maurizio

2012-01-01

OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to assess the additional value of a pocket-sized imaging device (PSID) as an adjunct to plain chest X-rays in the diagnosis of pleural effusion (PE), mainly for those requiring pleural thoracentesis. METHODS We performed a thoracic ultrasound examination using a PSID in 73 patients with an abnormal chest X-ray diagnostic for unilateral PE. Abundant PE was defined as an interpleural distance between the diaphragm and visceral pleura (VP) of ≥30 mm at the apex of the 50 mm bisector line of the costodiaphragmatic recess at end expiration. RESULTS According to PSID ultrasound evaluation, abundant PE was present in 46 patients (63%), while 27 (37%) patients showed the presence of mild PE or absence of PE. Thoracentesis was performed successfully and without procedure-induced complications in all 46 patients with abundant PE. Using the above-mentioned method, we obtained a high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.99) and excellent sensitivity and specificity of 91.7 and 99.9%, respectively, to predict a PE >1000 ml, when VP was >6.3 cm. CONCLUSIONS PSID is a useful tool that may integrate and complete the physical examination, also providing additional information to chest X-ray in the clinical management of patients with suspected PE. PSID evaluation can also increase the effectiveness and safety of thoracentesis. PMID:22815326

Environmental Acoustics and Intensity Vector Acoustics with Emphasis on Shallow Water Effects and the Sea Surface

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

work of Ballard [2] in which horizontal (bathymetric) refraction is solved using a parabolic equation (PE) in Cartesian coordinates. In particular for...wedge-like ocean with penetrable ocean,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 82 198-210, 1987 [2] M. S. Ballard , “Modeling three-dimensional propagation in a

Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antiulcer properties of Porphyra vietnamensis.

PubMed

Bhatia, Saurabh; Sharma, Kiran; Sharma, Ajay; Nagpal, Kalpana; Bera, Tanmoy

2015-01-01

Aim of the present work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiulcer effects of red seaweed Porphyra vietnamensis (P. vietnamenis). Aqueous (POR) and alcoholic (PE) fractions were successfully isolated from P. vietnamenis. Further biological investigations were performed using a classic test of paw edema induced by carrageenan, writhing induced by acetic acid, hot plate method and naproxen induced gastro-duodenal ulcer. Among the fractions POR showed better activity. POR and PE significantly (p < 0.05) reduced carrageenan induced paw edema in a dose dependent manner. In the writhing test POR significantly (p < 0.05) reduced abdominal writhes than PE. In hot plate method POR showed better analgesic activity than PE. POR showed comparable ulcers reducing potential (p<0.01) to that of omeprazole, and has more ulcer reducing potential then PE. The results of this study demonstrated that P. vietnamenis aqueous fraction possesses biological activity that is close to the standards taken for the treatment of peripheral painful or/and inflammatory and ulcer conditions.

The epidemiology of premature ejaculation.

PubMed

Saitz, Theodore Robert; Serefoglu, Ege Can

2016-08-01

Vast advances have occurred over the past decade with regards to understanding the epidemiology, pathophysiology and management of premature ejaculation (PE); however, we still have much to learn about this common sexual problem. As a standardized evidence-based definition of PE has only recently been established, the reported prevalence rates of PE prior to this definition have been difficult to interpret. As a result, a large range of conflicting prevalence rates have been reported. In addition to the lack of a standardized definition and operational criteria, the method of recruitment for study participation and method of data collection have obviously contributed to the broad range of reported prevalence rates. The new criteria and classification of PE will allow for continued research into the diverse phenomenology, etiology and pathogenesis of the disease to be conducted. While the absolute pathophysiology and true prevalence of PE remains unclear, developing a better understanding of the true prevalence of the disease will allow for the completion of more accurate analysis and treatment of the disease.

The Association of State Law to Physical Education Time Allocation in US Public Schools

PubMed Central

Oh, April; Chriqui, Jamie F.; Mâsse, Louise C.; Atienza, Audie A.; Nebeling, Linda; Agurs-Collins, Tanya; Moser, Richard P.; Dodd, Kevin W.

2012-01-01

Objectives. We examined whether public schools in states with specific and stringent physical education (PE) laws, as assessed by the Physical Education–Related State Policy Classification System (PERSPCS), available on the Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (C.L.A.S.S.) Web site, reported more weekly PE time in the most recent School Health Policies and Programs Survey (SHPPS). Methods. Schools (n = 410) were grouped by their state’s PERSPCS time requirement scores (none, nonspecific requirement, or specific requirement). Average weekly school-level PE was calculated using the SHPPS-reported PE minutes. Weighted analyses determined if PE minutes/week differed by PERSPCS group. Results. Schools in states with specific requirement laws averaged over 27 and 60 more PE minutes/week at the elementary and middle school levels, respectively, compared with schools within states with nonspecific laws and over 40 and 60 more PE minutes per week, respectively, compared with elementary and middle schools in states with no laws. High school results were nonsignificant. Conclusions. Public health guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children, and PE may further this goal. Strong codified law with specific time requirements for PE may be an important tool contributing toward adequate PE time and daily physical activity recommendations. PMID:22594746

Correlates of State Enactment of Elementary School Physical Education Laws

PubMed Central

Monnat, Shannon M.; Lounsbery, Monica A.F.; Smith, Nicole J.

2014-01-01

Objective To describe variation in U.S. state elementary school physical education (PE) policies and to assess associations between state PE policy enactment and education funding, academic achievement, sociodemographic disadvantage, and political characteristics. Methods U.S. state laws regarding school PE time, staffing, curriculum, fitness assessment, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in 2012 were classified as strong/specific, weak/nonspecific, or none based on codified law ratings within the Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (C.L.A.S.S.). Laws were merged with state-level data from multiple sources. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between state characteristics and PE laws (N=51). Results Laws with specific PE and MVPA time requirements and evidence-based curriculum standards were more likely in states with low academic performance and in states with sociodemographically disadvantaged populations. School day length was positively associated with enacting a PE curriculum that referenced evidence-based standards. School funding and political characteristics were not associated with PE laws. Conclusions Limited time and high-stakes testing requirements force schools to prioritize academic programs, posing barriers to state passage of specific PE laws. To facilitate PE policy enactment, it may be necessary to provide evidence of how PE policies can be implemented within existing time and staffing structures. PMID:25230368

Current therapeutic strategies for premature ejaculation and future perspectives

PubMed Central

Xin, Zhong-Cheng; Zhu, Yi-Chen; Yuan, Yi-Ming; Cui, Wan-Shou; Jin, Zhe; Li, Wei-Ren; Liu, Tao

2011-01-01

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual disorder in men that is mediated by disturbances in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Although all pharmaceutical treatments for PE are currently used ‘off-label', some novel oral agents and some newer methods of drug administration now provide important relief to PE patients. However, the aetiology of this condition has still not been unified, primarily because of the lack of a standard animal model for basic research and the absence of a widely accepted definition and assessment tool for evidence-based clinical studies in patients with PE. In this review, we focus on the current therapeutic strategies and future treatment perspectives for PE. PMID:21532601

An Examination of Physical Education Teachers' Perceptions of Utilizing Contemporary Music in the Classroom Environment: A Qualitative Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barney, David C.; Pleban, Francis T.

2018-01-01

Objectives: To provide further information regarding physical education (PE) teachers' perceptions of incorporating music in PE lessons and to evaluate the influence of music on the classroom environment using a qualitative approach. Method: Electronic survey interviews were conducted with 26 veteran PE instructors (10 male, 16 female), from 7…

Change in decay rates of dioxin-like compounds in Yusho patients.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Shinya; Akahane, Manabu; Kanagawa, Yoshiyuki; Kajiwara, Jumboku; Mitoma, Chikage; Uchi, Hiroshi; Furue, Masutaka; Imamura, Tomoaki

2016-09-07

Once ingested, dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are excreted extremely slowly. Excretion can be evaluated by its half-life. Half-lives estimated from observed concentrations are affected by excretion and ongoing exposure. We investigated the change in apparent half-life using a theoretical model based on exposure to dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. We carried out longitudinal measurements of the blood concentration of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in a Yusho cohort during 2002 to 2010. We estimated the change in decay rates of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and octachlorodibenzodioxin (OCDD) using a second-order equation. We found that the decay rate of OCDD increased, whereas the decay rate of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF of patients with a relatively high concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF decreased. OCDD results were in accordance with decreasing levels of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in the environment. The decay rate of OCDD in the body was affected by the decay rate of OCDD in the environment by ingestion because it was near the steady-state. In contrast, the decay rate of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the body was affected less by ingestion from the environment because it was far higher than in the steady-state. We demonstrated that the level of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the environment is decreasing. The excretion half-life is longer than the environmental half-life, thus the excretion half-life in a Yusho patient is increased.

Photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Yangtze River estuary: kinetics and effects of temperature, pH, and salinity.

PubMed

Song, Guisheng; Li, Yijie; Hu, Suzheng; Li, Guiju; Zhao, Ruihua; Sun, Xin; Xie, Huixiang

2017-06-21

The kinetics and temperature-, pH- and salinity-dependences of photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Yangtze River estuary (YRE) were evaluated using laboratory solar-simulated irradiation and compared to those of Suwannee River humic substances (SRHSs). Nearly all CDOM in water at the head of the estuary (headwater herein) was photobleachable in both summer and winter, while significant fractions of CDOM (13-29%) were resistant to photobleaching in saltier waters. The photobleaching rate constant in the headwater was 25% higher in summer than that in winter. The absorbed photon-based photobleaching efficiency (PE) increased with temperature following the linear Arrhenius equation. For a 20 °C increase in temperature, PE increased by ∼45% in the headwater and by 70-81% in the saltier waters. PE for YRE samples exhibited minima at pH from 6 to 7 and increased with both lower and higher pH values, contrasting the consistent increase in PE with pH shown by SRHSs. No consistent effect of salinity on PE was observed for both SRHSs and YRE samples. Photobleaching increased the spectral slope coefficient between 275 nm and 295 nm in summer, consistent with the behavior of SRHSs, but decreased it in winter, implying a difference in the molecular composition of chromophores between the two seasons. Temperature, salinity, and pH modified the photoalteration of the spectral shape but their effects varied spatially and seasonally. This study demonstrates that CDOM quality, temperature, and pH should be incorporated into models involving quantification of photobleaching.

Toward Evidence-Based Genetic Research on Lifelong Premature Ejaculation: A Critical Evaluation of Methodology

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Recently, four premature ejaculation (PE) subtypes have been distinguished on the basis of the duration of the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). These four PE subtypes have different etiologies and pathogeneses. Genetic research on PE should consider the existence of these PE subtypes and the accurate measurement of the IELT with a stopwatch. Currently, three methods of genetic research on PE have been used. They differ in the investigated population, tool of measurement, study design, and variables of PE. From animal and human research, it is derived that the central serotonergic system "modulates" ejaculation, whereas the ejaculation (reflex) itself is probably not under direct influence of the serotonergic system, but rather under the influence of other neurotransmitter systems in the spinal cord. For genetic research on PE, it is important to take into account that the (serotonergic) modulation of the IELT is variable among men and may even be absent. This means that serotonergic genetic polymorphisms may only be found in men with PE who respond with an ejaculation delay treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. PMID:21344023

Processable conductive graphene/polyethylene nanocomposites: Effects of graphene dispersion and polyethylene blending with oxidized polyethylene on rheology and microstructure

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

Iqbal, Muhammad Z.; Abdala, Ahmed A.; Mittal, Vikas

Poor dispersion of graphene in non-polar polymer matrices creates composites with limited applications. A method to improve the dispersion of graphene in polyethylene (PE) via blending PE with oxidized PE (OPE) is examined. Graphene was produced by simultaneous thermal exfoliation and reduction of graphite oxide. Nanocomposites of graphene with PE as well as graphene with PE/OPE-blends were prepared by solvent blending. Improved dispersion of graphene in PE/OPE blends substantially decreases percolation from both rheological (0.3 vol%) and electrical (0.13 vol%) measurements compared to neat PE nanocomposites (1 and 0.29 vol%), respectively. A universal Brownian dispersion of graphene in polymers wasmore » concluded similar to that of nanotubes, following the Doi-Edwards theory. Micromechanical models, such as Mori-Tanaka and Halpin-Tsai models, modeled the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites microstructure, studied by small angle x-ray scattering, confirmed better dispersion of graphene at lower loadings and the formation of surface fractals in the blend/graphene nanocomposites; whereas only mass fractals were observed in neat PE/graphene nanocomposites.« less

Developing a Novel Gene-Delivery Vector System Using the Recombinant Fusion Protein of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A and Hyperthermophilic Archaeal Histone HPhA

PubMed Central

Zhang, Ling; Feng, Yan; Li, Zehong; Wu, GuangMou; Yue, Yuhuan; Li, Gensong; Cao, Yu; Zhu, Ping

2015-01-01

Non-viral gene delivery system with many advantages has a great potential for the future of gene therapy. One inherent obstacle of such approach is the uptake by endocytosis into vesicular compartments. Receptor-mediated gene delivery method holds promise to overcome this obstacle. In this study, we developed a receptor-mediated gene delivery system based on a combination of the Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE), which has a receptor binding and membrane translocation domain, and the hyperthermophilic archaeal histone (HPhA), which has the DNA binding ability. First, we constructed and expressed the rPE-HPhA fusion protein. We then examined the cytotoxicity and the DNA binding ability of rPE-HPhA. We further assessed the efficiency of transfection of the pEGF-C1 plasmid DNA to CHO cells by the rPE-HPhA system, in comparison to the cationic liposome method. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of rPE-HPhA was higher than that of cationic liposomes. In addition, the rPE-HPhA gene delivery system is non-specific to DNA sequence, topology or targeted cell type. Thus, the rPE-HPhA system can be used for delivering genes of interest into mammalian cells and has great potential to be applied for gene therapy. PMID:26556098

The contribution of clinical assessments to the diagnostic algorithm of pulmonary embolism.

PubMed

Turan, Onur; Turgut, Deniz; Gunay, Turkan; Yilmaz, Erkan; Turan, Ayse; Akkoclu, Atila

2017-01-01

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) is a major disease in respiratory emergencies. Thoracic CT angiography (CTA) is an important method of visualizing PE. Because of the high radiation and contrast exposure, the method should be performed selectively in patients in whom PE is suspected. The aim of the study was to identify the role of clinical scoring systems utilizing CTA results to diagnose PE. The study investigated 196 patients referred to the hospital emergency service in whom PE was suspected and CTA performed. They were evaluated by empirical, Wells, Geneva and Miniati assessments and classified as low, intermediate and high clinical probability. They were also classified according to serum D-dimer levels. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated and evaluated according to CTA findings. Empirical scoring was found to have the highest sensitivity, while the Wells system had the highest specificity. When low D-dimer levels and "low probabilty" were evaluated together for each scoring system, the sensitivity was found to be 100% for all methods. Wells scoring with a cut-off score of 4 had the highest specificity (56.1%). Clinical scoring systems may be guides for patients in whom PE is suspected in the emergency department. The empirical and Wells scoring systems are effective methods for patient selection. Adding evaluation of D-dimer serum levels to the clinical scores could identify patients in whom CTA should be performed. Since CTA can only be used conservatively, the use of clinical scoring systems in conjunction with D-dimer levels can be a useful guide for patient selection.

Orientation of contravariant and covariant polymers and associated energy transfer in elasto-inertial turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horiuti, Kiyosi; Suzuki, Aoi

2016-11-01

It is generally assumed that the polymers in viscoelastic turbulence are advected affinely with the macroscopically-imposed deformation, while de Gennes (1986) hypothesized that stretched polymers may exhibit rigidity. We conduct assessment on this hypothesis in homogeneous isotropic turbulence by connecting mesoscopic Brownian description of elastic dumbbells to macroscopic DNS. The dumbbells are advected either affinely (contravariant) or non-affinely (covariant). We consider the elasto-inertial regime (Valente et al. 2014). Using the approximate solution of the constitutive equation for the polymer stress, we show that when the dumbbells are highly stretched, -SikSklSli term (Sij is strain-rate tensor) governs the transfer of solvent energy either to dissipation or to the elastic energy stored in the polymers. In the contravariant polymer, the elastic energy production term Pe < 0 and the dissipation production term Pɛ > 0 . The elastic energy is transferred backwardly into the solvent and dissipation is enhanced. In the covariant polymer, Pe > 0 and Pɛ > 0 . When the dumbbells are aligned with one of eigenvectors of Sij, Pe predominates Pɛ, and marked reduction of drag is achieved.

A Motivational Model of Physical Education and Links to Enjoyment, Knowledge, Performance, Total Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

PubMed Central

Gråstén, Arto; Watt, Anthony

2017-01-01

The present paper examined the full sequence of the Hierarchical Model of Motivation in physical education (PE) including motivational climate, basic psychological needs, intrinsic motivation, and related links to contextual enjoyment, knowledge, performance, and total moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Gender differences and correlations with body mass index (BMI) were also analyzed. Cross-sectional data was represented by self-reports and objective assessments of 770 middle school students (52% of girls) in North-East Finland. The results showed that task-involving climate in girls’ PE classes was related to enjoyment and knowledge through physical competence and intrinsic motivation, whereas task-involving climate was associated with enjoyment and knowledge via competence and autonomy, and total MVPA via autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and knowledge within boys. This may indicate that girls and boys perceive PE classes in a different way. Graded PE assessments appeared to be essential in motivating both girls and boys to participate in greater total MVPA, whereas BMI was negatively linked with competence and social relatedness only among girls. Although, the current and previous empirical findings supported task-involving teaching methods in PE, in some cases, ego-involving climate should be considered. Therefore, both task- and ego-involving teaching practices can be useful ways of developing preferred behaviors in PE classes. Key points The present findings indicated that girls and boys perceive PE classes in a different way. Graded PE assessments appeared to be essential in motivating both girls and boys to participate in greater total MVPA, whereas BMI was negatively linked with competence and social relatedness only among girls. Although, the current and previous empirical findings supported task-involving teaching methods in PE, in some cases, ego-involving climate should be considered. Both task- and ego-involving teaching practices can be useful ways of developing preferred behaviors in PE classes. PMID:28912648

Method for PE Pipes Fusion Jointing Based on TRIZ Contradictions Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jianguang; Tan, Runhua; Gao, Jinyong; Wei, Zihui

The core of the TRIZ theories is the contradiction detection and solution. TRIZ provided various methods for the contradiction solution, but all that is not systematized. Combined with the technique system conception, this paper summarizes an integration solution method for contradiction solution based on the TRIZ contradiction theory. According to the method, a flowchart of integration solution method for contradiction is given. As a casestudy, method of fusion jointing PE pipe is analysised.

Robust High Data Rate MIMO Underwater Acoustic Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-30

We solved it via exploiting FFTs. The extended CAN algorithm is referred to as periodic CAN ( PeCAN ). Unlike most existing sequence construction...methods which are algebraic and deterministic in nature, we start the iteration of PeCAN from random phase initializations and then proceed to...covert UAC applications. We will use PeCAN sequences for more in-water experimentations to demonstrate their effectiveness. Temporal Resampling: In

A novel method of adverse event detection can accurately identify venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) from narrative electronic health record data

PubMed Central

Rochefort, Christian M; Verma, Aman D; Eguale, Tewodros; Lee, Todd C; Buckeridge, David L

2015-01-01

Background Venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), which include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), are associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and cost in hospitalized patients. To evaluate the success of preventive measures, accurate and efficient methods for monitoring VTE rates are needed. Therefore, we sought to determine the accuracy of statistical natural language processing (NLP) for identifying DVT and PE from electronic health record data. Methods We randomly sampled 2000 narrative radiology reports from patients with a suspected DVT/PE in Montreal (Canada) between 2008 and 2012. We manually identified DVT/PE within each report, which served as our reference standard. Using a bag-of-words approach, we trained 10 alternative support vector machine (SVM) models predicting DVT, and 10 predicting PE. SVM training and testing was performed with nested 10-fold cross-validation, and the average accuracy of each model was measured and compared. Results On manual review, 324 (16.2%) reports were DVT-positive and 154 (7.7%) were PE-positive. The best DVT model achieved an average sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.85), specificity of 0.98 (98% CI 0.97 to 0.99), positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.89 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.93), and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). The best PE model achieved sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.85), specificity of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99), PPV of 0.84 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.92), and AUC of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.00). Conclusions Statistical NLP can accurately identify VTE from narrative radiology reports. PMID:25332356

Characterizing the burden of premature ejaculation from a patient and partner perspective: a multi-country qualitative analysis

PubMed Central

Revicki, Dennis; Howard, Kellee; Hanlon, Jennifer; Mannix, Sally; Greene, Alison; Rothman, Margaret

2008-01-01

Background Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction among men which affects men and their partners. Little qualitative data are available to characterize the impact of PE on men and their partners about ejaculatory control, sexual satisfaction, emotional distress and relationships. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of PE from the perspective of men with PE and the female partners of men with PE on their sexual experience, distress and relationships. Methods Qualitative data were collected through 14 focus groups in the US and through one-on-one interviews in the US, UK, Italy, France, Germany, and Poland. Study participants included heterosexual men with PE and female partners of males with PE. All participants were asked about how PE affects their daily life, including emotional impacts. One-on-one interviews also included obtaining feedback on the male and female versions of 4-single item measures of PE focusing on ejaculatory control, satisfaction with intercourse, interpersonal distress, and relationship difficulty. Results Participants included 172 males with PE and 67 female partners of men with PE. Lack of control over ejaculation and dissatisfaction with intercourse emerged as central themes of PE. Lack of ejaculatory control resulted in greater dissatisfaction and greater emotional distress, including feelings of inadequacy, disappointment, and anxiety. Continued PE ultimately leads to greater problems with partners and often disrupts partner relationships. Participants indicated that PE was keeping them from attaining complete intimacy in their relationships even when their partners were generally satisfied with sexual intercourse. Impacts of PE on sexual satisfaction, emotional distress and partner relationships were consistent across countries. Feedback on the single-item PE measures confirmed relevance of the item content and further confirmed major themes identified from the qualitative data. Conclusion This qualitative study provides valuable insights on the substantial psychosocial burden of PE in the US and the Europe. Lack of control over ejaculation resulted in dissatisfaction with intercourse and increased emotional distress, and wide-ranging impact for both men with PE and their partners of men with PE. Data collected in this study may help inform the content of new patient reported measures for use in PE research. PMID:18474090

Optimization of a protective medium for freeze-dried Pichia membranifaciens and application of this biocontrol agent on citrus fruit.

PubMed

Niu, X; Deng, L; Zhou, Y; Wang, W; Yao, S; Zeng, K

2016-07-01

To optimize a protective medium for freeze-dried Pichia membranifaciens and to evaluate biocontrol efficacies of agents against blue and green mould and anthracnose in citrus fruit. Based on the screening assays of saccharides and antioxidants, response surface methodology was used to optimize sucrose, sodium glutamate and skim milk to improve viability of freeze-dried Pi. membranifaciens. Biocontrol assays were conducted between fresh and freeze-dried Pi. membranifaciens against Penicillium italicum, Penicillium digitatum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in citrus fruit. Solving the regression equation indicated that the optimal protective medium was 6·06% (w/v) sucrose combined with 3·40% (w/v) sodium glutamate and 5·43% (w/v) skim milk. Pi. membranifaciens freeze-dried in the optimal protective medium showed 76·80% viability, and retained biocontrol efficacy against Pe. italicum, Pe. digitatum and Co. gloeosporioides in citrus fruit. The optimal protective medium showed more effective protective properties than each of the three protectants used alone. The viability of freeze-dried Pi. membranifaciens finally reached 76·80%. Meanwhile, the biocontrol efficacies showed no significant difference between fresh and freeze-dried yeast against Pe. italicum, Pe. digitatum and Co. gloeosporioides in citrus fruit. The results showed the potential value of Pi. membranifaciens CICC 32259 for commercialization. © 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

An updated and conservative systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence on psychotic experiences in children and adults: on the pathway from proneness to persistence to dimensional expression across mental disorders.

PubMed

Linscott, R J; van Os, J

2013-06-01

The psychosis-proneness-persistence-impairment model of psychotic disorder incorporates notions of both phenomenological and temporal continuity (persistence) of psychotic experiences (PE), but not structural continuity. Specific testable propositions of phenomenological continuity and persistence are identified. Method Propositions are tested by systematic reviews of the epidemiology of PE, persistence of PE and disorder outcomes, and meta-analyses (including Monte Carlo permutation sampling, MCPS) of reported rates and odds ratios (ORs). Estimates of the incidence and prevalence of PE obtained from 61 cohorts revealed a median annual incidence of 2.5% and a prevalence of 7.2%. Meta-analysis of risk factors identified age, minority or migrant status, income, education, employment, marital status, alcohol use, cannabis use, stress, urbanicity and family history of mental illness as important predictors of PE. The mode of assessment accounted for significant variance in the observed rates. Across cohorts, the probability of persistence was very strongly related to the rate of PE at baseline. Of those who report PE, ∼20% go on to experience persistent PE whereas for ∼80%, PE remit over time. Of those with baseline PE, 7.4% develop a psychotic disorder outcome. Compelling support is found for the phenomenological and temporal continuity between PE and psychotic disorder and for the fundamental proposition that this relationship is probabilistic. However, imprecision in epidemiological research design, measurement limitations and the epiphenomenological nature of PE invite further robust scrutiny of the continuity theory.

Fusion Protein Vaccines Targeting Two Tumor Antigens Generate Synergistic Anti-Tumor Effects

PubMed Central

Cheng, Wen-Fang; Chang, Ming-Cheng; Sun, Wei-Zen; Jen, Yu-Wei; Liao, Chao-Wei; Chen, Yun-Yuan; Chen, Chi-An

2013-01-01

Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been consistently implicated in causing several kinds of malignancies, and two HPV oncogenes, E6 and E7, represent two potential target antigens for cancer vaccines. We developed two fusion protein vaccines, PE(ΔIII)/E6 and PE(ΔIII)/E7 by targeting these two tumor antigens to test whether a combination of two fusion proteins can generate more potent anti-tumor effects than a single fusion protein. Materials and Methods In vivo antitumor effects including preventive, therapeutic, and antibody depletion experiments were performed. In vitro assays including intracellular cytokine staining and ELISA for Ab responses were also performed. Results PE(ΔIII)/E6+PE(ΔIII)/E7 generated both stronger E6 and E7-specific immunity. Only 60% of the tumor protective effect was observed in the PE(ΔIII)/E6 group compared to 100% in the PE(ΔIII)/E7 and PE(ΔIII)/E6+PE(ΔIII)/E7 groups. Mice vaccinated with the PE(ΔIII)/E6+PE(ΔIII)/E7 fusion proteins had a smaller subcutaneous tumor size than those vaccinated with PE(ΔIII)/E6 or PE(ΔIII)/E7 fusion proteins alone. Conclusion Fusion protein vaccines targeting both E6 and E7 tumor antigens generated more potent immunotherapeutic effects than E6 or E7 tumor antigens alone. This novel strategy of targeting two tumor antigens together can promote the development of cancer vaccines and immunotherapy in HPV-related malignancies. PMID:24058440

Genetic variants in 3'-UTRs of MTHFR in the pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and bioinformatics analysis.

PubMed

Mohammadpour-Gharehbagh, Abbas; Salimi, Saeedeh; Keshavarzi, Farshid; Saeidian, Foozieh; Mousavi, Mahdieh; Teimoori, Batool; Esmaeilipour, Maryam; Mokhtari, Mojgan

2018-01-01

Preeclampsia (PE) as a pregnancy-specific disorder is the major cause of mortality and morbidity of mothers and fetuses. This study attempts to investigate the possible association between the 2572C>A (rs4846049) and 4869C>G (rs1537514) polymorphisms in the 3'- untranslated region of MTHFR gene and the risk of PE. A total of 198 patients diagnosed with PE and 171 unrelated, age matched healthy pregnant women, were recruited for this case-control study. The MTHFR 2572C>A and 4869C>G genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The CG genotype of MTHFR 4869C>G was associated with decreased risk of PE, and this genotype was found to be a protective factor for PE susceptibility. There was no significant difference in the genotypes of MTHFR 2572C>A polymorphism between PE patients and control group. The frequency of combined AC/CG genotypes of MTHFR 2572C>A and 4869C>G polymorphisms were less frequent in PE patients and were associated with a lower risk of PE. The C-G and A-G haplotypes of MTHFR 2572C>A and 4869C>G polymorphisms were significantly lower in PE patients. In conclusion, the CG genotype of MTHFR 4869C>G polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of PE. No association was found between MTHFR 2572C>A polymorphism and PE. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The "neutron channel design"—A method for gaining the desired neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, G.; Hu, H. S.; Wang, S.; Pan, Z. H.; Jia, Q. G.; Yan, M. F.

2016-12-01

The neutrons with desired parameters can be obtained after initial neutrons penetrating various structure and component of the material. A novel method, the "neutron channel design", is proposed in this investigation for gaining the desired neutrons. It is established by employing genetic algorithm (GA) combining with Monte Carlo software. This method is verified by obtaining 0.01eV to 1.0eV neutrons from the Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (CANS). One layer polyethylene (PE) moderator was designed and installed behind the beryllium target in CANS. The simulations and the experiment for detection the neutrons were carried out. The neutron spectrum at 500cm from the PE moderator was simulated by MCNP and PHITS software. The counts of 0.01eV to 1.0eV neutrons were simulated by MCNP and detected by the thermal neutron detector in the experiment. These data were compared and analyzed. Then this method is researched on designing the complex structure of PE and the composite material consisting of PE, lead and zirconium dioxide.

High-throughput deep screening and identification of four peripheral leucocyte microRNAs as novel potential combination biomarkers for preeclampsia

PubMed Central

Wang, Yonghong; Yang, Xukui; Yang, Yuanyuan; Wang, Wenjun; Zhao, Meiling; Liu, Huiqiang; Li, Dongyan; Hao, Min

2016-01-01

Objective: To identify the specific microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers of preeclampsia (PE), the miRNA profiles analysis were performed. Study Design: The blood samples were obtained from five PE patients and five normal healthy pregnant women. The small RNA profiles were analyzed to identify miRNA expression levels and find out miRNAs that may associate with PE. The quantitative reverse transcriptase–PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was used to validate differentially expressed peripheral leucocyte miRNAs in a new cohort. Result: The data analysis showed that 10 peripheral leucocyte miRNAs were significantly differently expressed in severe PE patients. Four differently expressed miRNAs were successfully validated using qRT-PCR method. Conclusion: We successfully constructed a model with high accuracy to predict PE. A combination of four peripheral leucocyte miRNAs has great potential to serve as diagnostic biomarkers of PE. PMID:26675000

The global online sexuality survey (GOSS): The United States of America in 2011 Chapter III--Premature ejaculation among English-speaking male Internet users.

PubMed

Shaeer, Osama

2013-07-01

The Global Online Sexuality Survey (GOSS) is a worldwide epidemiologic study of sexuality and sexual disorders. In 2010, the first report of GOSS came from the Middle East. This report studies the prevalence rate of premature ejaculation (PE) in the U.S. as of 2011-2012 and evaluates risk factors for PE. GOSS was randomly deployed to English-speaking male web surfers in the USA via paid advertising on Facebook®, comprising 146 questions. Prevalence of PE as per the International Society of Sexual Medicine's (ISSM) definition. With a mean age of 52.38 years ± 14.5, 1,133 participants reported on sexual function. As per the ISSM definition of PE, the prevalence rate of PE in the USA as of 2011 was 6.3%. This is in contrast to 49.6% as per the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), 77.6% as per unfiltered subjective reports, and 14.4% as per subjective reporting on more consistent basis. 56.3% of the latter reported lifelong PE. 63.2% could be classified as having natural variable PE. Erectile dysfunction is a possible predisposing factor for acquired PE, while genital size concerns may predispose to lifelong PE. Age, irregular coitus, circumcision, and the practice of masturbation did not pose a risk for PE, among other risk factors. Oral treatment for PE was more frequently used and reported to be more effective than local anesthetics, particularly in those with lifelong PE. Applying the ISSM definition, prevalence of PE is far less than diagnosed by other methods, 6.3% among Internet users in USA as of the year 2011. PEDT measures both lifelong and acquired PE, in addition to 35% men with premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction, making it inaccurate for isolating lifelong and acquired PE cases. © 2013 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Ion-trap tandem mass spectrometric analysis of Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine in human plasma with or without diabetes.

PubMed

Nakagawa, Kiyotaka; Oak, Jeong-Ho; Higuchi, Ohki; Tsuzuki, Tsuyoshi; Oikawa, Shinichi; Otani, Haruhisa; Mune, Masatoshi; Cai, Hua; Miyazawa, Teruo

2005-11-01

Peroxidized phospholipid-mediated cytotoxicity is involved in the pathophysiology of diseases [i.e., an abnormal increase of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) in plasma of type 2 diabetic patients]. The PCOOH accumulation may relate to Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine (Amadori-PE; deoxy-D-fructosyl phosphatidylethanolamine), because Amadori-PE causes oxidative stress. However, the occurrence of lipid glycation products, including Amadori-PE, in vivo is still unclear. Consequently, we developed an analysis method of Amadori-PE using a quadrupole/linear ion-trap mass spectrometer, the Applied Biosystems QTRAP. In positive ion mode, collision-induced dissociation of Amadori-PE produced a well-characterized diglyceride ion ([M+H-303]+) permitting neutral loss scanning and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). When lipid extract from diabetic plasma was infused directly into the QTRAP, Amadori-PE molecular species could be screened out by neutral loss scanning. Interfacing liquid chromatography with QTRAP mass spectrometry enabled the separation and determination of predominant plasma Amadori-PE species with sensitivity of approximately 0.1 pmol/injection in MRM. The plasma Amadori-PE level was 0.08 mol% of total PE in healthy subjects and 0.15-0.29 mol% in diabetic patients. Furthermore, plasma Amadori-PE levels were positively correlated with PCOOH (a maker for oxidative stress). These results show the involvement between lipid glycation and lipid peroxidation in diabetes pathogenesis.

Occurrence of preservatives and antimicrobials in Japanese rivers.

PubMed

Kimura, Kumiko; Kameda, Yutaka; Yamamoto, Hiroshi; Nakada, Norihide; Tamura, Ikumi; Miyazaki, Motonobu; Masunaga, Shigeki

2014-07-01

We established a method for the simultaneous analysis of seven preservatives and five antimicrobials in water. These chemicals are widely used in cosmetics, and their presence in river water is of concern. We used the method to test 13 sites in Japanese rivers and streams contaminated by domestic wastewater, effluent, or industrial wastewater. 2-Phenoxyethanol (2-PE), isopropylmethylphenol, resorcinol, and triclosan were detected at most sites; the maximum concentration of 2-PE detected was 14000 ng L(-1). The results suggest that the major sources of 2-PE were cosmetics and household detergents. The ratio of methylparaben to n-propylparaben in river waters with direct wastewater drainage was similar to that in common cosmetics. This is the first research on levels of 2-PE, isopropylmethylphenol, and chlorphenesin in river water. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metabolomic analysis of 92 pulmonary embolism patients from a nested case-control study identifies metabolites associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

PubMed

Zeleznik, O A; Poole, E M; Lindstrom, S; Kraft, P; Van Hylckama Vlieg, A; Lasky-Su, J A; Harrington, L B; Hagan, K; Kim, J; Parry, B A; Giordano, N; Kabrhel, C

2018-03-01

Essentials Risk-stratification often fails to predict clinical deterioration in pulmonary embolism (PE). First-ever high-throughput metabolomics analysis of risk-stratified PE patients. Changes in circulating metabolites reflect a compromised energy metabolism in PE. Metabolites play a key role in the pathophysiology and risk stratification of PE. Background Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) exhibit wide variation in clinical presentation and outcomes. Our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms differentiating low-risk and high-risk PE is limited, so current risk-stratification efforts often fail to predict clinical deterioration and are insufficient to guide management. Objectives To improve our understanding of the physiology differentiating low-risk from high-risk PE, we conducted the first-ever high-throughput metabolomics analysis (843 named metabolites) comparing PE patients across risk strata within a nested case-control study. Patients/methods We enrolled 92 patients diagnosed with acute PE and collected plasma within 24 h of PE diagnosis. We used linear regression and pathway analysis to identify metabolites and pathways associated with PE risk-strata. Results When we compared 46 low-risk with 46 intermediate/high-risk PEs, 50 metabolites were significantly different after multiple testing correction. These metabolites were enriched in the following pathways: tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, fatty acid metabolism (acyl carnitine) and purine metabolism, (hypo)xanthine/inosine containing. Additionally, energy, nucleotide and amino acid pathways were downregulated in intermediate/high-risk PE patients. When we compared 28 intermediate-risk with 18 high-risk PE patients, 41 metabolites differed at a nominal P-value level. These metabolites were enriched in fatty acid metabolism (acyl cholines), and hemoglobin and porphyrin metabolism. Conclusion Our results suggest that high-throughput metabolomics can provide insight into the pathophysiology of PE. Specifically, changes in circulating metabolites reflect compromised energy metabolism in intermediate/high-risk PE patients. These findings demonstrate the important role metabolites play in the pathophysiology of PE and highlight metabolomics as a potential tool for risk stratification of PE. © 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Health and medical research funding agencies' promotion of public engagement within research: a qualitative interview study exploring the United Kingdom context.

PubMed

van Bekkum, Jennifer E; Fergie, Gillian M; Hilton, Shona

2016-03-24

Public engagement (PE) has become a common feature of many liberal governmental agendas worldwide. Since the turn of this century there has been a succession of United Kingdom policy initiatives to encourage research funding agencies, universities and researchers to reconsider how they engage with citizens and communities. Although most funding agencies now explicitly promote PE within research, little empirical work has been carried out in this area. In this study, we explored why and how health and medical research funding agencies in the United Kingdom have interpreted and implemented their role to promote PE within research. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 30 key informants from 10 agencies that fund health or medical research. Data were also gathered from agencies' websites and documentation. The analysis was based on the constant comparative method. Across agencies, we found that PE was being interpreted and operationalised in various different ways. The terminology used within funding agencies to describe PE seems to be flexibly applied. Disciplinary differences were evident both in the terminology used to describe PE and the drivers for PE highlighted by participants - with applied health science funders more aligned with participatory models of PE. Within the grant funding process PE was rarely systematically treated as a key component of research. In particular, PE was not routinely incorporated into the planning of funding calls. PE was more likely to be considered in the application and assessment phases, where it was largely appraised as a tool for enhancing science. Concerns were expressed regarding how to monitor and evaluate PE within research. This study suggests funding agencies working within specific areas of health and medicine can promote particular definitions of PE and aligned practices which determine the boundaries in which researchers working in these areas understand and practice PE. Our study also highlights how the research grant process works to privilege particular conceptions of PE and its purpose. Tensions are evident between some funders' core concepts of traditional science and PE, and they face challenges as they try to embed PE into long-standing systems that prioritise particular conceptions of 'scientific excellence' in research.

Collisionless Spectral Kinetic Simulation of Ideal Multipole Resonance Probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Junbo; Wilczek, Sebastian; Szeremley, Daniel; Oberrath, Jens; Eremin, Denis; Dobrygin, Wladislaw; Schilling, Christian; Friedrichs, Michael; Brinkmann, Ralf Peter

2016-09-01

Active Plasma Resonance Spectroscopy denotes a class of industry-compatible plasma diagnostic methods which utilize the natural ability of plasmas to resonate on or near the electron plasma frequency ωpe. One particular realization of APRS with a high degree of geometric and electric symmetry is the Multipole Resonance Probe (MRP). The Ideal MRP(IMRP) is an even more symmetric idealization which is suited for theoretical investigations. In this work, a spectral kinetic scheme is presented to investigate the behavior of the IMRP in the low pressure regime. However, due to the velocity difference, electrons are treated as particles whereas ions are only considered as stationary background. In the scheme, the particle pusher integrates the equations of motion for the studied particles, the Poisson solver determines the electric field at each particle position. The proposed method overcomes the limitation of the cold plasma model and covers kinetic effects like collisionless damping.

Finite analytic numerical solution of heat transfer and flow past a square channel cavity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, C.-J.; Obasih, K.

1982-01-01

A numerical solution of flow and heat transfer characteristics is obtained by the finite analytic method for a two dimensional laminar channel flow over a two-dimensional square cavity. The finite analytic method utilizes the local analytic solution in a small element of the problem region to form the algebraic equation relating an interior nodal value with its surrounding nodal values. Stable and rapidly converged solutions were obtained for Reynolds numbers ranging to 1000 and Prandtl number to 10. Streamfunction, vorticity and temperature profiles are solved. Local and mean Nusselt number are given. It is found that the separation streamlines between the cavity and channel flow are concave into the cavity at low Reynolds number and convex at high Reynolds number (Re greater than 100) and for square cavity the mean Nusselt number may be approximately correlated with Peclet number as Nu(m) = 0.365 Pe exp 0.2.

Thermal Edge-Effects Model for Automated Tape Placement of Thermoplastic Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Costen, Robert C.

2000-01-01

Two-dimensional thermal models for automated tape placement (ATP) of thermoplastic composites neglect the diffusive heat transport that occurs between the newly placed tape and the cool substrate beside it. Such lateral transport can cool the tape edges prematurely and weaken the bond. The three-dimensional, steady state, thermal transport equation is solved by the Green's function method for a tape of finite width being placed on an infinitely wide substrate. The isotherm for the glass transition temperature on the weld interface is used to determine the distance inward from the tape edge that is prematurely cooled, called the cooling incursion Delta a. For the Langley ATP robot, Delta a = 0.4 mm for a unidirectional lay-up of PEEK/carbon fiber composite, and Delta a = 1.2 mm for an isotropic lay-up. A formula for Delta a is developed and applied to a wide range of operating conditions. A surprise finding is that Delta a need not decrease as the Peclet number Pe becomes very large, where Pe is the dimensionless ratio of inertial to diffusive heat transport. Conformable rollers that increase the consolidation length would also increase Delta a, unless other changes are made, such as proportionally increasing the material speed. To compensate for premature edge cooling, the thermal input could be extended past the tape edges by the amount Delta a. This method should help achieve uniform weld strength and crystallinity across the width of the tape.

Comparative study of proteasome inhibitory, synergistic antibacterial, synergistic anticandidal, and antioxidant activities of gold nanoparticles biosynthesized using fruit waste materials

PubMed Central

Patra, Jayanta Kumar; Baek, Kwang-Hyun

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare the biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) generated using the aqueous extracts of outer oriental melon peel (OMP) and peach. The synthesized OMP-AuNPs and peach extract (PE)-AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The surface plasmon resonance spectra were obtained at 545 nm and 540 nm for OMP-AuNPs and PE-AuNPs, respectively. The estimated absolute crystallite size of the synthesized AuNPs was calculated to be 78.11 nm for OMP-AuNPs and 39.90 nm for PE-AuNPs based on the Scherer equation of the X-ray powder diffraction peaks. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed the involvement of bioactive compounds present in OMP and peach extracts in the synthesis and stabilization of synthesized AuNPs. Both the OMP-AuNPs and PE-AuNPs showed a strong antibacterial synergistic activity when combined with kanamycin (9.38–20.45 mm inhibition zones) and rifampicin (9.52–25.23 mm inhibition zones), and they also exerted a strong synergistic anticandidal activity (10.09–15.47 mm inhibition zones) when combined with amphotericin B against five pathogenic Candida species. Both the OMP-AuNPs and PE-AuNPs exhibited a strong antioxidant potential in terms of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydraxyl radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging, and a reducing power, along with a strong proteasome inhibitory potential that could be useful in cancer drug delivery and cancer treatments. The PE-AuNPs showed comparatively higher activity than OMP-AuNPs, which could be attributed to the presence of rich bioactive compounds in the PE that acted as reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of PE-AuNPs. Overall, the results of the current investigation highlighted a novel green technology for the synthesis of AuNPs using food waste materials and their potential applications in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. PMID:27695326

Robust High Data Rate MIMO Underwater Acoustic Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-31

algorithm is referred to as periodic CAN ( PeCAN ). Unlike most existing sequence construction methods which are algebraic and deterministic in nature, we...start the iteration of PeCAN from random phase initializations and then proceed to cyclically minimize the desired metric. In this way, through...by the foe and hence are especially useful as training sequences or as spreading sequences for UAC applications. We will use PeCAN sequences for

Accuracies of genomically estimated breeding values from pure-breed and across-breed predictions in Australian beef cattle.

PubMed

Boerner, Vinzent; Johnston, David J; Tier, Bruce

2014-10-24

The major obstacles for the implementation of genomic selection in Australian beef cattle are the variety of breeds and in general, small numbers of genotyped and phenotyped individuals per breed. The Australian Beef Cooperative Research Center (Beef CRC) investigated these issues by deriving genomic prediction equations (PE) from a training set of animals that covers a range of breeds and crosses including Angus, Murray Grey, Shorthorn, Hereford, Brahman, Belmont Red, Santa Gertrudis and Tropical Composite. This paper presents accuracies of genomically estimated breeding values (GEBV) that were calculated from these PE in the commercial pure-breed beef cattle seed stock sector. PE derived by the Beef CRC from multi-breed and pure-breed training populations were applied to genotyped Angus, Limousin and Brahman sires and young animals, but with no pure-breed Limousin in the training population. The accuracy of the resulting GEBV was assessed by their genetic correlation to their phenotypic target trait in a bi-variate REML approach that models GEBV as trait observations. Accuracies of most GEBV for Angus and Brahman were between 0.1 and 0.4, with accuracies for abattoir carcass traits generally greater than for live animal body composition traits and reproduction traits. Estimated accuracies greater than 0.5 were only observed for Brahman abattoir carcass traits and for Angus carcass rib fat. Averaged across traits within breeds, accuracies of GEBV were highest when PE from the pooled across-breed training population were used. However, for the Angus and Brahman breeds the difference in accuracy from using pure-breed PE was small. For the Limousin breed no reasonable results could be achieved for any trait. Although accuracies were generally low compared to published accuracies estimated within breeds, they are in line with those derived in other multi-breed populations. Thus PE developed by the Beef CRC can contribute to the implementation of genomic selection in Australian beef cattle breeding.

JROTC as a Substitute for PE: Really?

PubMed Central

Lounsbery, Monica A. F.; Holt, Kathryn A.; Monnat, Shannon A.; McKenzie, Thomas L.; Funk, Brian

2014-01-01

Purpose Even though physical education (PE) is an evidence-based strategy for providing and promoting physical activity, alternative programs such as Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) are commonly substituted for PE in many states. The purpose of this study was to compare student physical activity and lesson contexts during high school PE and JROTC sessions. Method SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) was used to assess PE and JROTC sessions (N=38 each) in 4 high schools that provided both programs. Data were analyzed using t-tests, negative binomial regression, and logistic regression. Results Students engaged in significantly more moderate to vigorous physical activity during PE than JROTC sessions and they were significantly less sedentary. Significant differences between the two program types were also found among lesson contexts. Conclusions PE and JROTC provide substantially different content and contexts and students in them engage in substantially different amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Students in JROTC, and perhaps other alternative programs, are less likely to accrue health-supporting physical activity and engage in fewer opportunities to be physically fit and motorically skilled. Policies and practices for providing substitutions for PE should be carefully examined. PMID:25141093

Identification of Clinical Phenotypes in Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia with Pulmonary Emphysema.

PubMed

Sato, Suguru; Tanino, Yoshinori; Misa, Kenichi; Fukuhara, Naoko; Nikaido, Takefumi; Uematsu, Manabu; Fukuhara, Atsuro; Wang, Xintao; Ishida, Takashi; Munakata, Mitsuru

2016-01-01

Objective Since the term "combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema" (CPFE) was first proposed, the co-existence of pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary emphysema (PE) has drawn considerable attention. However, conflicting results on the clinical characteristics of patients with both pulmonary fibrosis and PE have been published because of the lack of an exact definition of CPFE. The goal of this study was thus to clarify the clinical characteristics and phenotypes of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) with PE. Methods We retrospectively analyzed IIP patients who had been admitted to our hospital. Their chest high-resolution computed tomography images were classified into two groups according to the presence of PE. We then performed a cluster analysis to identify the phenotypes of IIP patients with PE. Results Forty-four (53.7%) out of 82 patients had at least mild emphysema in their bilateral lungs. The cluster analysis separated the IIP patients with PE into three clusters. The overall survival rate of one cluster that consisted of mainly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients was significantly worse than those of the other clusters. Conclusion Three different phenotypes can be identified in IIP patients with PE, and IPF with PE is a distinct clinical phenotype with a poor prognosis.

Interconversion of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine during chemical derivatization.

PubMed

Wong, Colton H F; Ho, Emmie N M; Kwok, W H; Leung, David K K; Leung, Gary N W; Tang, Francis P W; Wong, April S Y; Wong, Jenny K Y; Yu, Nola H; Wan, Terence S M

2012-12-01

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis after heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) derivatization was one of the published methods used for the quantification of ephedrine (EP) and pseudoephedrine (PE) in urine. This method allows the clear separation of the derivatized diastereoisomers on a methyl-silicone-based column. Recently the authors came across a human urine sample with apparently high levels (µg/ml) of EP and PE upon initial screening. However, duplicate analyses of this sample using the HFBA-GC-MS method revealed an unusual discrepancy in the estimated levels of EP and PE, with the area response ratios of EP/PE at around 29% on one occasion and around 57% on another. The same sample was re-analyzed for EP and PE using other techniques, including GC-MS after trimethylsilylation and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Surprisingly, the concentration of EP in the sample was determined to be at least two orders of magnitude less than what was observed with the HFBA-GC-MS method. A thorough investigation was then conducted, and the results showed that both substances could interconvert during HFBA derivatization. Similar diastereoisomeric conversion was also observed using other fluorinated acylating agents (e.g. pentafluoropropionic anhydride and trifluoroacetic anhydride). The extent of interconversion was correlated with the degree of fluorination of the acylating agents, with HFBA giving the highest conversion. This conversion has never been reported before. A mechanism for the interconversion was proposed. These findings indicated that fluorinated acylating agents should not be used for the unequivocal identification or quantification of EP and PE as the results obtained can be erroneous. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enhanced propagation modeling of directional aviation noise: A hybrid parabolic equation-fast field program method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenbaum, Joyce E.

2011-12-01

Commercial air traffic is anticipated to increase rapidly in the coming years. The impact of aviation noise on communities surrounding airports is, therefore, a growing concern. Accurate prediction of noise can help to mitigate the impact on communities and foster smoother integration of aerospace engineering advances. The problem of accurate sound level prediction requires careful inclusion of all mechanisms that affect propagation, in addition to correct source characterization. Terrain, ground type, meteorological effects, and source directivity can have a substantial influence on the noise level. Because they are difficult to model, these effects are often included only by rough approximation. This dissertation presents a model designed for sound propagation over uneven terrain, with mixed ground type and realistic meteorological conditions. The model is a hybrid of two numerical techniques: the parabolic equation (PE) and fast field program (FFP) methods, which allow for physics-based inclusion of propagation effects and ensure the low frequency content, a factor in community impact, is predicted accurately. Extension of the hybrid model to a pseudo-three-dimensional representation allows it to produce aviation noise contour maps in the standard form. In order for the model to correctly characterize aviation noise sources, a method of representing arbitrary source directivity patterns was developed for the unique form of the parabolic equation starting field. With this advancement, the model can represent broadband, directional moving sound sources, traveling along user-specified paths. This work was prepared for possible use in the research version of the sound propagation module in the Federal Aviation Administration's new standard predictive tool.

Physical Education Teacher Perceptions of Teacher Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norris, Jason; van der Mars, Hans; Kulinna, Pamela; Amrein-Beardsley, Audrey; Kwon, Jayoun; Hodges, Michael

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of current PE teachers' perceptions of teacher evaluation systems. Method: A mixed methods approach was used and two sources of data collection were used: (a) a short survey of PE teachers (n = 22) in one urban school district and (b) a formal semistructured interview with 10…

A clinical trial comparing the effect of peer education and orientation program on the anxiety levels of pre-CABG surgery patients.

PubMed

Esmaeili, R; Jannati, Y; Ghafari, R; Charati, J Y; Jelodar, H N

2015-01-01

Background and Objectives: One of the main treatment methods of coronary artery disease is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The anxiety level in patients undergoing this surgery is relatively very high. Thus, reducing anxiety in these patients is an important step toward wellness. This study aimed to compare the effects of peer education (PE) and orientation program (OP) on the anxiety levels of patients before CABG surgery. Material and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2014 at the Mazandaran Heart Center on three groups of 50 persons each: PE, OP, and control (Cl). The anxiety levels of patients in each group were measured one day and one hour before the surgery. All groups received routine education. In addition, the PE group received PE and the OP group received OP. Two questionnaires were used to collect the demographics and the clinical data; and Spielberg state anxiety questionnaire was used to measure the anxiety level. Data from descriptive statistics, chi-square, ANOVA, ANCOVA, Bonferroni, and Fisher exact test were analyzed in SPSS v20 software. Findings: The mean anxiety score before surgery was not significantly different in the three groups (P=0.955). However, after the intervention at 1 h before surgery, the mean anxiety level in the PE and OP group was lower than in the Cl group (P=0.000). However, the mean anxiety score between PE and OP groups showed no significant difference (P=0.051). Conclusion: Both PE and OP group reduced the anxiety naturally developed in a patient before surgery. Although the influence of the PE group was greater in reducing anxiety, the use of this technique in clinical practices required further studies.

Initial Australasian experience with portal-enteric drainage in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

PubMed

Kave, Ben; Yii, Ming; Bell, Roger; Kanellis, John; Scott, David; Saunder, Alan

2010-10-01

Pancreas-kidney transplantation is currently the most effective method to re-establish euglycaemia in insulin-dependent diabetics with associated renal failure. The standard technique employed has been bladder drainage of exocrine secretions coupled with systemic venous drainage ('systemic-bladder' (SB) drainage). The more physiological technique, enteric exocrine with portal venous drainage ('portal-enteric' (PE) drainage), has been utilized sparingly in the past as a result of fears of technical complications. This paper compares the Monash Medical Centre experience with both techniques. A total of 68 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations were performed at Monash Medical Centre from 1991 until 2004. The first 37 received SB drainage. Since March 2001, 27 have received PE drainage. This retrospective study compared the SB group (n= 37) with the PE group (n= 27), with a 2-year follow-up, examining a number of surgical outcomes. Two-year patient (94.3 versus 96.0%), kidney (89.2 versus 85.2%), pancreas (77.9 versus 71.4%) and event-free (73.0 versus 67.7%) survivals were all similar between the SB and PE groups, respectively. Although surgery took longer in PE subjects (4 h : 47 min ± 0:48 versus 5 h : 16 min ± 1:00; P= 0.045), less intraoperative transfusions were required (1.3 ± 1.43 versus 0.52 ± 0.90; P= 0.024). Length of hospital stay and time to insulin independence were similar. Pancreas graft thrombosis rates were similar (10.8% SB versus 7.4% PE, P= 0.497). PE drainage is a safe and viable method for pancreas transplantation, which can be performed with excellent outcomes. An increased rate of complications with PE drainage has not been demonstrated in this series. © 2009 The Authors. ANZ Journal of Surgery © 2009 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Stature estimation from body segment lengths in young adults--application to people with physical disabilities.

PubMed

Canda, Alicia

2009-03-01

Knowledge of stature is necessary for evaluating nutritional status and for correcting certain functional parameters. Measuring stature is difficult or impossible in bedridden or wheelchair-bound persons and may also be diminished by disorders of the spinal column or extremities. The purpose of this work is to develop estimation equations for young adult athletes for their subsequent application to disabled persons. The main sample comprised 445 male and 401 female sportspersons. Cross validation was also performed on 100 males and 101 females. All were Caucasian, the males being over 21 and the females over 18, and all practiced some kind of sport. The following variables were included: stature, sitting height, arm span, and lengths of upper arm, forearm, hand, thigh, lower leg, and foot. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed using stature as a dependent variable and the others as predictive variables. The best equation for males (R(2)=0.978; RMSE=1.41 cm; PE=1.54 cm) was stature: 1.346+1.023 * lower leg+0.957 * sitting height+0.530 * thigh+0.493 * upper arm+0.228 * forearm. For females (R(2)=0.959; RMSE=1.57 cm; PE=1.25 cm) it was stature: 1.772+0.159 * arm span+0.957 * sitting height+0.424 * thigh+0.966 * lower leg. Alternative equations were developed for when a particular variable cannot be included for reasons of mobility, technical difficulty, or segment loss.

Physical Activity in Physical Education: Are Longer Lessons Better?

PubMed Central

Smith, Nicole J.; Monnat, Shannon M.; Lounsbery, Monica A.F.

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare physical activity (PA) outcomes in a sample of high school physical education (PE) lessons from schools that adopted traditional versus modified block schedule formats. METHODS We used the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) to conduct observations of 168 high school (HS) PE lessons delivered by 22 PE teachers in 4 schools. We used t-tests and multilevel models were used to explore variability in moderate PA and vigorous PA. RESULTS PA outcomes were significantly different between modified block and traditional schools. Students who attended traditional schools engaged in more vigorous PA in PE lessons. Modified block lessons lost more scheduled lesson time due to poor transition to and from the locker room. PA outcomes were positively associated with fitness and teacher promotion of PA and negatively associated with lost time, class size, management, and knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Though PE proponents widely advocate for more PE minutes, this study showed that greater time scheduled in PE does not necessarily result in more student accrual of MVPA minutes. PMID:25611935

Ruling out Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with High Pretest Probability

PubMed Central

Kline, Jeffrey; Bhattarai, Bikash; Courtney, Mark; Kabrhel, Christopher

2018-01-01

Introduction The American College of Emergency Physicians guidelines recommend more aggressive workup beyond imaging alone in patients with a high pretest probability (PTP) of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the ability of multiple tests to safely rule out PE in high PTP patients is not known. We sought to measure the ability of negative computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) along with negative D-dimer to rule out PE in these high-risk patients. Methods We analyzed data from a previous prospective observational study conducted in 12 emergency departments (ED). Wells score criteria were entered by providers before final PE testing. PE was diagnosed by imaging on the index ED visit, or within 45 days, demonstrating either PE or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or if the patient died of PE during the 45-day, follow-up period. Testing threshold was set at 1.8%. Results A total of 7,940 patients were enrolled and tested for PE, and 257 had high PTP (Wells >6). Sixteen of these high-risk patients had negative CTPA and negative D-dimer, of whom two were positive for PE (12.5% [95% confidence interval {2.2%–40.0%}]). One of these patients had a DVT on CT venogram and the other was diagnosed at follow-up. Conclusion Our analysis suggests that in patients with high PTP of PE, neither negative CTPA by itself nor a negative CTPA plus a negative D-dimer are sufficient to rule out PE. More aggressive workup strategies may be required for these patients. PMID:29760845

Learning about Expectation Violation from Prediction Error Paradigms – A Meta-Analysis on Brain Processes Following a Prediction Error

PubMed Central

D’Astolfo, Lisa; Rief, Winfried

2017-01-01

Modifying patients’ expectations by exposing them to expectation violation situations (thus maximizing the difference between the expected and the actual situational outcome) is proposed to be a crucial mechanism for therapeutic success for a variety of different mental disorders. However, clinical observations suggest that patients often maintain their expectations regardless of experiences contradicting their expectations. It remains unclear which information processing mechanisms lead to modification or persistence of patients’ expectations. Insight in the processing could be provided by Neuroimaging studies investigating prediction error (PE, i.e., neuronal reactions to non-expected stimuli). Two methods are often used to investigate the PE: (1) paradigms, in which participants passively observe PEs (”passive” paradigms) and (2) paradigms, which encourage a behavioral adaptation following a PE (“active” paradigms). These paradigms are similar to the methods used to induce expectation violations in clinical settings: (1) the confrontation with an expectation violation situation and (2) an enhanced confrontation in which the patient actively challenges his expectation. We used this similarity to gain insight in the different neuronal processing of the two PE paradigms. We performed a meta-analysis contrasting neuronal activity of PE paradigms encouraging a behavioral adaptation following a PE and paradigms enforcing passiveness following a PE. We found more neuronal activity in the striatum, the insula and the fusiform gyrus in studies encouraging behavioral adaptation following a PE. Due to the involvement of reward assessment and avoidance learning associated with the striatum and the insula we propose that the deliberate execution of action alternatives following a PE is associated with the integration of new information into previously existing expectations, therefore leading to an expectation change. While further research is needed to directly assess expectations of participants, this study provides new insights into the information processing mechanisms following an expectation violation. PMID:28804467

Learning about Expectation Violation from Prediction Error Paradigms - A Meta-Analysis on Brain Processes Following a Prediction Error.

PubMed

D'Astolfo, Lisa; Rief, Winfried

2017-01-01

Modifying patients' expectations by exposing them to expectation violation situations (thus maximizing the difference between the expected and the actual situational outcome) is proposed to be a crucial mechanism for therapeutic success for a variety of different mental disorders. However, clinical observations suggest that patients often maintain their expectations regardless of experiences contradicting their expectations. It remains unclear which information processing mechanisms lead to modification or persistence of patients' expectations. Insight in the processing could be provided by Neuroimaging studies investigating prediction error (PE, i.e., neuronal reactions to non-expected stimuli). Two methods are often used to investigate the PE: (1) paradigms, in which participants passively observe PEs ("passive" paradigms) and (2) paradigms, which encourage a behavioral adaptation following a PE ("active" paradigms). These paradigms are similar to the methods used to induce expectation violations in clinical settings: (1) the confrontation with an expectation violation situation and (2) an enhanced confrontation in which the patient actively challenges his expectation. We used this similarity to gain insight in the different neuronal processing of the two PE paradigms. We performed a meta-analysis contrasting neuronal activity of PE paradigms encouraging a behavioral adaptation following a PE and paradigms enforcing passiveness following a PE. We found more neuronal activity in the striatum, the insula and the fusiform gyrus in studies encouraging behavioral adaptation following a PE. Due to the involvement of reward assessment and avoidance learning associated with the striatum and the insula we propose that the deliberate execution of action alternatives following a PE is associated with the integration of new information into previously existing expectations, therefore leading to an expectation change. While further research is needed to directly assess expectations of participants, this study provides new insights into the information processing mechanisms following an expectation violation.

Preparation of chitosan-coated polyethylene packaging films by DBD plasma treatment.

PubMed

Theapsak, Siriporn; Watthanaphanit, Anyarat; Rujiravanit, Ratana

2012-05-01

Polyethylene (PE) packaging films were coated with chitosan in order to introduce the antibacterial activity to the films. To augment the interaction between the two polymers, we modified the surfaces of the PE films by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma before chitosan coating. After that the plasma-treated PE films were immersed in chitosan acetate solutions with different concentrations of chitosan. The optimum plasma treatment time was 10 s as determined from contact angle measurement. Effect of the plasma treatment on the surface roughness of the PE films was investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM) while the occurrence of polar functional groups was observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscope (FTIR). It was found that the surface roughness as well as the occurrence of oxygen-containing functional groups (i.e., C═O, C-O, and -OH) of the plasma-treated PE films increased from those of the untreated one, indicating that the DBD plasma enhanced hydrophilicity of the PE films. The amounts of chitosan coated on the PE films were determined after washing the coated films in water for several number of washing cycles prior to detection of the chitosan content by the Kjaldahl method. The amounts of chitosan coated on the PE films were constant after washing for three times and the chitosan-coated PE films exhibited appreciable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Hence, the obtained chitosan-coated PE films could be a promising candidate for antibacterial food packaging.

Effective teaching strategies and methods of delivery for patient education: a systematic review and practice guideline recommendations.

PubMed

Friedman, Audrey Jusko; Cosby, Roxanne; Boyko, Susan; Hatton-Bauer, Jane; Turnbull, Gale

2011-03-01

The objective of this study was to determine effective teaching strategies and methods of delivery for patient education (PE). A systematic review was conducted and reviews with or without meta-analyses, which examined teaching strategies and methods of delivery for PE, were included. Teaching strategies identified are traditional lectures, discussions, simulated games, computer technology, written material, audiovisual sources, verbal recall, demonstration, and role playing. Methods of delivery focused on how to deliver the teaching strategies. Teaching strategies that increased knowledge, decreased anxiety, and increased satisfaction included computer technology, audio and videotapes, written materials, and demonstrations. Various teaching strategies used in combination were similarly successful. Moreover, structured-, culturally appropriate- and patient-specific teachings were found to be better than ad hoc teaching or generalized teaching. Findings provide guidance for establishing provincial standards for the delivery of PE. Recommendations concerning the efficacy of the teaching strategies and delivery methods are provided.

A simple and fast method for extraction and quantification of cryptophyte phycoerythrin.

PubMed

Thoisen, Christina; Hansen, Benni Winding; Nielsen, Søren Laurentius

2017-01-01

The microalgal pigment phycoerythrin (PE) is of commercial interest as natural colorant in food and cosmetics, as well as fluoroprobes for laboratory analysis. Several methods for extraction and quantification of PE are available but they comprise typically various extraction buffers, repetitive freeze-thaw cycles and liquid nitrogen, making extraction procedures more complicated. A simple method for extraction of PE from cryptophytes is described using standard laboratory materials and equipment. The cryptophyte cells on the filters were disrupted at -80 °C and added phosphate buffer for extraction at 4 °C followed by absorbance measurement. The cryptophyte Rhodomonas salina was used as a model organism. •Simple method for extraction and quantification of phycoerythrin from cryptophytes.•Minimal usage of equipment and chemicals, and low labor costs.•Applicable for industrial and biological purposes.

Incidence of pulmonary embolism during COPD exacerbation*, **

PubMed Central

Akpinar, Evrim Eylem; Hoşgün, Derya; Akpýnar, Serdar; Ataç, Gökçe Kaan; Doğanay, Beyza; Gülhan, Meral

2014-01-01

OBJECTIVE: Because pulmonary embolism (PE) and COPD exacerbation have similar presentations and symptoms, PE can be overlooked in COPD patients. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of PE during COPD exacerbation and to describe the clinical aspects in COPD patients diagnosed with PE. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted at a university hospital in the city of Ankara, Turkey. We included all COPD patients who were hospitalized due to acute exacerbation of COPD between May of 2011 and May of 2013. All patients underwent clinical risk assessment, arterial blood gas analysis, chest CT angiography, and Doppler ultrasonography of the lower extremities. In addition, we measured D-dimer levels and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) levels. RESULTS: We included 172 patients with COPD. The prevalence of PE was 29.1%. The patients with pleuritic chest pain, lower limb asymmetry, and high NT-pro-BNP levels were more likely to develop PE, as were those who were obese or immobile. Obesity and lower limb asymmetry were independent predictors of PE during COPD exacerbation (OR = 4.97; 95% CI, 1.775-13.931 and OR = 2.329; 95% CI, 1.127-7.105, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PE in patients with COPD exacerbation was higher than expected. The association between PE and COPD exacerbation should be considered, especially in patients who are immobile or obese. PMID:24626268

MURI: Impact of Oceanographic Variability on Acoustic Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-30

ACSSC.2010.5757934 (2010). [published] [50] K. Tu, T.M. Duman, J.G. Proakis, and M. Stojanovic, “Cooperative MIMO - OFDM communications: Receiver...considered across bands of frequencies in the range 1-50 kHz. Multiple source and receiver cases ( MIMO ) will be of particular interest. Validating...Parabolic Equation (PE) acoustic models. Communication receiver design has included processors for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ( OFDM

Basal serum progesterone and history of elevated progesterone on the day of hCG administration are significant predictors of late follicular progesterone elevation in GnRH antagonist IVF cycles.

PubMed

Venetis, Christos A; Kolibianakis, Efstratios M; Bosdou, Julia K; Lainas, George T; Sfontouris, Ioannis A; Tarlatzis, Basil C; Lainas, Tryfon G

2016-08-01

Are there any baseline predictors of progesterone elevation (PE) on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) which are not associated with the intensity of ovarian stimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) using follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists? Basal (Day 2 of the menstrual cycle) serum progesterone concentration and history of PE are baseline variables that can predict the occurrence of PE on the day of hCG independently of the intensity of ovarian stimulation. PE on the day of hCG is associated with the magnitude of the ovarian response to stimulation. For this reason, it has been hypothesized that milder ovarian stimulation might reduce the probability of PE. However, given the fact that the number of oocytes retrieved is associated with the probability of live birth, such a strategy should be considered only in patients that are at high risk of PE on the day of hCG. This is a retrospective analysis of a cohort of fresh IVF/ICSI cycles (n = 1702) performed in a single IVF centre during the period 2001-2015. Patients in whom ovarian stimulation was performed with FSH and GnRH antagonists and with basal FSH <14.0 mIU/ml, progesterone (P) ≤1.6 ng/ml and estradiol (E2) ≤80 pg/ml on the same day (prior to the initiation of stimulation) were considered eligible. PE was defined as serum progesterone concentration >1.5 ng/ml. Pre-stimulation characteristics of patients and basal hormonal profile were assessed for their ability to predict the occurrence of PE after ovarian stimulation through generalized estimating equation univariable and multivariable regression analyses, controlling for the effect of ovarian stimulation. Furthermore, a secondary analysis in a subset of patients with multiple IVF cycles explored whether the occurrence of PE in one of the previous cycles included in this study is associated with a significantly higher occurrence of PE elevation in subsequent cycles. Univariable regression analyses showed that female age (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94-0.99), basal FSH (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.79-0.92) and basal P (OR: 4.20; 95% CI: 2.47-7.12) were baseline variables that could significantly predict PE on the day of hCG. When these variables were entered in the same model as covariates, only basal FSH (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.80-0.94) and basal P (OR: 3.83; 95% CI: 2.24-6.56) could still predict the occurrence of PE. Basal P (OR: 6.30; 95% CI: 3.35-11.82) was the only variable that could significantly predict the occurrence of PE on the day of hCG after adjusting for the intensity of ovarian stimulation. The secondary analysis revealed that history of PE on the day of hCG in a previous cycle was also strongly associated with an increased risk of PE in a subsequent cycle. This is a retrospective analysis and although the effect of the most important confounders was controlled for in the multivariable analysis, the presence of residual bias cannot be excluded. The findings of this study might help clinicians identify patients at high risk for late follicular PE and alter the management of their cycle. None. Not applicable. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Women's Experiences of Preeclampsia: Australian Action on Preeclampsia Survey of Women and Their Confidants

PubMed Central

East, C.; Conway, K.; Pollock, W.; Frawley, N.; Brennecke, S.

2011-01-01

Introduction. The experience of normal pregnancy is often disrupted for women with preeclampsia (PE). Materials and Methods. Postal survey of the 112 members of the consumer group, Australian Action on Pre-Eclampsia (AAPEC). Results. Surveys were returned by 68 women (61% response rate) and from 64 (57%) partners, close relatives or friends. Respondents reported experiencing pre-eclampsia (n = 53), eclampsia (n = 5), and/or Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets (HELLP syndrome) (n = 26). Many women had no knowledge of PE prior to diagnosis (77%) and, once diagnosed, did not appreciate how serious or life threatening it was (50%). Women wanted access to information about PE. Their experience contributed substantial anxiety towards future pregnancies. Partners/friends/relatives expressed fear for the woman and/or her baby and had no prior understanding of PE. Conclusions. The PE experience had a substantial effect on women, their confidants, and their babies and affected their approach to future pregnancies. Access to information about PE was viewed as very important. PMID:21547089

The "PE coach" smartphone application: an innovative approach to improving implementation, fidelity, and homework adherence during prolonged exposure.

PubMed

Reger, Greg M; Hoffman, Julia; Riggs, David; Rothbaum, Barbara O; Ruzek, Josef; Holloway, Kevin M; Kuhn, Eric

2013-08-01

Prolonged exposure (PE) is an empirically supported treatment that is being disseminated broadly to providers in the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. Innovative methods are needed to support the implementation, dissemination, and patient and provider adherence to PE. The PE Coach is a smartphone application (app) designed to mitigate barriers to PE implementation. PE Coach is installed on the patient's phone and includes a range of capabilities for use during the PE session and after each session to support the treatment. Functions include the ability to audio record treatment sessions onto the patient's device, to construct the in vivo hierarchy on the device, to record completed homework exercises, to review homework adherence, and to track symptom severity over time. The app also allows sessions and homework to be scheduled directly in the app, populating the device calendar with patient reminder notifications. In the final session, a visual display of symptom improvement and habituation to items on the in vivo hierarchy is presented. These capabilities may significantly improve convenience, provider implementation and adherence, and patient compliance with treatment. Future research is needed to test whether PE Coach is useful and effective. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Amplitude-aware permutation entropy: Illustration in spike detection and signal segmentation.

PubMed

Azami, Hamed; Escudero, Javier

2016-05-01

Signal segmentation and spike detection are two important biomedical signal processing applications. Often, non-stationary signals must be segmented into piece-wise stationary epochs or spikes need to be found among a background of noise before being further analyzed. Permutation entropy (PE) has been proposed to evaluate the irregularity of a time series. PE is conceptually simple, structurally robust to artifacts, and computationally fast. It has been extensively used in many applications, but it has two key shortcomings. First, when a signal is symbolized using the Bandt-Pompe procedure, only the order of the amplitude values is considered and information regarding the amplitudes is discarded. Second, in the PE, the effect of equal amplitude values in each embedded vector is not addressed. To address these issues, we propose a new entropy measure based on PE: the amplitude-aware permutation entropy (AAPE). AAPE is sensitive to the changes in the amplitude, in addition to the frequency, of the signals thanks to it being more flexible than the classical PE in the quantification of the signal motifs. To demonstrate how the AAPE method can enhance the quality of the signal segmentation and spike detection, a set of synthetic and realistic synthetic neuronal signals, electroencephalograms and neuronal data are processed. We compare the performance of AAPE in these problems against state-of-the-art approaches and evaluate the significance of the differences with a repeated ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test. In signal segmentation, the accuracy of AAPE-based method is higher than conventional segmentation methods. AAPE also leads to more robust results in the presence of noise. The spike detection results show that AAPE can detect spikes well, even when presented with single-sample spikes, unlike PE. For multi-sample spikes, the changes in AAPE are larger than in PE. We introduce a new entropy metric, AAPE, that enables us to consider amplitude information in the formulation of PE. The AAPE algorithm can be used in almost every irregularity-based application in various signal and image processing fields. We also made freely available the Matlab code of the AAPE. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exact nonstationary responses of rectangular thin plate on Pasternak foundation excited by stochastic moving loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Guohai; Meng, Zeng; Yang, Dixiong

2018-01-01

This paper develops an efficient method termed as PE-PIM to address the exact nonstationary responses of pavement structure, which is modeled as a rectangular thin plate resting on bi-parametric Pasternak elastic foundation subjected to stochastic moving loads with constant acceleration. Firstly, analytical power spectral density (PSD) functions of random responses for thin plate are derived by integrating pseudo excitation method (PEM) with Duhamel's integral. Based on PEM, the new equivalent von Mises stress (NEVMS) is proposed, whose PSD function contains all cross-PSD functions between stress components. Then, the PE-PIM that combines the PEM with precise integration method (PIM) is presented to achieve efficiently stochastic responses of the plate by replacing Duhamel's integral with the PIM. Moreover, the semi-analytical Monte Carlo simulation is employed to verify the computational results of the developed PE-PIM. Finally, numerical examples demonstrate the high accuracy and efficiency of PE-PIM for nonstationary random vibration analysis. The effects of velocity and acceleration of moving load, boundary conditions of the plate and foundation stiffness on the deflection and NEVMS responses are scrutinized.

Permutation entropy analysis of heart rate variability for the assessment of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Carricarte Naranjo, Claudia; Sanchez-Rodriguez, Lazaro M; Brown Martínez, Marta; Estévez Báez, Mario; Machado García, Andrés

2017-07-01

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a relevant tool for the diagnosis of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). To our knowledge, no previous investigation on CAN has assessed the complexity of HRV from an ordinal perspective. Therefore, the aim of this work is to explore the potential of permutation entropy (PE) analysis of HRV complexity for the assessment of CAN. For this purpose, we performed a short-term PE analysis of HRV in healthy subjects and type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, including patients with CAN. Standard HRV indicators were also calculated in the control group. A discriminant analysis was used to select the variables combination with best discriminative power between control and CAN patients groups, as well as for classifying cases. We found that for some specific temporal scales, PE indicators were significantly lower in CAN patients than those calculated for controls. In such cases, there were ordinal patterns with high probabilities of occurrence, while others were hardly found. We posit this behavior occurs due to a decrease of HRV complexity in the diseased system. Discriminant functions based on PE measures or probabilities of occurrence of ordinal patterns provided an average of 75% and 96% classification accuracy. Correlations of PE and HRV measures showed to depend only on temporal scale, regardless of pattern length. PE analysis at some specific temporal scales, seem to provide additional information to that obtained with traditional HRV methods. We concluded that PE analysis of HRV is a promising method for the assessment of CAN. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ESTIMATING PERSON-CENTERED TREATMENT (PeT) EFFECTS USING INSTRUMENTAL VARIABLES: AN APPLICATION TO EVALUATING PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENTS

PubMed Central

BASU, ANIRBAN

2014-01-01

SUMMARY This paper builds on the methods of local instrumental variables developed by Heckman and Vytlacil (1999, 2001, 2005) to estimate person-centered treatment (PeT) effects that are conditioned on the person’s observed characteristics and averaged over the potential conditional distribution of unobserved characteristics that lead them to their observed treatment choices. PeT effects are more individualized than conditional treatment effects from a randomized setting with the same observed characteristics. PeT effects can be easily aggregated to construct any of the mean treatment effect parameters and, more importantly, are well suited to comprehend individual-level treatment effect heterogeneity. The paper presents the theory behind PeT effects, and applies it to study the variation in individual-level comparative effects of prostate cancer treatments on overall survival and costs. PMID:25620844

Pursuit-evasion games with information uncertainties for elusive orbital maneuver and space object tracking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Dan; Jia, Bin; Chen, Genshe; Blasch, Erik; Pham, Khanh

2015-05-01

This paper develops and evaluates a pursuit-evasion (PE) game approach for elusive orbital maneuver and space object tracking. Unlike the PE games in the literature, where the assumption is that either both players have perfect knowledge of the opponents' positions or use primitive sensing models, the proposed PE approach solves the realistic space situation awareness (SSA) problem with imperfect information, where the evaders will exploit the pursuers' sensing and tracking models to confuse their opponents by maneuvering their orbits to increase the uncertainties, which the pursuers perform orbital maneuvers to minimize. In the game setup, each game player P (pursuer) and E (evader) has its own motion equations with a small continuous low-thrust. The magnitude of the low thrust is fixed and the direction can be controlled by the associated game player. The entropic uncertainty is used to generate the cost functions of game players. The Nash or mixed Nash equilibrium is composed of the directional controls of low-thrusts. Numerical simulations are emulated to demonstrate the performance. Simplified perturbations models (SGP4/SDP4) are exploited to calculate the ground truth of the satellite states (position and speed).

Sagittarius A* as an origin of the Galactic PeV cosmic rays?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujita, Yutaka; Murase, Kohta; Kimura, Shigeo S.

2017-04-01

Supernova remnants (SNRs) have commonly been considered as a source of the observed PeV cosmic rays (CRs) or a Galactic PeV particle accelerator ("Pevatron"). In this work, we study Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), which is the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus of the Milky Way Galaxy, as another possible canditate of the Pevatron, because it sometimes became very active in the past. We assume that a large number of PeV CRs were injected by Sgr A* at the outburst about 107 yr ago when the Fermi bubbles were created. We constrain the diffusion coefficient for the CRs in the Galactic halo on the condition that the CRs have arrived on the Earth by now, while a fairly large fraction of them have escaped from the halo. Based on a diffusion-halo model, we solve a diffusion equation for the CRs and compare the results with the CR spectrum on the Earth. The observed small anisotropy of the arrival directions of CRs may be explained if the diffusion coefficient in the Galactic disk is smaller than that in the halo. Our model predicts that a boron-to-carbon ratio should be energy-independent around the knee, where the CRs from Sgr A* become dominant. It is unlikely that the spectrum of the CRs accelerated at the outburst is represented by a power-law similar to the one for those responsible for the gamma-ray emission from the central molecular zone (CMZ) around the Galactic center.

Segmentation of blood clot from CT pulmonary angiographic images using a modified seeded region growing algorithm method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Bumwoo; Furlan, Alessandro; Patil, Amol; Bae, Kyongtae T.

2010-03-01

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a medical condition defined as the obstruction of pulmonary arteries by a blood clot, usually originating in the deep veins of the lower limbs. PE is a common but elusive illness that can cause significant disability and death if not promptly diagnosed and effectively treated. CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) is the first line imaging study for the diagnosis of PE. While clinical prediction rules have been recently developed to associate short-term risks and stratify patients with acute PE, there is a dearth of objective biomarkers associated with the long-term prognosis of the disease. Clot (embolus) burden is a promising biomarker for the prognosis and recurrence of PE and can be quantified from CTPA images. However, to our knowledge, no study has reported a method for segmentation and measurement of clot from CTPA images. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop a semi-automated method for segmentation and measurement of clot from CTPA images. Our method was based on Modified Seeded Region Growing (MSRG) algorithm which consisted of two steps: (1) the observer identifies a clot of interest on CTPA images and places a spherical seed over the clot; and (2) a region grows around the seed on the basis of a rolling-ball process that clusters the neighboring voxels whose CT attenuation values are within the range of the mean +/- two standard deviations of the initial seed voxels. The rollingball propagates iteratively until the clot is completely clustered and segmented. Our experimental results revealed that the performance of the MSRG was superior to that of the conventional SRG for segmenting clots, as evidenced by reduced degrees of over- or under-segmentation from adjacent anatomical structures. To assess the clinical value of clot burden for the prognosis of PE, we are currently applying the MSRG for the segmentation and volume measurement of clots from CTPA images that are acquired in a large cohort of patients with PE in an on-going NIH-sponsored clinical trial.

Three-dimensional construction and omni-directional rolling analysis of a novel frame-like lattice modular robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Wan; Wu, Jianxu; Yao, Yan'an

2015-07-01

Lattice modular robots possess diversity actuation methods, such as electric telescopic rod, gear rack, magnet, robot arm, etc. The researches on lattice modular robots mainly focus on their hardware descriptions and reconfiguration algorithms. Meanwhile, their design architectures and actuation methods perform slow telescopic and moving speeds, relative low actuation force verse weight ratio, and without internal space to carry objects. To improve the mechanical performance and reveal the locomotion and reconfiguration binary essences of the lattice modular robots, a novel cube-shaped, frame-like, pneumatic-based reconfigurable robot module called pneumatic expandable cube(PE-Cube) is proposed. The three-dimensional(3D) expanding construction and omni-directional rolling analysis of the constructed robots are the main focuses. The PE-Cube with three degrees of freedom(DoFs) is assembled by replacing the twelve edges of a cube with pneumatic cylinders. The proposed symmetric construction condition makes the constructed robots possess the same properties in each supporting state, and a binary control strategy cooperated with binary actuator(pneumatic cylinder) is directly adopted to control the PE-Cube. Taking an eight PE-Cube modules' construction as example, its dynamic rolling simulation, static rolling condition, and turning gait are illustrated and discussed. To testify telescopic synchronization, respond speed, locomotion feasibility, and repeatability and reliability of hardware system, an experimental pneumatic-based robotic system is built and the rolling and turning experiments of the eight PE-Cube modules' construction are carried out. As an extension, the locomotion feasibility of a thirty-two PE-Cube modules' construction is analyzed and proved, including dynamic rolling simulation, static rolling condition, and dynamic analysis in free tipping process. The proposed PE-Cube module, construction method, and locomotion analysis enrich the family of the lattice modular robot and provide the instruction to design the lattice modular robot.

Determination of microplastic polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in environmental samples using thermal analysis (TGA-DSC).

PubMed

Majewsky, Marius; Bitter, Hajo; Eiche, Elisabeth; Horn, Harald

2016-10-15

Microplastics are increasingly detected in the environment and the consequences on water resources and ecosystems are not clear to date. The present study provides a cost-effective and straightforward method to determine the mass concentrations of polymer types using thermal analysis. Characteristic endothermic phase transition temperatures were determined for seven plastic polymer types using TGA-DSC. Based on that, extracts from wastewater samples were analyzed. Results showed that among the studied polymers, only PE and PP could be clearly identified, while the phase transition signals of the other polymers largely overlap each other. Subsequently, calibration curves were run for PE and PP for qualitative measurements. 240 and 1540mg/m(3) of solid material (12µm to 1mm) was extracted from two wastewater effluent samples of a municipal WWTP of which 34% (81mg/m(3)) and 17% (257mg/m(3)) could be assigned to PE, while PP was not detected in any of the samples. The presented application of TGA-DSC provides a complementary or alternative method to FT-IR analyses for the determination of PE and PP in environmental samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Deposition of gold nano-particles and nano-layers on polyethylene modified by plasma discharge and chemical treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Švorčík, V.; Chaloupka, A.; Záruba, K.; Král, V.; Bláhová, O.; Macková, A.; Hnatowicz, V.

2009-08-01

Polyethylene (PE) was treated in Ar plasma discharge and then grafted from methanol solution of 1,2-ethanedithiol to enhance adhesion of gold nano-particles or sputtered gold layers. The modified PE samples were either immersed into freshly prepared colloid solution of Au nano-particles or covered by sputtered, 50 nm thick gold nano-layer. Properties of the plasma modified, dithiol grafted and gold coated PE were studied using XPS, UV-VIS, AFM, EPR, RBS methods and nanoindentation. It was shown that the plasma treatment results in degradation of polymer chain, creation of excessive free radicals and conjugated double bonds. After grafting with 1,2-ethanedithiol the concentration of free radicals declined but the concentration of double bonds remained unchanged. Plasma treatment changes PE surface morphology and increases surface roughness too. Another significant change in the surface morphology and roughness was observed after deposition of Au nano-particles. The presence of Au on the sample surface after the coating with Au nano-particles was proved by XPS and RBS methods. Nanoindentation measurements shown that the grafting of plasma activated PE surface with dithiol increases significantly adhesion of sputtered Au nano-layer.

An untargeted approach for the analysis of the urine peptidome of women with preeclampsia.

PubMed

Kononikhin, A S; Starodubtseva, N L; Bugrova, A E; Shirokova, V A; Chagovets, V V; Indeykina, M I; Popov, I A; Kostyukevich, Y I; Vavina, O V; Muminova, K T; Khodzhaeva, Z S; Kan, N E; Frankevich, V E; Nikolaev, E N; Sukhikh, G T

2016-10-21

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria. The disorder usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy and gets worse over time. PE increases the risk of poor outcomes for both the mother and the baby. In the study we applied LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of the urine peptidome of women with PE. Samples were prepared using size-exclusion chromatography method which gives more than twice peptides identities if compared with solid phase extraction. Thirty urine samples from women with mild and severe preeclampsia and the control group were analyzed. In total 1786 peptides were identified using complementary search engines (Mascot, MaxQuant and PEAKS). A high level of agreement in peptide identification was observed with previously published data. Label-free data comparison resulted in 35 peptides which reliably distinguished a particular PE group (severe or mild) from controls. Our results revealed unique identifications (correlate to alpha-1-antitrypsin, collagen alpha-1(I) chain, collagen alpha-1 (III) chain, and uromodulin, for instance) that can potentially serve as early indicators of PE. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fetal sex-specific differences in gestational age at delivery in pre-eclampsia: a meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Schalekamp-Timmermans, Sarah; Arends, Lidia R; Alsaker, Elin; Chappell, Lucy; Hansson, Stefan; Harsem, Nina K; Jälmby, Maya; Jeyabalan, Arundhathi; Laivuori, Hannele; Lawlor, Debbie A; Macdonald-Wallis, Corrie; Magnus, Per; Myers, Jenny; Olsen, Jørn; Poston, Lucilla; Redman, Christopher W; Staff, Anne C; Villa, Pia; Roberts, James M; Steegers, Eric A

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a major pregnancy disorder complicating up to 8% of pregnancies. Increasing evidence indicates a sex-specific interplay between the mother, placenta and fetus. This may lead to different adaptive mechanisms during pregnancy. Methods: We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis to determine associations of fetal sex and PE, with specific focus on gestational age at delivery in PE. This was done on 219 575 independent live-born singleton pregnancies, with a gestational age at birth between 22.0 and 43.0 weeks of gestation, from 11 studies participating in a worldwide consortium of international research groups focusing on pregnancy. Results: Of the women, 9033 (4.1%) experienced PE in their pregnancy and 48.8% of the fetuses were female versus 51.2% male. No differences in the female/male distribution were observed with respect to term PE (delivered ≥ 37 weeks). Preterm PE (delivered < 37 weeks) was slightly more prevalent among pregnancies with a female fetus than in pregnancies with a male fetus [odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.21]. Very preterm PE (delivered < 34 weeks) was even more prevalent among pregnancies with a female fetus as compared with pregnancies with a male fetus (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17–1.59). Conclusions: Sexual dimorphic differences in the occurrence of PE exist, with preterm PE being more prevalent among pregnancies with a female fetus as compared with pregnancies with a male fetus and with no differences with respect to term PE. PMID:27605586

RESPECT-ED: Rates of Pulmonary Emboli (PE) and Sub-Segmental PE with Modern Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiograms in Emergency Departments: A Multi-Center Observational Study Finds Significant Yield Variation, Uncorrelated with Use or Small PE Rates

PubMed Central

Chu, Kevin; Joseph, Anthony; Read, Catherine; Blecher, Gabriel; Furyk, Jeremy; Bharat, Chrianna; Velusamy, Karthik; Munro, Andrew; Baker, Kylie; Kinnear, Frances; Mukherjee, Ahses; Watkins, Gina; Buntine, Paul; Livesay, Georgia

2016-01-01

Introduction Overuse of CT Pulmonary Angiograms (CTPA) for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE), particularly in Emergency Departments (ED), is considered problematic. Marked variations in positive CTPA rates are reported, with American 4–10% yields driving most concerns. Higher resolution CTPA may increase sub-segmental PE (SSPE) diagnoses, which may be up to 40% false positive. Excessive use and false positives could increase harm vs. benefit. These issues have not been systematically examined outside America. Aims To describe current yield variation and CTPA utilisation in Australasian ED, exploring potential factors correlated with variation. Methods A retrospective multi-centre review of consecutive ED-ordered CTPA using standard radiology reports. ED CTPA report data were inputted onto preformatted data-sheets. The primary outcome was site level yield, analysed both intra-site and against a nominated 15.3% yield. Factors potentially associated with yield were assessed for correlation. Results Fourteen radiology departments (15 ED) provided 7077 CTPA data (94% ≥64-slice CT); PE were reported in 1028 (yield 14.6% (95%CI 13.8–15.4%; range 9.3–25.3%; site variation p <0.0001) with four sites significantly below and one above the 15.3% target. Admissions, CTPA usage, PE diagnosis rates and size of PE were uncorrelated with yield. Large PE (≥lobar) were 55% (CI: 52.1–58.2%) and SSPE 8.8% (CI: 7.1–10.5%) of positive scans. CTPA usage (0.2–1.5% adult attendances) was correlated (p<0.006) with PE diagnosis but not SSPE: large PE proportions. Discussion/ Conclusions We found significant intra-site CTPA yield variation within Australasia. Yield was not clearly correlated with CTPA usage or increased small PE rates. Both SSPE and large PE rates were similar to higher yield historical cohorts. CTPA use was considerably below USA 2.5–3% rates. Higher CTPA utilisation was positively correlated with PE diagnoses, but without evidence of increased proportions of small PE. This suggests that increased diagnoses seem to be of clinically relevant sized PE. PMID:27918576

Prevalence and factor association of premature ejaculation among adult Asian males with lower urinary tract symptoms

PubMed Central

Silangcruz, Jan Michael A.; Chua, Michael E.; Morales, Marcelino L.

2015-01-01

Purpose To determine the prevalence of premature ejaculation (PE) among adult Asian males presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and characterize its association with other clinical factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary medical center to determine the prevalence of PE among adult male participants with LUTS during the Annual National Prostate Health Awareness Day. Basic demographic data of the participants were collected. All participants were assessed for the presence and severity of LUTS using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and for the presence of PE using the PE diagnostic tool. Digital rectal examination was performed by urologists to obtain prostate size. LUTS was further categorized into severity, storage symptoms (frequency, urgency, and nocturia), and voiding symptoms (weak stream, intermittency, straining, and incomplete emptying) to determine their association with PE. Data were analyzed by comparing the participants with PE (PE diagnostic tool score ≥11) versus those without PE, using the independent t test for continuous data, Mann–Whitney U test for ordinal data, and Chi-square test for nominal data. The statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results A total of 101 male participants with a mean ± standard deviation age of 60.75 ± 10.32 years were included. Among the participants, 33% had moderate LUTS, and 7% severe LUTS. The most common LUTS was nocturia (33%). The overall prevalence of PE was 27%. There was no significant difference among participants with PE versus those without PE in terms of age, marital status, prostate size, or total IPSS score. However, significant difference between groups was noted on the level of education (Mann–Whitney U, z = −1.993, P = 0.046) where high educational status was noted among participants with PE. Likewise, participants with PE were noted to have more prominent weak stream (Mann–Whitney U, z = −2.126, P = 0.033). Conclusions Among the participants consulted with LUTS, 27% have concomitant PE. Educational status seems to have an impact in the self-reporting of PE, which may be due to a higher awareness of participants with higher educational attainment. A significant association between PE and weak stream that was not related to prostate size suggests a neuropathologic association. PMID:26157771

A modified spectroscopic method for the determination of the transbilayer distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine in soya-bean asolectin small unilamellar vesicles.

PubMed Central

Sarti, P; Molinari, A; Arancia, G; Meloni, A; Citro, G

1995-01-01

A spectroscopic kinetic approach for determining the relative concentrations of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) exposed on the external and internal layers of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) used as a model system and prepared by sonication of purified soya-bean asolectin is proposed, based on the use of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) and N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP). The known reactions between PE and TNBS and/or SDPD were used, separately or in combination, to derivatize PE in preformed vesicles. We have observed that mixing SUVs with excess TNBS results in a biphasic time course. Kinetic analysis of the data supports the conclusion that external PE is rapidly derivatized (fast phase) with a half-time of 2 min. In the next (slow) phase (half-time 70 min), TNBS permeates the vesicle membrane and also reacts with PE molecules facing the internal liposomal compartment. Under the experimental conditions chosen, SPDP reacted with only the external PE molecules. The reaction of SUVs first derivatized with SPDP and then with TNBS further demonstrates that the two phases, observed with TNBS, are due to modification of external and internal PE. Approx. 30% of PE was found to be facing the external bulk phase, thus confirming the asymmetric distribution of the molecules in SUVs. The maximum number of thiol arms covalently linked by means of SPDP modification of PE on the surface of a single liposome was estimated at about 10(2). Images Figure 1 PMID:8526881

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)-based analysis and imaging of polyethylene microplastics formation during sea surf simulation.

PubMed

Jungnickel, H; Pund, R; Tentschert, J; Reichardt, P; Laux, P; Harbach, H; Luch, A

2016-09-01

Plastic particles smaller than 5mm, so called microplastics have the capability to accumulate in rivers, lakes and the marine environment and therefore have begun to be considered in eco-toxicology and human health risk assessment. Environmental microplastic contaminants may originate from consumer products like body wash, tooth pastes and cosmetic products, but also from degradation of plastic waste; they represent a potential but unpredictable threat to aquatic organisms and possibly also to humans. We investigated exemplarily for polyethylene (PE), the most abundant constituent of microplastic particles in the environment, whether such fragments could be produced from larger pellets (2mm×6mm). So far only few analytical methods exist to identify microplastic particles smaller than 10μm, especially no imaging mass spectrometry technique. We used at first time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) for analysis and imaging of small PE-microplastic particles directly in the model system Ottawa sand during exposure to sea surf simulation. As a prerequisite, a method for identification of PE was established by identification of characteristic ions for PE out of an analysis of grinded polymer samples. The method was applied onto Ottawa sand in order to investigate the influence of simulated environmental conditions on particle transformation. A severe degradation of the primary PE pellet surface, associated with the transformation of larger particles into smaller ones already after 14days of sea surf simulation, was observed. Within the subsequent period of 14days to 1month of exposure the number of detected smallest-sized particles increased significantly (50%) while the second smallest fraction increased even further to 350%. Results were verified using artificially degraded PE pellets and Ottawa sand. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Analysis of a Nanofluid Containing Motile Gyrotactic Micro-Organisms Passing a Nonlinear Stretching Vertical Sheet in the Presence of a Non-Uniform Magnetic Field; Numerical Approach

PubMed Central

M. Mehryan, S. A.; Moradi Kashkooli, Farshad; Soltani, M.; Raahemifar, Kaamran

2016-01-01

The behavior of a water-based nanofluid containing motile gyrotactic micro-organisms passing an isothermal nonlinear stretching sheet in the presence of a non-uniform magnetic field is studied numerically. The governing partial differential equations including continuity, momentums, energy, concentration of the nanoparticles, and density of motile micro-organisms are converted into a system of the ordinary differential equations via a set of similarity transformations. New set of equations are discretized using the finite difference method and have been linearized by employing the Newton’s linearization technique. The tri-diagonal system of algebraic equations from discretization is solved using the well-known Thomas algorithm. The numerical results for profiles of velocity, temperature, nanoparticles concentration and density of motile micro-organisms as well as the local skin friction coefficient Cfx, the local Nusselt number Nux, the local Sherwood number Shx and the local density number of the motile microorganism Nnx are expressed graphically and described in detail. This investigation shows the density number of the motile micro-organisms enhances with rise of M, Gr/Re2, Pe and Ω but it decreases with augment of Rb and n. Also, Sherwood number augments with an increase of M and Gr/Re2, while decreases with n, Rb, Nb and Nr. To show the validity of the current results, a comparison between the present results and the existing literature has been carried out. PMID:27322536

3D Gaussian Beam Modeling

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

optimized building blocks such as a parallelized tri-diagonal linear solver (used in the “implicit finite differences ” and split-step Pade PE models...and Ding Lee. “A finite - difference treatment of interface conditions for the parabolic wave equation: The horizontal interface.” The Journal of the...Acoustical Society of America, 71(4):855, 1982. 3. Ding Lee and Suzanne T. McDaniel. “A finite - difference treatment of interface conditions for

A multistage approach to improve performance of computer-aided detection of pulmonary embolisms depicted on CT images: preliminary investigation.

PubMed

Park, Sang Cheol; Chapman, Brian E; Zheng, Bin

2011-06-01

This study developed a computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme for pulmonary embolism (PE) detection and investigated several approaches to improve CAD performance. In the study, 20 computed tomography examinations with various lung diseases were selected, which include 44 verified PE lesions. The proposed CAD scheme consists of five basic steps: 1) lung segmentation; 2) PE candidate extraction using an intensity mask and tobogganing region growing; 3) PE candidate feature extraction; 4) false-positive (FP) reduction using an artificial neural network (ANN); and 5) a multifeature-based k-nearest neighbor for positive/negative classification. In this study, we also investigated the following additional methods to improve CAD performance: 1) grouping 2-D detected features into a single 3-D object; 2) selecting features with a genetic algorithm (GA); and 3) limiting the number of allowed suspicious lesions to be cued in one examination. The results showed that 1) CAD scheme using tobogganing, an ANN, and grouping method achieved the maximum detection sensitivity of 79.2%; 2) the maximum scoring method achieved the superior performance over other scoring fusion methods; 3) GA was able to delete "redundant" features and further improve CAD performance; and 4) limiting the maximum number of cued lesions in an examination reduced FP rate by 5.3 times. Combining these approaches, CAD scheme achieved 63.2% detection sensitivity with 18.4 FP lesions per examination. The study suggested that performance of CAD schemes for PE detection depends on many factors that include 1) optimizing the 2-D region grouping and scoring methods; 2) selecting the optimal feature set; and 3) limiting the number of allowed cueing lesions per examination.

A profilometry-based dentifrice abrasion Method for V8 brushing machines. Part I: Introduction to RDA-PE.

PubMed

White, Donald J; Schneiderman, Eva; Colón, Ellen; St John, Samuel

2015-01-01

This paper describes the development and standardization of a profilometry-based method for assessment of dentifrice abrasivity called Radioactive Dentin Abrasivity - Profilometry Equivalent (RDA-PE). Human dentine substrates are mounted in acrylic blocks of precise standardized dimensions, permitting mounting and brushing in V8 brushing machines. Dentin blocks are masked to create an area of "contact brushing." Brushing is carried out in V8 brushing machines and dentifrices are tested as slurries. An abrasive standard is prepared by diluting the ISO 11609 abrasivity reference calcium pyrophosphate abrasive into carboxymethyl cellulose/glycerin, just as in the RDA method. Following brushing, masked areas are removed and profilometric analysis is carried out on treated specimens. Assessments of average abrasion depth (contact or optical profilometry) are made. Inclusion of standard calcium pyrophosphate abrasive permits a direct RDA equivalent assessment of abrasion, which is characterized with profilometry as Depth test/Depth control x 100. Within the test, the maximum abrasivity standard of 250 can be created in situ simply by including a treatment group of standard abrasive with 2.5x number of brushing strokes. RDA-PE is enabled in large part by the availability of easy-to-use and well-standardized modern profilometers, but its use in V8 brushing machines is enabled by the unique specific conditions described herein. RDA-PE permits the evaluation of dentifrice abrasivity to dentin without the requirement of irradiated teeth and infrastructure for handling them. In direct comparisons, the RDA-PE method provides dentifrice abrasivity assessments comparable to the gold industry standard RDA technique.

On the importance of excited state dynamic response electron correlation in polarizable embedding methods.

PubMed

Eriksen, Janus J; Sauer, Stephan P A; Mikkelsen, Kurt V; Jensen, Hans J Aa; Kongsted, Jacob

2012-09-30

We investigate the effect of including a dynamic reaction field at the lowest possible ab inito wave function level of theory, namely the Hartree-Fock (HF) self-consistent field level within the polarizable embedding (PE) formalism. We formulate HF based PE within the linear response theory picture leading to the PE-random-phase approximation (PE-RPA) and bridge the expressions to a second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) frame such that dynamic reaction field contributions are included at the RPA level in addition to the static response described at the SOPPA level but with HF induced dipole moments. We conduct calculations on para-nitro-aniline and para-nitro-phenolate using said model in addition to dynamic PE-RPA and PE-CAM-B3LYP. We compare the results to recently published PE-CCSD data and demonstrate how the cost effective SOPPA-based model successfully recovers a great portion of the inherent PE-RPA error when the observable is the solvatochromic shift. We furthermore demonstrate that whenever the change in density resulting from the ground state-excited state electronic transition in the solute is not associated with a significant change in the electric field, dynamic response contributions formulated at the HF level of theory manage to capture the majority of the system response originating from derivative densities. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A study of the polyethylene membrane used in diffusion chambers for radon gas concentration measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, S. Y. Y.; Nikezic, D.; Leung, J. K. C.; Yu, K. N.

2007-10-01

Solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) in diffusion chambers have been routinely used for long-term measurements of radon gas concentrations. In usual practice, a filter is added across the top of the diffusion chamber to stop the progeny from entering. Thoron can also be deterred from entering the diffusion chamber by using a polyethylene (PE) membrane. However, the thickness of the PE membrane is rarely specified in the literature. In this paper, we will present our experimental results for a radon exposure that the number of alpha-particle tracks registered by the LR 115 SSNTD in a Karlsruhe diffusion chamber covered with one layer of PE membrane is actually enhanced. This is explained by enhanced deposition of radon progeny on the outside surface of the PE membrane and the insufficient thickness of the PE membrane to stop the alpha particles emitted from these deposited radon progeny to reach the SSNTD. We will present the PE thickness which can stop the alpha particles emitted from the deposited radon or thoron progeny. For the "twin diffusion chambers method", one of the diffusion chambers is covered with PE membranes. The optimal number of thickness of PE membranes will be determined, which allows the largest amount of radon gas to diffuse into the diffusion chamber while at the same time screening out the largest amount of thoron gas.

PeTTSy: a computational tool for perturbation analysis of complex systems biology models.

PubMed

Domijan, Mirela; Brown, Paul E; Shulgin, Boris V; Rand, David A

2016-03-10

Over the last decade sensitivity analysis techniques have been shown to be very useful to analyse complex and high dimensional Systems Biology models. However, many of the currently available toolboxes have either used parameter sampling, been focused on a restricted set of model observables of interest, studied optimisation of a objective function, or have not dealt with multiple simultaneous model parameter changes where the changes can be permanent or temporary. Here we introduce our new, freely downloadable toolbox, PeTTSy (Perturbation Theory Toolbox for Systems). PeTTSy is a package for MATLAB which implements a wide array of techniques for the perturbation theory and sensitivity analysis of large and complex ordinary differential equation (ODE) based models. PeTTSy is a comprehensive modelling framework that introduces a number of new approaches and that fully addresses analysis of oscillatory systems. It examines sensitivity analysis of the models to perturbations of parameters, where the perturbation timing, strength, length and overall shape can be controlled by the user. This can be done in a system-global setting, namely, the user can determine how many parameters to perturb, by how much and for how long. PeTTSy also offers the user the ability to explore the effect of the parameter perturbations on many different types of outputs: period, phase (timing of peak) and model solutions. PeTTSy can be employed on a wide range of mathematical models including free-running and forced oscillators and signalling systems. To enable experimental optimisation using the Fisher Information Matrix it efficiently allows one to combine multiple variants of a model (i.e. a model with multiple experimental conditions) in order to determine the value of new experiments. It is especially useful in the analysis of large and complex models involving many variables and parameters. PeTTSy is a comprehensive tool for analysing large and complex models of regulatory and signalling systems. It allows for simulation and analysis of models under a variety of environmental conditions and for experimental optimisation of complex combined experiments. With its unique set of tools it makes a valuable addition to the current library of sensitivity analysis toolboxes. We believe that this software will be of great use to the wider biological, systems biology and modelling communities.

A Profilometry-Based Dentifrice Abrasion Method for V8 Brushing Machines Part III: Multi-Laboratory Validation Testing of RDA-PE.

PubMed

Schneiderman, Eva; Colón, Ellen L; White, Donald J; Schemehorn, Bruce; Ganovsky, Tara; Haider, Amir; Garcia-Godoy, Franklin; Morrow, Brian R; Srimaneepong, Viritpon; Chumprasert, Sujin

2017-09-01

We have previously reported on progress toward the refinement of profilometry-based abrasivity testing of dentifrices using a V8 brushing machine and tactile or optical measurement of dentin wear. The general application of this technique may be advanced by demonstration of successful inter-laboratory confirmation of the method. The objective of this study was to explore the capability of different laboratories in the assessment of dentifrice abrasivity using a profilometry-based evaluation technique developed in our Mason laboratories. In addition, we wanted to assess the interchangeability of human and bovine specimens. Participating laboratories were instructed in methods associated with Radioactive Dentin Abrasivity-Profilometry Equivalent (RDA-PE) evaluation, including site visits to discuss critical elements of specimen preparation, masking, profilometry scanning, and procedures. Laboratories were likewise instructed on the requirement for demonstration of proportional linearity as a key condition for validation of the technique. Laboratories were provided with four test dentifrices, blinded for testing, with a broad range of abrasivity. In each laboratory, a calibration curve was developed for varying V8 brushing strokes (0, 4,000, and 10,000 strokes) with the ISO abrasive standard. Proportional linearity was determined as the ratio of standard abrasion mean depths created with 4,000 and 10,000 strokes (2.5 fold differences). Criteria for successful calibration within the method (established in our Mason laboratory) was set at proportional linearity = 2.5 ± 0.3. RDA-PE was compared to Radiotracer RDA for the four test dentifrices, with the latter obtained by averages from three independent Radiotracer RDA sites. Individual laboratories and their results were compared by 1) proportional linearity and 2) acquired RDA-PE values for test pastes. Five sites participated in the study. One site did not pass proportional linearity objectives. Data for this site are not reported at the request of the researchers. Three of the remaining four sites reported herein tested human dentin and all three met proportional linearity objectives for human dentin. Three of four sites participated in testing bovine dentin and all three met the proportional linearity objectives for bovine dentin. RDA-PE values for test dentifrices were similar between sites. All four sites that met proportional linearity requirement successfully identified the dentifrice formulated above the industry standard 250 RDA (as RDA-PE). The profilometry method showed at least as good reproducibility and differentiation as Radiotracer assessments. It was demonstrated that human and bovine specimens could be used interchangeably. The standardized RDA-PE method was reproduced in multiple laboratories in this inter-laboratory study. Evidence supports that this method is a suitable technique for ISO method 11609 Annex B.

The effect of bearing type on the outcome of total hip arthroplasty.

PubMed

Peters, Rinne M; Van Steenbergen, Liza N; Stevens, Martin; Rijk, Paul C; Bulstra, Sjoerd K; Zijlstra, Wierd P

2018-04-01

Background and purpose - Alternative bearing surfaces such as ceramics and highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) were developed in order to further improve implant performance of total hip arthroplasties (THAs). Whether these alternative bearing surfaces result in increased longevity is subject to debate. Patients and methods - Using the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI), we identified all patients with a primary, non-metal-on-metal THA implanted in the Netherlands in the period 2007-2016 (n = 209,912). Cumulative incidence of revision was calculated to determine differences in survivorship of THAs according to bearing type: metal-on-polyethylene (MoPE), metal-on-HXLPE (MoHXLPE), ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoPE), ceramic-on-HXLPE (CoHXLPE), ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC), and oxidized-zirconium-on-(HXL)polyethylene (Ox(HXL)PE). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression ratios (HRs) were used for comparisons. Results - After adjustment for confounders, CoHXLPE, CoC, and Ox(HXL)PE resulted in a statistically significantly lower risk of revision compared with MoPE after 9 years follow-up (HR =0.8-0.9 respectively, compared with HR =1.0). For small (22-28 mm) femoral head THAs, lower revision rates were found for CoPE and CoHXLPE (HR =0.9). In the 36 mm femoral head subgroup, CoC-bearing THAs had a lower HR compared with MoHXLPE (HR =0.7 versus 1.0). Crude revision rates in young patients (< 60 years) for CoHXLPE, CoC, and Ox(HXL)PE (HR =0.7) were lower than MoPE (HR =1.0). However, after adjustment for case mix and confounders these differences were not statistically significant. Interpretation - We found a mid-term lower risk of revision for CoHXLPE, CoC, and Ox(HXL)PE bearings compared with traditional MoPE-bearing surfaces.

The Drosha rs10719 T>C polymorphism is associated with preeclampsia susceptibility.

PubMed

Rezaei, Mahnaz; Eskandari, Fatemeh; Mohammadpour-Gharehbagh, Abbas; Teimoori, Batool; Yaghmaei, Minoo; Mokhtari, Mojgan; Salimi, Saeedeh

2018-01-01

Drosha is a member of the micro RNA (miRNA) processing machinery that affects miRNA processing. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Drosha gene might affect microRNA processing and the expression of various genes. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between SNPs in the Drosha gene and preeclampsia (PE) in the southeast of Iran. Genotyping of Drosha rs10719 and rs6877842 was performed using blood samples from 219 PE women and 205 healthy control subjects by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The Drosha rs10719TC genotype was significantly associated with 1.6-fold higher risk of PE (odds ratio (OR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1-2.4], P = 0.026). In addition, the frequency of the Drosha rs10719CC genotype was significantly higher in PE women and was associated with threefold higher risk of PE (OR 3 [95% CI 1.4-6.3], P = 0.004). There was no association between the Drosha rs6877842 polymorphism and PE susceptibility. The CC-GG combined genotype was associated with 3.4-fold higher risk of PE (OR 3.4 [95% CI 1.4-8.1], P = 0.007). The haplotype-based association analysis showed higher frequency of C-G haplotype of Drosha rs10719 and rs6877842 polymorphisms with the increased risk of PE 1.5-fold (OR 1.5 [95% CI 1.1 - 2], P = 0.01). The Drosha rs10719TC and CC genotypes were associated with PE risk. The CC-GG combined genotype and C-G haplotype of Drosha rs10719 and rs6877842 polymorphisms may increase PE susceptibility.

D-dimer threshold increase with pretest probability unlikely for pulmonary embolism to decrease unnecessary computerized tomographic pulmonary angiography

PubMed Central

Hogg, Melanie M.; Courtney, D. Mark; Miller, Chadwick D.; Jones, Alan E.; Smithline, Howard A

2012-01-01

Background Increasing the threshold to define a positive D-dimer could reduce unnecessary computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for suspected PE but might increase rates of missed PE and missed pneumonia, the most common nonthromboembolic diagnosis seen on CTPA. Objective Measure the effect of doubling the standard D-dimer threshold for “PE unlikely” Revised Geneva (RGS) or Wells’ scores on the exclusion rate, frequency and size of missed PE and missed pneumonia. Methods Patients evaluated for suspected PE with 64-channel CTPA were prospectively enrolled from EDs and inpatient units of four hospitals. Pretest probability data were collected in real time and the D-dimer was measured in a central laboratory. Criterion standard was CPTA interpretation by two independent radiologists combined with clinical outcome at 30 days. Results Of 678 patients enrolled, 126 (19%) were PE+ and 93 (14%) had pneumonia. Use of either Wells≤4 or RGS≤6 produced similar results. For example, with RGS≤6 and standard threshold (<500 ng/mL), D-dimer was negative in 110/678 (16%), and 4/110 were PE+ (posterior probability 3.8%), and 9/110 (8.2%) had pneumonia. With RGS≤6 and a threshold <1000 ng/mL, D-dimer was negative in 208/678 (31%) and 11/208 (5.3%) were PE+, but 10/11 missed PEs were subsegmental, and none had concomitant DVT. Pneumonia was found in 12/208 (5.4%) with RGS≤6 and D-dimer<1000 ng/mL. Conclusions Doubling the threshold for a positive D-dimer with a PE unlikely pretest probability could reduce CTPA scanning with a slightly increased risk of missed isolated subsegmental PE, and no increase in rate of missed pneumonia. PMID:22284935

Performance of passive sampling with low-density polyethylene membranes for the estimation of freely dissolved DDx concentrations in lake environments.

PubMed

Borrelli, Raffaella; Tcaciuc, A Patricia; Verginelli, Iason; Baciocchi, Renato; Guzzella, Licia; Cesti, Pietro; Zaninetta, Luciano; Gschwend, Philip M

2018-06-01

Laboratory and field studies were used to evaluate the performance of low-density polyethylene (PE) passive samplers for assessing the freely dissolved concentrations of DDT and its degradates (DDD and DDE, together referred to as DDx) in an Italian lake environment. We tested commercially available 25 μm thick PE sheets as well as specially synthesized, 10 μm thick PE films which equilibrated with their surroundings more quickly. We measured PE-water partitioning coefficients (K pew ) of the 10 μm thick PE films, finding good correspondence with previously reported values for thicker PE. Use of the 10 μm PE for ex situ sampling of a lake sediment containing DDx in laboratory tumbling experiments showed repeatability of ±15% (= standard deviation/mean). Next, we deployed replicate 10 μm and 25 μm PE samplers (N = 4 for 10 d and for 30 d) in the water and sediment of a lake located in northern Italy; the results showed dissolved DDx concentrations in the picogram/L range in porewater and the bottom water. Values deduced from 10 μm thick PE films compared well (95% of all comparison pairs matched within a factor of 5) with those obtained using PE films of 25 μm thickness when dissolved DDx concentrations were estimated using performance reference compound (PRC) corrections, whether left at the bed-water interface for 10 or 30 days. These results demonstrated the potential of this sampling method to provide estimation of the truly dissolved DDx concentrations, and thereby the mobile and bio-available fractions in both surface waters and sediment beds. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fosmid Cre-LoxP Inverse PCR Paired-End (Fosmid CLIP-PE), a Novel Method for Constructing Fosmid Pair-End Library (Seventh Annual Sequencing, Finishing, Analysis in the Future (SFAF) Meeting 2012)

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

Peng, Ze

2012-06-01

Ze Peng from DOE JGI presents "Fosmid Cre-LoxP Inverse PCR Paired-End (Fosmid CLIP-PE), a Novel Method for Constructing Fosmid Pair-End Library" at the 7th Annual Sequencing, Finishing, Analysis in the Future (SFAF) Meeting held in June, 2012 in Santa Fe, NM.

Fosmid Cre-LoxP Inverse PCR Paired-End (Fosmid CLIP-PE), a Novel Method for Constructing Fosmid Pair-End Library (Seventh Annual Sequencing, Finishing, Analysis in the Future (SFAF) Meeting 2012)

ScienceCinema

Peng, Ze

2018-01-24

Ze Peng from DOE JGI presents "Fosmid Cre-LoxP Inverse PCR Paired-End (Fosmid CLIP-PE), a Novel Method for Constructing Fosmid Pair-End Library" at the 7th Annual Sequencing, Finishing, Analysis in the Future (SFAF) Meeting held in June, 2012 in Santa Fe, NM.

Development of an indirect method for measuring porcine pancreatic lipase in human duodenal fluid.

PubMed

Tuvignon, N; Abousalham, A; Tocques, F; De Caro, J; De Caro, A; Laugier, R; Carrière, F

2008-12-15

Patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are usually treated with porcine pancreatic enzymes but the bioavailability of these enzymes in the gut remains a matter of discussion. In order to determine the duodenal availability of porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) present in pancreatic extracts (PE) taken orally, we developed a method for quantifying PPL in samples containing both PPL and human pancreatic lipase (HPL). Total pancreatic lipase activity measurements using the pH-stat technique and tributyrin as substrate were combined with an HPL-specific ELISA. Based on the known specific activity of the purified HPL, its activity was deduced from the ELISA measurements, and the PPL activity was obtained by subtracting the HPL activity from the total pancreatic lipase activity. This assay was established and validated using various samples containing pure PPL and recombinant HPL or PE, mixed or not with human duodenal juice. Samples collected in vivo from patients treated with PE were also tested. It was found that PPL did not affect the HPL ELISA, and the indirect PPL assay gave a measurement accuracy of 6.6% with the samples containing pure PPL and 10% with those containing PE. This assay was also used successfully to discriminate between PPL and the endogenous HPL present in the duodenal contents of patients with severe pancreatic insufficiency treated with PE. This method might provide a useful means of assessing the availability of PEs at their site of action, in the absence of a PPL-specific ELISA.

Curved planar reformation and optimal path tracing (CROP) method for false positive reduction in computer-aided detection of pulmonary embolism in CTPA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chuan; Chan, Heang-Ping; Guo, Yanhui; Wei, Jun; Chughtai, Aamer; Hadjiiski, Lubomir M.; Sundaram, Baskaran; Patel, Smita; Kuriakose, Jean W.; Kazerooni, Ella A.

2013-03-01

The curved planar reformation (CPR) method re-samples the vascular structures along the vessel centerline to generate longitudinal cross-section views. The CPR technique has been commonly used in coronary CTA workstation to facilitate radiologists' visual assessment of coronary diseases, but has not yet been used for pulmonary vessel analysis in CTPA due to the complicated tree structures and the vast network of pulmonary vasculature. In this study, a new curved planar reformation and optimal path tracing (CROP) method was developed to facilitate feature extraction and false positive (FP) reduction and improve our PE detection system. PE candidates are first identified in the segmented pulmonary vessels at prescreening. Based on Dijkstra's algorithm, the optimal path (OP) is traced from the pulmonary trunk bifurcation point to each PE candidate. The traced vessel is then straightened and a reformatted volume is generated using CPR. Eleven new features that characterize the intensity, gradient, and topology are extracted from the PE candidate in the CPR volume and combined with the previously developed 9 features to form a new feature space for FP classification. With IRB approval, CTPA of 59 PE cases were retrospectively collected from our patient files (UM set) and 69 PE cases from the PIOPED II data set with access permission. 595 and 800 PEs were manually marked by experienced radiologists as reference standard for the UM and PIOPED set, respectively. At a test sensitivity of 80%, the average FP rate was improved from 18.9 to 11.9 FPs/case with the new method for the PIOPED set when the UM set was used for training. The FP rate was improved from 22.6 to 14.2 FPs/case for the UM set when the PIOPED set was used for training. The improvement in the free response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) curves was statistically significant (p<0.05) by JAFROC analysis, indicating that the new features extracted from the CROP method are useful for FP reduction.

End Tidal Carbon Dioxide as a Screening Tool for Computed Tomography Angiogram in Postoperative Orthopaedic Patients Suspected of Pulmonary Embolism.

PubMed

Ramme, Austin J; Iturrate, Eduardo; Dweck, Ezra; Steiger, David J; Hutzler, Lorraine H; Fang, Yixin; Wang, Binhuan; Bosco, Joseph A; Sigmund, Alana E

2016-10-01

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTA) is the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) but involves radiation and iodinated contrast exposure. Of orthopedic patients evaluated for PE, a minority have a positive CTA study. Herein, we evaluate end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) as a method to identify patients at low risk for PE and may not require a CTA. We hypothesize that ETCO2 will be useful for predicting the absence of PE in postoperative orthopedic patients. In this prospective study, all patients older than 18 years who were admitted for orthopedic surgery and who had a CTA performed for PE were eligible. These patients underwent an ETCO2 measurement. Patients were determined to have PE if they had a positive PE-protocol CT. Between May 2014 and April 2015, 121 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Of these patients, 84 had a negative CTA examination, 25 had a positive examination, and 12 had a nondiagnostic examination. We found a statistically significant difference (P = .03) when comparing the average ETCO2 values for the positive and negative CTA groups. An ETCO2 cutoff value of 43 mm Hg was 100% sensitive with a negative predictive value of 100% for absence of PE on CTA. This study demonstrates a significant difference in ETCO2 measurements between postoperative orthopedic patients with and without CTA-detected PE. A cutoff value of >43 mm Hg may be useful in excluding patients from undergoing CTA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thermal Reduction of NOx with Recycled Plastics.

PubMed

Oluwoye, Ibukun; Dlugogorski, Bogdan Z; Gore, Jeff; Vyazovkin, Sergey; Boyron, Olivier; Altarawneh, Mohammednoor

2017-07-05

This study develops technology for mitigation of NO x formed in thermal processes using recycled plastics such as polyethylene (PE). Experiments involve sample characterization, and thermogravimetric decomposition of PE under controlled atmospheres, with NO x concentration relevant to industrial applications. TGA-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and NO x chemiluminescence serve to obtain the removal efficiency of NO x by fragments of pyrolyzing PE. Typical NO x removal efficiency amounts to 80%. We apply the isoconversional method to derive the kinetic parameters, and observe an increasing dependency of activation energy on the reaction progress. The activation energies of the process span 135 kJ/mol to 226 kJ/mol, and 188 kJ/mol to 268 kJ/mol, for neat and recycled PE, respectively, and the so-called compensation effect accounts for the natural logarithmic pre-exponential ln (A/min -1 ) factors of ca. 19-35 and 28-41, in the same order, depending on the PE conversion in the experimental interval of between 5 and 95%. The observed delay in thermal events of recycled PE reflects different types of PE in the plastic, as measurements of intrinsic viscosity indicate that, the recycled PE comprises longer linear chains. The present evaluation of isoconversional activation energies affords accurate kinetic modeling of both isothermal and nonisothermal decomposition of PE in NO x -doped atmosphere. Subsequent investigations will focus on the effect of mass transfer and the presence of oxygen, as reburning of NO x in large-scale combustors take place at higher temperatures than those included in the current study.

Phormidium phycoerythrin forms hexamers in crystals: a crystallographic study

PubMed Central

Sonani, Ravi Raghav; Sharma, Mahima; Gupta, Gagan Deep; Kumar, Vinay; Madamwar, Datta

2015-01-01

The crystallographic analysis of a marine cyanobacterium (Phormidium sp. A09DM) phycoerythrin (PE) that shows distinct sequence features compared with known PE structures from cyanobacteria and red algae is reported. Phormidium PE was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with ammonium sulfate as a precipitant. Diffraction data were collected on the protein crystallography beamline at the Indus-2 synchrotron. The crystals diffracted to about 2.1 Å resolution at 100 K. The crystals, with an apparent hexagonal morphology, belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 108.3, b = 108.4 Å, c = 116.6 Å, α = 78.94, β = 82.50, γ = 60.34°. The molecular-replacement solution confirmed the presence of 12 αβ monomers in the P1 cell. The Phormidium PE elutes as an (αβ)3 trimer of αβ monomers from a molecular-sieve column and exists as [(αβ)3]2 hexamers in the crystal lattice. Unlike red algal PE proteins, the hexamers of Phormidium PE do not form higher-order structures in the crystals. The existence of only one characteristic visual absorption band at 564 nm suggests the presence of phycoerythrobilin chromophores, and the absence of any other types of bilins, in the Phormidium PE assembly. PMID:26249689

Comparing the Use of Evidence and Culture in Targeted Colorectal Cancer Communication for African Americans

PubMed Central

Thompson, Vetta L. Sanders; Kalesan, Bindu; Wells, Anjanette; Williams, Sha-Lai; Caito, Nicole M.

2010-01-01

Objective This study examined the effects (affective reactions, cognitive reactions and processing, perceived benefits and barriers and intent to screen) of targeted Peripheral + Evidential (PE) and Peripheral+Evidential+Socio-cultural (PE+SC) colorectal cancer communications. Methods This study was a two-arm randomized control study of cancer communication effects on affective, cognitive processing, and behavioral outcomes over a 22-week intervention. There were 771 African American participants, 45 to 75 years, participating in the baseline survey related to CRC screening. Three follow-up interviews that assessed intervention effects on affective response to the publications, cognitive processing, and intent to obtain CRC screening were completed. Results There were no statistically significant differences between PE and PE+SC intervention groups for affect, cognitive processing or intent to screen. However, there were significant interactions effects on outcome variables. Conclusions The advantages and disadvantages of PE+SC targeted cancer communications and implications of sex differences are considered. Practice Implications While there do not appear to be significant differences in behavioral outcomes when using PE and PE+SC strategies, there appear to be subtle differences in affective and cognitive processing outcomes related to medical suspicion and ethnic identity, particularly as it relates to gender. PMID:20702056

Emerging Role of Endothelial and Inflammatory Markers in Preeclampsia

PubMed Central

Swellam, Menha; Samy, Nervana; Abdl Wahab, Susan; Ibrahim, Mohamed Saeed

2009-01-01

Objectives: Endothelial disturbance and excess inflammatory response are pathogenic mechanisms in pre-eclampsia (PE). Authors determine the clinical diagnostic role for thrombomodulin (TM), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as endothelial markers and C-reactive protein (CRP), and interlukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory markers when tested independently or in combinations. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective study in a cohort of 185 women grouped as 80 women with PE, 55 normotensive pregnant and 50 healthy non-pregnant. Plasma levels of TM, PAI-1, CRP and IL-6 were examined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Median levels and the positivity rates for the investigated markers were higher in PE as compared to the other groups (P < 0.0001). Using linear regression analysis, the investigated markers were significantly correlated regarding healthy nonpregnant vs PE or normotensive pregnant vs PE. The sensitivity of PAI-1 was the highest (98%) among the tested biomarkers. Combination between the investigated markers revealed absolute sensitivity (100%) and reliable specificity especially when PAI-1 was combined with CRP at 83% specificity. Conclusions: Investigated endothelial and inflammatory markers revealed sensitive diagnostic test for PE. However, coupled combination between PAI-1 with CRP showed superior both sensitivity and specificity which represent a promising new approach for detection of PE. PMID:19597295

Exposure to preeclampsia in utero affects growth from birth to late childhood dependent on child’s sex and severity of exposure: Follow-up of a nested case-control study

PubMed Central

Øymar, Knut; Eide, Geir Egil; Forman, Michele R.; Júlíusson, Pétur Benedikt

2017-01-01

Background and objective An adverse intrauterine environment may affect offspring growth and development. Our aim was to explore whether preeclampsia (PE) exposure in utero influences growth from birth to 13 years. Methods In a nested case-control study, 229 children were exposed to PE (mild/moderate: n = 164, severe: n = 54) and 385 were unexposed. Length/height and weight were abstracted from records at birth, 3 and 6 months, 1 and 4 years, and measured along with waist circumference and skinfolds at follow-up at 11/12 (girls/boys) and 13 years (both sexes). Associations between PE and z-scores for growth were analyzed by multiple linear and fractional polynomial regression with adjustment for potential confounders. Results In boys, exposure to mild/moderate PE was positively associated with linear growth after 0.5 years, but severe PE was negatively associated with linear growth in all ages. In girls, both exposure to mild/moderate and severe PE were negatively associated with linear growth. Exposure to PE was negatively associated with weight and body mass index (BMI) during infancy, but positively associated with weight and BMI thereafter, except that boys exposed to severe PE consistently had a lower weight and BMI compared to the unexposed. Exposure to severe PE only was positively associated with waist-to-height ratio at 11/12 (girls/boys) and 13 years (both sexes). Conclusions From birth to adolescence, linear growth, weight and BMI trajectories differed between the sexes by severity of exposure to PE. In general, PE exposure was negatively associated with linear growth, while in girls; positive associations with weight and BMI were observed. This underlines fetal life as a particularly sensitive period affecting subsequent growth and this may have implications for targeted approaches for healthy growth and development. PMID:28486480

Safety of multidetector computed tomography pulmonary angiography to exclude pulmonary embolism in patients with a likely pretest clinical probability.

PubMed

Robert-Ebadi, H; Glauser, F; Planquette, B; Moumneh, T; Le Gal, G; Righini, M

2017-08-01

Essentials Safety of computed tomography (CTPA) to exclude pulmonary embolism (PE) in all patients is debated. We analysed the outcome of PE-likely outpatients left untreated after negative CTPA alone. The 3-month venous thromboembolic risk in these patients was very low (0.6%; 95% CI 0.2-2.3). Multidetector CTPA alone safely excludes PE in patients with likely clinical probability. Background In patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) classified as having a likely or high pretest clinical probability, the need to perform additional testing after a negative multidetector computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) finding remains a matter of debate. Objectives To assess the safety of excluding PE by CTPA without additional imaging in patients with a likely pretest probability of PE. Patients/Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients included in two multicenter management outcome studies that assessed diagnostic algorithms for PE diagnosis. Results Two thousand five hundred and twenty-two outpatients with suspected PE were available for analysis. Of these 2522 patients, 845 had a likely clinical probability as assessed by use of the simplified revised Geneva score. Of all of these patients, 314 had the diagnosis of PE excluded by a negative CTPA finding alone without additional testing, and were left without anticoagulant treatment and followed up for 3 months. Two patients presented with a venous thromboembolism (VTE) during follow-up. Therefore, the 3-month VTE risk in likely-probability patients after a negative CTPA finding alone was 2/314 (0.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2-2.3%). Conclusions In outpatients with suspected PE and a likely clinical probability as assessed by use of the simplified revised Geneva score, CTPA alone seems to be able to safely exclude PE, with a low 3-month VTE rate, which is similar to the VTE rate following the gold standard, i.e. pulmonary angiography. © 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

The association of the placental Hypoxia-inducible factor1-α polymorphisms and HIF1-α mRNA expression with preeclampsia.

PubMed

Harati-Sadegh, Mahdiyeh; Kohan, Leila; Teimoori, Batool; Mehrabani, Mehrnaz; Salimi, Saeedeh

2018-07-01

Evidence has confirmed that placental/fetal hypoxia plays a key role in both endothelial cell dysfunction and PE pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maternal/placental hypoxia-inducible factor1-α (HIF1-α) C1772T (rs11549465) and/or G1790A (rs11549467) polymorphisms and HIF1-α mRNA expression are associated with PE development. The blood samples of 203 PE and 202 control women and the placenta of 86 PE and 84 control women were collected after delivery. The HIF1-α polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR- RFLP method. The mRNA expression levels were measured by Quantitative Real -Time PCR. The present study found no association between maternal HIF1-α rs11549465 and rs11549467 and placental rs11549467 polymorphisms and PE. However, the placental rs11549465 polymorphism was associated with PE in the dominant model. The CT/GG combined genotypes and TG haplotype of placental rs11549465 and rs11549467 polymorphisms were associated with higher risk of PE. The HIF1-α mRNA expression was 3-fold higher in the PE women. The rs11549465 TT genotype was associated with higher HIF1-α mRNA expression in PE women and in total population and rs11549467 GA genotype was associated with higher mRNA expression in total population. The relative mRNA expression of HIF1-α gene was higher in presence of CC/GA, TT/GG and TT/GA combined genotypes. This study found an association between placental but not maternal HIF1-α rs11549465 polymorphism and PE in the dominant model. The HIF1-α mRNA expression was higher in the placenta of PE women and was associated with rs11549465 and rs11549467 polymorphisms. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Japanese Physical Education Teachers' Beliefs about Teaching Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sato, Takahiro; Hodge, Samuel R.; Murata, Nathan M.; Maeda, Julienne K.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to describe Japanese physical education (PE) teachers' beliefs about teaching students with disabilities in integrated classes. Participants were five Japanese PE teachers (one women and four men). The research was descriptive and qualitative, using an interviewing method. Data were gathered in interviews, analysed…

PE Workshop II. Proceedings of the Second Parabolic Equation Workshop

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

13) The values for the Padd coefficients tabulated in [8] were generated using the same accuracy and stability constraints used to generate the Pad6...singly to that subject. With the expectation that such a workshop would soon occur, the general topic of underwater acoustic scattering was minimized...were not generated for all of the test cases. The available reference solutions were forwarded to the participants on 23 April 1991. Since the workshop

Translation of Toxicity Data into CW Agent Toxicity Estimates

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-07-01

UNLIMITED UNCLASSIFIED/UNLIMITEDPrepared by Douglas R. Sommerville, PE US Army ECBC, APG, MD Dependence of Toxic Effect on Exposure Time Inhalation (IH...to longer exposure durations. Toxicity estimates for exposure durations ranging from 2 to 360 minutes have been derived for six agents (GA, GB, GD...individuals having effects greater in severity than the defining effect of the ECTYY Cn T = k Toxic load equation 5 6 Edgewood Chemical Biological Center

Solutal Convection Around Growing Protein Crystal and Diffusional Purification in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chernov, A. A.; Lee, C. P.

2002-01-01

This work theoretically addressed two subjects: 1) onset of convection, 2) distribution of impurities. Onset of convection was considered analytically and numerically. Crystal growth was characterized by slow surface incorporation kinetics, i.e. growth kinetic coefficient beta (cm/s) small as compared to the typical bulk diffusion rate, D(sub 1)/h, where D(sub 1) is diffusivity of major crystallizing protein and h is the crystal size. Scaling type analysis predicted two laws on how the convection rate, v, essentially the Peclet number, Pe exactly equal to vh/D(sub 1), depends on dimensionless kinetic coefficient a exactly equal to beta h/D(sub 1). Namely: Pe = C(sub 2/5)(aRa(sup 2/5)) and Pe = C(sub 1) aRa. Here, Reynolds number Ra = rho(sub 1)(sup 0)gh(sup 3)(rho(sub p) - rho(sub w))/rho(sup p)rho(sub 1)vD(sub 1), v being solution viscosity. The constants C(sub 2/5), exactly equal to 0.28 and C(sub 1) exactly equal to 10(exp -2) found from the full scale computer simulation for a cylindrical crystal inside big cylindrical vessel. The linear boundary conditions connecting protein and impurity concentration at the interface with the flux to/from the interface was applied. No-slip condition for Navier-Shocker equations was employed. With these conditions, flow and concentration distributions were calculated. Validity of the Pe(Ra) dependencies follows for wide range of parameters for which numerical calculations have been accomplished and presented by various points.

A new method for isolation of polyethylene wear debris from tissue and synovial fluid.

PubMed

Visentin, Manuela; Stea, Susanna; Squarzoni, Stefano; Antonietti, Barbara; Reggiani, Matteo; Toni, Aldo

2004-11-01

Sub-micron-sized ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylene (PE) debris is generated in the joint space as a result of articulation and cyclic loading of an orthopaedic implant. Its characterization requires isolation and subsequent analysis by ultra-structural methods. An innovative method based on the digestion of paraffin-embedded tissue samples was proposed. Tissue slices were digested with sodium hypochlorite directly on polycarbonate filter. The same procedure could be applied also to fresh synovial fluid. Plastic particles were not lost or damaged during treatment. Chemical identification of particles was done by micro-Raman spectroscopy that confirmed purity of retrieved PE particles. Size and shape of PE particles were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and were comparable in number and morphology to the retrieval by other authors. Equivalent diameter ranged from 0.48 to 0.95microm and particle number ranged from 9 to 23x10(9)/cm(3).

Protocol for the prospective validation study: 'Screening programme for pre-eclampsia' (SPREE).

PubMed

Tan, M Y; Koutoulas, L; Wright, D; Nicolaides, K H; Poon, L C Y

2017-08-01

Pre-eclampsia (PE), which affects about 2% of pregnancies, is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Early detection of PE can improve pregnancy outcome by providing timely intervention and closer monitoring. The current guideline from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that, at the booking visit, women identified with one major risk factor or more than one moderate risk factor for PE should be advised to take low-dose aspirin daily from 12 weeks until delivery. However, performance of the current method of screening is poor and identifies only about 35% of PE. Extensive studies in the last decade have established that the best performance for early prediction of PE can be achieved by using a novel Bayes' theorem-based method that combines maternal characteristics and medical history together with measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 11-13 weeks' gestation. This forms the 'combined test', which could be simplified to the 'mini combined test' when only maternal factors, MAP and PAPP-A are taken into consideration. We present the protocol (version 3.1, 14 November 2016) for the 'Screening programme for pre-eclampsia' (SPREE) study, a prospective multicenter cohort study that will be carried out in seven National Health Service maternity hospitals in England. Eligible pregnant women attending their routine scan at 11-13 weeks' gestation will be invited to participate in this study. Maternal characteristics and history and measurements of MAP, UtA-PI, serum PAPP-A and PlGF will be recorded according to standardized protocols. The patient-specific risk for PE will be calculated and data on pregnancy outcomes collected. We hypothesize that the first-trimester mini combined test and combined test for PE screening, using the Bayes' theorem-based method, are likely to be superior to the current method recommended by NICE that is based on maternal demographics and history alone. Enrollment for the study commenced in April 2016. The study is registered on the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Polyethylene nano crystalsomes formed at a curved liquid/liquid interface.

PubMed

Wang, Wenda; Staub, Mark C; Zhou, Tian; Smith, Derrick M; Qi, Hao; Laird, Eric D; Cheng, Shan; Li, Christopher Y

2017-12-21

Crystallization is incommensurate with nanoscale curved space due to the lack of three dimensional translational symmetry of the latter. Herein, we report the formation of single-crystal-like, nanosized polyethylene (PE) capsules using a miniemulsion solution crystallization method. The miniemulsion was formed at elevated temperatures using PE organic solution as the oil phase and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactant. Subsequently, cooling the system stepwisely for controlled crystallization led to the formation of hollow, nanosized PE crystalline capsules, which are named as crystalsomes since they mimic the classical self-assembled structures such as liposome, polymersome and colloidosome. We show that the formation of the nanosized PE crystalsomes is driven by controlled crystallization at the curved liquid/liquid interface of the miniemulson droplet. The morphology, structure and mechanical properties of the PE crystalsomes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force spectroscopy. Electron diffraction showed the single-crystal-like nature of the crystalsomes. The incommensurateness between the nanocurved interface and the crystalline packing led to reduced crystallinity and crystallite size of the PE crystalsome, as observed from the X-ray diffraction measurements. Moreover, directly quenching the emulsion below the spinodal line led to the formation of hierarchical porous PE crystalsomes due to the coupling of the PE crystallization and liquid/liquid phase separation. We anticipate that this unique crystalsome represents a new type of nanostructure that might be used as nanodrug carriers and ultrasound contrast agents.

The Perception of Physician Empathy by Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PubMed Central

Chiapponi, Costanza; Witt, Maxie; Dlugosch, Gabriele E.; Gülberg, Veit; Siebeck, Matthias

2016-01-01

Background and Aims This study focused on the difference between perceived and desired physician empathy (pPE and dPE) in the eye of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It was investigated if a discrepancy (ΔPE) correlates with trust and satisfaction of patients. At the same time the aim was to gain detailed information about the subjective burden of disease and the resources of IBD patients, in order to better understand them. Methods A modified version of the German Version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure was completed as a paper-and-pencil questionnaire by IBD patients attending our facility (n = 32) and as an online survey by IBD patients at other locations throughout Germany (n = 89). Patients were in average 36.3±12 years old. Results The mean (SD) rating of pPE was 3.93 (0.96) on a scale of 1 to 5 (“poor” to “excellent”); however, the mean (SD) dPE was 4.38 (0.48) on the same scale. ΔPE correlated with perceived empathy and with patients’ satisfaction with treatment and trust in their health care providers. Patients reported quite a high subjective burden (mean [SD]: 2.93 [.63]) and named family, friends, and support groups as resources. Conclusions Rather than assessing patient satisfaction with treatment and trust in their physician only with perceived PE, we suggest ΔPE as a useful additional parameter. PMID:27875561

Deep Learning to Classify Radiology Free-Text Reports.

PubMed

Chen, Matthew C; Ball, Robyn L; Yang, Lingyao; Moradzadeh, Nathaniel; Chapman, Brian E; Larson, David B; Langlotz, Curtis P; Amrhein, Timothy J; Lungren, Matthew P

2018-03-01

Purpose To evaluate the performance of a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) model compared with a traditional natural language processing (NLP) model in extracting pulmonary embolism (PE) findings from thoracic computed tomography (CT) reports from two institutions. Materials and Methods Contrast material-enhanced CT examinations of the chest performed between January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2016, were selected. Annotations by two human radiologists were made for three categories: the presence, chronicity, and location of PE. Classification of performance of a CNN model with an unsupervised learning algorithm for obtaining vector representations of words was compared with the open-source application PeFinder. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and F1 scores for both the CNN model and PeFinder in the internal and external validation sets were determined. Results The CNN model demonstrated an accuracy of 99% and an area under the curve value of 0.97. For internal validation report data, the CNN model had a statistically significant larger F1 score (0.938) than did PeFinder (0.867) when classifying findings as either PE positive or PE negative, but no significant difference in sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy was found. For external validation report data, no statistical difference between the performance of the CNN model and PeFinder was found. Conclusion A deep learning CNN model can classify radiology free-text reports with accuracy equivalent to or beyond that of an existing traditional NLP model. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

How compatible are participatory ergonomics programs with occupational health and safety management systems?

PubMed

Yazdani, Amin; Neumann, W Patrick; Imbeau, Daniel; Bigelow, Philip; Pagell, Mark; Theberge, Nancy; Hilbrecht, Margo; Wells, Richard

2015-03-01

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major cause of pain, disability, and costs. Prevention of MSD at work is frequently described in terms of implementing an ergonomics program, often a participatory ergonomics (PE) program. Most other workplace injury prevention activities take place under the umbrella of a formal or informal occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). This study assesses the similarities and differences between OHSMS and PE as such knowledge could help improve MSD prevention activities. Methods Using the internationally recognized Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001), 21 OHSMS elements were extracted. In order to define PE operationally, we identified the 20 most frequently cited papers on PE and extracted content relevant to each of the OHSAS 18001 elements. The PE literature provided a substantial amount of detail on five elements: (i) hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls; (ii) resources, roles, responsibility, accountability, and authority; (iii) competence, training and awareness; (iv) participation and consultation; and (v) performance measurement and monitoring. However, of the 21 OHSAS elements, the PE literature was silent on 8 and provided few details on 8 others. The PE literature did not speak to many elements described in OHSMS and even when it did, the language used was often different. This may negatively affect the effectiveness and sustainability of PE initiatives within organizations. It is expected that paying attention to the approaches and language used in management system frameworks could make prevention of MSD activities more effective and sustainable.

Nurse staffing and deficiencies in the largest for-profit nursing home chains and chains owned by private equity companies.

PubMed

Harrington, Charlene; Olney, Brian; Carrillo, Helen; Kang, Taewoon

2012-02-01

To compare staffing levels and deficiencies of the 10 largest U.S. for-profit nursing home chains with five other ownership groups and chain staffing and deficiencies before and after purchase by four private equity (PE) companies. Facilities for the largest for-profit chains were identified through Internet searches and company reports and matched with federal secondary data for 2003-2008 for each ownership group. Descriptive statistics and generalized estimation equation panel regression models examined staffing and deficiencies by ownership groups in the 2003-2008 period, controlling for facility characteristics, resident acuity, and market factors with state fixed effects. The top 10 for-profit chains had lower registered nurse and total nurse staffing hours than government facilities, controlling for other factors. The top 10 chains received 36 percent higher deficiencies and 41 percent higher serious deficiencies than government facilities. Other for-profit facilities also had lower staffing and higher deficiencies than government facilities. The chains purchased by PE companies showed little change in staffing levels, but the number of deficiencies and serious deficiencies increased in some postpurchase years compared with the prepurchase period. There is a need for greater study of large for-profit chains as well as those chains purchased by PE companies. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

MRI-Guided Regional Personalized Electrical Stimulation in Multisession and Home Treatments

PubMed Central

Cancelli, Andrea; Cottone, Carlo; Giordani, Alessandro; Asta, Giampiero; Lupoi, Domenico; Pizzella, Vittorio; Tecchio, Franca

2018-01-01

The shape and position of the electrodes is a key factor for the efficacy of transcranial electrical stimulations (tES). We have recently introduced the Regional Personalized Electrode (RePE), a tES electrode fitting the personal cortical folding, that has been able to differentiate the stimulation of close by regions, in particular the primary sensory (S1) and motor (M1) cortices, and to personalize tES onto such an extended cortical district. However, neuronavigation on individual brain was compulsory for the correct montage. Here, we aimed at developing and testing a neuronavigation-free procedure for easy and quick positioning RePE, enabling multisession RePE-tES at home. We used off-line individual MRI to shape RePE via an ad-hoc computerized procedure, while an ad-hoc developed Adjustable Helmet Frame (AHF) was used to properly position it in multisession treatments, even at home. We used neuronavigation to test the RePE shape and position obtained by the new computerized procedure and the re-positioning obtained via the AHF. Using Finite Element Method (FEM) model, we also estimated the intra-cerebral current distribution induced by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) comparing RePE vs. non-RePE with fixed reference. Additionally, we tested, using FEM, various shapes, and positions of the reference electrode taking into account possible small displacements of RePE, to test feasibility of RePE-tES sessions at home. The new RePE neuronavigation-free positioning relies on brain MRI space distances, and produced a mean displacement of 3.5 ± 0.8 mm, and the re-positioning of 4.8 ± 1.1 mm. Higher electric field in S1 than in M1 was best obtained with the occipital reference electrode, a montage that proved to feature low sensitivity to typical RePE millimetric displacements. Additionally, a new tES accessory was developed to enable repositioning the electrodes over the scalp also at home, with a precision which is acceptable according to the modeling-estimated intracerebral currents. Altogether, we provide here a procedure to simplify and make easily applicable RePE-tDCS, which enables efficacious personalized treatments. PMID:29867308

Role of physician perception of patient smile on pretest probability assessment for acute pulmonary embolism.

PubMed

Kline, Jeffrey A; Neumann, Dawn; Hall, Cassandra L; Capito, Jacob

2017-02-01

Many clinicians use a global visual interpretation of patient appearance to decide if a patient looks sick or not. For patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE), we tested the relationship between visual appearance of a happy patient facial affect and probability of PE+ on CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Eligible patients were selected by usual care to undergo CTPA, the criterion standard for PE+ or PE-. Prior to CTPA result, trained study personnel obtained physician pretest probability using the gestalt method (visual analogue scale, 0%-100%), the Wells score (0-12) and physicians' impression of whether the patient smiled during the initial examination (smile+). Patients' faces were also video recorded and analysed with an automated neural network-based algorithm (Noldus FaceReader) for happy affect. Of the 208 patients enrolled, 27 were PE+ and smile+ was more frequent in patients with PE+ than PE-, a finding confirmed by the Noldus. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of smile was low, and physicians overestimated presence of an alternative diagnosis more likely to PE with smile+ than smile- patients in patients with true PE. As a result, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was lower for the Wells score in smile+ patients. However, the physicians' mean gestalt estimate of PE did not differ with smile status, nor did smile status affect the AUROC for gestalt. In patients with suspected PE, physician recollection of patients' smile+ was more common in PE+ patients, and was associated with a less accurate Wells score, primarily because physicians overestimated probability of alternative diagnosis. However, the overall diagnostic accuracy of physicians' gestalt did not differ with perceived smile status. These data suggest that the patients' smile had less effect on the numeric gestalt pretest probability assessment than on the binary decision about an alternative diagnosis. 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/.

Polyethylene-Carbon Nanotube Composite Film Deposited by Cold Spray Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ata, Nobuhisa; Ohtake, Naoto; Akasaka, Hiroki

2017-10-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are high-performance materials because of their superior electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and self-lubrication, and they have been studied for application to polymer composite materials as fillers. However, the methods of fabricating polymer composites with CNTs, such as injection molding, are too complicated for industrial applications. We propose a simple cold spray (CS) technique to obtain a polymer composite of polyethylene (PE) and CNTs. The composite films were deposited by CS on polypropylene and nano-porous structured aluminum substrates. The maximum thickness of the composite film was approximately 1 mm. Peaks at G and D bands were observed in the Raman spectra of the films. Scanning electron microscopy images of the film surface revealed that PE particles were melted by the acceleration gas and CNTs were attached with melted PE. The PE particles solidified after contact with the substrate. These results indicate that PE-CNT composite films were successfully deposited on polypropylene and nano-porous structured aluminum substrates by CS.

Characteristics of Protons Exiting from a Polyethylene Converter Irradiated by Neutrons with Energies between 1 keV and 10 MeV.

PubMed

Nikezic, D; Shahmohammadi Beni, Mehrdad; Krstic, D; Yu, K N

2016-01-01

Monte Carlo method has been used to determine the efficiency for proton production and to study the energy and angular distributions of the generated protons. The ENDF library of cross sections is used to simulate the interactions between the neutrons and the atoms in a polyethylene (PE) layer, while the ranges of protons with different energies in PE are determined using the Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM) computer code. The efficiency of proton production increases with the PE layer thickness. However the proton escaping from a certain polyethylene volume is highly dependent on the neutron energy and target thickness, except for a very thin PE layer. The energy and angular distributions of protons are also estimated in the present paper, showing that, for the range of energy and thickness considered, the proton flux escaping is dependent on the PE layer thickness, with the presence of an optimal thickness for a fixed primary neutron energy.

Characteristics of Protons Exiting from a Polyethylene Converter Irradiated by Neutrons with Energies between 1 keV and 10 MeV

PubMed Central

Nikezic, D.; Shahmohammadi Beni, Mehrdad; Krstic, D.; Yu, K. N.

2016-01-01

Monte Carlo method has been used to determine the efficiency for proton production and to study the energy and angular distributions of the generated protons. The ENDF library of cross sections is used to simulate the interactions between the neutrons and the atoms in a polyethylene (PE) layer, while the ranges of protons with different energies in PE are determined using the Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM) computer code. The efficiency of proton production increases with the PE layer thickness. However the proton escaping from a certain polyethylene volume is highly dependent on the neutron energy and target thickness, except for a very thin PE layer. The energy and angular distributions of protons are also estimated in the present paper, showing that, for the range of energy and thickness considered, the proton flux escaping is dependent on the PE layer thickness, with the presence of an optimal thickness for a fixed primary neutron energy. PMID:27362656

Distinctive Steady-State Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Responses to Passive Robotic Leg Exercise during Head-Up Tilt: A Pilot Study in Neurological Patients

PubMed Central

Sarabadani Tafreshi, Amirehsan; Riener, Robert; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena

2017-01-01

Introduction: Robot-assisted tilt table therapy was proposed for early rehabilitation and mobilization of patients after diseases such as stroke. A robot-assisted tilt table with integrated passive robotic leg exercise (PE) mechanism has the potential to prevent orthostatic hypotension usually provoked by verticalization. In a previous study with rather young healthy subjects [average age: 25.1 ± 2.6 years (standard deviation)], we found that PE effect on the cardiovascular system depends on the verticalization angle of the robot-assisted tilt table. In the current study, we investigated in an older population of neurological patients (a) whether they show the same PE effects as younger healthy population on the cardiovascular system at different tilt angles, (b) whether changing the PE frequency (i.e., stepping speed) influences the PE effect on the cardiovascular system, (c) whether PE could prevent orthostatic hypotension, and finally, (d) whether PE effect is consistent from day to day. Methods: Heart rate (HR), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (sBP, dBP) in response to PE at two different tilt angles (α = 20°, 60°) with three different PE frequencies (i.e., 0, 24, and 48 steps per minute) of 10 neurological patients [average age: 68.4 ± 13.5 years (standard deviation)] were measured on 2 consecutive days. Linear mixed models were used to develop statistical models and analyze the repeated measurements. Results: The models show that: PE significantly increased sBP and dBP but had no significant effect on HR. (a) Similar to healthy subjects the effect of PE on sBP was dependent on the tilt angle with higher tilt angles resulting in a higher increase. Head-up tilting alone significantly increased HR and dBP but resulted in a non-significant drop in sBP. PE, in general, had a more additive effect on increasing BP. (b) The effect of PE was not influenced by its speed. (c) Neither during head-up tilt alone nor in combination with PE did participants experience orthostatic hypotension. (d) The measurement day was not a statistically significant factor regarding the effects of verticalization and PE on the cardiovascular response. Conclusion: We provide evidence that PE can increase steady-state values of sBP and dBP in neurological patients during head-up tilt. Similar to healthy subjects the effect on sBP depends on the verticalization angle of the robot-assisted tilt table. PE might have the potential to prevent orthostatic hypotension, but as the amount of drop in BP in response to head-up tilting was not leading to orthostatic hypotension in our patients, we could neither conclude nor reject such a preventive compensatory effect. Furthermore, we found that changing the PE speed does not influence the steady-state cardiovascular response. PMID:28626427

Distinctive Steady-State Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Responses to Passive Robotic Leg Exercise during Head-Up Tilt: A Pilot Study in Neurological Patients.

PubMed

Sarabadani Tafreshi, Amirehsan; Riener, Robert; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena

2017-01-01

Introduction: Robot-assisted tilt table therapy was proposed for early rehabilitation and mobilization of patients after diseases such as stroke. A robot-assisted tilt table with integrated passive robotic leg exercise (PE) mechanism has the potential to prevent orthostatic hypotension usually provoked by verticalization. In a previous study with rather young healthy subjects [average age: 25.1 ± 2.6 years (standard deviation)], we found that PE effect on the cardiovascular system depends on the verticalization angle of the robot-assisted tilt table. In the current study, we investigated in an older population of neurological patients (a) whether they show the same PE effects as younger healthy population on the cardiovascular system at different tilt angles, (b) whether changing the PE frequency (i.e., stepping speed) influences the PE effect on the cardiovascular system, (c) whether PE could prevent orthostatic hypotension, and finally, (d) whether PE effect is consistent from day to day. Methods: Heart rate (HR), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (sBP, dBP) in response to PE at two different tilt angles (α = 20°, 60°) with three different PE frequencies (i.e., 0, 24, and 48 steps per minute) of 10 neurological patients [average age: 68.4 ± 13.5 years (standard deviation)] were measured on 2 consecutive days. Linear mixed models were used to develop statistical models and analyze the repeated measurements. Results: The models show that: PE significantly increased sBP and dBP but had no significant effect on HR. (a) Similar to healthy subjects the effect of PE on sBP was dependent on the tilt angle with higher tilt angles resulting in a higher increase. Head-up tilting alone significantly increased HR and dBP but resulted in a non-significant drop in sBP. PE, in general, had a more additive effect on increasing BP. (b) The effect of PE was not influenced by its speed. (c) Neither during head-up tilt alone nor in combination with PE did participants experience orthostatic hypotension. (d) The measurement day was not a statistically significant factor regarding the effects of verticalization and PE on the cardiovascular response. Conclusion: We provide evidence that PE can increase steady-state values of sBP and dBP in neurological patients during head-up tilt. Similar to healthy subjects the effect on sBP depends on the verticalization angle of the robot-assisted tilt table. PE might have the potential to prevent orthostatic hypotension, but as the amount of drop in BP in response to head-up tilting was not leading to orthostatic hypotension in our patients, we could neither conclude nor reject such a preventive compensatory effect. Furthermore, we found that changing the PE speed does not influence the steady-state cardiovascular response.

Narrative Review: Should Teaching of the Respiratory Physical Examination Be Restricted Only to Signs with Proven Reliability and Validity?

PubMed Central

Baumal, Reuben

2010-01-01

OBJECTIVE To review the reported reliability (reproducibility, inter-examiner agreement) and validity (sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios) of respiratory physical examination (PE) signs, and suggest an approach to teaching these signs to medical students. METHODS Review of the literature. We searched Paper Chase between 1966 and June 2009 to identify and evaluate published studies on the diagnostic accuracy of respiratory PE signs. RESULTS Most studies have reported low to fair reliability and sensitivity values. However, some studies have found high specificites for selected PE signs. None of the studies that we reviewed adhered to all of the STARD criteria for reporting diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Possible flaws in study designs may have led to underestimates of the observed diagnostic accuracy of respiratory PE signs. The reported poor reliabilities may have been due to differences in the PE skills of the participating examiners, while the sensitivities may have been confounded by variations in the severity of the diseases of the participating patients. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE AND MEDICAL EDUCATION Pending the results of properly controlled studies, the reported poor reliability and sensitivity of most respiratory PE signs do not necessarily detract from their clinical utility. Therefore, we believe that a meticulously performed respiratory PE, which aims to explore a diagnostic hypothesis, as opposed to a PE that aims to detect a disease in an asymptomatic person, remains a cornerstone of clinical practice. We propose teaching the respiratory PE signs according to their importance, beginning with signs of life-threatening conditions and those that have been reported to have a high specificity, and ending with signs that are "nice to know," but are no longer employed because of the availability of more easily performed tests. PMID:20349154

Renal Evaluation in Women with Preeclampsia

PubMed Central

Facca, T.A.; Kirsztajn, G. Mastroianni; Pereira, A.R.; Moreira, S.R.; Teixeira, V.P.C.; Nishida, S.K.; Sass, N.

2012-01-01

Background/Aims Preeclampsia (PE) is a cause of glomerulopathy worldwide. Urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP) is a marker of proximal tubular dysfunction, albuminuria is an endothelial injury marker, urine protein:creatinine ratio (PCR) may have a predictive value for renal disease later in life, and, recently, podocyturia has been proposed as a sensitive tool in pregnancy, but it needs to be tested. The aim of this study was to evaluate renal involvement in PE and healthy pregnancy. Methods Case-control study with 39 pregnant women assessed after 20 weeks of gestation (25 in the control group, CG, and 14 in the PE group) by performing urinary tests. Results Mean (±SD) age and gestational age of the CG were 26.9 ± 6.4 years and 37.1 ± 5.0 weeks, and of the PE group 26.4 ± 6.9 years and 30.6 ± 5.6 weeks, respectively (p = 0.001). Mean (±SD) urinary RBP (p = 0.017), albuminuria (p = 0.002), and urinary albumin concentration (UAC) ratio (p = 0.006) of the CG were 0.4 ± 0.7 mg/l, 7.3 ± 6.9 mg/l, and 8.2 ± 6.7 mg/g and of the PE group 2.0 ± 4.4 mg/l, 2,267.4 ± 2,130.8 mg/l (p = 0.002), and 3,778.9 ± 4,296.6 mg/g (p = 0.006), respectively. Mean (±SD) urine PCR in the PE group was 6.7 ± 6.1 g/g (p < 0.001). No statistical differences were found between podocyturia in the CG and PE group (p = 0.258). Conclusions Urinary RBP, PCR, albuminuria, and UAC ratio were elevated in the PE group in comparison to the CG. Podocyturia did not predict PE. PMID:22740065

A Comparison of implant impression precision: Different materials and techniques

PubMed Central

Tabesh, Mahtab; Alikhasi, Marzieh

2018-01-01

Background Precision of implant impressions is a prerequisite for long-term success of implant supported prostheses. Impression materials and impression techniques are two important factors that impression precision relies on. Material and Methods A model of edentulous maxilla containing four implants inserted by All-on-4 guide was constructed. Seventy two impressions using polyether (PE), polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), and vinyl siloxanether (VSE) materials with direct and indirect techniques were made (n=12). Coordinates of implants in casts were measured using coordinate measuring machine (CMM). Data were analyzed with ANOVA; t-test and Tukey test were used for post hoc. Results With two-way ANOVA, mean values of linear displacements of implants were significantly different among materials and techniques. One-way ANOVA and Tukey showed significant difference between PE and VSE (P=0.019), PE and PVS (P=0.002) in direct technique, and between PVS and PE (P<0.001), PVS and VSE (P<0.001) in indirect technique. One-way ANOVA and t-test showed significant difference between the two techniques in PVS groups (P<0.001) and in PE groups (P=0.02). Two-way ANOVA showed mean values of rotational displacement of implants were significantly different among materials. One-way ANOVA and Tukey test showed significant difference between PVS and PE (P=0.001) and between PVS and VSE (P=0.012) in indirect groups. Conclusions On the basis of the results, when deciding on the material to make an impression of implants, PE is recommended for direct technique while PE and VSE are recommended for indirect technique. Recommended technique for VSE is either direct or indirect; and for PE and PVS is direct. Key words:Polyvinyl siloxane, polyether, vinyl siloxanether, direct technique, indirect technique, All-on-4, coordinate measuring machine. PMID:29670733

Professional Development Activities and Support among Physical Education Teachers in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardina, Catherine E.; DeNysschen, Carol

2018-01-01

Purpose: This study described professional development (PD) among public school physical education (PE) teachers and compared PE teachers to teachers of other subjects. Method: Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of public school teachers in the United States. Descriptive statistics were used to describe teachers' support…

Occupational Socialization of Sport Pedagogy Faculty: Two German Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Merrem, Anne M.; Curtner-Smith, Matthew D.

2018-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of occupational socialization on the perspectives and practices of two female German sport pedagogy faculty members, Heidi and Lisa, regarding physical education (PE) and PE teacher education (PETE). Method: The main data sources were six formal interviews. Supplementary data were…

Nutritional aspects of phytoene and phytofluene, carotenoid precursors to lycopene.

PubMed

Engelmann, Nancy J; Clinton, Steven K; Erdman, John W

2011-01-01

Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between tomato consumption and serum and tissue lycopene (LYC) levels with risk of some chronic diseases, including several cancers and cardiovascular disease. LYC, the red carotenoid found in tomatoes, is often considered to be the primary bioactive carotenoid in tomatoes that mediates health benefits, but other colorless precursor carotenoids, phytoene (PE) and phytofluene (PF), are also present in substantial quantities. PE and PF are readily absorbed from tomato foods and tomato extracts by humans. Animal models of carotenoid absorption suggest preferential accumulation of PE and PF in some tissues. The reasonably high concentrations of PE and PF detected in serum and tissues relative to the concentrations in foods suggest that absorption or metabolism of these compounds may be different from that of LYC. Experimental studies, both in vitro and in vivo, suggest that PE and PF exhibit bioactivity but little is known about their impact in humans. Methods for producing isotopically labeled PE, PF, and LYC tracers from tomato plant cell culture offer a unique tool for further understanding the differential bioavailability and metabolism of these 3 prominent tomato carotenoids and how they may affect health.

RS3PE syndrome presenting as vascular endothelial growth factor associated disorder

PubMed Central

Arima, K; Origuchi, T; Tamai, M; Iwanaga, N; Izumi, Y; Huang, M; Tanaka, F; Kamachi, M; Aratake, K; Nakamura, H; Ida, H; Uetani, M; Kawakami, A; Eguchi, K

2005-01-01

Methods: Vascular endothelial growth factor165 (VEGF165), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin 1ß (IL1ß) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from three patients with RS3PE syndrome. As controls, serum samples from 26 healthy volunteers, 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 10 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 13 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, 13 patients with vasculitis syndrome, and 6 patients with mixed connective tissue disease were also analysed. Synovial hypervascularity of patients with RS3PE syndrome was estimated by rate of enhancement (E-rate) in a dynamic MRI study. Results: Serum concentrations of VEGF165 (mean (SD) 2223.3 (156.3) pg/ml) were significantly higher in patients with active RS3PE syndrome than in controls before corticosteroid treatment. TNFα and IL1ß levels were similar in patients and controls. Synovial hypervascularity in affected joints and subcutaneous oedema decreased during corticosteroid treatment, in parallel with the fall in serum VEGF165. Conclusions: VEGF promotes synovial inflammation and vascular permeability in patients with RS3PE syndrome, suggesting that RS3PE can be classified as a VEGF associated disorder. PMID:16227418

Otoacoustic emission estimates of human basilar membrane impulse response duration and cochlear filter tuning.

PubMed

Raufer, Stefan; Verhulst, Sarah

2016-12-01

This study describes a method based on temporal suppression of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) to estimate the time course and duration of human basilar membrane impulse responses (BM IRs). This was achieved by tracing the suppression of dominant peaks in the CEOAE spectrum as a function of the temporal separation between two equal-level stimulus clicks. The relationship between the suppression pattern and underlying BM IR duration near the generation site of the CEOAE frequency was established using model simulations. To relate BM IR duration estimates to cochlear filter tuning (Q ERB ), a tuning ratio was derived from available BM IR measurements in animals. Results for 11 normal-hearing subjects yielded BM IR duration estimates of 37.4/F ms at 65 dB peSPL and 36.4/F ms at 71 dB peSPL, with F in kHz. Corresponding Q ERB estimates were 14.2F[in kHz] 0.22 at 65 dB peSPL and 13.8F[in kHz] 0.22 at 71 dB peSPL. Because the proposed temporal suppression method relies on cochlear nonlinearity, the method is applicable for stimulus levels above 30-40 dB SPL and complements existing OAE methods to assess human cochlear filter tuning. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a new score to estimate clinical East Coast Fever in experimentally infected cattle.

PubMed

Schetters, Th P M; Arts, G; Niessen, R; Schaap, D

2010-02-10

East Coast Fever is a tick-transmitted disease in cattle caused by Theileria parva protozoan parasites. Quantification of the clinical disease can be done by determining a number of variables, derived from parasitological, haematological and rectal temperature measurements as described by Rowlands et al. (2000). From a total of 13 parameters a single ECF-score is calculated that allows categorization of infected cattle in five different classes that correlate with the severity of clinical signs. This score is complicated not only by the fact that it requires estimation of 13 parameters but also because of the subsequent mathematics. The fact that the values are normalised over a range of 0-10 for each experiment makes it impossible to compare results from different experiments. Here we present an alternative score based on the packed cell volume and the number of piroplasms in the circulation and that is calculated using a simple equation; ECF-score=PCV(relday0)/log(PE+10). In this equation the packed cell volume is expressed as a value relative to that of the day on infection (PCV(relday0)) and the number of piroplasms is expressed as the logarithmic value of the number of infected red blood cells (=PE) in a total of 1000 red blood cells. To allow PE to be 0, +10 is added in the denominator. We analysed a data set of 54 cattle from a previous experiment and found a statistically significant linear correlation between the ECF-score value reached during the post-infection period and the Rowlands' score value. The new score is much more practical than the Rowlands score as it only requires daily blood sampling. From these blood samples both PCV and number of piroplasms can be determined, and the score can be calculated daily. This allows monitoring the development of ECF after infection, which was hitherto not possible. In addition, the new score allows for easy comparison of results from different experiments.

Identification of placental nutrient transporters associated with intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia.

PubMed

Huang, Xiao; Anderle, Pascale; Hostettler, Lu; Baumann, Marc U; Surbek, Daniel V; Ontsouka, Edgar C; Albrecht, Christiane

2018-03-02

Gestational disorders such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pre-eclampsia (PE) are main causes of poor perinatal outcomes worldwide. Both diseases are related with impaired materno-fetal nutrient transfer, but the crucial transport mechanisms underlying IUGR and PE are not fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to identify membrane transporters highly associated with transplacental nutrient deficiencies in IUGR/PE. In silico analyses on the identification of differentially expressed nutrient transporters were conducted using seven eligible microarray datasets (from Gene Expression Omnibus), encompassing control and IUGR/PE placental samples. Thereby 46 out of 434 genes were identified as potentially interesting targets. They are involved in the fetal provision with amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and microelements. Targets of interest were clustered into a substrate-specific interaction network by using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes. The subsequent wet-lab validation was performed using quantitative RT-PCR on placentas from clinically well-characterized IUGR/PE patients (IUGR, n = 8; PE, n = 5; PE+IUGR, n = 10) and controls (term, n = 13; preterm, n = 7), followed by 2D-hierarchical heatmap generation. Statistical evaluation using Kruskal-Wallis tests was then applied to detect significantly different expression patterns, while scatter plot analysis indicated which transporters were predominantly influenced by IUGR or PE, or equally affected by both diseases. Identified by both methods, three overlapping targets, SLC7A7, SLC38A5 (amino acid transporters), and ABCA1 (cholesterol transporter), were further investigated at the protein level by western blotting. Protein analyses in total placental tissue lysates and membrane fractions isolated from disease and control placentas indicated an altered functional activity of those three nutrient transporters in IUGR/PE. Combining bioinformatic analysis, molecular biological experiments and mathematical diagramming, this study has demonstrated systematic alterations of nutrient transporter expressions in IUGR/PE. Among 46 initially targeted transporters, three significantly regulated genes were further investigated based on the severity and the disease specificity for IUGR and PE. Confirmed by mRNA and protein expression, the amino acid transporters SLC7A7 and SLC38A5 showed marked differences between controls and IUGR/PE and were regulated by both diseases. In contrast, ABCA1 may play an exclusive role in the development of PE.

SCoPE: an efficient method of Cosmological Parameter Estimation

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

Das, Santanu; Souradeep, Tarun, E-mail: santanud@iucaa.ernet.in, E-mail: tarun@iucaa.ernet.in

Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler is widely used for cosmological parameter estimation from CMB and other data. However, due to the intrinsic serial nature of the MCMC sampler, convergence is often very slow. Here we present a fast and independently written Monte Carlo method for cosmological parameter estimation named as Slick Cosmological Parameter Estimator (SCoPE), that employs delayed rejection to increase the acceptance rate of a chain, and pre-fetching that helps an individual chain to run on parallel CPUs. An inter-chain covariance update is also incorporated to prevent clustering of the chains allowing faster and better mixing of themore » chains. We use an adaptive method for covariance calculation to calculate and update the covariance automatically as the chains progress. Our analysis shows that the acceptance probability of each step in SCoPE is more than 95% and the convergence of the chains are faster. Using SCoPE, we carry out some cosmological parameter estimations with different cosmological models using WMAP-9 and Planck results. One of the current research interests in cosmology is quantifying the nature of dark energy. We analyze the cosmological parameters from two illustrative commonly used parameterisations of dark energy models. We also asses primordial helium fraction in the universe can be constrained by the present CMB data from WMAP-9 and Planck. The results from our MCMC analysis on the one hand helps us to understand the workability of the SCoPE better, on the other hand it provides a completely independent estimation of cosmological parameters from WMAP-9 and Planck data.« less

Screening of extraction methods for glycoproteins from jellyfish ( Rhopilema esculentum) oral-arms by high performance liquid chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Guoyan; Li, Bafang; Zhao, Xue; Zhuang, Yongliang; Yan, Mingyan; Hou, Hu; Zhang, Xiukun; Chen, Li

2009-03-01

In order to select an optimum extraction method for the target glycoprotein (TGP) from jellyfish ( Rhopilema esculentum) oral-arms, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-assay for the determination of the TGP was developed. Purified target glycoprotein was taken as a standard glycoprotein. The results showed that the calibration curves for peak area plotted against concentration for TGP were linear ( r = 0.9984, y = 4.5895 x+47.601) over concentrations ranging from 50 to 400 mgL-1. The mean extraction recovery was 97.84% (CV2.60%). The fractions containing TGP were isolated from jellyfish ( R. esculentum) oral-arms by four extraction methods: 1) water extraction (WE), 2) phosphate buffer solution (PBS) extraction (PE), 3) ultrasound-assisted water extraction (UA-WE), 4) ultrasound-assisted PBS extraction (UA-PE). The lyophilized extract was dissolved in Milli-Q water and analyzed directly on a short TSK-GEL G4000PWXL (7.8 mm×300 mm) column. Our results indicated that the UA-PE method was the optimum extraction method selected by HPLC.

Fun, influence and competence-a mixed methods study of prerequisites for high school students' participation in physical education.

PubMed

Abildsnes, Eirik; Rohde, Gudrun; Berntsen, Sveinung; Stea, Tonje H

2017-03-10

Many adolescents do not reach the recommended levels of physical activity (PA), and students attending vocational studies are less committed to take part in physical education (PE) than other students. The purpose of the present study was twofold: 1) to examine differences in physical activity, diet, smoking habits, sleep and screen time among Norwegian vocational high school students who selected either a PE model focusing on PA skills, technique and improvement of physical performance ("Sports enjoyment") or more on health, play and having fun when participating in PE lessons ("Motion enjoyment"), and 2) to explore the students' experiences with PE programs. In this mixed methods study 181 out of 220 invited students (82%) comprising 141 (78%) girls and 40 (22%) boys attending vocational studies of Restaurant and Food Processing (24%), Design, Arts and Crafts (27%) or Healthcare, Childhood and Youth Development (49%) were recruited for participation in the new PE program. PA level, sedentary time and sleep were objectively recorded using the SenseWear Armband Mini. A self-report questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits, smoking and snuffing habits, use of alcohol, screen use and active transportation. Four focus group interviews with 23 students (12 boys) were conducted to explore how the students experienced the new PE program. Students attending "Motion enjoyment" accrued less steps/day compared to the "Sports enjoyment" group (6661 (5514, 7808) vs.9167 (7945, 10390) steps/day) and reported higher screen use (mean, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.8, 3.5) vs. 2.4 (2.0, 2.9) hours/day). Compared to those attending "Sports enjoyment", a higher number of students attending "Motion enjoyment" reported an irregular meal pattern (adjusted odds ratio, 5.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.28, 12.78), and being a current smoker (12.22 (1.62, 107.95)). The students participating in the focus group interviews emphasized the importance of having competent and engaging teachers, being able to influence the content of the PE program themselves, and that PE classes should include a variety of fun activities. Students selecting "Motion enjoyment" accrued less steps/day and reported overall more unhealthy lifestyle habits, including higher screen time, a more irregular meal pattern and a higher number were current smokers, compared to those selecting "Sports enjoyment". Program evaluation revealed that both groups of students valued competent PE teachers and having influence on the content of the PE program.

[Effects of Porphyromonas endodontalis lipopolysaccharides on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in mouse osteoblasts].

PubMed

Li, X L; Yu, Y Q; Qiu, L H; Yang, D; Wang, X M; Yu, J T

2017-08-09

Objective: To evaluate the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) extracted from Porphyromonas endodontalis (Pe) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and protein as well as enzyme activity in MC3T3-E1 cells and the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the process, so as to investigate the expression of MMP-9 dependent signaling pathways in mouse osteoblasts induced by Pe LPS. Methods: The experiment was conducted in 3 sessions: MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with various concentrations of Pe LPS (0-20 mg/L) and 10 mg/L Pe LPS for different time intervals (0-48 h). The expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein were detected by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the enzyme activity was detected by gelatin zymography method. The expression of MMP-9 mRNA was also detected in 10 mg/L Pe LPS treated MC3T3-El cells after pretreated with specific NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 for l h. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett t test with SPSS 13.0 software package. Results: The levels of MMP-9 mRNA and protein increased significantly after the treatment with various concentrations of Pe LPS (0-20 mg/L), which indicated that Pe LPS induced osteoblasts to express MMP-9 in dose dependent manners. The expression of MMP-9 protein increased from (5 395±362) ng/L (blank control group) to (12 684±375) ng/L (20 mg/L group). Maximal induction of MMP-9 mRNA expression was found in the MC3T3-E1 cells treated with 10 mg/L Pe LPS for 24 h. The expression of MMP-9 mRNA in the 20 mg/L group was about 7 times than that in the blank control group. After 24 h, the expression of MMP-9 mRNA decreased. Maximal expression of MMP-9 protein was found in the MC3T3-E1 cells treated with 10 mg/L Pe LPS for 48 h ([35 055±2 346] ng/L) showing the highest enzyme activity. The mRNA of MMP-9 decreased significantly after pretreatment with 10 µmol/L BAY 11-7082 for 1 h. Conclusions: Pe LPS might induce the expression of MMP-9 in MC3T3-E1 cells through the signaling of NF-κB.

Large scale aggregate microarray analysis reveals three distinct molecular subclasses of human preeclampsia.

PubMed

Leavey, Katherine; Bainbridge, Shannon A; Cox, Brian J

2015-01-01

Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening hypertensive pathology of pregnancy affecting 3-5% of all pregnancies. To date, PE has no cure, early detection markers, or effective treatments short of the removal of what is thought to be the causative organ, the placenta, which may necessitate a preterm delivery. Additionally, numerous small placental microarray studies attempting to identify "PE-specific" genes have yielded inconsistent results. We therefore hypothesize that preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease encompassing several pathology subclasses, and that large cohort placental gene expression analysis will reveal these groups. To address our hypothesis, we utilized known bioinformatic methods to aggregate 7 microarray data sets across multiple platforms in order to generate a large data set of 173 patient samples, including 77 with preeclampsia. Unsupervised clustering of these patient samples revealed three distinct molecular subclasses of PE. This included a "canonical" PE subclass demonstrating elevated expression of known PE markers and genes associated with poor oxygenation and increased secretion, as well as two other subclasses potentially representing a poor maternal response to pregnancy and an immunological presentation of preeclampsia. Our analysis sheds new light on the heterogeneity of PE patients, and offers up additional avenues for future investigation. Hopefully, our subclassification of preeclampsia based on molecular diversity will finally lead to the development of robust diagnostics and patient-based treatments for this disorder.

Measurement of sternal curvature angle on patients with pectus excavatum.

PubMed

Lee, Cory; Zavala-Garcia, Abraham; Teekappanavar, Neha; Lee, Catherine; Idowu, Olajire; Kim, Sunghoon

2017-01-01

Pectus excavatum (PE) is a chest deformity characterized by marked sternal depression. The objective of this study was to quantify the sternal curvature observed in patients diagnosed with PE using the sternal curvature angle (SCA). A retrospective review of lateral chest X-rays of patients with PE from 2006 to 2013 was performed. The SCA was measured in a manner similar to the method of Cobb's angle is used to measure spinal curvature. SCA and Haller index were calculated from the chest X-rays for all patients. Lateral chest X-rays of 202 PE and 196 normal control patients were analyzed. The mean SCA ± SD of PE patients was 40.56° ± 12.88° compared to 22.02° ± 7.65° for normal patients. The difference was statistically significant with a p value of <0.0001. No significant concordance between SCA and Haller index measurements in the PE group was found (Kendall τ = -0.00015, p value = 0.9975). The difference in sternal curvature as measured by the sternal curvature angle between the pectus excavatum and normal patients was statistically significant. Our data suggest that sternal depression evident in PE patients is not a simple linear depression of the sternum but due to curvature in the sternal body.

Influence of School Beverage Environment on the Association of Beverage Consumption With Physical Education Participation Among US Adolescents

PubMed Central

Chen, Hsin-Jen

2013-01-01

Objectives. We examined the association of adolescents’ beverage consumption with physical activity and studied how their school beverage environment influences the association. Methods. We used nationally representative data from the 2007 Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Cohort (n = 8850). We examined nonlinear associations of eighth graders’ self-report of beverage consumption (milk, 100% juices, soft drinks) with moderate to vigorous physical activity and physical education (PE) participation using piecewise linear regression models. Results. We found a nonlinear association of participation in PE class with beverage consumption, especially in schools with vending machines and those selling soft drinks. For students participating in PE less than 3 days per week, beverage consumption was not significantly associated with participation in PE class frequency. For students participating in PE 3 to 5 days per week, 1 more day of participation in PE class was associated with 0.43 (SE = 0.14; P = .002) more times per week of soft drink consumption and 0.41 (SE = 0.17; P = .021) fewer glasses per week of milk consumption. Conclusions. The more soft drink and less milk consumption related to high participation in PE class might be prevented by improving the beverage environment in schools. Systematic environmental interventions are needed to prevent such potential unintended consequences of promoting physical activity. PMID:24028221

Comparison of flavonoid intake assessment methods.

PubMed

Ivey, Kerry L; Croft, Kevin; Prince, Richard L; Hodgson, Jonathan M

2016-09-14

Flavonoids are a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds found in high concentrations in many plant foods and beverages. High flavonoid intake has been associated with reduced risk of chronic disease. To date, population based studies have used the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food content database to determine habitual flavonoid intake. More recently, a new flavonoid food content database, Phenol-Explorer (PE), has been developed. However, the level of agreement between the two databases is yet to be explored. To compare the methods used to create each database, and to explore the level of agreement between the flavonoid intake estimates derived from USDA and PE data. The study population included 1063 randomly selected women aged over 75 years. Two separate intake estimates were determined using food composition data from the USDA and the PE databases. There were many similarities in methods used to create each database; however, there are several methodological differences that manifest themselves in differences in flavonoid intake estimates between the 2 databases. Despite differences in net estimates, there was a strong level of agreement between total-flavonoid, flavanol, flavanone and anthocyanidin intake estimates derived from each database. Intake estimates for flavanol monomers showed greater agreement than flavanol polymers. The level of agreement between the two databases was the weakest for the flavonol and flavone intake estimates. In this population, the application of USDA and PE source data yielded highly correlated intake estimates for total-flavonoids, flavanols, flavanones and anthocyanidins. For these sub-classes, the USDA and PE databases may be used interchangeably in epidemiological investigations. There was poorer correlation between intake estimates for flavonols and flavones due to differences in USDA and PE methodologies. Individual flavonoid compound groups that comprise flavonoid sub-classes had varying levels of agreement. As such, when determining the appropriate database to calculate flavonoid intake variables, it is important to consider methodologies underpinning database creation and which foods are important contributors to dietary intake in the population of interest.

IgA antibodies against endomysium and transglutaminase: a comparison of methods.

PubMed

Jaskowski, T D; Schroder, C; Martins, T B; Litwin, C M; Hill, H R

2001-01-01

Recently, the endomysial antigen has been identified as the protein cross-linking enzyme known as tissue transglutaminase (tTG). Our objective was to compare a novel enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that detects IgA antibody against tTG to two standard IFA methods utilizing thin tissue sections of rat kidney/rat stomach (KS) and distal primate esophagus (PE) as substrates to detect IgA antibody against endomysium (EMA). Sera from 100 patients suspected of having gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE) and 23 sera possessing various antibodies used for EIA cross-reactivity studies were included. Additional tests, performed routinely in our laboratory, were utilized to further assess sera from patients suspected having GSE. These tests include anti-gliadin IgA antibody (AGA) and anti-reticulin IgA antibody (ARA) and are part of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN) revised criteria for diagnosing GSE. When compared to IFA using KS, the tTG EIA had a sensitivity of 87.5%, was 97.1% specific, and had an overall agreement of 94.0%. When compared to IFA using PE, the tTG EIA had a sensitivity of 92.6%, was 93.2% specific, and had an overall agreement of 93.0%. When the KS IFA was compared to the PE IFA for EMA, the KS IFA had a sensitivity of 96.3%, was 91.8% specific, and had an overall agreement of 93.0%. The majority of sera that were positive for tTG but were negative by IFA (KS, n = 2/PE, n = 5) possessed IgA antibodies against gliadin and/or reticulin. Five of six sera with negative results by PE IFA were positive by the KS IFA and possessed one or more antibodies to tTG and/or gliadin and/or reticulin. We conclude that the tTG EIA compares well to both KS and PE IFAs when detecting IgA antibody against endomysium. We do not recommend the use of PE to detect EMA primarily because of the inconsistencies (i.e., tissue selection, quality, and preparation) and limited availability of commercially prepared PE tissue.

Reduced soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) scavenger capacity precedes pre-eclampsia in Type 1 diabetes

PubMed Central

Yu, Y; Hanssen, KF; Kalyanaraman, V; Chirindel, A; Jenkins, AJ; Nankervis, AJ; Torjesen, PA; Scholz, H; Henriksen, T; Lorentzen, B; Garg, SK; Menard, MK; Hammad, SM; Scardo, JA; Stanley, JR; Wu, M; Basu, A; Aston, CE; Lyons, TJ

2014-01-01

Objective Increased advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and their soluble receptors (sRAGE) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE). However, this association has not been elucidated in pregnancies complicated by diabetes. We aimed to investigate the serum levels of these factors in pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), a condition associated with a four-fold increase in PE. Design Prospective study in women with T1DM at 12.2 ± 1.9, 21.6 ± 1.5 and 31.5 ± 1.7 weeks of gestation [mean ± standard deviation (SD); no overlap] before PE onset. Setting Antenatal clinics. Population Pregnant women with T1DM (n = 118; 26 developed PE) and healthy nondiabetic pregnant controls (n = 21). Methods Maternal serum levels of sRAGE (total circulating pool), Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), hydroimidazolone (methylglyoxal-modified proteins) and total AGEs were measured by immunoassays. Main outcome measures Serum sRAGE and AGEs in pregnant women with T1DM who subsequently developed PE (DM PE+) versus those who remained normotensive (DM PE–). Results In DM PE+ versus DM PE–, sRAGE was significantly lower in the first and second trimesters, prior to the clinical manifestation of PE (P < 0.05). Further, reflecting the net sRAGE scavenger capacity, sRAGE : hydroimidazolone was significantly lower in the second trimester (P < 0.05) and sRAGE : AGE and sRAGE : CML tended to be lower in the first trimester (P < 0.1) in women with T1DM who subsequently developed PE versus those who did not. These conclusions persisted after adjusting for prandial status, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), duration of diabetes, parity and mean arterial pressure as covariates. Conclusions In the early stages of pregnancy, lower circulating sRAGE levels, and the ratio of sRAGE to AGEs, may be associated with the subsequent development of PE in women with T1DM. PMID:22900949

Cooperation and Consensus Seeking for Teams of Unmanned Air Vehicles

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-30

Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188...exhibits a first-order response to roll and airspeed commands. The equations of motion for a single UAV can be written as PN = V cosO + wN (1) PE = V...complications and efficiently gathers data about the perimeter state is not trivial. We reduce the general problem to a more manageable , but still applicable

Studies of Stirring and Mixing at the Submesoscale in the Ocean: FY2013 Annual Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-30

uhler, and R. Ferrari. Particle dispersion by random waves in the rotating Boussinesq system . J. Fluid Mech., 670:150-175, 2011. Ferrari, R.. A...We have now run a suite of QG simulations in parallel with Boussinesq Primitive Equation (PE) simulations (using the Diablo code), systematicaly...density fronts. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 40:1222-1242, 2010. Taylor, J., K. S. Smith and R. Ferrari. Submesoscale stirring of tracers in Boussinesq and quasi

RF Photonic Link Test Bed

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-01

TEST BED 6. AUTHOR(S) 1Lt Charles Ware, Paul Payson, Richard Michalak and George Brost 5 . FUNDING NUMBERS C - N/A PE - 62204F...modulator [ 5 ]. As can be deduced from the above equation, biasing the modulator at Vπ/2, or quadrature, allows the device to operate in the most linear...is desirable to have access to the secure surveillance facility added to your 5 RRS badge, since room F-251 is in this area. This allows unescorted

Capturing doping attitudes by self-report declarations and implicit assessment: A methodology study

PubMed Central

Petróczi, Andrea; Aidman, Eugene V; Nepusz, Tamás

2008-01-01

Background Understanding athletes' attitudes and behavioural intentions towards performance enhancement is critical to informing anti-doping intervention strategies. Capturing the complexity of these attitudes beyond verbal declarations requires indirect methods. This pilot study was aimed at developing and validating a method to assess implicit doping attitudes using an Implicit Associations Test (IAT) approach. Methods The conventional IAT evaluation task (categorising 'good' and 'bad' words) was combined with a novel 'doping' versus 'nutrition supplements' category pair to create a performance-enhancement related IAT protocol (PE-IAT). The difference between average response times to 'good-doping' and 'bad-doping' combinations represents an estimate of implicit attitude towards doping in relation to nutritional supplements. 111 sports and exercise science undergraduates completed the PE-IAT, the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS) and answered questions regarding their beliefs about doping. Results Longer response times were observed in the mixed category discrimination trials where categories 'good' and 'doping' shared the same response key (compared to 'bad-doping' combination on the same key) indicating a less favourable evaluation of doping substances. The PE-IAT measure did not correlate significantly with the declared doping attitudes (r = .181, p = .142), indicating a predictable partial dissociation. Action-oriented self-report expressed stronger associations with PE-IAT: participants who declared they would consider using doping showed significantly less implicit negativity towards banned substances (U = 109.00, p = .047). Similarly, those who reported more lenient explicit attitudes towards doping or expressly supported legalizing it, showed less implicit negativity towards doping in the sample, although neither observed differences reached statistical significance (t = 1.300, p = .198, and U = 231.00, p = .319, respectively). Known-group validation strategy yielded mixed results: while competitive sport participants scored significantly lower than non-competitive ones on the PEAS (t = -2.71, p = .008), the two groups did not differ on PE-IAT (t = -.093, p = .926). Conclusion The results suggest a potential of the PE-IAT method to capture undeclared attitudes to doping and predict behaviour, which can support targeted anti-doping intervention and related research. The initial evidence of validity is promising but also indicates a need for improvement to the protocol and stimulus material. PMID:18426575

LCA of an ice cream cup of polyethylene coated paper: how does the choice of the end-of-life affect the results?

PubMed

Buccino, Carla; Ferrara, Carmen; Malvano, Carmela; De Feo, Giovanni

2017-11-07

This study presents an evaluation of the environmental performance of an ice cream cup made of polyethylene (PE)/paper laminate using a life cycle assessment approach 'from cradle to grave'. Two opposite alternative disposal scenarios, as well as their intermediate combinations, were considered: 100% incineration and 100% landfilling. The environmental impacts were calculated using the EPD 2013 evaluation method since the study was developed in an Environmental Product Declaration perspective as well as the method ReCiPe 2008 H at the endpoint level. PE/paper laminate production was the most impactful process since it provided the highest contribution to total impacts in four of six impact categories considered. Ice cream cup production was the second impactful process. The 100% incineration scenario provided negligible contribution to life cycle total impact for all impact categories; while considering the landfilling scenario, the percentage contributions to the total impact provided by the end-of-life phase increased considerably, until to be comparable to the contributions provided by the production processes of the PE/paper laminate and the ice cream cup. The obtained results highlighted that different disposal scenarios can affect significantly the conclusions of a study. At the endpoint level, incineration was more environmentally sound than landfilling for all the ReCiPe damage categories.

Satellite Remote Sensing Studies of Biological and Biogeochemical Processing in the Ocean

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vernet, Maria

2001-01-01

The remote sensing of phycoerythrin-containing phytoplankton by ocean color was evaluated. Phycoerythrin (PE) can be remotely sensed by three methods: surface reflectance (Sathyendranath et al. 1994), by laser-activated fluorescence (Hoge and Swift 1986) and by passive fluorescence (Letelier et al. 1996). In collaboration with Dr. Frank Hoge and Robert Swift during Dr. Maria Vernet's tenure as Senior Visiting Scientist at Wallops Island, the active and passive methods were studied, in particular the detection of PE fluorescence and spectral reflectance from airborne LIDAR (AOL). Airborne instrumentation allows for more detailed and flexible sampling of the ocean surface than satellites thus providing the ideal platform to test model and develop algorithms than can later be applied to ocean color by satellites such as TERRA and AQUA. Dr. Vernet's contribution to the Wallops team included determination of PE in the water column, in conjunction with AOL flights in the North Atlantic Bight. In addition, a new flow-through fluorometer for PE determination by fluorescence was tested and calibrated. Results: several goals were achieved during this period. Cruises to the California Current, North Atlantic Bight, Gulf of Maine and Chesapeake Bay provided sampling under different oceanographic and optical conditions. The ships carried the flow-through fluorometer and samples for the determination of PE were obtained from the flow-through flow. The AOL was flown over the ship's track, usually several flights during the cruise, weather permitting.

Persistence of decidual NK cells and KIR genotypes in healthy pregnant and preeclamptic women: a case-control study in the third trimester of gestation

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Natural Killer (NK) cells are the most abundant lymphocytes in the decidua during early gestation. The interactions of NK cells with the extravillous cytotrophoblast have been associated with a normal spiral artery remodeling process, an essential event for a successful pregnancy. Recent data indicate that alterations in the amount of decidual NK (dNK) cells contribute to the development of preeclampsia (PE). Moreover, genetic studies suggest that Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) expressed in dNK cells influence the susceptibility to PE. Although dNK cells have been well characterized during early pregnancy, they have been scarcely studied in the third trimester of gestation. The aim of this work was to characterize dNK cells at the last trimester of gestation and to analyze the KIR genotype of healthy and PE women. Methods Decidual samples were obtained during Caesarean section from control (n = 10) and PE (n = 9) women. Flow cytometric analysis of CD3, CD56, CD16 and CD9 was used to characterize and quantify dNK cells in both groups. Cell surface markers from decidual leukocytes were compared with PBMC from healthy donors. KIR genotyping was performed in genomic DNA (control, n = 86; PE, n = 90) using PCR-SSP. Results The results indicate that dNK cells persist throughout pregnancy. They represented 20% of total leukocytes in control and PE groups, and they expressed the same cell surface markers (CD3-, CD56+, CD16- and CD9+) as dNK in the first trimester of gestation. There were no significant differences in the percentage of dNK cells between control and PE groups. The analysis of KIR gene frequencies and genotypes was not statistically different between control and PE groups. The ratio of activating to inhibitory genes indicated that the overall inhibitory balance (0.2-0.5) was more frequent in the PE group (control, 31.3% vs PE, 45.5%), and the activating balance (0.6-1.1) was more frequent in the control group (control, 68.6% vs PE, 54.4%). However this difference was not significant. Conclusion We demonstrated the persistence of dNK cells in PE and control women at the third trimester of pregnancy; these dNK cells had a similar phenotype to those found during early pregnancy. The predominance of a KIR inhibitory balance in the PE group could be associated to the physiopathology of PE. PMID:21247496

Distinctive Steady-State Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Responses to Passive Robotic Leg Exercise and Functional Electrical Stimulation during Head-Up Tilt.

PubMed

Sarabadani Tafreshi, Amirehsan; Riener, Robert; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena

2016-01-01

Introduction: Tilt tables enable early mobilization of patients by providing verticalization. But there is a high risk of orthostatic hypotension provoked by verticalization, especially after neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury. Robot-assisted tilt tables might be an alternative as they add passive robotic leg exercise (PE) that can be enhanced with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the verticalization, thus reducing the risk of orthostatic hypotension. We hypothesized that the influence of PE on the cardiovascular system during verticalization (i.e., head-up tilt) depends on the verticalization angle, and FES strengthens the PE influence. To test our hypotheses, we investigated the PE effects on the cardiovascular parameters heart rate (HR), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (sBP, dBP) at different angles of verticalization in a healthy population. Methods: Ten healthy subjects on a robot-assisted tilt table underwent four different study protocols while HR, sBP, and dBP were measured: (1) head-up tilt to 60° and 71° without PE; (2) PE at 20°, 40°, and 60° of head-up tilt; (3) PE while constant FES intensity was applied to the leg muscles, at 20°, 40°, and 60° of head-up tilt; (4) PE with variation of the applied FES intensity at 0°, 20°, 40°, and 60° of head-up tilt. Linear mixed models were used to model changes in HR, sBP, and dBP responses. Results: The models show that: (1) head-up tilt alone resulted in statistically significant increases in HR and dBP, but no change in sBP. (2) PE during head-up tilt resulted in statistically significant changes in HR, sBP, and dBP, but not at each angle and not always in the same direction (i.e., increase or decrease of cardiovascular parameters). Neither adding (3) FES at constant intensity to PE nor (4) variation of FES intensity during PE had any statistically significant effects on the cardiovascular parameters. Conclusion: The effect of PE on the cardiovascular system during head-up tilt is strongly dependent on the verticalization angle. Therefore, we conclude that orthostatic hypotension cannot be prevented by PE alone, but that the preventive effect depends on the verticalization angle of the robot-assisted tilt table. FES (independent of intensity) is not an important contributing factor to the PE effect.

Distinctive Steady-State Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Responses to Passive Robotic Leg Exercise and Functional Electrical Stimulation during Head-Up Tilt

PubMed Central

Sarabadani Tafreshi, Amirehsan; Riener, Robert; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena

2016-01-01

Introduction: Tilt tables enable early mobilization of patients by providing verticalization. But there is a high risk of orthostatic hypotension provoked by verticalization, especially after neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury. Robot-assisted tilt tables might be an alternative as they add passive robotic leg exercise (PE) that can be enhanced with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the verticalization, thus reducing the risk of orthostatic hypotension. We hypothesized that the influence of PE on the cardiovascular system during verticalization (i.e., head-up tilt) depends on the verticalization angle, and FES strengthens the PE influence. To test our hypotheses, we investigated the PE effects on the cardiovascular parameters heart rate (HR), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (sBP, dBP) at different angles of verticalization in a healthy population. Methods: Ten healthy subjects on a robot-assisted tilt table underwent four different study protocols while HR, sBP, and dBP were measured: (1) head-up tilt to 60° and 71° without PE; (2) PE at 20°, 40°, and 60° of head-up tilt; (3) PE while constant FES intensity was applied to the leg muscles, at 20°, 40°, and 60° of head-up tilt; (4) PE with variation of the applied FES intensity at 0°, 20°, 40°, and 60° of head-up tilt. Linear mixed models were used to model changes in HR, sBP, and dBP responses. Results: The models show that: (1) head-up tilt alone resulted in statistically significant increases in HR and dBP, but no change in sBP. (2) PE during head-up tilt resulted in statistically significant changes in HR, sBP, and dBP, but not at each angle and not always in the same direction (i.e., increase or decrease of cardiovascular parameters). Neither adding (3) FES at constant intensity to PE nor (4) variation of FES intensity during PE had any statistically significant effects on the cardiovascular parameters. Conclusion: The effect of PE on the cardiovascular system during head-up tilt is strongly dependent on the verticalization angle. Therefore, we conclude that orthostatic hypotension cannot be prevented by PE alone, but that the preventive effect depends on the verticalization angle of the robot-assisted tilt table. FES (independent of intensity) is not an important contributing factor to the PE effect. PMID:28018240

A novel method of adverse event detection can accurately identify venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) from narrative electronic health record data.

PubMed

Rochefort, Christian M; Verma, Aman D; Eguale, Tewodros; Lee, Todd C; Buckeridge, David L

2015-01-01

Venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), which include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), are associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and cost in hospitalized patients. To evaluate the success of preventive measures, accurate and efficient methods for monitoring VTE rates are needed. Therefore, we sought to determine the accuracy of statistical natural language processing (NLP) for identifying DVT and PE from electronic health record data. We randomly sampled 2000 narrative radiology reports from patients with a suspected DVT/PE in Montreal (Canada) between 2008 and 2012. We manually identified DVT/PE within each report, which served as our reference standard. Using a bag-of-words approach, we trained 10 alternative support vector machine (SVM) models predicting DVT, and 10 predicting PE. SVM training and testing was performed with nested 10-fold cross-validation, and the average accuracy of each model was measured and compared. On manual review, 324 (16.2%) reports were DVT-positive and 154 (7.7%) were PE-positive. The best DVT model achieved an average sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.85), specificity of 0.98 (98% CI 0.97 to 0.99), positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.89 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.93), and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). The best PE model achieved sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.85), specificity of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99), PPV of 0.84 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.92), and AUC of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.00). Statistical NLP can accurately identify VTE from narrative radiology reports. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Prediction scores do not correlate with clinically adjudicated categories of pulmonary embolism in critically ill patients

PubMed Central

Katsios, CM; Donadini, M; Meade, M; Mehta, S; Hall, R; Granton, J; Kutsiogiannis, J; Dodek, P; Heels-Ansdell, D; McIntyre, L; Vlahakis, N; Muscedere, J; Friedrich, J; Fowler, R; Skrobik, Y; Albert, M; Cox, M; Klinger, J; Nates, J; Bersten, A; Doig, C; Zytaruk, N; Crowther, M; Cook, DJ

2014-01-01

BACKGROUND: Prediction scores for pretest probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) validated in outpatient settings are occasionally used in the intensive care unit (ICU). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of Geneva and Wells scores with adjudicated categories of PE in ICU patients. METHODS: In a randomized trial of thromboprophylaxis, patients with suspected PE were adjudicated as possible, probable or definite PE. Data were then retrospectively abstracted for the Geneva Diagnostic PE score, Wells, Modified Wells and Simplified Wells Diagnostic scores. The chance-corrected agreement between adjudicated categories and each score was calculated. ANOVA was used to compare values across the three adjudicated PE categories. RESULTS: Among 70 patients with suspected PE, agreement was poor between adjudicated categories and Geneva pretest probabilities (kappa 0.01 [95% CI −0.0643 to 0.0941]) or Wells pretest probabilities (kappa −0.03 [95% CI −0.1462 to 0.0914]). Among four possible, 16 probable and 50 definite PEs, there were no significant differences in Geneva scores (possible = 4.0, probable = 4.7, definite = 4.5; P=0.90), Wells scores (possible = 2.8, probable = 4.9, definite = 4.1; P=0.37), Modified Wells (possible = 2.0, probable = 3.4, definite = 2.9; P=0.34) or Simplified Wells (possible = 1.8, probable = 2.8, definite = 2.4; P=0.30). CONCLUSIONS: Pretest probability scores developed outside the ICU do not correlate with adjudicated PE categories in critically ill patients. Research is needed to develop prediction scores for this population. PMID:24083302

A systematic Monte Carlo study of secondary electron fluence perturbation in clinical proton beams (70-250 MeV) for cylindrical and spherical ion chambers.

PubMed

Verhaegen, F; Palmans, H

2001-10-01

Current dosimetry protocols for clinical protons do not take into account any secondary electron fluence perturbation in ion chambers. In this work, we performed a systematic study of secondary electron fluence perturbation factors for spherical and cylindrical ion chambers in proton beams (70-250 MeV). The electron fluence perturbation factor, pe, was calculated using Monte Carlo transport of protons and secondary electrons. The influence of proton energy, cavity wall material (graphite, water, A150, PMMA, polystyrene), cavity radius, cavity wall thickness and positioning depth in water is studied. The influence of inelastic nuclear proton interactions is briefly discussed. It was found that pe depends on wall material; the largest values for pe were obtained for ion chambers with A150 walls (pe=1.009), the smallest values for graphite walls. The perturbation factor was found to be largely independent of proton energy. A slight decrease of pe with cavity radius was obtained, especially for low energy protons. The wall thickness was found to have no effect on pe in the range studied (0.025-0.1 cm). The depth of the cavity in a water phantom was also found to have an insignificant effect on pe. Based on the results in the paper for spherical and cylindrical ion chambers, a method to calculate pe for a thimble ion chamber is presented. The results presented in this paper for cylindrical and spherical ion chambers are in contradiction to the calculated electron fluence perturbation factors for planar ion chambers in the paper by Casnati et al.

Amelioration of azoxymethane induced-carcinogenesis by reducing oxidative stress in rat colon by natural extracts

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Azoxymethane (AOM) is a potent carcinogenic agent commonly used to induce colon cancer in rats; the cytotoxicity of AOM is considered to mediate oxidative stress. This study investigated the chemopreventive effect of three natural extracts [pomegranate peel extract (PomPE), papaya peel extract (PapPE) and seaweed extract (SE)] against AOM-induced oxidative stress and carcinogenesis in rat colon. Methods Eighty Sprague–Dawley rats (aged 4 weeks) were randomly divided into 8 groups (10 rats/group). Control group was fed a basal diet; AOM-treated group was fed a basal diet and received AOM intraperitonial injections for two weeks at a dose of 15 mg/kg bodyweight, whereas the other six groups were received oral supplementation of PomPE, PapPE or SE, in the presence or absence of AOM injection. All animals were continuously fed ad-libitum until aged 16 weeks, then all rats were sacrificed and the colon tissues were examined microscopically for pathological changes and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) development, genotoxicity (induced micronuclei (MN) cells enumeration), and glutathione and lipid peroxidation. Results Our results showed that AOM-induced ACF development and pathological changes in the colonic mucosal tissues, increased bone marrow MN cells and oxidative stress (glutathione depletion, lipid peroxidation) in rat colonic cells. The concomitant treatment of AOM with PomPE, PapPE or SE significantly ameliorated the cytotoxic effects of AOM. Conclusions The results of this study provide in-vivo evidence that PomPE, PapPE and SE reduced the AOM-induced colon cancer in rats, through their potent anti-oxidant activities. PMID:24533833

Addition of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio > 38 improves prediction of pre-eclampsia requiring delivery within 1 week: a longitudinal cohort study.

PubMed

Sabriá, E; Lequerica-Fernández, P; Lafuente-Ganuza, P; Eguia-Ángeles, E; Escudero, A I; Martínez-Morillo, E; Barceló, C; Álvarez, F V

2018-06-01

Short-term prediction of pre-eclampsia (PE) using the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is characterized by frequent false-positive results. As such, no treatment can be recommended to test-positive patients and multiple measurements are often required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), uric acid and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for prediction of delivery with PE within 1 week in singleton pregnancies with suspected PE and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 38. This was a longitudinal prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies presenting at 24 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks of gestation with clinically suspected PE and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 38, enrolled between January 2015 and June 2017. Multiple samples per patient were allowed but were restricted to one sample per gestational week. From 495 enrolled patients, 270 blood samples from 134 patients were ultimately analyzed. By using generalized estimating equations (GEE), the best-fit model was selected for prediction of delivery with PE within 1 week. The predictive value of this model was then assessed using area under the paired-ROC curve (AUC) analysis. The best-fit model included the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, NT-proBNP and the gestational week at the time of the measurement. This combined model was compared with the GEE model based on the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and the gestational week at the time of the measurement (reduced model). The AUC for the combined model was 0.845 (95% CI, 0.787-0.896), which was significantly greater (P = 0.011) than that of the reduced model (0.786 (95% CI, 0.722-0.844)). The addition of NT-proBNP assessment improves the short-term prediction of delivery as a result of PE compared with sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone, when the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is > 38. This finding should be considered in future research on the assessment of short-term risk of delivery as a result of PE. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Physical Education Pre-Service Teachers' Understanding, Application, and Development of Critical Thinking

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Jiling; McBride, Ron E.; Xiang, Ping; Scarmardo-Rhodes, Melissa

2018-01-01

To better prepare physical education (PE) teachers, this study explored a group of pre-service teachers' understanding, application, and development of critical thinking (CT) in a capstone methods course. Participants were 12 pre-service teachers from a PE teacher education (PETE) program at a large university in the southwestern United States.…

Physical Education Majors' Judgments about Inclusion and Teaching Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodge, Samuel R.; Elliott, Gloria

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to analyze the beliefs about inclusion and teaching students with disabilities of physical education (PE) majors from universities in North Carolina (NC). The participants were PE majors (n = 147) and other enrolled students (n = 30) at colleges and universities in NC. The research method was descriptive survey…

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Physical Education Teachers' Career Intentions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mäkelä, Kasper; Hirvensalo, Mirja; Whipp, Peter R.

2014-01-01

Purpose: This study investigated Finnish physical education (PE) teachers' intentions to leave the profession and the reasons behind them. Method: A large sample (N = 808) of PE teachers who graduated between 1980 and 2008 (432 women, 376 men) answered a modified job satisfaction and teacher follow-up questionnaire that elicited career…

Effect of the Crystal Structure on the Electrical Properties of Thin-Film PZT Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delimova, L. A.; Gushchina, E. V.; Zaitseva, N. V.; Seregin, D. S.; Vorotilov, K. A.; Sigov, A. S.

2018-03-01

A new method of two-stage crystallization of lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) films using a seed sublayer with a low excess lead content has been proposed and realized. A seed layer with a strong texture of perovskite Pe(111) grains is formed from a solution with a lead excess of 0-5 wt %; the fast growth of the grains is provided by the deposition of the main film from a solution with high lead content. As a result, a strong Pe(111) texture with complete suppression of the Pe(100) orientation forms. An analysis of current-voltage dependences of the transient currents and the distributions of the local conductivity measured by the contact AFM method reveals two various mechanisms of current percolation that are determined by traps in the bulk and at the perovskite grain interfaces.

Effect of Placenta Previa on Preeclampsia

PubMed Central

Ying, Hao; Lu, Yi; Dong, Yi-Nuo; Wang, De-Fen

2016-01-01

Background The correlation between gestational hypertension-preeclampsia (GH-PE) and placenta previa (PP) is controversial. Specifically, it is unknown whether placenta previa has any effect on the various types of preeclampsia (PE), and the role PP with concurrent placenta accreta (PA) play in the occurrence of GH-PE are not well understood. Objective The aim of this study was to identify the effects of PP on GH, mild and severe preeclampsia (MPE and SPE), and early- and late-onset preeclampsia (EPE and LPE). Another aim of the study was to determine if concurrent PA impacts the relationship between PP and GH-PE. Methods A retrospective single-center study of 1,058 patients having singleton pregnancies with PP was performed, and 2,116 pregnant women were randomly included as controls. These cases were collected from a tertiary hospital and met the inclusion criteria for the study. Clinical information, including PP and the gestational age at the onset of GH-PE were collected. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted after the confounding variables were controlled to assess the effects of PP on different types of GH-PE. Results There were 155 patients with GH-PE in the two groups. The incidences of GH-PE in the PP group and the control group were 2.5% (26/1058) and 6.1% (129/2116), respectively (P = 0.000). Binary and multiple regression analyses were conducted after controlling for confounding variables. Compared to the control group, in the PP group, the risk of GH-PE was reduced significantly by 78% (AOR: 0.216; 95% CI: 0.135–0.345); the risks of GH and PE were reduced by 55% (AOR: 0.451; 95% CI: 0.233–0.873) and 86% (AOR: 0.141; 95% CI: 0.073–0.271), respectively; the risks of MPE and SPE were reduced by 73% (AOR: 0.269; 95% CI: 0.087–0828) and 88% (AOR: 0.123; 95% CI: 0.055–0.279), respectively; and the risks of EPE and LPE were reduced by 95% (AOR: 0.047; 95% CI: 0.012–0.190) and 67% (AOR: 0.330; 95% CI: 0.153–0.715), respectively. The incidence of concurrent PA in women with PP was 5.86%; PP with PA did not significantly further reduce the incidence of GH-PE compared with PP without PA (1.64% vs. 2.51%, P>0.05). Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted after controlling for confounding variables, compared with the non-PP + GH-PE group, and the AOR of FGR in the non-PP + non-GH-PE group was 0.206 (0.124–0.342). Compared with the PP + GH-PE group, the AOR of FGR in the PP + non-GH-PE group was 0.430 (0.123–1.500). Conclusion PP is not only associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of GH-PE, but also is associated with a reduction in incidence of various types of PE. Concurrent PA and PP do not show association with a reduction in incidence of GH-PE. PMID:26731265

[Research progress of polyethylene inserts wear measurement and evaluation in total knee arthroplasty].

PubMed

Zhao, Feng; Wang, Chuan; Fan, Yubo

2015-01-01

Wear of polyethylene (PE) tibial inserts is a significant cause of implant failure of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). PE inserts wear measurement and evaluation is the key in TKA researches. There are many methods to measure insert wear. Qualitative methods such as observation are used to determine the wear and its type. Quantitative methods such as gravimetric analysis, coordinate measuring machines (CMM) and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) are used to measure the mass, volume and geometry of wear. In this paper, the principle, characteristics and research progress of main insert wear evaluation method were introduced and the problems and disadvantages were analyzed.

Multirate Particle-in-Cell Time Integration Techniques of Vlasov-Maxwell Equations for Collisionless Kinetic Plasma Simulations

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

Chen, Guangye; Chacon, Luis; Knoll, Dana Alan

2015-07-31

A multi-rate PIC formulation was developed that employs large timesteps for slow field evolution, and small (adaptive) timesteps for particle orbit integrations. Implementation is based on a JFNK solver with nonlinear elimination and moment preconditioning. The approach is free of numerical instabilities (ω peΔt >>1, and Δx >> λ D), and requires many fewer dofs (vs. explicit PIC) for comparable accuracy in challenging problems. Significant gains (vs. conventional explicit PIC) may be possible for large scale simulations. The paper is organized as follows: Vlasov-Maxwell Particle-in-cell (PIC) methods for plasmas; Explicit, semi-implicit, and implicit time integrations; Implicit PIC formulation (Jacobian-Free Newton-Krylovmore » (JFNK) with nonlinear elimination allows different treatments of disparate scales, discrete conservation properties (energy, charge, canonical momentum, etc.)); Some numerical examples; and Summary.« less

Functional analyses of Populus euphratica brassinosteroid biosynthesis enzyme genes DWF4 (PeDWF4) and CPD (PeCPD) in the regulation of growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana.

PubMed

Si, Jianping; Sun, Yan; Wang, L U; Qin, Ying; Wang, Chongying; Wang, Xinyu

2016-12-01

DWF4 and CPD are key brassinosteroids (BRs) biosynthesis enzyme genes. To explore the function of Populus euphratica DWF4 (PeDWF4) and CPD (PeCPD), Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic lines (TLs) expressing PeDWF4, PeCPD or PeDWF4 plus PeCPD, namely PeDWF4-TL, PeCPD-TL and PeCP/DW-TL, were characterized. Compared with wild type (WT), the changes of both PeDWF4-TL and PeCPD-TL in plant heights, silique and hypocotyls lengths and seed yields were similar, but in bolting time and stem diameters, they were opposite. PeCP/DW-TL was more in plant heights and the lengths of primary root, silique, and fruit stalk, but less in silique numbers and seed yields than either PeDWF4-TL or PeCPD-TL. PeDWF4 and PeCPD specially expressed in PeDWF4-TL or PeCPDTL, and the transcription level of PeDWF4 was higher than that of PeCPD. In PeCP/DW-TL, their expressions were all relatively reduced. Additionally, the expression of PeDWF4 and PeCPD differentially made the expression levels of AtDWF4, AtCPD, AtBR6OX2, AtFLC, AtTCP1 and AtGA5 change in the TLs. The total BRs contents were PeDWF4-TL greater than PeCP/DW-TL greater than WT greater than PeCPD-TL. These results imply that PeDWF4 is functionally not exactly the same as PeCPD and there may be a synergistic and antagonistic effects in physiology between both of them in the regulation of plant growth and development.

Development and Validation of a New HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol, Ascorbic Acid, and Pseudoephedrine HCl in their Co-formulated Tablets. Application to in vitro Dissolution Testing.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Fawzia; El-Enany, Nahed; El-Shaheny, Rania N; Mikhail, Ibraam E

2015-01-01

The first HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol (PC), ascorbic acid (AA), and pseudoephedrine HCl (PE) in their co-formulated tablets. Separation was achieved on a C18 column in 5 min using a mobile phase composed of methanol-0.05 M phosphate buffer (35:65, v/v) at pH 2.5 with UV detection at 220 nm. Linear calibration curves were constructed over concentration ranges of 1.0 - 50.0, 3.0 - 60.0 and 3.0 - 80.0 μg mL(-1) for PC, AA, and PE, respectively. The method was validated and applied for the simultaneous determination of these drugs in their tablets with average % recoveries of 101.17 ± 0.67, 98.34 ± 0.77, and 98.95 ± 1.11%, for PC, AA, and PE, respectively. The proposed method was also used to construct in vitro dissolution profiles of the co-formulated tablets containing the three drugs.

Surface characterization of modern resin composites: a multitechnique approach.

PubMed

Silikas, Nick; Kavvadia, Katerina; Eliades, George; Watts, David

2005-04-01

To characterize the surface properties of some modern resin composites employing a series of physicochemical methods. Specimens from three microhybrid (Palfique Estellite-PE, Z250 Filtek-ZF, Tetric Ceram-TC) and one nanofilled (Supreme Filtek-SF) conventionally photo-cured resin composites polished with Soflex disks were studied for the following properties: Surface chemical composition and degree of C=C conversion (FTIR), surface energetics (contact angles), surface texture (AFM), surface roughness (AFM, stylus profilometry) and gloss (60 degrees-, 20 degrees-angle specular gloss). Polar and non polar molecular groups were identified in all products including NH and CONH (SF, ZF, TC). SF and ZF demonstrated higher conversion than PE and TC (P< 0.05). No significant differences (P> 0.05) were found in critical surface tension, total work of adhesion and its polar and dispersion components, the latter being the highest in all products. AFM showed the smoothest surface texture in PE. The ranking of Sa, Sq, Ra and Rz roughness parameters was PEZF>TC, P< 0.05) were more sensitive than 60 degree-angle measurements (PE, SF>TC, P< 0.05) in revealing gloss differences. A positive correlation was found between Sa and Ra and a negative one between Sa and 20 degree-angle gloss.

Pulmonary MRA: Differentiation of pulmonary embolism from truncation artifact

PubMed Central

Bannas, Peter; Schiebler, Mark L; Motosugi, Utaroh; François, Christopher J; Reeder, Scott B; Nagle, Scott K

2015-01-01

Purpose Truncation artifact (Gibbs ringing) causes central signal drop within vessels in pulmonary MRA that can be mistaken for emboli, reducing the diagnostic accuracy for pulmonary embolism (PE). We propose a quantitative approach to differentiate truncation artifact from PE. Methods Twenty-eight patients who underwent pulmonary CTA for suspected PE were recruited for pulmonary MRA. Signal intensity drops within pulmonary arteries that persisted on both arterial-phase and delayed-phase MRA were identified. The percent signal loss between the vessel lumen and central drop was measured. CTA served as the reference standard for presence of pulmonary emboli. Results A total of 65 signal intensity drops were identified on MRA. 48 (74%) of these were artifact and 17 (26%) were PE, as confirmed by CTA. Truncation artifacts had a significantly lower median signal drop than PE at both arterial-phase (26% [range 12–58%] vs. 85% [range 53–91%]) and at delayed-phase MRA (26% [range 11–55%] vs. 77% [range 47–89%]), p<0.0001 for both. ROC analyses revealed a threshold value of 51% (arterial-phase) and 47%-signal drop (delayed-phase) to differentiate between truncation artifact and PE with 100% sensitivity and >90% specificity. Conclusion Quantitative signal drop is an objective tool to help differentiate truncation artifact and pulmonary embolism in pulmonary MRA. PMID:24863886

Stratification during evaporative assembly of multicomponent nanoparticle films

DOE PAGES

Liu, Xiao; Liu, Weiping; Carr, Amanda J.; ...

2018-01-03

Multicomponent coatings with layers comprising different functionalities are of interest for a variety of applications, including electronic devices, energy storage, and biomaterials. Rather than creating such a film using multiple deposition steps, we explore a single-step method to create such films by varying the particle Peclet numbers, Pe. Our hypothesis, based on recent theoretical descriptions of the stratification process, is that by varying particle size and evaporation rate such that Pe of large and small particles are above and below unity, we can create stratified films of polymeric and inorganic particles. In this paper, we present AFM on the surfacemore » composition of films comprising poly(styrene) nanoparticles (diameter 25–90 nm) and silica nanoparticles (diameter 8–14 nm). Previous studies on films containing both inorganic and polymeric particles correspond to large Pe values (e.g., 120–460), while we utilize Pe ~ 0.3–4, enabling us to test theories that have been developed for different regimes of Pe. We demonstrate evidence of stratification and effect of the Pe ratio, although our results agree only qualitatively with theory. Finally, our results also provide validation of recent theoretical descriptions of the film drying process that predict different regimes for large-on-top and small-on-top stratification.« less

Utility of an open field Shack-Hartmann aberrometer for measurement of refractive error in infants and young children

PubMed Central

Harvey, Erin M.; Miller, Joseph M.; Schwiegerling, Jim

2013-01-01

PURPOSE To assess the utility of an open-field Shack-Hartmann aberrometer for measurement of refractive error without cycloplegia in infants and young children. METHOD Data included 2698 subject encounters with Native American infants and children aged 6 months to <8 years. We attempted right eye measurements without cycloplegia using the pediatric wavefront evaluator (PeWE) on all participants while they viewed near (50 cm) and distant (2 m) fixation targets. Cycloplegic autorefraction (Rmax [Nikon Retinomax K-plus2]) measurements were obtained for children aged ≥3 years. RESULTS The success rates of noncycloplegic PeWE measurement for near (70%) and distant targets (56%) significantly improved with age. Significant differences in mean spherical equivalent (M) across near versus distant fixation target conditions were consistent with the difference in accommodative demand. Differences in astigmatism measurements for near versus distant target conditions were not clinically significant. Noncycloplegic PeWE and cycloplegic Rmax measurements of M and astigmatism were strongly correlated. Mean noncycloplegic PeWE M was significantly more myopic or less hyperopic and astigmatism measurements tended to be greater in magnitude compared with cycloplegic Rmax. CONCLUSIONS The PeWE tended to overestimate myopia and underestimate hyperopia when cycloplegia was not used. The PeWE is useful for measuring accommodation and astigmatism. PMID:24160970

[Psychiatric Emergencies in the Emergency Room of the Ulm University Hospital in 2000 and 2010].

PubMed

Freudenmann, Roland W; Espe, Johannes; Lang, Dirk; Klaus, Jochen; Gahr, Maximilian; Schönfeldt-Lecuona, Carlos

2017-01-01

Objective: Despite of the importance of psychiatric emergencies (PE) requiring treatment at an emergency room (ER) little is known about their frequency and current trends in terms of quantity and quality. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all PE treated at the ER of the University Hospital Ulm (Germany) in 2000 and 2010. Results: 6 % (2000) or 5 % (2010) of the ER cases were PE. Despite an increase from 369 to 430 cases (+ 16,5 %) their share decreased because of an even stronger increase of other emergencies (+ 33 %). The most frequent PE in 2000 was alcohol intoxication (37,7 %), while it was intoxication with prescribed and/or illicit drugs in 2010 (47,9 %). Patients with alcohol intoxications were significantly younger in 2010 as compared with 2000. Suicide attempts were seen in every fourth PE. They were significantly more frequent in 2010. PEs were generally more frequent in the evening and over the night. Conclusion: This study provides first insight into current trends in PE treated at the ER in Germany. Our data provide an empirical starting point for optimizing clinical care, although the study is limited by its retrospective and mono-centric design. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Stratification during evaporative assembly of multicomponent nanoparticle films

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

Liu, Xiao; Liu, Weiping; Carr, Amanda J.

Multicomponent coatings with layers comprising different functionalities are of interest for a variety of applications, including electronic devices, energy storage, and biomaterials. Rather than creating such a film using multiple deposition steps, we explore a single-step method to create such films by varying the particle Peclet numbers, Pe. Our hypothesis, based on recent theoretical descriptions of the stratification process, is that by varying particle size and evaporation rate such that Pe of large and small particles are above and below unity, we can create stratified films of polymeric and inorganic particles. In this paper, we present AFM on the surfacemore » composition of films comprising poly(styrene) nanoparticles (diameter 25–90 nm) and silica nanoparticles (diameter 8–14 nm). Previous studies on films containing both inorganic and polymeric particles correspond to large Pe values (e.g., 120–460), while we utilize Pe ~ 0.3–4, enabling us to test theories that have been developed for different regimes of Pe. We demonstrate evidence of stratification and effect of the Pe ratio, although our results agree only qualitatively with theory. Finally, our results also provide validation of recent theoretical descriptions of the film drying process that predict different regimes for large-on-top and small-on-top stratification.« less

Advanced Poincaré plot analysis differentiates between hypertensive pregnancy disorders.

PubMed

Seeck, A; Baumert, M; Fischer, C; Khandoker, A; Faber, R; Voss, A

2011-10-01

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders affect 6% to 8% of all pregnancies and can result in severe complications for the mother and the foetus of which pre-eclampsia (PE) has the worst perinatal outcome. Several studies suggested that the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the process of developing hypertensive pregnancy disorders, especially PE. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether women with PE could be differentiated from women with various other hypertensive pregnancy disorders, by employing an enhanced Poincaré plot analysis (PPA), the segmented Poincaré plot analysis (SPPA), to their beat-to-beat interval and blood pressure signals. Sixty-nine pregnant women with hypertensive disorders (29 PE, 40 with chronic or gestational hypertension) were included. The SPPA as well as the traditional PPA found significant differences between PE and other hypertensive disorders of diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001 versus p < 0.001) but only the SPPA method revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) also of the systolic blood pressure. Further on, linear discrimination analysis demonstrated that indices derived from SPPA are more suitable for differentiation between chronic and gestational hypertension and PE than those from traditional PPA (area under the ROC curve 0.85 versus 0.69). Therefore this procedure could contribute to the differential diagnosis of hypertensive pregnancy disorders.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for production of 2-Phenylethylacetate from L-phenylalanine.

PubMed

Guo, Daoyi; Zhang, Lihua; Pan, Hong; Li, Xun

2017-08-01

In order to meet the need of consumer preferences for natural flavor compounds, microbial synthesis method has become a very attractive alternative to the chemical production. The 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) and its ester 2-phenylethylacetate (2-PEAc) are two extremely important flavor compounds with a rose-like odor. In recent years, Escherichia coli and yeast have been metabolically engineered to produce 2-PE. However, a metabolic engineering approach for 2-PEAc production is rare. Here, we designed and expressed a 2-PEAc biosynthetic pathway in E. coli. This pathway comprised four steps: aminotransferase (ARO8) for transamination of L-phenylalanine to phenylpyruvate, 2-keto acid decarboxylase KDC for the decarboxylation of the phenylpyruvate to phenylacetaldehyde, aldehyde reductase YjgB for the reduction of phenylacetaldehyde to 2-PE, alcohol acetyltransferase ATF1 for the esterification of 2-PE to 2-PEAc. Using the engineered E. coli strain for shake flasks cultivation with 1 g/L L-phenylalanine, we achieved co-production of 268 mg/L 2-PEAc and 277 mg/L 2-PE. Our results suggest that approximately 65% of L-phenylalanine was utilized toward 2-PEAc and 2-PE biosynthesis and thus demonstrate potential industrial applicability of this microbial platform. © 2017 The Authors. MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Travel-acquired ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae: impact of colonization at individual and community level

PubMed Central

Woerther, Paul-Louis; Andremont, Antoine

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Antibiotic resistance is a rapidly increasing global emergency that calls for action from all of society. Intestinal multidrugresistant (MDR) bacteria have spread worldwide with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) -producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) as the most prevalent type. The millions of travelers annually visiting regions with poor hygiene contribute substantially to this spread. Our review explores the underlying data and discusses the consequences of the colonization. Methods: PubMed was searched for relevant literature between January 2010 and August 2016. We focused on articles reporting (1) the rate of ESBL-PE acquisition in a group of travelers recruited before/after international travel, (2) fecal carriage of ESBL-PE as explored by culture and, for part of the studies, (3) analysis of factors predisposing to colonization. Results: We reviewed a total of 16 studies focusing on travel-acquired ESBL-PE. The acquisition rates reveal that 2070% of visitors to (sub)tropical regions get colonized by ESBL-PE. The main risk factors predisposing to colonization during travel are destination, travelers diarrhea, and antibiotic use. Conclusions: While most of those colonized remain asymptomatic, acquisition of ESBL-PE may have consequences both at individual and community level. We discuss current efforts to restrict the spread. PMID:28520999

Altered Function of Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescents with Peer Verbal Abuse History

PubMed Central

Lee, Sang Won; Choi, Jeewook; Lee, Jong-Sun; Yoo, Jae Hyun; Kim, Ko Woon; Kim, Dongchan; Park, HyunWook

2017-01-01

Objective Previous studies showing the association of exposure to peer (PeVA) and parental verbal abuse in childhood with structural alterations in the young adult brain suggest functional changes in adolescence. In this functional MRI study, we investigated the effects of exposure to PeVA, during elementary and middle school periods, on brain response to emotional words, in high school students. Methods An emotional Stroop task consisting of swear, negative, positive, and neutral words was performed during functional MRI scan for 23 subjects who were divided into low- and high exposure groups to PeVA. Results High-PeVA group had a higher depression score, greater left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) activity, and higher left VLPFC-left hippocampus connectivity in swear word conditions. The VLPFC activity and left VLPFC-left hippocampus connectivity was negatively related to the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Conclusion These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that exposure to PeVA, during childhood, is an aversive stimulus associated with meaningful functional change in emotional regulation network, showing hypersensitivity to swear words, at middle adolescence. PMID:28845171

Changes to the school food and physical activity environment after guideline implementation in British Columbia, Canada

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background High rates of childhood obesity have generated interest among policy makers to improve the school food environment and increase students’ levels of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine school-level changes associated with implementation of the Food and Beverage Sales in Schools (FBSS) and Daily Physical Activity (DPA) guidelines in British Columbia, Canada. Methods Elementary and middle/high school principals completed a survey on the school food and physical activity environment in 2007–08 (N = 513) and 2011–12 (N = 490). Hierarchical mixed effects regression was used to examine changes in: 1) availability of food and beverages; 2) minutes per day of Physical Education (PE); 3) delivery method of PE; and 4) school community support. Models controlled for school enrollment and community type, education and income. Results After policy implementation was expected, more elementary schools provided access to fruits and vegetables and less to 100% fruit juice. Fewer middle/high schools provided access to sugar-sweetened beverages, French fries, baked goods, salty snacks and chocolate/candy. Schools were more likely to meet 150 min/week of PE for grade 6 students, and offer more minutes of PE per week for grade 8 and 10 students including changes to PE delivery method. School community support for nutrition and physical activity policies increased over time. Conclusion Positive changes to the school food environment occurred after schools were expected to implement the FBSS and DPA guidelines. Reported changes to the school environment are encouraging and provide support for guidelines and policies that focus on increasing healthy eating and physical activity in schools. PMID:24731514

Integration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella pneumophila in drinking water biofilms grown on domestic plumbing materials.

PubMed

Moritz, Miriam M; Flemming, Hans-Curt; Wingender, Jost

2010-06-01

Drinking water biofilms were grown on coupons of plumbing materials, including ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) rubber, silane cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X b), electron-ray cross-linked PE (PE-X c) and copper under constant flow-through of cold tap water. After 14 days, the biofilms were spiked with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila and Enterobacter nimipressuralis (10(6) cells/mL each). The test bacteria were environmental isolates from contamination events in drinking water systems. After static incubation for 24 h, water flow was resumed and continued for 4 weeks. Total cell count and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) of biofilms were monitored, and P. aeruginosa, L. pneumophila and E. nimipressuralis were quantified, using standard culture-based methods or culture-independent fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). After 14 days total cell counts and HPC values were highest on EPDM followed by the plastic materials and copper. P. aeruginosa and L. pneumophila became incorporated into drinking water biofilms and were capable to persist in biofilms on EPDM and PE-X materials for several weeks, while copper biofilms were colonized only by L. pneumophila in low culturable numbers. E. nimipressuralis was not detected in any of the biofilms. Application of the FISH method often yielded orders of magnitude higher levels of P. aeruginosa and L. pneumophila than culture methods. These observations indicate that drinking water biofilms grown under cold water conditions on domestic plumbing materials, especially EPDM and PE-X in the present study, can be a reservoir for P. aeruginosa and L. pneumophila that persist in these habitats mostly in a viable but non-culturable state.

Viewpoint: suggestions for a shift in teaching clinical skills to medical students: the reflective clinical examination.

PubMed

Benbassat, Jochanan; Baumal, Reuben; Heyman, Samuel N; Brezis, Mayer

2005-12-01

How medical students are taught physical examination (PE) skills appears to have changed little since the 1950s. Textbooks are organized according to organ systems and describe methods of eliciting and recording history and PE data using a routine format. In many medical schools, the preclinical teaching programs for clinical examination skills similarly emphasize an orderly collection of data. Teaching students to use diagnostic reasoning is postponed until students have learned history-taking and PE skills. The authors propose three modifications to this educational approach. First, rather than performing the clinical examination using a routine format, students should be encouraged to form diagnostic hypotheses early on while listening to the patient's narrative, and conduct the subsequent search for history and PE data in a reflective way in order to confirm or refute these hypotheses. Second, the authors propose that interviewing patients and conducting the PE be taught by one-on-one tutoring until students achieve mastery. Last, they suggest that the PE be guided not only by students' diagnostic hypotheses, but also by patients' expectations. These modifications are consistent with current trends in medical education that encourage a reflective practice and problem-based learning (PBL), and they also introduce medical students to the precepts of clinical reasoning. The authors suggest that challenging students to seek specific physical findings may increase the likelihood of detecting findings when they are present, and may transform patient interviewing and conducting the PE from routine activities into intellectually exciting experiences.

Numerical analysis of electronegative plasma in the extraction region of negative hydrogen ion sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuppel, S.; Matsushita, D.; Hatayama, A.; Bacal, M.

2011-01-01

This numerical study focuses on the physical mechanisms involved in the extraction of volume-produced H- ions from a steady state laboratory negative hydrogen ion source with one opening in the plasma electrode (PE) on which a dc-bias voltage is applied. A weak magnetic field is applied in the source plasma transversely to the extracted beam. The goal is to highlight the combined effects of the weak magnetic field and the PE bias voltage (upon the extraction process of H- ions and electrons). To do so, we focus on the behavior of electrons and volume-produced negative ions within a two-dimensional model using the particle-in-cell method. No collision processes are taken into account, except for electron diffusion across the magnetic field using a simple random-walk model at each time step of the simulation. The results show first that applying the magnetic field (without PE bias) enhances H- ion extraction, while it drastically decreases the extracted electron current. Secondly, the extracted H- ion current has a maximum when the PE bias is equal to the plasma potential, while the extracted electron current is significantly reduced by applying the PE bias. The underlying mechanism leading to the above results is the gradual opening by the PE bias of the equipotential lines towards the parts of the extraction region facing the PE. The shape of these lines is due originally to the electron trapping by the magnetic field.

Kidney function and urine protein composition in healthy volunteers during space station fitness tests.

PubMed

Fomina, Elena V; Lisova, Natalia Iu; Kireev, Kirill S; Tiys, Evgeny S; Kononikhin, Alexey S; Larina, Irina M

2015-05-01

There is a close physiological connection between muscular activity and kidney function. During physical exercise (PE) the qualitative and quantitative composition of urine changes. This paper explores the influence of moderate PE on urine protein composition. The study of urine protein composition will help to make corrections to the existing methods of countermeasures. There were 10 healthy men who exercised on a treadmill similar to the one onboard the International Space Station. We analyzed their urinary proteome composition, potassium level, sodium level, and their level of osmotically active substances before and after PE. After moderate PE, a small increase in urine flow speed and a constant glomerular filtration rate were noted. The average-group index of total protein excretion within the urine was reliably increased. From the 148 proteins identified in the urine, 64 were associated with known tissue origin. We found that protein penetration into the urine had a positive correlation with their tissue expression. Selectivity of the glomerular barrier during PE decreased and high-molecular weight proteins penetrated through the glomerular barrier more easily after PE. Performance of moderate intensity physical exercise of short duration did not lead to an increase in the glomerular filtration rate nor did diuresis increase above the limits of baseline variability. However, the protein excretion rate increased after PE. We also observed that protein composition drift indicated a change in the set of biological processes in which a given protein participated, in some cases activating, in some cases inactivating them.

In Silico Assessment of Literature Insulin Bolus Calculation Methods Accounting for Glucose Rate of Change.

PubMed

Cappon, Giacomo; Marturano, Francesca; Vettoretti, Martina; Facchinetti, Andrea; Sparacino, Giovanni

2018-05-01

The standard formula (SF) used in bolus calculators (BCs) determines meal insulin bolus using "static" measurement of blood glucose concentration (BG) obtained by self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) fingerprick device. Some methods have been proposed to improve efficacy of SF using "dynamic" information provided by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and, in particular, glucose rate of change (ROC). This article compares, in silico and in an ideal framework limiting the exposition to possibly confounding factors (such as CGM noise), the performance of three popular techniques devised for such a scope, that is, the methods of Buckingham et al (BU), Scheiner (SC), and Pettus and Edelman (PE). Using the UVa/Padova Type 1 diabetes simulator we generated data of 100 virtual subjects in noise-free, single-meal scenarios having different preprandial BG and ROC values. Meal insulin bolus was computed using SF, BU, SC, and PE. Performance was assessed with the blood glucose risk index (BGRI) on the 9 hours after meal. On average, BU, SC, and PE improve BGRI compared to SF. When BG is rapidly decreasing, PE obtains the best performance. In the other ROC scenarios, none of the considered methods prevails in all the preprandial BG conditions tested. Our study showed that, at least in the considered ideal framework, none of the methods to correct SF according to ROC is globally better than the others. Critical analysis of the results also suggests that further investigations are needed to develop more effective formulas to account for ROC information in BCs.

Turkish validation of the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool and its association with intravaginal ejaculatory latency time.

PubMed

Serefoglu, E C; Cimen, H I; Ozdemir, A T; Symonds, T; Berktas, M; Balbay, M D

2009-01-01

There are uncertain issues on the diagnostic methods of premature ejaculation (PE). The premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) was developed to systematically apply the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria in diagnosing PE and the aim of this study is to carry out the Turkish validation of the PEDT and to evaluate its association with intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT). A total of 94 patients with a self-reported complaint of PE and 88 men without PE were enrolled into the study and requested to complete the nine-item PEDT, which was translated into Turkish. The patients were also requested to measure IELT. All participants were requested to come for a second visit to assess the PEDT's retest reliability; data from 78 men in the PE group and 69 men in the control group were collected. The IELT data of 35 patients were also recorded. The mean age of the PE group and the control group were 39.4+/-9.7 (24-65) and 30.1+/-5.7 (20-56), respectively, (P=0.068). Among the patients in the PE group, 24 (68.5%) reported life-long PE, whereas 11 (31.5%) reported acquired PE. The geometric mean IELT of the PE group was 59.7+/-46.2 (6.5-197.7) s. The number of men reporting IELTs of <1, 1-<2 and >2 min were 20 (57.1%), 11 (31.5) and 4 (11.4%), respectively. The factor analysis assessment showed that the five-item combination (questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8) explained 74.4% of the variance, there were no other combinations that explained the variance more effectively. Cronbach's alpha score of five-item combination was calculated as 0.77, showing adequate internal consistency. The overall Cronbach's alpha score did not increase if any item combination was deleted. The test-retest correlation coefficients of each item were higher than 0.80 and the correlation coefficient of the total score was 0.90. The PEDT and IELT showed an adequate correlation (rho=0.44). As a conclusion, the validated five-item Turkish version of PEDT is a reliable questionnaire to screen PE among Turkish patients. Its significant association with IELT supports the fact that PEDT may be of benefit for the diagnosis of PE and measuring the response to treatment. In addition, PEDT seems to be more applicable than measuring IELT in our population, for the assessment of PE.

mRNA Levels of Placental Iron and Zinc Transporter Genes Are Upregulated in Gambian Women with Low Iron and Zinc Status.

PubMed

Jobarteh, Modou Lamin; McArdle, Harry J; Holtrop, Grietje; Sise, Ebrima A; Prentice, Andrew M; Moore, Sophie E

2017-07-01

Background: The role of the placenta in regulating micronutrient transport in response to maternal status is poorly understood. Objective: We investigated the effect of prenatal nutritional supplementation on the regulation of placental iron and zinc transport. Methods: In a randomized trial in rural Gambia [ENID (Early Nutrition and Immune Development)], pregnant women were allocated to 1 of 4 nutritional intervention arms: 1 ) iron and folic acid (FeFol) tablets (FeFol group); 2 ) multiple micronutrient (MMN) tablets (MMN group); 3 ) protein energy (PE) as a lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS; PE group); and 4 ) PE and MMN (PE+MMN group) as LNS. All arms included iron (60 mg/d) and folic acid (400 μg/d). The MMN and PE+MMN arms included 30 mg supplemental Zn/d. In a subgroup of ∼300 mother-infant pairs, we measured maternal iron status, mRNA levels of genes encoding for placental iron and zinc transport proteins, and cord blood iron levels. Results: Maternal plasma iron concentration in late pregnancy was 45% and 78% lower in the PE and PE+MMN groups compared to the FeFol and MMN groups, respectively ( P < 0.001). The mRNA levels of the placental iron uptake protein transferrin receptor 1 were 30-49% higher in the PE and PE+MMN arms than in the FeFol arm ( P < 0.031), and also higher in the PE+MMN arm (29%; P = 0.042) than in the MMN arm. Ferritin in infant cord blood was 18-22% lower in the LNS groups ( P < 0.024). Zinc supplementation in the MMN arm was associated with higher maternal plasma zinc concentrations (10% increase; P < 0.001) than in other intervention arms. mRNA levels for intracellular zinc-uptake proteins, in this case zrt, irt-like protein (ZIP) 4 and ZIP8, were 96-205% lower in the PE+MMN arm than in the intervention arms without added zinc ( P < 0.025). Furthermore, mRNA expression of ZIP1 was 85% lower in the PE+MMN group than in the PE group ( P = 0.003). Conclusion: In conditions of low maternal iron and in the absence of supplemental zinc, the placenta upregulates the gene expression of iron and zinc uptake proteins, presumably in order to meet fetal demands in the face of low maternal supply. The ENID trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN49285450.

A Novel Detector of Broadband Transient Signals

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

accroissement soudain de l’énergie spectrale observé pendant une courte période sur une vaste gamme de fréquences. Contrairement aux autres méthodes de...nombre d’applications différentes dans lesquelles les transitoires se manifestent sous forme d’un accroissement soudain de l’énergie spectrale observé...torpedo bearing error of 20 degrees (θ = θ1 + 20) was introduced (equation (16)). Al - though, in this case r2 was reduced, the two transients were

Final Reports for Contract N00014-87-K-0181 (University of Hawaii, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology)

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-01

CONTENT A. Administration B. Dynamics of Small-scale Ocean Motions (P. Muller) C. Seismic Anisotropy ( G . Fryer) D. Low Frequency Modulus Measurements...Manghnani G . Marching the Elastodynamic Wave Equation (N. Frazer) H. Theoretical & Computational Studies in Marine Seismology (N. Frazer) I. Correction and...Publication. and in the summary article: Muller, P.,E. D’Asaro and G . Holloway, 1991: Internal Gravity Waves and Mixing. EOS, T:ansactions, American

The Relationship between Posttraumatic and Depressive Symptoms during Prolonged Exposure with and without Cognitive Restructuring for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aderka, Idan M.; Gillihan, Seth J.; McLean, Carmen P.; Foa, Edna B.

2013-01-01

Objective: In the present study, we examined the relationship between posttraumatic and depressive symptoms during prolonged exposure (PE) treatment with and without cognitive restructuring (CR) for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: Female assault survivors (N = 153) with PTSD were randomized to either PE alone or PE…

Effects of a Regular Motor Activity on Somatic and Fitness Variables in Boys Aged 17-18 Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piotrowska, Joanna

2011-01-01

Study aim: To assess the somatic and fitness changes in semisedentary boys persuaded to undertake Nordic Walking activities throughout a school year. Material and methods: Two groups of schoolboys aged 17-18 years were studied: regularly attending physical education (PE) classes (Group A; n = 46) and those who avoided PE classes by submitting sick…

Densities of aqueous blended amines

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

Hsu, C.H.; Li, M.H.

1997-05-01

Solutions of alkanolamines are an industrially important class of compounds used in the natural gas and synthetic ammonia industries and petroleum chemical plants for the removal of CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S from gas streams. The densities of aqueous mixtures of diethanolamine (DEA) + N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) + water, DEA + 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) + water, and monoethanolamine (MEA) + 2-piperidineethanol (2-PE) + water were measured from 30 C to 80 C. A Redlich-Kister equation of the excess volume was applied to represent the density. Based on the available density data for five ternary systems: MEA + MDEA + H{sub 2}O, MEAmore » + AMP + H{sub 2}O, DEA + MDEA + H{sub 2}O, DEA + AMP + H{sub 2}O, and MEA + 2-PE + H{sub 2}O, a generalized set of binary parameters were determined. The density calculations show quite satisfactory results. The overall average absolute percent deviation is about 0.04% for a total of 686 data points.« less

Viscosities of aqueous blended amines

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

Hsu, C.H.; Li, M.H.

1997-07-01

Solutions of alkanolamines are an industrially important class of compounds used in the natural gas, oil refineries, petroleum chemical plants, and synthetic ammonia industries for the removal of acidic components like CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}S from gas streams. The viscosities of aqueous mixtures of diethanolamine (DEA) + N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), DEA + 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), and monoethanolamine (MEA) + 2-piperidineethanol (2-PE) were measured from 30 C to 80 C. A Redlich-Kister equation for the viscosity deviation was applied to represent the viscosity. On the basis of the available viscosity data for five ternary systems, MEA + MDEA + H{sub 2}O, MEAmore » + AMP + H{sub 2}O, DEA + MDEA + H{sub 2}O, DEA + AMP + H{sub 2}O, and MEA + 2-PE + H{sub 2}O, a generalized set of binary parameters were determined. For the viscosity calculation of the systems tested, the overall average absolute percent deviation is about 1.0% for a total of 499 data points.« less

Particle dynamics in a viscously decaying cat's eye: The effect of finite Schmidt numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newton, P. K.; Meiburg, Eckart

1991-05-01

The dynamics and mixing of passive marker particles for the model problem of a decaying cat's eye flow is studied. The flow field corresponds to Stuart's one-parameter family of solutions [J. Fluid Mech. 29, 417 (1967)]. It is time dependent as a result of viscosity, which is modeled by allowing the free parameter to depend on time according to the self-similar solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for an isolated point vortex. Particle diffusion is numerically simulated by a random walk model. While earlier work had shown that, for small values of time over Reynolds number t/Re≪1, the interval length characterizing the formation of lobes of fluid escaping from the cat's eye scales as Re-1/2, the present study shows that, for the case of diffusive effects and t/Pe≪1, the scaling follows Pe-1/4. A simple argument, taking into account streamline convergence and divergence in different parts of the flow field, explains the Pe-1/4 scaling.

Innovative edible packaging from mango kernel starch for the shelf life extension of red chili powder.

PubMed

Nawab, Anjum; Alam, Feroz; Haq, Mohammad Abdul; Haider, Mohammad Samee; Lutfi, Zubala; Kamaluddin, Sheikh; Hasnain, Abid

2018-07-15

In this study mango kernel starch (MKS) based heat sealable pouches were developed for packing of red chili powder. The films were prepared by casting technique using glycerol, sorbitol and 1:1 mixture of glycerol and sorbitol and were sealed. All films showed better heat sealing capacity but glycerol films plasticized exhibited higher seal strength than their counterparts. The red chili powder was packed in the MKS film pouches while commercially available polyethylene (PE) film was used as control. The pungency and color of red chili powder was monitored during six months storage at 40°C. The capsaicinoid content was extracted from the red chili with acetonitrile and evaluated quantitatively using spectrophotometric method. The extractable color was measured by ASTA method using acetone. The results showed significant differences in color and pungency of chili packed in MKS and PE pouches. The highest reduction in capsaicinoid content (pungency) of chili powder was observed in PE pouch (25.9%) while lowest was observed in MKS pouch containing sorbitol (15.7%). Similarly color loss was also highest in chili packed in PE pouch while lowest in MKS-sorbitol pouch. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Neuroscience-informed psychoeducation for addiction medicine: A neurocognitive perspective

PubMed Central

Ekhtiari, Hamed; Rezapour, Tara; Aupperle, Robin L.; Paulus, Martin P.

2018-01-01

Psychoeducation (PE) is defined as an intervention with systematic, structured, and didactic knowledge transfer for an illness and its treatment, integrating emotional and motivational aspects to enable patients to cope with the illness and to improve its treatment adherence and efficacy. PE is considered an important component of treatment in both medical and psychiatric disorders, especially for mental health disorders associated with lack of insight, such as alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUDs). New advancements in neuroscience have shed light on how various aspects of ASUDs may relate to neural processes. However, the actual impact of neuroscience in the real-life clinical practice of addiction medicine is minimal. In this chapter, we provide a perspective on how PE in addiction medicine can be informed by neuroscience in two dimensions: content (knowledge we transfer in PE) and structure (methods we use to deliver PE). The content of conventional PE targets knowledge about etiology of illness, treatment process, adverse effects of prescribed medications, coping strategies, family education, and life skill training. Adding neuroscience evidence to the content of PE could be helpful in communicating not only the impact of drug use but also the beneficial impact of various treatments (i.e., on brain function), thus enhancing motivation for compliance and further destigmatizing their symptoms. PE can also be optimized in its “structure” by implicitly and explicitly engaging different neurocognitive processes, including salience/attention, memory, and self-awareness. There are many interactions between these two dimensions, structure and content, in the delivery of neuroscience-informed psychoeducation (NIPE). We explore these interactions in the development of a cartoon-based NIPE to promote brain recovery during addiction treatment as a part of the brain awareness for addiction recovery initiative. PMID:29054291

Reduction in membrane component of diffusing capacity is associated with the extent of acute pulmonary embolism

PubMed Central

Piirilä, Päivi; Laiho, Mia; Mustonen, Pirjo; Graner, Marit; Piilonen, Anneli; Raade, Merja; Sarna, Seppo; Harjola, Veli-Pekka; Sovijärvi, Anssi

2011-01-01

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) often decreases pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL,CO), but data on the mechanisms involved are inconsistent. We wanted to investigate whether reduction in diffusing capacity of alveolo-capillary membrane (DM) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) is associated with the extent of PE or the presence and severity of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) induced by PE and how the possible changes are corrected after 7-month follow-up. Forty-seven patients with acute non-massive PE in spiral computed tomography (CT) were included. The extent of PE was assessed by scoring mass of embolism. DL,CO, Vc, DM and alveolar volume (VA) were measured by using a single breath method with carbon monoxide and oxygen both at the acute phase and 7 months later. RVD was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiogram. Fifteen healthy subjects were included as controls. DL,CO, DL, CO/VA, DM, vital capacity (VC) and VA were significantly lower in the patients with acute PE than in healthy controls (P<0·001). DM/Vc relation was significantly lower in patients with RVD than in healthy controls (P = 0·004). DM correlated inversely with central mass of embolism (r = −0·312; P = 0·047) whereas Vc did not. DM, DL,CO, VC and VA improved significantly within 7 months. In all patients (P = 0·001, P = 0·001) and persistent RVD (P = 0·020, P = 0·012), DM and DL,CO remained significantly lower than in healthy controls in the follow-up. DM was inversely related to central mass of embolism. Reduction in DM mainly explains the sustained decrease in DL,CO in PE after 7 months despite modern treatment of PE. PMID:21143754

Outcomes after Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in the Community: The Worcester Venous Thromboembolism Study

PubMed Central

Spencer, Frederick A.; Gore, Joel M.; Lessard, Darleen; Douketis, James D.; Emery, Cathy; Goldberg, Robert J.

2009-01-01

Background Despite advances in the management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), there are relatively few contemporary data describing and comparing outcomes in patients with these common conditions from a more generalizable community-based perspective. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with validated symptomatic PE and isolated DVT in a New England community. Methods The medical records of residents from the Worcester (MA) area with ICD-9 codes consistent with possible venous thromboembolism (VTE) during 1999, 2001, and 2003 were independently validated and reviewed by trained abstractors. Results Patients presenting with PE or isolated DVT experienced similar rates of subsequent PE, overall venous thromboembolism (VTE), and major bleeding during 3-year follow-up (5.9% vs. 5.1%, 15% vs. 17.9%, 15.6% vs. 12.4%, respectively). Mortality was significantly increased at 1-month follow-up in patients initially presenting with PE (13.0% vs. 5.4%) - this difference persisted at 3 years (35.3% vs. 29.6%). Patients whose course was complicated by major bleeding were more likely to suffer recurrent VTE or to die at 3 years than those without these complications. Conclusions Patients presenting with PE had similar rates of subsequent PE or recurrent VTE as patients with isolated DVT. However, rates of recurrent VTE and major bleeding following DVT and PE remain unacceptably high in the community setting. Efforts remain needed to identify patients most at risk for VTE-associated complications and development of better anticoagulation strategies conducive to long-term use in the community setting. PMID:18299499

Neuroscience-informed psychoeducation for addiction medicine: A neurocognitive perspective.

PubMed

Ekhtiari, Hamed; Rezapour, Tara; Aupperle, Robin L; Paulus, Martin P

2017-01-01

Psychoeducation (PE) is defined as an intervention with systematic, structured, and didactic knowledge transfer for an illness and its treatment, integrating emotional and motivational aspects to enable patients to cope with the illness and to improve its treatment adherence and efficacy. PE is considered an important component of treatment in both medical and psychiatric disorders, especially for mental health disorders associated with lack of insight, such as alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUDs). New advancements in neuroscience have shed light on how various aspects of ASUDs may relate to neural processes. However, the actual impact of neuroscience in the real-life clinical practice of addiction medicine is minimal. In this chapter, we provide a perspective on how PE in addiction medicine can be informed by neuroscience in two dimensions: content (knowledge we transfer in PE) and structure (methods we use to deliver PE). The content of conventional PE targets knowledge about etiology of illness, treatment process, adverse effects of prescribed medications, coping strategies, family education, and life skill training. Adding neuroscience evidence to the content of PE could be helpful in communicating not only the impact of drug use but also the beneficial impact of various treatments (i.e., on brain function), thus enhancing motivation for compliance and further destigmatizing their symptoms. PE can also be optimized in its "structure" by implicitly and explicitly engaging different neurocognitive processes, including salience/attention, memory, and self-awareness. There are many interactions between these two dimensions, structure and content, in the delivery of neuroscience-informed psychoeducation (NIPE). We explore these interactions in the development of a cartoon-based NIPE to promote brain recovery during addiction treatment as a part of the brain awareness for addiction recovery initiative. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Psychological Empowerment Among Urban Youth: Measurement Model and Associations with Youth Outcomes

PubMed Central

Eisman, Andria B.; Zimmerman, Marc A.; Kruger, Daniel; Reischl, Thomas M.; Miller, Alison L.; Franzen, Susan P.; Morrel-Samuels, Susan

2016-01-01

Empowerment-based strategies have become widely used method to address health inequities and promote social change. Few researchers, however, have tested theoretical models of empowerment, including multidimensional, higher-order models. We test empirically a multidimensional, higher-order model of psychological empowerment (PE), guided by Zimmerman’s (1995) conceptual framework including three components of PE: intrapersonal, interactional and behavioral. We also investigate if PE is associated with positive and negative outcomes among youth. The sample included 367 middle school youth aged 11–16 (M = 12.71; SD = 0.91); 60% female, 32% (n =117) white youth, 46% (n = 170) African-American youth, and 22% (n = 80) identifying as mixed race, Asian-American, Latino, Native American or other ethnic/racial group; schools reported 61–75% free/reduced lunch students. Our results indicated that each of the latent factors for the three PE components demonstrate a good fit with the data. Our results also indicated that these components loaded on to a higher-order PE factor (X2=32.68, df: 22, p=0.07; RMSEA: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.06; CFI: 0.99). We found that the second order PE factor was negatively associated with aggressive behavior and positively associated with prosocial engagement. Our results suggest that empowerment-focused programs would benefit from incorporating components addressing how youth think about themselves in relation to their social contexts (intrapersonal), understanding social and material resources needed to achieve specific goals (interactional) and actions taken to influence outcomes (behavioral). Our results also suggest that integrating the three components and promoting PE may help increase likelihood of positive behaviors (e.g., prosocial involvement); we did not find an association between PE and aggressive behavior. Implications and future directions for empowerment research are discussed. PMID:27709632

Derivation and validation of a multivariate model to predict mortality from pulmonary embolism with cancer: the POMPE-C tool

PubMed Central

Roy, Pierre-Marie; Than, Martin P.; Hernandez, Jackeline; Courtney, D. Mark; Jones, Alan E.; Penazola, Andrea; Pollack, Charles V.

2012-01-01

Background Clinical guidelines recommend risk stratification of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Active cancer increases risk of PE and worsens prognosis, but also causes incidental PE that may be discovered during cancer staging. No quantitative decision instrument has been derived specifically for patients with active cancer and PE. Methods Classification and regression technique was used to reduce 25 variables prospectively collected from 408 patients with AC and PE. Selected variables were transformed into a logistic regression model, termed POMPE-C, and compared with the pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) score to predict the outcome variable of death within 30 days. Validation was performed in an independent sample of 182 patients with active cancer and PE. Results POMPE-C included eight predictors: body mass, heart rate >100, respiratory rate, SaO2%, respiratory distress, altered mental status, do not resuscitate status, and unilateral limb swelling. In the derivation set, the area under the ROC curve for POMPE-C was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.82-0.87), significantly greater than PESI (0.68, 0.60-0.76). In the validation sample, POMPE-C had an AUC of 0.86 (0.78-0.93). No patient with POMPE-C estimate ≤5% died within 30 days (0/50, 0-7%), whereas 10/13 (77%, 46-95%) with POMPE-C estimate >50% died within 30 days. Conclusion In patients with active cancer and PE, POMPE-C demonstrated good prognostic accuracy for 30 day mortality and better performance than PESI. If validated in a large sample, POMPE-C may provide a quantitative basis to decide treatment options for PE discovered during cancer staging and with advanced cancer. PMID:22475313

ACTDs: Management Plans as Predictors of Transition

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

phase. Figure 2 shows the current ACTD funding model in place today and highlights the challenges involved in the process. Current ACTD Funding ... Model All other Sources (~70%) OSD AS&C Cash Resources (~30%) Army PE x PE x PE x PE x Navy PE x PE x PE x PE x USAF PE x PE x

Au-nanoparticles grafted on plasma treated PE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Švorčík, V.; Chaloupka, A.; Řezanka, P.; Slepička, P.; Kolská, Z.; Kasálková, N.; Hubáček, T.; Siegel, J.

2010-03-01

Polyethylene (PE) surface was treated with Ar plasma. Activated surface was grafted from methanol solution of 1,2-ethanedithiol. Then the sample was immersed into freshly prepared colloid solution of Au-nanoparticles. Finally Au layer was sputtered on the samples. Properties of the modified PE were studied using various methods: AFM, EPR, RBS and nanoindentation. It was shown that the plasma treatment results in degradation of polymer chain (AFM) and creation of free radicals by EPR. After grafting with dithiol, the concentration of free radicals declines. The presence of Au and S in the surface layer after the coating with Au-nanoparticles was proved by RBS. Plasma treatment changes PE surface morphology and increases surface roughness, too. Another significant change in surface morphology and roughness was observed after deposition of Au-nanoparticles. Nanoindentation measurements show that the grafting with Au-nanoparticles increases adhesion of subsequently sputtered Au layer.

Phytotoxicity of atrazine, isoproturon, and diuron to submersed macrophytes in outdoor mesocosms.

PubMed

Knauert, Stefanie; Singer, Heinz; Hollender, Juliane; Knauer, Katja

2010-01-01

The submersed macrophytes Elodea canadensis, Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton lucens were constantly exposed over a five-week period to environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine, isoproturon, diuron, and their mixture in outdoor mesocosms. Effects were evaluated investigating photosynthetic efficiency (PE) of the three macrophytes and growth of M. spicatum and E. canadensis. Adverse effects on PE were observed on days 2 and 5 after application. M. spicatum was found to be the more sensitive macrophyte. E. canadensis and P. lucens were less sensitive to atrazine, diuron and the mixture and insensitive to isoproturon. PE of M. spicatum was similarly affected by the single herbicides and the mixture demonstrating concentration addition. Growth of E. canadensis and M. spicatum was not reduced indicating that herbicide exposure did not impair plant development. Although PE measurements turned out to be a sensitive method to monitor PSII herbicides, plant growth remains the more relevant ecological endpoint in risk assessment.

Nurse Staffing and Deficiencies in the Largest For-Profit Nursing Home Chains and Chains Owned by Private Equity Companies

PubMed Central

Harrington, Charlene; Olney, Brian; Carrillo, Helen; Kang, Taewoon

2012-01-01

Objective To compare staffing levels and deficiencies of the 10 largest U.S. for-profit nursing home chains with five other ownership groups and chain staffing and deficiencies before and after purchase by four private equity (PE) companies. Data Sources Facilities for the largest for-profit chains were identified through Internet searches and company reports and matched with federal secondary data for 2003–2008 for each ownership group. Study Design Descriptive statistics and generalized estimation equation panel regression models examined staffing and deficiencies by ownership groups in the 2003–2008 period, controlling for facility characteristics, resident acuity, and market factors with state fixed effects. Principal Findings The top 10 for-profit chains had lower registered nurse and total nurse staffing hours than government facilities, controlling for other factors. The top 10 chains received 36 percent higher deficiencies and 41 percent higher serious deficiencies than government facilities. Other for-profit facilities also had lower staffing and higher deficiencies than government facilities. The chains purchased by PE companies showed little change in staffing levels, but the number of deficiencies and serious deficiencies increased in some postpurchase years compared with the prepurchase period. Conclusions There is a need for greater study of large for-profit chains as well as those chains purchased by PE companies. PMID:22091627

Development of an Electronic Version of The Children's Self-Perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection for Physical Activity (CSAPPA) Scale.

PubMed

Grant-Beuttler, Marybeth; Jennings, Jenifer; McCauley, Christina; Dulay, Robert; Grossnickle, Katlyn; Kill, Kerri; Hay, John

2017-02-01

To develop an electronic version of the Children's Self-Perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection for Physical Activity (eCSAPPA), which would allow individual administration to children younger than nine years of age. Fifty-four, four-nine-year-old children completed the eCSAPPA and the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). Parental measures of physical activity, and body mass index were obtained. Twenty-one participants additionally completed the paper version of the CSAPPA. All children successfully completed the eCSAPPA with interclass correlation coefficients of .76 for Adequacy and .86 for Total Score. Correlations and linear predictive equations for eCSAPPA revealed the TGMD-2's Locomotor subtest, age, and parent's activity rating explained 28-30% of the variability in Total and Adequacy eCSAPPA scores. Predilection and Enjoyment of Physical Education (PE) scores were less stable, with the TGMD-2's Locomotor subtest and age predicting 17% of the Predilection score and the TGMD-2's Object Control subtest demonstrating 17% of Enjoyment of PE. Children ages four-nine years can feasibly complete the electronic version of the CSAPPA and results hint that self-efficacy may be more plastic in younger children. The eCSAPPA is a promising instrument allowing the exploration of young children's development of adequacy and predilection toward physical activity as well as enjoyment of PE.

Evaluation of a diagnostic flow chart applying medical thoracoscopy, adenosine deaminase and T-SPOT.TB in diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion.

PubMed

He, Y; Zhang, W; Huang, T; Wang, X; Wang, M

2015-10-01

To evaluate a diagnostic flow chart applying medical thoracoscoy (MT), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and T-SPOT.TB in diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) at a high TB burden country. 136 patients with pleural effusion (PE) were enrolled and divided into TPE and Non-TPE group. MT (histology), PE ADA and T-SPOT.TB were conducted on all patients. ROC analysis was performed for the best cut-off value of PE ADA in detection of TPE. The diagnostic flow chart applying MT, ADA and T-SPOT.TB was evaluated for improving the limitations of each diagnostic method. ROC analysis showed that the best cut-off value of PE ADA was 30U/L. The sensitivity and specificity of these tests were calculated respectively to be: 71.4% (58.5%-81.6%) and 100% (95.4-100.0%) for MT, 92.9% (83.0-97.2%) and 68.8% (57.9-77.9%) for T-SPOT.TB, and 80.0% (69.6-88.1%) and 92.9% (82.7-98.0%) for PE ADA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the diagnostic flow chart were 96.4% (87.9-99.0%), 96.3% (89.6-98.7%), 25.714, 0.037, 97.4 and 94.9, respectively. The diagnostic flow chart applying MT, ADA and T-SPOT.TB is an accurate and rapid diagnostic method in detection of TPE.

Composition Based Strategies for Controlling Radii in Lipid Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Kurczy, Michael E.; Mellander, Lisa J.; Najafinobar, Neda; Cans, Ann-Sofie

2014-01-01

Nature routinely carries out small-scale chemistry within lipid bound cells and organelles. Liposome–lipid nanotube networks are being developed by many researchers in attempt to imitate these membrane enclosed environments, with the goal to perform small-scale chemical studies. These systems are well characterized in terms of the diameter of the giant unilamellar vesicles they are constructed from and the length of the nanotubes connecting them. Here we evaluate two methods based on intrinsic curvature for adjusting the diameter of the nanotube, an aspect of the network that has not previously been controllable. This was done by altering the lipid composition of the network membrane with two different approaches. In the first, the composition of the membrane was altered via lipid incubation of exogenous lipids; either with the addition of the low intrinsic curvature lipid soy phosphatidylcholine (soy-PC) or the high intrinsic curvature lipid soy phosphatidylethanolamine (soy-PE). In the second approach, exogenous lipids were added to the total lipid composition during liposome formation. Here we show that for both lipid augmentation methods, we observed a decrease in nanotube diameter following soy-PE additions but no significant change in size following the addition of soy-PC. Our results demonstrate that the effect of soy-PE on nanotube diameter is independent of the method of addition and suggests that high curvature soy-PE molecules facilitate tube membrane curvature. PMID:24392077

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase causes transient disruption of tight junctions and downregulation of PAR-2 in human nasal epithelial cells

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes chronic respiratory disease, and the elastase enzyme that it produces increases the permeability of airway epithelial cells owing to the disruption of tight junctions. P. aeruginosa is also implicated in prolonged chronic rhinosinusitis. However, the effects of P. aeruginosa elastase (PE) against the barrier formed by human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) remain unknown. Methods To investigate the mechanisms involved in the disruption of tight junctions by PE in HNECs, primary cultures of HNECs transfected with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT-HNECs) were used. The hTERT-HNECs were pretreated with inhibitors of various signal transduction pathways, PKC, MAPK, p38MAPK, PI3K, JNK, NF-κB, EGF receptor, proteasome, COX1 and COX2 before treatment with PE. Some cells were pretreated with siRNA and agonist of protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) before treatment with PE. Expression and structures of tight junctions were determined by Western blotting, real-time PCR, immunostaining and freeze-fracture. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was examined as the epithelial barrier function. Results PE treatment transiently disrupted the epithelial barrier and downregulated the transmembrane proteins claudin-1 and -4, occludin, and tricellulin, but not the scaffold PDZ-expression proteins ZO-1 and -2 and adherens junction proteins E-cadherin and β-catenin. The transient downregulation of tight junction proteins was controlled via distinct signal transduction pathways such as the PKC, MAPK, PI3K, p38 MAPK, JNK, COX-1 and -2, and NF-κB pathways. Furthermore, treatment with PE transiently decreased PAR-2 expression, which also regulated the expression of the tight junction proteins. Treatment with a PAR-2 agonist prevented the downregulation of the tight junction proteins after PE treatment in HNECs. Conclusions PE transiently disrupts tight junctions in HNECs and downregulates PAR-2. The transient disruption of tight junctions by PE might occur repeatedly during chronic rhinosinusitis. PMID:24548792

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to pre-eclampsia in Iranian women: A case-control study.

PubMed

Khani, Masood; Amani, Davar; Taheripanah, Robabeh; Sanadgol, Nima; Feizollahzadeh, Sadegh; Rahmani, Zahra

2015-10-01

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) is an important replicated PE candidate gene, and few studies have evaluated the direct association of TGF-β polymorphisms and risk to PE. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between three SNPs of TGF-β1 and serum level of this cytokine in PE patients and controls. In this study the polymorphisms of the TGF-β1 gene at the coding region, and positions 29T→C (Leu 10 Pro), 74G→C (Arg 25 Pro) and 788C→T (Thr 263 Ile) were studied in 123 PE and 120 normal subjects using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR-(RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR methods. Moreover, serum TGF-β1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. At positions 74G→C and 29T→C the genotypes and allele frequencies showed no significant differences between PE patients and normal controls (P=0.3 and P=0.5 respectively). While in the case of position 788C→T both genotypes and allele frequencies were significantly different between PE patients and controls (P=0.02). Haplotype analysis on three polymorphic sites showed no significant differences between PE and control individuals (P=0.8). TGC and CGC haplotypes were the most frequent in both studied groups. The mean serum TGF-β1 level was significantly higher (62.73ng/ml) in PE patients compared with pregnant (47.01ng/ml) and non-pregnant (40.68ng/ml) control groups (P=0.0001). The results of this study suggest that TGF-β1 gene 788C→T polymorphism is an important factor mediating the casual pathway of preeclampsia. Copyright © 2015 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preeclampsia and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease: what do obstetrician-gynecologists know?

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Preeclampsia (PE), a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy affects 2-8% of women and is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk later in life. There is little information about the knowledge of obstetrician-gynecologists in German outpatient care setting regarding the future health risk of PE and knowledge of the current guidelines on treatment and counseling patients post PE. This study aimed to assess whether obstetrician-gynecologists are aware of PE’s association with maternal long-term adverse outcomes and providing appropriate counseling. Methods A random sample of 500 obstetrician-gynecologists in the federal state of Lower Saxony was mailed a survey and a reminder with a second copy of the survey. The questionnaire elicited both personal information, and knowledge on future disease risks, e.g. cardiovascular disease (CVD) and current guidelines as well as on counseling practice. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the responses. Results A total of 212 obstetrician-gynecologists (42.4%) responded to the questionnaire. A large proportion of physicians stated that PE was associated with a higher risk for the development for hypertension (86.6%), stroke (78.5%) and kidney disease (78.0%). Of the participants 75.8% reported that women after PE have a shorter life expectancy. Respondents with knowledge of the current guidelines of the German Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology concerning follow up and risk management of PE (45.2%) were more often aware of the development of CVD and stroke and counseled patients on self -blood-pressure measurement, meaning and long-term-risks of PE and attached importance to family history of PE compared to physicians with no knowledge of the guidelines. Conclusion Although the majority of obstetrician-gynecologists were aware of higher CVD risk after PE, weaknesses exist in the follow up care and counseling of these patients. These deficiencies would be amendable to directed educational activities to improve the implementation of current guidelines. PMID:23497157

Transfer of Campylobacter jejuni from raw to cooked chicken via wood and plastic cutting boards.

PubMed

Tang, J Y H; Nishibuchi, M; Nakaguchi, Y; Ghazali, F M; Saleha, A A; Son, R

2011-06-01

We quantified Campylobacter jejuni transferred from naturally contaminated raw chicken fillets and skins to similar cooked chicken parts via standard rubberwood (RW) and polyethylene cutting boards (PE). RW and PE cutting boards (2.5 × 2.5 cm(2)) were constructed. RW surfaces were smooth and even, whereas PE was uneven. Scoring with scalpel blades produced crevices on RW and flaked patches on the PE boards. Raw chicken breast fillets or skin pieces (10 g) naturally contaminated with Camp. jejuni were used to contaminate the cutting boards (6.25 cm(2)). These were then briefly covered with pieces of cooked chicken. Campylobacter jejuni on raw chicken, the boards, and cooked chicken pieces were counted using a combined most-probable-number (MPN)-PCR method. The type of cutting board (RW, PE; unscored and scored) and temperature of cooked chicken fillets and skins were examined. Unscored PE and RW boards were not significantly different in regards to the mean transfer of Camp. jejuni from raw samples to the boards. The mean transfer of Camp. jejuni from scored RW was significantly higher than from scored PE. When the chicken fillets were held at room temperature, the mean transfer of Camp. jejuni from scored RW and PE was found to be 44.9 and 40.3%, respectively.   RW and PE cutting boards are potential vehicles for Camp. jejuni to contaminate cooked chicken. Although cooked chicken maintained at high temperatures reduced cross-contamination via contaminated boards, a risk was still present. Contamination of cooked chicken by Camp. jejuni from raw chicken via a cutting board is influenced by features of the board (material, changes caused by scoring) and chicken (types of chicken parts and temperature of the cooked chicken). © 2011 The Authors. Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

[Lung scintigraphy].

PubMed

Schümichen, Carl; Schmidt, Matthias; Krause, Thomas

2018-06-01

The S1 guideline for lung scintigraphy has been updated and extended in order to emphasize the advantages oft the method in detecting acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in the periphery oft the lung (subsegmental PE), in underlying subacute and chronic pulmonary disorders, as well as in detecting chronic LE (CTEPH). Method of choice is ventilation / perfusion (V/P) SPECT or V/P SPECT/CT with even higher specificity. Because of its high sensitivity, a threshold (V/P mismatch in at least one segment or two subsegments) is introduced to avoid overtreatment. In case of a change in the therapeutic approach (observation only instead of anticoaculation) the threshold can be omitted. New data concerning the clinical and therapeutical impact of subsegmental PE are included, the chapters open questions have been extented. Other indications for V/P SPECT (secondary diagnoses, abnormalities in pulmonary perfusion, prediction of postoperative lung function) are presented with new data. Schattauer GmbH.

Tactics for preclinical validation of receptor-binding radiotracers

PubMed Central

Lever, Susan Z.; Fan, Kuo-Hsien; Lever, John R.

2016-01-01

Introduction Aspects of radiopharmaceutical development are illustrated through preclinical studies of [125I]-(E)-1-(2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-yl)ethyl)-4-(iodoallyl)piperazine ([125I]-E-IA- BF-PE-PIPZE), a radioligand for sigma-1 (σ1) receptors, coupled with examples from the recent literature. Findings are compared to those previously observed for [125I]-(E)-1-(2-(2,3-dimethoxy-5-yl)ethyl)-4-(iodoallyl)piperazine ([125I]-E-IA-DM-PE-PIPZE). Methods Syntheses of E-IA-BF-PE-PIPZE and [125I]-E-IA-BF-PE-PIPZE were accomplished by standard methods. In vitro receptor binding studies and autoradiography were performed, and binding potential was predicted. Measurements of lipophilicity and protein binding were obtained. In vivo studies were conducted in mice to evaluate radioligand stability, as well as specific binding to σ1 sites in brain, brain regions and peripheral organs in the presence and absence of potential blockers. Results E-IA-BF-PE-PIPZE exhibited high affinity and selectivity for σ1 receptors (Ki = 0.43 ± 0.03 nM, σ2 / σ1 = 173). [125I]-E-IA-BF-PE-PIPZE was prepared in good yield and purity, with high specific activity. Radioligand binding provided dissociation (koff) and association (kon) rate constants, along with a measured Kd of 0.24 ± 0.01 nM and Bmax of 472 ± 13 fmol / mg protein. The radioligand proved suitable for quantitative autoradiography in vitro using brain sections. Moderate lipophilicity, Log D7.4 2.69 ± 0.28, was determined, and protein binding was 71 ± 0.3%. In vivo, high initial whole brain uptake, > 6% injected dose / g, cleared slowly over 24 h. Specific binding represented 75% to 93% of total binding from 15 min to 24 h. Findings were confirmed and extended by regional brain biodistribution. Radiometabolites were not observed in brain (1%). Conclusions Substitution of dihydrobenzofuranylethyl for dimethoxyphenethyl increased radioligand affinity for σ1 receptors by 16-fold. While high specific binding to σ1 receptors was observed for both radioligands in vivo, [125I]-E-IA-BF-PE-PIPZE displayed much slower clearance kinetics than [125I]-E-IA-DM-PE-PIPZE. Thus, minor structural modifications of σ1 receptor radioligands lead to major differences in binding properties in vitro and in vivo. PMID:27755986

Equation of State and Damage in Polyethylene

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

Coe, Joshua Damon; Brown, Eric; Cady, Carl Mcelhinney

The dynamic response of polymers differs significantly from those of metals, upon which many of the National Laboratories' deformation, damage, and failure models are based. Their moduli, yield strength, and damage characteristics are highly strain rate-, temperature-, and phase-dependent, requiring models that encompass a wide range of phenomena including some not in equilibrium. Recently, Los Alamos developed the Glassy Amorphous Polymer (GAP) 1 model [1] to address limitations in existing models of polymer deformation. GAP captures both volumetric (equation of state) and deviatoric (shear) response, including a non-equilibrium component to the former (a feature determined to be crucial in capturingmore » the low-pressure, viscoelastic response to impact loading). GAP has already been applied to polymers such as PMMA, PTFE, epoxy, and Kel-F 800, but with an emphasis on impact response as opposed to damage or failure. The current effort was launched to address this gap in predictive capability. For reasons that will be made clear, semi-crystalline polyethylene (PE) was chosen to serve as a model system for parameterization and validation. PE (-C 2H 4-)n is one of the most widely used polymers in industrial and engineering contexts, chiey due to the versatility of its mechanical response. This response can be tuned through network and chain structure, degree of crystallinity, and molecular weight. PE is found in several forms including low density (LDPE), high density (HDPE), and ultra-high molecular weight (UHMWPE). The focus here was on HDPE and UHMWPE, of pedigree described in the following section. Materials were well-characterized prior to study and are representative of semi-crystalline polymers of interest to DOE and DoD. Semi-crystalline PE undergoes a glass transition at low temperature (-35°C) and melts across a range of moderate temperatures (~80-180°C), depending on its structure. It is typically inert chemically, has low strength and high ductility, and the high strength and anisotropy of UHMWPE ber, in particular, have driven its use in engineering, impact, and armor applications. Surprisingly little is known, however, about the influence of PE's crystalline structure and associated phase transitions (including melt) on its response to dynamic compression. A broad suite of experiments was used to calibrate the GAP model for HDPE and UHMWPE. Section IV examines the effects of tensile strain on the structure and integrity of PE crystalline domains. These data were used to inform the preliminary damage model described in Section XII, whose roots lie in statistical physics and network theory. The viscoelastic and plastic components of GAP rely heavily on the stress-strain data of Section VI, which also include dynamic extrusion and Taylor anvil experiments used to validate the damage model. The thermal data of Section X provide crucial inputs to the equilibrium EOS in GAP, as well as the much broader range SESAME EOS whose construction is outlined in Section XI. Section VII details plate impact experiments characterizing the low-pressure shock locus and failure (spall) using in situ electromagnetic gauges. A previously reported \\cusp" in the principal Hugoniot near 0.5 kbar was confirmed, and a multi-wave structure was observed over a limited input stress range above the cusp. This cusp is believed due to solid-solid phase transitions associated with the crystalline domains of the polymer.« less

Occurrence of glycosidically conjugated 1-phenylethanol and its hydrolase β-primeverosidase in tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers.

PubMed

Zhou, Ying; Dong, Fang; Kunimasa, Aiko; Zhang, Yuqian; Cheng, Sihua; Lu, Jiamin; Zhang, Ling; Murata, Ariaki; Mayer, Frank; Fleischmann, Peter; Watanabe, Naoharu; Yang, Ziyin

2014-08-13

A previous study found that 1-phenylethanol (1PE) was a major endogenous volatile compound in tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers and can be transformed to glycosically conjugated 1PE (1PE-Gly). However, occurrences of 1PE-Gly in plants remain unknown. In this study, four 1PE-Glys have been isolated from tea flowers. Three of them were determined as (R)-1PE β-d-glucopyranoside ((R)-1PE-Glu), (S)-1PE-Glu, and (S)-1PE β-primeveroside ((S)-1PE-Pri), respectively, on the basis of NMR, MS, LC-MS, and GC-MS evidence. The other one was identified as (R)-1PE-Pri on the basis of LC-MS and GC-MS data. Moreover, these 1PE-Glys were chemically synthesized as the authentic standards to further confirm their occurrences in tea flowers. 1PE-Glu had a higher molar concentration than 1PE-Pri in each floral stage and organ. The ratio of (R) to (S) differed between 1PE-Glu and 1PE-Pri. In addition, a 1PE-Gly hydrolase β-primeverosidase recombinant protein produced in Escherichia coli exhibited high hydrolysis activity toward (R)-1PE-Pri. However, β-primeverosidase transcript level was not highly expressed in the anther part, which accumulated the highest contents of 1PE-Gly and 1PE. This suggests that 1PE-Gly may not be easily hydrolyzed to liberate 1PE in tea flowers. This study provides evidence of occurrences of 1PE-Glys in plants for the first time.

Cyclosporine A area-under-time-concentration-curve in rheumatologic patients after the first dose. Which of the sparse sampling strategies will predict the best?

PubMed

Koristkova, B; Grundmann, M; Suchy, D; Perinova, I; Brozmanova, H; Mayer, O

2011-05-01

The aim of the present study was to validate the limited sampling strategies (LSS:s) for prediction of AUC of cyclosporine A (CsA) after the first dose in rheumatologic patients. 22 patients suffering from rheumathoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematodus, ankylosing spondylitis dermato(poly)myositis or seronegative spondylarthritis were treated with Neoral® (female/male: 11/3, mean ± SD: age 49 ± 14 y, body weight 75 ± 12 kg, height 166 ± 7 cm, dose 71 ± 25 mg, dose per kg 1.0 ± 0.3 mg/kg), or Consupren® (7/1, 78 ± 36, 175 ± 8, 82 ± 22, 1.1 ± 0.3). Two patients whose C12h were missing were excluded from the AUC0-12 calculation. Whole blood levels of CsA were analyzed with HPLC. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after taking the first dose. Altogether 115 LSS:s obtained from the literature were validated. A linear trapezoidal rule was used as a reference method. Mean percentage prediction error (%PE) < ± 15% and maximal one value of absolute %PE > 30% were considered to be acceptable. The root mean squared error (RMSE) was evaluated for equations that passed the criteria. The best performance with all values of the absolute %PE < 30% was found in three LSS:s for AUC0-12 and two for AUC0-8: AUC0-12 = 123.792 + 1.165 × C1h + 3.021 × C3h + 7.33 × C8h; 97.6 + 1.27 × C1h + 3.14 × C3h + 4.06 × C6h; or 124.3 + 1.34 × C1h - 0.16 × C2h + 3.27 × C3h + 3.96 × C6h; AUC0-8 = -19.8 + 1.99 × C2h + 2.38 × C4h + 3.15 × C6h or -22.4 + 2.51 × C2h + 5.49 × C6h. Validation criteria were further fulfilled in AUC0-12 = 24 + 3.66 × C0h + 2.11 × C1.5h + 4.54 × C4h or 0.2 + 2 × C2h + 10.2 × C6h; AUC0-8 = 55.37 + 2.89 × C0h + 1.08 × C1 + 0.9 × C2h + 2.23 × C3h; and AUC0-4 = -41 + 1.17 × C1h + 1.85 × C2h. Only one equation proposed for AUC0-6 did not pass the validation criteria. Equations validated for prediction of AUC0-12, AUC0-8 and AUC0-4 might be used for LSS:s of CsA independently of the length of treatment, indication, dosage or galenic formulation.

A Long-Term Perspective on Person-Environment Fit and Adl Dependence among Older Swedish Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iwarsson, Susanne

2005-01-01

Purpose: This study described person--environment (P-E) fit and activities of daily living (ADLs) among older adults, and it explored the relationship between P-E fit and ADL dependence, testing Lawton's docility hypothesis at two points in time. Design and Methods: From a random sample of individuals aged 75-84 living in a Swedish municipality,…

Identification and Differential Abundance of Mitochondrial Genome Encoding Small RNAs (mitosRNA) in Breast Muscles of Modern Broilers and Unselected Chicken Breed

PubMed Central

Bottje, Walter G.; Khatri, Bhuwan; Shouse, Stephanie A.; Seo, Dongwon; Mallmann, Barbara; Orlowski, Sara K.; Pan, Jeonghoon; Kong, Seongbae; Owens, Casey M.; Anthony, Nicholas B.; Kim, Jae K.; Kong, Byungwhi C.

2017-01-01

Background: Although small non-coding RNAs are mostly encoded by the nuclear genome, thousands of small non-coding RNAs encoded by the mitochondrial genome, termed as mitosRNAs were recently reported in human, mouse and trout. In this study, we first identified chicken mitosRNAs in breast muscle using small RNA sequencing method and the differential abundance was analyzed between modern pedigree male (PeM) broilers (characterized by rapid growth and large muscle mass) and the foundational Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR) chickens (characterized by slow growth and small muscle mass). Methods: Small RNA sequencing was performed with total RNAs extracted from breast muscles of PeM and BPR (n = 6 per group) using the 1 × 50 bp single end read method of Illumina sequencing. Raw reads were processed by quality assessment, adapter trimming, and alignment to the chicken mitochondrial genome (GenBank Accession: X52392.1) using the NGen program. Further statistical analyses were performed using the JMP Genomics 8. Differentially expressed (DE) mitosRNAs between PeM and BPR were confirmed by quantitative PCR. Results: Totals of 183,416 unique small RNA sequences were identified as potential chicken mitosRNAs. After stringent filtering processes, 117 mitosRNAs showing >100 raw read counts were abundantly produced from all 37 mitochondrial genes (except D-loop region) and the length of mitosRNAs ranged from 22 to 46 nucleotides. Of those, abundance of 44 mitosRNAs were significantly altered in breast muscles of PeM compared to those of BPR: all mitosRNAs were higher in PeM breast except those produced from 16S-rRNA gene. Possibly, the higher mitosRNAs abundance in PeM breast may be due to a higher mitochondrial content compared to BPR. Our data demonstrate that in addition to 37 known mitochondrial genes, the mitochondrial genome also encodes abundant mitosRNAs, that may play an important regulatory role in muscle growth via mitochondrial gene expression control. PMID:29104541

Global incidence and case fatality rate of pulmonary embolism following major surgery: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

PubMed

Temgoua, Mazou N; Tochie, Joel Noutakdie; Noubiap, Jean Jacques; Agbor, Valirie Ndip; Danwang, Celestin; Endomba, Francky Teddy A; Nkemngu, Njinkeng J

2017-12-04

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition common after major surgery. Although the high incidence (0.3-30%) and mortality rate (16.9-31%) of PE in patients undergoing major surgical procedures is apparent from findings of contemporary observational studies, there is a lack of a summary and meta-analysis data on the epidemiology of postoperative PE in this same regard. Hence, we propose to conduct the first systematic review to summarise existing data on the global incidence, determinants and case fatality rate of PE following major surgery. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, WHO global health library (including LILACS), Web of Science and Google scholar from inception to April 30, 2017, will be searched for cohort studies reporting on the incidence, determinants and case fatality rate of PE occurring after major surgery. Data from grey literature will also be assessed. Two investigators will independently perform study selection and data extraction. Included studies will be evaluated for risk of bias. Appropriate meta-analytic methods will be used to pool incidence and case fatality rate estimates from studies with identical features, globally and by subgroups of major surgical procedures. Random-effects and risk ratio with 95% confidence interval will be used to summarise determinants and predictors of mortality of PE in patients undergoing major surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide the most up-to-date epidemiology of PE in patients undergoing major surgery to inform health authorities and identify further research topics based on the remaining knowledge gaps. PROSPERO CRD42017065126.

Dabigatran after Short Heparin Anticoagulation for Acute Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: Rationale and Design of the Single-Arm PEITHO-2 Study.

PubMed

Klok, Frederikus A; Ageno, Walter; Barco, Stefano; Binder, Harald; Brenner, Benjamin; Duerschmied, Daniel; Empen, Klaus; Faggiano, Pompilio; Ficker, Joachim H; Galiè, Nazzareno; Ghuysen, Alexandre; Held, Matthias; Heydenreich, Nadine; Huisman, Menno V; Jiménez, David; Kozak, Matija; Lang, Irene M; Lankeit, Mareike; Münzel, Thomas; Petris, Antoniu; Pruszczyk, Piotr; Quitzau, Kurt; Schellong, Sebastian; Schmidt, Kai-Helge; Stefanovic, Branislav S; Verschuren, Franck; Wolf-Puetz, Anamaria; Meyer, Guy; Konstantinides, Stavros V

2017-12-01

Patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) may, depending on the method and cut-off values used for definition, account for up to 60% of all patients with PE and have an 8% or higher risk of short-term adverse outcome. Although four non-vitamin K-dependent direct oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been approved for the treatment of venous thromboembolism, their safety and efficacy as well as the optimal anticoagulation regimen using these drugs have not been systematically investigated in intermediate-risk PE. Moreover, it remains unknown how many patients with intermediate-high-risk and intermediate-low-risk PE were included in most of the phase III NOAC trials. The ongoing Pulmonary Embolism International Thrombolysis 2 (PEITHO-2) study is a prospective, multicentre, multinational, single-arm trial investigating whether treatment of acute intermediate-risk PE with parenteral heparin anticoagulation over the first 72 hours, followed by the direct oral thrombin inhibitor dabigatran over 6 months, is effective and safe. The primary efficacy outcome is recurrent symptomatic venous thromboembolism or death related to PE within the first 6 months. The primary safety outcome is major bleeding as defined by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Secondary outcomes include all-cause mortality, the overall duration of hospital stay (index event and repeated hospitalizations) and the temporal pattern of recovery of right ventricular function over the 6-month follow-up period. By applying and evaluating a contemporary risk-tailored treatment strategy for acute PE, PEITHO-2 will implement the recommendations of current guidelines and contribute to their further evolution.

Isolation and Characterization of a myo-inositol-1-phosphate Synthase Gene from Yellow Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) Expressed During Seed Development and Environmental Stress

PubMed Central

Abreu, Emanuel F. M.; Aragão, Francisco J. L.

2007-01-01

Background and Aims Myo-inositol-1l-phosphate synthase (MIPS) catalyses the conversion of d-glucose 6-phosphate to 1-l-myo-inositol-1-phosphate, the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of all inositol-containing compounds. Inositol phospholipids play a vital role in membrane trafficking and signalling pathways, auxin storage and transport, phytic acid biosynthesis, cell wall biosynthesis and production of stress-related molecules. In the present study, an MIPS cDNA from developing Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa seeds was characterized and an investigation made into its spatial and differential expression, as well as changes in its transcription during exposure of growing plants to cold and heat stresses. Methods The MIPS-encoding gene was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, and transcript levels were examined using semi-quantitative reverse transcription–PCR (RT–PCR) during seed development and in response to heat and cold stress. In addition, the copy number of the cloned PeMIPS1 gene in the genome of Passiflora edulis, P. eichleriana, P. caerulea, P. nitida and P. coccinea was determined by Southern blot analyses. Key Results A full-length cDNA clone of the PeMIPS1 from P. edulis was isolated and characterized. Southern blot analyses indicated that the genomic DNA might have diverse sequences of MIPS-encoding genes and one copy of the cloned PeMIPS1 gene in the genomes of P. edulis, P. eichleriana, P. caerulea, P. nitida and P. coccinea. RT–PCR expression analyses revealed the presence of PeMIPS1 transcripts in ovules, pollen grains and leaves, and during the seed developmental stages, where it peaked at 9 d after pollination. The PeMIPS1 gene is differentially regulated under cold and heat stress, presenting a light-responsive transcription. Conclusions Experimental data suggest that PeMIPS1 transcription plays an important role in the establishment of developmental programmes and during the response of plants to environmental changes. The PeMIPS1 is differentially transcribed during cold and heat stress, presenting a light response pattern, suggesting that it is important for environmental stress response. PMID:17138579

Study protocol: combining experimental methods, econometrics and simulation modelling to determine price elasticities for studying food taxes and subsidies (The Price ExaM Study).

PubMed

Waterlander, Wilma E; Blakely, Tony; Nghiem, Nhung; Cleghorn, Christine L; Eyles, Helen; Genc, Murat; Wilson, Nick; Jiang, Yannan; Swinburn, Boyd; Jacobi, Liana; Michie, Jo; Ni Mhurchu, Cliona

2016-07-19

There is a need for accurate and precise food price elasticities (PE, change in consumer demand in response to change in price) to better inform policy on health-related food taxes and subsidies. The Price Experiment and Modelling (Price ExaM) study aims to: I) derive accurate and precise food PE values; II) quantify the impact of price changes on quantity and quality of discrete food group purchases and; III) model the potential health and disease impacts of a range of food taxes and subsidies. To achieve this, we will use a novel method that includes a randomised Virtual Supermarket experiment and econometric methods. Findings will be applied in simulation models to estimate population health impact (quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs]) using a multi-state life-table model. The study will consist of four sequential steps: 1. We generate 5000 price sets with random price variation for all 1412 Virtual Supermarket food and beverage products. Then we add systematic price variation for foods to simulate five taxes and subsidies: a fruit and vegetable subsidy and taxes on sugar, saturated fat, salt, and sugar-sweetened beverages. 2. Using an experimental design, 1000 adult New Zealand shoppers complete five household grocery shops in the Virtual Supermarket where they are randomly assigned to one of the 5000 price sets each time. 3. Output data (i.e., multiple observations of price configurations and purchased amounts) are used as inputs to econometric models (using Bayesian methods) to estimate accurate PE values. 4. A disease simulation model will be run with the new PE values as inputs to estimate QALYs gained and health costs saved for the five policy interventions. The Price ExaM study has the potential to enhance public health and economic disciplines by introducing internationally novel scientific methods to estimate accurate and precise food PE values. These values will be used to model the potential health and disease impacts of various food pricing policy options. Findings will inform policy on health-related food taxes and subsidies. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000122459 (registered 3 February 2016).

Cost-effective computational method for radiation heat transfer in semi-crystalline polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boztepe, Sinan; Gilblas, Rémi; de Almeida, Olivier; Le Maoult, Yannick; Schmidt, Fabrice

2018-05-01

This paper introduces a cost-effective numerical model for infrared (IR) heating of semi-crystalline polymers. For the numerical and experimental studies presented here semi-crystalline polyethylene (PE) was used. The optical properties of PE were experimentally analyzed under varying temperature and the obtained results were used as input in the numerical studies. The model was built based on optically homogeneous medium assumption whereas the strong variation in the thermo-optical properties of semi-crystalline PE under heating was taken into account. Thus, the change in the amount radiative energy absorbed by the PE medium was introduced in the model induced by its temperature-dependent thermo-optical properties. The computational study was carried out considering an iterative closed-loop computation, where the absorbed radiation was computed using an in-house developed radiation heat transfer algorithm -RAYHEAT- and the computed results was transferred into the commercial software -COMSOL Multiphysics- for solving transient heat transfer problem to predict temperature field. The predicted temperature field was used to iterate the thermo-optical properties of PE that varies under heating. In order to analyze the accuracy of the numerical model experimental analyses were carried out performing IR-thermographic measurements during the heating of the PE plate. The applicability of the model in terms of computational cost, number of numerical input and accuracy was highlighted.

Quantification of chaotic strength and mixing in a micro fluidic system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ho Jun; Beskok, Ali

2007-11-01

Comparative studies of five different techniques commonly employed to identify the chaotic strength and mixing efficiency in micro fluidic systems are presented to demonstrate the competitive advantages and shortcomings of each method. The 'chaotic electroosmotic stirrer' of Qian and Bau (2002 Anal. Chem. 74 3616-25) is utilized as the benchmark case due to its well-defined flow kinematics. Lagrangian particle tracking methods are utilized to study particle dispersion in the conceptual device using spectral element and fourth-order Runge-Kutta discretizations in space and time, respectively. Stirring efficiency is predicted using the stirring index based on the box counting method, and Poincaré sections are utilized to identify the chaotic and regular regions under various actuation conditions. Finite time Lyapunov exponents are calculated to quantify the chaotic strength, while the probability density function of the stretching field is utilized as an alternative method to demonstrate the statistical analysis of chaotic and partially chaotic cases. Mixing index inverse, based on the standard deviation of scalar species distribution, is utilized as a metric to quantify the mixing efficiency. Series of numerical simulations are performed by varying the Peclet number (Pe) at fixed kinematic conditions. The mixing time (tm) is characterized as a function of the Pe number, and tm ~ ln(Pe) scaling is demonstrated for fully chaotic cases, while tm ~ Peα scaling with α ≈ 0.33 and α = 0.5 are observed for partially chaotic and regular cases, respectively. Employing the aforementioned techniques, optimum kinematic conditions and the actuation frequency of the stirrer that result in the highest mixing/stirring efficiency are identified.

An Evidence-Based Unified Definition of Lifelong and Acquired Premature Ejaculation: Report of the Second International Society for Sexual Medicine Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation

PubMed Central

Serefoglu, Ege Can; McMahon, Chris G; Waldinger, Marcel D; Althof, Stanley E; Shindel, Alan; Adaikan, Ganesh; Becher, Edgardo F; Dean, John; Giuliano, Francois; Hellstrom, Wayne JG; Giraldi, Annamaria; Glina, Sidney; Incrocci, Luca; Jannini, Emmanuele; McCabe, Marita; Parish, Sharon; Rowland, David; Segraves, R Taylor; Sharlip, Ira; Torres, Luiz Otavio

2014-01-01

Introduction The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation developed the first evidence-based definition for lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) in 2007 and concluded that there were insufficient published objective data at that time to develop a definition for acquired PE. Aim The aim of this article is to review and critique the current literature and develop a contemporary, evidence-based definition for acquired PE and/or a unified definition for both lifelong and acquired PE. Methods In April 2013, the ISSM convened a second Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation in Bangalore, India. The same evidence-based systematic approach to literature search, retrieval, and evaluation used by the original committee was adopted. Results The committee unanimously agreed that men with lifelong and acquired PE appear to share the dimensions of short ejaculatory latency, reduced or absent perceived ejaculatory control, and the presence of negative personal consequences. Men with acquired PE are older, have higher incidences of erectile dysfunction, comorbid disease, and cardiovascular risk factors, and have a longer intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) as compared with men with lifelong PE. A self-estimated or stopwatch IELT of 3 minutes was identified as a valid IELT cut-off for diagnosing acquired PE. On this basis, the committee agreed on a unified definition of both acquired and lifelong PE as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by (i) ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration from the first sexual experience (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); (ii) the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and (iii) negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. Conclusion The ISSM unified definition of lifelong and acquired PE represents the first evidence-based definition for these conditions. This definition will enable researchers to design methodologically rigorous studies to improve our understanding of acquired PE. Serefoglu EC, McMahon CG, Waldinger MD, Althof SE, Shindel A, Adaikan G, Becher EF, Dean J, Giuliano F, Hellstrom WJG, Giraldi A, Glina S, Incrocci L, Jannini E, McCabe M, Parish S, Rowland D, Segraves RT, Sharlip I, and Torres LO. An evidence-based unified definition of lifelong and acquired premature ejaculation: Report of the second International Society for Sexual Medicine Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation. Sex Med 2014;2:41–59. PMID:25356301

Comparison of Vertical Drifts of ISR and Magnetometer Data Measurements at the Magnetic Equator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Condor P, P. J.

2014-12-01

We compare vertical drifts measured with the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar (ISR) and drifts estimated from magnetometer data applying a Neural Network data processing technique. For the application of the Neural Network (NN) method, we use the magnitude of the horizontal (H) component of the magnetic field measured with magnetometers at Jicamarca and Piura (Peru). The data was collected between the years 2002 and 2013. In training the NN we use the difference between the magnitudes of the horizontal components (dH) measured at JRO (placed at the magnetic equator) and Piura (displaced 5° away). Additional parameters used are F10.7 and Ap indexes. The estimates obtained with the NN procedure are very good. We have an RMS error of 3.7 m/s using dH as an input of the NN while the error is 3.9 m/s when we use the component H of JRO as an input. The results are validated using the set of vertical drifts observations collected with the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar. The estimated drifts can be accessed using the following website: http://jro.igp.gob.pe/driftnn. In the poster, we show the comparison of vertical drifts from 2002 to 2013 where we discuss the agreement between magnetometer and ISR data.

Maximum static inspiratory and expiratory pressures with different lung volumes

PubMed Central

Lausted, Christopher G; Johnson, Arthur T; Scott, William H; Johnson, Monique M; Coyne, Karen M; Coursey, Derya C

2006-01-01

Background Maximum pressures developed by the respiratory muscles can indicate the health of the respiratory system, help to determine maximum respiratory flow rates, and contribute to respiratory power development. Past measurements of maximum pressures have been found to be inadequate for inclusion in some exercise models involving respiration. Methods Maximum inspiratory and expiratory airway pressures were measured over a range of lung volumes in 29 female and 19 male adults. A commercial bell spirometry system was programmed to occlude airflow at nine target lung volumes ranging from 10% to 90% of vital capacity. Results In women, maximum expiratory pressure increased with volume from 39 to 61 cmH2O and maximum inspiratory pressure decreased with volume from 66 to 28 cmH2O. In men, maximum expiratory pressure increased with volume from 63 to 97 cmH2O and maximum inspiratory pressure decreased with volume from 97 to 39 cmH2O. Equations describing pressures for both sexes are: Pe/Pmax = 0.1426 Ln( %VC) + 0.3402 R2 = 0.95 Pi/Pmax = 0.234 Ln(100 - %VC) - 0.0828 R2 = 0.96 Conclusion These results were found to be consistent with values and trends obtained by other authors. Regression equations may be suitable for respiratory mechanics models. PMID:16677384

Is there a correlation between intravaginal ejaculatory latency time and enuresis? An exploratory study

PubMed Central

Serefoglu, Ege Can; Karacay, Safak; Ozdemir, Ahmet Tunc; Kalkan, Mehmet; Yencilek, Faruk

2014-01-01

Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual dysfunction. Monosymptomatic enuresis (ME) is nocturnal bed wetting, without any daytime symptoms. Recent clinical studies report an association between lifelong PE and ME. The purpose of this study was to compare the intravaginal ejaculatory time (IELT) between lifelong PE in men with and without ME. The goal was to determine if there is an association between the severity of ME and of IELT. Material and methods A total of 137 men with lifelong PE were included in this study. Subjects were asked if they had childhood ME. The characteristics and mean IELTs of patients with and without ME were compared using the student's t–test, and the correlation between severity of ME and IELT was assessed with trend test. Results Of the 137 lifelong PE patients, 57 reported ME. There was a strong negative correlation in patients with ME between the severity of enuresis and IELT, with IELT being shorter in patients with severe ME. Conclusions A strong correlation between IELT and the severity of ME suggests a common underlying mechanism. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and elucidate the exact pathophysiology. PMID:24982787

Hyperbaric index in the primary prevention of hypertensive complications in high-risk pregnancy.

PubMed

Otero González, Alfonso; Uribe Moya, Silvia; Arenas Moncaleano, Ivan Gilberto; Borrajo Prol, María Paz; García García, María Jesús; López Sánchez, Luis

2015-01-01

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of fetal morbidity and mortality. In the Western World, PE affects 2-7% of pregnancies and is responsible for 50,000 deaths annually. Early detection is a priority as it can change the clinical course, but there are no biomarkers or instrumental methods with high sensitivity and specificity. Only the hyperbaric index has a sensitivity and specificity of 99% for early identification of pregnant women at risk of developing PE, but its use is not widespread. To assess the usefulness of the hyperbaric index in the primary prevention of hypertensive pregnancy complications in a public healthcare area. This is a retrospective study of pregnancies that occurred in our area during the period 2007-2012 (N=11,784). The diagnosis was established by the hyperbaric index and pregnant women at risk were treated with ASA at night. In pregnant patients referred to the nephrology clinic (38.2%), diagnosed as high-risk for PE, and treated with 100mg ASA/night (from week 17), the incidence of PE episodes was reduced by 96.94. Copyright © 2015 Sociedad Española de Nefrología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

A fluid-structure interaction model of the internal carotid and ophthalmic arteries for the noninvasive intracranial pressure measurement method.

PubMed

Misiulis, Edgaras; Džiugys, Algis; Navakas, Robertas; Striūgas, Nerijus

2017-05-01

Accurate and clinically safe measurements of intracranial pressure (ICP) are crucial for secondary brain damage prevention. There are two methods of ICP measurement: invasive and noninvasive. Invasive methods are clinically unsafe; therefore, safer noninvasive methods are being developed. One of the noninvasive ICP measurement methods implements the balance principle, which assumes that if the velocity of blood flow in both ophthalmic artery segments - the intracranial (IOA) and extracranial (EOA) - is equal, then the acting ICP on the IOA and the external pressure (Pe) on the EOA are also equal. To investigate the assumption of the balance principle, a generalized computational model incorporating a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) module was created and used to simulate noninvasive ICP measurement by accounting for the time-dependent behavior of the elastic internal carotid (ICA) and ophthalmic (OA) arteries and their interaction with pulsatile blood flow. It was found that the extra balance pressure term, which incorporates the hydrodynamic pressure drop between measurement points, must be added into the balance equation, and the corrections on a difference between the velocity of blood flow in the IOA and EOA must be made, due to a difference in the blood flow rate. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Conformational properties and electronic structure of tetrahydrotetrazines studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muchall, Heidi M.; Rademacher, Paul

1997-11-01

The photoelectron (PE) spectra of tetrahydro-1,2,3,4-tetrazines 1 and 2 and tetrahydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazines 3-5 have been recorded and their conformations have been investigated by ab initio SCF calculations. While v-tetrazine 2 is planar, tetrazines 1 and 3-5 each possess two low-energy conformations, according to ab initio HF and Becke3LYP methods. Attempts to assign ionization potentials to molecular orbitals obtained by semiempirical PM3 calculations indicate that this method is not suited for the compounds studied. Best results were obtained when the ab initio hybrid method Becke3LYP of the density functional theory was employed. Two conformers of 1 and 3-5 are present in the gas phase and their PE spectra are superimposed one upon the other. For v-tetrazine 1, ionizations arising from half-chair and unsymmetrical boat conformers have similar energies and cannot be separated in the PE spectrum. For s-tetrazine 3, on the other hand, the spectrum clearly shows different ionizations of both half-chairs, 3ee and 3ae.

Changes to the school food and physical activity environment after guideline implementation in British Columbia, Canada.

PubMed

Watts, Allison W; Mâsse, Louise C; Naylor, Patti-Jean

2014-04-14

High rates of childhood obesity have generated interest among policy makers to improve the school food environment and increase students' levels of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine school-level changes associated with implementation of the Food and Beverage Sales in Schools (FBSS) and Daily Physical Activity (DPA) guidelines in British Columbia, Canada. Elementary and middle/high school principals completed a survey on the school food and physical activity environment in 2007-08 (N=513) and 2011-12 (N=490). Hierarchical mixed effects regression was used to examine changes in: 1) availability of food and beverages; 2) minutes per day of Physical Education (PE); 3) delivery method of PE; and 4) school community support. Models controlled for school enrollment and community type, education and income. After policy implementation was expected, more elementary schools provided access to fruits and vegetables and less to 100% fruit juice. Fewer middle/high schools provided access to sugar-sweetened beverages, French fries, baked goods, salty snacks and chocolate/candy. Schools were more likely to meet 150 min/week of PE for grade 6 students, and offer more minutes of PE per week for grade 8 and 10 students including changes to PE delivery method. School community support for nutrition and physical activity policies increased over time. Positive changes to the school food environment occurred after schools were expected to implement the FBSS and DPA guidelines. Reported changes to the school environment are encouraging and provide support for guidelines and policies that focus on increasing healthy eating and physical activity in schools.

The copper dependent-lysyl oxidases contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

PubMed

Besiktepe, Neziha; Kayalar, Ozgecan; Ersen, Ezel; Oztay, Fusun

2017-12-01

Abnormalities in the elastic fiber biology are seen in pulmonary emphysema (PE). The copper-dependent lysyl oxidases regulate the production and accumulation of elastic fibers in the connective tissue. This study focused on the relationship between lysyl oxidase (LOX), LOX-like protein 1 (LOXL1), and LOXL2 and PE pathogenesis. Lung samples with or without PE from patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (n=35) were used. Protein levels of elastin, LOX, LOXL1, LOXL2, hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), copper metabolism domain containing-1 (COMMD1), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were assayed using microscopic and biochemical methods The emphysematous areas were characterized by enlargement of the alveoli, destruction of the alveolar structure, accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar lumens, and showed increased HIF-1α immunoreactivity. Additionally, the emphysematous areas had significantly lower elastin, LOX, LOXL1, LOXL2, HIF-1α, COMMD1, and PTEN protein levels than the non-emphysematous areas. We suppose that the reductions in the HIF-1α levels led to decreases in the protein levels of active LOX, LOXL1, and LOXL2. These decreases might cause abnormalities in the elastic fiber biology. HIF-1α activation induced by decreased COMMD1 and protease activation induced by decreased PTEN might contribute to the development of PE. Finally, methods aimed at increasing the protein levels of LOXs, COMMD1 and PTEN might be effective for treating PE. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

An intercomparison study of analytical methods used for quantification of levoglucosan in ambient aerosol filter samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yttri, K. E.; Schnelle-Kreiss, J.; Maenhaut, W.; Alves, C.; Bossi, R.; Bjerke, A.; Claeys, M.; Dye, C.; Evtyugina, M.; García-Gacio, D.; Gülcin, A.; Hillamo, R.; Hoffer, A.; Hyder, M.; Iinuma, Y.; Jaffrezo, J.-L.; Kasper-Giebl, A.; Kiss, G.; López-Mahia, P. L.; Pio, C.; Piot, C.; Ramirez-Santa-Cruz, C.; Sciare, J.; Teinilä, K.; Vermeylen, R.; Vicente, A.; Zimmermann, R.

2014-07-01

The monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs) levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan are products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses, and are found to be major constituents of biomass burning aerosol particles. Hence, ambient aerosol particle concentrations of levoglucosan are commonly used to study the influence of residential wood burning, agricultural waste burning and wild fire emissions on ambient air quality. A European-wide intercomparison on the analysis of the three monosaccharide anhydrides was conducted based on ambient aerosol quartz fiber filter samples collected at a Norwegian urban background site during winter. Thus, the samples' content of MAs is representative for biomass burning particles originating from residential wood burning. The purpose of the intercomparison was to examine the comparability of the great diversity of analytical methods used for analysis of levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan in ambient aerosol filter samples. Thirteen laboratories participated, of which three applied High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography (HPAEC), four used High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), and six resorted to Gas Chromatography (GC). The analytical methods used were of such diversity that they should be considered as thirteen different analytical methods. All of the thirteen laboratories reported levels of levoglucosan, whereas nine reported data for mannosan and/or galactosan. Eight of the thirteen laboratories reported levels for all three isomers. The accuracy for levoglucosan, presented as the mean percentage error (PE) for each participating laboratory, varied from -63 to 23%; however, for 62% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%, and for 85% the mean PE was within ±20%. For mannosan, the corresponding range was -60 to 69%, but as for levoglucosan, the range was substantially smaller for a subselection of the laboratories; i.e., for 33% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%. For galactosan, the mean PE for the participating laboratories ranged from -84 to 593%, and as for mannosan 33% of the laboratories reported a mean PE within ±10%. The variability of the various analytical methods, as defined by their minimum and maximum PE value, was typically better for levoglucosan than for mannosan and galactosan, ranging from 3.2 to 41% for levoglucosan, from 10 to 67% for mannosan, and from 6 to 364% for galactosan. For the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio, which may be used to assess the relative importance of softwood vs. hardwood burning, the variability only ranged from 3.5 to 24%. To our knowledge, this is the first major intercomparison on analytical methods used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples conducted and reported in the scientific literature. The results show that for levoglucosan the accuracy is only slightly lower than that reported for analysis of SO42- on filter samples, a constituent that has been analyzed by numerous laboratories for several decades, typically by ion chromatography, and which is considered a fairly easy constituent to measure. Hence, the results obtained for levoglucosan with respect to accuracy are encouraging and suggest that levels of levoglucosan, and to a lesser extent mannosan and galactosan, obtained by most of the analytical methods currently used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples, are comparable. Finally, the various analytical methods used in the current study should be tested for other aerosol matrices and concentrations as well, the most obvious being summertime aerosol samples affected by wild fires and/or agricultural fires.

An intercomparison study of analytical methods used for quantification of levoglucosan in ambient aerosol filter samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yttri, K. E.; Schnelle-Kreis, J.; Maenhaut, W.; Abbaszade, G.; Alves, C.; Bjerke, A.; Bonnier, N.; Bossi, R.; Claeys, M.; Dye, C.; Evtyugina, M.; García-Gacio, D.; Hillamo, R.; Hoffer, A.; Hyder, M.; Iinuma, Y.; Jaffrezo, J.-L.; Kasper-Giebl, A.; Kiss, G.; López-Mahia, P. L.; Pio, C.; Piot, C.; Ramirez-Santa-Cruz, C.; Sciare, J.; Teinilä, K.; Vermeylen, R.; Vicente, A.; Zimmermann, R.

2015-01-01

The monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs) levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan are products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses, and are found to be major constituents of biomass burning (BB) aerosol particles. Hence, ambient aerosol particle concentrations of levoglucosan are commonly used to study the influence of residential wood burning, agricultural waste burning and wildfire emissions on ambient air quality. A European-wide intercomparison on the analysis of the three monosaccharide anhydrides was conducted based on ambient aerosol quartz fiber filter samples collected at a Norwegian urban background site during winter. Thus, the samples' content of MAs is representative for BB particles originating from residential wood burning. The purpose of the intercomparison was to examine the comparability of the great diversity of analytical methods used for analysis of levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan in ambient aerosol filter samples. Thirteen laboratories participated, of which three applied high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), four used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and six resorted to gas chromatography (GC). The analytical methods used were of such diversity that they should be considered as thirteen different analytical methods. All of the thirteen laboratories reported levels of levoglucosan, whereas nine reported data for mannosan and/or galactosan. Eight of the thirteen laboratories reported levels for all three isomers. The accuracy for levoglucosan, presented as the mean percentage error (PE) for each participating laboratory, varied from -63 to 20%; however, for 62% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%, and for 85% the mean PE was within ±20%. For mannosan, the corresponding range was -60 to 69%, but as for levoglucosan, the range was substantially smaller for a subselection of the laboratories; i.e. for 33% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%. For galactosan, the mean PE for the participating laboratories ranged from -84 to 593%, and as for mannosan 33% of the laboratories reported a mean PE within ±10%. The variability of the various analytical methods, as defined by their minimum and maximum PE value, was typically better for levoglucosan than for mannosan and galactosan, ranging from 3.2 to 41% for levoglucosan, from 10 to 67% for mannosan and from 6 to 364% for galactosan. For the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio, which may be used to assess the relative importance of softwood versus hardwood burning, the variability only ranged from 3.5 to 24 . To our knowledge, this is the first major intercomparison on analytical methods used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples conducted and reported in the scientific literature. The results show that for levoglucosan the accuracy is only slightly lower than that reported for analysis of SO42- (sulfate) on filter samples, a constituent that has been analysed by numerous laboratories for several decades, typically by ion chromatography and which is considered a fairly easy constituent to measure. Hence, the results obtained for levoglucosan with respect to accuracy are encouraging and suggest that levels of levoglucosan, and to a lesser extent mannosan and galactosan, obtained by most of the analytical methods currently used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples, are comparable. Finally, the various analytical methods used in the current study should be tested for other aerosol matrices and concentrations as well, the most obvious being summertime aerosol samples affected by wildfires and/or agricultural fires.

Highly sensitive surface-scanning detector for the direct bacterial detection using magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yuzhe; Horikawa, Shin; Chen, I.-Hsuan; Du, Songtao; Wikle, Howard C.; Suh, Sang-Jin; Chin, Bryan A.

2017-05-01

This paper demonstrates a highly sensitive surface-scanning detector used for magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors for the detection of Salmonella on the surface of a polyethylene (PE) food preparation surface. The design and fabrication methods of the new planar spiral coil are introduced. Different concentrations of Salmonella were measured on the surface of a PE board. The efficacy of Salmonella capture and detection is discussed.

Mapping of QTLs for Seed Phorbol Esters, a Toxic Chemical in Jatropha curcas (L.)

PubMed Central

Amkul, Kitiya; Laosatit, Kularb; Shim, Sangrea; Lee, Suk-Ha; Tanya, Patcharin; Srinives, Peerasak

2017-01-01

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) is an oil-bearing plant that has potential to be cultivated as a biodiesel crop. The seed cake after oil extraction has 40–50% protein that can be used in animal feeds. A major limitation in utilizing the cake is the presence of phorbol esters (PE), a heat-tolerant toxic chemical. To identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PE, we constructed a genetic linkage map from an F2 population of 95 individuals from a cross “Chai Nat” × “M10” using 143 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. M10 is low in seed PE while Chai Nat is high. Seeds from each F2 individual were quantified for PE content by high performance liquid chromatography. A single marker analysis revealed five markers from linkage group 3 (LG3) and nine markers from LG8 associated with seed PE. Inclusive composite interval mapping identified two QTLs, each on LG3 (qPE3.1) and LG8 (qPE8.1) responsible for the PE. qPE3.1 and qPE8.1 accounted for 14.10%, and 15.49% of total variation in seed PE, respectively. Alelle(s) from M10 at qPE3.1 increased seed PE, while at qPE8.1 decreased seed PE. qPE3.1 is a new loci for PE, while qPE8.1 is the same locus with that reported recently for PE. PMID:28820491

Mapping of QTLs for Seed Phorbol Esters, a Toxic Chemical in Jatropha curcas (L.).

PubMed

Amkul, Kitiya; Laosatit, Kularb; Somta, Prakit; Shim, Sangrea; Lee, Suk-Ha; Tanya, Patcharin; Srinives, Peerasak

2017-08-18

Jatropha ( Jatropha curcas L.) is an oil-bearing plant that has potential to be cultivated as a biodiesel crop. The seed cake after oil extraction has 40-50% protein that can be used in animal feeds. A major limitation in utilizing the cake is the presence of phorbol esters (PE), a heat-tolerant toxic chemical. To identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PE, we constructed a genetic linkage map from an F₂ population of 95 individuals from a cross "Chai Nat" × "M10" using 143 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. M10 is low in seed PE while Chai Nat is high. Seeds from each F₂ individual were quantified for PE content by high performance liquid chromatography. A single marker analysis revealed five markers from linkage group 3 (LG3) and nine markers from LG8 associated with seed PE. Inclusive composite interval mapping identified two QTLs, each on LG3 ( qPE3.1 ) and LG8 ( qPE8.1 ) responsible for the PE. qPE3.1 and qPE8.1 accounted for 14.10%, and 15.49% of total variation in seed PE, respectively. Alelle(s) from M10 at qPE3.1 increased seed PE, while at qPE8.1 decreased seed PE. qPE3.1 is a new loci for PE, while qPE8.1 is the same locus with that reported recently for PE.

Ethical issues related to screening for preeclampsia.

PubMed

Jørgensen, Jennifer M; Hedley, Paula L; Gjerris, Mickey; Christiansen, Michael

2014-09-01

The implementation of new methods of treating and preventing disease raises many question of both technical and moral character. Currently, many studies focus on developing a screening test for preeclampsia (PE), a disease complicating 2-8% of pregnancies, potentially causing severe consequences for pregnant women and their fetuses. The purpose is to develop a test that can identify pregnancies at high risk for developing PE sufficiently early in pregnancy to allow for prophylaxis. However, the question of implementing a screening test for PE does not only involve an evaluation of technical feasibility and clinical efficacy, it also requires an analysis of how the test influences the conditions and choices for those tested. This study evaluates state-of-the-art techniques for preeclampsia screening in an ethical framework, pointing out the central areas of moral relevance within the context of such screening activity. Furthermore, we propose ethical guidelines that a screening programme for PE should meet in order to become an uncontroversial addition to prenatal health care. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Efficient Functionalization of Polyethylene Fibers for the Uranium Extraction from Seawater through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

DOE PAGES

Neti, Venkata S.; Das, Sadananda; Brown, Suree; ...

2017-08-29

Brush-on-brush structures are proposed as one method to overcome support effects in grafted polymers. Utilizing glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted on polyethylene (PE) fibers using radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP) provides a hydrophilic surface on the hydrophobic PE. When integrated with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), the grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) can be controlled and manipulated more easily than with RIGP. Poly(acrylonitrile)-co-poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) chains were grown via ATRP on PE-GMA fibers to generate an adsorbent for the extraction of uranium from seawater. The prepared adsorbents in this study demonstrated promise (159.9 g-U/kg of adsorbent) in laboratory screening testsmore » using a high uranium concentration brine and 1.24 g-U/Kg of adsorbent in the filtered natural seawater in 21-days. Here, the modest capacity in 21-days exceeds previous efforts to generate brush-on-brush adsorbents by ATRP while manipulating the apparent surface hydrophilicity of the trunk material (PE).« less

Efficient Functionalization of Polyethylene Fibers for the Uranium Extraction from Seawater through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

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

Neti, Venkata S.; Das, Sadananda; Brown, Suree

Brush-on-brush structures are proposed as one method to overcome support effects in grafted polymers. Utilizing glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted on polyethylene (PE) fibers using radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP) provides a hydrophilic surface on the hydrophobic PE. When integrated with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), the grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) can be controlled and manipulated more easily than with RIGP. Poly(acrylonitrile)-co-poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) chains were grown via ATRP on PE-GMA fibers to generate an adsorbent for the extraction of uranium from seawater. The prepared adsorbents in this study demonstrated promise (159.9 g-U/kg of adsorbent) in laboratory screening testsmore » using a high uranium concentration brine and 1.24 g-U/Kg of adsorbent in the filtered natural seawater in 21-days. Here, the modest capacity in 21-days exceeds previous efforts to generate brush-on-brush adsorbents by ATRP while manipulating the apparent surface hydrophilicity of the trunk material (PE).« less

Efficient Functionalization of Polyethylene Fibers for the Uranium Extraction from Seawater through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

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

Neti, Venkata S.; Das, Sadananda; Brown, Suree

Brush-on-brush structures are proposed as one method to overcome support effects in grafted polymers. Utilizing glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafted on polyethylene (PE) fibers using radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP) provides a hydrophilic surface on the hydrophobic PE. When integrated with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), the grafting of acrylonitrile (AN) and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) can be controlled and manipulated more easily than with RIGP. Poly(acrylonitrile)-co-poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) chains were grown via ATRP on PE-GMA fibers to generate an adsorbent for the extraction of uranium from seawater. The prepared adsorbents in this study demonstrated promise (159.9 g- U/kg of adsorbent) in laboratory screeningmore » tests using a high uranium concentration brine and 1.24 g-U/Kg of adsorbent in the filtered natural seawater in 21-days. The modest capacity in 21- days exceeds previous efforts to generate brush-on-brush adsorbents by ATRP while manipulating the apparent surface hydrophilicity of the trunk material (PE).« less

Green perovskite light emitting diodes based on the ITO/Al2O3/CsPbBr3 heterojunction structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Shiwei; Ma, Xue; Hu, Daqiang; Dong, Xin; Zhang, Yuantao; Zhang, Baolin

2018-03-01

Perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs) now emerge as a promising new optoelectronic application field for these amazing semiconductors. For the purpose of investigating the device structures and light emission mechanisms of PeLEDs, we have fabricated green PeLEDs based on the ITO/Al2O3/CsPbBr3 heterojunction structure. The emission layer inorganic perovskite CsPbBr3 film with small grain sizes (∼28.9 nm) was prepared using a two-step method. The device exhibits a typical rectification behavior with turn-on voltage of ∼6 V. The EL emission band is narrow with the FWHM of ∼25 nm. The peak EQE of the device was ∼0.09%. The working mechanism of the device is also discussed. The result of the present work provides a feasible innovation idea of PeLEDs fabrication and great potentials for the development of perovskite based LEDs.

Temperature and frequency characteristics of low-loss MnZn ferrite in a wide temperature range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ke; Lan, Zhongwen; Yu, Zhong; Xu, Zhiyong; Jiang, Xiaona; Wang, Zihui; Liu, Zhi; Luo, Ming

2011-05-01

A low-loss Mn0.7Zn0.24Fe2.06O4 ferrite has been prepared by a solid-state reaction method. The MnZn ferrite has a high initial permeability, μi (3097), a high saturation induction, Bs (526 mT), a high Curie temperature, Tc (220 °C), and a low core loss, PL (≤ 415 kW/m3) in a wide temperature (25-120 °C) and frequency (10-100 kHz) range. As the temperature increases, an initial decrease followed by a subsequent increase of hysteresis loss, Ph, and eddy current loss, Pe is observed. Both Ph and Pe increase with increasing frequency. When f ≥ 300 kHz, a residual loss, Pr, appears. Pe increases with increasing temperature and frequency. The temperature and frequency dependence of Ph can be explained by irreversible domain wall movements, Pe by the skin effect, and Pr by domain wall resonance, respectively.

PE38KDEL-loaded anti-HER2 nanoparticles inhibit breast tumor progression with reduced toxicity and immunogenicity.

PubMed

Gao, Jie; Kou, Geng; Wang, Hao; Chen, Huaiwen; Li, Bohua; Lu, Ying; Zhang, Dapeng; Wang, Shuhui; Hou, Sheng; Qian, Weizhu; Dai, Jianxin; Zhao, Jian; Zhong, Yanqiang; Guo, Yajun

2009-05-01

The clinical use of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE)-based immunotoxins is limited by the toxicity and immunogenicity of PE. To overcome the limitations, we have developed PE38KDEL-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles conjugated with Fab' fragments of a humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (rhuMAbHER2). The PE38KDEL-loaded nanoparticles-anti-HER2 Fab' bioconjugates (PE-NP-HER) were constructed modularly with Fab' fragments of rhuMAbHER2 covalently linked to PLGA nanoparticles containing PE38KDEL. Compared with nontargeted nanoparticles that lack anti-HER2 Fab', PE-NP-HER specifically bound to and were sequentially internalized into HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells, which result in significant cytotoxicity in vitro. In HER2 overexpressing tumor xenograft model system, administration of PE-NP-HER showed a superior efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth compared with PE-HER referring to PE38KDEL conjugated directly to rhuMAbHER2. Moreover, PE-NP-HER was well tolerated in mice with a higher LD(50) (LD(50) of 6.86 +/- 0.47 mg/kg vs. 2.21 +/- 0.32 mg/kg for PE-NP-HER vs. PE-HER (mean +/- SD); n = 3), and had no influence on the plasma level of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of animals when injected at a dose of 1 mg/kg where PE-HER caused significant increase of serum ALT in the treated mice. Notably, PE-NP-HER was of low immunogenicity in development of anti-PE38KDEL neutralizing antibodies and was less susceptible to inactivation by anti-PE38KDEL antibodies compared with PE-HER. This novel bioconjugate, PE-NP-HER, may represent a useful strategy for cancer treatment.

Ultrasound assisted methods for enhanced extraction of phycobiliproteins from marine macro-algae, Gelidium pusillum (Rhodophyta).

PubMed

Mittal, Rochak; Tavanandi, Hrishikesh A; Mantri, Vaibhav A; Raghavarao, K S M S

2017-09-01

Extraction of phycobiliproteins (R-phycoerythrin, R-PE and R-phycocyanin, R-PC) from macro-algae is difficult due to the presence of large polysaccharides (agar, cellulose etc.) present in the cell wall which offer major hindrance for cell disruption. The present study is aimed at developing most suitable methodology for the primary extraction of R-PE and R-PC from marine macro-algae, Gelidium pusillum(Stackhouse) Le Jolis. Such extraction of phycobiliproteins by using ultrasonication and other conventional methods such as maceration, maceration in presence of liquid nitrogen, homogenization, and freezing and thawing (alone and in combinations) is reported for the first time. Standardization of ultrasonication for different parameters such as ultrasonication amplitude (60, 90 and 120µm) and ultrasonication time (1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10mins) at different temperatures (30, 35 and 40°C) was carried out. Kinetic parameters were estimated for extraction of phycobiliproteins by ultrasonication based on second order mass transfer kinetics. Based on calorimetric measurements, power, ultrasound intensity and acoustic power density were estimated to be 41.97W, 14.81W/cm 2 and 0.419W/cm 3 , respectively. Synergistic effect of ultrasonication was observed when employed in combination with other conventional primary extraction methods. Homogenization in combination with ultrasonication resulted in an enhancement in efficiency by 9.3% over homogenization alone. Similarly, maceration in combination with ultrasonication resulted in an enhancement in efficiency by 31% over maceration alone. Among all the methods employed, maceration in combination with ultrasonication resulted in the highest extraction efficiency of 77 and 93% for R-PE and R-PC, respectively followed by homogenization in combination with ultrasonication (69.6% for R-PE and 74.1% for R-PC). HPLC analysis was carried out in order to ensure that R-PE was present in the extract and remained intact even after processing. Microscopic studies indicated a clear relation between the extraction efficiency of phycobiliproteins and degree of cell disruption in a given primary extraction method. These combination methods were found to be effective for extraction of phycobiliproteins from rigid biomass of Gelidium pusillum macro-algae and can be employed for downstream processing of biomolecules also from other macro-algae. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Treatment options for severe pulmonary embolism during pregnancy and the postpartum period: a systematic review.

PubMed

Martillotti, G; Boehlen, F; Robert-Ebadi, H; Jastrow, N; Righini, M; Blondon, M

2017-10-01

Essentials The evidence on how to manage life-threatening pregnancy-related pulmonary embolism (PE) is scarce. We systematically reviewed all available cases of (sub)massive PE until December 2016. Thrombolysis in such severe PE was associated with a high maternal survival (94%). The major bleeding risk was much greater in the postpartum (58%) than antepartum period (18%). Background Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) during pregnancy or the postpartum period is a rare but dramatic event. Our aim was to systematically review the evidence to guide its management. Methods We searched Pubmed, Embase, conference proceedings and the RIETE registry for published cases of severe (submassive/massive) PE treated with thrombolysis, percutaneous or surgical thrombectomy and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), occurring during pregnancy or within 6 weeks of delivery. Main outcomes were maternal survival and major bleeding, premature delivery, and fetal survival and bleeding. Results We found 127 cases of severe PE (at least 83% massive; 23% with cardiac arrest) treated with at least one modality. Among 83 women with thrombolysis, survival was 94% (95% CI, 86-98). The risk of major bleeding was 17.5% during pregnancy and 58.3% in the postpartum period, mainly because of severe postpartum hemorrhages. Fetal deaths possibly related to PE or its treatment occurred in 12.0% of cases treated during pregnancy. Among 36 women with surgical thrombectomy, maternal survival and risk of major bleeding were 86.1% (95% CI, 71-95) and 20.0%, with fetal deaths possibly related to surgery in 20.0%. About half of severe postpartum PEs occurred within 24 h of delivery. Conclusions Published cases of thrombolysis for massive PE during pregnancy and the postpartum period suggest a high maternal and fetal survival (94% and 88%). In the postpartum period, given the high risk of major bleeding with thrombolysis, other therapeutic options (catheter [or surgical] thrombectomy, ECMO) may be considered if available. © 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Reduction in membrane component of diffusing capacity is associated with the extent of acute pulmonary embolism.

PubMed

Piirilä, Päivi; Laiho, Mia; Mustonen, Pirjo; Graner, Marit; Piilonen, Anneli; Raade, Merja; Sarna, Seppo; Harjola, Veli-Pekka; Sovijärvi, Anssi

2011-05-01

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) often decreases pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL,CO), but data on the mechanisms involved are inconsistent. We wanted to investigate whether reduction in diffusing capacity of alveolo-capillary membrane (DM) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) is associated with the extent of PE or the presence and severity of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) induced by PE and how the possible changes are corrected after 7-month follow-up. Forty-seven patients with acute non-massive PE in spiral computed tomography (CT) were included. The extent of PE was assessed by scoring mass of embolism. DL,CO, Vc, DM and alveolar volume (VA) were measured by using a single breath method with carbon monoxide and oxygen both at the acute phase and 7 months later. RVD was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiogram. Fifteen healthy subjects were included as controls. DL,CO, DL, CO/VA, DM, vital capacity (VC) and VA were significantly lower in the patients with acute PE than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). DM/Vc relation was significantly lower in patients with RVD than in healthy controls (P = 0.004). DM correlated inversely with central mass of embolism (r = -0.312; P = 0.047) whereas Vc did not. DM, DL,CO, VC and VA improved significantly within 7 months. In all patients (P = 0.001, P = 0.001) and persistent RVD (P = 0.020, P = 0.012), DM and DL,CO remained significantly lower than in healthy controls in the follow-up. DM was inversely related to central mass of embolism. Reduction in DM mainly explains the sustained decrease in DL,CO in PE after 7 months despite modern treatment of PE. © 2010 The Authors. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging © 2010 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine.

Changes in physical activity levels, lesson context, and teacher interaction during physical education in culturally and linguistically diverse Australian schools

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Recent data show that only 15% of Australian adolescents participate in adequate amounts of physical activity (PA) and those students from Asian and Middle-Eastern backgrounds in Grades 6–12 are significantly less active than their English-speaking background peers. Schools have recently been recognised as the most widely used and cost-effective setting for promoting PA among youth and one domain within schools where PA can occur regularly for all youth, regardless of cultural background or socio-economic status, is during physical education (PE). Methods This study describes changes in physical activity (PA), lesson context and teacher interaction in physical education over the first two years in culturally and linguistically diverse secondary schools. Grade 7 PE classes in six schools were randomly observed using systematic direct observation (n = 81) and then followed up over the same period (n = 51) twelve months later. Results There was no significant decline in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during PE (MD = −4.8%; p = .777), but a significant decline and medium negative effect in time spent in vigorous physical activity (VPA) (MD = −7.9%; p = .009) during PE was observed. Significant declines and large negative effects over time in percentage of PE time spent in management (MD = −8.8%; p < .001) and the number of observations where teachers promoted PA (MD = −20.7%; p < .001). Conclusions The decline of VPA and teacher promotion of PA in culturally and linguistically diverse schools is of concern. Given the declines in VPA and the increases in time spent in game play, further research is needed to ascertain whether PE instruction could be improved by focussing on skill instruction and fitness in a games-based PE instruction model. Further research for increasing teacher promotion of PA during PE is needed. PMID:22989149

Fatty Acid Oxidation Changes and the Correlation with Oxidative Stress in Different Preeclampsia-Like Mouse Models

PubMed Central

Ding, Xiaoyan; Yang, Zi; Han, Yiwei; Yu, Huan

2014-01-01

Background Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) expression is decreased in placenta of some cases of preeclampsia (PE) which may result in free fatty acid (FFA) increased. High FFA level will induce oxidative stress, so abnormal long-chain fatty acid-oxidation may participate in the pathogenesis of PE through oxidative stress pathway. Methods PE-like groups were ApoC3 transgenic mice with abnormal fatty acid metabolism, classical PE-like models with injection of Nw-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) mouse model with β2GPI injection (ApoC3+NS, ApoC3+L-NA, L-NA, LPS and β2GPI groups). The control group was wild-type mice with normal saline injection. Except for β2GPI mice, the other mice were subdivided into pre-implantation (Pre) and mid-pregnancy (Mid) subgroups by injection time. Results All PE-like groups showed hypertension and proteinuria except ApoC3+NS mice only showed hypertension. Serum FFA levels increased significantly except in LPS group compared to controls (P<0.05). LCHAD mRNA and protein expression in the liver and placenta was significantly higher for ApoC3+NS, ApoC3+L-NA and β2GPI mice and lower for L-NA mice than controls (P<0.05) but did not differ between LPS mice and controls. P47phox mRNA and protein expression in the liver significantly increased in all PE-like groups except LPS group, while P47phox expression in the placenta only significantly increased in L-NA and β2GPI groups. Conclusions Abnormal long-chain fatty acid-oxidation may play a different role in different PE-like models and in some cases participate in the pathogenesis of PE through oxidative stress pathway. PMID:25302499

Psychological Empowerment Among Urban Youth: Measurement Model and Associations with Youth Outcomes.

PubMed

Eisman, Andria B; Zimmerman, Marc A; Kruger, Daniel; Reischl, Thomas M; Miller, Alison L; Franzen, Susan P; Morrel-Samuels, Susan

2016-12-01

Empowerment-based strategies have become widely used method to address health inequities and promote social change. Few researchers, however, have tested theoretical models of empowerment, including multidimensional, higher-order models. We test empirically a multidimensional, higher-order model of psychological empowerment (PE), guided by Zimmerman's conceptual framework including three components of PE: intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral. We also investigate if PE is associated with positive and negative outcomes among youth. The sample included 367 middle school youth aged 11-16 (M = 12.71; SD = 0.91); 60% female, 32% (n = 117) white youth, 46% (n = 170) African-American youth, and 22% (n = 80) identifying as mixed race, Asian-American, Latino, Native American, or other ethnic/racial group; schools reported 61-75% free/reduced lunch students. Our results indicated that each of the latent factors for the three PE components demonstrate a good fit with the data. Our results also indicated that these components loaded on to a higher-order PE factor (X 2  = 32.68; df: 22; p = .07; RMSEA: 0.04; 95% CI: .00, .06; CFI: 0.99). We found that the second-order PE factor was negatively associated with aggressive behavior and positively associated with prosocial engagement. Our results suggest that empowerment-focused programs would benefit from incorporating components addressing how youth think about themselves in relation to their social contexts (intrapersonal), understanding social and material resources needed to achieve specific goals (interactional), and actions taken to influence outcomes (behavioral). Our results also suggest that integrating the three components and promoting PE may help increase likelihood of positive behaviors (e.g., prosocial involvement); we did not find an association between PE and aggressive behavior. Implications and future directions for empowerment research are discussed. © Society for Community Research and Action 2016.

Developing a complex intervention for the outpatient management of incidentally diagnosed pulmonary embolism in cancer patients

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Most patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) spend 5–7 days in hospital even though only 4.5% will develop serious complications during this time. In particular, the group of patients with incidentally diagnosed PE (i-PE) includes many patients with low risk features potentially ideal for outpatient management; however the evidence for their optimal management is lacking hence relative practices may vary considerably. We describe the development process, components, links and function of a nurse-led service for the management of patients with i-PE, developed in accordance to the UK Medical Research Council complex intervention guidance. Methods Phase 0 (Theoretical underpinning): The Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) was selected for patient risk assessment and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guideline for the management of PE in cancer patients (2007) was selected as quality measure. Historical registry and audit data from our centre regarding i-PE incidence and management for the period between 2006 and 2009 illustrating the then current practices were reviewed. Phase 1 (Modelling): Modelling of the pathway included the following: a) Identification of training needs, planning and implementation of training schemes and development of transferable competencies and training materials. b) Mapping patient pathways and flow and c) Production of key documentation and Standard Operating Procedures for the delivery of the service. Results Phase 2 (Implementation and testing of the intervention): During the initial 12 months of implementation, remedial action was taken to address identified deficiencies regarding patient referral to the pathway, compliance with treatment protocol, patient follow up, selection challenges from the use of PESI in cancer patients and challenges regarding the “first-pass” identification of i-PE. Conclusion We have developed and piloted a complex intervention to manage cancer patients with incidental PE in an outpatient setting. Adherence to evidence- based care, improvement of communication between professionals and patients, and improved quality of data is demonstrated. PMID:23806053

Proceedings of US-Latin American Workshop on Molecular and Materials Sciences: Theoretical and Computational Aspects Held in Gainesville, Florida on 10-12 March 1993

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-08-09

City Josd Rdamier and R. Iterative Bogoliubov Transformations and Applications Jauregui Inst. de Fisica , Cuernavaca, Meiico Peter J. Reynolds Quantum...University, Provo, UT 84602 J. R•camier Instituto de Fisica , UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mor., MWxico Gamow states are solutions to the Schr6dinger equation with a...Coutinho Departamento de FAsica do UFPE 50732-910 Recife, PE, Brazil and Jnstituto de Fisica da USP, Czp 20516 01498-970 Sdo Paulo, SP, Brasil The

Sex-specific performance of pre-imaging diagnostic algorithms for pulmonary embolism.

PubMed

van Mens, T E; van der Pol, L M; van Es, N; Bistervels, I M; Mairuhu, A T A; van der Hulle, T; Klok, F A; Huisman, M V; Middeldorp, S

2018-05-01

Essentials Decision rules for pulmonary embolism are used indiscriminately despite possible sex-differences. Various pre-imaging diagnostic algorithms have been investigated in several prospective studies. When analysed at an individual patient data level the algorithms perform similarly in both sexes. Estrogen use and male sex were associated with a higher prevalence in suspected pulmonary embolism. Background In patients suspected of pulmonary embolism (PE), clinical decision rules are combined with D-dimer testing to rule out PE, avoiding the need for imaging in those at low risk. Despite sex differences in several aspects of the disease, including its diagnosis, these algorithms are used indiscriminately in women and men. Objectives To compare the performance, defined as efficiency and failure rate, of three pre-imaging diagnostic algorithms for PE between women and men: the Wells rule with fixed or with age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off, and a recently validated algorithm (YEARS). A secondary aim was to determine the sex-specific prevalence of PE. Methods Individual patient data were obtained from six studies using the Wells rule (fixed D-dimer, n = 5; age adjusted, n = 1) and from one study using the YEARS algorithm. All studies prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with suspected PE. Main outcomes were efficiency (proportion of patients in which the algorithm ruled out PE without imaging) and failure rate (proportion of patients with PE not detected by the algorithm). Outcomes were estimated using (multilevel) logistic regression models. Results The main outcomes showed no sex differences in any of the separate algorithms. With all three, the prevalence of PE was lower in women (OR, 0.66, 0.68 and 0.74). In women, estrogen use, adjusted for age, was associated with lower efficiency and higher prevalence and D-dimer levels. Conclusions The investigated pre-imaging diagnostic algorithms for patients suspected of PE show no sex differences in performance. Male sex and estrogen use are both associated with a higher probability of having the disease. © 2018 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Green synthesis of biogenic silver nanoparticles using Solanum tuberosum extract and their interaction with human serum albumin: Evidence of "corona" formation through a multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking analysis.

PubMed

Ali, Mohd Sajid; Altaf, Mohammad; Al-Lohedan, Hamad A

2017-08-01

Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized by using Solanum tuberosum (potato) extract (PE) as a reducing as well as stabilizing agent which is reasonably cheaper, non-toxic and easily available material. The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has been carried out by very simple method and the nanoparticles were characterized by surface plasmon band as well as TEM measurements. The PE-AgNPs were highly dispersed in the solution and found to be spherical with around 10nm in size. Interaction of these nanoparticles was studied with plasma protein HSA by means of various spectroscopies, such as, UV-visible, fluorescence, DLS, CD and FTIR spectroscopies. The HSA was found to form the protein "corona" around the starch-capped PE-AgNPs. Absorption spectroscopy revealed that the interaction between HSA and PE-AgNPs resulted in the ground state complex formation. Due to the strong absorption of PE-AgNPs, the inner filter effect was corrected for the fluorescence data. PE-AgNPs were found to quench the fluorescence of HSA with a small blue shift attributed to the increase in the hydrophobicity near tryptophan residue due to the presence of amylopectin and amylose units in the starch. The value of n, Hill's constant, was found to be >1 which determines the existence of a cooperative binding between nanoparticle and albumin. Several parameters such as Stern-Volmer and binding constants in addition to the thermodynamic parameters have been analyzed and discussed which established that the complex formation has taken place via static quenching mechanism and the corona formation between albumin and PE-AgNPs was entropy driven process. Binding of biogenic PE-AgNPs to the HSA slightly affected the secondary structure of latter with a small decrease in α-helical contents resulting in the partial unfolding of the protein, though the structural motif remained the same. Molecular docking simulations revealed various possible binding modes between PE-AgNPs and albumin. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Adequately Diversified Dietary Intake and Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy Is Associated with Reduced Occurrence of Symptoms Suggestive of Pre-Eclampsia or Eclampsia in Indian Women

PubMed Central

Agrawal, Sutapa; Fledderjohann, Jasmine; Vellakkal, Sukumar; Stuckler, David

2015-01-01

Background/Objective Pre-eclampsia or Eclampsia (PE or E) accounts for 25% of cases of maternal mortality worldwide. There is some evidence of a link to dietary factors, but few studies have explored this association in developing countries, where the majority of the burden falls. We examined the association between adequately diversified dietary intake, iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and symptoms suggestive of PE or E in Indian women. Methods Cross-sectional data from India’s third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3, 2005-06) was used for this study. Self-reported symptoms suggestive of PE or E during pregnancy were obtained from 39,657 women aged 15-49 years who had had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between adequately diversified dietary intake, iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and symptoms suggestive of PE or E after adjusting for maternal, health and lifestyle factors, and socio-demographic characteristics of the mother. Results In their most recent pregnancy, 1.2% (n=456) of the study sample experienced symptoms suggestive of PE or E. Mothers who consumed an adequately diversified diet were 34% less likely (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51-0.87) to report PE or E symptoms than mothers with inadequately diversified dietary intake. The likelihood of reporting PE or E symptoms was also 36% lower (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.47-0.88) among those mothers who consumed iron and folic acid supplementation for at least 90 days during their last pregnancy. As a sensitivity analysis, we stratified our models sequentially by education, wealth, antenatal care visits, birth interval, and parity. Our results remained largely unchanged: both adequately diversified dietary intake and iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy were associated with a reduced occurrence of PE or E symptoms. Conclusion Having a adequately diversified dietary intake and iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy was associated with a reduced occurrence of symptoms suggestive of PE or E in Indian women. PMID:25785774

Multiscale permutation entropy analysis of EEG recordings during sevoflurane anesthesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Duan; Li, Xiaoli; Liang, Zhenhu; Voss, Logan J.; Sleigh, Jamie W.

2010-08-01

Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring of the effect of anesthetic drugs on the central nervous system has long been used in anesthesia research. Several methods based on nonlinear dynamics, such as permutation entropy (PE), have been proposed to analyze EEG series during anesthesia. However, these measures are still single-scale based and may not completely describe the dynamical characteristics of complex EEG series. In this paper, a novel measure combining multiscale PE information, called CMSPE (composite multi-scale permutation entropy), was proposed for quantifying the anesthetic drug effect on EEG recordings during sevoflurane anesthesia. Three sets of simulated EEG series during awake, light and deep anesthesia were used to select the parameters for the multiscale PE analysis: embedding dimension m, lag τ and scales to be integrated into the CMSPE index. Then, the CMSPE index and raw single-scale PE index were applied to EEG recordings from 18 patients who received sevoflurane anesthesia. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modeling was used to relate the measured EEG indices and the anesthetic drug concentration. Prediction probability (Pk) statistics and correlation analysis with the response entropy (RE) index, derived from the spectral entropy (M-entropy module; GE Healthcare, Helsinki, Finland), were investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of the new proposed measure. It was found that raw single-scale PE was blind to subtle transitions between light and deep anesthesia, while the CMSPE index tracked these changes accurately. Around the time of loss of consciousness, CMSPE responded significantly more rapidly than the raw PE, with the absolute slopes of linearly fitted response versus time plots of 0.12 (0.09-0.15) and 0.10 (0.06-0.13), respectively. The prediction probability Pk of 0.86 (0.85-0.88) and 0.85 (0.80-0.86) for CMSPE and raw PE indicated that the CMSPE index correlated well with the underlying anesthetic effect. The correlation coefficient for the comparison between the CMSPE index and RE index of 0.84 (0.80-0.88) was significantly higher than the raw PE index of 0.75 (0.66-0.84). The results show that the CMSPE outperforms the raw single-scale PE in reflecting the sevoflurane drug effect on the central nervous system.

Premature ejaculation: do we have effective therapy?

PubMed Central

Serefoglu, Ege Can; Saitz, Theodore R.; Trost, Landon

2013-01-01

Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common sexual dysfunction, with the majority of PE patients remaining undiagnosed and undertreated. Despite its prevalence, there is a current paucity of data regarding available treatment options and mechanisms. The objective of the current investigation is to review and summarize pertinent literature on therapeutic options for the treatment of PE, including behavioral/psychologic, oral pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Methods A pubmed search was conducted on articles reporting data on available treatment options for PE. Articles describing potential mechanisms of action were additionally included for review. Preference was given towards randomized, controlled trials, when available. Results PE remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease process, with limited data available regarding potential underlying mechanisms and long-term outcomes of treatment options. Psychological/behavioral therapies, including the stop-start, squeeze, and pelvic floor rehabilitation techniques have demonstrated improvements in short-term series, with decreased efficacy with additional follow-up. Topical therapies, which are commonly utilized result in prolonged intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) at the expense of potential penile/vaginal Hypothesia. Oral therapies similarly demonstrate improved IELTs with variable side effect profiles and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (daily or on demand), phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists, and tramadol. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture have shown benefits in limited studies. Surgery is not commonly performed and is not recommended by available guidelines. Conclusions PE is a common condition, with limited data available regarding its underlying pathophysiology and treatment. Available therapies include topical, oral, behavioral/psychologic modification, or a combination thereof. Additional research is required to assess the optimal treatment strategies and algorithms as well as to better define the mechanisms for PE and its management. PMID:26816723

Measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with optic disc swelling by using scanning laser polarimetry and optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Hata, Masayuki; Miyamoto, Kazuaki; Oishi, Akio; Kimura, Yugo; Nakagawa, Satoko; Horii, Takahiro; Yoshimura, Nagahisa

2014-01-01

Background The retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in patients with optic disc swelling of different etiologies was compared using scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods Forty-seven patients with optic disc swelling participated in the cross-sectional study. Both GDx SLP (enhanced corneal compensation) and Spectralis spectral-domain OCT measurements of RNFLT were made in 19 eyes with papilledema (PE), ten eyes with optic neuritis (ON), and 18 eyes with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) at the neuro-ophthalmology clinic at Kyoto University Hospital. Differences in SLP (SLP-RNFLT) and OCT (OCT-RNFLT) measurements among different etiologies were investigated. Results No statistical differences in average OCT-RNFLT among PE, ON, and NAION patients were noted. Average SLP-RNFLT in NAION patients was smaller than in PE (P<0.01) or ON (P=0.02) patients. When RNFLT in each retinal quadrant was compared, no difference among etiologies was noted on OCT, but on SLP, the superior quadrant was thinner in NAION than in PE (P<0.001) or ON (P=0.001) patients. Compared with age-adjusted normative data of SLP-RNFLT, average SLP-RNFLT in PE (P<0.01) and ON (P<0.01) patients was greater. Superior SLP-RNFLT in NAION patients was smaller (P=0.026). The ratio of average SLP-RNFLT to average OCT-RNFLT was smaller in NAION than in PE (P=0.001) patients. Conclusion In the setting of RNFL thickening, despite increased light retardance in PE and ON eyes, SLP revealed that NAION eyes have less retardance, possibly associated with ischemic axonal loss. PMID:24379653

Administration of a Sol-Gel Formulation of Phenylephrine Using Low-Temperature Hollow Microneedle for Treatment of Intermittent Fecal Incontinence.

PubMed

Lee, Hyunji; Park, Jung-Hwan; Park, Jung Ho

2017-12-01

A low temperature hollow microneedle system was devised to deliver sol-gel transition formulation near the surface of the skin for extended release and local delivery of drug by a non-invasive method. This new system can improve treatment of intermittent fecal incontinence. The low-temperature system was integrated with a hollow microneedle to maintain the low temperature of the sol formulation. Various sol-gel formulations using Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) and Hydroxy-propyl-methyl-cellulose (HPMC) were prepared, and their gelation temperature, flow property, and diffusion retardation were observed. Resting anal sphincter pressure in response to a phenylephrine (PE) sol-gel formulation was measured using an air-charged catheter. The biocompatibility of the sol-gel PE formulation was evaluated by observing the immunological response. When the PF-127 25%, HPMC 1% and PE formulation (PF25-HPMC1-PE) was injected through the peri-anal skin of the rat in vivo, the highest pressure on the anal sphincter muscle occurred at 6-8 h and anal pressure increased and lasted twice as long as with the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-PE formulation. There was no significant difference in the number of mast cells after administration into the rat in vivo between the PF25-HPMC1-PE formulation and the PBS-PE formulation. The combination of a low-pain hollow microneedle system and an injectable sol-gel formulation improved the efficacy of treatment of intermittent fecal incontinence. A low-temperature hollow microneedle system using a sol-gel formulation has many applications in medical treatments that require depot effect, local targeting, and pain control.

Doppler ultrasound evaluation in preeclampsia

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Worldwide preeclampsia (PE) is the leading cause of maternal death and affects 5 to 8% of pregnant women. PE is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria. Doppler Ultrasound (US) evaluation has been considered a useful method for prediction of PE; however, there is no complete data about the most frequently altered US parameters in the pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the uterine, umbilical, and the middle cerebral arteries using Doppler US parameters [resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), notch (N), systolic peak (SP) and their combinations] in pregnant women, in order to make a global evaluation of hemodynamic repercussion caused by the established PE. Results A total of 102 pregnant Mexican women (65 PE women and 37 normotensive women) were recruited in a cases and controls study. Blood velocity waveforms from uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries, in pregnancies from 24 to 37 weeks of gestation were recorded by trans-abdominal examination with a Toshiba Ultrasound Power Vision 6000 SSA-370A, with a 3.5 MHz convex transducer. Abnormal general Doppler US profile showed a positive association with PE [odds ratio (OR) = 2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2 - 7.3, P = 0.021)], and a specificity and predictive positive value of 89.2% and 88.6%, respectively. Other parameters like N presence, RI and PI of umbilical artery, as well as the PI of middle cerebral artery, showed differences between groups (P values < 0.05). Conclusion General Doppler US result, as well as N from uterine vessel, RI from umbilical artery, and PI from umbilical and middle cerebral arteries in their individual form, may be considered as tools to determine hemodynamic repercussion caused by PE. PMID:24252303

CT Pulmonary Angiography: Increasingly Diagnosing Less Severe Pulmonary Emboli

PubMed Central

Schissler, Andrew J.; Rozenshtein, Anna; Kulon, Michal E.; Pearson, Gregory D. N.; Green, Robert A.; Stetson, Peter D.; Brenner, David J.; D'Souza, Belinda; Tsai, Wei-Yann; Schluger, Neil W.; Einstein, Andrew J.

2013-01-01

Background It is unknown whether the observed increase in computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) utilization has resulted in increased detection of pulmonary emboli (PEs) with a less severe disease spectrum. Methods Trends in utilization, diagnostic yield, and disease severity were evaluated for 4,048 consecutive initial CTPAs performed in adult patients in the emergency department of a large urban academic medical center between 1/1/2004 and 10/31/2009. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings and peak serum troponin levels were evaluated to assess for the presence of PE-associated right ventricular (RV) abnormalities (dysfunction or dilatation) and myocardial injury, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression. Results 268 CTPAs (6.6%) were positive for acute PE, and 3,780 (93.4%) demonstrated either no PE or chronic PE. There was a significant increase in the likelihood of undergoing CTPA per year during the study period (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.07, P<0.01). There was no significant change in the likelihood of having a CTPA diagnostic of an acute PE per year (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.95–1.11, P = 0.49). The likelihood of diagnosing a less severe PE on CTPA with no associated RV abnormalities or myocardial injury increased per year during the study period (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10–1.75, P = 0.01). Conclusions CTPA utilization has risen with no corresponding change in diagnostic yield, resulting in an increase in PE detection. There is a concurrent rise in the likelihood of diagnosing a less clinically severe spectrum of PEs. PMID:23776522

Role of IVC Filters in Endovenous Therapy for Deep Venous Thrombosis: The FILTER-PEVI (Filter Implantation to Lower Thromboembolic Risk in Percutaneous Endovenous Intervention) Trial

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

Sharifi, Mohsen, E-mail: seyedmohsensharifi@yahoo.com; Bay, Curt; Skrocki, Laura

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the necessity of and recommend indications for inferior vena cava (IVC) filter implantation during percutaneous endovenous intervention (PEVI) for deep venous thrombosis (DVT).BackgroundPEVI has emerged as a powerful tool in the management of acute proximal DVT. Instrumentation of extensive fresh thrombus is potentially associated with iatrogenic pulmonary embolism (PE). The true frequency of this complication has not been studied in a randomized fashion. We evaluated IVC filter implantation during PEVI for DVT. Methods: A total of 141 patients with symptomatic proximal DVT undergoing PEVI for symptomatic DVT were randomized to receivemore » an IVC filter (70 patients) or no filter (71 patients; control group). The anticoagulation and PEVI regimen were similar between the two groups. Patients with development of symptoms suggestive of PE underwent objective testing for PE. Results: PE developed in 1 of the 14 symptomatic patients in the filter group and 8 of the 22 patients in the control group (P = 0.048). There was no mortality in any group. Three patients (4.2%) in the control group had transient hemodynamic instability necessitating resuscitory efforts. Predictors of iatrogenic PE were found to be PE at admission; involvement of two or more adjacent venous segments with acute thrombus; inflammatory form of DVT (severe erythema, edema, pain, and induration); and vein diameter of {>=}7 mm with preserved architecture. Conclusions: IVC filter implantation during PEVI reduces the risk of iatrogenic PE by eightfold without a mortality benefit. A selective approach may be exercised in filter implantation during PEVI.« less

Overlap of proteomics biomarkers between women with pre-eclampsia and PCOS: a systematic review and biomarker database integration

PubMed Central

Khan, Gulafshana Hafeez; Galazis, Nicolas; Docheva, Nikolina; Layfield, Robert; Atiomo, William

2015-01-01

STUDY QUESTION Do any proteomic biomarkers previously identified for pre-eclampsia (PE) overlap with those identified in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). SUMMARY ANSWER Five previously identified proteomic biomarkers were found to be common in women with PE and PCOS when compared with controls. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Various studies have indicated an association between PCOS and PE; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms supporting this association are not known. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A systematic review and update of our PCOS proteomic biomarker database was performed, along with a parallel review of PE biomarkers. The study included papers from 1980 to December 2013. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS In all the studies analysed, there were a total of 1423 patients and controls. The number of proteomic biomarkers that were catalogued for PE was 192. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Five proteomic biomarkers were shown to be differentially expressed in women with PE and PCOS when compared with controls: transferrin, fibrinogen α, β and γ chain variants, kininogen-1, annexin 2 and peroxiredoxin 2. In PE, the biomarkers were identified in serum, plasma and placenta and in PCOS, the biomarkers were identified in serum, follicular fluid, and ovarian and omental biopsies. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The techniques employed to detect proteomics have limited ability in identifying proteins that are of low abundance, some of which may have a diagnostic potential. The sample sizes and number of biomarkers identified from these studies do not exclude the risk of false positives, a limitation of all biomarker studies. The biomarkers common to PE and PCOS were identified from proteomic analyses of different tissues. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This data amalgamation of the proteomic studies in PE and in PCOS, for the first time, discovered a panel of five biomarkers for PE which are common to women with PCOS, including transferrin, fibrinogen α, β and γ chain variants, kininogen-1, annexin 2 and peroxiredoxin 2. If validated, these biomarkers could provide a useful framework for the knowledge infrastructure in this area. To accomplish this goal, a well co-ordinated multidisciplinary collaboration of clinicians, basic scientists and mathematicians is vital. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) No financial support was obtained for this project. There are no conflicts of interest. PMID:25351721

Antimicrobial (BN/PE) film combined with modified atmosphere packaging extends the shelf life of minimally processed fresh-cut iceberg lettuce.

PubMed

Kang, Sun-Chul; Kim, Min-Jeong; Park, In-Sik; Choi, Ung-Kyu

2008-03-01

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in combination with BN/PE film on the shelf life and quality of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce during cold storage. The total mesophilic population in the sample packed in BN/PE film under MAP conditions was dramatically reduced in comparison with that of PE film, PE film under MAP conditions, and BN/PE film. The O2 concentration in the BN/PE film under MAP conditions decreased slightly as the storage period progressed. The coloration of the iceberg lettuce progressed the slowest when it was packaged in BN/PE film under MAP conditions, followed by BN/PE film, PE film, and PE film under MAP conditions. The shelf life of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce packaged in the BN/PE film under MAP conditions was extended by more than 2 days at 10 degrees as compared with that of the BN/PE film in which the extension effect was more than 2 days longer than that of PE, PET, and OPP films.

A test of self-determination theory in school physical education.

PubMed

Standage, Martyn; Duda, Joan L; Ntoumanis, Nikos

2005-09-01

Contemporary research conducted in the context of school physical education (PE) has increasingly embraced various tenets of self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 1991). Despite this increase in research attention, some postulates of the framework remain unexplored (e.g. impact of a need-supportive climate). As such, the present study sought to provide a more comprehensive test of self-determination theory. The present work also examined Deci and Ryan's claim that the motivational sequence embraced by their framework is invariant across gender. (i) To examine a model of motivation based on the tenets of self-determination theory, and (ii) explore the invariance of the model across gender. Participants were 950 British secondary school students (443 male, 490 female, 17 gender not specified) Participants completed a questionnaire that included measures of need support, need satisfaction, motivation, positive and negative affect, task challenge, and concentration. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis revealed that students who perceived a need-supporting environment experienced greater levels of need satisfaction. Need satisfaction predicted intrinsic motivation, which, in turn, linked to adaptive PE-related outcomes. In contrast, need satisfaction negatively predicted amotivation, which, in turn, was positively predictive of feelings of unhappiness. Multisample SEM invariance testing revealed the model to be largely invariant for male and female students. The results of the study provide support for self-determination theory and corroborate the application of the framework to the context of school PE. Further, we largely found support for the invariance of the motivational processes embraced by self-determination theory across gender.

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

Fujita, Yutaka; Murase, Kohta; Kimura, Shigeo S., E-mail: fujita@vega.ess.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp, E-mail: murase@psu.edu, E-mail: szk323@psu.edu

Supernova remnants (SNRs) have commonly been considered as a source of the observed PeV cosmic rays (CRs) or a Galactic PeV particle accelerator ('Pevatron'). In this work, we study Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), which is the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus of the Milky Way Galaxy, as another possible canditate of the Pevatron, because it sometimes became very active in the past. We assume that a large number of PeV CRs were injected by Sgr A* at the outburst about 10{sup 7} yr ago when the Fermi bubbles were created. We constrain the diffusion coefficient for the CRs in the Galacticmore » halo on the condition that the CRs have arrived on the Earth by now, while a fairly large fraction of them have escaped from the halo. Based on a diffusion-halo model, we solve a diffusion equation for the CRs and compare the results with the CR spectrum on the Earth. The observed small anisotropy of the arrival directions of CRs may be explained if the diffusion coefficient in the Galactic disk is smaller than that in the halo. Our model predicts that a boron-to-carbon ratio should be energy-independent around the knee, where the CRs from Sgr A* become dominant. It is unlikely that the spectrum of the CRs accelerated at the outburst is represented by a power-law similar to the one for those responsible for the gamma-ray emission from the central molecular zone (CMZ) around the Galactic center.« less

Humanized CD7 nanobody-based immunotoxins exhibit promising anti-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia potential

PubMed Central

Yu, Yuan; Li, Jialu; Zhu, Xuejun; Tang, Xiaowen; Bao, Yangyi; Sun, Xiang; Huang, Yuhui; Tian, Fang; Liu, Xiaomei; Yang, Lin

2017-01-01

Background Nanobodies, named as VHHs (variable domain of heavy chain of HCAb [heavy-chain antibodies]), are derived from heavy-chain-only antibodies that circulate in sera of camelids. Their exceptional physicochemical properties, possibility of humanization, and unique antigen recognition properties make them excellent candidates for targeted delivery of biologically active components, including immunotoxins. In our previous efforts, we have successfully generated the monovalent and bivalent CD7 nanobody-based immunotoxins, which can effectively trigger the apoptosis of CD7-positive malignant cells. To pursue the possibility of translating those immunotoxins into clinics, we humanized the nanobody sequences (designated as dhuVHH6) as well as further truncated the Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE)-derived PE38 toxin to produce a more protease-resistant form, which is named as PE-LR, by deleting majority of PE domain II. Methods and results Three new types of immunotoxins, dhuVHH6-PE38, dVHH6-PE-LR, and dhuVHH6-PE-LR, were successfully constructed. These recombinant immunotoxins were expressed in Escherichia coli and showed that nanobody immunotoxins have the benefits of easy soluble expression in a prokaryotic expression system. Flow cytometry results revealed that all immunotoxins still maintained the ability to bind specifically to CD7-positive T lymphocyte strains without binding to CD7-negative control cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed that these proteins can be endocytosed into the cytoplasm after binding with CD7-positive cells and that this phenomenon was not observed in CD7-negative cells. WST-8 experiments showed that all immunotoxins retained the highly effective and specific growth inhibition activity in CD7-positive cell lines and primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Further in vivo animal model experiments showed that humanized dhuVHH6-PE38 immunotoxin can tolerate higher doses and extend the survival of NOD-Prkdcem26Il2rgem26Nju (NCG) mice transplanted with CEM cells without any obvious decrease in body weight. Further studies on NCG mice model with patient-derived T-ALL cells, dhuVHH6-PE38 treatment, significantly prolonged mice survival with ~40% survival improvement. However, it was also noticed that although dhuVHH6-PE-LR showed strong antitumor effect in vitro, its in vivo antitumor efficacy was disappointing. Conclusion We have successfully constructed a targeted CD7 molecule-modified nanobody (CD7 molecule-improved nanobody) immunotoxin dhuVHH6-PE38 and demonstrated its potential for treating CD7-positive malignant tumors, especially T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:28331319

A malware detection scheme based on mining format information.

PubMed

Bai, Jinrong; Wang, Junfeng; Zou, Guozhong

2014-01-01

Malware has become one of the most serious threats to computer information system and the current malware detection technology still has very significant limitations. In this paper, we proposed a malware detection approach by mining format information of PE (portable executable) files. Based on in-depth analysis of the static format information of the PE files, we extracted 197 features from format information of PE files and applied feature selection methods to reduce the dimensionality of the features and achieve acceptable high performance. When the selected features were trained using classification algorithms, the results of our experiments indicate that the accuracy of the top classification algorithm is 99.1% and the value of the AUC is 0.998. We designed three experiments to evaluate the performance of our detection scheme and the ability of detecting unknown and new malware. Although the experimental results of identifying new malware are not perfect, our method is still able to identify 97.6% of new malware with 1.3% false positive rates.

A Malware Detection Scheme Based on Mining Format Information

PubMed Central

Bai, Jinrong; Wang, Junfeng; Zou, Guozhong

2014-01-01

Malware has become one of the most serious threats to computer information system and the current malware detection technology still has very significant limitations. In this paper, we proposed a malware detection approach by mining format information of PE (portable executable) files. Based on in-depth analysis of the static format information of the PE files, we extracted 197 features from format information of PE files and applied feature selection methods to reduce the dimensionality of the features and achieve acceptable high performance. When the selected features were trained using classification algorithms, the results of our experiments indicate that the accuracy of the top classification algorithm is 99.1% and the value of the AUC is 0.998. We designed three experiments to evaluate the performance of our detection scheme and the ability of detecting unknown and new malware. Although the experimental results of identifying new malware are not perfect, our method is still able to identify 97.6% of new malware with 1.3% false positive rates. PMID:24991639

Estimating the arrival times of photon-limited laser pulses in the presence of shot and speckle noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abshire, James B.; Mcgarry, Jan F.

1987-01-01

Maximum-likelihood (ML) receivers are frequently used to optimize the timing performance of laser-ranging and laser-altimetry systems in the presence of shot and speckle noise. Monte Carlo method was used to examine ML-receiver performance with return signals in the 10-5000-photoelectron (pe) range. The simulations were performed for shot noise only and for shot and speckle noise. The results agree with previous theory for signal strengths greater than about 100 pe's but show that the theory can significantly underestimate timing errors for weaker received signals. Sharp high-bandwidth features in the detected signals are shown to improve timing performance only if their signal levels are greater than 4-5 pe's.

Establishment and characterization of a penile cancer cell line, penl1, with a deleterious TP53 mutation as a paradigm of HPV-negative penile carcinogenesis

PubMed Central

Li, Zaishang; Deng, Chuangzhong; Wang, Liangjiao; Yu, Xingsu; Liang, Peili; Xie, Qiankun; Chen, Peng; Qin, Zike; Ye, Yunlin; Liu, Zhuowei; Zhou, Fangjian; Zhang, Zhenfeng; Han, Hui

2016-01-01

Purpose To establish penile cancer (PeCa) cell lines for the study of molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and testing therapeutic reagents. Materials and Methods We successfully established two PeCa cell lines from fresh tumor tissues from 21 cases. One cell line named Penl1 was isolated from a lymph node metastasis (LNM) of penile squamous cell carcinoma (PeSCC), usual type and comprehensively characterized here. Our in-depth characterization analysis of the Penl1 cell line included morphology, tumorigenicity, genetic characteristics, protein expression, biology, and chemosensitivity. Penl1 was authenticated by single tandem repeat (STR) DNA typing. Results Comparative histomorphology, genetic characteristics, and protein expression patterns revealed essential similarities between the cell line and its corresponding LNM. In-depth characterization analysis of Penl1 cell line revealed tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice, negative human papilloma virus (HPV) and mycoplasma infection, TP53 mutations and sensitivity to cisplatin and epirubicin. STR DNA typing did not match any cell lines within three international cell banks. The limitation of this study is that one patient cannot represent the complete heterogeneity of PeCa, especially primary tumor. Conclusions We established and characterized an HPV-negative and moderately differentiated PeCa cell model with a TP53 missense mutation from a PeSCC, usual type patient. A preliminarily study of carcinogenesis and chemosensitivity suggests that this cell model carries a tumor suppressor gene mutation and is sensitive to chemotherapy drugs. PMID:27351128

State and district policy influences on district-wide elementary and middle school physical education practices.

PubMed

Chriqui, Jamie F; Eyler, Amy; Carnoske, Cheryl; Slater, Sandy

2013-01-01

To examine the influence of state laws and district policies on district-wide elementary school and middle school practices related to physical education (PE) time and the percentage of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time during PE. Multivariate, cross-sectional analysis of state laws, district wellness and PE policies, and district PE practices for school year 2010-2011 controlling for district-level urbanicity, region, size, race/ethnicity of students, and socioeconomic status and clustered on state. One hundred ninety-five public school districts located in 42 states. District-level PE coordinators for the included districts who responded to an online survey. Minutes and days of PE per week and percent time spent in MVPA during PE time. District PE coordinators reported significantly less PE time than national standards-82.9 and 189.6 minutes at the elementary school and middle school levels, respectively. Physical education was provided an average of 2.5 and 3.7 days per week, respectively; and the percentage of MVPA time in PE was 64.4% and 65.7%, respectively. At the elementary school level, districts in either states with laws governing PE time or in a state and district with a law/policy reported significantly more days of PE (0.63 and 0.67 additional days, respectively), and districts in states with PE time laws reported 18 more minutes of PE per week. At the middle school level, state laws were associated with 0.73 more days of PE per week. Neither state laws nor district policies were positively associated with percent MVPA time in PE. State laws and district policies can influence district-level PE practices-particularly those governing the frequency and duration of PE-although opportunities exist to strengthen PE-related laws, policies, and practices.

Evaluation of maternal serum hypoxia inducible factor-1α, progranulin and syndecan-1 levels in pregnancies with early- and late-onset preeclampsia.

PubMed

Alici Davutoğlu, Ebru; Akkaya Firat, Asuman; Ozel, Ayşegül; Yılmaz, Nevin; Uzun, Isil; Temel Yuksel, Ilkbal; Madazlı, Riza

2018-08-01

To determine the serum levels of HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 in preeclampsia (PE) and normal pregnancy, and to compare whether these markers demonstrate any difference between early-onset PE (EO-PE) and late-onset PE (LO-PE). This cross-sectional study was conducted on 27 women with EO-PE, 27 women with LO-PE, and 26 healthy normotensive pregnant controls matched for gestational age. Maternal levels of serum HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the control and the PE groups in progranulin (p < .001) and syndecan-1 (p <.001) levels. There were no significant differences in the serum HIF-1 α levels between these groups (p= .069). When PE patients were evaluated by considering subgroups; statistical analysis revealed significant inter-group differences in all biomarkers. Serum progranulin levels were significantly higher in LO-PE compared with the other two groups (EO-PE versus LO-PE and LO-PE versus controls p = .000). Control group presented significantly higher syndecan-1 levels, than EO and LO-PE (p < .001). HIF-1 α levels positively correlated with progranulin levels (r = .439, p= .000). Serum progranulin may have potential to be used as a biomarker for the differentiation of EO-PE and LO-PE. The co-operative action between HIF-1 α and progranulin might play a key role in the pathogenesis of LO-PE. The predominant feature of LO-PE seems to be an inflammatory process, whereas in EO-PE placentation problem seems to be the main pathology.

An Interactive Soils Information System User’s Manual.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-07-01

Haplustollic H E Hemic HE02 Hemic terric HI Histic H102 Histic lithic HI06 Histic pergelic HULO Humaqueptic H U Humic HU02 Humic lithic HU05 Humic pergelic ...10 Palexerollic PE Pergelic PE0l Pergelic ruptic-histic PE02 Pergelic sideric PE04 Petrocalcic PE06 Petrocalcic ustal PE08 Petrocalcic ustollic PE14

Improved understanding of the acoustophoretic focusing of dense suspensions in a microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karthick, S.; Sen, A. K.

2017-11-01

We provide improved understanding of acoustophoretic focusing of a dense suspension (volume fraction φ >10 % ) in a microchannel subjected to an acoustic standing wave using a proposed theoretical model and experiments. The model is based on the theory of interacting continua and utilizes a momentum transport equation for the mixture, continuity equation, and transport equation for the solid phase. The model demonstrates the interplay between acoustic radiation and shear-induced diffusion (SID) forces that is critical in the focusing of dense suspensions. The shear-induced particle migration model of Leighton and Acrivos, coupled with the acoustic radiation force, is employed to simulate the continuum behavior of particles. In the literature, various closures for the diffusion coefficient Dφ* are available for rigid spheres at high concentrations and nonspherical deformable particles [e.g., red blood cells (RBCs)] at low concentrations. Here we propose a closure for Dφ* for dense suspension of RBCs and validate the proposed model with experimental data. While the available closures for Dφ* fail to predict the acoustic focusing of a dense suspension of nonspherical deformable particles like RBCs, the predictions of the proposed model match experimental data within 15%. Both the model and experiments reveal a competition between acoustic radiation and SID forces that gives rise to an equilibrium width w* of a focused stream of particles at some distance Leq* along the flow direction. Using different shear rates, acoustic energy densities, and particle concentrations, we show that the equilibrium width is governed by Péclet number Pe and Strouhal number Stas w*=1.4(PeSt) -0.5 while the length required to obtain the equilibrium-focused width depends on St as Leq*=3.8 /(St)0.6 . The proposed model and correlations would find significance in the design of microchannels for acoustic focusing of dense suspensions such as undiluted blood.

Tendon allograft sterilized by peracetic acid/ethanol combined with gamma irradiation.

PubMed

Zhou, Mo; Zhang, Naili; Liu, Xiaoming; Li, Youchen; Zhang, Yumin; Wang, Xusheng; Li, Baoming; Li, Baoxing

2014-07-01

Research and clinical applications have demonstrated that the effects of tendon allografts are comparable to those of autografts when reconstructing injured tendons or ligaments, but allograft safety remains problematic. Sterilisation could eliminate or decrease the possibility of disease transmission, but current methods seldom achieve satisfactory sterilisation without affecting the mechanical properties of the tendon. Peracetic acid-ethanol in combination with low-dose gamma irradiation (PE-R) would inactivate potential deleterious microorganisms without affecting mechanical and biocompatible properties of tendon allograft. Controlled laboratory design. HIV, PPV, PRV and BVDV inactivation was evaluated. After verifying viral inactivation, the treated tendon allografts were characterised by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing, and the cytocompatibility was assessed with an MTT assay and by subcutaneous implantation. Effective and efficient inactivation of HIV, PPV, PRV and BVDV was observed. Histological structure and ultrastructure were unchanged in the treated tendon allograft, which also exhibited comparable biomechanical properties and good biocompatibility. The preliminary results confirmed our hypothesis and demonstrated that the PE-R tendon allograft has significant potential as an alternative to ligament/tendon reconstruction. Tendon allografts have been extensively used in ligament reconstruction and tendon repair. However, current sterilisation methods have various shortcomings, so PE-R has been proposed. This study suggests that PE-R tendon allograft has great potential as an alternative for ligament/tendon reconstruction. Sterilisation has been a great concern for tendon allografts. However, most sterilisation methods cannot inactivate viruses and bacteria without impairing the mechanical properties of the tendon allograft. Peracetic acid/ethanol with gamma irradiation can effectively inactivate viruses and bacteria. Meanwhile, tendon allografts sterilised by this method maintain their physiological tendon structure, biomechanical integrity and good compatibility.

Comparison of Newer IOL Power Calculation Methods for Eyes With Previous Radial Keratotomy

PubMed Central

Ma, Jack X.; Tang, Maolong; Wang, Li; Weikert, Mitchell P.; Huang, David; Koch, Douglas D.

2016-01-01

Purpose To evaluate the accuracy of the optical coherence tomography–based (OCT formula) and Barrett True K (True K) intraocular lens (IOL) calculation formulas in eyes with previous radial keratotomy (RK). Methods In 95 eyes of 65 patients, using the actual refraction following cataract surgery as target refraction, the predicted IOL power for each method was calculated. The IOL prediction error (PE) was obtained by subtracting the predicted IOL power from the implanted IOL power. The arithmetic IOL PE and median refractive PE were calculated and compared. Results All formulas except the True K produced hyperopic IOL PEs at 1 month, which decreased at ≥4 months (all P < 0.05). For the double-K Holladay 1, OCT formula, True K, and average of these three formulas (Average), the median absolute refractive PEs were, respectively, 0.78 diopters (D), 0.74 D, 0.60 D, and 0.59 D at 1 month; 0.69 D, 0.77 D, 0.77 D, and 0.61 D at 2 to 3 months; and 0.34 D, 0.65 D, 0.69 D, and 0.46 D at ≥4 months. The Average produced significantly smaller refractive PE than did the double-K Holladay 1 at 1 month (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in refractive PEs among formulas at 4 months. Conclusions The OCT formula and True K were comparable to the double-K Holladay 1 method on the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) calculator. The Average IOL power on the ASCRS calculator may be considered when selecting the IOL power. Further improvements in the accuracy of IOL power calculation in RK eyes are desirable. PMID:27409468

Multiscale intensity homogeneity transformation method and its application to computer-aided detection of pulmonary embolism in computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Yanhui; Zhou, Chuan; Chan, Heang-Ping; Wei, Jun; Chughtai, Aamer; Sundaram, Baskaran; Hadjiiski, Lubomir M.; Patel, Smita; Kazerooni, Ella A.

2013-04-01

A 3D multiscale intensity homogeneity transformation (MIHT) method was developed to reduce false positives (FPs) in our previously developed CAD system for pulmonary embolism (PE) detection. In MIHT, the voxel intensity of a PE candidate region was transformed to an intensity homogeneity value (IHV) with respect to the local median intensity. The IHVs were calculated in multiscales (MIHVs) to measure the intensity homogeneity, taking into account vessels of different sizes and different degrees of occlusion. Seven new features including the entropy, gradient, and moments that characterized the intensity distributions of the candidate regions were derived from the MIHVs and combined with the previously designed features that described the shape and intensity of PE candidates for the training of a linear classifier to reduce the FPs. 59 CTPA PE cases were collected from our patient files (UM set) with IRB approval and 69 cases from the PIOPED II data set with access permission. 595 and 800 PEs were identified as reference standard by experienced thoracic radiologists in the UM and PIOPED set, respectively. FROC analysis was used for performance evaluation. Compared with our previous CAD system, at a test sensitivity of 80%, the new method reduced the FP rate from 18.9 to 14.1/scan for the PIOPED set when the classifier was trained with the UM set and from 22.6 to 16.0/scan vice versa. The improvement was statistically significant (p<0.05) by JAFROC analysis. This study demonstrated that the MIHT method is effective in reducing FPs and improving the performance of the CAD system.

Estimation of effectiveness of interventions for malaria control in pregnancy using the screening method.

PubMed

Msyamboza, K; Senga, E; Tetteh-Ashong, E; Kazembe, P; Brabin, B J

2007-04-01

The evaluation of the effectiveness of antimalarial drugs and bed net use in pregnant women is an important aspect of monitoring and surveillance of malaria control in pregnancy. In principle the screening method for assessing vaccine efficacy can be applied in non-vaccine settings for assessing interventions for malaria control in pregnancy. In this analysis field data on the proportion of placental malaria cases treated with two doses of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and the uptake of two doses of SP in the antenatal clinic was used in a case-coverage method to assess the protective effectiveness (PE) of intermittent preventive treatment with SP for malaria control in pregnancy. PE was assessed using placental malaria, low birthweight and maternal anaemia at delivery as outcome variables. The method was also applied to an evaluation of the protective effectiveness of self-reported use of impregnated bed nets (ITNs). Effectiveness was highest for reduction of low birthweight in multigravidae (87.2%, 95% CI, 83.2-91.3%). PE was lower for placental malaria (61.6% primigravidae, 28.5% multigravidae), and maternal anaemia (Hb < 8.0 g/dl, 37.8% primigravidae, 29.6% multigravidae). Estimates for PE of self-reported use of ITNs gave values for all three outcome parameters that were much lower than for SP use. For women of all parties effectiveness estimates for reduction of low birthweight were 22% (95% CI, 17.7-26.4), prevention of placental malaria (all types) 7.1% (95% CI, 4.4-9.8), prevention of active placental infection 38.9% (95% CI, 27.4-50.4), and for maternal anaemia 8.8% (95% CI, 0-20.0). The case-coverage method could provide a useful and practical approach to routine monitoring and evaluation of drug interventions to control malaria in pregnancy and has potentially wide applications. Effectiveness estimates related to reported ITN use in pregnancy may be less reliable. The method should be further evaluated using currently available data sets.

The pathophysiology of lifelong premature ejaculation

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

For many decades it has been thought that lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) is only characterized by persistent early ejaculations. Despite enormous progress of in vivo animal research, and neurobiological, genetic and pharmacological research in men with lifelong PE, our current understanding of the mechanisms behind early ejaculations is far from complete. The new classification of PE into four PE subtypes has shown that the symptomatology of lifelong PE strongly differs from acquired PE, subjective PE and variable PE. The phenotype of lifelong PE and therefore also the pathophysiology of lifelong PE is much more complex. A substantial number of men with lifelong PE not only have PE, but also premature erection and premature penile detumescence as part of an acute hypertonic or hypererotic state when engaged in an erotic situation or when making love. As both erectio praecox, ejaculatio praecox, detumescentia praecox, and the hypererotic state are part of the phenotype lifelong PE, it is argued that lifelong PE is not only a disturbance of the timing of ejaculation but also a disturbance of the timing of erection, detumescence and arousal. Since 1998, the pathophysiology of lifelong PE was thought to be mainly mediated by the central serotonergic system in line with genetic polymorphisms of specific serotonergic genes. However, by accepting that lifelong PE is characterized by the reversible hypertonic state the hypothesis of mainly serotonergic dysfunction is no longer tenable. Instead, it has been postulated that the pathophysiology of lifelong PE is mediated by a very complex interplay of central and peripheral serotonergic, dopaminergic, oxytocinergic, endocrinological, genetic and probably also epigenetic factors. Progress in research of lifelong PE can only be accomplished when a stopwatch is used to measure the IELT and the cut-off point of 1 minute for the definition of lifelong PE is maintained. Current use of validated questionnaires, neglect of stopwatch research, clinically inexperienced investigators and inclusion of anonymous men in a study performed by the Internet endanger the continuation of objective research of lifelong PE. PMID:27652215

Alcohol effects on performance monitoring and adjustment: affect modulation and impairment of evaluative cognitive control.

PubMed

Bartholow, Bruce D; Henry, Erika A; Lust, Sarah A; Saults, J Scott; Wood, Phillip K

2012-02-01

Alcohol is known to impair self-regulatory control of behavior, though mechanisms for this effect remain unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that alcohol's reduction of negative affect (NA) is a key mechanism for such impairment. This hypothesis was tested by measuring the amplitude of the error-related negativity (ERN), a component of the event-related brain potential (ERP) posited to reflect the extent to which behavioral control failures are experienced as distressing, while participants completed a laboratory task requiring self-regulatory control. Alcohol reduced both the ERN and error positivity (Pe) components of the ERP following errors and impaired typical posterror behavioral adjustment. Structural equation modeling indicated that effects of alcohol on both the ERN and posterror adjustment were significantly mediated by reductions in NA. Effects of alcohol on Pe amplitude were unrelated to posterror adjustment, however. These findings indicate a role for affect modulation in understanding alcohol's effects on self-regulatory impairment and more generally support theories linking the ERN with a distress-related response to control failures. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved.

Facility provision in elementary schools: Correlates with physical education, recess, and obesity

PubMed Central

Fernandes, Meenakshi; Sturm, Roland

2009-01-01

Objectives The objectives were to: (1) document correlations among facility provision (availability and adequacy) in elementary schools, child sociodemographic factors, and school characteristics nationwide; and (2) investigate whether facility provision is associated with physical education (PE) time, recess time, and obesity trajectory. Methods The analytic sample included 8935 fifth graders from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey Kindergarten Cohort. School teachers and administrators were surveyed about facility provision, PE, and recess time in April 2004. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions that accounted for the nesting of children within schools were used. Results Children from disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to attend a school with worse gymnasium and playground provision. Gymnasium availability was associated with an additional 8.3 min overall and at least an additional 25 min of PE per week for schools in humid climate zones. These figures represent 10.8 and 32.5%, respectively, of the average time spent in PE. No significant findings were obtained for gymnasium and playground adequacy in relation to PE and recess time, and facility provision in relation to obesity trajectory. Conclusions Poor facility provision is a potential barrier for school physical activity programs and facility provision is lower in schools that most need them: urban, high minority, and high enrollment schools. PMID:19850074

Preparation of High Density Polyethylene/Waste Polyurethane Blends Compatibilized with Polyethylene-Graft-Maleic Anhydride by Radiation

PubMed Central

Park, Jong-Seok; Lim, Youn-Mook; Nho, Young-Chang

2015-01-01

Polyurethane (PU) is a very popular polymer that is used in a variety of applications due to its good mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. However, PU recycling has received significant attention due to environmental issues. In this study, we developed a recycling method for waste PU that utilizes the radiation grafting technique. Grafting of waste PU was carried out using a radiation technique with polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA). The PE-g-MA-grafted PU/high density polyethylene (HDPE) composite was prepared by melt-blending at various concentrations (0–10 phr) of PE-g-MA-grafted PU. The composites were characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and their surface morphology and thermal/mechanical properties are reported. For 1 phr PU, the PU could be easily introduced to the HDPE during the melt processing in the blender after the radiation-induced grafting of PU with PE-g-MA. PE-g-MA was easily reacted with PU according to the increasing radiation dose and was located at the interface between the PU and the HDPE during the melt processing in the blender, which improved the interfacial interactions and the mechanical properties of the resultant composites. However, the elongation at break for a PU content >2 phr was drastically decreased. PMID:28788022

Methods for Assessment of Biodegradability of Plastic Films in Soil †

PubMed Central

Yabannavar, Asha V.; Bartha, Richard

1994-01-01

Traditional and novel techniques were tested and compared for their usefulness in evaluating biodegrad-ability claims made for newly formulated “degradable” plastic film products. Photosensitized polyethylene (PE), starch-PE, extensively plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) films were incorporated into aerobic soil. Biodegradation was measured for 3 months under generally favorable conditions. Carbon dioxide evolution, residual weight recovery, and loss of tensile strength measurements were supplemented, for some films, by gas chromatographic measurements of plasticizer loss and gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) measurement of polymer molecular size distribution. Six- and 12-week sunlight exposures of photosensitized PE films resulted in extensive photochemical damage that failed to promote subsequent mineralization in soil. An 8% starch-PE film and the plasticized PVC film evolved significant amounts of CO2 in biodegradation tests and lost residual weight and tensile strength, but GPC measurements demonstrated that all these changes were confined to the additives and the PE and PVC polymers were not degraded. Carbon dioxide evolution was found to be a useful screening tool for plastic film biodegradation, but for films with additives, polymer biodegradation needs to be confirmed by GPC. Photochemical cross-linking of polymer strands reduces solubility and may interfere with GPC measurements of polymer degradation. PMID:16349408

A facile method to enhance the uniformity and adhesion properties of water-based ceramic coating layers on hydrophobic polyethylene separators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hoogil; Jeon, Hyunkyu; Gong, Seokhyeon; Ryou, Myung-Hyun; Lee, Yong Min

2018-01-01

To enhance the uniformity and adhesion properties of water-based ceramic coating layers on hydrophobic polyethylene (PE) separators, their surfaces were treated with thin and hydrophilic polydopamine layers. As a result, an aqueous ceramic coating slurry consisting of Al2O3 particles, carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) binders, and water solvent was easily spread on the separator surface, and a uniform ceramic layer was formed after solvent drying. Moreover, the ceramic coating layer showed greatly improved adhesion properties to the PE separator surface. Whereas the adhesion strength within the bulk coating layer (Fmid) ranged from 43 to 86 N m-1 depending on the binder content of 1.5-3.0 wt%, the adhesion strength at the interface between the ceramic coating layer and PE separator (Fsepa-Al2O3) was 245-360 N m-1, a value equivalent to an increase of four or five times. Furthermore, an additional ceramic coating layer of approximately 7 μm did not degrade the ionic conductivity and electrochemical properties of the bare PE separators. Thus, all the LiMn2O4/graphite cells with ceramic-coated separators delivered an improved cycle life and rate capability compared with those of the control cells with bare PE separators.

Etiology of parapneumonic effusion and pleural empyema in children. The role of conventional and molecular microbiological tests.

PubMed

Krenke, Katarzyna; Sadowy, Ewa; Podsiadły, Edyta; Hryniewicz, Waleria; Demkow, Urszula; Kulus, Marek

2016-07-01

An increasing incidence of parapneumonic effusion and pleural empyema (PPE/PE) has been reported in recent studies. As only few data on etiology of PPE/PE in Central Europe have been reported, we undertook a study on the etiology of PPE/PE in children, using both standard culture and molecular techniques. This prospective study was conducted between June 2011 and December 2013. Consecutive children with PPE/PE complicating community acquired pneumonia, who required diagnostic/therapeutic thoracentesis were included. Blood and pleural fluid samples for microbiological cultures were collected. Molecular methods were applied to identify Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and respiratory viruses in pleural fluid. The study group included 64 children, median age 4 (1-15). Seven of 64 (10.9%) blood cultures and 11 of 64 (17.2%) pleural fluid cultures revealed bacterial growth. The most common bacteria detected was S. pneumoniae (13 blood and pleural fluid samples from 11/64 (17.2%) children). DNA sequences of typical bacteria were found in 29/64 (45.3%) pleural fluid samples. S. pneumoniae was identified in 90% of these samples. The most common serotypes were: serotype 6B in 9/26 (36.6%), 19A in 6/26 (23%), serotype 3 in 3/26 (11.5%), 6A and 23F (both in 2/26 i.e. 7.7%) patients. Molecular methods identified atypical bacteria in 8/58 (13.8%) and respiratory viruses in 12/58 (20.7%) pleural fluid samples. S. pneumoniae, in particular serotype 6B and 19A, is the most common etiologic agent of PPE/PE in Polish children. The use of PCR significantly improves pathogen identification in pleural fluid. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel way to rapidly monitor microplastics in soil by hyperspectral imaging technology and chemometrics.

PubMed

Shan, Jiajia; Zhao, Junbo; Liu, Lifen; Zhang, Yituo; Wang, Xue; Wu, Fengchang

2018-07-01

Hyperspectral imaging technology has been investigated as a possible way to detect microplastics contamination in soil directly and efficiently in this study. Hyperspectral images with wavelength range between 400 and 1000 nm were obtained from soil samples containing different materials including microplastics, fresh leaves, wilted leaves, rocks and dry branches. Supervised classification algorithms such as support vector machine (SVM), mahalanobis distance (MD) and maximum likelihood (ML) algorithms were used to identify microplastics from the other materials in hyperspectral images. To investigate the effect of particle size and color, white polyethylene (PE) and black PE particles extracted from soil with two different particle size ranges (1-5 mm and 0.5-1 mm) were studied in this work. The results showed that SVM was the most applicable method for detecting white PE in soil, with the precision of 84% and 77% for PE particles in size ranges of 1-5 mm and 0.5-1 mm respectively. The precision of black PE detection achieved by SVM were 58% and 76% for particles of 1-5 mm and 0.5-1 mm respectively. Six kinds of household polymers including drink bottle, bottle cap, rubber, packing bag, clothes hanger and plastic clip were used to validate the developed method, and the classification precision of polymers were obtained from 79% to 100% and 86%-99% for microplastics particle 1-5 mm and 0.5-1 mm respectively. The results indicate that hyperspectral imaging technology is a potential technique to determine and visualize the microplastics with particle size from 0.5 to 5 mm on soil surface directly. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Country-Specific HPV-related Genital Disease Among Men Residing in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States: The HIM Study

PubMed Central

Sudenga, Staci L.; Torres, B. Nelson; Fulp, William J.; Silva, Roberto; Villa, Luisa L.; Lazcano-Ponce, Eduardo; Ingles, Donna J.; Stoler, Mark; Messina, Jane L.; Abrahamsen, Martha; Luiza Baggio, Maria; Salmeron, Jorge; Quiterio, Manuel; Giuliano, Anna R.

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess whether the incidence of histopathologically confirmed condyloma and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) and rates of genital HPV infection progression to these lesions differs by country (Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S.). At each visit, lesions were biopsied and were categorized by pathologic diagnoses. The Linear Array genotyping method was used to identify HPV genotypes from genital swabs, while the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra method was used for tissue specimens. Age-specific analyses were conducted for lesion incidence by country, with Kaplan–Meier estimation of cumulative incidence. The proportion of HPV infections that progressed to condyloma and PeIN, the median time to lesion development, and the incidence rates were estimated by country. When comparing demographic and sexual characteristics across the three countries, sexual orientation (p=0.008) and lifetime number of female sexual partners (p < 0.0001) were differentially associated with lesion incidence in the three countries. Condyloma incidence in Brazil and the U.S. decreased with age, while incidence remained constant across the lifespan in Mexico. There were no differences by country and age for PeIN incidence. HPV types 6 and 11 were the most common types to progress to condyloma, and HPV types 16, 6, and 11 were the most common types to progress to PeIN in all three countries. The continuous risk of condyloma and PeIN across all age groups and countries in this study emphasizes the need to ensure that strong HPV immunity, such as that obtained through vaccination, is maintained across the lifespan of men. PMID:27681815

Development and validation of a simulation method, PeCHREM, for evaluating spatio-temporal concentration changes of paddy herbicides in rivers.

PubMed

Imaizumi, Yoshitaka; Suzuki, Noriyuki; Shiraishi, Fujio; Nakajima, Daisuke; Serizawa, Shigeko; Sakurai, Takeo; Shiraishi, Hiroaki

2018-01-24

In pesticide risk management in Japan, predicted environmental concentrations are estimated by a tiered approach, and the Ministry of the Environment also performs field surveys to confirm the maximum concentrations of pesticides with risk concerns. To contribute to more efficient and effective field surveys, we developed the Pesticide Chemicals High Resolution Estimation Method (PeCHREM) for estimating spatially and temporally variable emissions of various paddy herbicides from paddy fields to the environment. We used PeCHREM and the G-CIEMS multimedia environmental fate model to predict day-to-day environmental concentration changes of 25 herbicides throughout Japan. To validate the PeCHREM/G-CIEMS model, we also conducted a field survey, in which river waters were sampled at least once every two weeks at seven sites in six prefectures from April to July 2009. In 20 of 139 sampling site-herbicide combinations in which herbicides were detected in at least three samples, all observed concentrations differed from the corresponding prediction by less than one order of magnitude. We also compared peak concentrations and the dates on which the concentrations reached peak values (peak dates) between predictions and observations. The peak concentration differences between predictions and observations were less than one order of magnitude in 66% of the 166 sampling site-herbicide combinations in which herbicide was detected in river water. The observed and predicted peak dates differed by less than two weeks in 79% of these 166 combinations. These results confirm that the PeCHREM/G-CIEMS model can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of surveys by predicting the peak concentrations and peak dates of various herbicides.

Country-specific HPV-related genital disease among men residing in Brazil, Mexico and The United States: The HIM study.

PubMed

Sudenga, Staci L; Torres, B Nelson; Fulp, William J; Silva, Roberto; Villa, Luisa L; Lazcano-Ponce, Eduardo; Ingles, Donna J; Stoler, Mark; Messina, Jane L; Abrahamsen, Martha; Baggio, Maria Luiza; Salmeron, Jorge; Quiterio, Manuel; Giuliano, Anna R

2017-01-15

The purpose of this study was to assess whether the incidence of histopathologically confirmed condyloma and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) and rates of genital HPV infection progression to these lesions differs by country (Brazil, Mexico and the U.S.). At each visit, lesions were biopsied and were categorized by pathologic diagnoses. The Linear Array genotyping method was used to identify HPV genotypes from genital swabs, while the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra method was used for tissue specimens. Age-specific analyses were conducted for lesion incidence by country, with Kaplan-Meier estimation of cumulative incidence. The proportion of HPV infections that progressed to condyloma and PeIN, the median time to lesion development and the incidence rates were estimated by country. When comparing demographic and sexual characteristics across the three countries, sexual orientation (p = 0.008) and lifetime number of female sexual partners (p < 0.0001) were differentially associated with lesion incidence in the three countries. Condyloma incidence in Brazil and the U.S. decreased with age, while incidence remained constant across the lifespan in Mexico. There were no differences by country and age for PeIN incidence. HPV types 6 and 11 were the most common types to progress to condyloma and HPV types 16, 6 and 11 were the most common types to progress to PeIN in all three countries. The continuous risk of condyloma and PeIN across all age groups and countries in this study emphasizes the need to ensure that strong HPV immunity, such as that obtained through vaccination, is maintained across the lifespan of men. © 2016 UICC.

Pharmacokinetic of pseudoephedrine in rat serum with luminol-pepsin chemiluminescence system by flow injection analysis.

PubMed

Luo, Kai; Li, Yajuan; Zheng, Xiaohui; Song, Zhenghua

2015-02-01

Pepsin (Pep) accelerated the electron transferring rate of excited 3-aminophathlate and enhanced luminol-dissolved oxygen chemiluminescence (CL) intensity, and the flow injection (FI) luminol-Pep CL system was first developed. It was found that the CL intensity of luminol-Pep reaction could be remarkably inhibited by pseudoephedrine (PE); the decrement of CL intensity was linear to the logarithm of PE concentration in the range of 0.1∼100.0 nmol L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.03 nmol mL(-1) (3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 mL min(-1), the complete process including washing and sampling was performed within 40 s, offering a sample throughput of 90 h(-1). This proposed method was successfully applied to determining PE in rat serum for 18 h after intragastric administration with the elimination ratio of 42.34 % and recoveries from 90.3 to 110.6 %. The pharmacokinetic results showed that PE could be rapidly absorbed into serum with peak concentration (C max) of 1.45 ± 0.18 g L(-1) at the time (T max) of 1.49 ± 0.02 h; the absorption half-life (0.35 ± 0.04 h), elimination half-life (1.86 ± 0.24 h), the area under curve (109.81 ± 6.03 mg L(-1) h(-1)), mean residence time (3.82 ± 0.27 h), and elimination rate constant (2.26 ± 0.23 L g(-1) h(-1)) in rats vivo were derived, respectively. The possible CL mechanism of luminol-Pep-PE reaction was discussed by FI-CL, fluorescence, and molecular docking (MD) methods.

Maternal Characteristics for the Prediction of Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women: The Great Obstetrical Syndromes (GOS) Study.

PubMed

Boutin, Amélie; Gasse, Cédric; Demers, Suzanne; Giguère, Yves; Tétu, Amélie; Bujold, Emmanuel

2018-05-01

Low-dose aspirin started in early pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of preeclampsia (PE) in high-risk women, especially preterm PE. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of maternal characteristics on the risk of PE in nulliparous women. The Great Obstetrical Syndromes (GOS) study recruited nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies at 11 to 13 weeks. The following maternal characteristics were collected: age, BMI, ethnicity, chronic diseases, smoking, and assisted reproductive technologies. Relative weight analyses were conducted, and predictive multivariate proportional hazard models were constructed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses with their area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the value of each factor for the prediction of PE and preterm PE. The study also evaluated the SOGC guidelines for identification of women at high risk of PE. Of 4739 participants, 232 (4.9%) developed PE, including 30 (0.6%) with preterm PE. In univariate analyses, only BMI was significantly associated with the risk of PE (AUC 0.60; 95% CI 0.55-0.65) and preterm PE (AUC 0.64; 95% CI 054-0.73). Adding other maternal characteristics to BMI had a non-significant and marginal impact on the discriminative ability to the models for PE (AUC 0.62; 95% CI 0.58-0.66) and preterm PE (AUC 0.65; 95% CI 0.56-0.74). At a false-positive rate of 10%, maternal characteristics could have predicted 23% of PE and 19% of preterm PE. The SOGC guidelines were not discriminant for PE (detecting 96% of PE and 93% of preterm PE with a 94% false-positive rate). In nulliparous women, BMI is the most discriminant maternal characteristic for the prediction of PE. Maternal characteristics should not be used alone to identify nulliparous women at high risk of PE. Copyright © 2018 Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An adjoint-based framework for maximizing mixing in binary fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eggl, Maximilian; Schmid, Peter

2017-11-01

Mixing in the inertial, but laminar parameter regime is a common application in a wide range of industries. Enhancing the efficiency of mixing processes thus has a fundamental effect on product quality, material homogeneity and, last but not least, production costs. In this project, we address mixing efficiency in the above mentioned regime (Reynolds number Re = 1000 , Peclet number Pe = 1000) by developing and demonstrating an algorithm based on nonlinear adjoint looping that minimizes the variance of a passive scalar field which models our binary Newtonian fluids. The numerical method is based on the FLUSI code (Engels et al. 2016), a Fourier pseudo-spectral code, which we modified and augmented by scalar transport and adjoint equations. Mixing is accomplished by moving stirrers which are numerically modeled using a penalization approach. In our two-dimensional simulations we consider rotating circular and elliptic stirrers and extract optimal mixing strategies from the iterative scheme. The case of optimizing shape and rotational speed of the stirrers will be demonstrated.

No association between polymorphisms/haplotypes of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and preeclampsia

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Preeclampsia (PE) is the first worldwide cause of death in pregnant women, intra-uterine growth retardation, and fetal prematurity. Some vascular endothelial grown factor gene (VEGF) polymorphisms have been associated to PE and other pregnancy disturbances. We evaluated the associations between VEGF genotypes/haplotypes and PE in Mexican women. Methods 164 pregnant women were enrolled in a case-control study (78 cases and 86 normotensive pregnant controls). The rs699947 (-2578C/A), rs1570360 (-1154G/A), rs2010963 (+405G/C), and rs25648 (-7C/T), VEGF variants were discriminated using Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods or Taqman single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assays. Results The proportions of the minor allele for rs699947, rs1570360, rs2010963, and rs25648 VEGF SNPs were 0.33, 0.2, 0.39, and 0.17 in controls, and 0.39, 0.23, 0.41, and 0.15 in cases, respectively (P values > 0.05). The most frequent haplotypes of rs699947, rs1570360, rs2010963, and rs25648 VEGF SNPs, were C-G-C-C and C-G-G-C with frequencies of 0.39, 0.21 in cases and 0.37, 0.25 in controls, respectively (P values > 0.05) Conclusion There was no evidence of an association between VEGF alleles, genotypes, or haplotypes frequencies and PE in our study. PMID:21575227

Determination of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine by field-amplified sample injection capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Deng, Dongli; Deng, Hao; Zhang, Lichun; Su, Yingying

2014-04-01

A simple and rapid capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the separation and determination of ephedrine (E) and pseudoephedrine (PE) in a buffer solution containing 80 mM of NaH2PO4 (pH 3.0), 15 mM of β-cyclodextrin and 0.3% of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. The field-amplified sample injection (FASI) technique was applied to the online concentration of the alkaloids. With FASI in the presence of a low conductivity solvent plug (water), an approximately 1,000-fold improvement in sensitivity was achieved without any loss of separation efficiency when compared to conventional sample injection. Under these optimized conditions, a baseline separation of the two analytes was achieved within 16 min and the detection limits for E and PE were 0.7 and 0.6 µg/L, respectively. Without expensive instruments or labeling of the compounds, the limits of detection for E and PE obtained by the proposed method are comparable with (or even lower than) those obtained by capillary electrophoresis laser-induced fluorescence, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method was validated in terms of precision, linearity and accuracy, and successfully applied for the determination of the two alkaloids in Ephedra herbs.

Functional Dissection of the PE Domain Responsible for Translocation of PE_PGRS33 across the Mycobacterial Cell Wall

PubMed Central

Cascioferro, Alessandro; Donà, Valentina; Delogu, Giovanni; Palù, Giorgio; Bitter, Wilbert; Manganelli, Riccardo

2011-01-01

PE are peculiar exported mycobacterial proteins over-represented in pathogenic mycobacterial species. They are characterized by an N-terminal domain of about 110 amino acids (PE domain) which has been demonstrated to be responsible for their export and localization. In this paper, we characterize the PE domain of PE_PGRS33 (PERv1818c), one of the best characterized PE proteins. We constructed several mutated proteins in which portions of the PE domain were deleted or subjected to defined mutations. These proteins were expressed in different mycobacterial species and their localization was characterized. We confirmed that the PE domain is essential for PE_PGRS33 surface localization, and demonstrated that a PE domain lacking its first 30 amino acids loses its function. However, single amino acid substitutions in two regions extremely well conserved within the N-terminal domain of all PE proteins had some effect on the stability of PE_PGRS33, but not on its localization. Using Mycobacterium marinum we could show that the type VII secretion system ESX-5 is essential for PE_PGRS33 export. Moreover, in M. marinum, but not in Mycobacterium bovis BCG and in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the PE domain of PE_PGRS33 is processed and secreted into the culture medium when expressed in the absence of the PGRS domain. Finally, using chimeric proteins in which different portions of the PERv1818c domain were fused to the N-terminus of the green fluorescent protein, we could hypothesize that the first 30 amino acids of the PE domain contain a sequence that allows protein translocation. PMID:22110736

UV induced surface modification on improving the cytocompatibility of metallocene polyethylene.

PubMed

Jaganathan, Saravana K; Prasath, Mani M

2018-01-01

Demand for medical implants is rising day by day as the world becomes the place for more diseased and older people. Accordingly, in this research, metallocene polyethylene (mPE), a commonly used polymer was treated with UV rays for improving its biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed the formation of crests and troughs, which depicts the improvement of surface roughness of mPE substrates caused by UV etching. Accordingly, the contact angle measurements revealed that the wettability of mPE-2.5 J/cm2 (68.09º) and mPE-5 J/cm2 (57.93º) samples were found to be increased compared to untreated mPE (86.84º) indicating better hydrophilicity. Further, the UV treated surface exhibited enhanced blood compatibility as determined in APTT (untreated mPE- 55.3 ± 2.5 s, mPE-2.5 J/cm2 - 76.7 ± 4.1 s and mPE-5 J/cm2 - 112.3 ± 2 s) and PT (untreated mPE - 24.7 ± 1.5 s, mPE- 2.5 J/cm2 - 34.3 ± 1.1 s and mPE-5 J/cm2 - 43 ± 2 s) assay. Moreover, the treated mPE-2.5 J/cm2 (4.88%) and mPE-5 J/cm2 (1.79%) showed decreased hemolytic percentage compared to untreated mPE (15.40%) indicating better safety to red blood cells. Interestingly, the changes in physicochemical properties of mPE are directly proportional to the dosage of the UV rays. UV modified mPE surfaces were found to be more compatible as identified through MTT assay, photomicrograph and SEM images of the seeded 3T3 cell population. Hence UV-modified surface of mPE may be successfully exploited for medical implants.

Benefits of physical exercise in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Mendoza, Nicolás; De Teresa, Carlos; Cano, Antonio; Godoy, Débora; Hita-Contreras, Fidel; Lapotka, Maryna; Llaneza, Placido; Manonelles, Pedro; Martínez-Amat, Antonio; Ocón, Olga; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Laura; Vélez, Mercedes; Sánchez-Borrego, Rafael

2016-11-01

Physical inactivity not only places women's health at risk during menopause, but also increases menopausal problems. Abundant evidence links habitual physical exercise (PE) to a better status on numerous health indicators and better quality of life and to the prevention and treatment of the ailments that typically occur from mid-life onwards. We can infer that PE is something more than a lifestyle: it constitutes a form of therapy in itself. A panel of experts from various Spanish scientific societies related to PE and menopause (Spanish Menopause Society, Spanish Cardiology Society, Spanish Federation of Sports Medicine) met to reach a consensus on these issues and to decide the optimal timing of and methods of exercise, based on the best evidence available. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A simple method to equalize the workload when operating several small wastewater treatment plants: a case study.

PubMed

De Feo, G; De Gisi, S; Galasso, M

2013-01-01

The aim of the present study is to define a simple (and easy to use) method to equalize the workload of personnel operating several small wastewater treatment plants (SWWTPs). The approach is illustrated through a case study which is the result of collaboration between researchers and a water and wastewater management company operating in Southern Italy. The topic is important since personnel have a significant impact on the operating costs of SWWTPs, and the approach outlined results in the minimum number of staff being required to assure the management of the service. Four kinds of work units are considered: plant managers, assistant plant managers, laboratory technicians and executives. In order to develop a practical, feasible and easy to use method, the workload was evaluated considering only the population equivalent (PE) and the number of plants managed. The core of the method is the evaluation of the percentage of time that the personnel units devote to the operation of SWWTPs of the municipality considered. The proposed procedure offers a useful tool to equalize the workload, both in terms of PE and the number of plants managed, the procedure being easily modifiable to introduce other evaluation criteria. By using familiar concepts such as PE and number of plants managed, the approach of the method can easily be understood by management. It can also be readily adapted to other similar situations.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pulmonary Embolism: Diagnostic Accuracy of Unenhanced MR and Influence in Mortality Rates.

PubMed

Pasin, Lilian; Zanon, Matheus; Moreira, Jose; Moreira, Ana Luiza; Watte, Guilherme; Marchiori, Edson; Hochhegger, Bruno

2017-04-01

We evaluated the diagnostic value for pulmonary embolism (PE) of the True fast imaging with steady-state precession (TrueFISP) MRI, a method that allows the visualization of pulmonary vasculature without breath holding or intravenous contrast. This is a prospective investigation including 93 patients with suspected PE. All patients underwent TrueFISP MRI after undergoing CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Two independent readers evaluated each MR study, and consensus was obtained. CTPA results were analysed by a third independent reviewer and these results served as the reference standard. A fourth radiologist was responsible for evaluating if lesions found on MRI for both analysis were the same and if these were the correspondent lesions on the CTPA. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy were calculated. Evidence for death from PE within the 1-year follow-up was also assessed. Two patients could not undergo the real-time MRI and were excluded from the study. PE prevalence was 22%. During the 1-year follow-up period, eight patients died, whereas PE was responsible for 12.5% of cases. Between patients who developed PE, only 5% died due to this condition. There were no differences between MR and CT embolism detection in these subjects. MR sequences had a sensitivity of 85%, specificity was 98.6% and accuracy was 95.6%. Agreement between readers was high (κ= 0.87). Compared with contrast-enhanced CT, unenhanced MR sequences demonstrate good accuracy and no differences in the mortality rates in 1 year were detected.

Physical activity among adolescents and barriers to delivering physical education in Cornwall and Lancashire, UK: A qualitative study of heads of PE and heads of schools

PubMed Central

Boyle, Spencer Earl; Jones, Georgina L; Walters, Stephen J

2008-01-01

Background Recent initiatives have been introduced by the UK government into secondary schools to increase pupils' access to physical activity (PA). Despite this, not enough is known about pupils' levels of physical activity or whether the delivery of these initiatives in schools facilitates or creates a barrier for pupils' PA. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of adolescents PA levels from the perspective of those responsible for delivering physical education (PE) in schools; heads of PE (HOPE) and heads of school (HS). Methods Seventeen semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out with a snowball sample of HOPE and HS in schools in the Northwest and Southwest of England. Thematic data analysis using NVIVO was used to identify emergent themes. Results 17 core themes were generated, 12 of which confirmed the findings from similar research. However, five themes relating to 'ethos of performance/elitism', 'lower fitness leads to lower ability', 'undervaluing activities within PE dept' or school as a whole', 'role of the school' and 'PE department doing all it can' offer valuable new insight into the factors which may encourage or prevent PA inside or outside the curriculum. Conclusion Despite many positive perceptions of the delivery of PE in schools, it is evident that barriers still exist within that delivery which discourages physical activity. More research is needed to particularly address the complex issues of elitism and the ethos of PA in schools. PMID:18673562

Diagnosis of knee injuries: comparison of the physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging with the findings from arthroscopy☆

PubMed Central

Orlando Júnior, Nilton; de Souza Leão, Marcos George; de Oliveira, Nelson Henrique Carvalho

2015-01-01

Objectives To ascertain the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and concordance of the physical examination (PE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with arthroscopy, in diagnosing knee injuries. Methods Prospective study on 72 patients, with evaluation and comparison of PE, MRI and arthroscopic findings, to determine the concordance, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Results PE showed sensitivity of 75.00%, specificity of 62.50% and accuracy of 69.44% for medial meniscal (MM) lesions, while it showed sensitivity of 47.82%, specificity of 93.87% and accuracy of 79.16% for lateral meniscal (LM) lesions. For anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, PE showed sensitivity of 88.67%, specificity of 94.73% and accuracy of 90.27%. For MM lesions, MRI showed sensitivity of 92.50%, specificity of 62.50% and accuracy of 69.44%, while for LM injuries, it showed sensitivity of 65.00%, specificity of 88.46% and accuracy of 81.94%. For ACL injuries, MRI showed sensitivity of 86.79%, specificity of 73.68% and accuracy of 83.33%. For ACL injuries, the best concordance was with PE, while for MM and LM lesions, it was with MRI (p < 0.001). Conclusions Meniscal and ligament injuries can be diagnosed through careful physical examination, while requests for MRI are reserved for complex or doubtful cases. PE and MRI used together have high sensitivity for ACL and MM lesions, while for LM lesions the specificity is higher. Level of evidence II – Development of diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference “gold” standard). PMID:27218085

Prolonged Elevated Heart Rate and 90-Day Survival in Acutely Ill Patients: Data From the MIMIC-III Database.

PubMed

Sandfort, Veit; Johnson, Alistair E W; Kunz, Lauren M; Vargas, Jose D; Rosing, Douglas R

2018-01-01

We sought to evaluate the association of prolonged elevated heart rate (peHR) with survival in acutely ill patients. We used a large observational intensive care unit (ICU) database (Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III [MIMIC-III]), where frequent heart rate measurements were available. The peHR was defined as a heart rate >100 beats/min in 11 of 12 consecutive hours. The outcome was survival status at 90 days. We collected heart rates, disease severity (simplified acute physiology scores [SAPS II]), comorbidities (Charlson scores), and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnosis information in 31 513 patients from the MIMIC-III ICU database. Propensity score (PS) methods followed by inverse probability weighting based on the PS was used to balance the 2 groups (the presence/absence of peHR). Multivariable weighted logistic regression was used to assess for association of peHR with the outcome survival at 90 days adjusting for additional covariates. The mean age was 64 years, and the most frequent main disease category was circulatory disease (41%). The mean SAPS II score was 35, and the mean Charlson comorbidity score was 2.3. Overall survival of the cohort at 90 days was 82%. Adjusted logistic regression showed a significantly increased risk of death within 90 days in patients with an episode of peHR ( P < .001; odds ratio for death 1.79; confidence interval, 1.69-1.88). This finding was independent of median heart rate. We found a significant association of peHR with decreased survival in a large and heterogenous cohort of ICU patients.

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale

PubMed Central

Gipson, Polly Y.; Agarwala, Prachi; Opperman, Kiel J.; Horwitz, Adam; King, Cheryl A.

2016-01-01

Objective Despite the high prevalence of psychiatric emergency (PE) visits for attempted suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents, we have limited information about assessment tools that are helpful in predicting subsequent risk for suicide attempts among adolescents in PE settings. This study examined the predictive validity of a highly promising instrument, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Method Participants were 178 adolescents (44.4% male; ages 13–17 years) seeking PE services. The C-SSRS interview and selected medical chart data were collected for the index visit and subsequent visits during a 1-year follow-up. Results A suicide risk concern was the most common chief complaint (50.6%) in this sample, and nearly one third of the adolescents (30.4%) reported a lifetime history of suicide attempt at index visit. Sixty-two adolescents (34.8%) had at least one return PE visit during follow-up. Lifetime history of NSSI predicted both return PE visits and a suicide attempt at return visit. The C-SSRS intensity scale score was a significant predictor of a suicide attempt at return visit for both the full sample of adolescents and the subsample who reported suicidal ideation at their index visit. In this subsample, one specific item on the intensity scale, duration, was also a significant predictor of both a return PE visit and a suicide attempt at return visit. Conclusions The C-SSRS intensity scale and NSSI had predictive validity for suicide attempts at return visit. Results also suggest that duration of adolescents’ suicidal thoughts may be particularly important to risk for suicidal behavior, warranting further study. PMID:25285389

The designing and implementation of PE teaching information resource database based on broadband network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jian

2017-01-01

In order to change traditional PE teaching mode and realize the interconnection, interworking and sharing of PE teaching resources, a distance PE teaching platform based on broadband network is designed and PE teaching information resource database is set up. The designing of PE teaching information resource database takes Windows NT 4/2000Server as operating system platform, Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 as RDBMS, and takes NAS technology for data storage and flow technology for video service. The analysis of system designing and implementation shows that the dynamic PE teaching information resource sharing platform based on Web Service can realize loose coupling collaboration, realize dynamic integration and active integration and has good integration, openness and encapsulation. The distance PE teaching platform based on Web Service and the design scheme of PE teaching information resource database can effectively solve and realize the interconnection, interworking and sharing of PE teaching resources and adapt to the informatization development demands of PE teaching.

Changes in Negative Cognitions Mediate PTSD Symptom Reductions During Client-Centered Therapy and Prolonged Exposure for Adolescents

PubMed Central

McLean, Carmen P.; Yeh, Rebecca; Rosenfield, David; Foa, Edna B.

2015-01-01

Objective To assess whether changes in negative trauma-related cognitions play an important role in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression during prolonged exposure therapy for adolescents (PE-A). Method Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial comparing PE-A with client-centered therapy (CCT) for PTSD. Participants were 61 adolescent female sexual assault survivors ages 13–18 who received 8–14 weekly sessions of PE-A or CCT at a community rape crisis center. PTSD severity was assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-months post-treatment. Participants also completed self-report measures of negative posttraumatic cognitions and depressive symptoms at the same assessment points. Results Cross lag panel mediation analyses showed that change in negative trauma-related cognitions mediated change in PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms whereas change in PTSD and depressive symptoms did not mediate change in negative cognitions. Conclusion Our findings support EPT and suggest that change in negative trauma-related cognitions is a mechanism of both PE-A and CCT. PMID:25812826

Poroviscoelastic cartilage properties in the mouse from indentation.

PubMed

Chiravarambath, Sidharth; Simha, Narendra K; Namani, Ravi; Lewis, Jack L

2009-01-01

A method for fitting parameters in a poroviscoelastic (PVE) model of articular cartilage in the mouse is presented. Indentation is performed using two different sized indenters and then these data are fitted using a PVE finite element program and parameter extraction algorithm. Data from a smaller indenter, a 15 mum diameter flat-ended 60 deg cone, is first used to fit the viscoelastic (VE) parameters, on the basis that for this tip size the gel diffusion time (approximate time constant of the poroelastic (PE) response) is of the order of 0.1 s, so that the PE response is negligible. These parameters are then used to fit the data from a second 170 mum diameter flat-ended 60 deg cone for the PE parameters, using the VE parameters extracted from the data from the 15 mum tip. Data from tests on five different mouse tibial plateaus are presented and fitted. Parameter variation studies for the larger indenter show that for this case the VE and PE time responses overlap in time, necessitating the use of both models.

Polymorphisms in Inflammatory Genes are Associated with Term Small for Gestational Age and Preeclampsia

PubMed Central

Harmon, Quaker E.; Engel, Stephanie M.; Wu, Michael C.; Moran, Thomas M.; Luo, Jingchun; Stuebe, Alison M.; Avery, Christy L.; Olshan, Andrew F.

2014-01-01

Problem Inflammatory biomarkers are associated with preeclampsia (PE) and poor fetal growth; however, genetic epidemiologic studies have been limited by reduced gene coverage and the exclusion of African American mothers. Method of study Cases and controls (N = 1646) from a pregnancy cohort were genotyped for 503 tagSNPs in 40 genes related to inflammation. Gene-set analyses were stratified by race and were followed by a single SNP analysis within significant gene sets. Results Gene-level associations were found for IL6 and KLRD1 for term small for gestational age (SGA) among African Americans. LTA/TNF and TBX21 were associated with PE among European Americans. The strongest association was for PE among European Americans for an upstream regulator of TNF with RR = 1.8 (95% CI 1.1–2.7). Conclusion Although previous studies have suggested null associations, increased tagging and stratification by genetic ancestry suggests important associations between IL6 and term SGA for African Americans, and a TNF regulator and PE among European Americans (N = 149). PMID:24702779

A comparison of Narrative Exposure Therapy and Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD.

PubMed

Mørkved, N; Hartmann, K; Aarsheim, L M; Holen, D; Milde, A M; Bomyea, J; Thorp, S R

2014-08-01

The purpose of this review was to compare and contrast Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). We examined the treatment manuals to describe the theoretical foundation, treatment components, and procedures, including the type, manner, and focus of exposure techniques and recording methods used. We examined extant clinical trials to investigate the range of treatment formats reported, populations studied, and clinical outcome data. Our search resulted in 32 studies on PE and 15 studies on NET. Consistent with prior reviews of PTSD treatment, it is evident that PE has a solid evidence base and its current status as a first line treatment for the populations studied to this date is warranted. We argue that NET may have advantages in treating complex traumatization seen in asylum seekers and refugees, and for this population NET should be considered a recommended treatment. NET and PE have several commonalities, and it is recommended that studies of these treatments include a broader range of populations and trauma types to expand the current knowledge on the treatment of PTSD. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Subcutaneous implant with etonogestrel (Implanon®) for catamenial exacerbations in a patient with cystic fibrosis: a case report.

PubMed

Lamas, Adelaida; Máiz, Luis; Ruiz de Valbuena, Marta; González-Casbas, José Manuel; Suárez, Lucrecia

2014-10-24

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease with equal prevalence across sexes. However, women present worse lung function with faster function decline, earlier onset of bacterial colonization, more frequent pulmonary exacerbations (PE), greater bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and higher mortality rates after puberty than men. The etiology of this gender disparity remains elusive but female hormones have been implicated in several studies. A 20-year-old female with CF with severe recurrent PE, always related to the menstrual cycle since menarche, combined with lung function decline requiring multiple courses of intravenous antibiotics. We report the cessation of PE and recovery of pulmonary function following the insertion of a subcutaneous implant with 68 mg of etonogestrel (Implanon®, Organon Española S.A. Laboratories, Madrid, Spain). Our case report supports the key role of female hormones in the development of PE and in the decline of lung function in a woman with CF. When appropriate, hormonal manipulation through contraceptive methods should be considered as potential treatment.

Possible Domain Formation In PE/PC Bilayers Containing High Cholesterol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hein, Matthew; Hussain, Fazle; Huang, Juyang

2015-03-01

Cholesterol is a significant component of animal cell membranes, and its presence has the effects of not only adding rigidity to the lipid bilayer, but also leading to the formation of lipid domains. Two other lipids of interest are phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), which constitutes about 45 percent of the phospholipids found in human nervous tissues, and phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is found in every cell of the human body. The maximum solubility of cholesterol is the highest mole fraction of cholesterol that the lipid bilayer can retain, at which point cholesterol begins to precipitate out to form cholesterol monohydrate crystals. We have measured the maximum solubility of cholesterol in mixtures of 16:0-18:1PE and 16:0-18:1PC using a new light scattering technique, which utilizes the anisotropic nature of light scattering by cholesterol crystals. This new method is highly accurate and reproducible. Our results show that the maximum solubility of cholesterol increases linearly as a function of the molar ratio POPC/(POPE+POPC), which suggests possible domain formation in mixtures of PE and PC containing maximum amount of cholesterol.

Chemistry of personalized solar energy.

PubMed

Nocera, Daniel G

2009-11-02

Personalized energy (PE) is a transformative idea that provides a new modality for the planet's energy future. By providing solar energy to the individual, an energy supply becomes secure and available to people of both legacy and nonlegacy worlds and minimally contributes to an increase in the anthropogenic level of carbon dioxide. Because PE will be possible only if solar energy is available 24 h a day, 7 days a week, the key enabler for solar PE is an inexpensive storage mechanism. HY (Y = halide or OH(-)) splitting is a fuel-forming reaction of sufficient energy density for large-scale solar storage, but the reaction relies on chemical transformations that are not understood at the most basic science level. Critical among these are multielectron transfers that are proton-coupled and involve the activation of bonds in energy-poor substrates. The chemistry of these three italicized areas is developed, and from this platform, discovery paths leading to new hydrohalic acid- and water-splitting catalysts are delineated. The latter water-splitting catalyst captures many of the functional elements of photosynthesis. In doing so, a highly manufacturable and inexpensive method for solar PE storage has been discovered.

Seeds as natural matrices for immobilization of Aspergillus niger mycelium producing pectinases.

PubMed

Fiedurek, J; Szczodrak, J; Rogalski, J

1995-04-01

A simple method for the immobilization of Aspergillus niger mycelium producing polygalacturonase (PG) and pectinesterase (PE) is described. Fungal conidia were immobilized on wheat, rye, barley, peas, buckwheat and mustards seeds. Spongy mycelia overgrowing the seed surfaces on mineral medium with pectin produced extracellular PG and PE; the highest production was reached on the wheat carrier. Some of the variables influencing the enzymatic activity have been optimized. After every 24 h, a culture liquid with 6.8-7.8 U of PG ml-1 and 7.0-10.1 U of PE ml-1 was obtained. This procedure also made possible repeated batch enzyme production and, as many as eight subsequent 24-h batches could be fermented by using the same carrier without any loss of PG activity. The addition of sodium orthovanadate (1 mmol) into the medium with pectin caused a significant increase in PG and PE activity produced by free cells of A. niger (by 1.59-fold and 1.67-fold respectively), and only 0.47-fold of PG activity in case of the immobilized mycelium.

Neural reactivity to monetary rewards and losses in childhood: longitudinal and concurrent associations with observed and self-reported positive emotionality.

PubMed

Kujawa, Autumn; Proudfit, Greg Hajcak; Kessel, Ellen M; Dyson, Margaret; Olino, Thomas; Klein, Daniel N

2015-01-01

Reward reactivity and positive emotion are key components of a theoretical, early-emerging approach motivational system, yet few studies have examined associations between positive emotion and neural reactivity to reward across development. In this multi-method prospective study, we examined the association of laboratory observations of positive emotionality (PE) at age 3 and self-reported positive affect (PA) at age 9 with an event-related potential component sensitive to the relative response to winning vs. losing money, the feedback negativity (ΔFN), at age 9 (N=381). Males had a larger ΔFN than females, and both greater observed PE at age 3 and self-reported PA at age 9 significantly, but modestly, predicted an enhanced ΔFN at age 9. Negative emotionality and behavioral inhibition did not predict ΔFN. Results contribute to understanding the neural correlates of PE and suggest that the FN and PE may be related to the same biobehavioral approach system. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients with superficial vein thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Di Minno, M N D; Ambrosino, P; Ambrosini, F; Tremoli, E; Di Minno, G; Dentali, F

2016-05-01

Essentials The association of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) with venous thromboembolism (VTE) is variable. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of concomitant VTE in patients with SVT. Deep vein thrombosis was found in 18.1%, and pulmonary embolism in 6.9%, of SVT patients. Screening for VTE may be worthy in some SVT patients to plan adequate anticoagulant treatment. Background Some studies have suggested that patients with superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) have a non-negligible risk of concomitant deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) at the time of SVT diagnosis. Unfortunately, the available data on this association are widely variable. Objectives To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature in order to evaluate the prevalence of concomitant DVT/PE in patients with SVT of the lower limbs. Methods Studies reporting on the presence of DVT/PE in SVT patients were systematically searched for in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE databases. The weighted mean prevalence (WMP) of DVT and PE was calculated by use of the random effect model. Results Twenty-one studies (4358 patients) evaluated the prevalence of DVT and 11 studies (2484 patients) evaluated the prevalence of PE in patients with SVT. The WMP of DVT at SVT diagnosis was 18.1% (95%CI: 13.9%, 23.3%) and the WMP of PE was 6.9% (95%CI: 3.9%, 11.8%). Heterogeneity among the studies was substantial. Selection of studies including outpatients only gave similar results (WMP of DVT, 18.2%, 95% CI 12.2-26.3%; and WMP of PE, 8.2%, 95% CI 3.3-18.9%). Younger age, female gender, recent trauma and pregnancy were inversely associated with the presence of DVT/PE in SVT patients. Conclusions The results of our large meta-analysis suggest that the prevalence of DVT and PE in patients presenting with SVT is not negligible. Screening for a major thromboembolic event may be worthwhile in some SVT patients, in order to allow adequate anticoagulant treatment to be planned. Other high-quality studies are warranted to confirm our findings. © 2016 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

A comparative study of EPA-enriched ethanolamine plasmalogen and EPA-enriched phosphatidylethanolamine on Aβ42 induced cognitive deficiency in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Che, Hongxia; Li, Qian; Zhang, Tiantian; Ding, Lin; Zhang, Lingyu; Shi, Haohao; Yanagita, Teruyoshi; Xue, Changhu; Chang, Yaoguang; Wang, Yuming

2018-05-23

Ethanolamine plasmalogen (pPE), a major phospholipid in neuronal membranes, is specifically reduced in postmortem brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of EPA-enriched ethanolamine plasmalogen (EPA-pPE) and EPA-enriched phosphatidylethanolamine (EPA-PE) on cognitive deficiency and illustrate the possible underlying mechanisms. SD rats were divided into four groups including the sham group injected with 0.9% saline and three amyloid-β (Aβ) infusion groups, Aβ42 group, EPA-pPE group and EPA-PE group. EPA-pPE and EPA-PE were administered by gavage (150 mg kg-1 day-1), respectively, once a day for 26 days. Administration of EPA-pPE exerted better effects than EPA-PE in improving Aβ-induced cognitive deficiency in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Further mechanical research indicated that EPA-pPE was superior to EPA-PE in regulating oxidative stress via increasing SOD activity and decreasing MDA level, as well as reducing GSK-3β and tau phosphorylation. Moreover, EPA-PE was more effective than EPA-pPE at inhibiting the protein expressions of Bax and caspase 9. The results of neuro-inflammation and inflammasome activation showed that EPA-pPE exerted more significant effects than EPA-PE in inhibiting the expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β, and decreasing NLRP3, pro-caspase 1 and caspase 1 levels. EPA-pPE alleviated Aβ-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress, neuronal injury, apoptosis and neuro-inflammation, which might depend on the vinyl ether linkage at the sn-1 position.

Physical Education Policies and Practices in California Private Secondary Schools.

PubMed

Kahan, David; McKenzie, Thomas L

2017-02-01

Physical education (PE) is mandated in most states, but few studies of PE in private schools exist. We assessed selected PE policies and practices in private secondary schools (grades 6 to 12) in California using a 15-item questionnaire related to school characteristics and their PE programs. Responding schools (n = 450; response rate, 33.8%) were from 37 counties. Most were coeducational (91.3%) and had a religious affiliation (83%). Secular schools had more PE lessons, weekly PE min, and smaller class sizes. Most schools met guidelines for class size, but few met national recommendations for weekly PE minutes (13.7%), not permitting substitutions for PE (35.6%), and programs being taught entirely by PE specialists (29.3%). Private schools, which serve about 5 million US children and adolescents, may be falling short in providing quality PE. School stakeholders should encourage adoption and implementation of policies and practices that abide by professional guidelines and state statutes.

Physical examination in undergraduate medical education in the field of general practice - a scoping review.

PubMed

Moßhammer, Dirk; Graf, Joachim; Joos, Stefanie; Hertkorn, Rebekka

2017-11-25

Physical examination (PE) is an essential clinical skill and a central part of a physician's daily activity. Teaching of PE has been integrated into medical school by many clinical disciplines with respective specific examination procedures. For instance, PE teaching in general practice may include a full-body examination approach. Studies show that PE-skills of medical students often need enhancement. The aim of this article was to scope the literature regarding the teaching and research of PE within general practice during undergraduate medical education. We evaluated a wide breadth of literature relating to the content, study design, country of research institution and year of publication. Literature search in Medline along the PRISMA-P protocol was performed by search syntax ("physical examination" AND "medical education" AND "undergraduate" AND general practice) considering Medline MeSH (Medical Subject Heading)-Terms and Medline search term tree structure. Independent title, abstract and full-text screening with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed. Full texts were analyzed by publication year, country of origin, study design and content (by categorizing articles along their main topic according to qualitative content analysis of Mayring). One-hundred seven articles were included. The annual number of publications ranged from 4 to 14 and had a slightly rising trend since 2000. Nearly half of the publications originated from the United States (n = 54), 33 from Canada and the United Kingdom. Overall, intervention studies represented the largest group (n = 60, including uncontrolled and controlled studies, randomized and non-randomized), followed by cross-sectional studies (n = 29). The 117 studies could be assigned to five categories "teaching methods (n = 53)", "teaching quality (n = 33)", "performance evaluation and examination formats (n=19)", "students' views (n = 8)" and "patients' and standardized patients' views (n=4)". The present work shows a wide spectrum of teaching and research activities and a certain level of evidence for the effectiveness of individual teaching methods. It can be used as orientation and impulse generator for the further development of medical education in the field of PE.

HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of hemoglobin peptides in tryptic digests of dried-blood spot extracts detects HbS, HbC, HbD, HbE, HbO-Arab, and HbG-Philadelphia mutations.

PubMed

Haynes, Christopher A; Guerra, Stephanie L; Fontana, Jessalyn C; DeJesús, Víctor R

2013-09-23

Hemoglobinopathies are mutations resulting in abnormal globin chain structure; some have clinically significant outcomes such as anemia or reduced lifespan. Five β-globin mutations are (c.20A>T, p.E6V), (c.19G>A, p. E6K), (c.79G>A, p.E26K), (c.364G>C, p.E121Q), and (c.364G>A, p.E121K), resulting in HbS (sickle-cell hemoglobin), HbC, HbE, HbD-Los Angeles, and HbO-Arab, respectively. One α-globin mutation is (c.[207C>G or 207C>A], p.N68K), resulting in HbG-Philadelphia. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of dried-blood spot (DBS) punches from newborns extracted with a trypsin-containing solution provides greater than 90% coverage of α-, β-, and γ-globin amino acid sequences. Because the (c.20A>T, p.E6V), (c.19G>A, p. E6K), (c.79G>A, p.E26K), (c.364G>C, p.E121Q), (c.364G>A, p.E121K), and (c.[207C>G or 207C>A], p.N68K) mutations generate globin peptides with novel amino acid sequences, detecting one of these peptides in DBS extracts is indicative of the presence of a hemoglobinopathy in the newborn. The method described here can distinguish normal β-globin peptides from the mutant HbS, HbC, HbE, HbD-Los Angeles and HbO-Arab peptides, as well as normal α-globin peptide from the mutant HbG-Philadelphia peptide, allowing the identification of unaffected heterozygotes such as HbAS, and of compound heterozygotes such as HbASG-Philadelphia. This HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analytical approach provides information that is not available from traditional hemoglobin analyses such as isoelectric focusing and HPLC-UV. It is also capable of determining the amino acid sequence of hemoglobin peptides, potentially allowing the detection of numerous hemoglobinopathies resulting from point mutations. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Clinical Decision Rules for Pulmonary Embolism in Hospitalized Patients: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Bass, Anne R; Fields, Kara G; Goto, Rie; Turissini, Gregory; Dey, Shirin; Russell, Linda A

2017-11-01

Background  Clinical decision rules (CDRs) for pulmonary embolism (PE) have been validated in outpatients, but their performance in hospitalized patients is not well characterized. Objectives  The goal of this systematic literature review was to assess the performance of CDRs for PE in hospitalized patients. Methods  We performed a structured literature search using Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane library for articles published on or before January 18, 2017. Two authors reviewed all titles, abstracts and full texts. We selected prospective studies of symptomatic hospitalized patients in which a CDR was used to estimate the likelihood of PE. The diagnosis of PE had to be confirmed using an accepted reference standard. Data on hospitalized patients were solicited from authors of studies in mixed populations of outpatients and hospitalized patients. Study characteristics, PE prevalence and CDR performance were extracted. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the QUADAS instrument. Results  Twelve studies encompassing 3,942 hospitalized patients were included. Studies varied in methodology (randomized controlled trials and observational studies) and reference standards used. The pooled sensitivity of the modified Wells rule (cut-off ≤ 4) in hospitalized patients was 72.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 63.7-79.2) and the pooled specificity was 62.2% (95% CI, 52.6-70.9). The modified Wells rule (cut-off ≤ 4) plus D-dimer testing had a pooled sensitivity 99.7% (95% CI, 96.7-100) and pooled specificity 10.8% (95% CI, 6.7-16.9). The efficiency (proportion of patients stratified into the 'PE unlikely' group) was 8.4% (95% CI, 4.1-16.5), and the failure rate (proportion of low likelihood patients who were diagnosed with PE during follow-up) was 0.1% (95% CI, 0-5.3). Conclusion  In symptomatic hospitalized patients, use of the Wells rule plus D-dimer to rule out PE is safe, but allows very few patients to forgo imaging. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

Impact of ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography on treatment duration of pulmonary embolism

PubMed Central

Begic, Amela; Opanković, Emina; Čukić, Vesna; Rustempašić, Medzida; Bašić, Amila; Miniati, Massimo; Jögi, Jonas

2015-01-01

Purpose The aim of the study was to establish whether the duration of anticoagulant (AC) therapy can be tailored, on an objective basis, by using ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (V/P SPECT) and to assess the extent of residual perfusion defects over time. In particular, we addressed the following: (a) is the extent of perfusion recovery at 3 months of initial pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis a satisfactory criterion for deciding the duration of oral AC? (b) Is it safe to withdraw AC at 3 months if perfusion recovery is complete? Patients and methods Of 269 consecutive patients with suspected PE, 100 patients were diagnosed with PE using V/P SPECT. Sixty-seven patients with acute PE were followed up clinically and with V/P SPECT at 3 months. Sixty-four patients were subject to review and examination using V/P SPECT for a period of 6 months and 33 were followed up only clinically. Therapy was terminated after 3 months if perfusion was normalized, and patients were free of symptoms and the risk of hypercoagulability. Initial extension of PE did not have an impact on decision making. Results PE extension varied from 10 to 70% in the acute stage. After 3 months, complete resolution of PE was found in 48 patients. The treating pulmonologist decided to terminate therapy in 35 (73%) patients and to continue AC in 13 patients because of persistent risk factors. Six months later, at the second control stage, 53 patients had complete recovery of pulmonary perfusion. Eleven patients still had perfusion defects at 6 months. No recurrence was identified at 6 months in the 35 patients whose therapy was terminated after 3 months. No bleeding effects were observed in any of the patients during the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion This study shows that AC therapy can be tailored, on an objective basis, by using V/P SPECT. Normalization of perfusion at 3 months of initial PE diagnosis was a reliable indicator that AC could be safely withdrawn in patients who were without hypercoagulability risk. PMID:25321156

Pectus Excavatum and Pectus Carinatum: Associated Conditions, Family History, and Postoperative Patient Satisfaction

PubMed Central

Kuru, Pinar; Cakiroglu, Aylin; Er, Aynur; Ozbakir, Hincal; Cinel, Ali Emin; Cangut, Busra; Iris, Merve; Canbaz, Berkay; Pıçak, Ebru; Yuksel, Mustafa

2016-01-01

Background Pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC) are the most common chest wall deformities. In this study, we aimed to characterize how patients obtained information about these deformities, as well as patients’ family history, associated medical problems, and postoperative satisfaction after the Nuss and Abramson procedures. Methods This cross-sectional retrospective study included patients who were operated by a single surgeon between 2006 and 2013. Follow-up calls were made after approval of our institution’s ethics committee. We reached 207 of the 336 PE patients (61.6%) and 73 of the 96 PC patients (76%). Results The majority of the patients were male (85% of the PE patients and 91.8% of the PC patients). The age of diagnosis of PE was 14.52±0.51 years and the age at the time of operation was 17.89±0.42 years; for PC patients, the corresponding ages were 15.23±0.55 years and 16.77±0.55 years, respectively. A total of 70% of the PE patients and 63.8% of the PC patients obtained information about pectus deformities through the Internet. In 27.1% of the PE patients with an associated anomaly, 57.1% (n=13) had scoliosis, while 41.1% of the PC patients with an associated anomaly had kyphosis (n=5). Postoperative satisfaction, as evaluated on a scale from 0 to 10, was 8.17±0.15 for PE patients and 8.37±0.26 for PC patients. The postoperative pain duration was 51.93±5.18 days for PE patients and 38.5±6.88 days for PC patients. Conclusion In this study, we found that most patients with pectus deformities were male. The Internet was an important resource for patients to learn about their deformities. Family history and associated anomalies were identified as important aspects for consideration in the clinical setting. The patients reported high levels of postoperative satisfaction, and pain management was found to be one of the most important elements of postoperative care. PMID:26889443

RS3PE: Clinical and Research Development.

PubMed

Li, Hongbin; Altman, Roy D; Yao, Qingping

2015-08-01

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema or RS3PE is a rare elderly-onset rheumatic syndrome. Although there are overlapping clinical manifestations between RS3PE, elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica, RS3PE has distinct characteristics. RS3PE can be associated with neoplasia and various rheumatic conditions, suggesting that it may be heterogeneous, and is considered as a paraneoplastic rheumatic disease. The pathogenesis of RS3PE may involve vascular endothelial growth factor and infection in RS3PE based upon limited data. Patients with RS3PE without concomitant malignancy respond well to small doses of glucocorticoids and carry good prognosis.

Pile-Driving Pressure and Particle Velocity at the Seabed: Quantifying Effects on Crustaceans and Groundfish.

PubMed

Miller, James H; Potty, Gopu R; Kim, Hui-Kwan

2016-01-01

We modeled the effects of pile driving on crustaceans, groundfish, and other animals near the seafloor. Three different waves were investigated, including the compressional wave, shear wave, and interface wave. A finite element (FE) technique was employed in and around the pile, whereas a parabolic equation (PE) code was used to predict propagation at long ranges from the pile. Pressure, particle displacement, and particle velocity are presented as a function of range at the seafloor for a shallow-water environment near Rhode Island. We discuss the potential effects on animals near the seafloor.

Ocean Color Patterns Help to Predict Depth of Optical Layers in Coastal Marine Waters

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-09

Space Center, NASA, MS 39529, USA 3Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Universite du Quebec a Rimouski, Canada, *E-mail: martin_montes@uqar. qc. ca...depth was derived from CTD variables (i.e., temperature and conductivity without pressure correction) and using the standard UNESCO polynomial equation... la y *,es^ S Si es ti m at ed nt er re y B a n an d up ), th e up pe r te d in w h i 5112 ^ "a :*J ? tf?^ •a Mis a a •S M ^ « a fo

The prevalence of premature ejaculation and its clinical characteristics in Korean men according to different definitions.

PubMed

Lee, S W; Lee, J H; Sung, H H; Park, H J; Park, J K; Choi, S K; Kam, S C

2013-01-01

This study compared the prevalence of premature ejaculation (PE) diagnosed by the PE diagnostic tool (PEDT) score, self-reporting and stopwatch-recorded intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). It examined the characteristics of males diagnosed with PE by each criterion. A questionnaire survey enrolled 2081 subjects from March to October, 2010. Stopwatch-recorded IELT was measured in 1035 of the 2081 subjects. We aimed to determine whether PE has an influence on the frequency and satisfaction of sexual intercourse, the degree of libido/erectile function and the satisfaction. These factors were evaluated according to different definitions of PE to assess whether the definition used yielded differences in the data. The prevalence of PE, based on a PEDT score of ≥11, self-reporting and stopwatch-recorded IELT of ≤1 min was 11.3%, 19.5% and 3%, respectively. The prevalence of PE diagnoses based on PEDT score and self-reporting increased with age, but stopwatch-recorded IELT-based diagnoses did not. Males experiencing PE showed lower levels of libido, erectile function and frequency and satisfaction of sexual intercourse compared with non-PE males. PE males felt that they did not satisfy their partners in terms of the partners' sexual satisfaction and frequency of orgasm, in comparison with non-PE males. PE is a highly prevalent sexual dysfunction in males. Regardless of whether the PE diagnosis was made on the basis of self-reporting, PEDT score or stopwatch-recorded IELT, subjective symptoms were similar among PE males.

Monolithic molecular imprinted polymer fiber for recognition and solid phase microextraction of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in biological samples prior to capillary electrophoresis analysis.

PubMed

Deng, Dong-Li; Zhang, Ji-You; Chen, Chen; Hou, Xiao-Ling; Su, Ying-Ying; Wu, Lan

2012-01-06

A novel capillary electrophoresis (CE) method coupled with monolithic molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) fiber based solid phase microextraction (SPME) was developed for selective and sensitive determination of ephedrine (E) and pseudoephedrine (PE). With in situ polymerization in a silica capillary mold and E as template, the MIP fibers could be produced in batch reproducibly and each fiber was available for 50 extraction cycles without significant decrease in extraction ability. Using the MIP fiber under optimized extraction conditions, CE detection limits of E and PE were greatly lowered from 0.20 to 0.00096 μg/mL and 0.12 to 0.0011 μg/mL, respectively. Analysis of urine and serum samples by the MIP-SPME-CE method was also performed, with results indicating that E and PE could be selectively extracted. The recoveries and relative standard deviations (RSDs) for sample analysis were found in the range of 91-104% and 3.8-9.1%, respectively. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative experiments for in vivo fibroplasia and biological stability of four porous polymers intended for use in the Seoul-type keratoprosthesis

PubMed Central

Kim, M K; Lee, J L; Wee, W R; Lee, J H

2002-01-01

Aims: To evaluate in vivo fibroplasia and biological stability of porous polymers intended for use in the Seoul-type keratoprosthesis (S-KPro). Methods: Four porous polymers (polypropylene, two kinds of polyethylene terephthalate (PE70 and PE50), and polyurethane) were investigated. Discs of polymers were inserted into the corneal stroma of rabbits for a 2 and 5 month period. Corneal oedema and neovascularisation were evaluated. The fibroplasia and collagen deposition were examined under light and transmission electron microscopy. S-KPros, whose skirt was made of four types of polymer, were implanted into the rabbits' eyes. The retention time and complications were evaluated. Results: Neovascularisation and corneal oedema were found in all of the disc inserted eyes, but the corneal oedema subsided within 2 months in most of the eyes. The mean number of fibroblasts increased significantly in polypropylene and PE50 disc inserted eyes compared with polyurethane disc inserted eyes. Plentiful collagen deposition was also found in both polypropylene and PE50 disc inserted eyes. Mean retention time in the polypropylene SK-Pro implanted eyes was longer than that of the other eyes (20.7 weeks). The PE70 skirt induced corneal melting around the prosthesis. Conclusion: Polypropylene encourages fibroblast ingrowth and shows good biological stability when used as a skirt material in S-KPro. PMID:12084755

Antepartum or immediate postpartum renal biopsies in preeclampsia/eclampsia of pregnancy: new morphologic and clinical findings

PubMed Central

Han, Lei; Yang, Zhiling; Li, Kailong; Zou, Jiaqun; Li, Hongmei; Han, Jian; Zhou, Lijuan; Liu, Xiaojie; Zhang, Xin; Zheng, Yingru; Yu, Lili; Li, Li

2014-01-01

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia remain leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality worldwide. The kidney is considered the first and most severely affected organ in women with PE/eclampsia. In this study, we analyzed new morphologic features of kidney biopsies and clinical findings in patients with PE or eclampsia at our hospital. Methods: Eight patients with PE/eclampsia underwent renal biopsies during the antepartum (3/8) or postpartum (5/8) period. Maternal clinical findings, major serological indices, neonatal outcomes, and renal histopathologic and immunofluorescent characteristics were reviewed for each case. Results: Most patients had abnormal serum cholesterol (8/8), triglyceride (6/8), albumin (7/8), and uric acid (5/8). The ratio of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to serum creatinine (SCr) was elevated in all patients. Five of eight newborns survived. Various degrees of morphologic change were present in the renal glomeruli, and were associated with proteinuria. All patients had deposition of complement factor 4 (C4) in the renal glomeruli and seven had deposition of immunoglobulin M (IgM). Conclusion: Endotheliosis, vacuolation of podocytes, proliferation of mesangial cells, and protein casts in the tubule lumens were found in the kidneys of women with PE/eclampsia. Immune depositions of C4 and IgM are major contributors to renal lesions in preeclamptic patients, whose neonates can generally survive. Eclampsia can occur without increased blood pressure. PMID:25197387

KASCADE-Grande measurements of energy spectra for elemental groups of cosmic rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apel, W. D.; Arteaga-Velázquez, J. C.; Bekk, K.; Bertaina, M.; Blümer, J.; Bozdog, H.; Brancus, I. M.; Cantoni, E.; Chiavassa, A.; Cossavella, F.; Daumiller, K.; de Souza, V.; Di Pierro, F.; Doll, P.; Engel, R.; Engler, J.; Finger, M.; Fuchs, B.; Fuhrmann, D.; Gils, H. J.; Glasstetter, R.; Grupen, C.; Haungs, A.; Heck, D.; Hörandel, J. R.; Huber, D.; Huege, T.; Kampert, K.-H.; Kang, D.; Klages, H. O.; Link, K.; Łuczak, P.; Ludwig, M.; Mathes, H. J.; Mayer, H. J.; Melissas, M.; Milke, J.; Mitrica, B.; Morello, C.; Oehlschläger, J.; Ostapchenko, S.; Palmieri, N.; Petcu, M.; Pierog, T.; Rebel, H.; Roth, M.; Schieler, H.; Schoo, S.; Schröder, F. G.; Sima, O.; Toma, G.; Trinchero, G. C.; Ulrich, H.; Weindl, A.; Wochele, J.; Wommer, M.; Zabierowski, J.

2013-07-01

The KASCADE-Grande air shower experiment [1] consists of, among others, a large scintillator array for measurements of charged particles, N, and of an array of shielded scintillation counters used for muon counting, Nμ. KASCADE-Grande is optimized for cosmic ray measurements in the energy range 10 PeV to about 2000 PeV, where exploring the composition is of fundamental importance for understanding the transition from galactic to extragalactic origin of cosmic rays. Following earlier studies of the all-particle and the elemental spectra reconstructed in the knee energy range from KASCADE data [2], we have now extended these measurements to beyond 200 PeV. By analysing the two-dimensional shower size spectrum N vs. Nμ for nearly vertical events, we reconstruct the energy spectra of different mass groups by means of unfolding methods over an energy range where the detector is fully efficient. The procedure and its results, which are derived based on the hadronic interaction model QGSJET-II-02 and which yield a strong indication for a dominance of heavy mass groups in the covered energy range and for a knee-like structure in the iron spectrum at around 80 PeV, are presented. This confirms and further refines the results obtained by other analyses of KASCADE-Grande data, which already gave evidence for a knee-like structure in the heavy component of cosmic rays at about 80 PeV [3].

Towards biomarker-based tests that can facilitate decisions about prevention and management of preeclampsia in low-resource settings.

PubMed

Acestor, Nathalie; Goett, Jane; Lee, Arthur; Herrick, Tara M; Engelbrecht, Susheela M; Harner-Jay, Claudia M; Howell, Bonnie J; Weigl, Bernhard H

2016-01-01

In recent years, an increasing amount of literature is emerging on candidate urine and blood-based biomarkers associated with incidence and severity of preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women. While enthusiasm on the usefulness of several of these markers in predicting PE is evolving, essentially all work so far has focused on the needs of high-resource settings and high-income countries, resulting primarily in multi-parameter laboratory assays based on proteomic and metabolomics analysis techniques. These highly complex methods, however, require laboratory capabilities that are rarely available or affordable in low-resource settings (LRS). The importance of quantifying maternal and perinatal risks and identifying which pregnancies can be safely prolonged is also much greater in LRS, where intensive care facilities that can rapidly respond to PE-related health threats for women and infants are limited. For these reasons, simple, low cost, sensitive, and specific point-of-care (POC) tests are needed that can be performed by antenatal health care providers in LRS and that can facilitate decisions about detection and management of PE. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive systematic review of current and emerging blood and urine biomarkers for PE, not only on the basis of their clinical performance, but also of their suitability to be used in LRS-compatible test formats, such as lateral flow and other variants of POC rapid assays.

Variable Resistance to Plasminogen Activator Initiated Fibrinolysis for Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

PubMed Central

Stubblefield, William B.; Alves, Nathan J.; Rondina, Matthew T.; Kline, Jeffrey A.

2016-01-01

Background We examine the clinical significance and biomarkers of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-catalyzed clot lysis time (CLT) in patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods Platelet-poor, citrated plasma was obtained from patients with PE. Healthy age- and sex-matched patients served as disease-negative controls. Fibrinogen, α2-antiplasmin, plasminogen, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), plasminogen activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), thrombin time and D-dimer were quantified. Clotting was induced using CaCl2, tissue factor, and phospholipid. Lysis was induced using 60 ng/mL tPA. Time to 50% clot lysis (CLT) was assessed by both thromboelastography (TEG) and turbidimetry (A405). Results Compared with disease-negative controls, patients with PE exhibited significantly longer mean CLT on TEG (+2,580 seconds, 95% CI 1,380 to 3,720 sec). Patients with PE and a short CLT who were treated with tenecteplase had increased risk of bleeding, whereas those with long CLT had significantly worse exercise tolerance and psychometric testing for quality of life at 3 months. A multivariate stepwise removal regression model selected PAI-1 and TAFI as predictive biomarkers of CLT. Conclusion The CLT from TEG predicted increased risk of bleeding and clinical failure with tenecteplase treatment for intermediate-risk PE. Plasmatic PAI-1 and TAFI were independent predictors of CLT. PMID:26866684

Pulmonary embolism detection using localized vessel-based features in dual energy CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dicente Cid, Yashin; Depeursinge, Adrien; Foncubierta Rodríguez, Antonio; Platon, Alexandra; Poletti, Pierre-Alexandre; Müller, Henning

2015-03-01

Pulmonary embolism (PE) affects up to 600,000 patients and contributes to at least 100,000 deaths every year in the United States alone. Diagnosis of PE can be difficult as most symptoms are unspecific and early diagnosis is essential for successful treatment. Computed Tomography (CT) images can show morphological anomalies that suggest the existence of PE. Various image-based procedures have been proposed for improving computer-aided diagnosis of PE. We propose a novel method for detecting PE based on localized vessel-based features computed in Dual Energy CT (DECT) images. DECT provides 4D data indexed by the three spatial coordinates and the energy level. The proposed features encode the variation of the Hounsfield Units across the different levels and the CT attenuation related to the amount of iodine contrast in each vessel. A local classification of the vessels is obtained through the classification of these features. Moreover, the localization of the vessel in the lung provides better comparison between patients. Results show that the simple features designed are able to classify pulmonary embolism patients with an AUC (area under the receiver operating curve) of 0.71 on a lobe basis. Prior segmentation of the lung lobes is not necessary because an automatic atlas-based segmentation obtains similar AUC levels (0.65) for the same dataset. The automatic atlas reaches 0.80 AUC in a larger dataset with more control cases.

Physical activity energy expenditure in Dutch adolescents: contribution of active transport to school, physical education, and leisure time activities.

PubMed

Slingerland, Menno; Borghouts, Lars B; Hesselink, Matthijs K C

2012-05-01

Detailed knowledge about physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) can guide the development of school interventions aimed at reducing overweight in adolescents. However, relevant components of PAEE have never been objectively quantified in this population. This study investigated the contribution of active transport to and from school, physical education (PE), and leisure time activities to total PAEE during a regular school week in adolescents. Seventy-three adolescents (mean age: 15.7 years) wore an individually calibrated combined heart rate-acceleration monitor and kept an activity diary during a regular school week. Branched equation modeling was used to calculate PAEE of the specific activity categories, and their relative contribution to total PAEE was determined. Active transport and PE contributed 30.0% and 17.4%, respectively, to school-related PAEE. Active transport to and from school contributed 15% to total PAEE. Youth with a high physical activity level (PAL) spent 4 hours less in sedentary behavior than subjects with a medium or low PAL (F = 77.415 (2.70), p < .001) and had higher PAEE during leisure time sports (F = 9.135 (2.70), p < .001) and work-related activities (F = 10.583 (2.70), p < .001) than youth with medium or low PAL values. Active transport and PE contribute significantly to PAEE during school hours in adolescents. To achieve an increase in total PAEE in the least active group of adolescents, promising strategies might be to reduce inactive behavior, increase participation in leisure time sports, and possibly to replace inactive for active jobs. © 2012, American School Health Association.

Physical education, obesity, and academic achievement: a 2-year longitudinal investigation of Australian elementary school children.

PubMed

Telford, Richard D; Cunningham, Ross B; Fitzgerald, Robert; Olive, Lisa S; Prosser, Laurence; Jiang, Xiaoli; Telford, Rohan M

2012-02-01

We determined whether physical education (PE) taught by specialists contributed to academic development and prevention of obesity in elementary school children. Our 2-year longitudinal study involved 620 boys and girls initially in grade 3 in Australia, all receiving 150 minutes per week of PE. One group (specialist-taught PE; n = 312) included 90 minutes per week of PE from visiting specialists; the other (common-practice PE; n = 308) received all PE from generalist classroom teachers. Measurements included percentage of body fat (measured by dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry) and writing, numeracy, and reading proficiency (by government tests). Compared with common-practice PE, specialist-taught PE was associated with a smaller increase in age-related percentage of body fat (P = .02). Specialist-taught PE was also associated with greater improvements in numeracy (P < .03) and writing (P = .13) scores. There was no evidence of a reading effect. The attenuated age-related increases in percentage of body fat and enhanced numeracy development among elementary school children receiving PE from specialists provides support for the role of PE in both preventive medicine and academic development.

Early plasma exchange for treating ricin toxicity in children after castor bean ingestion.

PubMed

Wang, Cheng-feng; Nie, Xiao-jing; Chen, Guang-ming; Yu, Zi-hua; Li, Zheng; Sun, Zhi-wen; Weng, Zeng-feng; Yang, Yu-ying; Chen, Shu-lian; Zheng, Si-rui; Luo, Ying-yun; Lu, Yan-ting; Cao, Hui-qin; Zhan, Hai-xia

2015-06-01

Plasma exchange (PE) for the treatment of ricin toxicity has not been previously reported. Here we describe the use of PE to treat children who experienced ricin toxicity after ingesting castor beans. Seven children (median age: 8.1 years) who consumed castor beans (median: 5 beans) were treated with PE. All had bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia, and most had experienced episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhea. PE settings were blood flow, 50-80 mL/min; PE rate, 600-800 mL/h; volume of exchange, 1440-1950 mL. Median time from ingestion to PE was 73 h. All clinical symptoms disappeared and vital signs rapidly returned to normal after PE; no severe organ dysfunction occurred. All children were discharged and recovered uneventfully. Concentrations of all serum biochemical parameters significantly decreased immediately after PE. Some, but not all, of these parameters were also significantly decreased at 48 and 72 h after PE compared with before PE. Our findings suggest that PE can be an effective early intervention in the treatment of ricin toxicity due to castor bean ingestion. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rationale and design of three observational, prospective cohort studies including biobanking to evaluate and improve diagnostics, management strategies and risk stratification in venous thromboembolism: the VTEval Project

PubMed Central

Frank, Bernd; Ariza, Liana; Lamparter, Heidrun; Grossmann, Vera; Prochaska, Jürgen H; Ullmann, Alexander; Kindler, Florentina; Weisser, Gerhard; Walter, Ulrich; Lackner, Karl J; Espinola-Klein, Christine; Münzel, Thomas; Konstantinides, Stavros V; Wild, Philipp S

2015-01-01

Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE) with its two manifestations deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major public health problem. The VTEval Project aims to investigate numerous research questions on diagnosis, clinical management, treatment and prognosis of VTE, which have remained uncertain to date. Methods and analysis The VTEval Project consists of three observational, prospective cohort studies on VTE comprising cohorts of individuals with a clinical suspicion of acute PE (with or without DVT), with a clinical suspicion of acute DVT (without symptomatic PE) and with an incidental diagnosis of VTE (PE or DVT). The VTEval Project expects to enrol a total of approximately 2000 individuals with subsequent active and passive follow-up investigations over a time period of 5 years per participant. Time points for active follow-up investigations are at months 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 after diagnosis (depending on the disease cohort); passive follow-up investigations via registry offices and the cancer registry are performed 48 and 60 months after diagnosis for all participants. Primary short-term outcome is defined by overall mortality (PE-related death and all other causes of death), primary long-term outcome by symptomatic VTE (PE-related death, recurrence of non-fatal PE or DVT). The VTEval Project includes three ‘all-comer’ studies and involves the standardised acquisition of high-quality data, covering the systematic assessment of VTE including symptoms, risk profile, psychosocial, environmental and lifestyle factors as well as clinical and subclinical disease, and it builds up a large state-of-the-art biorepository containing various materials from serial blood samplings. Ethics and dissemination The VTEval Project has been approved by the local data safety commissioner and the responsible ethics committee (reference no. 837.320.12 (8421-F)). Trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international scientific meetings. Trial registration number NCT02156401. PMID:26133379

Effects of Pre-exhaustion on the Patterns of Muscular Activity in the Flat Bench Press.

PubMed

Gołaś, Artur; Maszczyk, Adam; Pietraszewski, Przemyslaw; Stastny, Petr; Tufano, James J; Zając, Adam

2017-07-01

Gołaś, A, Maszczyk, A, Pietraszewski, P, Stastny, P, Tufano, JJ, and Zając, A. Effects of pre-exhaustion on the patterns of muscular activity in the flat bench press. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1919-1924, 2017-Pre-exhaustion (PE) has been applied in resistance training (RT) to manipulate the order of performing 2 resistance exercises, a single-joint exercise to momentary exhaustion, followed by a multi-joint movement that includes the same muscle group. This method ensures greater recruitment of muscles or muscle groups in the multi-joint exercise to further increase muscle strength and overcome strength plateaus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate muscle activity by electromyography during high-intensity (95% of 1 repetition maximum [RM]) bench press (BP), before and after PE of the pectoralis major (PM), anterior deltoid (AD), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles to determine the effects of PE of the prime movers. Eight healthy athletes, experienced in RT, participated in the study. There were 4 sessions in the experiment. Session 1 was aimed at determination of 1RM during a flat BP. Sessions 2, 3, and 4 consisted of performing a BP after PE of the muscles studied by the incline dumbbell fly, front deltoid raise, and lying triceps extension exercise. Peak concentric TB activation after TB PE (mean ± SD, 147.76 ± 18.6%) was significantly greater by analysis of variance (η = 0.82, F = 5.45, p = 0.004) compared with peak TB activation (114.77 ± 19.4%) before TB PE. The statistical analysis for PM and AD did not show any significant differences. Coaches should not expect the usefulness of PE protocol to elicit higher PM or AD activity or fatigue, but they can use it to increase TB activity before high-intensity BP exercise.

Using Objective Structured Clinical Examinations to Assess Intern Orthopaedic Physical Examination Skills: A Multimodal Didactic Comparison.

PubMed

Phillips, Donna; Pean, Christian A; Allen, Kathleen; Zuckerman, Joseph; Egol, Kenneth

Patient care is 1 of the 6 core competencies defined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The physical examination (PE) is a fundamental skill to evaluate patients and make an accurate diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate 3 different methods to teach PE skills and to assess the ability to do a complete PE in a simulated patient encounter. Prospective, uncontrolled, observational. Northeastern academic medical center. A total of 32 orthopedic surgery residents participated and were divided into 3 didactic groups: Group 1 (n = 12) live interactive lectures, demonstration on standardized patients, and textbook reading; Group 2 (n = 11) video recordings of the lectures given to Group 1 and textbook reading alone; Group 3 (n = 9): 90-minute modules taught by residents to interns in near-peer format and textbook reading. The overall score for objective structured clinical examinations from the combined groups was 66%. There was a trend toward more complete PEs in Group 1 taught via live lectures and demonstrations compared to Group 2 that relied on video recording. Near-peer taught residents from Group 3 significantly outperformed Group 2 residents overall (p = 0.02), and trended toward significantly outperforming Group 1 residents as well, with significantly higher scores in the ankle (p = 0.02) and shoulder (p = 0.02) PE cases. This study found that orthopedic interns taught musculoskeletal PE skills by near-peers outperformed other groups overall. An overall score of 66% for the combined didactic groups suggests a baseline deficit in first-year resident musculoskeletal PE skills. The PE should continue to be taught and objectively assessed throughout residency to confirm that budding surgeons have mastered these fundamental skills before going into practice. Copyright © 2017 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ocimum basilicum L.: phenolic profile and antioxidant-related activity.

PubMed

Dorman, H J Damien; Hiltunen, Raimo

2010-01-01

Ocimum basilicum L. leaf material was extracted by maceration with (80:20:1 v/v/v) methanol: water: acetic acid to produce a crude extract (CE), which was further fractionated by liquid-liquid extraction to isolate light petroleum (PE), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH) and H2O-soluble sub-fractions. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the resulting samples were estimated using colorimetric-based methods, and their iron(III) reductive and free radical scavenging activities were determined in a battery of in vitro assays. The CE and sub-fractions contained phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The samples, except for PE, gave a positive result for the presence of flavones and flavonols; however, flavanones only appeared to be present in the CE. In iron(III) reduction, CE and n-BuOH were the most potent followed by EtOAc and H2O (statistically indistinguishable, p > 0.05). However, in the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, H2O was the most potent followed by CE and EtOAc (statistically indistinguishable, p > 0.05) and n-BuOH and PE. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging, all the samples, except PE, were effective against this reactive nitrogen species, with CE, EtOAc and n-BuOH being the most potent (statistically indistinguishable, p > 0.05). In alkylperoxyl scavenging, all the samples, except for PE, were effective against this reactive oxygen species (ROS). In superoxide anion scavenging, all the samples were capable of scavenging this ROS with CE being the most effective, followed by n-BuOH and H2O (statistically indistinguishable, p > 0.05) and EtOAc and PE. Similarly, in hydroxyl scavenging, all the samples were capable of scavenging this ROS with CE and n-BuOH being the most effective (statistically indistinguishable, p > 0.05) followed by EtOAc and H2O (statistically indistinguishable, p > 0.05) and PE.

Are periprosthetic tissue reactions observed after revision of total disc replacement comparable to the reactions observed after total hip or knee revision surgery?

PubMed Central

Punt, Ilona M.; Austen, Shennah; Cleutjens, Jack P.M.; Kurtz, Steven M.; ten Broeke, René H.M.; van Rhijn, Lodewijk W.; Willems, Paul C.; van Ooij, André

2011-01-01

Study design Comparative study. Objective To compare periprosthetic tissue reactions observed after total disc replacement (TDR), total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) revision surgery. Summary of background data Prosthetic wear debris leading to particle disease, followed by osteolysis, is often observed after THA and TKA. Although the presence of polyethylene (PE) particles and periprosthetic inflammation after TDR has been proven recently, osteolysis is rarely observed. The clinical relevance of PE wear debris in the spine remains poorly understood. Methods Number, size and shape of PE particles, as well as quantity and type of inflammatory cells in periprosthetic tissue retrieved during Charité TDR (n=22), THA (n=10) and TKA (n=4) revision surgery were compared. Tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin/eosin and examined by using light microscopy with bright field and polarized light. Results After THA, large numbers of PE particles <6 µm were observed, which were mainly phagocytosed by macrophages. The TKA group had a broad size range with many larger PE particles and more giant cells. In TDR, the size range was similar to that observed in TKA. However, the smallest particles were the most prevalent with 75% of the particles being <6 µm, as seen in revision THA. In TDR, both macrophages and giant cells were present with a higher number of macrophages. Conclusions Both small and large PE particles are present after TDR revision surgery compatible with both THA and TKA wear patterns. The similarities between periprosthetic tissue reactions in the different groups may give more insight in the clinical relevance of PE particles and inflammatory cells in the lumbar spine. The current findings may help to improve TDR design as applied from technologies previously developed in THA and TKA with the goal of a longer survival of TDR. PMID:21336235

Sexual function of premature ejaculation patients assayed with Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation.

PubMed

Yuan, Yi-Ming; Xin, Zhong-Cheng; Jiang, Hui; Guo, Yan-Jie; Liu, Wu-Jiang; Tian, Long; Zhu, Ji-Chuan

2004-06-01

To assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE). The sexual function of 167 patients with and 114 normal controls without premature ejaculation (PE) were evaluated with CIPE. All subjects were married and had regular sexual activity. The CIPE has 10 questions, focusing on libido, erectile function, ejaculatory latency, sexual satisfaction and difficulty in delaying ejaculation, self-confidence and depression. Each question was responded to on a 5 point Likert-type scale. The individual question score and the total scale score were analyzed between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the age, duration of marriage and educational level (P> 0.05) of patients with and without PE and normal controls. The mean latency of patients with PE and normal controls were 1.6 +/- 1.2 and 10.2 +/- 9.5 minutes, respectively. Significant differences between patients with (26.7 +/- 4.6) PE and normal controls (41.9 +/- 4.0) were observed on the total score of CIPE (P< 0.01). Using binary logistic regression analysis, PE was significantly related to five questions of the original measure. They are the so-called the CIPE-5 and include: ejaculatory latency, sexual satisfaction of patients and sexual partner, difficulty in delaying ejaculation, anxiety and depression. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of CIPE-5 questionnaire indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of CIPE were 97.60 % and 94.74 %, respectively. Employing the total score of CIPE-5, patients with PE could be divided into three groups: mild (>15 point) 19.8 %, moderate (10-14 point) 62.8 % and severe (< 9 point) 16.7 %. The CIPE-5 is a useful method for the evaluation of sexual function of patients with PE and can be used as a clinical endpoint for clinical trials studying the efficacy of pharmacological intervention.

[Psychiatric Emergencies in the Preclinical Emergency Medicine Service in Ulm, Germany in 2000 and 2010, and Practical Consequences].

PubMed

Schönfeldt-Lecuona, Carlos; Gahr, Maximilian; Schütz, Stefan; Lang, Dirk; Pajonk, Frank Gerald Bernhard; Connemann, Bernhard J; Muth, Claus-Martin; Freudenmann, Roland W

2017-07-01

Background  Psychiatric emergencies (PE) in preclinical emergency medical services are about 5 - 10 % of all emergencies and represent often a source of difficulties in handling for the non-psychiatric professional helpers that deal with them. Studies informing about quantitative and qualitative changes of PEs in preclinical emergency medicine in Germany are scarce. Methods  Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of PE in a preclinical emergency medical service based on the protocols of the emergency ambulance of the Section for Emergency Medicine at the University Hospital Ulm comparing the years 2000 and 2010. Results  We observed a significant increase of PEs from 8.8 % in the year 2000 (n = 285, from a total of n = 3227) to 10.3 % in 2010 (n = 454, from a total of n = 4425). In both years intoxications were the most common PE [2000: n = 116 (44.4 %); 2010: n = 171 (37.7 %)], followed by suicide-related behavior [2000: n = 59 (22.6 %); 2010: n = 78 (17.2 %)] and acute anxiety disorders [2000: n = 37 (13 %); 2010: n = 105 (23.1 %)]. The mentioned three conditions accounted for about 80 % of all PE. Most frequently PE occurred at the weekend and with the highest density in the evening and at night (18 - 24 h) in both years. Patients with PE were predominantly men, but the rate of women causing PE increased between 2000 and 2010. Discussion/Conclusion  This study provides preliminary data on current trends in PEs in preclinical emergency medicine in Germany and has implications for improving the medical care provided. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Imaging Thromboembolism with Fibrin-Avid 99mTc-Peptide: Evaluation in Swine

PubMed Central

Aruva, Mohan R.; Daviau, Judy; Sharma, Shubh S.; Thakur, Mathew L.

2006-01-01

A pentapeptide, Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Pro, with high affinity for α-chain-fibrin was labeled with 99mTc (99mTc-TP850) and evaluated in swine to image experimental venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis [DVT]) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods Scatchard analysis was performed to determine fibrin affinity for TP850 and the number of binding sites (receptors) per milligram of fibrin. DVT was induced in the left jugular vein and PE was induced by introducing a preformed autologous blood clot into the right atrium using a 7-French introducer sheath inserted into the right jugular vein. 99mTc-TP850 was injected at 4, 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 h later. Animals were imaged for up to 4 h after injection, heparinized, and sacrificed. Lungs were extirpated, radiographed, and imaged, and the PE was removed. Other tissues, including blood and normal lungs, were harvested and, concomitantly, 99mTc was counted for determination of target-to-tissue ratios and the percentage injected dose per gram of tissue. Results The affinity for human fibrin was 10−9 mol/L and there were >1015 receptors per milligram of fibrin. DVT and PE were visualized for up to 4 h after injection with high DVT/blood (7.9–22.6), DVT/muscle (31.1–89.4), PE/blood (1–155), and PE/lung (0.8–245) ratios. Thereafter, the PEs fragmented spontaneously below the spatial resolution of the γ-camera and, despite the high associated radioactivity, could not be localized in vivo. The fragmented clots were detectable by scintigraphy on excised lungs and provided excellent concordance with radiograms. Conclusion 99mTc-TP850 with its modest affinity (10−9 mol/L), rapid blood clearance, and high DVT and PE uptake is a promising agent for imaging vascular thrombosis. PMID:16391200

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of the PeTrack motion tracking system for respiratory gating in cardiac PET imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manwell, Spencer; Chamberland, Marc J. P.; Klein, Ran; Xu, Tong; deKemp, Robert

2017-03-01

Respiratory gating is a common technique used to compensate for patient breathing motion and decrease the prevalence of image artifacts that can impact diagnoses. In this study a new data-driven respiratory gating method (PeTrack) was compared with a conventional optical tracking system. The performance of respiratory gating of the two systems was evaluated by comparing the number of respiratory triggers, patient breathing intervals and gross heart motion as measured in the respiratory-gated image reconstructions of rubidium-82 cardiac PET scans in test and control groups consisting of 15 and 8 scans, respectively. We found evidence suggesting that PeTrack is a robust patient motion tracking system that can be used to retrospectively assess patient motion in the event of failure of the conventional optical tracking system.

Effects of membrane-filtered soy hull pectin and pre-emulsified fiber/oil on chemical and technological properties of low fat and low salt meat emulsions.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun-Wook; Lee, Yong Jae; Kim, Yuan H Brad

2016-06-01

The objectives of this study were to determine efficacy of a membrane filtration in soy hull pectin purification and evaluate combined effects of soy hull pectin and pre-emulsified fiber/oil (PE) on chemical composition and technological properties of low fat and low salt meat emulsions. Soy hull pectin was purified through two different methods (alcohol-washed (ASP) and membrane-filtered (MSP)). Insoluble soy hull residues after pectin extraction were incorporated with sunflower oil and water for the PE preparation. Meat emulsion was formulated with 58 % pork, 20 % ice, 20 % pork backfat, and 2 % NaCl as control. A total of six low fat and low salt meat emulsions (1 % NaCl and 10 % backfat) was manufactured with 1 % pectin (with/without ASP or MSP) and 10 % PE (with/without). The pectin content of ASP and MSP was 0.84 and 0.64 g L-galacturonic acid/g dry sample, respectively. The inclusion of soy hull pectin caused similar results on chemical composition, color, cooking loss, and texture of the meat emulsions, regardless of the purification method. In addition, positive impacts of the combined treatments with soy hull pectin and PE compared to single treatments on cooking loss and texture of the meat emulsions were observed. Results suggest that membrane filtration could be an effective alternative method to purify pectin, instead of alcohol-washing, and both soluble pectin and insoluble fiber from soy hulls could be used as a functional non-meat ingredient to manufacture various low fat and low salt meat products.

Preparation of Polyethylene Composites Containing Silver(I) Acylpyrazolonato Additives and SAR Investigation of their Antibacterial Activity.

PubMed

Marchetti, Fabio; Palmucci, Jessica; Pettinari, Claudio; Pettinari, Riccardo; Marangoni, Mirko; Ferraro, Stefano; Giovannetti, Rita; Scuri, Stefania; Grappasonni, Iolanda; Cocchioni, Mario; Maldonado Hodar, Francisco José; Gunnella, Roberto

2016-11-02

Novel composite materials PEn (n = 1-9) have been prepared by an easily up-scalable embedding procedure of three different families of Ag(I) acylpyrazolonato complexes in polyethylene (PE) matrix. In details, PE1-PE3 composites contain polynuclear [Ag(Q R )] n complexes, PE4-PE6 contain mononuclear [Ag(Q R )(L) m ] complexes and PE7-PE9 are loaded with mononuclear [Ag(Q R ) (PPh 3 ) 2 ] complexes, respectively (where L = 1-methylimidazole or 2-ethylimidazole, m = 1 or 2, and HQ R = 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-RC(═O)-5-pyrazolone, where in detail HQ fb , R = -CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 ; HQ cy , R = -cyclo-C 6 H 11 ; HQ be , R = -C(H)═C(CH 3 ) 2 ). The PEn composites, prepared by using a 1:1000 w/w silver additive/polyethylene ratio, have been characterized in bulk by IR spectroscopy and TGA analyses, which confirmed that the properties of polyethylene matrix are essentially unchanged. AFM, SEM, and EDX surface techniques show that silver additives form agglomerates with dimensions 10-100 μm on the polyethylene surface, with a slight increment of surface roughness of pristine plastic within 50 nm. However, the elastic properties of the composites are essentially the same of PE. The antibacterial activity of all composites has been tested against three bacterial strains (E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus) and results show that two classes of composites, PE1-PE3 and PE4-PE6, display high and persistent bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity, comparable to PE embedded with AgNO 3 . By contrast, composites PE7-PE9 exhibit a reduced antibacterial action. Contact and release tests in several conditions for specific migration of Ag + from plastics, indicate a very limited but time persistent release of silver ions from PE1-PE6 composites, thus suggesting that they are potential antibacterial materials for future applications. Instead, PE7-PE9 almost do not release silver, only trace levels of silver ions being detected, in accordance with their reduced antibacterial action. None of the composites is toxic against higher organisms, as confirmed by D. magna test of ecotoxicity.

Analytical investigation of microwave resonances of a curling probe for low and high-pressure plasma diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arshadi, Ali; Brinkmann, Ralf Peter

2017-01-01

The concept of ‘active plasma resonance spectroscopy’ (APRS) has attracted greater interest in recent years as an established plasma diagnostic technique. The APRS describes a class of related methods utilizing the intrinsic ability of plasma to resonate at or near the electron plasma frequency {ω\\text{pe}} . The Curling probe (CP) as a novel realization of the APRS idea, is a miniaturized spiral slot embedded flatly in the chamber wall. Consequently, a plasma diagnostic technique with minimum disturbance and without metal contamination can be developed. To measure the plasma parameters the CP is fed with a weak frequency-swept signal from the exterior of the plasma chamber by a network analyzer which also records the response of the plasma versus the frequency. The resonance behavior is strongly dependent on the electron density and the gas pressure. The CP has also the advantage of resonating at a frequency greater than {ω\\text{pe}} which is dependent on the spiral’s length. The double resonance characteristic gives the CP the ability to be applied in varying plasma regimes. Assuming that the spiralization does not have a considerable effect on the resonances, a ‘straightened’ infinite length CP has recently been investigated (Arshadi and Brinkmann 2016 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 25 045014) to obtain the surface wave resonances. This work generalizes the approach and models the CP by a rectangular slot-type resonator located between plasma and quartz. Cold plasma theory and Maxwell’s equations are utilized to compute the electromagnetic fields propagating into the plasma by the diffraction of an incident plane wave at the slot. A mathematical model is employed and both kinds of resonances are derived. The analytical study of this paper shows good agreement with the numerical results of the probe inventors.

Modeling Flow Past a Tilted Vena Cava Filter

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

Singer, M A; Wang, S L

Inferior vena cava filters are medical devices used to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) from deep vein thrombosis. In particular, retrievable filters are well-suited for patients who are unresponsive to anticoagulation therapy and whose risk of PE decreased with time. The goal of this work is to use computational fluid dynamics to evaluate the flow past an unoccluded and partially occluded Celect inferior vena cava filter. In particular, the hemodynamic response to thrombus volume and filter tilt is examined, and the results are compared with flow conditions that are known to be thrombogenic. A computer model of the filter inside amore » model vena cava is constructed using high resolution digital photographs and methods of computer aided design. The models are parameterized using the Overture software framework, and a collection of overlapping grids is constructed to discretize the flow domain. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved, and the characteristics of the flow (i.e., velocity contours and wall shear stresses) are computed. The volume of stagnant and recirculating flow increases with thrombus volume. In addition, as the filter increases tilt, the cava wall adjacent to the tilted filter is subjected to low velocity flow that gives rise to regions of low wall shear stress. The results demonstrate the ease of IVC filter modeling with the Overture software framework. Flow conditions caused by the tilted Celect filter may elevate the risk of intrafilter thrombosis and facilitate vascular remodeling. This latter condition also increases the risk of penetration and potential incorporation of the hook of the filter into the vena caval wall, thereby complicating filter retrieval. Consequently, severe tilt at the time of filter deployment may warrant early clinical intervention.« less

Energy expenditure estimates during school physical education: Potential vs. reality?

PubMed

Kahan, David; McKenzie, Thomas L

2017-02-01

Schools are salient locations for addressing the high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Most US states require some physical education (PE) and the energy expended during PE has potential to positively affect energy balance. We previously used 2012 data to examine state policies for PE to calculate estimated student energy expenditure (EEE) under potential (i.e., recommendations followed) and existing conditions. Since then, data have been updated on both state policies and the conduct of PE. Based on updated data, we used PE frequency, duration, and intensity, student mass, and class size to calculate EEE for the delivery of PE under (a) national professional recommendations, (b) 2016 state policies, and (c) school-reported conditions. Although increased from four years ago, only 22 states currently have policies mandating specific PE minutes. EEE over 10years shows the enormous impact PE could have on energy balance. For the average recommended-size PE class, resultant annual EEE based on professional recommendations for min/week far exceeded those based on average state (n=22) policy for min/week by 44.5% for elementary, 62.7% for middle, and 59.5% for high schools. Since 2012 more states adopted policies for PE minutes than dropped them, however, EEE over 10years showed a net loss of 1200kcal/student. With no overall recent improvements in state PE policy and professional recommendations currently not being met, PE remains an underutilized public health resource for EEE. Strong policies, coupled with enhanced accountability of PE teachers and administrators, are needed to ensure PE exists in schools. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exposure to Experimental Preeclampsia in Mice Enhances the Vascular Response to Future Injury

PubMed Central

Pruthi, Dafina; Khankin, Eliyahu V.; Blanton, Robert M.; Aronovitz, Mark; Burke, Suzanne D.; McCurley, Amy; Karumanchi, S. Ananth; Jaffe, Iris Z.

2015-01-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading killer of women in developed nations. One gender-specific risk factor is preeclampsia (PE), a syndrome of hypertension and proteinuria that complicates 5% of pregnancies. Although PE resolves after delivery, exposed women are at increased long term risk of premature CVD and mortality. Preexisting CVD risk factors are associated with increased risk of developing PE but whether PE merely uncovers risk or contributes directly to future CVD remains a critical unanswered question. A mouse PE model was used to test the hypothesis that PE causes an enhanced vascular response to future vessel injury. A PE-like state was induced in pregnant CD1 mice by overexpressing soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), a circulating anti-angiogenic protein that induces hypertension and glomerular disease resembling human PE. Two months post-partum, sFlt-1 levels and blood pressure normalized and cardiac size and function by echocardiography and renal histology were indistinguishable in PE-exposed compared to control mice. Mice were then challenged with unilateral carotid injury. PE-exposed mice had significantly enhanced vascular remodeling with increased vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation (180% increase, P<0.01) and vessel fibrosis (216% increase, P<0.001) compared to control pregnancy. In the contralateral uninjured vessel, there was no difference in remodeling after exposure to PE. These data support a new model in which vessels exposed to PE retain a persistently enhanced vascular response to injury despite resolution of PE after delivery. This new paradigm may contribute to the substantially increased risk of CVD in woman exposed to PE. PMID:25712723

New insights on premature ejaculation: a review of definition, classification, prevalence and treatment.

PubMed

Serefoglu, Ege C; Saitz, Theodore R

2012-11-01

There are ongoing debates about the definition, classification and prevalence of premature ejaculation (PE). The first evidence-based definition of PE was limited to heterosexual men with lifelong PE who engage in vaginal intercourse. Unfortunately, many patients with the complaint of PE do not meet these criteria. However, these men can be diagnosed as one of the PE subtypes, namely acquired PE, natural variable PE or premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction. Nevertheless, the validity of these subtypes has not yet been supported by evidence. The absence of a universally accepted PE definition and lack of standards for data acquisition have resulted in prevalence studies that have reported conflicting rates. The very high prevalence of 20%-30% is probably due to the vague terminology used in the definitions at the time when such surveys were conducted. Although many men may complain of PE when questioned for a population-based prevalence study, only a few of them will actively seek treatment for their complaint, even though most of these patients would define symptoms congruent with PE. The complaints of acquired PE patients may be more severe, whereas complaints of patients experiencing premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction seem to be least severe among men with various forms of PE. Although numerous treatment modalities have been proposed for management of PE, only antidepressants and topical anaesthetic creams have currently been proven to be effective. However, as none of the treatment modalities have been approved by the regulatory agencies, further studies must be carried to develop a beneficial treatment strategy for PE.

Involvement of Rho kinase in the pathogenesis of acute pulmonary embolism-induced polystyrene microspheres in rats.

PubMed

Toba, M; Nagaoka, T; Morio, Y; Sato, K; Uchida, K; Homma, N; Takahashi, K

2010-03-01

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disease, and several vasoconstrictors, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), play a key role in vasoconstriction and hypoxemia during the development of PE. Rho kinase is activated by various vasoconstrictors resulting in vascular contraction and remodeling. Recent evidence has revealed an important role of Rho kinase in the pathogenesis of systemic and pulmonary vascular diseases. However, contribution of Rho kinase in PE remains unclear. We thus investigated the role of Rho kinase in the PE rat model induced by intrajugular administration of polystyrene microspheres (mean diameter, 26 microm). At 6 h following the administration of microspheres (1.5 ml/kg), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was higher in the PE than in the control rats (15.8 +/- 1.6 vs. 32.9 +/- 7.5 mmHg). Arterial oxygen tension was lower (92.3 +/- 12.5 vs. 66.0 +/- 17.7 Torr), and alveolar-arterial difference in oxygen partial pressure was higher (3.9 +/- 3.8 vs. 36.5 +/- 26.9 Torr) in the PE rats. Western blotting analysis revealed upregulation and downregulation in expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in lungs from the PE rats, respectively, and radioimmunoassay demonstrated an increase in plasma ET-1 levels. Lung Rho kinase alpha expression was greater in the PE rats. At 5 h following administration of microspheres (0.75 ml/kg), intravenous Rho kinase inhibitors HA1077 and Y27632 (3 mg/kg each) attenuated elevation of RVSP (22.0 +/- 3.7, 17.1 +/- 3.2, 14.3 +/- 2.6 mmHg, PE, PE+HA1077, PE+Y27632) and the severity of hypoxemia (66.3 +/- 16.2, 94.9 +/- 23.0, 89.1 +/- 8.5 Torr, PE, PE+HA1077, PE+Y27632) in the PE rats. These results suggest that pulmonary endothelial dysfunction and activation of Rho kinase may contribute to the potentiation of vasoconstriction and hypoxemia in the PE rats.

[Assessment of central hemodynamic properties of the arterial wall in women with previous preeclampsia].

PubMed

Polónia, Jorge; Olival, Catarina; Ribeiro, Sílvia; Silva, José A; Barbosa, Loide

2014-06-01

We investigated viscoelastic properties of the arterial wall in women with previous preeclampsia (PE) compared to those with normal pregnancy (NP). In a cross-sectional study 45 women with previous PE and 55 with NP were included, matched for age (PE 38±6 vs. NP 38±5 years, NS) and body mass index: (PE 25±4 vs. NP 26±4 kg/m(2), NS) studied, respectively, 76±34 and 86±48 months after delivery. We assessed arterial distensibility - pulse wave velocity (PWV, Complior) and reflected waves (augmentation pressure [AP], mmHg) and augmentation index (AIx) - in the central pressure wave and blood pressure (BP) on 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). PE showed higher (p<0.01) peripheral systolic blood pressure (SBP): PE 131±18 vs. NP 121±19, and central SBP: PE 122±18 vs. NP 110±19 mmHg, with less amplification of central-peripheral pressure: PE 10±4 vs. NP 12±5, p=0.041, and higher (p<0.05) AP: PE 10±3 vs. NP 8±2, and AIx: PE 26±5 vs. NP 20±5 mmHg, but PE and NP did not differ in pulse wave velocity. On ABPM, PE (n=39) vs. NP (n=33) had higher nighttime SBP: PE 121±10 vs. NP 108±10 mmHg and lower percentage nocturnal SBP fall: PE 11±6 vs. NP 18±11%, both p<0.02. During follow-up, the need for antihypertensive medication was seven times higher in PE than in NP. Women with previous PE have a greater risk of hypertension, higher nighttime BP values, blunted nocturnal BP fall and changes in central pressure suggestive of increased reflected waves and peripheral vascular resistance. These factors may contribute to their higher cardiovascular risk after pregnancy. Copyright © 2013 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

Levels of serum-circulating angiogenic factors within 1 week prior to delivery are closely related to conditions of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and/or fetal growth restriction.

PubMed

Nanjo, Sakiko; Minami, Sawako; Mizoguchi, Mika; Yamamoto, Madoka; Yahata, Tamaki; Toujima, Saori; Shiro, Michihisa; Kobayashi, Aya; Muragaki, Yasuteru; Ino, Kazuhiko

2017-12-01

We aimed to investigate maternal serum angiogenic marker profiles within 1 week prior to delivery in cases of gestational hypertension (GH), pre-eclampsia (PE), and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR) with different clinical conditions. We enrolled 165 women with singleton pregnancy. The participants were classified based on three characteristics: (i) proteinuria (GH and PE); (ii) FGR (PE with FGR [PE + FGR], PE alone, and FGR alone); and (iii) onset (early onset PE [EO PE] and late-onset PE [LO PE]). All sera were obtained within 1 week prior to delivery, and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. (i) In PE, a significantly increased sFlt-1, sEng, and sFlt-1 to PlGF ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF) and significantly decreased PlGF were observed compared with GH and Term control, whereas in GH, only sFlt-1/PlGF was significantly higher than Term control. (ii) In PE + FGR, similar changes were more markedly shown compared with PE alone. The FGR alone group exhibited similar tendencies as PE, although significant differences were found in PlGF and sEng levels. (iii) In EO PE, significant changes were observed in all factors compared with LO PE or Term control, while no significant change in PlGF levels was observed between LO PE and Term control. We demonstrated that the levels of circulating angiogenic factors just before delivery are correlated with the severity of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and FGR. Profiling these specific markers may contribute to better understanding of the clinical conditions in individual patients and their pathogenesis. © 2017 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Cartwheel projections of segmented pulmonary vasculature for the detection of pulmonary embolism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiraly, Atilla P.; Naidich, David P.; Novak, Carol L.

2005-04-01

Pulmonary embolism (PE) detection via contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images is an increasingly important topic of research. Accurate identification of PE is of critical importance in determining the need for further treatment. However, current multi-slice CT scanners provide datasets typically containing 600 or more images per patient, making it desirable to have a visualization method to help radiologists focus directly on potential candidates that might otherwise have been overlooked. This is especially important when assessing the ability of CT to identify smaller, sub-segmental emboli. We propose a cartwheel projection approach to PE visualization that computes slab projections of the original data aided by vessel segmentation. Previous research on slab visualization for PE has utilized the entire volumetric dataset, requiring thin slabs and necessitating the use of maximum intensity projection (MIP). Our use of segmentation within the projection computation allows the use of thicker slabs than previous methods, as well as the ability to employ visualization variations that are only possible with segmentation. Following automatic segmentation of the pulmonary vessels, slabs may be rotated around the X-, Y- or Z-axis. These slabs are rendered by preferentially using voxels within the lung vessels. This effectively eliminates distracting information not relevant to diagnosis, lessening both the chance of overlooking a subtle embolus and minimizing time on spent evaluating false positives. The ability to employ thicker slabs means fewer images need to be evaluated, yielding a more efficient workflow.

Synthesis of NaYF4:Yb/Er/Gd up-conversion luminescent nanoparticles and luminescence resonance energy transfer-based protein detection

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jingpu; Mi, Congcong; Wu, Hongyan; Huang, Huaiqing; Mao, Chuanbin; Xu, Shukun

2012-01-01

High-quality NaYF4:Yb/Er/Gd up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were first synthesized by a solvothermal method using rare earth stearate, sodium fluoride, ethanol, water, and oleic acid as precursors. Doped Gd3+ ions can promote the transition of NaYF4 from cubic to hexagonal phase, shorten the reaction time, and reduce the reaction temperature without reducing the luminescence intensity of NaYF4:Yb/Er UCNPs. X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy were applied to characterize the UCNPs. The nanoparticles exhibited small size and excellent green up-conversion photoluminescence, making them suitable for biological applications. After the surfaces of NaYF4:Yb/Er/Gd UCNPs were modified with amino groups through the Stöber method, they could be brought close enough to the analytically important protein called R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) bearing multiple carboxyl groups so that energy transfer could occur. A luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) system was developed using NaYF4:Yb/Er/Gd UCNPs as an energy donor and R-PE as an energy acceptor. As a result, a detection limit of R-PE of 0.5 μg/ml was achieved by the LRET system with a relative standard deviation of 2.0%. Although this approach was first used successfully to detect R-PE, it can also be extended to the detection of other biological molecules. PMID:22155069

Clinical experience of repair of pectus excavatum and carinatum deformities.

PubMed

Oncel, Murat; Tezcan, Bekir; Akyol, Kazim Gurol; Dereli, Yüksel; Sunam, Güven Sadi

2013-09-01

We present the results of surgical correction of pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC) deformities in adults, and also report a new method of sternal support used in surgery for PE deformities. We present the results of 77 patients between the ages of 10 and 29 years (mean 17) with PE (n = 46) or PC (n = 31) deformities undergoing corrective surgery from 2004 to 2011, using the Ravitch repair method. Symptoms of the patients included chest pain (15%) and tachycardia (8%). Three patients underwent repair of recurrent surgical conditions. All of the patients with dyspnoea with exercise experienced marked improvement at five months post operation. Complications included pneumothorax in 5.1% (n = 4), haemothorax in 2.6% (n = 2), chest discomfort in 57% (n = 44), pleural effusion in 2.6% (n = 2), and sternal hypertrophic scar in 27% (n = 21) of patients. Mean hospitalisation was eight days. Pain was mild and intravenous analgesics were used for a mean of four days. There were no deaths. Results after surgical correction were very good or excellent in 62 patients (80%) at a mean follow up of three years. Three patients had recurrent PE and were repaired with the Nuss procedure. In three patients who underwent the Ravitch procedure, a stainless steel bar was used for sternal support instead of Kirschner wire. Pectus deformities may be repaired with no mortality, low morbidity, very good cosmetic results and improvement in cardiological and respiratory symptoms.

Differential bacterial load on components of total knee prosthesis in patients with prosthetic joint infection.

PubMed

Holinka, Johannes; Pilz, Magdalena; Hirschl, Alexander M; Graninger, Wolfgang; Windhager, Reinhard; Presterl, Elisabeth

2012-10-01

The purpose of our study was to evaluate and quantify the bacterial adherence on different components of total knee prosthesis with the sonication culture method. Explanted components of all patients with presumptive prosthetic or implant infection were treated by sonication separately in sterile containers to dislodge the adherent bacteria from the surfaces and cultured. The bacterial load of the different knee components (femur, tibia, PE-inlay and patella) was evaluated by counting of colony-forming units (CFU) dislodged from the components surfaces using the sonication culture method. Overall, 27 patients had positive sonication cultures of explanted total knee prostheses. Microorganisms were detected from 88 of 100 explanted components. Twenty femoral components were culture positive and 7 negative, 23 tibial components as well as 23 polyethylene (PE) platforms had positive microorganism detection from the surface. Staphylococcus epidermidis adhered to the highest number of components whereas Staphylococcus aureus yielded the highest load of CFU in the sonication cultures. Although not significant, PE-inlays and tibial components were most often affected. The highest CFU count was detected in polyethylene components. The sonication culture method is a reliable method to detect bacteria from the components. Additionally, the results demonstrate that bacterial adherence is not affecting a single component of knee prosthesis only. Thus, in septic revision surgery partial prosthetic exchange or exchange of single polyethylene components alone may be not sufficient.

Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of the 'OptEase' Vena Cava Filter

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

Kalva, Sanjeeva P., E-mail: skalva@partners.org; Marentis, Theodore C.; Yeddula, Kalpana

Purpose: To assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of the OptEase inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Materials and Methods: In this Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective study, we reviewed data of 71 patients who received an OptEase filter at our institution from 2002 to 2007. Thirty-nine (55%) patients had symptoms of venous thromboembolism before filter placement. The indications for filter included contraindication to anticoagulation in 31 (44%) patients, prophylaxis against pulmonary embolism (PE) in 29 (41%) patients, and failure of anticoagulation in 11 (15%) patients. Procedure-related complications, such as symptomatic post-filter PE, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), IVC occlusion, and incidental imaging-evidentmore » filter-related complications, were recorded. Safety was assessed by the occurrence of filter-related complications during placement and follow-up. Effectiveness was assessed by the occurrence of post-filter PE. Results: Sixty-five (92%) filters were placed under fluoroscopy, and 6 (8%) were placed using intravascular ultrasound guidance. Seventy (99%) filters were placed successfully. Seven (10%) filters were placed in the suprarenal cava. Retrieval was attempted in 14 (20%) patients, and 12 filters were successfully retrieved. Clinical follow-up was available for 20 {+-} 21 months. Symptoms of postfilter PE and DVT occurred in 15% (n = 11) and 10% (n = 7) patients, respectively. None of these patients had computed tomography (CT)-proven PE, and only one had ultrasound-proven new DVT. One patient had symptomatic IVC occlusion. Follow-up abdominal CT in 20 patients showed thrombus in the filter in two of them. There were no instances of filter migration, filter tilt, or caval wall penetration. Conclusion: The OptEase filter appears to have an acceptable long-term safety profile. The filter was effective against PE.« less

Methods for calculating Protection Equality for conservation planning

PubMed Central

Kuempel, Caitlin D.; McGowan, Jennifer; Beger, Maria; Possingham, Hugh P.

2017-01-01

Protected Areas (PAs) are a central part of biodiversity conservation strategies around the world. Today, PAs cover c15% of the Earth’s land mass and c3% of the global oceans. These numbers are expected to grow rapidly to meet the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Biodiversity target 11, which aims to see 17% and 10% of terrestrial and marine biomes protected, respectively, by 2020. This target also requires countries to ensure that PAs protect an “ecologically representative” sample of their biodiversity. At present, there is no clear definition of what desirable ecological representation looks like, or guidelines of how to standardize its assessment as the PA estate grows. We propose a systematic approach to measure ecological representation in PA networks using the Protection Equality (PE) metric, which measures how equally ecological features, such as habitats, within a country’s borders are protected. We present an R package and two Protection Equality (PE) measures; proportional to area PE, and fixed area PE, which measure the representativeness of a country’s PA network. We illustrate the PE metrics with two case studies: coral reef protection across countries and ecoregions in the Coral Triangle, and representation of ecoregions of six of the largest countries in the world. Our results provide repeatable transparency to the issue of representation in PA networks and provide a starting point for further discussion, evaluation and testing of representation metrics. They also highlight clear shortcomings in current PA networks, particularly where they are biased towards certain assemblage types or habitats. Our proposed metrics should be used to report on measuring progress towards the representation component of Aichi Target 11. The PE metrics can be used to measure the representation of any kind of ecological feature including: species, ecoregions, processes or habitats. PMID:28199341

Methods for calculating Protection Equality for conservation planning.

PubMed

Chauvenet, Alienor L M; Kuempel, Caitlin D; McGowan, Jennifer; Beger, Maria; Possingham, Hugh P

2017-01-01

Protected Areas (PAs) are a central part of biodiversity conservation strategies around the world. Today, PAs cover c15% of the Earth's land mass and c3% of the global oceans. These numbers are expected to grow rapidly to meet the Convention on Biological Diversity's Aichi Biodiversity target 11, which aims to see 17% and 10% of terrestrial and marine biomes protected, respectively, by 2020. This target also requires countries to ensure that PAs protect an "ecologically representative" sample of their biodiversity. At present, there is no clear definition of what desirable ecological representation looks like, or guidelines of how to standardize its assessment as the PA estate grows. We propose a systematic approach to measure ecological representation in PA networks using the Protection Equality (PE) metric, which measures how equally ecological features, such as habitats, within a country's borders are protected. We present an R package and two Protection Equality (PE) measures; proportional to area PE, and fixed area PE, which measure the representativeness of a country's PA network. We illustrate the PE metrics with two case studies: coral reef protection across countries and ecoregions in the Coral Triangle, and representation of ecoregions of six of the largest countries in the world. Our results provide repeatable transparency to the issue of representation in PA networks and provide a starting point for further discussion, evaluation and testing of representation metrics. They also highlight clear shortcomings in current PA networks, particularly where they are biased towards certain assemblage types or habitats. Our proposed metrics should be used to report on measuring progress towards the representation component of Aichi Target 11. The PE metrics can be used to measure the representation of any kind of ecological feature including: species, ecoregions, processes or habitats.

Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes using flow cytometry in polymyalgia rheumatica, RS3PE and early rheumatoid arthritis.

PubMed

Shimojima, Y; Matsuda, M; Ishii, W; Gono, T; Ikeda, S

2008-01-01

Clinical pictures of poly-myalgia rheumatica (PMR) and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) are often indistinguishable from those of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To investigate whether there is a difference in immunological aspects among these 3 disorders, we performed a phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Eleven patients with early RA, 14 with PMR and 11 with RS3PE were enrolled in this study. After separation of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood using the Ficoll-Hypaque method, surface markers and intracellular cytokines of lymphocytes were analyzed by 2- or 3-color flow cytometry. Both PMR and RS3PE showed a significant decrease in CD8⁺CD25⁺ cells (p<0.05), and significant increases in CD4⁺IFN-gamma⁺IL-4- (p<0.05), CD8⁺IFN-gamma⁺IL-4- (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) and CD4⁺TNF-alpha⁺ cells (p<0.05) compared with early RA. CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells were higher in PMR than in RS3PE (p<0.01), but there were no significant differences in any other phenotypes between these disorders. A decrease in activated cytotoxic/suppressor T cells and increases in circulating Th1 and Tc1 cells may be common characteristics of PMR and RS3PE in comparison with early RA. Both disorders are clearly different from early RA, and probably belong to the same disease entity with regard to phenotypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Preeclampsia Is Associated with Alterations in the p53-Pathway in Villous Trophoblast

PubMed Central

Sharp, Andrew N.; Heazell, Alexander E. P.; Baczyk, Dora; Dunk, Caroline E.; Lacey, Helen A.; Jones, Carolyn J. P.; Perkins, Jonathan E.; Kingdom, John C. P.; Baker, Philip N.; Crocker, Ian P.

2014-01-01

Background Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by exaggerated apoptosis of the villous trophoblast of placental villi. Since p53 is a critical regulator of apoptosis we hypothesized that excessive apoptosis in PE is mediated by abnormal expression of proteins participating in the p53 pathway and that modulation of the p53 pathway alters trophoblast apoptosis in vitro. Methods Fresh placental villous tissue was collected from normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by PE; Western blotting and real-time PCR were performed on tissue lysate for protein and mRNA expression of p53 and downstream effector proteins, p21, Bax and caspases 3 and 8. To further assess the ability of p53 to modulate apoptosis within trophoblast, BeWo cells and placental villous tissue were exposed to the p53-activator, Nutlin-3, alone or in combination with the p53-inhibitor, Pifithrin-α (PFT- α). Equally, Mdm2 was knocked-down with siRNA. Results Protein expression of p53, p21 and Bax was significantly increased in pregnancies complicated by PE. Conversely, Mdm2 protein levels were significantly depleted in PE; immunohistochemistry showed these changes to be confined to trophoblast. Reduction in the negative feedback of p53 by Mdm2, using siRNA and Nutlin-3, caused an imbalance between p53 and Mdm2 that triggered apoptosis in term villous explants. In the case of Nutlin, this was attenuated by Pifithrin-α. Conclusions These data illustrate the potential for an imbalance in p53 and Mdm2 expression to promote excessive apoptosis in villous trophoblast. The upstream regulation of p53 and Mdm2, with regard to exaggerated apoptosis and autophagy in PE, merits further investigation. PMID:24498154

A systematic review of the correlates and management of nonpremature ejaculatory dysfunction in heterosexual men

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Introduction: A better understanding of ejaculatory disorders has led to an increasing interest in nonpremature ejaculatory dysfunction (non-PE EjD). Current reviews on the subject use a symptom-based classification to describe ejaculatory dysfunction even when it is a single case report. While these reviews provide important information on the disorder, a clearer picture of the prevalence of non-PE EjD in relation to the community and various pathophysiologic states is needed. Objectives: The objective of this study was to provide a systematic review of studies of non-PE EjD excluding single case reports. Methods: A systematic review of Medline for terms including ejaculation, orgasm or hematospermia. Association with terms delay, pain or headache was made. The search was restricted to male gender and articles written in English. Abstracts were reviewed and those mainly concerned with premature ejaculation were excluded. Results: A total of 333 articles on non-PE EjD were identified. The condition was reported in community-based studies. In certain patient populations, non-PE EjD was commonly reported in association with antidepressant and antipsychotic treatments, in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, patients with lower urinary tract symptoms particularly in association with medical or surgical treatment, patients with retroperitoneal surgery and in patients with neurological diseases. Few articles were concerned with treatment options. Conclusion: There is a significant prevalence of non-PE EjD in the community and in association with particular disease states or as a side effect of medical or surgical interventions. There is a need to direct efforts to prevent and treat these conditions. PMID:24082920

Transfer of arachidonate from phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine and triacylglycerol in guinea pig alveolar macrophages

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

Nijssen, J.G.; Oosting, R.S.; Nkamp, F.Pv.

1986-10-01

Guinea pig alveolar macrophages were labeled by incubation with either arachidonate or linoleate. Arachidonate labeled phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and triglycerides (TG) equally well, with each lipid containing about 30% of total cellular radioactivity. In comparison to arachidonate, linoleate was recovered significantly less in PE (7%) and more in TG (47%). To investigate whether redistributions of acyl chains among lipid classes took place, the macrophages were incubated with 1-acyl-2-(1-/sup 14/C)arachidonoyl PC or 1-acyl-2-(1-/sup 14/C)linoleoyl PC. After harvesting, the cells incubated with 1-acyl-2-(1-/sup 14/C)linoleoyl PC contained 86% of the recovered cellular radioactivity in PC, with only small amounts of label beingmore » transferred to PE and TG (3 and 6%, respectively). More extensive redistributions were observed with arachidonate-labeled PC. In this case, only 60% of cellular radioactivity was still associated with PC, while 22 and 12%, respectively, had been transferred to PE and TG. Arachidonate transfer from PC to PE was unaffected by an excess of free arachidonate which inhibited this transfer to TG for over 90%, indicating that different mechanisms or arachidonoyl CoA pools were involved in the transfer of arachidonate from PC to PE and TG. Cells prelabeled with 1-acyl-2-(1-/sup 14/C)arachidonoyl PC released /sup 14/C-label into the medium upon further incubation. This release was slightly stimulated by zymosan and threefold higher in the presence of the Ca2+-ionophore A23187. Labeling of macrophages with intact phospholipid molecules appears to be a suitable method for studying acyl chain redistribution and release reactions.« less

AuNP-PE interface/phase and its effects on the tensile behaviour of AuNP-PE composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yue; Wang, Ruijie; Wang, Chengyuan; Yu, Xiaozhu

2018-06-01

A comprehensive study was conducted for a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-polyethylene (PE) composite. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were employed to construct the AuNP-PE systems, achieve their constitutive relations, and measure their tensile properties. Specifically, the AuNP-PE interface/phase was studied via the mass density profile, and its effect was evaluated by comparing the composite with a pure PE matrix. These research studies were followed by the study of the fracture mechanisms and the size and volume fraction effects of AuNPs. Efforts were also made to reveal the underlying physics of the MD simulations. In the present work, an AuNP-PE interface and a densified PE interphase were achieved due to the AuNP-PE van der Waals interaction. Such an interface/phase is found to enhance the Young's modulus and yield stress but decrease the fracture strength and strain.

Flower development of Phalaenopsis orchid involves functionally divergent SEPALLATA-like genes

PubMed Central

Pan, Zhao-Jun; Chen, You-Yi; Du, Jian-Syun; Chen, Yun-Yu; Chung, Mei-Chu; Tsai, Wen-Chieh; Wang, Chun-Neng; Chen, Hong-Hwa

2014-01-01

The Phalaenopsis orchid produces complex flowers that are commercially valuable, which has promoted the study of its flower development. E-class MADS-box genes, SEPALLATA (SEP), combined with B-, C- and D-class MADS-box genes, are involved in various aspects of plant development, such as floral meristem determination, organ identity, fruit maturation, seed formation and plant architecture. Four SEP-like genes were cloned from Phalaenopsis orchid, and the duplicated PeSEPs were grouped into PeSEP1/3 and PeSEP2/4. All PeSEPs were expressed in all floral organs. PeSEP2 expression was detectable in vegetative tissues. The study of protein–protein interactions suggested that PeSEPs may form higher order complexes with the B-, C-, D-class and AGAMOUS LIKE6-related MADS-box proteins to determine floral organ identity. The tepal became a leaf-like organ when PeSEP3 was silenced by virus-induced silencing, with alterations in epidermis identity and contents of anthocyanin and chlorophyll. Silencing of PeSEP2 had minor effects on the floral phenotype. Silencing of the E-class genes PeSEP2 and PeSEP3 resulted in the downregulation of B-class PeMADS2-6 genes, which indicates an association of PeSEP functions and B-class gene expression. These findings reveal the important roles of PeSEP in Phalaenopsis floral organ formation throughout the developmental process by the formation of various multiple protein complexes. PMID:24571782

Early experimental results of using a novel delivery carrier, hyaluronan-phosphatidylethanolamine (HA-PE), which may allow simple bladder instillation of botulinum toxin A as effectively as direct detrusor muscle injection.

PubMed

El Shatoury, Mohamed Galal; DeYoung, Ling; Turley, Eva; Yazdani, Arjang; Dave, Sumit

2017-12-30

Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is a neurotoxin that inhibits acetylcholine release by cleaving cytosolic synaptosome-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) and results in bladder relaxation. A BTX-A intravesical injection has been established as an effective option for treating detrusor overactivity. Sixty female Sprague Dawley rats were equally divided into control and experimental groups. Control Groups 1 to 3 received: BTX-A 10 units + saline instillation; hyaluronan-phosphatidylethanolamine (HA-PE) 0.5 g + saline instillation; and BTX-A 5 Uintra-detrusor injections, respectively. Treatment Groups 4 to 6 received: Alexa ® 594-labeled BTX-A 10 U + HA-PE 0.5 g + saline instillation; BTX-A 5 U + HA-PE 0.2-0.5 g instilled for 60 min; and BTX-A 10 U + HA-PE 0.2-0.5 g instilled for 30 min, respectively. All procedures were performed under isoflurane general anesthesia. The primary outcome of this study was the degree of SNAP-25 staining in control and experimental groups compared to Group 3 (detrusor muscle injection). Urodynamic studies were performed at baseline and at day 14 after 1% acetic acid (AA) instillation, to evaluate the maximum pressure during filling (MP) and inter-contraction intervals (ICI). Group 4 rats were examined for Alexa ® 594 fluorescence to demonstrate physical translocation of BTX-A-HA-PE complex. Standard histology was performed to assess the effect of HA-PE on bladder mucosa and detrusor muscle. Group 3 showed the least SNAP-25 staining (7.3 ± 5.0%) compared with all groups except Group 5A (12.4 ± 12.27%, P = 1.0). Group 6A, which had high HA-PE dose but a shorter instillation time, showed fairly extensive SNAP-25 staining (22.9 ± 10%). Confocal microscopy of Group 4 confirmed the presence of Alexa ® 594 fluorescence across the urothelium. Urodynamic parameters were not significantly different at baseline (P = 1.0). After acetic acid instillation, Group 5A showed minimal change in ICI, which was comparable to ICI in Group 3 rats. SNAP-25 staining in Group 5A was comparable to Group 3, suggesting that adequate HA-PE and instillation time allows the efficacy of this carrier mechanism to be comparable to standard intra-detrusor injections. All other groups showed significantly higher SNAP-25 staining compared to Group 3. A dose response effect was demonstrated; higher dose of HA-PE (Group 5A vs Group 5B) and longer instillation time (Group 5 vs Group 6) led to lower SNAP-25 staining. This novel method of BTX-A delivery to the bladder using a carrier (HA-PE) is promising and requires further investigation. Using a larger animal model, identifying an optimal dose of HA-PE and instillation time, and reproducing the current results are further required to validate this carrier. Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Investigation on Formaldehyde Emission Characteristics of Wood Building Materials in Chinese Standard Tests: Product Emission Levels, Measurement Uncertainties, and Data Correlations between Various Tests

PubMed Central

Song, Wei; Cao, Yang; Wang, Dandan; Hou, Guojun; Shen, Zaihua; Zhang, Shuangbao

2015-01-01

As a large producer and consumer of wood building materials, China suffers product formaldehyde emissions (PFE) but lacks systematic investigations and basic data on Chinese standard emission tests (CST), so this paper presented a first effort on this issue. The PFE of fiberboards, particleboards, blockboards, floorings, and parquets manufactured in Beijing region were characterized by the perforator extraction method (PE), 9–11 L and 40 L desiccator methods (D9, D40), and environmental chamber method (EC) of the Chinese national standard GB 18580; based on statistics of PFE data, measurement uncertainties in CST were evaluated by the Monte Carlo method; moreover, PFE data correlations between tests were established. Results showed: (1) Different tests may give slightly different evaluations on product quality. In PE and D9 tests, blockboards and parquets reached E1 grade for PFE, which can be directly used in indoor environment; but in D40 and EC tests, floorings and parquets achieved E1. (2) In multiple tests, PFE data characterized by PE, D9, and D40 complied with Gaussian distributions, while those characterized by EC followed log-normal distributions. Uncertainties in CST were overall low, with uncertainties for 20 material-method combinations all below 7.5%, and the average uncertainty for each method under 3.5%, thus being acceptable in engineering application. A more complicated material structure and a larger test scale caused higher uncertainties. (3) Conventional linear models applied to correlating PFE values between PE, D9, and EC, with R2 all over 0.840, while novel logarithmic (exponential) models can work better for correlations involving D40, with R2 all beyond 0.901. This research preliminarily demonstrated the effectiveness of CST, where results for D40 presented greater similarities to EC—the currently most reliable test for PFE, thus highlighting the potential of Chinese D40 as a more practical approach in production control and risk assessment. PMID:26656316

Evaluation of cumulative dose for cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans within phantoms made from different compositions using Monte Carlo simulations

PubMed Central

Martin, Colin J.; Sankaralingam, Marimuthu; Oomen, Kurian; Gentle, David J.

2015-01-01

Measurement of cumulative dose f(0,150) with a small ionization chamber within standard polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) CT head and body phantoms, 150 mm in length, is a possible practical method for cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) dosimetry. This differs from evaluating cumulative dose under scatter equilibrium conditions within an infinitely long phantom f(0,∞), which is proposed by AAPM TG‐111 for CBCT dosimetry. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using f(0,150) to estimate values for f(0,∞) in long head and body phantoms made of PMMA, polyethylene (PE), and water, using beam qualities for tube potentials of 80−140 kV. The study also investigated the possibility of using 150 mm PE phantoms for assessment of f(0,∞) within long PE phantoms, the ICRU/AAPM phantom. The influence of scan parameters, composition, and length of the phantoms was investigated. The capability of f(0,150) to assess f(0,∞) has been defined as the efficiency and assessed in terms of the ratios ϵ(f(0,150)/f(0,∞)). The efficiencies were calculated using Monte Carlo simulations for an On‐Board Imager (OBI) system mounted on a TrueBeam linear accelerator. Head and body scanning protocols with beams of width 40−500 mm were used. Efficiencies ϵ(PMMA/PMMA) and ϵ(PE/PE) as a function of beam width exhibited three separate regions. For beam widths <150 mm, ϵ(PMMA/PMMA) and ϵ(PE/PE) values were greater than 90% for the head and body phantoms. The efficiency values then fell rapidly with increasing beam width before levelling off at 74% for ϵ(PMMA/PMMA) and 69% for ϵ(PE/PE) for a 500 mm beam width. The quantities ϵ(PMMA/PE) and ϵ(PMMA/Water) varied with beam width in a different manner. Values at the centers of the phantoms for narrow beams were lower and increased to a steady state for ∼100−150 mm wide beams, before declining with increasing the beam width, whereas values at the peripheries decreased steadily with beam width. Results for ϵ(PMMA/PMMA) were virtually independent of tube potential, but there was more variation for ϵ(PMMA/PE) and ϵ(PMMA/Water). f(0,150) underestimated f(0,∞) for beam widths used for CBCT scans, thus it is necessary to use long phantoms, or apply conversion factors (Cfs) to measurements with standard PMMA CT phantoms. The efficiency values have been used to derive (Cfs) to allow evaluation of f(0,∞) from measurements of f(0,150). The (Cfs) only showed a weak dependence on scan parameters and scanner type, and so may be suitable for general application. PACS number: 87.55.K‐, 87.57.Q‐, 87.57.uq. PMID:26699590

Self-propelled colloidal particle near a planar wall: A Brownian dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mozaffari, Ali; Sharifi-Mood, Nima; Koplik, Joel; Maldarelli, Charles

2018-01-01

Miniaturized, self-propelled locomotors use chemo-mechanical transduction mechanisms to convert fuel in the environment to autonomous motion. Recent experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate that these autonomous engines can passively follow the contours of solid boundaries they encounter. Boundary guidance, however, is not necessarily stable: Mechanical disturbances can cause the motor to hydrodynamically depart from the passively guided pathway. Furthermore, given the scaled-down size of micromotors (typically 100 nm to10 μ m ), Brownian thermal fluctuation forces are necessarily important, and these stochastic forces can randomize passively steered trajectories. Here we examine theoretically the stability of boundary-guided motion of micromotors along infinite planar walls to mechanical disturbances and to Brownian forces. Our aim is to understand under what conditions this passively guided motion is stable. We choose a locomotor design in which spherical colloids are partially coated with a catalytic cap that reacts with solute to produce a product. The product is repelled from the particle surface, causing the particle to move with the inert face at the front (autonomous motion via self-diffusiophoresis). When propelled towards a planar wall, deterministic hydrodynamic studies demonstrate that these locomotors can exhibit, for large enough cap sizes, steady trajectories in which the particle either skims unidirectionally along the surface at a constant distance from the wall or becomes stationary. We first investigate the linear hydrodynamic stability of these states by expanding the equations of motion about the states, and we find that linear perturbations decay exponentially in time. We then study the effects of thermal fluctuations by formulating a Langevin equation for the particle motion which includes the Brownian stochastic force. The Péclet number scales the ratio of deterministic to Brownian forces, where Pe =π μ a2v˜c/kBT and a denotes the colloid radius, μ the continuous phase viscosity, v˜c the characteristic diffusiophoretic velocity, and kBT the thermal energy. The skimming and stationary states are found to persist for Pe above 103. At Pe below 200, the trajectory of a locomotor approaching the wall is unpredictable. We present representative individual trajectories along with probability distributions for statistical ensembles of particles, quantifying the effects of thermal fluctuations and illustrating the transition from unpredictable to passively guided motion.

Physical activity practices in elementary schools and associations with physical education staffing and training.

PubMed

Turner, Lindsey; Johnson, Tyler G; Slater, Sandy J; Chaloupka, Frank J

2014-12-01

Authorities recommend that schools provide a variety of opportunities for students to obtain physical activity (PA) before, during, and after school. This study assessed the prevalence of several school PA practices-including measures of quantity and quality of physical education (PE)-in elementary schools and examined the associations of PA practices with school resources (PE staffing, training, and facilities). Surveys were obtained from respondents in nationally representative samples of elementary schools from 2009-2010 to 2011-2012 (1,831 schools). Few schools (20.8%) provided students with PE class every day, but most (76.3%) had an appropriate PE student-to-teacher ratio ( ≤ 25:1). Many schools (74.0%) offered 20 min of recess daily, but fewer than half offered organized opportunities for PA before or after school (e.g., sports). After controlling for demographics and school size, having a full-time PE teacher and requiring PE teachers to obtain PE-related continuing education (CE) were associated with PE practices such as offering ≥ 150 min of PE per week (for 3rd-grade students) and testing PE knowledge, skills, and fitness. Required CE was also associated with a higher likelihood of offering PA during the school day (i.e., activity breaks and PA outside of PE class) and before or after the school day (i.e., afterschool PA programs). Few schools offer a broad array of PA programming. However, PE staffing and CE are positively associated with many PA practices including those outside of PE, possibly indicating that PE staff serve a crucial role in promoting a whole-school PA-supportive environment.

The design and methodology of premature ejaculation interventional studies

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Large well-designed clinical efficacy and safety randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are required to achieve regulatory approval of new drug treatments. The objective of this article is to make recommendations for the criteria for defining and selecting the clinical trial study population, design and efficacy outcomes measures which comprise ideal premature ejaculation (PE) interventional trial methodology. Data on clinical trial design, epidemiology, definitions, dimensions and psychological impact of PE was reviewed, critiqued and incorporated into a series of recommendations for standardisation of PE clinical trial design, outcome measures and reporting using the principles of evidence based medicine. Data from PE interventional studies are only reliable, interpretable and capable of being generalised to patients with PE, when study populations are defined by the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) multivariate definition of PE. PE intervention trials should employ a double-blind RCT methodology and include placebo control, active standard drug control, and/or dose comparison trials. Ejaculatory latency time (ELT) and subject/partner outcome measures of control, personal/partner/relationship distress and other study-specific outcome measures should be used as outcome measures. There is currently no published literature which identifies a clinically significant threshold response to intervention. The ISSM definition of PE reflects the contemporary understanding of PE and represents the state-of-the-art multi-dimensional definition of PE and is recommended as the basis of diagnosis of PE for all PE clinical trials. PMID:27652224

Partitioning of dissolved organic matter-bound mercury between a hydrophobic surface and polysulfide-rubber polymer.

PubMed

Kim, Eun-Ah; Luthy, Richard G

2011-11-01

This study investigated the role of dissolved organic matter on mercury partitioning between a hydrophobic surface (polyethylene, PE) and a reduced sulfur-rich surface (polysulfide rubber, PSR). Comparative sorption studies employed polyethylene and polyethylene coated with PSR for reactions with DOM-bound mercuric ions. These studies revealed that PSR enhanced the Hg-DOM removal from water when DOM was Suwannee River natural organic matter (NOM), fulvic acid (FA), or humic acid (HA), while the same amount of 1,3-propanedithiol-bound mercuric ion was removed by both PE and PSR-PE. The differences for Hg-DOM removal efficiencies between PE and PSR-PE varied depending on which DOM was bound to mercuric ion as suggested by the PE/water and PSR-PE/water partition coefficients for mercury. The surface concentrations of mercury on PE and PSR-PE with the same DOM measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were similar, which indicated the comparable amounts of immobilized mercury on PE and PSR-PE being exposed to the aqueous phase. With these observations, two major pathways for the immobilization reactions between PSR-PE and Hg-DOM were examined: 1) adsorption of Hg-DOM on PE by hydrophobic interactions between DOM and PE, and 2) addition reaction of Hg-DOM onto PSR by a complexation reaction between Hg and PSR. The percent contribution of each pathway was derived from a mass balance and the ratios among aqueous mercury, PE-bound Hg-DOM, and PSR-bound Hg-DOM concentrations. The results indicate strong binding of mercuric ion with both dissolved organic matter and PSR polymer. The FT-IR examination of Hg-preloaded-PSR-PEs after the reaction with DOM corroborated a strong interaction between mercuric ion and 1,3-propanedithiol compared to Hg-HA, Hg-FA, or Hg-NOM interactions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Partitioning of dissolved organic matter-bound mercury between a hydrophobic surface and polysulfide-rubber polymer

PubMed Central

Kim, Eun-Ah

2011-01-01

This study investigated the role of dissolved organic matter on mercury partitioning between a hydrophobic surface (polyethylene, PE) and a reduced sulfur-rich surface (polysulfide rubber, PSR). Comparative sorption studies employed polyethylene and polyethylene coated with PSR for reactions with DOM-bound mercuric ions. These studies revealed that PSR enhanced the Hg-DOM removal from water when DOM was Suwannee River natural organic matter (NOM), fulvic acid (FA), or humic acid (HA), while the same amount of 1,3-propanedithiol-bound mercuric ion was removed by both PE and PSR-PE. The differences for Hg-DOM removal efficiencies between PE and PSR-PE varied depending on which DOM was bound to mercuric ion as suggested by the PE/water and PSR-PE/water partition coefficients for mercury. The surface concentrations of mercury on PE and PSR-PE with the same DOM measured by x-ray – photoelectron spectroscopy were similar, which indicated the comparable amounts of immobilized mercury on PE and PSR-PE being exposed to the aqueous phase. With these observations, two major pathways for the immobilization reactions between PSR-PE and Hg- DOM were examined: 1) adsorption of Hg-DOM on PE by hydrophobic interactions between DOM and PE, and 2) addition reaction of Hg-DOM onto PSR by a complexation reaction between Hg and PSR. The percent contribution of each pathway was derived from a mass balance and the ratios among aqueous mercury, PE-bound Hg-DOM, and PSR-bound Hg-DOM concentrations. The results indicate strong binding of mercuric ion with both dissolved organic matter and PSR polymer. The FT-IR examination of Hg-preloaded-PSR-PEs after the reaction with DOM corroborated a strong interaction between mercuric ion and 1,3-propanedithiol compared to Hg-HA, Hg-FA, or Hg-NOM interactions. PMID:21872900

Self-reported premature ejaculation prevalence and characteristics in Korean young males: community-based data from an internet survey.

PubMed

Son, Hwancheol; Song, Sang Hoon; Kim, Soo Woong; Paick, Jae-Seung

2010-01-01

Premature ejaculation (PE) is suspected to be the most prevalent male sexual complaint, and the prevalence of PE is considerably high also in the younger generation. We investigated the PE prevalence based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed text revision; DSM-IV-TR) definition and the risk factors of PE in Korean young men via Internet survey. Subjects (n = 3980) aged from 20 to 59, who performed sexual intercourse more than once a month during the past 6 months were asked to participate in this study. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that consisted of questions on general, medical, and sexual history related to ejaculation. A total of 600 subjects were included in this study. PE prevalence was found to be 18.3%. Prevalences were not significantly different across age groups, after excluding subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED). Educational level, marital status and duration, average income, sexual orientation, smoking, alcohol consumption, and circumcision status showed no difference in the PE and non-PE groups. Partners perceived satisfaction rates were 45.0% in the PE group and 63.9% in the non-PE group. Significant differences were found between the PE and non-PE groups in terms of ED, obesity, and depression prevalence. However, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant risk factors of PE were age and the frequency of conversations with partners about sexual intercourse. This Internet-based study is limited because participants probably represent a selected population of Internet users with non-representative educational and socioeconomic profiles. This study is the first to report the prevalence of both self-reported PE and PE on the basis of the DSM-IV-TR definition in the Korean population. This study demonstrates that PE in Korea is as prevalent as it is in European countries and the United States.

An Analysis of the Impact of Valve Closure Time on the Course of Water Hammer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kodura, Apoloniusz

2016-06-01

The knowledge of transient flow in pressure pipelines is very important for the designing and describing of pressure networks. The water hammer is the most common example of transient flow in pressure pipelines. During this phenomenon, the transformation of kinetic energy into pressure energy causes significant changes in pressure, which can lead to serious problems in the management of pressure networks. The phenomenon is very complex, and a large number of different factors influence its course. In the case of a water hammer caused by valve closing, the characteristic of gate closure is one of the most important factors. However, this factor is rarely investigated. In this paper, the results of physical experiments with water hammer in steel and PE pipelines are described and analyzed. For each water hammer, characteristics of pressure change and valve closing were recorded. The measurements were compared with the results of calculations perfomed by common methods used by engineers - Michaud's equation and Wood and Jones's method. The comparison revealed very significant differences between the results of calculations and the results of experiments. In addition, it was shown that, the characteristic of butterfly valve closure has a significant influence on water hammer, which should be taken into account in analyzing this phenomenon. Comparison of the results of experiments with the results of calculations? may lead to new, improved calculation methods and to new methods to describe transient flow.

Protein catabolism and high lipid metabolism associated with long-distance exercise are revealed by plasma NMR metabolomics in endurance horses.

PubMed

Le Moyec, Laurence; Robert, Céline; Triba, Mohamed N; Billat, Véronique L; Mata, Xavier; Schibler, Laurent; Barrey, Eric

2014-01-01

During long distance endurance races, horses undergo high physiological and metabolic stresses. The adaptation processes involve the modulation of the energetic pathways in order to meet the energy demand. The aims were to evaluate the effects of long endurance exercise on the plasma metabolomic profiles and to investigate the relationships with the individual horse performances. The metabolomic profiles of the horses were analyzed using the non-dedicated methodology, NMR spectroscopy and statistical multivariate analysis. The advantage of this method is to investigate several metabolomic pathways at the same time in a single sample. The plasmas were obtained before exercise (BE) and post exercise (PE) from 69 horses competing in three endurance races at national level (130-160 km). Biochemical assays were also performed on the samples taken at PE. The proton NMR spectra were compared using the supervised orthogonal projection on latent structure method according to several factors. Among these factors, the race location was not significant whereas the effect of the race exercise (sample BE vs PE of same horse) was highly discriminating. This result was confirmed by the projection of unpaired samples (only BE or PE sample of different horses). The metabolomic profiles proved that protein, energetic and lipid metabolisms as well as glycoproteins content are highly affected by the long endurance exercise. The BE samples from finisher horses could be discriminated according to the racing speed based on their metabolomic lipid content. The PE samples could be discriminated according to the horse ranking position at the end of the race with lactate as unique correlated metabolite. As a conclusion, the metabolomic profiles of plasmas taken before and after the race provided a better understanding of the high energy demand and protein catabolism pathway that could expose the horses to metabolic disorders.

Accuracy of very low pretest probability estimates for pulmonary embolism using the method of attribute matching compared with the Wells score.

PubMed

Kline, Jeffrey A; Courtney, D Mark; Than, Martin P; Hogg, Kerstin; Miller, Chadwick D; Johnson, Charles L; Smithline, Howard A

2010-02-01

Attribute matching matches an explicit clinical profile of a patient to a reference database to estimate the numeric value for the pretest probability of an acute disease. The authors tested the accuracy of this method for forecasting a very low probability of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in symptomatic emergency department (ED) patients. The authors performed a secondary analysis of five data sets from 15 hospitals in three countries. All patients had data collected at the time of clinical evaluation for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The criterion standard to exclude VTE required no evidence of PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) within 45 days of enrollment. To estimate pretest probabilities, a computer program selected, from a large reference database of patients previously evaluated for PE, patients who matched 10 predictor variables recorded for each current test patient. The authors compared the outcome frequency of having VTE [VTE(+)] in patients with a pretest probability estimate of <2.5% by attribute matching, compared with a value of 0 from the Wells score. The five data sets included 10,734 patients, and 747 (7.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.5% to 7.5%) were VTE(+) within 45 days. The pretest probability estimate for PE was <2.5% in 2,975 of 10,734 (27.7%) patients, and within this subset, the observed frequency of VTE(+) was 48 of 2,975 (1.6%, 95% CI = 1.2% to 2.1%). The lowest possible Wells score (0) was observed in 3,412 (31.7%) patients, and within this subset, the observed frequency of VTE(+) was 79 of 3,412 (2.3%, 95% CI = 1.8% to 2.9%) patients. Attribute matching categorizes over one-quarter of patients tested for PE as having a pretest probability of <2.5%, and the observed rate of VTE within 45 days in this subset was <2.5%. (c) 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

An Efficient Strategy for Broad-Range Detection of Low Abundance Bacteria without DNA Decontamination of PCR Reagents

PubMed Central

Chang, Shy-Shin; Hsu, Hsung-Ling; Cheng, Ju-Chien; Tseng, Ching-Ping

2011-01-01

Background Bacterial DNA contamination in PCR reagents has been a long standing problem that hampers the adoption of broad-range PCR in clinical and applied microbiology, particularly in detection of low abundance bacteria. Although several DNA decontamination protocols have been reported, they all suffer from compromised PCR efficiency or detection limits. To date, no satisfactory solution has been found. Methodology/Principal Findings We herein describe a method that solves this long standing problem by employing a broad-range primer extension-PCR (PE-PCR) strategy that obviates the need for DNA decontamination. In this method, we first devise a fusion probe having a 3′-end complementary to the template bacterial sequence and a 5′-end non-bacterial tag sequence. We then hybridize the probes to template DNA, carry out primer extension and remove the excess probes using an optimized enzyme mix of Klenow DNA polymerase and exonuclease I. This strategy allows the templates to be distinguished from the PCR reagent contaminants and selectively amplified by PCR. To prove the concept, we spiked the PCR reagents with Staphylococcus aureus genomic DNA and applied PE-PCR to amplify template bacterial DNA. The spiking DNA neither interfered with template DNA amplification nor caused false positive of the reaction. Broad-range PE-PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene was also validated and minute quantities of template DNA (10–100 fg) were detectable without false positives. When adapting to real-time and high-resolution melting (HRM) analytical platforms, the unique melting profiles for the PE-PCR product can be used as the molecular fingerprints to further identify individual bacterial species. Conclusions/Significance Broad-range PE-PCR is simple, efficient, and completely obviates the need to decontaminate PCR reagents. When coupling with real-time and HRM analyses, it offers a new avenue for bacterial species identification with a limited source of bacterial DNA, making it suitable for use in clinical and applied microbiology laboratories. PMID:21637859

Performance of solid state supercapacitors based on polymer electrolytes containing different ionic liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiruye, Girum Ayalneh; Muñoz-Torrero, David; Palma, Jesus; Anderson, Marc; Marcilla, Rebeca

2016-09-01

Four Ionic Liquid based Polymer Electrolytes (IL-b-PE) were prepared by blending a Polymeric Ionic Liquid, Poly(diallyldimethylammonium) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PILTFSI), with four different ionic liquids: 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI) (IL-b-PE1), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR14FSI) (IL-b-PE2), 1-(2-hydroxy ethyl)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (HEMimTFSI) (IL-b-PE3), and 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide, (PYR14DCA) (IL-b-PE4). Physicochemical properties of IL-b-PE such as ionic conductivity, thermal and electrochemical stability were found to be dependent on the IL properties. For instance, ionic conductivity was significantly higher for IL-b-PE2 and IL-b-PE4 containing IL with small size anions (FSI and DCA) than IL-b-PE1 and IL-b-PE3 bearing IL with bigger anion (TFSI). On the other hand, wider electrochemical stability window (ESW) was found for IL-b-PE1 and IL-b-PE2 having ILs with electrochemically stable pyrrolidinium cation and FSI and TFSI anions. Solid state Supercapacitors (SCs) were assembled with activated carbon electrodes and their electrochemical performance was correlated with the polymer electrolyte properties. Best performance was obtained with SC having IL-b-PE2 that exhibited a good compromise between ionic conductivity and electrochemical window. Specific capacitance (Cam), real energy (Ereal) & real power densities (Preal) as high as 150 F g-1, 36 Wh kg-1 & 1170 W kg-1 were found at operating voltage of 3.5 V.

Post-training Beliefs, Intentions, and Use of Prolonged Exposure Therapy by Clinicians in the Veterans Health Administration.

PubMed

Ruzek, J I; Eftekhari, A; Crowley, J; Kuhn, E; Karlin, B E; Rosen, C S

2017-01-01

To examine how changes in beliefs during the training process predict adoption of prolonged exposure therapy (PE) by veterans health administration clinicians who received intensive training in this evidence-based treatment. Participants completed a 4-day PE workshop and received expert consultation as they used PE with two or more training cases. Participants were surveyed prior to the workshop, after the workshop, after case consultation (n = 1.034), and 6 months after training (n = 810). Hierarchical regression was used to assess how pre-training factors, and changes in beliefs during different stages of training incrementally predicted post-training intent to use PE and how many patients clinicians were treating with PE 6 months after training. Post-training intent to use PE was high (mean = 6.2, SD = 0.81 on a 1-7 scale), yet most participants treated only 1 or 2 patients at a time with PE. Pre-training factors predicted intent to use and actual use of PE. Changes in beliefs during the workshop had statistically significant yet modest effects on intent and use of PE. Changes in beliefs during case consultation had substantial effects on intent and actual use of PE. Pre-training factors and changes in beliefs during training (especially during case consultation) influence clinicians' adoption of PE. Use of PE was influenced not only by its perceived clinical advantages/disadvantages, but also by contextual factors (working in a PTSD specialty clinic, perceived control over one's schedule, and ability to promote PE to patients and colleagues).

Yield and composition of grape seed oils extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide and petroleum ether: varietal effects.

PubMed

Beveridge, Thomas H J; Girard, Benoit; Kopp, Thomas; Drover, John C G

2005-03-09

Grape seed has a well-known potential for production of oil as a byproduct of winemaking and is currently produced as a specialty oil byproduct of wine manufacture. Seed oils from eight varieties of grapes crushed for wine production in British Columbia were extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide (SCE) and petroleum ether (PE). Oil yields by SCE ranged from 5.85 +/- 0.33 to 13.6 +/- 0.46% (w/w), whereas PE yields ranged from 6.64 +/- 0.16 to 11.17 +/- 0.05% (+/- is standard deviation). The oils contained alpha-, beta-, and gamma-tocopherols and alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols, with gamma-tocotrienol being most important quantitatively. In both SCE- and PE-extracted oils, phytosterols were a prominent feature of the unsaponifiable fraction, with beta-sitosterol quantitatively most important with both extractants. Total phytosterol extraction was higher with SCE than with PE in seven of eight variety extractions. Fatty acid composition of oils from all varieties tested, and from both extraction methods, indicated linoleic acid as the major component ranging from 67.56 to 73.23% of the fatty acids present, in agreement with literature reports.

Mechanisms of Change in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Preliminary Evidence for the Differential Effects of Hopelessness and Habituation

PubMed Central

Resick, Patricia A.

2013-01-01

The present study examined two potential mechanisms of change, hopelessness cognitions and habituation, in a randomized controlled trial of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were 171 adult women with a current primary diagnosis of sexual assault related PTSD. The potential mechanisms were examined by evaluating the intraindividual change in hopelessness within the course of both treatments and subjective units distress (SUDS) ratings (a proxy for habituation) within the course of PE. The effects of intraindividual change in the proposed mechanisms were then examined on within-treatment changes in PTSD symptoms. Findings indicated that the participants assigned to the CPT treatment had significantly greater pre-post reductions in hopelessness than those assigned to PE and that the changes in hopelessness predicted changes in PTSD symptoms (R2 = .24). Intraindividual changes in SUDS ratings for participants in the PE treatment condition also predicted changes in PTSD symptoms and did so independently of the effect of changes in hopelessness. Future research should examine these mechanisms using more intensive methods of data collection that would permit the demonstration of temporality of change. PMID:24363472

Investigating pulmonary embolism in the emergency department with lower limb plethysmography: the Manchester Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (MIOPED) study

PubMed Central

Hogg, K; Dawson, D; Mackway‐Jones, K

2006-01-01

Objectives To measure the diagnostic accuracy of computerised strain gauge plethysmography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods Two researchers prospectively recruited 425 patients with pleuritic chest pain presenting to the emergency department (ED). Lower limb computerised strain gauge plethysmography was performed in the ED. All patients underwent an independent reference standard diagnostic algorithm to establish the presence or absence of PE. A low modified Wells' clinical probability combined with a normal D‐dimer excluded PE. All others required diagnostic imaging with PIOPED interpreted ventilation perfusion scanning and/or computerised tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography. Patients with a nondiagnostic CT had digital subtraction pulmonary angiography. All patients were followed up clinically for 3 months. Results The sensitivity of computerised strain gauge plethysmography was 33.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 16.3 to 56.2%) and specificity 64.1% (95% CI 59.0 to 68.8%). The negative likelihood ratio was 1.04 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.33) and positive likelihood ratio 0.93 (95% CI 0.45 to 1.60). Conclusions Lower limb computerised strain gauge plethysmography does not aid in the diagnosis of PE. PMID:16439734

Teaching Games for Understanding: A Comprehensive Approach to Promote Student’s Motivation in Physical Education

PubMed Central

Hortigüela Alcalá, David; Hernando Garijo, Alejandra

2017-01-01

Abstract It seems important to consider students’ attitudes towards physical education (PE), and the way they learn sports. The present study examines students’ perceptions of motivation and achievement in PE after experiencing three consecutive sport units. Two hundred and thirty seven students from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade in a high school in Burgos (Spain) and two teachers agreed to participate. They were divided into two groups in order to compare two instructional approaches. The experimental group (A), 128 students, experienced Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), while the control group (B), 109 students, experienced a technical-traditional approach. Each group was taught by a different teacher. The study followed a mixed-method research design with quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interview) data. Results revealed that group A showed greater motivation and achievement in PE than group B. Significant differences were found in achievement. Participants with better academic results in group A were more positive in sport participation. Meanwhile, students who practiced more extracurricular sports in group B were more actively involved in sport. Teachers disagreed greatly on the way sport should be taught in PE. PMID:29134045

Thin film GaP for solar cell application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morozov, I. A.; Gudovskikh, A. S.; Kudryashov, D. A.; Nikitina, E. V.; Kleider, J.-P.; Myasoedov, A. V.; Levitskiy, V.

2016-08-01

A new approach to the silicon based heterostructures technology consisting of the growth of III-V compounds (GaP) on a silicon substrate by low-temperature plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) is proposed. The basic idea of the method is to use a time modulation of the growth process, i.e. time separated stages of atoms or precursors transport to the growing surface, migration over the surface, and crystal lattice relaxation for each monolayer. The GaP layers were grown on Si substrates by PE-ALD at 350°C with phosphine (PH3) and trimethylgallium (TMG) as sources of III and V atoms. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy demonstrate that the grown GaP films have homogeneous amorphous structure, smooth surface and a sharp GaP/Si interface. The GaP/Si heterostructures obtained by PE-ALD compare favourably to that conventionally grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Indeed, spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements indicate similar interband optical absorption while photoluminescence measurements indicate higher charge carrier effective lifetime. The better passivation properties of GaP layers grown by PE-ALD demonstrate a potential of this technology for new silicon based photovoltaic heterostructure

Teaching Games for Understanding: A Comprehensive Approach to Promote Student's Motivation in Physical Education.

PubMed

Hortigüela Alcalá, David; Hernando Garijo, Alejandra

2017-10-01

It seems important to consider students' attitudes towards physical education (PE), and the way they learn sports. The present study examines students' perceptions of motivation and achievement in PE after experiencing three consecutive sport units. Two hundred and thirty seven students from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade in a high school in Burgos (Spain) and two teachers agreed to participate. They were divided into two groups in order to compare two instructional approaches. The experimental group (A), 128 students, experienced Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), while the control group (B), 109 students, experienced a technical-traditional approach. Each group was taught by a different teacher. The study followed a mixed-method research design with quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interview) data. Results revealed that group A showed greater motivation and achievement in PE than group B. Significant differences were found in achievement. Participants with better academic results in group A were more positive in sport participation. Meanwhile, students who practiced more extracurricular sports in group B were more actively involved in sport. Teachers disagreed greatly on the way sport should be taught in PE.

Synthetic filter photometry and evolutionary status of two Be stars in the association Per OB1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Torres, Ana V.

1987-01-01

Stromgren and H-beta colors have been determined from spectrophotometric observations for two Be stars without published photometry in the association Per OB1: HD 12856 (B0 pe) and HD 13890 (B1 III:pe). Stellar parameters and improved spectral types are then derived from the color indices using the calibrations of Jakobsen (1986), and independently from the BCD classification method. The intrinsic properties of HD 12856 and HD 13890 are compared with those of normal B stars and are used to estimate their evolutionary status.

F-16 Task Analysis Criterion-Referenced Objective and Objectives Hierarchy Report. Volume 3

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-03-01

Escribe sibsequent Is~eclitc actions t1ta-Pe in PeTiO-r~Ina DeIAe quafao t vertical cOrversion without terror -. ( F’ae:61?) -- -4 --- Periorm be-m...I irAentxiu areas oi methods for maintaining practices and TACN 3-1. and comunication iA I hignest vulnerability position ThW current I currernt...agency (Poge:993P Perform tactical 1 comunications with ASRT/skuspot (C) J 1.7.10.1.3 Describe the proper faroats for ( comur,ications with ASRT

The distribution of patients who seek treatment for the complaint of ejaculating prematurely according to the four premature ejaculation syndromes.

PubMed

Serefoglu, Ege Can; Cimen, Haci Ibrahim; Atmaca, Ali Fuat; Balbay, M Derya

2010-02-01

In addition to "lifelong" and "acquired" premature ejaculation (PE) syndromes, two more PE syndromes have recently been proposed: "Natural variable PE" and "premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction." The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of the four PE syndromes among patients who were admitted to a urology outpatient clinic with the complaint of ejaculating prematurely. Between July 2008 and March 2009, patients admitted to a urology outpatient clinic with a self-reported complaint of PE were enrolled into the study. After taking a careful medical and sexual history, patients were classified as "lifelong,"acquired,"natural variable," PE or "premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction." In addition to medical and sexual history, self-estimated intravaginal ejaculatory latency times (IELTs) of patients were used in the classification of patients. A total of 261 potent men with a mean age of 36.39 +/- 10.45 years (range 20-70) were recruited into the study. The majority of the men was diagnosed as having lifelong PE (62.5%); the remaining men were diagnosed as having acquired (16.1%), natural variable PE (14.5%), or premature-like ejaculatory disorder (6.9%). The mean age of patients with acquired PE was significantly higher than the other groups (P = 0.001). No significant difference was observed for educational status or income level of patients in the different PE groups (P = 0.983 and P = 0.151, respectively). The mean self-estimated IELT for all subjects was 65.16 +/- 83.75 seconds (2-420 seconds). Patients with lifelong PE had significantly lower mean self-reported IELT, whereas the patients with premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction had the highest mean IELT (P = 0.001): (i) life-long PE: 20.47 +/- 28.90 seconds (2-120 seconds); (ii) aquired PE: 57.91 +/- 38.72 seconds (90-180 seconds); (iii) natural variable PE: 144.17 +/- 22.47 seconds (120-180 seconds); and (iv) premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction: 286.67 +/- 69.96 seconds (180-420 seconds). The majority of patients who seek treatment for the complaint of ejaculating prematurely describes lifelong PE. Further population-based studies are required to determine the actual prevalences of these four PE syndromes.

RESPECT-ED: Rates of Pulmonary Emboli (PE) and Sub-Segmental PE with Modern Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiograms in Emergency Departments: A Multi-Center Observational Study Finds Significant Yield Variation, Uncorrelated with Use or Small PE Rates.

PubMed

Mountain, David; Keijzers, Gerben; Chu, Kevin; Joseph, Anthony; Read, Catherine; Blecher, Gabriel; Furyk, Jeremy; Bharat, Chrianna; Velusamy, Karthik; Munro, Andrew; Baker, Kylie; Kinnear, Frances; Mukherjee, Ahses; Watkins, Gina; Buntine, Paul; Livesay, Georgia; Fatovich, Daniel

2016-01-01

Overuse of CT Pulmonary Angiograms (CTPA) for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE), particularly in Emergency Departments (ED), is considered problematic. Marked variations in positive CTPA rates are reported, with American 4-10% yields driving most concerns. Higher resolution CTPA may increase sub-segmental PE (SSPE) diagnoses, which may be up to 40% false positive. Excessive use and false positives could increase harm vs. benefit. These issues have not been systematically examined outside America. To describe current yield variation and CTPA utilisation in Australasian ED, exploring potential factors correlated with variation. A retrospective multi-centre review of consecutive ED-ordered CTPA using standard radiology reports. ED CTPA report data were inputted onto preformatted data-sheets. The primary outcome was site level yield, analysed both intra-site and against a nominated 15.3% yield. Factors potentially associated with yield were assessed for correlation. Fourteen radiology departments (15 ED) provided 7077 CTPA data (94% ≥64-slice CT); PE were reported in 1028 (yield 14.6% (95%CI 13.8-15.4%; range 9.3-25.3%; site variation p <0.0001) with four sites significantly below and one above the 15.3% target. Admissions, CTPA usage, PE diagnosis rates and size of PE were uncorrelated with yield. Large PE (≥lobar) were 55% (CI: 52.1-58.2%) and SSPE 8.8% (CI: 7.1-10.5%) of positive scans. CTPA usage (0.2-1.5% adult attendances) was correlated (p<0.006) with PE diagnosis but not SSPE: large PE proportions. We found significant intra-site CTPA yield variation within Australasia. Yield was not clearly correlated with CTPA usage or increased small PE rates. Both SSPE and large PE rates were similar to higher yield historical cohorts. CTPA use was considerably below USA 2.5-3% rates. Higher CTPA utilisation was positively correlated with PE diagnoses, but without evidence of increased proportions of small PE. This suggests that increased diagnoses seem to be of clinically relevant sized PE.

Evaluation of a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention in Small Commercial Construction Firms

PubMed Central

Dale, Ann Marie; Jaegers, Lisa; Welch, Laura; Gardner, Bethany T.; Buchholz, Bryan; Weaver, Nancy; Evanoff, Bradley A.

2017-01-01

Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) among construction workers remain high. Participatory ergonomics (PE) interventions that engage workers and employers in reducing work injury risks have shown mixed results. Methods Eight-six workers from seven contractors participated in a PE program. A logic model guided the process evaluation and summative evaluation of short term and intermediate impacts and long term outcomes from surveys and field records. Results Process measures showed good delivery of training, high worker engagement, and low contractor participation. Workers’ knowledge improved and workers reported changes to work practices and tools used; contractor provision of appropriate equipment was low (33%). No changes were seen in symptoms or reported physical effort. Conclusions The PE program produced many worker-identified ergonomic solutions, but lacked needed support from contractors. Future interventions should engage higher levels of the construction organizational system to improve contractor involvement for reducing WMSD. PMID:27094450

A controlled investigation of continuing pain education for long-term care staff

PubMed Central

Ghandehari, Omeed O; Hadjistavropoulos, Thomas; Williams, Jaime; Thorpe, Lilian; Alfano, Dennis P; Bello-Haas, Vanina Dal; Malloy, David C; Martin, Ronald R; Rahaman, Omar; Zwakhalen, Sandra MG; Carleton, R Nicholas; Hunter, Paulette V; Lix, Lisa M

2013-01-01

BACKGROUND: The underassessment and undertreatment of pain in residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities has been well documented. Gaps in staff knowledge and inaccurate beliefs have been identified as contributors. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of an expert-based continuing education program in pain assessment/management for LTC staff. METHODS: Participants included 131 LTC staff members who were randomly assigned to either an interactive pain education (PE) program, which addressed gaps in knowledge such as medication management, or an interactive control program consisting of general dementia education without a specific clinical focus. Participants attended three sessions, each lasting 3 h, and completed measures of pain-related knowledge and attitudes/beliefs before, immediately after and two weeks following the program. Focus groups were conducted with a subset of participants to gauge perception of the training program and barriers to implementing pain-related strategies. RESULTS: Analysis using ANOVA revealed that PE participants demonstrated larger gains compared with control participants with regard to pain knowledge and pain beliefs. Barriers to implementing pain-related strategies certainly exist. Nonetheless, qualitative analyses demonstrated that PE participants reported that they overcame many of these barriers and used pain management strategies four times more frequently than control participants. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to previous research, the present study found that the interactive PE program was effective in changing pain beliefs and improving knowledge. Continuing PE in LTC has the potential to address knowledge gaps among front-line LTC providers. PMID:23457681

The interplay of plasma treatment and gold coating and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene: On the cytocompatibility.

PubMed

Novotná, Zdenka; Rimpelová, Silvie; Juřík, Petr; Veselý, Martin; Kolská, Zdenka; Hubáček, Tomáš; Ruml, Tomáš; Švorčík, Václav

2017-02-01

We have investigated the application of Ar plasma for creation of nanostructured ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (PE) surface in order to enhance adhesion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (L929). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the interface between plasma-treated and gold-coated PE on adhesion and spreading of cells. The surface properties of pristine samples and its modified counterparts were studied by different experimental techniques (gravimetry, goniometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrokinetic analysis), which were used for characterization of treated and sputtered layers, polarity and surface chemical structure, respectively. Further, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to study the surface morphology and roughness. Biological responses of cells seeded on PE samples were evaluated in terms of cell adhesion, spreading, morphology and proliferation. Detailed cell morphology and intercellular connections were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As it was expected the thickness of a deposited gold film was an increasing function of the sputtering time. Despite the fact that plasma treatment proceeded in inert plasma, oxidized degradation products were formed on the PE surface which would contribute to increased hydrophilicity (wettability) of the plasma treated polymer. The XPS method showed a decrease in carbon concentration with increasing plasma treatment. Cell adhesion measured on the interface between plasma treated and gold coated PE was inversely proportional to the thickness of a gold layer on a sample. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Examination of the suitability of alpha-tocopherol as a stabilizer for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene used for articulating surfaces in joint endoprostheses.

PubMed

Wolf, C; Krivec, T; Blassnig, J; Lederer, K; Schneider, W

2002-02-01

The lifetime of articulating surfaces in joint endoprostheses made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), especially of UHMW-PE-cups of hip-endoprostheses, is usually limited to 10-15 years due to material failure as a result of oxidation of the UHMW-PE in vivo. In this study the suitability of the natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) as a stabilizer for UHMW-PE in these applications was investigated. Specimens with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% w/w alpha-tocopherol as well as unstabilized samples were sintered and sterilized with gamma-rays at 25 kGy in accordance with standard processing methods of cups for total hip-endoprostheses. These specimens were aged in pure oxygen at 70 degrees C and 5 bar as well as in aqueous H2O2 at 50 degrees C. The degree of oxidation was observed by means of FTIR-spectroscopy, DSC analysis and mechanical testing. The FTIR-measurements showed that alpha-tocopherol can prolong the lifetime of UHMW-PE in an oxidative environment by a factor of more than 2.5. In the mechanical tests no embrittlement could be observed with the stabilized samples. A comparison with the standard antioxidant system Irganox 1010/Irgafos 168 (Ciba-Geigy, Switzerland) was carried out and revealed that alpha-tocopherol can even exceed the stabilization effect of this widely-used antioxidant system.

Plasma lipidomics reveals potential lipid markers of major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Liu, Xinyu; Li, Jia; Zheng, Peng; Zhao, Xinjie; Zhou, Chanjuan; Hu, Chunxiu; Hou, Xiaoli; Wang, Haiyang; Xie, Peng; Xu, Guowang

2016-09-01

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a grave debilitating mental disease with a high incidence and severely impairs quality of life. Therefore, its physiopathological basis study and diagnostic biomarker discovery are extremely valuable. In this study, a non-targeted lipidomics strategy using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was performed to reveal differential lipids between MDD (n = 60) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 60). Validation of changed lipid species was performed in an independent batch including 75 MDD and 52 HC using the same lipidomic method. Pronouncedly changed lipid species in MDD were discovered, which mainly were lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-PE (PE O), 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-PC (PC O), sphingomyelin (SM), diacylglycerol (DG), and triacylglycerol (TG). Among these lipid species, LPC, LPE, PC, PE, PI, TG, etc. remarkably increased in MDD and showed pronounced positive relationships with depression severity, while 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-PE and SM with odd summed carbon number significantly decreased in MDD and demonstrated negative relationships with depression severity. A combinational lipid panel including LPE 20:4, PC 34:1, PI 40:4, SM 39:1, 2, and TG 44:2 was defined as potential diagnostic biomarker with a good sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing MDD from HCs. Our study brings insights into lipid metabolism disorder in MDD and provides a specific potential biomarker for MDD diagnose.