7 CFR 1206.40 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3... administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial...

7 CFR 1206.40 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3... administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial...

7 CFR 1206.40 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3... administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial...

7 CFR 1206.40 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3... administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial...

7 CFR 1206.40 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3... administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial...

Proximate and elemental analysis of five selected medicinal plants of family Solanaceae.

PubMed

Hameed, Ishfaq; Hussain, Farrukh

2015-07-01

The proximate analysis revealed the presence of ash, moisture, protein, fiber, fats and carbohydrate. ANOVA showed that ash and moisture contents was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages. Crude protein was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for Datura innoxia parts but not for its phenolgical stages, while crude fats were non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for Solanum nigrum and Solanum surattense parts but not for their phenolgical stages. Crude fiber was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for Datura innoxia parts but not for its phenolgical stages. And carbohydrates was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for the phenolgical stages of Solanum surattense and Withania coagulans. The mineral analysis showed the presence of Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ca, K, Mg and Na in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits of the plants in three different phenological stages. Only the micro-minerals were present in traces while the macro-minerals were present high quantities as compared to the micro-minerals.

7 CFR 1212.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3) A summary of proposed... comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget). (b) Each budget shall...

7 CFR 1212.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3) A summary of proposed... comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget). (b) Each budget shall...

7 CFR 1212.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3) A summary of proposed... comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget). (b) Each budget shall...

7 CFR 1212.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3) A summary of proposed... comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget). (b) Each budget shall...

7 CFR 1212.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget); (3) A summary of proposed... comparative data for at least one preceding year (except for the initial budget). (b) Each budget shall...

A high-conduction Ge substituted Li3AsS4 solid electrolyte with exceptional low activation energy

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

Sahu, Gayatri; Rangasamy, Ezhiylmurugan; Li, Juchuan

2014-04-16

In lithium-ion conducting solid electrolytes the potential to enable high-energy-density secondary batteries and offer distinctive safety features as an advantage over traditional liquid electrolytes is shown. Achieving the combination of high ionic conductivity, low activation energy, and outstanding electrochemical stability in crystalline solid electrolytes is a challenge for the synthesis of novel solid electrolytes. We report an exceptionally low activation energy (Ea) and high room temperature superionic conductivity via facile aliovalent substitution of Li 3AsS 4 by Ge, which increased the conductivity by two orders of magnitude as compared to the parent compound. The composition Li 3.334Ge 0.334As 0.666S 4more » has a high ionic conductivity of 1.12 mScm -1 at 27°C. Local Li + hopping in this material is accompanied by distinctive low activation energy Ea of 0.17 eV being the lowest of Li + solid conductors. Finally, our study demonstrates the efficacy of surface passivation of solid electrolyte to achieve compatibility with metallic lithium electrodes.« less

E-cigarette Dual Users, Exclusive Users and Perceptions of Tobacco Products.

PubMed

Cooper, Maria; Case, Kathleen R; Loukas, Alexandra; Creamer, Melisa R; Perry, Cheryl L

2016-01-01

We examined differences in the characteristics of youth non-users, cigarette-only, e-cigarette-only, and dual e-cigarette and cigarette users. Using weighted, representative data, logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in demographic characteristics and tobacco use behaviors across tobacco usage groups. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in harm perceptions of various tobacco products and perceived peer use of e-cigarettes by tobacco usage group. Compared to non-users, dual users were more likely to be white, male, and high school students. Dual users had significantly higher prevalence of current use of all products (except hookah) than e-cigarette-only users, and higher prevalence of current use of snus and hookah than the cigarette-only group. Dual users had significantly lower harm perceptions for all tobacco products except for e-cigarettes and hookah as compared to e-cigarette-only users. Dual users reported higher peer use of cigarettes as compared to both exclusive user groups. Findings highlight dual users' higher prevalence of use of most other tobacco products, their lower harm perceptions of most tobacco products compared to e-cigarette-only users, and their higher perceived peer use of cigarettes compared to exclusive users.

Single and Combined Impacts of Vitamin A and Selenium in Diet on Productive Performance, Egg Quality, and Some Blood Parameters of Laying Hens During Hot Season.

PubMed

Abd El-Hack, Mohamed E; Mahrose, Khalid; Askar, Ali A; Alagawany, Mahmoud; Arif, Muhammad; Saeed, Muhammad; Abbasi, Farzana; Soomro, Rab Nawaz; Siyal, Farman Ali; Chaudhry, Maria Tabassum

2017-05-01

A study was conducted using 162 Bovans laying hens to investigate the impacts of extra dietary vitamin A (0, 8000, 16,000 IU/kg), selenium (0, 0.25, 0.50 mg/kg), and their combinations on the performance, egg quality, and blood biological parameters of laying hens during summer months. Supplemental vitamin A up to 16,000 IU/kg diet significantly (P < 0.05) improved all productive traits studied except feed intake which increased with 8000 IU/kg diet compared with control. Feed intake and feed conversion of hens fed diet supplemented with selenium revealed high statistical (P = 0.001) differences. All egg quality criteria were not significantly (P < 0.05) affected by dietary vitamin A except albumin percentage and Haugh units, since Haugh unit score was gradually increased with increasing vitamin A level. Vitamin A-enriched groups showed significant (P < 0.05 and 0.01) decreases in plasma albumen, total lipids, and total cholesterol in respect to the unsupplemented groups. Compared with unsupplemented groups, total protein, albumin, total lipid, and total cholesterol were increased in selenium-enriched groups. There were no significant impacts of selenium treatments in layer diets on thyroid hormones and liver enzymes studied except alanine transferase (ALT) and thyroxin (T 4 ), as compared with the control group. Hematological parameters were not affected by vitamin A treatment except PCV% which decreased with vitamin A supplementation. Hemoglobin and lymphocytes were increased with increasing dietary selenium level. In conclusion, the combined supplementary concentrations of vitamin A (16,000 IU/kg) and selenium (0.25 mg/kg) might be needed for better production and health of laying hens reared under heat stress conditions.

Interlaboratory variability in the quantification of new generation antiepileptic drugs based on external quality assessment data.

PubMed

Williams, John; Bialer, Meir; Johannessen, Svein I; Krämer, Günther; Levy, René; Mattson, Richard H; Perucca, Emilio; Patsalos, Philip N; Wilson, John F

2003-01-01

To assess interlaboratory variability in the determination of serum levels of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Lyophilised serum samples containing clinically relevant concentrations of felbamate (FBM), gabapentin (GBP), lamotrigine (LTG), the monohydroxy derivative of oxcarbazepine (OCBZ; MHD), tiagabine (TGB), topiramate (TPM), and vigabatrin (VGB) were distributed monthly among 70 laboratories participating in the international Heathcontrol External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS). Assay results returned over a 15-month period were evaluated for precision and accuracy. The most frequently measured compound was LTG (65), followed by MHD (39), GBP (19), TPM (18), VGB (15), FBM (16), and TGB (8). High-performance liquid chromatography was the most commonly used assay technique for all drugs except for TPM, for which two thirds of laboratories used a commercial immunoassay. For all assay methods combined, precision was <11% for MHD, FBM, TPM, and LTG, close to 15% for GBP and VGB, and as high as 54% for TGB (p < 0.001). Mean accuracy values were <10% for all drugs other than TGB, for which measured values were on average 13.9% higher than spiked values, with a high variability around the mean (45%). No differences in precision and accuracy were found between methods, except for TPM, for which gas chromatography showed poorer accuracy compared with immunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. With the notable exception of TGB, interlaboratory variability in the determination of new AEDs was comparable to that reported with older-generation agents. Poor assay performance is related more to individual operators than to the intrinsic characteristics of the method applied. Participation in an EQAS scheme is recommended to ensure adequate control of assay variability in therapeutic drug monitoring.

The Prevalence of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in the Korean Military Compared with the General Population

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Background Obesity and related metabolic disorders are growing health challenges worldwide and individuals at military service are not exceptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the Korean military and to compare with the general population. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 4,803 young military participants who underwent a corporal health-screening program between October 2013 and October 2014. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria was used to identify MS. We also sampled 1,108 men aged 19–29 years from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2010 to 2013 to compare with their military counterparts. Results The mean age of military participants was 20.8 ± 1.1 years, and 20.6% (n = 988) were obese. The prevalence of MS was 0.8% in military participants, while 7.9% in general population. The risk factors of MS were less prominent among military participants relative to civilians, with the exception of high blood pressure, of which prevalence was higher among military participants (21.5% vs. 18.2%, respectively). In multiple logistic analysis, high physical activity conferred lower odds of MS and obesity in military participants (odds ratios, 0.19 and 0.81, respectively). Age older than 25 years increased risk of most components of MS among civilians. Conclusion The prevalence of obesity and MS is lower in military participants compared with civilians of similar age. Monitoring of high blood pressure and proper stress management are warranted in those at military service.

76 FR 19381 - Buy American Exceptions Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-07

... Green High Rise Apartments. An exception was also granted to the Housing Authority of the City of Runge... work, using CFRFC grant funds, in connection with the Bowling Green High Rise Apartments. The exception...

Student Racial/Ethnic Diversity in the Oregon State System of Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oregon State System of Higher Education, Portland. Office of Academic Affairs.

This report presents fall 1996 data on enrollment distribution by racial/ethnic group in the Oregon State System of Higher Education (OSSHE). It finds that, in most categories, the OSSHE distribution is comparable to the distribution among public high school graduates and to the Oregon population overall. Exceptions include over-representation of…

Safety impacts of Design Exceptions in Utah

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-06-01

The objective of this research was to compare safety, measured by expected crash frequency and severity, on road segments where design exceptions were approved and constructed to similar road segments where no design exceptions were approved or const...

Safety Impacts of Design Exceptions in Utah

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-08-01

The objective of this research was to compare safety, measured by expected crash frequency and severity, on road segments where design exceptions were approved and constructed to similar road segments where no design exceptions were approved or const...

Single-layer nanosheets with exceptionally high and anisotropic hydroxyl ion conductivity

PubMed Central

Sun, Pengzhan; Ma, Renzhi; Bai, Xueyin; Wang, Kunlin; Zhu, Hongwei; Sasaki, Takayoshi

2017-01-01

When the dimensionality of layered materials is reduced to the physical limit, an ultimate two-dimensional (2D) anisotropy and/or confinement effect may bring about extraordinary physical and chemical properties. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), bearing abundant hydroxyl groups covalently bonded within 2D host layers, have been proposed as inorganic anion conductors. However, typical hydroxyl ion conductivities for bulk or lamellar LDHs, generally up to 10−3 S cm−1, are considered not high enough for practical applications. We show that single-layer LDH nanosheets exhibited exceptionally high in-plane conductivities approaching 10−1 S cm−1, which were the highest among anion conductors and comparable to proton conductivities in commercial proton exchange membranes (for example, Nafion). The in-plane conductivities were four to five orders of magnitude higher than the cross-plane or cross-membrane values of restacked LDH nanosheets. This 2D superionic transport characteristic might have great promises in a variety of applications including alkaline fuel cells and water electrolysis. PMID:28439551

Measurements of the ionization coefficient of simulated iron micrometeoroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Evan; Horányi, Mihály; Janches, Diego; Munsat, Tobin; Simolka, Jonas; Sternovsky, Zoltan

2016-04-01

The interpretation of meteor radar observations has remained an open problem for decades. One of the most critical parameters to establish the size of an incoming meteoroid from radar echoes is the ionization coefficient, β, which still remains poorly known. Here we report on new experiments to simulate micrometeoroid ablation in laboratory conditions to measure β for iron particles impacting N2, air, CO2, and He gases. This new data set is compared to previous laboratory data where we find agreement except for He and air impacts > 30 km/s. We calibrate the Jones model of β(v) and provide fit parameters to these gases and find agreement with all gases except CO2 and high-speed air impacts where we observe βair > 1 for velocities > 70 km/s. These data therefore demonstrate potential problems with using the Jones model for CO2 atmospheres as well as for high-speed meteors on Earth.

Comparison between Roche and Xpert in HIV-1 RNA quantitation: A high concordance between the two techniques except for a CRF02_AG subtype variant with high viral load titters detected by Roche but undetected by Xpert.

PubMed

Avidor, Boaz; Matus, Natalia; Girshengorn, Shirley; Achsanov, Svetlana; Gielman, Simona; Zeldis, Irene; Schweitzer, Inbal; Adler, Amos; Turner, Dan

2017-08-01

HIV-1 viral load (VL) testing is important to predict viral progression and to monitor the response to antiretroviral therapy. New HIV-1 VL tests are continuously introduced to the market. Their performance is usually compared to Abbott and/or Roche HIV-1 VL assays, as reference. The Xpert HIV-1 VL test was recently introduced, but its performance compared to Roche has not been sufficiently studied. To compare the Xpert assay with Roche and to assess its use in the HIV clinical laboratory. A total of 383 plasma samples of HIV-1 infected patients previously tested by Roche, were retrospectively tested by Xpert to determine concordance between the two assays. Samples included a diversity of HIV-1 subtypes and a wide range of VLs. There was a high concordance between the two assays, except for a CRF02_AG subtype variant with high VL titters, that was detected by Roche but undetected by Xpert. The 5' long terminal repeat gene region of this virus, targeted by the Xpert assay, was amplified and sequenced. A 25 nucleotide insert was identified, but was unmatched to any known sequences of HIV-1. This particular insert, however could not explain the false-negativity by the Xpert assay. This study underlines the challenge to routine VL testing due to the high genetic diversity of HIV-1. Clinicians should, therefore be advised that a negative VL in cases where the clinical picture does not match the laboratory report, might in fact be, a false-negative result of the VL assay. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Radon emanation from giant landslides of Koefels (Tyrol, Austria) and Langtang Himal (Nepal)

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

Purtscheller, F.; Pirchl, T.; Sieder, G.

1995-07-01

The identification of extremely high indoor radon concentrations in the village Umhausen (Tyrol, Austria) initiated a scientific program to get information about the source and distribution of this noble gas. The high concentrations can not be related to U anomalies or large-scale fault zones. The nearby giant landslide of Koefels, with its highly fractured and crushed orthogneisses, are the only possible source of radon, despite the fact that the U and Ra content of the rocks is by no means exceptional. The reasons for the high emanation rates from the landslide are discussed and compared to results gained from amore » similar examination of the giant landslide of Langtang Himal (Nepal). The exceptional geologic situation in both cases, as well as the spatial distribution of different concentration levels, indicate that both landslides must be considered as the production sites of radon. Independent of the U and Ra contents of the rocks, the most important factors producing high emanation rates are the production of a high active surface area in circulation pathways for Rn-enriched soil air by brittle deformation due to the impact of the landslidemass. 37 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less

7 CFR 1214.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

..., RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order Expenses and... summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year, except for the... and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year, except...

7 CFR 1214.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

..., RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order Expenses and... summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year, except for the... and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year, except...

7 CFR 1214.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

..., RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order Expenses and... summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year, except for the... and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least one preceding year, except...

Two luminescent Zn(II) metal-organic frameworks for exceptionally selective detection of picric acid explosives.

PubMed

Shi, Zhi-Qiang; Guo, Zi-Jian; Zheng, He-Gen

2015-05-14

Two luminescent Zn(II) metal-organic frameworks were prepared from a π-conjugated thiophene-containing carboxylic acid ligand. These two MOFs show strong luminescene and their luminescence could be quenched by a series of nitroaromatic explosives. Importantly, they exhibit very highly sensitive and selective detection of picric acid compared to other nitroaromatic explosives.

Nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium in wild avocado (Persea americana Mill.).

PubMed

Chen, Haofeng; Morrell, Peter L; de la Cruz, Marlene; Clegg, Michael T

2008-01-01

Resequencing studies provide the ultimate resolution of genetic diversity because they identify all mutations in a gene that are present within the sampled individuals. We report a resequencing study of Persea americana, a subtropical tree species native to Meso- and Central America and the progenitor of cultivated avocado. The sample includes 21 wild accessions from Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. Estimated levels of nucleotide polymorphism and linkage disequilibrium (LD) are obtained from fully resolved haplotype data from 4 nuclear loci that span 5960 nucleotide sites. Results show that, although avocado is a subtropical tree crop and a predominantly outcrossing plant, the overall level of genetic variation is not exceptionally high (nucleotide diversity at silent sites, pi(sil) = 0.0102) compared with available estimates from temperate plant species. Intralocus LD decays rapidly to half the initial value within about 1 kb. Estimates of recombination rate (based on the sequence data) show that the rate is not exceptionally high when compared with annual plants such as wild barley or maize. Interlocus LD is significant owing to substantial population structure induced by mixing of the 3 botanical races of avocado.

Formation of porous networks on polymeric surfaces by femtosecond laser micromachining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Assaf, Youssef; Kietzig, Anne-Marie

2017-02-01

In this study, porous network structures were successfully created on various polymer surfaces by femtosecond laser micromachining. Six different polymers (poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), high density poly(ethylene) (HDPE), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(carbonate) (PC), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)) were machined at different fluences and pulse numbers, and the resulting structures were identified and compared by lacunarity analysis. At low fluence and pulse numbers, porous networks were confirmed to form on all materials except PLA. Furthermore, all networks except for PMMA were shown to bundle up at high fluence and pulse numbers. In the case of PC, a complete breakdown of the structure at such conditions was observed. Operation slightly above threshold fluence and at low pulse numbers is therefore recommended for porous network formation. Finally, the thickness over which these structures formed was measured and compared to two intrinsic material dependent parameters: the single pulse threshold fluence and the incubation coefficient. Results indicate that a lower threshold fluence at operating conditions favors material removal over structure formation and is hence detrimental to porous network formation. Favorable machining conditions and material-dependent parameters for the formation of porous networks on polymer surfaces have thus been identified.

The treatment of carcinoma of the cervix and poor-risk endometrial carcinoma using the Cathetron at the Middlesex Hospital: experience since 1979.

PubMed

Yeoh, E K; Spittle, M F

1986-03-01

This study reports on 5 years experience of the treatment of carcinoma of the cervix and poor-risk carcinoma of the body of the uterus using a combination of external beam radiotherapy and high-dose-rate intracavitary 60Co-brachytherapy using the Cathetron since 1979 at the Middlesex Hospital, London. Despite a reduction in external beam dose of 20% since 1979, survival rates for both diseases remain unchanged and also compare favourably with those of other centres; they are 70.02% for carcinoma of the cervix of all stages except Ia, and 81.17% for 'poor-risk' carcinoma of body of uterus of all stages. The complication rates were acceptable. Analysis of the results of treatment by stage of disease in those patients with carcinoma of the cervix revealed that, except for Stage I cases, the results were comparable with those reported in the literature. The reason for the poor results in Stage I was found to be due to the high proportion of patients of 35 years of age and under with Stage I disease who fared significantly worse than older patients.

Comparison of fresh-frozen cadaver and high-fidelity virtual reality simulator as methods of laparoscopic training.

PubMed

Sharma, Mitesh; Horgan, Alan

2012-08-01

The aim of this study was to compare fresh-frozen cadavers (FFC) with a high-fidelity virtual reality simulator (VRS) as training tools in minimal access surgery for complex and relatively simple procedures. A prospective comparative face validity study between FFC and VRS (LAP Mentor(™)) was performed. Surgeons were recruited to perform tasks on both FFC and VRS appropriately paired to their experience level. Group A (senior) performed a laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy, Group B (intermediate) performed a laparoscopic incisional hernia repair, and Group C (junior) performed basic laparoscopic tasks (BLT) (camera manipulation, hand-eye coordination, tissue dissection and hand-transferring skills). Each subject completed a 5-point Likert-type questionnaire rating the training modalities in nine domains. Data were analysed using nonparametric tests. Forty-five surgeons were recruited to participate (15 per skill group). Median scores for subjects in Group A were significantly higher for evaluation of FFC in all nine domains compared to VRS (p < 0.01). Group B scored FFC significantly better (p < 0.05) in all domains except task replication (p = 0.06). Group C scored FFC significantly better (p < 0.01) in eight domains but not on performance feedback (p = 0.09). When compared across groups, juniors accepted VRS as a training model more than did intermediate and senior groups on most domains (p < 0.01) except team work. Fresh-frozen cadaver is perceived as a significantly overall better model for laparoscopic training than the high-fidelity VRS by all training grades, irrespective of the complexity of the operative procedure performed. VRS is still useful when training junior trainees in BLT.

E-cigarette Dual Users, Exclusive Users and Perceptions of Tobacco Products

PubMed Central

Cooper, Maria; Case, Kathleen R.; Loukas, Alexandra; Creamer, MeLisa R.; Perry, Cheryl L.

2016-01-01

Objectives We examined differences in the characteristics of youth non-users, cigarette-only, e-cigarette-only, and dual e-cigarette and cigarette users. Methods Using weighted, representative data, logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in demographic characteristics and tobacco use behaviors across tobacco usage groups. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine differences in harm perceptions of various tobacco products and perceived peer use of e-cigarettes by tobacco usage group. Results Compared to non-users, dual users were more likely to be white, male, and high school students. Dual users had significantly higher prevalence of current use of all products (except hookah) than e-cigarette-only users, and higher prevalence of current use of snus and hookah than the cigarette-only group. Dual users had significantly lower harm perceptions for all tobacco products except for e-cigarettes and hookah as compared to e-cigarette-only users. Dual users reported higher peer use of cigarettes as compared to both exclusive user groups. Conclusion Findings highlight dual users’ higher prevalence of use of most other tobacco products, their lower harm perceptions of most tobacco products compared to e-cigarette-only users, and their higher perceived peer use of cigarettes compared to exclusive users. PMID:26685819

Ultrasonic Spray Drying vs High Vacuum and Microwaves Technology for Blueberries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Candia-Muñoz, N.; Ramirez-Bunster, M.; Vargas-Hernández, Y.; Gaete-Garretón, L.

Interest in high quality foods: good taste and a high content of nutrients with healthy beneficial effects are increasing. Fruits have good properties but, they are lost because the oxidation process, additionally, for different reasons a 40% of harvested fruit are lost. To conserve the fruit properties an ultrasonic assisted spray dryer was developed and tested, comparing its results with microwave-vacuum drying technology. Results did shown taste, color, smell, particle shape and size distribution better than the conventional one. The antioxidants conservation were quite good except in the anthocyanins, in which the microwave and vacuum technology shown best results.

Human nutrition in cold and high terrestrial altitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, K. K.; Kumar, Ratan

1992-03-01

The calorie and nutritional requirements for a man working in an alien hostile environment of cold regions and high altitude are described and compared to those of normal requirements. Carbohydrates, fats and vitamins fulfilling the caloric and nutritional requirements are generally available in adequate amounts except under conditions of appetite loss. However, the proteins and amino acids should be provided in such a way as to meet the altered behavioral and metabolic requirements. Work in extreme cold requires fulfilling enhanced calorie needs. In high mountainous regions, cold combined with hypoxia produced loss of appetite and necessitated designing of special foods.

The Influence of Teacher Expectations about Twice-Exceptional Students on the Use of High Quality Gifted Curriculum: A Case Study Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Missett, Tracy C.; Azano, Amy Price; Callahan, Carolyn M.; Landrum, Kimberly

2016-01-01

Twice-exceptional students show evidence of high academic performance or potential and also have a disability that impedes their ability to learn. Twice-exceptional students remain under-represented in gifted programs, and some researchers attribute such under-representation to the negative beliefs and low expectations about twice-exceptional…

Effect of iron on lipid peroxidation, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and bacoside-A content in medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri L.

PubMed

Sinha, Sarita; Saxena, Rohit

2006-03-01

The effect of Fe was investigated in medicinally important plant, Bacopa monnieri L. and the response on malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was found different in roots and leaves of the metal treated plants. Iron induced stress was observed as indicated by high level of lipid peroxidation, being more steep increase in leaves than roots. In roots, SOD activity was found to increase in metal treated plants except 80 and 160 microM at 72 h, whereas, it decreased in leaves except 10 and 40 microM after 48 h as compared to their respective controls. Among H2O2 eliminating enzymes, POD activity increased in roots, however, it decreased in leaves except at 10 and 40 microM Fe after 48 h as compared to control. At 24 and 48 h, APX activity and ascorbic acid content followed the similar trend and were found to increase in both parts of the metal treated plants as compared to their respective controls. The level of cysteine content in the roots increased at initial period of exposure; however, no marked change in its content was noticed in leaves. In both roots and leaves, non-protein thiol content was found to increase except at higher metal concentrations at 72 h. The data of proline content have shown significant (p<0.01) increase at 40 microM onwards in both part of the plants after 48 and 72 h. Correlation coefficient was evaluated between metal accumulations with various parameters and also between different antioxidant parameters with MDA. Since the level of bacoside-A (active constituent) content in metal treated plants increases, therefore, it is advisable to assess the biological activity of the plants before using for medicinal purposes, particularly in developing countries.

34 CFR 300.102 - Limitation-exception to FAPE for certain ages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... from high school with a regular high school diploma. (ii) The exception in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section does not apply to children who have graduated from high school but have not been awarded a regular high school diploma. (iii) Graduation from high school with a regular high school diploma constitutes a...

34 CFR 300.102 - Limitation-exception to FAPE for certain ages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... from high school with a regular high school diploma. (ii) The exception in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section does not apply to children who have graduated from high school but have not been awarded a regular high school diploma. (iii) Graduation from high school with a regular high school diploma constitutes a...

34 CFR 300.102 - Limitation-exception to FAPE for certain ages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... from high school with a regular high school diploma. (ii) The exception in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section does not apply to children who have graduated from high school but have not been awarded a regular high school diploma. (iii) Graduation from high school with a regular high school diploma constitutes a...

34 CFR 300.102 - Limitation-exception to FAPE for certain ages.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... from high school with a regular high school diploma. (ii) The exception in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section does not apply to children who have graduated from high school but have not been awarded a regular high school diploma. (iii) Graduation from high school with a regular high school diploma constitutes a...

Intake port

DOEpatents

Mendler, Edward Charles

2005-02-01

The volumetric efficiency and power of internal combustion engines is improved with an intake port having an intake nozzle, a venturi, and a surge chamber. The venturi is located almost halfway upstream the intake port between the intake valves and the intake plenum enabling the venturi throat diameter to be exceptionally small for providing an exceptionally high ram velocity and an exceptionally long and in turn high efficiency diffuser flowing into the surge chamber. The intake port includes an exceptionally large surge chamber volume for blow down of the intake air into the working cylinder of the engine.

Bioinspired, Graphene/Al2O3 Doubly Reinforced Aluminum Composites with High Strength and Toughness.

PubMed

Zhang, Yunya; Li, Xiaodong

2017-11-08

Nacre, commonly referred to as nature's armor, has served as a blueprint for engineering stronger and tougher bioinspired materials. Nature organizes a brick-and-mortar-like architecture in nacre, with hard bricks of aragonite sandwiched with soft biopolymer layers. However, cloning nacre's entire reinforcing mechanisms in engineered materials remains a challenge. In this study, we employed hybrid graphene/Al 2 O 3 platelets with surface nanointerlocks as hard bricks for primary load bearer and mechanical interlocking, along with aluminum laminates as soft mortar for load distribution and energy dissipation, to replicate nacre's architecture and reinforcing effects in aluminum composites. Compared with aluminum, the bioinspired, graphene/Al 2 O 3 doubly reinforced aluminum composite demonstrated an exceptional, joint improvement in hardness (210%), strength (223%), stiffness (78%), and toughness (30%), which are even superior over nacre. This design strategy and model material system should guide the synthesis of bioinspired materials to achieve exceptionally high strength and toughness.

Gene expression analysis of six GC-rich Gram-negative phytopathogens.

PubMed

Fu, Qing-Shan; Li, Feng; Chen, Ling-Ling

2005-07-01

Predicted highly expressed (PHX) genes are comparatively analyzed for six GC-rich Gram-negative phytopathogens, i.e., Ralstonia solanacearum, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, and Xylella fastidiosa. Enzymes involved in energy metabolism, such as ATP synthase, and genes involved in TCA cycle, are PHX in most bacteria except X. fastidiosa, which prefers an anaerobic environment. Most pathogenicity-related factors, including flagellar proteins and some outer membrane proteins, are PHX, except that flagellar proteins are missing in X. fastidiosa which is spread by insects and does not need to move during invasion. Although type III secretion system apparatus are homologous to flagellar proteins, none of them is PHX, which support the viewpoint that the two types of genes have evolved independently. Furthermore, it is revealed that some biosynthesis-related enzymes are highly expressed in certain bacteria. The PHX genes may provide potential drug targets for the design of new bactericide.

Synthesis and Properties of Highly Dispersed Ionic Silica–Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanohybrids

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

We report an ionic hybrid based on silica nanoparticles as the anion and amine-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a cation. The charge on the nanoparticle anion is carried by the surface hydroxyls. SAXS and TEM reveal an exceptional degree of dispersion of the silica in the polymer and high degree of order in both thin film and bulk forms. In addition to better dispersion, the ionic hybrid shows improved flow characteristics compared to silica/PEO mixtures in which the ionic interactions are absent. PMID:23351113

The effect of nozzle inlet shape, lip thickness, and exit shape and size on subsonic jet noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olsen, W. A.; Gutierrez, O. A.; Dorsch, R. G.

1973-01-01

Far field noise data were taken for convergent nozzles of various shapes and sizes at subsonic velocities exceeding 400 feet per second. For a circular nozzle, the nozzle inlet shape and lip thickness had no effect on the noise level, directivity, or spectra when compared at the same nozzle exit diameter and peak exhaust velocity. A sharp edged orifice was one exception to this statement. Coannular nozzles can produce additional high frequency noise. Blunt ended centerbodies, where there is significant base drag, also generate significant additional noise. The total noise power generation was essentially the same for circular, slot, and plug nozzles of good aerodynamic shape. The noise radiation patterns were essentially the same for these nozzle shapes except near the nozzle exhaust axis.

Water, something peculiar.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Van Hylckama, T. E. A.

1979-01-01

Some chemical and physical properties of water are discussed and compared with those of other fluids. For instance, the boiling point is much higher than one would expect considering the molecular weight of water. The heat capacity is also much higher but the viscosity is not. The dielectric constant is exceptionally high. These and other properties of water can be explained by the geometry of the water molecule and the structure of water or ice. -Author

Chapter 13: Interannual Differences in Detections of Marbled Murrelets in Some Inland California Stands

Treesearch

C. John Ralph

1995-01-01

I compared the mean level of detections of Marbled Murrelets by month over five years at three inland sites in northern California. These areas all have relatively high levels of detections. There were no significant differences in mean detection levels year to year at any site, and for any month with the exception of April at one site. This lack of evidence for...

Soy Flour Adhesive Strength Compared with That of Purified Soy Proteins*

Treesearch

Linda Lorenz; Michael Birkeland; Chera Daurio; Charles R. Frihart

2015-01-01

Except for the substitution of soy flour in phenolic resins (Frihart et al. 2013) and the use of soy flour at high pHs (Lambuth 2003), the literature on soy protein properties for adhesives has mainly focused on soy protein isolate and specific protein fractions (Sun 2005b). The assumption is that proteins are the main portion of soy flour giving bond strength and the...

Fatigue Countermeasures in Aviation

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

on the Use of Hypnotics b. Improving Sleep and Alertness i. Healthy Sleep Practices ii. Napping iii. Circadian Adjustment iv. Exercise v. Nutrition ...observed that a 90% CHO meal with a high glycemic index (GI) shortened sleep latency by about 50% compared to a low glycemic index meal, and about 40% when...postduty day sleep is disturbed mini- mally by caffeine use . With tIle exception of caffeine and various nutritional supplements, no alertness

Sodium-oxygen batteries with alkyl-carbonate and ether based electrolytes.

PubMed

Kim, Jinsoo; Lim, Hee-Dae; Gwon, Hyeokjo; Kang, Kisuk

2013-03-14

Recently, metal-air batteries, such as lithium-air and zinc-air systems, have been studied extensively as potential candidates for ultra-high energy density storage devices because of their exceptionally high capacities. Here, we report such an electrochemical system based on sodium, which is abundant and inexpensive. Two types of sodium-oxygen batteries were introduced and studied, i.e. with carbonate and non-carbonate electrolytes. Both types could deliver specific capacities (2800 and 6000 mA h g(-1)) comparable to that of lithium-oxygen batteries but with slightly lower discharge voltages (2.3 V and 2.0 V). The reaction mechanisms of sodium-oxygen batteries in carbonate and non-carbonate electrolytes were investigated and compared with those of lithium-oxygen batteries.

48 CFR 8.605 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Acquisition From Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 8.605 Exceptions... determination that the FPI item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that...

48 CFR 8.605 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Acquisition From Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 8.605 Exceptions... determination that the FPI item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that...

48 CFR 8.605 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Acquisition From Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 8.605 Exceptions... determination that the FPI item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that...

48 CFR 8.605 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Acquisition From Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 8.605 Exceptions... determination that the FPI item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that...

48 CFR 8.605 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Acquisition From Federal Prison Industries, Inc. 8.605 Exceptions... determination that the FPI item of supply is not comparable to supplies available from the private sector that...

Nitrogen-doped microporous carbon: An efficient oxygen reduction catalyst for Zn-air batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Li-Yuan; Wang, Meng-Ran; Lai, Yan-Qing; Li, Xiao-Yan

2017-08-01

N-doped microporous carbon as an exceptional metal-free catalyst from waste biomass (banana peel as representative) was obtained via fast catalysis carbonization, followed by N-doping modification. The method achieves a relatively high C conversion efficiency of ∼41.9%. The final carbon materials are doped by N (∼3 at.%) and possess high surface area (∼1097 m2 g-1) and abundant micropores. Compared to commercial Pt/C materials, the as-prepared carbon catalyst exhibits a comparable electrocatalytic activity and much better stability. Furthermore, the metal-free catalyst loaded Zn-air battery possesses higher discharge voltage and power density as compared with that of commercial Pt/C. This novel technique can also be readily applied to produce metal-free carbon catalysts from other typical waste biomass (e.g., orange peel, leaves) as the carbon sources. The method can be developed as a potentially general and effective industrial route to transform waste biomass into high value-added microporous carbon with superior functionalities.

Mortality Trajectories at Exceptionally High Ages: A Study of Supercentenarians

PubMed Central

Gavrilova, Natalia S.; Gavrilov, Leonid A.; Krut'ko, Vyacheslav N.

2017-01-01

The growing number of persons surviving to age 100 years and beyond raises questions about the shape of mortality trajectories at exceptionally high ages, and this problem may become significant for actuaries in the near future. However, such studies are scarce because of the difficulties in obtaining reliable age estimates at exceptionally high ages. The current view about mortality beyond age 110 years suggests that death rates do not grow with age and are virtually flat. The same assumption is made in the new actuarial VBT tables. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that the mortality of supercentenarians (persons living 110+ years) is constant and does not grow with age, and we analyze mortality trajectories at these exceptionally high ages. Death records of supercentenarians were taken from the International Database on Longevity (IDL). All ages of supercentenarians in the database were subjected to careful validation. We used IDL records for persons belonging to extinct birth cohorts (born before 1895) since the last deaths in IDL were observed in 2007. We also compared our results based on IDL data with a more contemporary database maintained by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). First we attempted to replicate findings by Gampe (2010), who analyzed IDL data and came to the conclusion that “human mortality after age 110 is flat.” We split IDL data into two groups: cohorts born before 1885 and cohorts born in 1885 and later. Hazard rate estimates were conducted using the standard procedure available in Stata software. We found that mortality in both groups grows with age, although in older cohorts, growth was slower compared with more recent cohorts and not statistically significant. Mortality analysis of more numerous 1884–1894 birth cohort with the Akaike goodness-of-fit criterion showed better fit for the Gompertz model than for the exponential model (flat mortality). Mortality analyses with GRG data produced similar results. The remaining life expectancy for the 1884–1894 birth cohort demonstrates rapid decline with age. This decline is similar to the computer-simulated trajectory expected for the Gompertz model, rather than the extremely slow decline in the case of the exponential model. These results demonstrate that hazard rates after age 110 years do not stay constant and suggest that mortality deceleration at older ages is not a universal phenomenon. These findings may represent a challenge to the existing theories of aging and longevity, which predict constant mortality in the late stages of life. One possibility for reconciliation of the observed phenomenon and the existing theoretical consideration is a possibility of mortality deceleration and mortality plateau at very high yet unobservable ages. PMID:29170764

Mortality Trajectories at Exceptionally High Ages: A Study of Supercentenarians.

PubMed

Gavrilova, Natalia S; Gavrilov, Leonid A; Krut'ko, Vyacheslav N

2017-01-01

The growing number of persons surviving to age 100 years and beyond raises questions about the shape of mortality trajectories at exceptionally high ages, and this problem may become significant for actuaries in the near future. However, such studies are scarce because of the difficulties in obtaining reliable age estimates at exceptionally high ages. The current view about mortality beyond age 110 years suggests that death rates do not grow with age and are virtually flat. The same assumption is made in the new actuarial VBT tables. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that the mortality of supercentenarians (persons living 110+ years) is constant and does not grow with age, and we analyze mortality trajectories at these exceptionally high ages. Death records of supercentenarians were taken from the International Database on Longevity (IDL). All ages of supercentenarians in the database were subjected to careful validation. We used IDL records for persons belonging to extinct birth cohorts (born before 1895) since the last deaths in IDL were observed in 2007. We also compared our results based on IDL data with a more contemporary database maintained by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). First we attempted to replicate findings by Gampe (2010), who analyzed IDL data and came to the conclusion that "human mortality after age 110 is flat." We split IDL data into two groups: cohorts born before 1885 and cohorts born in 1885 and later. Hazard rate estimates were conducted using the standard procedure available in Stata software. We found that mortality in both groups grows with age, although in older cohorts, growth was slower compared with more recent cohorts and not statistically significant. Mortality analysis of more numerous 1884-1894 birth cohort with the Akaike goodness-of-fit criterion showed better fit for the Gompertz model than for the exponential model (flat mortality). Mortality analyses with GRG data produced similar results. The remaining life expectancy for the 1884-1894 birth cohort demonstrates rapid decline with age. This decline is similar to the computer-simulated trajectory expected for the Gompertz model, rather than the extremely slow decline in the case of the exponential model. These results demonstrate that hazard rates after age 110 years do not stay constant and suggest that mortality deceleration at older ages is not a universal phenomenon. These findings may represent a challenge to the existing theories of aging and longevity, which predict constant mortality in the late stages of life. One possibility for reconciliation of the observed phenomenon and the existing theoretical consideration is a possibility of mortality deceleration and mortality plateau at very high yet unobservable ages.

The effect of simulated field storage conditions on the accuracy of rapid user-friendly blood pathogen detection kits.

PubMed

Bienek, Diane R; Charlton, David G

2012-05-01

Being able to test for the presence of blood pathogens at forward locations could reduce morbidity and mortality in the field. Rapid, user-friendly blood typing kits for detecting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) were evaluated to determine their accuracy after storage at various temperatures/humidities. Rates of positive tests of control groups, experimental groups, and industry standards were compared (Fisher's exact chi2, p < or = 0.05). Compared to the control group, 2 of 10 HIV detection devices were adversely affected by exposure to high temperature/high humidity or high temperature/low humidity. With one exception, none of the environmentally exposed HCV or HBV detection devices exhibited significant differences compared to those stored under control conditions. For HIV, HCV, and HBV devices, there were differences compared to the industry standard. Collectively, this evaluation of pathogen detection kits revealed that diagnostic performance varies among products and storage conditions, and that the tested products cannot be considered to be approved for use to screen blood, plasma, cell, or tissue donors.

Aerodynamic Performance of a 0.27-Scale Model of an AH-64 Helicopter with Baseline and Alternate Rotor Blade Sets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelley, Henry L.

1990-01-01

Performance of a 27 percent scale model rotor designed for the AH-64 helicopter (alternate rotor) was measured in hover and forward flight and compared against and AH-64 baseline rotor model. Thrust, rotor tip Mach number, advance ratio, and ground proximity were varied. In hover, at a nominal thrust coefficient of 0.0064, the power savings was about 6.4 percent for the alternate rotor compared to the baseline. The corresponding thrust increase at this condition was approx. 4.5 percent which represents an equivalent full scale increase in lift capability of about 660 lbs. Comparable results were noted in forward flight except for the high thrust, high speed cases investigated where the baseline rotor was slightly superior. Reduced performance at the higher thrusts and speeds was likely due to Reynolds number effects and blade elasticity differences.

Decision-making by experienced rugby referees: use of perceptual information and episodic memory.

PubMed

MacMahon, Clare; Ste-Marie, Diane M

2002-10-01

The expertise paradigm was used in two studies to examine decision-making by rugby referees. Videoclips were used to assess infraction detection and knowledge base, or sources of information used. In Study 1, referees of high and low experience were compared, and in Study 2 referees and players were compared. Analysis by signal detection used a framework to classify types of information. Study 1 yielded no differences in detection of infractions as a function of experience, however, referees of high experience used significantly more sources of information than the group with low experience across all categories of information. In Study 2, there were no significant differences between referees and players, with the exception that referees displayed greater use of episodic memory information in decision-making.

Boron arsenide phonon dispersion from inelastic x-ray scattering: Potential for ultrahigh thermal conductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Hao; Li, Chen; Tang, Shixiong; Yan, Jiaqiang; Alatas, Ahmet; Lindsay, Lucas; Sales, Brian C.; Tian, Zhiting

2016-12-01

Cubic boron arsenide (BAs) was predicted to have an exceptionally high thermal conductivity (k ) ˜2000 W m-1K-1 at room temperature, comparable to that of diamond, based on first-principles calculations. Subsequent experimental measurements, however, only obtained a k of ˜200 W m-1K-1 . To gain insight into this discrepancy, we measured phonon dispersion of single-crystal BAs along high symmetry directions using inelastic x-ray scattering and compared these with first-principles calculations. Based on the measured phonon dispersion, we have validated the theoretical prediction of a large frequency gap between acoustic and optical modes and bunching of acoustic branches, which were considered the main reasons for the predicted ultrahigh k . This supports its potential to be a super thermal conductor if very-high-quality single-crystal samples can be synthesized.

Boron arsenide phonon dispersion from inelastic x-ray scattering: Potential for ultrahigh thermal conductivity

DOE PAGES

Ma, Hao; Li, Chen; Tang, Shixiong; ...

2016-12-14

Cubic boron arsenide (BAs) was predicted to have an exceptionally high thermal conductivity (k) ~2000 Wm -1K -1 at room temperature, comparable to that of diamond, based on first-principles calculations. Subsequent experimental measurements, however, only obtained a k of ~200 Wm-1K-1. To gain insight into this discrepancy, we measured phonon dispersion of single crystal BAs along high symmetry directions using inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) and compared these with first-principles calculations. Based on the measured phonon dispersion, we have validated the theoretical prediction of a large frequency gap between acoustic and optical modes and bunching of acoustic branches, which were consideredmore » the main reasons for the predicted ultrahigh k. This supports its potential to be a super thermal conductor if very high-quality single crystal samples can be synthesized.« less

Finish line distinctness and accuracy in 7 intraoral scanners versus conventional impression: an in vitro descriptive comparison.

PubMed

Nedelcu, Robert; Olsson, Pontus; Nyström, Ingela; Thor, Andreas

2018-02-23

Several studies have evaluated accuracy of intraoral scanners (IOS), but data is lacking regarding variations between IOS systems in the depiction of the critical finish line and the finish line accuracy. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of finish line distinctness (FLD), and finish line accuracy (FLA), in 7 intraoral scanners (IOS) and one conventional impression (IMPR). Furthermore, to assess parameters of resolution, tessellation, topography, and color. A dental model with a crown preparation including supra and subgingival finish line was reference-scanned with an industrial scanner (ATOS), and scanned with seven IOS: 3M, CS3500 and CS3600, DWIO, Omnicam, Planscan and Trios. An IMPR was taken and poured, and the model was scanned with a laboratory scanner. The ATOS scan was cropped at finish line and best-fit aligned for 3D Compare Analysis (Geomagic). Accuracy was visualized, and descriptive analysis was performed. All IOS, except Planscan, had comparable overall accuracy, however, FLD and FLA varied substantially. Trios presented the highest FLD, and with CS3600, the highest FLA. 3M, and DWIO had low overall FLD and low FLA in subgingival areas, whilst Planscan had overall low FLD and FLA, as well as lower general accuracy. IMPR presented high FLD, except in subgingival areas, and high FLA. Trios had the highest resolution by factor 1.6 to 3.1 among IOS, followed by IMPR, DWIO, Omnicam, CS3500, 3M, CS3600 and Planscan. Tessellation was found to be non-uniform except in 3M and DWIO. Topographic variation was found for 3M and Trios, with deviations below +/- 25 μm for Trios. Inclusion of color enhanced the identification of the finish line in Trios, Omnicam and CS3600, but not in Planscan. There were sizeable variations between IOS with both higher and lower FLD and FLA than IMPR. High FLD was more related to high localized finish line resolution and non-uniform tessellation, than to high overall resolution. Topography variations were low. Color improved finish line identification in some IOS. It is imperative that clinicians critically evaluate the digital impression, being aware of varying technical limitations among IOS, in particular when challenging subgingival conditions apply.

Exceptional running and turning performance in a mite.

PubMed

Rubin, Samuel; Young, Maria Ho-Yan; Wright, Jonathan C; Whitaker, Dwight L; Ahn, Anna N

2016-03-01

The Southern California endemic mite Paratarsotomus macropalpis was filmed in the field on a concrete substrate and in the lab to analyze stride frequency, gait and running speed under different temperature conditions and during turning. At ground temperatures ranging from 45 to 60 °C, mites ran at a mean relative speed of 192.4 ± 2.1 body lengths (BL) s(-1), exceeding the highest previously documented value for a land animal by 12.5%. Stride frequencies were also exceptionally high (up to 135 Hz), and increased with substrate temperature. Juveniles exhibited higher relative speeds than adults and possess proportionally longer legs, which allow for greater relative stride lengths. Although mites accelerated and decelerated rapidly during straight running (7.2 ± 1.2 and -10.1 ± 2.1 m s(-2), respectively), the forces involved were comparable to those found in other animals. Paratarsotomus macropalpis employs an alternating tetrapod gait during steady running. Shallow turns were accomplished by a simple asymmetry in stride length. During tight turns, mites pivoted around the tarsus of the inside third leg (L3), which thus behaved like a grappling hook. Pivot turns were characterized by a 42% decrease in turning radius and a 40% increase in angular velocity compared with non-pivot turns. The joint angle amplitudes of the inner L2 and L3 were negligible during a pivot turn. While exceptional, running speeds in P. macropalpis approximate values predicted from inter-specific scaling relationships. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

A Benchmark for Comparing Different Approaches for Specifying and Verifying Real-Time Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

To be considered correct or useful, real - time systems must deliver results within specified time intervals, either without exception or with high...probability. Recently, a large number of formal methods have been invented for specifying and verifying real - time systems . It has been suggested that...these formal methods need to be tested out on actual real - time systems . Such testing will allow the scalability of the methods to be assessed and also

Wing-Alone Aerodynamic Characteristics to High Angles of Attack at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-01

support subsystems, the test- ing of these models consumes a disproportionate amount of model construction effort and wind-tunnel testing time compared...constant taper ratio with the exception of the aspect ratio 4, taper ratio 0.5 wing at subsonic speeds; the anomalous behavior of this wing is likely...0000000 ...... 0 0 0i 010... 0.. .......... .. .............. tt.. 4t t * PS4 Oft* .. MM.~0o004.0 s.t~o.4

Contributions to Industrial Development of Science and Technology Institutions in Malaysia, Nigeria, and Colombia and Opportunities for Bilateral Cooperation (A Cross-Country Comparative Analysis).

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-09-01

inexpensive labor, and to modify products to meet the tastes of local consumers . Indeed, technology development for most industrial operations in these...of oil spills (Exxon) Local flavors added to toothpaste and cosmetics ( Colgate -Palmolive) Development of specialized electronic circuitry (Motorola...conditions, and to adjusting products to local consumer tastes. An exception is the Motorola laboratory in Penang. Using the highly skilled Chinese

Analysis of foot structure in athletes sustaining proximal fifth metatarsal stress fracture.

PubMed

Hetsroni, Iftach; Nyska, Meir; Ben-Sira, David; Mann, Gideon; Segal, Ofer; Maoz, Guy; Ayalon, Moshe

2010-03-01

In the past, several studies provided anecdotal descriptions of high-arched feet in individuals sustaining proximal fifth metatarsal stress fractures. This relationship has never been supported by scientific evidence. Our objective was to examine whether athletes who sustained this injury had an exceptional static foot structure or dynamic loading pattern. Ten injured professional soccer players who regained full professional activity following a unilateral proximal fifth metatarsal stress fracture and ten control soccer players were examined. Independent variables included static evaluation of foot and arch structure, followed by dynamic plantar foot pressure evaluation. Each variable was compared between injured, contra-lateral uninjured, and control feet. Static measurements of foot and arch structure did not reveal differences among the groups. However, plantar pressure evaluation revealed relative unloading of the fourth metatarsal in injured and uninjured limbs of injured athletes compared with control, while the fifth metatarsal revealed pressure reduction only in the injured limbs of injured athletes. Athletes who sustained proximal fifth metatarsal stress fracture were not characterized by an exceptional static foot structure. Dynamically, lateral metatarsal unloading during stance may either play a role in the pathogenesis of the injury, or alternately represent an adaptive process. Footwear fabrication for previously injured athletes should not categorically address cushioning properties designed for high-arch feet, but rather focus on individual dynamic evaluation of forefoot loading, with less attention applied to static foot and arch characteristics.

Cold adapted features of Vibrio salmonicida catalase: characterisation and comparison to the mesophilic counterpart from Proteus mirabilis.

PubMed

Lorentzen, Marit Sjo; Moe, Elin; Jouve, Hélène Marie; Willassen, Nils Peder

2006-10-01

The gene encoding catalase from the psychrophilic marine bacterium Vibrio salmonicida LFI1238 was identified, cloned and expressed in the catalase-deficient Escherichia coli UM2. Recombinant catalase from V. salmonicida (VSC) was purified to apparent homogeneity as a tetramer with a molecular mass of 235 kDa. VSC contained 67% heme b and 25% protoporphyrin IX. VSC was able to bind NADPH, react with cyanide and form compounds I and II as other monofunctional small subunit heme catalases. Amino acid sequence alignment of VSC and catalase from the mesophilic Proteus mirabilis (PMC) revealed 71% identity. As for cold adapted enzymes in general, VSC possessed a lower temperature optimum and higher catalytic efficiency (k (cat)/K (m)) compared to PMC. VSC have higher affinity for hydrogen peroxide (apparent K (m)) at all temperatures. For VSC the turnover rate (k (cat)) is slightly lower while the catalytic efficiency is slightly higher compared to PMC over the temperature range measured, except at 4 degrees C. Moreover, the catalytic efficiency of VSC and PMC is almost temperature independent, except at 4 degrees C where PMC has a twofold lower efficiency compared to VSC. This may indicate that VSC has evolved to maintain a high efficiency at low temperatures.

Twice-Exceptional Students Enrolled in Advanced Placement Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schultz, Susan M.

2012-01-01

Twice-exceptional students, those who have disabilities and display areas of gifts or talents, frequently spend their high school years with a focus on their disabilities. Using semistructured interviews, this study explores the perceptions of parents, teachers, and guidance counselors regarding participation of twice-exceptional students in…

Identification/quantification of free and bound phenolic acids in peel and pulp of apples (Malus domestica) using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

PubMed

Lee, Jihyun; Chan, Bronte Lee Shan; Mitchell, Alyson E

2017-01-15

Free and bound phenolic acids were measured in the pulp and peel of four varieties of apples using high resolution mass spectrometry. Twenty-five phenolic acids were identified and included: 8 hydroxybenzoic acids, 11 hydroxycinnamic acids, 5 hydroxyphenylacetic acids, and 1 hydoxyphenylpropanoic acid. Several phenolics are tentatively identified for the first time in apples and include: methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, hydroxy phenyl acetic acid, three phenylacetic acid isomers, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, and homoveratric acid. With exception of chlorogenic and caffeic acid, most phenolic acids were quantified for the first time in apples. Significant varietal differences (p<0.05) were observed in both peel and pulp. The levels of total phenolic acids were higher in the pulp as compared to apple peel (dry weight) in all varieties. Coumaroylquinic, protocatechuic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and t-ferulic acids were present in free forms. With exception of chlorogenic acid, all other phenolic acids were present only as bound forms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An assessment of the radiological scenario around uranium mines in Singhbhum East district, Jharkhand, India.

PubMed

Tripathi, R M; Sahoo, S K; Mohapatra, S; Patra, A C; Lenka, P; Dubey, J S; Jha, V N; Puranik, V D

2012-07-01

The present work deals with the prevalent radiological scenario around uranium-mining sites in the Singhbhum East district of Jharkhand state, India. The concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) was estimated from 27 soil samples collected around three regions in the study area, namely Bagjata, Turamdih and Jaduguda. The mean activity concentrations of (238)U in Bagjata, Turamdih and Jaduguda regions were found to be 128.6, 95.7 and 49.2 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Similarly for (232)Th and (40)K the activity concentrations were found to be 57.3, 78.4, 68.9 and 530, 425 and 615 Bq kg(-1) in the Bagjata, Turamdih and Jaduguda regions, respectively, which are comparable with other reported values worldwide, except for some high values. The calculated gamma dose rate, obtained from the concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K in the samples, was compared with the observed dose rate in air. A good correlation (0.96) was observed between the calculated and the observed gamma dose rate. The annual outdoor effective dose rate was estimated and the values falls between 0.04-0.3, 0.07-0.3 and 0.07-.14 mSv y(-1) with mean values of 0.14, 0.12 and 0.11 mSv y(-1) for the Bagjata, Turamdih and Jaduguda regions, respectively. The terrestrial dose rates in all the three regions are comparable with other reported values worldwide, except for a few high values in Greece, Rio Grande Do Norte (Brazil) and Kalpakkam (India).

36 CFR 65.4 - National Historic Landmark criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... for quality. Rather, the criteria establish the qualitative framework in which a comparative... degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and... transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally distinctive design or from an exceptionally significant event...

36 CFR 65.4 - National Historic Landmark criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... for quality. Rather, the criteria establish the qualitative framework in which a comparative... degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and... transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally distinctive design or from an exceptionally significant event...

36 CFR 65.4 - National Historic Landmark criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... for quality. Rather, the criteria establish the qualitative framework in which a comparative... degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and... transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally distinctive design or from an exceptionally significant event...

36 CFR 65.4 - National Historic Landmark criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... for quality. Rather, the criteria establish the qualitative framework in which a comparative... degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and... transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally distinctive design or from an exceptionally significant event...

36 CFR 65.4 - National Historic Landmark criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... for quality. Rather, the criteria establish the qualitative framework in which a comparative... degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and... transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally distinctive design or from an exceptionally significant event...

Fracture toughness, tensile and stress corrosion cracking properties of Alloy 600, Alloy 690 and their welds in water

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

Brown, C.M.; Mills, W.J.

1996-10-01

The fracture toughness and tensile properties of Alloy 600, Alloy 690 and their welds, EN82H and EN52, were characterized in 54 and 338 C water with an elevated hydrogen content. Results were compared with air data to evaluate the effect of low and high temperature water on mechanical properties. In addition, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of EN82H and EN52 welds was evaluated in 360 C water with high hydrogen. Elastic-plastic J{sub c} fracture toughness testing revealed that the fracture resistance of all test materials was exceptionally high in 54 and 338 C air and 338 C water, demonstratingmore » that fracture properties were essentially unaffected by the high temperature water environment. In 54 C water, however, J{sub c} values for EN82H and EN52 welds were reduced by an order of magnitude, and Alloy 690 showed a five-fold decrease in J{sub c}. Tensile properties for all test materials were essentially unaffected by the water environment, except for the total elongation for EN82H welds which was significantly reduced in 54 C water. At a strain rate of 5 x 10{sup 6} sec{sup {minus}1} in low temperature water, there appears to be sufficient time for environmental interactions to restrict ductility in EN82H welds. Constant-load testing of precracked weld specimens in 360 C water resulted in extensive intergranular SCC in EN82H welds loaded to K{sub I} levels between 35 and 55 MPa {radical}m, whereas no SCC occurred in EN52 welds under comparable test conditions.« less

A dislocation-based, strain–gradient–plasticity strengthening model for deformation processed metal–metal composites

DOE PAGES

Tian, Liang; Russell, Alan; Anderson, Iver

2014-01-03

Deformation processed metal–metal composites (DMMCs) are high-strength, high-electrical conductivity composites developed by severe plastic deformation of two ductile metal phases. The extraordinarily high strength of DMMCs is underestimated using the rule of mixture (or volumetric weighted average) of conventionally work-hardened metals. A dislocation-density-based, strain–gradient–plasticity model is proposed to relate the strain-gradient effect with the geometrically necessary dislocations emanating from the interface to better predict the strength of DMMCs. The model prediction was compared with our experimental findings of Cu–Nb, Cu–Ta, and Al–Ti DMMC systems to verify the applicability of the new model. The results show that this model predicts themore » strength of DMMCs better than the rule-of-mixture model. The strain-gradient effect, responsible for the exceptionally high strength of heavily cold worked DMMCs, is dominant at large deformation strain since its characteristic microstructure length is comparable with the intrinsic material length.« less

Genetic association with low concentrations of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in a pediatric population of the Middle East and North Africa: the CASPIAN-III study.

PubMed

Kelishadi, Roya; Haghjooy Javanmard, Shaghayegh; Tajadini, Mohammad Hasan; Mansourian, Marjan; Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil; Ardalan, Gelayol; Ban, Matthew

2014-11-01

Depressed high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is prevalent the Middle East and North Africa. Some studies have documented associations between HDL-C and several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate gene polymorphisms. We investigated the associations between SNP genotypes and HDL-C levels in Iranian students, aged 10-18 years. Genotyping was performed in 750 randomly selected participants among those with low HDL-C levels (below 5th percentile), intermediate HDL-C levels (5-95th) and high HDL-C levels (above the 95th percentile). Minor allele frequencies (MAFs) of the SNPs of interest were compared between the three HDL-C groups. The vast majority of pairwise comparisons of MAFs between HDL-C groups were significant. Pairwise comparisons between low and high HDL-C groups showed significant between-group differences in MAFs for all SNPs, except for APOC3 rs5128. Pairwise comparisons between low and intermediate HDL-C groups showed significant between-group differences in MAFs for all SNPs, except for APOC3 rs5128 and APOA1 rs2893157. Pairwise comparisons between intermediate and high HDL-C groups showed significant between-group differences in MAFs for all SNPs, except for ABCA1 APOC3 rs5128 and APOA1 rs2893157. After adjustment for confounding factors, including age, sex, body mass index, low physical activity, consumption of saturated fats, and socioeconomic status, ABCA1 r1587K and CETP A373P significantly increased the risk of depressed HDL-C, and CETP Taq1 had a protective role. This study replicated several associations between HDL-C levels and candidate gene SNPs from genome-wide associations with HDL-C in Iranians from the pediatric age group. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laboratory tests of arthropod repellents against Leptotrombidium deliense--noninfected and infected with Rickettsia tsutsugamushi--and noninfected L. fletcheri (Acari: Trombiculidae).

PubMed

Frances, S P; Khlaimanee, N

1996-03-01

Laboratory tests were conducted to compare the response of noninfected Leptotrombidium deliense Sambon and Leptotrombidium fletcheri (Womersley & Heaslip) and L. deliense naturally infected with Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, the etiologic agent of scrub typhus, to 8 chemical repellents and toxicants. Low concentrations of permethrin, dimethylphthalate, diethyl methylbenzamide, benzyl benzoate, di-n-propyl 2,5-pyridine-dicarboxylate, 1-(3-Cyclohexen-1-yl-carbonyl)-2-methylpiperidine (AI3-37220), 2-hydroxymethyl-cyclohexyl acetic acid lactone, and a high concentration of dibutylphthalate (DBP) were toxic for noninfected larvae of both species tested. The median effective knockdown time for all chemicals, except 1% AI3-37220 and 5% permethrin, were longer against infected L. deliense than uninfected larvae of the same species. However, the results indicate that low concentrations of all chemicals, except DBP, should be effective against 2 important vectors of scrub typhus.

The Cerebellar Mossy Fiber Synapse as a Model for High-Frequency Transmission in the Mammalian CNS.

PubMed

Delvendahl, Igor; Hallermann, Stefan

2016-11-01

The speed of neuronal information processing depends on neuronal firing frequency. Here, we describe the evolutionary advantages and ubiquitous occurrence of high-frequency firing within the mammalian nervous system in general. The highest firing frequencies so far have been observed at the cerebellar mossy fiber to granule cell synapse. The mechanisms enabling high-frequency transmission at this synapse are reviewed and compared with other synapses. Finally, information coding of high-frequency signals at the mossy fiber synapse is discussed. The exceptionally high firing frequencies and amenability to high-resolution technical approaches both in vitro and in vivo establish the cerebellar mossy fiber synapse as an attractive model to investigate high-frequency signaling from the molecular up to the network level. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity: Early-life and Mid-life predictors of Human Longevity

PubMed Central

Gavrilov, Leonid A.; Gavrilova, Natalia S.

2011-01-01

Effects of early-life and middle-life conditions on exceptional longevity are explored in this study using two matched case-control studies. The first study compares 198 validated centenarians born in the United States in 1890-1893 to their shorter-lived siblings. Family histories of centenarians were reconstructed and exceptional longevity validated using early U.S. censuses, Social Security Administration Death Master File, state death indexes, online genealogies and other supplementary data resources. Siblings born to young mothers (<25 years) had significantly higher chances to live to 100 compared to siblings born to older mothers (odds ratio = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.33 - 3.11, P = 0.001) while paternal age and birth order were not associated with exceptional longevity. The second study explores whether people living to 100 and beyond are any different in physical characteristics at young age from their shorter-lived peers. A random representative sample of 240 men born in 1887 and survived to age 100 was selected from the US Social Security Administration database and linked to the US WWI civil draft registration cards collected in 1917 when these men were 30 years old. These validated centenarians were then compared to randomly selected controls matched by calendar year of birth, race and place of draft registration in 1917. It was found that ‘stout’ body build (being in the heaviest 15% of population) was negatively associated with survival to age 100 years. Farmer occupation and large number of children (4+) at age 30 increased the chances of exceptional longevity. Detailed description of dataset development, data cleaning procedure and validation of exceptional longevity is provided for both studies. These results demonstrate that matched case-control design is a useful approach in exploring effects of early-life conditions and middle-life characteristics on exceptional longevity. PMID:22582891

[L forms of Staphylococcus aureus. Behavior of coagulase, hemolytic and desoxyribonuclease activities and antibiotic sensitivity].

PubMed

Loschiavo, F; Giarrizzo, S

1977-01-01

L Forms derived from strains of coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, have, on the whole, preserved their DNAsic, haemolitic and coagulastic activities. L. forms showed high resistence to antibiotics acting on the bacterial cell-wall. The sensibility to other antibiotics was, roughly, analogous for the L forms as well as for the bacterial strains ones, with the exception of the clortetraciclin and the diidrostreptomicin, ehich proved to be comparatively more active on the L forms.

Resilience Predictors of Violence and Externalizing Behavior Problems for Urban Exceptional Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry, Joseph D.; Bard, E. M.

This study analyzed the association between resilience and violence as rated by teachers and parents of exceptional students (N=613) from large urban, public schools in Ohio. Multiple types of exceptionalities were represented and a high proportion of the diversity came from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Resilience predictor variables were…

Quality requirements for veterinary hematology analyzers in small animals-a survey about veterinary experts' requirements and objective evaluation of analyzer performance based on a meta-analysis of method validation studies: bench top hematology analyzer.

PubMed

Cook, Andrea M; Moritz, Andreas; Freeman, Kathleen P; Bauer, Natali

2016-09-01

Scarce information exists about quality requirements and objective evaluation of performance of large veterinary bench top hematology analyzers. The study was aimed at comparing the observed total error (TEobs ) derived from meta-analysis of published method validation data to the total allowable error (TEa ) for veterinary hematology variables in small animals based on experts' opinions. Ideally, TEobs should be < TEa . An online survey was sent to veterinary experts in clinical pathology and small animal internal medicine for providing the maximal allowable deviation from a given result for each variable. Percent of TEa = (allowable median deviation/clinical threshold) * 100%. Second, TEobs for 3 laser-based bench top hematology analyzers (ADVIA 2120; Sysmex XT2000iV, and CellDyn 3500) was calculated based on method validation studies published between 2005 and 2013 (n = 4). The percent TEobs = 2 * CV (%) + bias (%). The CV was derived from published studies except for the ADVIA 2120 (internal data), and bias was estimated from the regression equation. A total of 41 veterinary experts (19 diplomates, 8 residents, 10 postgraduate students, 4 anonymous specialists) responded. The proposed range of TEa was wide, but generally ≤ 20%. The TEobs was < TEa for all variables and analyzers except for canine and feline HGB (high bias, low CV) and platelet counts (high bias, high CV). Overall, veterinary bench top analyzers fulfilled experts' requirements except for HGB due to method-related bias, and platelet counts due to known preanalytic/analytic issues. © 2016 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Glasses having a low non-linear refractive index for laser applications

DOEpatents

Faulstich, Marga; Jahn, Walter; Krolla, Georg; Neuroth, Norbert

1980-01-01

Glass composition ranges are described which permit the introduction of laser activators into fluorphosphate glass with exceptionally high fluorine content while forming glasses of high crystallization stability and permitting the realization of large melt volumes. The high fluorine content imparts to the glasses an exceptionally low nonlinear refractive index n.sub.2 down to O,4 .times.10.sup.-13 esu.

Polyaniline-stabilized electromagnetic wave absorption composites of reduced graphene oxide on magnetic carbon nanotube film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jinsong; Duan, Yan; Lu, Weibang; Chou, Tsu-Wei

2018-04-01

A multi-layered composite with exceptionally high electromagnetic wave-absorbing capacity and performance stability was fabricated via the facile electrophoresis of a reduced graphene oxide network on carbon nanotube (CNT)-Fe3O4-polyaniline (PANI) film. Minimum reflection loss (RL) of -53.2 dB and absorbing bandwidth of 5.87 GHz (< -10 dB) are achieved, surpassing most recently reported CNT- and graphene-based absorbers. In particular, comparing to the original composites, the minimum RL and bandwidth (< -10 dB) maintains 82.5% and 99.7%, respectively, after 20 h charge/discharge cycling, demonstrating high environmental suitability.

Benefits of 20 kHz PMAD in a nuclear space station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sundberg, Gale R.

1987-01-01

Compared to existing systems, high frequency ac power provides higher efficiency, lower cost, and improved safety benefits. The 20 kHz power system has exceptional flexibility, is inherently user friendly, and is compatible with all types of energy sources; photovoltaic, solar dynamic, rotating machines and nuclear. A 25 kW, 20 kHz ac power distribution system testbed was recently (1986) developed. The testbed possesses maximum flexibility, versatility, and transparency to user technology while maintaining high efficiency, low mass, and reduced volume. Several aspects of the 20 kHz power management and distribution (PMAD) system that have particular benefits for a nuclear power Space Station are discussed.

The paradox of homeless youth pregnancy: a review of challenges and opportunities.

PubMed

Begun, Stephanie

2015-01-01

Compared to their housed counterparts, homeless youth become pregnant at exceptionally high rates. Causes of such pregnancies are multifaceted, while a paradoxically high proportion of these pregnancies are intended. This review discusses causes and risk factors associated with homeless youth pregnancies, and notes experiences of pregnancy decision-making discord, challenges encountered during and following pregnancy, and difficulties faced by homeless youth when or if they become parents. Because homeless youth face a wide array of unique risks, future research would benefit from exploring alternative approaches to prevention to reduce pregnancies and improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes among this population.

Recent Developments in Carbon Nanotube Membranes for Water Purification and Gas Separation

PubMed Central

Sears, Kallista; Dumée, Ludovic; Schütz, Jürg; She, Mary; Huynh, Chi; Hawkins, Stephen; Duke, Mikel; Gray, Stephen

2010-01-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nanoscale cylinders of graphene with exceptional properties such as high mechanical strength, high aspect ratio and large specific surface area. To exploit these properties for membranes, macroscopic structures need to be designed with controlled porosity and pore size. This manuscript reviews recent progress on two such structures: (i) CNT Bucky-papers, a non-woven, paper like structure of randomly entangled CNTs, and (ii) isoporous CNT membranes, where the hollow CNT interior acts as a membrane pore. The construction of these two types of membranes will be discussed, characterization and permeance results compared, and some promising applications presented.

Luminosity limits for liquid argon calorimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

J, Rutherfoord; B, Walker R.

2012-12-01

We have irradiated liquid argon ionization chambers with betas using high-activity Strontium-90 sources. The radiation environment is comparable to that in the liquid argon calorimeters which are part of the ATLAS detector installed at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. We measure the ionization current over a wide range of applied potential for two different source activities and for three different chamber gaps. These studies provide operating experience at exceptionally high ionization rates. We can operate these chambers either in the normal mode or in the space-charge limited regime and thereby determine the transition point between the two. From the transition point we indirectly extract the positive argon ion mobility.

The Effects of Bench Press Variations in Competitive Athletes on Muscle Activity and Performance

PubMed Central

Saeterbakken, Atle Hole; Mo, Dag-André; Scott, Suzanne; Andersen, Vidar

2017-01-01

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the EMG activity performing 6RM competition style bench press (flat bench-wide grip) with 1) medium and narrow grip widths on a flat bench and 1) inclined and declined bench positions with a wide grip. Twelve bench press athletes competing at national and international level participated in the study. EMG activity was measured in the pectoralis major, anterior and posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii and latissimus dorsi. Non-significant differences in activation were observed between the three bench positions with the exception of 58.5-62.6% lower triceps brachii activation, but 48.3-68.7% greater biceps brachii activation in the inclined bench compared with the flat and declined bench position. Comparing the three grip widths, non-significant differences in activations were observed, with the exception of 25.9-30.5% lower EMG activity in the biceps brachii using a narrow grip, compared to the medium and wide grip conditions. The 6-RM loads were 5.8-11.1% greater using a medium and wide grip compared to narrow grip width and 18.5-21.5% lower in the inclined bench position compared with flat and declined. Comparing the EMG activity during the competition bench press style with either the inclined and declined bench position (wide grip) or using a narrow and medium grip (flat bench), only resulted in different EMG activity in the biceps- and triceps brachii. The 6RM loads varied with each bench press variation and we recommend the use of a wide grip on a flat bench during high load hypertrophy training to bench press athletes. PMID:28713459

The Effects of Bench Press Variations in Competitive Athletes on Muscle Activity and Performance.

PubMed

Saeterbakken, Atle Hole; Mo, Dag-André; Scott, Suzanne; Andersen, Vidar

2017-06-01

The aim of the study was to compare the EMG activity performing 6RM competition style bench press (flat bench-wide grip) with 1) medium and narrow grip widths on a flat bench and 1) inclined and declined bench positions with a wide grip. Twelve bench press athletes competing at national and international level participated in the study. EMG activity was measured in the pectoralis major, anterior and posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii and latissimus dorsi. Non-significant differences in activation were observed between the three bench positions with the exception of 58.5-62.6% lower triceps brachii activation, but 48.3-68.7% greater biceps brachii activation in the inclined bench compared with the flat and declined bench position. Comparing the three grip widths, non-significant differences in activations were observed, with the exception of 25.9-30.5% lower EMG activity in the biceps brachii using a narrow grip, compared to the medium and wide grip conditions. The 6-RM loads were 5.8-11.1% greater using a medium and wide grip compared to narrow grip width and 18.5-21.5% lower in the inclined bench position compared with flat and declined. Comparing the EMG activity during the competition bench press style with either the inclined and declined bench position (wide grip) or using a narrow and medium grip (flat bench), only resulted in different EMG activity in the biceps- and triceps brachii. The 6RM loads varied with each bench press variation and we recommend the use of a wide grip on a flat bench during high load hypertrophy training to bench press athletes.

Exceptional thermoelectric performance of a "star-like" SnSe nanotube with ultra-low thermal conductivity and a high power factor.

PubMed

Lin, Chensheng; Cheng, Wendan; Guo, Zhengxiao; Chai, Guoliang; Zhang, Hao

2017-08-30

Efficient thermoelectric energy conversion is both crucial and challenging, and requires new material candidates by design. From first principles simulations, we identify that a "star-like" SnSe nanotube - with alternating dense and loose rings along the tube direction - gives rise to an ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity, 0.18 W m -1 K -1 at 750 K, and a large Seebeck coefficient, compared with single crystal SnSe. The power factor of the p-type SnSe nanotube reaches its maximum value of 235 μW cm -1 K -2 at a moderate doping level of around 10 20 -10 21 cm -3 . The p-type nanotube shows better thermoelectric properties than the n-type one. The phonon anharmonic scattering rate of the SnSe nanotube is larger than that of the SnSe crystal. All of these factors lead to an exceptional figure-of-merit (ZT) value of 3.5-4.6 under the optimal conditions, compared to 0.6-2.6 for crystalline SnSe. Such a large ZT value should lead to a six-fold increase in the energy conversion efficiency to about 30%.

Factors Distinguishing Exceptional Performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashbaugh, Donald L.; Thompson, A. Frank

1993-01-01

Analysis of data from 234 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) candidates (98 of whom failed at least 1 part of the exam) showed that higher grades in the CPA review course correlated with passing the first time. Higher high school class rank and larger high school class size influenced exceptional test performance. (SK)

High performance novel gadolinium doped ceria/yttria stabilized zirconia/nickel layered and hybrid thin film anodes for application in solid oxide fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia-Garcia, F. J.; Beltrán, A. M.; Yubero, F.; González-Elipe, A. R.; Lambert, R. M.

2017-09-01

Magnetron sputtering under oblique angle deposition was used to produce Ni-containing ultra thin film anodes comprising alternating layers of gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) of either 200 nm or 1000 nm thickness. The evolution of film structure from initial deposition, through calcination and final reduction was examined by XRD, SEM, TEM and TOF-SIMS. After subsequent fuel cell usage, the porous columnar architecture of the two-component layered thin film anodes was maintained and their resistance to delamination from the underlying YSZ electrolyte was superior to that of corresponding single component Ni-YSZ and Ni-GDC thin films. Moreover, the fuel cell performance of the 200 nm layered anodes compared favorably with conventional commercially available thick anodes. The observed dependence of fuel cell performance on individual layer thicknesses prompted study of equivalent but more easily fabricated hybrid anodes consisting of simultaneously deposited Ni-GDC and Ni-YSZ, which procedure resulted in exceptionally intimate mixing and interaction of the components. The hybrids exhibited very unusual and favorable Isbnd V characteristics, along with exceptionally high power densities at high currents. Their discovery is the principal contribution of the present work.

The Possible Impact of Problem-Solving Method of Instruction on Exceptional Students' Creativity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fard, Adnan Eshrati; Bahador, Ali; Moghadam, Mahsa Nazemi; Rajabi, Hooman; Moradi, Alinoor Noor

2014-01-01

The current study aimed at investigating the possible impact of the problem-solving method of instruction on the exceptional students' creativity. A sample of 50 male exceptional (Mild intellectual disability) students studying in the third grade of junior high school was chosen and divided into two equal groups. Both groups filled out the…

Connecting for High Potential..."The Exceptionality of Being Twice-Exceptional."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danielian, Jeff; Nilles, Kathleen

2015-01-01

What's not often well-known or well-understood is that students who are gifted may also have a special need or disability--just as students with disabilities may also be gifted. The term "twice-exceptional," also referred to as "2e," is used to describe gifted children who, according to the Joint Commission on Twice-Exceptional…

Carbon-Nanotube-Based Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitor Technologies for Spaceflight Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arepalli, S.; Fireman, H.; Huffman, C.; Maloney, P.; Nikolaev, P.; Yowell, L.; Kim, K.; Kohl, P. A.; Higgins, C. D.; Turano, S. P.

2005-01-01

Electrochemical double-layer capacitors, or supercapacitors, have tremendous potential as high-power energy sources for use in low-weight hybrid systems for space exploration. Electrodes based on single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer exceptional power and energy performance due to the high surface area, high conductivity, and the ability to functionalize the SWCNTs to optimize capacitor properties. This paper will report on the preparation of electrochemical capacitors incorporating SWCNT electrodes and their performance compared with existing commercial technology. Preliminary results indicate that substantial increases in power and energy density are possible. The effects of nanotube growth and processing methods on electrochemical capacitor performance is also presented. The compatibility of different SWCNTs and electrolytes was studied by varying the type of electrolyte ions that accumulate on the high-surface-area electrodes.

High order filtering methods for approximating hyberbolic systems of conservation laws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lafon, F.; Osher, S.

1990-01-01

In the computation of discontinuous solutions of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, the recently developed essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) schemes appear to be very useful. However, they are computationally costly compared to simple central difference methods. A filtering method which is developed uses simple central differencing of arbitrarily high order accuracy, except when a novel local test indicates the development of spurious oscillations. At these points, the full ENO apparatus is used, maintaining the high order of accuracy, but removing spurious oscillations. Numerical results indicate the success of the method. High order of accuracy was obtained in regions of smooth flow without spurious oscillations for a wide range of problems and a significant speed up of generally a factor of almost three over the full ENO method.

High pressure extraction of phenolic compounds from citrus peels†

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casquete, R.; Castro, S. M.; Villalobos, M. C.; Serradilla, M. J.; Queirós, R. P.; Saraiva, J. A.; Córdoba, M. G.; Teixeira, P.

2014-10-01

This study evaluated the effect of high pressure processing on the recovery of high added value compounds from citrus peels. Overall, the total phenolic content in orange peel was significantly (P < .05) higher than that in lemon peel, except when pressure treated at 500 MPa. However, lemon peel demonstrated more antioxidant activity than orange peel. Pressure-treated samples (300 MPa, 10 min; 500 MPa, 3 min) demonstrated higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity comparatively to the control samples. For more severe treatments (500 MPa, 10 min), the phenolic content and antioxidant activity decreased in both lemon and orange peels. This paper was presented at the 8th International Conference on High Pressure Bioscience & Biotechnology (HPBB 2014), in Nantes (France), 15-18 July 2014.

Extremely broadband, on-chip optical nonreciprocity enabled by mimicking nonlinear anti-adiabatic quantum jumps near exceptional points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Youngsun; Hahn, Choloong; Yoon, Jae Woong; Song, Seok Ho; Berini, Pierre

2017-01-01

Time-asymmetric state-evolution properties while encircling an exceptional point are presently of great interest in search of new principles for controlling atomic and optical systems. Here, we show that encircling-an-exceptional-point interactions that are essentially reciprocal in the linear interaction regime make a plausible nonlinear integrated optical device architecture highly nonreciprocal over an extremely broad spectrum. In the proposed strategy, we describe an experimentally realizable coupled-waveguide structure that supports an encircling-an-exceptional-point parametric evolution under the influence of a gain saturation nonlinearity. Using an intuitive time-dependent Hamiltonian and rigorous numerical computations, we demonstrate strictly nonreciprocal optical transmission with a forward-to-backward transmission ratio exceeding 10 dB and high forward transmission efficiency (~100%) persisting over an extremely broad bandwidth approaching 100 THz. This predicted performance strongly encourages experimental realization of the proposed concept to establish a practical on-chip optical nonreciprocal element for ultra-short laser pulses and broadband high-density optical signal processing.

Computer Use and Behavior Problems in Twice-Exceptional Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alloway, Tracy Packiam; Elsworth, Miquela; Miley, Neal; Seckinger, Sean

2016-01-01

This pilot study investigated how engagement with computer games and TV exposure may affect behaviors of gifted students. We also compared behavioral and cognitive profiles of twice-exceptional students and children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Gifted students were divided into those with behavioral problems and those…

Advanced Sulfur Cathode Enabled by Highly Crumpled Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Sheets for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

PubMed

Song, Jiangxuan; Yu, Zhaoxin; Gordin, Mikhail L; Wang, Donghai

2016-02-10

Herein, we report a synthesis of highly crumpled nitrogen-doped graphene sheets with ultrahigh pore volume (5.4 cm(3)/g) via a simple thermally induced expansion strategy in absence of any templates. The wrinkled graphene sheets are interwoven rather than stacked, enabling rich nitrogen-containing active sites. Benefiting from the unique pore structure and nitrogen-doping induced strong polysulfide adsorption ability, lithium-sulfur battery cells using these wrinkled graphene sheets as both sulfur host and interlayer achieved a high capacity of ∼1000 mAh/g and exceptional cycling stability even at high sulfur content (≥80 wt %) and sulfur loading (5 mg sulfur/cm(2)). The high specific capacity together with the high sulfur loading push the areal capacity of sulfur cathodes to ∼5 mAh/cm(2), which is outstanding compared to other recently developed sulfur cathodes and ideal for practical applications.

The Effect of a Non-Gaussian Random Loading on High-Cycle Fatigue of a Thermally Post-Buckled Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rizzi, Stephen A.; Behnke, marlana N.; Przekop, Adam

2010-01-01

High-cycle fatigue of an elastic-plastic beam structure under the combined action of thermal and high-intensity non-Gaussian acoustic loadings is considered. Such loadings can be highly damaging when snap-through motion occurs between thermally post-buckled equilibria. The simulated non-Gaussian loadings investigated have a range of skewness and kurtosis typical of turbulent boundary layer pressure fluctuations in the vicinity of forward facing steps. Further, the duration and steadiness of high excursion peaks is comparable to that found in such turbulent boundary layer data. Response and fatigue life estimates are found to be insensitive to the loading distribution, with the minor exception of cases involving plastic deformation. In contrast, the fatigue life estimate was found to be highly affected by a different type of non-Gaussian loading having bursts of high excursion peaks.

Improving life expectancy: how many years behind has the USA fallen? A cross-national comparison among high-income countries from 1958 to 2007.

PubMed

Verguet, Stéphane; Jamison, Dean T

2013-01-01

Many studies have documented higher mortality levels in the USA compared to other high-income nations. We add to this discussion by quantifying how many years behind comparison countries the USA has fallen and by identifying when US mortality rates began to diverge. We use full life tables, for men and women, for 17 high-income countries including the USA. We extract the life expectancy at birth and compute the mortality rates for each 5-year age group from birth up to age 80. Using the metric of how many 'years behind' a country has fallen, we compare US mortality levels with those in other high-income countries ('comparators'). We report life expectancy for 17 high-income countries, for the period 1958-2007. Up to the late 1970s, US men and especially women closely tracked comparators in life expectancy. In the late 1970s in the USA, most strikingly women began to diverge from comparators so that the US female life expectancy in 2007 corresponded to that of the comparators' average 10 years earlier. Mortality rates also began to diverge from the late 1970s, and the largest mortality gap was in the 15-49 age group, for both men and women, where the USA had fallen about 40 years behind the comparators by 2007. Some causes proposed for the relatively high US mortality today-racial differences, lack of universal health insurance, US exceptionalism-changed little while the mortality gap emerged and grew. This suggests that explanations for the growing gap lie elsewhere. Quantification of how many years behind the USA has fallen can help provide clues about where to look for potential causes and remedies.

A comprehensive evaluation of the toxicology of cigarette ingredients: carbohydrates and natural products.

PubMed

Coggins, Christopher R E; Wagner, Karl A; Werley, Michael S; Oldham, Michael J

2011-06-01

Eleven carbohydrates and natural product ingredients were added individually to experimental cigarettes. A battery of tests was used to compare toxicity of mainstream smoke from these experimental cigarettes to matched control cigarettes without test ingredients. Smoke fractions from each cigarette type were evaluated using analytical chemistry; in vitro cytotoxicity (neutral red uptake) and in vitro bacterial (Salmonella) mutagenicity (five strains) testing. For 10 ingredients (β-cyclodextrin, cleargum, D-sorbitol, high fructose corn syrup, honey, invert sugar, maltodextrin, molasses, raisin juice concentrate, and sucrose), 90-day nose-only smoke inhalation studies using rats were also performed. In general, addition of each ingredient in experimental cigarettes resulted in minimal changes in smoke chemistry; the exceptions were D-sorbitol and sucrose, where reductions in amount of 60% to 80% of control values for some smoke constituents were noted. Additionally, each ingredient resulted in small increases in smoke formaldehyde concentrations. Except for a reduction in cytotoxicity by inclusion of maltodextrin and an increase by inclusion of plum juice concentrate, the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity results were unaffected by addition of the other ingredients in experimental cigarettes. There were also very few statistically significant differences within any of the 10 inhalation studies, and when present, the differences were largely sporadic and inconsistent between sexes. The carbohydrates and natural products tested here as ingredients in experimental cigarettes as a class increased formaldehyde, but resulted in minimal toxicological responses, even at high inclusion levels compared with the levels used in commercial cigarette products.

[Association between hematopoietic nutrient intake and the origin of nutritional anemia in women of childbearing age in Colombia].

PubMed

Manjarrés, Luz Mariela; Díaz, Abel; Carriquiry, Alicia

2012-01-01

Compare the nutritional origin of anemia by sociodemographic variables and analyze its association with deficient hematopoietic nutrient intake. The database of Colombia's 2005 National Survey of Nutritional Status was used. The data were obtained through complex representative sampling of the population and processed using SPSS v.15. Anemic women of childbearing age were selected and divided into two groups according to serum ferritin levels. Their customary hematopoietic nutrient intake and risk of deficiency were determined. The proportions of anemia types were compared by sociodemographic variables using the F-distribution, the Rao-Scott second order correction (P < 0.05). The association between the origin of the anemia and classification of the nutrient was analyzed using the odds ratio (OR). 595 women. Non-hypoferric anemia (67.2%) predominated, with no statistical difference by sociodemographic variable, except in the Pacific region (hypoferric anemia, 52.1%). The prevalence of deficiency in the customary intake of hematopoietic nutrients was high. There was no significant association between the deficit in consumption and the origin of the anemia. Non-hypoferric anemia was most common, with no difference by sociodemographic indicators except in the Pacific region. All the women were at high risk of deficiency in their customary hematopoietic nutrient intake, but a statistically significant association between the deficiency and the origin of the nutritional anemia was not observed. Programs to improve nutrient intake and a continued search for causes of nutritional anemia other than iron deficiency are justified.

Comparative in vitro activities of dalbavancin and seven comparator agents against 41 Staphylococcus species cultured from osteomyelitis infections and 18 VISA and hVISA strains.

PubMed

Citron, Diane M; Tyrrell, Kerin L; Goldstein, Ellie J C

2014-08-01

Due to a high rate of relapse, osteomyelitis remains difficult to treat, requiring prolonged parenteral therapy. MICs for 41 consecutive Staphylococcus species recovered from patients with osteomyelitis were determined for dalbavancin, daptomycin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, linezolid, vancomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampin, and vancomycin. Strains of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and heteroresistant VISA were included for additional comparison. Except for rifampin, dalbavancin was the most active agent tested. Dalbavancin is given once a week, making treatment of infections such as osteomyelitis potentially more convenient and thus could help reduce the rate of hospitalizations and outpatient costs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Verbal learning in schizopsychotic outpatients and healthy volunteers as a function of cognitive performance levels.

PubMed

Karilampi, Ulla; Helldin, Lars; Hjärthag, Fredrik; Norlander, Torsten; Archer, Trevor

2007-02-01

The aim was to analyze and compare neurocognitive test profiles related to different levels of verbal learning performance among schizopsychotic patients and healthy volunteers. A single-center patient cohort of 196 participants was compared with an equal-sized volunteer group to form three cognitive subgroups based on the shared verbal learning performance. 43.9% of the patients had normal learning ability. Despite this, all patients underperformed the volunteers on all subtests with the exception of working memory, and, for those with high learning ability, even verbal facility. All patients also presented equally poor visuomotor processing speed/efficacy. A global neurocognitive retardation of speed-related processing in schizophrenia is suggested.

Occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and the risk of prostate cancer.

PubMed

Peters, Cheryl E; Demers, Paul A; Kalia, Sunil; Hystad, Perry; Villeneuve, Paul J; Nicol, Anne-Marie; Kreiger, Nancy; Koehoorn, Mieke W

2016-11-01

Preventable risk factors for prostate cancer are poorly understood; sun exposure is a possible protective factor. The goal of this study was to investigate prostate cancer risk in outdoor workers, a population with high sun exposure. Prostate cancer cases and controls from a large study (conducted between 1994 and 1997) were used for this analysis. A job exposure matrix (JEM) was used to assign solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) at work as moderate (2 to <6 hours outside/day) or high (≥6 hours). Average daily satellite UV-B measures were linked to the latitude/longitude of the residences of each participant. Several other exposure metrics were also examined, including ever/never exposed and standard erythemal dose by years (SED×years). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between solar UVR exposure and the odds of prostate cancer. A total of 1638 cases and 1697 controls were included. Men of Indian and Asian descent had reduced odds of prostate cancer (ORs 0.17 (0.08 to 0.35) and 0.25 (0.15 to 0.41), respectively) compared with Caucasian men, as did single men (OR 0.76 (0.58 to 0.98)) compared with married men. Overall, no statistically significant associations were observed between sun exposure and prostate cancer with 1 exception. In the satellite-enhanced JEM that considered exposure in high category jobs only, prostate cancer odds in the highest quartile of cumulative exposure was decreased compared with unexposed men (OR 0.68 (0.51 to 0.92)). This study found limited evidence for an association with prostate cancer, with the exception of 1 statistically significant finding of a decreased risk among workers with the longest term and highest sun exposure. 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/.

Association of MYCN copy number with clinical features, tumor biology, and outcomes in neuroblastoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group.

PubMed

Campbell, Kevin; Gastier-Foster, Julie M; Mann, Meegan; Naranjo, Arlene H; Van Ryn, Collin; Bagatell, Rochelle; Matthay, Katherine K; London, Wendy B; Irwin, Meredith S; Shimada, Hiroyuki; Granger, M Meaghan; Hogarty, Michael D; Park, Julie R; DuBois, Steven G

2017-11-01

High-level MYCN amplification (MNA) is associated with poor outcome and unfavorable clinical and biological features in patients with neuroblastoma. To the authors' knowledge, less is known regarding these associations in patients with low-level MYCN copy number increases. In this retrospective study, the authors classified patients has having tumors with MYCN wild-type tumors, MYCN gain (2-4-fold increase in MYCN signal compared with the reference probe), or MNA (>4-fold increase). Tests of trend were used to investigate ordered associations between MYCN copy number category and features of interest. Log-rank tests and Cox models compared event-free survival and overall survival by subgroup. Among 4672 patients, 3694 (79.1%) had MYCN wild-type tumors, 133 (2.8%) had MYCN gain, and 845 (18.1%) had MNA. For each clinical/biological feature, the percentage of patients with an unfavorable feature was lowest in the MYCN wild-type category, intermediate in the MYCN gain category, and highest in the MNA category (P<.0001), except for 11q aberration, for which the highest rates were in the MYCN gain category. Patients with MYCN gain had inferior event-free survival and overall survival compared with those with MYCN wild-type. Among patients with high-risk disease, MYCN gain was associated with the lowest response rate after chemotherapy. Patients with non-stage 4 disease (according to the International Neuroblastoma Staging System) and patients with non-high-risk disease with MYCN gain had a significantly increased risk for death, a finding confirmed on multivariable testing. Increasing MYCN copy number is associated with an increasingly higher rate of unfavorable clinical/biological features, with 11q aberration being an exception. Patients with MYCN gain appear to have inferior outcomes, especially in otherwise more favorable groups. Cancer 2017;123:4224-4235. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

A case-control study of determinants for high and low dental caries prevalence in Nevada youth

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The main purpose of this study was to compare the 30% of Nevada Youth who presented with the highest Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index to a cohort who were caries free and to national NHANES data. Secondly, to explore the factors associated with higher caries prevalence in those with the highest DMFT scores compared to the caries-free group. Methods Over 4000 adolescents between ages 12 and 19 (Case Group: N = 2124; Control Group: N = 2045) received oral health screenings conducted in public/private middle and high schools in Nevada in 2008/2009 academic year. Caries prevalence was computed (Untreated decay scores [D-Score] and DMFT scores) for the 30% of Nevada Youth who presented with the highest DMFT score (case group) and compared to the control group (caries-free) and to national averages. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between selected variables and caries prevalence. Results A majority of the sample was non-Hispanic (62%), non-smokers (80%), and had dental insurance (70%). With the exception of gender, significant differences in mean D-scores were found in seven of the eight variables. All variables produced significant differences between the case and control groups in mean DMFT Scores. With the exception of smoking status, there were significant differences in seven of the eight variables in the bivariate logistic regression. All of the independent variables remained in the multivariate logistic regression model contributing significantly to over 40% of the variation in the increased DMFT status. The strongest predictors for the high DMFT status were racial background, age, fluoridated community, and applied sealants respectively. Gender, second hand smoke, insurance status, and tobacco use were significant, but to a lesser extent. Conclusions Findings from this study will aid in creating educational programs and other primary and secondary interventions to help promote oral health for Nevada youth, especially focusing on the subgroup that presents with the highest mean DMFT scores. PMID:21067620

Relationships between different nutritional anthropometric statuses and health-related fitness of South African primary school children.

PubMed

Armstrong, M E G; Lambert, M I; Lambert, E V

2017-05-01

A double burden of both under- and over-nutrition exists among South African children. To describe associations between nutritional statuses and health-related fitness test performances. Height and weight of 10 285 children (6-13 years; n = 5604 boys and 4681 girls) were measured and used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of overweight and obesity, stunting, wasting and underweight. Physical fitness scores for standing long jump, shuttle run, sit-and-reach, sit-up (EUROFIT) and cricket ball throw were assessed. Age- and gender-specific z-scores were calculated for these variables. Physical fitness for each nutritional status group was compared to children of normal weight. Compared to normal weight children, overweight and obese children scored lower on all fitness tests (p < .001), except cricket ball throw (p = .235) and sit-and-reach (p = .015). Stunted and underweight children performed poorer than normal weight children on most fitness tests (p < .001), except sit-and-reach (stunted: p = .829; underweight: p = .538) and shuttle run (underweight: p = .017). Performance of wasted children was not as highly compromised as other under-nourished groups, but they performed poorer on the cricket ball throw (p < .001). When compared to normal weight children, both under- and over-nourished children performed poorer on some, but not all, health-related fitness tests.

Extraordinary Genetic Diversity in a Wood Decay Mushroom.

PubMed

Baranova, Maria A; Logacheva, Maria D; Penin, Aleksey A; Seplyarskiy, Vladimir B; Safonova, Yana Y; Naumenko, Sergey A; Klepikova, Anna V; Gerasimov, Evgeny S; Bazykin, Georgii A; James, Timothy Y; Kondrashov, Alexey S

2015-10-01

Populations of different species vary in the amounts of genetic diversity they possess. Nucleotide diversity π, the fraction of nucleotides that are different between two randomly chosen genotypes, has been known to range in eukaryotes between 0.0001 in Lynx lynx and 0.16 in Caenorhabditis brenneri. Here, we report the results of a comparative analysis of 24 haploid genotypes (12 from the United States and 12 from European Russia) of a split-gill fungus Schizophyllum commune. The diversity at synonymous sites is 0.20 in the American population of S. commune and 0.13 in the Russian population. This exceptionally high level of nucleotide diversity also leads to extreme amino acid diversity of protein-coding genes. Using whole-genome resequencing of 2 parental and 17 offspring haploid genotypes, we estimate that the mutation rate in S. commune is high, at 2.0 × 10(-8) (95% CI: 1.1 × 10(-8) to 4.1 × 10(-8)) per nucleotide per generation. Therefore, the high diversity of S. commune is primarily determined by its elevated mutation rate, although high effective population size likely also plays a role. Small genome size, ease of cultivation and completion of the life cycle in the laboratory, free-living haploid life stages and exceptionally high variability of S. commune make it a promising model organism for population, quantitative, and evolutionary genetics. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

40 CFR Table 3 to Subpart Ggggg of... - Applicability of General Provisions to Subpart GGGGG

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

.... Content of SSMP Yes with the exception of containers using either Level 1 or Level 2 controls. § 63.6(f)(1... CMS must be operating except during breakdown, out-of-control, repair, maintenance, and high-level... Requirements Zero and High level calibration check requirements Yes.However requirements for CPMS are addressed...

Comparison of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index scores on physical performance among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PubMed

Matsumura, Takuro; Mitani, Yuji; Oki, Yutaro; Fujimoto, Yukari; Ohira, Mineko; Kaneko, Hiromi; Kawashima, Tsunehiro; Nishio, Masato; Ishikawa, Akira

2015-01-01

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a new prognostic indicator for nutritional status-related complications and mortality among the elderly. Here we aimed to compare 6-min walk distance (6MWD) between high and low GNRI groups for patients with COPD. We enrolled 63 elderly men with COPD. These subjects were divided into two groups based on their GNRI scores: high GNRI group (≥92 points; n = 44) and low GNRI group (n = 19); we compared 6MWD between these groups. The subjects' characteristics between the high and the low GNRI groups were similar, except for BMI and serum albumin levels. 6MWD were significantly lower in the low GNRI group (279.5 ± 112.3 m versus 211.1 ± 125.3 m; p = 0.03). The GNRI has a more close relation with exercise tolerance and may be a useful nutritional assessment scale for elderly patients with COPD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Usefulness of cancer-free survival in estimating the lifetime attributable risk of cancer incidence from radiation exposure.

PubMed

Seo, Songwon; Lee, Dal Nim; Jin, Young Woo; Lee, Won Jin; Park, Sunhoo

2018-05-11

Risk projection models estimating the lifetime cancer risk from radiation exposure are generally based on exposure dose, age at exposure, attained age, gender and study-population-specific factors such as baseline cancer risks and survival rates. Because such models have mostly been based on the Life Span Study cohort of Japanese atomic bomb survivors, the baseline risks and survival rates in the target population should be considered when applying the cancer risk. The survival function used in the risk projection models that are commonly used in the radiological protection field to estimate the cancer risk from medical or occupational exposure is based on all-cause mortality. Thus, it may not be accurate for estimating the lifetime risk of high-incidence but not life-threatening cancer with a long-term survival rate. Herein, we present the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) estimates of all solid cancers except thyroid cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia except chronic lymphocytic leukemia in South Korea for lifetime exposure to 1 mGy per year using the cancer-free survival function, as recently applied in the Fukushima health risk assessment by the World Health Organization. Compared with the estimates of LARs using an overall survival function solely based on all-cause mortality, the LARs of all solid cancers except thyroid cancer, and thyroid cancer evaluated using the cancer-free survival function, decreased by approximately 13% and 1% for men and 9% and 5% for women, respectively. The LAR of leukemia except chronic lymphocytic leukemia barely changed for either gender owing to the small absolute difference between its incidence and mortality. Given that many cancers have a high curative rate and low mortality rate, using a survival function solely based on all-cause mortality may cause an overestimation of the lifetime risk of cancer incidence. The lifetime fractional risk was robust against the choice of survival function.

High-Performance Thermoelectric Semiconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleurial, Jean-Pierre; Caillat, Thierry; Borshchevsky, Alexander

1994-01-01

Figures of merit almost double current state-of-art thermoelectric materials. IrSb3 is semiconductor found to exhibit exceptional thermoelectric properties. CoSb3 and RhSb3 have same skutterudite crystallographic structure as IrSb3, and exhibit exceptional transport properties expected to contribute to high thermoelectric performance. These three compounds form solid solutions. Combination of properties offers potential for development of new high-performance thermoelectric materials for more efficient thermoelectric power generators, coolers, and detectors.

Recall and dating of psychiatric symptoms. Test-retest reliability of time-related symptom questions in a standardized psychiatric interview.

PubMed

Wittchen, H U; Burke, J D; Semler, G; Pfister, H; Von Cranach, M; Zaudig, M

1989-05-01

The advent of more explicit diagnostic criteria and the growing interest in "lifetime" rates of mental disorders has made imperative an accurate determination of time-related diagnostic criteria. We used data from two independent test-retest studies of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to study the reliability of different time-related questions in these fully standardized diagnostic interviews. With two exceptions (anxiety disorders and alcohol-related questions), the test-retest reliability of most time-related questions in both interviews was judged to be satisfactorily high. Furthermore, the validity of time-related questions in the DIS (age at symptom onset, duration and frequency of illness episodes) was examined by comparing them with detailed "consensus" ratings done independently by different clinicians for 207 former psychiatric inpatients. A surprisingly high concordance was found for former psychotic patients except for those still severely disturbed at the follow-up investigation. Some severe restrictions were also found for nonpsychotic disorders with regard to judgment of the age at onset of phobias, panic attacks, and depression. For a more valid assessment of time-related symptom information, the use of specific memory aids is suggested.

Highly compressible 3D periodic graphene aerogel microlattices

PubMed Central

Zhu, Cheng; Han, T. Yong-Jin; Duoss, Eric B.; Golobic, Alexandra M.; Kuntz, Joshua D.; Spadaccini, Christopher M.; Worsley, Marcus A.

2015-01-01

Graphene is a two-dimensional material that offers a unique combination of low density, exceptional mechanical properties, large surface area and excellent electrical conductivity. Recent progress has produced bulk 3D assemblies of graphene, such as graphene aerogels, but they possess purely stochastic porous networks, which limit their performance compared with the potential of an engineered architecture. Here we report the fabrication of periodic graphene aerogel microlattices, possessing an engineered architecture via a 3D printing technique known as direct ink writing. The 3D printed graphene aerogels are lightweight, highly conductive and exhibit supercompressibility (up to 90% compressive strain). Moreover, the Young's moduli of the 3D printed graphene aerogels show an order of magnitude improvement over bulk graphene materials with comparable geometric density and possess large surface areas. Adapting the 3D printing technique to graphene aerogels realizes the possibility of fabricating a myriad of complex aerogel architectures for a broad range of applications. PMID:25902277

Observations in Fracture Toughness Testing of Glasses and Optical Ceramics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salem, Jon

2017-01-01

Fracture toughness is a critical structural design parameter and an excellent metrics to rank materials. Itdetermines fracture strength by way of the flaws, both inherent and induced, and defines the endpoint of the slow crackgrowth curve. The fracture toughness of structural and optical ceramics, and glasses as measured by several techniques is compared. When good metrology is employed, the results are very comparable with two exceptions: materials exhibiting crack growth resistance and those with a low SCG exponents. For materials with R-curves, the result is a function of extension and can be minimized with short cracks. For materials with low SCG exponents, such as glasses, elimination of the corrosive media andor increasing the stress intensity rate minimizes effects. A summary of values is given, and it appears that highly modified glasses exhibit lower fracture toughness and slow crack growth exponent than high purity glasses such as fused silica.

Reproductive Biology and Its Impact on Body Size: Comparative Analysis of Mammalian, Avian and Dinosaurian Reproduction

PubMed Central

Werner, Jan; Griebeler, Eva Maria

2011-01-01

Janis and Carrano (1992) suggested that large dinosaurs might have faced a lower risk of extinction under ecological changes than similar-sized mammals because large dinosaurs had a higher potential reproductive output than similar-sized mammals (JC hypothesis). First, we tested the assumption underlying the JC hypothesis. We therefore analysed the potential reproductive output (reflected in clutch/litter size and annual offspring number) of extant terrestrial mammals and birds (as “dinosaur analogs”) and of extinct dinosaurs. With the exception of rodents, the differences in the reproductive output of similar-sized birds and mammals proposed by Janis and Carrano (1992) existed even at the level of single orders. Fossil dinosaur clutches were larger than litters of similar-sized mammals, and dinosaur clutch sizes were comparable to those of similar-sized birds. Because the extinction risk of extant species often correlates with a low reproductive output, the latter difference suggests a lower risk of population extinction in dinosaurs than in mammals. Second, we present a very simple, mathematical model that demonstrates the advantage of a high reproductive output underlying the JC hypothesis. It predicts that a species with a high reproductive output that usually faces very high juvenile mortalities will benefit more strongly in terms of population size from reduced juvenile mortalities (e.g., resulting from a stochastic reduction in population size) than a species with a low reproductive output that usually comprises low juvenile mortalities. Based on our results, we suggest that reproductive strategy could have contributed to the evolution of the exceptional gigantism seen in dinosaurs that does not exist in extant terrestrial mammals. Large dinosaurs, e.g., the sauropods, may have easily sustained populations of very large-bodied species over evolutionary time. PMID:22194835

Comparison of trauma care systems in Asian countries: A systematic literature review.

PubMed

Choi, Se Jin; Oh, Moon Young; Kim, Na Rae; Jung, Yoo Joong; Ro, Young Sun; Shin, Sang Do

2017-12-01

The study aims to compare the trauma care systems in Asian countries. Asian countries were categorised into three groups; 'lower middle-income country', 'upper middle-income country' and 'high-income country'. The Medline/PubMed database was searched for articles published from January 2005 to December 2014 using relevant key words. Articles were excluded if they examined a specific injury mechanism, referred to a specific age group, and/or did not have full text available. We extracted information and variables on pre-hospital and hospital care factors, and regionalised system factors and compared them across countries. A total of 46 articles were identified from 13 countries, including Pakistan, India, Vietnam and Indonesia from lower middle-income countries; the Islamic Republic of Iran, Thailand, China, Malaysia from upper middle-income countries; and Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore from high-income countries. Trauma patients were transported via various methods. In six of the 13 countries, less than 20% of trauma patients were transported by ambulance. Pre-hospital trauma teams primarily comprised emergency medical technicians and paramedics, except in Thailand and China, where they included mainly physicians. In Iran, Pakistan and Vietnam, the proportion of patients who died before reaching hospital exceeded 50%. In only three of the 13 countries was it reported that trauma surgeons were available. In only five of the 13 countries was there a nationwide trauma registry. Trauma care systems were poorly developed and unorganised in most of the selected 13 Asian countries, with the exception of a few highly developed countries. © 2017 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and its receptors in the pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Caspar-Bell, Gudrun; Dhar, Indu; Prasad, Kailash

2016-03-01

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism and its complications. Interaction of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with receptor RAGE (receptor for AGEs) generates reactive oxygen species. Soluble receptor for AGEs (sRAGE) competes with RAGE for binding with AGEs and attenuates the generation of ROS. Low levels sRAGE and high levels AGEs would generate more ROS leading to hyperthyroidism and its complications. The objectives are to determine if levels of serum sRAGE are low and the levels of AGEs and AGEs/sRAGE are high in patients with hyperthyroidism. The study subjects comprised of 33 patients with hyperthyroidism and 20 controls. Levels of serum sRAGE were lower, while that of AGEs and AGEs/sRAGE were higher in patients compared to controls, being significant only for sRAGE and AGEs/sRAGE. When the levels of sRAGE, AGEs, and AGEs/sRAGE were assessed for hyperthyroidism associated with different diseases, the levels of sRAGE were lower in Hashimoto disease, and levels of AGEs were higher in patients with Graves' disease compared to control. The levels of AGEs/sRAGE were elevated in an all except patients with Hashimoto disease. The levels of AGEs, sRAGE, or AGEs/RAGE were not correlated with age, weight, and blood pressures except systolic pressure which was inversely correlated with sRAGE. The levels of sRAGE were negatively correlated with AGEs and AGEs/sRAGE. The levels of AGEs/sRAGE were positively correlated with AGEs. In conclusion, low levels of sRAGE, and high levels of AGEs and AGEs/sRAGE are risk biomarkers in the pathogenesis hyperthyroidism and its complications.

Comparative study on long-term visibility trend and its affecting factors on both sides of the Taiwan Strait

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Junjun; Xing, Zhenyu; Zhuang, Bingliang; Du, Ke

2014-06-01

The rapid industrial development and urbanization has lead to increasing particulate matter pollution in the Cross Taiwan Strait Region, which has significant impacts on atmospheric visibility degradation. Long-term visibility trends in five typical cities over the cross-strait region (i.e., Xiamen and Fuzhou in the Western Taiwan Strait (WTS) region and Taipei, Taichung and Tainan in Taiwan) and its correlation with air quality and meteorological conditions were investigated using visibility and meteorological data during 1973-2011 and air pollution data during 2009-2011. For the entire period, the overall average visibilities in the WTS region were better than those in Taiwan, with an average of 16.8, 16.6, 8.5, 10.3 and 9.0 km in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Taipei, Taichung and Tainan, respectively. Decline trends with decreasing rates of - 0.5-0.1 km/yr existed in all cities except Taipei, which had an improvement in visibility after 1992. All seasons had decreasing trends during the 39-year period except in Taipei. The WTS region had the worse change trend compared with Taiwan. No statistically significant weekend effect in visibility is found over the region. Visibilities were better in summer and autumn, while worse in winter and spring. Correlation analysis revealed that significant negative correlations existed between visibility and NO2 and airborne particles (i.e., PM10 and PM2.5); PM2.5 played an important role in visibility degradation. High temperature and low pressure is beneficial for better visibility. Principal component analysis further confirmed the impacts of high concentrations of air pollutants, stable synoptic systems and humid air with high relative humidity on visibility impairment. In addition, case studies highlighted characteristics and potential causes of typical regional low visibility episodes over the region.

Reproductive biology and its impact on body size: comparative analysis of mammalian, avian and dinosaurian reproduction.

PubMed

Werner, Jan; Griebeler, Eva Maria

2011-01-01

Janis and Carrano (1992) suggested that large dinosaurs might have faced a lower risk of extinction under ecological changes than similar-sized mammals because large dinosaurs had a higher potential reproductive output than similar-sized mammals (JC hypothesis). First, we tested the assumption underlying the JC hypothesis. We therefore analysed the potential reproductive output (reflected in clutch/litter size and annual offspring number) of extant terrestrial mammals and birds (as "dinosaur analogs") and of extinct dinosaurs. With the exception of rodents, the differences in the reproductive output of similar-sized birds and mammals proposed by Janis and Carrano (1992) existed even at the level of single orders. Fossil dinosaur clutches were larger than litters of similar-sized mammals, and dinosaur clutch sizes were comparable to those of similar-sized birds. Because the extinction risk of extant species often correlates with a low reproductive output, the latter difference suggests a lower risk of population extinction in dinosaurs than in mammals. Second, we present a very simple, mathematical model that demonstrates the advantage of a high reproductive output underlying the JC hypothesis. It predicts that a species with a high reproductive output that usually faces very high juvenile mortalities will benefit more strongly in terms of population size from reduced juvenile mortalities (e.g., resulting from a stochastic reduction in population size) than a species with a low reproductive output that usually comprises low juvenile mortalities. Based on our results, we suggest that reproductive strategy could have contributed to the evolution of the exceptional gigantism seen in dinosaurs that does not exist in extant terrestrial mammals. Large dinosaurs, e.g., the sauropods, may have easily sustained populations of very large-bodied species over evolutionary time.

The nutritional status of iron, folate, and vitamin B-12 of Buddhist vegetarians.

PubMed

Lee, Yujin; Krawinkel, Michael

2011-01-01

Nutritional status of iron, folate, and vitamin B-12 in vegetarians were assessed and compared with those of non- vegetarians in Korea. The vegetarian subjects were 54 Buddhist nuns who ate no animal source food except for dairy products. The non-vegetarians were divided into two groups: 31 Catholic nuns and 31 female college students. Three-day dietary records were completed, and the blood samples were collected for analyzing a complete blood count, and serum levels of ferritin, folate, and vitamin B-12. There was no difference in hemoglobin among the diet groups. The serum ferritin and hematocrit levels of vegetarians did not differ from that of non- vegetarian students with a high intake of animal source food but low intake of vitamin C, and the levels were lower than that of non-vegetarian Catholic nuns with a modest consumption of animal source food and a high intake of vitamin C. The serum vitamin B-12 levels of all subjects except one vegetarian and the serum folate levels of all subjects except one non-vegetarian student fell within a normal range. In vegetarians, there was a positive correlation between the vitamin C intake and serum ferritin levels as well as between the laver intake and serum vitamin B-12 levels. In order to achieve an optimal iron status, both an adequate amount of iron intake and its bioavailability should be considered. Sufficient intake of vegetables and fruits was reflected in adequate serum folate status. Korean laver can be a good source of vitamin B-12 for vegetarians.

Reading: Exceptional Child Education Curriculum K-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biddle, Candace Thornton; And Others

This K-12 reading curriculum for exceptional child education is arranged in a format comparable to the general education curriculum, and is sequenced in the order in which most children learn. The curriculum begins with a list of 123 objectives of the reading program. The objectives cover the areas of perceptual skills, word attack, structural…

Modeling the Time-Varying Nature of Student Exceptionality Classification on Achievement Growth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nese, Joseph F. T.; Stevens, Joseph J.; Schulte, Ann C.; Tindal, Gerald; Elliott, Stephen N.

2017-01-01

Our purpose was to examine different approaches to modeling the time-varying nature of exceptionality classification. Using longitudinal data from one state's mathematics achievement test for 28,829 students in Grades 3 to 8, we describe the reclassification rate within special education and between general and special education, and compare four…

Literary Precocity: An Exceptional Case among Exceptional Cases.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edmunds, Alan L.; Noel, Kathryn A.

2003-01-01

This article presents the case of Geoffrey, a prolific 5-year-old writer. It examines his writing and how his intrapersonal factors and propitious environment contribute to his prodigious output. Childhood precocity is presented as an age-based comparable rather than as an adult-based predictor. A developmental theory of precocity is considered.…

Development of a Piagetian Curriculum for Exceptional Children. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrison, Mortimer, Jr.

A series of discussions are reported concerning the applicability of Piaget's ideas to special education. They are contrasted and compared with other approaches to educating the exceptional child ranging from behavioral modification to the Montessori classroom. Participants included Joachim F. Wohlwill, Francis P. Connor, Donald S. Baer, Thomas J.…

Information Centralization of Organization Information Structures via Reports of Exceptions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moskowitz, Herbert; Murnighan, John Keith

A team theoretic model that establishes a criterion (decision rule) for a financial institution branch to report exceptional loan requests to headquarters for action was compared to such choices made by graduate industrial management students acting as financial vice-presidents. Results showed that the loan size criterion specified by subjects was…

Particulate concentrations during on-farm combustion of energy crops of different shapes and harvest seasons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fournel, S.; Palacios, J. H.; Morissette, R.; Villeneuve, J.; Godbout, S.; Heitz, M.; Savoie, P.

2015-03-01

The increasing energy costs and environmental concerns of farms have motivated the growing interest of agricultural producers in using farm-grown biomass as a substitute to fossil fuels for heat production. However, the use of non-woody biomass is facing challenges due to variability regarding chemical composition and fuel properties that may induce problems during combustion such as particulate matter (PM). The aim of this work was to measure and compare total PM concentrations during on-farm combustion of wood and four agricultural crops: short-rotation willow, switchgrass, miscanthus and reed canary grass. In order to study the influence of physicochemical properties, different shapes (pellets, chips and chopped grasses) and harvest seasons (fall and spring) were also evaluated. In this context, a representative small-scale (29 kW), multi-fuel boiler for light commercial use was utilized. The boiler was also non-catalytic so that the burning took place in a single combustion chamber. Overall, twelve different biomass fuels were tested and each product was burned three times. Mean PM concentration of wood (416 mg Nm-3 at 7 vol% O2) was lower than that of the four dedicated energy crops (505-1417 mg Nm-3 at 7 vol% O2). However, because of the high variability between the experiments, no statistical significance was observed at P > 0.1 level except in one case. The PM amounts were high compared to literature data and Quebec's environmental regulation mainly because of the boiler system used. Except for willow, pelletized products decreased PM levels by 22-52% compared to chopped materials. Bulky biomass of low density was unable to reach steady-state conditions and produced compounds associated with incomplete combustion including PM. Spring-harvested biomass fuels showed a PM reduction up to 48% compared to fall-harvested crops. This was likely due to a 20-60% decrease of several chemical elements in the biomass, namely S, Cl, K and P which are the main constituents of fly ash.

Development of reading and phonological skills of children at family risk for dyslexia: a longitudinal analysis from kindergarten to sixth grade.

PubMed

Dandache, Sophie; Wouters, Jan; Ghesquière, Pol

2014-11-01

The main focus of this article is to develop a better understanding of the developmental trajectories of literacy and phonological skills within Dutch-speaking children. Children at high and low risk for dyslexia were followed and compared at four different moments: kindergarten and first, third and sixth grades. Three groups were then compared: (1) dyslexic readers; (2) normal readers at high risk for dyslexia; and (3) normal readers at low risk for dyslexia. Children diagnosed with dyslexia scored lower than high-risk normal readers on phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), verbal short-term memory and literacy skills. Normal readers at high risk scored between both groups, confirming that dyslexia is to be considered as a continuum rather than an all-or-none condition. Growth analyses showed that the three groups evolved similarly on all measures except for phoneme deletion and literacy measures. Finally, solely PA and RAN explained a significant amount of variance in the evolution of reading skills. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A comparison of five serological tests for bovine brucellosis.

PubMed Central

Dohoo, I R; Wright, P F; Ruckerbauer, G M; Samagh, B S; Robertson, F J; Forbes, L B

1986-01-01

Five serological assays: the buffered plate antigen test, the standard tube agglutination test, the complement fixation test, the hemolysis-in-gel test and the indirect enzyme immunoassay were diagnostically evaluated. Test data consisted of results from 1208 cattle in brucellosis-free herds, 1578 cattle in reactor herds of unknown infection status and 174 cattle from which Brucella abortus had been cultured. The complement fixation test had the highest specificity in both nonvaccinated and vaccinated cattle. The indirect enzyme immunoassay, if interpreted at a high threshold, also exhibited a high specificity in both groups of cattle. The hemolysis-in-gel test had a very high specificity when used in nonvaccinated cattle but quite a low specificity among vaccinates. With the exception of the complement fixation test, all tests had high sensitivities if interpreted at the minimum threshold. However, the sensitivities of the standard tube agglutination test and indirect enzyme immunoassay, when interpreted at high thresholds were comparable to that of the complement fixation test. A kappa statistic was used to measure the agreement between the various tests. In general the kappa statistics were quite low, suggesting that the various tests may detect different antibody isotypes. There was however, good agreement between the buffered plate antigen test and standard tube agglutination test (the two agglutination tests evaluated) and between the complement fixation test and the indirect enzyme immunoassay when interpreted at a high threshold. With the exception of the buffered plate antigen test, all tests were evaluated as confirmatory tests by estimating their specificity and sensitivity on screening-test positive samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:3539295

Electromyographic Analysis of the Lower Limb Muscles in Low- and High-Handicap Golfers.

PubMed

Marta, Sérgio; Silva, Luís; Vaz, João R; Castro, Maria António; Reinaldo, Gustavo; Pezarat-Correia, Pedro

2016-09-01

The aim of this study was to compare the electromyographic patterns of the lower limb muscles during a golf swing performed by low- and high-handicap golfers. Ten golfers (5 low- and 5 high-handicap) performed 8 swings using a 7-iron. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded for the following lower limb muscles on both sides: biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, vastus medialis and lateralis, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis. The golf-swing phases were determined by 3-dimensional high-speed video analysis. Compared with the high-handicap golfers, the low-handicap golfers performed the forward swing with a shorter duration of the swing phases, with the exception of the late follow-through, where they exhibited longer duration. Considering the EMG patterns, the low-handicap golfers showed a tendency for the studied muscles to reach an activation peak earlier and presented statistically significant higher muscle activity in some of the lower limb muscles, mainly from the left side. Differences between low- and high-handicap golfers were found in the average duration of swing phases and in the activation level of the lower limbs, with more evidence on muscles from the left side.

Human papillomavirus detection using the Abbott RealTime high-risk HPV tests compared with conventional nested PCR coupled to high-throughput sequencing of amplification products in cervical smear specimens from a Gabonese female population.

PubMed

Moussavou-Boundzanga, Pamela; Koumakpayi, Ismaël Hervé; Labouba, Ingrid; Leroy, Eric M; Belembaogo, Ernest; Berthet, Nicolas

2017-12-21

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide. However, screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) molecular tests holds promise for reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. The performance of the Abbott RealTime High-Risk HPV test (AbRT) was evaluated in 83 cervical smear specimens and compared with a conventional nested PCR coupled to high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to identify the amplicons. The AbRT assay detected at least one HPV genotype in 44.57% of women regardless of the grade of cervical abnormalities. Except for one case, good concordance was observed for the genotypes detected with the AbRT assay in the high-risk HPV category determined with HTS of the amplicon generated by conventional nested PCR. The AbRT test is an easy and reliable molecular tool and was as sensitive as conventional nested PCR in cervical smear specimens for detection HPVs associated with high-grade lesions. Moreover, sequencing amplicons using an HTS approach effectively identified the genotype of the hrHPV identified with the AbRT test.

Neurobiological findings associated with high cognitive performance in older adults: a systematic review.

PubMed

Borelli, Wyllians Vendramini; Schilling, Lucas Porcello; Radaelli, Graciane; Ferreira, Luciana Borges; Pisani, Leonardo; Portuguez, Mirna Wetters; da Costa, Jaderson Costa

2018-04-18

ABSTRACTObjectives:to perform a comprehensive literature review of studies on older adults with exceptional cognitive performance. We performed a systematic review using two major databases (MEDLINE and Web of Science) from January 2002 to November 2017. Quantitative analysis included nine of 4,457 studies and revealed that high-performing older adults have global preservation of the cortex, especially the anterior cingulate region, and hippocampal volumes larger than normal agers. Histological analysis of this group also exhibited decreased amyloid burden and neurofibrillary tangles compared to cognitively normal older controls. High performers that maintained memory ability after three years showed reduced amyloid positron emission tomography at baseline compared with high performers that declined. A single study on blood plasma found a set of 12 metabolites predicting memory maintenance of this group. Structural and molecular brain preservation of older adults with high cognitive performance may be associated with brain maintenance. The operationalized definition of high-performing older adults must be carefully addressed using appropriate age cut-off and cognitive evaluation, including memory and non-memory tests. Further studies with a longitudinal approach that include a younger control group are essential.

An experimental study of helicopter rotor rotational noise in a wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, A.; Harris, W. L.; Widnall, S. E.

1976-01-01

The rotational noise of model helicopter rotors in forward flight was studied in an anechoic wind tunnel. The parameters under study were the rotor thrust (blade loading), blade number and advance ratio. The separate effects of each parameter were identified with the other parameters being held constant. The directivity of the noise was also measured. Twelve sets of data for rotational noise as a function of frequency were compared with the theory of Lowson and Ollerhead. In general, the agreement is reasonably good, except for the cases of (1) low and high disk loadings, (2) the four bladed rotor, and (3) low advance ratios. The theory always under-estimates the rotational noise at high harmonics.

Recovery of Uranium from Seawater: Preparation and Development of Polymer-Supported Extractants

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

Spiro, Alexandratos

2013-12-01

A new series of polymer-supported extractants is proposed for the removal and recovery of uranium from seawater. The objective is to produce polymers with improved stability, loading capacity, and sorption kinetics compared to what is found with amidoximes. The target ligands are diphosphonates and aminomethyldiphosphonates. Small molecule analogues, especially of aminomethyldiphos-phonates, have exceptionally high stability constants for the uranyl ion. The polymeric diphosphonates will have high affinities due to their ability to form six-membered rings with the uranyl ion while the aminomethyldiphosphonates may have yet higher affinities due to possible tridentate coordination and their greater acidity. A representative set ofmore » the polymers to be prepared are indicated.« less

Light generated bubble for microparticle propulsion.

PubMed

Frenkel, Ido; Niv, Avi

2017-06-06

Light activated motion of micron-sized particles with effective forces in the range of micro-Newtons is hereby proposed and demonstrated. Our investigation shows that this exceptional amount of force results from accumulation of light-generated heat by a micron-sized particle that translates into motion due to a phase transition in the nearby water. High-speed imagery indicates the role of bubble expansion and later collapse in this event. Comparing observations with known models reveals a dynamic behavior controlled by polytropic trapped vapor and the inertia of the surrounding liquid. The potential of the proposed approach is demonstrated by realization of disordered optical media with binary light-activated switching from opacity to high transparency.

Comparative nutrient composition of selected wild edible mushrooms from two agro-ecological zones, Uganda.

PubMed

Nakalembe, Immaculate; Kabasa, John David; Olila, Deogratias

2015-01-01

In Uganda, wild mushrooms are mainly collected during the rainy season and valued as a traditionally nutritious food by the rural poor. However, their nutritional attributes have not been adequately studied and documented. Comparative nutrient composition of five wild edible mushroom species was determined, namely: P. tenucuilus, T. tyleranus, T. clypeatus, V. speciosa and T. microcarpus of sub-humid and humid agro-ecological zones. Standard analytical techniques following the AOAC were used for proximate and mineral contents determinations. Vitamins determination followed the established standard protocols of the laboratories where the analyses were conducted. Combined use of nutrient concentration and scores were used to compare the level of the contents in the mushroom species. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in nutrient values were demonstrated between and among the mushroom species obtained from the two agro-ecological zones. On dry weight basis, all proximate compositions were high in mushroom species obtained from the humid zone with exception of the total carbohydrates and energy values. Irrespective of the source of the mushrooms, significant amounts were demonstrated in protein, dry matter, ash and total carbohydrates ranging between 11.56-27.42%, 82.34-99.76%, 10.79-16.87%, and 37.12-61.05%, respectively. In comparison with recommended dietary daily intakes, the K, P, Se, Mn, Cu and Fe contents were relatively high with low Ca, Mg, Zn and Na. Thiamin, folic acid, vitamin C, and niacin levels were high but below the recommended FAO references. Considering mushrooms from different agro-ecological zones, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in all mushroom species in P except in T. clypeatus, T. tyleranus, T. microcarpus and T. clypeatus in potassium, T. clypeatus and T. microcarpus in Mg. Mushrooms from humid agro-ecological zones had relatively high overall mineral and vitamin supply potential. In conclusion, consumption of these mushrooms should be encouraged in supplementation of the staple food of the poor people. Hence, solving malnutrition problems in children, pregnant mothers, and the immune compromised patients such as the HIV/AIDs.

Physical analysis and second-order modelling of an unsteady turbulent flow - The oscillating boundary layer on a flat plate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ha Minh, H.; Viegas, J. R.; Rubesin, M. W.; Spalart, P.; Vandromme, D. D.

1989-01-01

The turbulent boundary layer under a freestream whose velocity varies sinusoidally in time around a zero mean is computed using two second order turbulence closure models. The time or phase dependent behavior of the Reynolds stresses are analyzed and results are compared to those of a previous SPALART-BALDWIN direct simulation. Comparisons show that the second order modeling is quite satisfactory for almost all phase angles, except in the relaminarization period where the computations lead to a relatively high wall shear stress.

Why are so many networks disassortative?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Samuel; Torres, Joaquín J.; Marro, J.; Muñoz, Miguel A.

2011-03-01

A wide range of empirical networks—whether biological, technological, information-related or linguistic—generically exhibit important degree-degree anticorrelations (i.e., they are disassortative), the only exceptions being social ones, which tend to be positively correlated (assortative). Using an information-theory approach, we show that the equilibrium state of highly heterogeneous (scale-free) random networks is disassortative. This not only gives a parsimonious explanation to a long-standing question, but also provides a neutral model against which to compare experimental data and ascertain whether a given system is being driven from equilibrium by correlating mechanisms.

Luminosity Limitations of Linear Colliders Based on Plasma Acceleration

DOE PAGES

Lebedev, Valeri; Burov, Alexey; Nagaitsev, Sergei

2016-01-01

Particle acceleration in plasma creates a possibility of exceptionally high accelerating gradients and appears as a very attractive option for future linear electron-positron and/or photon-photon colliders. These high accelerating gradients were already demonstrated in a number of experiments. Furthermore, a linear collider requires exceptionally high beam brightness which still needs to be demonstrated. In this article we discuss major phenomena which limit the beam brightness of accelerated beam and, consequently, the collider luminosity.

Comparison of extraction methods for the analysis of natural dyes in historical textiles by high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Valianou, Lemonia; Karapanagiotis, Ioannis; Chryssoulakis, Yannis

2009-12-01

Different methods for the extraction of Dactylopius coccus Costa, Rubia tinctorum L., Isatis tinctoria L., Reseda luteola L., Curcuma longa L. and Cotinus coggygria Scop. from wool fibres are investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The efficiencies of five extraction methods which include the use of HCl (widely used extraction method), citric acid, oxalic acid, TFA and a combination of HCOOH and EDTA are compared on the basis of the (a) number, (b) relative quantities, measured as HPLC peak areas and (c) signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) of the compounds extracted from the wool substrates. Flavonoid glycosides and curcuminoids contained in R. luteola L. and C. longa L., respectively, according to liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) identifications, are not detected after treating the fibres with HCl. All the other milder methods are successful in extracting these compounds. Experiments are performed using HPLC-DAD to compare the HPLC peak areas and the S/N of the following extracted compounds: indigotin, indirubin, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, fisetin, sulfuretin, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin, carminic acid, alizarin, puruprin and rubiadin. It is shown that the TFA method provides overall the best results as it gives elevated extraction yields except for fisetin, luteolin, apigenin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside and highest S/N except for fisetin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside. It is noteworthy that treatment of the fibres with the typical HCl extraction method results overall in very low S/N. The TFA method is selected for further studies, as follows. First, it is applied on silk dyed samples and compared with the HCl method. The same relative differences of the TFA and HCl methods observed for the wool dyed samples are reported for the silk dyed samples too, except for rubiadin, luteolin and apigenin. Thus, in most cases, the nature of the substrate (wool or silk) appears to have negligible effects on the relative difference of the two extraction methods. Second, the selected TFA method is applied to treat wool and silk historical samples extracted from textiles of the Mamluk period, resulting in the identification of several colouring compounds. In all extraction methods mentioned above, DMSO is used to dissolve the dyes, after acid treatment.

Effects of dietary supplementation with green tea waste on growth, digestive enzyme and lipid metabolism of juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus.

PubMed

Zheng, Qingmei; Han, Chunyan; Zhong, Yanmei; Wen, Rushu; Zhong, Ming

2017-04-01

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with green tea waste (GTW) on growth, digestive enzyme and lipid metabolism of juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus. The fish (initial mean body weight, 12.63 ± 0.75 g) were fed five experimental diets that included 0 (control), 0.8, 1.6, 3.2 or 6.4 % of GTW in triplicate aquaria, twice daily. Growth performance, plasma metabolites content and liver and intestine digestive enzyme activities were determined. Fish accepted well all experimental diets during the trial, and no mortality was observed. The weight gain increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in GTW inclusion level up to 1.6 %, after which it decreased, but no significant differences between the control and high level (3.2 or 6.4 % of GTW) groups were observed. Moreover, fish fed on diets containing 0.8 and 1.6 % GTW had lower feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.75 and 1.73, respectively) and had better protein deposition (higher protein efficiency ratio, PER, 1.73 and 1.71, respectively), compared to other treatments. No differences among groups were observed in whole body and dorsal muscle composition with the exception of lipid content which was lower in fish fed 6.4 % GTW diets, compared to other treatments. Lipase activities in liver or intestine were higher in fish fed GTW-supplemented diets with the exception of intestine lipase activities, which was unaffected, compared to the control. Similarly, liver lipoprotein lipase activities were also increased in fish fed diets supplemented a medium dose of GTW (1.6 or 3.2 %), compared to other treatments. However, intestine amylase activities were decreased in fish fed diets containing a high dose of GTW (3.2 and 6.4 %); while the liver amylase activities were unaffected by the GTW supplementation. Blood chemistry parameters were affected by GTW inclusion, except the values of triglycerides, which was unaffected. The values of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol increased with increasing GTW inclusion level up to 3.2 %, after which the values decreased. These results indicate that diets supplemented with appropriate concentration of GTW (from 0.8 to 1.6 %) may potentially serve as an effective functional food and additive for tilapia to improve growth performance, digestion efficacy and fat metabolism.

Selected Factors in Reading Comprehension for Deaf and Hearing Adults: Phonological Skills and Metacognition.

PubMed

Wang, Ye; Silvestri, Julia A; Jahromi, Laudan B

2018-01-01

The purpose of the study was to identify factors related to reading comprehension, and to compare similarities and differences in the reading processes of deaf and hearing adults. The sample included four groups, each consisting of 15 adults. The groups were identified as (a) deaf high-achieving readers, (b) deaf low-achieving readers, (c) hearing high-achieving readers, and (d) hearing low-achieving readers. Measurement instruments included a demographic form along with assessments of reading comprehension, phonological skills, and metacognition, the latter of which contained both a making-inferences measure and a think-aloud discussion with a reading strategies checklist. Results indicated that deaf high-achieving readers performed similarly to hearing high-achieving readers, except for phonological skills, and that for all participants, phonological skills and metacognition were related to reading comprehension skills.

Acute Antipsychotic Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Pagsberg, Anne Katrine; Tarp, Simon; Glintborg, Dorte; Stenstrøm, Anne Dorte; Fink-Jensen, Anders; Correll, Christoph Ulrich; Christensen, Robin

2017-03-01

To determine the comparative efficacy and safety of antipsychotics for youth with early-onset schizophrenia using network meta-analytic methods combining direct and indirect trial data. The authors systematically searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov and selected randomized controlled trials allocating youth with schizophrenia spectrum disorders to a (non-clozapine) antipsychotic versus placebo or another antipsychotic. Major efficacy outcomes were Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total and positive symptoms. Major safety outcomes were weight, plasma triglyceride levels, extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, and all-cause discontinuation. Sixteen additional outcomes were analyzed. A random-effects arm-based network meta-analysis was applied, and consistency was assessed by pairwise meta-analysis. Confidence in PANSS total estimates was assessed by applying the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Twelve 6- to 12-week trials (N = 2,158; 8-19 years old; 61% boys) involving 8 antipsychotics (aripiprazole, asenapine, paliperidone, risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, molindone, and ziprasidone) were analyzed. PANSS total symptom change was comparable among antipsychotics (low- to moderate-quality evidence), except ziprasidone (very low- to low-quality evidence), and all antipsychotics were superior to placebo (low- to high-quality evidence), except ziprasidone and asenapine (low- to moderate-quality evidence). PANSS positive changes and additional efficacy outcomes were comparable among antipsychotics. Weight gain was primarily associated with olanzapine; extrapyramidal symptoms and akathisia were associated with molindone; and prolactin increased with risperidone, paliperidone, and olanzapine. Serious adverse events, discontinuation of treatment, sedation, insomnia, or change in triglycerides did not differ among antipsychotics. This network meta-analysis showed comparable efficacy among antipsychotics for early-onset schizophrenia, except that efficacy appeared inferior for ziprasidone and unclear for asenapine. Adverse reaction profiles varied substantially among the investigated antipsychotics and were largely consistent with prior findings in adults. Protocol registration information-Antipsychotic Treatment for Children With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Network Meta-Analysis of Randomised Trials; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; CRD42013006676. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of population density on the concentration and speciation of metals in the soil and street dust from urban areas.

PubMed

Acosta, J A; Gabarrón, M; Faz, A; Martínez-Martínez, S; Zornoza, R; Arocena, J M

2015-09-01

Street dust and soil from high, medium and low populated cities and natural area were analysed for selected physical-chemical properties, total and chemical speciation of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co, Ni to understand the influence of human activities on metal accumulation and mobility in the environment. The pH, salinity, carbonates and organic carbon contents were similar between soil and dust from the same city. Population density increases dust/soil salinity but has no influence on metals concentrations in soils. Increases in metal concentrations with population density were observed in dusts. Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr can be mobilized more easily from dust compared to the soil. In addition, population density increase the percentage of Pb and Zn associated to reducible and carbonate phase in the dust. The behaviour of metals except Cd in soil is mainly affected by physico-chemical properties, while total metal influenced the speciation except Cr and Ni in dusts. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How temperament and personality contribute to the maladjustment of children with autism.

PubMed

De Pauw, Sarah S W; Mervielde, Ivan; Van Leeuwen, Karla G; De Clercq, Barbara J

2011-02-01

To test the spectrum hypothesis--postulating that clinical and non-clinical samples are primarily differentiated by mean-level differences--, this study evaluates differences in parent-rated temperament, personality and maladjustment among a low-symptom (N = 81), a high-symptom (N = 94) ASD-group, and a comparison group (N = 500). These classic spectrum hypothesis tests are extended by adding tests for similarity in variances, reliabilities and patterns of covariation between relevant variables. Children with ASD exhibit more extreme means, except for dominance. The low- and high-symptom ASD-groups are primarily differentiated by mean sociability and internal distress. Striking similarities in reliability and pattern of covariation of variables suggest that comparable processes link traits to maladaptation in low- and high-symptom children with ASD and in children with and without autism.

Fabrication of Highly Stable and Efficient PtCu Alloy Nanoparticles on Highly Porous Carbon for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Khan, Inayat Ali; Qian, Yuhong; Badshah, Amin; Zhao, Dan; Nadeem, Muhammad Arif

2016-08-17

Boosting the durability of Pt nanoparticles by controlling the composition and morphology is extremely important for fuel cells commercialization. We deposit the Pt-Cu alloy nanoparticles over high surface area carbon in different metallic molar ratios and optimize the conditions to achieve desired material. The novel bimetallic electro-catalyst {Pt-Cu/PC-950 (15:15%)} offers exceptional electrocatalytic activity when tested for both oxygen reduction reaction and methanol oxidation reactions. A high mass activity of 0.043 mA/μgPt (based on Pt mass) is recorded for ORR. An outstanding longevity of this electro-catalyst is noticed when compared to 20 wt % Pt loaded either on PC-950 or commercial carbon. The high surface area carbon support offers enhanced activity and prevents the nanoparticles from agglomeration, migration, and dissolution as evident by TEM analysis.

[Mortality rates of circulatory system diseases and malignant neoplasms in Zagreb population younger than sixty-five--call for alarm].

PubMed

Vizintin, Marina Polić; Mrcela, Nada Tomasović; Kovacić, Luka

2012-12-01

The aim of this work was to analyze the public health indicators for circulatory heart diseases and malignant neoplasms in the population younger than 65 in the City of Zagreb, Croatia, and compare them with the European Union (EU) countries. The purpose was to evaluate the situation and propose the public health preventive measures. The study population were Zagreb citizens aged 0-64 according to the 2001 census. Total Zagreb population was 779145, making 17.6% of total Croatian population. Data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics and Dr Andrija Stampar Institute of Public Health were used. The standardized 0-64 mortality rates of the selected diseases 2006-2010 were used in the analysis. In 2010, the standardized mortality rates of all analyzed diseases were significantly higher in Zagreb population aged 0-64 than the EU averages except for cervical cancer. In 2010, the mortality rates in Zagreb population aged 0-64 were as follows: circulatory system diseases 61.22, ischemic heart disease 28.99, cerebrovascular diseases 12.51, malignant neoplasms 94.69, tracheal and lung cancer 24.92, breast cancer 21.08 and cervical cancer 2.05. Standardized mortality rates in Zagreb population aged 0-64 for circulatory system were lower than for Croatia (61.22 vs. 63.25), but higher for malignant neoplasms (94.69 vs. 91.2), except for cervical cancer (2.05 vs. 3.14). High standardized mortality rates for the selected diseases in the City of Zagreb, Croatia, were observed. The rates were higher in Zagreb population compared to EU averages except for cervical cancer. This situation urges revision of the public health strategy and implementation of more intensive preventive and screening measures to reduce the risk factors.

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion is preserved in young patients with pulmonary hypertension except when associated with repaired congenital heart disease.

PubMed

Hauck, Amanda; Guo, Ruixin; Ivy, D Dunbar; Younoszai, Adel

2017-04-01

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a measure of right ventricular (RV) longitudinal function that correlates with functional status and mortality in adults with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The diagnostic and predictive value of TAPSE in children with PH has not been fully examined. We aimed to define TAPSE across aetiologies of paediatric PH and assess the correlation between TAPSE and measures of disease severity. TAPSE measurements were obtained in 84 children and young adults undergoing treatment for PH and 315 healthy children to establish z-scores at moderate altitude for comparison. The relationships between TAPSE and echocardiographic, biomarker, and functional measures of disease severity between aetiologies were assessed. TAPSE z-scores in PH patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) repaired with open cardiac surgery (n = 20, mean -2.73) were significantly decreased compared with normal children and patients with other aetiologies of PH (P < 0.001) but did not reflect poorer clinical status. TAPSE z-scores in children with idiopathic PH (n = 29, -0.41), unrepaired CHD (n = 11, -0.1), and PH related to systemic disease (n = 14, -0.39) were not different from normal. TAPSE correlated modestly with brain natriuretic peptide, echocardiographic function parameters, and functional class except in patients with repaired CHD. Children with PH maintain normal TAPSE values early except when associated with repaired CHD. Superior RV adaptation to high afterload in children compared with adults may account for this finding. Reduced TAPSE after repair of CHD does not correlate with functional status and may reflect post-operative changes rather than poor function primarily due to PH. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium for recovery of Salmonella spp. from low microbial load foods: collaborative study.

PubMed

Hammack, T S; Amaguaña, R M; Andrews, W H; Lerner, I

2001-01-01

Twenty-three laboratories participated in a collaborative study to compare the relative effectiveness of Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) medium incubated at 42 degrees C, selenite cystine (SC) broth (35 degrees C), and tetrathionate (TT) broth (35 and 43 degrees C) for recovery of Salmonella from the following foods with a low microbial load: dried egg yolk, dry active yeast, ground black pepper, guar gum, and instant nonfat dry milk. For dry active yeast, lauryl tryptose (LT) broth, incubated at 35 degrees C, was used instead of SC broth. All of the foods were artificially inoculated with single Salmonella serovars, that had been lyophilized before inoculation, at high and low target levels of 0.4 and 0.04 colony forming units/g food, respectively. For analysis of 870 test portions, representing all of the foods except yeast, 249 Salmonella-positive test portions were detected by RV medium, 265 by TT broth (43 degrees C), 268 by TT broth (35 degrees C), and 269 by SC broth (35 degrees C). For analysis of 225 test portions of yeast, 79 Salmonella-positive test portions were detected by RV medium, 79 by TT broth (43 degrees C), 84 by TT broth (35 degrees C), and 68 by LT broth (35 degrees C). RV medium was comparable to, or even more effective than, the other selective enrichments for recovery of Salmonella from all of the foods except guar gum. It is recommended that RV (42 degrees C) and TT (35 degrees C) be used with foods that have a low microbial load, except for guar gum for which SC (35 degrees C) and TT (35 degrees C) are recommended.

A Descriptive Case Study of the Ethics of Care Fostered by a Statewide Blended Teaching Model in Support of Site-Based Exceptional Children Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cadran, Amanda

2016-01-01

The term Exceptional Children refers to both the highest performing students in the most advanced classes as well as those with the most severe intellectual challenges and every level of functioning in between. In one southeastern state, Exceptional Children teachers work with high school Occupational Course of Study students. These students, who…

The Extremes of the Bell Curve: Excellent and Poor School Performance and Risk for Severe Mental Disorders. Maudsley Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacCabe, James H.

2010-01-01

It has long been claimed that there is a strong association between high intelligence, or exceptional creativity, and mental illness. In this book, James MacCabe investigates this claim, using evidence from Swedish population data. He finds evidence that children who achieve either exceptionally high, or very low grades at school, are at greater…

42 CFR 419.31 - Ambulatory payment classification (APC) system and payment weights.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... of resource use into APC groups. Except as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, items and services within a group are not comparable with respect to the use of resources if the highest median cost... an item or service within the group. (2) CMS may make exceptions to the requirements set forth in...

42 CFR 419.31 - Ambulatory payment classification (APC) system and payment weights.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... of resource use into APC groups. Except as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, items and services within a group are not comparable with respect to the use of resources if the highest median cost... an item or service within the group. (2) CMS may make exceptions to the requirements set forth in...

The role of the left anterior temporal lobe in exception word reading: reconciling patient and neuroimaging findings.

PubMed

Wilson, Maximiliano A; Joubert, Sven; Ferré, Perrine; Belleville, Sylvie; Ansaldo, Ana Inés; Joanette, Yves; Rouleau, Isabelle; Brambati, Simona Maria

2012-05-01

Semantic dementia (SD) is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs following the atrophy of the anterior temporal lobes (ATLs). It is characterised by the degradation of semantic knowledge and difficulties in reading exception words (surface dyslexia). This disease has highlighted the role of the ATLs in the process of exception word reading. However, imaging studies in healthy subjects have failed to detect activation of the ATLs during exception word reading. The aim of the present study was to test whether the functional brain regions that mediate exception word reading in normal readers overlap those brain regions atrophied in SD. In Study One, we map the brain regions of grey matter atrophy in AF, a patient with mild SD and surface dyslexia profile. In Study Two, we map the activation pattern associated with exception word compared to pseudoword reading in young, healthy participants using fMRI. The results revealed areas of significant activation in healthy subjects engaged in the exception word reading task in the left anterior middle temporal gyrus, in a region observed to be atrophic in the patient AF. These results reconcile neuropsychological and functional imaging data, revealing the critical role of the left ATL in exception word reading. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of whole-plant corn silage hybrid type on intake, digestion, ruminal fermentation, and lactation performance by dairy cows through a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Ferraretto, L F; Shaver, R D

2015-04-01

Understanding the effect of whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) hybrids in dairy cattle diets may allow for better decisions on hybrid selection by dairy producers, as well as indicate potential strategies for the seed corn industry with regard to WPCS hybrids. Therefore, the objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis using literature data on the effects of WPCS hybrid type on intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and lactation performance by dairy cows. The meta-analysis was performed using a data set of 162 treatment means from 48 peer-reviewed articles published between 1995 and 2014. Hybrids were divided into 3 categories before analysis. Comparative analysis of WPCS hybrid types differing in stalk characteristics were in 4 categories: conventional, dual-purpose, isogenic, or low-normal fiber digestibility (CONS), brown midrib (BMR), hybrids with greater NDF but lower lignin (%NDF) contents or high in vitro NDF digestibility (HFD), and leafy (LFY). Hybrid types differing in kernel characteristics were in 4 categories: conventional or yellow dent (CONG), NutriDense (ND), high oil (HO), and waxy. Genetically modified (GM) hybrids were compared with their genetically similar non-biotech counterpart (ISO). Except for lower lignin content for BMR and lower starch content for HFD than CONS and LFY, silage nutrient composition was similar among hybrids of different stalk types. A 1.1 kg/d greater intake of DM and 1.5 and 0.05 kg/d greater milk and protein yields, respectively, were observed for BMR compared with CONS and LFY. Likewise, DMI and milk yield were greater for HFD than CONS, but the magnitude of the difference was smaller. Total-tract NDF digestibility was greater, but starch digestibility was reduced, for BMR and HFD compared with CONS or LFY. Silage nutrient composition was similar for hybrids of varied kernel characteristics, except for lower CP and EE content for CONG than ND and HO. Feeding HO WPCS to dairy cows decreased milk fat content and yield and protein content compared with the other kernel-type hybrids. Hybrids varying in kernel characteristics did not affect intake, milk production, or total-tract nutrient digestibilities by lactating dairy cows. Nutrient composition and lactation performance were similar between GM and ISO. Positive effects of BMR and HFD on intake and milk yield were observed for lactating dairy cows, but the reduced total-tract starch digestibility for these hybrids merits further study. Except for negative effects of HO on milk components, differences were minimal among corn silage hybrids differing in kernel type. Feeding GM WPCS did not affect lactation performance by dairy cows. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of new psychoactive substances in human urine by ultra-high performance supercritical fluid and liquid chromatography: Validation and comparison.

PubMed

Borovcová, Lucie; Pauk, Volodymyr; Lemr, Karel

2018-05-01

New psychoactive substances represent serious social and health problem as tens of new compounds are detected in Europe annually. They often show structural proximity or even isomerism, which complicates their analysis. Two methods based on ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection were validated and compared. A simple dilute-filter-and-shoot protocol utilizing propan-2-ol or methanol for supercritical fluid or liquid chromatography, respectively, was proposed to detect and quantify 15 cathinones and phenethylamines in human urine. Both methods offered fast separation (<3 min) and short total analysis time. Precision was well <15% with a few exceptions in liquid chromatography. Limits of detection in urine ranged from 0.01 to 2.3 ng/mL, except for cathinone (5 ng/mL) in supercritical fluid chromatography. Nevertheless, this technique distinguished all analytes including four pairs of isomers, while liquid chromatography was unable to resolve fluoromethcathinone regioisomers. Concerning matrix effects and recoveries, supercritical fluid chromatography produced more uniform results for different compounds and at different concentration levels. This work demonstrates the performance and reliability of supercritical fluid chromatography and corroborates its applicability as an alternative tool for analysis of new psychoactive substances in biological matrixes. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A Haloalkane Dehalogenase from a Marine Microbial Consortium Possessing Exceptionally Broad Substrate Specificity.

PubMed

Buryska, Tomas; Babkova, Petra; Vavra, Ondrej; Damborsky, Jiri; Prokop, Zbynek

2018-01-15

The haloalkane dehalogenase enzyme DmmA was identified by marine metagenomic screening. Determination of its crystal structure revealed an unusually large active site compared to those of previously characterized haloalkane dehalogenases. Here we present a biochemical characterization of this interesting enzyme with emphasis on its structure-function relationships. DmmA exhibited an exceptionally broad substrate specificity and degraded several halogenated environmental pollutants that are resistant to other members of this enzyme family. In addition to having this unique substrate specificity, the enzyme was highly tolerant to organic cosolvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and acetone. Its broad substrate specificity, high overexpression yield (200 mg of protein per liter of cultivation medium; 50% of total protein), good tolerance to organic cosolvents, and a broad pH range make DmmA an attractive biocatalyst for various biotechnological applications. IMPORTANCE We present a thorough biochemical characterization of the haloalkane dehalogenase DmmA from a marine metagenome. This enzyme with an unusually large active site shows remarkably broad substrate specificity, high overexpression, significant tolerance to organic cosolvents, and activity under a broad range of pH conditions. DmmA is an attractive catalyst for sustainable biotechnology applications, e.g., biocatalysis, biosensing, and biodegradation of halogenated pollutants. We also report its ability to convert multiple halogenated compounds to corresponding polyalcohols. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Estimation of potential runoff-contributing areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin, Kansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Juracek, Kyle E.

1999-01-01

Digital soils and topographic data were used to estimate and compare potential runoff-contributing areas for 19 selected subbasins representing soil, slope, and runoff variability within the Kansas-Lower Republican (KLR) River Basin. Potential runoff-contributing areas were estimated separately and collectively for the processes of infiltration-excess and saturation-excess overland flow using a set of environmental conditions that represented high, moderate, and low potential runoff. For infiltration-excess overland flow, various rainfall intensities and soil permeabilities were used. For saturation-excess overland flow, antecedent soil-moisture conditions and a topographic wetness index were used. Results indicated that the subbasins with relatively high potential runoff are located in the central part of the KLR River Basin. These subbasins are Black Vermillion River, Clarks Creek, Delaware River upstream from Muscotah, Grasshopper Creek, Mill Creek (Wabaunsee County), Soldier Creek, Vermillion Creek (Pottawatomie County), and Wildcat Creek. The subbasins with relatively low potential runoff are located in the western one-third of the KLR River Basin, with one exception, and are Buffalo Creek, Little Blue River upstream from Barnes, Mill Creek (Washington County), Republican River between Concordia and Clay Center, Republican River upstream from Concordia, Wakarusa River downstream from Clinton Lake (exception), and White Rock Creek. The ability to distinguish the subbasins as having relatively high or low potential runoff was possible mostly due to the variability of soil permeability across the KLR River Basin.

[Effect of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation on immune function in mice].

PubMed

Liu, Cheng-song; Wang, Yu-ping; Shi, Yan-bin; Ma, Xing-ming; Li, Hui-li; Zhang, Xiao-yun; Li, Shou-tang

2014-11-01

To investigate the immune function of mice being given the extract of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation. Mice were divided into five groups. Except the normal control group, the mice were fed with the extract of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation at the high,medium and low doses, as well as medium dose of Codonopsis Radix maintained with low-temperature vacuum method, respectively. Mice were treated once a day for 10 continuous days. Weight change,organ indexes, blood cell indices, macrophage phagocytic function, and IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were measured. Compared with normal control group, Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation at medium and high doses inhibited body weight increase of mice; white blood cell count of high dose group was significantly increased; significant increase of macrophage phagocytosis were observed for all groups except the normal control group; and spleen index and IFN-γ level of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation medium dose group were increased significantly. Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation can promote mouse immune function to a certain degree. There was no difference in immune effect between Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation and low-temperature vacuum method during experimental period. However,taking the extract of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation can exert negative effect on appetite and body weight in mice.

Explosive detection using high-volume vapor sampling and analysis by trained canines and ultra-trace detection equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Mark; Sikes, John; Prather, Mark

2004-09-01

The dog's nose is an effective, highly-mobile sampling system, while the canine olfactory organs are an extremely sensitive detector. Having been trained to detect a wide variety of substances with exceptional results, canines are widely regarded as the 'gold standard' in chemical vapor detection. Historically, attempts to mimic the ability of dogs to detect vapors of explosives using electronic 'dogs noses' has proven difficult. However, recent advances in technology have resulted in development of detection (i.e., sampling and sensor) systems with performance that is rapidly approaching that of trained canines. The Nomadics Fido was the first sensor to demonstrate under field conditions the detection of landmines with performance approaching that of canines. More recently, comparative testing of Fido against canines has revealed that electronic vapor detection, when coupled with effective sampling methods, can produce results comparable to that of highly-trained canines. The results of these comparative tests will be presented, as will recent test results in which explosives hidden in cargo were detected using Fido with a high-volume sampling technique. Finally, the use of canines along with electronic sensors will be discussed as a means of improving the performance and expanding the capabilities of both methods.

A comparative study on the effect of conventional thermal pasteurisation, microwave and ultrasound treatments on the antioxidant activity of five fruit juices.

PubMed

Saikia, Sangeeta; Mahnot, Nikhil Kumar; Mahanta, Charu Lata

2016-06-01

A comparative study on the effect of conventional thermal pasteurisation, microwave and ultrasound treatments on the phytochemical and antioxidant activities of juices from carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.), black jamun (Syzygium cumuni L.Skeels.), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var lanatus), pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) and litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) was carried out. Depending on the type of fruit sample and treatment, increase or decrease in phytochemical values was observed. Overall, sonication had a positive effect on the total flavonoid content in all the juice samples followed by microwave treatment with exceptions in some cases. High-performance liquid chromatography study showed the presence of different phenolic acids depending on the sample type. The phenolic acids in some processed carambola juice samples showed decrease or complete destruction, while in some cases, an increase or appearance of newer phenolic acid originally not detected in the fresh juice was observed as seen in conventional thermal pasteurisation, microwaved at 600 W and sonicated juices. Both microwaved and sonicated samples were found to have positive effect on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity with exceptions in some cases. Therefore, microwave and sonication treatment could be used in place of thermal pasteurisation depending on the sample requirements. © The Author(s) 2015.

Synthesis, SAR and molecular docking studies of benzo[d]thiazole-hydrazones as potential antibacterial and antifungal agents.

PubMed

Zha, Gao-Feng; Leng, Jing; Darshini, N; Shubhavathi, T; Vivek, H K; Asiri, Abdullah M; Marwani, Hadi M; Rakesh, K P; Mallesha, N; Qin, Hua-Li

2017-07-15

A series of new benzo[d]thiazole-hydrazones analogues were synthesized and screened for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. The results revealed that compounds 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 28 and 30 exhibited superior antibacterial potency compared to the reference drug chloramphenicol and rifampicin. Compounds 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 28 and 30 were found to be good antifungal activity compared to the standard drug ketoconazole. A preliminary study of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) revealed that the antimicrobial activity depended on the effect of different substituents on the phenyl ring. The electron donating (OH and OCH 3 ) groups presented in the analogues, increase the antibacterial activity (except compound 12), interestingly, while the electron withdrawing (Cl, NO 2 , F and Br) groups increase the antifungal activity (except compound 19 and 20). In addition, analogues containing thiophene (28) and indole (30) showed good antimicrobial activities. Whereas, aliphatic analogues (24-26) shown no activities in both bacterial and fungal stains even in high concentrations (100µg/mL). Molecular docking studies were performed for all the synthesized compounds of which compounds 11, 19 and 20 showed the highest glide G-score. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Burden of Common Complex Disease Variants in the Exomes of Two Healthy Centenarian Brothers.

PubMed

Tindale, Lauren C; Zeng, Andy; Bretherick, Karla L; Leach, Stephen; Thiessen, Nina; Brooks-Wilson, Angela R

2015-01-01

It is not understood whether long-term good health is promoted by the absence of disease risk variants, the presence of protective variants, or both. We characterized the exomes of two exceptionally healthy centenarian brothers aged 106 and 109 years who had never been diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, or major pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to gain insight into whether exceptional health and longevity are a result of carrying fewer disease-associated variants than typical individuals. We compared the number of disease-associated alleles, and the proportion of alleles predicted to be functionally damaging, between the centenarian brothers and published population data. Mitochondrial sequence reads were extracted from the exome data in order to analyze mitochondrial variants. The brothers carry a similar number of common disease-associated variants and predicted damaging variants compared to reference groups. They did not carry any high-penetrance clinically actionable variants. They carry mitochondrial haplogroup T, and one brother has a single heteroplasmic variant. Although our small sample size does not allow for definitive conclusions, a healthy aging and longevity phenotype is not necessarily due to a decreased burden of common disease-associated variants. Instead, it may be rare 'positive' variants that play a role in this desirable phenotype. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chorioamnionitis in pregnancy: a comparative study of HIV-positive and HIV-negative parturients.

PubMed

Ocheke, Amaka N; Agaba, Patricia A; Imade, Godwin E; Silas, Olugbenga A; Ajetunmobi, Olanrewaju I; Echejoh, Godwins; Ekere, Clement; Sendht, Ayuba; Bitrus, James; Agaba, Emmanuel I; Sagay, Atiene S

2016-03-01

Chorioamnionitis is an important risk factor for vertical transmission of HIV/AIDS. We compared the prevalence and correlates of histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) in HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women. HIV-positive and -negative parturients were interviewed, examined and had their placentas examined histologically for chorioamnionitis. Data regarding HIV were also retrieved from their hospital records. A total of 298 parturients (150 HIV positive and 148 HIV negative) were enrolled. The two groups were similar in socio-demographic and obstetric parameters except for age. The prevalence of HCA was 57.1% in HIV-positive women and 61.6% in HIV-negative women (p = 0.43). HCA staging was associated with the number of intrapartum vaginal examinations in HIV-positive subjects and nulliparity in HIV-negative subjects. The number of intrapartum vaginal examinations and coitus in the week prior to delivery significantly affected the grade of HCA in HIV-negative subjects. The prevalence of HCA in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative is high. Most variables did not affect the occurrence of HCA in both groups studied except number of intrapartum examinations, coitus in the preceding one week and nulliparity, which were related to severity of the disease. © The Author(s) 2016.

Architectural Considerations for Classrooms for Exceptional Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Texas Education Agency, Austin.

Definitions are provided of the following exceptionalities: blind, partially sighted, physically handicapped, minimally brain injured, deaf, educable mentally retarded (primary, junior, and senior high levels), trainable mentally retarded, speech handicapped, and emotionally disturbed. Architectural guidelines specify classroom location, size,…

Water resources of the Myakka River basin area, southwest Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Joyner, Boyd F.; Sutcliffe, Horace

1976-01-01

Ground water in the Myakka River basin area of southwest Floria is obtained from a water-table aquifer and from five zones in an artesian aquifer. Wells in the water-table aquifer yield generally less than 50 gpm and dissolved solids concentration is less than 500 mg/liter except in coastal areas and the peninsula southwest of the Myakka River estuary. Wells in the Venice area that tap zone 1 usually yield less than 30 gmp. The quality of water is good except in the peninsula area. Zone 2 is the most highly developed aquifer in the heavily populated coastal areas. Wells yield as much as 200 gpm. In most areas, water is of acceptable quality. Wells that tap zone 3 yield as much as 500 gmp. Fluoride concentration ranges from 1 to 3.5 mg/liter. Zone 4 yields as much as 1,500 gpm to large diameter wells. Except in the extreme northeastern part of the area water from zone 4 usually contains high concentrations of fluoride and sulfate. Zone 5 is the most productive aquifer in the area, but dissolved solids concentrations usually are too high for public supply except in the extreme northeast. Surface water derived from natural drainage is of good quality except for occasional high color in summer. Most of the streams in the Myakka River basin area have small drainage basins, are of short channel length, and do not yield high volumes of flow. During the dry season, streamflow is maintained by groundwater discharge, and, as a result, chloride, sulfate, and dissolved solids concentrations and the hardness of the water are above drinking water standards for some streams. (Woodard-USGS)

Effect of water on mechanical properties and stress corrosion behavior of alloy 600, alloy 690, EN82H welds, and EN52 welds

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

Brown, C.M.; Mills, W.J.

1999-02-01

The fracture toughness and tensile properties of alloy 600 (UNS N06600), alloy 690 (UNS N06690), and their welds (EN82H [UNS N06082] and EN52 [UNS N06052]) were characterized in 54 C and 338 C water with an elevated hydrogen content. Results were compared with air data to evaluate the effect of low- and high-temperature water on the mechanical properties. In addition, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of EN82H and EN52 welds was evaluated in 360 C water. Elastic-plastic (J{sub IC}) fracture toughness testing revealed that the fracture resistance of all test materials was exceptionally high in 54 C and 338more » C air and 338 C water, demonstrating that fracture properties essentially were unaffected by the high-temperature water environment. In 54 C water, however, J{sub IC} values for EN82H and EN52 welds were reduced by an order of magnitude, and alloy 690 showed a fivefold decrease in J{sub IC}. Scanning electron fractography revealed that the degraded fracture properties were associated with a fracture mechanism transition from ductile dimple rupture to intergranular cracking. The latter was associated with hydrogen-induced cracking mechanism. The fracture toughness for alloy 600 remained high in 54 C water, and microvoid coalescence was the operative mechanism in low-temperature air and water. Tensile properties for all test materials essentially were unaffected by the water environment, except for the total elongation for EN82H welds, which was reduced significantly in 54 C water. Constant-load testing of precracked weld specimens in 360 C water resulted in extensive intergranular SCC in EN82H welds, whereas no SCC occurred in EN52 welds under comparable test conditions.« less

The impact of sex-role reversal on the diversity of the major histocompatibility complex: insights from the seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis).

PubMed

Bahr, Angela; Wilson, Anthony B

2011-05-10

Both natural and sexual selection are thought to influence genetic diversity, but the study of the relative importance of these two factors on ecologically-relevant traits has traditionally focused on species with conventional sex-roles, with male-male competition and female-based mate choice. With its high variability and significance in both immune function and olfactory-mediated mate choice, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC/MH) is an ideal system in which to evaluate the relative contributions of these two selective forces to genetic diversity. Intrasexual competition and mate choice are both reversed in sex-role reversed species, and sex-related differences in the detection and use of MH-odor cues are expected to influence the intensity of sexual selection in such species. The seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, has an exceptionally highly developed form of male parental care, with female-female competition and male mate choice. Here, we demonstrate that the sex-role reversed seahorse has a single MH class II beta-chain gene and that the diversity of the seahorse MHIIβ locus and its pattern of variation are comparable to those detected in species with conventional sex roles. Despite the presence of only a single gene copy, intralocus MHIIβ allelic diversity in this species exceeds that observed in species with multiple copies of this locus. The MHIIβ locus of the seahorse exhibits a novel expression domain in the male brood pouch. The high variation found at the seahorse MHIIβ gene indicates that sex-role reversed species are capable of maintaining the high MHC diversity typical in most vertebrates.Whether such species have evolved the capacity to use MH-odor cues during mate choice is presently being investigated using mate choice experiments. If this possibility can be rejected, such systems would offer an exceptional opportunity to study the effects of natural selection in isolation, providing powerful comparative models for understanding the relative importance of selective factors in shaping patterns of genetic variation.

High Energy Particle Events in Solar Cycles 23 and 24

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, N.; Gopalswamy, N.; Makela, P. A.; Yashiro, S.; Akiyama, S.; Xie, H.

2014-12-01

We present a study of high-energy solar energetic particle (SEP) events in solar cycles 23 and 24 using GOES data. We selected large SEP events, which showed intensity enhancements in the >500 MeV and >700 MeV GOES energy channels. A study of cycle 24 and the first half of cycle 23 ground level enhancements (GLEs) by Gopalswamy et al. 2014 showed that typically, SEP events with intensity enhancement at >700 MeV have been associated with GLEs. We have extended the survey to cover the whole cycle 23. Our preliminary survey confirms this to be true for all except for three cases. There were two GLEs (1998/05/06 and 2006/12/06) for which a clear increase in >700 MeV protons was not observed by GOES. There was one high energy SEP event (2000/11/08), for which GOES observed >700 MeV protons but no GLE was produced. Here we compare all the high-energy particle events from cycles 23 and 24 with GLEs. We also compare energy spectra of all high-energy SEP events with those that produced GLEs. Work supported by NASA's Living with a Star Program. Ref.: Gopalswamy et al. 2014, GRL, 41, 2673

7 CFR 1218.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) A summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for...) Staff and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least on preceding year...

7 CFR 1218.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...) A summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for...) Staff and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least on preceding year...

7 CFR 1218.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...) A summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for...) Staff and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least on preceding year...

7 CFR 1218.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) A summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for...) Staff and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least on preceding year...

7 CFR 1218.50 - Budget and expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...) A summary of anticipated revenue, with comparative data or at least one preceding year (except for...) Staff and administrative expense breakdowns, with comparative data for at least on preceding year...

Restoration of high zinc and lead tailings with municipal biosolids and lime: a field study.

PubMed

Brown, Sally; Svendsen, Alex; Henry, Chuck

2009-01-01

A field study was conducted to test the ability of biosolids (BS) and different types of lime to increase soil pH, neutralize subsoil acidity, and restore a vegetative cover to alluvial mine tailings in Leadville, CO. The tailings had soil pH of 5.2 and total Cd, Pb, and Zn of 75+/-20, 2600+/-1100, and 6700+/-1900 mg kg(-1). Types of lime included agricultural lime (AL), sugar beet lime (SBL), and lime kiln dust (LKD) applied at 224 Mg ha(-1) calcium carbonate equivalent. Plots were established in 2000 and monitored intermittently through 2007. All amendments increased pH in surface and subsurface depths, with LKD, LKD+BS, and SBL+BS being the most effective. Amendments also reduced 0.01 mol L(-1) Ca(NO3)2 extractable Zn and Cd compared to the control. Plant growth was sparse on all treatments with limited yield for three of four harvests. Poor growth may have been related to elevated electrical conductivity (EC). All amendments except LKD alone (5.79 dS m(-1)) increased EC compared to the control treatment (5.28 dS m(-1)). Electrical conductivity was highest in 2002 which had the lowest summer rainfall. In 2005 EC in all treatments except the SBL+BS was similar in the surface soil. Aboveground plant tissue concentrations of Zn and Cd were also elevated. Limited precipitation and high electrical conductivity may be responsible for poor plant growth. Higher rainfall for the last sampling period resulted in significant growth in the LKD+BS, SBL+BS, and LKD alone treatments.

ICP-MS multielemental determination of metals potentially released from dental implants and articular prostheses in human biological fluids.

PubMed

Sarmiento-González, Alejandro; Marchante-Gayón, Juan Manuel; Tejerina-Lobo, José María; Paz-Jiménez, José; Sanz-Medel, Alfredo

2005-06-01

A sector field high-resolution (HR)-ICP-MS and an octapole reaction system (ORS)-ICP-MS have been compared for the simultaneous determination of traces of metals (Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, and Mo) released from dental implants and articular prostheses in human biological fluids. Optimum sample treatments were evaluated to minimize matrix effects in urine and whole blood. Urine samples were diluted tenfold with ultrapure water, whereas whole blood samples were digested with high-purity nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and finally diluted tenfold with ultrapure water. In both matrices, internal standardization (Ga and Y) was employed to avoid potential matrix interferences and ICP-MS signal drift. Spectral interferences arising from the plasma gases or the major components of urine and whole blood were identified by (HR)-ICP-MS at 3,000 resolving power. The capabilities of (HR)-ICP-MS and (ORS)-ICP-MS for the removal of such spectral interferences were evaluated and compared. Results indicate that polyatomic interferences, which hamper the determination of such metallic elements in these biological samples, could be overcome by using a resolving power of 3,000. Using (ORS)-ICP-MS, all those elements could be quantified except Ti and V (due to the polyatomic ions 31P16O and 35Cl16O, respectively). The accuracy of the proposed methodologies by (HR)- and (ORS)-ICP-MS was checked against two reference materials. Good agreement between the given values and the concentrations obtained for all the analytes under scrutiny was found except for Ti and V when analyzed by (ORS)-ICP-MS.

Human papillomavirus is associated with the frequent detection of warty and basaloid high-grade neoplasia of the vulva and cervical neoplasia among immunocompromised women.

PubMed

Petry, K U; Köchel, H; Bode, U; Schedel, I; Niesert, S; Glaubitz, M; Maschek, H; Kühnle, H

1996-01-01

A total of 158 women who either HIV-infected or under iatrogenic immunosuppression were examined regularly during a 4-year period to evaluate if certain vulvar neoplasms and cervical neoplasia have similar associated risk factors. Patients with CIN were matched prospectively with immunocompetent controls with CIN. Forty-eight cervical lesions were detected among patients, including 2 invasive carcinoma and 15 CIN-3 lesions, compared to 11 vulvar lesions, including 2 invasive carcinoma and 7 VIN-3 lesions. Women who have more than five life-time partners were more likely to have HPV-DNA positive cervical swabs and vulvar scrapes as well as cervical and/or vulvar neoplasia. Compared to 2.7% of controls 15.2% of patients with CIN had coexisting high-grade lesions of the vulva. With 1 exception all patients with vulvar neoplasia either suffered from symptomatic immunodeficiency or received immunosuppressive drugs for more than 10 years. Except for 1 VIN-3 lesions, all vulvar neoplasms were associated with HPV-DNA types 16, 31, and/or 33. Six of nine patients as well as the 2 controls with coexisting vulvar and cervical neoplasia had the same HPV-type associated with both lesions. All vulvar lesions were classified as either "warty" or "basaloid". In conclusion cervical and bowenoid/basaloid vulvar neoplasia seem to have a similar HPV-related genesis. Malfunction of the cellular immune response appears to be a cofactor in the genesis of HPV-associated neoplasia at both sites.

Association of Interarm Systolic Blood Pressure Difference with Atherosclerosis and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

PubMed Central

Su, Ho-Ming; Lin, Tsung-Hsien; Hsu, Po-Chao; Chu, Chun-Yuan; Lee, Wen-Hsien; Chen, Szu-Chia; Lee, Chee-Siong; Voon, Wen-Chol; Lai, Wen-Ter; Sheu, Sheng-Hsiung

2012-01-01

An interarm systolic blood pressure (SBP) difference of 10 mmHg or more have been associated with peripheral artery disease and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We investigated whether an association exists between this difference and ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and echocardiographic parameters. A total of 1120 patients were included in the study. The bilateral arm blood pressures were measured simultaneously by an ABI-form device. The values of ABI and baPWV were also obtained from the same device. Clinical data, ABI<0.9, baPWV, echocariographic parameters, and an interarm SBP difference ≥10 mmHg were compared and analyzed. We performed two multivariate forward analyses for determining the factors associated with an interarm SBP difference ≥10 mmHg [model 1: significant variables in univariate analysis except left ventricular mass index (LVMI); model 2: significant variables in univariate analysis except ABI<0.9 and baPWV]. The ABI<0.9 and high baPWV in model 1 and high LVMI in model 2 were independently associated with an interarm SBP difference ≥10 mmHg. Female, hypertension, and high body mass index were also associated with an interarm SBP difference ≥10 mmHg. Our study demonstrated that ABI<0.9, high baPWV, and high LVMI were independently associated with an interarm SBP difference of 10 mmHg or more. Detection of an interarm SBP difference may provide a simple method of detecting patients at increased risk of atherosclerosis and left ventricular hypertrophy. PMID:22927905

Cellular profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in Turkish miners

PubMed Central

Kayacan, O; Beder, S; Karnak, D

2003-01-01

Pneumoconiosis is still a health problem in Turkey and has a relatively high incidence. Retired underground miners were investigated to document alveolitis, and to observe the difference in the cellular profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid with or without pneumoconiosis. Twenty nine retired male miners and 17 controls, eight non-smokers (four male, four female) and nine smokers (six male, three female), without any dust exposure were evaluated. According to the International Labor Office 1980 classification system, the miners were allocated to three subgroups: eight without pneumoconiosis, 11 with simple pneumoconiosis, and 10 with progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Spirometric tests and arterial blood gases analysis were done and fibreoptic bronchoscopy and BAL were performed in all subjects. The study and the control subjects were comparable in respect to age, smoking habits, except the non-smoker controls, and the duration of dust exposure, except the controls. The amount of recovered BAL fluid was lower in all miners compared with the non-smoker controls (p<0.05). The amount of recovered BAL fluid and the total cell count correlated significantly (r = 0.48, p<0.01). The percentage of lymphocytes in the BAL fluid of miners without pneumoconiosis and with PMF (p<0.05) and that of simple pneumoconiosis (p<0.01) was significantly lower compared with the non-smoker controls. Alveolitis was not a representative feature of Turkish subjects with an occupational history of underground mining, and BAL fluid cellular profile did not seem to be different in miners with or without pneumoconiosis. PMID:13679550

Meeting the Needs of the Highly Gifted.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morelock, Martha; And Others

1997-01-01

This supplementary insert discusses the differences between exceptionally gifted children and their more moderately gifted peers. Case studies are provided to illustrate the characteristics of exceptionally gifted children, including their tendencies toward fantasy and their ability to develop alternate realities. (CR)

Unidirectional reflectionless propagation in non-Hermitian metamaterial based on phase coupling between two resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Hongda; Bai, Ruiping; Gu, Xintong; Zhang, Cong; Gu, Guang Rui; Zhang, Ying Qiao; Jin, Xing Ri; Lee, YoungPak

2018-05-01

Unidirectional reflectionless propagation in a non-Hermitian metamaterial is obtained based on phase coupling between two resonators. The unidirectional reflectionless propagation can be obtained at exceptional point by adjusting polarization angle θ and distance d between two resonators. Moreover, coherent prefect absorptions are obtained near exceptional point with the high absorbance of ∼0.99 and high quality factor of ∼83.

Out-of-Autoclave Cure Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayes, Brian S.

2015-01-01

As the size of aerospace composite parts exceeds that of even the largest autoclaves, the development of new out-of-autoclave processes and materials is necessary to ensure quality and performance. Many out-of-autoclave prepreg systems can produce high-quality composites initially; however, due to long layup times, the resin advancement commonly causes high void content and variations in fiber volume. Applied Poleramic, Inc. (API), developed an aerospace-grade benzoxazine matrix composite prepreg material that offers more than a year out-time at ambient conditions and provides exceptionally low void content when out-of-autoclave cured. When compared with aerospace epoxy prepreg systems, API's innovation offers significant improvements in terms of out-time at ambient temperature and the corresponding tack retention. The carbon fiber composites developed with the optimized matrix technology have significantly better mechanical performance in terms of hot-wet retention and compression when compared with aerospace epoxy matrices. These composites also offer an excellent overall balance of properties. This matrix system imparts very low cure shrinkage, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and low density when compared with most aerospace epoxy prepreg materials.

Comparison of flow and gas washout characteristics between pressure control and high-frequency percussive ventilation using a test lung

PubMed Central

Dutta, Rabijit; Xing, Tao; Swanson, Craig; Heltborg, Jeff; Murdoch, Gordon K

2018-01-01

Objective A comparison between flow and gas washout data for high-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) and pressure control ventilation (PCV) under similar conditions is currently not available. This bench study aims to compare and describe the flow and gas washout behavior of HFPV and PCV in a newly designed experimental setup and establish a framework for future clinical and animal studies. Approach We studied gas washout behavior using a newly designed experimental setup that is motivated by the multi-breath nitrogen washout measurements. In this procedure, a test lung was filled with nitrogen gas before it was connected to a ventilator. Pressure, volume, and oxygen concentrations were recorded under different compliance and resistance conditions. PCV was compared with two settings of HFPV, namely, HFPV-High and HFPV-Low, to simulate the different variations in its clinical application. In the HFPV-Low mode, the peak pressures and drive pressures of HFPV and PCV are matched, whereas in the HFPV-High mode, the mean airway pressures (MAP) are matched. Main results HFPV-Low mode delivers smaller tidal volume (VT) as compared to PCV under all lung conditions, whereas HFPV-High delivers a larger VT. HFPV-High provides rapid washout as compared to PCV under all lung conditions. HFPV-Low takes a longer time to wash out nitrogen except at a low compliance, where it expedites washout at a smaller VT and MAP compared to PCV washout. Significance Various flow parameters for HFPV and PCV are mathematically defined. A shorter washout time at a small VT in low compliant test lungs for HFPV could be regarded as a hypothesis for lung protective ventilation for animal or human lungs. PMID:29369819

Comparison of flow and gas washout characteristics between pressure control and high-frequency percussive ventilation using a test lung.

PubMed

Dutta, Rabijit; Xing, Tao; Swanson, Craig; Heltborg, Jeff; Murdoch, Gordon K

2018-03-15

A comparison between flow and gas washout data for high-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) and pressure control ventilation (PCV) under similar conditions is currently not available. This bench study aims to compare and describe the flow and gas washout behavior of HFPV and PCV in a newly designed experimental setup and establish a framework for future clinical and animal studies. We studied gas washout behavior using a newly designed experimental setup that is motivated by the multi-breath nitrogen washout measurements. In this procedure, a test lung was filled with nitrogen gas before it was connected to a ventilator. Pressure, volume, and oxygen concentrations were recorded under different compliance and resistance conditions. PCV was compared with two settings of HFPV, namely, HFPV-High and HFPV-Low, to simulate the different variations in its clinical application. In the HFPV-Low mode, the peak pressures and drive pressures of HFPV and PCV are matched, whereas in the HFPV-High mode, the mean airway pressures (MAP) are matched. HFPV-Low mode delivers smaller tidal volume (V T ) as compared to PCV under all lung conditions, whereas HFPV-High delivers a larger V T . HFPV-High provides rapid washout as compared to PCV under all lung conditions. HFPV-Low takes a longer time to wash out nitrogen except at a low compliance, where it expedites washout at a smaller V T and MAP compared to PCV washout. Various flow parameters for HFPV and PCV are mathematically defined. A shorter washout time at a small V T in low compliant test lungs for HFPV could be regarded as a hypothesis for lung protective ventilation for animal or human lungs.

Physico-chemical properties and performance of high oleic and palm-based shortenings.

PubMed

Ramli, Muhamad Roddy; Lin, Siew Wai; Yoo, Cheah Kien; Idris, Nor Aini; Sahri, Miskandar Mat

2008-01-01

Solid fat from fractionation of palm-based products was converted into cake shortening at different processing conditions. High oleic palm stearin with an oleic content of 48.2 % was obtained from fractionation of high oleic palm oil which was produced locally. Palm product was blended with different soft oils at pre-determined ratio and further fractionated to obtain the solid fractions. These fractions were then converted into cake shortenings named as high oleic, N1 and N2 blends. The physico-chemical properties of the experimental shortenings were compared with those of control shortenings in terms of fatty acid composition (FAC), iodine value (IV), slip melting point (SMP), solid fat content (SFC) and polymorphic forms. Unlike the imported commercial shortenings as reported by other studies and the control, experimental shortenings were trans-free. The SMP and SFC of experimental samples, except for the N2 sample, fell within the ranges of commercial and control shortenings. The IV was higher than those of domestic shortenings but lower when compared to imported and control shortenings. They were also observed to be beta tending even though a mixture of beta and beta' was observed in the samples after 3 months of storage. The shortenings were also used in the making of pound cake and sensory evaluation showed the good performance of high oleic sample as compared to the other shortenings.

42 CFR 419.31 - Ambulatory payment classification (APC) system and payment weights.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... and in terms of resource use into APC groups. Except as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, items and services within a group are not comparable with respect to the use of resources if the highest... cost for an item or service within the group. (2) CMS may make exceptions to the requirements set forth...

Distribution patterns of mercury in Lakes and Rivers of northeastern North America

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dennis, Ian F.; Clair, Thomas A.; Driscoll, Charles T.; Kamman, Neil; Chalmers, Ann T.; Shanley, Jamie; Norton, Stephen A.; Kahl, Steve

2005-01-01

We assembled 831 data points for total mercury (Hgt) and 277 overlapping points for methyl mercury (CH3Hg+) in surface waters from Massachussetts, USA to the Island of Newfoundland, Canada from State, Provincial, and Federal government databases. These geographically indexed values were used to determine: (a) if large-scale spatial distribution patterns existed and (b) whether there were significant relationships between the two main forms of aquatic Hg as well as with total organic carbon (TOC), a well know complexer of metals. We analyzed the catchments where samples were collected using a Geographical Information System (GIS) approach, calculating catchment sizes, mean slope, and mean wetness index. Our results show two main spatial distribution patterns. We detected loci of high Hgt values near urbanized regions of Boston MA and Portland ME. However, except for one unexplained exception, the highest Hgt and CH3Hg+ concentrations were located in regions far from obvious point sources. These correlated to topographically flat (and thus wet) areas that we relate to wetland abundances. We show that aquatic Hgt and CH3Hg+ concentrations are generally well correlated with TOC and with each other. Over the region, CH3Hg+ concentrations are typically approximately 15% of Hgt. There is an exception in the Boston region where CH3Hg+ is low compared to the high Hgt values. This is probably due to the proximity of point sources of inorganic Hg and a lack of wetlands. We also attempted to predict Hg concentrations in water with statistical models using catchment features as variables. We were only able to produce statistically significant predictive models in some parts of regions due to the lack of suitable digital information, and because data ranges in some regions were too narrow for meaningful regression analyses.

Comparison of several oximes on reactivation of soman-inhibited blood, brain and tissue cholinesterase activity in rats

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

Shih, T.M.

1993-12-31

The ability of three oximes, HI-6, MMB-4 and ICD-467, to reactivate cholinesterase (ChE) inhibited by the organophosphorus compound soman was compared in blood (plasma and erythrocytes), brain regions (including spinal cord) and peripheral tissues of rats. Animals were intoxicated with soman (100 ttg/kg. SC; equivalent to 0.9 x LDs0 dose) and treated 1 min later with one of these oximes (100 or 200 ttmo1/kg, IM). Toxic sign scores and total tissue ChE activities were determined 30 min later. Soman markedly inhibited ChE activity in blood (93 - 96%), brain regions (ranging from 78% to 95%), and all peripheral tissues (rangingmore » from 48.9% to 99.8%) except liver (11.9%). In blood, treatment with HI-6 or ICD-467 resulted in significant reactivation of soman-inhibited ChE. in contrast, MMB-4 was completely ineffective. HI-6 and ICD-467 were equally effective at the high dose. At the low dose ICD-467 treatment resulted in significantly higher plasma ChE than Hl-6 treatment, whereas HI-6 treatment resulted in higher erythrocyte ChE than ICD-467 treatment. However, none of these three oximesreactivated or protected soman-inhibited ChE in the brain. In all peripheral tissues (except liver) studied, MMB-4 was not effective. 111-6 reactivated soman-inhibited ChE in all tis- sues except lung, heart, and skeletal muscle. ICD-467 was highly effective in reactivating ChE in all tissues and afforded a complete recovery of ChE to control levels in Intercostal muscle and salivary gland. Oxime treatments did not modify the toxic scores produced by soman.« less

Access to Liver Transplantation in Different ABO-Blood Groups and "Exceptions Points" in a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Allocation System: A Brazilian Single-Center Study.

PubMed

Martino, R B; Waisberg, D R; Dias, A P M; Inoue, V B S; Arantes, R M; Haddad, L B P; Rocha-Santos, V; Pinheiro, R S N; Nacif, L S; D'Albuquerque, L A C

2018-04-01

In the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) system, patients with "MELD exceptions" points may have unfair privilege in the competition for liver grafts. Furthermore, organ distribution following identical ABO blood types may also result in unjust organ allocation. The aim of this study was to investigate access to liver transplantation in a tertiary Brazilian center, regarding "MELD exceptions" situations and among ABO-blood groups. A total of 465 adult patients on the liver waitlist from August 2015 to August 2016 were followed up until August 2017. Patients were divided into groups according to ABO-blood type and presence of "exceptions points." No differences in outcomes were observed among ABO-blood groups. However, patients from B and AB blood types spent less time on the list than patients from A and O groups (median, 46, 176, 415, and 401 days, respectively; P = .03). "Exceptions points" were granted for 141 patients (30.1%), hepatocellular carcinoma being the most common reason (52.4%). Patients with "exceptions points" showed higher transplantation rate, lower mortality on the list, and lower delta-MELD than non-exceptions patients (56.7% vs 19.1% [P < .01]; 18.4% vs 38.5% [P < .01], and 2.0 ± 2.6 vs 6.9 ± 7.0 [P < .01], respectively). Patients with refractory ascites had a higher mortality rate than those with other "exceptions" or without (48%). The MELD system provides equal access to liver transplantation among ABO-blood types, despite shorter time on the waitlist for AB and B groups. The current MELD exception system provides advantages for candidates with "exception points," resulting in superior outcomes compared with those without exceptions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

14 CFR 93.133 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Exceptions. 93.133 Section 93.133 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES High Density Traffic Airports § 93.133...

14 CFR 93.133 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Exceptions. 93.133 Section 93.133 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES High Density Traffic Airports § 93.133...

14 CFR 93.133 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Exceptions. 93.133 Section 93.133 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES High Density Traffic Airports § 93.133...

14 CFR 93.133 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Exceptions. 93.133 Section 93.133 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES High Density Traffic Airports § 93.133...

14 CFR 93.133 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Exceptions. 93.133 Section 93.133 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) AIR TRAFFIC AND GENERAL OPERATING RULES SPECIAL AIR TRAFFIC RULES High Density Traffic Airports § 93.133...

Anomalous thermal hysteresis in the high-field magnetic moments of magnetic nanoparticles embedded in multi-walled carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Guo-Meng; Wang, Jun; Ren, Yang; Beeli, Pieder

2012-02-01

We report high-temperature (300-1120 K) magnetic properties of Fe and Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in multi-walled carbon nanotubes. We unambiguously show that the magnetic moments of Fe and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are seemingly enhanced by a factor of about 3 compared with what they would be expected to have for free (unembedded) magnetic nanoparticles. What is more intriguing is that the enhanced moments were completely lost when the sample was heated up to 1120 K and the lost moments at 1120 K were completely recovered through several thermal cycles below 1020 K. The anomalous thermal hysteresis of the high-field magnetic moments is unlikely to be explained by existing physical models except for the high-field paramagnetic Meissner effect due to the existence of ultrahigh temperature superconductivity in the multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Lattice dynamics and elasticity for ε-plutonium [First-principles lattice dynamics for ε-plutonium

DOE PAGES

Söderlind, Per

2017-04-25

Here, lattice dynamics and elasticity for the high-temperature ε phase (body-centered cubic; bcc) of plutonium is predicted utilizing first-principles electronic structure coupled with a self-consistent phonon method that takes phonon-phonon interaction and strong anharmonicity into account. These predictions establish the first sensible lattice-dynamics and elasticity data on ε-Pu. The atomic forces required for the phonon scheme are highly accurate and derived from the total energies obtained from relativistic and parameter-free density-functional theory. The results appear reasonable but no data exist to compare with except those from dynamical mean-field theory that suggest ε-plutonium is mechanically unstable. Fundamental knowledge and understanding ofmore » the high-temperature bcc phase, that is generally present in all actinide metals before melting, is critically important for a proper interpretation of the phase diagram as well as practical modeling of high-temperature properties.« less

Investigation of degradation mechanisms in composite matrices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Giori, C.; Yamauchi, T.

1982-01-01

Degradation mechanisms were investigated for graphite/polysulfone and graphite/epoxy laminates exposed to ultraviolet and high-energy electron radiations in vacuum up to 960 equivalent sun hours and 10 to the ninth power rads respectively. Based on GC and combined GC/MS analysis of volatile by-products evolved during irradiation, several free radical mechanisms of composite degradation were identified. The radiation resistance of different matrices was compared in terms of G values and quantum yields for gas formation. All the composite materials evaluated show high electron radiation stability and relatively low ultraviolet stability as indicated by low G values and high quantum for gas formation. Mechanical property measurements of irradiated samples did not reveal significant changes, with the possible exception of UV exposed polysulfone laminates. Hydrogen and methane were identified as the main by-products of irradiation, along with unexpectedly high levels of CO and CO2.

High quality thin films of thermoelectric misfit cobalt oxides prepared by a chemical solution method

PubMed Central

Rivas-Murias, Beatriz; Manuel Vila-Fungueiriño, José; Rivadulla, Francisco

2015-01-01

Misfit cobaltates ([Bi/Ba/Sr/Ca/CoO]nRS[CoO2]q) constitute the most promising family of thermoelectric oxides for high temperature energy harvesting. However, their complex structure and chemical composition makes extremely challenging their deposition by high-vacuum physical techniques. Therefore, many of them have not been prepared as thin films until now. Here we report the synthesis of high-quality epitaxial thin films of the most representative members of this family of compounds by a water-based chemical solution deposition method. The films show an exceptional crystalline quality, with an electrical conductivity and thermopower comparable to single crystals. These properties are linked to the epitaxial matching of the rock-salt layers of the structure to the substrate, producing clean interfaces free of amorphous phases. This is an important step forward for the integration of these materials with complementary n-type thermoelectric oxides in multilayer nanostructures. PMID:26153533

Nacre-inspired composites with different macroscopic dimensions: strategies for improved mechanical performance and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Hewei; Yang, Zhao; Guo, Lin

2018-04-01

To develop next-generation lightweight, high-strength, and tough materials, new materials design strategies must be established. Nacre, consisting of 95 vol.% inorganic plates (CaCO3) and 5 vol.% organic matrix (protein) in layered arrangements, is famous for its significant increase (three orders of magnitude higher) in toughness compared to monolithic aragonite and has always been the model for the synthesis of high mechanical performance artificial materials. In this review, we primarily introduce the recent studies on the synthesis of nacre-inspired composites with exceptional mechanical properties, including 1D fibers, 2D films, and 3D bulk materials. In addition, design strategies for performance enhancement are summarized based on these studies, and applications of high-performance nacre-inspired composites are also discussed. Finally, a critical outlook of the future direction of developing next-generation high mechanical performance nacre-inspired composites is provided.

Solution Processed PEDOT Analogues in Electrochemical Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Österholm, Anna M; Ponder, James F; Kerszulis, Justin A; Reynolds, John R

2016-06-01

We have designed fully soluble ProDOTx-EDOTy copolymers that are electrochemically equivalent to electropolymerized PEDOT without using any surfactants or dispersants. We show that these copolymers can be incorporated as active layers in solution processed thin film supercapacitors to demonstrate capacitance, stability, and voltage similar to the values of those that use electrodeposited PEDOT as the active material with the added advantage of the possibility for large scale, high-throughput processing. These Type I supercapacitors provide exceptional cell voltages (up to 1.6 V), highly symmetrical charge/discharge behavior, promising long-term stability exceeding 50 000 charge/discharge cycles, as well as energy (4-18 Wh/kg) and power densities (0.8-3.3 kW/kg) that are comparable to those of electrochemically synthesized analogues.

Interaction between human blood platelets, viruses and antibodies. IV. Post-Rubella thrombocytopenic purpura and platelet aggregation by Rubella antigen–antibody interaction

PubMed Central

Myllylä, G.; Vaheri, A.; Vesikari, T.; Penttinen, K.

1969-01-01

A new method of measuring antibodies by observing sedimentation patterns of platelets has been compared with the complement fixation and haemagglutination inhibition techniques in ten cases of Rubella and seven cases of post-Rubella thrombocytopenic purpura. The method is based on the aggregation of platelets by the joint action of antibody and small size antigens. The platelet aggregation method gave exceptionally high titres in cases of post-Rubella thrombocytopenic purpura. Other serologic methods did not give these high titres. The hypothesis that small size virus antigen and antibody against it are both needed to induce thrombocytopenia during the recovery period is discussed. Large amounts of both may result in clinical symptoms. PMID:5814719

Ultra-low threshold gallium nitride photonic crystal nanobeam laser

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

Niu, Nan, E-mail: nanniu@fas.harvard.edu; Woolf, Alexander; Wang, Danqing

2015-06-08

We report exceptionally low thresholds (9.1 μJ/cm{sup 2}) for room temperature lasing at ∼450 nm in optically pumped Gallium Nitride (GaN) nanobeam cavity structures. The nanobeam cavity geometry provides high theoretical Q (>100 000) with small modal volume, leading to a high spontaneous emission factor, β = 0.94. The active layer materials are Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) fragmented quantum wells (fQWs), a critical factor in achieving the low thresholds, which are an order-of-magnitude lower than obtainable with continuous QW active layers. We suggest that the extra confinement of photo-generated carriers for fQWs (compared to QWs) is responsible for the excellent performance.

Weldability of high toughness Fe-12% Ni alloys containing Ti, Al or Nb

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Devletian, J. H.; Stephens, J. R.; Witzke, W. R.

1977-01-01

Three exceptionally high-toughness Fe-12%Ni alloys designed for cryogenic service were welded using the GTA welding process. Evaluation of weldability included equivalent energy (KIed) fracture toughness tests, transverse-weld tensile tests at -196 and 25 C and weld crack sensitivity tests. The Fe-12%Ni-0.25%Ti alloy proved extremely weldable for cryogenic applications, having weld and HAZ properties comparable with those of the wrought base alloy. The Fe-12%Ni-0.5%Al had good weld properties only after the weld joint was heat treated. The Fe-12%Ni-0.25%Nb alloy was not considered weldable for cryogenic use because of its poor weld joint properties at -196 C and its susceptibility to hot cracking.

Human Papilloma Viruses and Breast Cancer - Assessment of Causality.

PubMed

Lawson, James Sutherland; Glenn, Wendy K; Whitaker, Noel James

2016-01-01

High risk human papilloma viruses (HPVs) may have a causal role in some breast cancers. Case-control studies, conducted in many different countries, consistently indicate that HPVs are more frequently present in breast cancers as compared to benign breast and normal breast controls (odds ratio 4.02). The assessment of causality of HPVs in breast cancer is difficult because (i) the HPV viral load is extremely low, (ii) HPV infections are common but HPV associated breast cancers are uncommon, and (iii) HPV infections may precede the development of breast and other cancers by years or even decades. Further, HPV oncogenesis can be indirect. Despite these difficulties, the emergence of new evidence has made the assessment of HPV causality, in breast cancer, a practical proposition. With one exception, the evidence meets all the conventional criteria for a causal role of HPVs in breast cancer. The exception is "specificity." HPVs are ubiquitous, which is the exact opposite of specificity. An additional reservation is that the prevalence of breast cancer is not increased in immunocompromised patients as is the case with respect to HPV-associated cervical cancer. This indicates that HPVs may have an indirect causal influence in breast cancer. Based on the overall evidence, high-risk HPVs may have a causal role in some breast cancers.

Human Papilloma Viruses and Breast Cancer – Assessment of Causality

PubMed Central

Lawson, James Sutherland; Glenn, Wendy K.; Whitaker, Noel James

2016-01-01

High risk human papilloma viruses (HPVs) may have a causal role in some breast cancers. Case–control studies, conducted in many different countries, consistently indicate that HPVs are more frequently present in breast cancers as compared to benign breast and normal breast controls (odds ratio 4.02). The assessment of causality of HPVs in breast cancer is difficult because (i) the HPV viral load is extremely low, (ii) HPV infections are common but HPV associated breast cancers are uncommon, and (iii) HPV infections may precede the development of breast and other cancers by years or even decades. Further, HPV oncogenesis can be indirect. Despite these difficulties, the emergence of new evidence has made the assessment of HPV causality, in breast cancer, a practical proposition. With one exception, the evidence meets all the conventional criteria for a causal role of HPVs in breast cancer. The exception is “specificity.” HPVs are ubiquitous, which is the exact opposite of specificity. An additional reservation is that the prevalence of breast cancer is not increased in immunocompromised patients as is the case with respect to HPV-associated cervical cancer. This indicates that HPVs may have an indirect causal influence in breast cancer. Based on the overall evidence, high-risk HPVs may have a causal role in some breast cancers. PMID:27747193

Comparative studies on the performance and emissions of a direct injection diesel engine fueled with neem oil and pumpkin seed oil biodiesel with and without fuel preheater.

PubMed

Ramakrishnan, Muneeswaran; Rathinam, Thansekhar Maruthu; Viswanathan, Karthickeyan

2018-02-01

In the present experimental analysis, two non-edible oils namely neem oil and pumpkin seed oil were considered. They are converted into respective biodiesels namely neem oil methyl ester (B1) and pumpkin seed oil methyl ester (B2) through transesterification process and their physical and chemical properties were examined using ASTM standards. Diesel was used as a baseline fuel in Kirloskar TV1 model direct injection four stroke diesel engine. A fuel preheater was designed and fabricated to operate at various temperatures (60, 70, and 80 °C). Diesel showed higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE) than biodiesel samples. Lower brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was obtained with diesel than B1 sample. B1 exhibited lower BSFC than B2 sample without preheating process. High preheating temperature (80 °C) results in lower fuel consumption for B1 sample. The engine emission characteristics like carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and smoke were found lower with B1 sample than diesel and B2 except oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission. In preheating of fuel, B1 sample with high preheating temperature showed lower CO, HC, and smoke emission (except NOx) than B2 sample.

Probing the outer limits of a galactic halo - deep imaging of exceptionally remote globular clusters in M31

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mackey, Dougal

2011-10-01

Globular clusters {GCs} are fossil relics from which we can obtain critical insights into the formation and growth of galaxies. As part of the ongoing Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey {PAndAS} we have discovered a group of exceptionally remote GCs in the M31 halo, spanning a range in projected galactocentric distance of 85-145 kpc. Here we apply for deep ACS imaging of 13 such targets, which will allow us to study their constituent stellar populations, line-of-sight distances, and structural parameters. Our measurements will facilitate the use of these GCs as a unique set of probes of the exceptionally remote halo of a large disk galaxy, opening up a completely new area of parameter space to observational constraint. Comparing the properties of our targets with more centrally-located objects will provide a much clearer picture of the M31 GC population than is presently available, while comparison with the outermost Milky Way GCs will further elucidate well-known disparities between the two systems and offer vital clues to differences in their assembly. In addition, our measurements will substantially augment a broad swathe of science that is presently underway - including probing the dark mass distribution in M31 at very large radii, and investigating the detailed chemical composition of M31 GCs via high-resolution integrated-light spectroscopy.

Comparative analysis of Ebola virus glycoprotein interactions with human and bat cells.

PubMed

Kühl, Annika; Hoffmann, Markus; Müller, Marcel A; Munster, Vincent J; Gnirss, Kerstin; Kiene, Miriam; Tsegaye, Theodros Solomon; Behrens, Georg; Herrler, Georg; Feldmann, Heinz; Drosten, Christian; Pöhlmann, Stefan

2011-11-01

Infection with Ebola virus (EBOV) causes hemorrhagic fever in humans with high case-fatality rates. The EBOV-glycoprotein (EBOV-GP) facilitates viral entry and promotes viral release from human cells. African fruit bats are believed not to develop disease upon EBOV infection and have been proposed as a natural reservoir of EBOV. We compared EBOV-GP interactions with human cells and cells from African fruit bats. We found that susceptibility to EBOV-GP-dependent infection was not limited to bat cells from potential reservoir species, and we observed that GP displayed similar biological properties in human and bat cells. The only exception was GP localization, which was to a greater extent intracellular in bat cells as compared to human cells. Collectively, our results suggest that GP interactions with fruit bat and human cells are similar and do not limit EBOV tropism for certain bat species.

High-frequency tone burst-evoked ABR latency-intensity functions.

PubMed

Fausti, S A; Olson, D J; Frey, R H; Henry, J A; Schaffer, H I

1993-01-01

High-frequency tone burst stimuli (8, 10, 12, and 14 kHz) have been developed and demonstrated to provide reliable and valid auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) in normal-hearing subjects. In this study, latency-intensity functions (LIFs) were determined using these stimuli in 14 normal-hearing individuals. Significant shifts in response latency occurred as a function of stimulus intensity for all tone burst frequencies. For each 10 dB shift in intensity, latency shifts for waves I and V were statistically significant except for one isolated instance. LIF slopes were comparable between frequencies, ranging from 0.020 to 0.030 msec/dB. These normal LIFs for high-frequency tone burst-evoked ABRs suggest the degree of response latency change that might be expected from, for example, progressive hearing loss due to ototoxic insult, although these phenomena may not be directly related.

Direction of Translation and Size of Bacteriophage φX174 Cistrons

PubMed Central

Benbow, Robert M.; Mayol, Robert F.; Picchi, Joanna C.; Sinsheimer, Robert L.

1972-01-01

Translation of the bacteriophage φX174 genome follows cistron order D-E-F-G-H-A-B-C. To establish this, the position of a nonsense mutation on the genetic map was compared with the physical size (molecular weight) of the appropriate protein fragment generated in nonpermissive cells. Distances on the φX174 genetic map and distances on a physical map constructed from the molecular weights of φX174 proteins and protein fragments are proportional over most of the genome with the exception of the high recombination region within cistron A. Images PMID:16789133

Field Testing of Compartmentalization Methods for Multifamily Construction

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

Ueno, K.; Lstiburek, J. W.

2015-03-01

The 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has an airtightness requirement of 3 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals test pressure (3 ACH50) for single-family and multifamily construction (in climate zones 3–8). The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification program and ASHRAE Standard 189 have comparable compartmentalization requirements. ASHRAE Standard 62.2 will soon be responsible for all multifamily ventilation requirements (low rise and high rise); it has an exceptionally stringent compartmentalization requirement. These code and program requirements are driving the need for easier and more effective methods of compartmentalization in multifamily buildings.

Linear optical properties of the monoclinic bismuth borate BiB3O6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hellwig, H.; Liebertz, J.; Bohatý, L.

2000-07-01

New materials for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications are still of great interest. The monoclinic BiB3O6 (BIBO) shows exceptionally large NLO coefficients. In this article we will present the linear optical properties in the wavelength range between 350 and 2400 nm, the phase matching conditions calculated for second harmonic generation, and optical parametric oscillation. Angular bandwidth data are also given. The wide tuning range of phase matched directions together with the monoclinic symmetry allow a broad variety of applications. The laser damage threshold is comparable to high quality lithium triborate.

How do yeast cells become tolerant to high ethanol concentrations?

PubMed

Snoek, Tim; Verstrepen, Kevin J; Voordeckers, Karin

2016-08-01

The brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae displays a much higher ethanol tolerance compared to most other organisms, and it is therefore commonly used for the industrial production of bioethanol and alcoholic beverages. However, the genetic determinants underlying this yeast's exceptional ethanol tolerance have proven difficult to elucidate. In this perspective, we discuss how different types of experiments have contributed to our understanding of the toxic effects of ethanol and the mechanisms and complex genetics underlying ethanol tolerance. In a second part, we summarize the different routes and challenges involved in obtaining superior industrial yeasts with improved ethanol tolerance.

A quantitative comparison of resolution, scanning speed and lifetime behavior of CVD grown Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes and silicon SPM probes using spectral methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krause, O.; Bouchiat, V.; Bonnot, A. M.

2007-03-01

Due to their extreme aspect ratios and exceptional mechanical properties Carbon Nanotubes terminated silicon probes have proven to be the ''ideal'' probe for Atomic Force Microscopy. But especially for the manufacturing and use of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes there are serious problems, which have not been solved until today. Here, Single and Double Wall Carbon Nanotubes, batch processed and used as deposited by Chemical Vapor Deposition without any postprocessing, are compared to standard and high resolution silicon probes concerning resolution, scanning speed and lifetime behavior.

[Research of Hippophae rhamnoides fruits on serum lipids and liver protection effects in high-fat-diet rats].

PubMed

Song, Chunmei; Du, Juan; Ge, Hongjuan

2015-07-01

To study the effects o Hippophae rhamnoides fruits on serum lipids and liver protection in high-fat-diet rats. Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups,including control group, high lipid model group and Hippophae rhamnoides low-, medium- and high- dose groups,every group wastaken high-fat diet except control group. The rats in control group and high lipid group were lavaged with physiological saline. The doses of Hippophae rhamnoides in low, middle and high groups were determined based on the 1x, 5x, and 10x standard human doses (50 g/60 kg BW), respectively. The rat were orally given test sample respectively for 28 days, once a day. Observed the changes of serum lipids and hepatic tissues pathology. Compared with the control group, the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in high-fat-diet rats. Compared with the high lipid group, Hippophae rhamnoides of different doses could significantly reduce the content of TG (P < 0.01). Hippophae rhamnoides reduced the tendency of TC and LDL-C in serum and reduced the fatty degeneration of liver cells. The Hippophae rhamnoides fruits can reduce the level of serum lipids and prevent the occurrence of fatty liver, can be used for the prevention of hyperlipidemia.

In vitro assembled plant microtubules exhibit a high state of dynamic instability.

PubMed

Moore, R C; Zhang, M; Cassimeris, L; Cyr, R J

1997-01-01

Higher plants possess four distinct microtubule arrays. One of these, the cortical array, is involved in orienting the deposition of cellulose microfibrils. This plant interphase array is also notable because it contains exceptionally dynamic microtubules. Although the primary sequence of plant and animal tubulin is similar (79-87% amino acid identity overall) there are some regions of divergence. Thus, one possible explanation for the high state of polymer assembly and turnover that is observed in plant interphase arrays is that the tubulins have evolved differently and possess a higher intrinsic dynamic character than their animal counterparts. This hypothesis was tested using highly purified plant tubulin assembled in vitro. Using high-resolution DIC video-enhanced microscopy, we quantified the four characteristic parameters of dynamic instability of plant microtubules and compared them with animal microtubules. The elongation velocities between plant and animal microtubules are similar, but plant microtubules undergo catastrophes more frequently, do not exhibit any rescues, and have an average shortening velocity of 195 microm/min (compared with 21 microm/min for animal microtubules). These data support the hypothesis that plant tubulin forms microtubules that are intrinsically more dynamic than those of animals.

Highly compressible 3D periodic graphene aerogel microlattices

DOE PAGES

Zhu, Cheng; Han, T. Yong-Jin; Duoss, Eric B.; ...

2015-04-22

Graphene is a two-dimensional material that offers a unique combination of low density, exceptional mechanical properties, large surface area and excellent electrical conductivity. Recent progress has produced bulk 3D assemblies of graphene, such as graphene aerogels, but they possess purely stochastic porous networks, which limit their performance compared with the potential of an engineered architecture. Here we report the fabrication of periodic graphene aerogel microlattices, possessing an engineered architecture via a 3D printing technique known as direct ink writing. The 3D printed graphene aerogels are lightweight, highly conductive and exhibit supercompressibility (up to 90% compressive strain). Moreover, the Young’s modulimore » of the 3D printed graphene aerogels show an order of magnitude improvement over bulk graphene materials with comparable geometric density and possess large surface areas. Ultimately, adapting the 3D printing technique to graphene aerogels realizes the possibility of fabricating a myriad of complex aerogel architectures for a broad range of applications.« less

Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones in High-Resolution Models of the Present Climate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shaevitz, Daniel A.; Camargo, Suzana J.; Sobel, Adam H.; Jonas, Jeffery A.; Kim, Daeyhun; Kumar, Arun; LaRow, Timothy E.; Lim, Young-Kwon; Murakami, Hiroyuki; Roberts, Malcolm J.;

Comparative study of spermatogonial survival after X-ray exposure, high LET (HZE) irradiation or spaceflight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sapp, W. J.; Williams, C. S.; Williams, J. W.; Philpott, D. E.; Kato, K.; Miquel, J. M.; Serova, L.

1992-01-01

Spermatogonial cell loss has been observed in rats flown on Space Lab 3, Cosmos 1887, Cosmos 2044 and in mice following irradiation with X-ray or with HZE particle beams. Spermatogonial loss is determined by cell counting in maturation stage-6 seminferous tubules. With the exception of iron, laboratory irradiation experiments (with mice) revealed a similar pattern of spermatogonial loss proportional to the radiation dose at levels less than 0.1 Gy. Helium and argon irradiation resulted in a 5-percent loss of spermatogonia after only 0.01 Gy exposure. Significant spermatogonial loss (45 percent) occurred at this radiation level with iron particle beams. The loss of spermatogonia during each spaceflight was less than 10 percent when compared to control (nonflight) animals.

Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones in High-resolution Models in the Present Climate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shaevitz, Daniel A.; Camargo, Suzana J.; Sobel, Adam H.; Jonas, Jeffrey A.; Kim, Daehyun; Kumar, Arun; LaRow, Timothy E.; Lim, Young-Kwon; Murakami, Hiroyuki; Reed, Kevin;

Twice-Exceptionality: Parents' Perspectives on 2e Identification

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dare, Lynn; Nowicki, Elizabeth Agnes

2015-01-01

Twice-exceptional students have high abilities and coexisting learning difficulties. Abilities and difficulties tend to mask each other, and these underidentified students often struggle in school and express their frustrations at home. However, few studies have examined how parents experience the identification of their children's multiple…

Academic Outcomes in Children With Congenital Heart Defects: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

PubMed

Oster, Matthew E; Watkins, Stephanie; Hill, Kevin D; Knight, Jessica H; Meyer, Robert E

2017-02-01

Most studies evaluating neurocognitive outcomes in children with congenital heart defects (CHD) have focused on high-risk patients or used specialized, resource-intensive testing. To determine the association of CHD with academic outcomes and compare outcomes according to the severity of CHD, we linked state educational records with a birth defects registry and birth certificates. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services vital records. We performed logistic regression, adjusting for maternal education, race/ethnicity, enrollment in public pre-Kindergarten, and gestational age, to determine the association of CHD with not meeting standards on reading and math end-of-grade examinations in third grade in 2006 to 2012. Of 5624 subjects with CHD and 10 832 with no structural birth defects, 2807 (50%) and 6355 (59%) were linked, respectively. Children with CHD had 1.24× the odds of not meeting standards in either reading or math (95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.37), with 44.6% of children with CHD not meeting standards in at least one of these areas compared with 37.5% without CHD. Although children with both critical and noncritical CHD had poorer outcomes, those with critical CHD were significantly more likely to receive exceptional services compared with the noncritical group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.86). Children with all types of CHD have poorer academic outcomes compared with their peers. Evaluation for exceptional services should be considered in children with any type of CHD. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

A single-blind controlled study of electrocautery and ultrasonic scalpel smoke plumes in laparoscopic surgery.

PubMed

Fitzgerald, J Edward F; Malik, Momin; Ahmed, Irfan

2012-02-01

Surgical smoke containing potentially carcinogenic and irritant chemicals is an inevitable consequence of intraoperative energized dissection. Different energized dissection methods have not been compared directly in human laparoscopic surgery or against commonly encountered pollutants. This study undertook an analysis of carcinogenic and irritant volatile hydrocarbon concentrations in electrocautery and ultrasonic scalpel plumes compared with cigarette smoke and urban city air control samples. Once ethical approval was obtained, gas samples were aspirated from the peritoneal cavity after human laparoscopic intraabdominal surgery solely using either electrocautery or ultrasonic scalpels. All were adsorbed in Tenax tubes and concentrations of carcinogenic or irritant volatile hydrocarbons measured by gas chromatography. The results were compared with cigarette smoke and urban city air control samples. The analyzing laboratory was blinded to sample origin. A total of 10 patients consented to intraoperative gas sampling in which only one method of energized dissection was used. Six carcinogenic or irritant hydrocarbons (benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, heptene, and methylpropene) were identified in one or more samples. With the exception of styrene (P = 0.016), a nonsignificant trend toward lower hydrocarbon concentrations was observed with ultrasonic scalpel use. Ultrasonic scalpel plumes had significantly lower hydrocarbon concentrations than cigarette smoke, with the exception of methylpropene (P = 0.332). No significant difference was observed with city air. Electrocautery samples contained significantly lower hydrocarbon concentrations than cigarette smoke, with the exception of toluene (P = 0.117) and methyl propene (P = 0.914). Except for toluene (P = 0.028), city air showed no significant difference. Both electrocautery and ultrasonic dissection are associated with significantly lower concentrations of the most commonly detected carcinogenic and irritant hydrocarbons than cigarette smoke. A nonsignificant trend toward lower hydrocarbon concentrations was seen with ultrasonic scalpel dissection compared with diathermy. The contamination levels in city air were largely comparable with those seen after ultrasonic scalpel use. Although hydrocarbon concentrations are low, cumulative exposures may increase health risks. Where concerns arise, ultrasonic scalpel dissection may be preferable.

Characterizing the exceptional 2014 drought event in São Paulo by drought period length

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Yong; Macau, Elbert E. N.; Sampaio, Gilvan; Ramos, Antônio M. T.; Kurths, Jürgen

2017-09-01

In the last decade, the southeast region of Brazil has been suffering severe water shortages. Here, we propose to compute the expected drought period length to characterize the drought events in the region of São Paulo. We report the unique properties of the exceptional drought event during the austral summer 2014 by showing the differences and similarities to the very dry season in 2001 and the mild dry seasons in 2006 and 2015. Furthermore, we investigate the correlations of the abnormal precipitation deficit with the ocean and atmospheric patterns. In comparison to other drought events, we validate the hypothetical mechanism that underlies the exceptional drought 2014: (1) The existence of an anomalous high pressure center in the area acts as a blocking mechanism that prevents moisture transport from the Amazon and passage of cold front systems from south Brazil. This blocking high has been observed in all dry seasons considered, with much larger magnitude in 2014. (2) The much faster increasing trend of the anomalous sea surface temperature acts as a strong feedback which intensified the extreme climate conditions. The unprecedented increasing trend of the SST in 2014 was not observed in other climate variables representing a high pressure center. Therefore, we conclude that the exceptional drought 2014 was enhanced by the feedback mechanism of anomalous warming of SST in the South Atlantic Oceans, which was resulted from the anomalous high pressure.

Percentage depth dose calculation accuracy of model based algorithms in high energy photon small fields through heterogeneous media and comparison with plastic scintillator dosimetry.

PubMed

Alagar, Ananda Giri Babu; Mani, Ganesh Kadirampatti; Karunakaran, Kaviarasu

2016-01-08

Small fields smaller than 4 × 4 cm2 are used in stereotactic and conformal treatments where heterogeneity is normally present. Since dose calculation accuracy in both small fields and heterogeneity often involves more discrepancy, algorithms used by treatment planning systems (TPS) should be evaluated for achieving better treatment results. This report aims at evaluating accuracy of four model-based algorithms, X-ray Voxel Monte Carlo (XVMC) from Monaco, Superposition (SP) from CMS-Xio, AcurosXB (AXB) and analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) from Eclipse are tested against the measurement. Measurements are done using Exradin W1 plastic scintillator in Solid Water phantom with heterogeneities like air, lung, bone, and aluminum, irradiated with 6 and 15 MV photons of square field size ranging from 1 to 4 cm2. Each heterogeneity is introduced individually at two different depths from depth-of-dose maximum (Dmax), one setup being nearer and another farther from the Dmax. The central axis percentage depth-dose (CADD) curve for each setup is measured separately and compared with the TPS algorithm calculated for the same setup. The percentage normalized root mean squared deviation (%NRMSD) is calculated, which represents the whole CADD curve's deviation against the measured. It is found that for air and lung heterogeneity, for both 6 and 15 MV, all algorithms show maximum deviation for field size 1 × 1 cm2 and gradually reduce when field size increases, except for AAA. For aluminum and bone, all algorithms' deviations are less for 15 MV irrespective of setup. In all heterogeneity setups, 1 × 1 cm2 field showed maximum deviation, except in 6MV bone setup. All algorithms in the study, irrespective of energy and field size, when any heterogeneity is nearer to Dmax, the dose deviation is higher compared to the same heterogeneity far from the Dmax. Also, all algorithms show maximum deviation in lower-density materials compared to high-density materials.

A High Resolution Tampa Bay Hydrodynamic Model and its Application to Residence Time Estimation and Salt Balance Diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, L.; Weisberg, R. H.

2016-02-01

A 3D, numerical circulation model, with high resolution (20 m) at important mass conveyances (inlets and rivers etc.), is developed to estimate the bulk residence time and diagnose the salt balances and salt fluxes for Tampa Bay estuary. These analyses are justified via quantitative comparisons between the simulation and observations of sea level, velocity and salinity. The non-tidal circulation is the primary agent for the flushing of Tampa Bay. Tides alone have a minor effect. Exceptions pertain to within a tidal excursion from the bay mouth and regions with multiple inlets where different tide phases aid in flushing. The fully 3D salt flux divergences (SFD) and fluxes vary spatially throughout the estuary. On experimental duration (three month) average, the total advective SFD is balanced primarily by the vertical diffusive SFD, except near the bottom of the channel where the horizontal diffusive SFD is also important. Instantaneously, the local rate of salinity change is controlled primarily by the advective SFD, with a secondary contribution by the vertical diffusive SFD everywhere and the horizontal diffusive SFD near the channel bottom. After decomposing the advective salt fluxes and their divergences into mean quantity and tidal pumping, the horizontal and vertical advective SFDs by the mean quantities are large and counterbalance, with their sum being a small but significant residual. The horizontal and vertical advective SFDs by tidal pumping are relatively small (when compared with the mean quantities) and counterbalance; but, when summed, their residual is comparable in magnitude to that by the mean quantities. So whereas the salt fluxes by tidal pumping are secondary importance to the salt fluxes by the mean quantities, their total flux divergences are of comparable importance. The salt flux 3D components vary along the Tampa Bay axis, and these findings may be typical of coastal plain estuaries given their geometrical complexities.

Feasibility Study of Using Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GSI) and Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR) for Reducing Radiation and Iodine Contrast Dose in Abdominal CT Patients with High BMI Values.

PubMed

Zhu, Zheng; Zhao, Xin-ming; Zhao, Yan-feng; Wang, Xiao-yi; Zhou, Chun-wu

2015-01-01

To prospectively investigate the effect of using Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GSI) and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) for reducing radiation and iodine contrast dose in abdominal CT patients with high BMI values. 26 patients (weight > 65kg and BMI ≥ 22) underwent abdominal CT using GSI mode with 300mgI/kg contrast material as study group (group A). Another 21 patients (weight ≤ 65kg and BMI ≥ 22) were scanned with a conventional 120 kVp tube voltage for noise index (NI) of 11 with 450mgI/kg contrast material as control group (group B). GSI images were reconstructed at 60keV with 50%ASIR and the conventional 120kVp images were reconstructed with FBP reconstruction. The CT values, standard deviation (SD), signal-noise-ratio (SNR), contrast-noise-ratio (CNR) of 26 landmarks were quantitatively measured and image quality qualitatively assessed using statistical analysis. As for the quantitative analysis, the difference of CNR between groups A and B was all significant except for the mesenteric vein. The SNR in group A was higher than B except the mesenteric artery and splenic artery. As for the qualitative analysis, all images had diagnostic quality and the agreement for image quality assessment between the reviewers was substantial (kappa = 0.684). CT dose index (CTDI) values for non-enhanced, arterial phase and portal phase in group A were decreased by 49.04%, 40.51% and 40.54% compared with group B (P = 0.000), respectively. The total dose and the injection rate for the contrast material were reduced by 14.40% and 14.95% in A compared with B. The use of GSI and ASIR provides similar enhancement in vessels and image quality with reduced radiation dose and contrast dose, compared with the use of conventional scan protocol.

Vertical and horizontal proportions of the face and their correlation to phi among Indians in Moradabad population: A survey.

PubMed

Anand, Shruti; Tripathi, Siddhi; Chopra, Anubhav; Khaneja, Karan; Agarwal, Swatantra

2015-01-01

The purpose was to examine the existence of divine proportions among the Indian faces in Moradabad population. Totally, 100 patients (50 males; 50 females) aged 25-45 years were selected for the study. All facial photographs were analyzed based on the method of Ricketts assessing the divine proportions in vertical and transverse facial planes. Six horizontal and seven vertical ratios were determined, which were then compared with the phi ratio. The horizontal ratio results showed that three male and female ratios were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.05), and interchilion/nose width ratio was highly significant (P < 0.001). The horizontal mean ratios for females as well as males were highly significant from the phi ratio (P < 0.001) except for interchilion/interdacryon ratio, which was significant (P < 0.05) for females and not significant (P > 0.05) for males. The vertical ratio results showed that there was a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) for forehead height/stomion-soft menton ratio and no significant difference for two ratios between the mean ratios of males and females. All the vertical mean ratios for both the groups were highly significant (P < 0.001), except for the intereye-soft menton/intereye-stomion ratio, which was significant (P < 0.05) for female group and not significant (P > 0.05) for the male group. Although, the golden proportion is a prominent and recurring theme in esthetics, it should not be embraced as the only method by which human beauty is measured to the exclusion of others factors.

Measuring teamwork in primary care: Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data.

PubMed

Brown, Judith Belle; Ryan, Bridget L; Thorpe, Cathy; Markle, Emma K R; Hutchison, Brian; Glazier, Richard H

2015-09-01

This article describes the triangulation of qualitative dimensions, reflecting high functioning teams, with the results of standardized teamwork measures. The study used a mixed methods design using qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess teamwork in 19 Family Health Teams in Ontario, Canada. This article describes dimensions from the qualitative phase using grounded theory to explore the issues and challenges to teamwork. Two quantitative measures were used in the study, the Team Climate Inventory (TCI) and the Providing Effective Resources and Knowledge (PERK) scale. For the triangulation analysis, the mean scores of these measures were compared with the qualitatively derived ratings for the dimensions. The final sample for the qualitative component was 107 participants. The qualitative analysis identified 9 dimensions related to high team functioning such as common philosophy, scope of practice, conflict resolution, change management, leadership, and team evolution. From these dimensions, teams were categorized numerically as high, moderate, or low functioning. Three hundred seventeen team members completed the survey measures. Mean site scores for the TCI and PERK were 3.87 and 3.88, respectively (of 5). The TCI was associated will all dimensions except for team location, space allocation, and executive director leadership. The PERK was associated with all dimensions except team location. Data triangulation provided qualitative and quantitative evidence of what constitutes teamwork. Leadership was pivotal in forging a common philosophy and encouraging team collaboration. Teams used conflict resolution strategies and adapted to the changes they encountered. These dimensions advanced the team's evolution toward a high functioning team. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Life cycle assessment of metal alloys for structural applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malovrh Rebec, K.; Markoli, B.; Leskovar, B.

2018-03-01

The study compared environmental footprints of two types of Al-alloys: well-known 5083 aluminium alloy with magnesium and traces of manganese and chromium in its composition. This material is highly resistant to seawater corrosion and the influence of industrial chemicals. Furthermore, it retains exceptional strength after welding. The comparisons were made to an innovative alloy where the aluminium based matrix is reinforced by metastable quasicrystals (QC), thus avoiding magnesium in its composition. Furthermore, we checked other aluminium ingots’ footprints and compared European average and Germany country specific production data. Environmental footprints were assessed via cradle to gate life cycle assessment. Our findings normalized to 1 m2 plate suggest, that newly proposed alloy could save around 50 % in value of parameters abiotic resources depletion of fossil fuels, acidification, eutrophication, global warming potential and photochemical ozone creation potential if we compare Qc5 to 6 mm 5083 alloy plate. Only abiotic resources depletion of elements and ozone depletion parameters increase for Qc5 compared to 6 mm 5083 alloy plate.

47 CFR 101.45 - Mutually exclusive applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... and in the 24 GHz Service, will be entitled to comparative consideration with one or more conflicting... comparative consideration with one or more conflicting applications in accordance with the provisions of § 1...), except under any of the following circumstances: (1) The application has been designated for comparative...

47 CFR 101.45 - Mutually exclusive applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... and in the 24 GHz Service, will be entitled to comparative consideration with one or more conflicting... comparative consideration with one or more conflicting applications in accordance with the provisions of § 1...), except under any of the following circumstances: (1) The application has been designated for comparative...

47 CFR 101.45 - Mutually exclusive applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... and in the 24 GHz Service, will be entitled to comparative consideration with one or more conflicting... comparative consideration with one or more conflicting applications in accordance with the provisions of § 1...), except under any of the following circumstances: (1) The application has been designated for comparative...

47 CFR 101.45 - Mutually exclusive applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... and in the 24 GHz Service, will be entitled to comparative consideration with one or more conflicting... comparative consideration with one or more conflicting applications in accordance with the provisions of § 1...), except under any of the following circumstances: (1) The application has been designated for comparative...

47 CFR 101.45 - Mutually exclusive applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... and in the 24 GHz Service, will be entitled to comparative consideration with one or more conflicting... comparative consideration with one or more conflicting applications in accordance with the provisions of § 1...), except under any of the following circumstances: (1) The application has been designated for comparative...

Borate cross-linked graphene oxide-chitosan as robust and high gas barrier films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Ning; Capezzuto, Filomena; Lavorgna, Marino; Buonocore, Giovanna G.; Tescione, Fabiana; Xia, Hesheng; Ambrosio, Luigi

2016-05-01

Chitosan (CS) is one of the most promising polymers due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and natural abundance. However, its poor mechanical and barrier properties make it difficult to satisfy a wide range of applications. Herein, borate ions, originating from the hydrolysis of sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), have been used to crosslink chitosan and graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Chitosan films consisting of 1.0 wt% boron and 1.0 wt% GO exhibit a significant improvement in both the toughness and oxygen barrier properties compared to pristine chitosan. In particular the tensile strength of the samples after thermal treatment increases by ~160% compared to pristine chitosan, whereas their oxygen permeability reduces by ~90%. This is ascribed to the chemical crosslinking between chitosan and GO nanoplatelets through borate ions, as well as the formation of a layered morphology with graphene nanoplatelets oriented parallel to the sample surface. The exceptional robust and high gas barrier film has promising application in the packaging industry. The borate-crosslinking chemistry represents the potential strategy for improving properties of other polymer nanocomposites.Chitosan (CS) is one of the most promising polymers due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and natural abundance. However, its poor mechanical and barrier properties make it difficult to satisfy a wide range of applications. Herein, borate ions, originating from the hydrolysis of sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), have been used to crosslink chitosan and graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Chitosan films consisting of 1.0 wt% boron and 1.0 wt% GO exhibit a significant improvement in both the toughness and oxygen barrier properties compared to pristine chitosan. In particular the tensile strength of the samples after thermal treatment increases by ~160% compared to pristine chitosan, whereas their oxygen permeability reduces by ~90%. This is ascribed to the chemical crosslinking between chitosan and GO nanoplatelets through borate ions, as well as the formation of a layered morphology with graphene nanoplatelets oriented parallel to the sample surface. The exceptional robust and high gas barrier film has promising application in the packaging industry. The borate-crosslinking chemistry represents the potential strategy for improving properties of other polymer nanocomposites. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed characterization methods and survey XPS spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00377j

Inner ear involvement in Behçet's disease.

PubMed

Süslü, Ahmet Emre; Polat, Mualla; Köybaşi, Serap; Biçer, Yusuf Ozgür; Funda, Yasemin Ongun; Parlak, Ali Haydar

2010-06-01

To assess cochlear involvement and hearing loss in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). Forty-two patients with BD and 24 sex and age matched healthy subjects were included in the study. pure-tone audiometry including high frequencies (250-16000Hz) and DPOAE were performed to all participants. Results of the audiological evaluation were compared and correlation between the audiologic status and clinical manifestations of the BD were investigated. Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was detected in 27 (64.3%) patients. Hearing thresholds were found to be higher in patients with BD at all of the frequencies except at 500Hz when compared to control group (p<0.05). The difference in the hearing levels tend to increase in high frequencies. Compared with control group, distortion products and SNR of the BD patients were lower in all of the tested frequencies (p<0.05) which indicates weaker outer hair cell motility. There was no correlation between the clinical manifestations and the audiological parameters. Even having hearing levels within normal limits in speech frequencies, increased hearing thresholds in high frequencies and decreased signal-noise ratios (SNR) in distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) indicate a cochlear involvement in patients with BD. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Shifting Paradigms to Better Serve Twice-Exceptional African-American Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owens, Charissa M.; Ford, Donna Y.; Lisbon, April J.; Owens, Michael T.

2016-01-01

Existing research on students with twice-exceptional abilities concentrates on strategies to improve the educational experiences of individuals who demonstrate the comorbid presence of a talent for high academic achievement (often considered a strength) and a disability (often considered a weakness). However, this body of work typically excludes…

Basic and Exceptional Calculation Abilities in a Calculating Prodigy: A Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pesenti, Mauro; Seron, Xavier; Samson, Dana; Duroux, Bruno

1999-01-01

Describes the basic and exceptional calculation abilities of a calculating prodigy whose performances were investigated in single- and multi-digit number multiplication, numerical comparison, raising of powers, and short-term memory tasks. Shows how his highly efficient long-term memory storage and retrieval processes, knowledge of calculation…

45 CFR 670.5 - Exception in extraordinary circumstances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Exception in extraordinary circumstances. 670.5 Section 670.5 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE... involving the safety of human life or of ships, aircraft, or equipment or facilities of high value, or the...

40 CFR 75.4 - Compliance dates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....e., SO2 or NOX, as applicable): (A) Only if the relative accuracy test audit (RATA) of the high... that all certification tests are completed no later than the following dates (except as provided in... an oil-fired Phase II unit, January 1, 1995, except that installation and certification tests for...

45 CFR 670.5 - Exception in extraordinary circumstances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Exception in extraordinary circumstances. 670.5 Section 670.5 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE... involving the safety of human life or of ships, aircraft, or equipment or facilities of high value, or the...

45 CFR 670.5 - Exception in extraordinary circumstances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Exception in extraordinary circumstances. 670.5 Section 670.5 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE... involving the safety of human life or of ships, aircraft, or equipment or facilities of high value, or the...

45 CFR 670.5 - Exception in extraordinary circumstances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Exception in extraordinary circumstances. 670.5 Section 670.5 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE... involving the safety of human life or of ships, aircraft, or equipment or facilities of high value, or the...

45 CFR 670.5 - Exception in extraordinary circumstances.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 45 Public Welfare 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Exception in extraordinary circumstances. 670.5 Section 670.5 Public Welfare Regulations Relating to Public Welfare (Continued) NATIONAL SCIENCE... involving the safety of human life or of ships, aircraft, or equipment or facilities of high value, or the...

Investigating high concentrations of three greenhouse gases in the Los Angeles Basin and San Bernardino Valley

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirpes, R.; Blake, D. R.; Marrero, J.

2013-12-01

Following the Montreal Protocol of 1987 calling for the phase-out of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances, HCFCs and HFCs were introduced as alternatives despite still being greenhouse gases with high global warming potentials. In this study, whole air samples were collected during four research flights over Southern California aboard the NASA DC-8 Airborne Science Laboratory as part of the NASA Student Airborne Science Program. These samples were then analyzed by gas chromatography using a suite of detectors for many compounds, including HFC-134a, HCFC-22, and HFC-152a. HCFC-22 is primarily used as a refrigerant, while HFC-134a and HFC-152a are also used as aerosol propellants and foam blowing agents. High concentrations of these three compounds were observed for samples taken at low altitudes over urban areas around Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Exceptionally high concentrations were seen for all three compounds in samples taken near the Ontario and San Bernardino airports. Concentrations of HFC-134a, HCFC-22, and HFC-152a were enhanced above background levels near other airports sampled in the Los Angeles Basin and San Bernardino Valley. It is clear that concentrations of these three gases are higher in the San Bernardino Valley than in the Los Angeles Basin, and locations with exceptionally high concentrations were investigated to identify potential point sources. Concentrations of these three compounds were also compared to data from past SARP missions and data collected at Trinidad Head, California since 2005 as part of the AGAGE network. Comparison of the average values for each of these campaigns reveal that the background concentrations of HFC-134a, HCFC-22, and HFC-152a are all increasing with a strong linear trend in Southern California.

A Comparison Between Gravity Wave Momentum Fluxes in Observations and Climate Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Geller, Marvin A.; Alexadner, M. Joan; Love, Peter T.; Bacmeister, Julio; Ern, Manfred; Hertzog, Albert; Manzini, Elisa; Preusse, Peter; Sato, Kaoru; Scaife, Adam A.;

Impact of the Primary Care Exception on Family Medicine Resident Coding.

PubMed

Cawse-Lucas, Jeanne; Evans, David V; Ruiz, David R; Allcut, Elizabeth A; Andrilla, C Holly A; Thompson, Matthew; Norris, Thomas E

2016-03-01

The Medicare Primary Care Exception (PCE) allows residents to see and bill for less-complex patients independently in the primary care setting, requiring attending physicians only to see patients for higher-level visits and complete physical exams in order to bill for them as such. Primary care residencies apply the PCE in various ways. We investigated the impact of the PCE on resident coding practices. Family medicine residency directors in a five-state region completed a survey regarding interpretation and application of the PCE, including the number of established patient evaluation and management codes entered by residents and attending faculty at their institution. The percentage of high-level codes was compared between residencies using chi-square tests. We analyzed coding data for 125,016 visits from 337 residents and 172 faculty physicians in 15 of 18 eligible family medicine residencies. Among programs applying the PCE criteria to all patients, residents billed 86.7% low-mid complexity and 13.3% high-complexity visits. In programs that only applied the PCE to Medicare patients, residents billed 74.9% low-mid complexity visits and 25.2% high-complexity visits. Attending physicians coded more high-complexity visits at both types of programs. The estimated revenue loss over the 1,650 RRC-required outpatient visits was $2,558.66 per resident and $57,569.85 per year for the average residency in our sample. Residents at family medicine programs that apply the PCE to all patients bill significantly fewer high-complexity visits. This finding leads to compliance and regulatory concerns and suggests significant revenue loss. Further study is required to determine whether this discrepancy also reflects inaccuracy in coding.

Comparison of the Performance of the Warfarin Pharmacogenetics Algorithms in Patients with Surgery of Heart Valve Replacement and Heart Valvuloplasty.

PubMed

Xu, Hang; Su, Shi; Tang, Wuji; Wei, Meng; Wang, Tao; Wang, Dongjin; Ge, Weihong

2015-09-01

A large number of warfarin pharmacogenetics algorithms have been published. Our research was aimed to evaluate the performance of the selected pharmacogenetic algorithms in patients with surgery of heart valve replacement and heart valvuloplasty during the phase of initial and stable anticoagulation treatment. 10 pharmacogenetic algorithms were selected by searching PubMed. We compared the performance of the selected algorithms in a cohort of 193 patients during the phase of initial and stable anticoagulation therapy. Predicted dose was compared to therapeutic dose by using a predicted dose percentage that falls within 20% threshold of the actual dose (percentage within 20%) and mean absolute error (MAE). The average warfarin dose for patients was 3.05±1.23mg/day for initial treatment and 3.45±1.18mg/day for stable treatment. The percentages of the predicted dose within 20% of the therapeutic dose were 44.0±8.8% and 44.6±9.7% for the initial and stable phases, respectively. The MAEs of the selected algorithms were 0.85±0.18mg/day and 0.93±0.19mg/day, respectively. All algorithms had better performance in the ideal group than in the low dose and high dose groups. The only exception is the Wadelius et al. algorithm, which had better performance in the high dose group. The algorithms had similar performance except for the Wadelius et al. and Miao et al. algorithms, which had poor accuracy in our study cohort. The Gage et al. algorithm had better performance in both phases of initial and stable treatment. Algorithms had relatively higher accuracy in the >50years group of patients on the stable phase. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative multi-pinhole small-animal SPECT: uniform versus non-uniform Chang attenuation correction.

PubMed

Wu, C; de Jong, J R; Gratama van Andel, H A; van der Have, F; Vastenhouw, B; Laverman, P; Boerman, O C; Dierckx, R A J O; Beekman, F J

2011-09-21

Attenuation of photon flux on trajectories between the source and pinhole apertures affects the quantitative accuracy of reconstructed single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. We propose a Chang-based non-uniform attenuation correction (NUA-CT) for small-animal SPECT/CT with focusing pinhole collimation, and compare the quantitative accuracy with uniform Chang correction based on (i) body outlines extracted from x-ray CT (UA-CT) and (ii) on hand drawn body contours on the images obtained with three integrated optical cameras (UA-BC). Measurements in phantoms and rats containing known activities of isotopes were conducted for evaluation. In (125)I, (201)Tl, (99m)Tc and (111)In phantom experiments, average relative errors comparing to the gold standards measured in a dose calibrator were reduced to 5.5%, 6.8%, 4.9% and 2.8%, respectively, with NUA-CT. In animal studies, these errors were 2.1%, 3.3%, 2.0% and 2.0%, respectively. Differences in accuracy on average between results of NUA-CT, UA-CT and UA-BC were less than 2.3% in phantom studies and 3.1% in animal studies except for (125)I (3.6% and 5.1%, respectively). All methods tested provide reasonable attenuation correction and result in high quantitative accuracy. NUA-CT shows superior accuracy except for (125)I, where other factors may have more impact on the quantitative accuracy than the selected attenuation correction.

[Epidemiological transition in Latin America: a comparison of four countries].

PubMed

Albala, C; Vio, F; Yáñez, M

1997-06-01

In the last decade, Latin America has experienced important transformations in its health conditions, due to demographic changes and a rapid urbanization process. To analyze socioeconomic, demographic and epidemiological changes in Chile, Guatemala, Mexico and Uruguay and relate them to the different stages in the demographic and epidemiological transition of these countries. Data was obtained from official information of local and international organizations such as Pan-American Health Organization, United Nations, Latin American Center for Demography (CELADE) and World Bank. Guatemala is in a pre-transition stage with a high proportion of communicable diseases as causes of death (61%) as compared with Mexico (22%), Chile (13%) and Uruguay (7%). Mexico is in a prolonged transition situation and Chile is close to Uruguay in a post-transitional stage. Despite decreasing rates of mortality, the proportion of deaths represented by chronic diseases and injuries has increased to over 30% in all countries, except Uruguay. Adjusted mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases are lower in Latin American countries, as compared to Canada. However, excepting Guatemala, there are differences in the pattern of cardiovascular disease, with a higher mortality due to cerebrovascular and a lower mortality due to coronary artery diseases. An increment in non communicable diseases is expected for the next decades in Latin America. Analysis of demographic and epidemiological transition is crucial to define health policies and to adequate health systems to the new situations.

Deciphering the preservation of fossil insects: a case study from the Crato Member, Early Cretaceous of Brazil

PubMed Central

Petri, Setembrino; Becker-Kerber, Bruno; Romero, Guilherme Raffaeli; Rizzutto, Marcia de Almeida; Rodrigues, Fabio; Galante, Douglas; da Silva, Tiago Fiorini; Curado, Jessica F.; Rangel, Elidiane Cipriano; Ribeiro, Rafael Parra; Pacheco, Mírian Liza Alves Forancelli

2016-01-01

Exceptionally well-preserved three-dimensional insects with fine details and even labile tissues are ubiquitous in the Crato Member Konservat Lagerstätte (northeastern Brazil). Here we investigate the preservational pathways which yielded such specimens. We employed high resolution techniques (EDXRF, SR-SXS, SEM, EDS, micro Raman, and PIXE) to understand their fossilisation on mineralogical and geochemical grounds. Pseudomorphs of framboidal pyrite, the dominant fossil microfabric, display size variation when comparing cuticle with inner areas or soft tissues, which we interpret as the result of the balance between ion diffusion rates and nucleation rates of pyrite through the originally decaying carcasses. Furthermore, the mineral fabrics are associated with structures that can be the remains of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Geochemical data also point to a concentration of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the fossils in comparison to the embedding rock. Therefore, we consider that biofilms of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) had a central role in insect decay and mineralisation. Therefore, we shed light on exceptional preservation of fossils by pyritisation in a Cretaceous limestone lacustrine palaeoenvironment. PMID:28028459

Outcomes of pregnancies achieved by double gamete donation: A comparison with pregnancies obtained by oocyte donation alone.

PubMed

Preaubert, Lise; Vincent-Rohfritsch, Aurélie; Santulli, Pietro; Gayet, Vanessa; Goffinet, François; Le Ray, Camille

2018-03-01

Women increasingly resort to oocyte donation to become pregnant. The high risk of preeclampsia found in oocyte donation pregnancies and the separate risk of preeclampsia associated with sperm donation may be cumulative in double donation pregnancies. We aimed to study the obstetrical and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies obtained by double donation (both oocyte and sperm) in comparison with those obtained by oocyte donation alone (oocyte donation and partner's sperm). This cohort study included all women aged 43 and older who became pregnant after oocyte donation and gave birth between 2010 and 2016 in a tertiary maternity center. Primary outcomes were preeclampsia and hypertensive gestational disorders. Secondary outcomes were gestational diabetes, placental abnormalities, postpartum hemorrhage, perinatal death, and preterm delivery. We used univariate and multivariate analysis to compare IVF with double donation and IVF with oocyte donation alone for obstetric and perinatal outcomes. 247 women, 53 with double donations and 194 with oocyte donations alone, gave birth to 339 children. We observed no significant differences between groups for any obstetric or perinatal complications, except for the risk of gestational diabetes, which was more frequent in women with double donations compared with oocyte donation alone (26.4% vs. 12.9%, P = 0.02) and remained significant after adjustment (aOR = 2.80 95%CI[1.26-6.17]). Rates of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were high, but similar between groups (20.7% vs. 26.3%, P = 0.41, and 18.9% vs. 17.5%, P = 0.82). Women undergoing oocyte donation should be fully informed of its high rates of obstetric and perinatal risks. However, except for a higher observed risk of gestational diabetes, double donation does not appear to be associated with a higher risk of complications than oocyte donation alone. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Validation of refraction and anterior segment parameters by a new multi-diagnostic platform (VX120).

PubMed

Gordon-Shaag, Ariela; Piñero, David P; Kahloun, Cyril; Markov, David; Parnes, Tzadok; Gantz, Liat; Shneor, Einat

2018-03-08

The VX120 (Visionix Luneau, France) is a novel multi-diagnostic platform that combines Hartmann-Shack based autorefraction, Placido-disk based corneal-topography and anterior segment measurements made with a stationary-Scheimpflug camera. We investigate the agreement between different parameters measured by the VX120 with accepted or gold-standard techniques to test if they are interchangeable, as well as to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility. The right-eyes of healthy subjects were included in the study. Autorefraction of the VX120 was compared to subjective refraction. Agreement of anterior segment parameters was compared to the Sirius (CSO, Italy) including autokeratometry, central corneal thickness (CCT), iridiocorneal angle (IA). Inter and intra-test repeatability of the above parameters was assessed. Results were analyzed using Bland and Altman analyses. A total of 164 eyes were evaluated. The mean difference between VX120 autorefraction and subjective refraction for sphere, spherical equivalent (SE), and cylinder was 0.01±0.43D, 0.14±0.47D, and -0.26±0.30D, respectively and high correlation was found to all parameter (r>0.75) except for J 45 (r=0.61). The mean difference between VX120 and the Sirius system for CCT, IA, and keratometry (k1 and k2) was -3.51±8.64μm, 7.6±4.2°, 0.003±0.06mm and 0.004±0.04mm, respectively and high correlation was found to all parameter (r>0.97) except for IA (r=0.67). Intrasession repeatability of VX120 refraction, CCT, IA and keratometry yielded low within-subject standard deviations. Inter-session repeatability showed no statistically significant difference for most of the parameters measured. The VX120 provides consistent refraction and most anterior segment measurements in normal healthy eyes, with high levels of intra and inter-session repeatability. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.

Optical design of the PEPSI high-resolution spectrograph at LBT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andersen, Michael I.; Spano, Paolo; Woche, Manfred; Strassmeier, Klaus G.; Beckert, Erik

2004-09-01

PEPSI is a high-resolution, fiber fed echelle spectrograph with polarimetric capabilities for the LBT. In order to reach a maximum resolution R=120.000 in polarimetric mode and 300.000 in integral light mode with high efficiency in the spectral range 390-1050~nm, we designed a white-pupil configuration with Maksutov collimators. Light is dispersed by an R4 31.6 lines/mm monolithic echelle grating mosaic and split into two arms through dichroics. The two arms, optimized for the spectral range 390-550~nm and 550-1050~nm, respectively, consist of Maksutov transfer collimators, VPH-grism cross dispersers, optimized dioptric cameras and 7.5K x 7.5K 8~μ CCDs. Fibers of different core sizes coupled to different image-slicers allow a high throughput, comparable to that of direct feed instruments. The optical configuration with only spherical and cylindrical surfaces, except for one aspherical surface in each camera, reduces costs and guarantees high optical quality. PEPSI is under construction at AIP with first light expected in 2006.

High-definition flow Doppler ultrasonographic technique to assess hepatic vasculature compared with color or power Doppler ultrasonography: preliminary experience.

PubMed

Kim, Se Hyung; Lee, Jeong Min; Kim, Young Jun; Lee, Jae Young; Han, Joon Koo; Choi, Byung Ihn

2008-10-01

The purpose of this study was to introduce a new high-definition flow (HDF) Doppler technique and to compare its performance with those of color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) and power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) for assessment of hepatic vasculature in native and transplanted livers. High-definition flow was invented as a high-resolution bidirectional PDU technique. We obtained CDU, PDU, and HDF images of the hepatic artery (HA), portal vein (PV), and hepatic vein from 60 patients. They were divided into 2 groups: a liver transplantation group (group 1, n = 10) and a native liver group (group 2, n = 50). Two radiologists independently reviewed the cine images and graded them using a 4-point scale in terms of the clarity of the vessel margin and degree of depiction of the HA, flow filling, and flash artifacts. The degree of differentiation between the HA and PV was also evaluated. Flow directionality was recorded, and interobserver agreement was finally analyzed. Moderate to almost perfect agreement was achieved between radiologists for all parameters of each ultrasonographic technique. High-definition flow was significantly superior to both CDU and PDU with respect to all analyzed items except the degree of flash artifacts (P < .05). With regard to flash artifacts, CDU was significantly better than either PDU or HDF. High-definition flow provided directional information, as did CDU. The HDF technique provides better resolution for depicting hepatic vessels as well as their margins with less blooming compared with conventional Doppler ultrasonography in both native and transplanted liver. It also provides solid directional flow information. One point of concern, however, is the frequency of flash artifacts compared with that on CDU.

Exceptional Lithium Storage in a Co(OH) 2 Anode: Hydride Formation

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

Kim, Hyunchul; Choi, Woon Ih; Jang, Yoonjung

Current lithium ion battery technology is tied in with conventional reaction mechanisms such as insertion, conversion, and alloying reactions even though most future applications like EVs demand much higher energy densities than current ones. Exploring the exceptional reaction mechanism and related electrode materials can be critical for pushing current battery technology to a next level. Here, we introduce an exceptional reaction with a Co(OH)(2) material which exhibits an initial charge capacity of 1112 mAh g(-1), about twice its theoretical value based on known conventional conversion reaction, and retains its first cycle capacity after 30 cycles. The combined results of synchrotronmore » X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicate that nanosized Co metal particles and LiOH are generated by conversion reaction at high voltages, and CoxHy, Li2O, and LiH are subsequently formed by hydride reaction between Co metal, LiOH, and other lithium species at low voltages, resulting in a anomalously high capacity beyond the theoretical capacity of Co(OH)(2). This is further corroborated by AIMD simulations, localized STEM, and XPS. These findings will provide not only further understanding of exceptional lithium storage of recent nanostructured materials but also valuable guidance to develop advanced electrode materials with high energy density for next-generation batteries.« less

Three Dimensional Aerodynamic Analysis of a High-Lift Transport Configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dodbele, Simha S.

1993-01-01

Two computational methods, a surface panel method and an Euler method employing unstructured grid methodology, were used to analyze a subsonic transport aircraft in cruise and high-lift conditions. The computational results were compared with two separate sets of flight data obtained for the cruise and high-lift configurations. For the cruise configuration, the surface pressures obtained by the panel method and the Euler method agreed fairly well with results from flight test. However, for the high-lift configuration considerable differences were observed when the computational surface pressures were compared with the results from high-lift flight test. On the lower surface of all the elements with the exception of the slat, both the panel and Euler methods predicted pressures which were in good agreement with flight data. On the upper surface of all the elements the panel method predicted slightly higher suction compared to the Euler method. On the upper surface of the slat, pressure coefficients obtained by both the Euler and panel methods did not agree with the results of the flight tests. A sensitivity study of the upward deflection of the slat from the 40 deg. flap setting suggested that the differences in the slat deflection between the computational model and the flight configuration could be one of the sources of this discrepancy. The computation time for the implicit version of the Euler code was about 1/3 the time taken by the explicit version though the implicit code required 3 times the memory taken by the explicit version.

Warm weather transport of broiler chickens in Manitoba. II. Truck management factors associated with death loss in transit to slaughter.

PubMed

Whiting, Terry L; Drain, Mairead E; Rasali, Drona P

2007-02-01

This observational study was conducted to identify the cause of death and load level factors associated with mortality in 1 090 733 Manitoba broiler chickens transported to slaughter in spring and early summer. Death loss in transit was 0.346% and accounted for 19% of the total carcass condemnation. The death loss pattern was clearly bimodal, with a low death loss in 180 of 198 shipments. Cumulative death loss during the growing phase of production was consistently associated with increased transport mortalities in load level models and when comparing high death loss with low death loss truckloads. High ambient temperature at the time of slaughter and loading density of the truck were the major factors associated with exceptional death loss.

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell support for solid tumors in adults.

PubMed

Pedrazzoli, Paolo; Rosti, Giovanni; Secondino, Simona; Carminati, Ornella; Demirer, Taner

2007-10-01

Supported by experimental evidence and convincing results of early phase II studies, since the 1980s high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell support (AHSCT) has been uncritically adopted by many oncologists as a potentially curative option for several solid tumors. As a result, the number (and size) of randomized trials comparing this approach with conventional chemotherapy initiated (and often abandoned before completion) in this setting was limited and the benefit of a greater escalation of dose of chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation in solid tumors remains, with the possible exception of breast carcinoma (BC) and germ cell tumors (GCT), largely unsettled. In this article, we review and comment on the data from studies to date of HDC for solid tumors in adults.

Highly specific and reversible fluoride sensor based on an organic semiconductor.

PubMed

Aboubakr, Hecham; Brisset, Hugues; Siri, Olivier; Raimundo, Jean-Manuel

2013-10-15

A novel sulfonamide-conjugated benzo-[2,1-b:3,4-b']bithiophene semiconductor has been designed and synthetized in order to develop a probe for specific detection of anions both in the homogeneous (solution) and heterogeneous phase. Its photophysical and electrochemical data were reported in this study. On the basis of the optical and NMR titrations analysis, the chelator was found to be highly selective for fluoride compared to others anions (Ka = 1.6 × 10(4) M(-1) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)). In addition, from an intricate sample, the novel chelator shows exceptional specificity toward fluoride and reveals a complete reversibility after addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Sensing films were obtained by electrochemical polymerization of the probe on an electrode surface, which clearly show effective detection of fluoride.

Chromophore-Based Luminescent Metal–Organic Frameworks as Lighting Phosphors

DOE PAGES

Lustig, William P.; Wang, Fangming; Teat, Simon J.; ...

2016-05-31

Here, energy-efficient solid-state-lighting (SSL) technologies are rapidly developing, but the lack of stable, high-performance rare-earth free phosphors may impede the growth of the SSL market. One possible alternative is organic phosphor materials, but these can suffer from lower quantum yields and thermal instability compared to rare-earth phosphors. However, if luminescent organic chromophores can be built into a rigid metal-organic framework, their quantum yields and thermal stability can be greatly improved. This Forum Article discusses the design of a group of such chromophore-based luminescent metal-organic frameworks with exceptionally high performance and rational control of the important parameters that influence their emissionmore » properties, including electronic structures of chromophore, coligands, metal ions, and guest molecule s.« less

Low-index discontinuity terahertz waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagel, Michael; Marchewka, Astrid; Kurz, Heinrich

2006-10-01

A new type of dielectric THz waveguide based on recent approaches in the field of integrated optics is presented with theoretical and experimental results. Although the guiding mechanism of the low-index discontinuity (LID) THz waveguide is total internal reflection, the THz wave is predominantly confined in the virtually lossless low-index air gap within a high-index dielectric waveguide due to the continuity of electric flux density at the dielectric interface. Attenuation, dispersion and single-mode confinement properties of two LID structures are discussed and compared with other THz waveguide solutions. The new approach provides an outstanding combination of high mode confinement and low transmission losses currently not realizable with any other metal-based or photonic crystal approach. These exceptional properties might enable the breakthrough of novel integrated THz systems or endoscopy applications with sub-wavelength resolution.

Exceptional longevity and exceptionally high metabolic rates in anthropoid primates are linked to a major modification of the ubiquinone reduction site of cytochrome b.

PubMed

Rottenberg, Hagai

2014-10-01

The maximal lifespan of Anthropoid primates (monkeys, apes and humans) exceed the lifespan of most other mammals of equal body mass. Unexpectedly, their exceptional longevity is associated with exceptionally high metabolic rates, in apparent contradiction to the Free Radical Theory of Aging. It was therefore suggested that in anthropoid primates (and several other taxa of mammals and birds) the mitochondrial electron transport complexes evolved to modify the relationship between basal electron transport and superoxide generation to allow for the evolution of exceptional longevity. Cytochrome b, the core protein of the bc1 complex is a major source of superoxide. The amino-acid sequence of cytochrome b evolved much faster in anthropoid than in prosimian primates, and most other mammals, resulting in a large change in the amino-acids composition of the protein. As a result of these changes cytochrome b in anthropoid primates is significantly less hydrophobic and contains more polar residues than other primates and most other mammals. Most of these changes are clustered around the reduction site of uboiquinone. In particular a key positively charged residue, arginine 313, that interacts with propionate D of heme bH, and thus raises its redox potential, is substituted in anthropoid primates with the neutral residue glutamine, most likely resulting in a lower redox potential of heme bH and faster reduction of ubiquinone at high proton motive force. It is suggested that these changes contribute to the observed increased rates of basal metabolism and reduce the rates of superoxide production, thus allowing for increased lifespan.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in yogurt samples.

PubMed

Battisti, Chiara; Girelli, Anna Maria; Tarola, Anna Maria

2015-01-01

The concentrations and distributions of major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in 20 kinds of yogurt specimens collected from Italian supermarkets using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with fluorescence detection. The method was validated by determination of recovery percentages, precision (repeatability) and sensitivity (limits of detection) with yogurt samples fortified at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 µg/kg concentration levels. The recovery of 13 PAHs, with the exception of naphthalene and acenaphthene, ranged from 61% to 130% and from 60% to 97% at all the levels for yogurts with low (0.1%) and high (3.9%) fat content, respectively. The method is repeatable with relative standard deviation values <20% for all analytes. The results obtained demonstrate that acenaphthene, fluorantene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were found in all samples with a similar distribution, but different content when yogurts with low and high fats were compared.

Transcriptomic features associated with energy production in the muscles of Pacific bluefin tuna and Pacific cod.

PubMed

Shibata, Mami; Mekuchi, Miyuki; Mori, Kazuki; Muta, Shigeru; Chowdhury, Vishwajit Sur; Nakamura, Yoji; Ojima, Nobuhiko; Saitoh, Kenji; Kobayashi, Takanori; Wada, Tokio; Inouye, Kiyoshi; Kuhara, Satoru; Tashiro, Kosuke

2016-06-01

Bluefin tuna are high-performance swimmers and top predators in the open ocean. Their swimming is grounded by unique features including an exceptional glycolytic potential in white muscle, which is supported by high enzymatic activities. Here we performed high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in muscles of the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) and conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of genes related to energy production. We found that the total expression of glycolytic genes was much higher in the white muscle of tuna than in the other muscles, and that the expression of only six genes for glycolytic enzymes accounted for 83.4% of the total. These expression patterns were in good agreement with the patterns of enzyme activity previously reported. The findings suggest that the mRNA expression of glycolytic genes may contribute directly to the enzymatic activities in the muscles of tuna.

Characterization of breakdown behavior of diamond Schottky barrier diodes using impact ionization coefficients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Driche, Khaled; Umezawa, Hitoshi; Rouger, Nicolas; Chicot, Gauthier; Gheeraert, Etienne

2017-04-01

Diamond has the advantage of having an exceptionally high critical electric field owing to its large band gap, which implies its high ability to withstand high voltages. At this maximum electric field, the operation of Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), as well as FETs, may be limited by impact ionization, leading to avalanche multiplication, and hence the devices may breakdown. In this study, three of the reported impact ionization coefficients for electrons, αn, and holes, αp, in diamond at room temperature (300 K) are analyzed. Experimental data on reverse operation characteristics obtained from two different diamond SBDs are compared with those obtained from their corresponding simulated structures. Owing to the crucial role played by the impact ionization rate in determining the carrier transport, the three reported avalanche parameters implemented affect the behavior not only of the breakdown voltage but also of the leakage current for the same structure.

Anorthite: Thermal equation of state to high pressures. [for comparison with Earth interior and cratering properties of lunar surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jeanloz, R.; Ahrens, T. J.

1979-01-01

The shock wave (Hugoniot) data on single crystal and porous anorthite (CaAl2Si208) to pressures of 120 GPa are presented. These data are inverted to yield high pressure values of the Grueneisen parameter, adiabatic bulk modulus, and coefficient of thermal expansion over a broad range of pressures and temperatures which in turn are used to reduce the raw Hugoniot data and construct an experimentally based, high pressure thermal equation of state for anorthite. The hypothesis that higher order anharmonic contributions to the thermal properties decrease more rapidly upon compression than the lowest order anharmonicities is supported. The properties of anorthite corrected to lower mantle conditions show that although the density of anorthite is comparable to that of the lower most mantle, its bulk modulus is considerably less, hence making enrichment in the mantle implausible except perhaps near its base.

Hydroisomerization of n-Hexane Using Acidified Metal-Organic Framework and Platinum Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Sabyrov, Kairat; Jiang, Juncong; Yaghi, Omar M; Somorjai, Gabor A

2017-09-13

Exceptionally high surface area and ordered nanopores of a metal-organic framework (MOF) are exploited to encapsulate and homogeneously disperse a considerable amount of phosphotungstic acid (PTA). When combined with platinum nanoparticles positioned on the external surface of the MOF, the construct shows a high catalytic activity for hydroisomerization of n-hexane, a reaction requiring hydrogenation/dehydrogenation and moderate to strong Brønsted acid sites. Characterization of the catalytic activity and acidic sites as a function of PTA loading demonstrates that both the concentration and strength of acidic sites are highest for the catalyst with the largest amount of PTA. The MOF construct containing 60% PTA by weight produces isoalkanes with 100% selectivity and 9-fold increased mass activity as compared to a more traditional aluminosilicate catalyst, further demonstrating the capacity of the MOF to contain a high concentration of active sites necessary for the isomerization reaction.

Flexible Ferroelectric Sensors with Ultrahigh Pressure Sensitivity and Linear Response over Exceptionally Broad Pressure Range.

PubMed

Lee, Youngoh; Park, Jonghwa; Cho, Soowon; Shin, Young-Eun; Lee, Hochan; Kim, Jinyoung; Myoung, Jinyoung; Cho, Seungse; Kang, Saewon; Baig, Chunggi; Ko, Hyunhyub

2018-04-24

Flexible pressure sensors with a high sensitivity over a broad linear range can simplify wearable sensing systems without additional signal processing for the linear output, enabling device miniaturization and low power consumption. Here, we demonstrate a flexible ferroelectric sensor with ultrahigh pressure sensitivity and linear response over an exceptionally broad pressure range based on the material and structural design of ferroelectric composites with a multilayer interlocked microdome geometry. Due to the stress concentration between interlocked microdome arrays and increased contact area in the multilayer design, the flexible ferroelectric sensors could perceive static/dynamic pressure with high sensitivity (47.7 kPa -1 , 1.3 Pa minimum detection). In addition, efficient stress distribution between stacked multilayers enables linear sensing over exceptionally broad pressure range (0.0013-353 kPa) with fast response time (20 ms) and high reliability over 5000 repetitive cycles even at an extremely high pressure of 272 kPa. Our sensor can be used to monitor diverse stimuli from a low to a high pressure range including weak gas flow, acoustic sound, wrist pulse pressure, respiration, and foot pressure with a single device.

PEEEC [Project for Early Education of Exceptional Children] Outreach: Annual Report 1980-1981.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Millican, Jerri; Kibler, Robert G.

The document consists of the final report of the PEEEC (Project for Early Education of Exceptional Children) Outreach program, a program to stimulate high quality programs for preschool handicapped children and families in Kentucky. Following a definition of terms are sections outlining goals, objectives, and activities of three program…

Composition and Longitudinal Patterns of Aquatic Insect Emergence in Small Rivers of Palawan Island, the Philippines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freitag, Hendrik

2004-09-01

This study presents the first emergence trap samples from streams in the Philippines and Greater Sunda. Aquatic insect emergence from two small rivers and longitudinal patterns including estuaries are compared. A decline of total emergence towards estuaries was observed, affecting all major orders. Diptera, namely Chironomidae, dominated all sites. High abundances in Ceratopogonidae, Odonata, and Coleoptera were found, compared to other emergence studies from tropical and temperate latitudes. Ephemeroptera displayed a highly variable contribution to the emergence from Palawan as well as in other comparative studies either supported by the appropriate conditions for certain functional groups or limited by environmental variables such as pH. Trichoptera are likely to tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions and they are consequently able to fill further niches where Ephemeroptera are under-represented. Except for scarce abundances of Plecoptera observed in this and other studies from the tropics, no substantial differences in emergence composition at order level existed between temperate and tropical rivers, however, with a remarkable local variation. Components of riparian and non-aquatic insects and non-emergent fauna contributing to the collections are discussed based on trap features. (

Recent progress on exploring exceptionally high and anisotropic H+/OH– ion conduction in two-dimensional materials

PubMed Central

Sun, Pengzhan; Sasaki, Takayoshi

2017-01-01

Ion conducting membranes/electrolytes have been employed extensively in some important industrial and biological systems, especially in fuel cells, water electrolyzers, gas separation, sensors and biological selective ion transport, acting as one of the core components and sometimes directly determining the device performance. However, the traditional polymeric proton exchange membranes (PEMs)/anion exchange membranes (AEMs) suffer from highly toxic preparation procedures, poor thermal and chemical stabilities, and unsatisfactory ion conductivities. This has triggered researchers worldwide to explore alternative inorganic building blocks with high ion conductivities and stabilities from the new materials library, hoping to solve the above long-lasting problems. The recent burgeoning research on two-dimensional (2D) materials has unveiled exceptionally high ionic conductivities, which raises the feasibility of fabricating high-performance nanosheet-based ion conductors/membranes. In this perspective, the recent advances in measuring and understanding the exceptionally high and anisotropic H+/OH– ion conductivities of representative 2D materials, e.g. graphene oxide (GO), vermiculite and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets, are reviewed. In particular, regarding the anisotropic ionic conduction in 2D nanosheets, possible design strategies and technological innovations for fabricating macroscopic nanosheet-based ionic conductors/membranes are proposed for maximizing the high in-plane conduction, which may serve to guide future development of high-performance industrial and biological systems relying on H+/OH– conducting membranes. PMID:29629071

Recent progress on exploring exceptionally high and anisotropic H+/OH- ion conduction in two-dimensional materials.

PubMed

Sun, Pengzhan; Ma, Renzhi; Sasaki, Takayoshi

2018-01-07

Ion conducting membranes/electrolytes have been employed extensively in some important industrial and biological systems, especially in fuel cells, water electrolyzers, gas separation, sensors and biological selective ion transport, acting as one of the core components and sometimes directly determining the device performance. However, the traditional polymeric proton exchange membranes (PEMs)/anion exchange membranes (AEMs) suffer from highly toxic preparation procedures, poor thermal and chemical stabilities, and unsatisfactory ion conductivities. This has triggered researchers worldwide to explore alternative inorganic building blocks with high ion conductivities and stabilities from the new materials library, hoping to solve the above long-lasting problems. The recent burgeoning research on two-dimensional (2D) materials has unveiled exceptionally high ionic conductivities, which raises the feasibility of fabricating high-performance nanosheet-based ion conductors/membranes. In this perspective, the recent advances in measuring and understanding the exceptionally high and anisotropic H + /OH - ion conductivities of representative 2D materials, e.g. graphene oxide (GO), vermiculite and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets, are reviewed. In particular, regarding the anisotropic ionic conduction in 2D nanosheets, possible design strategies and technological innovations for fabricating macroscopic nanosheet-based ionic conductors/membranes are proposed for maximizing the high in-plane conduction, which may serve to guide future development of high-performance industrial and biological systems relying on H + /OH - conducting membranes.

Effect of fertiliser on functional properties of flour from four rice varieties grown in Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Gunaratne, Anil; Sirisena, Nihal; Ratnayaka, Upul Kumari; Ratnayaka, Jennet; Kong, Xiangli; Vidhana Arachchi, Lal Peruma; Corke, Harold

2011-05-01

Fertiliser is an essential agro-chemical input in modern rice farming. Fertiliser affects the grain quality and yield of rice. Although much research has been carried out to investigate the influence of fertiliser (recommended NPK addition) on yield and quality of rice grain, little is known about the effect of fertiliser on thermal, pasting, gelling and retrogradation properties of rice flour. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of recommended fertilisation on functional properties of rice flour from four popular high yielding rice varieties grown in Sri Lanka. Fertiliser (recommended NPK addition) increased the protein content but reduced the apparent amylose content in rice flour except in BG 357. Swelling power and amylose leaching were decreased by fertilizer. [corrected] Pasting onset temperature, cold paste viscosity and setback were increased but peak viscosity and granular breakdown decreased. In response to the fertiliser application, gelatinisation peak temperature was reduced in all varieties except BG 300. However, compared to pasting properties, gelatinisation parameters were not much affected by fertilisation. The extent of amylopectin retrogradation was decreased by fertiliser in BG 305 and BG 352 but unchanged in the other two varieties. Except in BG 305, fertiliser reduced the gel hardness of rice flour but increased the gel cohesiveness. It is apparent that the increased protein and reduced amylose content caused by fertiliser affect the functional properties of rice flour. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

Trends in the Northern-hemisphere Climatologies of Local Wave Activity and Fluxes in a Warming Climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, S. Y.; Nakamura, N.

2016-12-01

The finite-amplitude local wave activity (LWA) identifies both the locations and magnitudes of anomalous wave events (Huang and Nakamura 2016, JAS), which are often associated with extreme weather conditions such as heat waves and storms at the rim. Variance in LWA in synoptic timescale is well-explained by the wave activity flux variance (i.e. conservative dynamics), while beyond seasonal time scale, the convergence/divergence of wave activity flux is balanced by non-conservative processes (e.g. vertical fluxes of heat and momentum at the surface, mixing, radiative forcing etc.). Analysis of ERA-Interim data during 1979-2015 shows that there is generally an increasing trend in the vertically-integrated interior LWA in Northern Winter, except over Central Pacific and Southern Europe. There is, in contrast, a decreasing trend in LWA in Northern summer, except over the high-latitude oceanic regions and low-latitude continental regions. The trends in the wave activity flux convergence in both seasons are consistent with such observations in LWA except over the Atlantic sector. In this presentation, I will illustrate how the change in circulation in a warming climate is associated with change in spatial distribution and frequency of extreme weather events by comparing the change in wave activity flux vectors with the observed change in LWA climatology. I will also quantify the permanent effect of non-conservative processes in terms of decadal change in eddy-free reference states of zonal wind and temperature (Nakamura and Solomon 2011).

78 FR 67310 - Implementation of the Local Community Radio Act of 2010; Revision of Service and Eligibility...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-12

...'') seek to expand the ``new entrant'' comparative criterion. LTR argues our current rules are inconsistent.... The new entrant comparative criterion and the exceptions to the general prohibition on cross...'' between these different comparative and eligibility rules. Neither LTR nor C/K provides any new...

Comparative study of thiophilic functionalised matrices for polyclonal F(ab')2 purification.

PubMed

Kumpalume, Peter; Slater, Nigel K H

2004-01-02

Thiophilic adsorbents have been developed using divinyl sulfone or epoxy activated Streamline quartz base matrix. Their capacity and selectivity for binding polyclonal F(ab')2 fragments generated by whole serum proteolysis was tested. Except for epoxy activated guanidine, all the adsorbents displayed high selectivity for F(ab')2 with dynamic binding capacities ranging from 3 to 10 mg/ml of adsorbent. Thiol immobilised ligands adsorbed more F(ab')2 and the recovery was equal to or more than that from amino immobilised ligands. All adsorbents showed good selectivity for IgG and the dynamic binding capacities were better than for F(ab')2.

Scaled boundary finite element simulation and modeling of the mechanical behavior of cracked nanographene sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honarmand, M.; Moradi, M.

2018-06-01

In this paper, by using scaled boundary finite element method (SBFM), a perfect nanographene sheet or cracked ones were simulated for the first time. In this analysis, the atomic carbon bonds were modeled by simple bar elements with circular cross-sections. Despite of molecular dynamics (MD), the results obtained from SBFM analysis are quite acceptable for zero degree cracks. For all angles except zero, Griffith criterion can be applied for the relation between critical stress and crack length. Finally, despite the simplifications used in nanographene analysis, obtained results can simulate the mechanical behavior with high accuracy compared with experimental and MD ones.

The oxidation status of ALDH3A1 in human saliva and its correlation with antioxidant capacity measured by ORAC method.

PubMed

Bogucka, Małgorzata; Giebułtowicz, Joanna; Zawada, Katarzyna; Wroczyński, Piotr; Wierzchowski, Jacek; Pietrzak, Monika; Piekarczyk, Piotr; Romanowska, Katarzyna

2009-01-01

Oxidation status of the salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) was measured in healthy human population using two-assay fluorimetric method and compared with antioxidant capacity (ORAC) in non-smoking and heavy smokers group. Influence of high or low antioxidant diet was also examined. Except for the group of smokers, the salivary ALDH oxidation degree in human saliva was not correlated with antioxidant capacity. Simultaneously direct administration of the antioxidant-containing drug, Fluimucil, resulted in short-term, but statistically significant increase of the reduced (active) form of the enzyme, presumably due to a radical-scavenging activity of the drug.

Blade loss transient dynamic analysis of turbomachinery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stallone, M. J.; Gallardo, V.; Storace, A. F.; Bach, L. J.; Black, G.; Gaffney, E. F.

1982-01-01

This paper reports on work completed to develop an analytical method for predicting the transient non-linear response of a complete aircraft engine system due to the loss of a fan blade, and to validate the analysis by comparing the results against actual blade loss test data. The solution, which is based on the component element method, accounts for rotor-to-casing rubs, high damping and rapid deceleration rates associated with the blade loss event. A comparison of test results and predicted response show good agreement except for an initial overshoot spike not observed in test. The method is effective for analysis of large systems.

Systematic technology evaluation program for SiC/SiC composite-based accident-tolerant LWR fuel cladding and core structures: Revision 2015

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

Katoh, Yutai; Terrani, Kurt A.

2015-08-01

Fuels and core structures in current light water reactors (LWR’s) are vulnerable to catastrophic failure in severe accidents as unfortunately evidenced by the March 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. This vulnerability is attributed primarily to the rapid oxidation kinetics of zirconium alloys in a water vapor environment at very high temperatures. Zr alloys are the primary material in LWR cores except for the fuel itself. Therefore, alternative materials with reduced oxidation kinetics as compared to zirconium alloys are sought to enable enhanced accident-tolerant fuels and cores.

Energy relaxation mechanisms in capacitively shunted flux qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corcoles, Antonio; Rozen, Jim; Rothwell, Mary Beth; Keefe, George; di Vincenzo, David; Ketchen, Mark; Chow, Jerry; Rigetti, Chad; Rohrs, Jack; Borstelmann, Mark; Steffen, Matthias; IBM Quantum Computing Group Team

2011-03-01

Energy losses in superconducting qubits remain a major object of study in the road towards scalable, highly coherent qubit devices. The current understanding of the loss mechanisms in these devices is far from being complete and it is sometimes difficult to experimentally separate the different contributions to decoherence. Here we compare a traditional three Josephson-junction flux qubit to the recently implemented capacitively shunted flux qubit, whose energy decay is thought to be limited by dielectric losses arising from native oxides in the shunting capacitor. Keeping all parameters identical except for the shunting capacitance, we obtain energy relaxation times that are comparable for both types of qubit. This suggests that the energy relaxation time is not limited by junction losses in capacitively shunted flux qubits. We discuss some other possible loss mechanisms present in these devices.

Characteristics of tropical cyclones in high-resolution models in the present climate

DOE PAGES

Shaevitz, Daniel A.; Camargo, Suzana J.; Sobel, Adam H.; ...

2014-12-05

The global characteristics of tropical cyclones (TCs) simulated by several climate models are analyzed and compared with observations. The global climate models were forced by the same sea surface temperature (SST) fields in two types of experiments, using climatological SST and interannually varying SST. TC tracks and intensities are derived from each model's output fields by the group who ran that model, using their own preferred tracking scheme; the study considers the combination of model and tracking scheme as a single modeling system, and compares the properties derived from the different systems. Overall, the observed geographic distribution of global TCmore » frequency was reasonably well reproduced. As expected, with the exception of one model, intensities of the simulated TC were lower than in observations, to a degree that varies considerably across models.« less

Enhanced planar perovskite solar cell efficiency and stability using a perovskite/PCBM heterojunction formed in one step.

PubMed

Zhou, Long; Chang, Jingjing; Liu, Ziye; Sun, Xu; Lin, Zhenhua; Chen, Dazheng; Zhang, Chunfu; Zhang, Jincheng; Hao, Yue

2018-02-08

Perovskite/PCBM heterojunctions are efficient for fabricating perovskite solar cells with high performance and long-term stability. In this study, an efficient perovskite/PCBM heterojunction was formed via conventional sequential deposition and one-step formation processes. Compared with conventional deposition, the one-step process was more facile, and produced a perovskite thin film of substantially improved quality due to fullerene passivation. Moreover, the resulting perovskite/PCBM heterojunction exhibited more efficient carrier transfer and extraction, and reduced carrier recombination. The perovskite solar cell device based on one-step perovskite/PCBM heterojunction formation exhibited a higher maximum PCE of 17.8% compared with that from the conventional method (13.7%). The device also showed exceptional stability, retaining 83% of initial PCE after 60 days of storage under ambient conditions.

A Comparison of MERRA and NARR Reanalysis Datasets with the DOE ARM SGP Continuous Forcing data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kennedy, Aaron D.; Dong, Xiquan; Xi, Baike; Xie, Shaocheng; Zhang, Yunyan; Chen, Junye

2010-01-01

In this study, the atmospheric state, precipitation, cloud fraction, and radiative fluxes from Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) and North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) are collected and compared with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) continuous forcing during the period 1999-2001. For the atmospheric state, the three datasets have excellent agreement for the horizontal wind components and air temperature. NARR and ARM have generally good agreement for humidity, except for several biases in the PBL and in the upper troposphere. MERRA, on the other hand, suffers from a year-round negative bias in humidity except for the month of June. For the vertical pressure velocity, significant differences exist with the largest biases occurring during the spring upwelling and summer downwelling periods. Although NARR and MERRA share many resemblances to each other, ARM outperforms these reanalyses in terms of correlation with cloud fraction. Because the ARM forcing is constrained by observed precipitation that gives the adequate mass, heat, and moisture budgets, much of the precipitation (specifically during the late spring/early summer) is caused by smaller-scale forcing that is not captured by the reanalyses. Both NARR and MERRA capture the seasonal variation of CF observed by ARM radar-lidar and GOES with high correlations (0.92-0.78), but having negative biases of 14% and 3%, respectively. Compared to the ARM observations, MERRA shows a better agreement for both SW and LW fluxes except for LW-down (due to a negative bias in water vapor), NARR has significant positive bias for SW-down and negative bias for LW-down under clear- and all-sky conditions . The NARR biases result from a combination of too few clouds and a lack of sufficient extinction by aerosols and water vapor in the atmospheric column. The results presented here represent only one location for a limited time period, and more comparisons at different locations and longer time period are needed.

Unbiased Scanning Method and Data Banking Approach Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Quantitative Comparison of Metabolite Exposure in Plasma across Species Analyzed at Different Dates.

PubMed

Gao, Hongying; Deng, Shibing; Obach, R Scott

2015-12-01

An unbiased scanning methodology using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to bank data and plasma samples for comparing the data generated at different dates. This method was applied to bank the data generated earlier in animal samples and then to compare the exposure to metabolites in animal versus human for safety assessment. With neither authentic standards nor prior knowledge of the identities and structures of metabolites, full scans for precursor ions and all ion fragments (AIF) were employed with a generic gradient LC method to analyze plasma samples at positive and negative polarity, respectively. In a total of 22 tested drugs and metabolites, 21 analytes were detected using this unbiased scanning method except that naproxen was not detected due to low sensitivity at negative polarity and interference at positive polarity; and 4'- or 5-hydroxy diclofenac was not separated by a generic UPLC method. Statistical analysis of the peak area ratios of the analytes versus the internal standard in five repetitive analyses over approximately 1 year demonstrated that the analysis variation was significantly different from sample instability. The confidence limits for comparing the exposure using peak area ratio of metabolites in animal plasma versus human plasma measured over approximately 1 year apart were comparable to the analysis undertaken side by side on the same days. These statistical analysis results showed it was feasible to compare data generated at different dates with neither authentic standards nor prior knowledge of the analytes.

VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION IN ROSE COLOURED LEADWORT (PLUMBAGO ROSEA Linn.)

PubMed Central

Kurian, Alice; Anitha, C.A.; Nybe, E.V.

2001-01-01

Forty five plumbago rosea accessions collected from different parts of Kerala state were evaluated for variability in morphological and yield related characters and plumbagin content. Highly significant variation was evident for all the characters studied except leaf size indicating wide variability in the accessions. Accessions PR 25 and PR 31 appear to be promising with respect to root yield and high plumbagin content. Character association revelated significant and positive correlation of all the characters except leaf size with yield. Hence, selection of high yielding types could easily be done based on visual characters expressing more vegetative growth but with reduced leaf size. PMID:22557037

Metabolic syndrome in menopause and associated factors: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Pu, D; Tan, R; Yu, Q; Wu, J

2017-12-01

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Menopause is associated with an increased risk for MetS. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to better understand the relationship between MetS and menopause. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for all the associated articles on (1) MetS components in postmenopausal women vs. premenopausal women, (2) comparison of MetS incidence between surgical menopause and natural menopause, (3) the effect of hormone therapy (HT) with 17β-estradiol (E2) compared to conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) on MetS components among postmenopausal women. A meta-analysis was applied by Review Manager 5.3 software. All comparable indicators were significantly unfavorably changed in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women except for high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Women who underwent surgical menopause suffered a 1.51-fold higher risk for MetS compared to those with natural menopause. HT with E2 provided more benefits for levels of triglyceride and diastolic blood, while CEE showed a better effect on both high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Menopause nearly adversely affects all components of MetS, and surgical menopause may lead to a higher incidence of MetS compared to natural menopause. HT with various preparations may have different effects on MetS components. These results may clarify the management of menopause-related MetS in clinical practice.

Whey and Casein Proteins and Medium-Chain Saturated Fatty Acids from Milk Do Not Increase Low-Grade Inflammation in Abdominally Obese Adults.

PubMed

Bohl, Mette; Bjørnshave, Ann; Gregersen, Søren; Hermansen, Kjeld

2016-01-01

Low-grade inflammation is involved in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Inflammation can be modulated by dietary factors. Dairy products are rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA), which are known to possess pro-inflammatory properties. However, different fatty acid compositions may exert different effects. Other components such as milk proteins may exert anti-inflammatory properties which may compensate for the potential negative effects of SFAs. Generally, the available data suggest a neutral role of dairy product consumption on inflammation. To investigate the effects of, and potential interaction between, a dietary supplementation with whey protein and milk fat, naturally enriched in medium-chain SFA (MC-SFA), on inflammatory markers in abdominal obese adults. The study was a 12-week, randomized, double-blinded, intervention study. Sixty-three adults were equally allocated to one of four groups which received a supplement of either 60 g/day whey or 60 g/day casein plus 63 g/day milk fat either high or low in MC-SFA content. Fifty-two subjects completed the study. Before and after the intervention, changes in plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), adiponectin, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured. Changes in inflammatory genes in the subcutaneous adipose tissue were also documented. There were no differences in circulating inflammatory markers between protein types or fatty acid compositions in abdominally obese subjects, with the exception of an increase in adiponectin in response to high compared to low MC-SFA consumption in women. We found that combined dairy proteins and MC-SFAs influenced inflammatory gene expression in adipose tissue, while no effect was detected by dairy proteins or MC-SFA per se. Whey protein compared with casein and MC-SFA-enriched milk fat did not alter circulating markers of low-grade inflammation in abdominally obese subjects, except for an increase in circulating adiponectin in response to high MC-SFA in abdominally obese women.

The impact of sex-role reversal on the diversity of the major histocompatibility complex: Insights from the seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis)

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Both natural and sexual selection are thought to influence genetic diversity, but the study of the relative importance of these two factors on ecologically-relevant traits has traditionally focused on species with conventional sex-roles, with male-male competition and female-based mate choice. With its high variability and significance in both immune function and olfactory-mediated mate choice, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC/MH) is an ideal system in which to evaluate the relative contributions of these two selective forces to genetic diversity. Intrasexual competition and mate choice are both reversed in sex-role reversed species, and sex-related differences in the detection and use of MH-odor cues are expected to influence the intensity of sexual selection in such species. The seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, has an exceptionally highly developed form of male parental care, with female-female competition and male mate choice. Results Here, we demonstrate that the sex-role reversed seahorse has a single MH class II beta-chain gene and that the diversity of the seahorse MHIIβ locus and its pattern of variation are comparable to those detected in species with conventional sex roles. Despite the presence of only a single gene copy, intralocus MHIIβ allelic diversity in this species exceeds that observed in species with multiple copies of this locus. The MHIIβ locus of the seahorse exhibits a novel expression domain in the male brood pouch. Conclusions The high variation found at the seahorse MHIIβ gene indicates that sex-role reversed species are capable of maintaining the high MHC diversity typical in most vertebrates. Whether such species have evolved the capacity to use MH-odor cues during mate choice is presently being investigated using mate choice experiments. If this possibility can be rejected, such systems would offer an exceptional opportunity to study the effects of natural selection in isolation, providing powerful comparative models for understanding the relative importance of selective factors in shaping patterns of genetic variation. PMID:21569286

The role of academic ability in choice of major and persistence in STEM fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucietto, Anne Marie

This study is intended to provide a greater understanding of academic ability and to determine whether it plays a role in the choice of college major. Further, it is also intended to evaluate persistence as it relates to the continuation and modification of choice of major among exceptional students and typical students. The population studied included students from nine public universities in the southeastern United States and spans the timeframe inclusive of 1996 through 2010. These universities are part of a dataset known as Multiple Institutions Database for Investigating Engineering Longitudinal Development (MIDFIELD) project. A quantitative research program was developed and instituted to answer research questions focused on academic ability and persistence. MIDFIELD data was examined for typical and exceptional students, contrasting demographic data, choice of major at matriculation, choice of major after completion of a FYE program, and the timing and choice of new major if changed. Exceptional students are defined and extracted from the typical student data as the top 3% of students using composite SAT scores. The composite scores were derived as a result of adding the mathematical and verbal scores. These datasets were tabulated, graphed and compared cross tabulation and clustering were also used to examine the data. Cluster analysis provides a better understanding of students' change of major and continuation in major areas by grouping data by SAT scores and analyzing the majors most represented in each of the clusters. The findings indicate that academic ability is not a predictor of persistence. However, exceptional students most often choose STEM majors and tend to stay in STEM fields if chosen at matriculation or following the completion of an FYE program. Therefore, students with higher SAT scores and high school GPAs are more likely to choose majors in STEM subject areas. When exceptional students are examined separately, the data indicates that they are most likely to choose an engineering major. While typical students that graduated with a business degree frequently began their study in a FYE program.

Report: Agreed-Upon Procedures on EPA’s Fiscal Year 2009 First Quarter Financial Statements

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #09-2-0161, June 8, 2009. We compared the statements with EPA’s crosswalk, recomputed them for mathematical accuracy, and compared them with balances separately generated by us. Except for immaterial rounding differences, the amounts agreed.

New Coumarin Derivatives as Potent Selective COX-2 Inhibitors: Synthesis, Anti-Inflammatory, QSAR, and Molecular Modeling Studies.

PubMed

Dawood, Dina H; Batran, Rasha Z; Farghaly, Thoraya A; Khedr, Mohammed A; Abdulla, Mohamed M

2015-12-01

Two new series of coumarin derivatives incorporating thiazoline and thiazolidinone moieties were designed, synthesized, and investigated in vivo for their anti-inflammatory activities using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model and in vitro for their inhibitory activities against the human cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 isoforms. Most of the synthesized compounds demonstrated exceptionally high in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and displayed superior GI safety profiles (0-7% ulceration) as compared to indomethacin. All the bioactive compounds showed in vitro high affinity and selectivity toward the COX-2 isoenzyme, compared to the reference celecoxib with IC50 values ranging from 0.31 to 0.78 μM. The ethyl thiosemicarbazone 2b, thiazoline derivatives 3a, 3b, 5b, 6a, and 7f, and the thiazolidinone compounds 8b and 9a showed the highest in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities with remarkable COX-2 selectivity. Quantitative structure-activity relationship study (QSAR) was done and resulted in a highly predictive power R(2) (0.908). A molecular docking study revealed a relationship between the docking affinity and the biological results. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Single Particle Analysis by Combined Chemical Imaging to Study Episodic Air Pollution Events in Vienna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ofner, Johannes; Eitenberger, Elisabeth; Friedbacher, Gernot; Brenner, Florian; Hutter, Herbert; Schauer, Gerhard; Kistler, Magdalena; Greilinger, Marion; Lohninger, Hans; Lendl, Bernhard; Kasper-Giebl, Anne

2017-04-01

The aerosol composition of a city like Vienna is characterized by a complex interaction of local emissions and atmospheric input on a regional and continental scale. The identification of major aerosol constituents for basic source appointment and air quality issues needs a high analytical effort. Exceptional episodic air pollution events strongly change the typical aerosol composition of a city like Vienna on a time-scale of few hours to several days. Analyzing the chemistry of particulate matter from these events is often hampered by the sampling time and related sample amount necessary to apply the full range of bulk analytical methods needed for chemical characterization. Additionally, morphological and single particle features are hardly accessible. Chemical Imaging evolved to a powerful tool for image-based chemical analysis of complex samples. As a complementary technique to bulk analytical methods, chemical imaging can address a new access to study air pollution events by obtaining major aerosol constituents with single particle features at high temporal resolutions and small sample volumes. The analysis of the chemical imaging datasets is assisted by multivariate statistics with the benefit of image-based chemical structure determination for direct aerosol source appointment. A novel approach in chemical imaging is combined chemical imaging or so-called multisensor hyperspectral imaging, involving elemental imaging (electron microscopy-based energy dispersive X-ray imaging), vibrational imaging (Raman micro-spectroscopy) and mass spectrometric imaging (Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) with subsequent combined multivariate analytics. Combined chemical imaging of precipitated aerosol particles will be demonstrated by the following examples of air pollution events in Vienna: Exceptional episodic events like the transformation of Saharan dust by the impact of the city of Vienna will be discussed and compared to samples obtained at a high alpine background site (Sonnblick Observatory, Saharan Dust Event from April 2016). Further, chemical imaging of biological aerosol constituents of an autumnal pollen breakout in Vienna, with background samples from nearby locations from November 2016 will demonstrate the advantages of the chemical imaging approach. Additionally, the chemical fingerprint of an exceptional air pollution event from a local emission source, caused by the pull down process of a building in Vienna will unravel the needs for multisensor imaging, especially the combinational access. Obtained chemical images will be correlated to bulk analytical results. Benefits of the overall methodical access by combining bulk analytics and combined chemical imaging of exceptional episodic air pollution events will be discussed.

The mitochondrial genome of Globodera ellingtonae is composed of two circles with segregated gene content and differential copy numbers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The evolution of animal mitochondrial (mt) genomes has yielded a highly conserved structure: a single circular chromosome approximately 14 to 20 kb long. Within the last two decades, exceptions to this conserved structure have been reported in a diverse set of organisms. One such exception is the di...

Physical Education Opportunity Program for Exceptional Learners (PEOPEL): A Teacher's Guide for Secondary Schools. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Irmer, Larry D.; And Others

The instructional guide for PEOPEL (Physical Education Opportunity Program for Exceptional Learners) contains 36 units of instruction for use with handicapped junior and senior high school students. The units contain basic performance objectives which have been task analyzed in an effort to individualize instruction. Each unit is divided into four…

The Relationship between Self-Concept, Ability, and Academic Programming among Twice-Exceptional Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foley-Nicpon, Megan; Assouline, Susan G.; Fosenburg, Staci

2015-01-01

Researchers investigated the self-concept profiles of twice-exceptional students in relationship to their cognitive ability and participation in educational services. All subjects (N = 64) had high ability (IQ score at or above the 90th percentile) and were diagnosed with either an autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 53) or specific learning…

Characteristics of Difficult-to-Place Youth in State Custody: A Profile of the Exceptional Care Pilot Project Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armour, Marilyn P.; Schwab, James

2007-01-01

This study examines the characteristics of Texas youth designated as "most difficult to place" recipients of service under the "Exceptional Care Pilot Project" (N = 46). Findings include, among others, high levels of comorbid psychiatric disturbance (greater than 3 diagnostic groupings), physical (78.3%) and sexual (88%)…

Work ability in nursing: relationship with psychological demands and control over the work.

PubMed

Prochnow, Andrea; Magnago, Tânia Solange Bosi de Souza; Urbanetto, Janete de Souza; Beck, Carmem Lúcia Colomé; Lima, Suzinara Beatriz Soares de; Greco, Patrícia Bitencourt Toscani

2013-01-01

to evaluate the association between psychological demands, control over the work and the reduction of work ability of nursing professionals. this cross-sectional study involved 498 nursing professionals of a university hospital in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data collection was carried out in 2009 using the Brazilian versions of the Work Ability Index and Job Stress Scale, with logistic regression models used for the data analysis. the prevalence of 43.3% for reduced work ability and 29.7% for high-strain in the job (high psychological demand and low control) were observed. The chances for professionals presenting reduced work ability under high-strain were higher and significant when compared to those classified as being under low-strain, even after adjusting for potential confounders, except for age and gender. a high prevalence of reduced work ability was observed. This evidence indicates the need for investigation and detailed analysis of the psychosocial aspects of the professionals with regard to the health/disease process of nursing professionals.

On-road measurement of regulated pollutants from diesel and CNG buses with urea selective catalytic reduction systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jiadong; Ge, Yunshan; Hao, Lijun; Tan, Jianwei; Li, Jiaqiang; Feng, Xiangyu

2014-12-01

In this study, emissions from 13 buses operated in Beijing, including two Euro-III diesel buses, four Euro-IV diesel buses, three Euro-V diesel buses and four Euro-V CNG buses, were characterized in real world conditions. All of the buses tested were fitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems except for the Euro-III diesel buses. A SEMTECH-DS was used for testing the gaseous pollutants, and an electric low pressure impactor (ELPI) was used for measuring of particle numbers and size distributions. A comparison was made based on emission performance of these buses by employing the VSP approach and fuel- based emissions factors. Diesel buses emitted less CO and THC but more NOx and PM pollutants than CNG buses. The NOx reduction efficiencies of the SCR systems for CNG buses were higher because of the high exhaust temperature and high NO2/NOx ratio, whereas the efficiencies for diesel buses were lower. This resulted in extremely low NOx emissions from CNG buses, but the high NO2/NOx ratio needs further study. Failures of urea injection in the SCR systems were detected in this research, which resulted in very high NOx emissions. The CNG buses also emitted smaller numbers of particles and less particle mass with the presence of oxidation catalysts. Diesel buses satisfying the Euro-V standard performed better than Euro-IV and Euro-III diesel buses in terms of emission performance, except for more nuclei mode particles. Most of time, the Euro-IV diesel buses show no advantages in CO and NOx emissions compared with the Euro-III diesel buses.

Determination of steroid hormones and their metabolite in several types of meat samples by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry.

PubMed

López-García, Marina; Romero-González, Roberto; Garrido Frenich, Antonia

2018-03-09

A new analytical method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (Orbitrap-HRMS) has been developed for the determination of steroid hormones (hydrocortisone, cortisone, progesterone, prednisone, prednisolone, testosterone, melengesterol acetate, hydrocortisone-21-acetate, cortisone-21-acetate, testosterone propionate, 17α-methyltestosterone, 6α-methylprednisolone and medroxyprogesterone) and their metabolite (17α-hydroxyprogesterone) in three meat samples (chicken, pork and beef). Two different extraction approaches were tested (QuEChERS "quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe" and "dilute and shoot"), observing that the QuEChERS method provided the best results in terms of recovery. A clean-up step was applied comparing several sorbents, obtaining the best results when florisil and aluminum oxide were used. The optimized method was validated, obtaining suitable results for all validation parameters in the three meat matrices evaluated. Recovery values ranged from 70% to 103% (except for prednisone in beef samples), meanwhile repeatability and reproducibility were obtained at values lower than 18% and 21%, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was established for most of the compounds at 1.0 μg/kg, except for testosterone in chicken and hydrocortisone-21-acetate and cortisone-21-acetate in pork at 2.0 μg/kg. Decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) values ranged from 1.0-2.7 μg/kg and 1.9-5.5 μg/kg, respectively, in the three matrices. Finally, thirty one meat samples were analyzed and two hormones, progesterone and hydrocortisone, were detected in a beef and pork sample at 1.7 and 2.8 μg/kg respectively. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acute Physiological Responses to Short- and Long-Stage High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Tschakert, Gerhard; Kroepfl, Julia M.; Mueller, Alexander; Harpf, Hanns; Harpf, Leonhard; Traninger, Heimo; Wallner-Liebmann, Sandra; Stojakovic, Tatjana; Scharnagl, Hubert; Meinitzer, Andreas; Pichlhoefer, Patriz; Hofmann, Peter

2016-01-01

Despite described benefits of aerobic high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), the acute responses during different HIIE modes and associated health risks have only been sparsely discovered in heart disease patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the acute responses for physiological parameters, cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers, and catecholamines yielded by two different aerobic HIIE protocols compared to continuous exercise (CE) in phase III cardiac rehabilitation. Eight cardiac patients (7 with coronary heart disease, 1 with myocarditis; 7 males, 1 female; age: 63.0 ± 9.4 years; height: 1.74 ± 0.05 m; weight: 83.6 ± 8.7 kg), all but one treated with ß-blocking agents, performed a maximal symptom-limited incremental exercise test (IET) and three different exercise tests matched for mean load (Pmean) and total duration: 1) short HIIE with a peak workload duration (tpeak) of 20 s and a peak workload (Ppeak) equal to the maximum power output (Pmax) from IET; 2) long HIIE with a tpeak of 4 min, Ppeak was corresponding to the power output at 85 % of maximal heart rate (HRmax) from IET; 3) CE with a target workload equal to Pmean of both HIIE modes. Acute metabolic and peak cardiorespiratory responses were significantly higher during long HIIE compared to short HIIE and CE (p < 0.05) except HRpeak which tended to be higher in long HIIE than in short HIIE (p = 0.08). Between short HIIE and CE, no significant difference was found for any parameter. Acute responses of cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers and catecholamines didn’t show any significant difference between tests (p > 0.05). All health-related variables remained in a normal range in any test except NT-proBNP, which was already elevated at baseline. Despite a high Ppeak particularly in short HIIE, both HIIE modes were as safe and as well tolerated as moderate CE in cardiac patients by using our methodological approach. Key points High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) with short peak workload durations (tpeak) induce a lower acute metabolic and peak cardiorespiratory response compared to intervals with long tpeak despite higher peak workload intensities and identical mean load. No significant difference for any physiological parameter was found between short HIIE and CE. Between short HIIE, long HIIE, and CE, no significant difference was found in the increase (or decrease, respectively,) of health related markers such as cardiovascular biomarkers, catecholamines, or inflammatory parameters during exercise. During all exercise modes, all risk markers remained in a normal range except for NT-proBNP which was, however, already elevated at baseline. Short HIIE, long HIIE, and CE were safely performed by patients with CHD or myocarditis in cardiac rehabilitation by using our methodological approach to exercise prescription. This approach included the prescription of exercise intensities with respect to LTP1, LTP2, and Pmax as well as a conscious setting of Pmean at a moderate level (80 % of PLTP2). Importantly, all exercise modes were matched for Pmean and exercise duration in order to enable a comparison of the three protocols. PMID:26957930

Highly porous organic polymers bearing tertiary amine group and their exceptionally high CO{sub 2} uptake capacities

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

Gomes, Ruth; Bhaumik, Asim, E-mail: msab@iacs.res.in

2015-02-15

We report a very simple and unique strategy for synthesis of a tertiary amine functionalized high surface area porous organic polymer (POP) PDVTA-1 through the co-polymerization of monomers divinylbenzene (DVB) and triallylamine (TAA) under solvothermal reaction conditions. Two different PDVTA-1 samples have been synthesized by varying the molar ratio of the monomers. The porous polymeric materials have been thoroughly characterized by solid state {sup 13}C CP MAS-NMR, FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy, N{sub 2} sorption, HR TEM and FE SEM to understand its chemical environment, nanostructure, bonding, morphology and related surface properties. PDVTA-1 with higher amine content (DVB/TAA=4.0) showed exceptionally highmore » CO{sub 2} uptake capacity of 85.8 wt% (19.5 mmol g{sup −1}) at 273 K and 43.69 wt% (9.93 mmol g{sup −1}) at 298 K under 3 bar pressure, whereas relatively low amine loaded material (DVB/TAA=7.0) shows uptake capacity of 59.2 wt% (13.45 mmol g{sup −1}) at 273 K and 34.36 wt% (7.81 mmol g{sup −1}) at 298 K. Highly porous nanostructure together with very high surface area and basicity at the surface due to the presence of abundant basic tertiary amine N-sites in the framework of PDVTA-1 could be responsible for very high CO{sub 2} adsorption. - Graphical abstract: Exceptionally high CO2 uptake (85.8 wt % at 273 K) has been observed over a high surface area porous organic polymer PDVTA-1 synthesized through copolymerization of divinylbenzene and triallyl amine. - Highlights: • Designing the synthesis of a new N-rich cross-linked porous organic polymer PDVTA-1. • PDVTA-1 showed mesoporosity with very high surface area of 903 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}. • High surface area and presence of basic sites facilitates the CO{sub 2} uptake. • PDVTA-1 showed exceptionally high CO{sub 2} adsorption capacity of 85.8 wt% at 273 K, 3 bar pressure.« less

Cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for integrating MRI into breast cancer screening for women at high risk.

PubMed

Ahern, C H; Shih, Y-C T; Dong, W; Parmigiani, G; Shen, Y

2014-10-14

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for women at high risk for breast cancer. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of alternative screening strategies involving MRI. Using a microsimulation model, we generated life histories under different risk profiles, and assessed the impact of screening on quality-adjusted life-years, and lifetime costs, both discounted at 3%. We compared 12 screening strategies combining annual or biennial MRI with mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE) in intervals of 0.5, 1, or 2 years vs without, and reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Based on an ICER threshold of $100,000/QALY, the most cost-effective strategy for women at 25% lifetime risk was to stagger MRI and mammography plus CBE every year from age 30 to 74, yielding ICER $58,400 (compared to biennial MRI alone). At 50% lifetime risk and with 70% reduction in MRI cost, the recommended strategy was to stagger MRI and mammography plus CBE every 6 months (ICER=$84,400). At 75% lifetime risk, the recommended strategy is biennial MRI combined with mammography plus CBE every 6 months (ICER=$62,800). The high costs of MRI and its lower specificity are limiting factors for annual screening schedule of MRI, except for women at sufficiently high risk.

Lepidosaurian diversity in the Mesozoic-Palaeogene: the potential roles of sampling biases and environmental drivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cleary, Terri J.; Benson, Roger B. J.; Evans, Susan E.; Barrett, Paul M.

2018-03-01

Lepidosauria is a speciose clade with a long evolutionary history, but there have been few attempts to explore its taxon richness through time. Here we estimate patterns of terrestrial lepidosaur genus diversity for the Triassic-Palaeogene (252-23 Ma), and compare observed and sampling-corrected richness curves generated using Shareholder Quorum Subsampling and classical rarefaction. Generalized least-squares regression (GLS) is used to investigate the relationships between richness, sampling and environmental proxies. We found low levels of richness from the Triassic until the Late Cretaceous (except in the Kimmeridgian-Tithonian of Europe). High richness is recovered for the Late Cretaceous of North America, which declined across the K-Pg boundary but remained relatively high throughout the Palaeogene. Richness decreased following the Eocene-Oligocene Grande Coupure in North America and Europe, but remained high in North America and very high in Europe compared to the Late Cretaceous; elsewhere data are lacking. GLS analyses indicate that sampling biases (particularly, the number of fossil collections per interval) are the best explanation for long-term face-value genus richness trends. The lepidosaur fossil record presents many problems when attempting to reconstruct past diversity, with geographical sampling biases being of particular concern, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.

42 CFR 440.240 - Comparability of services for groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Comparability of services for groups. 440.240... Applicable to All Services § 440.240 Comparability of services for groups. Except as limited in § 440.250— (a... groups are equal in amount, duration, and scope for all beneficiaries within the group: (1) The...

42 CFR 440.240 - Comparability of services for groups.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Comparability of services for groups. 440.240... Applicable to All Services § 440.240 Comparability of services for groups. Except as limited in § 440.250— (a... groups are equal in amount, duration, and scope for all beneficiaries within the group: (1) The...

Investigation of saponification for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in marine sediments.

PubMed

Numata, Masahiko; Yarita, Takashi; Aoyagi, Yoshie; Yamazaki, Misako; Takatsu, Akiko

2005-02-01

The effects of saponification conditions (temperature and water content of saponifying solution) on the determination of chlorinated biphenyls (CBs) in marine sediments were investigated. Although highly chlorinated biphenyls (nona- to deca-CBs) decomposed during high-temperature saponification, the degree of degradation was reduced by adding water to the ethanolic potassium hydroxide saponifying solution. Room-temperature saponification yielded quantitative recovery of highly chlorinated biphenyl surrogates but low extraction efficiencies of lightly chlorinated biphenyls (mono- to di-CBs). The same samples were analyzed by other extraction techniques, for example, pressurized liquid extraction, and analytical results were compared. The mono- and di-CB concentrations were correlated with the extraction temperatures of various extraction techniques. In particular, the concentrations of some CB congeners (CB11, CB14) were higher with saponification. The low degree of degradation of highly chlorinated biphenyls and the high recovery of lightly chlorinated biphenyls were compatible when room-temperature and high-temperature saponification were combined. Except for the anomalies of CB11 and CB14, the combined method gave satisfactory results for analysis of PCBs.

Assessing Community Quality of Health Care.

PubMed

Herrin, Jeph; Kenward, Kevin; Joshi, Maulik S; Audet, Anne-Marie J; Hines, Stephen J

2016-02-01

To determine the agreement of measures of care in different settings-hospitals, nursing homes (NHs), and home health agencies (HHAs)-and identify communities with high-quality care in all settings. Publicly available quality measures for hospitals, NHs, and HHAs, linked to hospital service areas (HSAs). We constructed composite quality measures for hospitals, HHAs, and nursing homes. We used these measures to identify HSAs with exceptionally high- or low-quality of care across all settings, or only high hospital quality, and compared these with respect to sociodemographic and health system factors. We identified three dimensions of hospital quality, four HHA dimensions, and two NH dimensions; these were poorly correlated across the three care settings. HSAs that ranked high on all dimensions had more general practitioners per capita, and fewer specialists per capita, than HSAs that ranked highly on only the hospital measures. Higher quality hospital, HHA, and NH care are not correlated at the regional level; regions where all dimensions of care are high differ systematically from regions which score well on only hospital measures and from those which score well on none. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Biomechanical Analysis of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Constructs with Various Fixation Options: Based on a Validated Finite Element Model.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhenjun; Fogel, Guy R; Liao, Zhenhua; Sun, Yitao; Liu, Weiqiang

2018-06-01

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion using cage supplemented with fixation has been used widely in the treatment of lumbar disease. A combined fixation (CF) of lateral plate and spinous process plate may provide multiplanar stability similar to that of bilateral pedicle screws (BPS) and may reduce morbidity. The biomechanical influence of the CF on cage subsidence and facet joint stress has not been well described. The aim of this study was to compare biomechanics of various fixation options and to verify biomechanical effects of the CF. The surgical finite element models with various fixation options were constructed based on computed tomography images. The lateral plate and posterior spinous process plate were applied (CF). The 6 motion modes were simulated. Range of motion (ROM), cage stress, endplate stress, and facet joint stress were compared. For the CF model, ROM, cage stress, and endplate stress were the minimum in almost all motion modes. Compared with BPS, the CF reduced ROM, cage stress, and endplate stress in all motion modes. The ROM was reduced by more than 10% in all motion modes except for flexion; cage stress and endplate stress were reduced more than 10% in all motion modes except for rotation-left. After interbody fusion, facet joint stress was reduced substantially compared with the intact conditions in all motion modes except for flexion. The combined plate fixation may offer an alternative to BPS fixation in lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A systematic comparison of different object-based classification techniques using high spatial resolution imagery in agricultural environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Manchun; Ma, Lei; Blaschke, Thomas; Cheng, Liang; Tiede, Dirk

2016-07-01

Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) is becoming more prevalent in remote sensing classification, especially for high-resolution imagery. Many supervised classification approaches are applied to objects rather than pixels, and several studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance of such supervised classification techniques in GEOBIA. However, these studies did not systematically investigate all relevant factors affecting the classification (segmentation scale, training set size, feature selection and mixed objects). In this study, statistical methods and visual inspection were used to compare these factors systematically in two agricultural case studies in China. The results indicate that Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) are highly suitable for GEOBIA classifications in agricultural areas and confirm the expected general tendency, namely that the overall accuracies decline with increasing segmentation scale. All other investigated methods except for RF and SVM are more prone to obtain a lower accuracy due to the broken objects at fine scales. In contrast to some previous studies, the RF classifiers yielded the best results and the k-nearest neighbor classifier were the worst results, in most cases. Likewise, the RF and Decision Tree classifiers are the most robust with or without feature selection. The results of training sample analyses indicated that the RF and adaboost. M1 possess a superior generalization capability, except when dealing with small training sample sizes. Furthermore, the classification accuracies were directly related to the homogeneity/heterogeneity of the segmented objects for all classifiers. Finally, it was suggested that RF should be considered in most cases for agricultural mapping.

High mortality among patients infected with hypervirulent antimicrobial-resistant capsular type K1 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in Taiwan.

PubMed

Lin, Yi-Tsung; Cheng, Yi-Hsiang; Juan, Chih-Han; Wu, Ping-Feng; Huang, Yi-Wei; Chou, Sheng-Hua; Yang, Tsuey-Ching; Wang, Fu-Der

2018-06-12

Capsular type K1 Klebsiella pneumoniae, highly virulent strains which are common in Asian countries, can cause pyogenic infections. These hypervirulent strains are usually susceptible to most antimicrobials, except for ampicillin. Little is known regarding the clinical and molecular characteristics of antimicrobial-resistant K1 K. pneumoniae strains. This retrospective study evaluated patients infected with capsular type K1 K. pneumoniae strains in a Taiwanese medical centre between April 2013 and March 2016. Antimicrobial-resistant strains were defined based on non-susceptibility to antimicrobial agents except ampicillin. We compared the clinical outcome of patients infected with and without antimicrobial-resistant strains. The in vivo virulence, genetic relatedness, and resistance mechanisms of these hypervirulent antimicrobial-resistant strains were also investigated. A total of 182 capsular type K1 K. pneumoniae strains were identified, including 18 antimicrobial-resistant strains. The 28-day mortality rate among the 18 cases caused by antimicrobial-resistant strains was significantly higher than that among 164 cases caused by antimicrobial-sensitive strains (50% vs. 10.4%, p < 0.001). Infection with antimicrobial-resistant strain independently increased the 28-day mortality risk. Most antimicrobial -resistant strains were not clonally related, and they exhibited high in vivo virulence in a mouse lethality experiment. The major resistance mechanisms involved the presence of β-lactamases and the overexpression of efflux pumps. In conclusion, hypervirulent antimicrobial-resistant capsular type K1 K. pneumoniae strains can predispose to a fatal outcome. These strains may represent an emerging threat to public health in Taiwan. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Comparison of Computational Results with a Low-g, Nitrogen Slosh and Boiling Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stewart, Mark E.; Moder, Jeffrey P.

2015-01-01

This paper compares a fluid/thermal simulation, in Fluent, with a low-g, nitrogen slosh and boiling experiment. In 2010, the French Space Agency, CNES, performed cryogenic nitrogen experiments in a low-g aircraft campaign. From one parabolic flight, a low-g interval was simulated that focuses on low-g motion of nitrogen liquid and vapor with significant condensation, evaporation, and boiling. The computational results are compared with high-speed video, pressure data, heat transfer, and temperature data from sensors on the axis of the cylindrically shaped tank. These experimental and computational results compare favorably. The initial temperature stratification is in good agreement, and the two-phase fluid motion is qualitatively captured. Temperature data is matched except that the temperature sensors are unable to capture fast temperature transients when the sensors move from wet to dry (liquid to vapor) operation. Pressure evolution is approximately captured, but condensation and evaporation rate modeling and prediction need further theoretical analysis.

From Ethical Exceptionalism to Ethical Exceptions: The Rule and exception Model and the Changing Meaning of Ethics In German Bioregulation.

PubMed

Braun, Kathrin

2017-12-01

Germany is an interesting case with respect to the governance of reprogenetics. It has a strong profile in the technosciences and high aims regarding the global bioeconomy, yet her regulation of human genetics, reproductive medicine and embryo research has for a long time been rather restrictive. German biopolitical exceptionalism has often been explained by reference to Catholicism and the legacy of the Nazi past. The Germans, so goes the common story, have learnt the lessons of history and translated them into unconditional respect for human dignity, which in turn translates into unconditional protection of human life, including the human embryo, and the firm repudiation of any eugenic distinction between 'life worth to live' and 'life not worth to live'. This, however, is not the whole story. Alongside deontological strictness we find another strand of governing body politics and reprogenetics in Germany, the rule-and-exception model, running from the mid-1970s abortion law via the 2002 Stem Cell Act to the 2011 regulation of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. In contrast to the former, that strongly draws on Kant and his concept of human dignity, the latter bears resemblances to Carl Schmitt's concept of state of exception. The article will show that the rule-and-exception model builds the exception into the rule and transforms the meaning and mandate of ethics, namely from safeguarding ethical standards to deciding about the exception. Given that the exception has now tended to become the rule, the question is whether the lessons of history will govern German reprogenetics for much longer. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Household energy use in urban Venezuela: Implications from surveys in Maracaibo, Valencia, Merida, and Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz

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

Figueroa, M.J.; Sathaye, J.

1993-08-01

This report identifies the most important results of a comparative analysis of household commercial energy use in Venezuelan urban cities. The use of modern fuels is widespread among all cities. Cooking consumes the largest share of urban household energy use. The survey documents no use of biomass and a negligible use of kerosene for cooking. LPG, natural gas, and kerosene are the main fuels available. LPG is the fuel choice of low-income households in all cities except Maracaibo, where 40% of all households use natural gas. Electricity consumption in Venezuela`s urban households is remarkably high compared with the levels usedmore » in households in comparable Latin American countries and in households of industrialized nations which confront harsher climatic conditions and, therefore, use electricity for water and space heating. The penetration of appliances in Venezuela`s urban households is very high. The appliances available on the market are inefficient, and there are inefficient patterns of energy use among the population. Climate conditions and the urban built form all play important roles in determining the high level of energy consumption in Venezuelan urban households. It is important to acknowledge the opportunities for introducing energy efficiency and conservation in Venezuela`s residential sector, particularly given current economic and financial constraints, which may hamper the future provision of energy services.« less

Brassica villosa, a system for studying non-glandular trichomes and genes in the Brassicas.

PubMed

Nayidu, Naghabushana K; Tan, Yifang; Taheri, Ali; Li, Xiang; Bjorndahl, Trent C; Nowak, Jacek; Wishart, David S; Hegedus, Dwayne; Gruber, Margaret Y

2014-07-01

Brassica villosa is a wild Brassica C genome species with very dense trichome coverage and strong resistance to many insect pests of Brassica oilseeds and vegetables. Transcriptome analysis of hairy B. villosa leaves indicated higher expression of several important trichome initiation genes compared with glabrous B. napus leaves and consistent with the Arabidopsis model of trichome development. However, transcripts of the TRY inhibitory gene in hairy B. villosa were surprisingly high relative to B. napus and relative transcript levels of SAD2, EGL3, and several XIX genes were low, suggesting potential ancillary or less important trichome-related roles for these genes in Brassica species compared with Arabidopsis. Several antioxidant, calcium, non-calcium metal and secondary metabolite genes also showed differential expression between these two species. These coincided with accumulation of two alkaloid-like compounds, high levels of calcium, and other metals in B. villosa trichomes that are correlated with the known tolerance of B. villosa to high salt and the calcium-rich natural habitat of this wild species. This first time report on the isolation of large amounts of pure B. villosa trichomes, on trichome content, and on relative gene expression differences in an exceptionally hairy Brassica species compared with a glabrous species opens doors for the scientific community to understand trichome gene function in the Brassicas and highlights the potential of B. villosa as a trichome research platform.

Comparison of flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorometry for analysis of gene electrotransfer efficiency.

PubMed

Marjanovič, Igor; Kandušer, Maša; Miklavčič, Damijan; Keber, Mateja Manček; Pavlin, Mojca

2014-12-01

In this study, we compared three different methods used for quantification of gene electrotransfer efficiency: fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and spectrofluorometry. We used CHO and B16 cells in a suspension and plasmid coding for GFP. The aim of this study was to compare and analyse the results obtained by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and spectrofluorometry and in addition to analyse the applicability of spectrofluorometry for quantifying gene electrotransfer on cells in a suspension. Our results show that all the three methods detected similar critical electric field strength, around 0.55 kV/cm for both cell lines. Moreover, results obtained on CHO cells showed that the total fluorescence intensity and percentage of transfection exhibit similar increase in response to increase electric field strength for all the three methods. For B16 cells, there was a good correlation at low electric field strengths, but at high field strengths, flow cytometer results deviated from results obtained by fluorescence microscope and spectrofluorometer. Our study showed that all the three methods detected similar critical electric field strengths and high correlations of results were obtained except for B16 cells at high electric field strengths. The results also demonstrated that flow cytometry measures higher values of percentage transfection compared to microscopy. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that spectrofluorometry can be used as a simple and consistent method to determine gene electrotransfer efficiency on cells in a suspension.

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) survey of the Louisiana State Emergency Operating Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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

Crutcher, R.I.; Buchanan, M.E.; Jones, R.W.

1989-08-01

The purpose of this report is to develop an engineering design package to protect the federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Radio System (FNARS) facilities from the effects of high-altitude electromagnetic pulses (HEMP). This report refers to the Louisiana State Emergency Operating Center (EOC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This report addresses electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects only, and disregards any condition in which radiation effects may be a factor. It has been established that, except for the source region of a surface burst, EMP effects of high-altitude bursts are more severe than comparable detonations in either air or surface regions. Anymore » system hardened to withstand the more extreme EMP environment will survive the less severe conditions. The threatening environment will therefore be limited to HEMP situations. 76 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Weldability of high-toughness iron - 12 percent-nickel alloys with reactive metal additions of titanium, aluminum, or niobium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delvetian, J. H.; Stephens, J. R.; Witzke, W. R.

1977-01-01

Three exceptionally high toughness Fe-12Ni alloys designed for cryogenic service were welded by using the gas tungsten arc welding process. Evaluation of their weldability included equivalent energy fracture toughness tests, transverse weld tensile tests at -196 and 25 C, and weld crack sensitivity tests. The Fe-12Ni-0.25Ti alloy proved extremely weldable for cryogenic applications, having weld and heat affected zone properties comparable to those of the wrought base alloy. The Fe-12Ni-0.5Al alloy had good weld properties only after the weld joint was heat treated. The Fe-12Ni-0.25Nb alloy was not considered weldable for cryogenic use because of its poor weld joint properties at -196 C and its susceptibility to hot cracking.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma applanatum (Polyporales, Basidiomycota).

PubMed

Wang, Xin-Cun; Shao, Junjie; Liu, Chang

2016-07-01

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 119,803 bp long with a GC content of 26.66%. Gene prediction revealed genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 25 tRNAs, the large and small ribosomal RNAs, all genes are located on the same strand except trnW-CCA. Compared with previously sequenced genomes of G. lucidum, G. meredithiae and G. sinense, the order of the protein and rRNA genes is highly conserved; however, the types of tRNA genes are slightly different. The mitochondrial genome of G. applanatum will contribute to the understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of Ganoderma and Ganodermataceae, the group containing many species with high medicinal values.

Regulation of body temperature by some Mesozoic marine reptiles.

PubMed

Bernard, Aurélien; Lécuyer, Christophe; Vincent, Peggy; Amiot, Romain; Bardet, Nathalie; Buffetaut, Eric; Cuny, Gilles; Fourel, François; Martineau, François; Mazin, Jean-Michel; Prieur, Abel

2010-06-11

What the body temperature and thermoregulation processes of extinct vertebrates were are central questions for understanding their ecology and evolution. The thermophysiologic status of the great marine reptiles is still unknown, even though some studies have suggested that thermoregulation may have contributed to their exceptional evolutionary success as apex predators of Mesozoic aquatic ecosystems. We tested the thermal status of ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs by comparing the oxygen isotope compositions of their tooth phosphate to those of coexisting fish. Data distribution reveals that these large marine reptiles were able to maintain a constant and high body temperature in oceanic environments ranging from tropical to cold temperate. Their estimated body temperatures, in the range from 35 degrees +/- 2 degrees C to 39 degrees +/- 2 degrees C, suggest high metabolic rates required for predation and fast swimming over large distances offshore.

Comparative studies on Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus adult females trespassing commercial nets.

PubMed

Andrade, Carlos F S; Cabrini, Isaías

2010-03-01

ABSTRACT. The abilities of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus females in trespassing 5 different commercial nets, 2 nets impregnated with deltamethrin or permethrin and 3 non-impregnated nets (Guarany, Perame, and Ricca), were compared. The evaluating parameters were their percent trespassing success, the median trespassing time (TT50), and the relation between mosquito wing sizes and their trespassing success. Some mosquito behavioral traits were also observed. The trespassing success, directly related to opening areas, was found to be lower with impregnated nets for both species. The differences between the mosquito species were significant among all the nets except Ricca. Aedes albopictus showed a very high success rate in trespassing the non-impregnated Perame net and a lower success rate in trespassing Guarany. Aedes albopictus also showed a very high success rate in trespassing pyrethroid-impregnated nets. The TT50 values for the Ricca and Guarany nets were not significantly different between the species, but a significantly lower TT50 value was found for the net with the largest opening (Ricca). The smaller wingspan of Ae. albopictus seems to explain the higher trespassing success of this species.

Three-dimensional brain MRI for DBS patients within ultra-low radiofrequency power limits.

PubMed

Sarkar, Subhendra N; Papavassiliou, Efstathios; Hackney, David B; Alsop, David C; Shih, Ludy C; Madhuranthakam, Ananth J; Busse, Reed F; La Ruche, Susan; Bhadelia, Rafeeque A

2014-04-01

For patients with deep brain stimulators (DBS), local absorbed radiofrequency (RF) power is unknown and is much higher than what the system estimates. We developed a comprehensive, high-quality brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for DBS patients utilizing three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance sequences at very low RF power. Six patients with DBS were imaged (10 sessions) using a transmit/receive head coil at 1.5 Tesla with modified 3D sequences within ultra-low specific absorption rate (SAR) limits (0.1 W/kg) using T2 , fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1 -weighted image contrast. Tissue signal and tissue contrast from the low-SAR images were subjectively and objectively compared with routine clinical images of six age-matched controls. Low-SAR images of DBS patients demonstrated tissue contrast comparable to high-SAR images and were of diagnostic quality except for slightly reduced signal. Although preliminary, we demonstrated diagnostic quality brain MRI with optimized, volumetric sequences in DBS patients within very conservative RF safety guidelines offering a greater safety margin. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Thermal boundary resistances of carbon nanotubes in contact with metals and polymers.

PubMed

Li, Qingwei; Liu, Changhong; Fan, Shoushan

2009-11-01

In recent years carbon-nanotube-based thermal interface materials have shown great potential for solving the thermal management problem of integrated circuits and nanodevices. For a long time, the exceptionally high thermal boundary resistances (TBRs) between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their surroundings have been suspected as a major factor to restraining their performance. But so far, there are few or no reported work to determine or compare the TBRs between CNTs and various materials. In this paper, we carefully design and carry out the TBR measurements of CNTs in contact with metal and polymer materials, and we present a conclusion that the CNT/polymer generally gives a lower TBR compared to the CNT/metal, which seems a little counterintuitive. We further suggest that the larger CNT-metal TBRs arise from the smaller phonon-mode overlapping between the CNT and the metals at low frequencies, and the low phonon transmission coefficient at the metal-CNT interface in the intermediate and high frequency range. This work may inspire deeper understanding of the TBR and shed light on related theoretical and applied research.

Calciuric effects of protein and potassium bicarbonate but not of sodium chloride or phosphate can be detected acutely in adult women and men.

PubMed

Whiting, S J; Anderson, D J; Weeks, S J

1997-05-01

An acute load test was used to test the influence of dietary factors on urinary calcium excretion. In study 1, 10 fasting premenopausal women consumed test meals providing a moderate amount of protein (MP; 23 g), MP plus 23 mmol KHCO3 (MP+K), MP plus 23 mmol NaCl (MP+Na), and a high amount of protein (HP; 53 g), HP plus 70 mmol KHCO3 (HP+K), and HP plus 70 mmol NaCl (HP+Na). Protein was casein:lactalbumin (80:20), except for the treatments with added sodium chloride, to which only casein was added. In study 2, the effects of HP and HP plus 50 mmol KHCO3 (HP+K) were compared with those of MP or MP plus 7.5 mmol phosphate (MP+Pi), equaling the additional phosphate of HP, in 10 adult men. Subjects completed all treatments in random order. In study 1, the peak of calcium excretion was at 3 h for all treatments, except for HP+K, which indicated an acute hypocalciuric effect of potassium. Unexpectedly, there was no hypercalciuric effect of adding sodium chloride, nor was urine sodium increased. In study 2, calcium excretion was significantly higher with HP than with MP+Pi but not with MP at 3 h, indicating an acute hypercalciuric effect of protein alone. A hypocalciuric effect of potassium (HP+K compared with HP) but not of phosphate (MP compared with MP+Pi) was seen. An acute load test measuring changes 3 h postload was appropriate for examining the calciuric effects of protein and potassium bicarbonate, but not those of sodium chloride or phosphate in adults.

Compartmentalization and Functionality of Nuclear Disorder: Intrinsic Disorder and Protein-Protein Interactions in Intra-Nuclear Compartments

PubMed Central

Meng, Fanchi; Na, Insung; Kurgan, Lukasz; Uversky, Vladimir N.

2015-01-01

The cell nucleus contains a number of membrane-less organelles or intra-nuclear compartments. These compartments are dynamic structures representing liquid-droplet phases which are only slightly denser than the bulk intra-nuclear fluid. They possess different functions, have diverse morphologies, and are typically composed of RNA (or, in some cases, DNA) and proteins. We analyzed 3005 mouse proteins localized in specific intra-nuclear organelles, such as nucleolus, chromatin, Cajal bodies, nuclear speckles, promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies, nuclear lamina, nuclear pores, and perinuclear compartment and compared them with ~29,863 non-nuclear proteins from mouse proteome. Our analysis revealed that intrinsic disorder is enriched in the majority of intra-nuclear compartments, except for the nuclear pore and lamina. These compartments are depleted in proteins that lack disordered domains and enriched in proteins that have multiple disordered domains. Moonlighting proteins found in multiple intra-nuclear compartments are more likely to have multiple disordered domains. Protein-protein interaction networks in the intra-nuclear compartments are denser and include more hubs compared to the non-nuclear proteins. Hubs in the intra-nuclear compartments (except for the nuclear pore) are enriched in disorder compared with non-nuclear hubs and non-nuclear proteins. Therefore, our work provides support to the idea of the functional importance of intrinsic disorder in the cell nucleus and shows that many proteins associated with sub-nuclear organelles in nuclei of mouse cells are enriched in disorder. This high level of disorder in the mouse nuclear proteins defines their ability to serve as very promiscuous binders, possessing both large quantities of potential disorder-based interaction sites and the ability of a single such site to be involved in a large number of interactions. PMID:26712748

Vidicon intensifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carpentier, R. P.; Pietrzyk, J. P.; Beyer, R. R.; Kalafut, J. S.

1976-01-01

Computer-designed sensor, consisting of single-stage electrostatically-focused, triode image intensifier, provides high quality imaging characterized by exceptionally low geometric distortion, low shading, and high center-and-corner modulation transfer function.

34 CFR 75.219 - Exceptions to the procedures under § 75.217.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 34 Education 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Exceptions to the procedures under § 75.217. 75.219... under the procedures in § 75.217; (b)(1) The application was evaluated under the preceding competition of the program; (2) The application rated high enough to deserve selection under § 75.217; and (3...

Age-Related Changes in Associations Between Reasons for Alcohol Use and High-Intensity Drinking Across Young Adulthood.

PubMed

Patrick, Megan E; Evans-Polce, Rebecca; Kloska, Deborah D; Maggs, Jennifer L; Lanza, Stephanie T

2017-07-01

Analyses focus on whether self-reported reasons for drinking alcohol change in their associations with high-intensity drinking across the transition to adulthood. Self-report data on high-intensity drinking (10+ drinks) collected from the national Monitoring the Future study in 2005 to 2014 from those ages 18-26 were used (N = 2,664 [60% women] for all drinkers and 1,377 for heavy episodic [5+] drinkers; up to 6,541 person-waves). Time-varying effect modeling examined changes in the direction and magnitude of associations between eight reasons for drinking and high-intensity alcohol use across continuous age. Four reasons to drink showed quite stable associations with high-intensity drinking across age: drinking to get away from problems, to get high, to relax, and to sleep. Associations between two reasons and high-intensity drinking decreased with age: anger/frustration and to have a good time. The association between drinking because of boredom and high-intensity drinking increased with age. Drinking because it tastes good had a weak association with high-intensity drinking. Among heavy episodic drinkers, reasons for use also differentiated high-intensity drinking, with two exceptions: drinking to have a good time and to relax did not distinguish drinking 10+ drinks from drinking 5-9 drinks. Reasons for drinking are differentially associated with high-intensity drinking, compared with any other drinking and compared with lower intensity heavy drinking, across age during the transition to adulthood. Intervention programs seeking to mitigate alcohol-related harms should focus on reasons for use when they are the most developmentally salient.

Management and risk factor control of coronary artery disease in elderly versus nonelderly: a multicenter registry.

PubMed

Phrommintikul, Arintaya; Krittayaphong, Rungroj; Wongcharoen, Wanwarang; Boonyaratavej, Smonporn; Wongvipaporn, Chaiyasith; Tiyanon, Woraporn; Dinchuthai, Pakaphan; Kunjara-Na-Ayudhya, Rapeephon; Tatsanavivat, Pyatat; Sritara, Piyamitr

2016-12-01

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in elderly because aging is the important non-modifiable risk factors of atherosclerosis and also a predictor of poor outcomes. Underuse of guideline directed therapy may contribute to suboptimal risk factor control and worse outcomes in the elderly. We aimed to explore the management of CAD, risk factors control as well as goal attainment in elderly compared to nonelderly CAD patients. The CORE-Thailand is an ongoing multicenter, prospective, observational registry of patients with high atherosclerotic risk in Thailand. The data of 4120 CAD patients enrolled in this cohort was analyzed comparing between the elderly (age ≥ 65 years) vs. nonelderly (age < 65 years). There were 2172 elderly and 1948 nonelderly patients. The elderly CAD patients had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. The proportion of patients who received coronary revascularization was not different between the elderly and nonelderly CAD patients. Antiplatelets were prescribed less in the elderly while statin was prescribed in the similar proportion. Goal attainments of risk factor control of glycemic control, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and smoking cessation except the blood pressure goal were higher in the elderly CAD patients. The CORE-Thailand registry showed the equity in the treatment of CAD between elderly and non-elderly. Elderly CAD patients had higher rate of goal attainment in risk factor control except blood pressure goal. The effects of goal attainment on cardiovascular outcomes will be demonstrated from ongoing cohort.

Frequency of inflammatory-like MR imaging findings in asymptomatic fingers of healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Agten, Christoph A; Rosskopf, Andrea B; Jonczy, Maciej; Brunner, Florian; Pfirrmann, Christian W A; Buck, Florian M

2018-02-01

To describe the frequency of inflammatory-like findings on MR imaging in asymptomatic volunteers and compare them with patients with known rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. MR images of fingers in 42 asymptomatic volunteers and 33 patients with rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis were analyzed. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) Rheumatoid/Psoriatic Arthritis MRI Scoring System (RAMRIS/PsAMRIS) and tenosynovitis scoring system were used to assess: bone marrow edema (BME), erosions, tendon sheath fluid/tenosynovitis, joint effusion, and soft-tissue edema. Findings and scores were compared between volunteers and patients. Inter-reader agreement was calculated (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC). In volunteers, tendon sheath fluid was very common in at least one location (42/42 volunteers for reader 1, 34/42 volunteers for reader 2). BME, erosions, joint effusion, and soft-tissue edema were absent (except one BME in the 3rd proximal phalanx for reader 1). Tendon sheath fluid scores in volunteers and tenosynovitis scores in patients were high (reader 1, 7.17 and 5.39; reader 2, 2.31 and 5.45). Overall, inter-reader agreement was substantial (ICC = 0.696-0.844), except for tendon sheath fluid (ICC = 0.258). Fluid in the finger flexor tendon sheaths may be a normal finding and without gadolinium administration should not be interpreted as tenosynovitis. Bone marrow edema, erosions, joint effusion, and soft-tissue edema in the fingers most likely reflect pathology if present.

Geochemistry and quality parameters of dug and tube well water of Khipro, District Sanghar, Sindh, Pakistan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashir, Erum; Huda, Syed Nawaz-ul; Naseem, Shahid; Hamza, Salma; Kaleem, Maria

2017-07-01

Thirty-nine (23 dug and 16 tube well) samples were geochemically evaluated and investigated to ascertain the quality of water in Khipro, Sindh. The analytical results exhibited abundance of major cations and anions in Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and Cl- > HCO3 - > SO4 2- sequence. Stiff diagram showed dug well sample have high Na-Cl and moderate Mg-SO4 content as compared to tube well samples. Majority of dug well samples appeared as Na-Cl type on Piper diagram while tube well samples are mixed type. Gibbs diagram reflected evaporation as a dominant phenomenon in dug well; however, tube well samples are declined toward rock dominance. Process of ion exchange was witnessed from Na+ versus Cl- and Ca2+ + Mg2+ versus HCO3 - + SO4 2- plots. Principal component analysis also discriminates dug well and tube well water by means of positive and negative loading based on physical and chemical composition of the groundwater. Studied and computed parameters like pH, EC, TDS, TH, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO4 2-, HCO3 -, sodium adsorption ratio, magnesium adsorption ratio, potential salinity, residual sodium carbonate, Na%, Kelly's ratio, and permeability index were compared with WHO to evaluate studied water for drinking and agricultural purposes. Except Na+ and K+, all chemical constrains are within the allowed limits, set by WHO for drinking water. Similarly, most of the groundwater is moderately suitable for irrigation uses, with few exceptions.

TiN coated aluminum electrodes for DC high voltage electron guns

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

Mamun, Md Abdullah A.; Elmustafa, Abdelmageed A.; Taus, Rhys

Preparing electrodes made of metals like stainless steel, for use inside DC high voltage electron guns, is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. In this paper, the authors report the exceptional high voltage performance of aluminum electrodes coated with hard titanium nitride (TiN). The aluminum electrodes were comparatively easy to manufacture and required only hours of mechanical polishing using silicon carbide paper, prior to coating with TiN by a commercial vendor. The high voltage performance of three TiN-coated aluminum electrodes, before and after gas conditioning with helium, was compared to that of bare aluminum electrodes, and electrodes manufactured from titanium alloymore » (Ti-6AI-4V). Following gas conditioning, each TiN-coated aluminum electrode reached -225 kV bias voltage while generating less than 100 pA of field emission (<10 pA) using a 40 mm cathode/anode gap, corresponding to field strength of 13.7 MV/m. Smaller gaps were studied to evaluate electrode performance at higher field strength with the best performing TiN-coated aluminum electrode reaching ~22.5 MV/m with field emission less than 100 pA. These results were comparable to those obtained from our best-performing electrodes manufactured from stainless steel, titanium alloy and niobium, as reported in references cited below. The TiN coating provided a very smooth surface and with mechanical properties of the coating (hardness and modulus) superior to those of stainless steel, titanium-alloy, and niobium electrodes. These features likely contributed to the improved high voltage performance of the TiN-coated aluminum electrodes.« less

TiN coated aluminum electrodes for DC high voltage electron guns

DOE PAGES

Mamun, Md Abdullah A.; Elmustafa, Abdelmageed A.; Taus, Rhys; ...

2015-05-01

Preparing electrodes made of metals like stainless steel, for use inside DC high voltage electron guns, is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. In this paper, the authors report the exceptional high voltage performance of aluminum electrodes coated with hard titanium nitride (TiN). The aluminum electrodes were comparatively easy to manufacture and required only hours of mechanical polishing using silicon carbide paper, prior to coating with TiN by a commercial vendor. The high voltage performance of three TiN-coated aluminum electrodes, before and after gas conditioning with helium, was compared to that of bare aluminum electrodes, and electrodes manufactured from titanium alloymore » (Ti-6AI-4V). Following gas conditioning, each TiN-coated aluminum electrode reached -225 kV bias voltage while generating less than 100 pA of field emission (<10 pA) using a 40 mm cathode/anode gap, corresponding to field strength of 13.7 MV/m. Smaller gaps were studied to evaluate electrode performance at higher field strength with the best performing TiN-coated aluminum electrode reaching ~22.5 MV/m with field emission less than 100 pA. These results were comparable to those obtained from our best-performing electrodes manufactured from stainless steel, titanium alloy and niobium, as reported in references cited below. The TiN coating provided a very smooth surface and with mechanical properties of the coating (hardness and modulus) superior to those of stainless steel, titanium-alloy, and niobium electrodes. These features likely contributed to the improved high voltage performance of the TiN-coated aluminum electrodes.« less

Men and Women Exhibit Similar Acute Hypotensive Responses After Low, Moderate, or High-Intensity Plyometric Training.

PubMed

Ramírez-Campillo, Rodrigo; Abad-Colil, Felipe; Vera, Maritza; Andrade, David C; Caniuqueo, Alexis; Martínez-Salazar, Cristian; Nakamura, Fábio Y; Arazi, Hamid; Cerda-Kohler, Hugo; Izquierdo, Mikel; Alonso-Martínez, Alicia M

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of low-, moderate-, high-, and combined-intensity plyometric training on heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and rate-pressure product (RPP) cardiovascular responses in male and female normotensive subjects. Fifteen (8 women) physically active normotensive subjects participated in this study (age 23.5 ± 2.6 years, body mass index 23.8 ± 2.3 kg · m(-2)). Using a randomized crossover design, trials were conducted with rest intervals of at least 48 hours. Each trial comprised 120 jumps, using boxes of 20, 30, and 40 cm for low, moderate, and high intensity, respectively. For combined intensity, the 3 height boxes were combined. Measurements were taken before and after (i.e., every 10 minutes for a period of 90 minutes) each trial. When data responses of men and women were combined, a mean reduction in SBP, DBP, and RPP was observed after all plyometric intensities. No significant differences were observed pre- or postexercise (at any time point) for HR, SBP, DBP, or RPP when low-, moderate-, high-, or combined-intensity trials were compared. No significant differences were observed between male and female subjects, except for a higher SBP reduction in women (-12%) compared with men (-7%) after high-intensity trial. Although there were minor differences across postexercise time points, collectively, the data demonstrated that all plyometric training intensities can induce an acute postexercise hypotensive effect in young normotensive male and female subjects.

Petrologic evidence that most ocean islands derive from thermally driven mantle plumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putirka, K. D.

2006-12-01

Perhaps the most crucial test of the mantle plume hypothesis concerns whether hot spots are indeed hot. To conduct this test, olivine-liquid equilibria are used to estimate mantle potential temperatures (Tp) for 15 putative plume localities (using the GEOROC database). Ocean islands (OIB) were selected on the availability of rocks that attain olivine control (where olivine addition/removal alone controls rock composition) so that primitive FeO contents could be estimated. Several other variables in addition to FeO must also be known: Except at Iceland and Hawaii, where large numbers of olivine analyses allow individual estimates for the maximum forsterite contents (Fomax) of olivines, a single Fomax value, 91.5, is adopted for all OIB (and MORB; determined from a global database of olivine compositions); as a null hypothesis, MORB-like values for oxygen fugacity (QFM-1; Bezos and Humler, 2005) and the Fe-Mg exchange coefficient between olivine and liquid (0.31; calculated from Toplis, 2005, Herzberg and O'Hara, 1998) are adopted. Generalized differences in water contents between OIB and MORB (Dixon et al., 2002) are also accounted for. All temperatures are calculated at 1 GPa, using averages of existing (Beattie, 1993) and new (Putirka et al., 2006) olivine geothermometers. Except for Galapagos, primitive OIBs have nearly uniform FeO contents that are higher compared to MORB (at MgO>10 wt. %, mean OIB FeOt = 11.6 wt. %). These high FeO contents require higher mean temperatures of olivine-liquid equilibration for OIB, by an average of 150±20°C compared to MORB. Olivine equilibration temperatures do not depend on mantle source composition, so are independent of whether eclogite-type components occur in the mantle. If a peridotite bulk composition is assumed (to estimate melt fraction from partial melting experiments) olivine equilibration temperatures can be converted to Tp; OIB (Galapagos excepted) yield a mean Tp of 1583°C, compared to 1397°C for MORB. When inter- island compositional variation is accounted for, all OIB except Galapagos yield excess temperatures (Tp^{OIB} - Tp^{MORB}) of 133-280°C, with a mean of 186± 36°C. Galapagos lavas yield an excess temperature of 16°C; perhaps mixing has diluted its thermal signal, but in any event, its Tp is essentially identical to MORB. Nevertheless, most OIB (93% in this sample) exhibit large excess temperatures. Thermally driven mantle plumes, as proposed by Morgan (1971), thus appear to be common, not rare. A second implication, less certain than the first, involves the narrow standard deviation of ±36°C for Tp at OIB, which almost certainly reflects a lower limit to actual thermal variability. This narrow range indicates that all hot spots derive from a single thermal boundary layer.

Music students: conventional hearing thresholds and at high frequencies.

PubMed

Lüders, Débora; Gonçalves, Cláudia Giglio de Oliveira; Lacerda, Adriana Bender de Moreira; Ribas, Ângela; Conto, Juliana de

2014-01-01

Research has shown that hearing loss in musicians may cause difficulty in timbre recognition and tuning of instruments. To analyze the hearing thresholds from 250 Hz to 16,000 Hz in a group of music students and compare them to a non-musician group in order to determine whether high-frequency audiometry is a useful tool in the early detection of hearing impairment. Study design was a retrospective observational cohort. Conventional and high-frequency audiometry was performed in 42 music students (Madsen Itera II audiometer and TDH39P headphones for conventional audiometry, and HDA 200 headphones for high-frequency audiometry). Of the 42 students, 38.1% were female students and 61.9% were male students, with a mean age of 26 years. At conventional audiometry, 92.85% had hearing thresholds within normal limits; but even within the normal limits, the worst results were observed in the left ear for all frequencies, except for 4000 Hz; compared to the non-musician group, the worst results occurred at 500 Hz in the left ear, and at 250 Hz, 6000 Hz, 9000 Hz, 10,000 Hz, and 11,200 Hz in both the ears. The periodic evaluation of high-frequency thresholds may be useful in the early detection of hearing loss in musicians. Copyright © 2014 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Assessment of different methods to estimate heavy metal bioavailability in 30 contrasting Spanish and New Zealand soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soriano-Disla, J. M.; Speir, T. W.; Gómez, I.; Clucas, L. M.; McLaren, R. G.; Navarro-Pedreño, J.

2009-04-01

The accumulation of heavy metals in soil from different sources (atmospheric deposition, agricultural practices, urban-industrial activities, etc.) is of a great environmental concern because of metal persistence and toxicity. In this sense, there is a consensus in the literature that the estimation of the bioavailable heavy metals in soil is a preferable tool to determine potential risks from soil contamination than the total contents. However, controversy exists around the definition of an accurate and universal bioavailability estimator that is useful for soils with different properties, since many factors control this parameter. Thus, the main objective of this work was to compare the effectiveness of different methods to predict heavy metals plant uptake from soils with different properties and heavy metal contents. For the development of the present work, 30 contrasting soils from New Zealand and Spain were selected. Apart from the analysis of the basic soil properties, different methods to estimate heavy metal bioavailability were performed: total heavy metals, DTPA-extractable soil metals, diffusive gradient technique (DGT), and total heavy metals in soil solution. In these soils, a bioassay using wheat (Triticum aestivum) was carried out in a constant environment room for 25 days (12 hours photoperiod, day and night temperature of 20°C and 15°C respectively). After this time, the plants were divided in roots and shoots and heavy metal content was analysed in each part. Simple correlations were performed comparing the phytoavailable contents with the bioavailability estimated by the different methods. As expected, higher heavy metal concentrations were found in roots compared with shoots. Comparing the theoretical available heavy metals estimated by the different methods with the root and shoot uptake, better correlations were found with the root contents, thus, the discussion is based in the comparisons with the uptake by this part of the plant. According to the results, DTPA seemed to be the extractant that best estimated plant uptake (except for Cd, not estimated by any of the methods used). Similar good results were found using the total heavy metal contents, except for Ni and Zn. DGT also worked well, but its use for Pb is not advisable, since many values were below the detection level. The heavy metals in soil solution were less successful for predicting plant uptake. In general, the good results obtained for Cr and Zn seemed to be influenced by a few high values found in some soils. Taking this point into account, the soils with very high levels of these heavy metals were removed from the analysis and simple correlations were done again with the remaining soils having a lower range of these metals. For the case of Cr, four soils were removed (soils with ten times or more total Cr than the average of the others 26 samples) and three for the case of Zn (soils with two times or more total Zn than the average of the others 27 samples). After this, the correlations with total heavy metals and DTPA became very weak, being the heavy metals in soil solution for Cr, and DGT for Zn, the methods that best estimated the plant uptake of these metals. This work has proved the importance of careful revision of the data distribution, since good results can be influenced by just few samples with high values. In this sense and as a conclusion, DTPA and total heavy metals followed similar patterns and were good predictors of Cu and Pb uptake, and useful to distinguish between low and high values for Cr and Zn. On the other hand, DGT and heavy metals in soil solution showed a similar effectiveness to estimate Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cr, but DGT presented, in general, higher correlation levels (except for Cr). Taking all of the results together, it seems that the most robust and efficient estimator for all metals studied (except Cd, impossible to predict with any of the methods used) was the DGT. Acknowledgements: Jose. M. Soriano-Disla gratefully acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Culture for a research fellowship (AP2005-0320).

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

The Birth and Death of Redundancy in Decoherence and Quantum Darwinism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riedel, Charles; Zurek, Wojciech; Zwolak, Michael

2012-02-01

Understanding the quantum-classical transition and the identification of a preferred classical domain through quantum Darwinism is based on recognizing high-redundancy states as both ubiquitous and exceptional. They are produced ubiquitously during decoherence, as has been demonstrated by the recent identification of very general conditions under which high-redundancy states develop. They are exceptional in that high-redundancy states occupy a very narrow corner of the global Hilbert space; states selected at random are overwelming likely to exhibit zero redundancy. In this letter, we examine the conditions and time scales for the transition from high-redundancy states to zero-redundancy states in many-body dynamics. We identify sufficient condition for the development of redundancy from product states and show that the destruction of redundancy can be accomplished even with highly constrained interactions.

H2CHXdedpa and H4CHXoctapa-chiral acyclic chelating ligands for (67/68)Ga and (111)In radiopharmaceuticals.

PubMed

Ramogida, Caterina F; Cawthray, Jacqueline F; Boros, Eszter; Ferreira, Cara L; Patrick, Brian O; Adam, Michael J; Orvig, Chris

2015-02-16

The chiral acyclic ligands H2CHXdedpa (N4O2), H2CHXdedpa-bb (N4O2), and H4CHXoctapa (N4O4) (CHX = cyclohexyl/cyclohexane, H2dedpa = 1,2-[[6-carboxy-pyridin-2-yl]-methylamino]ethane, bb = N,N'-dibenzylated, H4octapa = N,N'-bis(6-carboxy-2-pyridylmethyl)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid) were synthesized, complexed with Ga(III) and/or In(III), and evaluated for their potential as chelating agents in radiopharmaceutical applications. The ligands were compared to the previously studied hexadentate H2dedpa and octadentate H4octapa ligands to determine the effect adding a chiral 1R,2R-trans-cyclohexane to replace the ethylenediamine backbone would have on metal complex stability and radiolabeling kinetics. It was found that [Ga(CHXdedpa)](+) showed very similar properties to those of [Ga(dedpa)](+), with only one isomer in solution observed by NMR spectroscopy, and minimal structural changes in the solid-state X-ray structure. Like [Ga(dedpa)](+), [Ga(CHXdedpa)](+) exhibited exceptionally high thermodynamic stability constants (log KML = 28.11(8)), and the chelate retained the ability to label (67)Ga quantitatively in 10 min at room temperature at ligand concentrations of 1 × 10(-5) M. In vitro kinetic inertness assays demonstrated the [(67)Ga(CHXdedpa)](+) complex to be more stable than [(67)Ga(dedpa)](+) in a human serum competition, with 90.5% and 77.8% of (67)Ga remaining chelate-bound after 2 h, respectively. Preliminary coordination studies of H4CHXoctapa with In(III) demonstrated [In(CHXoctapa)](-) to have an equivalently high thermodynamically stable constant as [In(octapa)](-), with log KML values of 27.16(9) and 26.76(14), respectively. The [(111)In(CHXoctapa)](-) complex showed exceptionally high in vitro kinetic inertness over 120 h in human serum, comparing well with previously reported [(111)In(octapa)](-) values, and an improved stability compared to the current industry "gold standards" 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Initial investigations reveal that the chiral acyclic hexadentate H2CHXdedpa and octadentate H4CHXoctapa ligands are ideal candidates for radiopharmaceutical elaboration of gallium or indium isotopes, respectively.

Determinants of bone density among athletes engaged in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Block, Jon E.; Friedlander, Anne L.; Brooks, George A.; Steiger, Peter; Stubbs, Harrison A.

1989-01-01

The effect of weight bearing activity on the bone density was investigated in athletes by comparing the measures of bone density of athletes engaged in weight-training programs with those of polo players and nonexercising subjects. All subjects had measurements of spinal trabecular and integral bone density by quantitative tomography, as well as determinations of hip bone density by dual photon absorptiometry. Results confirmed previous findings by Block et al. (1987) of significantly greater bone density among highly trained athletes compared with nonexercising subjects of similar age. Results also indicated that athletes engaged in non-weight-bearing forms of rigorous exercise had greater levels of bone density. However, as the participants in this study were exceptional athletes, engaged in a strenuous sport with both aerobic and heavy resistance components, a confirmation of these data is needed, using larger samples of individuals.

Dynamical Evolution of an Effective Two-Level System with {\\mathscr{P}}{\\mathscr{T}} Symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Lei; Xu, Zhihao; Yin, Chuanhao; Guo, Liping

2018-05-01

We investigate the dynamics of parity- and time-reversal (PT ) symmetric two-energy-level atoms in the presence of two optical and a radio-frequency (rf) fields. The strength and relative phase of fields can drive the system from unbroken to broken PT symmetric regions. Compared with the Hermitian model, Rabi-type oscillation is still observed, and the oscillation characteristics are also adjusted by the strength and relative phase in the region of unbroken PT symmetry. At exception point (EP), the oscillation breaks down. To better understand the underlying properties we study the effective Bloch dynamics and find the emergence of the z components of the fixed points is the feature of the PT symmetry breaking and the projections in x-y plane can be controlled with high flexibility compared with the standard two-level system with PT symmetry. It helps to study the dynamic behavior of the complex PT symmetric model.

A Comparative Epidemiologic Study on Geographic Distributions of Cancers of the Lung and the Large Intestine in Japan

PubMed Central

Murata, Motoi; Takayama, Kimiko; Fukuma, Seigo; Okamoto, Naoyuki; Kato, Ikuko; Hanai, Aya; Nakayama, Hideaki; Fujiwara, Kouichi; Ikeda, Takayoshi; Fujimoto, Isaburo

1988-01-01

To examine what kinds of factors could have caused the geographic variation observed in lung cancer morbidity in Japan, a correlation study was performed comparing various regional traits. The same study was also conducted on large intestinal cancer, aiming to distinguish the possible urban factors associated with both cancers. Lung cancer was highly correlated with industrialization‐related factors such as localization of manufacturing industries, automobile traffic and air pollution, whereas colon cancer was correlated with the population density of workers in the tertiary industries such as services, trade and government. A multiple regression analysis could not detect any single factor with an exceptionally strong influence on either cancer. The present findings suggest that the hazardous environmental condition of urban areas has, to some extent, contributed to the recent increase of lung cancer cases in this country. PMID:3142830

Radiative Viscous Shock Layer Analysis of Fire, Apollo, and PAET Flight Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balakrishnan, A.; Park, Chul; Green, Michael J.

1986-01-01

Equilibrium, radiating viscous shock layer solutions are obtained for a number of trajectory points of the Fire II, Apollo 4, and PAET experimental flight vehicles. Convective heating rates calculated by a benchmark code agree well with two engineering correlations, except at high altitudes corresponding to low densities. Calculated radiation intensities are compared with the flight radiometer data and with inviscid flow results. Differences as great as 70% are observed between measured data and the viscous calculations. Because of boundary-layer absorption, viscous effects reduce the intensity to the wall by as much as 30% compared with inviscid intensities. Preliminary chemical and thermal nonequilibrium flow calculations along a stagnation streamline for a PAET trajectory predict an enhancement to the radiation owing to the chemical relaxation. Stagnation point solutions are also presented for future aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle geometries with nose radii of 0.3-15 m.

Radiative viscous-shock-layer analysis of Fire, Apollo, and PAET flight data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balakrishnan, A.; Park, C.; Green, M. J.

1985-01-01

Equilibrium, radiating viscous-shock-layer solutions are obtained for a number of trajectory points of the Fire II, Apollo 4, and PAET experimental flight vehicles. Convective heating rates calculated by a benchmark code agree well, except at high altitudes corresponding to low densities, with two engineering correlations. Calculated radiation intensities are compared with the flight radiometer data and with inviscid flow results. Differences as great as 70 percent are observed between measured data and the viscous calculations. Viscous effects reduce the intensity toward the wall, because of boundary-layer absorption, by as much as 30 percent, compared with inviscid intensities. Preliminary chemical and thermal nonequilibrium flow calculations along a stagnation streamline for a PAET trajectory predict enhancement of radiation owing to chemical relaxation. Stagnation point solutions are also presented for future air-assisted orbital transfer vehicle geometries with nose radii ranging from 0.3 to 15 m.

Effect of Stapling Architecture on Physiochemical Properties and Cell Permeability of Stapled α-Helical Peptides: A Comparative Study.

PubMed

Tian, Yuan; Jiang, Yanhong; Li, Jingxu; Wang, Dongyuan; Zhao, Hui; Li, Zigang

2017-11-02

Stapled peptides have emerged as a new class of targeting molecules with high binding affinity and specificity for intracellular undruggable targets. Their ability to penetrate cell membranes is exceptionally intriguing but remains elusively and controversially discussed. To understand the effect of stapling architectures on their physiochemical properties and to aid in promoting their cell permeability, we report herein a comparative study on the physiochemical properties and cell permeability of stapled α-helical peptides with different types of crosslinks. We highlight the decisive impact of the intrinsic properties of the crosslinks on cell permeability rather than the helical contents of the peptides in model amphipathic sequences targeting estrogen receptor-coactivator interaction. We envision this finding to shed further light on the chemical optimization of stapled α-helical peptides or macrocyclic cell-penetrating peptides for enhanced cell penetration. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Off-pump coronary surgery: surgical strategy for the high-risk patient.

PubMed

Van Belleghem, Y; Caes, F; Maene, L; Van Overbeke, H; Moerman, A; Van Nooten, G

2003-02-01

In a retrospective study, we compared two groups of consecutive patients operated by the same team during the year 2000 for coronary artery disease with the use of extracorporeal circulation (group 1, n=230) or on the beating heart using the Octopus II plus stabiliser (group 2, n=228). High-risk patients were identified by a EuroSCORE plus 6. EuroSCORE definitions and predicted risk models were utilized to compare the variables of the groups. There were no significant differences between the preoperative variables of the groups in age, gender, left ventricular function, diabetes and peripheral vascular and renal disease as is indicated by the Euroscore (resp. 4.7/5.1 p=0.107). Calcification of the ascending aorta and chronic obstructive lung disease were statistically significant more prevalent in the beating heart group. No differences in preoperative variables in the high-risk patients group (Euroscore 8.5/8.1 p=0.356) except for calcification of the ascending aorta. All patients underwent a full revascularisation through a midline sternotomy. Significant more distal anastomoses were performed in group 1 (3.7 per patient (1-6)) with regard to group 2 (2.9 per patient (1-6)). Anesthesia, postoperative treatment and follow up were equal for both groups. A significant lower incidence of atrial fibrillation (p=0.010), shorter ICU stay (p=0.031) and renal insufficiency (p=0.033) was reported in group 2. In the low risk group, we could not diagnose any difference between the two groups, except for atrial fibrillation. The benefits of the beating heart surgery however were more pronounced in the high-risk patient as is indicated by a significant reduction of the ICU stay by 1 day (3.5d/2.5d (p=0.028)), better preservation of the renal function (p=0.017) and a significant reduction of the length of hospital stay by more than two days (p=0.040). A lower incidence of atrial fibrillation, however not significant. In our experience, beating heart surgery is a safe alternative for conventional coronary heart surgery. High-risk patients do benefit most from this technique. It became our first choice in the elderly patient and patients presenting with higher co-morbidities.

47 CFR 22.943 - Limitations on transfer of control and assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. 22.943 Section 22.943... authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. Except as otherwise provided in this... of a comparative renewal proceeding until the system has provided service to subscribers for at least...

47 CFR 22.943 - Limitations on transfer of control and assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. 22.943 Section 22.943... authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. Except as otherwise provided in this... of a comparative renewal proceeding until the system has provided service to subscribers for at least...

47 CFR 22.943 - Limitations on transfer of control and assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. 22.943 Section 22.943... authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. Except as otherwise provided in this... of a comparative renewal proceeding until the system has provided service to subscribers for at least...

47 CFR 22.943 - Limitations on transfer of control and assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. 22.943 Section 22.943... authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. Except as otherwise provided in this... of a comparative renewal proceeding until the system has provided service to subscribers for at least...

47 CFR 22.943 - Limitations on transfer of control and assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... assignment for authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. 22.943 Section 22.943... authorizations issued as a result of a comparative renewal proceeding. Except as otherwise provided in this... of a comparative renewal proceeding until the system has provided service to subscribers for at least...

Mitochondrial genome of Pteronotus personatus (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae): comparison with selected bats and phylogenetic considerations.

PubMed

López-Wilchis, Ricardo; Del Río-Portilla, Miguel Ángel; Guevara-Chumacero, Luis Manuel

2017-02-01

We described the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus, a species belonging to the family Mormoopidae, and compared it with other published mitogenomes of bats (Chiroptera). The mitogenome of P. personatus was 16,570 bp long and contained a typically conserved structure including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and one control region (D-loop). Most of the genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for eight tRNA and the ND6 genes. The order of protein-coding and rRNA genes was highly conserved in all mitogenomes. All protein-coding genes started with an ATG codon, except for ND2, ND3, and ND5, which initiated with ATA, and terminated with the typical stop codon TAA/TAG or the codon AGA. Phylogenetic trees constructed using Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods showed an identical topology and indicated the monophyly of different families of bats (Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, and Pteropopidae) and the existence of two major clades corresponding to the suborders Yangochiroptera and Yinpterochiroptera. The mitogenome sequence provided here will be useful for further phylogenetic analyses and population genetic studies in mormoopid bats.

Interannual (2009-2013) variability of winter-spring phytoplankton in the open South Adriatic Sea: Effects of deep convection and lateral advection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ljubimir, Stijepo; Jasprica, Nenad; Čalić, Marijeta; Hrustić, Enis; Dupčić Radić, Iris; Car, Ana; Batistić, Mirna

2017-07-01

The South Adriatic (SA) is an entry point for water masses originating from the Ionian Sea (IS) and a place of dense water formation for the eastern Mediterranean deep circulation cell. Water masses, entering the SA in larger amount during the winter, show decadal variability explained by different circulating regimes (cyclonic and anticyclonic) in the IS, referred to as "Bimodal Oscillating System" (BiOS). Sampling station was situated in the South Adriatic Pit (SAP) with depth of 1200 m. Micro- and nano-phytoplankton abundances, community structure, chlorophyll a concentrations, physical and chemical properties are presented in the winter and spring months for five consecutive years (2009-2013) during different circulating regimes of BiOS. Vertical convective mixing was regularly observed in winter except in 2011 which had effect on nutrient availability and consequently on biomass of primary producers. Effect of strong vertical mixing in February 2012 resulted with exceptionally high phytoplankton abundance and chlorophyll a concentrations in March of 2012. Strong convective mixing resulted in higher diatom abundances, comparing to winter when mixing did not occur. No such bloom was observed during investigated spring.

DNA profiling of pineapple cultivars in Japan discriminated by SSR markers

PubMed Central

Shoda, Moriyuki; Urasaki, Naoya; Sakiyama, Sumisu; Terakami, Shingo; Hosaka, Fumiko; Shigeta, Narumi; Nishitani, Chikako; Yamamoto, Toshiya

2012-01-01

We developed 18 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in pineapple (Ananas comosus) by using genomic libraries enriched for GA and CA motifs. The markers were used to genotype 31 pineapple accessions, including seven cultivars and 11 breeding lines from Okinawa Prefecture, 12 foreign accessions and one from a related species. These SSR loci were highly polymorphic: the 31 accessions contained three to seven alleles per locus, with an average of 4.1. The values of expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.09 to 0.76, with an average of 0.52. All 31 accessions could be successfully differentiated by the 18 SSR markers, with the exception of ‘N67-10’ and ‘Hawaiian Smooth Cayenne’. A single combination of three markers TsuAC004, TsuAC010 and TsuAC041, was enough to distinguish all accessions with one exception. A phenogram based on the SSR genotypes did not show any distinct groups, but it suggested that pineapples bred in Japan are genetically diversed. We reconfirmed the parentage of 14 pineapple accessions by comparing the SSR alleles at 17 SSR loci in each accession and its reported parents. The obtained information will contribute substantially to protecting plant breeders’ rights. PMID:23341750

Measurement of the Solar Absorptance and Thermal Emittance of Lunar Simulants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.; Street, Kenneth W.; Gutafson, Robert J.

2010-01-01

The first comparative study of the reflectance spectra of lunar simulants is presented. All of the simulants except one had a wavelength-dependant reflectivity ( ( )) near 0.10 over the wavelength range of 8 to 25 m, so they are highly emitting at room temperature and lower. The 300 K emittance ( ) of all the lunar simulants except one ranged from 0.884 to 0.906. The 300 K of JSC Mars-1 simulant was 0.927. There was considerably more variation in the lunar simulant reflectance in the solar spectral range (250 to 2500 nm) than in the thermal infrared. Larger particle size simulants reflected much less than those with smaller particle size. As expected, the lunar highlands simulants were more reflective in this wavelength range than the lunar mare simulants. The integrated solar absorptance ( ) of the simulants ranged from 0.413 to 0.817 for those with smaller particles, and 0.669 to 0.906 for those with larger particles. Although spectral differences were observed, the for the simulants appears to be similar to that of lunar soils (0.65 to 0.88). These data are now available to be used in modeling the effects of dust on thermal control surfaces.

Engineering of Semiconductor Nanocrystals for Light Emitting Applications

PubMed Central

Todescato, Francesco; Fortunati, Ilaria; Minotto, Alessandro; Signorini, Raffaella; Jasieniak, Jacek J.; Bozio, Renato

2016-01-01

Semiconductor nanocrystals are rapidly spreading into the display and lighting markets. Compared with liquid crystal and organic LED displays, nanocrystalline quantum dots (QDs) provide highly saturated colors, wide color gamut, resolution, rapid response time, optical efficiency, durability and low cost. This remarkable progress has been made possible by the rapid advances in the synthesis of colloidal QDs and by the progress in understanding the intriguing new physics exhibited by these nanoparticles. In this review, we provide support to the idea that suitably engineered core/graded-shell QDs exhibit exceptionally favorable optical properties, photoluminescence and optical gain, while keeping the synthesis facile and producing QDs well suited for light emitting applications. Solid-state laser emitters can greatly profit from QDs as efficient gain materials. Progress towards fabricating low threshold, solution processed DFB lasers that are optically pumped using one- and two-photon absorption is reviewed. In the field of display technologies, the exploitation of the exceptional photoluminescence properties of QDs for LCD backlighting has already advanced to commercial levels. The next big challenge is to develop the electroluminescence properties of QD to a similar state. We present an overview of QLED devices and of the great perspectives for next generation display and lighting technologies. PMID:28773794

Measurement of the Solar Absorptance and Thermal Emittance of Lunar Simulants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.; Street, Kenneth W.; Gustafson, Robert J.

2010-01-01

The first comparative study of the reflectance spectra of lunar simulants is presented. All of the simulants except one had a wavelength-dependent reflectivity, rho(lambda), near 0.10 over the wavelength range of 8 to 25 microns, so they are highly emitting at room temperature and lower. The 300 K emittance, epsilon, of all the lunar simulants except one ranged from 0.884 to 0.906. The 300 K epsilon of JSC Mars-1 simulant was 0.927. There was considerably more variation in the lunar simulant reflectance in the solar spectral range (250 to 2500 nm) than in the thermal infrared. Larger particle size simulants reflected much less than those with smaller particle size. As expected, the lunar highlands simulants were more reflective in this wavelength range than the lunar mare simulants. The alpha of the simulants ranged from 0.413 to 0.817 for those with smaller particles and 0.669 to 0.906 for large particles. Although spectral differences were observed, the total integrated alpha for the simulants appears to be similar to that of lunar soils (0.65 to 0.88). These data are now available to be used in modeling the effects of dust on thermal control surfaces.

Gray matter volumes in symptomatic and asymptomatic offspring of parents diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Hanford, Lindsay C; Hall, Geoffrey B; Minuzzi, Luciano; Sassi, Roberto B

2016-09-01

Children of parents diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD), termed high-risk offspring (HRO), are at greater risk of developing psychiatric disorders compared to healthy children of healthy parents (HCO). Gray matter volume (GMV) abnormalities have been observed in HRO, however, these reports are inconsistent. We posit that this variability may be attributed to differences in methodology among offspring studies; in particular, the presence of psychiatric symptoms in HRO. Here, we directly compared GMVs between symptomatic and asymptomatic HRO, and HCO. High-resolution T1-weighted MR images were collected from 31 HRO (18 symptomatic and 13 asymptomatic) and 20 age- and sex-matched HCO. HRO had at least one parent diagnosed with BD. Symptomatic HRO were defined as having a psychiatric diagnosis other than BD, while asymptomatic HRO were required to be free of any psychiatric diagnosis. Scans were processed using voxel-based morphometry methods and between group analyses were performed in SPM. Compared to HCO, the HRO group showed decreased GMV in the right inferior orbitofrontal, right middle frontal, and bilateral superior and middle temporal regions. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic HRO groups showed decreased GMV in these regions separately when compared to HCO. When comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic HRO, GMVs were comparable in all regions except the lateral occipital cortex. Our study compared symptomatic and asymptomatic HRO directly. In doing so, we provided further support for the presence of discrete GMV deficits in HRO, and confirmed that these deficits are present irrespective of the presence of symptoms in HRO.

Personality disorders among patients with panic disorder and individuals with high anxiety sensitivity.

PubMed

Osma, Jorge; García-Palacios, Azucena; Botella, Cristina; Barrada, Juan Ramón

2014-05-01

No studies have been found that compared the psychopathology features, including personality disorders, of Panic Disorder (PD) and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA), and a nonclinical sample with anxiety vulnerability. The total sample included 152 participants, 52 in the PD/PDA, 45 in the high anxiety sensitivity (AS) sample, and 55 in the nonclinical sample. The participants in PD/PDA sample were evaluated with the structured interview ADIS-IV. The Brief Symptom Inventory and the MCMI-III were used in all three samples. Statistically significant differences were found between the PD/PDA and the nonclinical sample in all MCMI-III scales except for antisocial and compulsive. No significant differences were found between PD/PDA and the sample with high scores in AS. Phobic Anxiety and Paranoid Ideation were the only scales where there were significant differences between the PD/PDA sample and the high AS sample. Our findings showed that people who scored high on AS, despite not having a diagnosis of PD/PDA, were similar in regard to psychopathology features and personality to individuals with PD/PDA.

Avenues to prestige among adolescents in public and religiously affiliated high schools.

PubMed

Suitor, J Jill; Powers, Rebecca S; Brown, Rachel

2004-01-01

We used data from 1,733 college students to explore whether adolescents' avenues to prestige differ in public and private high schools. Students attending seven large universities during the 1997--98 academic year provided information on the ways in which adolescents in their high schools had gained prestige with peers. The analyses revealed no differences by high school type for girls, with the exception of greater emphasis on clothes in public schools as compared with private schools. For boys, the differences were more pronounced. Boys who attended private schools were less likely than those who attended public schools to accrue prestige through clothes and car ownership and more likely to gain prestige through general sociability and having a good reputation. However, boys who attended private schools were more likely to gain prestige through being the class clown. Taken together, the findings show few differences between avenues to prestige for girls in private and public high schools, and differences for boys that are not uniformly in the direction that parents and private school advocates would predict or desire.

The disposition of DNA in Prochloron (Prochlorophyta)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coleman, A. W.; Lewin, R. A.

1983-01-01

The discovery of both chlorophyll a and b in the prokaryote Prochloron Lewin, a trait otherwise unique to eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, has stimulated speculation on the possible endosymbiont origins of the plastids of eukaryotic cells. The arrangement of DNA in Prochloron was therefore dyed in situ with the fluorochrome dye DAPI and compared with the plastid DNA of various eukaryote cells. The DNA of Prochloron is found to be clearly different in arrangement and locale from that of blue-green algae. In the great size of its nucleoids and their apparently high DNA content, Prochloron also differs from the plastids of any eukaryotes, with the possible exception of dinoflagellates. Prochloron remains an evolutionary puzzle.

Depth dependency of neutron density produced by cosmic rays in the lunar subsurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ota, S.; Sihver, L.; Kobayashi, S.; Hasebe, N.

2014-11-01

Depth dependency of neutrons produced by cosmic rays (CRs) in the lunar subsurface was estimated using the three-dimensional Monte Carlo particle and heavy ion transport simulation code, PHITS, incorporating the latest high energy nuclear data, JENDL/HE-2007. The PHITS simulations of equilibrium neutron density profiles in the lunar subsurface were compared with the measurement by Apollo 17 Lunar Neutron Probe Experiment (LNPE). Our calculations reproduced the LNPE data except for the 350-400 mg/cm2 region under the improved condition using the CR spectra model based on the latest observations, well-tested nuclear interaction models with systematic cross section data, and JENDL/HE-2007.

Investigations of Crashes Involving Pregnant Occupants

PubMed Central

Klinich, Kathleen DeSantis; Schneider, Lawrence W.; Moore, Jamie L.; Pearlman, Mark D.

2000-01-01

Case reports of 16 crashes involving pregnant occupants are presented that illustrate the main conclusions of a crash-investigation program that includes 42 crashes investigated to date. Some unusual cases that are exceptions to the overall trends are also described. The study indicates a strong association between adverse fetal outcome and both crash severity and maternal injury. Proper restraint use, with and without airbag deployment, generally leads to acceptable fetal outcomes in lower severity crashes, while it does not affect fetal outcome in high-severity crashes. Compared to properly restrained pregnant occupants, improperly restrained occupants have a higher risk of adverse fetal outcome in lower severity crashes, which comprise the majority of all motor-vehicle collisions. PMID:11558095

Heat transfer comparison of nanofluid filled transformer and traditional oil-immersed transformer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yunpeng; Ho, Siu-lau; Fu, Weinong

2018-05-01

Dispersing nanoparticles with high thermal conductivity into transformer oil is an innovative approach to improve the thermal performance of traditional oil-immersed transformers. This mixture, also known as nanofluid, has shown the potential in practical application through experimental measurements. This paper presents the comparisons of nanofluid filled transformer and traditional oil-immersed transformer in terms of their computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions from the perspective of optimal design. Thermal performance of transformers with the same parameters except coolants is compared. A further comparison on heat transfer then is made after minimizing the oil volume and maximum temperature-rise of these two transformers. Adaptive multi-objective optimization method is employed to tackle this optimization problem.

Dielectric breakdown of additively manufactured polymeric materials

DOE PAGES

Monzel, W. Jacob; Hoff, Brad W.; Maestas, Sabrina S.; ...

2016-01-11

Dielectric strength testing of selected Polyjet-printed polymer plastics was performed in accordance with ASTM D149. This dielectric strength data is compared to manufacturer-provided dielectric strength data for selected plastics printed using the stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS) methods. Tested Polyjet samples demonstrated dielectric strengths as high as 47.5 kV/mm for a 0.5 mm thick sample and 32.1 kV/mm for a 1.0 mm sample. As a result, the dielectric strength of the additively manufactured plastics evaluated as part of this study was lower than the majority of non-printed plastics by at least 15% (with themore » exception of polycarbonate).« less

Beta-blockers use for hypertension in the elderly.

PubMed

Herrera, Julio

2015-01-01

Beta-blockers are considered as suitable drugs to treat essential hypertension also in elderly patients and they are currently recommended for treatment of hypertension, even in older patients, by the ESH/ESC Guidelines. Different meta-analyses and results of some large clinical trials have shown that here is no clinically difference between β-blockers and other drug classes in decreasing high blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients. The new vasodilating β-blockers, as nebivolol, carvedilol and celiprolol, offer additional important advantages, compared with traditional β-blockers. The cardio-protective effect of β-blockers (except atenolol) is not inferior to that obtained with other drug classes which is independent of age and gender of the patients.

Dielectric breakdown of additively manufactured polymeric materials

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

Monzel, W. Jacob; Hoff, Brad W.; Maestas, Sabrina S.

Dielectric strength testing of selected Polyjet-printed polymer plastics was performed in accordance with ASTM D149. This dielectric strength data is compared to manufacturer-provided dielectric strength data for selected plastics printed using the stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS) methods. Tested Polyjet samples demonstrated dielectric strengths as high as 47.5 kV/mm for a 0.5 mm thick sample and 32.1 kV/mm for a 1.0 mm sample. As a result, the dielectric strength of the additively manufactured plastics evaluated as part of this study was lower than the majority of non-printed plastics by at least 15% (with themore » exception of polycarbonate).« less

[Psychological results of mental performance in sleep deprivation].

PubMed

Dahms, P; Schaad, G; Gorges, W; von Restorff, W

1996-01-01

To quantify the effects of sleep periods that have different lengths of time during continuous operations (CONOPS) 2 independent groups of subjects performed several cognitive tasks for 3 days. The 72 h trial period contained three 60-min sleep periods for the 10 subjects of the experimental group and three sleep periods of 4 h each for the 14 subjects of the control group. With the exception of only one subtest the statistical analyses of the test results of the 2 groups show no significant differences in cognitive performance. It is suggested that high motivation is responsible for comparable performance of the subjects, which was essentially obtained by a monetary pay system for successful test performance.

Investigation of dynamic properties of a polymer matrix composite with different angles of fiber orientations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadioglu, F.; Coskun, T.; Elfarra, M.

2018-05-01

For the dynamic values of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials, elastic modulus and damping values are emphasized, and the two are desired to be high as much as possible, as the first is related to load bearing capacity, the latter provides the capability of energy absorption. In the composites, while fibers are usually utilized for reinforcement providing high elastic modulus and so high strength, matrix introduces a medium for high damping. Correct measurement of damping values is a critical step in designing composite materials. The aim of the current study is to measure the dynamic values of a glass fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite, Hexply 913/33%/UD280, produced by Hexcel, using a vibrating beam technique. The specimens with different angles of fiber orientations (0, ±10°, ±20°, ±35, ±45°, ±55°, ±70, ±80 and 90) were manufactured from the composite prepreg and subjected to the clamped-free boundary conditions. Two different methods, the half power bandwidth and the logarithmic free decay, were used to measure the damping values to be able to compare the results. It has been revealed that the dynamic values are affected by the fiber orientations; for high flexural modulus the specimens with small angles of orientation, but for high damping those with large angles of orientation should be preferred. In general, the results are comparable, and the free decay method gave smaller values compared to the bandwidth method, with a little exception. It is suggested that the results (data) obtained from the test can be used for modal analysis reliably.

Genome Sequence, Assembly and Characterization of Two Metschnikowia fructicola Strains Used as Biocontrol Agents of Postharvest Diseases

PubMed Central

Piombo, Edoardo; Sela, Noa; Wisniewski, Michael; Hoffmann, Maria; Gullino, Maria L.; Allard, Marc W.; Levin, Elena; Spadaro, Davide; Droby, Samir

2018-01-01

The yeast Metschnikowia fructicola was reported as an efficient biological control agent of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables, and it is the bases of the commercial formulated product “Shemer.” Several mechanisms of action by which M. fructicola inhibits postharvest pathogens were suggested including iron-binding compounds, induction of defense signaling genes, production of fungal cell wall degrading enzymes and relatively high amounts of superoxide anions. We assembled the whole genome sequence of two strains of M. fructicola using PacBio and Illumina shotgun sequencing technologies. Using the PacBio, a high-quality draft genome consisting of 93 contigs, with an estimated genome size of approximately 26 Mb, was obtained. Comparative analysis of M. fructicola proteins with the other three available closely related genomes revealed a shared core of homologous proteins coded by 5,776 genes. Comparing the genomes of the two M. fructicola strains using a SNP calling approach resulted in the identification of 564,302 homologous SNPs with 2,004 predicted high impact mutations. The size of the genome is exceptionally high when compared with those of available closely related organisms, and the high rate of homology among M. fructicola genes points toward a recent whole-genome duplication event as the cause of this large genome. Based on the assembled genome, sequences were annotated with a gene description and gene ontology (GO term) and clustered in functional groups. Analysis of CAZymes family genes revealed 1,145 putative genes, and transcriptomic analysis of CAZyme expression levels in M. fructicola during its interaction with either grapefruit peel tissue or Penicillium digitatum revealed a high level of CAZyme gene expression when the yeast was placed in wounded fruit tissue. PMID:29666611

Metal concentration in water, sediment and four fish species from Lake Titicaca reveals a large-scale environmental concern.

PubMed

Monroy, Mario; Maceda-Veiga, Alberto; de Sostoa, Adolfo

2014-07-15

Although intensive mining activity and urban sewage discharge are major sources of metal inputs to Lake Titicaca, the risk posed by metal pollution to wildlife and human populations has been poorly studied. In this study we compared the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, Co, and Fe in water, sediment, and two tissues (liver and muscle) of four fish species (Odontesthes bonariensis, Orestias luteus, Orestias agassii, and Trichomycterus rivulatus) across important fishery areas in Lake Titicaca. The concentration of Pb in water at the discharge sites of the main rivers and of most elements, with the exception of Co and Fe, in all fish collected in this study exceeded the safety thresholds established by international legislation. The highest metal concentrations were observed in benthopelagic species, and liver tissue was identified as the main depository for all metals with the exception of mercury. The metal bioaccumulation pattern in fish was weakly related to the metal concentrations in the environment with the exception of Hg at the most polluted location, partly explained by the different metabolic role of essential and non-essential elements and the influence of other factors such as species' ecology and individual traits in the bioaccumulation of most metals. As metal pollution extended across the study area and high metal concentrations were detected in all four fish species, we urge the authorities to enforce legislation for water and fish consumption and to evaluate the effects of metal pollution on fish health. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Protein Oxidation and Sensory Quality of Brine-Injected Pork Loins Added Ascorbate or Extracts of Green Tea or Maté during Chill-Storage in High-Oxygen Modified Atmosphere.

PubMed

Jongberg, Sisse; Tørngren, Mari Ann; Skibsted, Leif H

2018-01-15

Background: Ascorbate is often applied to enhance stability and robustness of brine-injected pork chops sold for retail, but may affect protein oxidation, while plant extracts are potential substitutes. Methods: Brine-injected pork chops (weight-gain ~12%, NaCl ~0.9%) prepared with ascorbate (225 ppm), green tea extract (25 ppm gallic acid equivalents (GAE)), or maté extract (25 ppm GAE) stored (5 °C, seven days) in high-oxygen atmosphere packaging (MAP: 80% O₂ and 20% CO₂) were analyzed for color changes, sensory quality, and protein oxidation compared to a control without antioxidant. Results: No significant differences were observed for green tea and maté extracts as compared to ascorbate when evaluated based on lipid oxidation derived off-flavors, except for stale flavor, which maté significantly reduced. All treatments increased the level of the protein oxidation product, α-aminoadipic semialdehyde as compared to the control, and ascorbate was further found to increase thiol loss and protein cross-linking, with a concomitant decrease in the sensory perceived tenderness. Conclusions: Green tea and maté were found to equally protect against lipid oxidation derived off-flavors, and maté showed less prooxidative activity towards proteins as compared to ascorbate, resulting in more tender meat. Maté is a valuable substitute for ascorbate in brine-injected pork chops.

Stark broadening parameter regularities and interpolation and critical evaluation of data for CP star atmospheres research: Stark line shifts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimitrijevic, M. S.; Tankosic, D.

1998-04-01

In order to find out if regularities and systematic trends found to be apparent among experimental Stark line shifts allow the accurate interpolation of new data and critical evaluation of experimental results, the exceptions to the established regularities are analysed on the basis of critical reviews of experimental data, and reasons for such exceptions are discussed. We found that such exceptions are mostly due to the situations when: (i) the energy gap between atomic energy levels within a supermultiplet is equal or comparable to the energy gap to the nearest perturbing levels; (ii) the most important perturbing level is embedded between the energy levels of the supermultiplet; (iii) the forbidden transitions have influence on Stark line shifts.

Trends in Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Bronchiolitis Hospitalization Rates in High-Risk Infants in a United States Nationally Representative Database, 1997–2012

PubMed Central

Doucette, Abigail; Jiang, Xiaohui; Fryzek, Jon; Coalson, Jenna; McLaurin, Kimmie; Ambrose, Christopher S.

2016-01-01

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes significant pediatric morbidity and is the most common cause of bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis hospitalizations declined among US infants from 2000‒2009; however, rates in infants at high risk for RSV have not been described. This study examined RSV and unspecified bronchiolitis (UB) hospitalization rates from 1997‒2012 among US high-risk infants. Methods The Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) infant annual RSV (ICD-9 079.6, 466.11, 480.1) and UB (ICD-9 466.19, 466.1) hospitalization rates were estimated using weighted counts. Denominators were based on birth hospitalizations with conditions associated with high-risk for RSV: chronic perinatal respiratory disease (chronic lung disease [CLD]); congenital airway anomalies (CAA); congenital heart disease (CHD); Down syndrome (DS); and other genetic, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and immunodeficiency conditions. Preterm infants could not be identified. Hospitalizations were characterized by mechanical ventilation, inpatient mortality, length of stay, and total cost (2015$). Poisson and linear regression were used to test statistical significance of trends. Results RSV and UB hospitalization rates were substantially elevated for infants with higher-risk CHD, CLD, CAA and DS without CHD compared with all infants. RSV rates declined by 47.0% in CLD and 49.7% in higher-risk CHD infants; no other declines in high-risk groups were observed. UB rates increased in all high-risk groups except for a 22.5% decrease among higher-risk CHD. Among high-risk infants, mechanical ventilation increased through 2012 to 20.4% and 13.5% of RSV and UB hospitalizations; geometric mean cost increased to $31,742 and $25,962, respectively, and RSV mortality declined to 0.9%. Conclusions Among high-risk infants between 1997 and 2012, RSV hospitalization rates declined among CLD and higher-risk CHD infants, coincident with widespread RSV immunoprophylaxis use in these populations. UB hospitalization rates increased in all high-risk groups except higher-risk CHD, suggesting improvement in the health status of higher-risk CHD infants, potentially due to enhanced surgical interventions. Mechanical ventilation use and RSV and UB hospitalization costs increased while RSV mortality declined. PMID:27050095

The beliefs which motivate young male and female drivers to speed: a comparison of low and high intenders.

PubMed

Horvath, C; Lewis, I; Watson, B

2012-03-01

In Australia, young drivers aged 17-24 years, and particularly males, have the highest risk of being involved in a fatal crash. Investigation of young drivers' beliefs allows for a greater understanding of their involvement in risky behaviours, such as speeding, as beliefs are associated with intentions, the antecedent to behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was used to conceptualise beliefs using a scenario based questionnaire distributed to licenced drivers (N=398). The questionnaire measured individual's beliefs and intentions to speed in a particular situation. Consistent with a TPB-based approach, the beliefs of those with low intentions to speed ('low intenders') were compared with the beliefs of those with high intentions ('high intenders') with such comparisons conducted separately for males and females. Overall, significant differences in the beliefs held by low and high intenders and for both females and males were found. Specifically, for females, it was found that high intenders were significantly more likely to perceive advantages of speeding, less likely to perceive disadvantages, and more likely to be encouraged to speed on familiar and inappropriately signed roads than female low intenders. Females, however, did not differ in their perceptions of support from friends, with all females reporting some level of disapproval from most friends and all females (i.e., low and high intenders) reporting approval to speed from their male friends. The results for males revealed that high intenders were significantly more likely to speed on familiar and inappropriately signed roads as well as having greater perceptions of support from all friends, except from those friends with whom they worked. Low and high intending males did not differ in their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of speeding, with the exception of feelings of excitement whereby high intenders reported speeding to be more exciting than low intenders. The findings are discussed in terms of how they may directly inform the content of mass media and public education campaigns aimed at encouraging young drivers to slow down. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

50 CFR 218.84 - Mitigation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... aircraft conducting high-frequency or non-hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar activities associated... or aircraft conducting high-frequency active sonar activities associated with anti-submarine warfare...). (2) High-frequency and non-hull mounted mid-frequency active sonar (except helicopter dipping). (3...

Work and health among immigrants and native Swedes 1990-2008: a register-based study on hospitalization for common potentially work-related disorders, disability pension and mortality.

PubMed

Johansson, Bo; Helgesson, Magnus; Lundberg, Ingvar; Nordquist, Tobias; Leijon, Ola; Lindberg, Per; Vingård, Eva

2012-10-05

There are many immigrants in the Swedish workforce, but knowledge of their general and work-related health is limited. The aim of this register-based study was to explore whether documented migrant residents in Sweden have a different health status regarding receipt of a disability pension, mortality and hospitalization for lung, heart, psychiatric, and musculoskeletal disorders compared with the native population, and if there were variations in relation to sex, geographical origin, position on the labor market, and time since first immigration. This study included migrants to Sweden since 1960 who were 28-47 years old in 1990, and included 243 860 individuals. The comparison group comprised a random sample of 859 653 native Swedes. These cohorts were followed from 1991 to 2008 in national registers. The immigrants were divided into four groups based on geographic origin. Hazard ratios for men and women from different geographic origins and with different employment status were analyzed separately for the six outcomes, with adjustment for age, education level, and income. The influence of length of residence in Sweden was analyzed separately. Nordic immigrants had increased risks for all investigated outcomes while most other groups had equal or lower risks for those outcomes than the Swedes. The lowest HRs were found in the EU 15+ group (from western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand). All groups, except Nordic immigrants, had lower risk of mortality, but all had higher risk of disability pension receipt compared with native Swedes. Unemployed non-Nordic men displayed equal or lower HRs for most outcomes, except disability pension receipt, compared with unemployed Swedish men. A longer time since first immigration improved the health status of men, while women showed opposite results. Employment status and length of residence are important factors for health. The contradictory results of low mortality and high disability pension risks need more attention. There is great potential to increase the knowledge in this field in Sweden, because of the high quality registers.

Work and health among immigrants and native Swedes 1990–2008: a register-based study on hospitalization for common potentially work-related disorders, disability pension and mortality

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background There are many immigrants in the Swedish workforce, but knowledge of their general and work-related health is limited. The aim of this register-based study was to explore whether documented migrant residents in Sweden have a different health status regarding receipt of a disability pension, mortality and hospitalization for lung, heart, psychiatric, and musculoskeletal disorders compared with the native population, and if there were variations in relation to sex, geographical origin, position on the labor market, and time since first immigration. Methods This study included migrants to Sweden since 1960 who were 28–47 years old in 1990, and included 243 860 individuals. The comparison group comprised a random sample of 859 653 native Swedes. These cohorts were followed from 1991 to 2008 in national registers. The immigrants were divided into four groups based on geographic origin. Hazard ratios for men and women from different geographic origins and with different employment status were analyzed separately for the six outcomes, with adjustment for age, education level, and income. The influence of length of residence in Sweden was analyzed separately. Results Nordic immigrants had increased risks for all investigated outcomes while most other groups had equal or lower risks for those outcomes than the Swedes. The lowest HRs were found in the EU 15+ group (from western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand). All groups, except Nordic immigrants, had lower risk of mortality, but all had higher risk of disability pension receipt compared with native Swedes. Unemployed non-Nordic men displayed equal or lower HRs for most outcomes, except disability pension receipt, compared with unemployed Swedish men. A longer time since first immigration improved the health status of men, while women showed opposite results. Conclusions Employment status and length of residence are important factors for health. The contradictory results of low mortality and high disability pension risks need more attention. There is great potential to increase the knowledge in this field in Sweden, because of the high quality registers. PMID:23039821

Comparison of anesthetic management and outcomes of robot-assisted vs pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

PubMed

Yonekura, Hiroshi; Hirate, Hiroyuki; Sobue, Kazuya

2016-12-01

Limited data are available regarding the anesthetic management and outcome of patients undergoing pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robotic-assisted LRP (RALP). Therefore, our primary objective was to compare the anesthetic management between these 2 groups. Our secondary objective was to determine the incidence of adverse outcomes associated with RALP, which requires an extreme Trendelenburg position. A retrospective observational study. University teaching hospital. A total of 223 men, consisting of 97 LRP patients and 126 RALP patients, treated during a 3-year period (January 2010-December 2012) were retrospectively studied. None. Information on patient demographics, type of anesthesia, anesthetic/pneumoperitoneum/surgical times, intraoperative fluids and blood products, estimated blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative opioid use, postoperative analgesic consumption, length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit, postoperative complications, and hospital stays was collected and compared. The estimated blood loss was higher in LRP patients than in RALP patients (median, 550 mL vs 200 mL; P < .001). Likewise, 24% of the LRP patients received intraoperative transfusions compared with 0.79% of the RALP patients (P < .001). The RALP patients had a longer anesthesia time (median, 276 vs 259 minutes; P = .032) and a greater intraoperative use of opioids (P < .001). The incidence of complications was similar in both groups with the exception of postoperative nausea and vomiting, which were observed more frequently among the RALP patients than among the LRP patients (33% vs 16%; P = .007). This is the first report to compare the anesthetic management of RALP vs LRP. Anesthesiologists can expect RALP surgery to be associated with less blood loss and a need for fewer blood products than traditional LRP surgery. The anesthetic outcome of RALP was generally satisfactory except for a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High-risk syndrome for neuromyelitis optica: a descriptive and comparative study.

PubMed

Collongues, N; Marignier, R; Zéphir, H; Blanc, F; Vukusic, S; Outteryck, O; Fleury, M; Ruet, A; Borgel, F; Thouvenot, E; Moreau, T; Defer, G; Derache, N; Pelletier, J; Audoin, B; Debouverie, M; Labauge, P; Gout, O; Camu, W; Brassat, D; Brochet, B; Vermersch, P; Confavreux, C; de Seze, J

2011-06-01

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) frequently begins with a monofocal episode of optic neuritis or myelitis. A concept named high-risk syndrome (HRS) for NMO has been proposed for patients with monofocal episodes and NMO-IgG antibodies. To describe HRS patients and compare them with NMO patients. We identified 30 patients with HRS: 18 with extensive myelitis (HRM) and 12 with optic neuritis (HRON), in a database pooling patients from 25 centres in France. Clinical, laboratory/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and outcome were analysed and compared with a national cohort of 125 NMO patients extracted from the same database. Mean follow-up was 4.8 years. Mean age at onset was 42.8 years (range: 12.4-70) with a female:male ratio of 0.9. Asymptomatic lesions were report on visual evoked potentials in 4/8 tested HRM patients and on spinal cord MRI in 2/7 HRON patients. Three patients died, two owing to a cervical lesion. HRS and NMO patients had similar clinical/paraclinical data, except for a predominance of men in the HRS group and a later mean age at onset in the HRM subgroup. The description of HRS patients is compatible with a monofocal form of NMO. Asymptomatic lesions could be included in a new set of NMO diagnostic criteria.

Single cell versus large population analysis: cell variability in elemental intracellular concentration and distribution.

PubMed

Malucelli, Emil; Procopio, Alessandra; Fratini, Michela; Gianoncelli, Alessandra; Notargiacomo, Andrea; Merolle, Lucia; Sargenti, Azzurra; Castiglioni, Sara; Cappadone, Concettina; Farruggia, Giovanna; Lombardo, Marco; Lagomarsino, Stefano; Maier, Jeanette A; Iotti, Stefano

2018-01-01

The quantification of elemental concentration in cells is usually performed by analytical assays on large populations missing peculiar but important rare cells. The present article aims at comparing the elemental quantification in single cells and cell population in three different cell types using a new approach for single cells elemental analysis performed at sub-micrometer scale combining X-ray fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The attention is focused on the light element Mg, exploiting the opportunity to compare the single cell quantification to the cell population analysis carried out by a highly Mg-selective fluorescent chemosensor. The results show that the single cell analysis reveals the same Mg differences found in large population of the different cell strains studied. However, in one of the cell strains, single cell analysis reveals two cells with an exceptionally high intracellular Mg content compared with the other cells of the same strain. The single cell analysis allows mapping Mg and other light elements in whole cells at sub-micrometer scale. A detailed intensity correlation analysis on the two cells with the highest Mg content reveals that Mg subcellular localization correlates with oxygen in a different fashion with respect the other sister cells of the same strain. Graphical abstract Single cells or large population analysis this is the question!

14 CFR 93.221 - Transfer of slots.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Operations at High Density Traffic Airports § 93.221 Transfer of slots. (a) Except as otherwise provided in... high density traffic airport. Transfers, including leases, shall comply with the following conditions...

14 CFR 93.221 - Transfer of slots.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Operations at High Density Traffic Airports § 93.221 Transfer of slots. (a) Except as otherwise provided in... high density traffic airport. Transfers, including leases, shall comply with the following conditions...

14 CFR 93.221 - Transfer of slots.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Operations at High Density Traffic Airports § 93.221 Transfer of slots. (a) Except as otherwise provided in... high density traffic airport. Transfers, including leases, shall comply with the following conditions...

14 CFR 93.221 - Transfer of slots.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Operations at High Density Traffic Airports § 93.221 Transfer of slots. (a) Except as otherwise provided in... high density traffic airport. Transfers, including leases, shall comply with the following conditions...

14 CFR 93.221 - Transfer of slots.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Operations at High Density Traffic Airports § 93.221 Transfer of slots. (a) Except as otherwise provided in... high density traffic airport. Transfers, including leases, shall comply with the following conditions...

40 CFR 35.6550 - Procurement system standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... contractors under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement must provide comparable information for all sites... following provisions or their equivalents into all contracts, except those for well-drilling, fence erecting...

40 CFR 35.6550 - Procurement system standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... contractors under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement must provide comparable information for all sites... following provisions or their equivalents into all contracts, except those for well-drilling, fence erecting...

40 CFR 35.6550 - Procurement system standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... contractors under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement must provide comparable information for all sites... following provisions or their equivalents into all contracts, except those for well-drilling, fence erecting...

40 CFR 35.6550 - Procurement system standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... contractors under a Core Program Cooperative Agreement must provide comparable information for all sites... following provisions or their equivalents into all contracts, except those for well-drilling, fence erecting...

Fast analysis of 29 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-tandem mass spectrometry

PubMed Central

Lung, Shih-Chun Candice; Liu, Chun-Hu

2015-01-01

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs are ubiquitous in the environment. Some of them are probable carcinogens and some are source markers. This work presents an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-APPI-MS/MS) method for simultaneous analysis of 20 PAHs and nine nitro-PAHs. These compounds are separated in 15 minutes in the positive mode and 11 minutes in the negative mode, one half of GC/MS analysis time. Two pairs of precursor/product ions are offered, which is essential for confirmation. This method separates and quantifies benzo[a]pyrene (the most toxic PAHs) and non-priority benzo[e]pyrene (isomers, little toxicity) to avoid overestimation of toxin levels, demonstrating its importance for health-related researches. With 0.5% 2,4-difluoroanisole in chlorobenzene as the dopant, limits of detection of PAHs except acenaphthylene and those of nitro-PAHs except 2-nitrofluoranthene are below 10 pg and 3 pg, respectively, mostly lower than or comparable to those reported using LC-related systems. The responses were linear over two orders of magnitude with fairly good accuracy and precision. Certified reference materials and real aerosol samples were analyzed to demonstrate its applicability. This fast, sensitive, and reliable method is the first UHPLC-APPI-MS/MS method capable of simultaneously analyzing 29 environmentally and toxicologically important PAHs and nitro-PAHs. PMID:26265155

Multi-cycle operation of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) with different carbon sources under high temperature.

PubMed

Shen, Nan; Chen, Yun; Zhou, Yan

2017-05-01

Many studies reported that it is challenging to apply enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process at high temperature. Glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) could easily gain their dominance over poly-phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) when the operating temperature was in the range of 25 °C-30 °C. However, a few successful EBPR processes operated at high temperature have been reported recently. This study aimed to have an in-depth understanding on the impact of feeding strategy and carbon source types on EBPR performance in tropical climate. P-removal performance of two EBPR systems was monitored through tracking effluent quality and cyclic studies. The results confirmed that EBPR was successfully obtained and maintained at high temperature with a multi-cycle strategy. More stable performance was observed with acetate as the sole carbon source compared to propionate. Stoichiometric ratios of phosphorus and carbon transformation during both anaerobic and aerobic phases were higher at high temperature than low temperature (20±1 °C) except anaerobic PHA/C ratios within most of the sub-cycles. Furthermore, the fractions of PHA and glycogen in biomass were lower compared with one-cycle pulse feed operation. The microbial community structure was more stable in acetate-fed sequencing batch reactor (C2-SBR) than that in propionate-fed reactor (C3-SBR). Accumulibacter Clade IIC was found to be highly abundant in both reactors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High dose vitamin D may improve lower urinary tract symptoms in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Oberg, Johanna; Verelst, Margareta; Jorde, Rolf; Cashman, Kevin; Grimnes, Guri

2017-10-01

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in postmenopausal women, and have been reported inversely associated with vitamin D intake and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. The aim of this study was to investigate if high dose vitamin D supplementation would affect LUTS in comparison to standard dose. In a randomized controlled study including 297 postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density, the participants were allocated to receive capsules of 20 000IU of vitamin D 3 twice a week (high dose group) or similar looking placebo (standard dose group). In addition, all the participants received 1g of calcium and 800IU of vitamin D daily. A validated questionnaire regarding LUTS was filled in at baseline and after 12 months. At baseline, 76 women in the high dose group and 82 in the standard dose group reported any LUTS. Levels of serum 25(OH)D increased significantly more in the high dose group (from 64.7 to 164.1nmol/l compared to from 64.1 to 81.8nmol/l, p<0.01). No differences between the groups were seen regarding change in LUTS except for a statistically significant reduction in the reported severity of urine incontinence in the high dose group as compared to the standard dose group after one year (p<0.05). The results need confirmation in a study specifically designed for this purpose. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Testing whether barriers to a hypothetical screening test affect unrelated perceived benefits and vice versa: A randomised, experimental study.

PubMed

Ghanouni, Alex; Nuttall, Ella; Wardle, Jane; von Wagner, Christian

2017-02-01

Determine whether (fictitious) health screening test benefits affect perceptions of (unrelated) barriers, and barriers affect perceptions of benefits. UK adults were recruited via an online survey panel and randomised to receive a vignette describing a hypothetical screening test with either high or low benefits (higher vs. lower mortality reduction) and high or low barriers (severe vs. mild side-effects; a 2×2 factorial design). ANOVAs compared mean perceived benefits and barriers scores. Screening 'intentions' were compared using Pearson's χ 2 test. Benefits were rated less favourably when barriers were high (mean: 27.4, standard deviation: 5.3) than when they were low (M: 28.5, SD: 4.8; p=0.010, partial η 2 =0.031). Barriers were rated more negatively when benefits were low (M: 17.1, SD: 7.6) than when they were high (M: 15.7, SD: 7.3; p=0.023, partial η 2 =0.024). Most intended to have the test in all conditions (73-81%); except for the low benefit-high barrier condition (37%; p<0.0005; N=218). Perceptions of test attributes may be influenced by unrelated characteristics. Reducing screening test barriers alone may have suboptimal effects on perceptions of barriers if benefits remain low; increasing screening benefits may not improve perceptions of benefits if barriers remain high. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Very-low-fat diets may be associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome in the adult population.

PubMed

Park, Sunmin; Ahn, Jaeouk; Lee, Byung-Kook

2016-10-01

Although fat intake has often been targeted to decrease the prevalence of metabolic syndrome; however decreasing dietary fat intake has not had this result. We studied the association between fat intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults using KNHANES 2007-2013 data, a representative sample of the non-institutionalized civilian population. This cross-sectional study included 34,003 Korean adults aged ≥19 years. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the components of metabolic syndrome were measured according to fat intake (≤15, 15-25, ≥25% of daily energy intake) while controlling for covariates that affect metabolic syndrome using linear and logistic regression analysis while incorporating the sample weights for the complex sample design of the survey. Surprisingly, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in the ≤15% fat intake group (OR = 1.277), accompanied by lower daily energy intake compared to the reference group (≥25% fat intake). Higher daily fat intake was associated with significantly lower ORs for four components of metabolic syndrome, except diabetes mellitus, using continuous variable analysis, whereas only three serum components (serum HDL, serum triglyceride, and blood pressure) exhibited significantly higher ORs in the lowest tertile of dietary fat intake (≤15%) compared with the reference group (≥25% fat-intake tertile). Subjects in a low-fat intake group had about 6.0 g polyunsaturated fatty acid/day that did not meet the recommended intake. Consumption of grain groups was a significant predictor of low fat intake, whereas milk food groups were significant predictors of not having low fat intake. Subjects in the low-fat group (≤15%) had much lower daily energy intake, by 500 kcal, compared with subjects who consumed high-fat diets (≥25%). All nutrients except carbohydrates had significantly lower mean values in the low-fat-intake group as compared to the high-fat-intake group. Low fat intake, <15%, was associated with a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome in the adult population, despite the daily energy intakes being lower by 500 kcal and the intakes with proper ratio (1:1.03:1.01) of saturate, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid; this may be related to lower intake of various nutrients other than carbohydrates. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Food selection based on total antioxidant capacity can modify antioxidant intake, systemic inflammation, and liver function without altering markers of oxidative stress.

PubMed

Valtueña, Silvia; Pellegrini, Nicoletta; Franzini, Laura; Bianchi, Marta A; Ardigò, Diego; Del Rio, Daniele; Piatti, PierMarco; Scazzina, Francesca; Zavaroni, Ivana; Brighenti, Furio

2008-05-01

It is unknown whether diets with a high dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) can modify oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, or liver dysfunction, all of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We studied the effect of high- and low-TAC (HT and LT, respectively) diets on markers of antioxidant status, systemic inflammation, and liver dysfunction. In a crossover intervention, 33 healthy adults (19 men, 14 women) received the HT and LT diets for 2 wk each. Dietary habits were checked with a 3-d food record during both diet periods and the washout period. Fruit and vegetable, macronutrient, dietary fiber, and alcohol intakes did not differ significantly between the 2 diets, whereas dietary TAC, alpha-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid were significantly (P < 0.001) higher during the HT diet. Plasma alpha-tocopherol rose during the HT and decreased during the LT diet (P < 0.02 for difference) without changes in markers of oxidative stress except plasma malondialdehyde, which decreased unexpectedly during the LT diet (P < 0.05). Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations decreased during the HT compared with the LT diet (mean +/- SEM for pre-post changes: -0.72 +/- 0.37 compared with 1.05 +/- 0.60 mg/L, P < 0.01; -1.73 +/- 1.02 compared with 2.33 +/- 2.58 U/L, P < 0.01; -2.12 +/- 1.45 compared with 5.15 +/- 2.98 U/L, P < 0.05; and 1.36 +/- 1.34 compared with 5.06 +/- 2.00 U/L, P < 0.01, respectively). Selecting foods according to their TAC markedly affects antioxidant intake and modulates hepatic contribution to systemic inflammation without affecting traditional markers of antioxidant status.

Development of a bespoke human factors taxonomy for gliding accident analysis and its revelations about highly inexperienced UK glider pilots.

PubMed

Jarvis, Steve; Harris, Don

2009-08-01

Low-hours solo glider pilots have a high risk of accidents compared to more experienced pilots. Numerous taxonomies for causal accident analysis have been produced for powered aviation but none of these is suitable for gliding, so a new taxonomy was required. A human factors taxonomy specifically for glider operations was developed and used to analyse all UK gliding accidents from 2002 to 2006 for their overall causes as well as factors specific to low hours pilots. Fifty-nine categories of pilot-related accident causation emerged, which were formed into progressively larger categories until four overall human factors groups were arrived at: 'judgement'; 'handling'; 'strategy'; 'attention'. 'Handling' accounted for a significantly higher proportion of injuries than other categories. Inexperienced pilots had considerably more accidents in all categories except 'strategy'. Approach control (path judgement, airbrake and speed handling) as well as landing flare misjudgement were chiefly responsible for the high accident rate in early solo glider pilots.

Nonlinear stability and control study of highly maneuverable high performance aircraft, phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mohler, R. R.

1992-01-01

This research should lead to the development of new nonlinear methodologies for the adaptive control and stability analysis of high angle-of-attack aircraft such as the F18 (HARV). The emphasis has been on nonlinear adaptive control, but associated model development, system identification, stability analysis and simulation is performed in some detail as well. Various models under investigation for different purposes are summarized in tabular form. Models and simulation for the longitudinal dynamics have been developed for all types except the nonlinear ordinary differential equation model. Briefly, studies completed indicate that nonlinear adaptive control can outperform linear adaptive control for rapid maneuvers with large changes in alpha. The transient responses are compared where the desired alpha varies from 5 degrees to 60 degrees to 30 degrees and back to 5 degrees in all about 16 sec. Here, the horizontal stabilator is the only control used with an assumed first-order linear actuator with a 1/30 sec time constant.

High-magnitude flooding across Britain since AD 1750

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macdonald, Neil; Sangster, Heather

2017-03-01

The last decade has witnessed severe flooding across much of the globe, but have these floods really been exceptional? Globally, relatively few instrumental river flow series extend beyond 50 years, with short records presenting significant challenges in determining flood risk from high-magnitude floods. A perceived increase in extreme floods in recent years has decreased public confidence in conventional flood risk estimates; the results affect society (insurance costs), individuals (personal vulnerability) and companies (e.g. water resource managers). Here, we show how historical records from Britain have improved understanding of high-magnitude floods, by examining past spatial and temporal variability. The findings identify that whilst recent floods are notable, several comparable periods of increased flooding are identifiable historically, with periods of greater frequency (flood-rich periods). Statistically significant relationships between the British flood index, the Atlantic Meridional Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation Index are identified. The use of historical records identifies that the largest floods often transcend single catchments affecting regions and that the current flood-rich period is not unprecedented.

Promoting Mental Health in Italian Middle and High School: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Veltro, Franco; Ialenti, Valentina; Morales García, Manuel Alejandro; Bonanni, Emiliana; Iannone, Claudia; D'Innocenzo, Marinella; Gigantesco, Antonella

2017-01-01

In Italy, a handbook has been developed based on the principles of cooperative learning, life skills, self-effectiveness, and problem-solving at high school level. Early studies have shown the handbook's effectiveness. It has been hypothesized that the revised handbook could be more effective in middle schools. The study design is a "pre- and posttest" that compares the results obtained from 91 students of the high schools with those of the 38 students from middle schools. The assessment was made through "self-reporting" questionnaires of (a) learning skills including problem-solving and (b) perceived self-efficacy in managing emotions, dysfunctional beliefs, and unhealthy behaviours (i.e., drinking/smoking). Significant improvements were observed in both groups with the exceptions of perceived self-efficacy in managing emotions. The improvement of dysfunctional beliefs and the learning of problem-solving skills were better in middle schools. The results confirm the authors' hypothesis that the use of this approach is much more promising in middle school.

Selection of Lecanicillium Strain with High Virulence against Developmental Stages of Bemisia tabaci

PubMed Central

Park, Heeyong

2010-01-01

Selection of fungal strains with high virulence against the developmental stages of Bemisia tabaci was performed using internal transcribed spacer regions. The growth rate of hyphae was measured and bioassay of each developmental stage of B. tabaci was conducted for seven days. All of the fungal strains tested were identified as Lecanicillium spp., with strain 4078 showing the fastest mycelium growth rate (colony diameter, 16.3 ± 0.9 mm) among the strains. Compared to strain 4075, which showed the slowest growth rate, the growth rate of strain 4078 was increased almost 2-fold after seven days. Strains 4078 and Btab01 were most virulent against the egg and larva stages, respectively. The virulence of fungal strains against the adult stage was high, except for strains 41185 and 3387. Based on the growth rate of mycelium and level of virulence, strains 4078 and Btab01 were selected as the best fungal strains for application to B. tabaci, regardless of developmental stage. PMID:23956657

On the nature of the symbiotic binary AX Persei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mikolajewska, Joanna; Kenyon, Scott J.

1992-01-01

Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the symbiotic binary AX Persei are presented. This system contains a red giant that fills its tidal lobe and transfers material into an accretion disk surrounding a low-mass main-sequence star. The stellar masses - 1 solar mass for the red giant and about 0.4 solar mass for the companion - suggest AX Per is poised to enter a common envelope phase of evolution. The disk luminosity increases from L(disk) about 100 solar luminosity in quiescence to L(disk) about 5700 solar luminosity in outburst for a distance of d = 2.5 kpc. Except for visual maximum, high ionization permitted emission lines - such as He II - imply an EUV luminosity comparable to the disk luminosity. High-energy photons emitted by a hot boundary layer between the disk and central star ionize a surrounding nebula to produce this permitted line emission. High ionization forbidden lines form in an extended, shock-excited region well out of the binary's orbital plane and may be associated with mass loss from the disk.

The Exceptionally High Life Expectancy of Costa Rican Nonagenarians

PubMed Central

ROSERO-BIXBY, LUIS

2008-01-01

Robust data from a voter registry show that Costa Rican nonagenarians have an exceptionally high live expectancy. Mortality at age 90 in Costa Rica is at least 14% lower than an average of 13 high-income countries. This advantage increases with age by 1% per year. Males have an additional 12% advantage. Age-90 life expectancy for males is 4.4 years, one-half year more than any other country in the world. These estimates do not use problematic data on reported ages, but ages are computed from birth dates in the Costa Rican birth-registration ledgers. Census data confirm the exceptionally high survival of elderly Costa Ricans, especially males. Comparisons with the United States and Sweden show that the Costa Rican advantage comes mostly from reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, coupled with a low prevalence of obesity, as the only available explanatory risk factor. Costa Rican nonagenarians are survivors of cohorts that underwent extremely harsh health conditions when young, and their advantage might be just a heterogeneity in frailty effect that might disappear in more recent cohorts. The availability of reliable estimates for the oldest-old in low-income populations is extremely rare. These results may enlighten the debate over how harsh early-life health conditions affect older-age mortality. PMID:18939667

Exceptionally high levels of recombination across the honey bee genome.

PubMed

Beye, Martin; Gattermeier, Irene; Hasselmann, Martin; Gempe, Tanja; Schioett, Morten; Baines, John F; Schlipalius, David; Mougel, Florence; Emore, Christine; Rueppell, Olav; Sirviö, Anu; Guzmán-Novoa, Ernesto; Hunt, Greg; Solignac, Michel; Page, Robert E

2006-11-01

The first draft of the honey bee genome sequence and improved genetic maps are utilized to analyze a genome displaying 10 times higher levels of recombination (19 cM/Mb) than previously analyzed genomes of higher eukaryotes. The exceptionally high recombination rate is distributed genome-wide, but varies by two orders of magnitude. Analysis of chromosome, sequence, and gene parameters with respect to recombination showed that local recombination rate is associated with distance to the telomere, GC content, and the number of simple repeats as described for low-recombining genomes. Recombination rate does not decrease with chromosome size. On average 5.7 recombination events per chromosome pair per meiosis are found in the honey bee genome. This contrasts with a wide range of taxa that have a uniform recombination frequency of about 1.6 per chromosome pair. The excess of recombination activity does not support a mechanistic role of recombination in stabilizing pairs of homologous chromosome during chromosome pairing. Recombination rate is associated with gene size, suggesting that introns are larger in regions of low recombination and may improve the efficacy of selection in these regions. Very few transposons and no retrotransposons are present in the high-recombining genome. We propose evolutionary explanations for the exceptionally high genome-wide recombination rate.

Effect of Cigarette Smoking and Passive Smoking on Hearing Impairment: Data from a Population–Based Study

PubMed Central

Chang, Jiwon; Ryou, Namhyung; Jun, Hyung Jin; Hwang, Soon Young; Song, Jae-Jun; Chae, Sung Won

2016-01-01

Objectives In the present study, we aimed to determine the effect of both active and passive smoking on the prevalence of the hearing impairment and the hearing thresholds in different age groups through the analysis of data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Study Design Cross-sectional epidemiological study. Methods The KNHANES is an ongoing population study that started in 1998. We included a total of 12,935 participants aged ≥19 years in the KNHANES, from 2010 to 2012, in the present study. Pure-tone audiometric (PTA) testing was conducted and the frequencies tested were 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz. Smoking status was categorized into three groups; current smoking group, passive smoking group and non-smoking group. Results In the current smoking group, the prevalence of speech-frequency bilateral hearing impairment was increased in ages of 40−69, and the rate of high frequency bilateral hearing impairment was elevated in ages of 30−79. When we investigated the impact of smoking on hearing thresholds, we found that the current smoking group had significantly increased hearing thresholds compared to the passive smoking group and non-smoking groups, across all ages in both speech-relevant and high frequencies. The passive smoking group did not have an elevated prevalence of either speech-frequency bilateral hearing impairment or high frequency bilateral hearing impairment, except in ages of 40s. However, the passive smoking group had higher hearing thresholds than the non-smoking group in the 30s and 40s age groups. Conclusion Current smoking was associated with hearing impairment in both speech-relevant frequency and high frequency across all ages. However, except in the ages of 40s, passive smoking was not related to hearing impairment in either speech-relevant or high frequencies. PMID:26756932

Porous zirconia ceramic as an alternative to dentin for in vitro dentin barriers cytotoxicity test.

PubMed

Hu, Meng-Long; Lin, Hong; Jiang, Ruo-Dan; Dong, Li-Min; Huang, Lin; Zheng, Gang

2018-06-01

This study assessed the potential of porous zirconia ceramic as an alternative to dentin via an in vitro dentin barrier cytotoxicity test. The permeability of dentin and porous zirconia ceramic was measured using a hydraulic-conductance system, and their permeability was divided into two groups: high and low. Using an in vitro dentin barrier test, the cytotoxicity of dental materials by dentin and porous zirconia ceramic was compared within the same permeability group. The L-929 cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. The mean (SD) permeability of the high and low group for dentin was 0.334 (0.0873) and 0.147 (0.0377) μl min -1  cm -2  cm H 2 O -1 and for zirconia porous ceramic was 0.336 (0.0609) and 0.146 (0.0340) μl min -1  cm -2  cm H 2 O -1 . The cell viability of experimental groups which are the low permeability group was higher than that of the high permeability group for both dentin and porous zirconia ceramic as a barrier except for Maxcem Elite ™ by porous zirconia ceramic. There was no significant difference between dentin and porous zirconia ceramic in cell viability, within either the high or low permeability group for all materials. The SD for cell viability of the porous zirconia ceramic was less than that of the dentin, across all materials within each permeability group, except for Maxcem Elite ™ in the high permeability group. Porous zirconia ceramic, having similar permeability to dentin at the same thickness, can be used as an alternative to dentin for in vitro dentin barrier cytotoxicity tests. In vitro dentin barrier cytotoxicity tests when a standardized porous zirconia ceramic was used as a barrier could be useful for assessing the potential toxicity of new dental materials applied to dentin before applying in clinical and may resolve the issue of procuring human teeth when testing proceeds.

Evaluation of the impact of computed high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging on prostate cancer detection.

PubMed

Verma, Sadhna; Sarkar, Saradwata; Young, Jason; Venkataraman, Rajesh; Yang, Xu; Bhavsar, Anil; Patil, Nilesh; Donovan, James; Gaitonde, Krishnanath

2016-05-01

The purpose of this study was to compare high b-value (b = 2000 s/mm(2)) acquired diffusion-weighted imaging (aDWI) with computed DWI (cDWI) obtained using four diffusion models-mono-exponential (ME), intra-voxel incoherent motion (IVIM), stretched exponential (SE), and diffusional kurtosis (DK)-with respect to lesion visibility, conspicuity, contrast, and ability to predict significant prostate cancer (PCa). Ninety four patients underwent 3 T MRI including acquisition of b = 2000 s/mm(2) aDWI and low b-value DWI. High b = 2000 s/mm(2) cDWI was obtained using ME, IVIM, SE, and DK models. All images were scored on quality independently by three radiologists. Lesions were identified on all images and graded for lesion conspicuity. For a subset of lesions for which pathological truth was established, lesion-to-background contrast ratios (LBCRs) were computed and binomial generalized linear mixed model analysis was conducted to compare clinically significant PCa predictive capabilities of all DWI. For all readers and all models, cDWI demonstrated higher ratings for image quality and lesion conspicuity than aDWI except DK (p < 0.001). The LBCRs of ME, IVIM, and SE were significantly higher than LBCR of aDWI (p < 0.001). Receiver Operating Characteristic curves obtained from binomial generalized linear mixed model analysis demonstrated higher Area Under the Curves for ME, SE, IVIM, and aDWI compared to DK or PSAD alone in predicting significant PCa. High b-value cDWI using ME, IVIM, and SE diffusion models provide better image quality, lesion conspicuity, and increased LBCR than high b-value aDWI. Using cDWI can potentially provide comparable sensitivity and specificity for detecting significant PCa as high b-value aDWI without increased scan times and image degradation artifacts.

Sandia National Laboratories: Research: Research Foundations: Radiation

Science.gov Websites

Effects and High Energy Density Science Sandia National Laboratories Exceptional service in the Engineering Science Geoscience Materials Science Nanodevices & Microsystems Radiation Effects & High Science Geoscience Materials Science Nanodevices and Microsystems Radiation Effects and High Energy

Sandia National Laboratories: Research: Research Foundations

Science.gov Websites

Materials Science Nanodevices & Microsystems Radiation Effects & High Energy Density Science Science Geoscience Materials Science Nanodevices and Microsystems Radiation Effects and High Energy Nanodevices and Microsystems Radiation Effects and High Energy Density Science Exceptional service in the

A pulse-compression-ring circuit for high-efficiency electric propulsion.

PubMed

Owens, Thomas L

2008-03-01

A highly efficient, highly reliable pulsed-power system has been developed for use in high power, repetitively pulsed inductive plasma thrusters. The pulsed inductive thruster ejects plasma propellant at a high velocity using a Lorentz force developed through inductive coupling to the plasma. Having greatly increased propellant-utilization efficiency compared to chemical rockets, this type of electric propulsion system may one day propel spacecraft on long-duration deep-space missions. High system reliability and electrical efficiency are extremely important for these extended missions. In the prototype pulsed-power system described here, exceptional reliability is achieved using a pulse-compression circuit driven by both active solid-state switching and passive magnetic switching. High efficiency is achieved using a novel ring architecture that recovers unused energy in a pulse-compression system with minimal circuit loss after each impulse. As an added benefit, voltage reversal is eliminated in the ring topology, resulting in long lifetimes for energy-storage capacitors. System tests were performed using an adjustable inductive load at a voltage level of 3.3 kV, a peak current of 20 kA, and a current switching rate of 15 kA/micros.

The relationship between consanguineous marriage and death in fetus and infants.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Majid Mehr; Hooman, Heidar Ali; Afrooz, Gholam Ali; Daramadi, Parviz Sharifi

2012-05-01

Given the high prevalence of consanguineous marriages in rural and urban areas of Iran, the aim of this study was to identify its role in increasing fetal and infant deaths. This was a cross-sectional study in which 494 mothers with more than one exceptional child (mentally retarded and physically-dynamically disabled) or with normal children were selected based on multi-stage random sampling method. Data was gathered using the features of parents with more than one exceptional child questionnaire. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire was acceptable. Hierarchical log-linear method was used for statistical analysis. Consanguineous marriage significantly increased the number of births of exceptional children. Moreover, there was a significant relation between the history of fetal/infant death and belonging to the group. There was a significant relation between consanguineous marriage and the history of fetal/infant death which means consanguineous marriage increased the prevalence of fetal/infant death in parents with exceptional children rather than in parents with normal children. The rate of fetal/infant death in exceptional births of consanguineous marriages was higher than that of non-consanguineous marriages.

Multiple-wavelength sensing of Jupiter during the Juno mission's first perijove passage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orton, G. S.; Momary, T.; Ingersoll, A. P.; Adriani, A.; Hansen, C. J.; Janssen, M.; Arballo, J.; Atreya, S. K.; Bolton, S.; Brown, S.; Caplinger, M.; Grassi, D.; Li, C.; Levin, S.; Moriconi, M. L.; Mura, A.; Sindoni, G.

2017-05-01

We compare Jupiter observations made around 27 August 2016 by Juno's JunoCam, Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM), MicroWave Radiometer (MWR) instruments, and NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility. Visibly dark regions are highly correlated with bright areas at 5 µm, a wavelength sensitive to gaseous NH3 gas and particulate opacity at p ≤5 bars. A general correlation between 5-µm and microwave radiances arises from a similar dependence on NH3 opacity. Significant exceptions are present and probably arise from additional particulate opacity at 5 µm. JIRAM spectroscopy and the MWR derive consistent 5-bar NH3 abundances that are within the lower bounds of Galileo measurement uncertainties. Vigorous upward vertical transport near the equator is likely responsible for high NH3 abundances and with enhanced abundances of some disequilibrium species used as indirect indicators of vertical motions.

Interstitial atoms enable joint twinning and transformation induced plasticity in strong and ductile high-entropy alloys.

PubMed

Li, Zhiming; Tasan, Cemal Cem; Springer, Hauke; Gault, Baptiste; Raabe, Dierk

2017-01-12

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) consisting of multiple principle elements provide an avenue for realizing exceptional mechanical, physical and chemical properties. We report a novel strategy for designing a new class of HEAs incorporating the additional interstitial element carbon. This results in joint activation of twinning- and transformation-induced plasticity (TWIP and TRIP) by tuning the matrix phase's instability in a metastable TRIP-assisted dual-phase HEA. Besides TWIP and TRIP, such alloys benefit from massive substitutional and interstitial solid solution strengthening as well as from the composite effect associated with its dual-phase structure. Nanosize particle formation and grain size reduction are also utilized. The new interstitial TWIP-TRIP-HEA thus unifies all metallic strengthening mechanisms in one material, leading to twice the tensile strength compared to a single-phase HEA with similar composition, yet, at identical ductility.

Nanoporous Microsphere Assembly of Iodine-Functionalised Silver Nanoparticles as a Novel Mini-Substrate for Enriching and Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, X.-L.; Wu, H.; Wang, Z.-M.; Aizawa, H.; Guo, J.; Chu, Y.-H.

2017-04-01

Herein, debris particulates of nanoporous silver (np-Ag) were synthesised by a dealloying method, and their integration behaviour and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties during iodine functionalisation were examined. It was found that the dealloyed np-Ag debris particulates gradually assembled to form rigid nanoporous microspheres comprising Ag nano-ligaments due to mechanical collisions during iodine treatment. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron microscopy clearly showed the iodide surface of np-Ag, which was dotted with iodine or iodide ‘nanoislands’. The exceptional, and unexpected, integration and surface structures result in a highly enhanced localised surface plasmon resonance. Furthermore, the robust nanoporous microspheres can be employed individually as as-produced miniaturised electrodes to electrically enrich target molecules at parts-per-trillion levels, so as to achieve charge selectivity and superior detectability compared with the ordinary SERS effect.

High frequency sound propagation in a network of interconnecting streets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hewett, D. P.

2012-12-01

We propose a new model for the propagation of acoustic energy from a time-harmonic point source through a network of interconnecting streets in the high frequency regime, in which the wavelength is small compared to typical macro-lengthscales such as street widths/lengths and building heights. Our model, which is based on geometrical acoustics (ray theory), represents the acoustic power flow from the source along any pathway through the network as the integral of a power density over the launch angle of a ray emanating from the source, and takes into account the key phenomena involved in the propagation, namely energy loss by wall absorption, energy redistribution at junctions, and, in 3D, energy loss to the atmosphere. The model predicts strongly anisotropic decay away from the source, with the power flow decaying exponentially in the number of junctions from the source, except along the axial directions of the network, where the decay is algebraic.

High-Resolution Metabolomics for Nutrition and Health Assessment of Armed Forces Personnel.

PubMed

Accardi, Carolyn Jonas; Walker, Douglas I; Uppal, Karan; Quyyumi, Arshed A; Rohrbeck, Patricia; Pennell, Kurt D; Mallon, Col Timothy M; Jones, Dean P

2016-08-01

The aim of this study was to test the utility of high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) for analysis of nutritional status and health indicators in military personnel. Serum samples from 400 military personnel were obtained from the Department of Defense Serum Repository (DoDSR) and analyzed for metabolites related to nutrition and health status. Metabolic profile organization was studied using modulated modularity clustering (MMC). HRM provided quantitative measures of 61 metabolites across chemical classes for use as nutritional and clinical biomarkers. Levels were comparable to reported values except for arginine and glutamine, which were above and below reference ranges, respectively. MMC generated five clusters, three of which were associated and contained amino acids. The others contained lipids and mitochondria-related metabolites. HRM analysis of serum is suitable for real-time and/or retrospective evaluation of nutrition and health status of specific military cohorts.

Interstitial atoms enable joint twinning and transformation induced plasticity in strong and ductile high-entropy alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhiming; Tasan, Cemal Cem; Springer, Hauke; Gault, Baptiste; Raabe, Dierk

2017-01-01

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) consisting of multiple principle elements provide an avenue for realizing exceptional mechanical, physical and chemical properties. We report a novel strategy for designing a new class of HEAs incorporating the additional interstitial element carbon. This results in joint activation of twinning- and transformation-induced plasticity (TWIP and TRIP) by tuning the matrix phase’s instability in a metastable TRIP-assisted dual-phase HEA. Besides TWIP and TRIP, such alloys benefit from massive substitutional and interstitial solid solution strengthening as well as from the composite effect associated with its dual-phase structure. Nanosize particle formation and grain size reduction are also utilized. The new interstitial TWIP-TRIP-HEA thus unifies all metallic strengthening mechanisms in one material, leading to twice the tensile strength compared to a single-phase HEA with similar composition, yet, at identical ductility.

A method of calculating the performance of controllable propellers with sample computations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartman, Edwin P

1934-01-01

This paper contains a series of calculations showing how the performance of controllable propellers may be derived from data on fixed-pitch propellers given in N.A.C.A. Technical Report No. 350, or from similar data. Sample calculations are given which compare the performance of airplanes with fixed-pitch and with controllable propellers. The gain in performance with controllable propellers is shown to be largely due to the increased power available, rather than to an increase in efficiency. Controllable propellers are of particular advantage when used with geared and with supercharged engines. A controllable propeller reduces the take-off run, increases the rate of climb and the ceiling, but does not increase the high speed, except when operating above the design altitude of the previously used fixed-pitch propeller or when that propeller was designed for other than high speed.

Electronic and thermoelectric analysis of phases in the In 2O 3(ZnO) k system

DOE PAGES

Hopper, E. Mitchell; Zhu, Qimin; Song, Jung-Hwan; ...

2011-01-01

The high-temperature electrical conductivity and thermopower of several compounds in the In 2O 3(ZnO) k system (k = 3, 5, 7, and 9) were measured, and the band structures of the k = 1, 2, and 3 structures were predicted based on first-principles calculations. These phases exhibit highly dispersed conduction bands consistent with transparent conducting oxide behavior. Jonker plots (Seebeck coefficient vs. natural logarithm of conductivity) were used to obtain the product of the density of states and mobility for these phases, which were related to the maximum achievable power factor (thermopower squared times conductivity) for each phase by Ioffemore » analysis (maximum power factor vs. Jonker plot intercept). With the exception of the k = 9 phase, all other phases were found to have maximum predicted power factors comparable to other thermoelectric oxides if suitably doped.« less

Microalloying Ultrafine Grained Al Alloys with Enhanced Ductility

PubMed Central

Jiang, L.; Li, J. K.; Cheng, P. M.; Liu, G.; Wang, R. H.; Chen, B. A.; Zhang, J. Y.; Sun, J.; Yang, M. X.; Yang, G.

2014-01-01

Bulk ultrafine grained (UFG)/nanocrystal metals possess exceptional strength but normally poor ductility and thermal stability, which hinder their practical applications especially in high-temperature environments. Through microalloying strategy that enables the control of grains and precipitations in nanostructured regime, here we design and successfully produce a highly microstructure-stable UFG Al-Cu-Sc alloy with ~275% increment in ductility and simultaneously ~50% enhancement in yield strength compared with its Sc-free counterpart. Although the precipitations in UFG alloys are usually preferentially occurred at grain boundaries even at room temperature, minor Sc addition into the UFG Al-Cu alloys is found to effectively stabilize the as-processed microstructure, strongly suppress the θ-Al2Cu phase precipitation at grain boundary, and remarkably promote the θ′-Al2Cu nanoparticles dispersed in the grain interior in artificial aging. A similar microalloying strategy is expected to be equally effective for other UFG heat-treatable alloys. PMID:24398915

Satellite Observation Highlights of the 2010 Russian Wildfires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Witte, Jacquelyn C.; Douglass, Anne R.; Duncan, Bryan N.; daSilva, Arlindo; Torres, Omar

2010-01-01

From late-July through mid-August 2010, wildfires raged in western Russia. The resulting thick smoke and biomass burning products were transported over the highly populated Moscow city and surrounding regions, seriously impairing visibility and affecting human health. We demonstrate the uniqueness of the 2010 Russian wildfires by using satellite observations from NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) platforms. Over Moscow and the region of major fire activity to the southeast, we calculate unprecedented increases in the MODIS fire count record of 178 %, an order of magnitude increase in the MODIS fire radiative power (308%) and OMI absorbing aerosols (255%), and a 58% increase in AIRS total carbon monoxide (CO). The exceptionally high levels of CO are shown to be of comparable strength to the 2006 El Nino wildfires over Indonesia. Both events record CO values exceeding 30x10(exp 7) molec/ square cm.

Comparison of culture, PCR, and different serologic tests for detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae infections.

PubMed

Feberwee, A; Mekkes, D R; de Wit, J J; Hartman, E G; Pijpers, A

2005-06-01

In this study, the technical performance of culture, two commercially available polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, rapid plate agglutination (RPA) test, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, and eight commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were compared for the detection of avian mycoplasma infections from 3 days postinfection (d.p.i.) through 35 d.p.i. The tests were carried out on samples from specified pathogen-free layers that were infected at 66 wk of age with recent Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) field strains, MS and MG ATCC strains, and Mycoplasma imitans (MIM), respectively. Results showed a high percentage of positive samples in the homologous infected groups and a high percentage of negative samples (100%) in the uninfected and heterologous infected groups during 35 d.p.i. of both culture and PCR tests. For the group infected with the MG 15302 ATCC strain, serology was more sensitive than bacteriology. All MG and MS tests, with the exception of MG ELISA kit D showed a lower percentage of positive samples during 35 d.p.i. for the detection of the MG and MS ATCC strain infection compared with that of the field strains. Also, the number of cross-reactions (false positives) in the serologic tests was lower after infection with an ATCC strain than after an infection with the MG or MS field strain. Contradictory to other studies, the ELISAs and the RPA test using undiluted serum showed a relatively high number of false-positive results. The MG ELISAs (except ELISA kit D) showed more false-positive results (up to 37%) in the MIM-infected group than in the MS-infected groups. This was not unexpected, as MIM and MG have a close antigenic relationship. The results of the serologic tests in this study showed that a certain level of false-positive results can be expected in about any serologic test. Although the level of false-positive results varied between several serologic tests, this study showed that it is not advisable to rely completely on one test (system) only.

Differential ontogenetic exposure to obesogenic environment induces hyperproliferative status and nuclear receptors imbalance in the rat prostate at adulthood.

PubMed

Pytlowanciv, Eloísa Zanin; Pinto-Fochi, Maria Etelvina; Reame, Vanessa; Gobbo, Marina Guimarães; Ribeiro, Daniele Lisboa; Taboga, Sebastião Roberto; Góes, Rejane Maira

2016-05-01

Experimental data indicate that high-fat diet (HFD) may alter proliferative activity and prostate health. However, the consequences of HFD exposure during different periods of ontogenetic development on prostate histophysiology remain to be elucidated. Herein, we compare the influence of obesogenic environment (OE) due to maternal obesity and HFD at different periods of life on proliferative activity and nuclear receptors frequency in the rat ventral prostate and a possible relationship with metabolic and hormonal alterations. Male Wistar rats (19 weeks old), treated with balanced chow (Control group-C; 3% high-fat, 3.5 Kcal/g), were compared with those exposed to HFD (20% high-fat, 4.9 kcal/g) during gestation (G-maternal obesity), gestation and lactation (GL), from post-weaning to adulthood (WA), from lactation to adulthood (LA) and from gestation to adulthood (GA). After the experimental period, the ventral prostate lobes were removed and analyzed with different methods. Metabolic data indicated that G and GL rats became insulin resistant and WA, LA, and GA became insulin resistant and obese. There was a strong inverse correlation between serum testosterone (∼133% lower) and leptin levels (∼467% higher) in WA, LA, and GA groups. Estrogen serum levels increased in GA, and insulin levels increased in all groups, especially in WA (64.8×). OE-groups exhibited prostatic hypertrophy, since prostate weight increased ∼40% in G, GL, LA, and GA and 31% in WA. As indicated by immunohistochemistry, all HFD-groups except G exhibited an increase in epithelial cell proliferation (PCNA-positive) and a decrease in frequency of AR- and ERβ-positive epithelial cells; there was also an increment of ERα-positive stromal cells in comparison with control. Cells containing PPARγ increased in both epithelium and stroma of all OE groups and those expressing LXRα decreased, particularly in groups OE-exposed during gestation (G, GL and GA). OE leads to prostate hypertrophy regardless of the period of development and, except when restricted to gestation, leads to a hyperproliferative status which was correlated to downregulation of AR and LXRα and upregulation of ERα and PPARγ signaling. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparative Study of Antenna Elements for TDRSS Enhanced Multiple Access System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kory, Carol L.; Lambert, Kevin; Acosta, Roberto; Nessel, James

2006-01-01

We compare three antennas, which are candidates for the TDRSS-Continuation enhanced MA array antenna elements. Measured and simulated data show very good agreement for all antenna elements. All of the antennas meet the specifications with the exception of the SBA isolation. However, improvements can likely be made with further design efforts.

Thinking outside the Box: Psychological Needs of Art Students Compared with Traditional Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greason, D. Paige Bentley; Glaser, Tom; Mroz, Kenneth

2015-01-01

Very little information exists regarding the mental health needs of student artists. This study compared psychological symptoms and diagnoses of college students in 3 conservatories (n = 607) with those of college students in traditional colleges and universities (n = 87,105). The study found no difference in psychological symptoms except for…

40 CFR 261.38 - Exclusion of comparable fuel and syngas fuel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... J/g). (B) Viscosity. The viscosity must not exceed: 50 cS, as-fired. (ii) Constituent specifications..., except as provided by paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section: (ii) Blending to meet the viscosity specification. A hazardous waste blended to meet the viscosity specification for comparable fuel shall: (A) As...

40 CFR 261.38 - Exclusion of comparable fuel and syngas fuel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... J/g). (B) Viscosity. The viscosity must not exceed: 50 cS, as-fired. (ii) Constituent specifications..., except as provided by paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section: (ii) Blending to meet the viscosity specification. A hazardous waste blended to meet the viscosity specification for comparable fuel shall: (A) As...

40 CFR 261.38 - Exclusion of comparable fuel and syngas fuel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... J/g). (B) Viscosity. The viscosity must not exceed: 50 cS, as-fired. (ii) Constituent specifications..., except as provided by paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section: (ii) Blending to meet the viscosity specification. A hazardous waste blended to meet the viscosity specification for comparable fuel shall: (A) As...

Evaluation of the Flush/Fill and High-Pressure Air Purge Procedures for Converting Army Vehicles to Silicone Brake Fluid.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-02-01

Inhlalation Ally lnon-lethal C’AR. NiLO FTA . TELR LDLo Acute or chronic All except inhalation Decath tDeathl LD50 Acute All except inhalation Not applic-ihle D...Improved Tow Vehicle US Army Europe & Seventh Army US Army Tank-Automotive Command ATTN: AEAGC- FMD ATTN: DRCPM-ITV-T APO NY 09403 Warren, Mi 48090

Design of bituminous mixes with high skid resistance.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-01-01

Certain highway locations need exceptionally high skid resistance because of the alignment, geometry, and drainage of the roadway and the complex turning maneuvers required. Several beam specimens made of bituminous mixes incorporating unconventional...

Activity of Posaconazole and Other Antifungal Agents against Mucorales Strains Identified by Sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacers▿

PubMed Central

Alastruey-Izquierdo, Ana; Castelli, Maria Victoria; Cuesta, Isabel; Monzon, Araceli; Cuenca-Estrella, Manuel; Rodriguez-Tudela, Juan Luis

2009-01-01

The antifungal susceptibility profiles of 77 clinical strains of Mucorales species, identified by internal transcribed spacer sequencing, were analyzed. MICs obtained at 24 and 48 h were compared. Amphotericin B was the most active agent against all isolates, except for Cunninghamella and Apophysomyces isolates. Posaconazole also showed good activity for all species but Cunninghamella bertholletiae. Voriconazole had no activity against any of the fungi tested. Terbinafine showed good activity, except for Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor circinelloides, and Rhizomucor variabilis isolates. PMID:19171801

Activity of posaconazole and other antifungal agents against Mucorales strains identified by sequencing of internal transcribed spacers.

PubMed

Alastruey-Izquierdo, Ana; Castelli, Maria Victoria; Cuesta, Isabel; Monzon, Araceli; Cuenca-Estrella, Manuel; Rodriguez-Tudela, Juan Luis

2009-04-01

The antifungal susceptibility profiles of 77 clinical strains of Mucorales species, identified by internal transcribed spacer sequencing, were analyzed. MICs obtained at 24 and 48 h were compared. Amphotericin B was the most active agent against all isolates, except for Cunninghamella and Apophysomyces isolates. Posaconazole also showed good activity for all species but Cunninghamella bertholletiae. Voriconazole had no activity against any of the fungi tested. Terbinafine showed good activity, except for Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor circinelloides, and Rhizomucor variabilis isolates.

Biomimetic nanocoatings with exceptional mechanical, barrier, and flame-retardant properties from large-scale one-step coassembly

PubMed Central

Ding, Fuchuan; Liu, Jingjing; Zeng, Songshan; Xia, Yan; Wells, Kacie M.; Nieh, Mu-Ping; Sun, Luyi

2017-01-01

Large-scale biomimetic organic/inorganic hybrid nanocoatings with a nacre-like microstructure were prepared via a facile coassembly process. Different from conventional polymer nanocomposites, these nanocoatings contain a high concentration of nanosheets, which can be well aligned along the substrate surface. Moreover, the nanosheets and polymer matrix can be chemically co–cross-linked. As a result, the nanocoatings exhibit exceptional mechanical properties (high stiffness and strength), barrier properties (to both oxygen and water vapor), and flame retardancy, but they are also highly transparent (maintaining more than 85% of their original transmittance to visible light). The nanocoatings can be applied to various substrates and regular or irregular surfaces (for example, films and foams). Because of their excellent performance and high versatility, these nanocoatings are expected to find widespread application. PMID:28776038

Effect of hydroprocessing severity on characteristics of jet fuel from OSCO 2 and Paraho distillates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prok, G. M.; Flores, F. J.; Seng, G. T.

1981-01-01

Jet A boiling range fuels and broad-property research fuels were produced by hydroprocessing shale oil distillates, and their properties were measured to characterize the fuels. The distillates were the fraction of whole shale oil boiling below 343 C from TOSCO 2 and Paraho syncrudes. The TOSCO 2 was hydroprocessed at medium severity, and the Paraho was hydroprocessed at high, medium, and low severities. Fuels meeting Jet A requirements except for the freezing point were produced from the medium severity TOSCO 2 and the high severity Paraho. Target properties of a broad property research fuel were met by the medium severity TOSCO 2 and the high severity Paraho except for the freezing point and a high hydrogen content. Medium and low severity Paraho jet fuels did not meet thermal stability and freezing point requirements.

Comparative risk assessment of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illicit drugs using the margin of exposure approach.

PubMed

Lachenmeier, Dirk W; Rehm, Jürgen

2015-01-30

A comparative risk assessment of drugs including alcohol and tobacco using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was conducted. The MOE is defined as ratio between toxicological threshold (benchmark dose) and estimated human intake. Median lethal dose values from animal experiments were used to derive the benchmark dose. The human intake was calculated for individual scenarios and population-based scenarios. The MOE was calculated using probabilistic Monte Carlo simulations. The benchmark dose values ranged from 2 mg/kg bodyweight for heroin to 531 mg/kg bodyweight for alcohol (ethanol). For individual exposure the four substances alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and heroin fall into the "high risk" category with MOE < 10, the rest of the compounds except THC fall into the "risk" category with MOE < 100. On a population scale, only alcohol would fall into the "high risk" category, and cigarette smoking would fall into the "risk" category, while all other agents (opiates, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, ecstasy, and benzodiazepines) had MOEs > 100, and cannabis had a MOE > 10,000. The toxicological MOE approach validates epidemiological and social science-based drug ranking approaches especially in regard to the positions of alcohol and tobacco (high risk) and cannabis (low risk).

Penicillium arizonense, a new, genome sequenced fungal species, reveals a high chemical diversity in secreted metabolites.

PubMed

Grijseels, Sietske; Nielsen, Jens Christian; Randelovic, Milica; Nielsen, Jens; Nielsen, Kristian Fog; Workman, Mhairi; Frisvad, Jens Christian

2016-10-14

A new soil-borne species belonging to the Penicillium section Canescentia is described, Penicillium arizonense sp. nov. (type strain CBS 141311 T  = IBT 12289 T ). The genome was sequenced and assembled into 33.7 Mb containing 12,502 predicted genes. A phylogenetic assessment based on marker genes confirmed the grouping of P. arizonense within section Canescentia. Compared to related species, P. arizonense proved to encode a high number of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, in particular hemicellulases. Mining the genome for genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis resulted in the identification of 62 putative biosynthetic gene clusters. Extracts of P. arizonense were analysed for secondary metabolites and austalides, pyripyropenes, tryptoquivalines, fumagillin, pseurotin A, curvulinic acid and xanthoepocin were detected. A comparative analysis against known pathways enabled the proposal of biosynthetic gene clusters in P. arizonense responsible for the synthesis of all detected compounds except curvulinic acid. The capacity to produce biomass degrading enzymes and the identification of a high chemical diversity in secreted bioactive secondary metabolites, offers a broad range of potential industrial applications for the new species P. arizonense. The description and availability of the genome sequence of P. arizonense, further provides the basis for biotechnological exploitation of this species.

Penicillium arizonense, a new, genome sequenced fungal species, reveals a high chemical diversity in secreted metabolites

PubMed Central

Grijseels, Sietske; Nielsen, Jens Christian; Randelovic, Milica; Nielsen, Jens; Nielsen, Kristian Fog; Workman, Mhairi; Frisvad, Jens Christian

2016-01-01

A new soil-borne species belonging to the Penicillium section Canescentia is described, Penicillium arizonense sp. nov. (type strain CBS 141311T = IBT 12289T). The genome was sequenced and assembled into 33.7 Mb containing 12,502 predicted genes. A phylogenetic assessment based on marker genes confirmed the grouping of P. arizonense within section Canescentia. Compared to related species, P. arizonense proved to encode a high number of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, in particular hemicellulases. Mining the genome for genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis resulted in the identification of 62 putative biosynthetic gene clusters. Extracts of P. arizonense were analysed for secondary metabolites and austalides, pyripyropenes, tryptoquivalines, fumagillin, pseurotin A, curvulinic acid and xanthoepocin were detected. A comparative analysis against known pathways enabled the proposal of biosynthetic gene clusters in P. arizonense responsible for the synthesis of all detected compounds except curvulinic acid. The capacity to produce biomass degrading enzymes and the identification of a high chemical diversity in secreted bioactive secondary metabolites, offers a broad range of potential industrial applications for the new species P. arizonense. The description and availability of the genome sequence of P. arizonense, further provides the basis for biotechnological exploitation of this species. PMID:27739446

Comparative risk assessment of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illicit drugs using the margin of exposure approach

PubMed Central

Lachenmeier, Dirk W.; Rehm, Jürgen

2015-01-01

A comparative risk assessment of drugs including alcohol and tobacco using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was conducted. The MOE is defined as ratio between toxicological threshold (benchmark dose) and estimated human intake. Median lethal dose values from animal experiments were used to derive the benchmark dose. The human intake was calculated for individual scenarios and population-based scenarios. The MOE was calculated using probabilistic Monte Carlo simulations. The benchmark dose values ranged from 2 mg/kg bodyweight for heroin to 531 mg/kg bodyweight for alcohol (ethanol). For individual exposure the four substances alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and heroin fall into the “high risk” category with MOE < 10, the rest of the compounds except THC fall into the “risk” category with MOE < 100. On a population scale, only alcohol would fall into the “high risk” category, and cigarette smoking would fall into the “risk” category, while all other agents (opiates, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, ecstasy, and benzodiazepines) had MOEs > 100, and cannabis had a MOE > 10,000. The toxicological MOE approach validates epidemiological and social science-based drug ranking approaches especially in regard to the positions of alcohol and tobacco (high risk) and cannabis (low risk). PMID:25634572

Determinants of impaired quality of life in patients with fibrous dysplasia.

PubMed

Majoor, Bas C J; Andela, Cornelie D; Bruggemann, Jens; van de Sande, Michiel A J; Kaptein, Ad A; Hamdy, Neveen A T; Dijkstra, P D Sander; Appelman-Dijkstra, Natasha M

2017-04-27

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare bone disorder, commonly associated with pain, deformity and fractures, which may significantly impact on quality of life. In this study we evaluate quality of life in patients with fibrous dysplasia using the Short Form-36 and the Brief Pain Inventory questionnaires. Data were compared with those of the general Dutch population. Out of 138 patients from a cohort of 255 patients with fibrous dysplasia that were sent questionnaires assessing quality of life and pain, the response rate was 70.3%, with 97 patients, predominantly female (65%), completing the questionnaires. Monostotic fibrous dysplasia was predominant (n = 62, 64%). Fibrous dysplasia patients had significantly lower quality of life outcome scores than the general Dutch population for all tested domains of the Short Form-36 except for the "Mental health" and the "Role emotional" domains. More severe forms of fibrous dysplasia, had the more severe Short-Form-36 quality of life outcomes, but there was no significant difference in Brief Pain Inventory domains between different subtypes of fibrous dysplasia. Quality of life was lower in patients with higher disease burden, as reflected by high skeletal burden scores (p = 0.003) and high levels of P1NP (p = 0.002). We demonstrate impairments in all domains of quality of life, except for 'Mental health' and 'Role emotional' domains, across the wide spectrum of fibrous dysplasia including its milder forms. We identified high skeletal burden scores, reflecting disease severity, as the most consistent predictor of impaired quality of life. Our findings hold significant clinical implications as they draw attention to the clinically unmet need to address quality of life issues in the management of patients with all subtypes of fibrous dysplasia, including its milder forms.

Photopolymerization of highly filled dimethacrylate-based composites using Type I or Type II photoinitiators and varying co-monomer ratios.

PubMed

Randolph, Luc D; Steinhaus, Johannes; Möginger, Bernhard; Gallez, Bernard; Stansbury, Jeffrey; Palin, William M; Leloup, Gaëtane; Leprince, Julian G

2016-02-01

The use of a Type I photoinitiator (monoacylphosphine oxide, MAPO) was described as advantageous in a model formulation, as compared to the conventional Type II photoinitiator (Camphorquinone, CQ). The aim of the present work was to study the kinetics of polymerization of various composite mixtures (20-40-60-80 mol%) of bisphenol A glycidyl dimethacrylate/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (BisGMA/TegDMA) containing either CQ or MAPO, based on real-time measurements and on the characterization of various post-cure characteristics. Polymerization kinetics were monitored by Fourier-transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) and dielectric analysis (DEA). A range of postcure properties was also investigated. FT-NIRS and DEA proved complementary to follow the fast kinetics observed with both systems. Autodecceleration occurred after ≈1 s irradiation for MAPO-composites and ≈5-10 s for CQ-composites. Conversion decreased with increasing initial viscosity for both photoinitiating systems. However despite shorter light exposure (3s for MAPO vs 20s for CQ-composites), MAPO-composites yielded higher conversions for all co-monomer mixtures, except at 20 mol% BisGMA, the less viscous material. MAPO systems were associated with increased amounts of trapped free radicals, improved flexural strength and modulus, and reduced free monomer release for all co-monomer ratios, except at 20 mol% BisGMA. This work confirms the major influence of the initiation system both on the conversion and network cross-linking of highly-filled composites, and further highlights the advantages of using MAPO photoinitiating systems in highly-filled dimethacrylate-based composites provided that sufficient BisGMA content (>40 mol%) and adapted light spectrum are used. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and validation of a food photography manual, as a tool for estimation of food portion size in epidemiological dietary surveys in Tunisia

PubMed Central

Bouchoucha, Mongia; Akrout, Mouna; Bellali, Hédia; Bouchoucha, Rim; Tarhouni, Fadwa; Mansour, Abderraouf Ben; Zouari, Béchir

2016-01-01

Background Estimation of food portion sizes has always been a challenge in dietary studies on free-living individuals. The aim of this work was to develop and validate a food photography manual to improve the accuracy of the estimated size of consumed food portions. Methods A manual was compiled from digital photos of foods commonly consumed by the Tunisian population. The food was cooked and weighed before taking digital photographs of three portion sizes. The manual was validated by comparing the method of 24-hour recall (using photos) to the reference method [food weighing (FW)]. In both the methods, the comparison focused on food intake amounts as well as nutritional issues. Validity was assessed by Bland–Altman limits of agreement. In total, 31 male and female volunteers aged 9–89 participated in the study. Results We focused on eight food categories and compared their estimated amounts (using the 24-hour recall method) to those actually consumed (using FW). Animal products and sweets were underestimated, whereas pasta, bread, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products were overestimated. However, the difference between the two methods is not statistically significant except for pasta (p<0.05) and dairy products (p<0.05). The coefficient of correlation between the two methods is highly significant, ranging from 0.876 for pasta to 0.989 for dairy products. Nutrient intake calculated for both methods showed insignificant differences except for fat (p<0.001) and dietary fiber (p<0.05). A highly significant correlation was observed between the two methods for all micronutrients. The test agreement highlights the lack of difference between the two methods. Conclusion The difference between the 24-hour recall method using digital photos and the weighing method is acceptable. Our findings indicate that the food photography manual can be a useful tool for quantifying food portion sizes in epidemiological dietary surveys. PMID:27585631

Development and validation of a food photography manual, as a tool for estimation of food portion size in epidemiological dietary surveys in Tunisia.

PubMed

Bouchoucha, Mongia; Akrout, Mouna; Bellali, Hédia; Bouchoucha, Rim; Tarhouni, Fadwa; Mansour, Abderraouf Ben; Zouari, Béchir

2016-01-01

Background Estimation of food portion sizes has always been a challenge in dietary studies on free-living individuals. The aim of this work was to develop and validate a food photography manual to improve the accuracy of the estimated size of consumed food portions. Methods A manual was compiled from digital photos of foods commonly consumed by the Tunisian population. The food was cooked and weighed before taking digital photographs of three portion sizes. The manual was validated by comparing the method of 24-hour recall (using photos) to the reference method [food weighing (FW)]. In both the methods, the comparison focused on food intake amounts as well as nutritional issues. Validity was assessed by Bland-Altman limits of agreement. In total, 31 male and female volunteers aged 9-89 participated in the study. Results We focused on eight food categories and compared their estimated amounts (using the 24-hour recall method) to those actually consumed (using FW). Animal products and sweets were underestimated, whereas pasta, bread, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products were overestimated. However, the difference between the two methods is not statistically significant except for pasta (p<0.05) and dairy products (p<0.05). The coefficient of correlation between the two methods is highly significant, ranging from 0.876 for pasta to 0.989 for dairy products. Nutrient intake calculated for both methods showed insignificant differences except for fat (p<0.001) and dietary fiber (p<0.05). A highly significant correlation was observed between the two methods for all micronutrients. The test agreement highlights the lack of difference between the two methods. Conclusion The difference between the 24-hour recall method using digital photos and the weighing method is acceptable. Our findings indicate that the food photography manual can be a useful tool for quantifying food portion sizes in epidemiological dietary surveys.

Development and validation of a food photography manual, as a tool for estimation of food portion size in epidemiological dietary surveys in Tunisia.

PubMed

Bouchoucha, Mongia; Akrout, Mouna; Bellali, Hédia; Bouchoucha, Rim; Tarhouni, Fadwa; Mansour, Abderraouf Ben; Zouari, Béchir

2016-01-01

Estimation of food portion sizes has always been a challenge in dietary studies on free-living individuals. The aim of this work was to develop and validate a food photography manual to improve the accuracy of the estimated size of consumed food portions. A manual was compiled from digital photos of foods commonly consumed by the Tunisian population. The food was cooked and weighed before taking digital photographs of three portion sizes. The manual was validated by comparing the method of 24-hour recall (using photos) to the reference method [food weighing (FW)]. In both the methods, the comparison focused on food intake amounts as well as nutritional issues. Validity was assessed by Bland-Altman limits of agreement. In total, 31 male and female volunteers aged 9-89 participated in the study. We focused on eight food categories and compared their estimated amounts (using the 24-hour recall method) to those actually consumed (using FW). Animal products and sweets were underestimated, whereas pasta, bread, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products were overestimated. However, the difference between the two methods is not statistically significant except for pasta (p<0.05) and dairy products (p<0.05). The coefficient of correlation between the two methods is highly significant, ranging from 0.876 for pasta to 0.989 for dairy products. Nutrient intake calculated for both methods showed insignificant differences except for fat (p<0.001) and dietary fiber (p<0.05). A highly significant correlation was observed between the two methods for all micronutrients. The test agreement highlights the lack of difference between the two methods. The difference between the 24-hour recall method using digital photos and the weighing method is acceptable. Our findings indicate that the food photography manual can be a useful tool for quantifying food portion sizes in epidemiological dietary surveys.

20 CFR 654.407 - Housing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... directly to the out-of-doors. The minimum total window or skylight area, including windows in doors, shall... percent of the minimum window or skylight area required, except where comparably adequate ventilation is...

Comparing alcohol affordability in 65 cities worldwide.

PubMed

Kan, Ming-Yue; Lau, Maggie

2013-01-01

To develop a measure of alcohol affordability (AA) and compare the AA of 65 cities worldwide. In this paper, AA is defined as the proportion of median daily income needed to buy a certain quantity of certain alcoholic beverages. The income data and the price of alcoholic beverages were drawn from the Union Bank of Switzerland survey and the Economist Intelligence Unit respectively. A large majority of cities (87.7%, n = 57) had a high level of AA. The top 20 ranking was occupied by European and American cities with Tokyo in the Western Pacific region being the exception. All cities belonging to high-income countries had high levels of AA. However, two cities with low-level AA came from low-middle-income countries instead of low-income countries. The findings have shown that alcohol consumption is highly affordable in many cities. If price policy is being considered as policy instrument of alcohol control, it is in urgent need of price adjustments. More specifically, the new emerging economies play a significant role in the world alcohol control movement because of their bright economic performance with huge population size. Further studies on AA, especially periodical monitoring and its impacts on alcohol consumption and alcohol related health problems, should be conducted so as to facilitate the formulation and evaluation price measure of alcohol control. © 2012 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Vitamin C modulates lead excretion in rats.

PubMed

Lihm, Hoseob; Kim, Hyun; Chang, Heekyung; Yoon, Myunghee; Lee, Kayoung; Choi, Jongsoon

2013-12-01

Lead, one of the most toxic heavy metals, takes longer time to be excreted from the body than other heavy metals. The purpose of this study is, by measuring lead excretion via urine and feces, to find out the effect of vitamin C in lead chelation. Thirty-six rats were randomly assorted into four groups. All 33 rats except for the control group were administered with lead, before orally administered with different doses of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight. The lead excretion levels in urine and feces as well as the survival rate were then measured for each group. The rats with lead administrations (10/13, 76.9%) with lead administrations only, 10/11 rats (90.9%) with lead administrations and low dose of vitamin C, 9/9 rats (100%) with lead administrations and high dose of vitamin C survived. Among the 29 surviving rats, low vitamin C intake group exhibited higher urinary excretion than the lead only group. The urinary excretion level in high dose vitamin C intakegroup was significantly higher than the lead only group. In addition, fecal lead excretion seemed to be increased in the high dose vitamin C intake group, compared to the group with lead administrations only with statistical significance. Through animal experiment, it was found out that administrating high dose of vitamin C accelerated the excretion of lead in body compared to low dose of vitamin C.

30 CFR 75.705 - Work on high-voltage lines; deenergizing and grounding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Work on high-voltage lines; deenergizing and... Work on high-voltage lines; deenergizing and grounding. [Statutory Provisions] High-voltage lines, both..., except that repairs may be permitted, in the case of energized surface high-voltage lines, if such...

Gene Model Annotations for Drosophila melanogaster: The Rule-Benders

PubMed Central

Crosby, Madeline A.; Gramates, L. Sian; dos Santos, Gilberto; Matthews, Beverley B.; St. Pierre, Susan E.; Zhou, Pinglei; Schroeder, Andrew J.; Falls, Kathleen; Emmert, David B.; Russo, Susan M.; Gelbart, William M.

2015-01-01

In the context of the FlyBase annotated gene models in Drosophila melanogaster, we describe the many exceptional cases we have curated from the literature or identified in the course of FlyBase analysis. These range from atypical but common examples such as dicistronic and polycistronic transcripts, noncanonical splices, trans-spliced transcripts, noncanonical translation starts, and stop-codon readthroughs, to single exceptional cases such as ribosomal frameshifting and HAC1-type intron processing. In FlyBase, exceptional genes and transcripts are flagged with Sequence Ontology terms and/or standardized comments. Because some of the rule-benders create problems for handlers of high-throughput data, we discuss plans for flagging these cases in bulk data downloads. PMID:26109356

30 CFR 75.802 - Protection of high-voltage circuits extending underground.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Protection of high-voltage circuits extending...-Voltage Distribution § 75.802 Protection of high-voltage circuits extending underground. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, high-voltage circuits extending underground and supplying...

30 CFR 75.802 - Protection of high-voltage circuits extending underground.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Protection of high-voltage circuits extending...-Voltage Distribution § 75.802 Protection of high-voltage circuits extending underground. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, high-voltage circuits extending underground and supplying...

30 CFR 75.802 - Protection of high-voltage circuits extending underground.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Protection of high-voltage circuits extending...-Voltage Distribution § 75.802 Protection of high-voltage circuits extending underground. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, high-voltage circuits extending underground and supplying...

30 CFR 56.13021 - High-pressure hose connections.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false High-pressure hose connections. 56.13021... and Boilers § 56.13021 High-pressure hose connections. Except where automatic shutoff valves are used, safety chains or other suitable locking devices shall be used at connections to machines of high-pressure...

Organically linked iron oxide nanoparticle supercrystals with exceptional isotropic mechanical properties.

PubMed

Dreyer, Axel; Feld, Artur; Kornowski, Andreas; Yilmaz, Ezgi D; Noei, Heshmat; Meyer, Andreas; Krekeler, Tobias; Jiao, Chengge; Stierle, Andreas; Abetz, Volker; Weller, Horst; Schneider, Gerold A

2016-05-01

It is commonly accepted that the combination of the anisotropic shape and nanoscale dimensions of the mineral constituents of natural biological composites underlies their superior mechanical properties when compared to those of their rather weak mineral and organic constituents. Here, we show that the self-assembly of nearly spherical iron oxide nanoparticles in supercrystals linked together by a thermally induced crosslinking reaction of oleic acid molecules leads to a nanocomposite with exceptional bending modulus of 114 GPa, hardness of up to 4 GPa and strength of up to 630 MPa. By using a nanomechanical model, we determined that these exceptional mechanical properties are dominated by the covalent backbone of the linked organic molecules. Because oleic acid has been broadly used as nanoparticle ligand, our crosslinking approach should be applicable to a large variety of nanoparticle systems.

A 20-Year Comparison of Football-Related Injuries in American and Canadian Youth Aged 6 to 17 Years: A Replication Study.

PubMed

Keays, Glenn; Friedman, Debbie; Gagnon, Isabelle

2016-06-01

Introduction Little is known about Canadian youth football injuries. The objectives of this study were (a) to contrast the injuries in Canadian and American football players aged 6 to 17 years and (b) compare the injuries sustained during organized football with those in nonorganized football. Methods Using a retrospective cohort design based on data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System a comparison of injuries was made. Results Trends in injuries were comparable. Proportions and odds of injuries were similar, except for a few exceptions. In Canada, more girls were injured and fractures were more prevalent. Compared with nonorganized football, organized football players were older, involved more males, and suffered more traumatic brain injuries and injuries to their lower extremities. Conclusion Canadian and American youth football injuries were similar. The type of football, be it organized or nonorganized, has an impact on injuries. © The Author(s) 2015.

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock agriculture in 16 local administrative districts of Korea.

PubMed

Ji, Eun Sook; Park, Kyu-Hyun

2012-12-01

This study was conducted to evaluate methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from livestock agriculture in 16 local administrative districts of Korea from 1990 to 2030. National Inventory Report used 3 yr averaged livestock population but this study used 1 yr livestock population to find yearly emission fluctuations. Extrapolation of the livestock population from 1990 to 2009 was used to forecast future livestock population from 2010 to 2030. Past (yr 1990 to 2009) and forecasted (yr 2010 to 2030) averaged enteric CH4 emissions and CH4 and N2O emissions from manure treatment were estimated. In the section of enteric fermentation, forecasted average CH4 emissions from 16 local administrative districts were estimated to increase by 4%-114% compared to that of the past except for Daejeon (-63%), Seoul (-36%) and Gyeonggi (-7%). As for manure treatment, forecasted average CH4 emissions from the 16 local administrative districts were estimated to increase by 3%-124% compared to past average except for Daejeon (-77%), Busan (-60%), Gwangju (-48%) and Seoul (-8%). For manure treatment, forecasted average N2O emissions from the 16 local administrative districts were estimated to increase by 10%-153% compared to past average CH4 emissions except for Daejeon (-60%), Seoul (-4.0%), and Gwangju (-0.2%). With the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2-Eq), forecasted average CO2-Eq from the 16 local administrative districts were estimated to increase by 31%-120% compared to past average CH4 emissions except Daejeon (-65%), Seoul (-24%), Busan (-18%), Gwangju (-8%) and Gyeonggi (-1%). The decreased CO2-Eq from 5 local administrative districts was only 34 kt, which was insignificantly small compared to increase of 2,809 kt from other 11 local administrative districts. Annual growth rates of enteric CH4 emissions, CH4 and N2O emissions from manure management in Korea from 1990 to 2009 were 1.7%, 2.6%, and 3.2%, respectively. The annual growth rate of total CO2-Eq was 2.2%. Efforts by the local administrative offices to improve the accuracy of activity data are essential to improve GHG inventories. Direct measurements of GHG emissions from enteric fermentation and manure treatment systems will further enhance the accuracy of the GHG data. (Key Words: Greenhouse Gas, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide Equivalent Emission, Climate Change).

Exceptional motifs in different Markov chain models for a statistical analysis of DNA sequences.

PubMed

Schbath, S; Prum, B; de Turckheim, E

1995-01-01

Identifying exceptional motifs is often used for extracting information from long DNA sequences. The two difficulties of the method are the choice of the model that defines the expected frequencies of words and the approximation of the variance of the difference T(W) between the number of occurrences of a word W and its estimation. We consider here different Markov chain models, either with stationary or periodic transition probabilities. We estimate the variance of the difference T(W) by the conditional variance of the number of occurrences of W given the oligonucleotides counts that define the model. Two applications show how to use asymptotically standard normal statistics associated with the counts to describe a given sequence in terms of its outlying words. Sequences of Escherichia coli and of Bacillus subtilis are compared with respect to their exceptional tri- and tetranucleotides. For both bacteria, exceptional 3-words are mainly found in the coding frame. E. coli palindrome counts are analyzed in different models, showing that many overabundant words are one-letter mutations of avoided palindromes.

TiN coated aluminum electrodes for DC high voltage electron guns

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

Mamun, Md Abdullah A.; Elmustafa, Abdelmageed A., E-mail: aelmusta@odu.edu; Taus, Rhys

Preparing electrodes made of metals like stainless steel, for use inside DC high voltage electron guns, is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. In this paper, the authors report the exceptional high voltage performance of aluminum electrodes coated with hard titanium nitride (TiN). The aluminum electrodes were comparatively easy to manufacture and required only hours of mechanical polishing using silicon carbide paper, prior to coating with TiN by a commercial vendor. The high voltage performance of three TiN-coated aluminum electrodes, before and after gas conditioning with helium, was compared to that of bare aluminum electrodes, and electrodes manufactured from titanium alloymore » (Ti-6Al-4V). Following gas conditioning, each TiN-coated aluminum electrode reached −225 kV bias voltage while generating less than 100 pA of field emission (<10 pA) using a 40 mm cathode/anode gap, corresponding to field strength of 13.7 MV/m. Smaller gaps were studied to evaluate electrode performance at higher field strength with the best performing TiN-coated aluminum electrode reaching ∼22.5 MV/m with field emission less than 100 pA. These results were comparable to those obtained from our best-performing electrodes manufactured from stainless steel, titanium alloy and niobium, as reported in references cited below. The TiN coating provided a very smooth surface and with mechanical properties of the coating (hardness and modulus) superior to those of stainless steel, titanium-alloy, and niobium electrodes. These features likely contributed to the improved high voltage performance of the TiN-coated aluminum electrodes.« less

High-pitch Helical Dual-source Computed Tomographic Pulmonary Angiography: Comparing Image Quality in Inspiratory Breath-hold and During Free Breathing.

PubMed

Ajlan, Amr M; Binzaqr, Salma; Jadkarim, Dalia A; Jamjoom, Lamia G; Leipsic, Jonathon

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare qualitative and quantitative image parameters of dual-source high-pitch helical computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in breath-holding (BH) versus free-breathing (FB) patients. Ninety-nine consented patients (61 female individuals; mean age±SD, 49±18.7 y) were randomized into BH (n=45) versus FB (n=54) high-pitch helical CTPA. Patient characteristics and CTPA radiation doses were analyzed. Two readers assessed for pulmonary embolism (PE), transient interruption of contrast, and respiratory and cardiac motion. The readers used a subjective 3-point scale to rate the pulmonary artery opacification and lung parenchymal appearance. A single reader assessed mean pulmonary artery signal intensity, noise, contrast, signal to noise ratio, and contrast to noise ratio. PE was diagnosed in 16% BH and 19% FB patients. CTPAs of both groups were of excellent or acceptable quality for PE evaluation and of similar mean radiation doses (1.3 mSv). Transient interruption of contrast was seen in 5/45 (11%) BH and 5/54 (9%) FB patients (not statistically significant, P=0.54). No statistically significant difference was noted in cardiac, diaphragmatic, and lung parenchymal motion. Lung parenchymal assessment was excellent in all cases, except for 5/54 (9%) motion-affected FB cases with acceptable quality (statistically significant, P=0.03). No CTPA was considered nondiagnostic by any of the readers. No objective image quality differences were noted between both groups (P>0.05). High-pitch helical CTPA acquired during BH or in FB yields comparable image quality for the diagnosis of PE and lung pathology, with low radiation exposure. Only a modest increase in lung parenchymal artifacts is encountered in FB high-pitch helical CTPA.

Co-administration of conjugated linoleic acid and rosiglitazone increases atherogenic co-efficicient and alters isoprenaline-induced vasodilatation in rats fed high fat diet.

PubMed

Chai, B K; Lau, Y S; Loong, B J; Rais, M M; Ting, K N; Dharmani, D M; Kumar, M S

2018-05-10

The cis(c)-9, trans(t)-11 (c9,t11) and t10,c12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) have been reported as agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and beneficial in lipidemia and glycaemia. However, it is unclear whether CLA isomers enhance or antagonize effects of conventional drugs targeting PPAR. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks and treated without or with CLA, rosiglitazone or both for 4 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance and surrogate markers of insulin resistance were not significantly different for all treatments compared to untreated normal diet (ND) or HFD group, except lipoprotein levels. The combination of CLA and rosiglitazone had suppressed levels of low and high density lipoproteins (46% and 25%, respectively), compared to HFD-alone. Conversely, the atherogenic co-efficient of the animals received HFD or HFD+rosiglitazone+CLA was 2-folds higher than ND, HFD+rosiglitazone or HFD+CLA. Of note, isolated aortic rings from the combined CLA and rosiglitazone treated animals were less sensitive to isoprenaline-induced relaxation among endothelium-denuded aortas with a decreased efficacy and potency (Rmax=53+/-4.7%; pEC50=6+/-0.2) compared to endothelium-intact aortas (Rmax=100+/-9.9%; pEC50=7+/-0.2). Our findings illustrate that the combination of CLA and rosiglitazone precede the atherogenic state with impaired endothelium-independent vasodilatation before the onset of HFD-induced insulin resistance.

Geographical Clusters of Rape in the United States: 2000-2012

PubMed Central

Amin, Raid; Nabors, Nicole S.; Nelson, Arlene M.; Saqlain, Murshid; Kulldorff, Martin

2016-01-01

Background While rape is a very serious crime and public health problem, no spatial mapping has been attempted for rape on the national scale. This paper addresses the three research questions: (1) Are reported rape cases randomly distributed across the USA, after being adjusted for population density and age, or are there geographical clusters of reported rape cases? (2) Are the geographical clusters of reported rapes still present after adjusting for differences in poverty levels? (3) Are there geographical clusters where the proportion of reported rape cases that lead to an arrest is exceptionally low or exceptionally high? Methods We studied the geographical variation of reported rape events (2003-2012) and rape arrests (2000-2012) in the 48 contiguous states of the USA. The disease Surveillance software SaTScan™ with its spatial scan statistic is used to evaluate the spatial variation in rapes. The spatial scan statistic has been widely used as a geographical surveillance tool for diseases, and we used it to identify geographical areas with clusters of reported rape and clusters of arrest rates for rape. Results The spatial scan statistic was used to identify geographical areas with exceptionally high rates of reported rape. The analyses were adjusted for age, and in secondary analyses, for both age and poverty level. We also identified geographical areas with either a low or a high proportion of reported rapes leading to an arrest. Conclusions We have identified geographical areas with exceptionally high (low) rates of reported rape. The geographical problem areas identified are prime candidates for more intensive preventive counseling and criminal prosecution efforts by public health, social service, and law enforcement agencies Geographical clusters of high rates of reported rape are prime areas in need of expanded implementation of preventive measures, such as changing attitudes in our society toward rape crimes, in addition to having the criminal justice system play an even larger role in preventing rape. PMID:28078318

Geographical Clusters of Rape in the United States: 2000-2012.

PubMed

Amin, Raid; Nabors, Nicole S; Nelson, Arlene M; Saqlain, Murshid; Kulldorff, Martin

2015-01-01

While rape is a very serious crime and public health problem, no spatial mapping has been attempted for rape on the national scale. This paper addresses the three research questions: (1) Are reported rape cases randomly distributed across the USA, after being adjusted for population density and age, or are there geographical clusters of reported rape cases? (2) Are the geographical clusters of reported rapes still present after adjusting for differences in poverty levels? (3) Are there geographical clusters where the proportion of reported rape cases that lead to an arrest is exceptionally low or exceptionally high? We studied the geographical variation of reported rape events (2003-2012) and rape arrests (2000-2012) in the 48 contiguous states of the USA. The disease Surveillance software SaTScan™ with its spatial scan statistic is used to evaluate the spatial variation in rapes. The spatial scan statistic has been widely used as a geographical surveillance tool for diseases, and we used it to identify geographical areas with clusters of reported rape and clusters of arrest rates for rape. The spatial scan statistic was used to identify geographical areas with exceptionally high rates of reported rape. The analyses were adjusted for age, and in secondary analyses, for both age and poverty level. We also identified geographical areas with either a low or a high proportion of reported rapes leading to an arrest. We have identified geographical areas with exceptionally high (low) rates of reported rape. The geographical problem areas identified are prime candidates for more intensive preventive counseling and criminal prosecution efforts by public health, social service, and law enforcement agencies Geographical clusters of high rates of reported rape are prime areas in need of expanded implementation of preventive measures, such as changing attitudes in our society toward rape crimes, in addition to having the criminal justice system play an even larger role in preventing rape.

Dietary fat induces sustained reward response in the human brain without primary taste cortex discrimination

PubMed Central

Tzieropoulos, Hélène; Rytz, Andreas; Hudry, Julie; le Coutre, Johannes

2013-01-01

To disentangle taste from reward responses in the human gustatory cortex, we combined high density electro-encephalography with a gustometer delivering tastant puffs to the tip of the tongue. Stimuli were pure tastants (salt solutions at two concentrations), caloric emulsions (two milk preparations identical in composition except for fat content) and a mixture of high fat milk with the lowest salt concentration. Early event-related potentials (ERPs) showed a dose-response effect for increased taste intensity, with higher amplitude and shorter latency for high compared to low salt concentration, but not for increased fat content. However, the amplitude and distribution of late potentials were modulated by fat content independently of reported intensity and discrimination. Neural source estimation revealed a sustained activation of reward areas to the two high-fat stimuli. The results suggest calorie detection through specific sensors on the tongue independent of perceived taste. Finally, amplitude variation of the first peak in the event-related potential to the different stimuli correlated with papilla density, suggesting a higher discrimination power for subjects with more fungiform papillae. PMID:23430280

A Membrane-Free Ferrocene-Based High-Rate Semiliquid Battery.

PubMed

Ding, Yu; Zhao, Yu; Yu, Guihua

2015-06-10

We report here a ferrocene-based membrane-free, high-rate semiliquid battery that takes advantage of a highly soluble ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple in nonaqueous phase. The designed battery exhibits stable capacity retention up to 94% of theoretical capacity of ferrocene (145 mAh g(-1)) at a broad current rate up to 60 C owing to rapid mass transport in a liquid phase and fast redox kinetics. The diffusion coefficient and the standard reaction constant are determined to be in the order of 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1) and 10(-1) cm s(-1), respectively, orders of magnitude greater than those in a solid-phase electrode and those in conventional redox flow batteries. Additionally, the battery demonstrates power density and energy density exceeding 1400 W L(-1) and 40 Wh L(-1), respectively, and stable cyclability with capacity retention of ∼80% for 500 cycles. Compared with state-of-the-art energy storage technologies such as Li-ion batteries or conventional redox flow batteries, the proposed liquid battery shows the potential to be an efficient energy storage system with exceptionally high power and reasonable energy density.

Fertility and semen quality of workers exposed to high temperatures in the ceramics industry.

PubMed

Figà-Talamanca, I; Dell'Orco, V; Pupi, A; Dondero, F; Gandini, L; Lenzi, A; Lombardo, F; Scavalli, P; Mancini, G

1992-01-01

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic occupational exposure to high temperatures may be detrimental to male reproduction. The study was based on 92 healthy ceramics oven operators with a long exposure to high temperatures, and 87 controls, recruited from the shipment department of the same industry. Interviews with all subjects provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and fertility problems. Semen analysis was carried out on 46 of the workers exposed to high temperatures, and 14 of the controls, and included evaluation of the sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, including computer-assisted sperm motion analysis (velocity, linearity, ALH, BCF). The results of the questionnaire showed that exposed individuals had a higher incidence of childlessness and of self-reported difficulty in conceiving than controls. The semen analysis showed no significant differences except in sperm velocity. Although differences in semen parameters, taken singly, were not statistically significant, the overall evaluation of the sperm parameters indicated a higher prevalence of pathologic sperm profiles among the exposed compared to the controls.

Ultrasensitive near-infrared photodetectors based on graphene-MoTe2-graphene vertical van der Waals heterostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Kun; Ye, Yu; Dai, Lun; School of Physics, Peking University Team

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have rapidly established themselves as exceptional building blocks for optoelectronic applications, due to their unique properties and atomically thin nature. Nevertheless, near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors based on layered 2D semiconductors are rarely realized. In this work, we fabricate graphene-MoTe2-graphene vertical vdWs heterostructure by a facile and reliable site controllable transfer method, and apply it for photodetection from visible to the NIR wavelength range. Compared to the 2D semiconductor based photodetectors reported thus far, the graphene-MoTe2-graphene photodetector has superior performance, including high photoresponsivity (110 mA W-1 at 1064 nm and 205 mA W-1 at 473 nm), high external quantum efficiency (EQE, 12.9% at 1064 nm and 53.8% at 473 nm), rapid response and recovery processes (rise time of 24 μs, fall time of 46 μs under 1064 nm illumination), and free from an external source-drain power supply. The all-2D-materials heterostructure has promising applications in future novel high responsivity, high speed and flexible NIR devices.

MDOT aims for lower-cost ultra-high performance concrete : research spotlight.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-08-01

In recent years, several vendors have developed ultra-high performance : concrete (UHPC) that surpasses traditional concrete mixes by offering : exceptional freeze-thaw resistance, reduced susceptibility to cracking : and far less reinforcement corro...

46 CFR 129.410 - Lighting fixtures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... fixture must have a high-strength guard or be made of high-strength material, except in accommodations... Studio Lighting Units,” or UL 1574, “Track Lighting Systems,” as long as the general marine requirements...